Restaurant Profile: Justine Grill

Address: 54 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill, NSW 

Answered by: Marcello Guzzo

What's one food you can't live without? A good spaghetti Bolognese with a lot of parmesan cheese can make me very happy! It brings me back to my childhood. My grandmother Justina (who the restaurant is named after) used to cook a delicious spaghetti Bolognese for our family.

What is an ingredient you couldn't live without? Why? Olive oil and herbs; technically two ingredients, but I couldn't live without either. This is the base of my kitchen, in that it brings all the flavours and freshness together you find in my dishes.

What food fad do you see being popularised next? South American food. The variety of products and flavours are amazing and some chefs are already starting to introduce the cultural foods and flavours with traditional culinary techniques and in dishes. It's fusion cooking at its best.

What's the design/atmosphere of your restaurant? It is a beautiful cottage sandstone heritage house. The interior is modern and casual to make people feel like it is just an extension of their own homes. Hunters Hill is a great area rich with history, so we want to remember that but also add our own touch and vibe to it.

Who is serving/cooking and what makes them special? Most of people cooking in our restaurant are Brazilian and Italian. We don't need to tell you the passion and love going into that food! Co-owner Luiza who also doubles as the host really makes our guests feel welcome. We're a small and passionate team, committed to providing a great all 'round experience to our customers. Dining out should be fun, and that's what we're all about.

Where do you eat out? I'm sure any chef will tell you that when you finally get a night off you prefer to spend it in your own home versus being out and about at dinner. While we do love to dine out in Sydney, I simply can't beat a night at home with Luiza's home-style cooking. Or a family trip to the Sydney Fish Markets to see what the catch of that day is then usually taking it straight home to the BBQ.

What should I order when I come down? Our snapper served with tropical crumble and champagne and caviar sauce or the Moqueca. These are two of our dishes that you must try when you come down. The desserts are pretty great too!