Breakfast @ De Mad Hatter

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of De Mad Hatter and Collins Square.

The owners of Beanstalk Cafe have recently expanded their café portfolio to include the De Mad Hatter.

Alice in Wonderland themed, the café possesses an eclectic charm with a contemporary vibe. Wooden benches, stools and ceiling suspended lighting with Alice in Wonderland themed pieces such as the Rabbit’s timepiece adorn the dining area.

De Mad Hatter has succeeded in crafting a convivial atmosphere in which to enjoy a weekday brunch. Friendly and hospitable wait staff will be at your service throughout your meal.

Home-made Birchers Muesli topped with yoghurt and fresh fruit

The home-made muesli was the highlight of our breakfast. A fresh, moist and delicious option, we loved the luxurious yoghurt and the freshness from the berries. 

Prosciutto & asparagus bruschetta with rocket, olive oil, poached egg & parmesan flakes

Two perfectly poached eggs were succulently seasoned with savoury prosciutto and accompanied by perfectly cooked asparagus. The highlight of the dish was the grilled bread which had a lovely crunchy yet chewy crust.  In all, this dish was a respectable assembly of breakfast essentials.

DMH Signature. Fried egg, chorizo, oven baked cheesy tortilla topped with fresh tomato & bean salsa

House made Pancakes topped with fruit compote served with ice cream & maple syrup

A simple breakfast favourite that amalgamates the best things in life (such as ice cream). The pancake was fluffy and moist and embellished with delicious fruit compote. 

The coffees at De Mad Hatter are excellent. Served with an intricate rosetta in the milk foam, both our cappuccino and latte were well made, with the slight sweetness of the frothed milk cutting through the residual brightness from the foundation espresso. 

 

The breakfast offerings at De Mad Hatter are respectable with reasonable prices and an extensive menu to suit most.

Paperboy Kitchen has left the market

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Paperboy Kitchen.

From their pop-up debut at the People’s Market in December to permanent haunt in the CBD, Paperboy Kitchen is the real deal. The menu is simple, delicious and well-priced.

Vietnamese coffee

The main menu items come in either Rolls or Bowls. Rolls being your traditional banh mi and bowls being the Vietnamese bun noodles. All the main menu items come with Asian Slaw, Carrot-Daikon Pickle, Sriracha-Mayo and coriander

Pulled Lamb & Hoisin roll

We received a crunchy bread roll shimmered with Sriracha-Mayo, filled with generous serves of beautifully tender pulled lamb, topped with a salad of Asian Slaw, Carrot-Daikon Pickle, coriander and glossed in a hoi sin glaze. It was both fresh and very tasty.

Slow Cooked Beef bowl

The beef bun was a lively noodle salad with flavoursome Braised Brisket and served with the loveliest Pho dipper (beef broth). The noodles were topped with salad including pickled carrot, shredded lettuce, cucumber, a sprinkle of fried shallots and mixed herbs - all finished with a generous helping of Sriracha-Mayo and Coriander.

Milk Bar Cookie

The milk bar cookie was as described, “Sweet and Salty Deliciousness”. Made with chocolate chips, pretzels, salt and vinegar chips and other naughty things, it was a delicious end to our visit. 

A budget-priced eatery with dishes reflecting the cross-pollinated culture of Vietnam, blending the heritage of Vietnamese street-food food with French flavours and Chinese cuisine, Paperboy Kitchen is a hit.

Review: HERO - Born in Brooklyn Raised in Melbourne

Location: Stewart Street at the back of 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne (RMIT SAB Building 80)
Phone: 03 9995 4655
Link: http://www.herosubs.com.au/
Cuisine: American, Fast Food, Sandwiches/Subs
Overall Impression: 8/10

A revolution of the sandwich kind has arrived in Melbourne. 

Since the opening of The Grain Store, Michael and Eleena have been busy putting together their new food concept called HERO, now open at Stewart Street. 

Taking its inspiration from gourmet ‘Hero-style’ sandwiches made famous in and around Brooklyn-Queens, New York, HERO has taken the art of the simple sandwich baguette and applied the Melbourne shuffle to its big sandwich flavours. 

The HERO baguettes are oversized sandwiches with big, bold flavours and gourmet fillings to match. HERO has worked closely with some of Melbourne's best artisan food suppliers to develop unique flavours, from the bread (Empire bakery) right through to the meats (Castricum), veggies (Biviano & Sons) and NYC-style bagels (Five & Dime Bagel Co). 

We were pleased to enjoy some HERO baguettes at their new neighbourhood over the weekend. 

Apart from delicious subs, HERO also serves some delicious Brooklyn-style treats including maple chipotle (smokey, sticky and spicy BBQ wings) and hot ball donuts which have unique fillings and are sprinkled with flavoured sugar toppings.

Spreading love, the Brooklyn way, HERO subs are taking Melbourne by storm. Their hand-made over-sized gourmet baguettes are filled with the freshest produce and ingredients and this is evident in how it tastes. Big, bold sandwich flavours which are delicious and affordable – what more could you want?

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of HERO.