Not just pizza at Son of a Pizzaiolo in Thornbury

Son of a Pizzaiolo knows pizza. A sister restaurant of Woodfire in Ivanhoe, this newish Thornbury cafe and restaurant does great woodfired pizza also. However, the name of this hip new cafe and eaterys’ name is deceptive, because in addition to great pizza, SOP also does some incredible brunch and lunch options. From amazing pancakes to a nourishing super salad, there is much more than just pizza at this rustic styled, warm and welcoming eatery.

 I attended as part of a small bloggers table visiting for brunch on a Saturday recently, which meant we got to order ALL the food. Luckily, with the same motives, we were happy to all order different food so we could photograph and sample a large range of the brunch and lunch options on offer… Plus, I arrived first and got first pick. Boo-yah!

The Ancient Super Grain salad is the perfect nourishing meal, fitting for when you are super hungry but want something good for you. I have said in previous posts that if I am going to order a salad for breakfast, it needs to be substantial and this one is chock full of yummy ingredients like quinoa, avocado, goji berries, asparagus, fennel, yellow cauliflower, pumpkin seeds, poached eggs and so on… Yep, this ticks the substantial box.

I am not a huge sweet breakfast fan but I adored the mixed berry hotcake- definitely not to be mistaken with pancakes, this was a large, dense but fluffy ricotta hotcake covered with berry coulis, rich marscapone, fresh berries and crunchy pistachios.

 The stand-out brunch option for me was a delightful crispy skinned ocean trout with cauliflower puree, kipfler potatoes, pickled baby beets and apricot preserve. The sweetness of the apricot and beets was a lovely addition to the perfectly cooked trout and creamy cauliflower.

The other bloggers also tried an array of delicious options such as the smashed avo, breakfast board and brunch spaghetti.

  

As if this wasn’t enough, we were treated to a last minute pizza tasting session; as food bloggers, I guess it is in our job description to ‘force’ ourselves to eat a second course even when we are out to brunch! Not surprisingly, the pizzas were wood-fired perfection, with a range of different toppings.

  
 Son of a Pizzaiolo is a new little gem in Thornbury, delivering a lot more than its’ name suggests it would. Don’t count this out as purely a pizza joint, but visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner and try all that it has to offer.

I hope you had a delicious weekend!

Foodie Melbourne

Please note: Foodie Melbourne dined as a guest of Son of a Pizzaiolo, but all opinions are genuine.

Oh darling, what a pretty brunch! at Darling Cafe, South Yarra

Last week I ventured out to Darling Cafe in South Yarra with some fellow food bloggers and had a darling breakfast with darling company. From my understanding this spot, right on the corner of Toorak Rd and Darling St has had a few cafes come in and out of it in the last few years, but this gorgeous spot looks set to make its mark and become one of South Yarra’s little darlings.

What struck me first about Darling was how beautiful it is. Gorgeous marble benches, brass fittings, gorgeous native flower arrangements deck out the light filled interior. Brunching is fun enough on its own without sitting in such a beautiful environment to eat in.

Speaking of pretty, that brings me to my breakfast. I had seen Darling’s beautiful Acai Bowl on Instagram and knew I just had to try it. Normally I can’t get away from a hot breakfast, but its beauty dragged me in and it paid off with a gorgeous, nourishing, filling, refreshing smoothie bowl that I thoroughly enjoyed. The bowl itself had a gorgeous mango and banana flavour, and the toppings were lovingly placed and gave it a fantastic texture, particularly the caramelized buckini’s. This is the kind of breakfast that you dream about long after you eat it, and I wish that this cafe was around the corner from me so I can eat it whenever I want.

The rest of the table stuck with some hot breakfasts and we all went with veggo options, but I enjoyed seeing how differently Darling had plated up common brunch items- the breakfast bruschetta, the vegetarian breakfast and the smashed avo all looked different from what you see everywhere else.

  
I dare anyone who visits Darling to attempt to pay at the counter without at least dreaming about trying one of their delicious baked goods… It is a lure I couldn’t resist. A cabinet stocked with Doughboys Doughnuts, Oregano Scrolls and Butterbing cookies quickly unraveled my good intentions of having a ‘healthy’ breakfast and I walked away with a doughnut AND a butterbing. I think I need to work on that whole willpower thing… or not.

A lovely addition to the Toorak Rd side of South Yarra.

I hope you had a delicious weekend!

Foodie Melbourne

Finding The Foreigner in a not so foreign place, Ivanhoe

Every now and then even a well-researched, Instagram and Zomato addicted foodie like myself stumbles upon a hidden gem right on their doorstep (or, lets be realistic, a few suburbs doorsteps over).

After a gorgeous morning at the local farmers market with my adorable Cavoodle Ollie and a gal pal, we decided to head for a good old fashioned Sunday brunch. I was recovering from a hens party that had escalated quite quickly the night before (all you can drink is not the greatest idea for a gaggle of over-excited women) and the sun was shining- I needed a hangover brunch and some much needed vitamin D.

Being the somewhat food snob that I can be, and wanting to try somewhere out of Eltham after absolutely smashing Second Home the last few weeks, I wondered how much chance I would have of talking my friend into dragging both her and my dog into the inner suburbs so we could have a proper brunch. I realized my chances were pretty slim, so jumped onto Zomato and found that there was a cafe that had an excellent rating and some very gourmet sounding breakfast options in Ivanhoe.

The Foreigner is a little hole in the wall, hidden from the main hub of Ivanhoe shops down a side street. If it wasn’t for the gorgeous little rustic tables and chairs in front, you could almost drive past and miss it. The interior is beautifully decorated, a light filled spaced with wooden panelling in natural tones, but we decided to make the most of the sunshine and of course we had Ollie, so settled outside.

Ollie shamelessly flirted with the waitstaff and every man, woman or child that wandered past while I pondered the menu. Regular readers will know how fussy I can be with brunch- if I am out for breakfast, I need to be eating something I can’t make at home, and my regular weekday breakfasts can be pretty adventurous!

‘The Foreigner’ breakfast, which I noticed isn’t on the current menu listed online, was everything I need a breakfast to be; exotic, flavour-filled, not too heavy and not too light. Poached eggs served on a bed of crispy, crumbed eggplant, labne, and topped with crispy garlic and mint cooked in chilli oil, accompanied by crispy herbed bread. It was like my tastebuds could take a trip somewhere a little more exotic or ‘foreign’, while I was in a suburb that is not foreign to me at all.

The wait-staff were helpful, friendly and happy to shamelessly flirt with my dog which is always a huge plus in my eyes. I definitely recommend a visit to this humble little cafe, hidden away in Ivanhoe’s back streets.

Have a delicious week,

Foodie Melbourne

Family Brunch at Red Door Corner Store, Northcote

I love eating with my extended family. With my immediate family, my cousins and Aunty and Uncle there are about 12 or so of us most family dinners or lunches, and I love the craziness of it. Conversation flying everywhere, so much food (I had to get it from somewhere), everyone talking over each other as we catch up on the last few weeks. We usually do a kind of pot luck family lunch or dinner where everyone brings something, but at this time of year sometimes that isn’t always possible, so I was quite happy with my fellow foodie cousins choice to have her birthday brunch at Red Door Corner Store, in Northcote.

This spot is somewhat nostalgic for my family- my Aunty and Uncle lived up the road from this gorgeous little corner store turned cafe, and my cousins now in their 30’s used to ride their bikes up to this milk bar to buy lollies. Nowadays, it is a very cute little cafe with ample seating area both on the street, inside and in a back courtyard. I had visited the cafe many years ago and loved it, and had referred friends to it since, but was excited to pay this cafe a visit again. The brunch factor was especially good as I was coming straight from sleeping on my best friends couch after her hen’s party the night before and was in great need of a strong coffee, a medicinal juice and a big hearty meal which is what I got!

I umm-ed and aah-ed over the menu. Eating out is SO HARD when you are hungover. It is such a fine line between needing something greasy and wanting something healthy and nourishing. Especially when burgers were already involved late the night before. Luckily, I was able to find the perfect compromise with the Cape Grim Grass Fed Scotch Fillet on brioche with Vegemite (give me ANYTHING with Vegemite and I am a happy little… you know the song) aioli served with ‘little chips’. This was just the right amount of greasy hangover food, but it was gourmet and nourishing and also made me feel good after. The burger was beautifully presented, the meat melt in your mouth tender and the Vegemite aioli an absolute winner. I was so happy with my choice.

Aside from the food, I was most impressed by the staff and the way they handled a table of 14. We were in the back courtyard, sitting on a long table. Some of us were late, some of us were hungry, and the waitress was met with a chorus of “Oh wait, what was that juice again?” “Juice?! Yeah I want a juice? Can you repeat what sort it was?” “Can I have another coffee?” “Oh actually, I am going to change my order… I want what she is having…” “Can I have this meal, but without this…” And so on. 14 people for brunch is a fair few at once, and the staff there handled us with grace and bubbly enthusiasm which is a lot more than I can say for other restaurants where the price per head is much harder on the old hip pocket.

So well done, Red Door Corner Store… keep up the good work! You managed to satisfy a couple of ravenous young men, a pregnant woman, someone on a wedding diet, a hungover food blogger and their respective parents and grandparents on a sunny Sunday morning. Hats off to you!

Hope you all had a delicious weekend,

Foodie Melbourne

Finding my Second Home in Eltham

I was in Italy when I read an article on Broadsheet to say that Jason M Jones (of Stables of Como and Entrecote fame) had opened a cafe in my little town, Eltham. I rejoiced… and then got very jealous that my local friends may be trying this new kid in town before me.

Eltham is screaming out for somewhere new to go. We are a bustling, leafy, little suburb with a growing population of younger professionals who really like to brunch, and it is refreshing to see that some new food spots and bars have been popping up in our area to give us somewhere to go without inevitably making the trek into the inner suburbs for a decent feed. Although there are many cafes in Eltham, in my opinion, quality is sometimes lacking. My go-to favourites are and have been for a good year now, Little Drop of Poison and Cafe Zen Den. But there are only so many times you can go back to the same place without feeling like you have exhausted the menu. So, hearing that Jones had opened a new, innovative cafe with some gorgeous brunch options excited me immensely and naturally, pretty much the minute I landed in Eltham I visited my new ‘Second Home’.

I have always loved this beautiful Alistair Knox industrial building, and visited it several times for a cup of tea when it was The Light Factory Gallery and Cafe. Second Home has done a fabulous job of taking the building and making it home, and the airy, light filled space is a beautiful place to dine in.

What I already love most about Second Home is that it has both delightfully healthy options and deliciously naughty ones. I love that I can have a freshly squeezed orange juice and a Breakfast Super Salad, and then head home with a cheeky Cronut. I love that I can pop in and have a decadently Cheesy toast with three cheeses, or just pop in and grab a Super Smoothie on the way home from gym. For someone like me who can be a green smoothie loving gym junkie one day, and would be willing to go to the end of the earth for one cronut the next day, this is exactly the kind of local cafe you need.

So my bestie and I went to give Second Home a go the weekend I returned from my travels, and I was so impressed with the ‘Obligatory Smashed Avocado’. Although it has a cheeky name, it wasn’t your standard smashed av, as it was jazzed up big time with Yarra Valley persian feta, Vegemite Salt, mint and a poachie. Seriously, give me anything that manages to mix avocado, feta and Vegemite, and I will order it. My friend got the ‘Our Benedict’ and was impressed with that also.

 

On our way out, I was going to visit my friend who had given birth to a beautiful baby boy while I was on holiday and noticed the fresh flowers they were selling on the way out. I considered getting some for her, and then thought, ‘What does a new Mum really, really want?’ and saw some very attractive looking Cronuts in the dessert cabinet and knew they would impress much more then flowers. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing how much petrol I would save now that I can drive up the road for a cronut fix instead of travelling into Fitzroy every second weekend just for the hit.

Since then I stopped into Second Home again on my way home from gym to try one of their smoothies. I loved the ‘K-Hole’, with kale, spinach, vanilla protein, Granny Apple, Coconut Milk, Dates and coconut flakes but at just under $10 a pop I don’t know if I could afford to do that regularly despite the convenience and the yum factor.

I have definitely found my new local spot for brunch when I can’t be bothered exploring the inner suburbs, and I encourage Eltham locals to give this new place a go, especially if you like something a little bit more interesting in your brunch than the standard Big Breakfast. Just don’t take my place in line, okay?!

Have a delicious day,

Foodie Melbourne

Morning nourishment at St Edmonds, Prahran

Please note: Foodie Melbourne dined at St Edmonds as a guest. 

Being invited to come to Prahan and dine at St Edmonds two months ago (I didn’t have time to blog about it before I dashed off overseas!) came at the perfect time as I was feeling rundown and in need of nourishment which is exactly what this cafe provides.

Hidden down a quieter street off Chapel St in Prahan, this grungy hole in the wall hosts a great outdoor area and extensive menu. When we visited, we were lucky enough to have a Winter day where the sun decided to pay Melbourne a visit and sitting in their courtyard with our sunglasses on and indulging in some healthy brunch options was the perfect way to while away a Saturday morning.

As soon as I saw the Brekkie Greens on the menu I knew that was exactly what I needed. I am not normally a salad for breakfast kinda gal- I like my breakfast to be substantial and fill me up, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that after eating St Edmonds’ Brekkie Greens I was full, stayed full, and felt nourished from top to toe! Made up of raw broccoli, kale, avocado, fresh chilli, buckwheat kernels, pistachio and poached eggs and with added smoked ocean trout, this was a superfood salad that tasted anything but boring.

My Mum was happy with the ole’ standard Smashed Avo… seriously, what cafe in Melbourne could survive without doing a great version of this? And where do they get all these avocado’s when they are out of season? It was a good looking smashed av, and apparently delicious.

Pair this breakfast in the sunshine with some good coffee, and St Edmonds has the goods for these sunny weekends in Prahan!

Have a delicious day,

Foodie Melbourne

Where your breakfast dreams come true… (Hammer and Tong, Fitzroy)

There is brunch. Then there is brunch in Melbourne.

And then in Melbourne, there is amazing brunch… and then there is life-changing brunch. And Hammer and Tong ticks the second box.

Hammer and Tong is somewhere I have walked past a million times in my food and drink adventures on Brunswick St. Every time I would think to myself, “I must go there soon.” And then I saw a post on Instagram of their Kentucky Fried Haloumi Chips… and I was there that same weekend. Haloumi is incredible enough as it is, but to roll it in spices and fry it? Genius!

I took my good friend who I have been friends with since high school, who is always so happy to come along and try new places with me. We live in the North-eastern suburbs, so Fitzroy can be a hike for a Saturday brunch date, but she trusts my foodie investigative skills and we both knew we were in for a pretty delicious brunch.

There was a slight line at the door as we walked in, but we chatted and checked out the food on the tables near the door whilst we waited and the ten minutes or so very quickly passed. The cafe, though bustling and packed with brunch-ers, had a homely feel to it. Light filled, and decorated with neutral colours and plants, it felt fresh and clean and airy even though it was holding a full house.

Menu deliberation was hard. Really hard. Everything sounded so good. No doubt any dedicated Melbourne foodie has salivated over the Pollywaffle on social media and it was oh so tempting, but I am not much of a sweet-tooth at breakfast time, so a more savoury dish won me over. My friend and I both ordered the braised wild mushrooms with a 62 degree hens egg, coffee crumb, parsnip and corn bread. This dish was HEAVEN. It was everything you look for in a Melbourne brunch= gorgeous presentation, interesting flavours, quality ingredients. It was art on a plate that tasted absolutely delightful, and we may have discussed this for about 15 minutes after we stopped eating we were so impressed. Coupled with a latte or two and a serve of the amazing Kentucky fried haloumi chips (they were everything they promised to be) and we left Hammer and Tong very happy little brunch-ers.

  
I often talk about there being so many amazing places in Melbourne to eat at (particularly brunch, gosh we kill it at brunch) that I hate going to the same place twice. But Hammer and Tong, you will lure me back for sure.

Have a delicious day!

Foodie Melbourne