Alatonero’s little sister Lorida brings high end Greek food to Main St, Mornington
A delicious dessert mashup is the signature dish at a new Mornington Peninsula’s eatery — and the perfect foil on a menu celebrating the 1950s Athenian taverna.
South East
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Restaurateur Jacqui Poulier is bringing the glamour and sophistication of 1950s Athens to Mornington.
“The concept has been kicking around in my head for a long time,” Ms Poulier said.
“I wanted to create a Greek taverna that celebrated Athens.
“Back in the day the city was really glamorous and filled with well-dressed, well-mannered people with good taste and plenty of money.”
The venue – Lorida – will encourage shared dining with a menu of small bites and shared plates.
“It’s the kind of food I want to cook,” Ms Poulier said.
“Everything is made from scratch using quality ingredients.”
Lorida is Poulier’s second Greek inspired restaurant with the first – Alatonero – opening in McCrae about three years ago.
That venue is a tribute to Santorini and the space is bright and breezy with a blue and white theme.
Ms Poulier said Lorida’s fit out was very different.
“It’s very sophisticated with blue velvet booths and terrazzo tiles,” she said.
“The menu is a meatier too.”
Guests can graze through mezze such as fetta and leek cigars on smoked yoghurt, Cypriot meatballs with fennel and orange salad, saganaki, calamari and chargrilled octopus.
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Larger plates include slow roasted lamb shoulder, a metre long pork and fennel sausage, yemista (slow roasted capsicum and tomato stuffed with rice and herbs) and local mussels cooked in garlic, white wine and tomato.
Greek sweets are also celebrated thanks to a show stopping baklava cheesecake and flavour bombs in the shape of lemon curd filled loukoumades (Greek doughnuts).
Lorida opened Saturday February 2 at 92 Main St, Mornington.