Clementine Chauvin’s first encounter with Montrachet? When it beat his Canberra eatery, Les Bistronomes, to win Best French Restaurant in the 2023 Restaurant and Catering Awards. Chauvin laughs when recounting the story. “We went to the awards night in Sydney and actually won Best European Restaurant, which we were very happy with,” he says.
“But at the same awards, Best French Restaurant went to Montrachet. “As a French person, you know, you should be happy with Best European, but a little piece of your heart wants to win the French category.” The exciting Brisbane restaurants and bars still to open in 2024 Chauvin began to follow Montrachet on social media.
Thierry Galichet opened the restaurant in 2004, and it quickly developed a loyal local following for its elevated takes on classic French dishes. And from 2015, under the ownership of Shannon Kellam, that reputation went national. So it was to the dining public’s surprise in July when Kellam placed the business into voluntary administration (despite the earlier collapse of Kellam’s BCN Events Group, which oversaw several hospitality businesses).
“I heard about the liquidation and thought, ‘I’ve had a similar restaurant in Canberra for 10 years now, and that runs like a well-oiled machine’,” Chauvin says. “So when I saw it was for sale, I didn’t think twice. “I made an offer and the offer got accepted.
” Chauvin relaunches Montrachet this week, welcoming its first guests on Tuesday. “The.
