Signature Dish

Signature Dish Cafe @ 240 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes
Ambience
Located in Varsity Lakes close to Bond uni, it's a little bit arty, decorative, complete with a chandelier and all the fancy trimmings that makes a cafe unique. But the cafe lacks that edginess which makes a coffee establishment alluring. The vibe you feel here is 'comfort' and it feels like you are hanging out at mum's kitchen.
Unfortunately for this cafe is next to Blackboard Coffee. This is like being best friends with the 'it' girl/boy. No doubt a highly frustrating experience being "second best". Having said that Signature Dish offers a complete different atmosphere to their famed neighbour. Emphasis here would be on food more than coffee. They also have cooking classes during the week.
 

 

Food
A lot more on the menu than Blackboard. Have yet to try any dishes here but the coffee wasn't all that great. I'd like to come back to try lunch here next time I'm in the area. There's always something being cooked in the open plan kitchen, friendly staff on hand and there's enough students hanging around to make me wonder what they are eating.

 

 

dreaming of donuts

I'm not really a big donut fan, probably owing to the fact that Donut King is all that we have here, but donuts @ dreamy donuts will have to be my fave in Australia due to the lack of competition in the deep fried dough sector. Just don't get why a country that makes it in the top 5 obese nations of the world fails to provide the goods. Why are we even fat? We don't even get the full option of junk food here.

Dreamy Donuts have some really interesting flavours different from the 'pick iced' 'blue dinosaur' variety you get at Donut King. They have stores in Brisbane but the one at Robina town centre is the closest one to me. I like to have a good look at the colourful display as I walk on by. Such a delight for the eyes.

I've tried a few different flavours. Really liked the 'Tiramisu' and 'White Choc Dream'.
Most recently I ventured to try out what looked like chunky churros that went by the name of 'Cinnamon Sticks' with a side of chocolate sauce.
It was quite enjoyable complete with soft airy texture and simple refined taste of cinnamon and sugar dusted on top. I do like simplicity...now and then.

But I can't deny that change is exciting and here are some unusual flavoured donuts (mostly from Korea and United States) that excite me.
They are all from Dunkin' Donuts.

Almond Twist.

Banana filled donut.

Cappuccino twisty.

My favourite! Munchkins!

Peanut Crunchy.

Dunkin' Donuts is one of my favourite things about snacking on sweets in Korea. No joke, there is a Dunkin' Donut every 100 metres in Seoul. Feeling a little bit deprived right now.

The Pantry

Ambience

Connor Street is always busy and The Pantry along with Connors are two main attractions on the street. It's popular, so much that on weekends it's packed out with large family/friend groups. The Pantry is closer to the beach than Connors or Vanilla Bean (by 50 metres or so) and so it's nice to look out on to the park across the road as you savour your food (alfresco of course). You could say their ambience is 'that local cafe close to the beach'. Nothing fancy about the decor  but reminiscent of cafes you see on home and away.

Scrambled eggs & bacon.

Healthy breakfast.

VanDiemens Breakfast.

Chicken burger.

 Food
All day breakfast is always a plus and there's so much diversity on the menu. Feel like some steak with your eggs? why not! Of the three cafes I've been to on Connor Street, this one probably has more meat dishes than the others.
Having said that, the breakfast menu along this strip of road is all very similar but I prefer pancakes here over ricotta pancakes found on the menu at Connors. There's nothing intricate about their dishes here but it's big, packed with more than enough essential fats, and filling. A big hit with local professionals and businessmen during lunch time. Not exactly a place that appeals to me all that much but definitely worth a visit when in Burleigh.

Americana

A little (okay..alot) overdue but yay for Independence Day!


Here is a simple  picture of the contribution that the United States of America has made to our palates. For better or for worse.

Vanilla Bean

Vanilla Bean cafe @ Connor St, Burleigh
It wouldn't be easy being Vanilla Bean Cafe. Nestled between Connors, the pantry and the coffee club on Connor St you really need to stand out. There is nothing flashy about Vanilla Bean Cafe and thus I've overlooked the place all this time.
I was thoroughly surprised and charmed when I came for some breakfast alfresco with some gal pals.


Ambience
Outdoor dining is highly recommended when dining on Connor St and this rule triumphs again at Vanilla Bean. We had breakfast around 830 (which is an ungodly hour to be up and about for me) and it was windy. Luckily they had the outdoor heaters on. Unluckily I was seated as far away from it as possible. Note to self: no more summer clothing to be worn during early hours (which for me is anytime before 11am) of winter morns.

Or I guess the other options is sit inside, but like I said before you really want to be seated outdoors where you can see the locals and tourists bumble about.
Although the interior here is enjoyable too. It's perfectly quaint, modern and decorative compared to other famed cafes on this strip of road. Couches looked super comfy and next time I'd like to try it out.

Food
I liked the little touches in their presentation. It really was their point of difference to their competitors on the same street. Cappuccino and the mocha came with ginger/ caramel biscuits like in Europe. It's bite sized but a nice gesture and surprisingly delicious.

Breakfast meals are much the same as other establishment around Burleigh but I think the meals here were healthier.....or they sounded healthy with names like "vegetable garden", and beds of rocket and spinach perfectly assembled on the plate.
Combine that with some lovely companions and you are onto a great day!

Eggs & veg.

Eggs benedict w/spinach.

Eggs & Avo.

Happy Bastille Day! Vive La France!

It's Bastille Day today (in France 14th of July) although in Australia it was yesterday.
As a foodie you have to pay homage to French cuisine...anyone who took home economics in high school would agree. On any given day you can eat a croissant for breakfast, fries for lunch and steak with elaborate sauces and this is all thanks to the great republic of France.
Where would we be without our good compatriots from the land of snails and frog legs?


Long live Paris!
Long live haute couture!
Long live literature & art!
Long live the French republic!
Merci beaucoup for all the culinary delights you've shared with the world!