McConnell magic

Is Andrew McConnell Melbourne's most prolific chef and restaurateur? The owner of Cumulus Inc, Cutler & Co, Golden Fields, Moon Under Water and the Builders Arms Hotel has announced he is opening a restaurant at 171 Collins Street with development partners Cbus Property and Charter Hall. He's yet to announce the concept for the restaurant.

Late last week, Espresso chatted to McConnell while he was in Japan preparing to present a workshop for the Asialink Arts international residency at the Setouchi Triennale. The Triennale will include exhibitions by eight artists, including Australia's Jackson Slattery.

The artists will bring a chef from their native country to create dishes for a cafe at the exhibition, which starts on July 20. After the workshop, McConnell is heading to Tokyo to meet Dion Hall, who is director of Prahran architectural-design studio Projects of Imagination. Hall designed McConnell's Golden Fields in St Kilda and Moon Under Water in Fitzroy, and is involved in the 171 Collins project.

He says they will ''explore ideas'', and while the concept of the restaurant is yet to be decided (a trip to Tokyo could be a clue?), it is due to open in early 2014.