Reborn Plough digs a new furrow

The owners of Carlton's Kent Hotel are turning their sights west with the reopening of Footscray's Plough Hotel. It's a homecoming of sorts for Joe Setaro, co-owner of the Kent with Tony Adamo. Setaro grew up in the west and yearned to return to his roots. He and his wife Tina (founder of Yarraville's L'uccellino), completed the renovations themselves, gutting and then rebuilding the restaurant, bistro and bar area. The third partner in the Barkly Street business is general manager of the Kent, Melissa Nolte, who becomes operations manager of both hotels. The menu is built around share-plates and ''quality pub food using great produce'', assistant manager of the Plough, Ellen Turner, says. The Plough Hotel is open daily from 11.30am.

Hilary McNevin