Melbourne Places » coffee

Gattica Restaurant, St Kilda East, is all about atmosphere

Melbourne — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:05:02 +0000

Gattica Restaurant on Carlisle Street, Balaclava is a favourite place of a friend of mine who lives in Fitzroy North. He is delighted when he has business around St Kilda East so he can head to Gattica. His is always talking about the coffee and the Hash Stack he has there.
With such a recommendation I thought I should visit this Melbourne Place.

Gattica Restaurant, next to the ANZ Bank in Carlisle Street, Balaclava

It is one of the cafes clustered around the Balaclava Railway Station. The morning I visited was grey, drizzly and dreary. What did I think? Well, I would go back for the atmosphere and the coffee.

It is hard to know what creates an atmosphere in a place. This cafe is long and narrow with one side taken up with the bar.

Does good coffee create an atmosphere? Does the pleasure you get from sipping your coffee give off positive vibes?

I have never been able to answer the atmosphere question. Let just say that I love the atmosphere at Gattica. When I entered it felt crowded but there was no trouble getting a table and a paper away from the noise of the coffee machine. People around me were, reading, chatting and discussing business in a relaxed way. I ordered coffee and a breakfast I love. Corn fritters! Perhaps it was an off day in the kitchen but the fritters were not of a standard I have had at other local eateries. See Mart Cafe and Hot Honey Cafe. Perhaps I should have followed my friend’s recommendation and chosen the Hash Stack.

Instead I grabbed the chance to have the corn fritters topped with a poached free range egg. The egg yolk was hard so no chance of a delicious runny yellow liquid to mix with the pancakes which were stodgy and would have been improved with egg yolk. The best thing was the bacon. That was delicious. Keep that in mind if you are there for breakfast you may like to add it to your dish.

The corn fritters were a visual feast – great combination of colours.

Corn fritters come with tomato, basil salsa, bacon, avocado and finished with sweet chilli sour cream and I added a fee range poached egg. The egg on the menu is fried. I asked for poached – perhaps that is where the problem lies.

This may have been a bad day for fritters but as I can get better elsewhere I wouldn’t order it again. However I will go back. As I said, I like the atmosphere. Next time coffee and the paper and perhaps I’ll try Toasted Turkish Bread with seasoned avocado, fresh tomato and feta.

The cafe has a row of tables on Carlisle Street with gas lamps for the colder weather and it flows through to a courtyard at the back that opens on to Charles Street – a tiny street that finishes under the walkway from Balaclava Station.

There’s a take-a-way window onto Carlisle Street where it does a steady business in take-away coffee.

Getting there:-

Trams:-
No 3 and 16 from the CBD stop outside Las Chicas
No 78/79 from Richmond stop at the corner of Carlisle and Chapel Streets.

Trains:-
The Sandringham Line to Balaclava Station

St Kilda keeps on changing with new apartments for old houses.

Melbourne — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:15:25 +0000

Melbourne is changing! “Well of course,” I hear you say.

I know this happens all the time but it came as a shock to me when I found a place I knew well was to change.

Yesterday I drove past a corner I used to live near. As I waited at the red traffic light I saw this new notice attached to a charming old house.

” Construction begins soon,” ‘they’ say. I always liked this house especially since it was painted black.

This is a corner in St Kilda where Inkerman Street crosses Barkly Street and becomes Grey Street.
You may recognize the corner because of this block.

The old uncared for houses opposite the building have wonderful concrete decorations on the second stories.

The notice of construction suggests more modern sleek units will pop up and the old pretty decorated houses will vanish. In time we will forget they were there and we will forget what we have lost.

I want to remember this Melbourne Place as it is now. That is why I am posting the photos; to keep a record of what was on this corner in 2011.

The corner is a bit of a show place of old houses displaying the frivolous and labour intensive concrete decorations of the past.

I suggest if you go through this area look up and check out the beautiful upper stories of these building. Better still take time at a red light to click a memory-photo.

Strangely, the corner milk-bar/laundry appears to be invincible.

I used to do my laundry here every Sunday morning while I read the papers. It has stayed exactly the same! It even has the same ice cream ads on the windows as it did then. Will it be next to go?

This is the corner of Grey Street, Inkerman and Barkly Streets, St Kilda.

There are some interesting and long-term shops here too;

“The Bitch is Back” features 20th century modern interiors.

“Surround” features contemporary and often cutting-edge-furniture. They have they have some of the most stunning window displays in Melbourne.

“Liquid Snow Tours” at the moment they are collecting used and new warm snow gear for the victims of the Japanese Earthquake.

Several eating places including “Mr Wolf”. – It is a great corner.

To get there by tram:-
Catch the 67 to the corner of Inkerman Street and St Kilda Road
Turn right and wander up Inkerman Street until you get to the corner with Barkly Street. It is an interesting stretch of road.

Melbourne Botanical Gardens and the Terrace Cafe on a wet day

Melbourne — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:30:20 +0000

I joined friends for lunch at the Terrace Cafe in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens on a wet weekday morning. It was a long standing date and we went despite the rain.

The easiest way to reach the Terrace Cafe that overlooks the ornamental lake is to enter the gardens from the corner of Anderson Street and Alexandra Parade. The paths are lined with trees which shelter them from too much rain.

The entrance on the corner of Anderson Street and Alexandra Parade

The gardens are different in the wet. The first sound we noticed was the pure ringing note from the bell birds. They appear to like warm, wet, still days.

As we walked moorhens scooted around us giving their high pitched squawk, the earth smelt of vegetation and the noise from cars in Anderson Street was deadened.

Friendly Moor Hens

We passed this notice.

I always look for turtles but I have never seen one even on a wet day like this one. I wonder if they are real and if any one has ever seen one.

It is quiet expect for the birds, the sound of rain on the leaves and the voices of visitors. Even voices seem to quieten on this moist day. It was peaceful and relaxing wandering along to the Terrace Cafe.

The cafe was restful too. We sat outside at the back completely protected from the rain and with glimpses of the lake. For a wet day the Terrace Cafe was busy, couples chatted over coffee, singles read, someone wrote and a group of mothers met there with very young and quiet babies. The voices came from the mothers in animated conversation.

The ornamental lake in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens as seen from the Terrace Cafe
The cafe is known for its scones, cream and jam. It is the one of the best places to have a Devonshire tea. The scones are so good you want to go home and try making them so you can keep indulging.

Scones cream and jam at the Terrace Cafe

Lunch is fairly simple.

Baguettes with a variety of fillings. These ones are smoked salmon and avocado.

Thai chicken pie.

The chips were excellent. If you like chips order a serve to have with your coffee if you just want a snack.

Presentation is tops. One of our group brings her own bread to have sandwiches made to order. This is what they created.

To cleanse your palate the fruit salad not only looks good but is refreshing. I like the way they write on their white plates

Rain or shine the Terrace Cafe is a relaxing place to be with good simple food. There is a garden shop next door with some interesting items including a very beautiful umbrella covered in pansies. Too beautiful to use – a beautiful present, perhaps.

Getting there:-
Tram No 8 get off at the corner of Domain Road and Park Street.
Enter the gardens from there and follow the signs.

Parking:-
There is 3 hour parking in Anderson Street and 2 hours on Domain Road.

Opening Hours:-
The Royal Botanical Gardens:-
Every day of the year from 7.30 to sunset.

The Terrace Cafe:-
9.45am to 4.00pm, May to September
9.00am to 5.00pm, October to April

Prahran Market Square, Mojito Cafe and Bar for Sunday Brunch/Lunch

Melbourne — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:24:32 +0000

I’m in Chapel Street South Yarra at 1.30pm on a sunny Sunday afternoon when I remember that I have to meet a friend in a city bar for ‘catch up’ drinks at 3.00pm. Trams are easy but the last time I ate was a slice toast at 6.30am. I need food or I will become one of those giggling, chatting, careless people who lose it after the first glass of wine. I head to Commercial Road.

I looked for Orange or was it Red or possibly Red Orange Cafe. A cafe I remembered that served a great breakfast. It appears to have gone. It is always a bit sad when somewhere you remember has disappeared without any goodbye. It is like a sudden hole in the ground that you have to navigate around.

I navigated into the Prahran Market and wandered into the Market Square. This turned out to be an ideal place to be on Sunday afternoon.

There is live music, relaxed families, people eating and people who are just enjoying the music.

I shop at the market and have written about it before see here. But this is my first Sunday Lunch/breakfast experience. I say breakfast because I always order breakfast at this time of the day.

Mojito’s had a breakfast special; two eggs any style, three rashers of bacon and two slices of toast for $8.90. I ordered this with the eggs scrambled and my usual flat white.

The coffee was good. The band played. The sun shone. People chattered. The waiter with an Irish accent brought a bottle of water. There was a constant movement of people coming and going. My breakfast came. The scrambled eggs were just right, bacon tasty and the toast thick and firmly toasted.

There are other choices in the Prahran Market Square for Sunday Midday eating. Cafe Egnaro serves focaccia and Prides

Cafe Egnaro

The Beangreen Vegetarian Cafe has salads of various combinations with chick peas and there are interesting looking fritters.

Beangreen Vegetarian Cafe

It was so pleasant and relaxing I was loath to leave but my glass of wine in the city called.
Mojito can also be accessed from Commercial Road. The food is described as Mediterranean, Australian and Italian and they also have wood fired pizza. I can only speak for their breakfasts. It was the scrambled eggs that won me over. So often they can be watery.

Where:
Market Place Prahran Market

Mojito Cafe and Bar 169 Commercial Road, South Yarra
Phone: 9826 6544

Mojito can also be accessed from Commercial Road.

Opening Hours:- Mojito
Every day from 8am for breakfast
Thursday Friday and Saturday until about 9.00pm for dinner.

Getting there:-
Tram 72 from the CBD
Tram 78 runs from Richmond to St Kilda along Church & Chapel Streets

St Kilda Night Market Thursday 10th March 2011 -O’Donnell Gardens

Melbourne — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:02:53 +0000

St Kilda Night Market up-date.
This popular market was put on hold at the end of last year because of problems with the organizers’ negotiations with the Port Phillip City Council. Things have changed and I found on my return to Melbourne from holiday that this wonderful market was again operating. If you don’t know the market or haven’t been see my post on last year’s market - here.

Pictures of last years market in the early evening The Market is from 5 to 10pm

This year the market runs for another three Thursdays – March, 10th, 17th, 24th

My first visit this year will be on Thursday, that is 10th March – I’ll report back.

Getting there:
Trams 96 and 16 to St Kilda – Follow the smell of food. Last year the food was wonderful.

Opening Hours:-
5pm to 10 pm

Hot Honey cafe in Armstrong Street, Middle Park, serves one of my favourite breakfasts.

Melbourne — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:31:11 +0000

One of my favourite breakfasts in Melbourne is at Hot Honey in Armstrong Street, Middle Park. I eat breakfast there about three or four times a year and I always choose the same thing. I never eat anything else.

Recently we were there again and thought we needed to study the menu and move on. We told each other that ordering the same thing every time we walked through the door was boring. We studied the menu. We discussed various options. We looked at the plates on the tables near us. We mentioned to our waiter that we thinking of trying something different and told him what we usually ate.

He said, “Why don’t you try it with a poached egg? When I eat it that’s the way I have it.”

That decided us. So once again we ordered, ‘House made corn bread with grilled bacon, fresh avocado and tomato salsa and sour cream’ and then we added, “With a poached egg”.

We smiled at each other “That’s different” we both said at once.

Why be adventurous when you know what you want?

House made corn bread etc with a poached egg.

This is an example of what we could have had if we had moved away from the ‘tried and loved’.

‘Beetroot and sunflower loaf topped with smashed roast pumpkin and ricotta and balsamic beetroot reduction’.

For something more spicy; ‘Middle Eastern Eggs: two poached eggs in a rich Napoli sauce with chickpeas, Dukka, and a mint coriander and green chilli salsa’

Anything with poached eggs would be good their poached eggs were cooked, perfectly.

Where:-
Hot Honey
40 Armstrong Street
Middle Park

Phone:-
9696 1900

Hours:-
7.30am to 5.00pm seven days a week.

Getting there:-
96 Tram – you get off at the Mart Cafe where the food is delicious and the atmosphere unique so drag yourself past that and cross Canterbury Road and head into Armstrong Street.

Find out more about Hot Honey from their web site.

Acland Street, St Kilda, buzzes when the rest of Melbourne is on holiday

Melbourne — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 23:50:17 +0000

Acland Street is a street alive with people and activity. When you’re in Acland Street the vibes are positive and you know that the world is still revolving. Acland Street is a street that brings you alive. That’s how I feel about Acland Street.

My first visit to Acland Street was about 10 years ago. I was a tourist and like so many tourists to Melbourne I made a pilgrimage to St Kilda. The day was perfect, the sea was calm, it was ideal for exploring Acland Street and eating a cake with coffee. The place was alive.

That was the time of the ‘Secret Life of Us’ on TV and St Kilda had an aura of excitement and expectation. It was a place where anything could happen. I still see it like that – alive to possibilities.

Acland Street has changed in those 10 years. I read articles where lovers of the area lament the changes but to me this is part of life – everything evolves.

However some things have stayed the same. The cake shops are still there as they have been for decades and I can’t see that the cakes themselves have changed – the same recipes. Hairroom the hair salon with the wonderful roof – top decoration where once I had my hair styled by a New Zealand hairdresser from Palmerston North has stayed. The book shop still hums but it is now Readings and not Cosmos.

This sculpture is on the roof of Hairroom

Remember to look up! This roof sculpture is opposite Hairroom.

What time does Acland Street wind down? I ‘m not sure but at some time the place quietens and in the early mornings it takes a while to wake up. This photo of the palm trees was taken on the Readings/ANZ corner at 8.ooam

By the mid morning the cafes are full. Some like Vibe and Big Mouth I remember from ten years ago. Others are new. The ice cream shops have multiplied ( and I see there is another about to open) Sheherazade has gone and so has La Porchetta. La Porchetta is a place I miss. The first Pizza I ate in Melbourne came from there. The Vineyard, after a number of battles with council, is still there.

During the quiet and peaceful time in the surrounding suburban street over the Christmas and the New Year break Acland Street has shown that world is still humming. I walked down there to check this out and the vibes can still make me think I am in the centre of the world and there is nowhere else to be.

Acland Street is worth visiting again and again – this is a place to feel alive and to feel that you are part of the pulsating world of action. It give us the chance to rejoice in being a city dweller. And it keeps on keeping on. If one business goes another takes its place – the street stays alive.

Getting there:-
Trams:- 16 and 96 and No. 3 in the weekends

Las Chicas, Balaclava, for breakfast still great eating in Melbourne

Melbourne — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:11:25 +0000

When a cafe has been operating for a few years it may seem a waste of time reviewing it – others have done so before – but I believe Melbourne Places needs to visit and talk about the old favourites. Not everyone knows these places. Not every well known cafe lives up to its original high standard.

Las Chicas has been its position, by the Balaclava train station, for a number of years.

Las Chicas has expended over the years and now occupies two narrow spaces with large doorways between and a courtyard at the rear. The courtyard is roomy and you can catch the rumble of trains at Balaclava Station – adds to the atmosphere.

Carlisle Street is busy in the weekends. It has become a Melbourne place ‘to be’. Las Chicas is one of the places to eat.

We went early on Sunday morning about 9.15am. By mid morning there is often a queue waiting for seats and even at 9.15am the place was filling up. We wanted to sit in the courtyard but the only seats available were next a heavy smoker which is probably why they were available.

We grabbed two free seats at the window bar. Not quiet as good as the courtyard but in my opinion a pretty good place to be.

My flat white coffee and my friend’s lemon tea came quickly.

The coffee was good but it could have been hotter. I like to begin the day with a hot coffee – no complaints about the strength and flavour. No criticism of the lemon tea.

The menu at Las Chicas is extensive – you could even say too extensive – spoilt for choice, something like that. There are daily specials in the front, a blackboard with more specials and a large vegetarian section before we get to the main section.

My choice was the Bikini Blowout Benedict (BBB), Avocado, bacon, poached egg , bagel toasted and hollandaise sauce – $17.50. This is a great breakfast if you’re hungry. I love Eggs Benedict but I always hate the way hollandaise looks poured over something – too yellow perhaps – but the taste was delicious and the bacon crispy – no grease. I would order this again if I was hungry.

Bikini Blowout Benedict (BBB)

My friend had a special; sourdough multi grain toast, avocado, balsamic roasted tomatoes, crumbled feta and she added smoked salmon – $14.50, salmon extra. All was pronounced delicious except the smoked salmon. She didn’t think the dish needed this and she didn’t think it was very good smoked salmon.

A Special Breakfast

I’m told the Baked Bean Brekky in the vegetarian section is delicious and I will try this next time. It sounds good; house baked pumpkin and polenta loaf toasted, topped with baked beans, spinach and a poached egg.

A work colleague gave a warning about the muffins. You can see them in a display case as you walk in. They look great but when you order the wait-staff heat them. She says it makes them impossible to eat. Her raspberry and apple muffin crumbled so much she had to eat it with a spoon. They served it with butter but it was impossible to spread the crumbs. Her advice ask them not to heat it and it will be great.

Las Chicas Cafe Carlisle Street, Balaclava

The cafe has a window that opens to the rail ramp and there is a take away window also on the ramp side.

Where :-
Las Chicas
203 Carlisle Street
Balaclava
It is on the corner of Carlisle Street and the walk-way to platform 1 at the Balaclava train station.
Phone 9531 3699

Opening times:-
7am to 5pm
Breakfast is served all day.

Trams:-
No 3 and 16 from the CBD stop outside Las Chicas
No 78/79 from Richmond stop at the corner of Carlisle and Chapel Streets.

Trains:-
The Sandringham line to Balaclava Station

Batch for Breakfast? Head to Clarlisle Street East St Kilda

Melbourne — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 08:08:41 +0000

Batch! Why do people chose the names they do for their businesses- I’m always curious about that?

Batch in Carlisle Street, East St Kilda !

When Batch was first mentioned to me and I heard that the owner was a New Zealander and that he uses a sort of Kiwiana decor I immediately thought of New Zealand’s basic, comfortable and often charming holiday cottage called a Bach and pronounced ‘batch’. I imagine it is possible to confuse the pronunciation with the composer Johann Sebastian Bach pronounced ‘bark’. Perhaps this lead to Batch – no confusion! On the other hand the owner may have had a completely different reason for Batch. The cafe has the comfortable relaxed feel of a New Zealand ‘bach’

Batch in Carlisle Street is a place for especially good food and great coffee. It holds it’s own along this thriving strip of cafes, restaurants and takeaways in Balaclava.

Sunday morning is my ideal time for a cafe breakfast. We head down there about 9.30 to find all the tables full but after a short wait we are seated at the window-bar watching the passersby. We ordered coffee. Coffee of Batch’s usual high standard arrived with that lovely flower design on top of my flat white. The pleasure of the design is partly why I order flat white.

Dogs and their owners occupied the tables outside – this a very dog friendly area and we watched the entertainment as we sipped our coffee and waited for our food.

The menu has an immediate charm. How can you resist lavender yoghurt or rose water salsa? We couldn’t.

We ordered:-

Fresh seasonal fruits with lavender yoghurt + almond maple crunch $9.00

Buttermilk pancakes with watermelon + strawberry + mint + rosewater salsa with maple syrup. $12.50

Batch has been around for a few years – see an early review from Matt Preston in The Melbourne Age.

You can see why it is still thriving and bursting with people. The food lived up to our mouth watering expectations. The yoghurt was fused with a touch of lavender. The pancakes were the lightest and fluffiest I have had for a while. Too often they can be a bit soggy. The touch of mint was just right with the salsa.

They also have Kedgeree on the menu for $14. And with pickled cabbage $15.50. Now, when did you last see Kegeree on a menu?

There are always flowers in Batch. At the moment they poke their heads out of this bright yellow re-cycled notice.

Where:-
Batch
1/320 Carlisle Street
St Kilda East.

Opening Hours:-
Daily from 7am to 5pm
Coffee from 7am and breakfast from 8am
Dinner Friday only 5pm to 10pm

Phone:- 9530 3550

Getting there:-
Train – Sandringham Line to Balaclava Station
Trams – 3 & 16 Get off at the Balaclava Station stop

Georgios-A meeting place at 1235 High Street, Armadale

Melbourne — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:39:32 +0000

Georgios has been there forever. That is probably too grand a statement but I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t there. During the years I have known it, it has remained the same and become an Armadale icon if not a Melbourne icon. The decor is rather like a sophisticated cafe and doesn’t appear to have changed either over the years. It is pleasant and relaxing and always buzzing. It’s a great place to meet friends – everyone knows it or if they don’t they can find it easily – the corner of High Street and Glenferrie Road opposite the Malvern Town Hall.

I worked in Armadale a couple of years ago and once a month we had a breakfast meeting in Georgios. After a while we thought the food had gone off and we found other places. Thinking back I believe we needed a reason to explore other places – we wanted change. Georgios had stayed the same.

Recently a friend said she was meeting her friend there and she would give me a report if I was interested. I jumped at her offer. “Yes please”, I said. “I want to know: is the food still good? Did you enjoy it? What about service? And why did you choose Georgios?

This is what my friend e-mailed to me.

“The reason we chose Giorgio’s is because it is well known which makes it a great meeting place. The atmosphere was humming without being too loud and the service was flawless.

The outside tables were not in use as it had been raining but you could imagine on a summer’s day they would all be full of life.

I had the warm spicy tea.

Then for my meal I had “avocado toast” It was delicious. Two slices of honey and sesame toast with sliced avocado, topped with tomato and crispy bacon and a side of rocket and feta.

My friend had the egg-white omelette. This was on rye bread and the omelette was filled with feta and chopped tomatoes. For an egg-white omelette she said it was very tasty. This came with a grilled tomato on the side”.

Giorgios has a dining area, a large outdoor terrace, wine bar, private function room and a semi-enclosed fully heated outdoor area.

Where:_
Georgios
1235 High Street, Armadale – on the corner of Glenferrie Road
Phone 9822 4664
Opening Hours:- every day from 7.00am to 1.00am

Getting there:-
Tram N0 6 to Glen Iris goes down High Street. Get off at the corner of High and Glenferrie.