If you’ve eaten sourdough in one of Fitzroy’s cafes there’s a really good chance it was Rustica Sourdough’s, they supply to about 80% of cafes in the area. But my guess is you’ve probably not actually eaten at Rustica Sourdough. I lived in Fitzroy for two years and occasionally popped into Rustica for a loaf of bread but never thought to try the menu. You see the problem is that most of Fitzroy’s buzz is centred around that little strip of Brunswick Street a few blocks either side of Johnson. I had been to just about every single cafe in that strip in those two years but never though to venue just an extra block or two North. Big mistake. Huge.
When I was invited to try the menu I thought “Oh that’s cool, they built a cafe”. Turns our they ‘built’ a cafe three years ago when they first opened, while I lived in Fitzroy. Yep, I’m embarrassed. Let’s move on.
The menu is fairly concise with a few breakfast dishes, a few lunch ones and a few that swing either way. They also do specials and have a range of ready-made rolls and breakfast bowls for those in a rush.
I am one of those twats that order skinny flat whites. I know that espresso shines with ‘real’ milk but it makes me feel a little bleh. My Love picks on me because despite my ultra-nerdiness with flavour profiles of wine, I tend to just knock back coffee without giving it much thought (come on, it’s early morning when I’m drinking coffee). But this coffee was something else: rich and nutty with subtle cocoa characters; despite me bastardising it with skim milk. Tom, the barista is a gem (and for the record there was no schtick when I ordered low fat milk). For any coffee nerds out there who gets this stuff, they use Roast Craft beans.
As we ordered a second round of coffees (which I never do, I pride myself on my one a day habit) the food arrived…
Croque Monsieur ($17.50)
Yeah… I had a touch of food envy when I first saw this. Tender ham hock, gruyere, pickles, seeded mustard béchamel on pumpkin brioche. You heard right… pumpkin brioche. As if the croque monsieur was not already a king among foods, they made it with brioche and it had pumpkin in it. Rustica Sourdough are quite famous for their pumpkin sourdough/cornbread hybrid but to put pumpkin in brioche is inspired. Ok, I’ll stop saying pumpkin brioche now. It was amazing; fluffy with just a hint of sweetness to complement all the salty ham and creamy cheese. Yes, I stole some.
However, I can’t complain because my Sauteed Greens ($16.50) were pretty spesh too
Sautéed broccolini, beans and snow peas served on olive sourdough topped with haloumi, resting on a bed of smashed avocado and pesto, all topped with a poached egg and almonds. So many elements going on that all worked together in beautiful, healthy, nourishing harmony.
And yeah, the egg was perfect too
#yolkporn
The staff are lovely and were greeting regulars by name during our visit. They were also kind enough to send us off with a little care package that included a few of their sweeties.
The cronut got munched the second we got home- basil and lime gooey, flaky yum. I rather stupidly passed off the jam doughnut to my fella.
#jamporn
But I got my own back with the chocolate sandwich
Nuts, brownie-like chocolate cookie and salted caramel heaven.
Fitzroy has changed a lot in the two years I’ve been on the other side (of town, #westie) and there are many more reasons to venture further up Brunswick Street. Rustica Sourdough is definitely one of them.
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Disclosure: I dined as a guest of Rustica Sourdough but was not paid for this review. All opinions and ideas are my own.
Jessica @ Sweet Menu
March 18, 2015 at 3:42 pm (1 year ago)Oh my! This looks like a gorgeous cafe. My favourite places are always those that serve freshly baked goods. Those donuts and hot cross buns…wow! I am so hungry now!
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:47 pm (1 year ago)They are my favourite places too Jessica. Nothing better than bread baked on site too.
Megan (@Girlhassparke)
March 18, 2015 at 3:48 pm (1 year ago)Oh that looks so yummy – putting this on my Melbourne list (which is just getting out of control) also love the little ode to Pretty Woman 😛 Maybe you could just post me one of those doughnuts?
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:46 pm (1 year ago)I’ll bring some with me- the new version of the Krispy Kreme doughnut delivery- when I come to Canberra
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
March 18, 2015 at 7:20 pm (1 year ago)Your reviews are so fun Nicole especially with #yolkporn and words like twat! 😛 BTW I am always missing things like places opening. It gets embarrassing when we ask how long a place has been around like we’ve just discovered it and they answer “Five years”! 😛
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:45 pm (1 year ago)Haha, thank you. I love playing around with words, and making them up as I go.
Ergh, time flies doesn’t it. Sometimes I’m writing a review and pop in something like ‘opened late last year’ but then think I better double check with google and it was 2012….
samantha
March 18, 2015 at 9:01 pm (1 year ago)Oh my this place looks amazing… Let me know when they bring it over to the UK, yeah?
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm (1 year ago)Yep, no probs. I’ll send them an email suggesting it.
Curious Charlie
March 19, 2015 at 3:35 am (1 year ago)Everything looks beautiful!
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm (1 year ago)It really is just all so good Charlie
bakeplaysmile
March 19, 2015 at 9:33 am (1 year ago)I am LOVING these reviews!! Now I don’t need to research where to go… you’ve done it all for me. I am loving the look of those hot cross buns! And the cheese toastie.. OMG my fave!!!
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm (1 year ago)I know! Apparently they were ranked as Melbourne’s best hot cross bun just recently too.
Rosie Rockets
March 19, 2015 at 10:18 am (1 year ago)Drooooooooooooooooooooooool! That brownie looks divine!! #WestiesUnite
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:42 pm (1 year ago)Haha *fistpump
Cilla
March 19, 2015 at 2:24 pm (1 year ago)Totes gonna have to go there.
Mmmmm croque monsieur Yummmmm
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:42 pm (1 year ago)Insanely good!
Lou
March 19, 2015 at 10:50 pm (1 year ago)Oh my! The sauteed greens!! LOVE!! Great piccies but now my computer is covered in drool 😉
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:40 pm (1 year ago)Haha, I actually thought of you when I ordered that. Very Lou friendly
Kie “Wild Hearts and Green Tea” I.
March 20, 2015 at 12:24 am (1 year ago)This looks amazingly fresh! I love coffee shops and I love trying out every single one I come across (so I consider quite up to date with the ones where I live) yet it happens far too often that someone mentions a “popular place” that I’ve never been to or even heard of. Not easy…
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:39 pm (1 year ago)It’s tough to be spoilt for choice isn’t it 😉
brookejones
March 20, 2015 at 12:24 pm (1 year ago)Oh my gosh, this all looks so delicious! I don’t know why because it all looks so good, but all I want now is cheese toast and pickles haha but once I’m done with that, I don’t think I’d mind that jam doughnut! And I just ate supper. You are dangerous!
Nicole Bilson
March 20, 2015 at 2:39 pm (1 year ago)That jam doughnut was insane. Actually everything is just so fresh and good
Rebecca@Figs and Pigs
March 21, 2015 at 11:19 am (1 year ago)This place looks awesome, pumpkin brioche! Love your yolk photo x
Jem @ Lost in Utensils
March 27, 2015 at 10:02 am (12 months ago)I love Fitzroy. That jam porn…god help us all. I’d pretty much kill for that right about now!
Nicole Bilson
March 27, 2015 at 12:08 pm (12 months ago)I’ve never seen anything like it. I had pretty much just uttered the words “I don’t really like jam doughnuts, you can have it” when I saw that- I managed to snaffle some