Alex Kearns sets up in-store Coco Republic cafe

Coco Republic is punting furniture and food will go together in 2015 like rosemary and lamb, with confirmation Glebe Point Diner executive chef Alex Kearns will open a cafe at the Alexandria outlet of furniture and homeware store Coco Republic.

Kearns has signed with Coco Republic to open early in the New Year. "The brief was coastal Positano, the words used were The Talented Mr Ripley," he says.

Kearns has branched out in recent times, his home-delivered meal start-up, Kearns Food, proving valuable for this latest project. The kitchen at the Coco Republic cafe is basic, so Kearns will produce a range of foods in his off-site kitchen. It sounds just the tonic for sofa shopping.