Blonde Service

Having sat through the indifferent and inconsistent service offered by Fidamas my sister-in-law commented to me, "The service is rubbish but the blonde is very attractive don't you think?" I had to agree on that, but added that she's not that attractive to compensate for her idle minded meandering that passes for customer service.

It took about 20 minutes but we finally got the attention of the more senior and experienced waitress. Regrettably this resulted in an awful cafe latte that was too impoverished of flavour to contemplate consumption. It was watery, pallid and tasted like skim milk that had been over-heated, cooled off and re-heated again.

Given that the first coffee wasnt anywhere near that appauling, the experience re-inforces why chain outlets like Hudsons continue to do well. They offer consistency. People who prefer Starbucks to Hudsons at least know what they're getting. And vice-versa.

Fidamas, by comparison, is challenged on consistency for service and quality. That's a management issue, not rocket science. My suggestion is to get in your car and drive to one of the following:

Rays (Brunswick)
Atomica (Fitzroy)
Saint Ali (South Melbourne)

Quiet in The West

It has been days since my last good cafe latte. Jesus has a lot to answer for.

Try This closed down over the Christmas break. All new cafes do this. My delictable East Brunswick hideaway, Small Bloc, left me in need and craving the year of 2002 and now it's happening all over again. Maybe next year will be different.

I got pretty desperate this week. I found myself on Brunswick St Fitzroy. Atomica was closed and I just missed Don Vincenzo. Bugger. Popped into Cafe Nova for a cup of burned and bitter coffee with super-heated skinny milk. The food is better than the coffee.

I wish I were a cat. Cats dont crave decent coffee.

Rissotto and Asparagus

One of my favourite lunch options when I lived in East Brunswick was to ride my bicycle across to Clifton Hill and enjoy some delicious rissotto balls with pesto at the Red Sage. Well the cafe has long since changed hands and I dont live anywhere near Clifton Hill anymore.

Today I discovered the rissotto cakes at Try This. They are served with proscuitto and asparagus and are delicious. Generous serving, very tasty and substantially filling. While the days of the Rad Sage are a fond memory that may never be equalled I did find it very satisfying to enjoy a healthy and scrummy meal with my skillfully prepared coffee.

Another vote for Try This :)

Smoke and Jazz

One of Yarraville's best features is Acqua Del Vino. It features a dedicated menu for the cocktail and spirits drinker, the wine connoissuer, and even cigars for those special occassions when only a bit of tabbacco inspired toxic smoke will do.

The ambience is distinctive - a blend of indulgent service with casual elegance. On those nights when a jazz bands warms the air the room is filled with a gentle flow of rythms that suggests not only the appearance has been dictated, but subtle care was taken to ensure that accoustics move freely and softly through the space.

The few offerings of food on the menu are worthwhile, but it is the drinks that steal the show. Polish Martini's, Acqua del Mojito's, and a few dozen boutique beers. One day I should try the coffee.

The Gold Standard

The recent excitement of getting a decent caffee latte in Yarraville was somewhat overwhlemed by the reminder of what lustrously smooth delights are found in the city's traditional outlets. A quick visit to Atmoica in Brunswick St restored my respect for a truly superb latte, complete with artisticly expressed froth and divine friand accompaniment. And the gold standard that exceeds even that of Atomica, Rays in Victoria St Brunswick, leaves me in awe and adoration of the barista's art. Coffee is not just a drink, it's an indulgent pleasure and one that can be heightened further by offering culinary options that match the caffeine seduction. That is what yarraville still lacks.

Melbourne's best sausages and mojitos are one thing, but neither of them are suitable companions to a creamy latte are they?

Wide Open Spaces

Yesterday I returned home after a long trip overseas, and wanted more than anything to enjoy a good cup of coffee. Melbourne is a fickle city when it comes to coffee, the preferences of the urban mob leaning towards the super hot variety which turns milk into water and destroys the subtle textures of a creamy latte. It is a select population of this community who recognise the finer aspects of coffee and elect the velvety smooth option.

So I headed to the one place in Yarraville I knew was capable of a latte "with the milk not too hot". It was rather late for lunch though, nearly 2:30pm and I was concerned the establishment may already be shutting down. It was not. I was greeted at the door by an eager young man who took delight in suggesting I sit anywhere I like, and then took exception when I said the window would be fine. He explained to me that the window seats are reserved for larger groups. I checked my watch again, it was well past the lunch hour. I checked the cafe as well, there was not a single customer to be seen. The young lad must have picked up on my furrowed brow and he re-stated their policy.

It seems to me that if you have absolutely no customers, and it's well after lunch on a Tuesday, that one of the five larger tables could be made available to accomodate a cup of coffee. I thought about the other smaller tables to the darker side of the cafe - but I had my reading material to peruse and thought better of sharing my elbow with the redundant supply of cutlery and crockery already positioned on the oh so little tables. And I left.

Heading back down Anderson St I passed the inviting little new comer called "Try This". And I did. I requested my latte "with the milk not too hot" and enjoyed a very very fine cup of coffee indeed. I followed my pleasure with a brief conversation, and was pleased to learn that this was a cafe that recognised the difference between velvet and water. The young girl who brewed my java today expressed an equal confusion over the predelictions of urban coffee consumers, and said she understood immediately what I wanted.

I shall return to enjoy the coffee, and the window seat, more often.

Ten Minute Patties

I planned my run to the shops diligently. Call ahead with the order, they said 10 minutes.

It never is, but you don't want to risk it. Soppy sauce soaked into a sour dough bun is to be avoided and hot chips have infinitely less flavour once they hit room temperature. 'tepid' chips doesnt have much of a ring to it.

A quick dash to the IGA and we're all stocked up with fizzy drink and chocolate biscuits. How else does one spend a friday night? I am just in time for my 10 minute deadline and ready to head home.

Tragedy strikes - hamburgers are not ready. How can that be? We ordered ahead. 15 minutes later we have food. That's a total of 25 minutes. When asked why it took so long it was explained to me that lots of orders came in after ours. A short discussion about the logic of queue systems failed to impress upon the hamburger seller the inadequacy of her response. If it takes four staff over 25 minutes to prepare a fast-food order it is my guess that BurgerEdge will soon plummet over the precipice.