Straight from the slums of Shaolin, comes a hip hop
influenced brunch favourite yards from one of the southern suburbs most popular
beaches. C.R.E.A.M stands for Coffee
Rules Everything Around Me, a play on the legendary Wu-Tang Clan tune
sharing the same acronym – and the walls inside pay homage to the hip-hop
greats of the golden era.
It’s all the vision of owner and operator Josh Rivers, who
in 2015 left behind his experience with Glenelg’s Pure Boutique Coffee to embark
on his own venture and boy oh boy was that a good idea. Now pushing 5 years
later and C.R.E.A.M has doubled in size (after taking over the shop next door)
and the tables are still packed from open to close.
Coconut Sago & Fresh Mango, taken from Instagram – @cream_jrb
As well as a killer selection of coffee, including single
origins and cold drip varieties – the menu boasts a selection of big eats and healthy
treats. For the health conscious, dig into a Summer Fruits Acai Bowl or the
tropically delicious Coconut Sago with Fresh Mango. If you’re like me and enjoy
a signature dish, then I’ve got you covered – without a doubt you HAVE to try
the Hotcake Stack (the biggest hotcakes you’ll ever have) with Maple Fried Bacon,
Rogo’s Fried Chicken and Maple Syrup. Yep, that’s right. It’s a dish that you’ll
struggle to finish, but it’s one you’ll try to anyway.
Hotcake Stack, taken from Instagram – @cream_jrb
C.R.E.A.M has gained something of a cult following over the
last few years and it has become a destination for celebrities and influencers
alike. There’s even a wall of fame with signatures of all the ‘important’
people who’ve stopped by, people like Julia Gillard, Vera Blue and of course
Adelaide’s favourite exports, Hilltop Hoods.
Hidden away not too south of the CBD lies a Lebanese inspired café that’s moderate in décor, yet powerful in flavour.
Family owned and operated, head cook Rose Adam (former top 10 Masterchef contestant) has created a menu of modern Mediterranean favourites, that will leave you salivating even before the plate hits the table. Helped by Mum in the kitchen, Rose’s brother George is head barista and other sister Haefa keeps the service running smoothly. Not convinced of the authenticity yet? Grab a table close to the counter and you’ll almost certainly hear the sisters getting stuck in to George and George firing back as good as he gets. All in good spirits of course, it adds to the experience – one that feels like you’ve been welcomed to the Adam family (not that one) dinner table.
Now, what to eat? The selection is fantastic, and it can be
difficult to settle on that one dish and with that, I’m certain this won’t be a
one-time visit. I’m a sucker for a veggie burger, especially this Veggie Burger.
Don’t worry, it isn’t one of those vile mushy patties or some oily deep-fried
veggie stack. I’m talking about delicately sautéed mushrooms on a bed of baba ganoush
and pickled onions, topped with perfectly pan-fried halloumi, rocket and sprinkled
with sumac, all served on a chewy brioche bun. I would seriously recommend upgrading
to a side serve of (insanely good) French fries with za’atar salt.
Head cook Rose Adams and Matt Preston whilst filming Masterchef – Image by Channel 10
Next, but by no means least is the Pea Hummus &
Zucchini. The menu reads as ‘House green pea hummus served on toasted ciabatta,
topped with zucchini ribbons, fetta, sumac and fresh mint’. It’s as fresh and
zingy as it sounds, definitely ask for the addition of their home-made falafels
– without exaggeration, they’re the best in Adelaide.
Finally, if you’ve got a sweet tooth you have to indulge in the French Toast, With Home Made Baklava Ice Cream. No further explanation needed.
The Middle Store, 118 Winston Avenue, Melrose Park
As soon as you put one foot inside Adelaide’s Central
Markets, you instantly embark on an authentic culinary journey that spans all
four corners of the world. Charming and a joy to the senses, the under-roof markets
are some of the biggest in the southern hemisphere. Making this place not only
a journey, but the destination too.
The variety really is overwhelming and so we’ve made things
a bit easier and highlighted some of our absolute favourite coffee and
breakfast spots, check them out below!
Video taken from YouTube, published by South Australia
The Big Table
One of the most loved (and tasty) places to eat within the markets,
The Big Table uses it’s 20+ years of experience to absolutely nail the magic combination
that is great food, great coffee and great atmosphere.
Photography: Daniel Fighera, Broadsheet Media
Get there early and prop yourself on a seat at the bar,
order a coffee or a fresh juice and immerse yourself in the frantic organised
chaos behind the counter. The menu looks as though it probably hasn’t changed
much since those early days, a few seasonal specials here and there but mostly
you’ll find simple food, done deliciously well. I struggle to go past the (insanely
thick and crispy) French Toast with Strawberries, Rhubarb and Maple Syrup and
my partner’s go-to is the Big Veggie Breakfast – a dish that looks like a fresh
produce market on a plate (halloumi, tomatoes, kale, spinach, mushrooms),
wonder where they source the ingredients from?
It’s about more than just your morning brew at The Grind, the
walls lined with beans, percolators and milk jugs. If you’re serious about
coffee, The Grind is serious about you.
Over 80 dispensers chocked full of beans labelled with
origin and flavour guides immediately attract your eye, the smell of freshly
roasted beans already perfuming the air and the warm smile of the experts
behind the counter entice you further. Need a particular blend or single origin
or prefer your beans ground to a certain degree? They’ve got you covered. You
can even get your coffee pods and the best thing about them is that they’re
completely reusable, so it’s guilt free!
It’s incredible how one bite can instantly take you back to
a certain time or place and that’s exactly what happens at Les Deux Coqs. It’s
exploring the streets of Paris (and beyond) all over again.
Les Deux Coqs, Adelaide Central Market
If you’re like me and don’t mind a couple of pastries in the
morning, then you’re going to love this. Beautifully handmade French patisseries
light up the front counter including the classic croissants and of course pain
au chocolat. The stall is probably even more renowned for using fantastic South
Australian produce to create all kinds of French delicacies, terrines, spreads,
biscuits and tapenades to name a few.
Originally opened in Burgandy, France – Les Deux Coqs hasn’t even been in the markets for a year yet, but has already grown a considerable reputation. The vendor made it’s TV debut just this past week when THE WORLD’s FAVOURITE CHEF Ainsley Harriot stopped by during filming of his SBS series ‘Ainsley’s Australian Market Menu’.
