Anvil Coffee Co

Oh my – Anvil has such a stunning location that I had to take a minute to soak it in before finding a table overlooking the water. Tucked into the side of Kirribilli Wharf, this little gem serves breakfast and lunch as well as takeaway coffee. I took my time with the menu, but eventually decided on the Something Savoury – chorizo, smashed peas, broadbeans and leek with salad on sourdough. Sadly they’d run out of chorizo, but I was offered smoked salmon as an alternative (yes please). I was a bit disappointed that they don’t offer fresh juices, and I didn’t enjoy the bottled ‘green power’ juice I ordered. My meal came out on a beautiful plate with all of the components piled up neatly and topped with a slice of lemon. I would have preferred a wedge to drizzle, but I managed to get some of the flavour from it. The toast was extra crispy and tough to cut, but the smashed greens were very filling and the overall flavour was lovely. There was plenty of salmon and I couldn’t finish the salad. A couple of tweaks needed, but overall a nice breakfast with lovely views.

Anvil Coffee Co, Kirribilli Wharf, Hobrook Avenue, Kirribilli NSW                           http://www.anvilcc.com.au/

Lucky Duck

When you have a big night out, a solid breakfast can be unappealing. You can also miss your alarm and rock up late. Despite both of these things happening, I had a fabulous experience at the Lucky Duck cafe and bar. Our group sat in the outside courtyard, which is beautifully set up with succulents on each wooden table and a beautiful geometric mural on the wall. The menu has a good mix of traditional and creative dishes, and I opted for the ‘Duck Bate’: bacon, avocado, tomato and egg on an open sourdough sandwich served with lemon, basil and drizzled with garlic olive oil. Mmm. I also ordered a ‘green juice’, which was advertised with a cheeky sign about Australia’s climate change policy. The juice was perfection – apple, pear, mint, cucumber, kiwi fruit and spinach balanced to refresh (and cure hangovers). The meal itself was equally perfect – the fried egg was still runny, the tomato was brought to life by the garlic oil, the avocado was generous and enlivened by the lemon. I also had a peek at all of the ducks hidden throughout the cafe – perched on shelves, in pot plants and painted on the walls. Such a fun place!

Lucky Duck cafe and bar, 15 Gladstone Road Highgate Hill, QLD   http://luckyduckcafebar.com.au/

Chatterbox

I have a friend who is a dedicated Chatterbox convert – it’s her favourite brunch place and she always recommends it to people. When I had to pick somewhere to take my Dad for brunch then, this was one of the first places that came to mind. Walking in, the staff were welcoming and showed us to a table quickly, while we took in the indoor plant wall and yellow decor. I ordered us fresh juices to start – you can put as many different fruits as you like in your juice, so I went for orange, apple, banana and strawberry. When it came out, it was in a large takeaway cup, so no problems if you can’t finish it over your meal. Dad had a long black and commented on how good the coffee was. For brunch, I picked the truffled eggs – poached eggs served on a potato rosti with peccorino, rocket and truffle oil. The eggs were perfectly poached and the rosti was crisp and filling. The truffle oil added an earthy flavour to the meal, which I couldn’t quite finish. I can see why my friend recommends it, and now I do too.

Chatterbox Espresso Bar, 40 Cameron Ave, Belconnen ACT                     http://www.chatterbox-catering.com.au/

Highgate Lane

While most of the action in Kingston seems to be on the Foreshore, the local shops shouldn’t be forgotten as a place with great breakfast options. A group of us went to Highgate Lane for a weekday breakfast and on arrival it became clear that they’re in business with Bittersweet Kingston, sharing seating and staff. There is a small breakfast menu just for Highgate customers, along with the full Bittersweet breakfast menu. We opted for the Highgate menu, which consists entirely of ‘breakfast rolls’, and I was lured in by the promise of eggs, bacon, relish and… hash browns, on a roll! When the food came out it didn’t disappoint – the roll was more like a burger bun, soft but not too thick. The eggs and bacon were still hot and the relish added some real kick. But the best part was the hash browns – soft inside and crispy outside, they really made the roll something special. The cafe has a modern vibe, with solid wooden tables and  exposed walls – bring a jacket though, with the laneway and centre doors open it can get chilly in cooler months.

Highgate Lane, Cussack Centre, Green Square Kingston ACT, no website

Cumulus Inc

Friends had raved about the breakfast at Cumulus Inc when we were last in Melbourne, so on this visit I made it my first stop. Like Akiba in Canberra, Cumulus is friendly to the solo traveller, seating me along the bar overlooking the kitchen where I could watch the chefs bustling away. I started with a glass of berry lemonade, which was beautifully refreshing and had the underlying bitterness of homemade lemonade. The berries added sweetness without being sickly. I chose the heirloom tomato dish to eat, and added the optional Serrano jamon. The dish was perfectly presented, with the straciatella cheese layered under the jamon and the seasoned tomatoes. A perfect mouthful had a bit of each element, including the divine bread which added so much flavour to the whole. The cheese had a distinctive flavour that matched the tomatoes really well and the staff were happy to let me enjoy it slowly while I read my book. To finish I treated myself to a canelle, which was done in the authentic French style – an almost burnt outer shell with a soft and delicate inside. I now see what everyone has been raving about, Cumulus is all class.

Cumulus Inc, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC                 http://www.cumulusinc.com.au

Lonsdale Street Roasters

I have been a Canberran for a few years now, and until recently I had to admit that I’d never been to Lonsdale Street Roasters. Shock, horror. To rectify this, I met my Braddon-residing friends in the upstairs seating area of the original LSR (#7 Lonsdale St, not to be confused with #23 down the road) for breakfast. The space is surprisingly big and decorated with homely quirks – a TV set, a tricycle and big stripes of fluro pink paint. The breakfast menu is simple but has a good mix – I chose the eggs benedict, and both of my friends picked the ricotta hotcakes. I’ve said before that eggs benny is my test dish for a new place, and LSR’s interpretation passed with flying colours. Served on a savoury dill scone and topped with Pialligo bacon, the real highlight of this meal was the dollop? pile? of bacon jam on the side. I promise you, it’s not weird, it’s freaking delicious! The eggs were perfectly poached and whilst the scone base was a bit heavy, the dill cut through the creamy hollandaise.  From all accounts the hotcakes were a good bite too. As a real Canberran now, I expect to be back soon!

Lonsdale Street Roasters, 7 Lonsdale Street, Braddon ACT                 http://lonsdalestreetroasters.com/

Candy Cafe

I like cafes that have some kind of theme going or some definitive character to them. Candy Cafe is one such place. The first thing that strikes you is the decor – chandeliers, plastic hedges and a huge mural of fairytale stories on the long wall. Kitsch, but in a way that works. Looking at the breakfast/brunch menu, I was drawn to ‘the Usual’, which includes poached eggs. fried mushrooms, roasted tomatos, bacon and… black pudding! Order decided. I also had a ‘Citrus Sunshine’ juice of orange, pineapple and lime, which delivered on its name, both in terms of citrus deliciousness and sunshine in helping me to wake up!  Brunch came out in good time, and when I cut into the eggs they were perfectly poached, the yolk running onto the muffin and softening it up. The greens were a bonus not mentioned on the menu, but a nice addition to cut through the richness of the bacon and black pudding. The tomatos kept their shape when cut and the mushrooms were full of earthy flavour. Every mouthful was delicious, and in such beautiful surrounds, who could resist?

Candy Cafe, 70 Grafton Street, Cairns QLD, no website