Camp Hill’s Florence Cafe offers plenty, just not for the carnivore

A NEW eastside Brisbane cafe is welcome news for the vegetarians, pescetarians and even vegans out there, but not so great for meat-loving men (and women).

Florence Cafe, in Martha St, is the new dining spot in Camp Hill. Picture AAP/David Clark

JUST as women should never drag their man along shopping with them (ladies, they don’t want to be there and they’re just going to tell you that you look great in everything so they actually make it back to the car alive); I’m beginning to think they should stop taking them to brunch.

Unless, of course, that brunch menu has an abundant big breakfast or more meat offerings than a country pub.

You see, the majority of blokes in Australia are still diehard carnivores, but the modern menus of today’s cafes are doing away with meat in favour of bowls full of everything from unpronounceable exotic fruits to twisted, curled and fermented vegetables; and avo on toast that wouldn’t fill a two-year-old, let alone a hungry fella.

Florence, the latest addition to Camp Hill’s popular dining scene, is one such modern cafe.

Florence Cafe offers footpath dining.

The cosy venture tucked into a renovated old cottage with white VJs, a large, central communal table, footpath seating and a deli/larder at the rear, serves up a beautiful array of wholesome and interesting dishes. Think three grain porridge with rhubarb in rose syrup and a rose and pepita brittle or cannoli stuffed with whipped vanilla ricotta, burnt orange, macadamia and citrus syrup; along with their signature bowl of ferments, greens, raw and roasted veg, legumes and seed loaf. But there’s a reason every bloke in the room is tucking into the meatball baguette during our visit for brunch.

While you can add bacon for an extra $5 to any meal or beef ragout for $6, the baguette and the house pasta are the only meaty dishes available.

This is certainly welcome news for the vegetarians, pescetarians and even vegans out there, just not so great for meat-loving men (and women).

If a lack of beef, chicken, lamb or pork on your fork isn’t an issue, though, there’s plenty to love about Florence.

With a passion for local organic and sustainable producers, the ingredients are gobsmackingly fresh, while they have created their own range of housemade preserves, pickles, jams, chutneys and cheeses, all available for purchase from the larder, which are used generously throughout the menu.

Cauliflower bhaji and the rolled omelet.

The omelet ($19) is filled with a blend of leek, spinach and sliced asparagus under a blanket of grated ricotta salata and tangled pea shoots, while smears of an umami-rich walnut spread on the accompanying sourdough dominate the delicate dish.

The winner, though, is the cauliflower bhaji or fritters ($18). The Indian-inspired deep-fried florets of cauliflower are terrific, little crunchy nuggets of just-cooked veg, perfect when rolled up in the crepe-like millet dosa with the accompanying pineapple and tamarind chutney and vibrant green goddess dressing.

Coffee comes from Albion’s Parallel Roasters and is smooth and well made, while there’s an array of cold drinks including kombucha, a beautiful lemon and lime kefir and vegan smoothies, such as a cucumber and kale-heavy green version with mango, pineapple and coconut water.

With warm, engaging and accommodating service, Florence is a lady Camp Hill residents are sure to be happy to get to know. It might just need a bit more meat to get the carnivores rushing in.

FLORENCE CAFE

54 Martha St, Camp Hill

0491 075 772

florence-cafe.com

Open Mon-Fri 6am-3pm, Sat-Sun 7am-3pm

VERDICT

Food 7

Service 8

Ambience 7.5

Value 7

If you like this try … Jam Pantry, 2/575 Logan Rd, Greenslopes