Brunetti's

194-204 Faraday Street

Carlton VIC 3053 Australia

After a long stroll up and down the iconic Yarra River in Melbourne's City Centre, we ventured to the Crown casino to find a shop that served iced chai tea drinks. After almost getting lost (due to some area's being closed off) we came to find that the shop was no longer there :(

So a short drive later we found ourselves in Carlton, and Ann brought me to this busy shop cafe that took up almost a hand full of the street's numbers. With heaps of people lining up to buy the larger sized cakes and sweets, we pushed our way to the left of the long counter, where you can find small bite sized morsels, (and so you can taste more!)

All these 'mignon & dolci' (mignon meaning cute or dainty) were only $1.80 each, so we bought a few.. Well, Ann let me choose !! :) With another two rooms full of seats, we luckily scored one at the front behind the windows.

Coffee Mignon
profiterole filled with coffee custard & topped with a coffee fondent

Mini Lemon Tart
a shortbread base filled with lemon custard

Pistacchio mignon
profiterole filled with pistacchio custard and topped with a pistacchio fondent

Vanilla canolli & chocolate canolli
a crunchy pastry filled with vanilla/choclate custard

(the chocolate cannoli was missing icing sugar!)

three chocolates mousse cup

say 'dolci!'

After finishing our 6 desserts, Ann saw a $2 coin outside on the path ... if you look closely you can see Ann outside (red top) picking it up Lols. So with another $2 in wallet i bought another two!

Bigne San Giuseppe
a light doughnut pastry filled with
strega chantilly cream and coated in sugar

Chocolate cheese cake

My favourites have to be the chocolate cheese cake, the mousse cup, and the chocolate cannoli. When we finished we had to sit for a bit, and let idea of us just gorging on almost $16 worth of mini cakes sink in. At this point i was thinking "Yup. DEFINITELY going for a run in the morning!!"

Brunetti's was a nice cafe to sit & chat, and with such a huuuuuge selection of cakes, tarts, biscuits, mignon, chocolates and nougat to choose from, the store also offers gelati, icy granita's, fresh smoothies and juices, foccacia, salads, crepes & over 40 handmade chocolates.

One visit is absolutely not enough, but for our short weekend trip - it was.

Mitte

76 Michael Street

(corner Rowe St)

Fitzroy North

VIC 3068

Ph: 03 9077 7379

Fitzroy is located about 10 minutes drive from the Cite Centre of Melbourne, & Ann knew a great breakkie place we could eat at before hitting the beach @ Sorrento.

It's about 10am and we arrive to a bustling shop of breakfast patrons, at first we quickly took over an emptying table outside - but with the slightly chilly wind we ended up waiting for an inside table.


Mitte is named after central Berlin's Mitte district (and also hip cafe quarter), but the menu is completely Australian (and semi-gourmet if ask me). With items like middle eastern fruit compote (compote of dried fruits, vanila, cloves and orange blossom water, topped with toasted pistacios and almonds, served with yogurt) and potato and chorizo omlette (served with a tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil salad, collingwood college kitchen garden tomato and fennel chutney and sourdough toast, it's almost like you can choose your own adventure at breakfast time hehe.

Also on the menu are the classic egg dishes, 3 cheese omlette, free range poached eggs with smoked salmon (for the people who arent feeling very daring)



The building used to be an old milk bar which was burnt down, and thanks to the large windows is now a wonderfully sun-lit cafe (yay to natural lighting hee hee)

Cappuccino $3.30

Calmer SUtra Chai w/ soy $5

My chai tea was mildly spiced, and if it weren't for the creamy soy milk i probably wouldn't of liked it as much. It was a large serving though, one pot yielding just over two cups.

Croque monsieur $12.50

Linh's came out first: an open toasted sandwich of dijon mustard, bechamel (that creamy lasagne goodness stuff), gypsy ham & St Claire swiss cheese. With four large pieces, she had trouble finishing this off but from what i could see, it looked a bit too dry (i prefer a larger topping : bread ratio in these food cases).

three cheese omelette $15

Omlette served baking dish style, the three cheeses being marinated goats fetta, grana padano and buffalo mozzarella (not your usual tasty cheese omlette) topped with green olive, cherry tomato, parmasen and rocket salad, served with sour dough toast. I had a taste of Ann's omlette, and it was salty (yum) but did not make me regret ordering my chick pea bake ... (further below)

iced chocolate $5

Jess's towering glass of iced hot chocolate looked so appetizing i couldnt help but take a sip soon after she had her first. Extra creamy with lacings of chocolate topping around the bottom and sides, as well as a dollop of creamy vanilla icecream - this was a true iced chocolate that makes you keep taking huge sips ahh..

free ranged poached eggs
with middle eastern chickpea bake $15

Both me & Jessica had this (Ann had been raving on about this for a long time prior our Melbourne trip) and said that i'd LOVE it. And LOVED it i did! What a massive breakfast for only $15 i was amazed st how full i was (and i couldn't finish it all either).

The flavoury chickpea bake was topped with a meredith marinated goats fetta & herd and shallot salad, with half of a large avocado, lemon wedges and sourdough toast. My eggs were perfectly poached (this usually leads to a GREAT day ahead for me if my eggs are cooked the way i like them), the chickpea bake was fantastic with a salsy tomato sauce i really couldn't get enough of it.

With such a cosy & warm environment, a casual friendly/family vibe, good service, and an excellent selection on the menu, i can understand why this place can be packed on weekend mornings.

Afterwards it was onto Sorrento Beach for a picnic of snacks, lazing in the sun, and photo-taking :)

Coda Bar & Restaurant

Open Tuesday-Sunday Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday Lunch.

Basement 141 Flinders Lane (Cnr Oliver Lane)

Melbourne 3003

Telephone +613 9650 3155

Facsimile +613 9650 5127

My last night in Melbourne, & i wanted to make the most of my trip and visit another restaurant. Flicking through Tom's Melbourne eating guide (2009 + 2010), he decided on Coda, a fairly new restaurant that offers Modern Australian & vietnamese fusion tapas styled dishes.

Our late afternoon call to make a booking, we were told that there were no spare tables, but for two people, we could easily be seated at the bar.

This i didn't mind.. so we just turned up at 7pm, and luckily - only had to wait 5 minutes before a couple had finished their drinks & left their seats (where the kitchen was in our full view!)

The restaurant had soft lighting, with mesh covered lanterns, and a full open kitchen & bar. I loved the layout of the restaurant, & the fact that it was a basement style room - made it feel even cooler :)

Seated infront on the kitchen we were able to see the happenings in the kitchen as well as the cute bartenders making drinks & serving us our meals.

Hopkins River steak bernaise charcoal grilled $29

Tom ordered the man steak, which he claimed was excellent, succulent, with the bernaise sauce so good that he was lost for words pretty much!

Pomme frites $8

Me being addicted to fries, i just had to order these & Tom helped me finish them as well. They were heavily salted (just the way i like them) & were fresh & crisp, serving size more than enough for the two of us we struggled to finish it.

Eggplant and tofu lettuce delight, enoki mushroom, crispy garlic and black vinegar $5

In the Eating guide, they mentioned a vegetarian style san choy bao - & this is what got me! Since i've become vego i havent had san choy bao before, so it was the first dish i ordered. Everything was finely sliced, and in two bites this morsel was finished. It ended all too soon and i really wanted another one, but i still had my coda slaw & chips to finish off.

Coda slaw, wombok, carrot, hot mint & red cabbage $8

I ordered the healthy cod slaw - to counteract with the unhealthy fries. Cabbage was fresh & crunchy, with a light vinegar & lemon dressing.

Wok fried morning glory with garlic & ginger $8

After the coleslaw i was still not full.. so i ordered another small dish, while still picking at the fries. Then i started to get full.. & regretted ordering another dish. But i thought i'd be okay, as the first two dishes i had were faily small, i could handle another one.

When i started digging in though, i could feel my stomach getting over filled, and i was struggling to finish the waterspinach (something i have a lot at home, & i love it), I hardly ate a quarter and asked if i could take away it (i wasnt shy at all to ask this, i wanted to take it home cos there was so much left eheh). The waiter came back & said due to health regulations they didn't allow doggy bagging. I shrugged, it was no big deal.

I really liked the ambiance and the design here, and the menu (found here) was really funky & different. I had to ask what everything was haha i really had no idea that a wok fried morning glory - was water spinach.

I was really looking forward to trying the desert taste plate of Baked lemon tart with Yuzu marshmallow, Valrhona chocolate custard pot, & hazelnut brittle & pumpkin foam - but we both thought we'd be too full, and opted for waffles later in the night somewhere in Fitzroy... which we didnt end up having at all. Tom was abit tired & had an early start the next morning, so we called it a night..

But i did end up going to san churros with Ann & Jess for a late night desert!

Cafe Sweethearts

263 Coventry Street

South Melbourne VIC 3205

ph: 03 9690 6752

So, my first time to Melbourne VIC and i have Miss Huynh as my tourguide. She is a Melbournian living in Sydney, & we've been best friends since we met at the local gym!

I've been so excited and anticipating this trip ever since she booked flights (about 2 mths earlier). Another state, new restaurants, new culture, i've only ever been to QLD 2 yrs ago and back then i wasn't a blogger..

Ann has been raving on about this cafe for quite some time now, saying that i will LOVE it, and she was right.

The streets were quiet but alot of people were walking around, sitting down to a coffee & newspaper, and the cafe was particularly buzzing with patrons once we stepped in.

You can't tell from here, but there were a lot of people, just not in the front room. Over to the right there is another room of tables, the cashier table, and behind that the kitchen. We got a seat right at the front, looking out to the street, & the warm sun on us.

I ordered a grapefruit juice, and Ann an apple juice. Both were refreshing, but definitely not freshly squeezed.

polaroid Love :)

Eggs Romano

poached eggs on toasted english muffins with spinach,

hollandaise sauce, tomato concasse & fresh basil

Ann also got mushrooms instead of spinach, i guess to fill up on protein as she was eating vegetarian like me! I had a try, and the tomato sauce was very zing like- flavoury sensation like i was eating.. mexican?? It was so fresh, teamed with hollandaise sauce it was yummy.

Eggs Mediterranean

poached eggs on grilled herbed polenta with

sauted spinach, roasted red capsicum & herb pesto

I ordered a hashbrown on the side as well. & it's the round ball thing on the left- how embarassing when i got my plate & asked 'wait, where's my hashbrown?' & Ann pointed out 'that is a hashbrown'. haha :)

I've never had baked polenta before. I wanted to try something different, other than english muffin, & i don't regret it at all. The capsicum was really sweet, and still warm from the grill. I also ordered extra hollandaise sauce because Ann said it was the best.. & it was really thick with a smooth consistency, very creamy, and very bad for me! hehe.

The eggs were poached to perfection (thumbs up there), & now onto the hashbrown.. it's similar to a KFC Mashy, but gourmet style! Mashed potato mixed with some spices and spring onion, with a crispy outside layer. I've never had a hashbrown like this before, it makes me no longer want to eat the McDonald's style ones..

The pesto topped off the meal quite well, and although it doesnt look big, the meal was extremely filling (must be all the extra sides hehe)

Because i don't go to Melbourne much, i might not come back here for a while. If i ever came back to Melbourne though, i would love to try other places! But for anyone who is a Melbourne local, or to anyone that will be in South Melbourne - this is one place you have to try.

The service was quick, staff were very friendly, situated on a side street (not on the main road) & i just love the signage!

Melbourne here i come~

I'm going to Melbourne for the weekend & so very very excited! Will be coming back with lots of food pictures & reviews (and a bigger waistline boooo)

:)

any restaurant suggestions - leave a comment!