So, since it’s been un-brrr-lieveable cold in Melbourne (yes, the snuggle has been real 🧣) I thought: there’s snowplace like Kitty Burns to burn 🔥 the ice 🥰 and indeed was I right!
This place irradiates a flame from its inside and outside and is easily accessible from the city by a short tram trip. Located in the secrets of Abbotsford it is itself a true gem and it actually features real rainbows inside (caused by the effect of the sun and it’s mirrors and windows!). It undoubtedly created that ‘wow’ effect when you arrive and it is possibly one of the most aesthetic places I’ve visited - it isn’t without a proper reason that they won Best Cafe Design Award Worldwide! The lighting absolutely wonderful (ideal not only for those instafoodies that love to take pictures but for everyone as it created the most inspiring and bright start for a wonderful meal), and is combines blue, white a light brown colours in the inside. The ceiling is huge and the light set up is superbly arranged in a way that is certainly seems that you are in cloud nine! Absolutely loved the wooden features and the matching blue seats!
I arrived at the venue and I was very nicely welcomed like any other of their sister cafes. Seriously the staff from the group is FLAWLESS and they provide alway such outstanding costumer service that it’s impossible not to fall in love with them. They not only are smiling at all times but they are GENUINELY happy and enchanted to be there and care for their costumers. I seriously have to congratulate the mighty owner of these venues for being such an inspiring and dedicated business man, making sure every venue is 100% on point from the staff and service, like I mentioned, to the cooks and their outstanding creations (we’ll get there in a second 😂).
Anyway, after going through the menu and checking the specials I asked what could be made dairy free as even though there was the ‘DF’ labelling on the bottom of the right side of the menu, there weren’t any meals marked DF and the vegan options was just one. The waitress went to check with the chef and we even took a look at the specials menu, for which I fell in love straight away.
I’m usually a more sweet type of person but although there weren’t any DF sweet options available at the time (I know their menu changes quite often, which is great not only from a perspective to please all costumers and keep the venue interesting so that costumers are keen to go back but also it shows how innovative they are!) the savoury and in particular the savoury sounded incredibly interesting and different so I didn’t mind at all! However as a friendly costumer feedback I think it would great to have more allergen friendly versions on the menu because I think the venue could only benefit from it and attract more costumers!
And before I start describing the meals I have to also highlight the portions and servings. Seriously 👏 the biggest applause ever. I don’t think there are many places in Melbourne that would match these servings and with such SUCH great quality food. They don’t cut back on protein portions and even the most ‘expensive’ ingredients are found in abundance. And elegantly presented! This is definitely that place where one single meal would be hard for some people even to finish! And trust me, for me to say that, it’s because is BIG 👌👏😍 it’s a place where you know you’ll pay a good price for a GREAT meal. Yes, the prices aren't that cheap, but honestly for the quality, and in comparison to other places, I would even expect a higher cost for these Japanese influenced meals!
So, here’s what we had:
- Ancient Grain and & Chicken Salad - this was superb! When the meal arrived I was stocked by how beautifully presented it came with the beetroot hummus and it’s colourful and bright greens. I think many people still see a salad as a boring meal but, trust me - this meal is possibly the most interesting salad I’ve ever eaten in my life. It comes with brown rice, chickpeas and quinoa, currants, capsicum, sunflower and pumpkin seeds (OMG SO GOOD) with just the right amount of dressing - not too oily and perfectly blending in with the immensity of fresh kale leaves crunchy and at the same time soft and tender. I loved loved loved the beetroot hummus and it was ideal in terms of quantity to pair with the other ingredients. I actually asked for added mushrooms but they actually forgot about It and I only noticed when I was over half way in 😂 There was also an apple mustard dressing which I found quite interesting - quite creamy and soft in texture and which a slight acidic touch to it but just in the right amount and I think it definitely is well thought to even highlight the taste of the kale! I also added a poached egg to the meal and I think it combines with everything else really well. A big applause for this innovative and inspiring meal - may all salad be like this indeed! 👏😂
- Salmon Sushi Bowl Special - I had seen pictures of this meal on their Instagram and I know it had been in their main menu before as what I would describe a high fashioned designed sushi bowl. This time it was on their specials menu and the salmon itself wasn’t raw (like in sushi) but it was appetisingly house cured salmon seared. With such a generous fish portion the whole meal is not only outstanding and catching everyone’s eye but it’s unbelievably delicious. With the most marvellous presented nori I have ever seen it came with half an avocado (previously I had seen it in a flower/rosette shape but this time it humbly came cut in half), two big portions of egg rolls with such a beautiful yellow colour, pickled daikon also sublimely bright yellow, the most beautiful green edamame beans, a impeccable amount of picked ginger and a fantastic portion of brown rice. It also came with some soy sauce on a little clear cup. All in all it was a nourishing mea, incomparable to anything I’ve seen before and excellently executed. I have seen Hunter Lane Rosanna has a similar meal and I cannot wait to visit it and ask for it because it is possibly one of the best sushi/alternative sushi bowls I’ve ever seen.
- Bao Trio Special - first of all - WOW. When this arrived I was speechless. I hadn’t seen any picture from this before and obviously I was expecting normal size baos and nothing that creative! Seriously this place has such a great power of imagination and even more, the ability to translate that into original and artistic meals. Three massive massive (I think I naver had in my life such big bars before!) and it came on such a long wood serving platter that I couldn’t even believe my eyes.
The original meal was slightly adapted to serve my dietary requirements and this were the three baos that I had (and the changes made):
- 1- Grilled chicken (instead of buttermilk battered chicken), green leaves and spicy mayo - wonderful, wonderful, and my favourite of them all! The chicken was cooked to perfection, not dry and instead extremely tender and tasteful, sprinkled with some seasoning. Great portion too. The greens were remarkably pleasant and the spicy mayo... well, I didn’t even know it was supposed to be spicy because I didn’t find it spicy at all 😂 it may sound similar to a more simple chicken sandwich but it’s incomparable and seriously delightful!
- 2- Slow cooked pulled pork with red cabbage slaw and BBQ sauce - a tasty option and for those who love strong flavours! It was my least favourite in comparison to the other but still really good. The serving of the pulled pork is massive and tender, gently shredding into pieces with a fork, but I found that the combination with the sauce made it quite intense. Personally I’m not a fan of the sauce used here or even the red cabbage as I find it ends up being too bland compared to the rest. However, I’m sure many people will enjoy this as it was a touch of Korean and Vietnamese food!
- 3- Corn fritters with tomato and tomato relish - my number two and a wonderful vegan option! The fritters weren’t oily and you can taste the ingredients even biting into a small portion. I think the tomato is also a great option here too and contrasts in a very clever way with everything else!
As a friendly feedback I think that having a fish option (versus two meat ones) would be incredible and certainly more appreciated by many! A salmon não sounds amazing indeed and month drooling 🤤
Also after having these I actually went to see if any other venue from this group had them too and I saw a very interesting trio with tacos instead - seems sublime already!
- Banana Salted Caramel Smoothie - my friend had this smoothie and she was overwhelmed by how good the taste of salted caramel was! Just all other smoothies from their sister cafes, not only is the taste blow minding but the side and amount of smoothie is just terrific! 👏 they have such innovative names too (and you’ll read that in a second 👇) and the combination for the smoothies are also very well thought of! They are all raw, vegan, dairy free and gluten free smoothies which also is massively appreciated. In this case, the taste was just perfectly sweet and decadent, made with banana, dates, vanilla, mesquite, lucuma and almond milk with just the right pinch of Himalayan salt. I honestly wouldn’t have made it any better or change anything to it really 👌👏 it came with a few toppings of dried banana, goji berries and chia seeds and again, very adequately chosen and in the right amount (even me who usually likes to have more toppings have to say that in this case less is definitely more and these three ingredients are ideal to not only bring a little more colour to the smoothie but also don’t steal its protagonist role!
- Acai of the Tiger Smoothie - since there was no sweet option on the menu and no acai bowl I decided to go for an acai smoothie because (I thought) if it were as good as in the acai used in their other places then I wouldn’t be disappointed at all. And WOW, hands don’t to such a thick, sweet and flawless smoothie - the glass where it came was massive (👏👏👏 portion), the consistency was incredible 👏 and the taste WOW, really! It’s a mix of acai, banana, mango (the sneaky secret to that special decadent taste!), blueberries, dates and coconut water (which I’m sure is minimal!). Again, perfect ingredients and just SO GOOD, with the right amount of sweetness without being sickly. I also loved the toppings (the same as the ones from the banana salted caramel smoothie) and I even wished it had more dried banana (I think in this case a little more would work really well). Also something that I have to mention is that you can and the option to add raw fermented protein. I actually forgot to ask for it but next time (yes, because there will be a next time 😹) I will see how it is! Seriously after you having one of their acai bowls or smoothies you’ll be craving more if it for DAYS. Yes, they are THAT good!
- Red Velvet Beetroot Cacao Latte - this is actually a sad story with a tragic ending *drama queen vibes* 😮😂 the latte came beautiful presented even with a little edible flower in the middle and it smelled AMAZING - a mix of chocolate and something else sweet that I cannot even describe! Beetroot can have (like I’ve said in previous reviews) a very earthy and strong taste but the smell here is very tempting indeed although we obviously didn’t touch it before I got the pictures... that ended up naturally beautiful 😂 it comes on a uneven wooden table and of course we moved things around for the shots and, while we were returning to our table, the drink dropped on the floor unfortunately. A true sad moment because it was such a pretty and nicely smelling hot beverage and I was so keen to try it. Next tine, certainly next time!
To sum up, this place truly blew me away and not only is food very VERY aesthetically presented but the quality surpasses all expectations! This is be without a doubt a place where I would take someone for brunch you I wanted to impress and I want myself to Just brilliant! 👏
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