Jungle Juice

I think it is starting to become apparent how much I love bagels.

My favourite local bagel place was and still is Jungle Juice down Melbourne's quirky Centre Place.

 I love the vibe in Jungle Juice and the little menus stapled inside old copies of Little Golden Books - a children's series first published in 1942. I remember these books fondly as a kid.

Jungle Juice is located at 20 Centre Place in Melbourne city. I would recommend the McBagel (bacon, egg & Jungle Juice's own special mayo). I also hear the coffee is great.

Until next time,
Eat well and happy x

"No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut."  ~Channing Pollock

Monkey Business

The Monkey Cafe on Chapel Street supports the very serious plight of the orangutans in Borneo. In addition to monkey memorabilia (soft toys, trinkets, etc.) littered around the cafe, you will also notice framed photos of the 17 orangutans Monkey is currently sponsoring.

What does this mean for 17 lucky ones? Protection, food, and the freedom to live in its own environment amongst its family and friends.

Monkey promotes palm oil free products, and both their coffee and tea are organic and free trade. Palm oil is currently the biggest threat to the habitat of orangutans. Find out what I learned here.

Whilst I was impressed with their work with great apes, the food was less than impressive. I don't think I would ever return for a bite, perhaps just a tea/coffee. The service was very good and the host seemed to know most patrons by name.

Monkey is located at 157 Chapel Street, St Kilda and is open daily until 6:30pm. They are happy to provide you with as much information as possible to help support their cause or to become a sponsor yourself.

For more on what you can do to help or to donate now, visit The Australian Orangutan Project.

Happy Sunday x

"Always eat grapes downward - that is eat the best grapes first; in this way there will be none better left on the bunch, and each grape will seem good down to the last.  If you eat the other way, you will not have a good grape in the lot."  ~Samuel Butler

Las Chicas

I woke up this morning craving warm, toasted bagels so we decided to get up and take the 5 minute walk to our local breakfast joint - Las Chicas.

Once inside, I am instantly warmed by the smell of fresh coffee and grilled bacon. The noise level is high today and the friendly buzz of music and chatter is contagious.

English Breakfast Tea - My Sunday morning staple

Salmon Benedict - Two poached eggs with smoked salmon & hollandaise on a poppy seed bagel

I can't seem to break a habit of ordering anything with salmon for breakfast. I think it could be because I grew up with having bacon/ham all the time.

Traditional - Ham, cheese & tomato on a toasted sesame bagel

I left Las Chicas very satisfied, although I thought the portion of salmon was much smaller than what I was used to.

Las Chicas have an extensive breakfast menu with highlights that include the popular Breakfast Burrito and Bikini Blowout Benedict made with free range eggs.

You will find them at 203 Carlisle Street, Balaclava. There almost always is a line on weekends, but the wait is generally short and service is quick once you are seated. Open daily from breakfast through to lunch.

Cheers x

P.S. The hole in the middle of every bagel is a design that is a hundred of years old and has many practical advantages: more even cooking/baking, and if you thread a string through the hole, the bagels can be transported easily or strung together for more of an appealing window display.

"The bagel, an unsweetened doughnut with rigor mortis."  ~Beatrice & Ira Freeman

Breakfast at Mart Cafe

Back to quite possibly one of Melbourne's best breakfast joints and I am greeted by the all-too-familiar queue of patrons waiting to be seated...

Mart (Tram spelt backwards) was actually an old tram stop now refurbished to house a quaint cafe that overlooks the park.

We arrived at 10:45am on a cold, Saturday morning and joined the queue of patrons sitting by the kerb, nursing their hot lattes' whilst waiting for a table. Just over half an hour later we were seated.

Free range poached eggs with smoked salmon, creme fraiche spinach and a cucumber, red onion, dill and caper salsa.

Free range poached eggs with chorizo sausage, kalamata olives in napoli and holaindaise.

Pancakes with maple syrup, grilled bacon and scrambled eggs

T2 English Breakfast Tea

The venue is open 7 days a week serving breakfast and lunch from 7:30am - 3:00pm. Find them at 107a Canterbury Rd, Middle Park. Tram 96 will take you to the door.

My favourite? Definitely the poached eggs with salmon, with the highlight being the fabulous salsa.
Least favourite - pancakes. We were warned not to order the pancakes, but do we listen? They were dry and heavy.
Would I go back? HELL YES!

Until the next belly adventure...
Good night x

P.S. I wish someone told us, but they only take cash - no credit/debit cards. However, there is an ATM just across the road.

"Welcome to the Church of the Holy Cabbage.  Lettuce pray."  ~Author Unknown