THE man who inspired E’Cucina Restaurant and Balthazar Restaurant is embarking on a new venture in Leederville.
THE man who inspired E’Cucina Restaurant and Balthazar Restaurant is embarking on a new venture in Leederville.
Nic Trimboli hopes to open Duende, a new 70-seat restaurant, situated at the corner of Newcastle Street and Carr Place in Leederville, by November.
The restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the new Remax commercial development.
“I’ve been looking to do something for a while and Leederville was definitely something I was looking at and this particular site came across my desk,” he said.
“ I like the presence of the building and the fact that it is on that corner; it’s quite European.”
With design and fit-out work in the very early stages, Mr Trimboli said no firm decisions had yet been taken on the restaurant’s look and style.
“Until the liquor licence is approved we can’t push any buttons. Once it’s approved and it goes through, OK, we should have an October or November opening,” he said.
“It’s not going to be a Balthazar. It will create its own identity. It will though have a commitment to great produce and be a place with quality food and wine.”
Mr Trimboli is currently searching for a head chef that will help with kitchen and menu design.
While he admits the planning and design stage of a new venture can be difficult, it’s a skill Mr Trimboli said he was confident he had acquired through a long history in hospitality.
Currently a Little Creatures Brewery director, he launched E’Cucina 10 years ago and sold it to current owner Stephen Smith almost two years ago.
Running two establishments at the same time is not unfamiliar territory for Mr Trimboli, having launched Balthazar five years ago and operating it for a period of time in tandem with E’Cucina.
Current Balthazar assistant manager Michelle Hoess will take up the role as Duende manager in addition to helping Mr Trimboli decide on possible design concepts.
And she’s done her homework on the new venture.
“Duende is the time in a flamenco dance when the dancers get lost in the moment, they lose control of themselves in the moment,” Ms Hoess said.
“It’s sub-culture term that refers to an ecstatic state. It is passionate and evocative and we like words that have meaning but don’t categorise the restaurant.”
