Issy Owens is the manager at Romanée Wine Bar. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Who are you?
I’m Issy Owens, the manager of Romanée Wine Bar. I’m also at uni studying psychology and English literature. I have my fingers in many pies!
Tell me about Romanée.
We like to call Romanée a boutique wine bar. We do a lot of specialised wine stuff and really focus on things that are cool and interesting but not well known. We love a back vintage! When Chester [Mok, Romanée owner] started talking to me about the concept, he described it to me as hospitality for hospitality’s sake, for the love of service, for the love of wine, for the love of food.
How did you get involved in the hospitality industry?
I started as a barista in a little cafe – The Italian Place Providore – and through that, I got a wine certification and jumped into wine bars. My grandparents had a vineyard up in the Hunter (called Oakvale), and I’ve always liked wine, so it’s been a really natural progression.
Chester Mok says Romanée is his ‘mid-life crisis’. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Did you have a dream job as a kid?
I had too many dreams, ranging from astronaut to doctor to teacher to baker … At one point, I was seriously considering going to a patisserie school, but then COVID kind of locked me into uni, which led me here!
What is your hospitality philosophy?
I owe the customers, as far as I can manage, exceptional service. I’m representing these brilliant products that people have spent so much time making, so it’s important to me that we respect that and respect the customers and their time.
I think hospitality is all about people: the joy of hospitality is the connection you get and the experience of sharing food and wine.
What is your favourite ingredient when cooking?
I always like to think about how I’m pairing things with wine. And I like to incorporate wine into the cooking as well.
What’s an underrated Canberra venue that you love?
Obviously Romanée! But beyond that, maybe Flatheads in O’Connor. It’s my local coffee joint, but it’s so good, and the food is exceptional.
The Duxton and Flatheads Cafe are Issy’s go-to local joints. Photo: Daniella Jukic, We Are Found.
Who do you admire in the Canberra food scene?
Benito Drovandi – he worked here for a little bit when we first opened and he’s been such a mentor. He knows so much about everything. He’s got a style that I really like: a focus on efficiency with flair.
Where’s the best place for a coffee in Canberra?
I like B-side at the end of Lonsdale – they’ve got a nice blend. But Margot by the lake also does great coffees.
When you’re not at work, where do you like to go for a drink?
At the moment, I go to Bentspoke on my breaks and Hippo after work. The team there are the best.
Who is your dream dinner party guest, and what would you make for them?
My Grandad, who passed about a year ago. He never got to see Romanée, so I’d bring him here. He’d love this place, with all the interesting wine and cool food. And I’m really proud of what we’ve made here. He’d order the duck for sure. He’d smash it!
What is your current wine obsession?
I’ve really been getting into aged white wines. We’ve had a few on the list, which has been an eye-opening experience for me. My favourite recently was a 2001 Margaret River Verdelho: it had this burnt pineapple, toffee nut flavour. It was awesome.
What’s the best thing you ate this week?
I made moussaka on the weekend, which was delicious. I don’t know how traditional it was, but it was yummy!
What’s a food that reminds you of your childhood?
Cannelloni. My dad and I would make it together, standing in the kitchen, piping the mix into the dried pasta tubes. That’s very nostalgic anytime I make it.
What’s a normal breakfast for you?
The weather is phasing this out for me, but I’ve been having ricotta toast with berries. Aldi ricotta is great.
Where do you shop for wine?
I’d buy it here at work, or from Blackhearts & Sparrows. They’ve got a really cool selection, lots of smaller winemakers and lots of Australian stuff.
Blackhearts & Sparrows is where Issy goes to buy wine when she’s not at work. Photo: Blackhearts & Sparrows/Instagram.
When you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself, where do you go and what do you eat?
The Duxton. It’s really close to where I live and is always delicious. I’ve been trying to mix it up, but it’s usually either their cheeseburger or they used to do a good Caesar salad.
Where have you been travelling?
This time last year, I went to Europe with a large group of friends. We bounced all around: the highlight was Portugal. We went to this tiny little surf town and a place that had like eight taps of rare Portuguese beers like hazy double IPAs and a gose. It was a strange find in a tiny little town.
Tell me something you love about living in Canberra
Nature. Everything is just so beautiful here. They call it the bush capital for a reason, and I love watching the seasons change. The other thing is the weather – this summer was frightfully hot, and I love a chilly winter. Romanée is perfect for Winter too.
What book have you been reading?
I just finished a really interesting book called Mind Hunter. They based a Netflix show on it. It’s an autobiography about the guy who set up the FBI’s profiling squad. I think it’s ghostwritten, but you do really get a sense of who the guy is and his values and beliefs.
An easy one to finish, what’s your go-to coffee order?
If I’m having in, it’s a soy cap, but if I’m taking it away, it’s a soy latte cause you can’t appreciate the foam in a takeaway cup.
And before we finish, can I be lame and thank all the customers and regulars who make this place what it is? Without them, we wouldn’t have anywhere near as much fun as we do. It really feels like we’re building a community, which I love.
It’s what hospo is all about!
Find Romanée at Door 105, 16 Lonsdale St, Braddon. It’s open from Wednesday to Saturday, from 4 pm til late. Follow Romanée on Instagram.
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
