Overview
They're two celebrated Melbourne chefs who probably couldn't be much more different and whose styles are worlds apart. But vegan maestro Shannon Martinez (Smith & Daughters, Smith & Deli) and Euro-focused Ian Curley (The European, Kirk's Wine Bar) are set to prove that unlikely pairings really can work a treat, when they launch their new collaborative venture next month. The powerhouse duo is embracing the world of plant-based fare, together heading up the culinary offering at new vegan and vegetarian bar and eatery, Lona Misa.
Taking over a warm Luchetti Krelle-designed space within the new Ovolo South Yarra hotel, the 90-seat venue is set to be an all-day affair that'll cruise happily from lunchtime to those after-dinner drinks.
Here, the two chefs have been busy creating a vegan- and vegetarian-focused menu designed to shake up all your preconceptions of plant-based dining. Vibrant and unapologetic, it's a share-friendly lineup that'll bear both the marks of Martinez's signature rebellious stylings and touches of Curley's fine dining flair.
Shannon Martinez
As with the eats, Lona Misa's drinks offering will see the pair heroing seasonal ingredients from their favourite local producers. Expect sips including house-made sodas, a range of innovative cocktails, and an adventurous wine selection featuring a healthy spread of natural, organic and carbon-neutral drops.
All up, it sounds like a fittingly bold choice of resident for Ovolo's new South Yarra hotel — a 123-room, dog-friendly stay featuring 70s-glam styling and rockstar suites named after iconic musicians. The launch of Lona Misa also ties in with the hotel group's 'year of the veg' move, which has seen the full suite of bars and restaurants at its Australian and Hong Kong sites go plant-based for an entire year, starting from October 2020.
Find Lona Misa within the Ovolo South Yarra, at 230 Toorak Road, South Yarra, from April 2021.