The Penny Drop

Disclosure: I was invited to dine as a guest of the Penny Drop.

Hey guys.

It’s been a while. Again. I often ask Brad where I used to have the time to update the blog...3 times a week!

A lot has happened this year which hasn’t helped I suppose - getting married, going on honeymoon, starting a new job that I’m loving (but spending a lot more time with) and...looking at buying an apartment!

All this adult business all in one year.

One of the areas we’ve been looking for an apartment in recently is in Box Hill. We had spent some of the last couple of years looking at Hawthorn, near Brad’s work, and Southbank, near my work - but only recently considered Box Hill and when we thought about it, it made so much sense.

Close to the shops (all of the shops), close to a train line that both Brad and my work is on, only 30 minutes (without traffic) out of the CBD, and out east so we’re not too far from either of our parents. What’s not to love?

Especially with all the food offerings as well. From cheap and delicious Asian eats, to trendy cafes, like The Penny Black.

Brad and I had popped by the Penny Black when they first opened, but visited again recently and were so pleased that the food was still so delicious.

I love the Asian twist to the food that doesn’t feel superfluous, and that is still hearty, filling and delicious.

Brad’s ‘Rice Burger’ with forbidden black rice, five-spice pork belly, kohlrabi and apple slaw, fried egg and tsuyu sauce couldn’t really be eaten like a traditional burger (had to knife and fork it), but it was absolutely the delicious. Comforting and hearty flavours from the delish pork belly, nicely balanced out by the slaw. Also how good is a proper fried egg with some crusty edges and runny yolk?

My beetroot and sweet corn croquette was also lovely with spiced avocado, walnut cream, heirloom tomato, turmeric cauliflower and sweet potato crisp. It was very textural, I was surprised by the texture of the croquette which was lighter than I expected, and quite sweet from the vegetables which was nice.

The winning pick of the day though was my mum’s Mr. Ssam Benedict with fried soft shell crab, spring onion pancakes, beanshoot salad and poached eggs with kimchi hollandaise. Yum. All of the flavours together were so moreish, even the spring onion pancake with the beanshoots on their own were so tasty. Would definitely recommend for next time!

The Penny Drop

913 Whitehorse Road

Box Hill 3128

Grub Food Van

You know what I’m loving in Melbourne?

The rise of dog friendly cafes, stores…everything! Especially cafes though. There’s really not a better way to start to the weekend, then a bit of sunny weather, rocking up to a cafe, and squealing like an idiot over all the fur babies. 

Grub Food Van is such on cafe/restaurant/eatery - that has been around for a little while now, that is dog friendly. But more than that, the space is some fun, colourful and eclectic, especially when the sun is out, the service warm and the food…well it’s just divine. 

There are so many places that do breakfast, but those who do simple really well? Those are really the gems in the rough. 

First thing, coffee and chai. When we visited, Brad and I had just returned from Canada, so good coffee and good chai were sorely in need and Good Grub Van did not disappoint. 

Brad got the daily omelette, which I think had Jamon or prosciutto, gruyere and maybe silver beet? Regardless, there was cured meat and gruyere with eggs, life’s pretty good. Fluffy, light, so moreish, perfectly seasoned. 

I simply adored my mushroom dish though. Grub Food Van kick up your usual mushrooms breakfast dish to the next level, with walnuts, parmesan, truffle cream, potato gratin and pine needle powder. There was a gorgeous umami kick, and so much texture. The potato gratin retained it’s structure, but was still so smooth and soft. Could and would eat this everyday. 

Once we finished our food, I decided to order a hot lemon and honey drink, with a bit of cinnamon and spices in it too - essentially a hot toddy without the alcohol, which was the perfect way to soothe the jet lag and kick back and enjoy the laid back atmosphere (and talk about property and future plans!).

Grub Food Van

87-89 Moor Streeet

Fitzroy 3065

 

Light Years Cafe

There are some Sundays I wake up and sigh a bit, thinking about the upcoming working week and already lamenting that the weekend is ending.

But all you can do, is pop onto Instagram, see that Nat’s discovered a new cafe in Camberwell with an amazing looking menu and get excited that you’re gonna head over right there and then...or at least once you've put some pants on. 

Light Years Cafe is located on Camberwell Road, just a couple of minutes away from the busy Camberwell junction, underneath a new apartment development. The team (from what I can figure out) were behind Journeyman cafe, along with Simon Ward (ex-Hammer and Tong) who’s looking after the flavours in the kitchen. 

The cafe is simple, but elegant, with beautiful marble looking counters and simply polished concrete floors. I love the great big, sci-fi style halo lights as well, which make you feel like you’re in a spaceship. The cafe is plenty spacious - I noticed on the day I was there they had a table set up as a reservation, but not sure if that will be an ongoing thing. 

Coffee looks good (and when it’s from the people from Journeyman - you’d hope so!) and the chai is sublime. Sweet, spicy - but just too small (but that’s me drinking too quickly I suppose…)

I also got the matcha, which is supplied by Zen Wonders, whilst not quite as rich as some of my favourite matcha lattes in town, I was still impressed with the execution, good dark colour, creamy texture and the bitterness of the matcha definitely showing. 

The menu…is the biggest tease ever. I love a menu that balances comforting flavours, but new and interesting at the same time. Expect the usuals like porridge, and slow cooked beans, which Brad got with tomato sugo, Yarra Valley Persian feta and sourdough toast, which he added an egg on top of. It’s a seriously meaty serve (but funnily enough there isn’t any meat…) and perfectly warming on a wintery morning. I’m actually impressed with how deep the bowl is, you better be hungry before you tuck into this one! 

But along with the usual, are the less usual, and with a bit of an Asian slant - the vegetarian ramen reemerges (you may remember a similar dish at Hammer and Tong), and miso scrambled eggs include shiitake mushrooms and nori. There’s also a matcha waffle which looks awesome, but I just still can’t bring myself to order totally sweet flavours for breakfast…yet.

Instead, I go for the seasonal dish - the winter bowl of jerusalem artichokes with baby dutch potatoes, sweet potato, cauliflower puree, onion soubise, mushroom and chestnut soil, kale, sorrel and comte cheese - with a side of black chorizo pudding. 

Oh, I am definitely a winter girl. All of these vegetables and tubers make my tastebuds so happy with their rich earthy and generous flavours. The comte brings that comforting richness, the kale chips a bit of crisp - it’s a beautifully constructed dish that I devour far too quickly. 

We also get a side, on the recommendation of Nat, the quinoa and broccoli balls with unagi mayo. Oh my goodness, the kewpie, the benito makes it all taste like takoyaki to me and it makes me so happy, but a little confused because I expect to be eating seafood but I know in my head they’re vegetables. The exterior of the balls is so crispy and crunchy, and I just can’t get enough of these. 

I definitely want to come back for sweet potato waffle chips and Kentucky fried haloumi (!!!)…and just about everything else on the menu. Although I fear I might have to come back quick because i have no doubt this will quickly become Camberwell’s new hot spot very soon…

Light Years Cafe

132 Camberwell Road

Hawthorn East 3123

 

Saint Thomas

I so love being surprised. I’m happy to admit - it’s easy to get swept on to the hype train and chase the new and the shiny - so finding a gem, that doesn’t get anywhere near the amount of love it could be is always a joy.

Brad and I visited Saint Thomas in Richmond back in September, as it was quite conveniently located in-between my house and a launch I was to attend later in the morning in Prahran. I had thought parking might not be too bad in the area as well - but it seems Church Street still isn’t that pleasant on Saturday’s. Fortunately - top tip - pop down one of the many side streets and there should be quite a bit of free parking!

Saint Thomas wasn’t super full when we arrived, but there as a nice buzz and hum of activity. It’s not a big space, but they’ve made sure it’s filled with colour, with bright wall murals, and lots of attractive  food options in the display fridges. 

Service was warm and friendly - which I know everyone says about everywhere, but even more so here especially. Small talk was easy, not awkward, and smiles were genuine. 

Chai and coffee were deep in colour, and full of flavour. 

Brad ordered the Kingston, which is a cheesy fried egg in a black brioche bun with bacon, tomato, baby cos lettuce and BBQ sauce, served with paprika french fries and housemate ketchup. Add jalapeño for your spicy pleasure for just an extra $2. This wasn’t the biggest burger in terms of size, but it walloped with flavour, and was still a good filling serve. I loved the cheesy fried egg with it’s crunchy edges - I almost just picked the edges off Brad’s egg to nibble on. Fries are the perfect shape, size and crunch too. 

I went for the Spring Fritters, tricolour quinoa with spinach, nutmeg, black bean fritters, pickled cucumber tagliatelle, lemon oil, poached egg, toasted capers and tuna aioli. This also was way tastier than I anticipated it being, I loved the texture of the black bean fritters and the sumptuous tuna aioli which added just the right amount of richness to an otherwise very clean dish. Delicious and would have more of and again.

I left Saint Thomas with a smile on my face, and high in spirits. Definitely keen to come back, the pork ribs have my name written all over them for next time!  

Saint Thomas 

533 Church Street

Richmond

 

Small Axe Kitchen

I’m travel sick at the moment. Terribly, terribly travel sick. I’ve done a number of small trips this year, more than I’ve done previously (I think) and normally I come back refreshed and happy. But not this year. I just come back longing to have another trip coming up the following week, and perusing the internet for more travel sale deals. 

I actually need to have another full holiday to plan. 

But in the mean time, I’ll do with breakfast pasta at Small Axe Kitchen and pretend I’m in Sicily - just for a little bit. 

Recently opened on Victoria Street in Brunswick, Small Axe Kitchen is a bright and inviting space, and as mentioned, inspired by the colours and flavours of Sicily. From Italian cook books on the shelves, to Italian mints for sale next to the iPad cashier, to a menu which has almost nothing I’ve ever tried before (and that’s fantastic). The Italian references aren’t in your face, a little more subtle upon first glance, but when once I noticed them, I found it simply adorable, quaint and a little homely. 

Service is with a smile from absolutely everyone in store, and why not? It’s a sunny Sunday on a long weekend, tick tick. 

Coffee is from Code Black Coffee Roasters - and as we’re wandering down Sydney Road after brunch (to satiate my need to op shop), Brad brings up (without prompting) that the coffee was good. He doesn’t often do that. 

Chai is smooth, sweet but still with a good bit of tea flavour in there. 

As mentioned, I love the menu, as it mostly has non-traditional breakfast items, but that all read as delicious breakfast options - with Italian flavour. From a fried scamorza sandwich with green tomatoes, to Sicilian meat balls, to soft polenta with broad beans, peas and nettle. I’m normally stuck between 2 options, at Small Axe Kitchen I’m trying to narrow it down from four. 

I instruct (or perhaps I dictated…) Brad to get the breakfast pasta with maccaruni, guanciale, peas, mint, salted ricotta and a slow cooked egg. It’s just beautiful, hearty and wholesome, but somewhat surprisingly to me not overly rich. Perhaps just my bad perception that deliciousness equates to be drowned in cheese, but this balanced proposition is a fantastic start to the day. Especially if you need to be filled up like Brad does. I loved the long rolled pasta, which were perfectly al dente - great body. The gooey egg yolk in the middle was just perfection as well. 

Although I initially thought I’d go after the smoked eggplant or charred octopus (especially after seeing it on Instagram - so pretty), when I realised there was polenta crusted sardines, on organic toast, smoked olive tapenade, golden currants and pinenuts, my decision was swayed. 

I love sardines, and these meaty little morsels are gorgeously golden on the outside and well seasoned. I go gaga over the smoked olive tapenade, the richness accented by the sweet currants. At first I worry there’s too much of my gluten free toast, and not enough sardines to go, but I quickly realise that the sardines are stacked high, and I don’t need to worry about that. Definitely very happy. 

As Brad heads out to the street to look for an ATM (at the time Small Axe Kitchen was cash only), I eye off the sweet display - which are supplied by Fatto e Mano, and quickly devour an almond biscotti. All I would have been missing is an espresso - if I drank coffee anyway. 

Basically, I loved Small Axe Kitchen. As the weather gets warmer, the outdoor seating area is going to be so good and well used (loads of outdoor seats, and plenty of space for all the doggies) and I want to come back to try everything. They’ll also be starting ‘Family Dinners’ soon - there was a sign up list in store, and all six A4 pages I flipped through trying to find a space to put my name on was full! Good signs guys, good signs. 

Small Axe Kitchen

281 Victoria Street

Brunswick 3056

 

Middletown

Melbourne’s a town that’s pretty laid back and casual, where people seem to be buying more leggings than designer handbags and loving warehouse and blonde wood over Toorak style mansions. 

And then Middletown pops open to challenge Melbourne’s palate yet again. 

The new cafe located in Prahran on High Street, a long awaited second site from the guys who brought us Operator 25, is inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Royal but close the people. The gorgeous fit out is definitely luxe, gorgeously structured with dark rich blues against perfectly crisp whites, but approachable with blonde wood furnishings and minimal fittings softening out the space whilst keeping it contemporary. There’s lots of attention to detail here.

I’m here with Daisy, and when we arrive, we realise Liisa’s just finished eating, but invites us to join her on her round table. Seriously, how good are round tables? So much better for groups, and for sharing food. 

Daisy heads straight for a coffee, whilst I opt for a matcha latte, which I absolutely love. Thick, smooth and almost creamy, with a nice balance of bitterness and sweetness. Matcha seems to be going through what chai did some years ago, where the majority of cafes just get a powder and it’s flavourless, so it’s nice when someone’s really doing it right!

Looking at the menu, it’s definitely quite a bit different to the offering at Operator 25, without the Asian nuances and twists to the dishes. Instead, it’s a whole lot of familiar with a couple of little surprises and presented beautifully. 

Daisy opts for the Benedict, with pork pastrami, poached eggs and aerated blood orange hollandaise on sourdough. Is there anything better than hollandaise lopped all over eggs and cascading down toast? No, I didn’t really think so. If you’re hungry, this is the dish for you, the pork pastrami is rich and delicious, especially with the hollandaise - from the mouthful I had anyway.

And man - yolk porn is on point. 

Having previously eaten breakfast (because two cafes in a day within 3 hours of each other is a really smart idea Ashley), I look for something a little lighter and am thrilled with my decision of the pickled mackerel with bullhorn capsicums, manchego cheese, fried egg, damon, fennel emulsion and baguette. 

It is absolutely everything I love, although the cafe is inspired by an English rose, I love all the Spanish going on in this dish. The mackerel is meaty and sweet, slivers of manchego are so moreish and the flavour of the jamon just beefs up the dish and adds a bit of salt. I don’t have the language to say why I liked this dish so much, but I guess it helps that I’m very partial to a bit of a mackerel. Would happily come back and eat this all over again. 

Although I probably wouldn’t line up again to get in anytime soon (even at 1:30-2pm there were still people waiting for seats and it didn’t really start to clear up until about 2:30) Middletown are running a delicious and very tightly run ship. I might wait for the hype train to calm down a little bit. I would probably advise though to come on a hungry stomach (but not too hungry because you could be waiting for a while) as the majority of the dishes on the menu read on the heavier side. On the bright side, lunch is also an all day affair (not so common yet), so if you happen to feel like wagyu brisket at 9am in the morning…by all means…

Middletown

229 High Street

Prahran

 

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