Alatonero, McCrae

Food & Drink
Alatonero, Beach, Coffee, Family, Food, Friends, greek, Kitchen, Local, lunch, McCrae, Mornington Peninsula, Restaurant, Saltwater, Wedding, Weekend, Wine
A long-term love affair with Santorini, and a passion for Greek food, has brought a new culinary vibe to the Mornington Peninsula. Across the road from the McCrae lighthouse (at what was The Pavilion), Alatonero is giving diners the opportunity to enjoy well known and much loved Greek delicacies. With an impressive resume in the food world, and with energy and drive to burn, Jacqui Poulier found the perfect location for her new venture, where she has brought to life her love of food, cooking, people and stories. The restaurant is light, bright, open and airy with a fresh sea breeze that drifts through the open plan dining area.

Grand Tour One

Amazing Drives
Australia, Beach, Cafe, Cellar Door, Coffee, Eat, enjoy, Farm, Food, Kitchen, Local, lunch, Merricks, Mornington Peninsula, Red Hill, Restaurant, Shoreham, Vegetables, Victoria, Vineyard, Weekend, Wine
Our Grand Tour One is a meandering journey through the Mornington Peninsula that takes you through the hinterland to the rugged south west with a main break at the Peninsula Hot Springs where you will leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to soak up some iconic roads and fresh experiences as you journey homeward.

Finesse Catering Group, Frankston

Food & Drink
BBQ, Birthdays, catering, celebrate, chef, Commonfolk, cook, Corporate, dinner, dromana, Eat, Event, Experience, Feast, finesse catering group, Flinders, Food, Freedom, Glass Studio, Gourmet, Group, Inspire, Kitchen, Local, Mornington Peninsula, Peninsula, Private Dining, Private Parties, shared, Speakeasy, table feast, Tanglewood, Thailand, Weddings, Yacht Club
Brad and Roong Holtz of Finesse Catering Group are a formidable team. Passionate, creative and classically trained, their worlds collided when Brad attended one of Roong’s cooking classes in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, where Roong taught tourists and professional chefs the art of traditional Thai cooking. At the time Brad was working as a chef on small private yachts in Alaska and Mexico but they found a way to be together, moving to the Mornington Peninsula in 2007.

The Classic Drive-by

Amazing Drives
Australia, Balnarring, Beach, Cafe, Cellar Door, Coffee, Eat, enjoy, Exhibition, Farm, Flinders, Food, Gallery, Garden, Horse Riding, Kitchen, Local, lunch, Merricks, mornington, Mornington Peninsula, Red Hill, Victoria, Vineyard, Weekend, Wine
From amazing views to farm-gates, general stores, cellar doors and exhilarating country roads – these things are synonymous with the Peninsula. This tour gives you a chance to enjoy the ride, taste some things along the way, and stretch your legs all within a few hours.

Essence Food for the Soul, Portsea

Food & Drink
Buy, chef, curries, Curry, Custard, delicious, Dessert, desserts, Eat, Essence, Food, Food for the Soul, Home, Kitchen, Love the Pen, lovethepeninsula, lunch, Mornington Peninsula, Pie, Pies, Portsea, Portsea Hotel, quality produce, quiches, Soup, Soups
When chef husband and wife team Jim and Melanie Houston got married at the Portsea Hotel, little did they know that 10 years later they would buy a business across the road from the Portsea Hotel and live in it with their three children for the best part of a year. That business is now known as Essence Food for the Soul. As chefs, life for Jim and Melanie was busy, particularly with three young children. The long hours took a strain, and they were ready to make a lifestyle change within the food industry. Sometimes everything falls into place and you find the ideal scenario, and this wholesale food business was perfect for the chef team. Essence Food for the Soul is all about the best quality produce made into delicious, heat and serve meals that help the time poor to eat well.

South Beach, Mount Martha

Food & Drink
Beach, Cafe, Children, Coffee, Eat, Events, Family, Food, Kitchen, Local, Love the Pen, Mornington Peninsula, Restaurant, South Beach Project, Swim, Village, Volpino, Walk, Weddings, Weekend, Wine
South Beach, Mount Martha sits just above the shoreline, where light, space and the rhythm of the coast set the tone. With uninterrupted views across Port Phillip Bay, open indoor–outdoor seating and a calm, confident pace, it’s dining that protects how it feels to be there.

Barmah Park Vineyard, Moorooduc

Food & Drink
Accommodation, Australia, Barmah Park, Cellar Door, chef, Coffee, Deck, Eat, Events, Food, Friends, Garden, Groups, Kitchen, Local, lunch, Moorooduc, Mornington Peninsula, Property, Restaurant, Summer, Victoria, Vineyard, Weddings, Weekend, Wine
Barmah Park is a stone's throw from Mornington, just off the Moorooduc Hwy. Come here to warm up beside their log fire and unwind with the help of stunning rural vineyard views, fine food, wine and friendly service. What was a working cattle farm is now an acclaimed restaurant with a spacious dining room - graced with natural light and a rustic cellar door. There is something for everyone with their modern Australian menu that reflects seasonal moods. 

Trofeo Estate, Dromana

Food & Drink, Winemakers
Cellar Door, Drink, dromana, Estate, Farm, Food, Friends, Garden, Kitchen, Local, Love the Pen, lunch, Mornington Peninsula, Produce, Red Hill, Restaurant, Trofeo, Victoria, Vineyard, Wedding, Weekend, Wine
Trofeo Estate encompasses a vineyard, cellar door, winery, & a thriving cafe. At the core of the estate is a philosophy that embraces the practice of biodynamics, sustainability & old world winemaking techniques & this is expressed through fresh, home grown produce from the kitchen and café, delicious take home condiments and stunning array of wines from the cellar door.

Volpino, Mount Martha

Food & Drink
Beach, Deck, Drinks, Eat, Family, Fish, Food, Friends, Kitchen, Local, Locals, lunch, Mornington Peninsula, mount martha, Pasta, Pizza, Restaurant, Seafood, Summer, Sunshine, Victoria, Volpino, Weekend, Wine, Winebar
With a strong emphasis on fresh and local produce, Volpino offers an array of Mediterranean inspired seasonal dishes to compliment the classic wood fired pizzas that are a mainstay of this vibrant, beachside venue. The deck is super sized and a perfect place to soak up the winters sun, unwind and dine alfresco with friends, family or as a couple. Add a unique, hand selected wine list and you have the perfect ingredients for a memorable day or night out. To borrow a famous Australian phrase, it’s all about the vibe and it’s this attitude that inspires us to follow the boys from Volpino.