NEW - Coffee spots and directional dilemas

YES - we have a coffee problem - a good one :) ... a Melbourne one.. 


How to choose the next step once out of the lift - left to see Jo at Switchboard, left then right to head up to Shany and Danny at Liason, or perhaps our newest short cut - sharp Right and then down to the right again, and we find Rob, and Hugh at Hoboken... Thanks to some well experienced and passionate locals.. this is a great addition to our corner of town! -

It is a dilema! ( and so far that is just the first 3 off the top of my head.. we have 15 that we share on our Cafe Culture Walk  but thats another story!)

Great Salads, fresh pastries, and amazing Soups! - oh some other yummy's too

Hoboken with great coffee from Seven Seeds - home is Hosier Lane

LIKE our Vintage Outings page to win!

Hi All, its that time when the creative juices get restless,

and we are very excited to let you know that we are in the final stages of working on a new tour - a new Vintage Outing, so the fabulous Fiats will be back out there, to combat this chilly weather.

We'd Love you to LIKE our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Vintage-Outing-Melbourne/124467714281690 for a chance to win a double pass to our newest tour.

your taste buds will thank you! Be first in!

La Piccola Cucina- An Italian food Outing

This is a three hour chauffeured outing indulging in delicious Italian treats and exploring the history of Italian cusine in the northern suburbs of Melbourne..

MELBURN - Bikes, coffee, prizes and a laneway - get ready!

You know I have a soft spot for Cafe Liason, the peace and quiet of this leafy laneway -

BUT it will not be so quiet at the end of this month, as a group of enthusiastic (and possibly fanatic) Melbourne Bike riders aim to make the BIKESHARE bikes a little more sexy... and enjoy our favourite coffee... but perhaps more importantly, get as many of the Blue Bikes ( 500) in a small laneway at the top end of the city... Join in, grab a blue Bike, your biggest smile, maybe some lycra?? and definitely a helmet and enjoy a LONG lunch hour... prizes and more to be won...

FOR MARCH 31st 2011 - see info above for this facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156762307712240 or read more here: http://www.fyxomatosis.com/

Pop ups are fun, but prefer the real thing -

I ventured out today to catch up with some small businesses I have not been chatting to for a while, and amongst saying "Hi" to valued colleagues, I visited the much hyped Broadsheet Cafe in Crossley Street....

Day 1 is by Seven Seeds, and passionate founder Mark Dundon was there orchestrating the tiny room... Great to see him out front.. The room was quietly filling, and almost all food was gone..

Pop ups are great for the buzz they generate, and congrats to Broadsheet on the idea, but for my money ( precious as it is) do your self a favour and go fr the real thing.. its not even that far - Seven Seeds is an awesome venue, the machines and products are worked, tuned loved daily.. and this is seen in the results! ( I don't know how to make coffee or the essentials to do so, but know those who do...)

So take yourself for a walk, or a tram ride and head to one of their 3 current locations.. http://www.sevenseeds.com.au/cms-locations/ and get a great coffee, that you can go back for again.. as you will surely want to!

A sweet tooth? we can help...

We must thank the Sunday Herald Sun ( Escape Section) for their little note about our new Cafe Culture tour last Sunday - we have such a lovely lot of new clients book in.. I think it even got into the Sydney one too - need to find a copy!

Tomorrow I have an extra early start for some VIP Malaysian Journo's to try out our tour... Little tastes along the way will compliment our coffee stops.. and get stuck into the lovely macarons from Maylynn and Hugh of La Belle Miette - they only use butter made in Victoria, and their boxes are designed in Melbourne too!

BROADSHEET CAFE is coming!! to MELBOURNE CITY

We are avid supporters of Broadsheet, and love seeing their take on the things we love about Melbourne... so as a direct report of Caroline Clements Broadsheet article today join with us, and probably too many others, as they open a little gem of this years Melbourne food and wine festival!

There will be much more said by others, but this is the Schedule of the Cafe operators starting NEXT week!!

Broadsheet Cafe Operator Schedule: Fri 4 - Seven Seeds Sat 5 - Five Senses Sun 6 - Dead Man Espresso Mon 7 - Market Lane Tue 8 - The Premises Wed 9 - Seven Seeds Thu 10 - Proud Mary Fri 11 - Proud Mary Sat 12 - Dead Man Espresso Sun 13 - Coffee Collaboration Mon 14 - Market Lane The Broadsheet Cafe will run from March 4-14 at 24 Crossley Street, Melbourne. melbournefoodandwine.com.au

Scrummy Coffee @ Dr Jekyll and courtyard too

We spend so much of our time in the city, that sometimes I forget to check out my own backyard.. just before Christmas I found a fabulous little haunt.. and I dropped in to grab a takeaway coffee as I was running late for a big Saturday of tours...

Yes we have lots of great coffee places in and around this city... but when you get such a welcome as I did on this particular day.. how can you not go back...!
I walked in, no doubt looking a little tired - mornings are not my thing really, and was greeted with an enthusiastic Hi! - subsequently introduced by Roy, and Matt.. - and a little more banter.. that made me laugh out loud... I wonder how often that spontaneous laugh really does remind you of whats simple and precious!... coffee made, and a giggle about what bread should be served or some amazing muesli... and I was off to work with a smile and a need to tell more people of this lovely cafe!

Its called Dr Jekyll... and its on 107 Grey Street - just near the Hotel Barkly.. not much from the front.. not even a sign on the wall.... but the welcome aura is all you need.. follow your nose.

Back to my first days... I went back the next day and just had to tell them the impact they made on my day... and ended up in the lovely courtyard out the back.. with Scrambled eggs Viennoise.. no wonder the gym is calling!.. and since I have visited a few more times.. including today!
Fruit salad with amazing yoghurt (with real Vanilla seed, nectarines, plump blackberries, half a passionfruit.. and more...) and coffee -organic I am pretty sure.. (see scancal -labels are not the issue for me.. the quality and treatment of the bean is the high note! )Tom in the kitchen works wonders in a small space - right in front of you!

Well done Boys.. I have already told too many people.. the quiet little corner will soon not be... but am sure I am not the only one to spread the word! LOVE it..