Braking for Breakfast: west end

Suburban West End

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

Cafe Wrapture

breakfast

It's not just the excellent pun of a name which makes Cafe Wrapture a winner; their food is kind of delicious. Wrapture began as a market store at the Davies Park Markets but eventually left the markets for greener (or less green actually) pastures in the form of an actual cafe on Russell St in West End. Back in my early market-ing days, I regularly ate at the markets for breakfast and a Wrapture wrap was my favourite option. With a primary focus on Greek-style flavours (think haloumi, lamb kofta, lemon and herb chicken), Wrapture excels in wrapping delicious fillings in yiros-style wraps. They make their own wraps and I think they are really the star of the wrap. Unfortunately I can't eat their standard ones but they make a fantastic gluten-free version which is truly almost as good.

The market menu that Wrapture initially used to offer included a large range of meat and vegetarian options as well as some sweet options. Their new cafe offers all of the original savoury ones plus more, including a specific breakfast range which include eggs and bacon as well as non-wrap options. Although the breakfast menu doesn't technically include most of the non-bacon meat options, it's possible to get them as well.

It had been a while since C and I had visited Wrapture so we chose it as our post-market breakfast option last Saturday. It's not a far ride from Davies Park so we made it to Russell St within five minutes and locked our bikes to railings in a nearby carpark. When we arrived around 8:30am, it was already filling up but there were still several tables available so we chose one of the outside ones to enjoy the sunny morning. It's a nice, relaxed spot and the simplest way to describe the vibe is 'hippie' (not to be confused by 'hipster') or 'new age'. Think salt crystal lamps, Indian furnishings and Hindu god statues.

The all-day wrap menu

When it comes to ordering at Wrapture, I always try to go for something different but I really can't go past the Faloumi ($12) with warm falafel balls (not GF as I once was warned), grilled haloumi, tahini sauce, hommus, minted yoghurt, tabouli, salads. C prefers the meatier options and this time chose the Kofta ($10) with ground lamb cigars, fresh lemon, tahini sauce, minted yoghurt, tabouli and salads. The range is vast including several Asian inspired types like the Zen Tofu with teriyaki tofu and wasabi mayo as well as bacon and egg options for breakfast only. There are some non-wrap menu options as well but I well and truly come to Wrapture for their wraps only. For the non-wrap-fans there is an extensive menu including Nasi Goreng and Kedgeree for something different, or there's muesli and French toast for the sweet tooths out there. The gluten-free pita wraps are $1 extra and you can add haloumi to any for an additional $3 (which you would because haloumi is amazing). I'd already had a coffee at the markets so went without but they do decent coffee at Wrapture, as well as tea, hot and iced chocolates and house-made mango lassi and iced tea.

It's counter service for ordering but food and coffee is brought out to you. Water is available in bottles for you to grab out of the self-service drinks fridge. At least I think it is - it's possible we just do that before they have time to bring it out to us...The wraps are wrapped in paper and delivered in a paper bag, the same as the takeaway option. It didn't take long for them to arrive and we ripped into the bags eagerly. My Faloumi was as good as I remembered with several thick slices of gooey salty haloumi and several balls of crunchy warm falafel balls. The lettuce, cabbage, cucumber and tomato added freshness and there was plenty of hommus, tahini and yoghurt to bring it altogether. Each bite was a delicious flavour explosion in my mouth and the combination of flavours and textures was perfect. I polished it off in about five minutes. C reacted similarly to his lamb kofta but I managed to get a bite in before he finished it. The lamb kofta were tasty and juicy and worked well with the rest of the components but I still love the Faloumi more.

The Faloumi on GF pita ($13)

We sat around and enjoyed to sunshine for a little while longer before heading off for the warm ride home. Now that Summer is getting closer, biking breakfasts are bound to get earlier!

Bikeability

Accessibility: 7/10 - Easy to get off Russell St off Boundary St
Parking: 6/10 - No bike racks and not many posts but this fence in the next door carpack seems to be the favourite bikepark spot

http://www.cafewrapture.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Wrapture/

Additional wraps available at breakfast

The wrap-free breakfast men

The Kofta ($10)

Friday, November 07, 2014
0 Comments

Plenty - the perfect post-market breakfast

bircher

Plenty, a relative newcomer to West End on Montague Rd, focuses on simple meals using the best local seasonal produce available. Basically, my kind of food. As a bonus, it is located directly across the road from Davies Park, making it an ideal post-market breakfast destination. Yesterday N and I followed up a successful marketing trip with breakfast at Plenty, making it my fourth time there.

Plenty is housed in a large open warehouse-like space and is barely decorated in a rustic fashion with touches of teal, including Eames-like and old-schoolhouse chairs. Plenty change their menu weekly and then write it up on a giant chalkboard. During the week I believe they offer a lunch menu including a daily-changing selection of salads which they post on their Facebook page but on the weekends it's all-day breakfast with a few lunchier-sounding options. They also have some delicious looked baked goods in the display cabinet at the counter. In the past I have ham and eggs with homemade tomato relish, the baked eggs with tomato, chilli and spinach and the ham and eggs with avocado and dukkah. Variations of bacon and eggs, ham and eggs and baked eggs generally appear on the menu along with sweeter options such as muesli, fruit toast and hotcakes. They also sometimes have a daily special and generally offer drinks specials such as watermelon, coconut, mint frappes. Plenty have a small kitchen in the middle of the space, open for everyone to see, and thus have limited kitchen equipment currently. I have a feeling there are plans for expansion, given recent updates on their Facebook page.

On this occasion I decided to try the Bircher muesli with apple and Barambah yoghurt ($9.50) and N ordered the same. Meals at Plenty are around the $10-15 mark, give or take a dollar, and they are not large meals which are often exactly what I want. I'd already had my coffee fix at the Gypsy Coffee Cart at the markets (spiced honey long black with a dash of dairy....) so decided to forego another caffeine hit although I have had a long black at Plenty before and don't recall it being awful.

About fifteen minutes later, two bowls of creamy looking Bircher were placed in front of us. Interestingly, at Plenty you order and pay at the counter after finding yourself a spare seat and then somehow they manage to find you without having table numbers. Not that it's a large number of tables but it's not the same person taking your order and bringing out the food so I'm interested to know how they organise that. Anyway, back to the Bircher. As expected, they were small serves but all we needed. The muesli was creamy and made on oats with a smattering of pepitas and (I think) sultanas with grated green apple throughout. It was topped with a large dollop of yoghurt, a swirl of honey and a few fresh raspberries, blueberries and a sliced strawberry. I asked for extra milk as I usually like my bircher a little runnier but it was actually the perfect consistency and I didn't end up needing it. While I wasn't full after eating it, I was satisfied and N commented that she was full after eating it.

Bircher muesli, grated apple, Barambah yoghurt

Apart from serving food, Plenty also sell a small range of goods including Barambah Organics milk and yoghurt, Levain Bakery bread and house made pickles and jams. I always like to do a lap around to see what they have on display for sale on the old casks placed around the perimeter and then tell myself that I don't need it and can't possibly fit it along with everything I've already bought at the markets.

After a satisfying breakfast, N and I parted ways and I left to pick up my meat en route to my bike for the ride home. I expect I will be returning to Plenty time and time again!

BIKEABILITY

Ease of access: 9/10 (If I weren't already going to markets, I would still take the Go Between Bridge but then just go along Montague Road instead of riding along the river)
Parking: 10/10 (I just walked from the markets but there is plenty (yes I went there!) of space out front)

Some previous meals had at Plenty...