Our Team

 

The Mondo team has a passion for quality food and wine. We share a core philosophy about the importance of using organic produce and understand the significant role food plays in creating a sustainable future. We respect honesty, integrity, high-standards, ambition, drive, care and fun. We appreciate our team and know that the right people, with aligned values, are essential to the heart of Mondo.

Brenda Fawdon - Owner

Brenda, Managing Director, has been a restaurateur and chef in Brisbane since her first restaurant, Primavera, opened in 1981. She is the visionary and driving force behind the Mondo concept. Brenda has an insatiable fervour for 'real food' and premium old and new world wines. Brenda is an enthusiastic teacher and occasionally she presents at the Mondo cooking school. She is zealous about ingredients, has a vast knowledge of food, and she has the ability to share her expertise with others. Brenda makes a mouth-watering saffron seafood risotto prepared with just-caught seafood.

Sonja Drexler - Owner

Sonja is the Creative Director and the 'glue' that holds Mondo together. Sonja designed the gorgeous Mondo interiors and courtyard building, is responsible for the behind-the-scenes systems, plus she can be spotted from time-to-time working behind the bar, creating classic cocktails, or, as she says, 'putting the love in'. An ardent devotee of delicious food & wine, she LOVES freshly shucked oysters & champagne, stinky cheese with a velvety red, and is very fond of tender organic lamb dishes - she'll have it medium-rare.

Adam O'Sullivan - Head Chef

Adam has a wealth of cooking experience, first training in Sydney under chef Steve Manfredi at Bel Mondo, Dietmar Sawyere of Level 41, and Damien Pignolet at Bistro Moncur. Adam then relocated to London, working with celebrity chefs Angela Hartnett and Gordon Ramsay at The Connaught Hotel. Adam joined our team in January 2008. As well as heading out kitchen team, Adam loves presenting the Mondo cooking classes which he injects with fun, energy and enthusiasm.

David Lamont

David joined Mondo as Restaurant Manager in early 2008. David is a natural at hospitality with a wealth of experience including working from waiter to Restaurant Manager with Neil Perry at Rock Pool and at Sydney's Bel Mondo, Merrony's and The Red Lantern. David is casualty to anything Classic French and likes to enjoy it with a glass of Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Gris. Among David's other life interludes he has lived and played hard in New York, worked as Kerry Packer's chess playing partner and PA, and had a close shave as an actor (but, as he says, 'he was never pretty enough for Home and Away.'