The culinary legend of Laura Sharrad is one of tenacity, passion, and culinary brilliance. Laura, a former finalist on MasterChef Australia, has turned her success on the show into a successful career that is currently influencing Adelaide’s dining scene. Laura is well-known for her unwavering dedication to authenticity and quality, and her restaurants, Fugazi and Nido Bar & Pasta, are revolutionizing the city’s dining scene. She is creating an empire with her husband Max that offers diners a remarkable, refined experience by embracing Italian cuisine while also honoring its historical roots.
A Path Filled with Family, Passion, and Perseverance
Laura was raised in a close-knit Italian family where cooking was a celebration rather than just a daily chore, which sparked her love of food at a young age. Her inspiration for cooking came from her nonnas, Maria and Rosa, who taught her how to make homemade pasta and preserve family recipes. With this basis, Laura followed her true passion and left a promising teaching career to work in the kitchen.
Bio and Career Information
| Name | Laura Sharrad |
|---|---|
| Position | Executive Chef and Co-owner of Fugazzi and Nido Bar & Pasta |
| Career Highlights | Runner-up on MasterChef Australia (Season 6) |
| Education | Self-taught, professional experience at Orana and Nido |
| Culinary Style | Modern Italian with a focus on quality, seasonality, and authenticity |
| Restaurants | Fugazzi (Italian, New York-style) & Nido Bar & Pasta |
| Social Media | |
| Notable Mentorship | Worked under Jock Zonfrillo at Orana |
Her passion for food and family drove her to compete on MasterChef Australia, where she placed second in season six thanks to her culinary prowess. She started to see that her future was in the kitchen, not the classroom, while she was on the show. Following the competition, she worked at Orana with famed chef Jock Zonfrillo, where she refined her craft and gained a deep appreciation for hospitality.
Fugazzi: An homage to Italian food with a contemporary twist
Fugazzi, a restaurant in the center of Adelaide, has rapidly established itself as a dining destination thanks to its amazing menu and striking New York-style Italian atmosphere. The Sharrads’ concept for Fugazzi combines classic Italian flavors with modern inspirations from their travels to create dishes that are both nostalgic and inventive. A notable dish that highlights Fugazzi’s playful yet elegant cooking style is the Roman Vegemite Finger, a unique twist on the traditional Australian spread made with anchovy, whipped butter, and lemon. It’s a flavorful bite.
You enter Fugazzi and are instantly engrossed in a familiar yet opulent atmosphere. With its brass and wood accents and eye-catching marble bar, the interior evokes the spirit of New York City’s best Italian restaurants while preserving a cozy, intimate setting. It is a place where comfort and fine dining coexist, providing a celebration-like experience with each bite.
The menu features a thoughtfully chosen blend of inventive modern creations and classic Italian fare. The menu demonstrates Laura’s ability to create elegant yet approachable dishes, from the Lasagne Pizza—a distinctive twist on the traditional lasagna, turned into a crispy, wood-fired pizza—to the Fugazzi Carbonara, a creamy combination of maccheroni, Kampot pepper, guanciale, and pecorino.
Where Pasta Dreams Come True: Nido Bar & Pasta
Nido Bar & Pasta is Laura and Max’s more laid-back but no less remarkable restaurant, while Fugazzi embodies their upscale culinary vision. Nido is a lively and lively restaurant in Hyde Park on King William Road that is ideal for special dinners as well as informal lunches. Fresh, handmade pasta is the restaurant’s specialty, and its constantly-evolving menu highlights seasonal, local ingredients.
As Laura experienced as a child, the closeness of Nido fosters a feeling of community where diners are treated like members of the Sharrads’ family. Here, Laura’s Italian heritage really comes through, whether it’s in the delectable pasta ravioli or the robust pork ragu flavors that bring back memories of the comfort food she ate growing up.
From finding fresh ingredients to giving their guests experiences they won’t soon forget, Fugazzi and Nido together embody the Sharrads’ dedication to excellence. They have a devoted following thanks to their ability to uphold the highest standards in both kitchens, which includes famous diners like Axl Rose, Jimmy Barnes, and Nigella Lawson.
Laura Sharrad’s Future: Transitioning from Chef to TV Host
Laura is broadening her culinary horizons by hosting My Market Kitchen, as if managing two prosperous restaurants wasn’t enough. Laura has the ideal opportunity to reach a wider audience by showcasing her passion for food, cooking, and travel. My Market Kitchen showcases her development as a chef and media personality, whether she’s traveling overseas for unusual culinary experiences or exploring the local food scene.
Her journey involves more than just creating profitable eateries; it also involves pushing the envelope in a field that can be extremely demanding. Laura has been able to overcome the difficulties of juggling restaurant ownership, family life, and a thriving media career thanks to her adaptability and resilience. Laura is dedicated to her team, highlighting the value of mentoring and fostering a positive work environment in the kitchen despite the demands of being a public figure and restaurateur.
Laura Sharrad: The Making of a Culinary Icon
One thing is evident as Laura’s career develops further: her dedication to authenticity and quality is unparalleled. Laura Sharrad’s restaurants have become a reflection of her love of food, her Italian heritage, and her vision for the future of Australian cuisine, whether it is through the delectable pasta at Nido or the thoughtfully chosen dishes at Fugazzi.
