Braking for Breakfast

Seriously, it's December already?! Life in 2015 has been quite excellent so far with some big changes like moving out from by myself to a shared house, learning a different role at work, meeting heaps of new people (mostly lovely foodies!) and doing some unexpected travel. It's also been an inconsistent mix of very slow months and insanely busy months - October being one of them. After months of feeling uninspired at work, I finally have been given a project to work with that involved me travelling to Bangalore, India, which is a trip I've been hoping to go on for a while. But of course that had to happen in a month which was already busy, mostly involving events around the wedding of one of my best friends, Kirst. So I squeezed this trip in between her Hen's Day and the wedding, after which I headed down to Melbourne for a long weekend for another wedding. Weddings galore!

One of the best things I've gotten out of blogging has been meeting several lovely other food bloggers. Unsurprisingly, we've got a few things in common and they're always great to catch up with and also are always interested in eating out. Plus I feel slightly less awkward pulling out my camera and phone to take shots of my food when everyone else is too! A group of us try to meet for breakfast before work once in a while and the most recent suggestion was Asana at the new Capri by Fraser hotel on the corner of Margaret and Albert Streets in the CBD.

Asana has had more hype surrounding it that most hotel-related restaurants tend to due to the menu being designed by Paleo Diet advocate Pete Evans. As a result, the menu has a focus on having Paleo options but it not limited to them - bread lovers can breathe a sigh of relief here. While not personally a follower of the Paleo Diet, or particularly convinced of it, I do admit that the side effect of it being gluten-free is helpful as wheat does not appear to agree with me. While Asana offer an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner, they only offer a buffet for breakfast. However at only $25 for a full menu or $20 for continental, it is very reasonably priced.



I arrived just after 7 on my bike - Asana is easy enough to get to but the one way streets in the CBD can make it tricky unless you're coming from the Botanical Gardens. I couldn't see any bike racks nearby so locked my bike to a signpost across the street. Bookings for breakfast are not required and a few who arrived earlier were already ensconced at a booth table in the relatively empty restaurant. I like the comfort of booths but it can be tricky when in a group larger than four as there is always someone who has to get up for the middle person when they want to get out. There are plenty of tables at Asana and everything, being a new hotel and all, is modern, clean and colourful. After sitting down and catching up while waiting for a few others to arrive, we decided to take a look at what was offered.



The breakfast buffet options change daily and are definitely more interesting than your standard breakfast buffet options. The hot options include bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes and scrambled herb eggs - all free range. If you prefer your eggs another way, they can be made to order as well as omelettes, as I was told by one of the very friendly chefs! And although there is a range of Paleo breads available, there is also a board of standard non-Paleo bread including sourdough, rye and fruit loaf which can all be toasted. Little jars of Hank's jam, tomato sauce plus containers of Beerenberg honey and small pats of butter are available as condiments.



I began with the continental bar where a large range of sweet and savoury options lay. As a massive muesli fan I was curious about the options. Mini jars of Bircher and two different types of chia pudding (chocolate with pistachio and coconut with blueberry) were available as well as a Paleo granola and a standard raw oat-based muesli. To go with your muesli there is dairy-free coconut yoghurt available plus a selection of add-ins including a range of fruit compotes, dried fruit, seeds, nuts and also a selection of powdered superfoods such as slippery elm powder. Healthy eaters will truly rejoice at this selection! For the sweet tooths with less of a disposition towards clean eating, there are Paleo muffins and a selection of non-Paleo pastries which seriously impressed my friend E, who said they were really fresh and delicious. Savoury items including devilled eggs, cured meats and salmon, which was impressively served with thin slices of raw beetroot and guacamole. Small bowls of fresh fruit including several types of melon were scattered on the bar amongst everything.



I grabbed a jar of Bircher, the coconut blueberry chia pudding as well as a thin slice of the Paleo banana bread and some fruit and coconut yoghurt. I also tried a few of the fruit compotes which I think were blueberry, strawberry and kiwi fruit. The Bircher was thick and delicious - I couldn't tell if it was oat-based or not but I suspect that it was Paleo so not. Served with a bit of Paleo granola on top, it was delicious with a bit of additional yoghurt and fruit. The chia pudding was moreish and I would have tried the chocolate one but felt it would be too much - which is a pity because D said it was amazing. The fruit compotes were lovely - not too sweet - and the fruit was fresh and sweet, even the watermelon which someone remarked upon as lately it hasn't been particularly good. The banana bread was as I expected and similar to gluten-free ones I've tried - very moist as probably made on almond meal and/or coconut flour but nice all the same.




I should also note at this point I did get a coffee which was from a self-serve Nespresso machine. I didn't mind that but for real coffee fans, you can order a proper espresso coffee at additional cost. There are also a range of T2 teas and juice.

After enjoying my sweet start, I moved on to savoury. I grabbed a bit of each of the hot items and got some prosciutto, salmon and a devilled egg. The bacon was good and not overly crispy, which is how I like it, and the sausage was tasty without being overly fatty. I was impressed by the scrambled eggs which were creamy and well seasoned. The devilled egg was intriguing with the filling being mixed with chicken and topped with bacon. For those who don't know, a devilled egg is a hard boiled egg with the yolk scooped out, mixed with other ingredients (usually mayonnaise and mustard) and replaced. They were popular in the 70s as a party canape but less so now. Unsurprisingly it was very tasty! The cured salmon was delicious but unfortunately they'd run out of guacamole when I was up so I went without but it was being refilled as I left.





Overall I was really impressed with my breakfast at Asana! Buffets are generally very dangerous for me and I don't know if it was trying to be restrained and not eat EVERYTHING or the fact that I was limited by the time I had before everyone had to leave for work, but I didn't leave feeling like my stomach was going to burst. I loved that there was such a range of healthy foods but it wasn't limited to them or Paleo-specific items. Considering that it's standard to pay up to $30 for breakfast if you get a few drinks these days, I consider this exceptional value. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and the atmosphere, despite being in the bottom of a hotel, is actually lovely with the room being warm and open. I would probably advise against sitting near the open bar area as its window is open for take-away coffees and on a cold morning, it can get quite chilly. I definitely plan on returning and am interested in trying their lunch and dinner menus sometime too. For those riding in like C and I did, there wasn't an obvious bike bay around but there were several poles around to lock our bikes to. Overall verdict? Paleo or non-Paleo, Asana is a great breakfast option in the city if you're looking for somewhere to sit down and have at least an hour to enjoy your food.

Details

Asana by Pete Evans
80 Albert St
Brisbane CBD
http://brisbane.capribyfraser.com/en/dining/asana-restaurant-bar.html

$$$
GF | DF | P | V | VV
Buffet

Ratings

Let me preface this review with the note that this is an old review from October 2014 that I apparently forgot to publish...

It was a Tuesday morning and I rose early as usual with the intention of going to my Sculpt class at the gym but I left about five minutes too late and by the time I'd made it to the Go Between Bridge, the class was about to start. Sure, I could have turned up late, but I decided it was a sign that it just wasn't a Sculpt kind of day (I'm easily convinced...by myself) and figured I'd do a longer ride and turned off to take the Go Between Bridge. My longer route involves going via Southbank (which is a much nicer ride than across the river underneath the Riverside Expressway) and then back over the Goodwill Bridge, through the Botanical Gardens and then coming out around Riverside. As I was riding through Southbank I decided I'd treat myself and have breakfast out. It had been a while since I'd visited Hoo Ha Bar and had been meaning to get back there for ages so Hoo Ha Bar it was.

Hoo Ha Bar is located on Tribune St and if you are exiting the Little Stanley St area on the Goodwill Bridge end, you just go straight ahead and Hoo Ha Bar is about 100m up on the corner of Tribune St and Colchester St. I may have taken a disallowed route through Southbank to get up there but it was quiet and easier than going through River Quay, which would have meant going over the dreaded speed bumps. Hoo Ha Bar opened a few years ago but still seems to be relatively unknown. It's a great space in a relatively unobtrusive grey building with high ceilings and a really comfortable, chilled out vibe. It could basically just be your home, albeit a really sweet looking home with exposed brick walls, large tables, leather couches, and one well stocked bar. They were one of the first smaller bars in Brisbane to get into the craft beer scene and offer a forever changing range on tap. Local favourites Green Beacon and Fortitude Brewing Co are just a few which feature on their list. They also support the local art and music scene with artwork displayed for sale and local music acts playing during their Sunday Sessions. Sometime after opening, they began to serve nibbles with their beer and eventually this expanded to simple breakfast and lunch menus and then later, a more substantial dinner menu. They promote themselves as selling good food at 1972 prices. I'm not exactly sure what prices were in 1972 but Hoo Ha Bar's breakfast menu would probably qualify as cheap eats. Originally when I first visited when they had just begun their breakfast menu, the meals were all $8 and while on the smaller side, were substantial and different from the norm. Think meatballs and sourdough or sobrasada on a bagel. These days the menu is still small but continues to offer twists on the standard avocado toast, Bircher muesli, and bacon and egg roll.

October 2014 Breakfast Menu...1972 prices...

The place was mostly empty when I arrived just after 7 so I had the pick of tables. The leather couches looked appealing but I chose one of the smaller bar tables with high stools. The inside of the bar is a really lovely place that you feel like you could just spend hours relaxing in. The large windows ensure that natural sunlight streams in and I can just imagine going in there with a book and drinking countless cups of coffee as I read. There is plenty of seating and has larger tables if you are with a group too. Mini clipboards with the menus were conveniently placed on the tables and after perusing the menu and being tempted by the Truffle scrambled eggs, crispy pancetta, and chipotle ailoi on a warmed pugliese roll, I went with the slightly healthier sounding House made bircher muesli w/ leatherwood honey infused yoghurt, fresh fruit, and toasted coconut ($10). I went up to the counter to order, along with a long black, and was greeted by a friendly guy who after taking my order proceeded to tell me all about what was going on at Hoo Ha Bar including a movie screening that was occurring that night and their Sunday afternoon music sessions. So yeah, lots happening there :) My long black arrived quickly, not surprising given the number of people there, but was well made and not bitter.

Long Black with milk on the side

Bircher Muesli with leatherwood honey infused yoghurt, fresh fruit & toasted coconut

My muesli took a while longer to arrive but when it did, was presented in a large wide bowl on a wooden board. A single purple flower had been placed on top which was a nice touch and brought a smile to my face. The muesli itself was not a creamy Bircher and looked as though it had been soaked in just apple or orange juice. Quick oats were used and plenty of shredded coconut and large chunks of dried figs, apricots and sultanas were visibly mixed through. Topped with runny yoghurt and additional toasted coconut and a pink swirl indicated some raspberries may have been in there too. I expected from the description for there to be some fresh fruit but when I asked the waiter, he said something about there being apple in there. I personally prefer fresh fruit over dried fruit so was disappointed by the apparent lack of it. However my request for additional yoghurt was easily met, so I appreciated that! The muesli itself was not overly sweet (so I think it was soaked in orange juice as apple tends to be sweeter) and neither was the yoghurt but the large amount of coconut and dried fruit made it sweet. I prefer a less sweet muesli so just ate around some of the dried fruit, mostly the apricots as I don't really like them - entirely personal preference and should have no bearing on the muesli! The muesli was quite mushy and as there were no nuts or seeds, the only other texture came from the fruit and coconut. While it was a well made Bircher muesli, it just wasn't my preferred type and really the opposite of what I like in mine unfortunately.

Don't mix them up.

I still love the atmostphere at Hoo Ha Bar so would go back but I'd try something else for breakfast. I asked about catering for dietary requirements and they don't believe in charging extra for gluten-free bread or soy milk, which I think is fantastic! I've also been for drinks there and they have a great selection of both drinks and food, so I'd be happy to back anytime really. If you haven't been to this slightly-off-the-track spot already, I suggest you give it a go. It's definitely a bit of a hidden gem in the Southbank area.

http://www.hoohabar.com/

I first visited Strauss when it first opened and they had a very minimal menu - four simple items. Unfortunately they didn't have gluten-free bread and they were out of Bircher muesli that day so I was a bit lost on what to order - avocado on toast minus toast is not really a meal, even with an egg as was offered. I've been back a few more times for coffee but it wasn't until recently that I decided to give it another go after seeing their menu had extended since my initial visit.

Inside the cafe

I arrived early one weekday morning to meet B. There are tables inside as well as a few small ones in the laneway,  which we chose to sit at. When you're cooped up in an office all day, having the opportunity to sign outside is appealing, even if it us down a dim alleyway! Most of the tables were already taken and already a queue had formed of people waiting for their takeaway coffees. A waiter was with us shortly with menus, water and to take our coffee orders. B ordered her usual soy cappuccino and I went with my standard long black with milk on the side. Coffees are priced from $3 and mine was $3.50 for a small which is the standard but well worth it for quality coffee.

The seasonal breakfast & lunch menu changes regularly

Long black; Soy cappuccino

They still don't supply gluten-free bread but do say they can make substitutions. What with, I'm not really sure as the Bircher muesli with chia, local honey, fruit & nuts ($10) caught my eye before I could find out. The menu is still small but more interesting sounding than what I consider standard. B chose the Spring Bruschetta w broad beans, asparagus, mint, ricotta & sourdough ($14). Meanwhile our coffees arrived and my long black was as strong as I remembered the coffee there being with some acidity but not so much that I needed much milk to sweeten it.

When our meals arrived, I was impressed - the generous serve of muesli was plated attractively in a bowl with julienned green apple and luscious looking ripe strawberries adding pretty pops of colour with a drizzle of honey and toasted walnuts and black sesame seeds scattered on top. B's bruschetta was similarly attractive looking with plenty of green goodness atop two slices of sourdough. Starving as usual, we eagerly dug in after snapping the necessary photos. 

bircher muesli with chia, local honey, fruit & nuts ($10)

My muesli was creamy with the swollen chia seeds adding an interesting texture. Not unpleasant but different in that it was a little mushier than a standard oat version. The muesli itself was unsweetened and with the tart apple, it wasn't overly sweet even with the sweet strawberries and honey. If you love sweet muesli, it might not be sweet enough but nothing a bit more honey couldn't help with! The walnuts and fresh fruit did add necessary texture to the muesli and overall I thought it was a perfect balance of flavour and texture. I could always use more fresh fruit and crunch in my Bircher but really it was just enough. B also really enjoyed her bruschetta and polished it off in no time!

spring bruschetta w broad beans, asparagus, mint, ricotta & sourdough ($14)

All in all, we both enjoyed our breakfast at Strauss and I definitely want to come back to try the rest of their menu plus the lunch options. Being so coffee-oriented, they also have offer coffee made in a range of ways including bottled cold press, which I want to go back to try. For an in-between snack, they also sell guilt-free, gluten-free sweet treats by My Clean Sweets. Strauss are also opened in the evenings for wine, beer and antipasto and I've been meaning to get a group together for that one Friday evening as an alternative to one of the busier drinking spots. Strauss is really a really lovely place with a surprisingly warm feeling, out of the way from the business of the more central areas. It's clearly popular as it was full both when we arrived and were leaving. The avocado & sourdough with chevre & lemon ($10) is a popular breakfast option, judging by the plates in front of the majority of the customers. Service was great with friendly waitstaff and our water constantly being checked and refilled. I will be returning!

Strauss is hidden down an alley

Sweets for the food intolerant by My Clean Treats

Inside bar seating

Our colourful Spring breakfasts

http://www.straussfd.com/