Mind like a goldfish

I’m actually not sure if I’ve ever handed my compliments to this neighbourhood restaurant through this weekly column in the past.

Whether I have or haven’t, they’re getting some (again) right now. Baah Lah! – and yes, the exclamation mark is included in their name – is probably offering Geelong’s best array of modern, south-east Asian dishes at present, predominantly focusing on Malay, Chinese and Singaporean cooking as their cornerstones. The chefs in charge are young, energic and well versed in the cuisines throughout this broad region, having grown up and been immersed in its various, yet subtle, influences. I tasted through multiple dishes last week from their kitchen, each fresh and super tasty, while showing an understanding on what it takes to balance some of the more tricky SE Asian ingredients (like tamarind or belacan) without overpowering the more subtle elements in play. Highlights included a slow cooked blue fin tuna collar stuffed with Indo spices and finished over a wood grill, plus some torched house made duck prosciutto served on baked rice crackers, as well as charred and chopped Barongarook pork head terrine bites. I wholeheartedly suggest you pay them a visit, even if – like me – you may have forgotten how good it was.

Staying in Geelong West, the Bellevue complex that currently is home to one of Geelong’s better Indian restaurants, Amrin & Bros, is gaining another tenant. Aptly named, Pantry at Bellevue is a café with a slight edge, thanks to chef Luke Cunning, who was for years working at fellow Pako food institution, Tulip. Most of the usual breakfast menu suspects are roll called here (although well executed) but a couple of welcomed surprises – like chilli blue swimmer crab scrambled eggs, and tandoori chicken Buddha bowl – allow for interesting morning eating.

Hands down one of the best coffees I’ve had this year was enjoyed last week at Mirko Coffee Roasters. Their standard (house) bean blend cuts through milk beautifully, achieving that balance where the kick of pleasant bitterness compliments the textured milk’s creaminess. And I love the somewhat industrial feel they’ve created as you walk into their Torquay home, located next to the main surf clothing outlets: the sound (and smell) of the huge working roaster was in full swing the day I visited, greeting caffeine-thirsty folk before they reach the front counter. The place was a hive of activity with people coming and going, the coffee machine flat out with orders of all descriptions being pumped out by the smiling baristas on duty. Definitely worth a stop on your way to/from this main seaside township.

I was privileged recently to take a peek at the initial designs of the new Crowne Plaza’s 10th floor rooftop bar. North-facing and totally enclosed from the elements, it’s set to be a great space and one that both locals and visitors to Geelong will be able to take in a view of the waterfront not previously seen, thanks to the generous amount of glass and vantage points found throughout. Fancy sipping an iced cold gin martini this summer while watching the last rays of sunshine disappear, bay waters floating in the background? John Dickson, general manager of the coming hotel, hints that the place may even be coming online sooner than we all expect… but TBC.

Tune in next week for the October edition of The Local Palate podcast, where I’ll be chatting all things festival and event related for this summer with Hugo T. Armstrong: serial festival organiser and champion of our live local music scene. Besides covering off on a few of the big ticket events happening in our region over the coming months, I’m keen to hear Hugo’s insight on how our local festivals have evolved over the past few decades in terms of style and consumer demand, as well as specific food/bev offerings. Please tune in!

Finally, a quick note of apology to our friends at Blackman’s Brewery, who I (incorrectly) reported on last week that were about to launch a Mexican themed garden bar and food menu for the summer months. Turns out that I – and their website – were late to learn the news that their Mex concept had now morphed into a European Beer Garden vibe. Rather than margaritas, their hero cocktail for summer will be spritzes, which – although equally refreshing – hopefully hasn’t upset too many that were looking forward to this tequila-packed delight (like me!)