Pavilion Restaurant is open for bookings from 4 July. Photos: Supplied.
The new operators of Pialligo Estate are going full steam ahead with relaunching the iconic Canberra venue.
Restaurateur Anthony Whitehouse will run the space backed by property tycoon and AFR rich lister Tony Denny. They’ve just announced that hatted chef Stefano Mondonico will take the reins as executive chef of Pavilion Restaurant: the flagship venue of Pialligo Estate.
Brazilian chef Stefano Mondonico grew up in his family’s restaurant in Rio de Janeiro before starting formal hospitality training in Milan, Italy. Since moving to Australia, he has worked with hospitality legend Matt Moran and landed himself a Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide hat in 2023 for New York Steakhouse venue Gowing.
“Growing up in the family business gave me the best culinary education I could ask for,” Mondonico said in a press release. ”There’s nothing like the positive energy I get from cooking for guests, it keeps me going every day.”
Stefano Mondonico has been named as executive chef at Pavilion Restaurant.
While Mondonico heads up Pavilion Restaurant, events, wedding and corporate catering functions will be run by Create Catering, also run by Anthony Whitehouse. The work of Create Catering will be known to Canberrans as the operator behind Olleyville at Shaw Vineyard Estate, The Gundaroo Inn and formerly Poppy’s at the Australian War Memorial.
Before the collapse of the business under previous owner John Russell in 2023, Pialligo Estate was a popular wedding and function venue.
The new team hasn’t taken on the olive grove and vineyard, but the onsite market gardener will supply the kitchen with fresh vegetables. The menu features ingredients from premium Australian products such as Pambula oysters, Snowy Mountains trout and rare-breed Wollemi duck from the Hunter Valley.
“We’re so excited at the possibilities of what Stefano Mondonico will bring to the Pavilion Restaurant at Pialligo Estate,” Mr Whitehouse said. ”His deep respect for the produce is seen in his menu, and we know Canberra will love it.”
Property tycoon Tony Denny (left) is backing restaurateur Anthony Whitehouse at Pialligo Estate.
The new menu starts with luxe offerings such as The Bird caviar with a shot of Grey Goose vodka ($38) along with vegetarian mains including Lion’s Mane mushroom steak with pistachio pesto ($36) and some whopping shared steaks from the Josper Grill (upwards of $250).
Dessert includes the indulgent and creatively named Dogs Dinner ($28), which chocolate lovers will devour, and an artisan cheese trolley at market prices.
The restaurant will launch on 4 July, with customers who visit in the first week of operation promised a complimentary glass of grand cru Champagne Jacquart. Bookings are open now.
Chef Mondonico is also slated to head up the kitchen at an upcoming Italian venue in Surry Hills (also operated by Anthony Whitehouse) named Pan Divino.
Pialligo Estate is at 18 Kallaroo Rd, Pialligo. Pavilion Restaurant will be open from 4 July, Thursday to Saturday for lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm and dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm, and on Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm for long lunches.
Visit the Pialligo Estate website to book, and follow the venue Facebook or Instagram.
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Riotact.
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