tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46954708788167346762024-03-21T12:52:23.404+11:00Red Robyn Guide to All Things AwesomeMelbourne Foodie Goodness with a Gluten Free focusRed Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-87767884176632010262012-02-21T12:32:00.001+11:002012-02-21T18:31:23.566+11:00We Are Open!Hi Everyone!<br />
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Sorry for being so quiet for the past 6 months... who knew that opening a cafe means you don't have time to update a webpage? Lesson learned.<br />
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However... We are now open! Red Robyn has opened it's doors at 393 Camberwell Road. We have been open a week now, and the staff have all settled in beautifully. We have been getting great positive feedback on both our food and coffee.<br />
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We are using Mattisse bread (read my bread blog entry for some raves about it!), Syndicate coffee and beautiful produce in general. I've attached the menu, sorry for the poor quality!<br />
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Can't wait to see you there!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TEbOL7YSQ3ei2pIiBLe5_7yYsdxaZWm8CfqOSlFwTmlKotWoJ3lH8VCvmqWjNg5kfp_r3BfROt88E3z5WmzgBE9DQpwCarOsFeJvL38bHvDbeu-4n6VldyIzEQBwmllvxVjWiTLb-Q/s1600/uploadedfile_129742822384218750-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TEbOL7YSQ3ei2pIiBLe5_7yYsdxaZWm8CfqOSlFwTmlKotWoJ3lH8VCvmqWjNg5kfp_r3BfROt88E3z5WmzgBE9DQpwCarOsFeJvL38bHvDbeu-4n6VldyIzEQBwmllvxVjWiTLb-Q/s1600/uploadedfile_129742822384218750-006.jpg" /></a></div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-33512122661677374262011-07-12T18:49:00.000+10:002011-07-12T18:49:05.633+10:00Exciting News!To all my loyal readers: I apologise for the lack of action this past month. It's not due to lack of news! Before I get into the REALLY exciting news, a little tidbit for you first: Bimbos and Lucky Coq are now doing Gluten free pizzas! They are beautiful... thin crispy and delicious! Just be careful when they arrive at your table, and triple-check that they are gluten free... the kitchen is still struggling with the new system, and mistakes are made pretty often. Hint: If the base is bubbly, it's not gluten free.<br />
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Now for the really exciting news.... RedRobyn Cafe is about to be a reality! I am opening a gluten-free and allergen specialist cafe in Camberwell, in Melbourne's east. I'm going to use this blog to post updates about how the process is going. I'm currently looking at opening in early September, but I'll give more details when I have them! Keep an eye out....Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-20927437075301667402011-05-31T17:07:00.000+10:002011-05-31T17:07:12.898+10:00The Deliciousness of Passion Part 2The awesomeness of what passion can achieve overwhelms us again, this time at:<br />
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Hardware Societe<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi553NzhKqg3mNh3yICbCpA2Ti9XMBbZ2u5Hce-OgzTR3l3AU_5r5jDu-9sspUd0ZTAo7Z3Bg6yeV0RlJFEsSaZ6D9jRoplVt9g1ORsUrthb9aOUD2CTrdLJ9ZUs2W2A4z6wAdrAca3SQ/s1600/IMG_2855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi553NzhKqg3mNh3yICbCpA2Ti9XMBbZ2u5Hce-OgzTR3l3AU_5r5jDu-9sspUd0ZTAo7Z3Bg6yeV0RlJFEsSaZ6D9jRoplVt9g1ORsUrthb9aOUD2CTrdLJ9ZUs2W2A4z6wAdrAca3SQ/s200/IMG_2855.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brighter then your average industrial fitout</td></tr>
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This place is so wonderful, that I'm actually happy to overlook it's one fatal shortcoming: They don't serve all day breakfasts. Terrible, I know. But there's so much to love about Hardware Societe, that it hardly matters. I turned up at 11.30 on a weekday, hoping to partake in the delicious breakfast treats I'd had once before... Only to be told that breakfast service finished at 11.30, and that lunch didn't begin till 12. The waiter must have seen the pure disappointment on my face, as he bounded over to the kitchen to see if they could extend breakfast a smidgeon. No such luck. But after one glance at the lunch menu, it didn't even matter.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXi_AvDi_UfUkUPmggacRNHzI5qK6o41TA98aoqtkMmzv6_Xh6EfJcf3cm0hmfcl9SSJee9XryQhu25RYGOuwmsE4070iW_7yKAAigk2-sbLNQ_nvDDiOb1e17bBbknEAo27_IfBxbKQ/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXi_AvDi_UfUkUPmggacRNHzI5qK6o41TA98aoqtkMmzv6_Xh6EfJcf3cm0hmfcl9SSJee9XryQhu25RYGOuwmsE4070iW_7yKAAigk2-sbLNQ_nvDDiOb1e17bBbknEAo27_IfBxbKQ/s200/IMG_2544.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish-Style Rice Pudding</td></tr>
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Hardware is one of the most blogged about cafes of the moment, and it deserves the attention. Its meets all the criterion, and then some! Laneway: check. Funky, friendly staff: Check. Welcoming yet industrial style fitout: Check. Not enough seats to satisfy demand: Check. Droolworthy Menus that live up to the descriptions: Check, check and Double check!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zcfYe6ZYhqLAMEmOC1UhhyphenhyphenBCEVndRKCXU73-NAs6pMolOFrx3WbHUodz4LD2bodaI0qxN_x5H1l1rE7UnAezCHagYPCiNuUTapudbJhX9auzTJHwKxxo3gqxSwxz2Px3CKQ-eN3sLg/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zcfYe6ZYhqLAMEmOC1UhhyphenhyphenBCEVndRKCXU73-NAs6pMolOFrx3WbHUodz4LD2bodaI0qxN_x5H1l1rE7UnAezCHagYPCiNuUTapudbJhX9auzTJHwKxxo3gqxSwxz2Px3CKQ-eN3sLg/s320/IMG_2541.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coddled Eggs, Mushrooms and Gruyere on Gluten free. mmmm</td></tr>
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The food at THS, as its affectionately known, is spectacular. Delicious, interesting, perfect flavours and well priced. the breakfasts are wonderful. They don't have a hugely extensive menu, but you will still struggle to make your choice! Coddled eggs, omlette, or spanish style rice pudding, you won't be disappointed with whatever you choose. The flavours are well balanced, and the combinations interesting without being too avant garde. The menu changes regularly, so something like the mushrooms and gruyere with coddled eggs (pictured) is no longer on the menu, but I can guarantee it's been replaced with something just as good. The lunch menu is just as great. I had some of the best cooked, best priced duck I've ever had at a restaurant. I was lucky enough to be sitting opposite the chef, who handed over my plate directly and was happy to chat with me about it. I'm going to go back to chat to him, as he requested, after I've had a chance to re-create his lovely rice pilaf.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_i-D74RwLdzNp7uo1aEvOsHZKbrYaEg_QRWO2LLXy_pS8TO1NM8RYRVpSNulAmlq96vfDyZiQ1sq8mDuWz0CEi_DdME8aZOt3Q-nF2foRE_GqM9S4EPtmFBffHv2GWiv9BP_t93L-A/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_i-D74RwLdzNp7uo1aEvOsHZKbrYaEg_QRWO2LLXy_pS8TO1NM8RYRVpSNulAmlq96vfDyZiQ1sq8mDuWz0CEi_DdME8aZOt3Q-nF2foRE_GqM9S4EPtmFBffHv2GWiv9BP_t93L-A/s400/IMG_2851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confit Duck on Rice Pilaf</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImpUbZsBj03SVgUHc4a6a43kyuIGMkph0V0qfGU0Xy5-foJpCnJxc_2wIBMPsVzDZ1ctENMyVCZs3SRR0sOvQbgxwECvLo5GG2zi3ZJxQ0vdrO4d8Kd7H3pBCJnUzmPiOXqKR4oLkfQ/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImpUbZsBj03SVgUHc4a6a43kyuIGMkph0V0qfGU0Xy5-foJpCnJxc_2wIBMPsVzDZ1ctENMyVCZs3SRR0sOvQbgxwECvLo5GG2zi3ZJxQ0vdrO4d8Kd7H3pBCJnUzmPiOXqKR4oLkfQ/s200/IMG_2847.JPG" width="150" /></a>You may have noticed one omission from this entry so far: Any mention of the coffee. In my mind, this is where THS still has room for improvement. Don't get me wrong, they make a lovely coffee, with passion and skill (and lactose free milk!) but sadly, with a coffee company that I'm not enamoured with. I'm not into the naming and shaming, and this coffee brand can be found at many otherwise excellent cafes, but it just doesn't do it for me. Have the Iced chocolate instead. It's delicious!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> On the allergy front, THS has gluten free bread (just county life by my guess) and gluten free options for nearly everything on the menu. They also have lactose free milk as an alternative alongside soy milk, which I for one am grateful for!<br />
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So go, and enjoy, and see some of the best of what's on offer in Melbourne at the moment,<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1474868/restaurant/Victoria/CBD/The-Hardware-Societe-Melbourne"><img alt="The Hardware Societe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1474868/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-44209463345218889162011-05-18T15:45:00.001+10:002011-05-31T12:26:19.246+10:00The Deliciousness of Passion Part 1After some significant time spent trawling the cafes of Melbourne, I've realised what makes something exceptional. Passion. It sounds stupidly obvious, but the difference between somewhere run by people who are truly passionate about what they do, and by those just going through the motions is huge. I've decided to review two wonderful cafes that so clearly love what they do. They have been receiving a fair amount of attention lately, and are deserving of almost all of it! Monk Bodhi Dharma and The Hardware Societe.<br />
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Today, you get to read about Monk.<br />
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Monk Bodhi Dharma<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYvBYpnEWYrI6_YP7WPq2jCUnOD5PihoBOUV3TF9VTAdRiAimfStpzD_Grf2Yx2u2bGZc__ZybcxOpNjl5ONDw_ThNNWmRT7VGxNPU5A5_CtqgM2If2sTG6ofUoI1ELMKhE3iZrFeqg/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYvBYpnEWYrI6_YP7WPq2jCUnOD5PihoBOUV3TF9VTAdRiAimfStpzD_Grf2Yx2u2bGZc__ZybcxOpNjl5ONDw_ThNNWmRT7VGxNPU5A5_CtqgM2If2sTG6ofUoI1ELMKhE3iZrFeqg/s200/IMG_2806.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costa Rican syphon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In typical Melbourne fashion, tucked away in a parking lot behind a main street with minimal signage. If you don't know where it is, you could spend days looking. Tiny space, wooden stools, huge communal table. This place is so cool, even the air-conditioner had a wooden cover so that it doesn't interfere with the aesthetics. Whether you love or hate the reclaimed warehouse craze sweeping our town, check out Monk anyway. It's truly one of the only places in Melbourne that is equally as passionate about its coffee, tea and food.<br />
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The coffee: Wonderful. Always. I've never had a bad cup. Being a sucker for the syphon, that's what I always get, and it's always done to perfection. The ordinary coffees are beautiful too, always made with love. My only gripe is that the staff rarely have time to discuss the coffee with you, unlike the larger setups like St Alis. Its the trade-off for the homely atmosphere, and its not the worst. And the tea.... Oh the tea! Delicate blends, and they actually care about the brewing times! I've never understood why tea and coffee are so often mutually exclusive at good cafes. As a lover of both, it's heart-warming to find somewhere that is as passionate about all warm, caffeinated beverages, regardless of whether they started as bean or leaf.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKREpQ_5tI4Zrw_ZqPFeW6pwcLn6YT2F9A9ZGzFb8OwHSD6q1p7Acse1suYhRkykwpa3i0YSfXYXit132d6Wht1KaL3Go4h9yW1xLLLPFGR_Np2YhmcDvuKwFmOpTfErXnleo0bYMkaQ/s1600/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKREpQ_5tI4Zrw_ZqPFeW6pwcLn6YT2F9A9ZGzFb8OwHSD6q1p7Acse1suYhRkykwpa3i0YSfXYXit132d6Wht1KaL3Go4h9yW1xLLLPFGR_Np2YhmcDvuKwFmOpTfErXnleo0bYMkaQ/s320/IMG_2807.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saffron French toast with Poached Pear and Lemon Ricotta</td></tr>
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The Food: The food at Monk was a bit disappointing on the Gluten-free front when they fist opened. Although they had a great vegan and wheat-free selection (and still do!), they hadn't quite made the gluten-free leap. They finally have, and boy am I happy they did! The menu is fairly simple, but with delicious flavour combinations. The french toast was the best I've had in a long time. The saffron and lemon perfectly balanced the sweetness of the chai pear and sugar syrup. I love a good ricotta, and this one was truly up to scratch. Sweet, savoury, chewy and filling: just about the perfect breakfast.<br />
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Sadly, I don't know what bread they used, which ties in to my only gripe: The service. (Ok, I lied. I have two gripes. They really need some comfy seats!) The service is fine, friendly and quick. But the passion that is apparent behind the food and drink preparation just doesn't come across in the service. It's as though the customer is an almost irrelevant part of the whole process. I hope this changes in the near future, because everything else about Monk deserves our love and adoration.<br />
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<a href="http://www.monkbodhidharma.com.au/">http://www.monkbodhidharma.com.au/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1504524/restaurant/Victoria/St-Kilda/Monk-Bodhi-Dharma-Balaclava"><img alt="Monk Bodhi Dharma on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1504524/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-11840391327685141062011-03-31T18:26:00.000+11:002011-03-31T18:26:38.441+11:00French GalettesAs far as I'm concerned, Buckwheat is the neglected gluten free flour. Maybe the use of wheat in it's name confuses people, but it is excellent. Flavoursome and with a wonderful texture, it saddens me that it isn't more of a staple in gluten-free diets. Luckily, there are a few places that know the value of buckwheat's flavour. French Creperies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Melbourne has a wonderful selection of French Creperies, and many people don't realise that they are a great gluten-free option. Admittedly the sweet crepes are generally not gluten friendly, but the savoury crepes, or galettes, are almost always gluten free. They are also dairy free, and most places provide a vegan option. For those who don't know, a galette generally looks something like this:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A thin buckwheat crepe folded over whatever delicious filling you choose. Traditionally served with a glass of apple or pear cider, they're surprisingly filling. Here's a guide to a few of the French creperies the Melbourne has to offer.<br />
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Le Triskel: My personal favourite. Admittedly, it was the first one I ever tried, so I might be biased, but nothing else has ever quite managed to top it. Whether its the laneway atmosphere (Hardware Lane), the 'arrogantly french' written on the window or the bowl of coffee containing a ridiculously large amount of caffeine that they are stupid enough to let me have, Le Triskel is just wonderful. The galettes are thin, crispy on top and soft on the bottom, with wonderful filling. The egg, cheese, mushroom and spinach is my personal breakfast favourite, while the walnut, blue cheese and braised apple is an incredible flavour combination. The extensive sweet crepe menu is always tempting if you can squeeze it in, which even I normally can't!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowl of Cafe au lait</td></tr>
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Breizoz: Walk into this unassuming little shopfront near the corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets, and you'll think you've stepped into an authentic French provincial bistro. A little dark and cozy for my liking, it nonetheless definitely gives off a real French vibe. Crepes are delicious, with generous, well thought out fillings. Just make sure you double check that they are aware you want the gluten free option. The dessert crepes are truly exceptional, with homemade ice cream or my personal favourite, fresh made butter caramel. Mmmmm.<br />
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Roule Galette: Another city laneway offering, just off Flinders Lane. Sadly, my least favourite of the bunch, but not through (much) fault of its own. I was spoiled, you see, by Le Triskel. Having spoken to a few Frenchies, the galettes at Roule are apparently extremely authentic, but I find them a little too soft and doughy for my liking. The fillings are great though, particularly the French cheeses. The service here could be improved. Never completely terrible, but just not quite as welcoming as the others. They do a fantastic take-away if you need a quick pick-me-up in the city, and are open nights, which sadly Le Triskel is not.<br />
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Galettes are a delicious, relatively easy to find food option around Melbourne. Light and tasty, sweet or savoury, keep them in mind next time you're roaming around Melbourne town.<br />
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Let me know if you've tried any, or know any others around melb!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/778038/restaurant/Victoria/CBD/Roule-Galette-Melbourne"><img alt="Roule Galette on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/778038/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760263/restaurant/Victoria/Breizoz-French-Creperie-Fitzroy"><img alt="Breizoz French Creperie on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/760263/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1445328/restaurant/CBD/Creperie-le-Triskel-Melbourne"><img alt="Creperie le Triskel on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1445328/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-72604679077544950172011-03-02T13:24:00.002+11:002011-03-04T12:44:43.340+11:00Arepas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A new food craze is sweeping through Melbourne, and I'm excited! Ok, so by 'through Melbourne' I actually mean 'in Fitzroy,' but I'm still excited. What is it, you ask? Arepas! South American cornbread. Completely gluten-free, and mostly dairy free too! These dense little pockets are amazingly filling and delicious.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arepa!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've found two great places providing these tasty little foodstuffs, both doing it deliciously and differently. One is the Columbian cafe Sonido! on Gertrude St, the other is the Cruzao Arepa Bar on Brunswick st.<br />
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Sonido! functions as a funky Fitzroy Cafe. All-day breakfasts, strong coffee focus, carefully designed space and a 4pm shutting time. It's not open for dinner and doesn't have a liquor license, but more than makes up for it in atmosphere. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the South American fruit juices. I gave the 'curuba' a shot, and was pleasantly surprised. They also get bonus points for their large array of Gluten-free sweet goodies. The choc-raspberry brownie is exceptional!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empanaditas - Deep fried cheese or beef filled pastries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cruzao goes for a slightly more tapas-bar feel. This is reflected in the menu, the pricing and the set-up. Still very laid back and relaxed, but I wouldn't call it a cafe. They're very enthusiastic about the share plate idea, offering lots of different dishes with great flavours. Cheese and beef are the staple filling, always with some delicious guacamole to be found near by. (I think they throw in some coriander. It's a great flavoursome little touch.) I highly recommend the empanaditas, filled, amazingly fresh little corn pastries. Crispy and hot, these will satiate a gluten-free dumpling craving like little else. It's possibly slightly overpriced for the larger share plates, but the smaller ones are great value.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupwdMFCyUbv2oJ2Md24Cz8jSKmOC1d_phEO9Qu05VuDFvGiZ8zPlisRsVBpns3EPt2yUEFIB2MlqWpP70jhCAuWc7ZUCTkBiiXmoM2m-UnYIl971917BdfWXItlYcIX_HgS0wxx8cIw/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupwdMFCyUbv2oJ2Md24Cz8jSKmOC1d_phEO9Qu05VuDFvGiZ8zPlisRsVBpns3EPt2yUEFIB2MlqWpP70jhCAuWc7ZUCTkBiiXmoM2m-UnYIl971917BdfWXItlYcIX_HgS0wxx8cIw/s200/IMG_2352.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Guava Juice. Mmmm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One of the best things about both of these places is their gluten free knowledge and labelling. I can guarantee no confused looks when you double check ingredients. They're great for dairy-free too, and not bad for nightshades as long as you avoid the tomato-cooked beef. The arepa might be small and unassuming, but it makes an excellent addition to the Gluten-free scene in Melbourne. I only hope they manage to move out of Fitzroy and into the wider community sometime soon!<br />
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<a href="http://sonido.com.au/">http://sonido.com.au/</a><br />
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<a href="http://cruzao.com.au/index2.html">http://cruzao.com.au/index2.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1544349/restaurant/Victoria/Fitzroy/Sonido-Melbourne"><img alt="Sonido! on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1544349/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1536372/restaurant/Victoria/Cruzao-Arepa-Bar-Fitzroy"><img alt="Cruzao Arepa Bar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1536372/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-22437201854942071012011-02-18T18:20:00.000+11:002011-02-18T18:20:19.406+11:00Things That Make Me Happy No.1I know it's not gluten-free, or Melbourne related, but I've decided to do a few entries on things that make me happy. Just those small, enriching things that make you smile and sound like a nerd when you bring them up in everyday conversation. Included in this category are tea, teapots, fondue sets and the topic of today's blog... Herb Gardens.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHvJsV2JYbY39vEXn4yUNQEYmH1N0ToikXfE_fzOUbjI-xoYHY9QhC7AvBHPAtx5z431xTMsR5z9fd4bevXYXreSyvFHvYzK7_O1NQ6C3gmE5nQX68UqhJVq2BYypaqjeZGu8oRWfAQ/s1600/IMG_1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHvJsV2JYbY39vEXn4yUNQEYmH1N0ToikXfE_fzOUbjI-xoYHY9QhC7AvBHPAtx5z431xTMsR5z9fd4bevXYXreSyvFHvYzK7_O1NQ6C3gmE5nQX68UqhJVq2BYypaqjeZGu8oRWfAQ/s200/IMG_1656.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
I love my Herb Garden. I'm not afraid to say it. I don't care if I sound crazy when I'm caught out talking to my herbs, or berating the spiders who are currently trying to house in it. There are few feelings as nice as using your own home-grown herbs in your cooking. Whether its bay leaves in your home-made stock, basil in home-made pesto, or mint in your own Mojito concoctions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiBkVjoQHzSN1ZNIie3P31sNS2toWMlhoCONSInbtC42NMr3sNt8-m1B6Ick7qQ-FJtAMohaZmWKQC2G2KguTI-pF2B7aQ0AGJaSJDlLhpP5zy6dQyZdVmtEWs7I-HcJs8oIxxZULSQ/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiBkVjoQHzSN1ZNIie3P31sNS2toWMlhoCONSInbtC42NMr3sNt8-m1B6Ick7qQ-FJtAMohaZmWKQC2G2KguTI-pF2B7aQ0AGJaSJDlLhpP5zy6dQyZdVmtEWs7I-HcJs8oIxxZULSQ/s200/IMG_1663.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlrnCvpzFItfT3QaMswkacP_E-J8nH34jSdv_mbv1Z3ORJXwNDtrpsvvlSNeWGFLj0zZIJHF9y4z1DkHOlQn93GDcEnH86aQ99KLl8DAY_NtqkautnsnxCn-CJTw2xwoQV_BjyvJvhA/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlrnCvpzFItfT3QaMswkacP_E-J8nH34jSdv_mbv1Z3ORJXwNDtrpsvvlSNeWGFLj0zZIJHF9y4z1DkHOlQn93GDcEnH86aQ99KLl8DAY_NtqkautnsnxCn-CJTw2xwoQV_BjyvJvhA/s200/IMG_1659.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a>My current herbs include Rosemary, Basil, Mint, Bay Leaves, Chives, Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Sage, Lemongrass, Parsely and Oregano.<br />
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See if you can recognise which is which!<br />
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I know herb gardens seem like a lot of effort, but trust me when I say they're not. I'll be honest, I've killed a few seedlings in my time. I may be the only person who has successfully managed to kill mint, widely regarded as the weed of the herbaceous world.<br />
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I got a little greenhouse from Bunnings, which keeps even basil alive in winter! I know, I was surprised too.<br />
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The trick with a herb garden is just to keep an eye on it. Pluck any dead leaves, try and remember if its rained recently or not. I always make the mistake of over-watering, and then over-compensating by leaving them in spots that are too sunny. Learn from my mistakes!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphiMOGMTjUg_LlnNnZeeyQcF8NTlEN9jz5ptjoFiZXkEvkT1oxpOYRQYiAqM3qJw6cx4Mog5Etr5J194UY0iSVBm4S5vXs-CK4Wweldl03iM3STJ4k4vOGVCVGyfEMOvNUFOGpGy3yw/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphiMOGMTjUg_LlnNnZeeyQcF8NTlEN9jz5ptjoFiZXkEvkT1oxpOYRQYiAqM3qJw6cx4Mog5Etr5J194UY0iSVBm4S5vXs-CK4Wweldl03iM3STJ4k4vOGVCVGyfEMOvNUFOGpGy3yw/s200/IMG_1658.JPG" width="150" /></a>You'll (hopefully) notice straight away the difference in your food taste quality. I'm sure lots of you buy fresh herbs for special occasions, but when you figure out that a herb seedling costs the same as the fresh bunch, a garden starts to seem more and more appealing. Plus it gives you added bragging rights! 'Oh that flavour? That's just fresh picked basil that I've nursed from a seedling to the flourishing plant you see before you.'<br />
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All I can really say is that the amount of joy you get from using your own herbs in your (hopefully) delicious cooking is inestimable. Flavours are stronger, colours brighter, shiny things shinier. And ignore people who tell you you're a 'nerd' or 'grandma' for caring about your herb garden. Just tell them you're 'earthy.'<br />
(Thanks Mom!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NSQNYdjdWjll7sQVFBSxZ1Z8B32fua36IlP9Avi2fMCV0ClgzZyUDfQ2ztYxlTbbM-bKzxZmlntHxaxah_Njn41blLIkWQEnPhVChli67LPtgmn8gllPCDrlVXdykIcyRQIhj_zJmg/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NSQNYdjdWjll7sQVFBSxZ1Z8B32fua36IlP9Avi2fMCV0ClgzZyUDfQ2ztYxlTbbM-bKzxZmlntHxaxah_Njn41blLIkWQEnPhVChli67LPtgmn8gllPCDrlVXdykIcyRQIhj_zJmg/s200/IMG_1654.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pYhVESs4jowzUMfVNwXO8lv8nf7rcVdjRwavAroKB4n_ZKO4CnPe_rkFT3ZAhHxO-7PmQoyJ3r9QeWLpHgpKVNu1UQw2m6N8tcDX4j6HYvaaLgxdoAbrklW92wAIM1TY1dJ0jE21sg/s1600/IMG_1662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pYhVESs4jowzUMfVNwXO8lv8nf7rcVdjRwavAroKB4n_ZKO4CnPe_rkFT3ZAhHxO-7PmQoyJ3r9QeWLpHgpKVNu1UQw2m6N8tcDX4j6HYvaaLgxdoAbrklW92wAIM1TY1dJ0jE21sg/s200/IMG_1662.JPG" width="200" /></a>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-30875135241329624732011-02-03T21:48:00.001+11:002011-02-03T22:14:39.983+11:00Gluten Free BreadGone are the days when gluten-free bread was a groan-inducing option. Today's variants are a vast improvement on even a few years ago. Here's a run-down on the various options available around Melbourne, some easy to find, others not so much.<br />
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1. Country Life<br />
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The supermarket staple. From what I can tell, they've improved their recipe fairly recently. Not the most authentic bread replacement, but it does the job. Great to keep in the freezer for emergencies. Weirdly enough, I find their yeast free version to be the best. Sadly, not dairy free, although it is nightshade-friendly. Slightly cakey texture, as opposed to slightly crumbly.<br />
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Where to find it: pretty much all supermarkets, Coles, Woolworths or otherwise. I recommend the yeast free or multigrain options.<br />
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2. Lichtensteins<br />
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From the kosher bakery on Carlisle st, this one is easy enough to find on the south-east side of town, and a lot more difficult everywhere else. A great dairy free, egg free, nightshade free and (mostly) soy-free option. If you're lucky enough to grab a loaf on the day its baked, you can even eat it without toasting first! A rare but appreciated luxury in the gluten-free world. Available in white, soy and linseed or fruit loaf, all are great allrounders. Can be slightly crumbly, beware while transporting it!<br />
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Where to find it: Lichtenstein's Bakery, 287 Carlisle St 03 9530 3366, Coles Malvern. Unsure of other locations.<br />
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3. Fatto A Mano<br />
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I discovered these guys thanks to the lovely boys at The Bell Jar. (Check out my earlier entry about them.) I stopped in for the first time today, and was pleasantly impressed! Known well to locals due to their organic sourdough, they also have a wide gluten free-selection of white, multigrain, olive, date and fruit loaves. Some variants are vegan, just ask which and they'll happily tell you. Foccacia style rolls and pizzas are also available, in pre-made sandwiches as well as loose. Sadly not nightshade friendly due to a bit of potato starch, but a truly excellent tasty, slightly chewy option. Not yet available anywhere else as far as I'm aware, but worth the trip. The little strip on Gertrude St has a number of things to interest the gluten free, including Birdman Eating a few doors down.<br />
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Where to find it: 228 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 03 9417 5998<br />
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4. Mattisse<br />
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My personal favourite! The bakery itself is located in Moorabin, but I'll admit I've never been. This beautiful gluten free, dairy free, soy free Buckwheat Sourdough is available at stockists all around the city. I can get through a loaf of this delicious bread in a day or two, just lightly toasted and dipped in olive-oil and balsamic. Chewy, tasty and soft, this is a bread in it's own right, not just a Gluten-free substitute. Not nightshade friendly, but remarkably good otherwise. You can tell a lot of care has gone into its creation.<br />
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Where to find it: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;">161 Chesterville Road </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;">Moorabbin 9532 6182. Stockists include stores in Victoria Market, Caulfield South, Camberwell Market, The Pines Shopping Centre. Just let me know if you need specific names</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Some honourable mentions.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dovedale - Their chia bread is quite lovely. Very moist and cakey, but not bad for that! Definitely unique, and easy to find at health food stores all over melbourne. I can highly recommend their pizza bases and chocolate muffins too!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Silly Yaks/ SACS - I was never particularly impressed with their bread, but I will happily acknowledge their useful contribution to the gluten-free scene in Melbourne. Available almost everywhere, really, with the flagship store in Northcote.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Vitality - a beautiful loaf, but not very allergen friendly apart from gluten free. Their olive loaf is wonderful. Available from Leo's supermarkets as well as health stores.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Zehnder - A really deliciously tasty and fantastically textured bread, but difficult to find! I've only ever spotted it at Sunnybrook Gluten free in Ormond. If you haven't been there yet, hop to it! However, I've just been tipped off that it's available at quite a few IGA's including Piedmontes and North Melbourne. If you can get your hands on their pumpkin bread, you won't regret it!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;">If you know any exceptional breads that I haven't mentioned, please let me know! I'm always on the lookout for new brands.</span>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-71732938952669178462011-01-14T16:52:00.002+11:002011-03-03T12:31:07.109+11:00CollectiveIts high time for another review! Yet another lovely, small coffee-focused cafe run by two lovely young boys. I don't know what it is about pair of youngish-boys opening cafes around Melbourne that works so well, but work it does! I'm talking about Collective in Camberwell. Now Camberwell might have a fair few cafes and eateries about the place, but very few that I would call on trend. Instead of catering to soccer-moms and the usual Eastern-suburbs crowd, Collective aims for the youth, and does it well.<br />
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A small, unpretentious menu including all day breakfasts, and delicious coffee. What more can someone ask for? Slightly friendlier staff, perhaps, but once you realise they're just hung-over and not actually grumpy at you specifically, things start to improve.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg68asLpi7PSqrfXLbWLe09Q70ZPLHrV6A_BuCzmBT0iJwU5kM7SRD5HiDTB8PIek3ir3ZPyaTH9adhhSBc2FYnQ9CK4b6aP06QF9Inqd7jcbg222-vESOPh4GpTSYrSoe-l7SIFlug/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg68asLpi7PSqrfXLbWLe09Q70ZPLHrV6A_BuCzmBT0iJwU5kM7SRD5HiDTB8PIek3ir3ZPyaTH9adhhSBc2FYnQ9CK4b6aP06QF9Inqd7jcbg222-vESOPh4GpTSYrSoe-l7SIFlug/s200/IMG_1648.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eggs with avo mash. simple and delicious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For the allergy-impaired, they use Sainsbury Gluten-free. Not the best I've come across, but by no means the worst! I highly recommend their smashed avo (with feta and loads of fresh herbs) with eggs as you like them. Simple and filling, at any time. I have it on good authority that their free-range bacon is also delicious, but I'm yet to try it myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA5wKIw1W8Uv5SAjlDWi2hPfKTtf7OGbvAYA8yh3fqfXB4xZpUQNHyHAy52Rk17ChM2AJ7htkgkKpsFdJInntjZOrO7nPfdn1VaPHnqlJMVP5G5YdyzfaBqleI2IPKSQz1IF7zmvF3w/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA5wKIw1W8Uv5SAjlDWi2hPfKTtf7OGbvAYA8yh3fqfXB4xZpUQNHyHAy52Rk17ChM2AJ7htkgkKpsFdJInntjZOrO7nPfdn1VaPHnqlJMVP5G5YdyzfaBqleI2IPKSQz1IF7zmvF3w/s200/IMG_1686.JPG" width="200" /></a>Their lunch specials are always worth a look as well. You can normally find at least one salad, where the ingredients are allowed to shine. I have fond memories of my chickpea, holoumi and rocket salad. They were lovely about taking out tomato and various other allergens for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZYrc77cbq8SFROpSASgQDRCt8sc7RFiYkRZcjWTKLvzkVxkNGSHDrb3iHA6Cmaqv79xSGMSa-S_kQLQ4CErKT56D5YOCLkyORgSVPD2ad1tymZ7FxvKz7Gn3ZhlOZm7pHOp5Oxt9Q/s1600/IMG_1683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZYrc77cbq8SFROpSASgQDRCt8sc7RFiYkRZcjWTKLvzkVxkNGSHDrb3iHA6Cmaqv79xSGMSa-S_kQLQ4CErKT56D5YOCLkyORgSVPD2ad1tymZ7FxvKz7Gn3ZhlOZm7pHOp5Oxt9Q/s200/IMG_1683.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hot vietnamese coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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The drinks, however, are where Collective truly shines. They use a lovely 5senses blend, and know what to do with it. I admit to letting loose a few squeals of delight when I noticed 'saigon coffee.' For those of you not aware of the joys of vietnamese coffee, its essentially your basic coffee, hot or cold, served with condensed milk instead of milk. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to find anywhere with decent coffee. I tried both the hot and cold, and can recommend either.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSsZlMmKVFOunEAW-N1fLi_aw93FOxBwgd2uLBlA2IQMNiAMp0mvlF4BQL3JRrzSiFSCl0Lj986jnZ5XO6D4U2aY3cgTVPv53MZDJVJxDg-KUUTqEDT8FUkB5Y_xMtanWl58vvH3iTQ/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSsZlMmKVFOunEAW-N1fLi_aw93FOxBwgd2uLBlA2IQMNiAMp0mvlF4BQL3JRrzSiFSCl0Lj986jnZ5XO6D4U2aY3cgTVPv53MZDJVJxDg-KUUTqEDT8FUkB5Y_xMtanWl58vvH3iTQ/s200/IMG_1646.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Their juices also deserve a mention. The BAM (Blueberry, Apple, Mint) has gotten me through many a bleary morning (or afternoon, if we're being more accurate.)<br />
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Collective had a lovely, small family feel to it, with its one big community table and variety of magazines. (If you feel the need to catch up on some back issues of Frankie, this is the place to be.)<br />
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Get in early on weekends, or else you might miss out, this place operates on the new tiny Melbourne scale.<br />
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All in all, I can think of no higher praise than to say simple and delicious! The boys know what they're doing, and do it well in an area that desperately needs them! Check it out if you find yourself at Camberwell station one day in the near future.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="pp-place-title" style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-top: 2px;">Collective Espresso</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><img class="unstarred noprint si_6974457793141237215" data-authtoken="4d2fe44aiS-9qPujAMT__m8OKcvsS_C-OXg" height="14" id="pp-starred-item-star" jsaction="si.togglePlacePageStarring" jsprops="markerid:'';b_s:2" log="si_lhs" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_au/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/lhp-misc3.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -16px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 16px; margin-bottom: -2px; margin-left: 4px; width: 16px;" width="21" /></span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></div><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1/3 Cookson Street, Camberwell VIC 3124</span><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-phone" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="telephone" dir="ltr"><nobr>(03) 9882 8995</nobr> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1477559/restaurant/Victoria/Collective-Espresso-Camberwell"><img alt="Collective Espresso on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1477559/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-51765441414169445212011-01-14T14:32:00.000+11:002011-01-14T14:32:07.902+11:00Pet PeeveI've noticed that a lot of places around Melbourne (Richmond, in particular for some reason) have gotten into a bad habit. They overstate on the menu what the dishes on their menu are. I wouldn't say this is my number one pet peeve when eating out, but it's pretty close. I infinitely prefer to be pleasantly surprised by a bland sounding dish that is more than it sounded, than to be disappointed by one that sounds amazing and just doesn't deliver.<br />
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My most recent example of this happened in Richmond a few weeks ago. (I won't name the place unless I get requests for it. I'm not here to disparage the place, I'm just hoping others might learn from their mistakes.) I ordered what sounded like a great gluten-free vegie brekkie. Corn fritters, beetroot relish, poached eggs and herbed wild mushrooms. Simple, but potentially delicious. Now I don't know about you, dear reader, but when I hear 'corn fritters' I expect a corn fritter. something like this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN0x-3TDX8btpJBjFseflpoYXtoXoFY3S8gGQclW0ls1R9LV7kYP7ry0XVORTzF0owauQ76RDCCrbgKvb2anml9Kxxq86aPGUYHnOQfnNIa6u-zYRtDT4T5jk6AYXRvdupOspUWUyCg/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN0x-3TDX8btpJBjFseflpoYXtoXoFY3S8gGQclW0ls1R9LV7kYP7ry0XVORTzF0owauQ76RDCCrbgKvb2anml9Kxxq86aPGUYHnOQfnNIa6u-zYRtDT4T5jk6AYXRvdupOspUWUyCg/s200/IMG_1752.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Chimmy in Richmond, gluten free and reasonably delicious!</td></tr>
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What I don't expect, or want is a square of polenta. Don't get me wrong, I quite like polenta. I think it can make wonderful gluten-free addition to a lot of dishes. But If I'm getting polenta, I would like the menu to say that. Not mislead me with dreams of fritters.<br />
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On top of that, the 'beetroot relish' was really beetroot dip, the kind that can be bought at any deli, and the mushrooms were clearly supermarket standard, with no herbs that I could discern. Now by any standards, the breakfast was fine. It just wasn't what it said it was, and that meant that every bite tasted of disappointment, to the extent that I couldn't just enjoy it for what it was.<br />
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I love places that deliver exactly what they promise. That's what I look for in my eateries. Understatement can occasionally be a pleasant surprise, but overstatement is always a disappointment. Is that too much to ask for?<br />
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Comments: your pet peeves?Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-63914952966084811852010-11-10T13:58:00.000+11:002010-11-10T14:16:29.672+11:00Eritrean CoffeeJust a quick little post on on awesome new foodstuff I discovered the other day. I was wondering around Prahran market for the first time in ages and stopped at Beangreen Vegetarian Cafe. They had a few pretty delicious gluten free options, and then I saw the sign. Eritrean Coffee. Brewed turkish-style, with added ginger, cardamom* and cinnamon. Mmmmmm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-d4L9Q0rYcBqXQvrFDQtc3B_sCCfnBXrcmuy33LGz_bg7CnyZFJkFsvRP4ukynf3JesCxZ3KQwg-4_ORW-Bvz6Nwn2VwtZ229SDZkI4nkaKq69zCq5TfQT7AK2w-DOaVlmKRrO8SLAA/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-d4L9Q0rYcBqXQvrFDQtc3B_sCCfnBXrcmuy33LGz_bg7CnyZFJkFsvRP4ukynf3JesCxZ3KQwg-4_ORW-Bvz6Nwn2VwtZ229SDZkI4nkaKq69zCq5TfQT7AK2w-DOaVlmKRrO8SLAA/s200/IMG_1505.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coffee gourd</td></tr>
</tbody></table> It was a delicious experience! Served in little turkish cups with a spoonful of sugar in the bottom (don't stir it though!) Just the right amount of sweetness seeps through to balance the intense ginger flavour. First thought was that they had put a bit of chilli in the mix, but it was just the spiciness of the ginger. It was wonderful! I love the thick sweetness of turkish coffee anyway, and I'm a sucker for a good chai, so this was the best of both worlds. Definitely worth checking out for a unique coffee experience.<br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgnQOpAEbJIa-IlwlOjohvpi5N3mFobH1fi2bdxhcdQZ9m4gw0uYe8CPJPD_sphuAfs3EjlOztnV3iX6QkmYPgLGD_lpNZp8pV3Uz-Czl9mEF2hVBR1uGH-fT7cccYCK1JaD9tE9v-A/s1600/IMG_1504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgnQOpAEbJIa-IlwlOjohvpi5N3mFobH1fi2bdxhcdQZ9m4gw0uYe8CPJPD_sphuAfs3EjlOztnV3iX6QkmYPgLGD_lpNZp8pV3Uz-Czl9mEF2hVBR1uGH-fT7cccYCK1JaD9tE9v-A/s200/IMG_1504.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div>Little side note: the woman who served us explained the importance of the pouring ceremony. It has very specific rules and traditions. Have a read if you're interested! </div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_ceremony">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_ceremony</a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>*Upon writing this post, I realised that for my entire life I have been pronouncing it as Cardamon. I'm clearly an idiot, but hey, I learnt something new today!</div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-89062575768863733772010-10-29T16:22:00.001+11:002011-03-03T12:29:53.971+11:00The Bell Jar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4eiHo8o6uZqpiPtuQRrnqnSGB7NdsCbu2rzL3s-QQ-o11OxJMw2bSciCBDohuaaG40GhxiFgbh52SWopaRlDpS8Sf3mDzQSJVEQe1x-ejAbguniJM0j-DuXy2LlTLNsu4B3MuaH-fw/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4eiHo8o6uZqpiPtuQRrnqnSGB7NdsCbu2rzL3s-QQ-o11OxJMw2bSciCBDohuaaG40GhxiFgbh52SWopaRlDpS8Sf3mDzQSJVEQe1x-ejAbguniJM0j-DuXy2LlTLNsu4B3MuaH-fw/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Meet Larry the Walrus. He adorns the courtyard wall of The Bell Jar, an excellent new Smith St cafe. (wall - walrus. Get it? I didn't until I just typed that previous sentence.) Hidden in the little spit of smith st between Alexandra and Queens Pde, this is the perfect example of a melbourne cafe done right. Unpretentious but well designed, run by two lovely boys, Stu and Ian, you can tell a lot of thought and love has gone into every aspect of this place.<br />
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I've been there 3 times in the past month, so you know it's something special. A great simple menu, heaps of gluten free and vego/vegan options, excellent 5 senses coffee blends, a courtyard draped in honeysuckle and a giant communal table, these all add up to make a great experience.<br />
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Firstly, the hotcakes. Oh, the hotcakes! Gluten free pancakes/fritters/hotcakes are always a treat, and these are exceptional! Made with tapioca flour, they are gooey and tasty and wonderful. The Ricotta Hotcakes came with apricot with orange blossom and marscapone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MMMMMMMM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What you can't see in this picture is the giant bite taken out of the back, being unable to control myself for long enough to take an unspoiled photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFGLBt22msCmqzPdcG9H7s8FTd9xhOYazMl1xVPQYSqRoxcHIqaOGM2HrNMsIY9jIAtCe3Uz9KYy_yW5pgl7ED0_ItBxRHpNyYoWRikvFK7XQ_fXmFK0PERez2SpsT0diGFe4XB-aNQ/s1600/IMG_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFGLBt22msCmqzPdcG9H7s8FTd9xhOYazMl1xVPQYSqRoxcHIqaOGM2HrNMsIY9jIAtCe3Uz9KYy_yW5pgl7ED0_ItBxRHpNyYoWRikvFK7XQ_fXmFK0PERez2SpsT0diGFe4XB-aNQ/s200/IMG_1364.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black rice pudding with mango, papaya and coconut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>These hotcakes have an exceptional backstory. My dining companion had been craving these since our first visit. On this visit, we were told they were out of ricotta. You've never seen a sadder face than the look on hers at that moment. But wait! The boys asked if he had some time to spare, and as it was a beautiful spring day and we were in the courtyard and sleepy in the sunshine, we said we did. They sent as out a taster of their black rice pudding to keep us from eating our own arms, and then an hour later, viola! Ricotta Hotcakes! But how, you ask? Ian, the lovely chef, had made some ricotta from scratch! Boiled the milk, collected the curds, etc. Just so we could have these. That sort of service above and beyond the call or duty was incredible and firmly cemented them on my favourite list. They get to stuff up at least 4 times now before I even consider thinking negatively about them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Savoury Spicy Corn Hotcakes. Sadly, I couldn't have the offered Chipolate due to my Nightshade allergy. The hotcakes themselves were great, but I have a feeling that the original topping would have bumped them over the edge into the 'Exceptional' category. The eggs were absolutely perfect.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YhQxlW-9kw6BY0SPCvU2dm-XyVl2p6DzuAAIp_jFaLrrkhl3f9FEJlAZvuIBFnQ1_Js43QWgd_vUXpBky-csumGe81Lgwg_x3nnGebqHWDNdZSC_tsfcdRCSG6zF2JPELaU9t1B-uQ/s1600/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YhQxlW-9kw6BY0SPCvU2dm-XyVl2p6DzuAAIp_jFaLrrkhl3f9FEJlAZvuIBFnQ1_Js43QWgd_vUXpBky-csumGe81Lgwg_x3nnGebqHWDNdZSC_tsfcdRCSG6zF2JPELaU9t1B-uQ/s320/IMG_1370.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savoury mmmm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Secondly, they have one of the best gluten free breads in melbourne. From Fatto A Mano on gertrude st, the bread is crisp and chewy, perfect with their avo mash and Meredith fetta.<br />
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Coffee - up to any Melbourne standard. A lovely, smooth 5Senses blend, well prepared.<br />
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All in all, exceptional. Go there and give these guys your support. Delicious food for anyone to enjoy. Say Hi to Ian and Stu for me!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 15px;">656 Smith St<br />
Clifton Hill VIC 3068<br />
(03) 9482 7980</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1525256/restaurant/Victoria/Collingwood/The-Bell-Jar-Clifton-Hill"><img alt="The Bell Jar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1525256/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; width: 104px;" /></a></div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-82362172207394454332010-10-29T14:37:00.000+11:002010-10-29T14:37:15.564+11:00Update!Just a quick update on the previous 2 posts.<br />
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1. I managed to stop by Ganache today. They have a new city store on Collins st, but more importantly I got to have a look at their iced chocolate. Wow.<br />
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I started drooling involuntarily as I watched them pour the melted chocolate over the top. Also tried a macaroon, fantastic flavour wise, but the texture was a little too gooey for my liking. Shocolate macaroon still wins. Bonus point to ganache staff for their excellent gluten free knowledge. (3 cakes and all the macaroons, plus almost all the chocolates.) earl grey chocolate is still a highlight, can't wait to try the tequila and chilli that i spotted.<br />
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2. St ali update<br />
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Disappointingly, St Ali has been out of cold drip the past two times I've been there, so today I had to settle for a siphon. Man, am I glad I did! Nicaraguan Cup of excellence = delicious!<br />
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also, they've just moved to their summer menu, and there are a few wonderful gluten-free goodies on there! Not as many delicious brekky options as before, but a million bonus points for the best salad I've had in a long time. I had it as a special a few months ago, and they've added it to the menu permanently. Best use of Quinoa in a commercial setting I've had.<br />
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Salmon, quinoa, beetroot, pickled sweet potato (sounds weird, delicious!), roast almonds, mint, parsely and labne.<br />
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Mmmmmm, signing off before I drown the keyboard in drool. My first focused cafe review to come later today, keep an eye out!Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-33485357266955685892010-10-24T18:16:00.000+11:002010-10-24T18:23:55.686+11:00My Coffee Manifesto<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Coffee, sweet elixir of life. I am an unabashed coffee snob. I drink it only for the taste, never for the energy hit. On average, I'll drink maybe 3 cups per week. Often on the same day if I really fall for somewhere's blend. If the coffee somewhere is disappointing, I will always take the tea option instead, being something of a tea fiend. (More of that to come in later posts.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlIvAZf2ZDwleq_hsplnjrlJUJgxfqMvgp-_W1ytTau7FqPYYwVnAvoa6k-odxxOLIlFPjvkzyg-MtIXlL148gp0XJlJ6P7RJ9UAIYANv_AZ9QLfnG6PIq5XBCTGXUtr9DR9wyL2A7Q/s1600/IMG_1296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlIvAZf2ZDwleq_hsplnjrlJUJgxfqMvgp-_W1ytTau7FqPYYwVnAvoa6k-odxxOLIlFPjvkzyg-MtIXlL148gp0XJlJ6P7RJ9UAIYANv_AZ9QLfnG6PIq5XBCTGXUtr9DR9wyL2A7Q/s320/IMG_1296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">As a young'un I would wake up most mornings to the smell of fresh ground coffee that my dad would make. These days I drink a short mac so I can get that hint of milk without overdoing the lactose. I also love the new wanky extraction methods of the third wave, Tanzanian cold drip being my favourite. I like my coffee strong but smooth, with minimal bitterness. I prefer heavier chocolate tones to light fruity ones, so some of you won't agree with my opinions, but I'm going to let you guys in on a few of my favourite coffee places anyway. All are in Melbourne, and all are wonderful for completely different reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Quick Note before I do: Siphon Coffee produces a really light, delicate blend that almost tastes more like tea. Great for separating and identifying the different flavour notes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Cold drip produces a rich, thick coffee, served cold. Almost more like a liqueur. Be warned, both extractions are crazy potent when it comes to a caffeine hit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">1. St Ali and David Jones Sensory Lab<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Both run by the same people. St Ali if you want food as well (they have Silly Yaks Gluten free and a delicious gluten free brownie!) David Jones for the coffee only. These are both an amazing experience. St Ali gives you the fully Melbourne hidden-laneway-reclaimed-warehouse-recycled-furniture experience. Indier-than-thou waiters, who are actually really lovely and helpful. David Jones goes for the coffee-as-science theme, with coffee served in beakers and waiters wearing lab coats. Both can seem really intimidating to begin with, but don't be afraid to ask questions. No-one is judging you for not knowing the difference between a Siphon Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or a Nicaraguan Cup of Excellence. These are where I discovered my favourite coffees, through many hours happily spent experimenting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Try: A Latte, plain and simple. To see what normal coffee can be. Smooth flavour, richness, milk done to perfection. Everything from then on might be a little flat and dissapointing, but it's worth it for that perfect cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Siphon, for the joy of watching it bubble, and the experience of tasting coffee like you've never tasted it before. If you never thought coffee could be called a delicate drink, this will change your mind.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Cold Drip, for the richness of flavour. My favourite is Tanzanian Blackburn or Livingstone, but try a Kenyan bean if you want something a bit lighter and fruiter but still with amazing tasting notes</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdg8DA-vNJcXpQnEUOtOqz7VKyJzhTJa5aDwCaK2XAZTe8N5vbR2Aay4DbP3DMJMMthfdDjYM78uwVgZ4ObF7YCz7khwUPbXodR4herK_P8DHk9HSx2VB9m_zTXQ6WWhyphenhyphenzSN57Pt3ow/s1600/IMG_1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdg8DA-vNJcXpQnEUOtOqz7VKyJzhTJa5aDwCaK2XAZTe8N5vbR2Aay4DbP3DMJMMthfdDjYM78uwVgZ4ObF7YCz7khwUPbXodR4herK_P8DHk9HSx2VB9m_zTXQ6WWhyphenhyphenzSN57Pt3ow/s320/IMG_1298.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Synopsis: Pretentious, with damn good reason. Look past that, and it's wonderful.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">No.2 Cafe Romeo</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Tucked away in Balwyn, I'll admit a bias towards these guys. It was their coffee whose smell I would wake up to many mornings, so I might be a bit sentimental. But in all honesty, the coffee is excellent. Old-school Italian roasters, the blend is smooth and delicious. I've never had a bad coffee here. If you want unpretentious, but authentic, delicious coffee, look no further. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Try: any standard coffee. Ask the barista's for the special '7 pour' machiatto, which they top up with seven pours of froth, giving an amazing texture without too much milk dilution.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Synopisis: Traditional, passionate. Don't bother going for food, the don't have any except a few biscuits. This is all about the coffee.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">No.3 Eden Espresso</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">This used to be my local in malvern. 2 young, passionate guys run it. They only use organic fairtrade, and have recently brought in a second grinder for a rotating blend. Fantastically unpretentious and relaxing, they do a good assortment of delicious food (lots of gluten free options) to compliment the coffee. My favourite place to go for a relaxing cup that I know I can rely on. Much stronger and richer than a lot of suburban cafes, but still smooth and delicious. Go twice, and I guarantee they'll remember your elixir of choice.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Try: your usual, and notice the difference in quality.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Synopsis: extremely laid back coupled with excellent quality</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Hounourable mentions:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Pretty much anywhere serving up Five Senses, St Ali or Syndacate coffee. More specifically:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Batch espresso, Carlisle - simple, smooth, delicious</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Collective, Camberwell - bringing up the coffee standard of an entire suburb</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Monk Bodhi Dharma, Carlisle - bringing siphon etc to the suburbs, would get an proper write up if the staff were more knowledgeable and talkative.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Journal cafe, CBD - old school lever machine, consistent delicious in an awesome atmosphere.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Anyone have other suggestions?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
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</span></div>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-89049279399250378582010-10-20T20:08:00.000+11:002010-10-20T20:08:18.061+11:00Chocolate in MelbourneI'm so sick of articles about chocolate in melbourne that only ever mention Koko Black, Haigh's and Max Brenner. Don't get me wrong, I love 2 out of those three, but there is so much amazing specialty chocolate around Melbourne that needs to be shared.<br />
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No 1: Shocolate, Fitzroy.<br />
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Mindblowing. I would (and have) killed for some of their salted caramels. The staff are friendly and so proud of their product. It's so cute! I'll admit that I haven't yet tried their hot chocolate, but I look forward to it. They're apparently the only place in Australia to do a vegemite chocolate (which sadly I cant try, due to the gluten factor.) They get perfect flavour balance in all their products, from the passionfruit truffle to the french lady grey.<br />
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<a href="http://shocolate.com.au/">http://shocolate.com.au/</a><br />
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No 2: Xocolatl, Canterbury and Kew<br />
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Slightly overpriced, but fantastic flavours. I don't go there for the full chocolate experience, since the staff aren't quite as knowledgeable or passionate as they could be, but they do some amazing chocolates. The new summer range blends some fascinating flavours, such as goats cheese and raspberry. Old favourites are the balsamic caramel and the slightly weird but delicious Chios (tree bark) creation. Hot chocolates are always slightly disappointing though.<br />
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No 3: Ganache, Toorak<br />
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Beautiful chocolates, Drool-worthy cakes. only been here once, but was muchly impressed. That might have had to do with the fact that I'm an absolute sucker for anything tea infused, and the earl-grey chocolate here is incredible. Definitely looking forward to checking it out again sometime soon<br />
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Honourable mentions:<br />
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Koko Black. They might be run of the mill now, but they still do some truly excellent chocolates, and still try hard. One of the best chocolate mousses in melbourne. And their Amarena Cherry is an old time favourite. Still getting over the disappointment that their Dulce De Leche is not gluten free.<br />
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Sisko, Hawthorn<br />
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Almost more art then deliciousness, but well worth checking out. Their chocolate sculptures are as beautiful as they are delicious. Small range of individual chocolates, no soft centers, but some lovely flavours. Mostly involving nuts, so a heads up if you have an allergy. I remember their Sesame ginger with extreme fondness.<br />
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Dishonourable Mentions:<br />
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San Churros<br />
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Disgusting chocolate, disappointing hot chocolates. I presume the churros are the key to their appeal, but not being able to eat them, everything else is gross. And secretly laced with gluten. Sigh.<br />
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Max Brenner<br />
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Over-priced and over-rated. I appreciate that they were the first doing this sort of thing, but they have been far outstripped by their recent competitors. Mediocre everything.Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4695470878816734676.post-34259997077055092872010-08-27T12:57:00.000+10:002010-08-27T12:57:20.676+10:00Exciting NewnessI<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">'ve had a ridiculous amount of people tell me I should start a blog lately, so here I am! This blog is going to focus on all the things around Melbourne that are just plain awesome, or that bring me happiness in any way shape or form. I'll have a pretty strong cafe focus, particularly a gluten-free eating one. But I'll also be writing for non-glutards. I'll let you know about amazing coffee, where to buy the best tea, which chocolate cafes are absurdly overrated, and anything else that will enrich your awesome levels. </span>Red Robynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16323104470170764618noreply@blogger.com0