Recipe: Breakfast stack

My boyfriend and I came across this recipe for potato cakes with wilted spinach, smoked salmon and poached egg countless times when living in Melbourne. Since coming home we’ve created our own version which we eat for brunch on lazy Sunday mornings (alright, maybe not mornings, but you get the idea).

Ingredients (serves 2):

Two small potatoes
Knob of butter
Splash of olive oil
Plain flour for dusting
Two eggs
White vinegar
Fresh spinach
Salt & Pepper
Tomato chutney to serve

 Method:

1.       Put a large pan of water on the hob to boil. You can use this pan later to poach the eggs.

2.       Peel the potatoes and cut them into small chunks. Put them in the pan of water once it’s come to the boil and cook for 8 - 10 minutes.

3.       Drain the potatoes, add the knob of butter, salt and pepper, and mash thoroughly until they come together in the pan.

4.       Pre heat a large frying pan on a medium heat with a splash of oil (about a teaspoon).

5.       Divide the mash into two halves and form into a patty/burger shape with your (clean) hands.

6.       Dust the potato patties in the flour, this ensures a crispy crust to your potato cake.

7.       Put the dusted potato cakes into the pan and cook for approx 4-5 minutes each side. Be careful not to rip off the crispy outside when turning them halfway.

8.       Meanwhile, rinse the pan you used to cook the potatoes and fill with fresh boiling water. Return to the heat and bring to a gentle simmer with a steady stream of bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.  Begin your first poached egg at the point that you turn the potato cakes over.

9.       Add a glug of vinegar to the simmering water (approx 2 tablespoons), stir the water into a whirlpool and gently break the first egg into its centre. The eggs take 3-4 minutes each – it’s best to do them one at a time so that they don’t bump into each other in the water.

10.   Whilst the poached eggs are cooking, rest a colander over the pan to act as a steamer for your spinach. Add the spinach and leave over the simmering water until wilted.

11.   Remove your first poached egg after 4-5 minutes and repeat the process for the second .

12.   Layer up the potato cake, spinach, salmon and poached egg on plates. We like to put a cut into the egg so that it oozes down the stack, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve with tomato chutney. You can also serve with hollandaise sauce or a wedge of lemon.

Photography by Gareth Reid - http://www.flickr.com/photos/garethreid/

A review of The Green Refectory

Mountainous muffins

115 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Victoria 3056, Australia

As one of the most popular cafes in Brunswick, I thought I’d start my reviews of Melbourne’s cafes with Green’s to give myself a bit of credibility. I do know a good cafe when I see one  - honest.

Firstly, I have to put Green’s in the context of Sydney Road. This bustling city street just north of the CBD (central business district for those not geographically inclined) holds a very fond place in my heart as it was our most convenient high street when living in Melbourne (on Park Street if you were wondering).  Stuffed with outlets of very kind you can imagine, Sydney Road practically bubbles over with a cosmopolitan energy not found on many streets in your typical Australian suburb. 

When visiting Sydney Road I’d strongly recommend you take the number 19 tram from the city centre’s Victoria Street up to the Brunswick Rd / Royal Parade stop and start at the beginning. I really can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than mooching along Sydney Road stopping in on any of the many weird and wonderful outlets that crowd its footpath. 

The first thing to note about Green’s is the abundance of giant muffins bursting with fruit and unceremoniously piled upside down in mounds along the counter top.  Visible from the street outside, your eyes are treated to a veritable feast of deliciousness before you’ve even opened the door and this, I believe, is the secret to attracting so much passing foot traffic. 

Characterised by the kind of shabby chic look which automatically puts me at ease, the reclaimed furniture, rubbed down wooden surfaces and wall murals create a sense of homely disarray. This is the kind of place where it’s cool to be ‘seen’ – an encounter which is likely to involve you feverishly devouring whatever food is in front of you at the time.  

One aspect of Green’s which I have seen applied all over Australia but is still a rare find in the UK is the presence of a large communal table positioned at the front of the cafe. This informal seating space is for those on their own, in a rush or unable to find a more formal seating arrangement deeper inside. I would relish observing this kind of set up in the UK where we are all so uncomfortable with the rudimentary act of sitting down and eating with strangers. We will share a space with them, but dread the possibility of sharing a table. Cafe goers beware – communal seating is coming!

An introduction to Melbourne cafe culture

Degrave Street, Melbourne

Convoluted, mysterious MELBOURNE, the ‘cultural capital’ of Australia, does not enjoy a reputation as celebrated as that of its sister, Sydney, despite its attributes as ‘one of the world’s most liveable cities.’ Set somewhat further back from its harbour than Sydney, Melbourne’s charms lie instead in its winding laneways, cleverly concealed interior arcades and stairways into the sky which, if you have the audacity to explore, will reward you with intricate, historical boutiques, cosy, hidden cafes and towering cathedrals of consumption- otherwise known as DFO. 

Although Melbourne frequently experiences four seasons in one day, forcing you to keep your wits about you and an umbrella safely stowed somewhere upon your person, the city’s split personality means that whether you arrive in June or December there is always something going on. Subtly lit, warren-like cafes tucked around a corner offering hearty soups, mulled wine and muffins in winter swiftly transform into luminous, airy spaces in which to enjoy homemade lemonade and escape the 40^o summer heat. 

You are utterly spoilt for choice for food in Melbourne, whether you’re after a hearty meal (around $15) or the endemic coffee and cake (around $5). Particularly exquisite breakfasts are offered on Sydney Road in Brunswick in one of its many character-full cafes; try Greens, Mule or Kaleidoscope. Then, for a quick lunch in the city centre, Degrave St is a must with a plethora of cafes to choose from and the legendary Little Cupcakes store. For a treat, head to Acland St (St Kilda) for floor to ceiling window displays of cakes and pastries. In the evening, Lygon St is the place to be; with tussles between Italian proprietors resulting in ridiculously great value deals. However, for a vegetarian option, head to the Vegie Bar on Brunswick St, Fitzroy, which serves scrumptious dishes in a buzzing atmosphere. 

As some of my friends are soon to venture to the other side of the world on their post-uni travels I thought now was as good a time as any to start including cafe reviews from my six months spent in Melbourne in 2008. Keep checking back for future posts. Oh, and if you’re travelling on a budget, check out The Graduate Traveller blog – great for travel tips on a budget.