Chef Simon Poynting has put together three specials, inspired by some of the favourite meals of Bamawm Extension swimmer Col Pearse.
“I knocked off and I was sitting there and I watched him give his time up to other people and I suddenly thought ‘how cool would it be to talk to him about what his pre-game go-to is and his guilty pleasure’,” Poynting said.
“I started thinking if he’s on board with this, it would be great to do a special board around him for a week.”
Although he spends much of his time in Melbourne training for competition, Pearse frequents the Lockington Hotel when he’s in town.
“I thought (the idea) was great,” Pearse said.
“Lockington Hotel is my favourite pub in the world, (and) it’s one of my favourite places in the world, so I loved the idea immediately.
“I spoke to my manager about what we could do to help promote it a little bit to help bring some more people to the Locky pub because in my opinion it’s my favourite pub but also an extremely underrated place.”
On the menu from Wednesday, November 13, until Sunday lunchtime will be three Col Pearse specials, each given their own spin by Poynting.
Pearse’s pre-race staple of spaghetti bolognese, favourite post-race dish buffalo wings and guilty pleasure crunchy tacos will all be given the gourmet treatment.
The man himself will be at the Lockington Hotel to try the specials and meet and greet patrons about 5.30pm on Friday.
Pearse took home his second Paralympic medal at this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris, earning silver in the 200m individual medley S10.
As he looks towards his next major meet, the Citi Para Swimming World Series in February, Pearse has had a little more downtime to spend in the region, even donning the pads in Goulburn Murray Cricket’s D-grade for Bamawm-Lockington United.
In two innings at the top of the order, Pearse has proved his multi-sport talent, scoring 46 and 36 runs respectively.
“I’m not going to make a career change but, look, I’m not far off,” he said.
“Loving cricket this season and it’s good fun playing with everyone back home.
“Living in Melbourne, and committing my whole life to swimming, I don’t have really any time to be able to do these sort of things that I enjoy when I’m back home, like going to the pub and playing cricket and seeing all my mates.
“I’m really enjoying my life as of right now.”
Col Pearse will be at the Lockington Hotel for a meet and greet on Friday, November 15, from 5.30pm. The Col Pearse menu will be available from Wednesday to Sunday.
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