Cara Devine is co-owner of Northcote’s Goodwater bar; and certainly knows a thing or two about crafting cocktails. Her latest book Behind The Home Bar teaches you how to shake and stir impressive drinks from the comfort of yours when next entertaining. Cara spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.
Her accolades include being named one of Drinks International’s Top 25 Australian Bartenders, being nominated for a Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award and placing number 14 on the Bartender Magazine ‘Most Influential’ List 2022.
MY CITY
I love the suburb culture of Melbourne, it feels like a dozen cities in one. You can basically take a vacation by just jumping on a tram or bus. Sample European pavement cafe culture in Carlton North, head out to Box Hill for a dumpling degustation crawl, wander around Footscray and try to find a cuisine you’ve never tried before (it won’t take you long!). When anyone comes to visit I just tell them to come hungry and thirsty; eating and drinking is what Melburnians do best.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
Most of my favourite food memories are more about the company and situation; sardines from a grill in the middle of a street party in Lisbon, curry at the local Indian back in Glasgow where the waiter still remembers my name, bugs on the barbecue after a day on the beach on Minjerribah. In terms of restaurant dishes that I go back to, the bone marrow risoni at Arlechin is up there: I had my first date with my now husband over that risoni, and it’s something I crave when winter starts to set in, rich and comforting.
FAVOURITE BAR
Bar Bellamy is literally the perfect neighbourhood bar. Dani, Oska and the team always have the vibe on point and the drinks list rotates a lot so there’s something new to try (important when you go as often as I do). They have a knack of always having the exact right cocktail for my mood – usually something with sherry. I think they’re a little magic.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
I’d probably be a seltzer – easy going, a bit basic, always up for a hang on the median strip. I really like Wonki for a yummy local one.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
I have a few levels of hangover: less intense ones I drink lots of sparkling water, try to do some exercise and eat a salad (the ‘balance’ cure). When it’s a Defcon 1, margherita pizza from DOC with hot sauce on the crusts and an entire season of Real Housewives.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
I always end up back at Maybe Mae –part of the first wave of really good cocktail bars in Australia and has kept up the quality and service. Their Peel St Corpse Reviver could actually be included in ‘best hangover cure’, and they always have some really innovative drinks that rotate seasonally. It’s a good start and end point to do a little circuit around Leigh St and Peel St where there are some great dining and drinking options.
OVERSEAS BAR
The bar scene in Bangkok is really popping at the moment – there are some great bartenders doing awesome things with local Thai flavours. I loved the Som Tam Fizz at Nuss bar, and Mahaniyom and Tax are also definitely worth a visit.
WINES YOU RECOMMEND
The thing that kept me sane during lockdowns was working in a wine shop, and a bright spot in otherwise dark days was Elisabetta Foradori’s Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco – it was everything I love in a wine, salty and nutty and more-ish. Unfortunately I don’t have any more bottles from that vintage so it is only a memory now. In general, I’m loving seeing Aussie winemakers try out lesser-known varietals – I’m a big fan of Ollie Margan’s Breaking Ground Albarino and I’ve had a few great Aussie Aligotes recently.
FAVOURITE WINERY
Pennyweight near Beechworth is awesome – really low key, it’s definitely still a family business and they’re making sherry style wines (apera) that I love both for sipping and using in cocktails. I’m a big fan of their Fino, and also the Gamay is really elegant.
