Braking for Breakfast: August 2014

The Baker's Arms

After a miserable rainy Saturday, Brisbane returned to its gorgeous sunny self the next day. I woke up feeling surprisingly energetic after a lateish night out and decided to go for a ride. I texted C to see if he was also up for a ride and he was so after meeting at my place, we set off and decided to head towards Woolloongabba and find something small for breakfast there. It was a later than usual start around and the weather was lovely and warm so we had an enjoyable ride along the river towards the Goodwill Bridge and after crossing, heading past the Mater Hospital toward the Gabba. After reading a review of new East Brisbane restaurant Catbird Seat Bistro I was interested to see what they had on offer but wasn't feeling anything in particular there. So we walked our bikes a little further towards old favourite Paw Paw but the line was long and we were on a semi-deadline with a soccer game to play just after lunchtime. Despite loving Pearl Cafe, we weren't feeling it and although the Spanish-inspired menu at Canvas sounded amazing, it was a bit heavy for a pre-soccer meal. So we headed across the road to The Baker's Arms. I'd been there before and thought it might have something easy and quick.

The Baker's Arms is a specialty bakehouse in the Logan Rd precinct of shops and restaurants and serve up freshly baked items for breakfast and lunch daily. On top of the usual pastries, cakes and pies that you'd expect to find at a bakery, they make fresh sandwiches on house-made bread, muffins and other savoury items such as vegetarian tarts, vegetable rolls and frittata that are served with salads. The items baked change daily and there is no set menu - you simply look inside the display cabinets and on the counter and choose from the large array of sweet and savoury items. Now as someone who can't eat regular bread, going to a bakery doesn't sound like the smartest idea but The Baker's Arms have plenty of gluten-free options and also caters for vegetarians and the lactose intolerant. On the day we were there they had Spiced Indian Vegie Bhaji with vegan tzatziki ($9) which is what C chose to order. I was initially feeling Bircher muesli, which The Bakers Arms offers for $8.50 and is served with fresh strawberries and honey. But at the last minute, I spotted the tray of Pear and Sour Cherry Spelt Crumble ($8.50) which was served with Greek yoghurt and decided on that. We ordered at the counter along with our coffees ($3.50) and found a table outside in the warm sun.

Within 5 minutes our coffees arrived - long black with milk on the side for me and a short macchiato for C. The Baker's Arms uses Campos beans, which is one of my favourites, and they use them well. My long black was strong without any bitterness. A few minutes later our meals arrived, served on old school white enamel plates with bright blue rims. C's bhaji was served warm (obviously reheated) with the tzaziki on the side and a leafy green salad accompanied it. The bhaji had large chunks of sweet potato and potato throughout it and was strong in Indian flavour. C commented that the tzaziki was too sweet for his liking but generally enjoyed his meal. My spelt crumble was served in a bowl with some thick Greek yoghurt on the side at room temperature. The large chunks of pear were soft but still with some bite and the sour Morello cherries added delicious flavour and tartness to the sweet pear. The spelt crumb wasn't overly floury and had oats, nuts and seeds mixed through which added texture to the soft fruit. The yoghurt was cream and unexpectedly mild in flavour but worked well with the crumble. Overall I loved it and was a great alternative to standard muesli.

Spiced Indian Vegie Bhaji with vegan tzatziki ($9)

Pear and sour cherry spelt crumble with Greek yoghurt ($8.50)

The Baker's Arms is a great spot for a quick or leisurely breakfast or lunch or even just coffee and a small snack. Service is quick and friendly, coffee is good and there is a large range of options to choose from and all appear to be $10 or under. Meals are therefore on the smaller side but that just means if you're hungry, you can try several things! It's easy to cycle to and, if driving, there is ample parking around the area although given the number of popular spots in the precinct it can get busy.

BIKEABILITY

Ease of access: 9/10 (Easily accessibly via road and bikeways)
Parking: 8/10 (A few bike racks around but not many)

http://www.thebakersarms.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/thebakersarms29

Freshly baked pastries and breads

Some of the savoury options

Wholegrain spelt flour features in several items

Monday, August 25, 2014
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Spring Hill Deli

breakfast

It was a miserable rainy Saturday morning and I was still recovering from some sort of flu going around (the Ekka flu?) so riding to the West End markets did not sound appealing. C agreed and was nice enough to pick me up to still have our weekly market trip. Given that we had a car, we decided that we'd try somewhere different and less-rideable for breakfast. I suggested Spring Hill Deli on Boundary St as I don't get there very often and C had only been once. Unfortunately it was 7:45 when we drove past and were greeted with a very obviously closed cafe - it doesn't open until 9 so we decided to market up first and come back.

It was a pretty sad market trip, battling the rain and having half the stalls missing, so I was really looking forward to our breakfast! When we returned at 9:30, it was already looking packed but luckily we got a seat. Spring Hill Deli is a family-run cafe that uses local products and deli produce, some of which they sell in the small deli section in an off-shoot section of the cafe. They bake and make a lot of their food where possible, including some of their bread. It's located in a small converted red house and is hard to miss. Parking can be tricky around there but luckily C found a park just across the street.

After finding a seat, menus and water were brought out quickly. The menu, attached to a clipboard, is entitled 'Our Whole Food Brunch Menu' and is real comfort brunch food. The Baked oatmeal, drizzled w. maple and served w. berry compote & Greek yoghurt ($15) sounded appealing as did the House made organic grain bread, topped w. labna, avocado, Spanish onion, fresh smoked salmon & poached eggs, served w. dill creme fraiche ($22). But it was too hard to go past the same thing I always order - Israeli Shashuka w. poached eggs, topped w. feta & parsley & served w. toasted sourdough ($17). C decided the Braised Steak & onions, served w. fried eggs & toasted pane ($17). I also ordered my usual Long Black ($3.50) with milk on the side. It took a while for a waitress to come and take our order which was frustrating but they don't have a lot of staff and they were busy.

Long Black ($3.50)

My long black arrived quickly and was smooth. The Maleny Cows milk (Maleny Dairies?) added creaminess to the slightly acidic taste that I think Cup coffee has. Not a bad thing, just I've noticed it's one of the sourer blends I've had. I hadn't been feeling overly hungry before but after the market trip and seeing plates of other customer's breakfasts going past (the Eggs Benedict was a popular choice!) and luckily meals didn't seem to take too long to arrive.

Braised Steak & onions, served w. fried eggs & toasted pane ($17)

Israeli Shashuka w. poached eggs, topped w. feta & parsley & served w. toasted sourdough ($17)

C was served his steak meal first and it was a huge plate of two pieces of toast with chunks of steak mixed through a thick onion gravy sauce on top of several spinach leaves and two fried eggs on top. It was one hearty looking breakfast! My Shashuka arrived shortly afterwards in a cast iron pan atop a wooden board with two pieces of sliced sandwich bread on the side. It was as I fondly remembered, although I was disappointed that it no longer came with their homemade gluten-free grain bread! Still, the Shashuka was a super thick rich tomato sauce with perfectly baked eggs and a very generous scattering of creamy feta and parsley. The eggs were perfectly cooked with the whites slightly soft but crispy near the pan edge and the yolks were soft and gooey. Cutting into those yolks was complete yolk porn - if you are an egg yolk freak like me then check out @yolkporn on Instagram! The Shashuka was perfectly seasoned and the bread helped to cut through the intensity and richness of the sauce, which was incredibly tomato-y. Altogether it was absolutely delicious and remains my favourite Shashuka/Baked Eggs in Brisbane. C was equally happy with his meal. I had a bit of his steak and the meat was tender and the sauce was really flavoursome. The meals were huge and we both struggled to finish them.

Payment is at the counter and so I asked about the gluten-free bread, which they sold in loaves last time I'd been there. Apparently they hadn't made it in a while but the waitress promised to pass on my disappointment and compliments about the bread so hopefully it makes a comeback sometime! Some of the baked goods on the counter looked appealing but I was so full that I couldn't contemplate eating anything else. C and I left absolutely stuffed but very happy with our rainy day breakfast. It was the perfect place to go - warm, comforting and delicious! I wasn't hungry until dinnertime, which is very rare for me! I'll definitely be making a return trip soon.

https://www.facebook.com/springhilldeli

Close up of the deliciously feta-y Shashuka

A mini library on the back wall available for your perusal and donations welcome

Lunch menu at the counter

Freshly baked treats

Whole Food Brunch Menu

Spring Hill Deli and Produce on Urbanspoon

Monday, August 25, 2014
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The Hidden Caffeine Hit

cbd

Ever since I first visited Melbourne in high school for a Future Problem Solving (read: super-geeky extra-curricular activity) competition, I have loved everything about it - the fast and convenient public transport, the huge assortment of shops, the wide range of cultural events and, most of all, the fabulous food and consistently good coffee. Well, perhaps I don't love the weather...but the shopping always made me forget about that! For years I've wished that Brisbane was just a bit more Melbourne-like and have been sorely tempted to just move there. But Brisbane has really grown in the last few years and now has just as many great shops (if I still wore them, I wouldn't need to travel so far to get my mildly provocative FCUK tees!), high quality local coffee roasters, exciting events almost every weekend and I just can't keep up with the vast array of excellent eateries that keep opening. Public transport still has a way to go but hey, I have a bike and our weather is phenomenal!

One thing in particular that I always love about Melbourne is the hidden shops and cafes that you just happen to stumble upon when walking down a random laneway. Brisbane is following suit with the redevelopment of inner-city laneways such as Burnett Lane (home to Felix), Winn Lane in the Valley and Spencer Lane, behind the Euro, as part of the BCC's Vibrant Laneways project. The coffee scene in Brisbane has really taken off with a number of local roasterys starting up in the last few years and I find when walking down the Queen St Mall in the morning, the majority of people are holding a takeaway cup of coffee. But where do you get good coffee? Sure, the coffee from Starbucks or the Coffee Club will give you that much-needed caffeine hit but if you want good coffee, sometimes you just need to go hunting. Here are a few of my favourites:

The Gresham

Bar by night, fabulous coffee pit-stop by morning. The Gresham is in Gresham Lane in the old NAB building on the corner of Queen & Creek Streets. Walking in, you may feel like you've been transported to your grandpa's den and that a cigar would go nicely with a glass of whisky from one of the many options lining the shelves behind the bar. And then you realise it's 7am and perhaps a tad early for that type of stiff drink and that a dose of caffeine would hit the spot. The Gresham uses Toby's Estate Coffee beans and a cup will set you back $4 for a small or $5 for a large, with non-dairy milk options or single origin an extra $5. There's a good chance your coffee will be expertly made by Ryan Goody, winner of The Urban Lists' Best Barista award, and served with a smile. They also have pastries and muffins on offer as well as toast with a range of spreads. The Gresham offer coffee & breakfast snack specials so you can get a coffee and toast with Vegemite/peanut butter/Nutella/marmalade/jam for a measly $5.50! Amazing. Tip: If you bring your own KeepCup (or similar) you can get a large coffee for the price of a small. Yes, you can be rewarded for saving the environment with coffee. I've had an excellent long black (strong without any bitterness) there but I'm also a fan of the flat white on almond milk at The Gresham to go with my strawberry jam on toast.

308-322 Queen St (corner of Queen St & Creek St)

http://www.thegresham.com.au/

The Dark Chocolatier

OK, it's not exactly super hidden but you don't generally associate 'Best Chocolate Ever' with 'Delicious Coffee'. The Dark Chocolatier on Adelaide St is one of the locations for the Noosa Chocolate Factory and walking in to the tiny shop, you will be hit with the sweet scent of chocolate and faced with trays of chocolate covered goodness and bags of the best rocky road ever. Be strong, look straight ahead and slightly up to see their coffee, mocha and hot chocolate menu. Sure, you'd expect some decent hot chocolate to come out of a specialty chocolate store but the staff also create some deliciously, creamy coffee from Fonzie Abbott beans. The Maleny Dairies Guernsey milk helps but I swear that somehow the chocolate magically infuses itself into the coffee somehow. A small coffee (8oz) will cost you $3.50 and a large (16oz) is $4. And then once you've ordered your coffee, you may find yourself picking up a few dark chocolate covered blueberries or a piece of Amy's handmade brownies which sit so invitingly on the counter. Dark chocolate is good for you right? My standard long black with a bit of cold milk always comes hot and strong with a creamy flavour.

156 Adelaide St

http://www.noosachocolatefactory.com.au/

John Mills Himself

It's actually a bit of a hike to get to this one and is really not easily visible from Elizabeth Street. Luckily a helpful sign with a wise quote directs you to the general area from street level. Once you find that, walk down the dark driveway and you will find a line of people queuing most mornings. Trust me and join that queue. John Mills Himself are related to Bunker Coffee at Milton and take their coffee seriously. They rotate the beans they use between local roasters and offer a range of options including espresso, filter, cold-press and Aeropress. A small (8oz) is $3.50 and a large (8oz) is $4. The coffee I've had there was fantastic but what really tempts me every time is their hot chocolates ($4.50) which are made on your choice of white, milk or dark chocolate and are infused with a range of unusual flavoured oils such as rose, lemongrass and lime. If you're looking for something a little different, ask for the 'Pad Thai'. Eat options are limited to a small range of pastries on the counter but those raspberry and pistachio friands look delightful. If you've got the time, I suggest that you take a seat at one of the few surrounding the tiny bar and enjoy the surroundings. The place has got a nice vibe and, if they're not completely swamped, the staff are rather friendly to chat to. Plus it's a bit of a hike back up that driveway...

55 Elizabeth St (also accessible from Archive Books off Charlotte St)
http://www.johnmillshimself.com.au/

Strauss FD

Strauss FD is down an alleyway off Elizabeth St and can be even a bit trickier to find than John Mills Himself if the sign isn't out. My best instructions are to walk along Elizabeth St until you're directly across from the Hilton. Then turn around. If you find that there's an alley behind you, walk down it. Otherwise, look for said alley - it should be nearby. A lit up sign above the cafe should signal that you're in the right place. Strauss serve Cup coffee and with Cup founder Josh Russell being one of the Strauss co-owners, it's no surprise that Strauss have their own special Cup blend which you can purchase in-store. The milk used is from Maleny Dairies. A small takeaway is $4 and a large is $4.50 but the chalkboard on the wall indicated that the dining in prices are from $3.50 (black)/$4.00 (white). Strauss offer some simple breakfast options such as toast and porridge but also have a few more substantial items such as smoked salmon rillette and baked beans and chorizo with a poached egg. Bread is by Crust & Co. but note that they don't do gluten-free bread, however they do try to make substitutions. For the gluten-intolerant or super health-conscious, they also have some 'clean' sweet treats which are GF. My long black with a dash of cold milk was smooth although possibly a little weak tasting for my liking.

189 Elizabeth St (next to XILE)

http://www.straussfd.com/

Marchetti

Tattersalls Arcade is an L-shaped home to some fancy looking shops selling expensive, beautiful wares including Optiko, which is a playground for the glasses-wearer looking for some non-stock-standard frames. Owner of Optiko, Michael Makras, has opened a small Italian-style cafe unexpectedly smack-bang in the middle and serves up Italian pastries and panini alongside their strong espresso made on beans by Allpress Coffee. I'm yet to drop by for a takeaway, but I recall that when dining in my long black was around the $4 mark and I did enjoy the strong flavour.

202 Edward St (Tattersall's Arcade)
http://www.marchetticafe.com/

Thursday, August 14, 2014
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Braking for Breakfast

The Baker's Arms

Spring Hill Deli

The Hidden Caffeine Hit

The Gresham

The Dark Chocolatier

John Mills Himself

Strauss FD

Marchetti

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