Mietta O'Donnell (1951-2001) was a well-known restaurateur and author. Her grandparents, Mario and Teresa Vigano, arrived in Melbourne from Milan in 1928. They went on to establish the legendary \Mario's\ restaurant, which they ran for more than thirty years. Mietta was influenced by their entertainment flair from an early age, and in 1974 she started \Mietta's\ in North Fitzroy in partnership with Tony Knox and Jules Lavarack. From 1985 until its closure in 1995 the restaurant was located in Central Melbourne where it was celebrated as a culinary and cultural institution. Together, she and her partner, photographer Tony Knox, published a number of books, including Mietta’s Italian Family Recipes, Great Australian Chefs and their annual guide, Mietta's Best Australian Restaurants.