Tao's - Bulleen

A special event requires a special dinner and so we found ourselves recently at Tao's in Bulleen.  What can I say about this Restaurant with its intriguing Modern Japanese/Australian Menu?

.... Be prepared to try ANYTHING but do not hesitate to go.

We arrived for Lunch and so had the "Set Menu" for the day - our choice of 4 dishes for each of the 4 courses.

This is the Starter - it wasn't on the menu, it just came.. with instructions to eat from right to left.
(I have never had Oyster before - Oh Yum!)

DH chose for his Entree the Sashimi platter.

I had the Thai Style Crispy Chicken with Lime Chilli Sauce.

And from then on it was just one delight after another ....


The Staff were, of course, very polite and attentive.
The courses came quickly so if you were on a tight lunchtime schedule there is no need to worry.



Oh.... and the Dessert -
I'll leave you with Perfect Creme Brulee









Tao's Restaurant
201 Bulleen Road
BULLEEN  VIC  3105
www.taosrestaurant.com.au

The Mills Cafe - Coburg

When they built The Lincoln Mills Homemaker Centre in Gaffney Street Coburg, it was good to see a cafe set up in the far corner. What more could you ask for when you have spent the better part of the morning at Bunnings?
Unfortunately the Original owners sold up and the new people.... well, lets just say.... we stopped going there.  So I was very pleased the other day when I saw that it is now "Under New Management".

The pleasant new owners may just have won us back.  The Cafe felt fresh with new table tops and a clean approach. (A staff member not only wiped down the tables but the chairs as well, and then returned with a broom to get the crumbs from under the table - now that's good service!)
The menu is basically the same but a glance at the Specials board out the front showed a few new additions - like Barramundi (Fish).

With any Cafe, the Coffee is only as good as the Barista.
Our first visit the coffees were perfect - yes, even DH went back to compliment the lass behind the machine.  And the Soy Latte (for the Lactose Intolerant one) was made by someone who understood, as she too 'had to drink soy'.

The second visit - different Barista, different quality coffee, I gave 'brownie points' for the coffee art but - - I couldn't drink mine.  (I didn't fret over it too much as it was included with the poached eggs breakfast menu.)

I will return, as I really want to check out the new menu, but my drink for the day, Coffee or Tea... or maybe one of their freshly squeezed fruit juice concoctions, will be determined by my mood and who is behind the Coffee Machine.






The Mills Cafe
Lincoln Homemaker Centre
6a/64 Gaffney Street
COBURG  VIC  3058

Ph: 9354 - 5001
Open 7 days

Charlie's at La Trobe University

I have been hearing a LOT about 'Leo' over the years from DD who has had ample opportunity to check out ALL of the Coffee shops at La Trobe Uni during her time there doing 2 degrees and a Phd.
Leo, works at Charlie's and I understand makes the best coffee on Campus.

So - when I had cause to visit the University recently I  just had to see for myself.
I must admit that arriving between lectures gave me a good indication as to how this team works.
I was initially dismayed at the sight of the queue outside and I was told "No Mum - those people are waiting for their orders...."  I was then led inside where one lass took our order (greeting DD by name).
We then went to join the others and in no more than 10 minutes, while I watched Coffee after Coffee and the occasional Tea being dispatched efficiently to the waiting throng, had our Coffees and were on the way to find a shady/quiet seat to enjoy them.

And for the actual brew... Not bad at all, but next time I won't ask for a weak one!

Lady Bower

Situated just around the corner of Reservoir's Broadway shopping strip in Marchant Avenue is a small Cafe that looks like it would be more suited to the bustle of High Street Northcote.  The owners have converted a couple of shops into a pleasant "Indoor/Outdoor" dining area, with the clever use of artificial turf on the concrete floor instead of mats.

The staff have on the most part been very pleasant and happy to chat if the cafe is not too busy.

So - How does the menu stack up?

Coffee, has been a bit hit and miss. DH has, on both occasions we visited, stated his Strong Flat White to be 'a nice coffee' (high praise indeed) but the follow-up Long Macchiato was disappointing.  My weak Latte was a little too weak and unfortunately - tepid. 

The Breakfast Menu has lot of things on Toast.

There does not seem to be any choice in what kind of toast you have (Multigrain) and it seems that there is only one setting on the toaster - CRUNCHY!

I prefer my toast crisp but not that crisp that it shatters when I cut it.

This visit DH tried the Omelet which came with a nicely dressed salad.

I tried the Grilled Cheese on Chutney with the plus Egg option.  The eggs were beautifully poached, and I enjoyed them.  What I didn't enjoy was the cloying over-sweet (homemade) chutney coupled with a generous amount of what quickly became cold grilled cheese and nothing to offset the richness of the dish.

That being said....

On our first visit, we ordered from what must have been the Summer Menu.

Perfectly poached Eggs on toast come with nothing except a grind of black pepper unless you order a serve of something from the add-on  section.  In this case beautiful marinated Rosemary Mushrooms.

And just to show it is not all Toast and Eggs - 

Poached Peaches on Warm Brioche with Labne, Muesli and Salted Caramel Sauce.

Once again - way too sweet for me, but I will be watching the menu for it's return, and next time I will share it with someone else -

-with maybe a Pot of Tea.

Lady Bower

1a Marchant Ave

Reservoir Vic 3073

(On the Broadway side of Reservoir Station)

Closed Mondays

Frappe Republic

After a successful morning shopping with DD and her 3 Bridesmaids, I was rather in need of finding a Coffee Shop to celebrate the purchase of DD's Wedding Dress.

The Staff at Frappe Republic in Mt Alexander Rd welcomed us with friendly enthusiasm and made sure we were comfortable.

DD was more than happy with her Iced Coffee and mine was just what I needed.  But I must admit that I allowed the occasion to dictate what cake we would have. - But OH WHICH cake - that was the question!

We really couldn't choose - so had a slice of TWO - but it was to share between the FIVE of us!


We were informed that towards the end of the year they will be undergoing renovations to turn this lovely Café into a Restaurant.

Will we return?  Sure! - we need to collect the Gown - and that day I'll need TWO coffees, and maybe another slice of cake or perhaps if we got there early enough... I could check out their Breakfast Menu!

Frappe^’ Republic

509-601 Mt. Alexander Road

Moonee Ponds  VIC

7am til late

Closed Mondays

Jelosia - Fairfield

2017 UPDATE:
Jelosia is no longer trading as a cafe - However, there are several very delightful cafe's in the immediate area.



OH WOW!

Tucked away in a side street off busy Station Street Fairfield is a gem of a coffee shop that I walked into today.

Indulgence Sweets and Deserts opposite Fairfield Railway Station, is a Cake Bakery that has opened a Retail outlet with Coffee and Cake and .... lots of other tempting treats.

The Lactose Intolerant One was more than impressed with his Bonsoy Latte and Flour-less Orange Cake and I indulged in the Coffee & Cake deal of the day with a Night & Day cake (just $5.50).
My coffee was stronger than I usually enjoy, but cut through the sweetness of the generously sized white chocolate mousse cake.

The staff were delightful and I left wondering what excuse I needed to make in order to return and  try their breakfast menu.





Jelosia
254 Wingrove Street
FAIRFIELD  VIC  3070

www.indulgencesd.com.au/retail.html

Signature Brew at DFO

A shopping trip to DFO at Essendon Airport saw us looking for lunch and after perusing the menu at a rather disappointing "Villa and Hutt" at the entrance to the complex we ventured inside in search of something that may pass as Coffee.

We were pleasantly surprised to find, tucked away in the second food court, a new (to us) Coffee booth.
Ignoring the glistening array of Krispy Kreme Donuts we were drawn to the generously filled Panini  and  decided that one would be enough to share.
Double "Brownie Points" were awarded for the Coffee Art that sat atop of a very nice Rainforest, Fair Trade Organic Brew from Green Bean Espresso.
And if Coffee isn't your forte then they also serve Tea Drop Tea.


The staff were friendly and genuine in their enthusiasm - definitely would return next time I am in the area.

* * * * * * * 

2017 UPDATE:
Signature Brew is still serving wonderful coffee and tasty food (although you will need to get there early if you want some of their fantastic Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls)
And the Staff always greet us with the same warmth and enthusiasm. It is the ONLY place we go to at DFO for Coffee.




Signature BREW
DFO Essendon
100 Bulla Road Essendon Fields
(That is at the Bulla Road Off-ramp on the Tullamarine Freeway)

Open 7 days 10:00am - 6:00pm