Two for Joy

My friend and I tried to go to Penny University for a brunch catch up on Mother’s Day, but not having booked ahead, they were packed out. Instead we wandered up to Two for Joy, which neither of us had tried before, and we managed to get a table right away. It was particularly chilly so I started out with a soy hot chocolate – it had great flavour (i.e. it actually tasted like hot chocolate, not hot soy), and our food came out quite quickly, considering how busy they were. I ordered the Shakshouka – baked eggs in a tomato ragu with sausage, yoghurt and za’atar, plus flat bread for dipping. It was beautifully presented and when I cut into the eggs the yolks were deliciously runny = heaven! The whole dish was warming – the rich ragu had capsicum and onion along with tomato, but it wasn’t too rich. The spinach added some texture while the yoghurt mixed in with the ragu and egg yolk to make a beautiful sauce, perfect for mopping up with the flat bread. The sausages were really tasty and the whole meal was just the right amount to leave full but not bloated. Thanks Penny University – not fitting us in has led to the discovery of a new favourite!

Two for Joy, 27-29 Eyre Street, Kingston ACT

Local Press

An important part of Local Press is its emphasis on wholefoods, and this is reflected in their menu choices. The first item on their menu encapsulates this philosophy, and having tried the majority of other items, on this visit I decided to dive right in and try the ‘green breaky plate’. My only reservation was that it might not be filling enough – I shouldn’t have worried. The portions at Local Press are just right and I enjoyed walking away from breakfast without feeling bloated. The plate included hard boiled eggs coated in za’atar (a Middle Eastern spice mix), which were still steaming when the plate was served. The asparagus was beautifully soft and brought to life by the dill yoghurt and avocado. I haven’t jumped on board the quinoa bandwagon, but the quinoa tabouleh provided a great contrast of textures, complemented by the fresh kale. But the highlight of the dish had to be the almonds. Yep, nothing more than incredibly good quality, flavoursome almonds, which served simply on the kale showcased what the wholefood philosophy can do in the taste department.  There might just be something to this trend after all.

Local Press, 128 Trevellian Quay, Kingston ACT     http://www.localpresscafe.com.au/

Loading Zone

Melbourne no longer has a monopoly on laneway culture. There, I said it. Canberra is now able to hold its own on funky, out-of-the-way dining options, if you know where to look. Loading Zone is an open-air laneway cafe, and so isn’t really comfortable to eat at much of the year, given how cold Canberra gets, without seriously rugging up. But even then, when you’re served a steaming hot pan of baked eggs, the cold doesn’t seem so bad. My friends and I popped in to Loading Zone for a pre-flight breakfast on a weekday, and with the stenciled artwork on the walls, changing seasonal menu and low stools to sit on, the vibe is very Melbournesque. I was excited to see an unusual mix of fresh juices on offer – blood orange or mandarin! I picked the mandarin, and was delighted by the tangy freshness of the juice. Being a chilly morning, I ordered the baked eggs, which came out of the kitchen piping hot with crusty toast. The tomato sauce was beautifully spicy and complemented the rich, creamy beans. On a chilly Canberra morning this hit the spot perfectly!

Loading Zone, Odgers Lane, Civic ACT, no website

Elemental

After reading a couple of fellow blogger reviews, I was excited to try the bone broth at Elemental. I know it won’t appeal to everyone, but being a noodle soup/broth nut, I figured this beverage would be perfect for me. Sadly, on arrival, it was the first thing we were told wasn’t available from the menu. Cue sad face. Instead, I ordered an earl grey tea and the brisket sub, with sweet potato, shaved fennel and lemon aioli. The tea was loose leaf and a bit more fragrant than I like my earl grey, but you could remove the infuser to stop overbrewing. My dish was served on a giant stoneware plate, the fennel and beef piled high atop a roasted half-sweet potato with a rocket and tomato salad on the side. The naked burger and the quesedilla my friends ordered looked a bit dwarfed on the large plates, but they assured me both were filling and delicious. Whilst the brisket wasn’t as tender as others I’ve had, there was a lot of it, and a mouthful with all of the elements (beef, aioli, sweet potato and fennel) was perfection. I guess I’ll just have to come back to try the bone broth!

Elemental, Ori building, 30 Lonsdale Street, Braddon ACT                                  elementalcafe.wix.com/elementalcafe

The Cupping Room

I met a friend visiting from Sydney for breakfast at The Cupping Room for the first time in a long time – I love eating there at breakfast time when the sunlight is streaming in! Our waitress was very friendly and happily directed me to the fresh juices to start – I chose the strawberry, apple, basil, and lime – when it arrived it looked like summer in a glass, and tasted just as refreshing. There was probably a bit too much ice for my liking, but the flavours were well-balanced and worked really well together. I chose the Heirloom Tomatoes for a lighter breakfast, and my it looked incredible on arrival – shiny, fresh tomatoes on a bed of quinoa, corn, craisins (cranberries crossed with raisins), fetta, and pepitas. The serving was large but everything was quite light and I was full but not bloated by the end. There was a great mix of textures and the craisins added lovely sweet highlights, while the pepitas had the crunch factor. The tomatoes weren’t particularly tasty themselves, but in combination with the other ingredients, including the raw onion (beware those going straight to work afterwards), they contributed to a fresh, light, dish that I would happily order again.

P.S. congratulations to Sasa Sestic for his victory in the World Barista Championships!

The Cupping Room, 1/13 University Ave, Canberra ACT  http://www.thecuppingroom.com.au/

Green Park

Friends of mine suggested Green Park as a brunch venue and I happily went along – the place was packed on a Sunday mid-morning and for good reason. The decor is, of course, a gorgeous green with plenty of plants and old books on shelves, making it feel welcoming and homely. We ordered a juice to start with, and whilst they’d run out of oranges, they offered us a detox juice. The waiter couldn’t tell us what was in it apart from ‘fruits and vegetables’ (what else is there?) but when it arrived beetroot was the obvious one. It was both mysterious and tasty! For brunch I had the smoked salmon hash, which was nicely presented with the salmon in a rosette, two hash browns and pickled beetroot. The menu had said it came with a poached egg but I didn’t get one, although what was on the plate was more than enough for me. The salmon had a lovely smoky flavour and there was plenty of it. It went well with the horseradish creme fraishe and the delicately shreded hash browns. All in all a tasty brunch in a relaxed but elegant setting.

Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North VIC.              www.greenparkdining.com.au

The Roastery Cafe

Brisbane has some really lovely little cafes, and the Roastery is definitely one of the lovely ones. I was amazed to see the huge coffee roasting/grinding? machine housed in the warehouse next door – obviously the source of the cafe’s name – and a funky mural on the long corridor wall leading out into the courtyard. The space is cozy and the tables have succulents on them (my favourite!). The breakfast menu is pretty extensive, so I went simple and ordered the eggs benedict – a standard test of the quality of a cafe. I also had their juice of the day, which was watermelon, apple, pear and passionfruit – such a great combination! The juice was served in a mason jar with a handle and it was a beautiful sunset colour. The meal itself was a little disappointing – the eggs had been overcooked and had pretty much solid yolks, and the hollandaise was a little chemically, but the bacon was beautiful and the bread was nicely toasted (my usual bugbear avoided). The cafe had a nice atmosphere with friendly staff, and despite its failings, was a nice change to the work-provided breakfasts we’d eaten all week.

The Roastery Cafe, 25 Glenelg Street, South Brisbane      http://www.rougecoffee.com.au