Breakfast Thieves

The Breakfast Thieves is smack bang in the heart of the uber trendy back streets of Fitzroy and it rocks the so-hot-right-now-breakfast-vibe that you'd expect.  My uber trendy friend Linda was the one who directed us there so I had high expectations from the start.  On the corner of leafy Gore Street and funky Rose Street, just near Smith Street.  Lovely location, a billion bikes chained up the front and a beautiful Sunday morning to boot. 

As you may be able to tell from these pictures, it's not going for the blatent bohemian op-shop kitted out look but it blends refurbished rustic with brand spankin' pretty well.  It was pretty packed but our coffee orders were taken quickly as were our breakfast orders. 

The coffee was pretty good.  I'm trying to cut back on milk/soy so went a long black, and it's harder to disguise badly made coffee without tainting it with milk, so well done on the coffee to Breakfast Thieves. Whilst the coffee came out in a reasonable time, the mains took ages.  Aggggeeess.  It was busy but not lines out the door busy, but who knows.  When we enquired as to our where our meals were, they were very apologetic, advised it would be two minutes and offered us free drinks.  Yes please free drinks, but another strike was Linda's free drink never came.  

 

Linda ordered the Chilled Sticky Black Rice Pudding, which come with coconut mango sorbet and toasted sesame seeds. Unfortunately it wasn't that great.  The rice was a bit under cooked which is enough to put one of ones pudding. 

Kai and I got "The Leprechaun" which was corn and goats fetta fritters, with warmed grapes and cherry tomatoes, honey salsa with grilled asparagus and poached eggs.  It was amazing.  Amazing.  The one downfall of being lucky enough to have so many great breakfasts so often is that perhaps I'm a bit spoilt when it comes to food and not as easily impressed anymore.  This blew me away with every mouthful.  It's such a shame that one person got an average meal, their free drink never came and the rest of us got to have this: 

It's worth giving it a go, but do go when you're not starving in case your meal takes ages too, and don't order the rice pudding.  But do, do, do get those amazing fritters

 

Ici

Happy 2013! What better way to celebrate than with breakfast? I was giving the task of organising breakfast with consistent champions Todd and KT, and my awesome new housemate Ellie.  I'd been to Ici once before, about a year ago, and was keen to go again.  As it is only a cheeky 10 minute bike ride from home for Ellie and I, the decision was easy. 

 

Ici is on on the corner of Napier Street and Kerr Street in Fitzroy, and the outside is pretty low key with a couple out umbrellas and outside tables.  Inside is pretty dark and cosy, I imagine there would be some lovely atmosphere for dinner, if only it were open - breakfast/lunch only).  But I forgot to take venue photos - sorry.  The menus are up on the blackboard wall on one side of the cafe, but they have printed versions too to avoid neck strain. 

Coffee - great start Ici - check out the shredded chocolate on the cappacino.  Coffee was great well received by all, although there was a decent wait for it 

  

Todd got the Vegemite Soldiers, sans Vegemite, with a side of bacon.  While the food was nice, the menu stated that it came with asparagus spears and clearly the above plate has a distinct lack of spears.  When queried, the cheery staff said that didn't think it came with spears, checked with the kitchen who said yep, no asparagus, despite both the blackboard and written menu stating so.   "It's a bit misleading!" they chirped.  Quite. Also, for a $5 side of bacon that's a pretty unimpressive serving side.  That said, the simple dish delivered.

KT and Ellie both got the Ici Summer Eggs, which was a poached eggs, with smashed peas, dill, lemon and danish feta.  If you're not a dill fan, avoid this dish because it was pretty dill heavy.  Texture of the smashed peas was great though and it's a bit different to your standard smashed avocado. 

I had the scrambled tofu, which came with had shitake mushrooms, brocoli, spring onions, rice, mushrooms, ginger and beetroot relish.  It was good, pretty tasty but needed salt or something, and I'm not usually one to add much salt, yet there I went.  The rice and ginger were a bit of something different for breakfast, beetroot relish no doubt the best part.  

Overall, it wasn't bad, coffee was consistent, staff were pretty cool, but overall not amazing and I probably wouldn't be rushing back