Pugliese born Francesco Laera founded the much-loved South Gippsland Italian restaurant Trulli. It’s here he channels his love of Italian regional dishes with a menu to match his nostalgia for home.
Trulli is taking part in Eat Drink Play Gippsland this October – where you can experience local produce shared through an Italian seasonal lens in his capable hands.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of a festival happening right here in the region I’ve proudly called home for the past 14 years,” says Francesco Laera.
“Over the last decade, we’ve opened several food-driven businesses that showcase just how incredible Gippsland produce really is,” he says.
“This festival feels like a celebration of a movement that’s been growing for years—and we’ve been riding the wave since the very beginning, alongside an inspiring community of wineries, smallgoods producers, cheese makers, and passionate locals who have made this region a true food and drink destination,” says Laera.
As part of Eat Drink Play Gippsland on October 18th, Trulli will be serving pizza in teglia—a Roman-style tray-baked pizza with crisp edges and airy dough as well as panini inspired by the viral street food scene of Florence. They’re also firing up a charcoal Pugliese-style BBQ, showcasing top-quality local meats.
Francesco Laera spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.
MY CITY
I’m from Puglia – the Italian region best known for the freshest of ingredients, produce and home of the Mediterranean diet. Surrounded mostly by the Mediterranean Sea, Puglia is one of the best places to eat seafood. Breads and handmade pasta are also a must.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
I was travelling through Umbria and stopped at a little Italian family run restaurant and ate the best pappardelle with slow cooked boar ragu.
FAVOURITE BAR
Eau de Vie—tucked at the bottom of a Melbourne laneway, hidden behind an unassuming black door. It opened around the time I arrived in Melbourne in 2011, and started working at a place nearby called TERRA ROSSA restaurant in Flinders Lane at the time. It’s been a place I’ve loved returning to ever since. There’s something comforting about seeing it still buzzing with energy, just as packed and lively as it was the day it opened. I would definitely order an aged Rum -a favourite.
FAVOURITE DRINK
Negroni, bitter and sweet.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Sweat it out. Good training exercise in the morning followed by a really spicy Bloody Mary.
OVERSEAS BAR
The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. It’s an unforgettable experience. Sipping an expertly crafted cocktail while standing above one of the world’s most iconic skylines is electric. The views are breathtaking, and it truly feels like you’re on top of the world.
FAVOURITE WINE
Not easy to come by, but a 2013 Dirty Three Wines Pinot Noir or a 2019 Wine Farm Pinot Noir. I have deep respect for both winemakers—arguably the two best producers in Gippsland.
FAVOURITE WINERY
Dirty Three Wines in Inverloch is a must-visit—offering not only exceptional wine but also live music and warm, welcoming hosts. It’s a unique way to experience a winery right in the heart of Inverloch, a vibrant coastal town I always recommend staying in, with the ocean just a stone’s throw away.
NEXT DESTINATION
I would like to experience Japan and South America; and spend six months in each of these countries, at some stage of my life.
https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/eatdrinkplay
