We love a good Auction

February 13, 2012 1 Comment

Opening Hours:
Mon – Wed: 7am – 5pm
Thurs – Fri: 7am – 10pm
Sat: 7.30am – 10pm
Sun: 7:30am – 5pm

Coffee: Small Batch House Blend, Single Origin, Specialised Coffee Blends, Siphon Coffee, Pourover, French Press

See our previous review of Auction Rooms here.

Mr LB:
“It is said there is an art to conducting an auction. There must be an energy which sparks enthusiasm to the punter in order to spontaneously bid and commit to an auction they previously had no intention in participating in. The best auctioneers create theatre. There is passion, sweat and shouting as they berate to get the punter to increase the bid by $5k, $10k or $15k. Auctioneers are also one of the most hated professionals given their high commission rates. Love them or loath them but wherever you stand there is no denying that Auction Rooms ticks all the boxes for brunch. Even we can’t escape its appeal.

Since the last time we visited, we mentioned there was some small construction work being undertaken. We can now report that Auction Rooms is now back open for dinner from Thursday to Saturday. There is now a Siphon preparation bench which also houses a free cupping session every Saturday. This time around we sat in the outside area (which I hadn’t experienced before) and I had noticed that they had removed the slightly tacky milk crates and replaced it with a proper glass ceiling – a signature Six Degrees touch with the multiple window shapes. It’s all systems go at Auction Rooms and it has never been better.

Out with the old and in with the new but there are some old habits I just can’t shake. With this thought, I ordered my long black with honor. Unfortunately, they had run out of their Single Origin so I had no choice but to order their Candy Man blend [$3.50]. It was no surprise that the blend was top notch and translated into an impressive morning beverage. Adjusting my long black with the additional boiled water had opened up the fruity flavours with a distinctive and lovely crisp taste.

With a change in appearance, Auction Rooms has also tweaked their brunch menu creating the “Weekend Menu”. Whilst it may come as a surprise to many (including myself) given the already high quality dishes, a change is always good. The menu comprises of new additions and favourites which should be inducted into the “Auction Rooms hall of fame”, if there ever was such an honor. Even with all these changes, I went for the classic but improved – “The shady deal” – Moroccan-style tomato and chorizo stew with eggplant, olives, poached eggs, dukkah & fetta, served with grilled flatbread [$16.50].

“The shady deal” – Moroccan-style tomato and chorizo stew with eggplant, olives, poached eggs, dukkah & fetta, served with grilled flatbread

The stewed tomato was fantastic, though at the start there was a distinctive spice that unfortunately faded away. The poached eggs were prepared to perfection and added a nice texture to the stew. The flat bread was a better addition than the typical sourdough bread, as it could be used to mop up the stew with the olives and eggplant to give more of an authentic taste. It’s a classic dish and on some levels is a conservative tasting dish, but what it lacks in innovation it brings big taste to surely curb your brunch needs.

With a lot of resistance to change within work, home or play, you only have to look at Auction Rooms to see that change is good. As for me? My thoughts of Auction Rooms has not change. It is fantastic.”

Miss SL:
“Evolution is the key to survival for every industry to stay fresh. Technology, fashion, television – all around us the world is growing and adapting in response to the surrounding environment. It had been such a long time since we visited our old favourite brunching establishment – Auction Rooms, who has also been evolving since our last visit. Auction Rooms have now introduced a weekend menu, which is more rigid than their previous menu. Alas, my favourite Knuckle Sandwich didn’t make the cut but other originals can still be found. The grungy crate roof in the outside patio has long but since been removed and has been replaced with a glass ceiling, bringing light and a sense of calm into the establishment.

On this occasion, we sat out the back and ordered our coffees. Since our visit to Balderdash, I had become hooked on Cold Drip coffees and went for the Candy Man blend [$5]. It was presented completely different to Balderdash - the coffee came in a tall glass, and was less dense than previous experience with cold drips. There was a prominent nectarine flavour which became very obvious upon first sip – perfect for the warm summers day I was experiencing.

To go with my cold drip, I ordered the Smoked mackerel fish cake – with confit egg yolk, sauce gribiche, watercress & salmon caviar [$17], something which I had not previously seen on their menu.

Smoked mackerel fish cake, with confit egg yolk, sauce gribiche, watercress & salmon caviar

When my meal came out I was surprised – the confit egg looked like a melon ball beside a sea of watercress that the smoked mackerel was perched beside. I started with the confit egg, as I was intrigued how it would taste. It was cool and creamy, completely cooked on the inside. I felt that it really showed the skills of the chefs in an unassuming way. The fish cake was cooked perfectly – crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

Smoked mackerel fish cake, with confit egg yolk, sauce gribiche, watercress & salmon caviar

Since my meal was a little light, we decided to share some brunch dessert – Flourless orange cake [~$5]. I was intrigued with what was in the centre of the dish and couldn’t wait to dig in. Slipping my fork into this delightful little orange cake I was hit with a pleasant rush of sugar, balanced with the flavours of the orange. The white in the middle of the cake was set icing sugar – visually making this dish look very appealing. Personally, I think it would have been better matched with softer, slightly runny icing sugar.

Flourless cake

Auction Rooms has been consistently excellent in terms of their service both on the floor and in the kitchen. In the past year, this already popular establishment has managed to evolve and change with the times, but maintain their best qualities (and popular dishes) at the same time. Auction Rooms will have a long and successful few years ahead of them and we look forward to seeing how they surprise us next.”

Final thought: “The new weekend menu offers the best of the old world and a taste of the new”

Auction Rooms on Urbanspoon

Filed under Brunch dessert, North Melbourne, Other Brunch Foods Tagged with , , , , , ,

Doing the Fandango

November 10, 2011 3 Comments

Location:
97 Errol Street,
North Melbourne VIC 3051

Opening Hours:
Tues – Sat:  7:30am – 3pm
Sun-Mon: Closed

Coffee: Coffee Supreme

Mr LB:
“We all have that denoted ‘to do list’. Written on this list is a number of jobs which usually starts with number 1: ‘Create a to do list’. The funny thing about a ‘to do list’ is that they rarely go away and ever so easily accumulate. It could be that unfinished Bunning’s idea that you saw on the ‘Renovators’ or a number of brunch reviews to complete. Here at Brunch Addict HQ, there is an extensive and list constantly evolving of cafes to blog and Fandango has been on our radar for quite some time. With that being said, it has taken us a whooping two years in the making to have the opportunity. This is not because it’s an arm length away from Auction Rooms or Di Bella and we get side tracked. Rather, every time we made the effort to go to Fandango it always seemed to be closed. Fandango is a cafe which believes that Sunday and Monday are the days of rest – and they practice what they preach. However, don’t be deterred by this, as we quickly discovered that while this little cafe lies amongst heavy competition, it sure packs a punch.

Their coffee is supplied from Coffee Supreme, which we have tasted and reviewed in previous blogs. Whilst, in the past I have expressly outlined that it isn’t my favorite, it appears to be growing on me. This isn’t to say that it is a remarkable blend, but there seems to be improvement. On this occasion, the head was very faint and had already broken away upon serving. Initially there was a real musky taste to this coffee, however this may have been attributed to the coffee being unusually hot. Once the coffee had settled and cooled, there was a crisp taste on the back palate whilst very soft flavours came forth to the front.

Looking at the brunch menu at Fandango, you may draw the conclusion that the food is as simple as their menu titles. With a title like Avocado and Tomato- with basil pesto and cracked pepper on toasted sourdough [$13.50]- add bacon and poached egg [19.50], there wasn’t much excitement. Well my prejudice sure served me wrong!

Avocado and Tomato- with basil pesto and cracked pepper on toasted sourdough- add bacon and poached egg”

I usually make notes as I eat my dish to jog my memory when I write-up, however there was no notes written on this occasion. There was no need – my meal was flat-out amazing. The quality of the meal was second to none with all produce being fresh and prepared perfectly. The pesto was crunchy with  pine nuts, which was perfect when spread on the fresh sourdough. The bacon comprised of the right texture outside and soft juice middle and the eggs were poached perfectly. It was firm on the outside, but once pieced it o0zed a lovely yellow colour. Whilst simplistic ingredients have been used, the quality of the ingredients and the preparation which made this dish amazing.

Pear muffin

Brunch desert is always a consideration, however there are some instances when it’s just impossible. Once we were seated I had noticed the sweet looking Pear muffin[$3.60] next to the barista station and from that moment I knew it was mine. With that said, I was quite satisfied after my amazing meal and left leaving with a brown paper bag. When my appetite had returned, I can confirm this muffin was of a high standard. It was well crafted and shaped without crumbling. The fresh pear pieces brings the perfect level of sweetness to mix with the naturally light muffin. The muffin represents Fandango -  while not being flamboyant with its size or decor, the taste sure delivered what every cafe should aim for – a no compromise to quality.”

Miss SL:
“Ever since our first visit to Auction Rooms, Mr LB and I have been talking about going to Fandango, two doors down. That was two years ago. Every time we seemed to be in the area or passed the place it was closed. We were beginning to think that it would be a bit of challenge to find a day that it was opened!

Knowing that it was closed on Sundays, we made a special Saturday attempt to have brunch there. Auction Rooms was packed and the line looked to be a good 30 minute wait. In comparisons, the wait at Fandango was only 15-20 minutes. The interior was kitch and cosy, looking like a converted 1980s/90s hair salon. The limited seating space was a real down-fall to this place, although there was a courtyard out the back which looked just perfect for a sunny day.

During my wait I was spying on some people’s dishes which made my choice very easy once seated – Beetroot Eggs – poached eggs with beetroot and feta relish served with spinach on toasted sourdough [$15.50] add mushrooms [$18.50]. Kitchen service was efficient in comparison to a lot of other high-quality cafes, with food served in approximately 15 minutes and boy, was it magnificent looking!

The beetroot and feta relish was such a simple concept and yet so refreshing and tasty. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t something I’d had before. The feta was creamy and the beetroot zingy and juicy, creating a beautiful cohesion of flavours. The purple-red juices stained the relish and added a burst of colour to the dish. My eggs were perfectly cooked and dripped with yolk once pierced.

Beetroot Eggs – poached eggs with beetroot and feta relish served with spinach on toasted sourdough

My sourdough was thick and crunchy and didn’t become soggy with the egg and the relish. The spinach and mushrooms made this vegetarian breakfast complete. The mushrooms were sautéed in butter, but perfectly done so that the butter was not overpowering.

Fandango was the best brunch I’d had in a long time. It felt like forever since I’d been out to brunch somewhere where I’d walked away thinking ‘that place was amazing’. If they had a larger outlay (and maybe switched to a better coffee bean) they could definitely give Auction Rooms a run for their money. Watch out Melbourne, there’s a quite achiever sitting amongst the big guns.”

Final Thought: “Quiet achiever that could take on the big guns. A must try.”

Fandango on Urbanspoon

Filed under Brunch dessert, Eggs (Other), North Melbourne, Vegetarian Breakfast Tagged with , , , , ,

Winning bids for Auction Rooms

March 17, 2011 10 Comments

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7am – 5pm
Sat – Sun: 7:30am – 4pm
Note: Auction Rooms usually do dinner but are currently undergoing continued renovation and menu revisions. Please check out their website for the most up to date opening hours.

Coffee: Small Batch House Blend, Single Origin, Specialised Coffee Blends, Siphon Coffee, Pourover, French Press

Mr LB:
“North Melbourne was once known for being a working class area with an abundance of factories and littered with dodgy pubs. It would have been like living in the Bronx. Turn the clock forward and we find that this once hard-working suburb is now bursting with culture, food, bars and shops. There are many gems which I could account for, but there is one which I hold higher than the rest – Auctions Rooms.

The location itself is by far a spectacle and full of history, once being the auction rooms of ‘WB Ellis’. With the help and inspiration from 6 Degree Architects, they have turned this warehouse space into an inviting open-planned cafe. There are various seating options in and outside – including a courtyard. With the recent renovation additions, you can sit at the coffee bar and admire the art of coffee siphoning. The ambiance and decor provides something special to brunch goers which is not only alluring but indicates that this is no ordinary cafe.

Auction Rooms take their coffee very seriously.  As you would expect, they roast their own beans in-house under the label Small Batch. I am a big fan of the Candyman [$3.50] blend in a long black – not just in taste but also presentation. The blend itself is comprised from three beans from Guatemala, El Salvador and Ethiopia. However, what makes this long black so appealing is the ability to vary the flavours and strength of the coffee. The coffee is brewed 2/3 into the coffee cup and the additional 1/3 is boiled water in a miniature jar.  This enables the drinker to tailor their coffee to their liking. The coffee embodies a slight fruity and leaves a sweet, rich flavour on the palate.  This coffee is seriously addictive.

Auction Rooms are known for its reasonable price and high quality brunch menu. There is a lot of creative thought which goes into their dishes.  Upon arriving in the early afternoon and being a surprising hot day, I took the punt and went for the Tea smoked ocean trout, mango and avocado salad with baby cos, green beans, red onion, kipfler potatoes & a honey rosemary dressing [$14.50]. I don’t usually order the salad as I generally see them as boring and an uneventful filler to compensate the minority. When plated the dish looked very appealing, but I will admit I did have a huge food envy of Ms SLs Knuckle Sandwich.

Tea smoked ocean trout, mango and avocado salad with baby cos, green beans, red onion, kipfler potatoes & a honey rosemary dressing

The salad was fresh and it was surprising to taste the amount of flavours captured in the dish. The trout had a well-defined smokey taste with generous portions, it was soft and absorbed the sweet dressing. The potatoes had a fantastic rich taste and worked well with the salad leaves and red onions. The green beans had that fresh crunch without being raw and the two different types of cherry tomatoes allowed for different flavours to shine through. The salad was a winner for me and was an innovative unch experience if one is not keen for a hearty brunch.

I have previously been to Auction Rooms on a number of occasions and my prejudice is quite noticeable. There is no doubt where my appreciation lies and I only insist you all do try this wonderful place and come to your own conclusion.  I will say this, there this no room for disappointment with such a marvellous location, fantastic decor, exceptional coffee and innovative brunch dishes.”

Miss SL:
“Another gorgeous Sunday morning and after having the Forgotten Fruits High Tea the afternoon before at Southpaw Bar (apologies, the photos came out so terrible we could not blog about it), I was craving a sandwich. And not just any sandwich – I was looking forward to having Auction Rooms’ Knuckle Sandwich, which I spotted on Melbourne Gastronome‘s site a few months back.

We arrived rather late, missing the 11am brunch crowd which was great, because on arrival we were whisked straight to a table. It was hot, so I thought I would try an Iced Coffee [$4], just to mix things up a little bit. It looked delicious when it arrived. I had to mix a little panela in with it, but it was tasty and hit the spot regardless. The best thing about iced coffee is that there’s no rush to drink it quickly before it gets cold.

Iced Coffee

We quickly ordered our food, and despite being mildly side-tracked with the Grilled Wagyu Rump Sandwich, with pickled mushrooms, salsa rossa, rocket & chimichurri served with beetroot chips [$19], I stuck to my guns and ordered the “De Knuckle Sandwich” – braised pork knuckle, piccalilli, rocket & aged cheddar in a warm cabiatta roll, served with mixed pickle [$14.50]. Goodness, here we come!
While we waited for our meals, we perused The Age and enjoyed the trendy, chic vibe of Auction Rooms. We’d been here many times before, but not since their renovations.

“De Knuckle Sandwich” – braised pork knuckle, piccalilli, rocket & aged cheddar in a warm cabiatta roll, served with mixed pickle

Our food came out and I was overcome by smugness. What a feast! I knew Mr LB would be overcome with food envy, which he quickly revealed as soon as our waitress left.

The first thing I tried was the piccalilli - it was delicious! The way the zucchini was spiced was incredible - it was still crunchy and had a definite bite to it. It was perfectly salted and I knew that it would be well-matched to the braised pork knuckle. And I was right. It was cooked to perfection, melting in my mouth. The aged cheddar was melted to the top slice of the cabiatta roll to ensure that it wasn’t lost in the mix of ingredients mashed into this monster meal. This was the perfect sandwich for my unch of a brunch experience, and it kept me well satisfied throughout the day.

We decided on a bit of a brunch-dessert and opted for the Rhubarb Tart [$6] to share. It was served with fresh cream and had a savory shortbread crust, topped with a sweet shortbread crumble and icing sugar. The tart was extremely sweet – too much so for my tastebuds, but Mr LB really enjoyed it.

Rhubarb Tart

Auction Rooms has long been one of my top favourite brunch locations and my Knuckle Sandwich was so good, it should become their signature dish.

Final thought: “A long time-favourite and a must try!”

Auction Rooms on Urbanspoon

Filed under Brunch dessert, North Melbourne, Other Brunch Foods Tagged with , , , , ,

A Warehouse full of Coffee

January 24, 2011 4 Comments

Coffee: Di Bella’s House Blend, Specialised Coffee Blends

Mr LB:

“As Melburnians, it’s fair to say that we take our coffee pretty seriously. If a coffee order is incorrect, burnt or poorly executed, it’s likely a cafe will lose clientele fast. This attitude has led cafes to be more innovative upon serving the perfect coffee. A recent trend is cafes roasting their own beans or buying beans that have been roasted in Australia. While many cafes have only just started jumping on this bandwagon, Di Bella’s Coffee Roasting Warehouse has been roasting its own coffee beans since 2002. Their fundamental aim is the pursuit of ‘the Ultimate Coffee Experience’ and from my perspective, they where up there.

Assortment of coffee blends on offer

Without sounding like a 20-something-yuppie, a cafe which offers more than one type of coffee blend is a cafe I get excited about like a kid in a toy store. Di Bella’s Coffee Roasting Warehouse doesn’t just offer an additional blend, but three alongside the traditional house blend. Upon chatting to the very friendly barista, I had chosen the Rainforest Allian Peru blend in a long black. The bean was medium roasted which had given the body of the coffee a soft texture that was spicy with chocolate flavours streaming through the palate. There was no harsh after taste, but a rather delightful smooth finish. With inviting aromas that had a floral hint, this coffee was happily consumed and absolutely delightful.

The food menu had a wealth of dishes to choose from, with a division between the breakfast and brunch menus.  Having nursed an unsuspected hangover with a mighty appetite, I was in need of hearty dish and selected the Warehouse breakfast of two eggs (poached or scrambled), smoked bacon, braised mushroom, cherry tomatoes, hash browns & spinach with sourdough [$18.90].

The dish was filling and to some level satisfying, but overall there was no real ‘wow’ factor. The poached eggs were nice and soft with a layer of vinegar, which gives a unique taste but a little overpowering. The mushrooms were sautéed well and the cherry tomatoes had been gently cook and greased in oil to give added flavour. The hash browns had a soft and sweet taste that complemented the dish well, which was interestingly prepared in small pieces.

Warehouse breakfast of two eggs (poached or scrambled), smoked bacon, braised mushroom, cherry tomatoes, hash browns & spinach with sourdough

Miss SL was kind enough to allow me to sample her meal and what a sample it was. This dish was clearly in a league of its own, which provided a refreshing taste that screamed at me to have more.

Brunch-dessert was a clear intention for both me and Miss SL and from the very seductive selection of cakes, tarts and baked items, we settled on sharing a Pistachio tart [$4.20]. This tart was exceptional and the flavours of the roasted pistachio and the fillings. It was baked perfectly with no scrimping on the ingredients. The tart didn’t give a heavy feeling and it definitely delivered a wow factor.

Pistachio tart

Di Bella Roasting Warehouse gives a unique brunch experience with numerous selections of bends to suit everyone needs for a fabulous coffee. Their brunch menu is something I look to further explore and with its location and the ambience from the layout, it is a must for anyone who considers themselves a brunch goer.”

Miss SL:
“Mr LB and I have been doing Sunday brunch long before we even started to consider blogging about our adventures. What we have found is not surprising - a lazy Sunday brunch with friends can often mean up to 30 minutes wait before a table is available, which is why I was surprised when my friend the Doctor called to say she had already scored a table for seven with little to no wait at all. As I pulled up in my car and started walking to Di Bella’s Coffee Roasting Warehouse I immediately loved what I saw – a converted warehouse space where the shed door was graffitied and opened into the cafe, where people were idly chatting relaxing. A brief wander around the vicinity revealed a great fitting. The cafe was split into three areas – as you enter through the shed doors there is the dining area, and to the right is the counter to make your order and shop around for you coffee related items (such as cups, filters, coffee machines and magazines).

As you make your way towards the back of the area the coffee roasting machine can be spotted, along with bagfuls of sample beans. Further passed that is an outdoor ‘coffee garden’, where you can sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. The cakes near the front counter looked delectable, and I knew I would have to save a little space for brunch-dessert.

The menu for Di Bella’s Coffee Roasting Warehouse was huge, and offered both a well-sized breakfast menu and a separate brunch menu. As it was nearing lunchtime  and I thought that I would go the brunch menu, and ended up ordering the Citrus Calamari w/ achar masala, bitter leaf salad w/ fennel, pickled cucumber, preserved lemon and mandarin oil [$15.50] and a soy latte. I have to say that the speed of the service was refreshingly fast. I’ve had brunches before where food has taken up to 30 minutes to come out onto the table, but not so here. My latte was in front of me within minutes, and my meal was delivered only 15 minutes after that.

Di Bella’s house blend soy latte

My latte was delicious – the milk was perfectly heated, the texture was smooth and the beans were slightly woody in flavour. My citrus calamari and salad was – in all honesty – the best I’ve ever had. The calamari was not too chewy or rubbery, and the flavours of the achar were immediate but not overpowering on the tongue. The salad was a magnificent combination of crunch, zest and bitterness and was perfectly matched to the calamari.  The pickled cucumber was well disguised in amongst the salad and offered a zesty punch alongside the preserved lemon to the crunchy fennel.

Citrus Calamari w/ achar masala, bitter leaf salad w/ fennel, pickled cucumber, preserved lemon & mandarin oil

I tasted Mr LB’s Warehouse breakfast and it was all well made without being outstanding. The eggs tasted slightly of vinegar, often used to help poach the eggs. The hash browns were delicious and worth a mention, despite the fact that they looked so perfect that you suspect at first glance that they’re store-bought.

The Doctor has ordered the Lightly toasted sourdough w/ avocado, capsicum cream cheese, extra virgin olive oil with 2 poached eggs [$16.90]. Atop the 2 slices of sourdough was sliced avocado and the eggs nestled in amongst the generous amounts of freshly made capsicum cream cheese. While the capsicum cream cheese was fresh, the end result was similar to capsicum dip and seemed rather uninspired.

Given the quality of my dish in comparison to the above, Mr LB and I agreed that perhaps the brunch menu was more exciting and original than the breakfast menu.

Di Bella’s Coffee Roasting Warehouse offers things on the menu I definitely would like to come back and try, such as the Lamb salad of greens, pearl cous cous and pomegranate [$17.90] or the Confit garlic mushrooms on brioche w/ spinach, feta & roasted tomato [$13.90]. Given the speed of the service and the quality of the meal I had today, I would say that trip would not be too much further down the  track.”

Final thought: “Best Calamari and Salad”

Di Bella Coffee Roasting Warehouse on Urbanspoon

It’s probably also worth noting that within walking distance is the North Melbourne Markets, held on the last Sunday of every month situated in the The Lithuanian Club [44 Errol Street]. It’s $2 entry, but you get to pursue over 70 stalls containing vintage wear, local designers and tasty treats.

Filed under Big Breakfast, Brunch dessert, Calamari, Hash brown, North Melbourne, Other Brunch Foods Tagged with , , , , ,

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