Off the main drag of Lygon street, nestled in-between a petrol station and an Italian restaurant, sits Heart of Carlton. The focus of this cafe is keeping people fed. 

The menu is tight and consists of a collection of dishes that probably have fewer than five ingredients. There's a pesto pasta, chicken curry minestrone soup as well as small little cakes for dessert. Almost everything is $5 or less too. 

The space is decorated to feel homely and welcoming, with seating indoors and out. Wood in the furniture, wood in the walls, wood in the decorations, it all creates a homely and welcoming atmosphere. It's a space for old men to sit, sip coffee and shoot the breeze or students to meet and study. 

Salami Baguette

Long black

In the Melbourne version, it's bolognese in bowls but still very cloudy.

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

Uh oh, you found my bio page! Well I guess that probably means you want to learn a bit about me...

I love learning about and through food. I find all the science that goes into food production incredibly fascinating, and love trying to understand the forces that shape our experience of food. Whether those factors are environmental, socio-cultural, or historical, I'm constantly intrigued and always wanting to know more. 

Brunswick is such a rich area for exploring these different facets, with its varied history, evolving demographics and sheer size. It's a mosaic of different times and places, all coalescing in a single walkable spot.

While out, you'll probably find me sipping on black coffee or a sour beer. I'm dangerously close to being diagnosed a chickpea addict, which apparently is a common comorbidity for gelato obsession. 

Timocles

Caroline is here for a good time, not a long time. Her preferred coffee is a flat white and she loves a good steak, ideally served with a larger. 

Caroline

Recently opened The Baker's Block is cute little bakery in a not-so-standard place. Outside of the main shopping centre, down a driveway and around a corner, you'll find the small store window filled with all kinds of gluten-laden goods.

You're spoiled for choice with plenty different items spanning savoury to sweet and snack to share sizes. The loaves come in all manner of sizes and are whimsically stacked on a large pegboard. The pie options sit cosily in a warmer while the sweet pastries parade a rainbow of colours and flavours to match. 

How could you ever pick just one? Sorry blood sugar, you're going to have to take one for the team here. 

Lamb and Rosemary pie

If you need extra incentive to get your grocery shopping done, here's your excuse. 

Shopper's treat

Homely and authentic. This salty, carby pocket is filled with flavour. 

Sydney Road is no stranger to a collection of great ethnic bakeries. For Tabet's to compete with the overwhelmingly famous Lebanese A1 Bakery just a few doors away, it really is a testament to the quality of their savoury pastries.

Featuring a large, wood-fired oven in the corner of an open kitchen, all the pizzas and pies are pre-baked and heated to order. The menu has a range of different topping and filling combinations - mixing different cheeses, sausage, vegetables and spices. There's vegan and vegetarian options too, showcasing za'atar, olive oil and garlic. 

You can take away if you're in a rush, or hang out in a modest, relaxed setting. 

Sausage, vegetable and cheese pizza

Chicken and Mushroom pie

Halloumi pie

Dough time

Cookie Culture celebrates all aspects of the cookie experience. Whether it's baking dough into new forms and shapes, exploring interesting flavour combinations inspired by other desserts, or surrounding you in cookie quotes and fan-art, they're not shy about pledging their love to the baked treat. 

While you're visiting, you can wash down your cookie with a milkshake. There's also a chocolate fondue fountain if you haven't had enough sugar for the day.

Reece's Pieces

Or at least that's your intention walking in. Eat the whole thing because who has the self control to eat half a cookie? 

The Heart of Carlton

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

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The Baker's Block

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Cookie Culture