Ten years on, Brad and Roong are now much loved locals who have made their home in the beautiful environment that is the Peninsula, where fresh produce inspires their seasonal fare.  Bringing together their five star cooking experience, their knowledge of global cuisines and their understanding of local produce, they created Finesse Catering Group.  They officially launched the business on May 13th last year with a function at Commonfolk (where Chef Roong continues to cook during the week), and their first summer has been extremely busy.

“We love all aspects of catering,” explains Brad. “We love the freedom of going to different places to cook, from amazing function spaces to peoples’ homes.  We cater for private parties, milestone birthdays, corporate events & weddings, and everything we do is all about finesse.  We love to bring our knowledge of food from around the world to our guests and present it with a delicate skill and artfulness that brings out the best in the food and is breathtaking to the eye. Our food really is built on our love of the culinary arts.”

Finesse Catering Group is just that.  A group of like minded chefs who come together with finesse to offer the most wonderful food in the most beautiful way.  Creative and seasonal, Finesse has developed an impressive and mouth-watering selection of menu packages that showcase their knowledge and skill with food styles from all over the world.  From a Shared Table Feast to a Gourmet BBQ Selection, and from Fine Dining Seated Degustation Menus to Canapes and Finger Food, and a “Celebration of Life’ menu filled with delightful sandwiches, baguettes and wraps, Finesse do indeed cater for all tastes.  You can even enjoy master cooking classes with Chef Roong in the comfort of your own home – perfect for an adult slumber party, hen’s night or corporate event.

Brad has travelled the world and is experienced with all cuisines, and Roong’s talent for Thai food is beyond compare.  The resulting menus offer worldly flavours with a taste of the Peninsula, using local seasonal ingredients wherever possible.  Roong’s talented sister Lucy is the pastry chef, and her dessert offering is equally impressive.  A member of the Mornington Peninsula Wedding Group, Finesse offers a complete catering service from food for all occasions (which can be specifically catered to any taste), to drinks and staff (front of house, wait staff and bar staff).

Some of the delights you can expect from Finesse include canapés like lemongrass and pork dumplings, spiced duck spring rolls, char-grilled lamb koftas and their signature gin and beetroot cured salmon.  A favourite is Roong’s special sausage rolls with her homemade ‘kick arse’ tomato chutney (who doesn’t love a sausage roll?).  A Shared Table Feast could feature Charcuterie, Antipasto, Mid East Mezze or Asian Inspired platters, and their Seated Dinner Menu is inspired with selections like Crispy Skin Pork Belly, Spice Marinated Quail, Slow Braised Duck Leg and Baked Saltwater Barramundi.  The dessert and cake offering is simply spectacular, with sweet taste sensations like Textures of White and Dark Chocolate, 7 Layer Salted Caramel Opera Cake and Spanish Churros with Raspberry Sauce and Malted Chocolate.

Fine food and first class hospitality are the signatures of Finesse Catering Group.  Says Roong, “We love hosting people, serving them the most beautiful food and taking care of them.  We love making people feel special.  Want to make sure they are happy.  We love working, we love food and we love people.”

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From day one Eileen Gordon and Grant Donaldson wanted their studio to be somewhere people could look behind the scenes and gain a true appreciation of their art.  Nestled in the rolling hills of the Mornington Peninsula hinterland, the studio has every angle of the artistic process covered – from looking in on glassblowing in action, looking out at the inspiring countryside, and looking around at the gallery’s magnificent glassworks, all created onsite.  Each view is contrasting but tells a story.

Outside rests a calm, peaceful environment with rural views, landscaped to nurture creativity. Inspired by the lush, natural surroundings, Grant, who discovered his love of glassblowing through Eileen, sketches his ideas. Though it is a constant challenge to create new, original pieces, the couple confess that it is somewhat of an addiction, and a shared passion. Without the constant buzz of town, one can find themselves more easily reaching that almost-meditative state where creativity strikes most powerfully.

Finding the right setting to professionally practice their craft was incredibly important to Eileen and Grant. They spent ten years searching for that perfect spot to set up a glassblowing studio, before finally settling in Red Hill and opening Gordon Studio Glassblowers in 2003. Being close enough to Melbourne to source materials, providing sufficient tourism to sustain a business, and surrounded by the natural environment they craved, it offered the perfect mix.

They renovated the property’s old house with the specific objective of creating a secure viewing mezzanine that allowed visitors to watch the resident artists working with molten hot glass, shaping it, adding colour, blowing air and using gravity to create the pieces to be sold in the gallery. It is a distinct contrast to the peaceful views outside.  Glassblowing is a strenuous and challenging craft that requires physical and mental strength – just holding the equipment while blowing is physically demanding.  It is also now a rare trade, due to the cost involved. The techniques and tools – such as the glory hole, blowing iron, tongs, pincers and foot tool, which have changed little over time – all had to be sourced from England. Therefore, seeing glassblowing in action is a unique experience – as close a genuine tie to ancient history as you’re likely to find.

For Eileen and Grant, offering this insight is important, not merely as a point of interest, but to provide an appreciation for, and an understanding of, the art-form, and how much energy goes into creating each piece.

The peacefulness of the outdoors and the energy of the workshop come together through the homely, bright and open gallery, full of colourful and striking glassworks.  Pieces include vases, platters, various types of bottles, bowls, paperweights, and a range of decorative pieces. Many of the pieces have been created from the Gordon family who are very well-known glass engravers. They also create many custom designed pieces for customers, particularly to adorn new houses.

Throughout the year they also host events and demonstrations, including the opportunity for guests to create their own piece of glass art.  Between their work in the gallery and the blowing room, which are open to the public daily from 10am – 5pm, it is a time-consuming passion. They do, however, find time to rejuvenate, as is critically important for any artist. Eileen is a keen skier and squash player, and Grant pounds the skins as a drummer in a band. They have also travelled extensively, collecting glass artwork from across the world and hope to host an exhibition of their collection. That’s how much they enjoy glassblowing – even when they’re on holiday they’re chasing down pieces!

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