It's become a bit of a tradition that Jentopia and I meet up for breakfast. I think breakfast is my favourite meal to go out for. Breakfast out is generally a hearty and delicious meal, and it leaves the rest of the day free to do stuff, or nap. Whichever you choose. This photo was sensibly taken before I got a fat tummy or spilt something on me.
Jen chose Saturday's cafe: Three Bags Full in Nicholson Street, Abbotsford. She's been there after cycling and recommended it.
It's a large brick building - a converted hat factory, situated just out of the city away from the hustle ad bustle. It's family friendly - a hub for families (some with kids that were too screamy) and also dog lovers.
I am so glad she suggested it. Similar to another favourite breakfast haunt of mine, The Auction Rooms, Three Bags Full has a warehouse feel with modern rustic style. Beautiful wallpaper, feature lights and pretty flowers. Recycled objects as furniture and fittings. This review shows some of the quirky furniture. I loved it.
The counter is full of yummy baked goods.
Jen hoped that something 'outrageous' would happen for me to blog about. Things weren't very outrageous until I ordered this drink.
Freshly squeezed pineapple, apple, strawberry and mint juice. Jen and I had moved from a communal table to a smaller table for just the two of us. The waiter brought out my drink, but gave it to the girl seated in our previous seats. We don't think she even ordered it. Nevertheless, she took a sip of it. Her friend and both of us realised it wasn't her drink before she did! And that was the outrageous event of the morning.
The breakfast menu is full of eggs done various ways, corn and pea fritters, porridgey muesli delights, salmon and bacon. Sorry for my lack of detail but my eyes were drawn to only one particular thing on the menu. Fig and raspberry bread with marscapone, passionfruit and strawberries.
The strawberry and passionfruit sauce was sweet and tangy. The fig and raspberry bread was deliciously cakey. The marscapone was generously lathered.
It was on par with the French toast I had at The Auction Rooms. Superb. Jen and I discussed how fruit toast and banana bread is often just cake termed with a healthier name of food. Whatever, it was so damn good!
Jen had the bircher muesli - she has become a connossieur of bircher muesli and rated this one highly. It had apple, yoghurt, almonds on top. It looked yummy!
While Three Bags Full is not on my side of town, I'll definitely return. The interesting breakfast menu has left me wanting more.
When Jentopia suggested we do Saturday morning breakfast at The Auction Rooms Cafe in Errol Street North Melbourne, I squealed with delight. Twitter told me the first scene in episode one of the latest season of Rush was filmed there. It's one of my favourite ever moments of Rush. (The scene is at the 1:34 mark of the video.)
The Auction Rooms Cafe is wonderfully rustic. Jen and I loved its ambiance. Sugar in positively antique tiny Heinz pea soup tins, flowers and drinking water in old long neck beer bottles (the only time I've ever drunk from a long neck beer bottle), pipes turned into lights hanging from the high ceilings, and amazing lead lighting features.
I'd loved to have captured the lead lighting clearer, but I was worried I was taking too many photos.
This is an artwork of colourful milk crates strung together, hanging with the slope of the roof in the courtyard.
Saturday morning was brilliantly sunny - it was nice to have the sun streaming in through the windows, providing us with delicious warmth.
The front counter is atop a baked goods cabinet – grainy breads, tarts and beautiful cupcakes. I fell in love with the flourless chocolate one with blue sparkly icing.
Though it's a bustling and uber trendy cafe, frequented by uber trendy customers (I need to rethink my striped hoodie and jeans arrangement for next time) the service is friendly and attentive. The male waiters are cute and unshaven, like they've just rolled in from playing a gig the night before. They wear a range of hats, jingly chains and bracelets, and I saw a kerchief tied to one waiter's wrist.
The menu combines breakfast and lunch and is available until 3.00 pm. It's a menu full of simple dishes – mostly eggs, stews, salads and sandwiches – made very interesting. Prices range from $6.50 to $19.50
Jen had the Opening Bid – toast with deep orange yolked free range eggs, field mushrooms, spinach, bacon and tomato. She said it was healthy and delicious.
I had the French toast. It was certainly the most unique French toast I've ever eaten. And quite possibly the best. It was made of beautiful fluffy bread stuffed with toasted coconut, drizzled with tamarind and maybe chilli sauce and served with vanilla crème fraiche, lime and coriander. It was sweet and zesty and rich all at once. Fantastic!
Jen said her coffee was so good it didn't need sugar.
My hot chocolate was great too – very chocolatey and no milk taste, though could have been hotter.
Jen and I had a great chat - about work and food and plans for new blog projects. I'm so glad I met her because of blogging.
We ate breakfast around 10.00 am, and despite me only having an election day sausage after bellydancing to see me through to 6.00 pm when filming finished and I was served dinner, it sustained me well.
Jen gave me a mix-tape CD, which unfortunately I'd left behind when paying yesterday. I called them to check if the CD was there, the staff said they had it at the counter, so this morning I went to collect it.
I couldn't resist another breakfast – so I got the Counter Bid – a vegetarian breaky with a side of smoked bacon. The Counter Bid contained the delicious poached eggs, buttery garlic mushrooms, roquette, pesto all served on a rosemary-parmesan baked polenta cake. This polenta was full of flavour, unlike so many bland and gluggy polenta dishes I've tried/cooked. Another awesome dish.
I think I've found my new favourite breakfast cafe. Can't wait to head back there soon.
Jen chose Saturday's cafe: Three Bags Full in Nicholson Street, Abbotsford. She's been there after cycling and recommended it.
