New York Tomato

Hi guys.

It's time for another guest blogger - this time our mate Janice. Janice is a Hawthorn local and is also lucky enough to be dating her own personal chef. Janice knows what she's talking about when it comes to food so expect to see her name pop up on kate and zoe from time to time.

Enjoy.

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2-6 New St, Richmond

Ph: 9429 0505
Open: weekdays from 8am – 3pm, Sat-Sun from 9am – 2.45pm

JUST when I thought I had pretty much finalised my “top breakfast list”, I stumbled across New York Tomato. Hidden away in the back streets of Richmond, its cryptic name gives the only real clue to its location (it’s located on the corner of New and York streets).

Behind two roller doors sprawls a mismatch of patio-styled furniture, which gives the feeling you are sipping your latte in someone’s front yard rather than a café. The fact that the café was originally converted from a warehouse-style apartment also contributes to this sense of atmosphere.On the Saturday morning I visited NYT was filled with an uber-hip, Boho crowd brunching with groups of their uber-hip friends, uber-hip dogs and even more uber-hip laptops. Even the service has settled comfortably into the laidback groove, although it did remain prompt and attentive.

The food deviates from the run-of-the-mill eggs on toast, and instead the menu is occupied with an eclectic mix of globally inspired dishes, all reasonably priced around $15-$16. Splashes of sumac, tofu and smoked beans give an uplifting twist but for me, it was the twist on the eggs hollandaise: perfectly poached eggs on a bed of nutty, caramelised onions smothered in a well-balanced mustard hollandaise.

My partner - never one to go past the temptation of a fat, bursting sausage incorporated into his breakfast fare - opted for the herby scrambled eggs intermingled with tasty chunks of cheese kranksy, piled atop a lightly toasted bagel.

If the food and atmosphere isn’t enough, perhaps the most impressive characteristic of this café is the sudden awareness when you arrive to pay at the counter, of the incredibly limited space the chefs in the kitchen must work with. Being able to still produce such creative and polished dishes with such a restricted area even left my never-lost-for-words partner (also a breaky chef) open mouthed.

With such a unique menu and relaxed ambience, I am sure this café will lure me back for many return visits, and cement itself into my ever revised “top breaky’s list”.

8.5/10

- janice

Journal

Shop 1, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph: 9650-4399
Open: Mon-Fri, 7am-late; Sat, 7am-6pm

Journal has been around since 2004 and it's still as great as the day it opened.

Located next to the city library, in the Centre for Adult Education campus in Flinders Lane, Journal fits the part with its private club style interior, large communal tables and shelves full of national geographic magazines, antique looking tomes, design rags and newspapers.

Mosaic tiles fill the huge marble counter, giving the art deco space some colour, while huge windows facing out to the Laneway stream in light.

Journal operates on its tried and tested menu bolstered by daily specials consisting of a soup and a couple of hot dishes. Varying salads including a tasty bean and tuna or noodle are great in warmer weather.

A friend adores the crusty continental bread rolls with combinations of different cheeses and meats. It's a DIY mix and match affair. For me the bruschetta is a must - try the avocodo and lemon or pumpkin and fetta.

On my last visit I enjoyed an old fashioned potato and leek soup. It came with beautiful thick and filling sour dough, splattered with fresh, olive oil.

Con Christopoulos (Degraves, European, Supper Club, Commercial Bakery) is behind this now established city icon.

Few other venus have you happily perched on a stool at Journal's window bar shoulder to shoulder with strangers. Or squeezing at a corner of the shared tables. But getting cosy with strangers is worth it to enjoy the magic of simple food done beautifully at Journal.

In the evening antipasto and wine by the glass transforms the space into groovy wine bar.

Friendly and competent staff including Journal's lovable host and Christopolous' business partner John Vakalis who's always full of smiles and "hellos" adds to its charm.

Being too popular is probably Journal's only flaw. It's much harder to get a seat these days. And by writing this blog I'm probably not helping the cause.

Portuguese tarts and other quality pastries are a good way to end a meal at Journal. Coffee is also taken seriously and it's spot on.

Every visit to Journal is a joy.

10/10

- kate

Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder

48-50 Bridge Rd, Richmond
Sun-Thurs 8.30am - 5.30pm
Friday-Sat 8.30am - 6pm
Breakfast served until 3pm
Licensed
(03) 9421 2808


ONE of the best things to happen to Richmond was the opening of Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder by legendary restaurateur and food writer Stephanie Alexander.

That was more a decade ago and it cemented Richmond Hill as the special corner of the old suburb that it is.

A stone's throw from the MCG, a hop step and jump from grand East Melbourne and across the road from legendary Vlado's restaurant, the "hill" was an inspired spot.

Alexander and co-owner cheese wholesaler Will Studd have been out of the business for more than five years. But the neighbourly RHCL remains a firm favourite despite it's non-Richmond prices.

We popped by for a quiet brekkie on a Thursday morning so I could farewell my bloke before he jetted off to the Rugby World Cup in France - without me.

Appropriate, as RCHL is French inspired with French/Italian rural menu, comfy wicker seats, al fresco pavement seating facing and Melbourne's first humidity-controlled cheese room stacked with artisan cheese.

By 9.30am it was buzzing with suits, ladies-who-lunch and other relaxed couples.

Exemplary service saw our water glasses refilled within minutes of finishing, and coffees and dishes whisked to and fro with aplomb.

My scrambled eggs topped with flat leaf parsley on Phillipa's extra grainy multi grain toast ($9.50) was sublime. Next time I'll ask for no butter as the toast was smothered with old-fashioned lashings - the devil for maintaining one's figure.

The bloke had two poached eggs on sour dough (9.50) with bacon ($3.50) and roast tomatoes ($3). Serves were generous and admittedly flawless.

On previous visits I've loved the bircher muesli with seasonal fruit ($8.90) or rhubarb and geranium compote ($7.70) with Meredith Dairy yoghurt. Divine. Freshly squeezed blood orange juice is unbeatable. $4.40.

A brunch, lunch or afternoon tea with a menu featuring simple dishes from local seasonal produce is recommended.

Produce can be purchased from the larder, including olive oils, both Australian and imported; local wine vinegars and verjuice, preserves, breads and other treats.

The cheese room is so special it deserves its own blog.

The larder is a treat. 8.5/10

- Kate

The Commercial Bakery

Rear 360
Little Collins Street,
Melbourne
Ph: 03 9670 7214

MY favourite city cafe has a new, flashy sibling. Flinders Lane superstar Journal has a rival in a roomier upstart the Commercial Bakery. The latest from Melbourne cafe guru Con Christopoulos is hidden off Little Collins St, near Elizabeth St.

The bottom floor of a bluestone gem, a former truck rental business, houses this interesting bakery. High ceilings, polished concrete floors and retro glass shutter windows retain the former warehouse/factory gone retro posh feel. It's essentially an extremely cool and original fit-out with coloured tiled walls and fabulous light fittings brightening things up.

Daily specials included a lamb and barley soup and pasta. A selection of sandwiches in massive slices of freshly baked sourdough bread with ham and cheese ($7), goats curd, beetroot and onion jam ($8.50), traditional salad and cheddar ($8.50) and corned beef, sauerkraut and mustard ($10).

We loved the chicken pie. ($11). It was fancy, with white wine sauce and thyme. Delicious soft, melt in your mouth pastry encased tasty chunks of chicken. beautiful. The field mushroom and herb tart was deliciously light, like a mousse. ($9). All pies come with a crispy salad of mixed lettuce leaves, contrasting nicely with the pastries.

Traditional spanakopita ($8.50) and lamb, olive and tomato ($11) pies complete the pie menu.
Pastries for the sweet tooth include old fashioned lemon tea cake ($7), baked cheesecake ($5) and shortbread ($1) and choc panaforte ($1.50). Quality coffee and San Pellegrini chinotto topped off our lovely lunch.

The good news is The Commercial Bakery is open for brekkie from 7am, serving up a small menu of varied toasts, egg and bacon ciabatta ($6.50) and semolina or oat porridge ($7). Bakery goods can be taken away.

8/10

Timbale

167 Swan Street, Richmond
Ph: 9428 7300
Open: Mon-Thurs: 7am-4pm-ish, Fri: 7.30am-midnight, Sat: 7.30am-4pm-ish, Sun: 8.30am-4pm-ish

MY RELATIONSHIP with Timbale began a few years back. It was during the days of silly drinking when a particular hangover rendered me incapable of finding a recommended café for bacon and coffee. Timbale was the nearest kitchen to our Swan St car park so Timbale it was.

Since then the cozy Richmond eatery has been my hangover refuge. In summer I can sit on the street and air out my smoke-stained jacket from the night before. But it’s in winter when I love my Timbale time the most. Those icy Melbourne mornings are when I curl up in a comfy couch and rehash whatever disgraceful act I/we/everyone seemed to think was a good idea at the time.

A reason for Timbale’s possie on my high-rotation list is that it does the basics well. The oj is freshly squeezed, the tea is loose leaf and comes in real china teacups, the magazine rack is well stocked and the music is easy listening – I got to groove to the Beatles on my most recent visit.

But regardless of the season, I can never seem to go past the Timbale breakfast ($14.50). Two eggs with bacon and tomato on Schwobs toast with an oj and a coffee does me just nicely thanks. The vegetarian breakfast is the same price but it swaps the bacon with spinach and mushroom. I have been known to order vegetarian with a side of bacon when I need to cover all bases and the friendly staff are more than happy to oblige.

Eggs Benedict or Florentine - Ben or Flo - are both on the menu ($10.50) and the BLT is a bargain at $7. I’ve never done Timbale for lunch but it has at least two daily specials as well as nine salad options to have on a sandwich/baguette/foccaccia or Turkish bread. If you’re looking for something sweet, the muffin of the day is $2.50 or Seinfeld fans will rejoice in the $1.50 muffin tops.

Downstairs, Timbale is furnished like a standard café but if you want the true Timbale experience head upstairs where it looks more like the lounge room of my first shared house than it does a café. The couches and armchairs are clearly the result of a highly-fruitful hard-rubbish collection and they can be rearranged depending on how big your group is. I’ve often found myself sharing a coffee table with a similarly hung over stranger, which, come to think of it, is just like my own shared house full of weekend randoms. Love it. Timbale almost makes that hangover worthwhile.

8.5/10

- Zoe

Replete Providore

302 Barkers Rd, Hawthorn
(03) 9818 4448
Open: Mon-Fri: 7.30am-4pm; Weekends: 8am-5pm

LET me state from the outset, I’ve got a soft spot for Replete Providore.

During my university days I earnt my crust firstly as the cafe’s dishwasher, then at front of house and finally in the kitchen.

Sure, that was when the Hawthorn eatery was owned by Chris and Anna Wilding and known as Wildings but my partiality remains. Wildings became Replete a few years back when Chris and Anna went bush. Now Chris can be found in the kitchen at Woodend’s Holgate Brewhouse in Keatings Hotel and I’m still a paid up member of the Barkers Rd café’s fan club.

Fans of the Age Cheap Eats guide may remember the café got the gong for best breakfast in 2005. That was for the ricotta hotcakes with lemon curd and strawberries ($13). I’m usually a sucker for bacon and eggs in the mornings but this dish is fine enough to convert anyone to being a breakfast sweet tooth. In my world the hotcakes are perfect when washed down with a freshly squeezed blood orange juice ($5).

Other morning standouts are the Bagna cauda eggs ($14.50) which is two poached eggs on Turkish pide topped with a roasted capsicum and olive stew and a cream and anchovy sauce.

The Asian-style fresh corn fritters ($15) come with hand-cut honey soy marinated bacon, a pineapple and avocado salsa, Replete’s chutney and sour cream. The thick slabs of bacon were a bit strong even for this bacon-lover but the corn fritters provided a good balance.

If you want something a bit more traditional, the Replete breakfast ($16.80) is pricey but a solid breakfast-with-the-lot offering. Just make sure you order it on an empty stomach because it includes a Spanish sausage, two eggs, hash cakes, slow-roasted tomatoes, Istras bacon and field mushrooms on toasted Irrewarra breads with Replete relish.

In my world, Replete is the perfect way to start the day.

9/10

- Zoe