Maroochydore restaurants: Italian granny inspires authentic Ocean St trattoria

A retired Italian granny who thought her days of operating restaurants were over has partnered with a Sunshine Coast restaurateur to celebrate her long-held family recipes.

A retired Italian granny has partnered with a prominent restaurateur to open a traditional trattoria at the Sunshine Coast’s night life precinct in Maroochydore.

Liliana Kain, 71, thought her days of operating dining establishments were over until she was recently approached by Junk owner Scott Hoskins, with an idea to celebrate her long-held family recipes.

Liliana’s Trattoria will open in July with classic home-style Italian dishes inspired by Nonna Liliana, including wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta.

The mother of three emigrated to Australia at the age of seven where her father worked between farms on the Sunshine Coast hinterland and Innisfail in North Queensland.

She and her late husband Kip raised three children and with his skills as a baker they ran establishments including Danillo’s on Ocean St in the 90s, Cafe 21 on Bulcock St, Caloundra, and Kip’s Hot Bread in King St, Cotton Tree in 1972.

Italian nonna Liliana Kain has partnered with Scott Hoskins to open Liliana's Trattoria at Ocean St, Maroochydore.

“I had no thought of getting back into the hospitality industry but when Scott Hoskins approached me to share my recipes for his new venture on Ocean Street it really reignited a flame for me as I could share my passion for the authentic flavours which have been passed onto me from my mother and grandmother,” Ms Kain said.

“This is food from the heart, simple but delicious recipes which people just crave because they are authentic and flavoursome. Most of the pasta is handmade in-house and learnt first-hand from my cousin Giuseppe who is a pizzaiolo in Italy.”

The restaurant will be located at Ocean St at the space where Mr Hoskin previously operated Woodhouse BBQ with Lucas Doocey.

Retired Italian granny Liliana Kain has inspired a new restaurant at Maroochydore.

While Mr Hoskin’s team would be in charge of the kitchen, Ms Kain said she should would drop in regularly to chat to the diners.

They plan to eventually offer cooking classes too with Liliana.

“We want to create the traditional Italian family get together so it’s less about formalities and more about the food and having a good time,” she said.

Mr Hoskins has been a long-time family friend of the Kain family and has experienced the genuine authenticity of their food.

Long-held family recipes will be shared with diners at Liliana’s Trattoria, to open in July at Ocean St, Maroochydore.

“This is a really exciting project for our business,” he said.

“We’ve worked on some incredible recipes with Liliana and we are confident that we can replicate many of her incredible dishes including her traditional meatballs (polpette), gnocchi, lasagne as well as a number of desserts.

“Many of these dishes will be available in gluten free meals and we will also have a well-stocked range of Italian wines.

“As far as we know this is the first Italian trattoria on Ocean St and I think it will be hugely popular for families looking for an affordable yet authentic dining experience as well as the younger market wanting a decent meal before they party on Ocean Street.”

Liliana’s will be located at Shop 2/1-5 Ocean St, Maroochydore, and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6.30am.

Originally published as Maroochydore restaurants: Italian granny inspires authentic Ocean St trattoria