Mystery surrounds disgraced chef Leonardo Loureiro’s future at his Adelaide restaurant after pleading guilty to domestic violence charge
An Adelaide chef is no longer in charge of the acclaimed restaurant he helped launch – but is he still a part-owner of the business?
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A celebrity chef who admitted to abusing his ex-partner is no longer operating the Adelaide restaurant he helped launch – but it’s still unclear if he remains a part-owner of the business.
Nina restaurant co-founder Leonardo Loureiro faced court in January over choking allegations made by his ex-girlfriend and former business partner, Brenda Loveday.
Earlier this month, the Seaton chefpleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault without a weapon, however the allegations he choked her were not proceeded with.
This week, Jessica Purcell, who teamed up with Mr Loureiro and Ms Loveday to open the tapas-style city eatery in October 2023, announced that she had become the venue’s sole owner-operator.
But when asked by The Advertiser if Mr Loureiro was still an owner – or if he would remain so going forward – Ms Purcell said she was “not in a position” to confirm.
“To clarify, I’m currently leading the day-to-day operations at Niña, while also seeking professional advice on how to manage the company’s structure moving forward,” she said.
“There are still some formal matters being worked through, so I’m not in a position to confirm further details just yet.”
In the statement she released on Wednesday night, Ms Purcell she had taken “operational leadership” of the business.
“I want to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, whilst also affirming my commitment to the team, our guests, and the values we uphold at Niña,” Ms Purcell wrote in the statement, that was also shared to Instagram.
“(I) will support our staff as we focus on fostering a respectful, professional and inclusive culture.“I’ve taken steps to ensure our operations reflect those values, and I remain dedicated to providing an outstanding experience for our guests.”
Ms Purcell thanked the community for its support, as the team begins to “navigate the future with an invigorated purpose”.
“Our team is passionate about what we do, and we are looking ahead with strength,” she wrote.
Mr Loureiro’s presence on the restaurant’s official Instagram account has also been curtailed with several of his photos removed from their grid.
Mr Loureiro pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault without a weapon in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on April 17.
A second count of the charge, and one of choking, suffocating or strangling a person in a domestic setting has been withdrawn by prosecutors.
The court heard Mr Loureiro assaulted Ms Loveday on July 21, 2024 and the offence was aggravated by the fact he was knowingly in or previously in a relationship with her.
Mr Loureiro was remanded on continuing bail, and the matter will return to court in June, where Ms Loveday will have the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement.
Ms Loveday parted ways with the restaurant in March.
Following Mr Loureiro’s guilty plea, Ms Loveday, who runs food blog and social media page Freaky Feeds, shared a message to her Instagram thanking the “hundreds of messages filled with love and support” she’s received since speaking out.
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Originally published as Mystery surrounds disgraced chef Leonardo Loureiro’s future at his Adelaide restaurant after pleading guilty to domestic violence charge
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