Coffee in the Golden Central (and the misery of a tooth ache comes to an end!)

 I was seriously concerned with the thought of going coffee free on Good Friday.. I know I have probably  sinned this year (I wont divulge what though)  but I didn't want 'no coffee'  to be my penance (little did I know what lay ahead !) I could think of plenty of things I could go without to cleanse me of my sins.... but this year coffee was not to be one!  

When mum told me the new cafe in Bendigo that has been venturing into what I think is  new Melbourne esque territory was open - ie getting serious about their coffee, open in an old corner store in a residential area away from any other hustle and bustle  - (note: apologies to other Bendigoian cafes... I don't visit very often and I haven't seen this coffee lovin in action anywhere else yet) I thanked the Lord! Hallelujah, prayers have been answered on the most religious day of the year!!! Phew, What a relief!!!

We headed to the Bendigo Corner Store (the name sounds oddly familiar doesn't it!) I was pleasantly surprised with their set up! A modern, and simple decor, but it had a warm and open feel and  they were obviously serious about their coffee... offering a Single Origin Kiam from Papa New Guinea to try!

The store, once a milk bar, and still serving the essentials, (Fresh Bread, Local Milk, Free Range Eggs, Papers and a few treats and ice creams) now focuses heavily on coffee and delivering fresh, simple and vibrant food. We sat in what would have been the back yard, set up appropriately for kids to play with a Sand Box and a Blackboard, whilst the mums and dads can sip their lattes in the Sun... nice touch!

There is also an indoor room with comfy couches that has been elegantly designed, but also features an array of kids toys and books... most likely  for the younger ones not on the move yet.  There is still plenty of room for those that don't have little kids with a large dining area and a bar overlooking the street at the front.

My coffee came and it looked lovely, with a sweet chocolate crema on top. Their coffee of choice is Espresso Syndicate, roasters of organic fair trade beans (good to hear) using where possible sustainable practices and based in Richmond. I don't think I have had their coffee before, but my soy cappuccino was lovely and smooth and ,very easy to drink! Such a relief to drink coffee from a cafe with passion and purpose! Well done! When I'm back in Bendigo, Ill be coming back here for sure! I dropped in again at the end of my weekend for a takeaway and had a gorgeous and strong coffee... can't wait to come back here again.

On another note, my tooth drama came to a dramatic end! On Good Friday night, after a lovely day sipping local coffee, helping Darby in an Easter egg hunt and enjoying all the Easter goodies Bendigo has to offer, I cooked my family a lovely meal and when I was ready to put my feet up for the night - the PAIN set in, not the regular aching pain I have been having recently but thunderous, throbbing, scream out loud pain! No pain killer I had even touched the sides... so my kind sister took me into Emergency Room to get something for the excruciating mess I was in ! Six hours later at 2am I was finally seen ...(I wont even get into the details of the waiting room dramas. I am trying to block it out of my mind!)
Injected with Pain killers and sent home with Panadeine Forte, I was told very helpfully that my Easter was over and I would have to go back to Melbourne to get to a dentist immediately, basically it was a joke (and a miracle) if I could  find a dentist in Bendigo. Well believing  in miracles is something I do,  So In a desperate attempt to avoid going back to Melbourne, I called around every Dentist with no luck! My sixth or seventh call I got an answer, within a minute I was booked in at 1.00pm for an extraction! The Dentist was a tad eccentric, tad sarcastic  but very helpful and amusing so I was in and out in 30 minutes, one tooth less and with hopefully pain gone! Needless to say I didn't feel like drinking coffee for a few days... maybe I was being punished... (just God was a day later!)  

Before I go, a big congrats to my gorgeous friend Mrs Moss (nee Egan) who was married in England a week before the Royal  wedding.... I was very excited to speak to her on the day (so sad i wasn't there)  and cant wait to see her at the end of the year to celebrate!

Until Next time xxx (and hopefully at number 50!)

The Long and Winding Road (seems faster on a bicycle!)

Me and my coffee adventure! (Physical Evidence- Business Cards)

On the precipice of 50 cafes (48 to be exact!) over the Easter Break I am giving myself time  to sit back and reflect on my 4 month journey (and work out how I am going to get through Good Friday and the days following  without a coffee , hopefully bendigo can deliver the goods! eeek).

Its has been a simple challenge  in principle but  its also been  much much more complex in ways I didn't think really possible for a coffee challenge. Its been an  emotional, mental, spiritual, learning journey and I shouldn't forget fun and very rewarding all the same!
Its hard to really believe a person can fundamentally change in such a short period of time.. I'm not sure if I have changed, but I have certainly altered in some ways. The numbness I have lived with over the past year is slowing being chipped away and I am  feeling things again.. There have been a many a time when the sight of a gorgeous cappuccino  has left me in tears. I don't think it take a genius to know I am not weeping about a coffee... talk about good self therapy (and embarrassing!) !  Its certainly an improvement of where I was  6 months ago where I was tough as a rock... its taken coffee (a stimulant of all things) to chip away at all of that and make me feel like a good person again!

I may have to admit myself to some kind of "caffeine addicts anonymous" for some kind of rehab at the end of the year  (and a thorough detox of caffeine from my body!!) but its all been worth it.. Bring on number 100! 

I am right  on track.. I'm even tracking early... 52 places to go and 36 weeks to do it in! Its very impressive! I just hope I don't finish too early.. I don't want to find another challenge, although I may be able to start revisiting my favorites so far! Speaking of favorite's.. I think I may have had the best coffee so far! I said that a couple of weeks ago about the Brunswick East Project.. and that was amazing, but the coffee I had on Monday was pretty special and I know its a big call but I know what I taste on the day!

With a few precious hours to myself to get some practical things done, mopping and sweeping - done, washing on,  dishwasher stacked and kitchen cleaned it was definitely coffee time!

The day before I hand written all the places I have left to go... this will be carried around with me like a bible and takes less time than going through my phone! There is something therapeutic being able to physically cross each place off my list with a pen! 
 Out of the places left there are alot of places in areas I don't normally venture for any business. Today I decided to try Northcote.. a place that was semi familiar in my Brunswick days. I knew that they had a few good places to try and I was interested to compare them to the rest.

First stop was Penny Farthing Espresso in High St http://pennyfarthingespresso.com/ ... it  isn't hard to see why there is a  bicycle theme here with a marvelous bike sculpture at the entry and  even down to the Barista in his gorgeous Braces, and 1890s get up  including mini handle bar moustache and pencil behind ear...  I happened to be wearing a similar cap to him  that day so maybe I was sending him subliminal single girl messages... he was pretty easy on the eye from memory!!

I sat down at the large communal table filled with guys on their laptops ... (that's got to be my next investment... or an Ipad so i dont look so sneaky getting out my not pad and taking notes.. what a  nerd!)  I was greeted by a friendly waiter and ordered, I looked briefly at the menu and didn't get past the drinks page... when I didn't order food the menu was swiftly taken from my hands... no harm... just more intrigue on the food next time I go.. They are open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and from a little Internet research the menu looks like its worth coming back for..

The 1st winner of the day were the pitcher's of water filled with fresh cucumber... such a simple and classy touch that really made a difference to the experience ..the water was refreshing and oh so very English and elegant! Its inspired me to do the same at home now! Its nice to still get surprised by the little things!

The coffee was made with 5 senses beans on a very impressive Synesso machine... I have tasted 5 senses coffee now a few times this year and it has delivered  stellar coffee each time . My coffee came and it was so elegant, just looking at it was a work of art and I couldn't wait to taste it.... I'm not sure whether it was because I had worked hard and driven far, but this coffee left me speechless, I had no idea what to write! It was Fruity, chocolaty with a rich  creamy finish.. I really think it could be up there with the best I have had so far... and I have had alot in fact probably over 40 high calibre coffee's, so I think that is saying something!! The cafe is stylish and understated, the staff were really friendly and I left feeling very zen! A perfect coffee experience and it was only Monday!!
Ill be revisiting for sure... and telling everyone about it! Next time Ill order a long black ...eek!

Until next time... and I will write about my other Northcote experience!

PS - I am officially entitled to log service leave now!!! Wow I am old!! I might be able to plan an around the world coffee safari! How much fun would that be!!!!!

Saturday in the Yarraville sun!

It wasn't the ideal way to start a sunny weekend - spending the first few hours waiting to see my local GP  for some antibiotics for my wretched **@#@&%  tooth.. When we were finished the ordeal,  I wasn't sure if I needed a coffee or a very stiff drink! I needed some time to ponder this ....

So Darby and I drove to Yarrvaille so I could decide and to come good on my promise of the morning ' be a good boy for mummy at the doctors and we will get a sparkle biscuit(his all time fave from the Heather Dell bakery in Anderson St)' .. He was spectacularly good for me.. and I'm sure it wasn't just from my bribe.. he knows I'm not feeling well and is genuinely concerned with how looking after me , constantly asking - are you OK mum? The doctor will fix you'..... bless him! 

When I did get  him his biscuit and watched a very impromptu band and veterans march down Anderson st (over in a few seconds but I found it very overwhelming ).  I contemplated my options - that stiff  drink idea still lingering or a coffee.... my head was thumping, so I had to make a decision quickly,  and I really didn't think a dose of caffeine would alleviate it but I also thought entering the pub with a child at 10.30am may look seriously dodge... in Footscray maybe but not Yarraville! Plus my head was sore  from the 2 drinks I consumed last night??? I am sooo weak .... I would have thought the Panadeine  would have settled any headache, alcohol related or not!

I ended up being sensible and chose COFFEE!! I walked past Wee Jeannie, but it was looking rather busy, so I chose her sister and other favorite - The Corner shop in Ballarat St.
Darby and I perched ourselves at the big communal table and ordered drinks instantly! Darby's mini chocolate milkshake arrived within minutes and  I had a taste and almost wished I had ordered one, sweet chocolaty.. cold  and downright delicious!
It was busy as it usually is on Saturdays but the ebb and flow of customers was not at all frantic and stressful like it sometimes can be here.

The service from the new wait staff was very prompt, I ordered some eggs when Darby's drink arrived... (I think food was going to help!)

My coffee came next and even though thinking this was not what my body ordered,  it was exactly the right thing! My headache instantly lifted (uh-oh - alarm bells.. Does this mean I am addicted to caffeine and my body was having a physical reaction to no coffee??? surely not, it was only 10.30am!)

The crema was light and fluffy, with the magical chocolate on top exploding and melting in my mouth.. it was a marvelous experience.. and certainly a unique one I don't have anywhere else! It does bring me back every time! The Coffee that followed was smooth and rich and really marvelous especially when drinking to  the sounds of an all time fave Fleetwood Mac song "Dreams"  (and the whole Rumours album to follow- yay!) ... Darby and I sat there and grooved away  while we ate.. it was bliss.... I didn't think coffee was what I needed, but it was exactly the cure of me feeling off this morning! I should have known (Ill remember this cure  for next time) !!
Oh and we also had a couple of celebrity spotting's in the Corner Shop (if you can call them celebrities!) Comedian Adam Hills.. coming in to enjoy a solo coffee... and the guy that plays the doctor of that new show "winners and losers" having breakfast whilst holding his  baby! He is so cute!
All in all a 10/10 coffee morning!!!Oh and the sun was shining too as a bonus!!!  



On Friday my mum and Darby came in for an afternoon coffee  with me while at work! I  of course took them to Elevenses! It was fairly busy, so we sat outside in the relatively sunny autumn afternoon.... our coffee and babycinos were as always delicious and the lime macaroon we consumed (although just a small bite) was aHHHmazZZZing!! I might have to get the salted caramel next time!! hmmmm

Darby was on his best behaviour even though he was beside himself with tiredness... such a coffee trooper now!!



So Excited by his babycino and macaroon!



Java Jane 2011: Its a tooth ache tonight....

Java Jane 2011: Its a tooth ache tonight....: " My Weekend was quiet on the coffee front , mainly due to a pounding tooth ache - yes its still there. Antibiotic..."

Its a tooth ache tonight....



My Weekend was quiet  on the coffee front , mainly due to a pounding tooth ache -  yes its still there. Antibiotics failed..Painkillers were  just getting me through and  the Dentist was  booked but not till after Easter... not sure I will hold out that long... I'm sure the amount of  nurofen going through my system is giving me an ulcer - it says to eat when I take it, but that causes me pain.. its a lose /lose situation!  .. ahhh not good!   I find the pain the worst  not so much from eating  but  from drinking, especially anything of the hot nature - this has  pretty much ruled out one of the main joys of my days : Coffee!!! (sob, sob)



Wee Jeannie! How cute
is she!!

I did however suffer for my art and I still drank it! On Saturday I wandered down to Yarraville village (Darby was at the movies with my sweet sis)  and  decided upon the newbie in town: Wee Jeannie,  for the second time in its first week of trading . It was very busy as expected at noon on a Saturday! I could only order a take away coffee.. I didn't want to be seen in public wincing when drinking it, that would have sent out the completely wrong message! The coffee I had  was blissfull, I felt completely better even if it was momentary! Iain, the owner made it.. and he has always made perfect coffees, for as long as I remember back to the old Le Chien days!

The pain seems to come after drinking ,  and it was not so pleasant yet  the coffee was still completely worth it! Ahhh hopefully some miracle will happen and my tooth will heal itself.. its not likely, so I better take out some shares in Nurofen while I can!! They are going to go up in the next few weeks...

On Sunday after another trip to the kiddie movies (those $5 kids specials are GREAT!!) I left Darby with his Dad to venture over to Richmond... I had an 'appointment' with my cousin Amy to get my horrid eyebrows fixed, so perfect timing to get coffee and I was feeling a tad better.. 

(On a side, God I hate Punt Road.... that is one reason I couldn't live on that side... my stress levels would be through the roof!! )

There were a couple of cafes on my list that I could try.. and today I went on name alone!

New York Tomato!

The blonde in me, pondered why it was called New York Tomato in such a non New York looking area, until it clicked that it was situated  between New and York st ... very clever! It was situated  in  part suburban/part office building   area of  Richmond, and I thought I would never find it! It sure is nestled away very well!  I arrived and the outdoor area out the  front was pumping with cool looking  people chowing down  very appetizing  breakfasts and, many having beers and wine .. ( I looked at my phone.. yep after 12pm.. so more than acceptable!!) 

 

I always feel a little awkward asking for a table by myself but the waitress was really friendly and led me up two flights of stairs and to a nice table tucked away in the corner of the open and airy red painted room. I ordered my coffee whilst I perused  the menu.. I was very hungry and thought I would put up with the pain just to eat something nice! I ordered plain poached eggs on toast! (I needed the protein)  My coffee came, with a thick crema.. with generous amounts of chocolate! The coffee was strong, which was a good thing -it seemed to wake me up from my Nurofen/Panadol haze.. yay!! It was enjoyable, even though I had to grimace from pain from time to time. My eggs arrived promptly. They were perfect atop maybe the nicest bread I have tasted from Dench bakers http://www.denchbakers.com.au/ aHHmaziZZZng!! Some kind of seeded bread ..  I presume... oh I want to get some as soon as I can. It felt like a hearty but healthy meal, just what I needed! Ill be coming back for breakfast for sure!  And the coffee was a worthy winner too and just what I needed - put a smile back on my pained face!

Feeling as though I needed another to get through the day and still with plenty of time to spare, I decided to go back to 3 Bags full http://threebagsfullcafe.com/.. a wonderful coffee experience a few weeks back!  I was going to meet Laura there for a quick coffee before going to Amy's .. I managed to get a park, and walked around to the entrance to wait for Laura in the bitterly cold Sunday afternoon.. there seemed to be more people going in, but not many coming out.. I decided to have a peek in and the place was abuzz with people... I don't think any more could have if they tried, looked pretty ominous for us! Then I managed to snag one of the 'sign' tables outside.. We had the plane !Darby  would have been excited! The dark clouds were looming so  it was going to be a quick coffee!! I ordered a Soy Piccolo! That would take seconds to drink if we had  to do a runner!!  Which in fact we did. we paid and walked out into a very heavy shower! Nice!!! That's Melbourne Weather for you!! (Oh and spectacular coffee again!!!- but it will be a weekday only place to come!)

Ill keep battling on with my tooth ache...and my coffee drinking! I cant slow down now! Almost half way!!

Until next time xx

Brunswick - here we go again!

mmmmm

Funnily enough today I ended up in Brunswick ! It seems to be my second home at the moment... (three times in a week may be a little excessive though!) Today my business was a catch up with Corrie - I am so jealous of her current location : a hop, skip and a jump to Princes Park and only a block away to an array of yummy  cafes, bars and cool shops and of course East Brunswick, where my heart still is...(or at least half of it). I have decided the month of April  will be my reminiscing month - its been all about Brunswick!  



This morning I am  given free rein on choosing a location to go.. and I really can't decide... I toss up Wide Open Road http://www.wideopenroad.com.au/, a rather new cafe and where I had takeaway from recently and it was rather lovely.. and I'm sure Darby would get a kick out of the Shopping Trolley suspended to the wall!! I will come back here again!
Instead  we head to what used to be Toby's Estate headquarters http://www.tobysestate.com.au/before they relocated to the wonderful espresso bar in the city. It is now trading as the Brunswick Food Store, a warm new cafe serving Middle Eastern offerings,  but luckily for us they still serve what is becoming my favorite coffee brand... Toby's Estate! (And after a little research on my friend google I find  out the room next door is still set up as the Toby's Estate Barista school -I had a sneak peak and it looks very  very impressive!) Might just have to enlist myself in a course! I may not have a coffee making gene in me, but I'm willing to learn.. and you cant say I'm not passionate about the stuff..

We order our coffee and a muffin to share.. It may possibly be the biggest and maybe even the best muffin I have tasted..(I didn't get to taste much as Darby managed to get through most, sharing small segments  with Corrie and I) White Chocolate and Raspberry... classic combination .. because it works. Yummy crispy top and light as air middle, big white choc chunks that had cooked and caramelised.. with that sweet but tart balance of the raspberries.. Just about food heaven...Ill be going back on the hope of one of those muffins alone.


Toby's Barista room



The coffee I had was superb, the familiar taste I am loving so much at the moment! I tend to find Toby's Estate coffee always quite strong, (this is a very good thing) - it is bold and rich and completely overwhelming! Fall in love every time!  





After my coffee experience here, I think I can still do another one, so on the way home I stop into Rays Cafe. I have had a few people at work talk about this cafe as an institution... and its their place to go to when in Brunswick.. So I thought I better try!  Darby and take a seat at the communal table at the front, the place could quite easily transform into a bar at night, it has a very dark, edgy feel to it! People smoking out the front (not cool), waitresses dressed in numbers I could never get away with and lots of exposed brick and wood, to give it that earthy dark look.  It seems to be where all the cool Brunswick kids play... and I am feeling quite self conscious like a very very dowdy housewife here! I order a Soy Piccolo and Darby (dressed as Woody from Toy Story ) happily plays..The music seems to be part star wars.. part Muse.. and I do feel very out of place.. In saying that the staff were really friendly .. and as always Darby wins them over with his charm and sweetness!



My Piccolo



My coffee comes and it is really warm, almost hot, this is good as it  enforces me to sip slowly and enjoy every gulp, rather than my usual guzzling method. It has a slight bitterness up front but a lovely finish... full of fruitiness...mmm the coffee here is good, I just don't think this is the place for me.. I'm not part of the band! The next night I was in East Brunswick again for a raucous dinner with my cousins... cheap Thai food and ice cream Gelobar from  .. a classic  combination!......
As we come close to the end of April,  I think Ill go easy on my Brunswick obsession for awhile...and start exploring some uncharted territory! Anyway as they say abscence makes the the heart grow fonder!

Can you believe I am up to 43 places now! 57 to go! Woo Hoo

Until next time xxx





Stephen Pondering
over
his flat
 white!



 PS - I better make a special mention as I said  I would include a pic for my colleague.. Every month we go out for coffee.. (seeing as now I am the connoisseur) and every time I chose Elevenses in Little Collins St  http://www.elevenses.net.au/! Why would I go anywhere else! Its close by, it has wonderful and friendly staff and the coffee is amazing! And That Tiger Toast is pretty darn tasty too!





Time... I need some more of it!!!!

I'm running a week behind on my blog and its stressing me out! As I'm churning through the cafes this means as part of my resolution I have to document these experiences! I am loving the writing, it comes easy to me and its also very therapeutic in a funny way,  but its finding the the hours in the day to  do it... If Darby grabs a nap I jot down a few lines, if I take a break for lunch at work I write a little. When Darby goes to bed, i try and write, but I'm often too comatose myself that I cant keep my eyes open and all that comes out is blah blah blah!!!

So this week my aim will be to a)catch up b)find a little time in my day to write on this!

 So Im writing  this as a quick little blog! I don't really need to write much about this place, it is one that I have visited  earlier in the year... but gee it is worth a visit again! (my excuse now to revisit is to collect a business card!)

 The destination:  St Ali http://stali.com.au/au/in Yarra Place South Melbourne.

It was my monday morning coffee, so it is needed badly and  quickly, Darby was hyper so I wanted to get out of there soon as I could , but still have time to enjoy the experience - it was a fine line to balance!

Basically these are my messily scribbled notes I wrote whilst I was there and it doesnt need much more than that to sum up my experience

St Ali

-Darby Hyper

- Non Descript Street

- Indutsrial to the Max

- Heavenly coffee

- Strong, heady

- NO FAULTS HERE!

I might leave it at that really! That summed it up on that day perfectly! I didnt stay long, I'm sure darby was on the edge and about  to run amok any second but I managed to keep him under control (with the help of a delicious chocloate,raspberry and coconut muffin!)

Ohh and we had our first "celebrity" coffee sighting! Lisa McCune (not sure she is classed a celeb but oh well) was in St Ali ordering a coffee, went to sit down next to us on the big communal table but caught a glimpse of Darby and his cheekiness and took a more intimate solo spot in the corner, don't blame her, I do exactly the same when I'm by myself!

On Tuesday I had a trillion doctors appointments so I didnt get to go to work so I really missed my morning coffee from Eleveneses! I did however get to go to the opening morning of Wee Jeannie in my hood, Yarraville.  Wee Jeannie is brought to us by the mastermind who was behind my all time favorite Le Chien, and then Corner Shop and now this tiny cafe next to the yarraville station! Its so nice,  and different. The coffee was spot on and they had only been open for an hour or so! This will be becoming a regular again! Another great place in the West!

Until Next time xxx



Add caption



Mail house blues....

A miserable, dreary and drizzling  Sunday morning calls for a relaxing, chilled out  coffee experience  to help liven  up the day and at least make it feel a tad bit sunny! I definitely succeeded in the good coffee stakes, but maybe not the best venue choice for a relaxing coffee on the day of rest. 

With  Darby still  away I thought I could  travel a distance for my cappuccino today.. The issue is always on the location,  I need to work on those decision making skills, (ill add that to my goal list for the year!) ... there are many places that are on the peripheral of the city,  that I would like to try.. today I just took a lucky dip and picked The Mailing Room in Canterbury... I have read great things about this cafe so I'm super excited..

 Canterbury is not the kind of suburb Id  visit very often, maybe once every couple of years.. I do like Mailing Rd, but I do feel very out of place and rather ... round peg in square hole, that kind of thing!  The Mailing Room is easy to find as it is on the corner of the street and in the old converted post office. It is a rather grand building and more elegant than the modern, exposed brick and industrial places that seem to be the flavour of the day at the moment.  I arrive and the place is in a state of chaos, with frenzied waitresses  running around, I manage to hail one and put my order in quick ... the high ceilings bounce  the loud Sunday noise around and I feel my heart beat start to quicken and my blood pressure start to rise (and not in a good way).I manage to get a table which is in the middle of the room and I feel very exposed sittng there on my own.  The place  is filled to the brim with families,young couples and sensible people just getting take away coffees and bolting! 

I realise once I'm seated that I have walked in just after  someone has spilled coffee all over the floor and the wait staff are  frantically mopping it up, so the service is a little bit slapstick (which I don't blame them) .

 I'm feeling very uncomfortable here, the hectic pace  and intense noise seem to be heightened by the big space the cafe occupies. Luckily my coffee arrives and I get some relief (Ahh) and I can see why it rates so highly, my cappuccino has a sweet honey flavour and is nice and hot , there is no bitterness at all and the rich coffee is a pleasure to drink. They use their own beans here from a mixture of different sources, I was tempted to get some, but decided against it as I just wanted to get out of the Sunday rush... I left quickly (Whats with the $4.10 price... just annoying, although not outrageous !Better start carrying 10 cent coins on me ) Next time I will venture here on a weekday and I imagine it  would be a lovely and relaxing place for coffee...

On the way home I'm still feeling unsatisfied , I haven't had the kind of  coffee experience I was looking for today(well the coffee was decent and the building was lovely) but just the amount of people and the blaring loudness of the Mailing Room has left me feeling stressed and anxious! I decide to drop by the Abbotsford Convent on the way home... big mistake....they had a monthly craft market and getting a park was like pulling teeth so I decided to go somewhere that could certainly not fail.. and I would get take away to enjoy in the serenity that is my Nissan Tiida!!!

 Seven Seeds http://www.sevenseeds.com.au/.... Ahhh just walking in I felt a whole lot better! I ordered my coffee and whilst waiting read the coffee beans menu! They all sounded amazing so I decided to buy 250g of  Costa Rican Monte Copey Honey, the description read: Rich body with notes of red cherries and a strong chocolate finish. Great for espresso and will match well with milk mmm, I cant wait to try it, now I just need to get a coffee filter so I can drink it!   It is busy here, but I don't feel that same sense of chaos, and the girl helping me chose the coffee was patient and knowledgable.

So not a complete waste of a child free morning!! The 2 coffees kept me going... I needed that caffeine through my veins as I took   Darby to his first (losing) footy match... he loveeddd it, so I think this will be a regular thing.. Lucky I live so close! Doesn't he look so cute in my old Lions hat.... its soo  Vintage!!!

Until next time xxxx.....

Isn't he adorable!! Waiting for the train to Etihad!

Pope Joan and Growers Espresso...

How Gorgeous!!!



On Saturday I went to 2 wonderful cafes ... but that's becoming the norm for me really... what I didn't realise was how many I  have actually been to ! In the craziness of it all I had somehow  lost count, thinking I had been to around 30ish, when to my surprise I  counted (and recounted three times)  40 cafes since beginning my challenge in January. OMG nearly half way there and its only just April,  I nearly fell out of my chair (well car seat in fact).. i think I did do a little squeal of excitement  and a quite possibly a  little dance with my arms (again luckily I was semi concealed in my car) !

 Its not like I have won the jackpot, or bought a house or found out some other life changing  news.. put simply it means I have had 40 coffees... Not really much to celebrate huh?!?!?  Yet this means so much more  to me than just tasting coffee, this is what I have achieved on my journey so far: 

- I have stepped out of my comfort zone on numerous occasions ;

- I am on target to actually accomplish a goal (who knew I could do it!)

-I realise if I put my mind to something I am a  very very determined and motivated person and have the ability to be knocked down but pick myself up again, dust myself off and keep going;

- I am learning that coffee in Melbourne is an amazing business and maybe one Id like to pursue as more than a hobby down the track;

- I am meeting some rather interesting,  wonderful and inspiring people;

-and  I am broadening my horizons and seeing parts of Melbourne I have not ever seen before!!

Wow...... not bad for a pretty daggy challenge! Imagine how much I will have grown by the time I hit 100! 

 I have decided to slow down next  week and give myself a rest ! Plus I don't want to hit 100 too soon and then have to find a new goal!!

OK so now on to my  weekends coffee adventure.......

I decided yet again to head over  to Brunswick, my mum had hijacked Darby for the weekend, so I footloose and  fancy free, so I was going to embrace it as much as I could.  I ended up driving around aimlessly and couldn't decide on a place to go so flipped a coin and drove to Pope Joan http://popejoan.com.au/, in Nicholson St East Brunswick, where I have already been earlier in the year. The experience I had  there was part of the reason I decided to start this blog, I wanted to share how wonderful my experience was then  with other people (They were delightful in helping me out of a 3 year old tantrum situation) ! The location of the cafe is in a rather odd spot, it is not with a strip of shops, just there all by itself!



Picture Perfect! My Pope Joan coffee



I arrived around 10 and it was getting busier, their clientele was a very eclectic mix , from baby boomers, to young families to muso types.. anyone could feel welcome here .. I felt that twinge of envy again, having lived  so close to here  just 6 years prior, I imagine it was nothing but a derelict shop front then, how times have changed.

I sat at the bench seat overlooking familiar Nicholson st and ordered my coffee from the lovely waitress who greeted me on arrival . They use All Press coffee here which from memory I don't think have tasted. My coffee came fast with an oh so pretty Rosetta on top. The crema was dense and rich  with ever so slightly bittersweet flavours leading to a smooth finish. The heavy black cup gave it the allure it deserved . The food being cooked in the open kitchen  looked amazing especially the home made hot cross buns sitting by the coffee machine. I was tempted but resisted!  The decor is very Retro with  70s  nick nacks on shelves  and the decor is well thought out with  an adjacent  undercover outdoor area to sit. (and  apparently a new bar is going to open next door as well called Bishop of Ostia-the Catholic in me loves the names ) Their are glimpses of  Pope Joan from the  church pew lodged out the front and the stain glassed church windows in the far corner  to the books on the counter about Catholic religion! Without doing any research on the Middle Ages, I'm guessing Pope Joan was pretty significant woman  in her time. I think this place will be pretty significant too.....

As I was leaving I suddenly realised I had no money on me.. just a few cents,  but not enough to pay for my coffee, very very embarrassing. I cornered one of the waitresses and asked what i could do, she basically said don't worry about it, or pay another time , and would have let me go with out paying ! How sweet! I insisted so she let me put the $3.50 through on my EFTpos card, which probably cost them money to do!!

The service I have had here both times has been above and beyond what I expect at a cafe and this will always keep me coming back (until that differs!) ! Even if I do have to cross town (and feel so envious that I don't live around the corner anymore)

After my coffee I went for a walk down Lygon St whilst I decided where to go next for my next shot of java! I stumbled upon a fabric shop http://www.gjsdiscountfabrics.com.au/ that I haven't seen before -  it was material heaven!!! I spent about an hour in there pining and procrastinating  over the most beautiful fabric I have ever seen in one place! Going here convinced me I need to take sewing lessons.. and enlist the help of Janine to teach me again! The fabric was to die for! I walked out with out a purchase .. but I'm sure I will be back! From there I drove to Fitzroy North and to Growers Espresso http://www.eurekacoffee.com.au/ on St Georges Rd... I as usual managed to get lost and go in the completely different direction! Just when I thought I was getting better at my map reading I took 2 steps backwards! Ahhh

I ordered a Soy Piccolo from the barista (I'm sure he looked  at me  thinking  'that girl has no idea what she is asking for, and when he asked whether I had  one or two shots ... I piped back 'just a single' with the confidence of a seasoned coffee drinker!

 The petite cafe is serious about  coffee with several  different roasts on  offer this week and plenty more available to take home . The cafe has a small food menu and it seems to serves mainly organic food. Yum!

I contemplate asking about their cupping sessions and I seriously consider enrolling in one pronto.. They seem to know their stuff about coffee from what I could overhear from clientele chatter , and I am a fan  that they have  Australian grown coffee as well as fair trade and    organic coffee beans from around the globe...wow.....

 My Piccolo arrives and looks very strong but  has lovely fruit flavours and is actually quite sweet with no trace of bitterness. It is very easy to drink and gone within a few minutes! Ill come back here with anyone who  wants to have a serious coffee experience!!

A great coffee morning over by 11.30 - a job well done and time to slow it down a tad as I head towards my 100 goal! (I'm feeling  like an elite athlete training hard, having a rest  for a little while and then picking up from where I left off, fitter, stronger and more determined to succeed!

Its a funny world!

 I was reading  some banter on Twitter today  between coffee bloggers and some  coffee sites getting rather hostile about the amount of coffee blogs out there reviewing coffee...... I started to feel quite guilty about what I am doing!! I had barely read a blog before February and I certainly did not  think I would ever have one of my own  or would  have guessed it  would be about coffee.. It started out so innocently and as a very spur of the moment decision so I hope it doesn't get taken out of context at all.

 I suppose I want to get it straight that in no means am I a coffee reviewer.. I hardly know the first thing about coffee...I had to google Ristretto yesterday when  I heard it used repeatedly and I had no idea what it was, I still don't quite know what a pour over,  clover  or syphon coffee is  or even  what they taste like and  I only recently found out that a cupping is a coffee tasting not something your Acupuncturist does to your back!! 

 I have always loved to drink coffee and this   resolution I have  set my self  this year has been the best  learning experience I've had in such a long time, my coffee knowledge in the last 2 and a bit months has improved ten fold  and I'm certainly so much  more  aware and educated about that little brown bean, who would have thought I would love it so much! Maybe its my next calling, you never know!  Coffee is taken so seriously in Melbourne and people are so passionate about it which is great and I have been able to witness the wonderful collaborative side of it  so  I certainly don't want to get caught up in anything negative!

My journey I suppose is to try these 100 (and more) places  that have already been critiqued and judged by an expert ... and  I am  just writing about my personal  experience I have  at these places.. I tend to not like to write anything negative.. I never really thought of myself as a glass half full kind of gal, but I'm seeing that I always try and see the positive in every one of my experiences, Take for example Market Lane, I was dying to go there, but my coffee did not live up to my expectations, This just makes me want to go there  again even more  and prove that one experience wrong!

This for me is a journey of distraction, I needed something really positive,  really easy and really  fun to do after a year of heartbreak and sadness.... This has been the perfect perfect escape....It is doing exactly what  I intended it to do... plus I am loving coffee even more (I can even handle three in a day..woah !)

So I'm going to keep doing what I intended to do while it brings me joy and happiness.... You cant take that kind of feeling for granted!

Until Next time xxx