Posts Tagged ‘cafe’
February 6, 2010 | 
Author Hardware Societe
120 Hardware St, Melbourne
03 9078 5992
First of all I would like to thank Tummyrumbles for introducing me to this cheery little place between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale St. Splashes of yellow brightens up the place, and rows of baguettes, puddings and tarts made me drool.
My poor breakkie buddy Pannacotta have been dragged here one early, too early morning, and ordered 2 coffees at once. A big Illy fan, she was pleasantly surprised by the smoothness of the brand Hardware Societe used, which is called Supreme- must have certainly been supreme cos Panacotta soon ordered another one! Of course it doesn’t hurt that there was this morsel of mini bomboloni sitting prettily on the side plate. Pannacotta was nice enough to let me have one and it was soft, not very sweet and extremely yummie. I secretly wondered if I could grab the bowl full of these mini-bombolini which is just sitting on the benchtop and do a runner…
I would highly recommend their hot chocolate too-it’s a yummie big jug of melted good quality chocolate- YUMO!
For breakkie I ordered the boiled eggs with 3 soldiers $12- oh it’s just some old boiled eggs with measly soldiers- NOT! It was such a beautifully presented feast for breakfast for such a small price.
I am always a little wary of soft boiled eggs, at times they are way too runny, and other times it has this weird aftertaste to it. Well, not the ones in here- the eggs are fresh and it has just the right firmness to it.
The 3 soldiers are just exquisite- From right to left soldiers: salmon roe, jamon and frittata. The salmon roe was a fresh little burst of saltiness and sweetness; jamon is dressed with a fig syrup (I think) and it was beautiful. The frittata- what can I say? The egg and potato combo may be a bit chunky on a slice of baguette but it was so yummy that I don’t care.
On another occasion in their Saturday Brunch, I had yummie scrambled eggs with a smoked salmon noisette baguette. I still like the boiled eggs the best, but this is really awesome too!
Hubby had a Bircher Museli with Berries, stone fruit and nuts like pistachios- everything was so fresh, it tasted really good on the first bite, however, it tasted really sour the more you eat it! It would have been nicer if it was sweeter.
I would love to try Hardware Societe’s Lunch menu but sadly I work too far away for that. Fingers crossed that Saturday brunch would eventually have some of their awesome sounding lunch menu items for me to try!! 9/10!
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Sparrow’s Nest
95 Queen St, Melbourne
If you want to find a sanctuary in your busy work day, you should head to Sparrow’s Nest. For a while it was the best kept secret in Queen St, a small, unassuming shopfront with cute & cheerful potted flowers, it is becoming busier and busier every day. This is a little piece of haven, you can sit on the powder blue stools and eat Crabapple cupcakes while watching Rana and Sarah race around making hot chocolates with real melted chocolate bits, plating up fresh salads and pies on quaint old fashioned plates.
Sounded like your grandma’s kitchen? You will be surprised to see that the owners, Rana and Sarah are actually quite young. That being said, they definitely know what they are doing- from the well thought out decor to the quality of their food to the running the cafe themselves, they seemed to have it all worked out like a pro.
There are quite a few things I would recommend on their menu, and this is one of them- Shepherd’s pie with a side salad $6.9. Although it doesn’t seem as the pie has been made on premises, they have selected a supplier that made a mean pie. I, for one, don’t normally eat pies, associating it with footy games and pub meals, but this pie is fabulous. Nice crust, beautiful filling and the highlight was the chutney on the side, which has a tinge of ginger flavour in it which is surprisingly great with this pie. The salad was fresh and crisp, a healthy choice to complement the pie.
Other recommendations include the Gruyere and prosciutto croissant (but it is extremely filling so share it with a friend), the famous Crabapple cupcakes (I love Lemon Blossom the best!) and soy hot chocolate made with melted chocolate bits… YUMO!
Sparrow’s Nest also does a range of organic selection, just look at what’s on the blackboard- you’ll definitely find something you love in there! 8/10
Shells Cafe
95 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento
Went on a girls trip with some lovely ladies this weekend and I thought I might showcase some of the yummie Mornington Peninsula cuisine we ate 
After a horrible but scenic 11km run, we sat down to have some well deserved lunch. I can’t help but order Soy hot chocolate to warm myself up-the soy hot chocolate is a bit sweet for me, but it’s probably good because I was starving.
I always order Seafood Marinara $18.50 but with a special request- no Prawns more scallops . The cafe obliged and gave me lots of fresh yummie scallops and fresh pipis with my spaghetti. Really surprise with the quality of this pasta, cos normally cafe, or even in a restaurant, the spaghetti marinara is not up to scratch because they have crap seafood, but this is fantastic and well priced too.
The other gals have really yummie food too, the pizza looks devine! I would certainly come back again for a few well priced meal and a friendly smile. 7.5/10
Food Board
Cafe Alcaston
2 Collins St, Melbourne
03 9650 9387
Angie took me to Cafe Alcaston for lunch a few days ago- bookings is essential because this cozy little place is full by 12:30. Angie told me that when she walked from the station every day she can smell this beautiful aroma wafting through the vents of this cafe and she finally tried this place last month, and have been coming here regularly since.
Caesar salad
Angie ordered Caesar salad $14.95- she told me that this is the best, she just can’t stop eating this. She’s right, it is the best caesar. First of all, it’s HUGE. The chicken breast on top is very tender and flavoursome, the egg is perfectly poached and the croutons are lightly brushed with butter and garlic. The sauce is light and it’s not drowning the cos lettuce at all, just lightly cover each and every leaf.
My rigatoni w/tomato, pesto and rocket $14.95, unfortunately is less stellar. First of all, what I like about this is the rocket- I love rocket and it’s great to have a bit of vegies in the pasta. The sauce wasn’t too bad either, but some of the rigatoni is a bit hard on the edges and some are a bit on the mushy side. This is certainly not one of those traditionally Italian dish, tomato sauce with green pesto is a tad bit quirky.
Yummy shortbread
We had to run back to work but I couldn’t resist buying this shortbread for my team before I leave. This raspberry and almond shortbread is delightful. I almost ate both of them cos it was so good!
Overall the place was cosy, the service is good, the food is a bit of a hit and miss but I know where I’ll go if I crave for a caesar salad and baked goods! Yummm!
Pearl Cafe
28 Logan Road
Woolloongabba
Ph: 07 3392 3300
I did say I would go back to Pearl Cafe again for breakfast and more cheesecake and it seems it happened sooner than I anticipated. Only a few days after my beloved breakfast companion arrived back in town we were able to make room for a breakfast double date.
So do you want the good news first or the good news? Well the good news is that Pearl Cafe’s breakfast was wonderful and the good news is that they had caramel cheesecake and even more good news is that I bought some and ate it and it really was an amazing cheesecake. I will even venture to say (and this is for Inga & Mati) that it was infact the best cheesecake I have ever eaten.
But breakfast first!
My husband-to-be somehow snuck an early drinks order in and managed to secure himself a cappuccino. I didn’t try it but he ordered a second one later on, so either I woke him up too early for breakfast or they were good coffees (lets say its a little of both).
Cherry Sarsaparilla – Sarsaparilla with cherry syrup with a whole cherry and slice of lemon. Quite refreshing with a really nice cherry flavour.
Citron Presse – A lemon soda drink.
My breakfast beverage of choice was a banana smoothie and it was creamy with a hint of honey. Brilliant.
The “Big Breakfast” – Two eggs cooked whichever way you like, some toasted bread, bacon, grilled mushrooms, sausage, crispy potato pieces and tomato relish. I think I have found my perfect big breakfast. Usually I have to get one or a combination of sides just so I can have hashbrowns or potatoes, grilled mushrooms and sometimes even bacon. The potatoes were nice and crispy on the outside and the tomato relish was really tasty with a hint of herbs and spices. There was the temptation to spread the relish on everything but I found it went best with the sausage. My eggs of course were scrambled and perfectly cooked.
Hubby-to-be had the same except with his eggs nicely poached.
Charles had the most amazing sweet breakfast. The “Eggy Bread” was bread cooked “french toast” style topped with berries, mascarpone, pistachios and dusted with icing sugar. Delicious and perfectly sweet but too overpowering for a morning meal.
When I went to pay for breakfast and my take-home slice of Caramel Cheesecake I spotted this display of yummy looking muffins and promptly asked for one of those as well. Turned out to be the most amazing pear muffin. Delicious pieces of pear throughout and it reminded me that pears are in season. Time to visit the fruit shop.
Didn’t try either of these (rocky road or brownie). But don’t they look yummy?
My caramel cheesecake and pear muffin! It’s hard to decide if you like the cake part or the base the most. I think it depends which bit you are eating at the time. It’s all good! Crunchy and sweet base with a fluffy, caramel everything else. Oh I want more!
Froggy bought a slice of peach and raspberry tart (and a pear muffin as well!) to take home.
I always seem to find a different dessert to try at Pearl Cafe. Not sure what’s next but its more than likely going to be too delicious to resist. And of course I will report back! You will find there can be a little wait at breakfast time. But there is a list at the door, so just put your name down and they will let you know when your table is ready (while you venture next door and shop.. hehe). I have read some other comments/reviews about Pearl Cafe saying that they didn’t like the service. But it was very prompt and mostly cheerful. Anything else can be forgiven as just staff trying to deal with a busy time of day. They’re not rude or anything, just in a rush! But that’s the way you will want it when you are hungry and waiting for one of the best breakfasts in Brisbane.
Pearl Cafe
28 Logan Road
Woolloongabba
Ph: 07 3392 3300
I have had Pearl Cafe on my “To Eat” list for some time now and at the end of last year I discovered that a lot of people around me had been there. I was missing out and I had to fix that. I have made a note to try their breakfast but my breakfast dining companion has been away. Instead I was taken on a cake adventure by two very good friends. These friend claimed that one of them doesn’t like caramel and the other doesn’t like sweets/desserts but they found themselves falling in love with Pearl’s caramel cheesecake.
Pearl creates their cakes in house and I was hearing story after story of my friends going all the way to the Gabba to eat cake. The next trip it as passionfruit cheesecake. One night they said there wasn’t any cake left, but since she was so eager they would go out the back and get some for her. Finally I was sick of hearing these romantic stories of cake, cake and more cake. I had to have some for myself!
It was still close enough to my birthday past that we could chalk a cake outing up as a birthday celebration. After dinner we went to find Pearl cafe tucked away amongst retro and antique stores across the road from the Gabba. There are some tables out the front sitting on fake grass with a little wooden cart by the door filled with flowers and potted herbs for sale. Inside its cosy with exposed brick wall and mirrors across one side facing the bar.
The friendly staff broke the terrible news to us. There was no cheesecake! There wasn’t even any out the back for us that night (we were there near closing time). But we had brought some wine and were ready for dessert so we put down our bags at a seat by the window and went to the bar to inspect the desserts.
The flourless chocolate cake was very moist and went down well with vanilla ice-cream.
My other half had a lemon butter cream cake with a really yummy icing.
And I had the rhubarb pannacotta. I have to admit that I had never had rhubarb before that night and I liked it. The pannacotta was smooth and tasted delicious.
Did I ever get that cheesecake you ask? I’m surprised you have to ask!
We went back another day to try again. I found even more desserts lining the bar and I can tell you that it was one of the most difficult food decisions I’ve had to make. Of course we were going to have the passionfruit cheesecake. But then there were tarts with mini pears on top, cup cakes, a sponge cake topped with the tastiest looking strawberries, two types of chocolate cake and a pistachio pear cake. There were only two of us and I was trying to decide if it was possible for us to eat one of everything. My sensibility prevailed and we ordered a slice of passionfruit cheesecake and a slice of the pistachio pear cake.
The baked cheesecake was so light and fluffy it pretty much melted in my mouth. Sadly the base on this occasion was a bit soggy, but I was told that normally its very crisp and one of the best parts of the cake. I will have to go back again for another one. I’m hoping they will have caramel next time.
The pistachio, pear cake was DIVINE. I felt bad that after hearing so much about the cheesecake (which was wonderful, don’t get me wrong) I ate more of the pistachio, pear cake.
There were tiny pears inside and the top was covered in pistachio kernels. Mmm, so tasty that we had to pack a slice of each home for the boys.
I almost forgot to mention the butterscotch milkshake I had to accompany my cake. It was so large that it was enough for two people. It was a bit of an overkill having the cake and a sweet milkshake. I could only finish half but it was so yummy I was still glad I had ordered it.
The cakes are $8 a slice, but they are worth every delicious crumb and you can save money (and kilos) by not having ice-cream with it (which costs extra). Though the chocolate cake really did taste so good with ice-cream…
Le Petite Gateau
458 Little Collins St, Melbourne
One this special occasion, we bought a Brownie and Passionfruit Chocolate Gâteau, one of the best cakes in the shop that my food buddy Tina has recommended. Imagine layers of soft light mousse contrasting the crunchiness of the praline; the sweet chocolate brownie with a tangy tinge of passionfruit custard- DIVINE. And can I please say this: if you are getting a large one, it IS large enough for 40 people even though it looks small- it is very, very filling and you will definitely be content, even with a piggy like me, to have just a finger slice.
Oh oh oh and they would also put a plaque with whatever you like on it for free
Othe recommendations (and that’s practically everything I tried) are: Strawberry and berry tart (S: $22 L:$30), Praline Mud Cake (S:$26, L$36, indivdual:$6.50)
30 Block Place
Whippet ordered a spinach & ricotta gnocchi with fresh tomato & basil pesto-unfortunately she doesn’t actually like tomato sauce and this is not just fresh tomato but a huge blop of tomato paste! She had to scrape all the tomatoes paste off her gnocchi- although she did say it was still really yummie.
I felt like something meaty on that day, so I ordered Pappardelle with Lamb Meatballs. I didn’t like the crispy sweet potato much, but Whippet seemed to like it so she was happy to eat all of mine . Otherwise the pasta was fantastic- just what I needed on that day- just enough sauce, the right amount of meatballs and yummie chewy pasta It’s not the best best best pasta dish in the world, but I’ll still give it a 7/10
The service was on the slow side, but overall it’s not too bad!
Little Larder
76 Moray St, New Farm
More famous for their breakkie than its lunches, this little cafe is gaining reputation even when it’s hidden in a back street away from the restaurant and cafe precinct.
We also shared a duck egg pasta w/bacon, tomato and a hint of chilli. This is fantastic-not a huge chilli kick as I would have liked of course, but the pasta is really yummie and the sauce blends well. It would be nice if they had used rindless bacon, but otherwise we ate every single drop of the sauce 
Yummmm
Overall, I would give it 7.5/10- all points deducted for the one inedible zucchini fritter.