Have a Pleasant Day

There's nothing to be said when you find a location that is quaint and peaceful, and for those that struggle in the morning it's always a blessing in disguise when you stumble upon it.

John Gorilla Cafe is tucked in the back streets of Brunswick west and although a popular choice with the locals, it remains to be a charming and relaxing.

I enjoy the places where they are the perfect balance of busy, not over crowded but continues to have full tables inside and out. People aren't sitting of laps of the unknown and you can't hear the conversations of others.

Walking through the doors you are greeted by staff from a high counter filled with daily baked goods. Now I say high because I'm a shorty, for others it's probably just regular size. Anyway........

Seating can be chosen from street, to inside or out back in the courtyard (my choice every time).

The menu speaks simplistic flavours but each dish is packed of bold flavours making for an astonishing breakfast.

On my first visit I had the pleasure of eating the fritters of corn and jalapeño served with coriander salsa and relish, adding a slather of salty bacon enhances the enjoyment of a very huge breakfast that you need to defeat.


On the second time around were the beautiful picture perfect Brioche French Toast with fresh blood oranges, lime zest, toasted coconut and a ball of black sesame ice cream. Finish it with the glorious golden syrup and be whisked away to happiness.

Between each of my visits the service quality has been sublime, packed with consistent check ins and also the random conversations.

Coffee is of medium blend and great quality every time. Grab a take away coffee and get creative as you design the next take away coffee lid as you wait. Leaving for fun daily randomness, which is always good for personal amusements.

It is easy to relax as time goes by at John Gorilla and am so pleased to have it so close by to me.

John Gorilla

49 Pearson Street

Brunswick West

9005 8680

On cloud 10

They say cloud 9 is the limit, where you feel extreme happiness and floating on air. However I think I have come across cloud 10.

Hash specialty coffee and roasters are delivering a unique theatrical adventure where you yourself can experience your very own cloud. A cloud of fairy floss that is.

Sitting delicately in a cup you gaze into the floss and pour luscious silky chocolate and watch it disappear before your eyes and creates the best hot chocolate I have had in a very long time.

Using a dark chocolate and designing the fairy floss to become the sugar component of this drink, it creates a luxurious silky hot chocolate that only makes you want more, but don't go crazy it's still intense and rich.

Dining with a friend today the chocolate was what I had heard a lot about, however their is no reason why we can't stay and enjoy a spot of lunch.

A simple but glamorous menu makes for a hard decision but the one thing that stood out to me were the croquettes. Who doesn't love a golden crumb coating with smooth delicate insides?

I know for certain I can't refuse
At Hash their croquettes were Leek and cheddar flavour that sat atop of cauliflower puree, ham hock, kale and s turmeric egg.

Golden crispy coating surrounded the smooth luscious leek and cheddar filling. The puree itself was delicate in flavours which allowed the ham hock and kale to come out and shine.

My friend in crime today chose the Crushed Avocado. Avocado finished with chilli, coriander and lime and accompanies with toasted corn arepas and cherry tomatoes. Something so simple but was told was delicious.

With light meals being offered while you indulge in other things, it leaves for a pleasant experience and able to spend time chatting the afternoon in the quieter end of Hardware street.

If you are not a chocolate fan, the coffee is also one to enjoy. Full bodied and medium strength. The crema is dark and is and easy drink to the palate.

Sure on weekends this place will be crowded of punters trying to grasp onto the newest thing on the city streets, and I laugh as I watch the staff hold back as others just like myself want to get the best photo available.

The staff are friendly and relaxed, which makes for an easy dining experience. Their is no feel of rush although they are attentive but not hovering to push you back out the door.

Will I be going back? Of course, although my friend has already bet me in returning.

She clearly couldn't wait to go again to try something new like the Grilled Banana and pecan loaf served with blueberries, milk crumb, burnt honey marscapone and whit chocolate custard.

Her response..... OMG Best decision EVER!

Hash Specialty coffee & Roasters

113 Hardware Street

CBD

8529 0284

Eat Better Feel Better

Exposed brick walls decorated with old create boxes and industrial lighting is just the beginning of your experience at Lux Foundry. The pleasant feel of an organic inspired interior always makes for a pleasant experience and well suited for the Brunswick scene.

Local brew of Proud Mary never goes astray with the knowledge that the coffee will be respected and deliver on a full-bodied blend. It is always a great to support your local businesses and with me being a fan of Proud Mary, I fell it can only deliver just as much on the food.

With warm welcomes from multiple staff the relaxed atmosphere is heightened knowing you will be looked after well. Both diners and staff all seem to be smiling and watching the floor as I often do I couldn’t feel the stress of what you would usually see on a busy Saturday morning. All tables inside and out are full, but yet the staff are relaxed and so to are the diners.

So what to eat…..? The menu speaks to you in fresh and delicious flavour combinations but yet not over loading in overpowering produce that would leave to an undesired meal.

This morning we abolished some rather tasty breakfast of the Smoked Salmon and the Breakfast Quesadilla.

The Smoked Salmon breakfast served with cauliflower fritters served on top of a horseradish crème fraiche, capers and lemon. Your choice to add the poached egg of which I highly recommend, it is done perfectly and oozes nothing but yolky goodness over the fritters.

 

If you would like to add a hint of spice to the dish I can also recommend the most amazing well-balanced accompaniment of the caramel chilli. Oh my such a glorious thing, if the heavens were opened they would be singing sweet choir songs of happiness.

The Breakfast Quesadilla is filled with subtle spiced refried beans, cheese, cactus, and tomatillo salsa verde, chilli and coriander. A pleasant meal but would have liked more of a morning kick of spice in there. To ours we added some chorizo and a side of green chilli relish, which assisted in the kick we were after.

With the ordinary choices of the usual Big Breakfast to the more unique of the Smoked Salmon or the quesadilla I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to venture and explore the horizons of flavour combinations at breakfast and go for something you wouldn’t cook yourself at home.

With service being on a high and meals that are respected and look amazing it is a place you wouldn’t want to miss for much longer.

Lux Foundry

21 Hope Street

Brunswick

9387 8075

Getting the background story

It all started one afternoon when I needed a coffee. It's not uncommon I know a lot of people crave the addiction of caffeine, but I wanted the brew that was just roasted and send straight out to the counter line.

Aunty Pegs is where Proud Mary’s brew is created and where you can set in for a short break and experience the caffeine pleasures.

Serving only black brew you can experience the true hidden senses of the bean and capture the passion of the in house roasters.

 

 Enjoying some Costa Rica Sonora Bourbon blend presented by filter you can taste the essence of sweet praline, honey and apple with notes of citrus. A well-balanced brew with delicate flavour notes makes for a pleasant easy to drink black coffee.

For something completely different you should try some cold brew. Cold coffee slightly carbonated and served on tap. On a hot day this will make for a pleasurable cool escape whilst you unwind in the afternoon.

We were offered the chance to see the site and watch the rosters hard at work. The story behind Proud Mary’s brew and the beans itself.

The smell of roasted beans surrounds you as you walk the roasting areas with the fresh beans that have just been placed through the process delicately.

As we are shown around we are told about the research that is gone into each brew and the regions of where it has come from. We are shown the foie gras of beans where the last of it’s kind is existent and studies of roasting are in action to ensure the essences of pollination will be heightened to ensure the flavours of the beans are respected.

What I valued most about Aunty Pegs is the passion that is shown when talking about the history of the beans background and how much research goes through to ensure that the most is captured for our drinking pleasure.

After finding out the story behind Proud Mary Coffee there is only one more thing to do to add to the experience, and that’s to go visit the café itself.

 

Proud Mary on a Sunday is always hard to get into and now I know why. Visiting on a Friday for a late lunch this café is still bustling with diners enjoying fine produces and modernised plating.

A serve of shredded Ox Tongue served with smoked almonds, red peppers, and amaranth and finished with a soft poached egg on a slice of thick sourdough bread.

Well-balanced and rich in flavour. With a soft poached egg spilling it’s yolk enhances the richness of flavour. Bursts of smokiness flows through with each bite and the amaranth a pleasant texture and pepper flavour.

Of course you can never go past a Pork Belly Sandwich for a lunch option. Thick lightly toasted bread covers pork belly slices with a smoked paprika relish, aioli and fresh watercress.

Fresh pastries are on hand that are in house made over at Aunty Pegs. Pastries like caramel popcorn donuts, croissants and anything that you can think of that is filled with buttery goodness.

An enjoyable day getting to know the people behind the coffee blend and eating delicious light meals.

Staff in both Aunty Pegs and Proud Mary were energetic and more than happy to serve you. I am looking forward to visiting again for some fine coffee and respected fresh produce.

Proud Mary

172 Oxford St

Collingwood

9417 5930

Aunty Peg's

200 Welington st

Collingwood

9417 1333