Braking for Breakfast

I finally visited the To Kill A Mockingbird namesake up on Latrobe Tce a few weeks ago for an early Sunday breakfast with Y. It's not overly obvious that it's there, tucked in a shady corner, but upon approaching I immediately felt the relaxed vibe and we were welcomed immediately by the friendly staff. Being early we had our pick of tables and we opted to sit outside, being a nice day, but in a shaded area on the front deck. The all-day menu is short but hardly simple with options deviating from the standard - think warm malted semolina & rhubarb, black sticky rice with banana, tapioca & coconut, miso baked salmon on Japanese rice w pickled ginger & dashi dressing. Coffee is made with beans by Coffee Supreme and apart from the usual espresso based, they do Aeropress and (to my sleepy delight) unlimited filter brew (both $5), which we ordered. That's right - unlimited coffee - you're welcome. Y decided she felt like the Mixed Grain Porridge with poached pear, berry compote, honey, pistachios & cinnamon. Despite being tempted by the salmon, I chose slow-cooked broad beans and lentils with a poached egg, tahini, tomato, pickled cucumber & toasted sourdough but with gluten-free bread instead, which was no extra charge. Already I was feeling like a winner at this point. Orders are taken at the counter which I hadn't realised but luckily Y knew the drill. 

Menu clearly stating that you need to order at the counter #readingfail

Coffees arrived quickly - a carafe of the Aeropress for Y which came with a glass of ice and a star print straw for a nice touch and a cup of smooth filter brewed coffee for me. After asking for some water, we were asked if we wanted sparkling to go with our coffees, to which we immediately agreed. I'm not sure if it's just our coffee types or all black coffee but I like the touch! It was such a lovely morning and peaceful, even with more customers beginning to arrive, and perfect to catch up with a good friend. 

Fancy - carafe of Aeropress coffee + stars

Our meals were served and unfortunately I spotted that I'd been given the sourdough instead of the gluten-free bread but that was quickly rectified with apologies - our waitress was so lovely that I almost felt bad asking about it! I'd expected that the lentils & beans would be like baked beans with the beans and lentils whole but instead they had been cooked until soft to  a chunky purée, or a breakfast dip as Y proclaimed. So in dip-style, I tore off some bread, smeared it on, adding a bit of poached egg and cucumber and was in taste heaven. The beans and lentils had a Middle Eastern flavour and were like a delicious cousin of hummus, especially with the tahini sauce drizzled around the bowl. The pickled cucumber was crunchy and zingy and a few fresh cherry tomatoes added pops of sweetness. The beans and lentils were standout alone but adding a poached egg with a gooey yolk made me love it even more. It's a tasty, wholesome dish that will keep you feeling full for a long time.

Slow-cooked beans & lentils (14.0)

Meanwhile Y was loving her porridge, deviating from her usual semolina favourite. Served in a flat bowl, it is a thick porridge with deep red berry coulis on top with swirls of honey and a sprinkling of pistachio dukkah on top. Perhaps you could have it with additional milk but as is, it's like a warm Bircher. The use of multiple grain types made it texturally different from a plain oat porridge. It was lightly sweetened and creamy, with the berry topping added a contrasting tartness and the dukkah brining crunch factor. Being porridge I'm not sure if it will be on the menu much longer but after having a taste, I think it's one of the best I've had!

Mixed grain porridge (12.0)

Our meals were substantial and we left feeling very sated! I also had about four cups of that filter coffee...so I was rather buzzed for the rest of the day. I love the relaxed feel of Atticus Finch and with lovely service and great food, I'm going to have to go back ASAP. Sadly without Y (who has left me for Bahrain...I get it, they probs have better food) but I want to try that Miso Baked Salmon or maybe that Warm Malted Semolina....

Details

Atticus Finch Cafe
83 Latrobe Terrace
Paddington, Brisbane

M-F | 0630-1400
S-S | 0700-1400

https://www.facebook.com/atticusfinchcafe/
https://instagram.com/atticusfinchcafe/

$$
GF | DF | EF | V | VV
Breakfast, Lunch, Cafe

Ratings

Flatlay FTW

For your #yolkporn pleasure

Hello, bottomless cup of coffee...

An excellent menu indeed.

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

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