MasterChef Australia finalist Laura Sharrad and husband Max to take over former Rigoni’s site on Leigh St
MasterChef finalist and Adelaide restaurateur Laura Sharrad and husband Max have announced their next big food challenge – taking over a famed, but recently, closed CBD dining spot.
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The worst-kept secret in Adelaide hospitality has been confirmed with MasterChef finalist Laura Sharrad set to launch a new eatery in the old Rigoni’s site on Leigh Street.
As reported in The Advertiser earlier this week, Sharrad and her chef husband Max will expand their Nido brand with a new 185-person Italian restaurant called Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room.
“Super excited to announce a little secret... we’re having another (restaurant) baby,” said Sharrad, who currently runs pasta-focused Nido on King William Road in Hyde Park with Max.
“My experience on Masterchef this year made me realise that I wanted to own another business - I want to venture out and do even more.
“I like the direction of this new project, because Nido is all about what Max and I grew up eating, and I like to think this new one will be a bit more of a flex, somewhere you can dress up and make an occasion of it.
“It’ll be a bit more modern, a bit more sophisticated. Influenced but not bound by tradition.”
Sharrad will compete against Emelia Jackson and Reynold Poernomo in the MasterChef finale on Sunday and Monday night. The winner will walk away with $250,000.
An Adelaide institution for more than 60 years, Rigoni’s closed last June.
Rigoni’s Bistro began trading as Rigoni’s Cafe in 1956 in Moonta St near the Central Market before moving to Leigh St in 1979, becoming the lunch venue of choice for the state’s politicians and powerbrokers.
The Sharrads are teaming up with Adelaide restaurateur and Nido partner Simon Kardachi for the new venture which is expected to open early next year.