HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Jetsetting Joyce

is a social enterprise cafe set amongst the unique church grounds and a stone church hall of St Columbs Anglican Church in Hawthorn.

The cafe is a project of Jesuit Social Services’ Ignite program. The program provides training, support and employment pathways to long term unemployed, young or old, through teaching them hospitality skills. The social enterprise also run small operations (without a full kitchen) at Hawthorn Library and Camberwell Library. On each table there is a bottle with a small scroll revealing the positive stories of some of the participants in the program.

DSC06756 685x1024 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

A lot of thought has gone into the operation, including in the sourcing of produce. Many ingredients are sourced from The Yard, Jesuit Social Services’ garden project nearby and raised garden beds on site also overflow with herbs and vegetables. To the extent possible items are made or grown on site, from the house baked ciabatta to the jams filling the doughnuts. Anything else has been sourced from local farmers and producers. They are committed to operating a closed loop system to manage their resources and to work towards a zero-waste operation.

DSC06751 1024x680 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

The charming two-room fitout has been designed by Brunswick’s ZWEI Interiors (of Code Black Coffee Brunswick, Code Black Howard St and Wide Open Road fame) and the coffee beans similarly come from Code Black. A small gas fireplace and overhead heaters warm the high ceilings during winter and seating is in the form of long communal tables and smaller two-person tables.

DSC06754 700x1024 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

A stunning chandelier overlooks the coffee station.

DSC06765 1024x680 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

The seasonal menu has all day breakfast options – a roll call of bread, grains and eggs – and larger meals which are also available all day. So if you want you can have Nonna’s Lasagne for breakfast!

DSC06758 1024x854 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

I order ‘Morock the Kasbah’ a wholesome warm salad with generous chunks of slow cooked Moroccan lamb shoulder tossed with a mass of greenery, quinoa, lentils, chickpeas and hummus ($16.80). It is so substantial that I almost bypass the cake cabinet…but it is so enticing.

DSC06760 698x1024 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

I decide on a fig and almond tart as the fig jam is made on premises. The tart is crumbly and moist, with a smear of not-to-sweet jam filling in the middle.

DSC06762 1024x701 HOT: The Green at St Columbs, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn

The mission of Jesuit Social Services is to help work towards a just society. is one way they aim to achieve that goal. The cafe is a welcoming place for people to come together and they’re welcoming of families, they source and use their produce in a way that cares for the natural environment and the training program enables people to realise their potential and to contribute to the community.

Visit to enjoy great food, good coffee and a warm fuzzy feeling that you’re helping others.

, 5 St Columbs St, Hawthorn, 9819 0890

Tue-Sun 8-3pm

HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Jetsetting Joyce

DSC07076 1024x690 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

Giddyup Mule is Yarraville’s latest cafe opening. It’s part of the growing trend in serving healthy, raw, organic, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free food that’s permeating through Melbourne’s cafe scene -perhaps as a reaction to the opposing trend of burgers, fried chicken and doughnuts!

Giddyup Mule takes over the space that used to be a more simple coffee bar at Art of Cycling, an indoor spin training studio. It’s a little hard to find as the doorway and signage is hidden behind a street umbrella, so just look out for the Art of Cycling sign.

DSC07050 1024x754 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

The two young owners and westie locals Magarethe and Jodie have built a new kitchen, store room and brought their own spin (pun intended) on the space, with a roaring wood heater, a paint job and a kicking (pun intended again) menu of interesting dishes.

DSC07072 1024x704 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

The drinks list includes Axil coffee, Mofo hot chocolate, silky Chai Walli chai made with milk (or soy) and honey, a range from Tea Tonic, juices, smoothies and kombucha on tap by Grateful Harvest.

DSC07057 1024x822 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

The kombucha is freshly brewed in Melbourne and the ginger and tumeric is tangy and fresh ($5). I’m told the orange is sweeter if you’re not familiar with the fermented taste of kombucha.

DSC07058 698x1024 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

I try the pulled pork cigars with apple and walnut salad and smoky sauce ($18.50). It’s a decadent dish with melting strips of pork rolled up in a fried parcel – can’t really go wrong! The crunchy apples and nuts provide a textural and flavour contrast to the meat.

DSC07064 1024x781 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

The bircher muesli is a wild palette of colourful elements and totally delicious, especially the coconut yoghurt which they infuse with acai and berries. It’s good value for money at $12 as you won’t be able to fit in much else afterwards.

DSC07066 1024x677 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

You can’t go past a cafe menu these days without seeing smashed avo and this version comes with house-marinated feta and smoked cherry tomatoes ($16.50). It’s a generous tumble of vibrant freshness and the kombucha vinaigrette adds an interesting tangy twist to an otherwise ubiquitous menu item.

DSC07069 1024x792 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

For dessert there is a selection of organic raw desserts by . I am in love with raw desserts at the moment as it seems like a healthier way to indulge my sweet tooth. The salted caramel joy bar ($7.50) contains ‘Aztec superfoods’ but all you need to know is that it’s decadent and rich.

DSC07074 696x1024 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

Giddyup Mule is a fun, friendly and healthy addition to the inner west cafe scene. If you’re a bike rider / gym-goer it’s even more convenient, with Art of Cycling spin classes, DCPT personal training and group fitness and Western Velo Works bike repairs in the same building.

DSC07053 1024x659 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

DSC07051 1024x663 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

Plus if you need an early caffeine hit they’re open 6:30am on weekdays!

DSC07059 1024x686 HOT: Giddyup Mule, 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

Giddyup Mule 177 Stephen St, Yarraville

Mon – Fri 6.30am to 4om

Sat 7- 4pm

Sun 8-4pm

HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Jetsetting Joyce

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Saluminsti is an Italian-style warehouse cafe in North Melbourne, hidden at the intersection of two cobblestone laneways.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 1 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Saluminsti is a labour of love for Frank, one of the co-owners, despite being a pop up for only 12 months (at this stage) as it sits at the back of the building that’s slated to be turned into apartments.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 10 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Frank fitted out the warehouse kitchen, storage and dining space all himself and he’s passionate about the food at Saluminsti. It has an authentic honesty about it and it turns out that all of the recipes on the simple menu are from Frank’s family. He wanted to bring to diners the sort of food that he grew up with and he’s taken these traditional dishes and given them a modern twist. My Italian companion remarked on how many of the dishes she also remembered from her childhood.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 3 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Currently the menu has three ciabatta options – a melt-in-the-mouth free range porchetta stuffed with artichoke paste, rocket and shaved pecorino ($12), a cotoletta just like nonna’s with a vincotto mayo, Italian coleslaw and provolone ($12) and a slightly spicy pork and fennel sausage with roasted peperonata and pecorino ($11).

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 5 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

The ciabatta is quite remarkable – pillowy and soft and not so crusty it hurts your mouth. Frank wouldn’t divulge his secret supplier but did wax lyrical about the 36 hour proven dough and stone-baked bread.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 6 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

The smallgoods hanging in the fridge are currently for show only – until they’re cooked they can’t be sold. It’s worth ordering the Salsiccia ciabatta just so you can try the pork and fennel sausage. Later the plan is to retail and wholesale the salumi and to run sausage-making and salami-making classes.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 4 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

We accompanied our sandwiches with a cup of patate fritte, crispy chips zhuzhed up with fresh herbs and reggiano ($5).

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 2 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

The coffee is made with Italy’s favourite Lavazza and the cafetiere is a bargain – a traditional Neapolitan-style 2 cup with a syrupy crema on the bottom could easily satisfy 3 or 4 people and it comes with some sweet biscotti on the side for only $5.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 9 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Finally, try the sugar encrusted bomboloni, made fresh every day on site. These are Italian-style doughnuts so a bit denser than the standard American-style doughnut, but still very light.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 7 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Both the Nutella and slightly citrus crema paticcera are delicious.

Saluministi 8 Atkins St North Melbourne 8 HOT: Saluministi, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Saluminsti is a small Italian gem hidden in North Melbourne, a place brimming with enthusiasm and passion while serving up some authentic, old school Italian goodness. Buon appetito!

Saluminsti, 8 Atkins St, North Melbourne

Tue-Sun 7:30am-4pm

HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Jetsetting Joyce

Code Black Howard Street 119 Howard St North Melbourne 1 HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

Code Black Coffee is a cafe and specialty coffee roaster in Brunswick who have opened up a second outpost in Howard Street North Melbourne.

Like the original location the Code Black Howard Street roasts its own coffee but the roasting machine is really more for decorative purposes as most of the coffee is still roasted in Brunswick.

Code Black Howard Street 119 Howard St North Melbourne 2 HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

The new cafe is a gorgeous light-filled warehouse conversion by ZWEI Interiors Architecture, The bricks have been painted white punctuated by lacquered green steel beams and blonde wood abounds. I particularly love the slatted staircase.

Code Black Howard Street 119 Howard St North Melbourne 3 HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

Seating encircles the barista station and open kitchen and a mezzanine level upstairs, though I’d avoid the awkward mini tables at the banquette unless you’re up for holding yoga side twists during your meal.

The food menu has a similar quirkiness as the Brunswick menu and takes inspiration from the fact that the space used to be an old car garage. I’ve explored some of the options over several visits.

Code Black Howard Street 119 Howard St North Melbourne 4 HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

Black beans with jalapeno cornbread ($12) was a punchy dish of spiced beans, a fried egg and a spongy, cake-like slice of cornbread. I opted for a side of pork belly ($4), a thick cut of belly cooked a little too dry for my liking. Overall I would have liked to up the ante on the chilli – just felt like a dash of hot sauce would have really enhanced the flavours.

Code Black Howard Street 119 Howard St North Melbourne 6 HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

For something lighter the seared tuna salad is ah-mazing ($17). Super-fresh slices of herb-crusted rare tuna with a wholesome mount of cucumber, snow pea tendrils and bok choy plus grains of millet and chia for crunch.

Code Black Howard Street 119 Howard St North Melbourne 5 HOT: Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

If you have a sweet tooth I recommend the apple salted caramel hotcakes ($14). Ricotta makes the hotcakes very light and inside you’ll find shreds of apple. It’s served with salted caramel sauce, crunchy candied pecans and slices of freeze dried apple.

Code Black Howard Street is a extension, not a duplication of Code Black Coffee in Brunswick. I actually prefer its lighter, brighter interior to the original location, while the food and coffee as just as spot on.

Code Black Howard Street, 119 Howard St, North Melbourne

Mon-Sun 7am-5pm

HOT: Rudimentary, 16-20 Leeds St, Footscray

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Jetsetting Joyce

is the most exciting addition to Footscray’s burgeoning cafe scene – because it’s going to the closest cafe to my house! And it’s kid-friendly! And bike-friendly! And the food is great!

I am four !!!! excited.

The new cafe is set on an expansive corner block bordering Leeds Street and my regular bike route on Donald Street. Despite its proximity to bustling Little Saigon market it’s a quiet, lovely space, a garden oasis in the middle of concrete downtown Footscray.

Rudimentary 16 20 Leeds St Footscray 2 HOT: Rudimentary, 16 20 Leeds St, Footscray

The owner Des, an architect by training, has taken a decrepit carpark, dandied up four shipping containers, laid out turf and set out raised garden beds that will provide the kitchen with fresh fruit, veges and herbs.

Rudimentary 16 20 Leeds St Footscray 6 HOT: Rudimentary, 16 20 Leeds St, Footscray

There are multiple bike racks and a coffee window that acts as a bike-through (or pram-through).

The interior decor is just as pleasing, with a neutral palette of white, beige, cream, and wood and delicate filament lights suspended from the ceiling.

Rudimentary 16 20 Leeds St Footscray 11 HOT: Rudimentary, 16 20 Leeds St, Footscray

A shiny La Marzocco churns out Small Batch coffee and the kitchen is open for all to see.

My pick of the seating is the big communal table surrounded by comfortable padded vintage swivel chairs. Or maybe on a sunny day one of the window benches, watching the passing parade of ever-changing Footscray.

The menu provides all-day breakfast options and lunch dishes from 11am. I choose one of Des’ favourite dishes, braised pork belly with crispy pig’s ear, chilli and tamarind and fried eggs ($17). The dish is substantial and would be a fantastic hangover cure, with meat falling off the bone, crunchy crackling and twisted ear-y bits topped with a punchy sauce.

I then try one of the sweet breakfast options, a red rice pudding with whipped coconut, mango and ginger crumble ($14.5). This is a sensational dish of melting rice grains with just a touch of bite. The creaminess well punctuated by the fine crumble and the mango lends the dish just the right amount of sweetness.

If you don’t want to eat a whole sweet dish then the coffee counter offers housemade goodies supplemented with sweets from Cobb Lane in Yarraville.

Not being a coffee drinker I ordered a chai instead ($4), a delightfully creamy concoction with gentle spice notes on the nose. After testing many chair blends the barista decided to make her own and ‘s cup is certainly one of the better examples of an often watery and bland drink.

Des is hoping to make a community hub and I hope that it succeeds. Certainly I’m excited that it’s going to be my new local.

, 16-20 Leeds St, Footscray

Mon-Fri 7am-4pm

Sat-Sun 8am – 4pm

HOT: Woven, 175B Stephen St, Yarraville

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Jetsetting Joyce

is a small cafe at the bottom of a newish warehouse conversion in Yarraville.

Woven 175B Stephen St Yarraville 6 HOT: Woven, 175B Stephen St, Yarraville

It feels like Collingwood without the high prices and cooler-than-thou attitude. They have fitted out the compact space with wood, brick, polished concrete and exposed beams, in keeping with its formerly industrial heritage. There are a few outdoor seats with umbrellas too.

Woven 175B Stephen St Yarraville 2 HOT: Woven, 175B Stephen St, Yarraville

The menu is small but interesting. I choose the tofu and kale gratin with a lemon, herb and toasted nut crust ($14) which sounded smugly healthy and an apt pitstop for those visiting Art of Cycling next door. I enjoyed the umami flavours of the gratin but found the texture a bit dry overall. I think a gooey poached egg on top would balance out all that crunchiness better.

Woven 175B Stephen St Yarraville 3 HOT: Woven, 175B Stephen St, Yarraville

RM decided on the Dr Marty’s Crumpets with honeyed mascarpone, pear and toasted walnuts ($13). I didn’t have a chance to try the crumpets as RM ate them too fast – so I suppose they were good! He informed me that the crumpets were toasted just right such that the wet ingredients didn’t make them soggy and the flavour combination wasn’t too sweet despite first appearances.

Woven 175B Stephen St Yarraville 1 HOT: Woven, 175B Stephen St, Yarraville

From 10am you can start digging into the lunch menu – salads ($14-$16), a ‘bang up burger’ with chips ($18.50) and sandwiches ($10). The kids menu was one of the cheapest I’ve seen in a while at $5.50 per item.

is a small, neat space on a quiet residential street which will cater to the locals well. The menu is about $3-4 less than I’d expect for the quality of the food and coffee comes from specialty roaster Code Black Coffee in Brunswick.

, 175B Stephen St, Yarraville

Every day 7am – 4pm

HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Jetsetting Joyce

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 10 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Green Park in Carlton North has made a fresh start of one of my former regular haunts in Melbourne, St Ali North. It’s just as great as before with a few new touches.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 4 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

The big windows facing out onto the Capital City trail bike path and the adjacent playground have been retained and are so relaxing on a sunny day (they have a strip of outdoor heaters too). Inside is a light-filled inside area now daubed in a calming shade of sea green (natch).

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 7 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

New in the Green Park decor is a long leather banquette along one wall with a hip-height wall separating the seating area with the main thoroughfare. There’s a raised communal table and more seating options have been inserted in the bar area, with stools and cosy booths for singles or groups.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 8 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

One of the owners Jesse Gerner is the man behind Bomba and Anada so the daytime menu has a few Spanish flourishes before moving into more Spanish influences in the evening.

The daytime menu is split between ‘grains’ – granola, porridge and bready items – egg-dominated breakfast dishes and substantial lunch mains from 11-3pm. I went for the scotch egg with black pudding, rosemary glazed bacon and brioche ($20).

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 9 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

This was a very filling dish and I’m sure will gain a reputation for being a hangover cure. If you’re wondering whether the black pudding is (as I did) it’s actually encasing the egg! The thick cut bacon was a hefty, sticky piece of porky goodness so the light mint, parsley, radish and capers salad was a welcome relief from the richness.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 6 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 1 e1412330826596 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 2 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

For sweets head straight to the pastry cabinet, with all the pastries made in house by ex-Vue de Monde head pastry chef Gadi Assayag. They have actually started a wholesale pastry business on site called Park Street Pastries and supply their sweets to other cafes in Melbourne such as Kettle Black, Stagger Lee’s and Top Paddock. I highly recommend their cheesecake ‘sandwich’ with raspberry sugar and lemon curd.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 14 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

I got a preview of the dinner menu at the cafe’s launch and some highlights included the kingfish ceviche with dabs of avocado and the heat provided by chipotle and jalapeno. It doesn’t look like much on the plate but the combination of delicate textures and flavours with the crunchy tortilla strips and tongue-sizzling chilli was an exciting combination.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 13 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

My second favourite dish was a perfectly pan-fried crispy local snapper with a surprisingly delectable base of stewed zucchini, two words I’d previous thought should never be used together.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 16 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 12 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

Oh yes, and don’t miss the vegetable sides! Crunchy fried chat potatoes lolling in garlic butter and colourful, flavoursome heirloom carrots, full of beta-carotene goodness to help you see the jazz musicians playing by the resident piano ‘Fats’.

Green Park 815 Nicholson Street Carlton North 15 HOT: Green Park, 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North

It’s early days but Green Park has all the makings of a lively, friendly, neighbourhood hub where you can grab a coffee or settle in for a Sunday session with free jazz on the resident piano ‘Fats’. My only quibble with my experience on the second day of opening was that the separated main central corridor meant that waiters would walk up and down serving customers but not necessarily look sideways (to the banquettes) and I had a little bit of trouble catching people’s eye. Hopefully they’ll iron out these small issues as Green Park settles into its new digs.

Green Park,

Daily 7am–11pm

HOT: Station Street Trading Company, 166 Station St, Port Melbourne

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Jetsetting Joyce

Station Street Trading Company 166 Station St Port Melbourne 2 HOT: Station Street Trading Company, 166 Station St, Port Melbourne

In a pretty pocket of Port Melbourne, on leafy Station Street, you’ll find Station Street Trading Company.

It’s a snug corner cafe run by the owners of Armadale’s Coin Laundry. The space isn’t huge either inside or out, so when the weather’s nice take advantage of the provided rugs and wicker hampers with made to order picnics so that you can enjoy your meal al fresco at Smith Reserve across the way, with the 109 light rail dinging past at regular intervals.

The cafe menu is short and sweet and the raspberry doughnut immediately caught my eye. It’s actually a round of egg-fried brioche cut into the shape of a doughnut, with a pile of macerated raspberries and mascarpone spilling out from the hidey-hole ($15). It’s delicious and decadent but not really filling so we go revised the savoury side of the menu.

The sweet-corn and herb fritters with tomato and avocado salsa comes lined up in a pretty row, with a perfectly oozy poached egg crowning the platter. The fritters are fluffy, not stodgy and the super-fresh tomatoes gives a healthy and fragrant touch to the plate.

As our brunch was starting to move into midday we ordered a lunchtime salad of honey roasted pumpkin and quinoa salad with some Morrocan spiced lamb. This dish was an example of how beautiful ingredients cooked simply can make an amazing dish. The meat was fork tender and mixed with fat slabs of sweet pumpkin and a cornucopia of dried fruits, almonds, herbs and a dab of preserved lemon labneh. It was the highlight of our meal.

Station Street Trading Company is an example that size isn’t everything. From a tiny kitchen they produce delicious, polished food to a relatively cafe-less part of Port Melbourne. The coffee is by Allpress, the sweet treats is by Lune Croissanterie (incidentally run by one of the owner’s sisters) and it’s been awarded 3 stars in 2014’s Good Food Under $30.. The locals must be grateful!

Station Street Trading Company, 166 Station St, Port Melbourne 9646 6663

Mon – Fri: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm

Sat – Sun: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Jetsetting Joyce

Sweet Evelyn 128 Union St Brunswick 11 HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

Sweet Evelyn is a Brunswick cafe and micro bakery which is as sweet as its name (apparently named after the owners’ daughter).

Sweet Evelyn 128 Union St Brunswick 5 HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

All the baked goods are made fresh on site every day, from the large range of cupcakes to the brownies, cookies and savouries – only the bread and croissants are brought in from Dench Bakery. They only use free range eggs and where possible, organic ingredients. They also serve up a simple all day breakfast and lunch menu with most items under $15 – a bargain in brunch-mad Brunswick. Coffee is from Reverence and in fact you can find their cakes at Reverence cafe in Ascot Vale.

The cafe is spacious and there’s a back courtyard for warmer days. Though a bit of fake grass to soften the look and feel of the bare concrete would be appreciated.

Sweet Evelyn 128 Union St Brunswick 1 HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

Three of us stopped by for afternoon tea and indulged in a white chocolate raspberry cupcake, a caramel popcorn cupcake, a dotty chocolate biscuit bigger than a toddler’s head and a slice of gluten free beetroot chocolate cake. I know – that’s more serves of cake than people at the table! That’s how irresistible everything was on the counter.

Sweet Evelyn 128 Union St Brunswick 7 HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

Sweet Evelyn 128 Union St Brunswick 10 HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

The cupcake base was a little dense but still quite moist (the caramel cupcake had caramel inside as well), while the buttercream frosting was marshmallow light. The chocolate cake was a decadent, muddy mixture with a chocolate avocado mousse and a sprinkling of pistachios. It’s worthwhile licking every crumb off the plate as it’s relatively guilt-free because it contains veges!

Sweet Evelyn 128 Union St Brunswick 9 HOT: Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

The combination of delicious home made treats, super-friendly service and play time opportunities if you have kids in tow, I will definitely be heading back to Sweet Evelyn. Next time I’m going to try the brioche doughnuts!

Sweet Evelyn, 128 Union St, Brunswick

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday: 7:30am- 4pm

Tuesday: Closed

Friday, Saturday: 7:30 – 6pm

HOT: Butcher 128, 128 Roberts St, Yarraville

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Jetsetting Joyce

Suburban Yarraville has sprouted a inner-north-like hipster haven called . The cafe has been converted from an old butcher’s shop and some of the signage is still intact. It’s located at number 128 Roberts Street. Simple equation = .

The front room is all aqua and black subway tiles and naked bulb lights with a steel butcher’s rack hanging over the coffee counter.

The back dining area lets the butchery aesthetic go for some wooden built-ins, an awesome combination of wooden banquettes and alcoves.

I particularly liked the high communal table with an inbuilt herb garden hiding little dinosaur visitors.

As a former Fitzroy resident, I felt right at home in the uber-cool decor. Better still, so did my kids, as it was a very child-friendly cafe, with high chairs, change facilities, kids menu and even a sandpit out the back.

The menu was split into breakfast from the deli, breakfast from the kitchen, lunch from the deli and lunch from the kitchen – basically a choice between hot meals and cold meals/baked goods.

I ordered the hot smoked salmon with a tangy pickled beetroot relish, Persian feta, avocado and two perfect sous vide poached eggs ($16.50). The waiter told me that cooking the eggs sous vide means that they can be done in advance and just gently reheated while the yolk remains gorgeously runny and the whites just set (Correction: the owner told me “the reason they sous vide our eggs is not so that we can prepare in advance, but water bathing the eggs to our specific recipe before we poached them to order gives us better yolk consistency and texture every time (in our opinion)”). These were some of the best poached eggs I’ve had in a while.

T opted for a simple croissant with ham and brie ($8) which was nothing remarkable though the croissant (from Noisette I believe?) was flaky and buttery.

The coffee comes from boutique roaster of Maling Room.

is a great addition to Yarraville and is just off the bike path too. In that sense it fits my criteria for the perfect cafe – child-friendly, bike-friendly plus of course with good food and service.

, 128 Roberts St, Yarraville

MEL: HOT OR NOT

The decisive guide to Melbourne

Category Archives: bike friendly