Pennyfarthing Espresso

206 High Street
Northcote 3070
Victoria Australia

www.pennyfarthingespresso.com

Telephone: (03) 9482 2246


When my husband asks me to look up the address of “Penny Farthing” I let out a little groan. Being the cycling enthusiast he is, I am sure we are bound for some bike shop. Not what I really had in mind for such a gloriously sunny Melbourne Sunday. Particularly since I really did do my time in more than one bike shop yesterday! But alas, upon hearing my groan he quickly adds: “it’s not a bike shop, it’s a cafe!” Why didn’t you say so! I think to myself as I proceed to tap the letters into Google on my iPhone.

When I see the website, I remember this café having a little air time on Coxy’s Big Break some time ago. Two brothers with a passion for coffee. I remember watching it thinking that Coxy didn’t really seem to be a coffee person (whatever that is). But, in true Coxy style (with a big smile, moustache and plenty of enthusiasm), he was “giving it a go”.

We are greeted at the door with a smile and encouraged to keep moving through the busy front section of the café to the back, where we would find a vacant table. We prop ourselves up onto one of the bench height communal tables and order a couple of coffees.

The first page of the flip-chart menu is all about coffee. The following pages contain options for all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. A blackboard to our left displays the specials. A blackboard behind me lists beers and wines.

We order from the specials board. One “pork belly sandwich with fresh mint, tomato, cos lettuce and house made aioli” ($13) and one “garlic and thyme roasted mushrooms with ricotta & sautéed radicchio on toast, finished with balsamic reduction” ($15).

The coffee arrives complete with coffee art. It is strong, but smooth. I get to finish my coffee before the food arrives. Not sure if it was deliberate, but I am happy about it nonetheless.

The food is delicious. The garlic and thyme perfectly compliment the three large, fleshy upside-down mushrooms. A blob of ricotta sits in the centre of each. Under the mushrooms is a layer of onion and radicchio. No sourness in it at all. A thick piece of chewy-crust sourdough cradles all the components. The balsamic reduction is perfectly sweet.

The three pork belly strips are tasty with that perfect crunch. The lettuce is neatly sliced to form wiggly strips, and the aioli is creamy. Once again, the chewy-crust sourdough is underneath it all. It’s not really a “sandwich”, but any more bread on this plate would be a shame. The tomato is probably not critical in this dish, but doesn’t cause any harm.

The vibe of this place is “High street cool”. Bob Dylan sings to you through the sound system. People are here in groups, pairs or on their own (in a very cool way).

This is one of those places where you could come to: quickly grab your daily cup; sit and read; write your novel or a Uni assignment; or chat for hours with a group of friends. The garden out the back is the perfect place for a beer in the sun. Pennyfarthing gave us good service, great coffee and a delicious, fresh & flavoursome lunch.

Chew Chew

For breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a coffee

0408 470 114

7-11 Norwood Crescent
 Moonee Ponds, 3039

This new breakfast and lunch venue is potentially my new local favourite. I have been watching the venue reincarnate over the past few weeks. What was once a forgettable site is now a triple-fronted rustic haven.

A little Alice in Wonderland, you need to make sure you choose the correct door. There are at least three, but only one will open…

The interior has been done beautifully. Rustic. Exposed brickwork. A long communal table near the entrance offers you a neatly arranged selection of the daily papers. There is a warmer furnished section to the left and to the right, a much brighter, whiter section. But if you don’t want to sit at a table, why not perch on a stool in the window and watch the trains and passengers come and go? What mood are you in?

We choose to sit on the church pew in the warmer, darker section. Above our heads is a shelf of bonsai plants. An interwoven antler-horn chandelier lights the room.

The Gaggia coffee machine is bright green. A standout bench item. I love the way this place is fitted out. Having been recently renovating, I think I know where most of the items have been purchased. Perhaps I am biased because it is consistent with my own home-style? Anyway, I love it (give or take the green machine).

The menu offers a more than decent selection of options. Breakfast is “served all day”. The Panini range is exciting. A selection of sweet treats tempts you from the cabinet next to the green machine. Typically I am a sweet tooth, but today I order the Roast Beef Panini ($10.50).My Company orders the Sausage Panini ($10.50), with broccoli and parmesan. He orders a Chinotto ($3.90), I order a Chai latte ($4). Sorry, not yet able to comment on the coffee!

My Panini is delicious: roast beef; caramelised onions; cheese; horseradish; and baby cos. The onions give just-right sweetness and, despite being toasted, there is a good crunch in the lettuce. My Company’s Panini is very salty, but I think that is to be expected when Italian sausage meets parmesan. If you don’t like salt, steer clear of this option!

The service is cheerful and things are “going really well so far” according to the waitress (I didn’t expect any other answer did I?). There were a number of tables occupied though, so I suppose, like me, all my fellow train travellers have been curiously aware of this place over the past few weeks and are popping by to suss it out. You can’t miss it coming off the train at Moonee Ponds station.

The total bill was $27. Cash only (always a bit of a bugger). So, not cheap, but we were not at all disappointed and will be returning soon. If for nothing else, to sample the coffee!

There’s something different about the Epping line.

The train journey into the city tends to be unreliable at the moment. Unreliable, unpleasantly crowded, uncomfortable. But this morning was different.  This morning I travel to work on the Epping line. Different to usual. I have just dropped my gorgeous little ball of fluff (actually he is not that little anymore) at “Dogs HQ” and now I wait at Collingwood station.

Collingwood station platform is elevated and exposed. There is a small canteen-like building with a roller door shut tight. I wait on the platform. My cheeks start to chill.  I am not sure how long I will wait for. There is no timetable printed.  I press the green button. But before the informative lady can tell me when the next train will be, the chimes of a pending announcement tell me a train is approaching “on platform one”.

I step into the crowded carriage. I stand facing the door. It feels less crowded that way. And the fresh air gets to you at each stop. I overhear a young guy with a beanie telling his friend about why he was “laughing at 4am”. “It was because I remembered something from Saturday night when Sam was arguing with me about whose underwear he was wearing” he recalls. The Beanie’s friend forces a morning giggle.

I watch the green outside blur into the grey. The sky is blue today. I wish it was warmer.

We stop and start in the usual way. People get on, get off.  As we move in and out of the dark tunnels I start to think about the work that awaits me.

The train driver’s voice breaks through the reluctance of Monday morning.

“Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know we have a few red signals ahead so we might be a little slow moving into Flinders Street.”

Oh, what a surprise! Delayed!

“You know”, he continues “I have been thinking a lot about something and I thought I might as well share it with all of you this morning. See what you think!”.

Well, I never!

“This guy’s a nutcase!” says the Beanie to his friend.

“See, I was in Central Australia recently on holidays. Not sure if you have been there, but it is pretty hot. Lots of flies.”

What on earth! I start to listen. As does everyone without white i-pod wires in ears.

“You might have noticed that the flies hover around your head and just follow you wherever you go. You walk around with a cloud of flies around your head!”

I think of the warmth of Central Australia. I identify with the annoying flies.

“And when you stop to speak to someone, they have their cloud of flies with them. You start to chat and your flies all mix up!”

Its fabulous! I have a smile on my face. On a Monday morning!

“And then, when you are finished talking to your mate, you both walk off and you have your cloud of flies with you again.”

I wonder about this cheerful driver. I try to imagine what he looks like. Perched up there at the front of the train. Is he skinny? Does he have a smile on his story-telling face? Or is he serious and inquisitive?

“Well, what I want to know, is whether the cloud of flies you each walk away with after your chat are the same flies you started with before you stopped to chat or whether you have walked away with some of each other’s!”

It is a simplistic but interesting question. I must admit. I almost resume my work ahead thinking.

“And I’ve decided.” He continues, “next time I go up there I am going to wait until dusk when the flies all calm down by the water and I am going to put a little spot of white paint on each of them so I can tell for sure!”

I giggle into the window. I glance around the carriage. I have never seen so many smiles on a Monday morning train.  We arrive at Flinders street. The crowd begins to shuffle and move.

The train trip to work was different this morning. The driver made me smile.