MONSTER is the kitchen and bar on the ground floor of Ovolo Nishi located in Canberra’s arts and culture precinct, NewActon. Ovolo Nishi has become known for its artisan approach to design and space making. The hotel is a collaboration of more than 55 designers, makers and artists. Monster follows suit – its menu charts the seasons and uses ingredients from producers as close to the hotel as possible – oysters from Batemans Bay, vegetables from Canberra’s Choku Bai Jo, truffles from Sutton, honey from the hotel’s own beehives. The kitchen’s ethos is that good food is for the every-day not just special occasions and exclusive restaurants. The modern Australian menu of share dishes is influenced by travel and a love of gardening. The cocktail list changes seasonally and embraces international influences while the wine list has a clear Canberra region bias.