Getting all doughy at MoVida Bakery

July 31, 2012 4 Comments

Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 4:30pm
Sat – Sun: 7:30am – 5pm

Coffee: AllPress

Mr LB:
“Movida didn’t just open a bakery for the sake of exposure. They have been baking bread since the time they first opened their doors. Even Movida Terazza (now replaced by Paco’s Tacos) had a portion of their kitchen space dedicated to baking their lovely fresh baguettes. According to one of my favourite cookbooks, Movida - “Bread is to Spanish cooking what rice is to Asian cuisine and potatoes to the Irish”. With Movida starting every working day baking bread, in the specific order of unlocking the doors, turning on the light, switching on the coffee machine and lighting the oven- it was only a matter of time before the birth of Movida Bakery.

Moving away from their traditional CBD haunts, Movida Bakery has crossed the river and is located in South Yarra. In a side street off Toorak Road, it’s the perfect location that retains the Movida vibe, stocked full of various food products and Movida literature.

The first thing you will notice when entering Movida Bakery is the no fuss, clean decor setting. The cafe space is portioned into two sections – one half consisting of the barista station with a window and breakfast bench. The other section holds a communal table with a full view of where the magic happens. It’s not only a fabulous bakery with the option to purchase extremely well-crafted sourdough and bread products, but it also meeting the demands of the sweet tooth and lunch cravings.

It was time to try the coffee and enjoy the delights on offer. My long black [$3.50] was from AllPress which came out with a nice tan-coloured head. There was a dark taste with this coffee with a slightly bitter flavour. Miss SL’s short black was a better tasting coffee (given the strength of the shot of coffee was stronger) and I was able to identify a slight caramel flavour. By all means it was an enjoyable coffee, however, comparing the quality of the coffee against others in this area my long black didn’t cut the coffee mustard.

Long Black & Short Black

As we waited for our coffees, I couldn’t help but notice the jams in the middle of the communal table. I’m a big fan of home style jams with the unbeatable authentic taste that no big label supermarket jam can achieved. The offerings on this occasion was Rhubarb and Fig, and given it was just sitting there we couldn’t just waste this fabulous opportunity. So we did what any jam lover would do- cheeky taste testing. As expected the rhubarb was the sweetest of the two with a well-balanced flavour. What was unexpected – and Miss SL was the first of us to pick this up – was the slightly sour taste that lingered in the back of the palate.
The fig jam had the right amount of subtle spices to complement the soft flavours of the figs. It was certainly the savoury out of the two but they were both exceptional.

Rhubarb & Fig jam

My stomach had been craving brunch desert, however my mind was being consumed by The Saturday Age. Given Miss SL was only in Melbourne for the weekend before flying back to Perth, I gave her the honor of selecting the delectable delights. Plus, knowing Miss SL, she rarely makes a poor choice. We first tried the Peanut butter and jelly donut [$3.50] and whilst this was Miss SL’s first Movida donut, it wasn’t mine. On this occasion the dough of the donut was a little dry, which was a bit disappointing. However, looking passed this oversight it was still quite enjoyable. The peanut butter filling had a fantastic, strong and true peanut taste. It was the right amount of sweetness to satisfy my sweet tooth. I’m still a fan of the Movida donut and if you see one with custards filling, you must seize the opportunity opportunity.

Peanut butter and jelly donut

Next up was the Pear and almond tart [$5]. As the tart came out, my first impression was that the tart was going to be tad dry. From my first bite I was quite wrong. Not only did the top layer have a great, sweet texture but the inner layer was soft and lovely. The almonds had been lightly toasted which allowed the full flavours to be achieved. There was a lovely crunch, but it was the pear that made this dish. It was still full of vibrant flavour and certainly delivered the right amount of sweetness to carry the tart into the territory of amazing brunch dessert.

Pear and almond tart

All in all, Movida Bakery is a great addition to the growing Movida brand. Before we left I couldn’t help myself by buying a sourdough loaf to go with my home cooked soup. I’ve been shopping around to find the best sourdough Melbourne has to offer and I do have to say Movida Bakery has one of the best sourdoughs going around. In fact after speaking to one of the waiters, one patron had previously bought a sourdough, asked it to be sliced, sat down and casually ate it with the complimentary jams on the communal table. I think this bloke was onto something, as the sourdough had a good crunchy crust but also a lovely soft dough inside. It’s the perfect sourdough for any occasion. Movida Bakery is worth the visit and a must to try of their extensive range of breads.”

Miss SL:
“Bakeries appear to be the new Mexican in Melbourne as more and more of them become the feature of articles circulating the streets and online. Places like Noisette, The Pantry and Brasserie Bread have been around for a while with heavy reputations that would deter a lot of contenders. When fine-dining restaurant Movida decided to branch out into this industry creating Movida Bakery, the internet was alive with chatter (or should we say, tweets?).

We arrived to find a beautiful cafe-meets-bakery fit out. Immediately upon entrance is the counter with the menu hanging on the right. To the left is the dining area that is separated by bags of flour to the bakery area. I’d read a few reviews on their donuts which seem to be ever-growing in popularity, particular as they have interesting fillings such as rhubarb.

There were no signs in front of the display cabinets suggesting what each item was, so as I attempted to order a couple of donuts off the menu I kept getting told they had none left. I finally got exasperated and asked what was on display, as everything on the menu seemed incorrect in accordance with what was actually available. We were told that there was only a Peanut butter and jelly donut [$3.50] left and a Pear and almond tart [$5]. I LOVE peanut butter so we decided to get one of each to share.

Peanut butter and jelly donut

The peanut butter donut had a lovely colour on the outside and was dusted in a delicious cinnamon sugar. The donut itself, however, seems to have been sitting there for a little while as the dough inside was dry. The peanut butter and jam filling was tasty but overall it seemed to be overpowered by the cinnamon flavours. I think it’s the luck of the draw when it comes to the donuts though, as I’ve read some blogs raving about how good they are when they’re fresh out of the oven. Personally, I still prefer the beignettes from Noisette over this one.

Pear and almond tart

The pear tart, on the other hand was amazing! I believe the base was made out of semolina flour as there was a lovely nutty flavour throughout the cake which was carried from the first layer. The poached pears on the top of the cake were just superb – firm and full of flavour.

Overall Movida Bakery was a nice visit and had a lovely feel to the dining area. There is still room for improvement though – matching up their menus to the actual cake displays would be a good start and perhaps offering a cook-on-order option for the donuts (if donut king can manage this then surely a top restaurant like Movida can?). In Mr LBs eyes, they’ve trumped Noisette for best sourdough bread, so if anything, use that as an excuse to check it out for yourself!”

Final Thought: “Beautiful sourdough bread as a take home or enjoy-in option”

MoVida Bakery on Urbanspoon

Filed under Brunch dessert, South Yarra Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Knocking off Two Birds with One Stone

July 25, 2012 4 Comments

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7am- 5pm
Sat – Sun: 7am – 4pm

Coffee: 5 Senses, single origin, filter

Mr LB:
“A lighting fixture is like the stone that’s thrown at the bird. It needs to be strong, bold and have the edge to strike more than one with a single throw. Not to say that the lighting fixtures are used as wielding weapon, but in many circumstances can be the focal point of a room. Apart from my obvious love for brunch and long blacks, lighting fixtures used by cafes has always been an interest of mine. With such a variety in the market, the selection and way it is used is critical in order to create the desired ambiance. Whilst chandeliers are very stand-offish and fluorescent lights industrial, it’s the unique lighting fixtures that makes a good cafe space fabulous and one step closer to attracting brunch addicts. The new establishment Two Birds One Stone has pulled all stops to bring a majestic cafe with damn cool lighting.

A fresh cafe opened for its first weekend and a calm Sunday afternoon set the scene for a good brunch vibe. Even though Two Birds One Stone is situated in South Yarra, it sure doesn’t feel like we were near the ridiculously busy Toorak Road. Cleverly situated near newly developed urban apartments, it certainly provides a no-rush environment. Inside, the space is impressively large with its high ceilings and its cool clean decor. There is the warm wall lights near the barista station to highlight the carved flower features, somewhat looking tree-root inspired with illuminated tips and the classic low-hanging light globes. Just on ambiance and cafe setting, I would have to say this is the best setup I’ve seen this year. It will instantly capture and attract you inside as you walk by.

Cafes are increasingly becoming simpler with their coffee orders, providing the right blend for either a black or white coffee. As expected I went for the black, ordering a House Blend long black [$4] – a blend of Columbian Primavera, Brazil Bobolink. My coffee also came with sparking water, which I think is the ideal way to drink coffee, as the water helps clear the palate for the next sip. It had very subtle tones with no upfront defining flavour. I did pick up a slight nutty flavour, but what’s really impressive about this coffee was its smoothness. This long black had no bitterness and was simply of a high calibre. The high benchmark set by predecessor Three Bags Full had certainly been achieved at Two Birds One Stone.

It was time to feed the stomach and hard decisions had to be made. It got to the point that neither of us were willing to confirm our orders, so we got some handy advice from one of the friendly waitresses. One of her recommendations was the Eggs Benedict, house smoked ham hock & bearnaise [$16.50]. I don’t tend to go for the classic brunch because they tend to be boring, safe and all you guys know what to expect. However, on this occasion this eggs benedict was really something to rave about. The most impressive element of this dish was the smoked ham off the bone, which in all seriousness was the best ham I have tasted in a long while. It had a lovely smokey taste and had the right amout of cooking oil added to give it the right texture. Even the rustic cutting of the ham allows you to really appreciate this delight. It defined what ham should taste like.

Eggs Benedict, house smoked ham hock & bearnaise

The bearnaise sauce had the right texture and consistency to be enjoyed with the perfectly poached eggs; it didn’t dominate the dish with its creaminess. It had a nice lemon taste to balance the palate. I take recommendations and shout outs very seriously. If I say it’s the best on the certain side of the river, I stand by my word, and this is an eggs benedict that you all should try - I think it’s the best on the south side of the river!

Eggs Benedict, house smoked ham hock & bearnaise

This is a cafe which ticks all of my boxes for what a Melbourne cafe should aim to provide. Getting a seat as soon as we arrived may not happen again on our next visit but we would be quite content queuing. We’ll most certainly will be back for some great coffee and food.”

Miss SL:
“Partnerships are a way of life as we know it since we were cavemen/women, hunting in packs and feeding as a group. Partnerships offer enduring friendships, effective business deals and sometimes, even love. Well I’m afraid to say that this blog is not about love – unless you count love for fine coffee and food.

We’d been keenly following the progress of new cafe Two Birds One Stone - the latest venture by power trio Nathan Toleman, Diamond Rozakeas and Ben Clarke (APTE, Liar Liar, Three Bags Full) – and were shocked to hear they’d opened right under our nose!

The first thing I noticed when we walked inside this beautiful cafe was the almost immediate Japanese garden vibe I got from the decor. There was an incredible earthiness to this cafe with moss-plants hanging down from the ceiling in glass baubles and lightly coloured wood framing the private booths that housed those who were group-dining.

Flowers artistically adorned the gigantic communal table, sparking colour and contrast against the black and white feature wall. As I’m sure Mr LB mentioned, one of the most strikingly different elements in this cafe was the x-shaped light features, glowing on their tips and illuminating the cafe.

Everything on the menu at Two Birds One Stone looked incredibly delicious – from the Vanilla porridge with candied cumquats & flaked almonds [$11.50] to the Braised saltbush sandwich with crushed peas, feta, chillie & mint [$16.50]. It’s also important to note how reasonably priced everything on the menu was – there was nothing was over $17.50.

I decided on the Charred corn & zucchini fritter with haloumi, guacamole & house smoked salmon [$16]. As I wandered around the cafe taking happy snaps to share with you all, my greedy eyes immediately landed on the three cookies left by the counter. Could it be?! Was it possible?! Were my favorite cookies from Three Bags Full now in a location so close and accessible to my belly? The chef who made them – fondly dubbed by staff as “the cookie monster” – told me that they were variations of the Three Bags Full editions. They were the White choc and macadamia cookie and Choc, almond, oat + sultana cookie [$4.50 each]. I had one of each kept aside immediately in case they sold out.

Charred corn & zucchini fritter with haloumi, guacamole & house smoked salmon

When my fritters came out they were simply delicious – crispy on the outside, fresh and full of flavour. They bursts with sweet corn which was a nice combination with the slightly dry batter. The guacamole was unexpected, providing a spicy bed for the fritters, laced with red onions, chili and full, fat capers.

Charred corn & zucchini fritter with haloumi, guacamole & house smoked salmon

Just when I thought my dish couldn’t get any better I had a taste of Mr LBs Eggs Benedict and I was immediately flawed - the smokiness of the shaved, off-the-bone ham was incredible, matched with a perfectly balanced bearnaise sauce. I was immediately jealous!

Later in the evening we decided to tuck into the cookies that we’d purchased. The Choc, almond, oat + sultana cookie was immediately recognizable a the one commonly sold at Three Bags Full (which has apricots instead of sultanas). To sum it up – pure heaven.
The White choc and macadamia cookie was also lovely but very sweet. It was delicious and crunchy in all the right places.

Left: White choc and macadamia cookie Right: Choc, almond, oat + sultana cookie

Overall I found the service at Two Birds One Stone exceptional, the vibe relaxing, the food beyond expectations providing something unique and innovative with every plate. The boys have outdone themselves and we can’t wait to come back and make our way down the menu!”

Final thought: “Best Eggs Benedict South of the river!”

two birds one stone on Urbanspoon

Filed under Brunch dessert, Eggs Benedict/Florentine/Atlantic, South, South Yarra, Zucchini / Corn Fritters Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Riding the Snow Pony

July 18, 2012 Leave a comment

Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 8am – 4pm
Sat – Sun: 8:30am – 4pm

Coffee: All Press

Note: Cash only

Mr LB:
Cop-y [noun] – an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original

“There is a saying, ‘don’t change a winning game’. Changing a winning formula only brings about risk, uncertainty and possibly a world of pain. Would a successful cafe that wanted to expand, copy their winning formula to a new location or risk changing things up? Some food franchises make bucket loads of cash, but in my opinion they are so far way from the Melbourne brunch mark. Maybe the answer isn’t in the brand but rather in the delivery. Provide the right ambiance, the same or similar dishes in another location and with a different name can achieve a successful expansion whilst retaining the cool factor. Snow Pony is one example. Located in Balwyn, it brings all of the quality and ambiance as its older brother cafe, Porgie + Mr Jones.

Walking into Snow Pony, you may find yourself a little confused – in a good way. The street itself has a prominent business-park theme, with a lot of grey coloured structures and industrial workshops. Once inside, it’s like you have been transported into a cool inner city cafe. The décor comprises of a dark wood theme which runs throughout the cafe, highlighted by carefully positioned light fixtures. There are even paintings on the wall to give some much needed culture. On the weekend the place is buzzing with people and their chitter chatter.

I ordered my long black [$3.50] and was happily reading the menu and newspaper whilst listening to Radiohead, which was playing in the background. The coffee here is by Allpress and it came out hot and fast. There were dark flavours to this long black and it was slightly bitter tasting. It was still a good coffee to kick start the day and, given the location, probably the best going around.

Giddy Up – poached eggs, bacon, slow roasted tomato, avocado + thyme buttered mushies

I was in the mood for eggs, so I went for the Giddy Up – poached eggs, bacon, slow roasted tomato, avocado + thyme buttered mushies [$18.90]. I adjusted my order, asking for scrambled eggs. I usually take notes on my phone and the first word that came I wrote was ‘awesome’. This meal was delectable and the scrambled eggs were soft, buttery and nicely wrapped around the bread. The bacon was cooked well, but it was the mushrooms which certainly made this dish. They were prepare to perfection with  the right amout of butter used to give a lovely soft taste and provided a true balsamic hit to the palate. It was a meal that was not only enjoyable but quite filling- a real winner.

It’s safe to say that Snow Pony is one of the better cafes within its surrounding area. Delivering not only a cool cafe environment but also high quality food and coffee. I do like the fact that the Porgie + Mr Jones’ restauratear has seen the opportunity to deliver inner city cafe quality to the outer suburbs. It’s a step forward that enhances Melbourne ability to be continually known for its food and for the fact that you don’t have to drive to the city to get a great meal.”

Miss SL:
“Deja vu. It’s the feeling you get when you feel like you’ve already experienced a certain situation, even though you haven’t. It’s a freakish situation to be in - particularly if you start to predict things that are about to happen. A theory by scientist Edward B. Titcher is that deja vu is caused by briefly looking at an object or situation prior to full conscious perception, creating a sense of familiarity. It wasn’t my lack of conscious perception that created this sensation when Mr LB and I walked into Snow Pony, but our recent visit to Porgie + Mr Jones which immediately gave me a sense of familiarity.

It’s no coincidence that the decor of Snow Pony resonates so closely with Porgie + Mr Jones. Its black walls and old-fashioned, low hanging lanterns channel the same casual, moody environment that its brother cafe does. What was surprising was Mr LB’s first comment when we sat down.
“Does Snow Pony have the same owners as Friends of Mine?” he asked. What a strange question.

The week before we said farewell to The Rabbit at Friends of Mine where Mr LB had ordered the Toasted Banana bread w/ maple syrup mascarpone, fresh banana, berry compote + crush pistachio [$14.90]. The first thing I had said when his meal came out was how similar it looked to the famous photo I’d always seen circulating many of Melbourne’s food blogs for Snow Pony. It never occurred to me that they had the same owner. A quick Google revealed that, yes, Snow Pony was in fact owned by the same group as Friends of Mine and it immediately became apparent when I looked around the venue.

Art streamlined the dark walls and behind the counter was a large painting of a child cheekily poking his head out. As the middle child, Snow Pony provided that perfect link between the two venues. The menu here is a replica of Porgie + Mr Jones with little changes in the breakfast department.

When we last reviewed Porgie + Mr Jones, Mr LB lamented that he didn’t get the Fabulous herb + cheesy toast [$9.90] w/ eggplant kasundi [$11.90] w/ bacon [$12.90] or both [$13.90]. He wasn’t in the mood today, so I took up the opportunity and ordered it with both the kasundi and bacon. YUM!

Fabulous herb + cheesy toast w/ eggplant kasundi and w/ bacon

It arrived and the first thing I noted was how odd it was that all the kasundi was on one slice of toast, and all the bacon on the other. I didn’t let that stop me though as I tucked into the soft multigrain bread, which was perfectly fluffy. The bread here is done by the magnificent Noisette.
The kasundi was powerful and tasty. The spicy flavours created a deliciously strong force to be reckoned with, and I felt the urge for something fresh, stealing some of Mr LBs delicious avocado.

Millionaire’s shortbread w/ salted caramel, dark chocolate and pure gold leaf

For dessert, we ordered the Millionaire’s shortbread w/ salted caramel, dark chocolate and pure gold leaf [$5]. This was an interesting one as Mr LB and I had completely different experiences of the same slice. For me, it was hard to handle at first. All I could taste was dense, buttery caramel. As I kept eating it, however, I came to appreciate the gently undertone that the dark chocolate gave as it sweetened the dish and left a pleasant aftertaste. For Mr LB, the chocolate was the first thing he had noticed – claiming a lovely rich taste immediately. He felt the bread base crumbled deliciously and was complimented well by the salty caramel flavours. We both agreed that it was too rich to eat on our own – it was made for sharing.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Snow Pony. While it was not unique against its brother and sister cafes, it kept the family proud and offered perfect replicas of dishes found at Porgie + Mr Jones with the first class quality that Friends of Mine delivers. This is most certainly the gem of the eastern suburbs, bringing a great experience for those out in the ‘burbs.”

Final thought: “A quality cafe in the Eastern suburbs, delivering your favourite fresh dishes.”

Snow Pony on Urbanspoon

Filed under Balwyn, Brunch dessert, Eggs (Other), Other Brunch Foods Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

The Lawson Grove Shop – Revisited

July 13, 2012 1 Comment

Location:
1 Lawson Grove
South Yarra
Melbourne 3141
(03) 9866 3640

Opening Hours: 
Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 5.30pm
Sat – Sun: 8am – 6pm

Coffee: Gravity Coffee

Note: Accepts Cash Only.

See our previous review of The Lawson Grove Shop here.

Mr LB:
“Sometimes it’s the quiet brunch that really makes your day. No rushing around town, no attempts to find a car space, no names on a waiting list and no long waits for food.  It can be pure bliss when you have the ability to walk into a cafe and sit down, chat with the waiter or relaxingly reading the paper. I like to call these brunches the ‘no fuss brunch’. Just don’t get the term mixed up with the quality of food. The Lawson Grove Shop has always been a place that has stuck in my mind as one that provides a relaxing brunch. Having not seen Miss SL for two weeks and just wanting to chill, The Lawson Grove Shop was the perfect location.

Given it was a wintery Melbourne day, it was unanimously agreed to sit inside and enjoy the comforts of the warmer environment. Not much had changed in terms of décor - they still had a fridge full of goodies to buy and the cafe still resonanated a warm, relaxing ambiance.

The Lawson Grove Shop still source their coffee from Gravity, which isn’t a personal favourite of mine. With that in mind I was not in the mood for my traditional long black, so I decided to steal share Miss SL’s banana & honey smoothie [$5.50]. It had a lovely smooth texture with a true banana hit. A well executed smoothie.

Brunch decisions are often the hardest things to make for the day. Choosing the wrong dish could lead to the possibility of starting your day on the wrong foot. The brunch options at The Lawson Grove Shop looked very much the same as our last visit. Unfortunately they were out of the Baked Eggs, which Miss SL had ordered the last time we were there. After much indecision, the waiter was kind enough to bring over the specials board and outline our brunch options. After considering these we quickly jumped on the waitresses advice, ordering the Chicken Club Sanga [$16.50].

Chicken Club Sanga

This was no ordinary club sandwich, but one of the freshest going around Melbourne. All the ingredients were prepared and cooked to perfection. The star attraction was the chicken, which was poached beautifully with no signs of excess water or being undercooked. It was prepared with herbs and went well with the crispy bacon. Even the mayonnaise had the right consistency, perfectly complimenting the lettuce and tomato rather than overpowering it. The hardest objective of this fabulous toasted sanga was how to eat it. My advice – two hands and enjoy!

The Lawson Grove Shop has done it again. Not only does it meet my personal expectations of providing a relaxing cafe environment, but it also delivers one of the best club chicken sandwiches I have eaten to date.

Miss SL:

“I have been recently working in Perth and the experience has been very interesting. While I have found (limited) excellent coffee, I have yet to find a brunch meal that meets the standards of hometown Melbourne.  Not to mention that ‘brunch’ is unavailable after 11:30am – a feat nearly impossible for me! On my weekend back to visit Melbourne, Mr LB and I decided that we would revisit our second blog ever made and re-test the waters of The Lawson Grove Shop.

We arrived to the familiar winding paths of Lawson Street and were greeted by the cafes warm and inviting interior. On this occasion we sat indoors, and I must say that it was much better than I remember it being. I ordered a Banana and Honey smoothie [$5] to share with Mr LB. I was quick to decide on my main while Mr LB ‘ummed’ and ‘ahhed’ about what to get, choosing the Chicken Club Sanga [$16.50].

Our smoothie was the first thing to come out and it was simply delicious. There was a strong taste of fresh, sweet banana and I really liked that it wasn’t made perfectly smooth. The little chunks of banana notified me that my drink was not made of artificial sweeteners.

When my main came out I gasped at the size of it. How was I to eat this respectfully? More the question, how will I fit this in my mouth? It was moments like these that I wish I were a snake and my jaw could unhinge to allow more food in with every bite. I started off respectful enough, using my knife and fork to crunch through the well-toasted, buttered bread. As my sandwich started to fall apart, I took cue from Mr LB and used my hands. Much better!

Chicken Club Sanga

The sandwich itself was just amazing. The lettuce used was extremely fresh, green and crunchy. The tomatoes used were firm and juicy while the chicken – oh, the chicken! It was PERFECTLY poached and pulled apart, generously dressed with a deliciously creamy (but not over-powering) mayonnaise. The thing I loved about this dish was that it had a completely “home-cooked” feel to it, but tasted just that little bit too good to be made by mum (or the boyfriend / girlfriend!).

The Lawson Grove Shop continues to deliver quality and service with a smile. Beautiful dishes that are worth the visit.

Final thought: ”Delivers a home-cooked feel to their meals; deceivingly good”

Lawson Grove Shop on Urbanspoon

Filed under Other Brunch Foods, South Yarra Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Noisette

July 5, 2012 10 Comments

Opening hours:
Mon – Sun: 6.30am – 6pm

Coffee: Di Bella

Bread is the one staple food that we all relate to. Tracing back from 30,000 years ago, both rich and poor of all cultures and races have been consuming and embracing this delight. Variations and innovations into this industry have altered the way we see bread and patisseries today. With the current brunching boom in Melbourne, cafés are aiming for quality to attract the brunchgoer. This goes right down to the bread they source. Long gone are the days where bread was supplied by Tip Top. Now it’s typical to see various specialty bakeries providing their products to cafés far and wide. On our brunching adventures we have noted on a number of occasions that the bread was sourced from Noisette. With a reputation so big, we had to go to the source and suss it out.

We arrived at Noisette and the interior was simply grand. Pops of yellow, a warm paint-job, bright lights and gorgeous chandeliers created the perfect showcase for the various sweet and savory cakes on offer. Miss SL bounced around in delight looking indecisively at what to order and we settled on two small items – a Custard beignet [$3.20] and an Almond croissant [$4]. We’d decided to skip coffee as neither of us were in the mood.

Our dishes were quickly plated and served and we split our little afternoon delights in half. First up was the croissant. The pastry was soft, buttery and very sweet with almond essence on the inside. The almonds on the outside of the pastry were crunchy, creating great texture within this lovely snack. Our almond croissant would have been perfectly accompanied with a good cup of coffee.

Almond Croissant

Next up was the beignet. Goodness us! This little treat was a surprisingly delicious treat. It had a soft, doughy exterior and a creamy rich custard filling. Half a beignet was enough for Miss SL, whereas Mr LB could have gone an entire one on his own.

Custard Beignet

There are bakeries and then there are bakeries! We can see why a number of cafes outsource their bread and delightful brunch desserts from Noisette. There is lots of love and care taken to produce their goods, delivering a high quality taste. We must note that after visiting Noisette, Mr LB has been back regularly for his own private pleasure – he believes their sourdough loaves are possibly one of the best sourdoughs going around Melbourne (coming close with Movida Bakery). Whether you crave something sweet or wanting to lift the quality of your lunchtime sandwich, Noisette is the answer.

Final thought: “Amazing custard beignets and sourdough”

Noîsette on Urbanspoon

Filed under Brunch dessert, Other Brunch Foods, Port Melbourne, South Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

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