Ground Zero

it’s not just a coffee shop

Grace and Patrick Lamanna have worked in and around the hospitality industry for more than 15 years, and when the opportunity came up they decided to give Ground Zero their best.

Previously a chef at Napona in Ocean Grove, Patrick said the couple saw a window in the market to bring fresh produce to the Drysdale food scene, to use local when and where they could and would strive to provide the best of what the Bellarine had to offer.

“The Drysdale community has been amazingly supportive in the short time that we have been in business and we have been lucky enough to see a few regular faces each day,” Patrick said.

“We have made the change to Allpress coffee, using the Supremo blend of 100 per cent Arabica beans, which our customers have really embraced.

“Our biggest change would be a move towards a fresher, cleaner menu, where everything is made in house, from our daily baked muffins, slices and hand cut chips, to our sourdough that I started for the café using the St. John sourdough starter recipe.”

Patrick said he and Grace had tried to take a snap shot of Australian food for their menu, having Middle Eastern influenced dishes like chickpea fritters with labne and tabouli, and pickled cauliflower with hummus on rye, and showcasing his Italian heritage with grilled sardines on toast, Point Londsdale tomatoes and Meredith Goats Cheese, mushrooms on toast with gremolata and fresh basil, and a citrus cured yellow-fin tuna with fennel and ruby grapefruit.

Ground Zero is now fully licenced and the pair are hoping people will take full advantage of it for long lunches, business meetings, or even just a quick lunch break.

They are open seven days a week from 7am-4pm Monday to Saturday and 7am-2pm on Sundays. Ground Zero is at 1/34 Murradoc Road, Drysdale.