Strange Concept is the passion project of Chef Lenny Giri. With two venues in the Clare and Gilbert Valley, the Strange Concept cafe can be found in the main street of Clare and the Strange Concept restaurant is located in the Paris end of the Valley, in beautiful Auburn. Lenny has worked in many locations across Australia, in cities and regions. He is thrilled to have brought his signature Strange Concept cafe and restaurant to the beautiful Clare and Gilbert Valley in regional South Australia, a place renowned for beautiful wine, food, produce and the arts.
Lenny started his career in food in 1998 as a humble dishwasher and kitchen hand and from his first time in a kitchen, he knew that he had a passion for beautiful food. His career advanced from kitchen hand to cook to chef, working his way through his training and education as a Chef De Partie, Sous Chef and finally to Head Chef.
Lenny has had many great mentors along the way, working with such chefs of renown as Gary Mehigan, Andy O’Brien, George Calombaris, Ben Bailey, Raymond Capaldi and his good friend and Michelin Star Chef Luke MacLeod, who now runs the very successful Restaurant Sandikala in Galan, Southern France.
In our kitchen we create fresh, healthy and delicious food. We don’t use short cuts in our cooking methods. Using our wisdom and passion, our food is made with love.
Lenny Giri
Lenny has enjoyed cooking all over the world, studying the food of many countries and cultures. He is highly knowledgable across an impressive range of cuisines – French, Modern Australian, Mediterranean, Kosher, Indian, Chinese, Nepalese, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese and Mexican. His dedication to learning and his natural curiosity has led him to have a vast knowledge of culinary techniques.
All this experience means that Lenny is just as comfortable producing authentically cooked dishes from around the world as he is creating his own signature dishes and flavours, inspired by his knowledge and the communities he seeks to serve.
I believe food is close to the spirit, I write ideas when I am in peace and so comes my inspirations!
Lenny Giri
strange concept 