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Matt McConnell

Bar Lourinhã

Matt McConnell

Matt McConnell is the executive chef and co-owner of Bar Lourinhã, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday. Matt has been at the center of Melbourne’s thriving bar and dining culture for the past decade and is one of Melbourne’s most loved and respected chefs.

After an extended journey through Europe, where he spent time with family exploring the simple beauty found in shared farm feasts and country cooking, Matt returned home to Melbourne in 2006 to open the popular Bar Lourinhã.

Prior to opening Bar Lourinhã, Matt ran the kitchen at the award-winning Berardo’s Restaurant and Berardo’s on the Beach in Noosa, Queensland. Here he combined his cooking and travel experiences by teaming up with local farmers and fishermen to create produce-driven seasonal menus.

An integral part of Matt’s cooking history is the time he’s dedicated to leading local cooking classes and demonstrations. He’s shared his expertise with students at Melbourne’s ‘The Essential Ingredient’ for many years and has well established his reputation as a guest chef at the highly acclaimed ‘Noosa Food & Wine Festival’ over the past ten years. His passion for local events such as ‘The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’ is also not to be forgotten!

Matt, along with business partners Simon Benjamin and Jo Gamvros, was awarded 1 Chefs Hat in the recent ‘The Age Good Food Guide 2017’. Matt was co-winner of the ‘The Age Young Chef of the Year’ in 2000 for his work alongside brother Andrew McConnell at Dining Room 211 in Fitzroy and he and his business partners received ‘The Age Donlevy Fitzpatrick Award’ for Bar Lourinhã in 2009. It’s safe to say that one decade on, Bar Lourinhã has firmly established itself as a Melbourne bar and dining institution.

Having manned the pans at some of Australia’s top restaurants, Matt’s energy and inspiration is now firmly set on serious flavours in a fun and casual setting that best exemplifies the Iberian & Mediterranean passion and spirit for eating and drinking.

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