Aucuba Coffee

Aucuba Coffee is a jack of all trades, cafe, brew bar and micro-roaster. So when you know everything is kept in house, you know it should be good.

The cafe space in South Melbourne is a delight to walk into, light, bright, white, with pops of colourful patterns that may deceive you into believing you could be somewhere a little more tropical that blustery old Melbourne. 

Brad’s happy with this coffee, and I’m immediately smitten by the little details - gorgeous chai mugs with just a smudge of colour on the lip, and marbled looking coasters. Oh and the chai is on point as well. 

The menu has unexpected Japanese palate to it - and has been updated since I visited so you might get slightly different offerings if you pop in now!

On our visit, I kind of make Brad order the truffled umami mac and cheese toastie with a raddichio salad with miso balsamic vinaigrette - because he’s not as fussed about his waistline as mine and I was dying to try it. 

It hits the table smelling like a treat, and looking like a carbohydrate monster (hell yeahs). It’s surprisingly not quite as rich and intense as I expected to it to be, a little leaner on the cheese so that the texture of the macaroni is not totally lost. Brad definitely vouched that it was filling though!

I on the other hand went for a much more refined and pretty dish, with miso caramelised eggplant with seasonal vegetables, charred sweet corn and butter milk emulsion. Wow, what an umami hit! They didn’t hold back with the miso in the eggplant, which was quite intense, but softened out quite nicely with the sweet and tender carrots. I just love miso eggplant though, so I couldn’t complain. 

I loved how refreshed I felt leaving afterwards, a casual chat to the barista on the way out (about ice hockey, as you do), a menu where everything intrigues me because I haven’t seen it before and a space that feels like a zen respite (and really is because parking is so easy). I’m looking forward to reutrn to try the green tea waffles not time…

Aucuba Coffee

108 Bank Street

South Melbourne

 

KUU Cafe + Japanese Kitchen

I love Japan and it’s culture. The Japanese really just do everything better. 

Which is probably why I absolutely love KUU Cafe & Japanese kitchen in South Melbourne (and also desperately wish they were close to…let’s say Kew.)

Run by a Japanese crew, KUU serves up healthy Japanese inspired cafe food, in a relaxing environment, which in proper Japanese fashion is small, but very cosy and entirely adorable. Fresh white walls, light wood furniture and shelves; lots of little shelves with bric-a-brac and bits and pieces. So simple, but so quaint. 

We were fortunate enough to be having a very late lunch on the weekend (at around 2pm) so had no problem getting a table, but even at 2pm the little cafe was quite busy. Can only imagine at peak hour it must be pretty manic!

When at a Japanese cafe, one must have a matcha latte obviously and KUU did not disappoint. Smooth, with a great green tea flavour, although not as strong as I thought it was going to be. Delicious. Had two.

Brad’s Genmaicha was also gorgeously aromatic and perfect when he’s been feeling a bit under the weather. 

Being 2pm, and not having eaten for most of the day, I was ready to eat. Everything.

Kaarage Japanese fried chicken with celery vinaigrette dipping sauce was everything you would hope for, not quite was crunchy as I might’ve expected, but piping hot, great flavours and juicy, juicy chicken. 

The kakiage shredded veggie tempura, with sweet potato, carrot, onion, green bean and pumpkin was delicately battered and lightly crisp. 

I’d been eyeing it on Instagram, so decided (or more like dictated) that Brad would order the taco rice with chicken mince, taco sauce, fried egg, mozzarella, tomato salsa and avocado on the side. It’s total comfort food, but that’s still pretty good for you, so I love it. Real tomato-y and real hearty; loved that the fried egg still had a runny yolk as it’s just perfect for mixing through the rice. Loved the cheesiness though the rice too, you could see cheese strings pulling spoonful after spoonful. 

For those who never know what to order, the Japanese brekky platter for the hungry is a great option. A bit plate with onigiri rice balls, salad of the day, poached egg with white sesame hollandaise sauce, grilled salmon and other bits and bobs (I had more fried chicken and some tsukune meatballs on mine too). The white sesame hollandaise is one of the best things ever, that rich hit you’re used to, combined with a strong sesame flavour which takes a bit of edge off the richness and the edamame throughout the onigiri giving it a bit of texture. 

If it was up to me, I’d be at KUU easily once a week. The vibe is very chilled out, staff are friendly and food is hearty but not at all heavy, because Japanese food isn’t ever heavy is it? 

KUU Cafe + Japanese Kitchen

190 Park Street

South Melbourne

 

Cooking Classes - Urban Kitchen & NEFF Kitchen

Disclosure: I was invited to the classes as a guest

Although I often tell people I’m not great at cooking, the truth is really, I’m not bad. I can’t make anything fancy, but I’ve definitely been getting better at working with what’s in my fridge and throwing things together. 

My problem, is that I’m getting a bit stuck in what I’m comfortable cooking (ie. curry chicken and big pots of ragu), and just need a little encouragement and guidance to see how simple it can actually be to do other things.

Doesn’t help that it wouldn’t really what I make, Brad and my brother would just inhale it anyway…so there’s not much motivation from them really!

A little while ago I was invited to check out a couple of cooking classes, which I both thoroughly enjoy…and would definitely not mind receiving as a Christmas or birthday present (just saying Brad….)

Urban Kitchen

17-21 Buckhurst St

South Melbourne 3025

After we meet for a pre-cook Corona or three in the foyer (perhaps a little dangerous considering we being handling knives a little late in the evening…), we are greeted by the sight of 44 commercial-grade cooking stations upstairs in Urban Kitchen. 

It’s a seriously impressive space. 

Urban Kitchen is run by Georgie and Ben Vile, who have spent a decade running Bay Leaf Catering, so know a thing or two about how a kitchen with lots of people should work! 

This particular evening, we’re getting taught how to make a couple of South American dishes by Paul Wilson, who’s recently opened Lady Carolina, and is also the culinary brain behind Acland St Cantina and Newmarket hotel, just to name a few. 

It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to hear from Paul himself, who simply knows everything about the cuisine, the differences in the regions, the culture behind the food, and the nuances in flavour. 

We get demos from Paul, who whips up a kingfish ceviche, and carne asada, which we then go make ourselves! Knives, flames and all! I love that we actually get hands on, and actually get pretty messy, which really, is the best way to learn and it’s not long before the kitchen is smelling amazing. 

Paul also invites La Tortilleria to talk to us about how they make their pure corn tortilla’s, the old fashioned way, with their grinding stones, as we stuff our faces with their delicious corn chips as well. 

After everyone finishes cooking the food, it’s all brought together to be enjoyed as a group…and if I say so myself, the results are truly delicious. I might’ve made myself 3 or 4 very full tacos that night!

We’re also introduced to Juan from Chill Bro, who make paletas, a popular Mexican ice-cream on a stick, made with real ingredients and packed full of flavour. I fall head over heels with their strawberry paleta with condensed milk filling. To die for guys! Been meaning to pop by Melbourne Central to try more of the flavours! 

Urban Kitchen’s upcoming schedule of classes is diverse and exciting, with some very reputable names taking the lead. Daniel Wilson’s burger masterclass sounds delicious, as does David Baron’s (from Ironbark BBQ) American BBQ class! Check out the schedule on their website. 

NEFF Kitchen

Stall 90, South Melbourne Market

Cecil Street

South Melbourne 

The South Melbourne market cooking school has had a beautiful facelift, following it’s partnership with leading Germain kitchen appliance brand NEFF Australia, to create the NEFF Market Kitchen. 

It’s beautiful, clean and crisp, and also very intimate, with space for class sizes around 10 to 15 people. 

We’re in for a treat this night, with Jesse Gerner from Bomba and Green Park, taking us through how to make some delicious Spanish dishes. 

Our class is a little more demo and less hands on (although I volunteer to expertly skewer the lamb skewers), but there is lots of questions and interactivity, as Jesse tells us of his favourite places in Spain, the history behind the dishes, and encourages us to smell and taste the three very different paprikas he is cooking with! 

Tapas, beautiful and simple clams, insanely delicious lamb skewers, a squid ink seafood paella and to top it all off, Jesse’s Pedro Ximenez ice-cream…it makes for an absolutely delicious and enjoyable evening. It’s definitely a space for story and experience sharing, and really getting to know the minute details in making a dish…and having the opportunity to taste what it should be like! 

Like Urban Kitchen, NEFF Kitchen also has an amazing line up of chef’s and classes, which all do sell out quite quickly (Adrian Li’s taste of Tokyo in November would’ve been amazing, but it’s all sold out!), so make sure you get on the website and check out what’s on offer. 

Sure I haven’t quite gotten around to recreating what I’ve learnt at these classes yet…but it’s definitely on the cards in the very near future!