Community excited with arrival of new cafe and grocer

After an impressive career in the hospitality industry a Sunshine Coast couple has opened the doors to their first cafe.

FRESH FOOD: James Fraser and Georgie Lazarus of Goldie and the Green Grocer in Peregian Breeze. Photo: John McCutcheon

PEREGIAN Breeze has welcomed a new hive of energy with the opening of Goldie and the Green Grocer.

Owned and operated by Georgie Lazarus and James Fraser the small cafe has a big personality with great coffee, breakfast, lunch, takeaway, fruit and veg and convenience products, all of which can be enjoyed to a great soundtrack.

Being a commercially trained chef Mr Fraser has managed Noosa’s Ricky’s River Bar & Restaurant, Gaston and Sum Yung Guys and said he wanted his cafe to be a hub for the Peregian breeze community.

“We wanted to be that corner shop which in the estate caters for every element,” he said.

“We are there for coffee in the morning; we are there for fish and chips in the afternoon; and we want to be there for your take home groceries and a beer at the end of the day.”

Both working at Noosa’s Bistro C the couple meet 13 years ago and said: “It’s always been a dream for both of us to put our own personal stamp on something”.

“I’ve spent my life in and out of gastropubs in Melbourne, I’ve managed award-winning hotels since I was 18 so this is always where I have been geared to go, food’s my passion,” Mr Fraser said.

Located along California Boulevard, Mrs Lazarus said the community had greeted them with open arms.

“They started building in here about three or four years ago and they haven’t had any shops, so when we started setting up and they saw a coffee machine they said, ‘this is so exciting’,” she said.

“I think they have been screaming out … for some glue to hold the community together and it’s been a really nice place for us to start our first business in such a welcoming community.”

With the community in mind the Sunrise Beach residents are keeping it local.

“We’re trying to find as many local guys as we can and a lot of our products are local as well,” Mr Fraser said.

“The pasta is made by a guy up the street, we have meat replacements that are from a local supplier, bread and coffee as much as we can.”

Mrs Lazarus said recently receiving a liquor licence was a game-changer and not only allowed customers to enjoy a coffee or an espresso martini but also gave the pair the opportunity to “marry wine to food”.

“The booze licence took a little while to come through, but you can sit here and have a little glass of something it’s so nice,” she said.

“Our chefs are brilliant, and we want to showcase what they can do so we are going to hold a three-course dinner once a month where we will do wine matching for a three-course meal.”

Goldie and the Green Grocer has a variety of fresh food options and caters for vegan, vegetarian and other dietary requirements.

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2ZXr07T.