Sean McConnell leaves Monster to open Rebel Rebel
Chef Sean McConnell is leaving Monster Kitchen and Bar to set out on his own. He won’t be going very far however, taking over the space formerly occupied by TwentyOne Cafe and Grocery to head up new venture Rebel Rebel.
He’s presided over the menus in the precinct for seven years now, at Monster, and Mocan and Green Grout, and said it feels great to be sticking around.
“I've forged some pretty good connections and relationships here,” he says.
“I think I know what the precinct wants and expects and needs.”
When the site became vacant earlier this year McConnell started thinking about what his next challenge might be.
“I love Monster, Monster has been an incredible journey for me and I’ve invested a lot of myself into the property and I'm sad to go but it's time to take that next step.”
Aiming for a November launch, he said Rebel Rebel will feature all day dining with a range of share plates, a wine bar and a bottle shop.
“It's kind of respecting the site’s former role,” he said.
“TwentyOne was the only place you could grab a bottle of wine in the New Acton precinct and I felt the precinct needed it.
“The space was there and we wanted to have a big focus on wine so we thought it would work well.”
He said Dan Flatt who has been head chef at Monster for the past four years, working with McConnell, would take over the reins at Monster.
“I’m leaving it in great hands and I know Dan will do a great job.”
It’s the first business venture together for his wife Jenny and him and he’s looking forward to them “making all the decisions”.
“Most importantly I can't wait to be cooking the food I love in my own restaurant … modern Australian with a European lean I guess.”
McConnell loves Canberra. Jenny is originally from Canberra and the pair moved here 12 years ago after a stint in the Pacific Islands and have raised their young family here.
“I’m a huge supporter of Canberra, it’s a great place.”
McConnell has his fair share of supporters too who can’t wait to see what Rebel Rebel brings.