Somewhere over the river

[Ray’s Cafe, 332 Victoria street Brunswick 3056]

Well hellooooo!,

You’re probably wondering who the hell this is??!!! yes, its been way to long, and I’m just about ready to burst at my seams with breakfasty goodness. My apologies for my extreme case of “cbf”…

This second part of 2011 seems to have been a slippery little sucker and time has got the better of me.

However!!!, I shall break that cycle today whilst I “break my fast”… (wow, I am in Dad joke mood!) 😉

So!, shall we?

Let me introduce you to Ray’s cafe:

[image below is from: http://www.yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/?action=venue&venue_url=ray]

You could probably tell from my very “south of the river focus” blog entries that I reside on the south of the River – that being the Yarra River for those of you playing along across the states or oceans. And yes, I know all the culinary excitement is all very much happening in the Brunswick/Fitzroy neck of the woods, however by the time I get ready and get over to the “other side”, I’m so ravenously hungry I could’ve eaten my arm! (so to speak)

So, about 450 odd days ago (not kidding, apparently its been about that long since I wrote anything!!!), I ventured out far and beyond to the lands across the river to test how long I can travel for without breakfast. I’m not going to lie, I had a mini meal before I left incase I turned into some sort of monster on PT.

[image below is from: http://www.yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/?action=venue&venue_url=ray]

I had the French Toast w/ sweet Labna and maple syrup.

The service was lovely and friendly, well presented, and great price… however it just wasn’t amazing. In hindsight, it would have been great to have some sort of compote or fresh strawberries, even orange and cinnamon to play with on this dish.

Mr “All sorts of lovely” had Poached eggs (perfect) on toast with capsicum and dukkah playmates. This is really what I should’ve orderd – hello food envy! lol!

It was fresh, balanced and owners of two very perfect poached eggs!

As Ray’s source their produce from local middle eastern suppliers, every dish had a unique middle eastern flavour that only a cafe off Sydney road could have.

Ray’s cafe offered great value for money and is tucked away off the buzzing Sydney road in Brunswick.

It however failed to completely excite me based on my dish alone, and with that I can only conclude will have to try it again 🙂

Hope you’ve been good to your taste buds and tummies, and stay tuned for the next update of “My life as a food junkie” lol! 😀

. . .

Tastefully yours,

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“Poached-poke-ooze” (in that order)

. . .
[Whyte kaffe, 1122 Glen Huntly Road Glenhuntly 3163]

Tel: (03) 9569 2212

Outside we were in the middle of the full throttle Vietnam style torrential pour down! No joke, the weather was psychotic and raining without warning. Actually let me rephrase….. SH*T pouring down without notice.

Inside however, we were warm and toasty and surrounded by the aroma of coffee beans and eggs.

There was the light buzz of conversation, and was surpisingly busy for a friday morning.

Weekday breakies often attract the “ladies of leisure” or young mum types, however today there was a nice healthy mix of ‘cbf going to work on Friday’ folk.

This little cafe is a pretty much the only one of its kind Glenhuntly (that I’m aware of), and one of only a handful in the Carnegie/Ormond/Glenhuntly area.

Daniel ordered the most amazing looking portobello mushies with poached eggs – which was causing some food envy on my part!

Soooo exciting to see the perfection of the “poached-poke-ooze” shiver. Yes, it gives me a thrill to see the oozing golden lava flow over the meal.

Although the presentation was appealing, there is something about seeing Rocket on everything that urks me…. I think I’m pretty bored with the same green everywhere I go….I think I’m craving some ‘pushing of boundaries’ when it comes to leafy greens. (Portulaca would be not only visually playful but a varied addition to the breakfast flavour.)

I ordered corn fritters which originally came with bacon, but thought I might mix it up and alter to come with smoked salmon:

I added the salmon instead of bacon b/c I secretly think I was craving corn fritters from Yellow bird.

What I had failed to foresee was the intense Morrocon infusion of flavour in the fritters….and the Salmon didnt play well with that.
It in fact was really disappointing – but totally my bad. (sad face)

I ordered my usual soy chai, and ate away my troubles. At least I didn’t alter that order, and it was beautiful and creamy and sprinkled with cinnamon love dust!

As a result of my bad first experiene – totally my fault for changing a good menu, I think i’ll need to try it again.

For a “kaffe” trying to be a little different in a very “sameness” area, they were doing a good job, and wouldn’t hesitate going back for a second try.

. . .

Tastefully yours,

Just ‘bent’ around the corner

. . .

[Bent Espresso, 2/385 Centre Road Bentleigh ]

Phone: (03) 9557 1339
Open: Weekdays 7:30-3, Saturday 8-3, Sunday 7-2:30

I’m looking at the opening hours..and to be quite frank, I think I’m lying (got the information from here, so blame them :))

So Caz and I used to frequent this cute place in Hughesdale called “turtle” cafe like all the time!! (no, not the one in Elwood) And it was getting worrying that we only knew ONE place to breakfast. Then, it closed. Problem solved!!

On this fine day, we decided on somewhere local – we chose Bent espresso round the corner from us. We exchanged stories of the past year and what we’d been up to and enjoyed the mix of young and old (and middle) in a little cafe tucked away on Bent street in Bentleigh. (I’ve been here with Jess before I left for Germany, and had some amazing light treats) It was nice to do a full circle.

I’ve been on this savoury breakfast bandwagon for a while now, and as a result chose ‘corn fritters with bacon and 2 poached eggs.

(loving the way this looks right now)

Now, I dont want to spray too much negative commentary as the service is immaculate and I hear the coffees are to die for… I just think they were having an off day. Which is unfornutate, as I happened to experience that.

The meals were beautiful presented, the vibe was right, the service and clientele relaxed yet chatty… but the EGGGSSS!!!!! the beautiful poached eggs had been sitting a tad too long waiting….and consequently started to cook through.

Its really not as bad as I make it out – but there is something so sensual and exiting about a beautifully poached free range egg as you break through the whites to get to the gold inside…. The gloriously aesthetic yoke slowly oozes out like a volcano and I just can not with to taste it… not this time folks!!

I break thought the white eagerly and…

it just sat there all sad and solidified… my breakfast looked embarresed…

To give it credit though – its not as bad as Riverland…. oh god, Definately not as bad as that!!!!

I really don’t enjoy saying bad things about a cafe that is sooo good in so many other ways and especially since my previous experience was immaculate, but I’m sorry consistency is important. There’s no point having great eggs only when the good chef is working… 😦

The sad thing is, I loved my morning there with Caz, the atmosphere was buzzing and it was great to not be working on a “school day”. To me, the poached egg should be perfection, and its also saddening that everything else (atmosphere, service, fritters, bacon…) were all amazing. I just happen to be a poached egg freak!.

. . .

Tastefully yours,

High street, not low street

. . .
[ Grapeseed cafe, 1084 High street Armadale]

I have a friend called Angela, and all throughout highschool we called her Ang – and spelt it without an ‘e’ at the end…all of a sudden she decided to add the ‘e’… it has totally thrown my meaning of life… I guess its another reminder that nothing is permanent and I will have to get used to the change…

Change can be a wonderful thing, but often isn’t the easiest thing… so in the spirit of change, Ang(e), I have decided NOT to write about a certain amazing visit to Carlton, but in fact to complete the back log of yummies to get all up to date.

This gorgeous little place – actually not so little inside, is situated on High street near the corner of Kooyong and is a hub for the ‘yummy mummy’ type mixed in with the ‘pre-child young couple’ type and 20 somethings that wonder down for a quick bite or ‘lartay’ – clearly thats Ozzy for cafe Latte for those playing along at home. 🙂

I was here to meet my ‘little sister’ of Dining Room Diaries for a great big ol catch up since it had been a while.

We joked and ate and shopped all morning and just enjoyed the relaxing energy of High street.

She ordered 2 Free range poached eggs on Sour dough with a side of Avocado

And I ordered what I believe was from the lunch menu: Avo/Tomato/Crumbed fetta on toasted turkish bread. But in the spirit of ‘available all day’, who says you can’t eat ‘lunch’ for breaky?…. unless the waitress specifically says so, then i guess you’ve been told. *awkward*

I have to say, a little bit more on the presentation would have just done it… it was missing a gorgeous drizzle of olive oil for taste and aesthetic value. (Same goes for lil H) But it was still very delicious and very melbourne…and thats really what I was after.

And ofcourse, to wash this all down I ordered a fabulous soy chai latte which was pretty damn creamy and tasty 🙂

Prices are very average and anyone on any budget can find something delicious and quick to munch here, the service is quick and very friendly, and if you’re there on a sunny yummy day like ours – you’re mostly likely to sit back and soak in the warmth of the sun and energy of high street.

Now Ang(e), I do promise you will be ‘famous’ :), but as they say patience is a virtue… but you’re right, basically I need to stop procrastinating and get my groove on with these blogs!!!…

Please take a moment to pray for/think about the victims of the Floods in QLD and now Victoria… its time like these you realise your problems aren’t as big as others.

Please donate to the Queensland government to show your support. Click here for website

[If you’d like to view a review: click here]
. . .
Tastefully yours,

Joanna

Main street, main attraction!!

[Main street Cafe, 505 Main street,Mordialloc]



Soooo, after a very long flight from Germany to melbourne via (Doha) I pretty much wrote the next off the next day sleeping and vegetating which was well needed as I would be working as of the day after!!!

The first beautiful Saturday after arrived was the perfect opportunity to catch up with my beautiful “brazilliant” friend Shyam. (yes that is a wordbaby of “Brazilian & brilliant”… Shy isn’t REALLY from brazil, just looks it, but he is just so brilliant!!) I was absolutely dying to feast on perfect Melbourne poached eggs accompanied by a perfect soy chai latte…and as Shy lives near mordy, he suggested “main street cafe” right in the heart of Mordialloc, Melbourne.

I caught the train down, and was literally greeted with the buzz that is “main street cafe” as I exited onto main street. So a big gold star for ease and accessibility.

Shy opted for a very healthy poached egg on sour dough with spinach-without hollandaise (Benedict without the guilt). And I in true form, ordered the “veggie patch”

When my chai latte came out, I was dancing in my seat as I had been craving it all this time in Germany.

Then I tasted it… It looked like a chai latte, was spicy like a chai latte but it was missing SOY!! I absent mindedly had thought all chai lattes were a beautiful marriage of soy and honey….fail… But it was a pretty good full cream milk chai latte at least…

Next, (more seat dancing) our amazingly presented meals were brought out by this gorgeous french waiter.

The 2 free range poached eggs were beautiful and wobbly and as I poked my fork through, the most luscious oozing of warm egg yolk soaked my sour dough…. I was in heaven…. Gooey, yolky, delicious heaven!!

This breakfast destination is no secret, nor is it even that new anymore… But to me, being my first breaky since Qatar plane food, I felt I had uncovered something really special….

The space is airy and buzzing with energy, smiles and satisfied tummies, easy to get to and easy to find, and most importantly-filled with cute waiters/waitresses… Oh!!!! I mean served a mean breakfast ;).

I hope to be frequenting this place often over the summer, and who knows I might be fluent in French by the end of it!! 🙂

. . .
Tastefully yours,
Joanna

B r ö t c h e n : l e c k e r

[meine Wohnung, Germany]

There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh brotchen/puro on a lazy sunday morning…[nearly arvo] 🙂

Patri and a couple of her closests friends were down at our joint for a few days, we took the opportunity to dive into some proper sunday breaky. It was a fusion of German and Melbs styles, with plenty of fresh ‘brotchen’, puro drizzled with olive oil, a kind of omelette and ofcourse some fresh fruit.

Sitting on the balcony wrapped in a blanket [t’was a tad cold] and enjoying some good food amongst good company was just sublime.

A mixture of fresh, warm brotchen, eggs, strawberries and fresh OJ danced around our noses and lightly tickled our tastebuds… the sounds of laughter, deep relaxing breaths… the view of the green, green mountains surrounding our valley with a light, atmospheric fog above. It was so low, I could almost poke at it like fairy floss [YUM!!] And post the sunday sesh, the round and satisfied tummies around…it was truly a wonderful and relaxing breakfast.

Sunday is my fave day for breakfast, it allows for the true nature of the beast to prowl….available all day, to be eaten all day. There really is no other meal like breakfast, no matter what time you eat it, whether it truly is the first meal of your day or just a cheeky tastey escape, it is the most un-biased meal of the day.

You can indulge it in bed, with the paper [or your iphone] still in your pjs and slowly pondering the thoughts of the day… You can even don the pjs to your local if you really wanted to! I’m not too sure how that would go down in old german town, but I guess I’ll only know the result if I try it haha!!. 😀 Whether it is sweet or savoury or just a coffee, breakfast is the single most relaxing, flexible and delicious meal of the day!.. out of breaky, lunch and dinner… I think breakfast is the most cultured and the most experimental, although sadly often the most forgotten.

So the saying goes, ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’… may we not forget that delicous fact! 🙂

Join us next time for some breaky-licious, lecker-licious relaxing times coming to a screen near you…

Happy eating!

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tastefully yours,

Joanna

Made in Germany

[Trier, Germany]

Breakfast is truly a personal and cultural representation of a society…[and lets not forget DELICIOUS] 🙂

Living in Melbs has allowed me to be consumed by a wonderful culinary creature, every chance we get we indulge in some of the finest, the simplest, the most international, the most exiting, the most experimental and fresh food in the world… I really could just continue.

Travelling has allowed me to view the world of tasty treats in a different light.

The sheer magnetism of simple yet delicious food will provide a ‘coming-togetherness’ of people that leaves a delicious memory in your mouth and hearts.

I truly love breakfast – doesn’t matter what time of day, where I am in the world, who I share this moment with, breakfast is the first meal I consume for the day. And there is something quite special about that. Ofcourse, like beautiful moments, breakfasts are so the more rewarding shared. Share a moment and share a meal.

I think there are really only a few elements in life that make it worth living- beautiful friends, good tunes, something to hope for and good food, essentially its always important to be mentally, sexually, physically & spiritually stimulated. That is the adventure that is our life.

I like to have little adventures in the kitchen, some of which aren’t so successful, however its really about being creative and giving it a red hot chilli go! 🙂

Below is a montage of oven baked poached egg w/salami & basil. The delicious oven baked egg oooozed yolky perfection and was devoured so quickly! And below that is thinly sliced sweet potato chips lightly showered with dried paprika, this was served with chilli oil mayo. 🙂 sooo yum!!

and again, sweet potato chips w/ chilli mayo.

Sometimes its nice just to have a platter of tasty treats to ease those hunger pains. So fast and so satisfying…sometimes you just feel like grazing.

I used the insides of the tomato(from the baked tomato dish) and with a (big) splash of olive oil, salt & pepper, this became a Spanish style fresh tomato spread for the warm sliced bread.

Served with pan-fried zucchini & Capsicum, slow cooked until soft and deliciously melty and soft!! 🙂

and voi la!, breakfast on a lazy Sunday listening to some Miike snow, cold war kids 🙂 and ofcourse doesnt hurt to throw some beautiful Sia in the mix… stir well and serve warm and with love. 🙂

Just looking over these images is seriously making me hungry!! Ich habe hunger!!! 🙂 ja ja genausoooo 🙂 hahah!!!

Enjoy breaking the fast, and always make sure tastebuds dance 🙂

…………………………………..

tastefully yours,

Joanna