Growing up on a farm may have shaped chef Scott Pickett’s relentless work ethos, but it was his grandmother Audrey who instilled his unwavering love for the culinary arts. At his new restaurant Audrey’s at The Continental Sorrento – a hotel turned dining precinct – Pickett honours his grandmother’s legacy in a setting that is thoroughly elegant. 

“My grandmother was a massive influence on us at the farm,” Pickett says. “We had pigs, cows, ducks, sheep, chickens and a massive variety of veggies, vines, and olive trees. The farm was always a part of my life growing up and I learnt to appreciate produce and the whole animal. Being so young and being surrounded by such a great environment really instilled a love for fresh Victorian produce.”

Though Audrey’s namesake may recall times spent in a rustic farm setting, the restaurant’s setting is destined to be anything but. “The fit-out of Audrey’s is going to be one of the most beautiful places to dine in Victoria – with crisp, white ceilings, sea greens, marble benchtops and a view of the bay, it will definitely leave an impression.”

Audrey’s food is set to present a celebration of the Mornington Peninsula’s plentiful produce and abundant coastline. A seafood bar will put frutti di mare at the fore, in a space where guests can watch chefs expertly prepare raw and cooked seafood dishes before it lands on their plates.

On the menu, elegant fish- and vegetable-driven dishes, including a local, grilled Kow Wee Rup white asparagus, with spanner crab, coastal sea succulents and aged John Dory with tuna marrow bordelaise, are bound to impress in their simple splendour. 

A three-course a la carte menu will be offered alongside a six-dish tasting menu that features the likes of lobster tartlets and eel melba toasts. Audrey’s chefs will hand-forage locally on the copious peninsula to source unique ingredients to elevate the menu. 

Pickett says, “One of the dishes I’m truly excited about is our Audrey’s Vacherin, using beautiful seasonal fruits such as rhubarb, one of her [his grandmother’s] favourites and something she always grew at home – spicing it heavily with ginger. The Vacherin will be a signature with seasonal changes.”

The backdrop to this warm, light-filled, coastal venue will be views over Sorrento. And, as Pickett describes, The Continental lends a historic flair to the dining experience. 

“The original Conti has some iconic features that we wanted to magnify, such as the amazing limestone and restored wooden floors. So we’ve incorporated that into the design. We didn’t want to lose the identity of the historic building that we call home.”

So what does Pickett think his grandmother would make of her new, namesake venue?

“Hopefully, she’s proud. I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time, especially since naming my South Yarra restaurant after my daughter, Matilda. I wanted to demonstrate Audrey’s spirit by really bringing a truly amazing experience filled with food and drink to the venue. Audrey always loved to cook and have a laugh – so that’s what’s most important to me.”

Related news: The Continental Sorrento announces 8 new restaurants and bars