Two classics in a row. It happens but rarely. After my Blue Dolphin experience, I arrive in Lorne on a Queens Birthday weekend. The day is wet and cold. The lunch places along the town strip are packed. None look inviting, and several look positively nauseating.

Friends some years ago had taken me to Qdos for a coffee. I head there. Qdos is a sculpture park set amongst tall timber. It has an art gallery and cafe. It also caters for weddings and those kinds of things. Accommodation is available. The Japanese-influenced style is evident everywhere. Please take time to look and appreciate. A perky, vivacious and competent young waitress is taking orders and making coffees.

I take a glass of Austin’s 07 Sauvignon Blanc. Coffee is Genovese. I have vegetable soup. Another friend has pea and ham. She is impressed: “easily the best I’ve had — you could see the strings — these soups take days to prepare. You can do pumpkin in 20 minutes.” The soup comes with a neat Zen stack of four pieces of bread. Another friend has a “toastie” — ham, roasted pumpkin, caramelised onion and chutney, with salad. Again, wonderful bread. An antipasto for two comes in @ $22. A pizza of roast veggies, pesto, feta and olives @ $18. Beef and Guinness pie with salad, $16. Food comes in specially fired bowls and plates. The whole experience is art. Go there!