Coffee with Winter Opening
Hours
In the middle of Tasmania’s hibernation
season when you’re more likely to see a closed sign or shorter opening hours,
the Chutney Food Café opens its doors.
Lesley Black's is a renowned producer of readily
available Tasmanian chutneys, relishes, mustard and savoury sauces.
After a tip off from work colleague, IT
Girl, This Girl texted The Other Girl to get out of bed and took her for coffee
and breakfast at Lesley Black’s Chutney Food Café.
On our early morning arrival we were enthusiastically
greeted by the man and his dog, and some friendly regular from the mechanics
across the road.
Chutney Food Cafe is a side line for
owner David. He has his iron in a number of fires. He is Chief Steward at the
Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards (coffee section) which will be judged during
July.
There may be truth to the rumour that
we’ve just started, that David is a party animal. Well he’s certainly seen on
the Tasmanian festivals circuit a lot.
He owns Rosti Chalet which you may have
seen The Taste, Seafarers Festival, Bellerive and the Spring Community Festival
at the Botanical Gardens to name just a few. Rosti Chalet produces delicious
potato rostis, toppings include fresh Tassal smoked salmon, honey brown
mushrooms, Wursthaus bacon, beautiful Tassie cheeses and of course, their own
famous Lesley Black's chutneys and relishes.
The colder months are a chance for David
to indulge in other interests when his equipment isn’t in use for the many
festivals he frequents during our beautiful summers.
Lesley Black’s Chutney Food Café is breakfast
on the run breakfast at its best. A small selection but a great mix of sweet
and savoury options and good coffee to go with. David uses Oomph coffee and as
a My State employee was overheard declaring ‘This is the best coffee’, we
agree, the coffee is good!
This Girl had the egg and bacon pide with
their own tangy chutney, an absolute delight. The Other Girl, who enjoys a
sweet early in the morning, had the Raspberry and White Choc muffin.
David makes the banana bread and muffins
in-house and makes up the egg and bacon pide and ham and cheese croissants. He
sources croissants and fruit bread from Daci and Daci, because of their
quality. David comments on the sustainable food trend and reflecting on quality
says as a Chef he has always made it his business to be in close contact with
his suppliers. He knows that to create good food, you need to use good products,
this includes using free range and ethically farmed produce.
This is David’s third extended winter in
the café and the Two Girls reckon the demand for his coffee and tasty on-the-go
breakfast items will mean he’ll be there for many more.
As we were leaving a woman who parks
across the road told us she had been waiting for David to reopen and we could
see she was delighted to get her coffee and cheese and chutney muffin.
Lesley
Black’s Chutney Food Cafe is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
7am
to 11am Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
This year the café is opened until mid/late November.
You
can find David and the lovely Teen (who’s on a lead) at
118 Melville Street, just around the corner from Crumb Street Kitchen,
Harrington Street.
Find out about Royal Hobart Fine Food
Awards here.
You can buy their product at the café or
at various places around town and numerous gourmet food stockists on the web.
Knock yourself out.
Our happy tummies courtesy of John, thank
you x