Ormeggio team opens Vineria Luisa in Enmore with a focus on G&Ts and ‘best ever' lasagne
Previous SlideNext Slide
With a facade that's barely been touched for 70 years, the former home of Marie-Louise Salon – and more recently Bar Louise from the Porteno team – will attract all eyes in Enmore this week when Anna and Alessandro Pavoni will relaunch the iconic inner-west site as Vineria Luisa.
The downstairs bar at Luisa, on Enmore Road, opens today, followed by the first-floor dining room on Thursday. It's equal parts vineria and gintoneria, and Alessandro Pavoni says they've tapped the gin boom happening in Italy over the past decade, with gin from around the globe, gin-based cocktails and house-made tonics, not to mention a 'Euro-centric' wine list.
But it's food Pavoni is best known for, with a growing stable of venues that sweep Ormeggio at The Spit, a'Mare at Crown Sydney and Postino Osteria in nearby Summer Hill. Pavoni says he's flexing some Italian muscle and exploring new territory with Vineria Luisa's opening menu.
Buoyed by the adventurousness of locals at Postino Osteria, where tripe is a popular headline ingredient, Vineria Luisa will push the gondola out further on offal by way of tonnarelli with chicken giblets, heart, liver and tomato sugo. The chef describes the pasta as 'fashionable in Rome'. Meanwhile, the frittatina of spaghetti alla nerano is a dish seldom seen in Sydney. Eggs are added to day-old pasta with zucchini and the resulting frittata is finished with provolone cream and more zucchini.
Also: strudel. 'Nobody does strudel in Italian restaurants, but you find it in the north of Italy,' says Pavoni, describing it as lighter than the strudels common to Central Europe. The dessert menu will also travel closer to the toe of Italy's boot with a Sicilian almond gelato infused with orange oil.
There's still plenty of familiarity on the opening menu, however, and Pavoni is backing the 'best ever' lasagne to be a Vineria Luisa favourite. 'Not too dry, not too wet,' he said. The pothole of lasagne failings, he says, is using meat that's too lean.
Other dishes include tuna crudo with pickled onion and cannellini beans; a wild greens pie with roots in Emilia-Romagna; and salted and fried ling fish cooked in sugo with pine nuts and sultanas.
When the Pavonis and long-term business partner Bill Drakopoulos acquired the Enmore Road site in March, it had already undergone a sizeable renovation, so a major refit wasn't required. Drakopoulos' interior designer son Perry Drakopoulos was brought in to give the space a 'more feminine' edge, though.
'Perry had recently done (Greek restaurant) Akti at Woolloomooloo,' says Anna Pavoni. 'He's grown up in hospo, and has done a great job,'
There are now frilly skirts on the chairs, which are painted mocha brown on the ground level and green upstairs. Perry Drakopoulos says the room, with its booths and hidden corners, is 'mafia in an elegant way.' Spot the Frank Sinatra album cover on one of the walls.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Bono survived on instant mashed potato and leftover airline food during his teenage years
Bono was so poor as a teenager that he lived off instant mashed potato and leftover airline food. The U2 frontman was just 14 when his mother Iris died and explained that times were so tough that he had to survive on the surplus food his older brother Norman brought back from the airport where he worked. Speaking on Ruthie's Table 4 podcast, Bono, 65, said: "After my mother died I would usually return home with a tin of meat, a tin of beans and a packet of Cadbury's Smash (instant mashed potato). "Thinking back to being a teenager, food was just fuel." The With or Without You rocker explained that he spent money for food on "far more important" things like records. Bono – whose real name is Paul Hewson - said: "I would spend my food money on things far more important like Alice Cooper's Hello Hooray. "The house was two miles away from the runway where my brother Norman worked for Aer Lingus. He had talked them into allowing him to bring home the surplus food from the airline. This was highly exotic fare. "Gammon steak and pineapple, an Italian dish called lasagne that we'd never heard of or one where rice was no longer a milk pudding but a savoury experience with peas." Bono described how he got to taste a vast array of delicious food once he found fame with U2. He said: "We were blessed with the gift of getting a manager who loved food and wine as much as he did music. Record companies would give us per diems, which means they pay for you to stay in a hotel up in Manchester or wherever after we had played. "But we wouldn't stay in the hotel and we would drive back and save up our per diems and use them in nice restaurants." Meanwhile, Bono revealed that he once ate a meal meant for his dog as he craved meat when his wife Ali Hewson turned vegetarian. The Irish singer recalled: "I recall coming home on the weekend and she was cooking. And I remember getting this beautiful smell of beef. "I thought, 'Oh my God, she's cooking beef for me and she's vegetarian. This is amazing.' "And I walked in and said, 'What are you cooking?' "She said, 'That's not for us. That's the dog's dinner'... And I ate it."
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Food Bites: Lake Macquarie local in MasterChef: Back to Win top 8
If you're not watching MasterChef Australia: Back to Win right now, you're missing out on some world-class cooking from the top eight contestants. One of them is Lake Macquarie pharmacist, cook and mother-of-two Depinder Chhibber, who bowled over the judges with her decadent Raj Kachori in a recent episode. She's a popular contestant, and for good reason. Talking to her on Monday, I was struck by her intellect, her sense of humour, and her generosity of spirit ... not to mention her cooking talent. I'll be sharing the finer details of our chat in a Saturday Weekender soon. Depinder moved to Australia from India at the age of 11 and grew up in the suburbs of Lake Macquarie, attending St Paul's Catholic College at Booragul and Merewether High School. She still resides in the area with her family and works part-time as a pharmacist. Also, Depinder's intimate supper club, Ghar, is up and running again and already booked out until October ... details are on her socials. MasterChef Australia: Back to Win airs Sunday at 7pm, and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on 10. I stopped by QT Newcastle last week to meet Jana Restaurant & Bar's new executive chef, Carmine Mari, and sample his southern Italian-influenced menu. There's a lot of love in his cooking. Each dish is a nod to family, culture and tradition. It makes him proud to share the food he grew up with, you can tell. The thin-sliced roasted veal girello and tuna sauce with capers, pickled onion and croutons, as a starter, was a stand-out. I also loved the tuna crudo with blood orange, capers, Spanish onion and crispy shallot, and the burrata with ciambotta. The QT Lasagna with mortadella, zucchini, pistachio, smoked provolone and chilli potato gnocchi, and the potato gnocchi with Manjimup Black Truffle, sauteed field mushroom and parmesan? Wow. Then there was the delightful half-roast chicken with chicory, fregola, panchetta and jus gras pork cotoletta, and the dry-aged duck breast with roast beetroot, celeriac puree and Hunter Valley red wine reduction. Do yourself a favour and book a table for dinner. Babbingtons Restaurant & Bar at the Apollo International Hotel in Charlestown is turning 40. It's hosted countless special occasions over four decades, and is a bit of a hidden gem, really. Favourable word of mouth leads many a curious diner there. "Babbingtons has always been more than just a restaurant - it's a place where memories are made," said Apollo's sales and marketing co-ordinator Maree Bendeich. "We've had the privilege of being part of our guests' special moments for decades, and we're looking forward to being part of many more to come." To mark this 40-year milestone, Babbingtons is hosting a cocktail celebration from 6pm on Friday, August 16, and you're invited. Phonic Duo will be performing, and there will be wine tastings by Oatley Wines. Tickets are $40 and include a limited-edition glass to take home as a keepsake. Book now through Sticky Tickets or email sales@ Comedian Merrick Watts is bringing An Idiot's Guide to Wine: Volume 2 to Newcastle's Spiegeltent on September 13 and 14. He's a qualified wine expert who judges at some of the most prestigious wine shows around the country, and on the night will be introducing people to six stand-out Australian wines, sharing tasting notes and snack pairings as well as plenty of highly questionable words of wisdom. Tickets are on sale now. Real McCoy, via VOK Beverages, recently sent me an interesting pitch: "Not all whiskeys are made for quiet reflection. Some are built to show up bold, smooth, and ready to turn any night into a good one." Intrigued, I sampled two of their new flavoured whiskey liqueurs, the Real McCoy Salted Caramel and the Real McCoy Buttered Popcorn. The Salted Caramel is silky and rich, with notes of creamy vanilla, toasty caramel, and a touch of sea salt, layered with hints of oak and butterscotch. A fine addition to an espresso martini. The Buttered Popcorn blends vanilla, caramel and butter with toasted oak, and works well with a whiskey sour. "With Real McCoy, we set out to redefine what a whiskey liqueur could be," brand manager Joh Einarson said. "We've focused on bold but balanced flavours crafted to be layered, versatile and genuinely enjoyable." It gets people talking at a social gathering, that's for sure. Details at Paired at Peregrin returns to The Beach Hotel at Merewether next Friday, July 25. This time around, the popular long-table dinner is a five-course truffle degustation featuring Gilbert Family Wines and Oakshade Truffles. Winemaker Will Gilbert and Oakshade Truffles owner Matt will share the passion and craft behind their produce, and you'll receive a drink on arrival. Tickets are $155 per person at And here's a sneak peek at the menu, which includes beef cheek and truffle vol-au-vent with shaved fresh truffle and pecorino; traditionelle half-shell scallop with pork belly and truffle polenta; prawn and truffle raviolo with truffle-cured egg yolk and burnt butter sauce; and lamb wellington with chard leaves, prosciutto, truffle and shiraz jus. Yum. Pilgrim's Pizzas has opened at 21 Main Road, Boolaroo. And, speaking of, Parks Bistro at Boolaroo Sports Club has a new, budget-friendly lunch specials menu. Goodtime Burgers are back at The Exchange for one weekend only, July 25 to 27. The Flotilla's new Late Winter Menu has launched. Fermento Pizza Joint has opened at 436 Maitland Road, Mayfield. Esca Bimbadgen is hosting a 1920s-inspired Speakeasy night on Friday, July 25. If you're not watching MasterChef Australia: Back to Win right now, you're missing out on some world-class cooking from the top eight contestants. One of them is Lake Macquarie pharmacist, cook and mother-of-two Depinder Chhibber, who bowled over the judges with her decadent Raj Kachori in a recent episode. She's a popular contestant, and for good reason. Talking to her on Monday, I was struck by her intellect, her sense of humour, and her generosity of spirit ... not to mention her cooking talent. I'll be sharing the finer details of our chat in a Saturday Weekender soon. Depinder moved to Australia from India at the age of 11 and grew up in the suburbs of Lake Macquarie, attending St Paul's Catholic College at Booragul and Merewether High School. She still resides in the area with her family and works part-time as a pharmacist. Also, Depinder's intimate supper club, Ghar, is up and running again and already booked out until October ... details are on her socials. MasterChef Australia: Back to Win airs Sunday at 7pm, and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on 10. I stopped by QT Newcastle last week to meet Jana Restaurant & Bar's new executive chef, Carmine Mari, and sample his southern Italian-influenced menu. There's a lot of love in his cooking. Each dish is a nod to family, culture and tradition. It makes him proud to share the food he grew up with, you can tell. The thin-sliced roasted veal girello and tuna sauce with capers, pickled onion and croutons, as a starter, was a stand-out. I also loved the tuna crudo with blood orange, capers, Spanish onion and crispy shallot, and the burrata with ciambotta. The QT Lasagna with mortadella, zucchini, pistachio, smoked provolone and chilli potato gnocchi, and the potato gnocchi with Manjimup Black Truffle, sauteed field mushroom and parmesan? Wow. Then there was the delightful half-roast chicken with chicory, fregola, panchetta and jus gras pork cotoletta, and the dry-aged duck breast with roast beetroot, celeriac puree and Hunter Valley red wine reduction. Do yourself a favour and book a table for dinner. Babbingtons Restaurant & Bar at the Apollo International Hotel in Charlestown is turning 40. It's hosted countless special occasions over four decades, and is a bit of a hidden gem, really. Favourable word of mouth leads many a curious diner there. "Babbingtons has always been more than just a restaurant - it's a place where memories are made," said Apollo's sales and marketing co-ordinator Maree Bendeich. "We've had the privilege of being part of our guests' special moments for decades, and we're looking forward to being part of many more to come." To mark this 40-year milestone, Babbingtons is hosting a cocktail celebration from 6pm on Friday, August 16, and you're invited. Phonic Duo will be performing, and there will be wine tastings by Oatley Wines. Tickets are $40 and include a limited-edition glass to take home as a keepsake. Book now through Sticky Tickets or email sales@ Comedian Merrick Watts is bringing An Idiot's Guide to Wine: Volume 2 to Newcastle's Spiegeltent on September 13 and 14. He's a qualified wine expert who judges at some of the most prestigious wine shows around the country, and on the night will be introducing people to six stand-out Australian wines, sharing tasting notes and snack pairings as well as plenty of highly questionable words of wisdom. Tickets are on sale now. Real McCoy, via VOK Beverages, recently sent me an interesting pitch: "Not all whiskeys are made for quiet reflection. Some are built to show up bold, smooth, and ready to turn any night into a good one." Intrigued, I sampled two of their new flavoured whiskey liqueurs, the Real McCoy Salted Caramel and the Real McCoy Buttered Popcorn. The Salted Caramel is silky and rich, with notes of creamy vanilla, toasty caramel, and a touch of sea salt, layered with hints of oak and butterscotch. A fine addition to an espresso martini. The Buttered Popcorn blends vanilla, caramel and butter with toasted oak, and works well with a whiskey sour. "With Real McCoy, we set out to redefine what a whiskey liqueur could be," brand manager Joh Einarson said. "We've focused on bold but balanced flavours crafted to be layered, versatile and genuinely enjoyable." It gets people talking at a social gathering, that's for sure. Details at Paired at Peregrin returns to The Beach Hotel at Merewether next Friday, July 25. This time around, the popular long-table dinner is a five-course truffle degustation featuring Gilbert Family Wines and Oakshade Truffles. Winemaker Will Gilbert and Oakshade Truffles owner Matt will share the passion and craft behind their produce, and you'll receive a drink on arrival. Tickets are $155 per person at And here's a sneak peek at the menu, which includes beef cheek and truffle vol-au-vent with shaved fresh truffle and pecorino; traditionelle half-shell scallop with pork belly and truffle polenta; prawn and truffle raviolo with truffle-cured egg yolk and burnt butter sauce; and lamb wellington with chard leaves, prosciutto, truffle and shiraz jus. Yum. Pilgrim's Pizzas has opened at 21 Main Road, Boolaroo. And, speaking of, Parks Bistro at Boolaroo Sports Club has a new, budget-friendly lunch specials menu. Goodtime Burgers are back at The Exchange for one weekend only, July 25 to 27. The Flotilla's new Late Winter Menu has launched. Fermento Pizza Joint has opened at 436 Maitland Road, Mayfield. Esca Bimbadgen is hosting a 1920s-inspired Speakeasy night on Friday, July 25. If you're not watching MasterChef Australia: Back to Win right now, you're missing out on some world-class cooking from the top eight contestants. One of them is Lake Macquarie pharmacist, cook and mother-of-two Depinder Chhibber, who bowled over the judges with her decadent Raj Kachori in a recent episode. She's a popular contestant, and for good reason. Talking to her on Monday, I was struck by her intellect, her sense of humour, and her generosity of spirit ... not to mention her cooking talent. I'll be sharing the finer details of our chat in a Saturday Weekender soon. Depinder moved to Australia from India at the age of 11 and grew up in the suburbs of Lake Macquarie, attending St Paul's Catholic College at Booragul and Merewether High School. She still resides in the area with her family and works part-time as a pharmacist. Also, Depinder's intimate supper club, Ghar, is up and running again and already booked out until October ... details are on her socials. MasterChef Australia: Back to Win airs Sunday at 7pm, and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on 10. I stopped by QT Newcastle last week to meet Jana Restaurant & Bar's new executive chef, Carmine Mari, and sample his southern Italian-influenced menu. There's a lot of love in his cooking. Each dish is a nod to family, culture and tradition. It makes him proud to share the food he grew up with, you can tell. The thin-sliced roasted veal girello and tuna sauce with capers, pickled onion and croutons, as a starter, was a stand-out. I also loved the tuna crudo with blood orange, capers, Spanish onion and crispy shallot, and the burrata with ciambotta. The QT Lasagna with mortadella, zucchini, pistachio, smoked provolone and chilli potato gnocchi, and the potato gnocchi with Manjimup Black Truffle, sauteed field mushroom and parmesan? Wow. Then there was the delightful half-roast chicken with chicory, fregola, panchetta and jus gras pork cotoletta, and the dry-aged duck breast with roast beetroot, celeriac puree and Hunter Valley red wine reduction. Do yourself a favour and book a table for dinner. Babbingtons Restaurant & Bar at the Apollo International Hotel in Charlestown is turning 40. It's hosted countless special occasions over four decades, and is a bit of a hidden gem, really. Favourable word of mouth leads many a curious diner there. "Babbingtons has always been more than just a restaurant - it's a place where memories are made," said Apollo's sales and marketing co-ordinator Maree Bendeich. "We've had the privilege of being part of our guests' special moments for decades, and we're looking forward to being part of many more to come." To mark this 40-year milestone, Babbingtons is hosting a cocktail celebration from 6pm on Friday, August 16, and you're invited. Phonic Duo will be performing, and there will be wine tastings by Oatley Wines. Tickets are $40 and include a limited-edition glass to take home as a keepsake. Book now through Sticky Tickets or email sales@ Comedian Merrick Watts is bringing An Idiot's Guide to Wine: Volume 2 to Newcastle's Spiegeltent on September 13 and 14. He's a qualified wine expert who judges at some of the most prestigious wine shows around the country, and on the night will be introducing people to six stand-out Australian wines, sharing tasting notes and snack pairings as well as plenty of highly questionable words of wisdom. Tickets are on sale now. Real McCoy, via VOK Beverages, recently sent me an interesting pitch: "Not all whiskeys are made for quiet reflection. Some are built to show up bold, smooth, and ready to turn any night into a good one." Intrigued, I sampled two of their new flavoured whiskey liqueurs, the Real McCoy Salted Caramel and the Real McCoy Buttered Popcorn. The Salted Caramel is silky and rich, with notes of creamy vanilla, toasty caramel, and a touch of sea salt, layered with hints of oak and butterscotch. A fine addition to an espresso martini. The Buttered Popcorn blends vanilla, caramel and butter with toasted oak, and works well with a whiskey sour. "With Real McCoy, we set out to redefine what a whiskey liqueur could be," brand manager Joh Einarson said. "We've focused on bold but balanced flavours crafted to be layered, versatile and genuinely enjoyable." It gets people talking at a social gathering, that's for sure. Details at Paired at Peregrin returns to The Beach Hotel at Merewether next Friday, July 25. This time around, the popular long-table dinner is a five-course truffle degustation featuring Gilbert Family Wines and Oakshade Truffles. Winemaker Will Gilbert and Oakshade Truffles owner Matt will share the passion and craft behind their produce, and you'll receive a drink on arrival. Tickets are $155 per person at And here's a sneak peek at the menu, which includes beef cheek and truffle vol-au-vent with shaved fresh truffle and pecorino; traditionelle half-shell scallop with pork belly and truffle polenta; prawn and truffle raviolo with truffle-cured egg yolk and burnt butter sauce; and lamb wellington with chard leaves, prosciutto, truffle and shiraz jus. Yum. Pilgrim's Pizzas has opened at 21 Main Road, Boolaroo. And, speaking of, Parks Bistro at Boolaroo Sports Club has a new, budget-friendly lunch specials menu. Goodtime Burgers are back at The Exchange for one weekend only, July 25 to 27. The Flotilla's new Late Winter Menu has launched. Fermento Pizza Joint has opened at 436 Maitland Road, Mayfield. Esca Bimbadgen is hosting a 1920s-inspired Speakeasy night on Friday, July 25. If you're not watching MasterChef Australia: Back to Win right now, you're missing out on some world-class cooking from the top eight contestants. One of them is Lake Macquarie pharmacist, cook and mother-of-two Depinder Chhibber, who bowled over the judges with her decadent Raj Kachori in a recent episode. She's a popular contestant, and for good reason. Talking to her on Monday, I was struck by her intellect, her sense of humour, and her generosity of spirit ... not to mention her cooking talent. I'll be sharing the finer details of our chat in a Saturday Weekender soon. Depinder moved to Australia from India at the age of 11 and grew up in the suburbs of Lake Macquarie, attending St Paul's Catholic College at Booragul and Merewether High School. She still resides in the area with her family and works part-time as a pharmacist. Also, Depinder's intimate supper club, Ghar, is up and running again and already booked out until October ... details are on her socials. MasterChef Australia: Back to Win airs Sunday at 7pm, and Monday to Wednesday at 7.30pm on 10. I stopped by QT Newcastle last week to meet Jana Restaurant & Bar's new executive chef, Carmine Mari, and sample his southern Italian-influenced menu. There's a lot of love in his cooking. Each dish is a nod to family, culture and tradition. It makes him proud to share the food he grew up with, you can tell. The thin-sliced roasted veal girello and tuna sauce with capers, pickled onion and croutons, as a starter, was a stand-out. I also loved the tuna crudo with blood orange, capers, Spanish onion and crispy shallot, and the burrata with ciambotta. The QT Lasagna with mortadella, zucchini, pistachio, smoked provolone and chilli potato gnocchi, and the potato gnocchi with Manjimup Black Truffle, sauteed field mushroom and parmesan? Wow. Then there was the delightful half-roast chicken with chicory, fregola, panchetta and jus gras pork cotoletta, and the dry-aged duck breast with roast beetroot, celeriac puree and Hunter Valley red wine reduction. Do yourself a favour and book a table for dinner. Babbingtons Restaurant & Bar at the Apollo International Hotel in Charlestown is turning 40. It's hosted countless special occasions over four decades, and is a bit of a hidden gem, really. Favourable word of mouth leads many a curious diner there. "Babbingtons has always been more than just a restaurant - it's a place where memories are made," said Apollo's sales and marketing co-ordinator Maree Bendeich. "We've had the privilege of being part of our guests' special moments for decades, and we're looking forward to being part of many more to come." To mark this 40-year milestone, Babbingtons is hosting a cocktail celebration from 6pm on Friday, August 16, and you're invited. Phonic Duo will be performing, and there will be wine tastings by Oatley Wines. Tickets are $40 and include a limited-edition glass to take home as a keepsake. Book now through Sticky Tickets or email sales@ Comedian Merrick Watts is bringing An Idiot's Guide to Wine: Volume 2 to Newcastle's Spiegeltent on September 13 and 14. He's a qualified wine expert who judges at some of the most prestigious wine shows around the country, and on the night will be introducing people to six stand-out Australian wines, sharing tasting notes and snack pairings as well as plenty of highly questionable words of wisdom. Tickets are on sale now. Real McCoy, via VOK Beverages, recently sent me an interesting pitch: "Not all whiskeys are made for quiet reflection. Some are built to show up bold, smooth, and ready to turn any night into a good one." Intrigued, I sampled two of their new flavoured whiskey liqueurs, the Real McCoy Salted Caramel and the Real McCoy Buttered Popcorn. The Salted Caramel is silky and rich, with notes of creamy vanilla, toasty caramel, and a touch of sea salt, layered with hints of oak and butterscotch. A fine addition to an espresso martini. The Buttered Popcorn blends vanilla, caramel and butter with toasted oak, and works well with a whiskey sour. "With Real McCoy, we set out to redefine what a whiskey liqueur could be," brand manager Joh Einarson said. "We've focused on bold but balanced flavours crafted to be layered, versatile and genuinely enjoyable." It gets people talking at a social gathering, that's for sure. Details at Paired at Peregrin returns to The Beach Hotel at Merewether next Friday, July 25. This time around, the popular long-table dinner is a five-course truffle degustation featuring Gilbert Family Wines and Oakshade Truffles. Winemaker Will Gilbert and Oakshade Truffles owner Matt will share the passion and craft behind their produce, and you'll receive a drink on arrival. Tickets are $155 per person at And here's a sneak peek at the menu, which includes beef cheek and truffle vol-au-vent with shaved fresh truffle and pecorino; traditionelle half-shell scallop with pork belly and truffle polenta; prawn and truffle raviolo with truffle-cured egg yolk and burnt butter sauce; and lamb wellington with chard leaves, prosciutto, truffle and shiraz jus. Yum. Pilgrim's Pizzas has opened at 21 Main Road, Boolaroo. And, speaking of, Parks Bistro at Boolaroo Sports Club has a new, budget-friendly lunch specials menu. Goodtime Burgers are back at The Exchange for one weekend only, July 25 to 27. The Flotilla's new Late Winter Menu has launched. Fermento Pizza Joint has opened at 436 Maitland Road, Mayfield. Esca Bimbadgen is hosting a 1920s-inspired Speakeasy night on Friday, July 25.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
As a child, I was fascinated by clowns...' Liev Schreiber reveals inspiration for acting career
Liev Schreiber was inspired to become an actor by his passion for clowns and the circus as a child. The 57-year-old star has revealed he was always intrigued by clowns from his trips to the circus with his grandfather Alex Milgram - his mother Heather Milgram's father - and the first seeds of his career were shown when he wanted to entertain his family. In an interview with Italian publication IO Donna, he said: "As a child, I was fascinated by clowns and enjoyed entertaining my family . My mother was a bit of a hippie; she placed more importance on art than money: she was a taxi driver, and as soon as she had some, she'd spend it on taking us to the movies or the theatre." Liev insists his grandfather Alex - who emigrated to America from Ukraine and played the cello - was more of an influence and inspiration for him to go into acting than his dad, Tell Schreiber, who was an actor and theatre director. When asked what influence Tell had on him, Liev said: "Perhaps I was more inspired by the circus, where my grandfather took me. "At the exit, they sold little swords for children, and I remember playing with them in front of Madison Square Garden, thinking about The Legend of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. My parents separated when I was four, and I grew up mostly with my mother, who was a bit of a hippie socialist who even lived in squats; artistic education was more important than anything else. We went to a movie theatre on Eighth Street where they showed old black-and-white films, but I think I appreciated them more as I grew older." Liev - who has vivid memories of watching films starring Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers with his mother - is dad to 23-month-old daughter Hazel, his child with wife Taylor Neisen. The Ray Donovan star is enjoying being a father in his 50s and says children give you a solid grounding when you work in Hollywood. Liev - who has two teenage children from his relationship with British actress Naomi Watts - said: "I could have had a more relaxed life, but with a small child, you have to provide stability, respect sleep and meal times. "Children keep you grounded. When I had my first two, who are now 17 and 18, it was a strange time: my ex and I were the centre of attention, and success can make you lose your sense of reality. Children bring you back to what's truly important."
