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Wholefoods kitchen Rough & Bare sprouts up on the north shore

SERVING fermented foods and bone broth to go, new St Leonards cafe Rough & Bare will have your gut bacteria jumping up and down for joy.

Rough & Bare lands in St Leonards.
Rough & Bare lands in St Leonards.

SERVING fermented foods and bone broth to go, this new St Leonards cafe will have your gut bacteria jumping up and down for joy.

The new venue, called Rough & Bare, prides itself on being 100 per cent gluten and refined sugar free, with a menu based on nutrient-dense wholefoods.

Owner and chef, Anthony Milotic. Photo: Julian Andrews.
Owner and chef, Anthony Milotic. Photo: Julian Andrews.

While the philosophy doesn’t sound particularly salivating, you will be surprised at what they’ve managed to do with fresh seasonal produce and a few seeds and grains.

“Taste is one of the most important things for us. I’ve been to so many cafes that serve a healthy menu and the food is just bland and unappetising,” says Rough & Bare owner and chef, Anthony Milotic.

Not just a post yoga breakfast spot, Anthony has worked hard to create an approachable menu for all occasions, from energised office lunch breaks to leisurely social brunching.

Bread and butter-free pudding with almond praline and beetroot cashew cream.
Bread and butter-free pudding with almond praline and beetroot cashew cream.

“We haven’t specified whether the dishes are vegan, paleo, vegetarian etc, we wanted it to read like any other cafe menu.”

All the main brunch food groups are represented, from bacon and eggs to waffles and sautéed mushrooms on toast, albeit with a wholefoods makeover.

Rashes of bacon are traded up for a twice-cooked pork belly, served with poached eggs, sweet potato hummus, a kale and fennel salad and seed cracker.

Pork belly and eggs.
Pork belly and eggs.

Waffles are, of course, gluten-free, and come with rhubarb purée, a walnut and almond crumble and coconut ice-cream.

Clean eaters will recognise their superfood squad, from acai to kale, quinoa, chia and maca, as well as a whole range of fermented and cultured foods.

Caffeine gets the green light, with Rough & Bare serving organic and fair trade coffee with all your favourite alt-milks.

For everyone else there’s brothee, a hot cup of bone broth made with turmeric and lemon.

Designed by Giant Designs studio, the new Albany St space is clean and bright, with a pared back palette of polished concrete and natural timbers.

Apple crumble waffles with rhubarb purée and coconut ice-cream.
Apple crumble waffles with rhubarb purée and coconut ice-cream.

The back wall is splashed with a colourful mural of a woman with birds and butterflies in her hair, while the sides are flanked with health food products, from hemp seeds to bamboo straws and tongue cleaners.

Despite early days, Rough & Bare seems to have hit the mark in St Leonards, with the new cafe buzzing with fresh-faced and glowing patrons.

Following on from the success of both the Mona Vale and St Leonards outposts, Anthony plans to launch a third and fourth venue over the next 12 months.

Details
What: Rough & Bare
When: 3/9 Albany St, St Leonards
Where: Mon — Sun 7am — 4pm
Web: roughandbare.com.au
Instagram: @roughandbare


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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/mosman-daily/wholefoods-kitchen-rough-bare-sprouts-up-on-the-north-shore/news-story/cf80c54c9725a64931daf70617fdcae0