Cafe Review: Beatrix

Eating out has to be my favourite past time. After cooking all week sometimes it is so nice to sit back, relax and let someone else do the hard work. And what better cafe to start with than the positively charming "Beatrix" at North Melbourne.

 

As they say good things come in small packages and a perfect case in point is Beatrix - a very cosy (read: teeny tiny) and welcoming cafe with an equally small but scrumptious menu. 

The Husband and I visited the Saturday before last just after lunch time. Beatrix was full to the brim but the friendly staff greeted us warmly and before long we were seated. The menu offers 3-4 permanent menu items with daily specials too. The various ciabatta rolls with delish, quality fillings are definitely the way to go.

After a bit of umming and ahhing I chose "The Shakshuka" ciabatta (below) filled with delicious braised capsicum and tomato, feta, mint and a fried egg. I made such a mess wolfing it down but it was totally worth it.

The Husband chose the Bea-L-T with apple aioli and didn't waste anytime polishing it off.

The star attraction of Beatrix is without a doubt their beautiful handmade cakes. The afternoon we visited the cakes on offer included: Mandarin Chiffon Cake, Banana Cream Pies, Lemon Loaf Cake, Lamingtons and Ginger Hula Hoops just to name a few. But my mind was settled the moment I saw the amazing looking Brown Sugar Pavlova topped with cream and fresh strawberries. And it didn't disappoint - The cake was mine!!! The Husband (crazily) announced he was full and didn't want to order one. I then had to fight him off with my fork as he shoveled it in relentlessly. Regrettably we both polished it off before I could take a photo!

Beatrix:

688 Queensberry St, North Melbourne 

03 9090 7301

Closed Tuesdays

 

Work, Life, Unbalanced!

So here we are nearly a month later and no blogs! Sadly my laptop has recently acquired a virus so I am relying on The Husband's computer to which I have very little access. There is not too much news to report as lately it has been all work, work, work leaving little time for home cooking!

Grilled Zucchini, Roast Capsicum, Persian Feta & Basil Omelette

To keep up with my commitment to blog more often I thought I would share some dishes I have been preparing over the last week or so.

Slow Cooked Pork Ribs with BBQ Glaze & Coleslaw

Vegetarian Baked Beans with a Poached Egg

Salami with Green Tomato Relish

Orange & Hazelnut Cake - Served warm with Vanilla Bean Mascarpone

At home - Turkish Sausage Roll with Pomegranate & Feta Salad

Spiced Duck Breast with Orange Sauce

Adrianno Zumbo

The Sun God

Happy 4th Birthday to The Pug! Isn't he handsome?

XXX

A change in seasons

Autumn is my favourite season so I was delighted to return to Australia, post-honeymoon to discover a fresh chill in the air. The leaves have not yet started falling but the mornings and the evenings are definitely getting cooler. At work I am currently experimenting with an updated Autumn menu, saying goodbye to summer fruits and salads and hello fresh soups and comfort foods! Here are some sneak-peaks -

Autumn Fruits - Will be finished with Honey Labne & Candied Pistachios

Butter Fried Potatoes, Roast Capsicum, Chorizo & Sous Vide Egg

Potato & Feta Pancakes with Asparagus, Poached Egg & Cumin Salt

Little Cakes by Little Kate -

My very talented friend Kate made these beauties as samples. They were as delicious as they look!

House made Scones - I use Janelle Bloom's CWA recipe. It works every time!

Our first home cooked meal after our around the world travels. How I missed vegetables!

The Pug on his way home after staying with the In-Laws whilst we were away. He was very excited to be back home and eating human food again!

The Pig xo

Hecticity & Health

So it has been far, far too long since I last blogged, in my defence, life has been crazily chaotic. Since my last entry I have started a new job, moved house, walked down the aisle and travelled on a whirlwind around the world honeymoon. So "The Fiancee" is now "The Husband" and I am making a commitment to blog more often.

Cakes at David Jones Food Hall - Sydney

Over the course of the wedding festivities, I was lucky enough to have some much needed and desperately sought after time with my closest girlfriends. We wined and dined and I was amazed with how beautiful, radiant and happy they were all looking. One thing that stood out to me was the healthy lifestyles they are all leading and the guilt set in! Vintage Bel has been vegetarian for several years now, has a really healthy diet and even inspired her Mum to try vegetarianism, three others are studying nutrition and my other girlfriend is now a lactose free, health guru and at 7 months pregnant looks positively stunning. With all these gorgeous health conscious women around me, I realised I need to make some changes.

Barrenjoey House - Heirloom Tomato, Peach, Buffalo Mozzarella & Marjoram Salad

Now I don't consider my lifestyle to be hugely unhealthy, I'm not much of a drinker, I don't smoke and I do a little exercise when I can squeeze it in but food is my vice and a massive weakness. I had hoped to lose a bit of weight for the big day but as it rapidly approached I lost motivation and put it in the "too hard basket". Meanwhile the Husband, who is normally quite exercise conscious, badly injured ligaments in his ankle and has been out of action for the last two months. This, in addition to eating out constantly over the period of our 6 week honeymoon has led to us both feeling rather frumpy.

French cheese & cured meats - Val d'Isere Night Markets

So we as a newly married couple want to make a commitment to ourselves and to each other to be healthier with our diets and lifestyles. Our goals are to lose a little weight, eat more vegetarian and a wider variety of foods, have less food wastage and save a bit of money from the food budget each week by shopping at the markets. Totally achievable right? Let's hope so!

Lunch with Vintage Bel at Armchair Collective - Beef Burger

     

Radiccio & Spinach Salad

Ploughman's Lunch Platter

Dessert - Milk Chocolate Caramel Slice, Lemon Curd Tartlet & Chocolate Brownie

P.S. I will add photos to this blog after my return from overseas. I only have the iPad with me and can't work it out for the life of me!