raw cacao — Gastrology

Forged from co-founders Tom Davidson and Jacob Burke’s love of clean eating, Patch Café offers exciting brunch options and has earned its reputation as a weekend brunch mecca.

Situated within the heritage restoration of Studio 9 in Richmond Melbourne, Patch has successfully crafted an intimate, warm and inviting space with unpretentious simplicity at its core.

The menu features paleo inspired food developed by executive chef Brett Tait.

As expected of any great Melbourne café, the coffee is excellent and poured by adept baristas.

Banana and almond hotcakes with house-made pistachio and cacao ice cream, paleo caramel and kiwi chunks

The hotcakes were a delicious paleo rendition of a breakfast favourite that amalgamates the best things in life (such as ice cream). Decadently delicious, the light hot cakes were drizzled with paleo caramel and adorned with refreshing house-made pistachio and cacao ice cream which went wonderfully with the slightly tart kiwi chunks.

Pan-seared barramundi served with roasted artichokes, asparagus and salsa verde

This dish was all about simple flavours and excellent execution. The skin of the barramundi was crisp and the flesh was delicate and moist. The warm salsa verde, roasted artichokes and asparagus complemented, rather than overpowered, the fish.

Chargrilled wagyu rump with braised Brussel sprouts, chilli, bacon and parsnip mash with a red wine jus

A light searing ensured that the wagyu rump was lined with a thin crisp layer packed with caramelised beef flavour. The meat was intense with characteristic wagyu notes and a deep earthy richness. Coated with a luxurious red wine jus, the dish was very enjoyable to consume.

Patch Café also offers a wonderful selection of raw desserts created by certified nutrition coach Jayde Hwang.

Acai berry and blueberry lemon cheese cake (Raw, Vegan, Paleo)

As vegan as these sweets are, they were concocted without a single sacrifice to flavour. Every item was a wonderful vegan interpretation of the original.

Raw Salted Caramel Slice (Raw, Vegan, Paleo)

Considering the sweet treats had to omit common ingredients like eggs or dairy products (think cheesecake without cheese) we were pleasantly surprised by how good these sweet treats tasted. While they were very different to their “original” counterparts, they were unique and delicious in their own right.

The perfect embodiment of a thriving Melbourne café, Patch was always going to be a success story and it is no surprise that it is drawing in the crowds week in week out with its consistently excellent food, fantastic coffee and cheerful wait staff.

Location: 1/32 Bendigo St, Richmond VIC 3121

Phone: (03) 9029 0328

Link: http://patchcafe.com.au/, Facebook, Instagram
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Paleo, Vegan, Raw

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Patch Café.

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Eat Fit Food.

A typical day in the life of Eat Fit Food

Eat Fit Food introduces nutritionally balanced meals which are delivered fresh daily to individuals and corporates in both Sydney and Melbourne with plans to expand nationwide in the near future.

The leaders in creating innovative, fresh meals from scratch, Eat Fit Food’s food philosophy is simple - eat flavoursome and nourishing wholefoods.

Founded by Bianca Monley in 2002, Eat Fit Food was set up out of a passionate belief of eating well – even for people with a busy schedule!

We enjoyed our fresh and healthy meals consisting of delicious but lean chicken breasts, low gi pancakes served with yogurt and berries, a smoothie and delicious raw cacao balls. Each free of preservatives, artificial sweeteners, additives and chemicals.

Eat Fit Food is more than just a delivery service, also educating customers about how easy it is to improve their lives through eating healthy.

Eat Fit Food offers a variety of programs for both men and women. They are designed to reset eating behaviours, digestive function and nutrient absorption. All programs will also improve vitality, health and nutrition.

Eat Fit Food has also recently launched The Health Kit. A series of seasonal, fun, educational events we will be hosting in both Sydney and Melbourne. They are designed to bring the community together and create a wellness ripple effect. Our next event is in July and the Topic is “Food is Medicine” – stay tuned for our review of the event!