A major facet of this is the enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge is Melbourne’s attitude towards locally sourced food and drink. Hootan Heyderi, co-owner of A Minor Place and the new Wide Open Road is very open about the passion which has focused his attention towards Brunswick in particular. “People are getting to know their coffee more and there’s this level of appreciation coming up, that we want to be part of, where it’s almost like wine, where people go out and actually recognise the different coffees that are out there and recognise what country and what region they’re from.” And he is not the only independent cafe owner in Brunswick who is reaping the benefits of a vibrant cafe culture in the Melbourne suburbs.
Only a stone’s throw from my residence on the corner of Donald Street/Sydney Road, Minimo has been serving up wholesome modern Italian home cooking, along with a selection of locally sourced coffees, for almost four years, and over this time it has built up a reputation as one of the best independent cafes in Brunswick. Owner and chef Claudio enthuses “When Melbournites come back from holiday, the first thing they ask is, “How was the coffee?” We do the same thing when we speak to people who have been abroad.”
This attitude towards food and drink is further emphasised by the warm atmosphere as you walk in with Claudio greeting you like an old family friend. As I take my seat and peruse the fine food on the today’s menu, Claudio takes the time to come over, tell me about the food, and generally pass the time of day. “In the city, they have a captive audience. Who walks past our place? Who walks past A Minor Place? We have to do something extraordinary to get people out of the city. But, we get people in from all over the city, and these little cafes are destination places. They come this far out of the city just to eat here. We have to keep on our toes, or we won’t survive. Simple as.”
Added to this is Minimo’s insistence on locally sourced goods. “We get our eggs in Coburg, our fruit and veg is sourced from the Yarra Valley, we use a butcher on Sydney Road. We have a policy that we don’t get anything which is from more than 100 kilometres from here,” notes Claudio. “It’s always a challenge for us to see how many things we can actually make ourselves. It’s not rocket science; you go to certain places in the city, and they get everything bought in, then they wonder why people don’t come back. People want something special, they want something cooked with passion, and we provide that; that’s why we’re busy!”
Situated in the relatively faceless north end of Sydney Road, Claudio and his partner Colleen cite word of mouth as the key to their success. As a business model, Minimo is working fantastically, and with the owners of A Minor Place having just opened a new cafe on Barkly Place, the independent café scene is looking into a brighter future. Later on this year, Minimo is closing for renovations which could see them expand into a courtyard around the back of the premises. Claudio also runs cooking classes that take place every Tuesday, and there are plans to arrange excursions to Italy for an immersive cooking experience.
Who says you need to go abroad to sample culinary delights? In Melbourne, at least, it is reassuring to know that good cooking and a genuine passion for food and drink can be just around the corner.
Minimo
822 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
9383 2083
A Minor Place
103 Albion St, Brunswick
aminorplace.com.au
