Chefs Shannon Martinez and Ian Curley have teamed up with Ovolo South Yarra to open Lona Misa in Melbourne.
Martinez is best known for her vegan venues Smith and Daughters and Smith and Deli with Curley’s French Saloon and Kirk’s Wine Bar both stalwarts in the restaurant scene.
Lona Misa will see the two chefs come together to work as creative culinary partners to create a vegan and vegetarian concept which will encompass a bar and restaurant.
The venue will operate as an all-day concept, with a cafe in swing during the day and a wine bar on offer in the evenings.
“When approached with the opportunity to continue to work with Ovolo on this new concept in Melbourne, the best person in the country for this I thought would be Shannon,” says Curley.
“Shannon is a real pioneer for plant-based dining … She has set a foundation for vegetarian and plant-based dining to be taken seriously.”
Martinez describes the culinary offering as “a different take on my food” with the chef’s flavours and inspiration “paired with [Curley’s] polish – a bit of nip-tuck”.
The menu will be influenced by seasonal produce and Latin flavours alongside a revolving cocktail list and natural wine offering.
Lona Misa is slated to open in Ovolo South Yarra in April 2021.