Somers Balnarring Tyabb Bittern Hastings

SOMERS BALNARRING TYABB

PHOTO: ISABELLA ROSE

The relaxed rustic life takes hold on the Western Port side of the Peninsula where fishermen first came to throw out their lines and orchardists packed their crates full of fresh produce ready to go to market in the early 1900s. Here the authentic rural and seaside hamlets continue to grow and evolve beneath vast skyscapes that excite and invite environmental lovers in.

Each village across this region brings its own unique offering to the Mornington Peninsula produce table. From skilled butchers and bakers to artisan makers who are constantly creating new flavour sensations, this is the place where visitors come to savour all things appetising while enjoying the boutique shopping on offer. From the days when the old steam train used to travel through Balnarring and Bittern on its way to Melbourne, to modern-day international dining degustation, this part of the Peninsula delights anyone who is ready for adventure. Somers, Balnarring, Bittern, Hastings and Tyabb attract sea and tree-changers looking for a life full of award-winning produce, terrific times and great eating. Choose your style from Japanese to Italian or modern Australian cuisine and you’ll see the difference that Mornington Peninsula growers and creators bring. Because that is the thing about folk around these parts: everything they do is presented to and for you. Come visit the hospitality movers and shakers and wonderful winemakers here where the banksias grow and the coastline is teeming with wildlife and natural wonder. Make a date with creative café culture and friends to enjoy secluded winter getaways or endless summer sojourns. Eat. Drink. And be happy.

BITTERN HASTINGS

Ed’s Hastings (P.135) Fontalina (P.136) Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant Hastings (P.133) Orita’s 2 (P.137) Phase Two (P.134) Steamin’ Mugs (P.132) The Heritage Balnarring (P.139) The Somers General (P.130-131)

PHOTO: STEVE BROWN

The Somers General

Coastal charm and a dedicated commitment to community emanates from The Somers General. With views across to Phillip Island, this captivating character-filled store, where the locals know they’ll always get more than just a fabulous feed, is a perfect blend of historical and modern-day Mornington Peninsula.

Owner-operators Zoe Proctor and Dean Atkins have very deep roots planted in this business, which was originally known as the Boulevard Café and Post Office Store when it first opened its doors in 1927. With 10 years of living the local life before purchasing The Somers General in 2019, Zoe and Dean decided to follow in the footsteps of original owners Ray Stone and family and make this cafe and store a haven for Somers folk and destination holidaymakers alike. The Somers General crew make your visit cruisy. How could it be anything else with a deck out front to rest and relax on while taking in the magnificent views? Known as the Somers social connector where everyone knows your name, this café/store/local hangout offers delicious house-made food crafted for nourishment plus an excellent range of artisan produce. Saunter through the shop to view the original pottery, organic skincare products, potted plants, artisan-made gifts and homewares – all hand-selected by Zoe – while waiting for your fresh and fragrant coffee. Organic Dukes Coffee is the brew of the day and both single origin and filter options are available. Dean knows his coffee inside out, so be prepared for a sensational cup. For those of you who like it cool, Nitro cold brew coffee is on tap for a creamy foamy head-refresher, while old-fashioned house-made lemonade and sodas, ginger ale and milkshakes keep the young and young at heart happy. Don’t be surprised if you’re tasting some of The Somers General patrons’ homegrown lemons because the locals love dropping off their harvest to Dean and Zoe. Whether you’re hungry after a beachcomb or a walk with your dog, or you’re just visiting Somers because you can, The Somers General offers food to make you feel good. Focusing on comfort food with a twist, the all-day menu – which includes breakfast and lunch – delivers in the seasonal produce flavour department. Think paddock-to-plate best-produce practice. Midweek lunches with the girls or weekend brunch with the family are full of quality Mornington Peninsula produce and pizazz, including raspberry hotcakes with ricotta cream, and chilli scrambled eggs with housemade corn flatbread. Or perhaps you’d fancy a wagyu flank steak or house-made falafel. With two decks and ample room for dining, wining or coffee-tasting inside and out, this fully licensed, canine-friendly venue ticks all the contemporary home-spun boxes brilliantly. The traditional pozzetti ice-cream fridge filled with Mubble ice-cream is ready for scooping too. Make a plan and take a break at The Somers General.

Open seven days a week from 7.30am. Please check website for further details.

Steamin’ Mugs

Walking into Steamin’ Mugs feels like a big, warm hug. This family-owned and operated café, which offers a hearty down-to-earth menu and delicious coffee, is proud to welcome friends and family into its bright and spacious interior.

Ritesh and Ritika Gupta offer modern Australian fare for people who are craving good food. Steamin’ Mugs is open for all-day breakfast and lunch, with Ritesh serving up everything from eggs benedict, pancakes and a brekky burger through to crispy calamari, pork belly rolls and a kids’ menu that makes this the place to sit back and relax. Supervised little ones can wander and there’s separate access through the rear of the site for dog lovers and their companions to enter the caninefriendly courtyard. The Steamin’ Mugs menu is full of traditional flavours served up with a twist. New dishes pop up regularly, while familiar favourites ensure you’ll keep on coming back for more. Takeaway is available, and you can pre-order online via the website to secure your deliciousness. Whether you’re meeting up with mates or are treating yourself to a scrumptious brekky or afternoon sweet treat, Steamin’ Mugs is a great place to be. Dine inside or in the courtyard. Either way, you’re welcome. Corporate and private function catering is available too. Open 7.30am-3.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Please check website for further details.

Geonbae Korean BBQ Restaurant Hastings

Geonbae brings the essence of authentic Korean barbecue to Western Port in traditional and vibrantly modern Korean style. Situated in one of the most naturally diverse and beautiful positions on the shoreline, this social and sharing-motivated restaurant remains true to the Korean dining intent. Culture, flavour and Korean core values are at the helm of creating a unique dining experience you’ll always remember, all set against Mother Nature’s magnificent backdrop.

Full table service and sensory satisfaction are delivered at Geonbae Hastings. Each table has its own barbecue where your food is cooked. The sound of sizzling and the aroma that emanates makes for truly tantalising theatre as the Geonbae team take you to the streets of Seoul. Banchan (small side dishes) are just as important as the leading players of barbecued prime cuts, hand-cut precisely for both visual and cooking perfection.

Peninsula and just moments from the Hastings With seating for 50 patrons outside, Geonbae Hastings is the ideal place for enjoying exceptional southern Korean cuisine in the great outdoors. The beverage list includes a wide range of Korean beers and soju (Korean rice wines) as well as quality red and white wines and spirits to make lunch and dinner degustation easy. Sunset cocktails complete this wonderful Western Port Korean barbecue experience. Open 11am-11pm every day, including public holidays; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day Please check website for further details

Phase Two

Bursting on to the Balnarring café scene in 2o19 with a fresh perspective on delivering beautifully presented dishes that also taste great, Phase Two comes to you with a continued vibrancy and dedication to flavour. This coastal hangout with city vibes offers comfy dining in its sleek and welcoming interior and is immensely popular with locals and tourists alike.

Mornington Peninsula-crafted Commonfolk coffee is the brew of choice at Phase Two, where the customer experience is paramount. Regulars and friends enjoy café favourites such as the famous Balnarring Benny – think poached eggs, pancetta, house hollandaise, herb oil and avo smash on sourdough toast. Delicious! All dishes are made for devouring with your eyes first in this community-minded café where all-day brunch and everevolving specials are on offer. Stop by for a smoothie or cold brew coffee, some tacos or a superfood brunch bowl and stay for the easygoing atmosphere. The background music is on and the friendly staff always remember your name. Open seven days from 7am. Please check website for further details.

Ed’s Hastings

The man, the myth, the legend – Ed Keating’s witty humour and charm generates a relaxed vibe as if among friends laughing over a frothy at Ed’s Hastings. He’s invented a secret gluten-free four-flour spice blend that is paired with boneless chicken and fried to create the epitome of fried chicken. Ed then outdid himself by sandwiching it in a gluten-free bun, with crispy bacon, oozing cheese and tangy aioli. It is what dreams are made of.

At Ed’s you can expect a gluten-free restaurant that also serves up milkshakes, coffee, beer and wine – and of course takeaway goodness. Vegan and other food preferences are catered for, and you can drop by anytime to feed your family with Ed’s ready-to-go meals. After a trip to the US, Ed and his son began experimenting with brewing beer and making fried chicken in their backyard before opening in December 2018. As the brains behind the ultimate comfort food menu, Ed has created mouthwatering cheeseburger croquettes, haloumi fries, and decadent desserts. Froth-heads will be spoilt for choice while sitting beside the one-of-a-kind wallpaper that radiates character because it’s fashioned from Ed’s old cooking magazines from the early ‘90s. Residents and visitors alike stop by to experience Ed’s famous fried chicken, whether they’re coeliac, gluten-intolerant or neither because you truly can’t even tell it’s gluten-free. Open Wednesday to Sunday noon-8pm.

Fontalina

Fontalina brings the Bay of Naples to Balnarring with an authentic Peninsula spin. This is the place where generations gather to savour traditional Italian fare made with the finest Mornington Peninsula produce. The pace is fast and friendly. The seafood is saltwater-fresh. The pizza is cooked Neapolitan-style inside woodfired ovens made by the best oven builders in Naples.

Whether you are after wood-fired octopus, scampi or fish, or a delicious pizza, Fontalina provides a serendipitous slice of Italy for you to savour. All dough is made in-house and is hand-stretched. Each pizza is turned manually for Fontalina-baked perfection and the house-made gluten-free pizza bases continue to attract a cult following. Slowcooked osso buco, braised short rib and pork belly brings you in from the cold during winter, while Bianco Latte gelato goes down easy after beach stopovers in summer. Vegetarians and vegans are spoilt for choice too.

Fontalina is an Italian eatery for anyone who admires the spirited Italian way of life. And if you don’t, you soon will! With beer on tap and Peninsula and Italian wines on offer, this ‘little Italy’ is a first-rate dining provider. Bring your family. Meet your mates. There is a place set for everyone at Fontalina.

Open 5pm-late Wednesday to Sunday for dinner, and noon-3pm Saturday and Sunday for lunch. Open daily in January. Please check website for further details.

Orita’s 2

Orita’s 2 brings to you all the flavours of Japanese cuisine created by a culinary master of authentic produce. Chef Hikaru Orita prepares his pre-ordered food just for you with a dedication to detail and a commitment to each dish that means each morsel is perfection.

All produce at Orita’s 2 is grown from the Master’s garden or purchased daily. Cooking only for one pre-order at a time to ensure his guests have his full concentration, Master chef Orita produces food that celebrates the unique character of each ingredient through simplicity and consistency. Your order receives his utmost energy and your food is prepared à la minute with passion – hence pre-ordering is recommended for an unsurpassed in-home dining experience. Master chef Orita’s expertise in preparing traditional Japanese food and teppanyaki dishes means your in-home dining is always delicious. If you choose to dine in the restaurant, Orita’s 2’s Omakase experience, where the diner leaves the menu selection up to the Master, offers excitement and authentic flavour.

Orita’s 2’s must-try dishes include the super-fresh sashimi, homemade gyoza, yakiniku beef, soft-shell crab tempura, and the Master’s yoghurt made from home-grown fruit. Open every day excluding Tuesday and Wednesday and available for takeaway. Check website for details.

Area photos by Isabella Rose and Steve Brown

FONTALINA

The Heritage Balnarring

The Heritage Balnarring has the perfect balance of old-world charm and modern-day sleekness.

Situated on a charming property in the heart of Balnarring, this stunning dining and bar facility is built for bringing community members together. Live music on Sundays from 3-6pm sees pleasure-seekers listening to blues, acoustic or rock music as they gather in the garden or on the outdoor deck enjoying some of Mornington Peninsula’s finest wines. Carlton Draft, Melbourne Bitter, 4 Pines and Great Northern is on tap, while creative cocktails keep everybody happy. Heritage owner-operators Tim and Paula’s keen sense of style and dedication to creating a space where people can sit back and relax has resulted in an extremely well-presented dining venue that caters to many tastes. Modern dishes capture seasonal flavours while classic pub favourites keep diners satisfied. The venue’s chef takes pride in reimagining the specials board according to produce availability and thrives on getting inventive in the kitchen. Flavours are always fresh and inviting. The Heritage Balnarring provides multiple spaces to create memories with mates. The enclosed beer garden welcomes you with timber tables and chesterfield couches ready for unwinding in, while the outside deck, with its huge red brick fireplace, offers optimum fireside drinking and dining options. With acreage for the kids to run free, The Heritage Balnarring is a great place to be any time of the year. Open Wednesday to Monday 11.30am-late; closed Tuesday. Please check website for further details.