Golden Vine Cafe 1949-2007
The lights went off for the very last time at the Golden Vine Cafe on 225, Moorabool St. Geelong when it closes its doors on the weekend, for good. A very well deserved retirement for my beloved parents in-law. They've worked hard all their lives, created history owning the very first chinese restaurant in Geelong, fed families of many generations... it's definitely been a bittersweet experience for them and us.
A walk down memory lane...
The restaurant was first opened by Gary's great-grandfather in 1949. It occupied the current village cinema complex on Ryrie St. His grandfather and father then took over and bought the GVC's current address. Famous for its home-made dim sims amongst other things, the GVC menu is mainly australasian including chop sueys, their popular special fried rice, chicken roll, beef in black bean, sweet 'n sour, chilli dishes etc.
The family tradition spanning 3 generations stops here as my dear husband can only cook 2 minute noodles and reheat frozen four 'n twenties. On a positive note though, DH's brother has been the fried rice boy ever since he could reach the wok counter.
Goodbye GVC, you will be sadly missed but dearly remembered.
5 comments:
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Nemmain... who knows, 20 years from now, Lachie will open Golden Vine Cafe, the reincarnation ;)
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I remember as a 4 year old in 1953 the Golden Vine was owned by a man we knew as "Charlie" he had a wife who kindly gave me a dim sim. I didn't appreciate Chinese food at the time instead I would eat their banana fritters, sweet syrup & vanilla icecream. Later I developed a taste for soup, dim sims, spring roles and sweet and sour dishes.We were fortunate to enjoy many meals there and many take away food too. I used to ask my mother if we could buy a red lantern with golden tassels just like the cafe had. I loved the Chinese decorations. I remember Charlie and his abacus well. Good luck to all his descendants. Thank you for the great service of a life time.
Grace, do you have any photos of the interior? Jack Chan, son of the last family to own the Golden Vine, is looking for photos of the inside. If so, please upload onto The ‘I used to live in Geelong’ group page.
Every couple of years I do a google search on this topic. Would kill to know if there are any decendents who can still make those dim sims and fried rice!!!
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