DISHED UP
HOO-GAH CAFÉ WRITTEN BY CHRIS LAMBIE
↑ UNICORN CHEESECAKE OF DREAMS We don’t know what’s in it, but damn does it look tasty. The Pickers Union have unveiled a new range of snacks thanks to a talented worker, and this cheesecake is on our list to try. This one sells out and is available on a varying basis, so it’s best to call ahead to the North Geelong cafe.
‘HYGGE’ IS AMONG Collins Dictionary’s Top 10 words of 2016. The Danish well-being concept (pronounced HOO-gah) inspired the launch of a new foodie destination in Bendigo’s CBD. Hoo-gah cafe chef Gina Triolo explains, “It’s about spending quality time with good friends; surrounding yourself with things you love in a warm social atmosphere.” In the famously uberhappy nation of Denmark, guests are welcomed on equal terms. Celebration of the ‘everyday’ is a way of life where fuss-free get-togethers are a lifestyle, not a luxury. I tested these claims on my first visit to Hoo-gah. To begin, I performed a regular manoeuvre of mine that belies my age and experience – the unsuccessful opening of a door. When will I learn to follow signs indicating ‘Push’, ‘Pull’ or ‘Slide’? A waitress rendered assistance - laughing with me, not at me (I chose to believe). Close to Saturday arvo closing time, our party of three settled at a little window table.
↑ 7 SEEDS JOINS PAKO Taking over the space that was previously the Greek-inspired restaurant Ambrosia, 7 Seeds Cafe is the newest cafe to join Pakington St. Opening just before Christmas, the space features window bench seating, a communal table, grey feature walls and wood highlights throughout. You can find it on Facebook or at 208 Pakington St, Geelong West.
FORTÉ’S BEER TASTING TIPS ↑ SCHNITZ IS COMING TO LEOPOLD With locations already in the Geelong CBD and at Waurn Ponds, Leopold is set to be the newest town to get its own Schnitz. Opening soon, the store was recently advertising for staff and will be located in the Gateway Plaza as you enter Leopold from Geelong. Stay tuned.
With the Great Australia Beer Festival edging closer (February 18 – save the date!), we at Forté thought we would put together some quick beer tasting tips to prepare you for the day and make sure you get the most out of your beer festival experience. Eat.
↑ COTTON ON SET TO OPEN CAFE/BAR Local clothing brand, Cotton On, are set to enter the hospitality game with an application recently lodged with council for a Pakington Street cafe and bar. The space is set to be located at the old Pizza Bar, People’s Potatoes and building in between, creating a dining, cafe and bar space for 311 people. With plans lodged for the venue, opening dates and construction are yet to be confirmed. Stay tuned for more information.
28 NEWS
This is crucial to the beginning of your day. Make use of the delicious selection of food trucks at the event and eat before you begin tasting any beer. It’s a rookie mistake to drink on an empty stomach as it changes the way your body metabolises the alcohol. This will prevent you from feeling tipsy during your first couple of beer tastes, and allow you to savour (and appreciate) more of the beers on offer.
Take your sweet, sweet time. When tasting a new beer and if you’re a little on the sceptical side, you may only feel like taking one sip. However, flavours can be quite complex and there can be a whole lot of aromas barring the actual taste of the beer. It is actually in your best interest to take more than one sip, and when
The warm welcome suggested ‘browse the menu and specials board, have a glass of water, take your time…’ Ice broken, the second test was passed, with our trio including my two mothers-in-law (one original, one step) instantly bonding in a chorus of, “This looks nice!” Comfy, contemporary décor provided quirky features to keep chit chat flowing. The menu was brimming with promise. Signature dishes such as the Chorizo Scotch Egg and the Buddha Bowl (a medley of seasonal vegies, proteins and grains) were tempting. M-I-L #1 went with the latter. She was told a few ingredients had run out but could be substituted with a bespoke mix. The resulting combo went down a treat. I was richly rewarded for my choice of the Pulled Pork Noodle Salad. One of the finest bowls of salad I’ve ever been served - it was a riot of colour, flavour and texture. Finely-shredded elements (vegies, fresh herbs, vermicelli, nuts) made it easy to chew’n’chat. Guilt-free, healthy options aren’t the ‘poor relations’ here. “I’m really interested in food that’s pretty pared down, almost naked,” Triolo says. ‘We make everything except the bread (local artisan Wild & Tamed
you do take your first sip, try to resist swallowing immediately, and take your time with each beer. This helps you distinguish flavours and determine if you really do like the brew or not.
Use all your senses. Our senses (taste, smell, sight, sound and touch) will all influence our feelings towards particular brews. The sound of the beer coming out of the tap has just as much effect on us as the smell of the brew before you even take a sip, or the texture of the beer in the mouth. When tasting a beer, pay attention to the whole process – the pour, the foam on the beer head and the flavours and aromas of the beer you take a sip.
Think ahead about the order of brews. There will be hundreds of beers to taste. Start with the weaker, mild, sweet beers first, then taste the richer and bitter beers later on, mixing in your favourite aromas, bitterness and flavour choices. This one is all about your taste buds – the last thing you want to do it overstimulate your taste buds too early and ruin your palate. In short – start with larger before moving onto porters and stouts and finish off with the pale ales. Just remember, light to dark, and less hoppy to more hoppy.
Rinse your tasting glass. This one is an easy one. Occasionally you will need to rinse out your tasting glass (which you receive upon entry) with water when you are switching beers. There is FORTÉ 655
nothing worse than having a concoction of five different brews in your trusty tasting glass. With lightly chilled water on hand, keep your hydration levels up and cleanse your palette with which will benefit you for longevity at the festival.
Enjoy. Arm yourself with these tips, grab a crew, kick back and enjoy a few cold brews on a summer day for the fifth edition of the Great Australia Beer Festival.
When & Where: Geelong Racecourse – February 18 2017 For tickets and more information visit: www.gabfgeelong. com.au
sourdough) so we know exactly what’s in every dish. Chicken and eggs are free-range.” With a range of ‘special needs’ at our table, another test was passed easily. Triolo is experienced at catering for dietary foibles, adding, “Whether vegan or for an intolerance, people don’t feel uncomfortable when ordering.” Such dishes are no token offering, but as enviable as any other and not the same old predictable options. The Pear and Raspberry Bread was savoured by M-I-L #2, herself an expert baker of sweet delights. There’s smoothies, shakes, juices, local wines, and coffee from Malmsbury roaster Moto Bean. Enjoy a hearty celebration or just grab a magazine and light snack. Open for breakfast and lunch. Also take-away and catering.
Where: 3 Mitchell Street (Shop 10 Fountain Court), Bendigo. Contact: Phone (03) 5441 2488 or check them out on Facebook.
Falls Music Festival Where: Lorne When: December 28 – 31 2016/17 Reviewed by: Talia Rinaldo
2016 WAS FILLED with hype, controversy, tragedy, many hits and a few misses. Thankfully, mine ended with a high for my first Falls Music Festival experience, and Lorne did not disappoint. The line-up boasted the very best artists, the weather was wet, windy and scorching hot, and it was a true celebration of making it through one helluva year. Unfortunately for many, it will be remembered for the Grand Theatre stampede incident, which left festival goers injured moments after DMA’s delivered their banging set. The team at Forte send our love to those affected, and I feel very fortunate that my own festival experience was only filled with amazing music, good vibes and random memories – and sunburnt knees. For me, there were many highlights. Illy bossed the sweaty Thursday afternoon crowds delivering loved tracks ‘If Looks Could Kill’, ‘It Can Wait’ and ‘Paper Cuts’ in the brunt of the heat. The Aussie rapper didn’t miss a beat, while sibling duo Broods worked the Valley Stage with the killer opening ‘Conscious’, later winning crowds over with the feel good track ‘Heartlines’, which saw an abundance of people swaying their plastic beer-filled cups. Childish Gambino was rumoured the top act to see (along with Violent Soho) – and rightly so. Hitting 12am and edging us a day closer to the New Year celebrations, Gambino nailed his set while sliding rhythmically across the stage. The unshaded Valley Stage mosh pit was my location for majority of the third day where it was filled with triple j favourites like Ball Park Music, The Jezabels, and the serenading crescendos of Matt Corby – worth the sweaty mess we were at the end of it.
My personal favourite act, while somewhat tragic with the chaos ensuing in the Grand Theatre at the time, was London Grammar’s set - an absolute mesmerising stand-out, with the worldwide hit ‘Strong’ electrifying the crowds around me. The New Year’s Eve line-up was exhaustingly good with The Rubens, City Calm Down, Tkay Maidza, and The Avalanches who brought in the New Year, while I Oh You DJs kept the vibes at large until the early hours. Falls Festival exceeded my expectations. The new songs, new friends, the blessing of a taco truck, my favourite beer (Wild Yak) on tap, and even the camping wasn’t too bad. Despite the unfortunate scheduling of back to back favourites which left undesirable memories for one of Australia’s best events, it was otherwise an incredible finish to the year. Happy New Year guys!
BEAVS BAR
BARWON CLUB
BARWON CLUB
EDGE
B E A V S BAR
CQ
GEELONG HOTEL
#Fortéscenepix 40 SCENEPIX
FORTÉ 655
IRISH MURPHY’S
IRISH MURPHY’S
THE JUKE
THE JUKE
THE MAX
MAX HOTEL
PIANO BAR
PIANO BAR
PISTOL PETE’S
PISTOL PETE’S
CONNECT TO PEOPLE, PLACES AND EVENTS ON SOCIALPAGESVIP.COM FORTÉ 655
SCENEPIX 41