Merivale will open a new 60-seater restaurant at 380 Oxford Street in August, led by an alumni of Chez Panisse and the Napa Valley's three-Michelin-starred French Laundry, Danielle Alvarez.
Fred's is shaped by Alvarez’s food philosophy of respecting produce and using old-world techniques such as cooking with a wood-fired hearth and oven. Alvarez will also make her own bread, pasta and charcuterie. She’s forged relationships with local farmers in the Blue Mountains, and Hawkesbury, including First Farm Organics, owned by market vegetable grower Fabrice Rolando and located at the western base of the Blue Mountains (just near Hartley NSW).
Fred’s 120-strong wine list will be curated by Adrian Filiuta and will focus on small-batch wines, featuring an extensive 'wine by the glass' list that will change daily based on the menu.
The basement of Fred's will be home to Charlie Parker's, an intimate bar with seasonally-led cocktails that echo Alvarez’s focus on enhancing quality ingredients. Charlie Parker's will be led by Toby Marshall and Sam Egerton.
The opening of Fred’s forms part of Merivale’s aggressive growth strategy in Sydney, which has also recently included the launch of the new look The Newport, The Paddington and an intimate whisky bar called J&M.
Danielle Alvarez and Fabrice Rolando
Charlie Parker's Toby Marshall
Fabrice Rolando with Danielle Alvarez