By Luke Voogt
Ice cream lovers can overcome their COVID-19 melon-choly in an annual Surf Coast festival featuring 144 flavours like watermelon and feta next week.
Aleesha Coots and Will Evans-Papinsky recently tasted the quirky concoction, one of 12 one-off flavours including parmesan and olive oil, siracha pretzels and black sticky rice banana.
French opera cake, Turkish Delight Pavlova, charcoal Cherry Ripe and the Star Wars-themed Stormtrooper also feature on the festival’s menu.
The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery even has a few adults-only indulgences such as spiced Negroni and Yuzu whisky sour.
Chocolaterie owner Leanne Neeland said her staff had heaps of fun inventing “adventurous flavour combinations” inspired by their kitchen garden and orchard, local suppliers and distillers, and favourite cakes.
The festival comes as the chocolaterie rebounds from the devastating effects of COVID-19 on local tourism last year.
The event runs at Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, Bellbrae, from next Wednesday to February 21.
Luke Voogt
