Braking for Breakfast

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/

Extensive menu makes decision making difficult...because it all sounds so good!

The breakfast menu, presented on a clipboard like every other menu nowadays, is long. As in about seven pages, with food taking up the first five! There are standard Western-style breakfast options like fruit toast, eggs on toast and muesli and heartier options like sweet corn and zucchini fritters, O-Mai's Phat (big) Breakfast and brioche fruit toast. Then come the distinctly more Vietnamese-inspired items like the famed Aunty Five's Claypot Baked Eggs and a pork and prawn Vietnamese Omelette. Then the Traditional Vietnamese street-style breakfast menu includes five types of Pho (rice noodle soup)and eleven types of Bahn Mi (salad baguette rolls) including a bacon and egg one. To say you are spoilt for choice is an understatement! On the drinks menu is standard coffee options using Toby's Estate Woollomooloo Blend, a small range of teas, fresh juices and milkshakes. Or for a difference you can try traditional Vietnamese Ice Coffee, Vietnamese lemon soda or a fresh coconut in shell. On any usual day, I would have taken at least half an hour to choose but flu symptoms had begun and I was set on trying the Aunty Five's Claypot Baked Eggs with lemongrass pork sausage, mushrooms, tomato and tamarind sauce ($15). It usually comes with sourdough bread but I was able to switch it for gluten-free bread for no additional cost - win! C decided to go for the Pork meatballs in rich tomato sauce with quail eggs served with warm half baguette ($13), which is described as the Vietnamese equivalent of savoury mince. We also ordered our usual coffees - long black for me, espresso for C (both $3.50) .

Long Black with milk in a cute jug on the side and Espresso

Coffees arrived quickly and my long black was smooth without being too bitter or sour. I was pretty hungry by this stage and was jealously watching meals arrive at other tables. A few Bahn Mi and Pho bowls went past and they looked rather delicious. We were seated next to the counter so I was also being tempted by the lovely looking cakes under cake domes such as a Pineapple & Coconut Cake with lemon icing ($5), which was both gluten and dairy free. Luckily it wasn't too long before our meals arrived. My meal arrived in a black claypot with slices of sausage floating in a thick clear brown sauce along with three(!) softly poached eggs and a sprinkle of fried onions and sliced scallions. A slice of gluten-free toast was perched on the side with a large pat of butter sitting on it. C's meal was served as four large meatballs in a bowl, surrounded by a thick tomato sauce and with a small piece of toasted baguette beside it. We wasted not time digging into our meals eagerly! 

Aunty Five's Claypot Baked Eggs with lemongrass pork sausage, mushrooms, tomato and tamarind sauce with GF bread

Pork meatballs in rich tomato sauce with quail eggs served with warm half baguette

The thick sauce was sweeter than I'd expected and I couldn't detect any sourness from tamarind. It was slightly salty and flavoursome but perhaps sweeter than I personally prefer. The sausage was juicy and soft and added some saltiness to counteract the sweet sauce. As I dug in further, I found tomatoes, onions and mushrooms which mixed well with the sauce. The eggs were perfectly poached and gooey. There was a slight hint of chilli but not enough for me, especially given I was coming down with the flu and wanted a strong chilli hit, so was given a generous serve of freshly cut chilli when I asked for it. They were hot chillis so I didn't need much to infuse the dish but suffice to say, it cleared me out! The bread was good for mopping up the sauce but I removed the butter because I didn't think it needed it. Overall, despite finding the sauce overly sweet, I really enjoyed my breakfast and it was incredibly filling despite being a relatively small dish. C's meatballs were juicy and when he cut into them, the quail eggs were inside! It was a delicious combination together with the flavoursome tomato sauce and he really enjoyed it. 

Gluten-free freshly baked cakes

Overally we really enjoyed our meals at Cafe O-Mai and I'm jealous of C as he lives nearby and can easily visit regularly. Meals were incredibly well priced and the serving sizes were generous. The service was excellent and really friendly too.  I'd love to go back and try one of their many Pho options sometime and the Vietnamese omelette sounds like a winner too. It was nice to see how well they cater for vegetarians and those intolerant to dairy and gluten with many menu items have options, plus the majority of the baked goods appeared to be gluten-free. Judging by the high traffic and consistently filled tables, it looks like Cafe O-Mai is definitely a popular spot and I wouldn't be surprised if it were more difficult to get a table later in the day. I definitely hope to be returning soon to try more!

http://www.cafeomai.com.au/

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.