PRESENTED BY NICO RESTAURANT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MONTENEGRO
This July through August, NICO Restaurant in Cammeray and artist Mikey Freedom invite guests into a space where food and art collide – a powerful expression of
memory, emotion, and creative connection.
Executive Director and chef Nicola Ronconi – alumnus of London’s acclaimed The Fat Duck and Sydney’s Matteo Double Bay – has crafted an immersive dining experience in collaboration with celebrated visual artist Mikey Freedom. Running from 23 July to 30 August, the series invites guests to explore the emotional intersection of culinary and visual storytelling.
Freedom blends his graffiti roots with bold, abstract expression to create rhythm-charged, emotive works – now splashed across Shell House, Bastardo, and some of Sydney’s most iconic venues. His multidisciplinary practice channels the same energy found in the kitchen: movement, cadence, intention.
“Chefs are also artists,” says Ronconi. “We research ingredients, handle raw materials with care, and aim to create more than just a meal – we’re trying to spark feeling. A memory. Maybe even a smile after a bad day.”
At NICO, seasonal produce and oceanic flavours shine in signature dishes like Sicilian cannolo with salmon tartare and flying fish roe; spaghetti with lemon butter and Moreton Bay bug; and lemon tiramisu. This collaboration brings the same emotional depth to both plate and canvas.
“We want people to leave with full bellies, nourished souls, and heads full of memories,” says Ronconi. “To feel something beyond the plate – to look at Mikey’s work and recognise the same intent that goes into creating a dish.”
“When artists, chefs, architects, designers talk to each other, you realise we speak the same language,” adds Freedom. “It’s about rhythm, composition, feeling. Food and art don’t run on parallel lines – they intersect. That’s where the magic happens.”
Freedom’s works will fill the restaurant throughout the season, creating a space that’s both intimate and expressive – an invitation to reflect, connect, and savour.
Recently, Freedom’s creative reach extended beyond NICO. He was commissioned by Good Food Events for the sold-out Lagotto x Gowings dinner at QT Sydney – a Melbourne-meets-Sydney Italian feast – where his original artwork featured across the evening, including a bespoke illustrated menu inspired by the energy of crowded, joyful gatherings.
This special collaboration is proudly supported by Montenegro, whose legacy of cultural craftsmanship and creativity makes them the perfect partner for this soulful dining and art experience.
Event Details
NICO Restaurant, 450 Miller St, Cammeray NSW
23 July – 30 August 2025
Art by Mikey Freedom
Dinner by Nicola Ronconi
Presented in partnership with Montenegro
Tickets are limited
For bookings or enquiries, please contact:
Nicola Ronconi | info@nicorestaurant.com.au | 02 8021 0009