The Truman Show

Perched on the corner of Kerferd Road and Montangue Street (Albert Park) is Truman café. Relatively new to the café scene, it makes it’s mark with it's topsy turvy classroom esq furniture, simple yet delicious food and staff that are more than accommodating.

The seating area at the front of the café is a muddled mix of different coloured chairs and tables, retro style watering cans and potted plants that give the venue a quirky sense of charm.

The menu offers a variety of breakfast choices; standard must- haves – eggs, any way you like, with a side of whatever you like, all at very reasonable prices. Favourites include ‘Connie’s Eggs’ - poached eggs in Napoli sauce with chorizo and spinach on a toasted baguette. Breakfast rolls are as mouthed watering as they sound on the menu as when you pick them up with two hands and have delicious homemade relish dripping onto your plate! The buns are fresh and powdery ciabatta rolls and are filled with different breakfast ingredients - the scrambled eggs, spring onion, tomato relish and bacon being a popular choice.

Lunch is equally as appealing with salads, soups and sandwiches. The sandwich favourite – halouimi, caramalised beetroot, onion jam, watercress and mayo is packed with flavour and punch and can be washed down with any of the fresh juices/smoothies or homemade lemonade. 

Magic on Brunswick Street - The Alchemist

Peeping in through the heavily curtained windows of the Alchemist the glimmering candlelight and the wax smouldering chandeliers are enough to catch your attention and entice you inside. 

A plush rogue colour dominates the inside of this sultry little cocktail bar. Rugs,  antique looking arm chairs and chaise longs are embellished with a velvety finish, creating a luxurious and sensual atmosphere. Looking around the bar one soon realises the medicinal touches that have been featured to create The Alchemist's History. Old medicinal cabinets filled with different sized bottles occupy the nooks and crannys of the bar. A feature wall plastered with black and white photographs of famous alchemists showcases the likes of Eeinstein. Battered and beaten books lie about the marble topped tables creating a talking point for all those that don't already have enough to say about this weird and wonderful establishment.

The bar itself is made of century old pharmacy cabinets that have been lovingly restored and above it hang utensils and tools that most certainly belong to another era. The bartenders are dressed in breeches and embrace their role within the theatrical performance of potion making. The cocktail list, or rather the potion list, is endless. Among the concoctions, priced at around $18 a drink,  you will find cocktails named The Alchemist Zombie and I Love Apple Pie and all cocktails are listed with a glass description, aroma and taste. Whatever you desire, you will find on the menu and if not the staff will more than happily create something especially for you. The alchemists will dazzle you with their potion making skills and equally as magical charm! Watch as they perform their cocktail making duties with an art - fire and smoke, dry ice and steam, these guys will give you a show worth watching!

The people that frequent this bar are as an eclectic a mix as the cocktails. Whether it be a group of friends that know the bartenders and the cocktail list like the back of their hand or a loved up couple looking to snuggle into a corner and drink the night away the vibe is one of relaxation and fun. The music is never the same but you can be sure the bartenders and wait staff will be singing and dancing along mingling in with the customers by 11. 

If you fancy a nibble alongside your cocktails there is a tapas list (priced around $8 - 14 per dish) that features mini lamb burgers with chilli jam, melted Camembert and rocket, haloumi with capers, parsley and orange and a range of other mouthwatering bites. If you fancy something bigger the menu is fairly limited so your best bet is to select  a few of the tapas dishes or,  opt for The Alchemist Degustation. 

Certainly a bar to visit when you aren't feeling to worried about counting your pennies and when you are in the mood for some fun.

A Local Favourite - Breakfast at my doorstep

Before moving to Australia breakfast was my least favourite meal of the day. It was simply a case of 'I must eat this bowl of oats now otherwise I will be starving hungry in about 2 hours time and eat an entire bag of jelly babies!'

Now, I long for the weekends when I can go out and eat breakfast like a king. Living in Carlton I am surrounded by cafes and restaurants all boasting breakfast menus that scream out to me. Aussies do breakfast much better than the English I am afraid to admit - there seems to be a lot more imagination.

Bircher muesli is a big YES for me. So far, of all the one's I have tried (and there have been a few!) Mister Close (target centre on Bourke St) top's my list. If you like creamy, rich, but not too sweet, this is the breakfast bowl for you! A generous dollop of seasonal poached fruits sits on top of a mountain of oats and yogurt. Raw apple slices and a side of  a honeyed nut mix complete this breakfast delight and for those that want to go all out you can even pour on some fresh orange juice to really live on the wild side!

Getting back to the focus of this post - Cafe Lua.

Unlike most of the restaurants on my doorstep Cafe Lua is not part of the Little Italy Group - and that's probably why it grabbed my eye!

Breakfast is by far the most appealing meal on the menu. With dishes ranging from quinoa porridge (which has the most delicious nutty taste due to its almond milk and pistachio flavouring) to pumpkin and chia seed pancakes (it may not sound breakfasty but if you are looking for a satisfying and savoury brunch type option this is it!) this cafe offers the perfect cure to whatever your weekend ailment may be!

If eggs are your chosen dish you will have a hard time deciding how you want them done! Traditionally - poached, scrambled or fried or perhaps a bit more exotically - scrambled with chipotle and feta?! The Huevos Rancheros dish is a personal favourite of mine - the spicy chorizo is a perfect combination with the salsa and rocket that accompanies this Spanish style egg breakfast.

The corn cake stake is a GREAT hangover cure! It isn't stodgy, but gives you enough of a full and satisfied feeling to truly kid yourself you have soaked up all the poisons you put in your body the night before!

This cafe is a definite must for all those that love to breakfast in a place that sings out songs of happiness. The staff are always smiling and eager to tell you the story behind their workplace and the artwork that features inside it. The decor is especially cute - when presented with the bill it came out on a tray with a tin duck that rolled along when you wound it up! There is nothing pretentious about this cafe - it is simply a gorgeous spot for locals or explorers - whether you come from around  the corner or the next suburb along you are made to feel at home.
http://www.cafelua.com/

Who said being a Vego was boring?

When I order a steak I get it medium rare - pink, tender and pretty bloody. 

Meat accompanies most of my meals and needless to say when my dad announced he was remarrying a vegetarian 2 years ago, I was horrified! 

However... eating like a vegetarian is something I have grown to love. Not only do you avoid the temptation to gorge yourself on that incredibly unhealthy beef burger, that may result in meat sweats (!), but, you can walk away from a meal feeling pretty light and healthy. 

The Veggie Bar on Brunswick Street is the first Veggie establishment I have visited since arriving in Oz and I was not disappointed.

Like most of the joints on Brunswick Street it has that quirky, charismatic feel to it that seems to portray the best of Melbourne's foodie culture. The fact that you are fighting for a table by 6pm is a clear mark of the Veggie Bar's popularity. The staff make up a mix of  multiple nationalities and all are friendly and accommodating, happy to share what their favourite dish is on the menu.

With an array of healthy fresh juices and smoothies you are spoilt for choice - the carob,banana and honey smoothie is a MUST - but either as a dessert (if you have room after the more than generous main courses) or a breakfast.

The food menu itself is excellent value for money and there is definitely something for everyone - salads, stirfrys, pastas, wraps, burgers and so it goes on! The menu is truly international and allows for all types of Veggie delights! 

I opted for the samosa to start followed by the Tagine. The samosa was crispy and delicious, accompanied by tzatziki and a tomato chutney. The Tagine was tasty - roasted veggies on a bed of cous cous. The heat of the Tagine caught me slightly by surprise! If you aren't too fond of spice make sure to spread the natural yogurt side over the Tagine BEFORE you put your fork straight into the Harissa paste and dig a mouthful of the cous cous! My only criticism with the Tagine would be the sweet potato - it seemed to dominate a bit and was slightly under cooked. Despite that the flavours were excellent - the sprinkling of dukkah on top of the Tagine added a rich nutty taste that went nicely with the sultanas that had been mixed through the cous cous. Bland is definitely not a word I would use for the food or the atmosphere of this funky restaurant.

I will definitely be heading back soon to try as many of the dishes as I can. I suffer from serious food envy and I think all tables within a 100m radius felt my eyes glaring over to their tables! Going on looks, I would definitely say the soba noodles with tofu in a satay sauce needs to be tasted! And...for all those that don't reckon their boyfriends/husbands would ever set foot in a veggie place, let alone find something they enjoy (heaven forbid in a vegetarian restaurant!) I reckon the man sized burrito that comes with a generous side of chips would keep them satisfied!