Down Under Views

This is going to be my first review without pictures. Read on to find out why…

When you walk into a small(ish) community shopping centre, appearances can be deceiving. A small, ordinary looking café might have the best coffee this side of Melbourne. But then again, it might not.

Gourmet Junction is a small take-away place that serves traditional fare: coffee, chai, milkshakes, wraps, sandwiches, treats, dim sims, etc. It’s one of the dozen or so smaller shops in the centre and is smack dab across from Coles and between a bakery and a Chinese takeaway place.

Not exactly the most atmospheric .

The coffee is, well, sub-par. My husband won’t even have a cup of it just so I can take a picture, which is why I don’t have a coffee picture. Between that and me having my gallbladder out so I’m off the chai, we’re just plain out of pictures.

Speaking of the chai, it’s lovely. You can get vanilla or spice (I always go vanilla), and it’s always delicious. If you have a mug of it (sitting down, not take away), then you will get a small sesame biscuit which is perfect for submerging in your chai before eating.

If you’re a person who likes soy milk instead of dairy, however, this is a place to avoid. The soy milk they use is, according to my taste buds, horrible. It ruins the chai, and I would hate to taste what it would do to a coffee.

The only reason I’m giving this place a rating above menu is because I don’t mind sitting and watching the world go by. The endless stream of traffic going in and out of the supermarket across the way usually provides an interesting amount of entertainment. But that is really the space’s only redeeming feature – you’re still sitting in the middle of a small shopping centre dominated by big companies.

I can’t give this place much of a recommendation for anything other than the occasional chai you might want to pick up. Unlike the name, the food, drinks, atmosphere and everything else is standard. You’re not missing much if you pass this place.

***
Coffee Rating: 1 Cup
Coffee Price: $3
Reader Rating: Magazine

Shop 13
Ringwood Square, New Street
Ringwood, VIC

98795955

Ah, Center Stage. A café my husband and I have been enjoying for a long time before I even thought of writing café reviews…

My husband takes the credit for discovering this cozy little café while I was busy getting allergy testing done. Having texted me a few too many times about their delicious tiramisu (one of my favourite desserts ever), I demanded he take me back to try it myself.

And though it’s quite a drive for us to get there, we have been back plenty of times.

As you may have guessed, Center Stage is a lovely little café on Nepean highway (think main drag of Chelsea) with a distinct theatre feel. From the classic, often jazzy music played in the background to the little touches of details in the decoration, you sit down feeling like you are instantly closer to the stage life.

The theatre feel is carried throughout the café with hardwood floors, travel pictures suck into the frames mirrors, posters that seem to change each time we visit, and even a piano in the middle of one wall in the main part of the café (pictured above).

And the piano isn’t just for looks, either…

Outdoor seating, both out front and out back are available so you can enjoy the beautiful sunny days. And you can’t forget those lovely cool breezes from the beach, which is just a short drive away.

The place never fails to relax me, even when it’s full.

With a menu price range I am very happy with – the most expensive item being a $19.90 steak – and brekkie all day, you can’t go wrong with ordering a meal (and perhaps dessert) here. They have traditional pies, lovely pasta salads and delicious dips to go with your meals. I love the homemade hommus that comes with the kefta (the meal I tend to be unable to resist).

The staff is always cheerful and happy to see you, the two main ladies appearing meant to work with people. If you come in on the right night, you may even be able to see one or both of them performing.

The first time we visited Center Stage, the coffee was a good drop but not anything particularly stunning. However, I am very happy to say that it is improving. As I’m finding with most places, the key is to be specific on how you like it.

This is definitely a café I would be more than happy to spend more time in.

***
Coffee Rating: 3 1/2 Cups
Coffee Price: $3.00
Reader Rating: Novel

Center Stage
Café / Restaurant
384A Nepean Hwy
Chelsea, VIC

9773 8959

When my husband and I travel, we don’t like to get stuck into any one place for food. We like to explore the area and take our chances. However, there are times when we find a place that is so good that we can’t resist breaking our rule and going there as often as we can until we have to move on…

Batemans Bay Bakehouse is a lovely corner deli style café on the main street of Batemans Bay you will likely drive or walk on if you’re touring around or looking for something to eat in town.

Gorgeous floor to ceiling windows around a modest eating area means being able to enjoy the sunshine and foot traffic while keeping away from the occasionally chilly breezes or rain while you eat.

There is also the outdoor seating option, well protected from the sun by large café umbrellas with the added cool bay breezes and a quiet courtyard to gaze out at if you sit at the edge. Though a smidge crowded at times, this is my favourite option.

Fresh squeezed delicious juices and delicious build-your-own focaccias are my personal favourites off the delicious menu and open cakes/pies selections.

If you’re going to stop here, you simply must build your own foccacia (or roll). With fresh, quality ingredients including many things from chicken to tasty cheese, you’ll be sure to get a foccacia (fresh or toasted) that you won’t forget any time soon. I went for a chicken, cheese and avocado fresh foccacia that I still drool about.

Of course, you can get savoury pies, rolls, croissants, cakes, gelati, tarts, sandwiches, wraps… Do I really need to go on? It is a bakehouse, after all.

Of course, a café review wouldn’t be complete without a bit about the coffee.

A good measure of a barista is how well they can follow directions when you’re specific about how you like your coffee. At Batemans Bay Bakehouse, they listen to what you want and follow directions to a ‘t’. A strong cup of coffee with a strong 4 cups rating, it was worth coming back for the coffee if nothing else.

Speaking of coffee, one thing my husband noticed while we were there is the barista on duty obviously knew what she was doing.

It’s easy to see this is a popular meeting as well as takeaway place. Prams and conversation a’plenty, I would be shocked if you ever found yourself sitting in the bakehouse alone. And, even then, I have no doubt that the staff would be great for a conversation.

Not only that, they remember what you like when you come in the next day. There isn’t much that will make you feel more valued as a customer than that.

I could definitely spend the morning or afternoon there enjoying the food and reading my novel.

***
Coffee Rating: 4 Cups
Coffee Price: $3.00
Reader Rating: Novel

Batemans Bay Bakehouse
Shop 6, Blandford Plaza
Orient Street
PO Box 1174
Batemans Bay, NSW 2536

(02) 4472 3999

Two notes before we get started on this review:

1. Remember to forgive the quality of the pictures – they’re taken on a phone. (Unless someone wants to play Santa and send me a nice handheld digi camera.)

2. I’m a chocolate addict.

The Theobrama Chocolate Lounge is one of those places you look at and think, “It would be very naughty of me to go in there…” That’s exactly what I thought in the months the place was open and I would walk by. However, after mentioning the place to my husband, we decided that, for the good of the people and in the name of research, we just had to check it out.

With hardwood floors and sleek design focusing on clean lines and earthy colours, Theobrama gives you the feeling of walking into a classy lounge without being intimidating to the average person off the street. Even if you are feeling a little intimidating, you are likely to see a pram or three around the place letting you know that it’s family friendly.

If you like to chat and/or read while you’re enjoying your café fair, then you will enjoy the comfortable dark chairs (to go with the dark wood tables) which are perfect for longer stays.

Overall, it’s a nice lounge-type area with space well-used. It does start feeling a little squished when it gets very busy, but there are always tables just outside if you don’t like being around that many people.

With dozens of quality chocolates – from chocolate cigars to the traditional individual gourmet chocolates (pictured below) – Theobrama is the stuff of dreams for chocolate lovers and the stuff of nightmares for anyone allergic to chocolate.

The staff have always been nice and smiling (why wouldn’t you be when you were working in a chocolate café?), but you shouldn’t expect to hold a long conversation with them. The place is usually fairly busy and they have a lot to do. Even so, they make you feel welcome.

Of course, I may be a chocolate addict, but we can’t review a café without mentioning the coffee.

The coffee is lovely, full flavoured and not watery or bitter. Experience has taught that you have to specify exactly what you want with a long, strong macchiato (so you don’t end up with a long or short black), but it’s worth the specification here. For coffee lovers, it’ll likely be a hard tossup between a nice cup of coffee and something chocolatey.

Chocolate and coffee. Does it get any better?

I recommend the dark Belgian (always go Belgian – it’s worth it) chocolate mocha frappe and my husband recommends (after the coffee) the hot chili chocolate in a mug, which is an experience in itself…

Down to the line of chocolate dribbled down the side of the mug, the hot chocolate (or chili chocolate) is one of the few things in the world that looks just as good as it does on the advertisements. Definitely go for a mug, though, so you get the experience of the small candle underneath to keep it warm.

My reader rating for Theobrama is easily a novel, as you can easily seat yourself away from the entrance and hustle n’ bustle of the shops nearby. The view out the windows isn’t exactly inspiring, but we’re talking reading here, not birdwatching.

I could happily spend hours in this place, but for the sake of my waistline, I’ll make it a treat kind of place only.

Definitely check it out.

PS. They do offer gift certificates. Ahem.

***
Coffee Rating: 4 ½ cups
Coffee Price: Oops! Forgot to write it down!
Reader Rating: Novel

Theobrama Chocolate Lounge
Shop G17/18
171 – 175 Maroondah Hwy
Ringwood, VIC 3134
9847 0661

http://www.chocolatelounge.com.au/

Caught out on a hot, sticky day in Kiama with a few hours to spare before we were meeting friends, the husband and I were wandering around looking for somewhere to relax. Of course, I opted for the first place I saw that combined two things I really wanted at that moment: air conditioning and chocolate.

As you probably have figured out by now, I have a thing for hardwood floors. Stepping into the air conditioned comfort of My Chocolate Shoppe in Kiama, I immediately fell in love with the hardwood floors and deep blue walls of this space. With jazzy music playing in the background and soft lighting as the day grew darker, I couldn’t help but feel relaxed.

My Chocolate Shoppe is a ‘posh’ shop, but only in positive, comfortable ways. It’s a small shop, but that makes it feel intimate and familiar. My husband and I opted for cushy chairs in front of the large store front windows so we could watch the world go by. (Please forgive me for the lack of location pictures. I blame travel tiredness and heat tiredness.)

The shop is a busy one – is that any surprise with such fine chocolates and other chocolate gourmet goodies on offer? – but it never feels crowded or even noisy.

The coffee at My Chocolate Shoppe doesn’t disappoint, providing a rich, full bodied cup of delicious hot liquid. Not a man easily impressed by any coffee, he readily rated his coffee at a strong four out of five – and he has never tasted a five.

I, of course, didn’t have any interest in the coffee, as I was reveling in this beauty…

I originally ordered a chai latte, but after seeing a woman at another table receive one of these… Well, I just had to have what she is having. After all, what better time to indulge than while on vacation?

And what an indulgence it was.

With two scoops of ice cream – one vanilla and once chocolate – a generous heap of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top, I have never had a lovelier iced chocolate. Turning her nose up when asked about chocolate syrup, you could really taste the fine Belgian chocolate difference.

At six dollars (AUD), it was the most expensive iced chocolate I’ve ever had, but – in my penny-pinching opinion – it was worth every single cent. The care put into everything from the chocolate used to the presentation

I am happy to give My Chocolate Shoppe my first ever reader rating of encyclopaedia to My Chocolate Shoppe, a place I know they would have to kick me out of before I would ever want to leave. I can only hope that they open a location in Victoria or I can relocate to New South Wales.

***
Coffee Rating: 4 Cups
Coffee Price: $3.30
Café Reader Rating: Encyclopaedia

My Chocolate Shoppe
Shop 13 – 206
Terralong Street
Kiama, NSW

02-42324225