grace

Down the road from the Rose Street Artists' market on Sundays, sits gentle, imperturbable Grace. It's a cafe operating out of what used to be two Victorian terrace houses, bustling with happy mellow patrons, doling out good food, being like that one neighbour who quietly plays acoustic guitar when you need it the most.

Somewhere on Rose Street.

Great coffee, friendly service.

Chai tea like this, how can not like?!

 There are always seasonal specials made with care.

Pancakes with poached pear, rhubarb and quark.

Smoked salmon bagel.

 And a constantly changing little dessert table.

This cafe is incredibly charming, a contrast to doof doof music trendy new cafes opening like mushrooms around Melbourne. I have a feeling like this place had quietly always been here and been good, and it will continue to stand long after the trendy glitzy cafe trend has buckled.

addict food & coffee

Another one! Another trendy cafe in the north side! This trend is not showing any signs of slowing down, and the northsiders (I will pretend to be one for now) are lining up for it.

Addict Food & Coffee sits on the quieter part of Johnston Street where the furniture stores are, before you hit Smith Street. Around it are a car wash (?), second hand shops and a bunch of independent galleries. We waited about 15 minutes for a table on a Saturday morning, there were lines before and after us. 

The concept is farm-to-table which is certainly welcome, decor is clean and sleek, and crowd is 18-35. I really do feel like everyone here is my age. It's like the nightclub crowd have grown up, gotten jobs, and exclusively see each other with vague nods of recognition at brunch places.

Potato hash and mushroom duxelle with roasted field mushroom, a poached egg and caramelised onion. 

Gorgeous mushroom flavours, not sure about the duxelle (texture of dirt?) but the sweet caramelised onion was delicious.

The special was a congee-like dish with smoked bacon broth (in the white bottle), seared fish and egg. It was divine, having salty congee for breakfast is genius.

On a lazy Sunday, perfect place to hang out, reflect on the fact that you have grown up somewhat, and spy on people whose faces are creepily familiar.