The General Food Store

28/05/2026

📣 Farewell Garry! ❤ Yes, sad but true! One of our beloved chefs, Garry, will finish up with us at The General this Sunday 31st May. If you would like to pop in to wish him luck, Sunday’s the day!

Garry, thank you for your incredible skills and dedication over the past nearly three years. You have been unwavering – solidly creating our dishes for our beloved customers while building connection with them and our team too! All the while ensuring our little family can get away on much needed breaks here and there too. You will be missed and we wish you all the very best as you step into the world of business ownership – break a leg!

Never fear folks, our wonderful Jason remains at the helm, and we welcome new chef Wade into the fold next week! Wade brings lots of amazing brunch experience to The General so we're sure he'll hit the ground running.

Be sure to pop in Sunday to give Garry a General-style send off!

18/05/2026

📣 LOCAL CHEF ROLE OPPORTUNITY! 📣 Do we have your next career move sorted? We know this is a hard industry to find decent working conditions in. We pride ourselves on creating a workplace that goes against the traditional 'work till you drop', low paid, high staff turnover environments that so many of us have experienced in our careers. It can be different, and it is at our company...just ask our team. So if proper pay, and excellent work/life balance sound good to you, check out the following positions at https://au.seek.com/job/92148968?ref=cm-ui

👉 About the role:
This role is an opportunity for an experienced, passionate, driven chef with a creative flair who loves seasonal cooking. If you thrive on the buzz of a cafe in full swing, days will fly by as you pump out brunch for our adoring customers. The ability to self-manage and self-critique is imperative.

We remain an industry leader in our region through our seasonal-driven menus, exceptional customer service, and passion for hospitality. Our bi-monthly menu takes inspiration from a range of cuisines. We present approachable yet unique brunch dishes and enjoy the creativity that seasonal changes bring.

👉 Key points of interest
- 4-day shifts a week, Wednesday to Saturday
- Local cafe. No driving into the city!
- Menu changes quarterly
- Focus on local, seasonal produce
- Dietary-friendly menu
- Great working culture
- Small kitchen team
- Creativity encouraged
- Great local produce
- Fast-paced environment
- Working closely with the owners
- Work alongside a motivated FOH team
- Respectful and cooperative team
- Established, lovely, loyal customer base
- Honest company that looks after its team
- Staff discount at our venues
- All-you-can-drink coffee!
- Salary, plus super, and phone bills paid

Find out more about our company at https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/jobs

We look forward to hearing from you!!

14/05/2026

Come and give your tastebuds a treat. Set menu is just $55 for a full happy tummy. Some nights are already almost booked out, so make sure you book soon.

07/05/2026

Launching French Nights! | Mother's Day Dining | NEW Menu! - https://mailchi.mp/5dd7b2f5b8e6/winter-school-holidays-9949701

06/05/2026

🇫🇷 French Nights are here! BOOK NOW!

Every Friday and Saturday evening from 15th May to 6th June, we're opening our doors from 5pm to transport you to the heart of France — no passport (or jet fuel) required!

Join us for an evening of indulgence where the timeless flavours of French cuisine come alive through a seasonal sharing menu crafted by our very own Paul 'Dougie' Douglas.

Think duck confit terrine, goat's cheese soufflé, slow-braised beef Bourguignon, crème brûlée, tart au citron… and so much more. Did somebody say snails? All washed down with a crafted selection of French varietal wines from across Australia. Dietary friendly options available.

📅 Fridays & Saturdays | 15 May – 6 June
🕔 Doors open 5pm
🔗 Book online | See menu https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/nights-at-the-general
📞 03 5968 3580
🏪 Or pop in-store
Menu

Four weekends only — bookings are essential. Don't miss out!

24/04/2026

24/04/2026

We will be open from 8am-3pm this ANZAC Day, Saturday 25th April*. Head to https://www.emeraldrsl.com.au/ for local service information. To see our dine-in and takeaway menus, go to https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/menu. *15% public holiday surcharge will apply.

17/04/2026

Did you know multi talented Dougie plays in the band Here for the Beers? Time to get a social presence we think!

17/04/2026

Our new menu is here and PHARAOH'S FIBRE is flying out the door! Casablanca roasted vegetables, pumpkin hummus, coriander zhoug, confit garlic, za'atar. Comes gluten free and vegan. Add feta, halloumi, poached eggs if you wish! Check the new menu out here: https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/menu

26/03/2026

Hot Cross Buns are in store today! Pre-order now for Easter weekend in store or online here: https://cookaborough.com/the-grub-club/menus/23437/items Orders close this Sunday at 11.55pm!

23/03/2026

LAST CHANCE for the ever popular, The Bad Boy. Double layer toasted sandwich of roasted chicken, avocado, smoked bacon, chilli mayo, parsnip crisps, and spinach. Can be gluten and dairy free. See our dine-in and takeaway menus at https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/menu.

22/03/2026

IT’S HAPPENING! We’re on the countdown to Easter. Hot cross buns are in store right now!

20/03/2026

Last chance for Harvest Nights | Ready Meal Deal | Hot Cross Buns are BACK! - https://mailchi.mp/89c2fc7236de/winter-school-holidays-9948858

19/03/2026

Bayleaf in yourself. Don’t beet yourself up. I love you from my head to-ma-toes.

16/03/2026

We've loved exhibiting the stunning art of Joan Segrave on our Wall of Frame since early Feb! If you are interested in Joan's work or would like to contact Joan, you can do so at [email protected] or via her Facebook event page at .

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! We are taking exhibition bookings from May onwards! We love to give local artists a place to show their work. Please get in touch with us, at [email protected], if you are interested in exhibiting your work, commission free, in our space.

13/03/2026

You loved Mezze Nights and have been asking for MORE! So, Dougie has been busy creating a new pop-up dinner event for you all – Harvest Nights. Think hyper-local produce, autumn evenings, a la carte dining, good friends, and top service here at The General Food Store after dark. Friday & Saturday nights until Saturday 28th March. Bookings recommended — our space is intimate and fills quickly. See link in bio for menu and bookings!

13/03/2026

Our babaganoush process. The burning on the open flame creates the delightful smoky flavour profile. This has been a hit on our Harvest Nights. Come and try for yourself. We have tables available tonight and tomorrow night. https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/nights-at-the-general

05/03/2026

Grab your spot tonight! Harvest Nights are here. We can’t wait to celebrate this delightful produce with you.

04/03/2026

Harvest Nights are here. Celebrating the abundance of local produce we have on our doorstep. Get onboard, give your tastebuds a treat. Open every Friday and Saturday through March. Book online. We can’t wait to feed you!

25/02/2026

You loved Mezze Nights and have been asking for MORE! So, Dougie has been busy creating a new pop-up dinner event for you all – Harvest Nights. Think hyper-local produce, autumn evenings, a la carte dining, good friends, and top service here at The General Food Store after dark. Friday & Saturday nights from Friday 6th to Saturday 28th March. Bookings recommended — our space is intimate and fills quickly. Bookings and menu head to https://www.thegeneralfoodstore.com.au/nights-at-the-general

25/02/2026

Introducing Harvest Nights | Artist Callout | Long Weekend Hours | Menu - https://mailchi.mp/5213e2716e87/winter-school-holidays-9948493

19/02/2026

Pig Bang Theory! Tom Yum fried rice, braised pork belly, mushroom, peas, coriander, Chinese broccoli, spring onion, chilli, fried onions, eggs. See you soon!

18/02/2026

Beautiful dappled walks at this afternoon. Nice and cool for the final days of summer.

17/02/2026

📣 Closing Early Today – Extreme Fire Danger (Rating 73) 📣

Today’s fire danger rating sits at 73, which places us in the higher end of the Extreme category.

With conditions like this — heat, wind and very dry fuel — fires can start and spread quickly. The safety of our team and our community always comes first, so we’ll be closing earlier than usual today.

We know this might be inconvenient (especially if you were planning a coffee run!), but we’d much rather everyone be safe and prepared.

We’ll keep you updated if anything changes and plan to reopen as normal tomorrow with conditions cooling over the coming days. See updates here https://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/fire-danger-ratings.shtml

Stay safe, keep an eye on updates, and take care of each other.

— The General Food Store Team