Frankies Gelato joins the throng of openings in Byron Bay
While rumours continue to swirl around Byron Bay about what the Merivale group plans to open, there's plenty of other action to keep local food-lovers and visitors interested.
The team behind Light Years, an Asian bar and diner, will open a Japanese restaurant, Moonlight, in July. It will slide into Bay Lane, behind the Beach Hotel.
Merivale will need to get motoring with its Byron plans, because the team behind Light Years and Moonlight are rolling out venues at a Hemmes-like pace.
Last week Franco Giordano, Kim Stephens and James Sutherland opened Frankies Gelato Naturale, a fusion of Italian artisanship with Australian flavours and ingredients (at shop 8, 8 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay).
With a Byron-friendly menu that is 40 per cent vegan, the early top-seller at Frankies Gelato is the pistachio flavour, made with "house-roasted" nut butter and local pistachios.
Giving it a close nudge at the gelateria counter is Golden Milk. "It's similar to turmeric latte, a fan favourite made from house-made almond milk to create a decadently creamy vegan gelato," a Frankies insider tells us.
And what of Merivale's plans after splashing $13 million buying the vacant Cheeky Monkey's backpackers bar and restaurant in the centre of town a year ago, with talk Totti's will open there.
"Totti's rumours have been flying around for a while, but the concept is still being developed," a Merivale spokesman told Good Food.
It's still a way off. Merivale doesn't expect it to open until late 2023 or early 2024.
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