Fit for a King

Sometimes you walk into a café, and it fits. You know, like coming home.
That’s how I felt when I first visited the newly opened King Henry Arts Café on the mountain.

I’ve been a regular there ever since.

Built in 1902, the old cottage interior has been tastefully renovated inside and out.

Delightful old furnishings grace the interior.

 A cosy table for two - lucky number 13

 The man himself, HRH…

The ambience is warm and welcoming, and the cottage wears its antiques well.

There is even a stunning four poster bed in a room off the front entrance that would make anyone feel like a royal sleeping in it, I’m sure.

Outside on the wide, wooden deck, comfortable bench seating overlooks peaceful gardens.

A path lined with graceful, lush tree ferns that winds its way down into a secretive forest gully to a shaded winter creek hidden below tall trees.

One can almost expect a lyrebird, echidna or wallaby to pass by at any moment.
And, if you sit awhile, you might be rewarded for your patience.

The grounds are a wonderful place to explore and delight in sights, sounds, scents and textures.

Venture across the bridge to a magical, forested world...

Even esteemed four legged visitors have a stately font to drink from.

Back at the café, the large open corner window offers an enticing glimpse into the “engine room” filled with gleaming wares and machines at the ready for brewing that perfect cup of choice.

The friendly staff are there to greet and seat with a chilled glass of water while viewing the menu for breakfast, lunch, Devonshire tea or coffee and cake.

To me, the test of a good coffee is a flat white - no sugar.
If a well made coffee has correctly heated milk, then it’s sweet enough. Taste the full bodied flavours – without the sugar mask.
That goes for espresso too. There should be a hint of caramel, but never be “bitter”.
At King Henry, the head barista is always on point.  She knows coffee.  Has an affinity with it and builds a great coffee.  Fresh roast, grind and milk.  Correct dose.  Never burnt/bitter.  Never cold.  Just right.  Consistently.

And, when a barista samples their brews throughout the day, you know you’re in good hands.  Always something to look forward to.

On Saturday, hubby and I decided to drop by for breakfast.

I drew a sigh of contentment as I sat in now familiar surrounds on the deck.
Cradling our kick starter coffees, we relished the still cool, crisp mountain air - a welcome morning respite before the heat of the day.
We enjoyed a well prepared, cooked and served breakfast.  Each mouthful was savoured.

The old saying goes, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper”.

Well, we dined like a king - and queen - and were comfortably replete for the rest of the day.

We really are fortunate to have wonderful places such as this so near to home.
A restful haven to sit a while, replenish the senses and recharge the batteries.

I hope this café does well and draws visitors from near and far. A royal reward for all of the hard work and passion which the owners, and staff, have devoted to it.

Long live the King!

♥

brunch on the mountain

After glazing madly the past week - including Christmas afternoon/evening - I feel a little more relaxed.  This weekend marks the last of the “big holiday markets” of the Christmas/New Year season.
With an assortment of clay goodies fired and waiting to cool in the kiln on Sunday morning, hubby and I took a drive around the mountain on our quest for coffee.
We were not disappointed.
Rounding a deep corner, we happened upon a quaint little place that is under new management.

There are cafés a plenty in these parts. Some are favourites, which we frequent regularly. Some aren’t placed very well and/or don’t appeal. Others don’t pull a good coffee, so we tend to avoid them.

But, when the sign for a café includes the words, “scrumptious” and, even better… “snuggery pre-loved bookshop”, well, of course, I’m in!!

Snug. Snuggle. Snuggery. What better invitation does one need?   Especially when a long time dream of mine used to be owning a coffee/bookshop with big comfy couches and booths to while away a rainy day.

The little old wooden cottage, enveloped by gracefully aged deciduous trees and gardens, has always looked inviting. Now, even more so.

Entering through the gate, which is guarded by stone eagles, we were greeted by real life cheeky white cockatoos gathered above, shrieking to alert the café staff that customers have arrived.

'allo, 'allo, 'allo!

When we walked through the wooden door into the warm, welcoming front room, I gasped with delight… a Christmas book tree!

just makes one smile

Having much admired the photo of a similar tree at Elephant's Child, I didn’t think I’d be so lucky to see one in person.
I love it!  Hubby thought it was, “pretty cool” also.

This quaint cottage café has great ambience, with bookcases throughout, filled with second hand books (available to buy at great prices), a fireplace in every room, comfy chairs and tables with patina and thankfully, great coffee.  That’s a very good sign.

 

We wanted to stay a while, so hubby decided to treat us to brunch.
The menu has so many choices, and I had a time choosing. This is no bland, standard, same as everywhere else, fare.
I mean, how good is it to see a menu that offers “thick doorstop toast”…?  No meagre slices here, folks. But good quality, home cooked food with local produce, cage free eggs, and options to adapt for gluten free, vegans and vegetarians.

As we arrived just on opening, we had the place pretty much to ourselves and could choose from any of the rooms in the charmingly rambling abode. We chose “the nook”.

Christmas-time in Australia is usually hideously hot, sticky and uncomfortable – I’m just not a high summer lovin’ girl.  But we are fortunate that the mountain still offers very cool nights and brisk, chilly mornings – at least til January. Then, the climate here invariably catches up with the rest of the country.
So, it was a very pleasant surprise to find fires burning in some of the charming little hearths, “to take the chill off the morning air”.

I can imagine how lovely this place will be on a cold, wet, winter’s day.  Heaven.

After a generous, hearty morning meal of fat, juicy, tender portobello mushrooms topped with a sauce including chopped, sweet button mushrooms and spring onion, a small side salad and crisp French toast, I took the opportunity to explore and take a few pics while hubby sat back and relaxed.


Now, who doesn’t love to suddenly come across a knight in rusty armour?

how awesome!

As someone who loves scrabble, I thought this is, ahem, a novel idea for a book cafe :)

cute

luminous

a cosy, sunny corner

I have to admit that I'm not (and hope never to have to be) a kindle or electronic reading device owner.
I will always prefer to hold in my hands a "real" bound book - especially one that has that particular mythical, magical, musty smell that an electronic device just can't replicate - such things will never arouse the senses like the tattered, dog eared, richly illustrated, earl grey tea tinted pages from tomes of old.....  achoo! Bless you ;)


It’s wonderful to be able to peruse the bookshelves, and be encouraged to sit in a cosy corner to read while sipping a coffee, specialty tea or - oh my - a hot chocolate made with no less than fifteen generous pieces of luscious Lindt couverture chocolate, sitting silkily in the bottom of a tall glass of hot milk!

I’m so glad that the youthful, silly days of almost starving myself to stay a tiny size 8 are well behind me, and I can relish (without guilt) such luxuries :D

And, life is waaay too short to pass on this..... their “signature dessert”.

Mayan Chocolate Ice Cream.  Decadent.  Delicious.  Deadly.
Perfect at anytime.
Of course, I ordered it.  And, it was as good as it looks, only... better  :)

Their menu is vast and enticing. There will be many visits needed to try dishes and drinks that appeal to me.   Like the Irish coffee, which I’ll wait to order on cold, frosty, winter days to sip slowly by the fire. Then there’s the Frangelico Affogato…. 'cuse me while I stop to stare out the window and plan my next visit...

For tea lovers, there is a great selection of bespoke teas. Even I was enticed by their specialty teas, one with the tempting name, “Fields of Gold”.  The menu describes, “amazingly fresh and uplifting herbal and fruit blend including chamomile, strawberry, cherry pieces, berry leaves, lemon peel, peppermint, lemongrass and vanilla”.

There’s something for everyone, and all without the often outrageous prices found in some chic inner city cafés.

This little gem on the mountain also has options to sit outside and enjoy deep, cool shade from lime green elms and verdant oaks.

A wander in the garden reveals little delights…

On our way out, I did a double take.
Is that? Could it be? Yes. A creature I had often seen in books, but not in life.

A Sphynx cat.

This very handsome, one year old boy is called ‘Dante’.  Really, what a great name for a cat.
Dante’s owner sat with her coffee as she monitored his investigative amble through the garden.

He was very well behaved, not remotely interested in running away and returned to her to be placed back into his special carrier, ready for his trip home.
I was asked if I’d like to hold him, and I nodded enthusiastically.
Now before anyone says, “ewwwww, that would feel strange.” I have to say that Dante felt like... sensuous, warm velvet. An utterly unique and delightful tactile sensation, and I can understand why Sphynx are loved by those who have them in their life.
Dante really was quite the cuddly, deeply purring charmer.


And so ended a delicious brunch on the mountain at a magical little place, which just so happens to be called Brunch Café-Restaurant.
If anyone living in Victoria, Australia or anywhere in this big, wide world, wishes to visit the Dandenong Ranges and experience more of the magic the mountain has to offer, I highly recommend a trip to Brunch.

You might even see me there… I know I’ll be haunting it regularly ;)

~

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

May 2015 be kind to you all, and I sincerely wish that good health, peace and contented happiness bless your homes and all who live within them.

xxx

♥

 

Coastal Cruising

Last week, I was bitten by a white-tailed spider.
It wasn’t big enough to do much damage - unlike the large ones seen around the house lately.
But, along with the recent heatwave, and sleepless, hot nights, it was enough to make me cranky, whiney, irritated, itchy and… bitchy.

Saturday night, hubby took pity on (or, was fed up with) my pathetic keening, and suggested a drive down to the Peninsula, with the promise of, “breakfast somewhere” on Sunday.
A welcome cool coastal change would mean a very pleasant outing, and a distraction to my incessant focus on the bite.
I gladly accepted.

We woke to a drizzly grey morning, after a delicious sleep in.
Usually, on market days, we are up at 4:30am to allow for the one hour trip and the 45 minute set-up before early bird customers arrive. Our monthly trips down to Red Hill, mean “work” for me at the markets, so it was very nice to be tourists for the day instead.

The bay greeted us with silver-grey hues and a misty morning salty kiss on our cheeks.

Flinders Bight, looking out to West Head, Phillip Island in the distance, and out beyond to Bass Strait

We revelled in the empty beach – especially Jack, as he sniffed the air and watched the gulls, content to let them go about their beachy business and just observe.

As I snapped away, I heard a familiar, heartwarming trill among the dense low shrubs. And, was delighted to see this little fellow.

At first, I thought he’d be elusive and too quick to get a non-blurry photo. But as I sat quietly waiting, he came out to sing his song and pose for his audience of one.

I can’t even begin to express how much I adore wrens.


We continued our drive further down the coast and came to a viewing platform overlooking the notoriously wild waters of Bass Strait.
I spied three daring souls braving the biting wind. Kitesurfers. 

click on the image to see them a little clearer

Beneath the waves is the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary. An unusual intertidal coastal landform, which is a naturally protected home to multitudes of unique and diverse marine life, as well as being a valuable natural feeding/roosting habitat for shore birds.
Low tide exposes the mushroom shaped cobbled platform, revealing small bays and many sheltered rock pools, providing places to hide within crevices and under loose rocks for the many species of crabs, fish, sea stars and anemones.
The bottoms of the rock pools are covered in dense meadows of bright green seagrass and brown seaweed - perfect camouflage for the delicately beautiful Weedy Seadragon - Victoria’s marine state emblem.

 via

The reef is also home to exquisitely beautiful, but potentially deadly, Blue Ringed Octopus.

via

For landlubbers, there’s the Flinders golf course on the cliffs – a pretty spiffy place to play, I’d say.

As the sky grew blue, we grew hungry. We headed inland to the sweet, sleepy coastal town of Flinders, and saw a welcome sight.

Lovely atmosphere. Cute historical cottage. Friendly service. Great food.

And… dogs are very welcome in the courtyard.
What’s not to like? Perfect!

With tummies replete, we moved on.
And, then got lost.
No matter, it was fun finding our way.

Following the coast for a while, we pulled off the road and stopped to admire the view.
In the distance, I saw what I now know to be Cape Schanck Lighthouse.
Built in 1859, it’s the second oldest coastal lighthouse in Victoria, and sits on the southernmost tip, overlooking Bass Strait.

Still a “working lighthouse”, it keeps the shipping lanes safe, as boats pass the Peninsula to and from Melbourne.

Don’t know why, but I’ve always been super fascinated by lighthouses, and love images of them. Something about the wild and lonely seas they shine out on.
Perhaps I was a salty sea dog, or a lone lighthouse keeper in a previous lifetime.

Sadly, as it is within the Mornington Peninsula National Park, we could go no further to see it, as dogs aren’t allowed. So, the long range resolution taken from the road is pretty awful. Sorry folks.

You can just see the lighthouse upon the rocky headland.

Here’s a better image...

 via

One day, hopefully soon, we’ll return to take a tour around the lighthouse and keeper’s cottages.


We headed back up the other side of the peninsula, along the Port Phillip Bay foreshore, stopping from time to time to take advantage of a surprisingly non-crowded day and gaze once more at the beautiful water, before heading inland and home.

I spotted a juvenile Pacific Gull and Little Pied Cormorant on rocks dipped in the sparkling blue-green shallows.

Jack had quite the day. Sensory experiences galore.
In and out of the car at regular intervals eventually took its toll, and he slept deeply all the way home.

dear old soul

I was literally buoyed (pun intended) after our trip to the coast. And promised myself, that it wouldn’t be too long before we do it again.
There’s something about the sea air that blows the mind’s cobwebs away.

Speaking of cobwebs...

♥