They’re used to supplying Canberra and its many restaurants and cafes with huge boxes of fresh produce but now the Ianelli brothers are handing it over in much smaller boxes: lunch boxes.
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The brothers behind fresh produce store The Food Forum in Belconnen have taken over a sizeable chunk of Civic’s No Name Lane to launch new food destination Terra, a canteen-style, produce-driven cafe open for breakfast and lunch.
Terra, which officially opened Tuesday, offers an ever-changing menu, featuring straight-off-the-spit smoked and charcoal meats, gourmet lunch rolls, seasonal roasted vegetables, fresh salads and juices, and specialty coffee.
Brothers Anthony and Marcus Iannelli have joined forces with Sung Son, ex-sous chef at Hartsyard (Sydney) and a former client of The Food Forum, to open Terra.
According to Son, the menu at Terra “could change as often as daily”, depending on the best produce sourced on any given day.
“Terra’s point of difference is its access to quality seasonal produce," Son said.
"And this comes from the long-standing relationships the Iannelli brothers have built with local growers and providores through The Food Forum.
“We're all foodies who love to experiment with flavours and host people for a great meal. We want to create food that’s healthy enough to eat a few times a week, and delicious enough to want to.
"We’ve made our own pickled vegetables, jams and chilli sauce fresh in-house and ready to serve."
Anthony Iannelli described the Terra menu as "a collaboration".
"It stems from what we enjoy eating and would like to see more of in the Canberra food scene," he said.
"If it looks great at the markets, it'll be on our menu.”
Terra's four-and-a-half metre island bench, stacked with fresh market produce, is its piece de resistance - allowing customers to "build" their own lunch boxes to eat-in or takeaway. For those not keen to DIY, the Terra cheese steak with scotch fillet, provolone cheese, capsicum, onion and house-pickled chillies is an option.
For breakfast, a range of easy grab-and-go options - displayed on the island bench - is available, along with an open ice bar, including freshly baked pastries and muffins, protein snacks, and unique fresh juice and smoothie combinations.
Terra's earthy green and raw concrete finishes, and reclaimed timber tables and bench seating, reflect the team's focus on natural resources.
Marcus Ianelli said he searched the nation for brews and blends to suit Terra and decided on Melbourne’s Dukes Speciality Roasters, as the brand aligned with "the Terra food concept of what’s seasonally best".
Sam Carlini (ex Molly, Highball Express) joins the team as Terra’s venue manager.
Terra, No Name Lane, 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra city. Open Monday to Friday, 7.30am-4pm and Saturday, 8am-4pm. For more: www.terracanberra.com.au
