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Just Open: Son of an Elk, Geelong

Leanne Clancey

Aromatic Japanese-style chicken noodle broth.
Aromatic Japanese-style chicken noodle broth.Supplied

No, it's not a dirty insult slung between macho Canadian ice hockey players. Son of an Elk is the name of Geelong's newest and cutest daytime cafe. Open since mid-­May, it's venue number two for the team behind brunch­tastic Bellarine favourite, Elk Horn Roadhouse (hence the elk).

Co­-owners Terri Bitton, Julie Taylor and Hamish Wilkinson (later joined by Sarah Amott) signed the lease on the brick­fronted Ryrie Street space back in 2014, but had their work cut out getting it up to scratch. "The building needed a lot of love," Taylor explained, "but we had this vision that we could make it something beautiful".

Son of Elk: Shaking up Geelong's cafe scene.
Son of Elk: Shaking up Geelong's cafe scene.Supplied
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After extensive renovations, the weekdays-only operation is delighting G­-town locals with the same brand of confident country fare that put Wallington on the map with Elk Horn back in 2009.

Along with friendly vibes and solid Allpress coffee, you'll find lots of healthy and sensible workaday lunch options ­such as smoked chicken congee, chickpea stew with Drysdale yoghurt or an aromatic Japanese-­style chicken noodle broth with spinach and nori.

Then there's what Taylor calls "the naughty things"; twice-­cooked pork belly roll with slaw and house-made barbecue sauce, or the oversized waffles with banana, butterscotch and ice-cream. Just want good bacon and eggs on sourdough? Relax – you can have that too.

Twice-cooked pork belly roll.
Twice-cooked pork belly roll.Supplied

Taylor's mum Sandra is behind the wonderfully nostalgic home­style cake selection, which stars an epic passionfruit sponge and some crazy­-good gluten-free chocolate lamingtons, which she says have been "flying out the door".

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Open Mon-­Fri 7am­-4pm.

277-­279 Ryrie Street, Geelong; 03 5221 1575; facebook.com/Son­of­an­Elk­

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