Febfast(-forward)

BY CAM O’KEEFE

So here’s an alternative path to the champagne and martini approach you might have planned before undertaking a commitment to sobriety for the month of February. As always, the best non-alcoholic option to show romantic bliss has undoubtably been the big bouquet of flowers, and Mr Collins (Pakington Street) has delivered the goods on a couple of occasions for me over the past few months. Like any florist inundated on Valentine’s, they will be pushed to the limits in the 24 hours preceding the big day, so make sure you reach out prior (i.e. now) for your needs.

And instead of the fancy dinner booking for two, why not trade this for a cooking class for two. Tempo Kitchen is again hosting gnocchi master Andrea Rigodanza for a hands-on pasta masterclass where participants can learn and explore the intimate details of gnocchi creation. Following the class, a three-course meal follows, allowing guests to taste the fruits of their labour (as well as a few other delights). All without a drink in sight!

Finally, why not trade this VD bottle of sparkling wine for a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine? Yes, the alcoholic kick might not be there, but that doesn’t mean the flavour or enjoyment can’t be. Drinks brand NON craft a number of sans alcoholic beverages designed to emulate the similar sensations of wine (eg a fruit’s fragrance and palate profile; palate weight, acidity and body; even the aftertaste of tannin and length). I feel they provide the best and most interesting alternative for those unable (wilfully or medically) to partake in normal wine consumption. There are multiple blends on offer, but my two picks are their #1: Salted Raspberry & Chamomile, and #5: Lemon Marmalade & Hibiscus. Yum. Available locally at Chas Cole, Blackhearts & Sparrows, and select Dan Murphy stores.

Moving on from both Febfast and Valentine’s, and a familiar Bellarine face will be reappearing on the Peninsula in the coming weeks as chef Dwayne Burke (most recently at the Telegraph Hotel, and before that, Tutti @ Geelong Arts Centre) commences heading a new culinary project with Oakdene Vineyards. According to the chef himself, winery restaurants have always been his sort of thing, spending close to a dozen years at the helm of the Jack Rabbit/Flying Brick kitchens, and previous to this, at famed (but now-closed) local icon Pettavel Restaurant in Waurn Ponds. It’s a win back for the Bellarine, and indeed his new employers, Oakdene. More to come here soon.

To the coast now and there’s reports of Daylesford wine stalwart Winespeake adding an Anglesea branch to its staple. It’s welcome news for locals – with the availability of quality dining and drinks continuing to grow – while for tourists it seems even that much sweeter, firming up the township as a serious contender amongst other Great Ocean Road destinations for a gourmet pit stop. Complimenting a good list of already established hospitality offerings (including Last One Inn, Love House, Gelato Gelato, Maids General Store) it should be enough for even Geelong folk to jump in the car and wear the 30-minute drive.

Staying on the coast, there’s now an outlet for those who crave healthy, Asian style bowls more often than some. XO Bowls are an Ocean Grove mob who specialise in catering to this type, both in person and through delivery method, offering packed flavour options that venture along a more adventurous route, rather than a traditional one (their Japanese Caesar is a take on the Italian classic, which includes togarashi, edamame, wasabi mayo dressing and Ket Baker sourdough croutons). What I really like about this business, though, is the fact they offer a fabulous BYO BOWL special, which basically encourages diners to bring along their own food vessel (ie rather than using wasteful packaging) and discounting the cost slightly, promoting a more sustainable approach to takeaway meals. Brilliant.

Like most, I seemed to only have just a passing interest in which ale would take out this year’s annual GABS Hottest 100 (basically the ARIA awards for Australian craft brewers). It was positive to learn Blackmans scored a mention on the list, but unfortunately no other local breweries made this popular chart (excluding Little Creatures/White Rabbit who now call Geelong home base). For me however, I think I might have tried my 2025 beer-of-the-year already. Having enjoyed this in pony form (a classic, old school beer drinking five ounce glass – or roughly 150ml) just this week gone, at none other than new CBD bar Fantome. It took me by surprise to learn that the single beer they had on tap was a 16 per cent alc, bourbon barrel aged stout. And in the middle of summer. Anyway, this was off the charts: dark in every colour/smell/taste angle you can pick, strongly flavoured with honey, nuttiness, fortified-like sweetness, and chocolate. The beer? Haandbryggeriet Dark Inception (nope, no typos there) fully imported from Norway. And the pony size was just perfect, I couldn’t imagine settling in to multiples of this formidable treat. As they say: “If you can only have one…”