Tastes of Greater Geelong is back for 2025, and the Bellarine Peninsula is shining brighter than ever.
Now in its 14th year, this year’s festival features more than 80 homegrown businesses showcasing handpicked produce and exquisite multi-course meals across the Greater Geelong region.
With so many venues surrounding Ocean Grove, now is the time to celebrate our local highly talented chefs and growers.
Anyone who’s already visited Ket Baker will know their bread and pastries are worth the hype.
And after attending owner Miek Paulus’s Sourdough Bread Workshop, you could be cooking like this at home.
Learn to mix, shape and bake the perfect loaf and take home two loaves as well as your own sourdough starter so you can impress your friends with delightful homemade sourdough.
Your freshly baked bread could be perfectly complemented by butter from local producer, Lard Ass Butter.
At their tasting event, you can sample handcrafted slow-churned varieties such as salted, sweet vanilla and smoked. You’ll also learn butter-making traditions and enjoy pairing tips.
On The Terrace, The Dill Seafood Restaurant is serving a traditional Ukrainian Dinner on Wednesday June 25. Try hearty and flavourful dishes served by Ukrainian head chef, Ivan Roianov.
Meanwhile over in Wallington, The Flying Brick Cider House is offering a Fabulous Friday three-course feast, including a glass of Yes Said the Seal wine, beer or cider.
Alternatively, cheese lovers can head to the High Cheese event at the same venue. This twist on a regular high tea offers indulgences such as baked camembert, brie souffle with apple butter and goat cheese croquettes.
For those with a penchant for cocktails, Yes Bar will serve their Flight of Fancy – a tasting paddle of four signature cocktails, showcasing a range of flavours and styles.
And if gluten’s not your friend, My Bellarine Kitchen is putting on a gluten-free high tea with the kind of care and detail that makes it feel like a treat, not a workaround.
Over in Drysdale, Farm My School is hosting a Cooking on Country workshop with Nornie Bero, chef, author and founder of Melbourne’s Mabu Mabu.
This hands-on cooking and educational workshop will encourage you to slow down, connect with country, learn about regenerative farming, harvest organically grown produce and prepare a healthy meal.
You can also join celebrity chef Adrian Richardson for a masterclass of Italian cooking featuring standout produce from Lonsdale Tomato Farm and vintages from Lethbridge Wines.
Grown on the Bellarine, these handpicked tomatoes take centre stage in a celebration of freshness and delicious Italian flavours.
We haven’t forgotten the kids. Children can embark on a culinary journey through Geelong’s streets during the school holidays to discover delightful dishes designed for young palates.
There’s also a program for teens to learn essential life skills such as food planning, budgeting, shopping and meal prep.
The festival officially kicks off in central Geelong with the Winter Festival, but you don’t need to go far to enjoy it there’s so much on offer in our backyard.
Tastes of Greater Geelong 2025 runs from June 20 to July 20.
For more information and the full program, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/tastes
