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

$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.

REVIEWFood

The Shared Table Buninyong. Picture: Matt Ray Photography.

Posh Buninyong restaurant’s ‘pub era’ is a genius move

When the pub closed down for renovations in this country town near Ballarat, a posh restaurant stepped up and the move is paying off in the food stakes.

Food

Restaurant Terrae has just opened at Hotel Ernest in Bendigo.

Pasta is king at Bendigo’s hot new Euro restaurant

The team behind Ballarat’s posh hotel restaurant Babae has just launched a more casual, “loosely European” all-day eatery in Bendigo where pasta is king.

ExclusiveFood

Chicken takeaway chain El Jannah is hatching plans for fast food domination, with ambitious plans to take on McDonald's and KFC to rule the roost.

Chicken chain takes on Maccas, KFC in cut-throat fast food wars

Fast food chicken chain El Jannah has ambitious plans to rule the roost of Australia’s cut-throat fast-food market — hatching several new stores as it prepares to take on Maccas for store domination.

Food

Marmello is opening in Melbourne's CBD next week.

Portuguese restaurant’s cheeky nod to Nando’s

There’s a lot more to Portuguese food than flame-grilled chicken, but chef Ross Lusted couldn’t help himself and has created a special dish “for the Nando’s lovers” at his new city restaurant.

ExclusiveNSW

Sydney chicken chain’s ambitious plans to take over Melbourne

Fast food chicken chain El Jannah has ambitious plans to rule the roost in the Bleak City’s cutthroat fast-food market — hatching several new stores in the coming weeks.

REVIEWFood

Is Il Mercato still worth the hype two-months on?

After the media hype dust settled, Herald Sun food critic Kara Monssen returned to the city’s Italian mega-market to see whether it’s worth your time and money. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Food

Is this sandwich making you sleepy?

What do popular Melbourne cafes Hector’s Deli and Lune have in common? One Canadian podcaster is using their menus to help put thousands of people to sleep world wide.

Food

Alice Zaslavsky in A Bite to Eat with Alice. Picture: ABC

TV cook’s budget safe kitchen hacks to ‘reinvent’ dinner time

TV cook Alice Zaslavsky is sharing her best budget friendly dinner hacks that’ll have you praising frozen veg, Sloppy Joes and that old tin of curry powder in the pantry.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/kara-irving/page/3