Melbourne is set to welcome a new vegan and vegetarian restaurant into the mix, when Lona Misa opens at Ovolo South Yarra next month.
Renowned Melbourne chefs Shannon Martinez (Smith & Daughters, Smith & Daughters Deli) and Ian Curley (French Saloon, Kirk’s Wine Bar) are behind the new bar and kitchen, bringing their own areas of expertise to the venture.
Curley brings his decades of experience in European fine and bistro dining, while vegan chef and author Martinez will bring her plant-based expertise along with inspiration from her Latin roots.
“I’m excited about working with Curley,” says Martinez.
“My style could not be more opposite from his!
“This restaurant is going to be a different take on my food. My flavours, inspiration paired with his polish – a bit of nip-tuck.”
The new restaurant will launch in the midst of Ovolo Hotels’ ‘Year of the Veg’ commitment, which sees all the group’s restaurants and bars across Australia and Hong Kong go vegetarian for a full year from October 2020.
Curley is also looking forward to the partnership, saying Martinez is the best person to work with on this concept.
“Shannon is a real pioneer for plant-based dining,” he said.
“For what she brings to the table, taking on some of Australia’s most unconvinced carnivorous chefs, she has set a foundation for vegetarian and plant-based dining to be taken seriously.”
The all-day venue will be both a café and wine bar with seating for up to 90 guests.
Alongside the shareable, seasonal food offering, the venue will serve up seasonal cocktails, house-made sodas and adventurous wines sourced from some of Australia’s most progressive producers.
Lona Misa will open at Ovolo South Yarra in April 2021.
