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!





Toby's ....

For some time now I have been wanting  to venture to Toby's Espresso Bar http://www.tobysestate.com.au/   but  time and distance has always been in the way,  plus I get to drink their beans most days at Elevenses.. and the coffee is always so delicious, spot on.  I find it hard to reason with myself to take that 1.5km trip to the other end of the city.  On Wednesday I finally  pulled the pin and decided to go, plus on the upside  it seemed to be what could be the last of the nice days before  the colder weather sets in for good! I caught the train to Parliament and managed to locate it fairly easily.. (my map skills are getting better!)



 I felt a little intimidated walking in to sit down, as there really is not much room for sit in coffees.  Its biggest business I imagine is  from the  shop front onto the street! The decor inside is simple with black and white check floors and almost a parquetry design  around the coffee machine. The two guys are fairly easy going and my coffee arrives quite quickly whilst I flick through a coffee magazine that 3 months ago I would never have picked up! How times have changed. I am actually interested in the coffee industry! I tap my feet to the sounds of what seems to be hip hop or something similar whilst I sip my coffee. I cant believe how flawless it is with the same familiar taste I get when drinking their beans at Elevenses! I think the single origin on that day was an Ethiopian Eastern Harcar, they had scrawled on a mirror behind the impressive coffee machine, the coffee should have notes of blueberry, with dark chocolate layers and a mild finish! It was spot on! I could really taste the smallest hint of blueberry... bizarre.. but heavenly! I definitely need some more coffee education pronto!!! First cupping session I see I am there!!



I will definitely be venturing up here again soon, and next time I might even walk! 

Until Next time xx

Doesn't it look perfect!


Train Excursion and the dreaded summer cold!

Friday is here and I'm stretching my very foggy brain (damn head cold - I hate you ) trying to remember my coffee adventures from  earlier in the week!!

Weeks seem to be moulding into one and February has almost gone before I knew it was here! Monday came around again and Darby and I broke with our tradition and did something a little different today! Entering week 3 without a car has made me become more inventive with the adventures we take. (Also I try and make them as easy on me and kid friendly as possible!) 



Yummy Smartie Cookie

We decided today on  a train trip to Newport  which would be a fun way to spend the afternoon! Newport is only 3 train stops away so its a quick trip and a perfect length for Darbs, ... less stress than driving really ....



Today we are trying Nosh @ Newport.. I have heard many great things about this place but have never managed to get myself there!

Nosh is situated opposite the Newport train station and is very easy to locate. It is open everyday and for dinner some nights too! Its a very funky  and  low key kind of place. It is also very kid friendly (big tick for that) with toys in the corner, lots of  kiddie food, including gingerbread bears, the always divine Honey Joys and the pièce de résistance "the Smartie cookie!  Kiddie drinks are also served in plastic cups! Darby was very impressed by his babycino  served in a bright green cup, but even more impressed by his smartie cookie.. (I scored myself a few little bites as well.)

Coffee Supreme! A long time fave!

My coffee is yum, they use Coffee Supreme, one of my favorite brands (of a list that is growing fast)!so its hard to go wrong! Ill be back here no doubt. Always nice to have another place so close to go to in the west.. 

Nosh Coffee

Now as the rest of my working  week unfolded and I began to feel the physical effects of a summer cold coming on, runny nose,  sore throat and achy body just to name a few symptoms  (I'm sure my body could be forgiven to thinking it is June), Luckily I still felt the need to drink coffee. Any time I'm even slightly under the weather my body goes into caffeine shutdown and I cant drink it for weeks.. but even though my taste buds are out of whack and I'm severely dehydrated, my body is still calling out for its daily cup of coffee,(YAY)!

Elevenses cool coffee machine on Snooker table 

 I visited Elevenses http://www.elevenses.net.au/ a few times  this week for their super coffee, I love that place! The quirkiness, the location (so close to work) and the divine coffee! Yummy Toby's estate is always spot on here, strong, rich and smooth (this is where I could insert some lame joke about liking my men that way, but Ill refrain!) 



my coffee mmmmmm

 I took the guys from work here on Friday for coffee and brunch as Janine and I are always talking about it and my colleague Stephen wanted to get a picture and mention in my Blog!!! He even shouted me coffee as a sweetener!
The place was heaving with people in a mid morning caffeine rush which is great for them! 

Oh and on rather an embarrassing note, the guys at Elevenses had read my blog (or a part where I have mentioned them!) I suppose this is good.... but I forget that anybody can see/ find  my  portal of dagginess!!! Oops! Oh well, its all in the name of coffee!!

Until next time (sniff sniff)

Enjoy your coffee xx

 PS -  I need to find a new word/s for Yummy- I use it way too much... any ideas please??!???????!

Tuesday on my mind

I officially bid farewell to my beloved Nissan Tiida today (sob sob) for 4 weeks. How am I going to live without a car for that long !??!?
I think this is where my 'Incidental activity' New years Resolution will come into play! I'm hoping this will make me fitter, stronger and maybe a little more patient (or should that be impatient) with Melbourne's Public Transport system.
Aside from my grief over my car, I was in good need of a coffee this morning, - the late nights watching trashy DVDs has taken its toll, I think its back to 8.30pm bedtime for a while, although the tiredness does really fuel the need for caffeine, so Ill get back to you about that ...

This morning my coffee of fancy was at Elevenes, fast becoming a work favorite. The staff are fantastic and friendly, its kinda quirky having the coffee machine on a snooker table and the 5 minute walk is also refreshing.  Elevenses use Toby's estate beans which are fantastic and sooo smooth. They are happy to try different blends and as a customer you get the benefit of it!
Oh and today they were super happy as they had made the front cover of The Epicure in the Age, featuring their "Ugly Duckling" sandwich... Well done...They were ecstatic!  Not sure Duck is my fancy for lunch, but if they put as much love into their food as they do their coffee it must be pretty special.

No places off my list today!! 325 days left and 89 places to go!  I'm chugging along slowly...... Oh and my vote will be on Elevenses for next year!



The Ugly Duckling Sandwich from Elevenes