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

30 best value wines to try under $30

Looking for a stocking stuffer or a bargain bev for the silly season? We’ve got you sorted with these homegrown hits.

Food

Cheri is the newest restaurant by the Darling Group. Picture: Julian Lallo

Five new restaurants, bars to try in Melbourne this month

French-inspired, wine-forward and located in South Melbourne? We’re sensing a trend with the city’s new restaurant and bar openings this month.

Food

Besdt thigs to eat in Melbourne this month.

5 tasty things to eat in Melbourne this November

Some seriously smart snacks, a salty dessert and superb roast chook are among the delicious things you need to try in Melbourne restaurants this month.

Food

Ink-credible Calamari salt and pepper calamari: $19.50

$12 snack worth backing at The Cup

It’s gloriously golden, perfectly salted and has crunchy bits to boot — you won’t pass up this cost-savvy snack trackside at this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Victoria

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - OCTOBER 24, 2024:Alan Yazbek, prominent restaurateur charged with having an offensive flag containing a swastika at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Ex-Nomad boss chases spiritual healing in India amid Nazi flag chaos

As disgraced former Nomad restaurant boss Al Yazbek chases spiritual healing abroad, his wife has officially taken the reigns of the troubled company as part of a stigma-shaking restructure.

ExclusiveFood

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25 2024Simona Deoregi and shef Sulav Paudel with owner Gabriele Piacentini at Italian restaurant Cucina. Cucina Toorak owner Gabriele Piacentini has ditched weekend and card surcharges to please his picky posh guests. Picture: Brendan Beckett

‘I’m not paying that’: Toorak restaurant dumps surcharges to please picky locals

Weekend and card surcharges are off the menu at a restaurant in Melbourne’s wealthiest suburb, as posh locals refuse to fork out extra.

Food

What Melbourne’s A-list will be eating inside the Birdcage

From free flowing champagne and secret tequila bars to elite cuts from a posh steakhouse — this is what society’s elite will be eating inside the exclusive Birdcage marquees.

Food

L-r mates Ryan Noreiks, Rob Libecans and Matthew Sterling. Caretaker's Cottage named 60th best bar in World's 50 Best, three good friends renovated the heritage building An unassuming, new Melbourne bar has been named in the World's 50 Best Bar list, ranking in at 60 in the longlist. Picture: Jason Edwards

Tiny CBD bar cleans up at prestigious global competition

A Melbourne bar has again been named among the world’s best — snagging a swag of awards at a prestigious global competition overnight.

Food

Restaurateur Chris Lucas and new head chef of Lucas new restaurant Batard, Adam Sanderson. Picture: David Caird

No, Chris Lucas didn’t name his new French restaurant ‘bastard’

Eight years and a rumoured $45m later, Chris Lucas is finally opening his newest venue — a four-level French behemoth in the city next month. Just don’t say the name has a crude translation.

Food

Amatrice Rooftop has opened in Cremorne.

New elevated Italian joint takes rooftop restaurants to new heights

It’s been two years in the making, now the team behind Williamstown’s Sebastian has launched a buzzy new eatery at the top of Cremorne’s tallest building.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/kara-irving/page/5