Our Journalists

Kara MonssenFood and wine editor

Kara Monssen is the Herald Sun’s food and wine editor. She is a restaurant and wine critic, and reports food and hospitality news in Melbourne, Victoria. Kara also contributes lifestyle video content for the Herald Sun and delicious.

Kara Monssen

Latest

Food

Hotel Nacional is one rooftop you don't want to miss this summer.

Seven sun-drenched bars to try this summer

Looking for a space to enjoy snacks drinks with friends as the weather heats up? We’ve found some of the city and region’s best new bars and restaurants to tick off your list this summer.

Food

Toddy Shop by Marthanden Hotel review. Kadala. Picture: Hayden Dibb

Melbourne’s must-order restaurant dishes to try in 2025

Burgers, cheesecake and a tricked-up pavlova. Make sure these restaurant dishes are at the top of your ‘to eat’ list this year.

Food

Lucia South Melbourne. Picture: Supplied.

9 best Melbourne restaurant openings of 2024

In a whirlwind year of closures, Melbourne’s dining scene was also blessed with a slew of new openings. These are the best places to add to your eat list.

Food

Hold for Sat/Sun paper. Melbourne cook Alice Zaslavsky's veg-mas. Ex-MasterChef Australia star and cookbook author Alice Zaslavsky shares how to throw the ultimate Veg-Mas (Veggie Christmas). Picture: David Caird

How to host the ultimate plant-powered ‘Veg-mas’

Melbourne cook Alice Zaslavsky wants you to host the ultimate plant-powered Christmas lunch or dinner this festive season — and has a few hacks that’ll stop sad salads in their tracks.

Food

Gone but not forgotten: Melbourne restaurants we lost in 2024

Cost of living woes and sky-high overlays have led to the closure of many beloved Melbourne institutions this year — and some didn’t leave without putting up a fight.

Food

DJ Grant Smillie debuts new bar Marmont at Crown Melbourne. Grant, pictured with head chef Mark Tagnipez, with some dishes and drinks on offer overlooking the riverwalk/promenade. Picture: David Caird

Can a DJ be the ‘change agent’ for Crown’s restaurant revival?

DJ Grant Smillie says he can lead Crown Melbourne’s restaurant revival with his buzzy new day-to-night venue tipped to a celebrity hot spot this summer.

Food

Chef Tom Sarafian has revealed a new direction for his anticpated first restaurant, Zareh.

Dip king reveals exciting new direction for Zareh

After a “few ups and downs”, Melbourne dip king and star chef Tom Sarafian’s new restaurant project is taking shape — minus one notable hospitality group.

Food

Hotel Sorrento is launching a new rooftop in time for the summer season. Hotel Sorento director Myles Pitt and executive chef Beth Pitt raise a glass to good times. Picture: Kate Shanasy

Hotel Sorrento unveils sexy rooftop bar in time for Christmas

A breezy new rooftop bar is checking into Melbourne’s summertime playground this week — boasting impressive bay views, an ocean of seafood platters and champagne.

Food

$1 must-try Dandenong Market snack that won’t whack the wallet

Take your tastebuds on a world tour at the suburban stalwart market— and save top dollar on these 10 tasty lunch finds costing $10 or less.

Food

Title: Black Cat Truffles takeover Ballarat chef Liam Downes is making a tree change and moving to the country to takeover Black Cat Truffles. Plicture:Rob Leeson.

Shabby to chic: Ballarat chef reinvents Black Cat Truffles

A star Ballarat chef has transformed a shabby truffle farm into the ultimate foodie destination — complete with tours, degustations and brunches. And there’s more to come.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/kara-irving/page/2