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Fitzroy's Hammer & Tong to become tapas cafe Nomada

Nola James

The Nomada team, pictured from left, Jesse Gerner, Michael Burr, Greg McFarland and Jesse McTavish.
The Nomada team, pictured from left, Jesse Gerner, Michael Burr, Greg McFarland and Jesse McTavish.Supplied

Former Kettle Black chef and co-owner Jesse McTavish has partnered with Jesse Gerner (Bomba, Anada, Green Park Dining) to turn Fitzroy's former Hammer & Tong into a daytime tapas cafe called Nomada.

Interior designer Samantha Eades, who worked on Bomba, Green Park and Kris Wood's NYC cafe Black Fox Coffee Co, is refitting the 50-seat space, adding two private dining rooms upstairs. There are plans for a rooftop deck as soon as they can get the council to play ball.

McTavish, who moved to Sydney last year to open a restaurant with ex-Vue de Monde's Cory Campbell, has temporarily returned to Melbourne to work with Gerner on the menu, although it will be co-owners Greg McFarland (ex-Kettle Black) in the kitchen and Michael Burr (Bomba, Chin Chin) front of house.

Hammer & Tong will become Nomada.
Hammer & Tong will become Nomada.Anu Kumar
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Gerner says to expect modern tapas-style breakfast with a Spanish nod ("nomada" is Spanish for nomad), perhaps morcilla or quail egg-topped montaditos but "no smashed avo so far … we'll see how we go".

Hammer & Tong, which launched a spin-off food truck to sell soft-shell crab burgers, closed in January after four years of trade.

Nomada is due to open at 412 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, in April.

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