Today I met with the lovely people at Food Is Free Berwick.
They meet every three to four weeks at Pioneer Park in Berwick. Local and not so local gardeners bring together their lovingly homegrown produce to share and swap, ensuring that none of the precious goodness from their gardens goes to waste.
I tentatively arrived not long after the start time of 9.30am with my box of herbs from my garden. I received a lovely and informative welcome and was enthusiastically encouraged to take home the produce that was provided.
I came home with some lovely rhubarb for tonight’s dessert, 4 tomato plants, thyme, mint, chives, kale and some Bok Choy seedlings.
It was the most lovely experience as everyone I chatted with was so enthusiastic, welcoming and keen to share their expertise.
Keep an eye on the Food is Free South East Suburbs Facebook page if you would like to join in.
This might be weird, but my perfect brunch fantasy involves finding a sweet, modern cafe serving awesome food and hot strong coffee, in a kind of unexpected, back street somewhere in the Suburbs. Maybe this is some kind of primeval hunter gatherer instinct at play and my subconscious is imagining me on an amazing, slightly dangerous adventure.
The coffee could be bad, Gasp!
Whatever the reason, I love a good find. And yesterday I stumbled upon one.
The very sweet and quite chic Jolimont Cafe in Forest Hill.
Thanks to an invite and tip-off from a lovely friend of Eat My Street, brunch was the order of the day.
We ordered Mexican Eggs ($15) with a Chai Latte ($3.80).
And a Steak Sandwich ($16) with a flat white ($3.80).
Both dishes had good, big flavours with finesse. #so pretty
Service was fantastic was Jolimont cafe and the coffee was good. I also enjoyed my Chai latte for a little bit of spice in my life.
Overall Jolimont Cafe is a cute little cafe in a quiet street in Forest Hill. What an awesome surprise.
Isn’t it exciting that after nearly three years of living here in Berwick I can still stumble across something new and surprising? Well a couple of weeks ago I did just that when circumstance found me enjoying lunch at the Homestead Cafe at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick.
I have written before about the fantastic refurbished playground, and the local Farmers Markets that both reside here at the Cheese Factory in Berwick. But I had not yet managed to visit the Homestead Cafe when it was open.
The cafe is set in the 1865 Springfield Homestead amidst the most gorgeous sprawling, landscaped gardens.
There are a number of different rooms that you can chose to sit in that are all decorated in period style, and also an undercover area bejewelled with wisteria. Eat My Street visited on a particularly beautiful Spring day and chose a little table on the back verandah for the perfect picnic spot.
There were a number of ladies who seemed to be running the cafe and the food certainly had a wholesome homestyle feel to it. Our waitress mentioned that they have purposefully created a menu with healthy choices and so there were strictly no hot chips on the menu. It was a little bit like lunching at the local CWA and it was a very enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
The little ones were catered for, not just with the run of the beautiful gardens and the nearby playground, but with croissants with jam and strawberry milk.
They also run an occasional High Tea and Children’s High Tea which I imagine is worth a try.
The food is very well priced; $2.50 for raisin toast, $14 for Quiche & Salad, $11 for Scones, Tea & Coffee.
Visit for the gorgeous gardens and the simple, wholesome menu. Just keep an eye on those opening hours as they can be a little tricky.
Happy Eating.
Dani xx
Details
The Homestead Café
Old Cheese Factory
34 Homestead Road, Berwick VIC 3806
Opening Hours
10 am to 3 pm – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
9 am to 1 pm – Every second and fourth Saturday of the month
Phone: 8786 7900
I haven’t been this excited about Friday since last Friday.
Welcome to the weekend everyone. This is not any ordinary weekend though is it? No it is The Melbourne Cup Weekend! Party on Wayne etc. I for one am very excited (mainly about the Public Holiday though sorry racing people.)
I also wrote about the Yarra Valley Balloon Festival. I had such a great night. See more beautiful pics here.
This weekend Berwick has gone all Music Festival on us with Live @ The Park being held. Saturday from 12pm at Akoonah Park. Featuring Daryl Braithwaite, Russell Morris, Chocolate Starfish and Emma Donovan and The Putbacks. Sound fun? Then look here for more information.
Take in some sweet views (and Pizza) at Forrest Edge Restaurant. On Sunday there will be wood fired pizzas all day and live music from 1pm. Plus they are throwing a ripper Melbourne Cup party, but unfortunately bookings have closed on that one. 2905 Gembrook-Launching Place Road, Gembrook.
(03) 5967 7007
Try some creative expression. Weekly Art Classes at Paperworks Gallery Berwick. Draw, paint, create from wire, yarn or clay. Take a look at their Facebook page for more information and opening hours. Paperworks Gallery also has a delightful gift shop where I did a lot of my Christmas shopping last year. 26 Inglis R, Berwick.
Four Pillars Gin Distillery is having a party this weekend to celebrate its opening. Events include Masterclasses, gin tastings, mini G&T fights, choose-your-own-adventure negroni and some fabulous food trucks. October 31 and November 1 at 2a Lilydale Rd, Healesville. Look here for tickets. I have already had a little visit and it is looking very good.
Markets
The Belgrave South Community Market is on this Sunday. 10am- 3pm Gilmore Court, Belgrave South.
Grow It, Make It, Bake It Community Market. 10am -3pm. Emerald Hall. Click here for more information.
Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you enjoy every moment.
Me, I’m really looking forward to a book and a Nanna nap. I hope you get one too.
Dani xx
This week I am linking up with some other awesome bloggers at Maxabella Loves. Pop over for a visit, it is one of my favourite non food blogs. www.maxabellaloves.com.au
At the recent Bendigo Writers Festival I attended a session run by owl-like, creative genius, Marcus Westbury. Marcus is the founder and director of a number of creative festivals. He is also a writer and he has just launched his first book “Creating Cities” which was a crowd founded job. Continue reading →
I have had a lot of local people tell me that they love Evolve Fair Food Store in Belgrave. The cafe sits just outside of the main township of Belgrave in what was once a Blacksmith’s studio.
It has now truly transformed into an inviting, modern and slightly bohemian cafe, in all the right ways. Local art work adorns the walls and artisanal produce is available for purchase in one of the rooms. The food is organic, locally sourced, eco-friendly and health conscious. To just focus on these traits though would be to miss the whole experience. Evolve Fair Food store is “fair” in a unique and wonderful way, but it is also delicious, beautiful, thoughtful and warm.
Visit for brunch or lunch and try a burger, baguette or omelette. Morning and afternoon tea options are include organic scones ($10) and wheat free banana bread ($12). There are also a gluten-free, vegan and raw food options available. You can take a look at the menu by clicking here.
Two free range eggs on sourdough toast. $10
Importantly for some of us, there is also a lovely child friendly room at the back of the cafe filled with toys, books and plenty of space for children. There is also a Kids Menu featuring the sort of health conscious and tasty food that every Mum dreams about.
Tea is Organic Yarra Valley Leaf tea ($4 a pot) and coffee is from Proud Mary ($4- $6).
Service is friendly and helpful and the staff here seem to give off the vibe that they are enjoying their day. The location at the base of Sherbrooke Forest is gorgeous.
It is hard to sum up Evolve Fair Food store because it is a cafe that does so much. I think it is in a very unique position of offering health conscious, fair trade, ethically sourced and delicious food. Maybe this level of thoughtfulness and committment explains why it holds such a special place in the hearts of locals.
Details:
64-68 Monbulk Road
Belgrave
(03) 9754 1437
Opening Hours
Tue to Sun 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tonight we took a beautiful drive through the Yarra Ranges to the visit The Independent restaurant in Gembrook. You can read about my previous visit here, but I thought a little update was in order.
Set in a former hardware store in the main street of Gembrook, The Independent is co-owned by Chef Mauro Callegari and the family behind Robert Gordon pottery. They serve Argentinian food in a large, open dining hall with exposed timber beams and a sweet little view out onto the street.
To find it you have to take a sweeping drive through the surrounding hills, to end up in the tiny little town of Gembrook, home to the iconic Puffing Billy railway. Consider the drive through rolling green pastures a part of the overall experience and you might just have yourself a refreshing mini- break in the country. There are a lot of good things to do out this way, most of which will leave you feeling recharged and reconnected.
The menu is based around shared plates and tapas style food. The wine list has a few local offerings as well as their Argentinian counterparts. Service was prompt, enthusiastic and solicitous this time around. We ordered the shoulder of lamb to share ($59) which was served with a Beetroot dish with smoked yoghurt & pine nuts. We had to allow half an hour for he lamb to be cooked, but when it arrived it was smoky, sweet and falling off the bone. Well worth the wait.
The half hour wait was also a great excuse to order some of the smaller dishes to share.
Twice smoked crumbed pork belly log, $18
Grilled chorizo with capsicum, prunes & chimmichurri $12
Roasted potatoes with onion, garlic & thyme $11
Baked mozzarella with Chilli.
Overall the food was interesting and full of salty, spicy flavours. The restaurant was busy and was run by a team who seemed to know how to manage the bustling space without trouble. Casual yet stylish Argentinian-Australian dining at its best.
One of the best things about living in Berwick is the accessibility of fabulous markets. Nearly every weekend I can easily pop up to a lovely, local, produce driven market to seek great inspiration for recipes and buy seasonal, super fresh food.
Plus, donuts and artisan pastries.
I have compiled a list of the local markets that I love. Please feel free to let me know if I have missed something good.
Here they are in no special order.
Cockatoo Country Market. First Saturday of the month. Look here for details.
Emerald Craft and Produce Market. 3rd Sunday of the month. Details are here.
Grow it, Make it Bake it Market, Emerald. Here. First Sunday of every month at the Emerald Mechanics Hall. 10am to 3pm
Casey-Berwick Farmers Market. Old Cheese Factory. 4th Saturday of the month. 34 Homestead Road, Berwick.
Akoonah Park Market. Every Sunday except the Berwick Show weekend in February. More information here. 8am to 1.30pm. Akoonah Park, Berwick.
Farmers Market at The Old Cheese Factory. Every second Saturday of the month. VFMA accredited market and follows the strict criteria of supporting accredited stallholders. 8am to 12.30. 34 Homestead Rd, Berwick.
Dandenong Market. Tuesday: 7am – 4pm , Friday: 7am – 5pm , Saturday: 7am – 4pm , Sunday: 10am – 3pm. Corner of Clow and Cleeland St, Dandenong. Special events include Market Week, 5th to 13th September. Market week sounds likes heaps of fun with cooking demonstrations, food tastings, a donut eating competition and a smoothie make-off. I will post more details closer to the date. Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date. Or visit me on social media.
Belgrave Big Dreams Market. More details can be found at their website, or for a review of my visit look here. Running from 9am-2pm on the 2nd Sunday of the month.
Belgrave South Community Market. First Sunday of the month. Gilmore Court, Belgrave South. You can find out a little bit more about this Indie Market by visiting this Facebook page.
Aren’t we spoilt?
Please let me know if there is something I have missed.
The sun has finally reappeared this week, so what a perfect time to get out and about and visit one of these gorgeous, local Melbourne markets.
I was chatting with a friend the other day and they suggested it would be great to have a summary post of the best cafes in Berwick. So here are my awards for outstanding contributions to the caffeine levels of locals Berwick-ites.
And the winners are (in no particular order).
Little by Little Cafe Berwick. New kids on the block with great coffee, good service and a gorgeous fit out. This cafe is a little tricky to find, but well worth the effort. Click here for the details.
Primary @ Pioneer Park. A long time favourite cafe of local Berwick families. It has a gorgeous playground right out the front. Elegant interior in a locally significant building right on the Berwick green. Also great meals and coffee and every cake is good. (I haven’t completely finished my testing on this one, but I’m doing my best.) Here for more details.
Nomadic Berwick. Popular newbie with a great location and a casual, fun vibe. They also run local events so I think Nomadic has a special place in our community. Details are here.
La Baguette. French goodness and now serving dinner on the weekend. Noisette bread, French cooking, amazing specials. Follow along on their Facebook account for photos that will leave you drooling.
Cafe Revival in the heart of Berwick. Check out my review and pics here.
High Fives to the fabulous folk who provide reliable service, consistently good food and a sweet & smiling atmosphere, in the Berwick area.
Is there anywhere I have missed?
I know there are lots of other good cafes too. What cafe would make it onto your list of the best cafes in Berwick?
O.MY is a gorgeous, produce driven restaurant in Beaconsfield, Victoria. It is run by three brothers, Chayse, 22 Blayne, 24 and Tyson, 28. Chayse is Sommelier & runs the floor, Blayne is Head Chef in the kitchen and oldest brother Tyson manages production. He also exhibits some of his own art, more to that later.
O.MY first opened its doors to customers 18 months ago and it has been an amazing journey since then.
This year Blayne was nominated for Young Chef of the Year with The Age Good Food Guide. The award recognises Victoria’s best chef under 30 and is one of the most prestigious food awards within Victoria. Past winners include George Calombaris and Adam D’Sylva. An interview with Alla Wolf-Tasker, Phillip Mouchel and Andrew McConell lead to Blayne being shortlisted. The award will be announced in September.
As to the question of how nervous Blayne is about the whole award process he says this. “I am excited for what it means for the restaurant and for all my staff, but I am just trying to stick to business as usual, doing what I know and love no matter who walks through the door.”
Blayne Bertoncello looking cool in the kitchen.
I have eaten at O.MY many times and have written a lot about how much I love it. A visit to O.MY is personified by perfect service, an intimate and sophisticated dining room and creative and delicious food.
“The whole is bigger than the sum of the parts” is never more true than when dining at O.MY.
I met with Blayne Bertoncello recently to find out a little bit more about what inspires the man behind the pans and to find out where this food journey first started.
Two brothers gazing. Painting by Kate Lee art.
Blayne and two of his brothers grew up working at restaurants in the local area. At some point they decided that they would like to do their own thing, no matter how small, and so they set about finding a building that they could love. What they ended up with is an old Butcher shop with tons of character, in their local Beaconsfield.
They set about renovating the building and have kept part of the exposed brick storage door as a feature. Liberal sprinklings of modern art, some of it created by Tyson himself, completes the fit out.
Artwork by Tyson BertoncelloChayse with Candice, one of the awesome wait staff. Artwork by Callum Warren.
Part of what now sets O.MY apart from other local eateries is the fact that they offer a Degustation Menu only. This means Bayne is able to cook what he likes in the kitchen and bring the best of it to you, the diner. O.MY grow a lot of their own fresh produce in their kitchen garden and also at what is affectionately known as “Cardi Farm.” They also have locals providing them with produce that is abundant and in season and they are not averse to a little foraging. There is apparently quite a strong underground of locals with busy, bustling veggie gardens.
Blayne in the restaurant garden.
Blayne’s favourite dish is also my favourite; Pumpkin with chilli and garlic. Built around the no waste philosophy of food, the pumpkin is presented at the table covered in a pasta sheet made from the pumpkin skin and even the pumpkin seeds are roasted and added to the dish. It was amazingly delicious. The idea for the dish came to Blayne as he was sitting in a Hotel in Japan earlier in the year, reading cookbooks featuring no wastage recipes (how very rock star). Like everything else at the restaurant, the pumpkin dish is seasonal so you will have to visit at the right time to try it.
On the day I visited Blayne had also cooked lamb shoulder with garlic puree, turnip, wheat berries, rosemary and fresh silver beet.
Potato with artichoke and a 2 hour cooked egg.
He also took me for a tour around his kitchen, showed me his beautiful sour dough starter (the bread here is a passion and a highlight) his black garlic powder made from garlic cloves dehydrated for 3 months and a gorgeous, black truffle who’s providence will never be revealed!
Then we got down to the tough questions which Blayne enthusiastically answered while coolly cooking a Swordfish Dish for a local newspaper to photograph. This man does not buckle under pressure!
Favourite local cafe? “The General Food Store for its seasonal breakfast menu, great staff and quality coffee.” Blayne also mentioned “Big Spoon, Little Spoon” in Warragul although he was worried it was not local. I say a 40 minute drive is close enough for great food.
First dish you ever cooked? “Fettuccine Carbonara.” Classic! .
Most memorable meal? “Parsnip and apple dessert from Brae.” Hard to imagine so here is a pic. Brae is one of the top restaurants in Australia and was recently listed in the Worlds Top 50 Restaurants, 51-100 List. The man has style.
Name a chef who inspires you? “Renee Redzepi from the two Michelin starred restaurant Noma, in Copenhagen.” You can follow him on Instagram here.
Why Beaconsfield? “One, because it is where we live and two, because there was no other degustation restaurant in the area.” All three brothers grew up in the area and attended local schools. Blayne wanted to create locally, the kind of restaurant he loved to visit in the City. Smart man.
How do you create a menu? “Once we got into the garden, we knew we had to create food around what produce we could harvest and this stayed with us. “
How have the locals responded to O.MY. “They have been great. Locals drop off regular supplies of lemons, kale, or whatever else is in season. We have a lot of local people come in as our regular customers.”
What is it like working with your brothers? “It is just the same as when we were growing up together, except now we have facial hair.”
My final question for Blayne was “So do you still love it?” Blayne showed no hesitation in saying yes. Having started in the kitchen of a local restaurant when he was younger and finding he “loved the adrenaline rush” of a working kitchen, he then got addicted to “creating a dish and seeing people enjoy it”.
I recently had the pleasure of dining in the small, private dining room out the back of O.MY. And yes, we did really enjoy it.
Two friends had insisted that I take them to O.MY so they could see for themselves. We had a fantastic, intimate dining experience that was also bundles of fun. It was like having an off-the-charts dinner party at home, but with better food, decor and wine. AND without having to do the dishes. Part-ay! I could not recommend it enough.
But, I can’t leave you there.Go on, I know you want to.
Tyson is the eldest of the three brothers. He is responsible for the creation of some of the art in the restaurant, but also for overall production. Tyson sources the gorgeous ceramics, glassware and pottery and was even recently spotted making his own plates (on Instagram). He also sometimes cooks and sometimes acts as a waiter. Plus, Tyson is a keen gardener and oversees the veggie patch. Talented? Yes. He is also smart and sweet and a hard-working behind the scenes genius (or something like that).
Charming Chayse is the Sommelier at O.MY and also he also manages the floor. Friendly and funny, he somehow manages the perfect balance of attentiveness as a waiter. People love meeting Chayse, just read the reviews of O.MY. His chatter makes the food come alive for the diner. He also manages the restaurant floor like a boss.
Chayse is energetic and enthusiastic about his much-loved wine list. He might even share some music tips with you if you ask nicely. Plus he is friendly and nice.
Yep, these three brothers are all so very nice. And nice is awesome, in case you were wondering.
So I absolutely loved meeting Chayse, Blayne and Tyson at O.MY and taking a peek around their kitchen and restaurant. They were so friendly and welcoming, just as they always are when I eat in their restaurant. Blayne is a Chef on the move and his produce based cooking is exciting and delicious. I look forward to seeing what adventure he has in front of him next.
Good Luck in September boys from all of us at eatmystreet!
If you would like to read more from Dani B then please like my Facebook page, or sign up here on the blog. Or here are the details to make a booking at O.MY.
Friday Phone in| Fun Things I’d love to do in Berwick & beyond.
So we have manned the phones, checked the town noticeboard and scanned the Parish Newsletter. The votes are in for our Friday Favourites and top tips for the weekend.
1. Bastille Day
Tuesday 14th July is Bastille Day. You can celebrate in style right here in Melbourne.
Big Spoon Little Spoon, in Warragul is putting on a 6 course degustation dinner for $60. Includes a glass of French Champagne on arrival. Here for details.
La Baguette Cafe in Berwick are celebrating again this year. Good food, live music, bubbles and fun. Last year I bought a delicious Croquembouche and the atmosphere was sparkly! Here for bookings.
Alliance Francais de Melbourne are having an open day and family treasure hunt in St Kilda. Race against the clock and follow clues to win great prizes. C’est Amusant!
2. Cameo Cinema in Belgrave seems like the perfect place to visit in this cold weather. You could visit on Tuesday for cheap tickets, or Saturday & Wednesday to see the classics. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn,” as long as you do it in style at Cameo.
3. Belgrave Big Dreams Market is on tomorrow. Plus there is an African Dance Workshop being run near by. Great little market, click here for the review.
4. Raynors Stone Fruit Orchard in Woori Yallock is dripping with fruit. Kiwi, lemon, guava, lime & tamarillo. They offer a u-pick option that seems to include a ride on the tractor! They also run fruit bottling workshops.
5. Evolve Fine Food Store. After my little post on 8 Family Friendly Cafes in Berwick and Beyond, I was enthusiastically told to add Evolve Fine Food Store to my list. Broadsheet has posted their review here. 64-68 Monbulk Rd, Belgrave. Lunch anyone?
6. This Friday 17th July @ 7.30pm I will be going to “Ten Poems Gently Fall” at Earthly Pleasures Cafe in Belgrave. I am very excited. Local performance poet Cameron Semmens is launching his latest book. Musician Rod Gear is launching a music album “As Gently Falls.” So many creative people in one place! Entry is free. Will I see you there?
7. Follow the Chocolate Road.
Berwick Gluten Free and Chocolates is a speciality chocolate shop. Stop in for a gift pack or take home goodie bag (not open on Sunday). From there you could follow the chocolate road to Chocolate Sensation in Belgrave, for a light lunch, or Gino’s ah’ cioccolato for some Churro’s. Onward to Cafe de Beaumarchais in Sassafras for a sweet, oozy hot chocolate and maybe some cake. Hyped up on sugar and feeling adventurous? You could aim for the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Yarra Glen. The ultimate destination for Chocolate lovers. Otherwise wander up the road in Sassafras, stopping to toast a marshmallow, and then shop until you drop at The Olinda Sweet Company.
Buy me some pear drops, pretty please?
8. It really seems the right time of year for some slow cooked recipes. What with all the tall tales about cold conditions.
I am still cooking my Shredded Chilli Beef at least once a week. Serve with wraps, mash or polenta (to freak out the kids).
9. Weather such as this calls for a cosy cafe. I recently put out the plea for recommendations of cafes to visit that have an open fire. My street-ers obliged (you are always in the know) with this great list. Feel free to keep adding to it please!
