Food, wine and markets to savour this summer

LIKE many of us, I’ve found myself making a day trip to the Bellarine a few times already this summer, particularly on the days where the weather hasn’t been too challenging for the car ride.

A guy I know has operated a brilliant wine bar down in Point Lonsdale for nearly 15 years now, called Noble Rot. It’s always been an oasis for anyone in need of a good glass of wine on the Bellarine – in fact, I doubt if there’s a better spot to find one – but what really got me excited last time I visited there was the food menu the venue was offering. Forget the simple cured meat-and-cheese plate many modern wine bars feel is enough to offer, here you can enjoy larger, restaurant quality dishes (eg blue swimmer crab spaghetti, saffron bisque) along a smart array of smaller share plates (eg. cacio e pepe croquettes, or kingfish crudo, orange, verjus, smoked roe) making the place more than sufficient for a full meal. And yes, they still have a great selection of cheese and cold meats. It wasn’t surprising to learn that the team in the kitchen have all previously worked at hatted-Melbourne restaurants over the years, as the food on show would easily rival that of any wine bar I’ve visited there, or in Sydney. Do yourself a favour and pay them a visit. Oh, the wine list is pretty bloody decent too!

 

After a summer hiatus, the Golden Plains Farmers’ Market makes its 2026 return next weekend. I’ve always liked this semi-rural market, as it tends to feature more paddock-to-stall produce than many CBD/suburban versions do. Now in its 17th year, it’s been a beacon for the region when it comes to showcasing farm-fresh harvests and handcrafted food goods, with the odd few out-of-town stallholders making regular appearances too (eg Yarra Valley Produce Farms, Salami Shack etc). Loads of food options to enjoy on the day, as well as live music and a family atmosphere: if you find yourself without much to do on next Saturday morning, it’s well worth the drive to Bannockburn.

I’ve spoken about my fondness for the pie options at Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes many times before, both in this column and with my feet, although I couldn’t recall ever properly tasting the sweet-side of their operation. So when left to organise a cake for a family member’s big day recently, I thought now should be the chance. Well, this didn’t disappointment. It was a simple sponge cake, expertly executed: light, fluffy sponge; great quality cream that tasted like it had just be freshly piped on; and thin strawberry icing with a sweetness than wasn’t at all over the top. It nailed the basics and never sort to be anything but a simple, birthday cake. Very highly recommend for your next celebratory occasion.

 

After learning the news that Queen of the West (formerly The Barking Dog) are launching a new beer garden, I was interested to know more, as the last few experiences I’ve had there have been a bit dull. Seeing some of the impressive artist renders online, I stopped by myself for a peek, only to find a large aluminium shed in place of where the venue’s previous carpark was. This was going to be the beer garden? I quizzed a staff member there and apparently it will be a fully-enclosed space (inc roof) with some astroturf and picnic-style tables. This isn’t a beer garden, it’s someone’s back garden shed! (I’d really hoped for a open-air, sun filled space that wasn’t going to melt during the warmer months). It got me thinking though, what makes a great beer garden? Some of the basics came to mind: easy bar access; a balance between natural light and summer shade, with good airflow; music not blaring but tasteful ambient; an interesting drink selection; well maintained, clean outdoor furniture in a space that staff are efficient in keeping tidy. Furthermore, who really has the best beer garden in our region? So, I’m going on a hunt over the next few weeks while the weather is at its very best – stay tuned as I search for our region’s best beer garden.

And with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, now is the time to book that table to impress that special someone. I get a flood of messages a day or two out (or even on the day) from friends asking where might be good to book, and the answer is always the same: ‘probably anywhere you can actually get in?’ I’ve seen some surprisingly good meal packages floating around this year – perhaps a sign that businesses are as eager as ever to maximise patronage for this celebrated occasion – although I’ll cover off on these in next week’s column.