Patch Cafe in Richmond is a newish operation that serves a paleo-inspired, clean eating menu. Before you pooh-pooh the idea their food managed to entice someone like me, who is definitely not grain-free, sugar-free and fat-free.
I was invited to try out their menu and took myself off to the old Channel Nine building in Richmond.
It’s been transformed into slick apartments with the cafe at the bottom level along with huge expanses of outdoor space.
Indoors it’s long and narrow, intimate and cosy. I recommend sitting at the back of the cafe, even though it faces the (fancy) sink, as it captures the most light from the huge windows.
As I’m not a coffee drinker (beans are from Code Black Coffee) I start with a huggable mug of creamy but dairy-free Anushka soy chai ($4.50) that’s warming and fragrant on a freezing wet day.
Even though it’s technically still breakfast I head straight for a serve of confit pork belly with apple puree, roasted root vegetables, paleo jus and crackling. The large plate is a very reasonable $23 and an excellent, fancy version of essentially meat and three veg. I have no idea what paleo jus is but if pork belly for breakfast equals clean eating, sign me up!
We also try the banana and almond hotcakes, with house made pistachio and cacao ice cream, paleo caramel and kiwi chunks ($10). I love how the hotcakes have a chunk of banana, gooey and caramelised, right in the centre. As they are made from almond meal they are more crumbly than a traditional flour-based pancake but the accompaniments balance out the dryness.
The raw desserts are made by Jayde Hwang, a blogger who also manages to find time as Patch’s marketing person. They are decadent and delicious and it’s amazing that they don’t contain sugar. I recommend the ‘blueberry cheescake’ and like many raw desserts you only need a little to feel satisfied.
If you’re on the go or heading to the park by the Yarra Patch Cafe offer ‘Patch Boxes’, take away meals for only $15 that are paleo inspired plus gluten, dairy, sugar and grain free. I like their chunky, nutty, satisfying bircher which contains activated hazelnuts and almonds, goji, apricots, pumpkin seeds, coconut, chia seeds, vanilla bean and orange, poached fig, coconut yoghurt and coconut nectar. Phew that’s a dozen ingredients I don’t have to bother combining (or activating huh) at home!
Patch Cafe shows that it’s possible to provide healthy food that’s tasty and anything but parsimonious. The stylish space is restful and peaceful, making a lovely stop for body and soul.