Cafe

A Local Baker St Andrews
Products:
Organic sourdough bread plus some cakes and savouries
Local outlets:
Own shop – Thursday to Saturday
Ange’s Fresh Fruit & Veg, Kinglake
Bridge 2 Eden, Hurstbridge
Kinglake Pub and Pantry
Rosewood Cottage, Kinglake
The Roundabout Cafe, Warrandyte
Township/suburb:
St Andrews
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

A Little Baker St Andrews produces traditional handmade organic sourdough breads plus a range of artisan croissants, cakes and savouries, all baked in a wood-fired oven. The process includes resting the dough for a minimum of 6 hours from mixing to baking, with this resting time giving the bread a unique flavour and texture and making it easily digestible. All the breads are both yeast and preservative free, using the Lactobacillus bacteria for fermentation. Local ingredients are used where possible, including: berries from Kinglake, honey from Hurstbridge, citrus fruits, mushrooms and olive oil.

Now a cafe as well as a bakery.

Bolton Street Deli & Liquor
Category:
Local brands sold:
Marisa’s Kitchen
Vincent Testa’s Honey
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Bolton Street Deli & Liquor provides a full range of groceries, from condiments and bread, through beverages and honey, to chocolate and wine. They also sell a wide range of cheeses, meats, dips and homemade produce in their deli section. Gluten-free and organic products are available.

They are THE major stockist of local food products in North East Melbourne, with products from around 20 local producers.

They also serve coffee, breakfast, snacks and lunch from 7am daily (8am on Sundays). Some examples of food options include soup, pasta dishes and moussaka.

Caffe Strada
Products:
Gluten-free breads, cakes and pastries
Local outlets:
Own shop
Bitter Sweet Cafe, Ivanhoe East
Jefferies, Croydon Hills
Leo’s Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Max’s Burger Bar, Montmorency
Pro-Health, Eltham
The Burger Lounge, Eltham
Were Street Foodstore, Montmorency
Township/suburb:
Ivanhoe
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

Caffe Strada makes a wide range of gluten free bread, which is available from both its own shop in Ivanhoe and a variety of other outlets in nearby suburbs.

Caffe Strada is also a cafe which focuses on producing healthy, flavoursome gluten-free food. The cafe is a 100% gluten-free environment and they bake all of their products. Their homemade sausage rolls are fructose-free.

Craftwork Roasting Company
Products:
Coffee
Local outlets:
Own shop (Monday-Friday, 7am-2pm; Saturday, 8am-2pm)
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Craftwork Roasting Company roast coffee, which they then sell in bags online and at their shop. There are 9 choices across espresso and filter at any one time, including 6 single origins, sourced through select merchants who work ethically and sustainably with coffee producers.

Their cafe (aka brew bar) and retail space has windows looking into the roasting and production area. Customers can browse brewing equipment, ceramic cups and Craftwork beans while they wait for their takeaway coffee. Or they can sit down to drink their coffee together with house baked pastries, cakes and bread.

Dark Horse Cafe, Wine & Produce
Local brands sold:
Coldstream Brewery
House of Gingerbread
Napoleone Brewery & Ciderhouse
Warrandyte Berry Farm
Township/suburb:
Watsons Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The Dark Horse Café, Wine & Produce is in Watsons Creek, on the road from Eltham to Yarra Glen. It overlooks two acres of landscaped gardens, along with an ornamental lake, and is surrounded by a natural bushland setting. Its cafe and store are open Wednesday to Sunday.

The store sells a variety of local produce, from baked goods and condiments to wines and ciders.

The cafe sells all day breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. It is fully licenced. Read the menu.

Gateway Market
Products:
Vegetables and herbs
Local outlets:
Own shop – open 7 days, 9am-5pm.
Cunliffe & Waters
Montrose Meats & Smokehouse
Township/suburb:
Coldstream
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Gateway Market grows a wide range of vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers. These are grown in a temperature-controlled hydroponic greenhouse, which uses much less water than conventional growing methods. Shoppers can pick their produce directly from the plants.

As well as their own produce, Gateway Market sells a range of fruit, vegetables, cheese, pies, chutneys and jams, all grown or made in the Yarra Valley.

They also have a cafe.

Hurstbridge Deli & Larder
Category:
Local brands sold:
Local brands sold:
City Larder
Floridia Cheese
Cunliffe & Waters
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Hurstbridge Deli & Larder is a delicatessen and kitchen offering home style cooked meals, lunches and coffee. They have lots of delicious food such as pasta (fresh homemade as well as dry and frozen), pasta sauces, antipasto, soft & hard cheeses, smoked products, frozen pies, pastries and a small range of specialty meats such as gammon, Irish sausages, steak & double smoked bacon. Much of their food is either homemade or locally sourced. They also do hampers, platters and catering for special occasions to suit all budgets.

They are open 6 days a week: Mon–Fri 8am–6.30pm and Sat 8.30am-6pm.

Kangaroo Ground General Store
Local brands sold:
Township/suburb:
Kangaroo Ground
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Nillumbik Cellars
Category:
Local brands sold:
Coldstream Brewery
Coombe Farm Wines
Yering Station Winery
Township/suburb:
Diamond Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Nillumbik Cellars have been trading for over 30 years and are on hand to provide tasting advice. Promoting great local wines are their speciality and they know the area, the wine makers and, most importantly, the local grape-growing conditions. Albert Di Pietro and his staff conduct regular wine tastings. Nillumbik Cellars also has an adjoining cafe, the Vines Cafe, where you can sit and relax after your wine tasting.

Old Evropa
Products:
Organic, sourdough, European-inspired baked goods
Certified Organic ingredients
Local outlets:
Own shop
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Old Evropa’s products include focaccia classica (with cherry tomato & olive), focaccia nera (olives only), pain ordinaire, pain de campagne, pain de Provence and pain au Levain. All their products are handmade, utilising traditional time-honoured methods, using only the finest organic ingredients. The long fermentation enhances the products’ flavour and makes them suitable for people with gluten sensitivity.

Ratio Cocoa Roasters
Products:
Dark and milk single origin chocolate
Local outlets:
Own shop (Thursday and Friday, 2–10pm; Saturday, 10am–10pm; and Sunday 10am–5pm)
Axil Coffee Roasters, Hawthorn
CIBI, Collingwood
Kind & Godfree, Carlton
Mayday Coffee & Food, Richmond
Providence Melbourne, Surrey Hills
Talk Coffee, Northcote
Wild Things Food, Fitzroy North
Township/suburb:
Brunswick
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Notes (in their own words):

Ratio Cocoa Roasters uses traditional chocolate making techniques and sources the World’s best single origin cacao beans to bring you individually flavored small batch hand crafted chocolate bars. Their cacao beans are sorted to remove any flawed beans then roasted in an antique ball roaster before being cracked & winnowed to remove the husk or shell of the bean. The cacao bean is now in small pieces called cocoa nibs. Their dark chocolate range is a mixture of these cocoa nibs and raw cane sugar (and is therefore vegan). Their milk chocolate range has two additional ingredients: whole milk powder and cocoa butter. The chocolate ranges from 45% to 100% cacao. There are no preservatives or additives. The ingredients are placed in stone grinders for a minimum of 72 hours, during which time the coarse ingredients turn into a smooth liquid. They then block and age the chocolate for a minimum of 3 weeks before it is tempered, poured into moulds then hand wrapped.

They are also a cafe, selling hot chocolates, coffees and sweet treats. They are also the only dedicated chocolate gelato store in Melbourne, with 7 different chocolate gelato on offer (2 vegan). The cafe is open Thursday and Friday, 2–10pm; Saturday, 10am–10pm; and Sunday 10am–5pm.

They also do public tours of their factory on most Fridays and Sundays. $10. Book on EventBrite.

You can read more on the following websites: Artisan Selections, Broadsheet, Good Food, Melbourne Darling, Melbourne LYF, The City Lane, and Urban List.

Rivers of Yarrambat
Local brands sold:
Coldstream Brewery
Cunliffe & Waters
Township/suburb:
Yarrambat
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The Rivers of Yarrambat garden centre includes both a cafe and a farm shop.

The cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon tea every day, 8.30am-4pm. Bookings are recommended.

The shop, which is co-located with the cafe, sells an extensive range of local products.

Shillinglaw Cafe and Restaurant
Category:
Local brands sold:
Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co.
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The Shillinglaw Cottage re-opened in January 2016 under new management and is now a family owned and operated cafe focusing on locally sourced produce, great coffee, chef-made food and friendly service. It offers a dining room and a coffee area as well as an alfresco garden with large children’s sandpit, all shaded by a significant old oak tree. Head Chef Bruno Lima and his team have developed an eclectic and diverse menu, offering fresh, local, free range and organic ingredients where possible. All-day breakfast, lunches, coffee and cakes with gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo options are served, as well as a ‘Little Shillings’ menu for the kids. Open on both week days and weekends. Shillinglaw is also fully licensed and the historical cottage can be hired for private functions.

Shillinglaw is next door to the Eltham Library and close to Alistair Knox park. They are just a short walk from the Eltham town centre and the train station, plus the 902 bus will drop you off at their door.

A little about the history of Shillinglaw cottage, built by pioneers, saved by locals. The cottage was built in 1859 and is constructed from handmade bricks in a Flemish bond pattern. In the 1960s, it was marked for demolition to make way for new council buildings, but a group was formed by the locals to save the cottage. One of the fundraising efforts was the publication of a cookery book “Flavour of Eltham”, which was re-printed four times. Brick by brick, the cottage was dismantled and re-built in its original form in its current location.

Smiths Gully General Store
Local brands sold:
Township/suburb:
Smiths Gully
Municipality:
Nillumbik
That’s Amore Cheese
Products:
Italian-style soft curd cheeses, including mozzarella, caciotta, bocconcini, ricotta, smoked cheese and matured cheese
Local outlets:
Own shop.
Local outlets:
IGA Gervasi Thomastown
Leo’s Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg
Leo’s Fine Food & Wine, Kew
Psarakos Market, Bundoora
Terra Madre, Northcote
Toscano’s Kew
Township/suburb:
Thomastown
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

That’s Amore Cheese cheeses are made using cow or buffalo milk locally sourced in Victoria.

Giorgio Linguanti grew up in Italy and migrated to Australia in 2004. Without a word of English, he got a job in a cheese factory where his interest and passion for making cheese ignited. After his experience in two different cheese factories, Giorgio started his own business, That’s Amore Cheese, in 2008. He began with just one product – bocconcini leaf – but was soon also making burrata and smoked scarmorza. In 2010, That’s Amore Cheese took over Donnybrook’s cheese factory and, in 2015, they moved into a larger facility in Thomastown, which includes a retail outlet.

In their shop/deli, you can find their entire artisan cheese product range made daily in their factory right next door, along with high quality Italian cured meats, olives, local, other cheeses (local and imported), Italian products and fresh bread. You can get ricotta calda (hot ricotta) until 10 am every day. There is also a little cafe where you can enjoy coffee, porchetta, pasta, gnocchi, pizza and different kinds of hot dishes (or take away).

Turners Bakehouse Eatery
Products:
Sourdough bread, pies, cakes and pastries
Local outlets:
Own shop – 7 days a week
Township/suburb:
Mernda
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

Turners Bakehouse Eatery is a historic bakery offering authentic sourdough breads, pies, cakes and pastries baked in its traditional wood fired Scotch oven that was built in the late 1890’s by Charles & Stephenson Turner. After being closed in the 1940’s and left vacant for many years, the bakery has been lovingly restored. Their signature hand-made sourdough is made with a mother culture of wild natural yeast that is over 100 years old and which is fed and cared for daily. Ask for a tour of the bakery.

Yarra Coffee
Products:
Coffee and chai
Certified Organic ingredients
Local outlets:
Brunswick Flea Market
Coburg Night Market
Local brands sold:
Cunliffe & Waters
Township/suburb:
Lilydale
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Yarra Coffee have been roasting coffee for more than 20 years using Arabica coffee beans sourced from around the world. Their range includes certified organic and fairtrade coffee, plus a selection of teas. Their products can be purchased either online or at their cafe, where they also serve coffee, tea, light lunches, cakes and biscuits, plus a range of coffee equipment and accessories. At the cafe, they choose a single origin every week to feature.

They also sell cups of coffee, chai and hot chocolate at selected markets. The coffee uses certified organic and fairtrade coffee. The chai that they blend is also made from certified organic ingredients.

Finally, they wholesale their coffee to cafes and restaurants across the Yarra Valley to Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.

Yarra Organics
Certified Organic
Local brands sold:
Township/suburb:
Templestowe
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

Open Thursday to Saturday (no vegetables on Thursday). As well as a wide range of Certified Organic fruit and vegetables, Yarra Organics also sells grocery products, drinks, treats and dairy products. Everything sold is Certified Organic.

At their cafe, you can enjoy Jasper Organic & Fairtrade coffee and tea with organic milk and soy milk, gourmet pies, homemade delicious cakes, muffins and biscuits. Sit down and enjoy your coffee and treat while the kids play in the indoor play area or explore the outdoor playground. They cater for all dietary requirements with gluten free, egg free, dairy free, nut free, vegetarian and vegan options.

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
Category:
Products:
A wide range of chocolates and ice cream
Local outlets:
Own shop
Township/suburb:
Yarra Glen
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery has over 250 different delectable chocolate delights and related products, including: truffles, pastilles, chocolate bars, nut clusters and rocky road, bush tucker chocolates. They also sell macarons, fudge, nougat, biscuits, chocolate sauces, chocolate spreads, mousse logs and take home ice-cream tubs. The product range features fruits and nuts picked from the Chocolaterie’s own orchard of cherries, plums, apricots, citrus, quince and almonds, locally-sourced provisions and the best quality, Belgian couverture chocolate.

They welcome everyone with free chocolate tastings and displays of thousands of premium chocolates. You can also watch their European chocolatiers at work handcrafting and handpacking their creations. When tastings are done, children are encouraged to roam and explore the Chocolaterie’s lawns, native gardens, orchard and developing wetlands conservation area on their beautiful property. Set on 16 hectares amongst one of Australia’s premium wine regions and surrounded by picturesque Yarra Valley vistas, an emerging orchard and sweeping lawns, the Chocolaterie is an experience the whole family can enjoy.

Finally, stay a while and enjoy the peaceful Yarra Valley views in their cafe. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch or an afternoon treat – their menu features produce from their kitchen garden or sourced from nearby farms. And, of course, desserts, fondue, pastries and ice creams.

Yarra Valley Dairy
Products:
Soft style cheeses, both cow and goat
Local outlets:
Own shop
Croydon Brewery
IGA Yarra Glen
Jefferies, Croydon Hills
Lettuce Inn, Hurstbridge
Mitcham IGA X-press
Paul’s SUPA IGA, Ringwood East
Wandin Valley Produce
Local brands sold:
Asterisk Kitchen
City Larder
Cunliffe & Waters
Dench Bakery
Township/suburb:
Yering
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Most of Yarra Valley Dairy’s cheeses are fresh, soft style cheeses made in a style that reflects the farmhouse cheese of France and Italy, although their mature cheeses have also become an important part of their range. The cheeses are made from cow’s milk from nearby Yarra Valley dairy farms and goat’s milk from Gippsland.

All of their cheeses are available for purchase in their Cheese Shop, alongside a range of carefully selected regional produce and local wines. Cheese plates, together with locally baked fresh breads and various regionally produced charcuterie items, are also available to purchase and eat in. The Cheese Shop is open 10.30am-5:00pm every day (except Christmas Day), and is located in a 100 year-old milking shed with beautiful views of the Yarra Valley. You can also view the making of the cheese through a viewing window.