The Tastes roll on

I’VE received mainly positive reports from festival-participants on both sides of the hospitality-fence, with diners and venues enjoying the first spread of events from this year’s Tastes of Greater Geelong.

Last week’s CBD night market drew in a larger than expected crowd, particularly impressive given how cold it was.

It was warming though to see our city’s authority enforcers relaxing the local liquor licensing laws for the night too, allowing attendees to wander the market with a glass of vino in hand.

Before I get to some suggestions of events still to come in the festival, there are a couple of notable titbits from across our regional hospitality hub to report on.

It’s nearly a year to the day since Little Malop Street favourite Pistol Pete (RIP) slung his last bucket of gumbo before the shutters were drawn down on the 10-year-old business.

It wasn’t long after when news broke that its next-door neighbour, Geelong Cellar Door, would be moving in, although this time in restaurant form.

After what feels like months of little activity at the site, finally it seems there’s some action afoot.

 

Plus we have a name to go by: Lalou Bistrot à Vin.

In case your French is as bad as the next person, that translates to ‘wine bistro’, and hints to the fact the restaurant will be as much about its wine offering, as it will be the food.

I love this idea, as there’s little in the way of serious wine-focused diners around town, particularly in the CBD.

Last time I spoke with Geelong Cellar Door owner and soon-to-be restaurateur, John Helmer, his aim for the French menu was a classic-meets-modern assortment.

Whatever the final product is, if it has the same timeless flair and inviting hospitality that it’s next-door sibling oozes, it’s sure to be another instant hit.

In the opposite direction, a fellow French eatery is calling time on its decade-long run this weekend (for now).

For Belmont, Bistrot Plume has remained a shining light in an otherwise rather dormant restaurant scene in the suburb, so it will be with sadness to see it slip by.

 

A change of direction is being promised when its doors open again, so a similar version of the cute little neighbourhood bistro you knew is not likely.

Here’s hoping whatever opens in its place shares the charm as its predecessor.

Not far down the road in Highton Village, Jefferies has also announced a short closure. Although in this case, it’s a matter of losing half their kitchen team to unforeseen events.

This small restaurant has gained a fairly loyal following since opening late last year with its smart (again) French menu, so I’m sure the folk of Highton are hoping this downtime is only momentary.

You know where certainly isn’t closing though? Our new convention centre. In fact, it’s ready to open!

It’s really hard to believe we can finally say that, as the project was officially announced over seven years ago.

If you can remember back to those pre-Covid times, the promise of a convention centre of this scale for Geelong was huge news, so it’s rather fair to say this has been a long awaited opening.

As part of its introduction to the city, a community open day will be held on Saturday 11 July from 10am-4pm, where all are welcome to explore the new facilities with self-guided tours or enjoy live outdoor entertainment, alongside local eat and drink options.

 

Back to the festivities of Tastes, LardAss Butter is celebrating the art of butter in a hands-on workshop that invites participants to get their hands creamy for a few hours, as they learn a few tricks of butter-production-trade.

The experience will be held at its Ocean Grove factory on Saturday 27 June and bookings will be absolutely essential.

If you miss this but still yearn to get hands-on, Sociali is holding a pizza making course the next day, Sunday 28 June, in its brand-spankin’ new commercial kitchen on the waterfront.

Learn the old fashion way how to shape dough and hand stretch, and I’m sure they’ll even let you try your own creation at the end of it.

This would be a great one too for any kids who find themselves intrigued by what goes on in the kitchen.

And although not really an event, as such, if you find yourselves at a loose end on a Wednesday afternoon over the next few weeks and are in the vicinity of the CBD, swing by Hop City in Little Malop Street for a Hop-tasting.

Owner and in-house authority on all things beer related, Ian Dwyer, will be behind the jump pouring beers, answering questions and sharing what’s really in your glass.

He’s a wealth of (beer) knowledge, so here’s your chance to be tutored in Beer 101 by the best. So, in fact, yes this really is an event (and one worth attending).