Bar Idda - It's Italian but where are the Nonnas? -@ L'Osteria??

In April, the Cafe Club extended their territory to Lygon Street, East Brunswick. Bar Idda - the new hip Italian on the block. And very popular it is too. Indeed so popular that you have to choose which sitting you want - 6.30pm or 8.30pm. None of this choosing a time to suit you and staying as long as you like stuff. No this is all about - get the food, have the experience, and go -- hopefully in time for the next batch of punters not to know that you have been there sitting in their seats only seconds before they arrive.

The food is excellent, and the service is friendly, knowledgeable and prompt. But really is this what an Italian Cafe/ Restaurant is all about? I mention this because on Saturday, I went to another Italian Cafe/Restaurant not too far away in Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, L'Osteria, the place has been there for over 20 years and the food is to coin a well used foodie phrase - rustic. But what hits you about L'Osteria and what is missing at Cafe Ida - is the sense of local eatery. That this is, a place that local people walk to, a place for the whole family, Mum, Dad, Nonna and the kids. On Saturday night at L'Osteria nearly every table was occupied by a family- with at least one Nonna. Mother's Day being the next day may have had something to do with this. But somehow I think that even without this much loved celebratory day, L' Osteria, like numerous Italian establishments in the area (Red Olive?) would have been places that welcomed the whole family.

Not so at Bar Idda - unless of course you were a very hip young family with good time keeping skills. No, this is a place for people who want to eat at the new chic spot. The food is yummy. And it is a place to be seen. But is is not a place to settle in, with a group of friends, for a night of easy conversation and plenty of red. For that - go to one of the many family owned and run Italian cafes in the area. They will welcome your patronage and to show you how much they enjoyed having you there, don't be surprised if at the end of the evening they give you a complementary limoncello or grappa.

Wesley Anne - lovely outside - grumpy service

It was a warm March night when the Cafe Club went to the Wesley Anne. One of our cohort is a regular at the place, loves, the atmosphere and the live music. Indeed she says it is one of her favourite places. It was Cait who got there first and made the wise decision to sit out in the rear garden. Not one of those chic courtyards to be found in other establishments, nor it is have the blokeishness of a beer garden. No this was a little bit of out door heaven, trees, tables, pagolas, and of all things a cruddy old caravan. Don't ask me why.

To get food you have to go inside and line up and say what you want, You pay individually and the food arrives as it is ready. This can lead to a rather disjointed mutual dining experience and not to be recommended for people who want to enjoy the feeling of sharing a meal with friends. You may get to watch your friend eat while you wait for your meal to arrive, but really that is not very satisfying, is it?

The food itself was passable and the price reasonable. Would I go back. Umm no don't think so - they just did not make us feel like valued customers. Rather we came away feeling disappointed that we had upset their evening by turning up and creating work. All very disappointing for Miss Gen Y -- as I said earlier it is (was?) one of her favourite places

Second tasty outing: Coco Loco

For the Tasty Dozen's second outing we ventured into the exotic Coco Loco where you can travel to the Argentine without a passport. Chocolate is the passion of the owner (major hunk) and the way he traverses the universe. There are chocolate martini's, hot chocolate, cool chocolate, and crepes. Not your usual crepe, these are made from special glueten free powder and made with love and tender care. Each is a work of art - the banana, the cheese and potato, the pumpkin and last but not least the chocolate and basil pesto crepe. A combination that can only have been created in some kind of dark, smoke filled room full of hookers.

The group for this outing was eclectic, there was our weary baby boomer, snazzy Miss Gen Y, wearing a little french inspired number, White Man Gen Y, and our happy couple -- made of 3, including a budding Mr Spock..... beam me up now Scottie.

The Cafe Club all agreed that we would give Coco Loco a 9/10. Mood lighting, soft jazz, handsome waiters, yummy food, and exotic drinks mean one thing --- take a date and you are sure to get lucky.


Coco Loco, 219 High Street, Northcote, 3070, ph 9482 7033
http://www.cocoloco1.wordpress.com/

Let the Games Begin. Breakfast at Stuzzi -8.5/10

The kick off for the Tasty Dozen, breakfast on Aust Day at Stuzzi. Right in the heart of High Street Northcote. Indeed many people, (ie me) think that it was the creation of Stuzzi that marked the beginning of the High Street, rejuvenation. Prior to Stuzzi, there was the Northcote Arcade, which also formed a link from the rear parking to High Street. To say it was a dead zone is an understatement. Something about the Feng Shui.. it literally sucked energy out of you as you walked through.

The clever thing about Stuzzi (building owned and developed by the Darebin Council) is that it is fully accessible. Good for people in wheelchairs and mums with prams. And it was the mum's with prams who took to Stuzzi with a vengeance and others quickly followed. Those large tables, not too squeezy and excellent loos -- including a baby change room and a special loo for people with a disability. And if that were not enough - there is the set back from the street, lovely to sit outside and watch the world go by. So where Stuzzi began, many other cafes have followed .

It became clear that in future the Cafe Club would need to be in the evening. Only two of our members showed for breakie, the others -- 2 Gen Y's and one Gen X, found 9am on a public holiday just too early.

So it was groovy Gen Y Cait and I (BB elder) at Stuzzi. Here is what is has going for it, great parking, easy access, clean, very good background music, plenty of space, big tables for big groups or little tables for that quiet interchange. And if that were not enough - they have plenty of daily newspapers to borrow.

I had the smoked salmon with fresh dill and poached eggs. It was meant to be accompanied by avocado, but instead came with spinach. It was delicious. The salmon was fresh and of the highest quality, the dill and spinach were likewise fresh and wonderfully aromatic. The two poached eggs were perfectly formed and cooked to perfection. All of this on a thick slice of brown bread. Ms Y and I agreed that it was a 10/10

Ms Y went for an omelette with brie and mushrooms. This also (strangely) came on top of a thick slice of brown bread. She gave it a solid 8.5/10. She thought the eggs were a tad over cooked. I tasted it and thought it was fine, but it was her dish and she gets to give the rating.

Now Ms Y is a woman on a mission. She is looking for the perfect Chai Latte. And I am sorry to say that she did not find it at Stuzzi. Me on the other hand found my coffee very nice - so nice that I went back for another cup.

For breakfast I would give Stuzzi a solid 8.5. Prices were mid range, in all for 1 chai, 2 coffees, 1 omelette and the smoked salmon it was $42. However, while I normally find the service good and very cheerful. On this occasion our waiter seemed to be not a very happy man and I missed the "service with a smile". Maybe he had caught the "dispair virus" that was lingering in the foundations of the old arcade?

Stuzzi Cafe Bar and Lounge.
http://www.stuzzi.com.au


Next month we dip into the exotic world of chocolate at Coco loco http://cocoloco1.wordpress.com/

What are we all about - eating in unknown territory

We are a group of 5 people living in Northcote, Brunswick, Preston and Fairfield. We have taken on the challenge of trying one cafe per month. We all eat out quite a bit, but usually at the same old favourites. Now is the time to break ourselves out of a self imposed eating rut - and eat in the unknown. Those little cafe's that spring up over night - or have been there for ages and are so much like the furniture, that they are almost invisible.

Our group consists of two women and three men. One baby-boomer, one Gen X, one boarderline Gen X/Y, and two very hip Gen Y's.

Why the "Tasty Dozen" - easy one cafe a month, 12 months in the year. Twelve month of tasting :-) Yum.