Your new favourite coffee spot

I had a great caffeine hit last week from the best new café our CBD has had in a long time.

Native Circles is the brainchild of Mary Jane Hua (Funk, Coffee Cartel, among others) while behind the machine is Padraic McGuire, a barista maestro who polished his skills in Melbourne and abroad. This tiny, almost just a hole-in-the-wall outfit, can be found among the empty shopfronts at the base of the new City of Greater Geelong office building, Wurriki Nyal. There’s ample seating outside – although that’s not really ideal given the time of year (summer will be fine) – but inside remains ordering and standing room only. I doubt it will really matter to be honest, as the majority of their trade will come from early to mid-morning workers from surrounding office spaces. The beans come from Tin Man, who roast in Coburg North. I think I’ve just found your new favourite local coffee spot.

Staying in the CBD, I was reminded recently how darn good the renovation at Caruggi really is. Now in its 10th year of trade, the Little Malop Street staple practically doubled its dining size after works were complete, yet without losing any of its charm and warmth. A welcomed new feature of the restaurant is an enoteca style wine shop, ranging an impressive selection of Italian wineries, as well as digestives, amari and aperitivo products. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s probably one of the widest, and best, Italian assortments of booze I may have seen in one place (for real). Although parking can be painful to find around this spot, it’s worth a visit in its own right, however I can safely suggest staying for a bite is a wise call.

Calling any local beer fans out there, here’s one date close on the calendar you should add. Back for its second year, Blackman’s Point Break (mini) beer festival is shaping up to be even bigger than its inaugural event. The Torquay brewer has lined up nine of their favourite small-scale craft brewery friends for what should be a great afternoon of beer tasting, with some huge names like Bridge Rd, Garage Project and Hop Nation all making an appearance, as well as one of my personal favs, Kaiju. All brews will be poured fresh from the tap, plus some seltzers (if that’s your thing) and there’ll be local wines and food available for those not as interested in trying the countless number of beers on show. It’s a ticketed affair, so jumping online to secure one is recommended.

I love reporting on new local wineries from our region, particularly when they’re using old vineyard sites that have been given some love and attention to bring them back up to quality production speed. Circulus Wine is the passion of John White, a Bellarine vigneron who understands the potential of growing cool climate, single vineyard varieties with a regenerative and biological approach to viticulture. Although there’s no cellar door, visitors are welcomed by appointment only, but keen tasters can find some of the miniscule amounts they release at Winespeake and Corks Crew Cellars, among a handful of local eateries. I enjoyed a bottle of their cabernet franc – a variety similar to cabernet sauvignon, but less tannic with more soft, bright fruit – at Geelong Cellar Door, who carry their full range of wines.

A community event that should be added to any local foodie’s to-do list, has started happening every second Saturday of the month in Manifold Heights. Having launched a few months back, the Mano Makers and Growers market offers a rather broad mix including – yet certainly not limited to – fresh fruit and veg produce, baked goods, handmade pasta and tofu, as well as artisanal items for the pantry with specialist stalls selling everything from teas and nuts, to hot sauces and preserves. There’s even a couple of cheeky liquor stands for those in need of a nip or two (although I hope not when the gates open at 8.30am). The retail fare is complemented with a huge range of hot options to enjoy on the day, but check out La Caseta servicing some delicious Latin American dishes (empanadas here is a must) or Chevillet Chocolates for a homemade dark cocoa hit. So great to see a neighbourhood market like this thriving in the Geelong community.

Finally, if you find yourself on the northern end of Pako midweek and in need of a quick, value lunch, I can highly recommend the panini selection at Cesca’s. If, like me, you enjoy it spicy, the heat of Sopressa salami panino is balanced brilliantly with the whipped Parmesan ricotta and olive tapenade, but (like many) it’s still tough to beat their mortadella, with stracciatella, pistachio and honey (or hot honey if you prefer). The fact you can get a quick limoncello spritz or negroni sbagliato (replacing the gin with prosecco) while enjoying your lunch certainly helps the rest of the afternoon go a bit quicker.