Industry Beans

I went to Industry beans when it first opened several months ago (refer to image below) but I only ordered a chai latte due to lack of time. This time around I was there for lunch with my good friend Joanne and it had so much WOW factor, I couldn't stop taking photos :-)

If you look on Google Maps, Industry Beans used to be a small warehouse for Crossfit Victoria. The transformation into this gorgeous cafe is amazzzzzing! They've made it look minimalistic, using the right colours and furniture to complement the culture of Fitzroy.

I thoroughly enjoy studying at ACU because it's in the heart of the city and there are so many exciting places to try. N2 Gelato (an ice cream place made from liquid nitrogen) recently opened on Brunswick Street. I was fortunate enough to try it first in it's mother store in Sydney but it's nothing great because people have hyped it up too much tbh. Sydney one looks better as well and they make the experience more exciting compared to the Melbourne store.

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I copped some weird glances while I was trying to take a photo of myself, pouring the chai tea into my glass. The photo turned out really nice so I don't even care :3

Polenta and Funghi - $18.00

Shimeji, abalone and black funghi tossed with marjoram butter and white win served with fried polenta crisps, fried enoki and garlic chives.

LOOK AT THAT PRESENTATION!!!! Joanne and I had difficulty choosing what to order from the delicious menu. Jo was going to order either this or the Fried Duck Eggs, and I was going to order the pork belly dish. I'm glad we didn't because it was absolutely amazing. I am a sucker for mushrooms, whether it be in a brunch dish or Korean BBQ or even enoki for hotpot! I've never tried fried enoki before, I don't like it very much because it loses the flavour but Jo's dish was ridiculously good.

Cold Drip Cured Salmon and Cornbread - $19.00

House cured salmon on our own friend cornbread with cornichon vinaigrette, cultured cream, grapefruit, white onions and mixed edible flowers.

I enjoy looking at beautiful dishes with edible flowers on my Instagram but when I got to try it myself, it was a bit weird! I'm no where near a herbivore (I love meat too much) but the concept was so fun. The cornbread was a bit tough and hard to cut with my knife but it was so sweet and had a nice corn zing to it. If you are a lover of salmon then I would strongly recommend this dish because it's not like the usual brunch dish you would order. 

Another chai tea! Can't get enough.

Outdoor seating. It was pretty windy when Jo and I went but luckily there are outdoor heaters!

I think Industry beans is a pretty hard place to find if you're not a local but it's definitely worth the travel. The warehouse look is so contemporary and the waiters are so lovely! You'd be a fool not to go and have brunch there. Industry Beans actually take pride in their coffees (Melbourne Broadsheet named them Coffee Alchemists) so I'll be sure to order one next time.

Industry Beans

Address: Warehouse 3, Cnr Rose St and Fitzroy St 3065

Contact: 94171034

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Weekends 8am - 5pm

Price: $$$

Website: http://industrybeans.com/cafe/

HOW TO GET THERE:

Breakfast Thieves

Breakfast Thieves

Address: Shop 1, 420 Gore Street Fitzroy 3065

Contact: 94164884

Hours: Closed on Mondays. Tues - Fri 7:30am - 4pm and Weekends 8am - 4pm

Price: $$

Website: http://www.breakfastthieves.com.au/ 

Driving to Breakfast Thieves that afternoon felt like a long rollercoaster. It wasn't because it was a far journey but because Sarah and I were recovering from a big night at Alumbra (but in all honesty, when isn't it a big night?). We had our shades on even though it was cloudy and water was our best friend for the day. We had arrived at 2:58pm and the waiter advised us we had TWO MINUTES TO ORDER SOMETHING before the kitchen closed. I felt so panicked but fortunately I had arrived there knowing what I wanted to order (Thanks to @deancyle's instagram photo of boiled eggs with muesli).

Plain plants on the table. I really hate sitting on benches / stools because it reminds me of how bad my posture is. I also don't like it when there are no hooks to hang your jacket or bag on.

Chai tea! My favourite. I was going to order another coffee to keep me alive since we were going out again that night but I decided against it.

The Breakfast Chain - $17.50

WHAT A CUTE COMBINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never seen anything like this anywhere else in my life. From left to right: cheese covered toast, mixed berry yoghurt with muesli, two soft boiled eggs and warm apple and peach crumble. UMMM??? HEAVEN MUCH? The yoghurt was SO SOUR until I mixed it up with the berries at the bottom so the taste was more bearable. The two soft boiled eggs were surprising because the insides were gooey. I was expecting it to be hard inside (because I didn't read the menu properly). All the components would be so easy to assemble at home but it would be extremely time consuming and considering I wake up at 6am for work... aint nobody got time for that.

The Legend - $18
Spicy baked eggs with spanish chorizo, roasted mushrooms, green peas, feta served with herbed garlic toast.

Sarah ordered the baked eggs and to be honest, I have had many baked eggs in my life time and this was wayyyyy too runny and not well cooked. To be fair, the kitchen was two minutes away from closing so the chefs were probably annoyed that they still had to cook (sorry). Lucky I had my cheese "soldiers" that I dipped into Sarah's dish for more flavour. Presentation was lovely and I loved how it was served on wood boards.

I love eating chocolate but my personal trainer will probably crack the shits if she knew I was having more than one cheat day a week hehe.

These cabinets were filled with sweets before I took this photo. They just put it away in containers because the shop was closing. We were SO LUCKY that we arrived no later than 3pm. Keep that in mind if you're planning on paying a visit so you are not disappointed. I love that Breakfast Thieves is so close to my uni. I would strongly recommend this place for brunch... it wasn't rated 91% on Urbanspoon for nothing ;)

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HOW TO GET THERE:

Top Paddock

Top Paddock

Address: 658 Church Street Richmond 3121

Contact: 94294332

Hours: Mon - Fri 7am to 4pm, Weekends 8am to 4pm

Price: $$$

Website: http://www.toppaddockcafe.com/

Winter is almost over and I am thrilled at the fact of it because I HATE WINTER. I am a summer kind of gal because rainy days and layering clothes is not my cup of tea. Fortunately, my visit to Top Paddock was on a sunny day and it was delightful to catch up with an old friend (Ai Thi) who I've known for 15 years (since prep). Top Paddock is a cute brunch place located in the hustle and bustle of Richmond. I've seen so many photos on Instagram but I'm so glad I finally got to try it out :)

Unfortunately we had to sit on the communal table because we arrived during the lunch peak hour, but we were so involved in our conversation that it didn't bother me that people were sitting around us. It was extremely difficult to choose what to eat for lunch because each item on the menu sounded so lovely. Eventually I chose the soft shell crab in a brioche bun because I am a sucker for seafood and if it's in a burger form... even better!

Local pine mushrooms with chilli scrambled eggs and Boatshed feta on toast - $15.50

Ai Thi ordered the scrambled eggs so I didn't eat much of it because it had the evil ingredient CHILLI. You can't really go wrong if you order eggs and mushies in a brunch dish. 

Fresh soft-shell Qld mud crab roll with fennel, dill and lime mayo in a brioche bun - $21.00

This dish was a clear winner for me!!! The soft shell crab was a bit too salty for my own liking but still DEEEELISH nonetheless. I LOVE BURGERS so to have seafood combined with a sweet bun was nothing short of amazing. The price was a bit dear but I would pay for it again and again because it was THAT good. The photo makes the burger look really big but the bun was extremely soft so biting into it wasn't too difficult. 

Stools made out of street signs. 

Open spaces. Loved the environment. Loved the waiters/service. Loved the decos. Loved the menu! Pretty much loved everything except waiting to pay at the front desk because it took longer than it should have. Parking around Top Paddock wasn't too difficult either because there are inner streets around the cafe. 

Tea cup lights! So cute. 

HOW TO GET THERE:

The Cornershop Cafe

The Cornershop Cafe
Address: 9 Ballarat Street Yarraville
Contact: 96890052
Hours: Mon 8-5:30pm, Tues-Sat 8-9:30pm and Sun 8-5:30pm
Price: $
Website: No website, only a Facebook page

The Cornershop is a tiny cafe located in Yarraville, located across from the well known Sun Theatre. As I was manoeuvring my car through the small streets, I could really sense a taste of what Victoria used to look like in the olden days, where women would wear gorgeous colourful frocks and men would cruise around in their Cadillacs? The area of Yarraville reminded me of one scene from The Notebook where Noah and Allie lay in the middle of a road without a fear in the world. Maybe I've been watching too many soppy movies...

Pot of Chai Latte - $4.50

There is nothing I love more than cafes that serve chai lattes in a tea pot form. It makes the drinking experience just that LITTLE bit better, especially when served with honey. My favourite spot in Melbourne for a pot of chai tea would have to be Industry Beans :)

Baked eggs! Green sauce with kaiserfleisch $14.50

Sarah and I arrived to the Cornershop too late for breakfast and too early for dinner. Thank goodness there was the option of baked eggs (only until 4pm). When the waitress served it to me, the portion looked ridiculously small but when you start picking it at, it's perfect. The kaiserfleisch is like some sort of German ham and had a delicious taste. Two thumbs up from me for this dish. 

Spiced braised meatballs with turkish bread & parmesan $15.50

How cute are the colours on this dish? It reminds me of Christmas. I only got to try a bit of this dish but any dish with lots of rocket is a winner for me. 

Hand Cut Chips with Aioli 

THE CORNERSHOP is definitely a place I would consider "CHEAP EATS". Everything is under $20 bar one dish, pork belly, which is $22 but still quite reasonable considering that it is from the dinner menu. I wish I lived closer to Yarraville so I can soak in more of the culture and enjoy more of the restaurants that they have to offer. I'll make a note to catch public transport on my next visit, at parking was horrific. 

HOW TO GET THERE: