Braking for Breakfast: cafe

Ginger & Green

When I heard that the owners of The Ponycat in New Farm had opened a new cafe in South Brisbane, I was intrigued and so immediately hunted down the menu. I saw Double Chocolate Brownie Pancakes, Beef & Jalapeño Croquette and Crispy Potato Skins - mouth-watering sounding to most but not generally my thing, especially when trying to up the healthy eating to counteract the recent kilo pile on. But the glowing reviews convinced me that it was worth trying so I suggested it as a mid-week breakfast option to my friend C.

The address is listed as being on Merivale St but my geographically-challenged brain was convinced it was on the same street as Merriweather aka Cordelia St. Obviously it wasn't so after working that out, we parked in the Secure Parking lot between Merivale and Cordelia Streets. Trusty Google Maps showed number 52 as Subway so we assumed that it had replaced Subway but no, Subway was still there. Slightly perplexed, we walked around a little before finally finding it in the area between the two streets but closer to Russell St...literally in front of where we had exited the lift from the carpark.

Ginger & Green is in a green building but I'm not sure if their name is an acknowledgement of that. Inside has that minimalistic, clean Swedish look with white walls, timber tables, colourful chairs and complete glass frontage allowing plenty of natural light to shine through. It's a popular look for Brisbane cafes but I especially like G&G's take on it. It's a relatively small space, perhaps similar in size to Ponycat, but elongated and with a very different vibe to Ponycat's casual, cozy appearance with their awesome 90s themed decoupaged tables. Inside is a large communal table as well as some smaller tables jutting out of the wall and window bench seating. Several more tables of varying sizes are outside but were covered due to the recent rain.

We were greeted by the friendly staff and invited to take a seat anywhere so we opted for the large communal table inside. We were immediately handed menus and given a bottle of water and glasses. Ginger & Green primarily use 7 Seeds coffee beans but feature a rotating list of options which can include other roasters. A small chalkboard on the counter lists them along with their tasting notes - they clearly take their coffee seriously, evidenced further by the fact that they weigh the grind before each pour. The menu lists the standard coffee espresso options ($3-3.5) as well as filter pour over ($6) and batch brew ($3.5); at the moment the batch is served as cold brew which I opted for.

The broad all-day menu has a range of breakfast and lunch options ranging from toast and condiments and free range eggs on toast to grilled salmon salad with du puy lentils and quinoa. Apart from the toast and simple egg options, the menu prices range between $15 and $20 plus there are many cheaper pre-made options in the counter cabinet. I was still feeling full from a ribs degustation the night before so looked to what was in the front counter cabinet. Filled with pre-made sandwiches, bagels & chia puddings, as well as freshly baked sweet and savoury muffins on top, there are plenty of great options for those on the run and all under $10. I was torn between a delicious looking Reuben rye bagel with corned beef, cheese, russian dressing and pickle ($8.5) and a coconut chia pudding with yoghurt, seeds & fresh fruit ($6.5). I ended up going for the healthier chia pudding, primarily swayed by the fresh fig on top. Such a sucker for figs. C, with her amazing metabolism, chose her version of a light option - salmon gravlax with wasabi creme, poached free range eggs, pickled heirloom vegetables on rye beer bread ($19).

Our coffees were quick to arrive and I loved my refreshing cold brew on ice, served in the most gorgeous matte black and white ceramic mug. I seriously love when a cafe has beautiful plates and cups and these are incredible. I'm pretty sure it was functional as well, keeping my drink chilled. There weren't too many other patrons around when we arrived but a steady stream of takeaway coffee orderers began to appear by that time. Our food was relatively quick to arrive too. Given that I ordered out of the cabinet, mine was ready immediately but C's meal didn't take long and when it did come we were impressed by the lovely plating. First, the flat plate with raised sides (which I love btw) was matte black (SO much love) which starkly contrasted with the vibrant colours of the salmon, wasabi creme, and pickled baby beetroot and carrot. Even the plain poached eggs looked pretty on it all, atop two slices of the toasted bread.

My chia pudding was exactly what I felt like - light and fresh but still substantial with the fresh fruit adding sweetness and seeds a crunchy factor. An interesting addition was a sprinkling of nigella seeds on top too, which just added something a little different. It was so generous in size that I couldn't finish it and took away the rest for later. C loved her meal and also couldn't quite finish. The eggs were perfectly poached and I sampled some and loved the intensity of the wasabi with the salty salmon, but I am a crazy wasabi fiend. If I had to nitpick, the toast was slightly burnt on the edges but that was the only thing.

So impressed by my breakfast there, I returned with my other favourite breakfast friend, I, that Saturday. Happily I was hungry this time so went straight for the menu...although had the Reuben bagel been available I would have been tempted. Instead I decided on the gluten-free sweet potato & leek pancakes with eggplant kasundi, baby spinach and a choice of streaky bacon ($16) or salmon gravlax ($19). I used to often get the savoury pancakes at Ponycat but I don't remember them being gluten-free so not sure if they are also or if they've altered the recipe. I'm not a streaky bacon fan and wasn't feeling the salmon so asked if I could have something else and was generously told I could easily swap for any of the extras. Unfortunately I was bordering on hungry which makes my ability to make decisions SO MUCH HARDER and I'm bad at the best of times when it comes to choosing food...or anything really. After much deliberation I chose the mushrooms and to her credit, the amazing waitress (who I think is actually the owner) was incredibly patient with me. C went for the popular crispy potato skins with shredded beef, bacon jam, Gorgonzola, crispy prosciutto and fried egg ($18). We also both ordered long blacks on the Seven Seeds Single Origin bean upon recommendation.

Our coffees came first and I enjoyed my coffee but it was a fruitier than I prefer but C loved his as he likes his coffee more acidic. Our meals then arrived on matching plates - the same as the other morning but mine on a white version. Yin and yang. Again attractively plated - I really believe it eating is a full sensory experience so having a visually appealing meal helps!

My plate had two thick pancakes layered with large, juicy flat mushrooms, a generous amount of the eggplant kasundi relish and spinach and micro herbs with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar around it. C's potato skins wasn't what I expected but was so much better! I'd envisioned fried-to-a-crisp skins but instead it was a whole potato hollowed out and crisped then re-filled with a mixture of the potato and shredded beef topped with a massive mound of bacon jam and shards of crisped prosciutto. Two fried eggs with gooey yolks lay beside them and a few scattered micro herbs for a finishing touch.

I loved my pancakes - slightly doughy with chunks of sweet potato throughout and more flavoursome than I anticipated. I'd been concerned that they'd need a salty accompaniment (like the suggested bacon or gravlax) but they were actually well seasoned alone. I had also thought they might need a sauce but they were moist enough and the juicy mushrooms worked well with them. I absolutely loved the spicy eggplant kasundi with chunks of spiced chewy eggplant. C loved his meal and after sampling some I could understand why. Filled with so much flavour, the potato and tender beef was enhanced by the intense bacon jam and the soft fried eggs brought it all together. We both felt some chilli or spice would be an excellent addition but we chilli-fy everything and just added a good dose of ground pepper. There was so much bacon jam and so I stole some and a bit of egg for my dish and seriously recommend them as add-ons to the pancakes if you don't get bacon or just want to amp it up even more! Warning: the bacon jam is pretty rich though and so you can imagine that the potato skins is one seriously filling meal.

We left very, very satisfied and I imagine it won't be long before I return. It's a fantastic new option for any of the many workers in the office buildings in the complex for either breakfast or lunch. Apart from the all-day menu there are the cabinet options and I spied a blackboard advertising reasonably priced lunch specials. I imagine it can get quite busy during the week but it was fairly quiet on the weekend, perhaps due to it being new and also being hidden from the street. That may not last long though! And if you can't find street parking on Russell St or nearby and don't want to pay the high prices of the neighbouring carparks, the IGA carpark isn't far (direct path from the exterior carpark to G&G) and if you purchase something you get 2 hours free parking underneath...

Details

Shop 7 52 Merivale Street
South Brisbane
https://www.instagram.com/gingerandgreencf/
https://www.facebook.com/Gingerandgreensouthbrisbane/

$$
DF | V | GF
Cafe

Ratings

Food | 9

Coffee | 9

Service | 9

Menu Options | 9

Value | 8

See ratings for details.

Sunday, April 03, 2016
3 Comments

Suburban West End

breakfast

West End and I have a beautiful food relationship - Saturday mornings at the Davies Park Markets are a ritual, breakfast at one of the many cafes is a weekly thing and it's my go to area for close cheap eats. And yet there are still places I'm yet to eat at. Until recently Suburban West End was one of them. Perhaps it's just that I have my favourites I like to revisit or that the nondescript name and unobtrusive location hadn't caught my eye. Either way, that changed recently when I was invited to try Suburban's new menu and met C for a pre-work feed.

The location on the corner of Boundary and Mollison Streets made it an easy ride, especially being early in the morning, and a fence out the front made for convenient parking. When we arrived at 7.30 there were a few people already there but we had our pick of tables. It's a large open space with both indoor and shaded outdoor seating so we opted for a table outside. It's not the prettiest of locations being on a main road but touches like flowers in vases make it feel a bit more special

After placing coffee orders, we sat back to peruse the menu. Suburban have recently updated their menu for Spring/Summer but have kept a few old favourites there too. It's an extensive range of sweet and savoury so I imagine it would be hard for someone to not find something they'd like...so as usual I had issues deciding. Very helpfully, the vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options are clearly marked plus gluten-free bread and non-dairy milks can be used at no additional cost. I love that.

I'm a mad fritter fan so the gluten-free Zucchini Fritters with charred corn, avocado, beetroot relish & creme fraiche ($16) sounded right up my alley. But then I saw the House Smoked Salmon with asparagus, greens, tomato creme fraiche & poached eggs on rye ($19) and I'm a sucker for those words 'house smoked'. Plus they do a Bircher Muesli ($14), which I'm constantly on the hunt for the best in Brisbane. Oh decisions...I swear I'm getting worse at making them. Fritters won out in the end (C did have to make it to work by 8.30 after all) but I added a side of salmon ($6) plus the glutton in me added a poached egg ($4) and then the anti-glutton asked to swap the creme fraiche for yoghurt. Yeah, you could say I'm difficult. C saw Chicken Waffles with fried chicken and candied bacon ($14) and was sold.

Our coffees arrived soon afterwards and I was impressed by my Long Black. Made on ORG organic beans from South America, it was a strong and smooth drink with no bitterness. While I'd seen ORG beans before, I don't think I'd had a memorable coffee on them and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. C similarly enjoyed his espresso.

I should admit that despite my giant order I wasn't feeling overly hungry. So when the plate with three large fritters, topped with yoghurt, vibrant relish along with that poached egg and one sizeable fillet of salmon was placed in front of me, I was concerned. I hate wasting food. When I peeked between the hefty yellow fritters and saw several slices of ripe avocado I was seriously worried. C's plate of two large waffles with a few pieces of crispy chicken and a couple of small crispy pieces of bacon looked substantial but nothing like mine. I took a deep breath and got stuck into it, first cutting into that egg with anticipation...and was rewarded with that gorgeous bright orange ooze of a perfectly poached egg.

My delight was furthered when I took my first bite of fritter. Chock full of shredded zucchini and sweet corn kernels, they where thick pancake style fritters but the high ratio of vegetables to flour meant that there was no doughy texture. They weren't crispy but I like them like that. Surprisingly flavourful and vibrantly yellow in colour, I suspected turmeric as an ingredient and Ash, the owner, later confirmed that the chef had a secret spice mix he used. Stacked with the tangy yoghurt and zingy relish and creamy avocado made for a delicious combination. And that egg yolk took each mouthful, to quote the kids today, to the next level. The salmon flaked easily and was moist but had a very mild smoked flavour. Personally I like a super smoky flavour but I think this type would appeal to a wider audience. C is big into smoking things himself so was curious about what type of wood chips they used. Ash mentioned that they regularly try different ones but that the ones used that day were applewood.

While I was savouring every mouthful of my dish, C was busy polishing off his own but I did sneak in a small bite to try. I love waffles but generally they are a no-no for their wheat content. But those crispy crunch factor makes them a temptation I rarely can resist. These waffles, while fluffy and light, were a bit soft for my liking. The chicken was crispy but a bit dry and while the maple syrup did add moisture, I wanted more. The sweet and savoury combination was a winner though.

So tasty was my dish that I left maybe one mouthful. I'd like to justify it by saying C shared but in reality I think I polished most of it off myself. Needless to say I didn't need lunch that day! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my Suburban breakfast and will need to return to try that Bircher soon.

Disclaimer: We were invited guests of Suburban West End but this review reflects, as always, my true opinion.

Details

220 Melbourne St
South Brisbane

$$
DF | V | VV | GF
Cafe

Ratings

Food | 8

Coffee | 7

Service | 7

Menu Options | 9

Value | 8

See ratings for details.

Monday, December 28, 2015
1 Comments

Miss Bliss Wholefoods Kitchen

breakfast

As I get older, I'm valuing my body more and try to treat it as well as I can by keeping active and healthy with what I eat. I try not to be too restrictive with what I eat but I prefer to eat food that is as natural and unprocessed as possible. We've hit a #superfood revolution with ingredients such as chia, quinoa and acai being as common on menus as bacon and eggs. But as much as I like all of those things (OK I admit, they're all present in my kitchen) I'm just trying to eat food which is good for me, or whole foods. Whole foods refers to foods which have had minimal or no processing or refinement prior to consumption. The easiest way to eat this way is to cook food yourself, which I love doing but I also love to go out to eat and try new places. There are a number of places around Brisbane promoting the whole food ethos (Mondo Organics, Plenty, Merriweather Cafe and Felix to name a few) and the latest one is Miss Bliss Wholefoods Kitchen in West End.

As a regular visitor to West End Coffee House, I noticed the opening sign for Miss Bliss go up several months ago across the road where the old fruit and vegetable shop used to be, and also recognised the logo from the Miss Bliss bliss balls which have been popping up in cafes over the last few years. I was intrigued to see a group of elderly gentleman gathered inside, who I later discovered were owner Jacqui's grandfather and friends. Fast forward to June and word was out that a new 'healthified' cafe was opening in West End. With teaser pictures appearing on Instagram of delicious looking chia puddings, seeded toasts with fresh toppings and, of course, bliss balls, I had a feeling I was going to like this place.

Shortly after Miss Bliss Wholefoods Kitchen opened, I made plans with some fellow food bloggers to have breakfast one weekday morning. I had recently returned from being away for almost a month and it was the first time back on the bike in a while. I rugged up as much as I could while trying to still look presentable (need to work on the #cyclechic) and hopped on my bike for the ride to West End. Coming through the Roma St Parklands, it made sense to then go over Kurilpa Bridge which led me to Montague Rd, which is almost dead early in the morning. From there it's simply a left turn onto Vulture St and up and over the hill to get to Miss Bliss, just before the intersection with Boundary St. There wasn't any truly visible parking so I locked my bike to a random pole.

My friends were yet to arrive so I took the opportunity to take some photos before they did, as I tend to forget to do so when leaving. The cafe has a natural and slightly unpolished look with the structure of the fruit market and roller doors still intact. An exposed brick wall lines one side and the counter with outdoor bar seating lines takes up the other. Furniture and cabinetry have timber tops and white bases, keeping the look modern but rustic. The natural vibe is furthered with mini plants lining the shelves and mini cacti in the cutest planter boxes placed on tables. It all comes together to create a warm and fresh atmosphere, which is in tune with the cafe concept.

After snapping a few not-so-sneaky photos, I sat down to wait and was brought water and a menu. The cup was Falcon enamelware and the menu was printed on kraft paper...my embarrassingly hipster-esque heart was already lost to this place. I was impressed by the number of options on the all-day menu, all of which I would very happily have eaten. Ranging from simple sweet options of granola and (quinoa) porridge plus a few Acai-based Bliss Bowl options to some substantial savoury options such as the 3 Egg Omelette and the MB Breakfast, essentially a 'big breakfast' meal. Additionally, there is a section called Toast 'n' Toppings where you have the option of 2 ($12) or 3 ($16) slices of house made nut and seed loaf with your choice of delicious sounding toppings such as natural PB, banana, goji berries or smashed peas, beetroot pomegranate relish. That may sound simple but I think that the bread is essentially a version of the Life Changing Loaf of Bread from My New Roots, which is an incredibly filling and nutrition-dense bread. Owner Jacqui is a qualified nutritionist and her roots show on the menu, which not only clearly marks the vegan and gluten-free options but also those items rich in protein, high in fibre, immunity supporting, good for digestion and filled with healthy fats and antioxidants.

My friends arrived shortly afterwards and after the usual greetings and chat and menu discussion, we got up to order at the counter. I chose the Savoury Bliss Bowl ($17) which was described as seasonal roasted vegetables, quinoa, soft 'n' gooey egg, house made pesto, and parmesan. Two of my friends ordered the Wellness Board ($16.50) with soft 'n' gooey eggs, sauteed greens, asparagus, sweet potato hummus, pickles, sauerkraut, beetroot relish with house made seed biscuit. I loved the sound of the 'breakfast tapas' board and it was a tough choice between the two. My other friend opted for the MB Breakfast ($22) of soft 'n' gooey eggs, avocado, organic chicken herbed sausage, crispy speck, sauteed greens, shrivelled tomatoes, sweet potato chips and your choice of bread from organic sourdough, house made gluten free and house made nut & seed loaf. And breakfast means coffee so I ordered my standard long black with milk on the side.

After ordering, Jacqui recognised my friend J who had met her earlier for a launch event and she took us out the back to show us the rest of the cafe and talked about her future plans for the cafe, including wanting to open nights eventually. At the back of the cafe is a booth section with a large black and white print of a photo of Jacqui's grandfather, great-uncle (the original owner of the fruit market) and friends in that exact spot covering the wall. When the fruit market was still just that, the group gathered and spent their days there and this is Jacqui's way of ensuring that they can still spend time there together. It's such a lovely touch and indicative of Jacqui's strong family and community ties.

Continuing through the back doors is a large sunny outdoor deck area with additional seating and it truly has a welcoming backyard feel. Planter boxes with herbs line the back wall behind a large green bolted door. The strings of lightbulbs overhead make me imagine that come dark, it would be a great spot to spend an evening.

After returning to our table, coffees arrived and my long black was strong and smooth. The lack of bitterness meant that I could drink it easily straight and needed little of the additional milk, which was provided in an adorable amber glass bottle. Providing milk on the side in adorable miniature vessels has become the norm but occasionally I'm particularly taken by some and this was one of them.

Not long afterwards our meals arrived and after the necessary photo snapping and lighting assistance (hashtag foodbloggerlyf), we all dug in. My Savoury Bliss Bowl arrived in a shallow bowl with soft kale leaves and softly poached egg atop a substantial pile of quinoa, with roasted asparagus spears and baby carrot on the side along with a serve of bright yellow fermented sauerkraut and a large dollop of bright green pesto. Sprigs of watercress and shavings of parmesan finished it off. The white of the egg was translucent in the way that slow poached or sous vide eggs tend to have. I eagerly cut into the egg and was not disappointed to find that it was in fact soft and gooey with the yolk slowly oozing out. Yolk porn at its finest. The quinoa was cooked slightly al dente (if you can describe quinoa like that) such that it was ever so slightly crunchy and the vegetables were roasted just to the point that they still had crunch. I loved the flavoursome pesto and the way it and the egg bound all of the elements together. The unexpected kraut added a nice tang to the dish. Overall it was a great dish and the type of one where you feel just plain good and satisfied afterwards from. It's very similar to the sort of dish I'd make at home and I'm loving seeing these breakfast salad bowls, or abundance bowls, on menus these days. Because grains + vegetables + eggs = greatness.

Savoury Bliss Bowl

The other meals looked equally appetising. The Wellness Board didn't actually arrive on a board but honestly, is anyone else over this wooden board trend? Love the look but practically speaking, it makes for difficult eating and things just slide off. Plus is anyone else concerned about how hygienic they are? Anyhow, the array of things on the Wellness Board appeared on plates but still very attractively plated and very vibrant in colour. All of the components looked absolutely delicious and there were no complaints from my friends. It didn't look overly filling but given that the cracker was densely packed with seeds and nuts, I suspect it was still quite satisfying. The MB Breakfast had everything as described, including two eggs, half an avocado and one juicy looking sausage. The slow roasted cherry tomatoes were declared the best tomatoes she'd ever had.

Wellness Board

MB Breakfast

Sadly it was then time to get to our respective workplaces or home but we were all sent away with a coconut lemon bliss ball ($2.80) for the road. Mine made for an excellent morning tea snack, not that I was overly hungry after that breakfast. I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast at Miss Bliss Wholefoods Kitchen and I'm looking forward to me next visit, especially to try those toasts but I wouldn't say no to the salads either, judging by the ones I spied in the cabinet on the way out. Miss Bliss is a welcome addition to the Brisbane breakfast scene and I'm looking foward to seeing what comes next! It's definitely a place to go if you enjoy delicious healthy food or just food that tastes good but happens to be good for you too. And if that doesn't make you feel good about yourself, know that 20c of each coffee sold at Miss Bliss goes towards Paradise 4 Kids, a charity supporting children in third world countries which was founded by Jacqui's family. #followyourbliss indeed.

Bikeability

Ease of Access: 8/10 (Bike paths along Bicentennial Bikeway, Go Between Bridge, then bike marked sections on Montague Road and Vulture St)

Parking: 7/10 (A bike rack is across the road and there are several signposts)

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http://missblisstreats.com.au/ || Facebook
85 Vulture St, West End 4101
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Saturday, July 25, 2015
3 Comments

King Arthur Cafe

avocado

As a longtime fan of Merriweather Cafe, I was excited to hear that the owners were opening a new cafe in New Farm. I was even more excited when I found out that Andrew Tolley, previously at The Statler & Waldorf, was going to be the opening chef. Slowly, little nuggets of information about it started to appear online and King Arthur Cafe began to gain social media momentum. After chatting to L from Yelp on one of King Arthur's Instagram pictures, we arranged to meet there for a weekday breakfast a few days after it opened. Another fellow Yelper (L too but we will call her TS for easy identification purposes!) also liked the look of it so joined us.

Simple exterior

King Arthur is located on Arthur St, just off James St near the Leona Edmiston vintage shop. I couldn't recall what had been there previously but L informed me that it used to be a design shop. The view in from the large glass windows allows passers-by to realise that a cafe lives here but the simple gold lettered signage in the window identifying it is unobtrusive so look hard if you're driving by. As you enter, the space downstairs is minimal with four or five high bench tables and the gorgeously tiled counter and kitchen taking up most of the small space. The decor is simple with white and navy painted brick walls and the Mediterranean-style counter tiles being the main decorative feature. I passed several customers already enjoying their coffee and breakfast on my way towards the stairs which led to a space with a domed ceiling, timber floors and several small black plywood tables and stools as well as a large timber shared table.

Menu featuring seasonal produce and sustainable ingredients

L was waiting when I arrived so water had already been placed on the table and we were given menus and our drinks orders were taken. I opted for a long black with milk on the side and L deviated from her usual green smoothie chose the berry type instead. TS arrived shortly afterwards and ordered a latte. Similar to the Merriweather menu, King Arthur's features local seasonal produce and includes a few not-so-standard options as well a twists on old favourites. Instagrams of the Quinoa & Chai Porridge with cocoa nib gingerbread & fresh figs ($13) caught my eye but in the end the Locally Caught Charcoal Pilchards with preserved lemon & truffle mustard ($15.50) won my (hungry) heart because I loved the truffle mustard I'd had recently at S&W and I'm a fan of fish for breakfast. I added on an additional egg ($2.50) and gluten-free bread ($1). TS chose the Avocado on rye with bay leaf ricotta and pistachio ($14) and L went for my other potential choice - Local Slow Cooked Goat with tomato, oregano and sourdough ($18). Can I just say that goat is amazing and should feature on significantly more menus that it does! Sadly they weren't able to source goat that morning so it had been replaced with lamb.

Long black with milk on the side

Our drinks arrived shortly afterwards. L's Berry Smoothie ($8.50), made with raspberries, banana, pineapple and ginger, was a tall glass of frothy pink goodness. My Long Black ($4), made using Coffee Supreme beans, was smooth and rich with the milk provided in a mini milk bottle. I imagine TS' latte was similarly good. After some excellent intelligent conversation about the world, as we of course do, our meals were brought out. All attractively plated and each looking more delicious than the last. L's succulent looking shredded slow roasted lamb was draped over the thick slice of dark seeded Sprout Artisan sourdough with sauteed spinach interwoven throughout. The sauce was thick and described by L as 'rich but not too rich'. TS's slice of sourdough was topped with a generous amount of chunky mashed (not smashed) avocado and topped with an ample amount of bay leaf ricotta, parsley and crushed pistachio. My dish arrived with two slices of bread with the pilchards (sardines) and poached egg placed on top with a large dollop of the truffle-infused seeded mustard, several sprigs of parsley and thyme and a wedge of lemon.

Local slow cooked lamb with tomato, oregano, and spinach on sourdough ($18)

Avocado on rye with bay leaf ricotta, parsley, and pistachio ($14)

The charcoal grilled pilchards packed an intense flavour punch which I love in oily fish like sardines and mackerel. A slight smoky flavour from the charcoal was evident and the fresh lemon helped to cut through the rich flavour. I couldn't detect any preserved lemon but the fresh lemon provided enough. The truffle mustard added some nice heat and although it didn't taste as truffle-y as I'd had at S&W, that may just be because the other components of the dish meant it didn't stand out as much. The egg was absolutely perfectly poached exactly as I like it - complete cooked whites and a thick gooey yolk. As soon it I cut through the egg, the yolk slowly oozed out to thickly cover the toast without going over the edges. I know, I sound somewhat obsessed by egg yolks (#yolkporn) but seriously, gluten-free bread is crazy absorbent so when covered in anything overly wet it becomes a sad pile of mush. Although in saying that, this bread was definitely one of the better gluten-free versions I've had and similar to (if not actually) the Sol Breads pumpkin version. Throw in a bit of freshly cracked pepper and I was in breakfast heaven.

Locally caught charcoal pilchards with preserved lemon and truffle mustard on GF bread ($16.50)

We stayed chatting for some time and I enjoyed being in the light and airy environment. We were one of few customers upstairs the whole time we were there but I expect that was due to the cafe being new and the midday late morning time and that soon, and especially on weekends, we won't be afforded that luxury again! L noted that despite the ceiling fan and air-conditioning she could imagine it could get quite warm and stuffy come Summer but right now, it's perfect. Reluctantly, I admitted it was high time I made it in to work and we went downstairs to pay. Payment is handled via an iPad system and the staff kindly let us pay separately, although I'm not sure that will be possible in busier times.

Freshly made tarts and Sprout Artisan pastries

Like Merriweather Cafe, King Arthur is already a new favourite of mine and I expect it to be popular amongst the Brisbane breakfasters (which is essentially everyone nowadays) so expect a wait on weekends. If you don't have time to sit around, they do takeaway coffee ($3.50/$4/$4.50) and have a range of pastries made by Sprout Artisan and some homemade items such as cacao & raspberry tarts. You can also purchase Coffee Supreme Roasters coffee, Bee One Third honey (very locally collected from James St. hives) and Merriweather Cafe condiments. King Arthur also has a small but delicious sounding lunch menu which I'd love to try soon too.

Scroll down for more photos

http://kingarthurcafe.com/