Breakfasts in Winter

May 1998

Winter is officially upon us and with darkness descending earlier and earlier, there's even more reason to get up for breakfast. Make the most of the light and fuel up for the day.

The previous breakfast article fell in autumn when it was still possible to sit outside particularly for later weekend breakfasts. Some of the places suggested today keep their kerbside tables throughout the winter months for those occasional and welcome bursts of sunshine.

Babka with its slightly Russian feel seems a good place to start in winter. There are egg dishes, baked winter fruits, French toast made with challah, Georgian spicy baked beans (guaranteed to warm and fill you up) and Russian blintzes. There's usually a queue at the take away counter for the excellent bread which is served with breakfast all day 7am-6.15pm along with Babka's own jams. 358 Brunswick Street Fitzroy, 94160091.

Close by in Smith Street, Gluttony, lives up to its name by offering a Bottomless Breakfast Bar for $7 which has lots of healthy things such as fruits and muesli. Then for big spenders there's the First Class Breakfast (poached eggs, spinach, avocado, smoked salmon, salmon caviar, sour cream - on cheese toast) for $10. Also priced at the top end is the Pambula Beach breakfast which includes a ham steak, eggs, bacon and sausages. For sweet breakfast tooths there is the Giant Pecan Nut Flapjack which comes with maple syrup, ice cream and strawberries. This place is a lot of fun, some large tables inside encourage communal eating and there are some cute conversation nooks in the curved windows. 278 Smith Street, Collingwood, 9416 0336.

Bridge Road, Richmond, has spawned huge numbers of cafes over the past five years. If you keep going over Church Street you'll find one with a character all of its own. From the outside Blue Heaven looks a bit like a milk bar, complete with plastic strips on the door. But inside is an espresso machine making good coffee and breakfast served all day. One of the most popular dishes here is the New York style Egg & Bacon Bagel. As well as breakfast dishes there is a range of interestingly filled rolls and focaccias. 266 Bridge Road, 9428 2658.

If you are shopping at South Melbourne Market there are a number of breakfast places to try. Most famous is Cafe Sweethearts 263 Coventry Street, 9690 6572. The breakfast menu available all day till 4pm has fifteen varieties of eggs and changes every month. Egg dishes (note 50 cents more for free range eggs) range from $6.50-$13.50 and side dishes from $1.50-3.50. This is a very popular place all year round, the cosy corner position lets in lots of natural light.

Cafe Panette also occupies a corner positon on Coventry and Cecil Streets, 9690 2803, and has lots of tables outside waiting for fine weather. It is less a breakfast specialist, with a large lunch menu, just eight varieties of breakfast eggs here from $6.90-7.90 The inside room has large tables, lots of space and pleasant service.

A couple of doors away is Coventry Blue a terrace house at 313 Coventry Street 9682 5844 which serves breakfast all day and seems to be something of a community meeting place with a notice board listing pets for sale and flats to rent. Egg dishes range from $5.50 to $8.

Callis & Forrest Bar Cafe, known as C'n'F, is a smart South Yarra spot with Roti Bread Egg Rolls which people drive from all over town for. Served with fresh coriander and chilli jam, this is the breakfast hit for many. There are the traditional choices of eggs, porridge, museli and non-dieters grapefruit, served caramelized with almond wafers. Breakfast is served until 6pm every day inside the rather dark room with wooden floors and black tables with their small coloured lights or outside on the footpath of 572 Chapel Street, 9827 4854.

To Prahran and 142 Greville Street where Blu Pols, 9521 3155, attracts families for weekend breakfasts. Eggs range from $6.90-$8.50. The place is very bright and light and the glasses of crayons (kept behind the bar) and the paper on the tables help keep kids occupied.

Aroma opens up completely onto 100 Ormond Road, Elsternwick, 9531 3155. It's one of several popular local cafes on this road where people can sit with their dogs tied up on the street. Breakfast is served till 5pm and includes a deliciously simple dish of Roma tomatoes on thick slices of toast served on heavy large plates. Colour co-ordinate with a large Bloody Mary and your day should start well. Both are priced at $4.50.

Across to the west in Ballarat Street, Yarraville, Cafe Java is popular for morning coffee whilst Cafe Fidama has a substantial menu available from 9am-2.30pm with eggs around $8 and the Big Brekkie $9.50 or a Vego equivalent (blinis, eggs, tomato and mushrooms) for $8.50. There are high chairs for babies, friendly staff and a wonderful village atmosphere pervades the whole street.

Best value breakfasts are still found in the city where you can get freshly cooked eggs at many of the cafes close to big office blocks from $3-6.