Catering supremo Peter Rowland’s latest enterprise – the revamped Martha Cove Café & Store on the Mornington Peninsula – will be unveiled this month, marking a major milestone for the rejuvenated luxury development.
Boasting stunning water views – and now the best of the region’s renowned food, wine and coffee, along with an experienced and passionate new team – Martha Cove Café & Store is set to become a drawcard for foodies across Victoria.
Peter Rowland Catering chief executive John Isherwood said the $650 million Martha Cove marina development, set on Safety Beach, was the perfect fit for a company known for “delivering exceptional food”.
“For more than 50 years the Peter Rowland brand has been providing the right food for the right occasion, with great service,” he said. “That’s exactly what we’ll be doing at the Martha Cove Café & Store – offering great food, wine and coffee in a relaxed and friendly setting. The cafe has been totally refurbished – it looks fantastic.”
Mr Isherwood said the menu would change regularly, making the most of the best seasonal Mornington Peninsula produce. Highlights of the launch menu include a breakfast of confit mushrooms, sage, walnuts and goats’ cheese on toast, and for lunch a salad of faro, beetroot, goats’ cheese, spinach, parsley and sherry vinegar, as well as Peter Rowland’s famous classic chicken sandwiches.
Cafe manager Ryan Pitcher will be spoilt for choice when selecting the rotating wine list, drawn from the Mornington Peninsula’s world famous wineries
Another renowned local company, Little Rebel Roasters, will supply the coffee. Little Rebel Coffee won a Bronze Medal at this year’s RASV Australian International Coffee Awards held in Melbourne for their Little Rebel Blend, in the Milk Blend (Cappuccino) Category.
Mr Pitcher is a barista of 15 years’ experience, having first learnt his trade on the celebrated “Freo” cafe strip in Fremantle, Western Australia. He has since honed his talents in a series of fine coffee establishments across cosmopolitan Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. “I’m looking forward to serving up the best brew on the peninsula,” he said.
The Martha Cove Café & Store, which is fully licensed, has been completely refurbished. It has new indoor/outdoor seating for 50, with a mix of low and high tables, couches and outside balcony tables, as well as glass and wind-proof awnings to protect customers from the elements.
Martha Cove is a 94-hectare residential marina development, being overseen by the unique alliance between three key stakeholders – development company Three Pillars, and receivers and managers KordaMentha and PPB Advisory.
The three key stakeholders are on track to deliver 1100 residential dwellings, 750 marina berths and a commercial precinct.
The Martha Cove Café & Store follows in a fine tradition of Peter Rowland eateries, which include The Tea Room, Persimmon and Gallery Kitchen at the National Gallery in Melbourne, Museum Cafe at Melbourne Museum, Crossbar Cafe at Federation Square, and The Hill Winery Cafe in Geelong.
Martha Cove Café & Store is located at the corner of Anchorage Avenue and Harbourside Esplanade, Safety Beach. Ph: 0439 240 170. Opening hours: Autumn/Winter/Spring: 7.30am-3.30pm, Thursday-Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Summer: 7:30am-3:30pm (7 days), and will open until 9:00 pm for special events.
