With Rick’s merchant banking background, a few years of snow seasons eventually showed the group that Mansfield was not the right place to support two couples and a child (Mark).

An opportunity arose through customers who had children at Timbertop.  They introduced the team to Barry Provan (of Suma Park), who was looking for caterers for his function and accommodation homestead.  Martin and Maria moved to Suma Park in May 1992 and Rick and Carole joined in September; by which time their second child (Ned) had been born.

The team ran many weddings (some customers from then are still with them today) and also saw the birth of The Blues Train, the brainchild of Maria and Hugo T. Armstrong. Pasquini’s was involved with The Blues Train until the early 2000s, and up until 2025, Hugo remained its operator.

At the time, Queenscliff was the place to be — no one ever made the turn off the Bellarine Highway toward Point Lonsdale, which was known as “God’s Waiting Room.” But, when friends came to visit, the decision was made to take that turn, and this is where the next chapter unfolded, circa late 1993.

The premises at 85 Point Lonsdale Rd became available after the previous tenants were no longer trading. The shop was shut and the landlords, John and Di Dixon, who were regular customers at Suma Park, became family friends; John was well known as the screenplay writer for The Man from Snowy River.

Initially set up as a deli with meats, cheeses, and a Gaggia two-group coffee machine, the café opened at 8 a.m., which was early for the era when lunch and dinner were the predominant meals eaten out.

After a couple of years juggling the café, Suma Park, The Blues Train, catering at GPAC, and even a pop-up at QMF, the decision was made to consolidate operations and focus solely on the café. A few years later, the premises next door at 87 Point Lonsdale Rd, known as “Lossiemouth,” a long-running guest house, became available. A restaurant was installed, putting Martin back in a service kitchen — his true love after years of traveling Europe and cooking.

After several years, the restaurant was closed and replaced by a gift shop. Around this time, the premises at 83 Point Lonsdale Rd (the old Stuart Miller hardware store) became available, and a provedore-cum-sandwich bar, ice creamery, and bakery were opened, run by Jane — a key figure in the Pasquini’s story and a second mum to Mark and Ned.

The provedore operated for several years before eventually closing, making way for the current tenant, RT Edgar, led by Felix (a former employee in his youth). It’s a lovely example of the community synergy that Point Lonsdale has always fostered.

The core business at 85 Point Lonsdale Rd has been renovated many times since 1993. Today, the business is run by sons Mark and Ned — but Pasquini’s will always remain a family-run operation.