Cool Mac

I met a friend at Cool Mac for an early weekday breakfast during my training week in Kirribilli, and we were both very impressed with what they had to offer. We sat outside on the sidewalk, which is something I really liked about this place – that, and it was one of the only places at the local shops open at 7am. I started with a Botanica cold pressed juice (bottled in the cutest jar), which was both healthy and refreshing. The owner was very friendly and patient while we chatted away before ordering – eventually I chose the eggs benedict and added a side of avocado (why not?). I consider eggs benedict a good test of a place, and Cool Mac passed with flying colours. The eggs were beautifully poached, there was plenty of rich but not-too-rich hollandaise, the bacon was plentiful and crispy, and whilst the toast was a bit crispy for me, it didn’t spoil the overall deliciousness. The avocado I added was a full half, and went really well with the dish – I’ll definitely keep this in mind for future orders. Cool Mac is a fun, friendly and tasty breakfast venue.

Cool Mac Cafe, 2/34 Burton Street, Kirribilli NSW, no website

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

Sweet Bones

I’d heard a lot of good things about the cupcakes at Sweet Bones, and being something of a sweet tooth, I popped in for a snack one afternoon. There were two main flavours on offer – chocolate and strawberry, and chocolate and raspberry. I picked the raspberry, took a seat and waited for my first ever vegan cupcake. Sweet Bones has a great selection of baked goods, including brownies, cupcakes, muffins and cakes, which are also available at other cafes around Canberra (Local Press, LSR, and Mocan & Green Grout, to name a few). My cupcake was served on an embossed Sweet Bones plate – underneath was the the impression of a skull (inkeeping with their theme), and a cute painted heart with the initials ‘SB’ in it. I threw out my cupcake expectations, knowing that the food here is vegan, and was rewarded with a rich, sweet cupcake that isn’t quite like anything I’ve had before. It was all about the chocolate, with a single raspberry hiding at the very bottom, underneath the sugary flower and light but flavoursome chocolate cake above. It was indulgent without being too much – a happy balance.

Sweet Bones Bakery Cafe, 8/18 Lonsdale Street Braddon, ACT       http://sweetbonescompany.com/

 

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

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

On Flinders

Autumn is my favourite season in Canberra. The days are sunny and golden, and there are plenty of lovely spots to sit outside and enjoy the changing leaves while eating good food. The newest place to fit into this category is On Flinders, the new breakfast/lunch/dinner restaurant, funnily enough, on Flinders Way. I was too late for breakfast, but I picked a lighter-sounding lunch option (I’ll have to come back for their pizzas). I started with a huge glass of fresh orange juice (great value for only $4) and the New York Prosciutto Bruschetta, which the waitress mentioned she hadn’t tried yet. It was a good choice – the serving was massive and beautifully presented with kalamata olives, fetta, tomato ribbons and onion piled on top of the cooked prosciutto. The Turkish bread underneath was very moreish – I could have eaten a full loaf – and despite appearances was soft-centred and easy to cut. Mmm. There was plenty of everything and whilst it was an oily dish, the flavours were fresh and vibrant, and I didn’t feel bloated afterwards.  The table service was friendly and prompt and best of all I could sit and enjoy the sunshine. Perfection.

On Flinders, Shop 5 Flinder Way, Manuka ACT, no website

332 Manhattan

I’ve never been to New York (it’s next on my list), but somehow I don’t imagine it to be anything like the lovely cosy space at 332 Manhattan. We went for breakfast on a weekday and were delighted by the warm wooden furniture, the shelves piled with cookbooks and local produce, and the yummy-sounding breakfast menu. I started out with a fresh-squeezed orange juice (enjoyed to the sounds of my friend bragging about the role reversal of her being on time and our other friend arriving later), which was served in a good sized glass bottle and wasn’t overly sweet. I picked the prosciutto and fried eggs dish, which was the first to come out – we hardly waited any time at all and whilst our meals didn’t come at the same time, they were obviously fresh from the kitchen. My fried eggs had beautifully runny centres, the proscuitto was fresh (not fried) and there was plenty of it: tick, tick! There were also roasted tomatoes and garlic and rosemary potatoes, two of my favourite things on a big breakfast plate. Everything was tasty without being heavy on the stomach – I can’t yet compare to a real Manhattan experience, but for Canberra this is a very good feed.

332 Manhattan, 240 Bunda Street, Civic ACT, no website