Our growing region is becoming a destination of choice for food lovers and producers.

When Simon Toohey and his partner were looking for somewhere to settle, they felt Geelong ticked a lot of boxes.

“My partner and I wanted to buy,” he said. “We wanted to be close to the beach and train line. We wanted to have room for our golden retriever, Lentil.”

But most of all, the MasterChef Australia grand finalist, YouTube personality and host of Channel 10’s Freshly Picked wanted to live somewhere that would support his passion for amazing food.

“I needed to grow food and be closer to the soil,” he said.

While Simon said the region featured many natural attributes that would be attractive to any passionate foodie, the people were also a key part of the attraction.

According to Simon, the amazing produce that comes out of the region – in particular stone fruits, lettuce, olives, grapes, strawberries and apples – says a lot about the people who live here. In his words: “where there’s great food, there’s great people.”

“When people are focusing on what’s so beautiful about the soil – organic growing, biodynamic growing and permaculture – and sharing that knowledge with others, then people actually get drawn to that because there’s a level of kindness that’s involved,” he said.

Simon is particularly interested in how food brings people together across different cultures in our city. “I want to be part of a culture that I feel I am learning from.”

Simon is far from the only one that feels they’ve been drawn in by Geelong’s evolving food culture. It’s also inspiring the next generation of chefs, culinary professionals, and general food lovers.

Pippa Macpherson, The Culinary Collective apprentice at The Davidson restaurant, says she has always been passionate about food.

“I guess my Nan probably started it, watching her cook, helping her, helping my aunty at her cafe then doing heaps at home," Pippa said. “They were always telling me: ‘go be a chef.’”

In her final year at The Gordon, the 21-year-old has been enjoying the brand-new, state-of-the-art $23.5 million culinary school and training restaurant. It features training kitchens, exquisite bakery and patisserie spaces, and a barista school.

When asked about the new space, Pippa was very enthusiastic. “We get to use all the cool equipment and, after the renovations, it looks really modern,” she said.

Pippa is excited for the future and has her own goals she would like to achieve.

“I want to study patisserie and I also want to become an industry leader and encourage other young women to join the industry,” she said. "For the evolution of Geelong’s food culture, I would like to see more plant-based and vegetarian places, and more cool dessert spots.”

Explore our celebration of food and flavours at Tastes of Central Geelong Festival 23 March to 2 April.

Simon’s favourite foodie spots

•  Funk Café 152 Shannon Ave, Geelong West
•  Union Street Wine Bar 8 Union St, Geelong
• Eastside Wholefoods 269 Myers St, East Geelong
• Feast Geelong 5 Ormond Rd, East Geelong
• Fresh Land Food Asian Supermarket 153–161 Shannon Ave, Manifold Heights
• Il Bolognese Pasta and The Mushroom Connection, South Geelong Farmers Market – 200 Yarra St, South Geelong (first and third Sunday of each month)

Pippa’s favourite foodie spots

• That Place Patisserie and Café – 110B Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont