Project Forty Nine - CLOSED

Overview

Paddock-to-plate takes on new meaning at Collingwood's Project Forty Nine. The versatile space is a cafe and deli by day, restaurant and wine bar at night, and regularly plays host to functions and events. Using produce from their farm in northeast Victoria, and from a handful of small-scale producers, each offering at Project 49 is driven by ingredients.

The venue is the brainchild of Rocco Esposito (ex-Vue de Monde) and Lisa Pidutti, who also own a plot of land at 49 Ressams Lane in Beechworth – ten points for guessing where the name originates. Their Collingwood venue brings a little piece of the farm to suburbia, with as little intervention as possible.

In the mornings enjoy Italian coffee, house-made baked goods and fresh menu offerings inspired by what's in season. After brekky, stroll through the deli and peruse the shelves of local Victorian produce. If you stop by for lunch or dinner, head chef Tim Newitt — also a Beechworth native —will whip you up some modern Australian offerings with a pinch of Italian influence.

When it comes to wines, Esposito and Pidutti are passionate about selecting drops with a story to tell. Their 100-strong wines list is compiled from Australian (25 from Beechworth alone) and international wines and achieves a delicate balance of weird and wonderful whites, juicy reds and effervescent sparklings. Whether you're eating, drinking or taking produce away, rest assured that it's fresh, seasonal and locally-sourced at Project 49.