FOOD A DRIVING FORCE AT NEW HARBORD DIGGERS

Sydneysiders will get a taste of one of the most exciting new club developments around when Harbord Diggers launches its’ temporary club venue late next month.  Boasting two up-scale restaurants, a local providore and a 1950s-themed diner, the club promises it will bring a new standard of dining excellence and entertainment to the Northern Beaches.

The temporary club will give members and guests a taste of things to come as Mounties Group builds the future Harbord Diggers.

The big drawcard of the Mounties Group refit will be Gio, a modern Italian rooftop venue with spectacular views overlooking Freshwater Beach and run by restaurateur/ chef Antonio Ruggerino from the award winning Verde Restaurant in East Sydney.

Recognised as one of Australia’s top 10 up and coming chefs, Ruggerino has been praised for his intelligent fusion of traditional and contemporary ingredients passed down from family recipes, combined with modern culinary techniques.

“It will be a very southern Italian, upmarket bistro,” he says of Gio which will open in late April. “We are going to keep it similar to Verde when it comes to sauces and flavours and produce but more casual when it comes to environment. It will also be more family driven, but we will have live music.” It will also boast a clever wine list, expertly matched to the menu.

Ruggerino  has also signed to the permanent club, due to open in a little over two years. The new venue will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner and it will have uninterrupted water views.

 Antonio Ruggerino in action at Verde

For a more casual dining experience other offerings in the temporary space include Dig Inn Café & Bar with both outdoor and indoor dining spaces, serving contemporary Australian dishes.

A much anticipated new edition to the temporary club is the Diggers Local Providores, which will sell a selection of locally sourced, quality products.

“The Diggers Local Providores will bring the ingredients of Gio and Dig Inn to your shopping basket, giving members and guests an opportunity to recreate their favourite dishes with only the finest of ingredients,” said Dale Hunt, General Manager of Harbord Diggers.

A final treat is the pop-up Diggers Diner – a 1950’s style van serving hot dogs, fresh juices, coffees and snacks. Designed to be pet friendly and convenient it should prove popular with local beachgoers and walkers.