Covid-defying hospitality king opens four successful cafes in Melbourne lockdown

This Covid-defying coffee boss has opened four venues this year in the world’s most locked-down city. And a revamped milk bar in Vermont’s backstreets is next.

An old milk bar in Vermont’s back streets has made the perfect location for Julien Moussi’s next cafe.

Vermont General Store is the 16th venue by Only Hospitality Group, an empire that Moussi has continued to grow in lockdown, with a new Sorrento cafe, several bakeries, a pub and a new coffee roastery site.

“There’s nothing else to do but work at the moment,” he said.

Julien Moussi outside his new cafe, Vermont General Store. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“Opening new stores has created opportunities for our staff, which has been fortunate for us.”

The Vermont store will be takeaway-focused when it opens in the coming weeks and will seat up to 80 people when dine-in service returns next month.

The Centre Rd site will also be the first of Moussi’s cafes to include a bakery.

Last year in lockdown Moussi began opening bakeries, launching Juliette Bread and Coffee in East Malvern as “Covid insurance” to keep his staff busy.

But the businessman never imagined the brand would grow to five stores in a matter of months as he opened cafes in Ringwood East, Camberwell, Armadale and Hawthorn East, with a Caulfield store also in the works.

“I’d been looking at concepts overseas and as soon as we went into lockdown for the first time, I knew we had to do something fun and positive,” he said.

This year alone he has opened four venues — and nine in the past 12 months — including Buckley cafe in Sorrento. After he acquired the old Robert Burns Hotel, he renamed it Hotel Collingwood.

Inglewood Coffee Roasters, also owned by OHG, has also moved to a new 3000 sqm space in Mount Waverley.

Vermont General Store, 37 Centre Road, Vermont.

Adam and Amelia from Adelia fine foods.

SWEET TREATS

Rocky road would always get a whirl on a special occasion at Adam Trethowan’s house growing up.

Now his mum’s sweet snack has inspired a new range at Adelia Fine Foods, a business Adam runs with his wife, Amelia.

“It’s a Christmas-y looking product with freeze-dried raspberries and pistachio,” Adam said.

“We use good-quality chocolate and don’t bulk up with marshmallows. A good rocky road should have a good balance of chocolate, not too much fruit or sweetness and some crunchy elements for a nice texture.”

The new rocky road.

The Bellarine Peninsula couple launched the business eight years ago, selling mueslis and granola, before moving into brownie, slice and rocky road territory.

To cope with rapid business growth, Adelia will move into a new warehouse opposite its Ocean Grove kitchen in mid-November.

The facility will be three times larger and include two kitchens, with one designed to prepare gluten-free products.

“It’s unique — and expensive — to do two but you definitely have more control in your kitchen,” Amelia said.

adeliafinefoods.com.au

Renders of the new Balgownie Estate, which will open its new restaurant and cellar door in November.

FROM THE ASHES

A new-look Balgownie Estate will rise from the ashes next month after its Yarra Valley restaurant and cellar door burnt to the ground in a devastating blaze last June.

The new 100-seater restaurant 1309 @ Balgownie will open in late November, with a new wine room and private dining areas.

Resident chefs Grant Flack and Beth Candy have stepped up in the kitchen, taking on new positions as executive chef and head chef respectively.

Flack has been with Balgownie since 2018, previously working as the RACV City Club’s executive sous chef, while Candy has come from a stint at the Alexandra Club in the CBD.

1309 @ Balgownie’s menu is yet to be finalised, but will have a strong focus on locally-sourced produce.

balgownie.com

CATCH OF THE DAY

Matt Germanchis, of Captain Moonlite fame, has been appointed the Lorne Hotel’s new executive chef, months after the Merivale group acquired the iconic pub.

Germanchis will continue to be creatively involved in his ever-popular Fish by Moonlite shop, which he runs in Anglesea with partner Gemma.

The announcement comes five months after Merivale chief executive and Sydney billionaire Justin Hemmes bought the Great Ocean Rd pub. It’s Hemmes’ second Victorian venue after he snapped up Tomasetti House in the city in April.

Aru’s duck sanga. Picture: Rebecca Michael

BAKER’S DELIGHT

First Attica began moonlighting as a bakery in lockdown, now Khanh Nguyen of Sunda and Aru fame has joined the mix.

After a sellout first weekend, The Aru Bakeshop is back this Saturday selling cult favourite buttermilk roti with vegemite curry and duck sausage sangas, duck rendang and curried cauliflower pies and bottled cocktails from 10am until sold out.

Punters can pre-order pies and add bakeshop menu items online, or join the queue on Saturday.

The Aru Bakeshop is at 268 Little Collins St, Melbourne from 10am until 2pm or sold out.

aru.net.au or giftshop.thehotelwindsor.com.au

Mount Zero dirty olive brine.

IN MY OILS

Olive farmers Ros and Daimien Vodusek have opened a provedore and grocer on Yarrawonga’s main drag.

Rich Glen Estate’s new store opened in late September, after outgrowing its farmgate that’s run from the family property since 2012.

Locals can pick up flavoured olive oils, salad dressings, olive leaf teas and skin care products.

Meanwhile Mount Zero Olives, in the state’s west, has released a dirty olive brine for cocktail lovers.

Mount Zero worked with Victorian vermouth brand Maidenii and vodka distillery Grainshaker to develop the filtered brine, that’ll add extra oompf to your classic dirty martini. $12.95 for 330ml.

If you’re still looking for an olive fix and some lockdown fun, Cobram Estate hopes to break a world record for the largest olive oil tasting on October 28.

The last Guinness World Record was set in Spain in 2009 with 12,909 people. So far, more than 11,000 people have registered Cobram’s virtual event.

Sign up before October 11 to receive a tasting kit.

cobramestate.com.au/virtual-tasting