Food- Collective

3 Cookson Street, Camberwell

This will be brief, and quite fitting for the boys at The Collective.

A simple and laid back approach to the often hectic portrayal of starting a cafe', these guys have taken baby steps to create an impressive addition to the streets of Camberwell.

Since their humble beginnings at the ever amazing, cafe veteran and in my mind 'Yoda' that is Las Chicas, the boys have created a space that is very inviting and fun to hang out it in. There's not much to distract you, which means your time is dedicated solely to your coffee companion, be it person, newspaper or the like.

The menu at Collective is very simple, but with some pretty sweet offerings like bircher and 'pee-days' as the boys like to call them. There are also muffins and pastries for you to pick apart during your weekend rants with friends.

The guys are rocking a Syneso machine, adding cred to their already warm and likeable personalities. I'd heard that they were pretty serious about their coffee, so went straight for a 'magic'; the alleged speciality of our barista.

Forget HP, I've found a new awkward magician to fuss over.

I don't get out to this area often, out of sheer laziness and for the fear of what specimens I might run into whilst stumbling around the streets. Camberwellians are in a class of their own, but I have to admit, I have several friends who grew up here, to whom I can't live without, and seem to have escaped the contagious and infamous personality of others in the area.

Rest assured, when I do make it out, I'll be heading straight to the Collective.

Date rate: For dudes- if you're happy for your girl to be chatting up the boys behind the counter, why not?
Coffee cure: Magic happens.
Hangover Happy: It's not the first place I'd head to relive my hung over soul.
Price: No complaints from me

Oh and unfortunately, loss of phone due to loss of rational thinking in past drunken times, has resulted in loss of collective photo. Hence this pic has been *stolen* from a fellow caffeine addicts.

Food- Milkwood

120 Nicholson St.
 Brunswick East. 3057

Another day that Brunswick calls- how I wish the time between visits was so much smaller.

Milkwood has been the topic of conversation between my friends for a few months now, not just for its wicked name but also for the alleged culinary delights on offer. I had been eagerly anticipating the day my loved up housemate would invite me on a Brunswick adventure. Finally that day arrived.

Driving past numerous cafe's, (Pope Joan the next on the list) I realized that Brunswick really is where it’s at. Maybe one day, if I can ever tear myself away from sunny Elwood, I’ll relocate.

The lovely Milkwood is perched on a seemingly lonely corner, distancing itself from both competitors, and as it would appear; car parks. In our dazed and hungry state, we couldn’t be further away.

One thing you should already know about the café’ society- patience is a virtue. You’re not the only person in Melbourne craving sweets, and certainly not the only hung over soul needing a bit of TLC. But let me tell you another thing, good things come to those who wait. Very good things.

Personally, I believe that the difference between a good café and an amazing one is attention to detail. For instance, as discussed, you always have to wait, but at Milkwood, the waiter reassured us that we would quickly get a table, and took our coffee order anyway. Before we knew it we were seated, followed by the arrival of my strong flat white. (time-ing). Coffee supreme- always a win in my mind.

So what’s the go with the quaint and country-style space that is Milkwood?

I loved the awkwardly cute retro potholders that reminded me of my childhood days at nana's place. You know the kind- white crochet enveloping the pot, dangling from the ceiling? I still find it rather amusing that everything uncool is returning with such vengeance, before we know it doilies and quilts will be back in. Oh wait, that’s awkward.

Everything here is laid out clean and simple, the walls are adorned with minimal pieces including a bookshelf laiden with rhubarb, apricot and berry preserves. Forget breakfast, I was two minutes away from grabbing a spoon and chowing down.

Other points go to the cool lighting and retro ceiling fan.There is also a small and cute cabinet display of strawberry shortcake-sweet looking muffins, banana bread and brownies. In a few words- this place is effortlessly rad.

Down to the important things- food: Ricotta pancakes with banana, coconut, vanilla bean syrup and yoghurt.These were 'tell the world' amazing. Deliciously good in so many ways- the pancake itself had a slight crunch, there was no doughy texture, just awesome goodness. I was uber impressed.

The ritual of finishing off my friends plate gave privy to warm cannellini beans, lemon and rosemary mash and sliced avocado on toast. Wow- where do I begin. I can only try...

Remember Willy Wonka when Violet indulges in gum that tastes like a roast? Well, I got to feel like Violet for the day. This was the best roast I had ever had, spread on toast.

Date rate: Farmhouse frolic -a win.

Hangover Happy: mmm mmm beans.

Coffee cure: I’d give this a 8/10

Price: Only had to borrow a 20 from the bank of Mikey

Poor, poor me.

What happens when I have no funds?

People have to start taking me out for breakfast.

That's what happens.

Wink wink. nudge nudge.

Food- Harpers Kitchen

78 Inkerman Street St Kilda

I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m less than impressed.

Recently, amongst friends, I’ve debated that there is a reason why we are always reading ‘amazing reviews’- being that we don’t want to hear anything bad.

Perhaps we don’t want to be accused of slander, or maybe we know the effects of a negative attitude on those around us… but could we possibly be scared of being honest?

Melbourne is a city that prides itself on its café culture, its city life and its musical offerings. So it makes sense that we might be slightly over protective and want to talk things up a bit.

My question is-are we so enamoured with our city and the culture that it has become famous for that if we actually produced something that wasn’t up to standard, well, we’d be slightly ashamed?

I had drove past Harper’s Kitchen on numerous occasions before I decided to venture inside. Let me tell you, this place is tiny-you’d drive straight past it on Inkerman Street if you didn’t have an eye for all things cute and quirky.

On a rainy day, this place yells inviting. There are bikes hanging on the exterior, promoting their cyclist friendly environment, and cute green awnings proclaiming the café’s name. Inside, some very attentive and friendly staff will greet you. Brownie points.

This place is little, very little, but they’ve done well with the space. You can probably fit about 20 odd people inside, with a long communal table surrounded by twos and threes- cosy but cute. There are also quirky additions like caged light fittings and wooden branch decorations hanging from the ceiling- an interesting spin on the industrialised vibe.

Whilst aesthetically pleasing, Harpers Kitchen is one that talks the talk, but unfortunately for me, didn’t walk the walk. It has all the makings for an amazing café, but seems to have drawn the short straw.

Don’t’ get me wrong; I’m not saying I could cook up something better-I struggle with reheating a pizza, but if these guys wanted to score some coverage across publications such as Broadsheet and Epicure, they really had to (and pardon the pun)’step up to the plate.’

Coffee supreme seated well amongst this quirky café. I was tempted by a few things on the menu but ended up deciding on poached eggs with a spiced avocado and ricotta stack on toasted pide’, with lemon, pink salt & sumac. This sounded amazing- my tastebuds were about as wet as Melbourne’s recent weekend downpour.

Unfortunately, what came out was something that I feel I could have made myself, and really, if you’re waking up early and making a trek, which in my case I wasn’t… (But if you were), you might be slightly disappointed.

In my books, Turkish bread is pretty much a no go. “You got to get the good stuff.” You know, Noisette or something of equal ‘fanciness’. Also, don’t put a slab of cold ricotta on my plate; I’m sorry, but that does not equal a stack.

I’d like to think of myself as open minded, but I couldn’t’ help but feel a little left behind by Harper’s kitchen. I’ll go back to see how they’re going- this girl is doing some great things for a first venture, and I’m sure that a lot has changed/been improved on since I was last there. Just get a good chef in and you’ll be winning.

Date rate: I like the venue for a date- it’s cute, cosy and random.

Coffee cure: Supreme served well

Hangover happy: Not enough fullness and goodness to please the weary soul

Price: Very good

One thing to note-

Quite often, and especially in this technologically driven world, we take the written word too seriously, and forget that everyone is entitled to generate, speak and consume their own opinion. Don’t take this is as the bible, but rather, a flippant attempt at preaching.

This post, and all my other ramblings, is my own opinion and no one else’s. Do what you will with it.

Passion

Amazing.