NOMAD has arrived

NOMAD has arrived – a cellar door in the city where you come to learn about what is new in Australian wine and taste the best of Australian produce.

Occupying a stunning turn-of-the century warehouse at 16 Foster Street on the fringe of Surry Hills, Nomad will provide a platform for boutique Australian wine producers from regions not previously known for wine, such as Orange, Mudgee and Canberra, and who are now taking on the big boys from the Hunter and Barossa Valleys.

After returning from their sojourns into wine country Al Yazbek (formerly of Toko) and his partner Rebecca Littlemore would come back to the city wishing for just a little bit more of that cellar door vibe. “Why hasn’t anyone opened a cellar door in the city?” they thought. And with that Nomad was born.

Al and Rebecca had always coveted the Spence & Lyda site, just around the corner from Longrain. With its stunning ironwood columns and beams and soaring ceilings, they knew they had found the right site for their city cellar door.

Complementing the bones of the original building Al and Rebecca, working with architect Annie Snell, have pulled together a palette consisting of concrete, steel and more concrete that is evocative of a foundry. Among these beautiful elements sit a purpose built room that is home to Nomad’s house made cheese and charcuterie.

Situated at the heart of Nomad is the kitchen. Chef Nathan Sasi has recently returned from working at Heston Blumenthal’s London restaurant Dinner, voted the world’s ninth best restaurant. Sasi’s CV also lists the likes of Moro, also in London, and locally at Sean’s Panaroma and est. Nathan asked for a wood-fired oven and Al and Rebecca were happy to oblige, building him an oven large enough to slow cook a whole lamb or pig, as well as our own Nomad sourdough. Nathan is one happy chef.

“A revival of old world techniques such as pickling, curing, smoking, drying, fermenting, cheese making and whole animal butchering where nothing is wasted” best sums up Sasi’s ethos. “Seasonal produce is the best produce, and if you can source it direct from the producer, farmer or fisherman then more’s the better” says Sasi, who’s menu of share dishes will be garnished with flavours, spices and cooking techniques native to the Mediterranean.

Working alongside Al, Rebecca and Nathan is Master of Wine Rob Geddes. One of only 18 Masters of Wine in the country, Geddes started his career amongst the vineyards of the Clare Valley in the 1970’s and is arguably one of Australia’s pre-eminent wine communicators. Geddes will be Nomad’s MW-in- residence and what he doesn’t know about wine isn’t worth knowing!

The wines on Nomad inaugural list where chosen because they are simply the best of Australia’s boutique vineyards. "Nomad's wine list comprises wines that have been ‘grown rather made’ to show aromatic complexity and flavour detail reflecting their origins and retaining food friendliness. These wines
are medium to full bodied with natural acid, moderate alcohol and are food friendly", notes Geddes of his collaborative list with Rebecca and Mike Watt, Nomad’s restaurant manager.

Nomad is located at 16 Foster St, Surry Hills and will be open for lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Monday to Saturday and will take bookings for both, via the Nomad website – www.restaurantnomad.com.au