'Dear Liz,' read the invitation, 'At V Spot Café, we are passionate about promoting clean eating and nutrient dense, minimally-processed food that is low in sugar and high on taste. We’d love to showcase a delicious range of breakfast items from our menu. With this in mind, we hope you can join us for an intimate evening of Breakfast (our way) for Dinner.' This was one of the more unusual, enticing, and I must say fabulously innovative, invitations I have received in all my many years as a food writer. 'Dear Chrissie,' I replied. 'Thank you for your kind invitation. Wow! What a clever idea. Yes, I'll be there with bells on!' The menu for the Breakfast for Dinner event was interesting, delicious and nourishing. It included:
I had the opportunity to catch up with Chrissie after the event. Our conversation appears below: Chrissie, thank you again for inviting me to your Breakfast for Dinner event, it was such a pleasure to meet you and your daughter, and sample your delicious food. My pleasure! Please tell me a little about your background: where did you live originally and how long have you been a chef working in Canberra? I was born in Narrandera in New South Wales, and came to Canberra about a thousand years ago to work as an apprentice chef at The Tower Restaurant for Theo Moulis, who also owned Bacchus Tavern, the first real restaurant I ever went to. After my apprenticeship, I worked front of house. As a people person, I really enjoyed the interaction with customers. I also worked at Peaches and Rascals, as well as numerous other cafes, bars and restaurants. What is the inspiration behind V Spot Café and how long ago did you open? My position was made redundant in March 2013 and, although I was devastated at the time, it did give me an opportunity to think about what I really wanted to do. My kids had finished school and were quite independent, so I considered what I wanted rather than what I needed to do. I had always loved hospitality and figured this was a good time to go back. I wanted to create a happy place where people ( staff, suppliers, customers) were valued above all, where the food was minimally processed, healthy and delicious and the coffee really good. The decision to go vegetarian/vegan was based on three things: the lack of a full commercial kitchen, my recent love affair with raw food and my view that Canberra had very few modern Australian style vegetarian eateries. Tell me a little about your food philosophy and the menu at V Spot... I love food! Creating it and eating it. I aim to provide real, clean, nutrient dense, minimally processed food with minimal sugar. I prefer to use locally sourced and ethically produced ingredients. I believe that food should be fun, healthy, joyful, not too time consuming and not something to stress about. Our menu reflects that. We have lots of gluten free options ,as more and more people are avoiding gluten because they are intolerant or just feel better without it. Tell me about some of the locally produced foods that you sell... I am a proud Canberran and think we have some fantastic producers here. We use Lindsay & Edmunds chocolate, The Fix: cold pressed juice, The Muesli Bar muesli, Veganarchy baked treats, Deek's bread and Real Chai. I love encouraging and promoting young Canberrans as well. Who are your food heroes and why? Jamie Oliver because he isn't pretentious. Janella Purcell for her amazing wholefood plant based recipes. Mimi Kirk, Mal Valcorza, Russell James - for creating simple, nutrient dense, beautiful health giving food raw food recipes. I probably have cook books by 100s of others too. When it comes to cookbooks, do you like the pages to be kept pristine, or splattered with oil and other good things? Pristine. I'm a bit OCD! Is there a (short) recipe you’d like to share with my readers? Yes! Chia Seed Pudding: Soak about 30g chia seeds and 3 chopped Medjool dates in about 1 cup milk or Mylk overnight in the fridge. Next morning add fruit, nuts, seeds, yogurt, LSA or whatever you like. An easy protein packed breakfast or anytime snack, And finally, what’s for dinner at your place tonight? LOL - leftover sausage on toast with tomato sauce! Yum! The kids are both out. : ) Postcards from our Breakfast for Dinner... V Spot Café is located on the Corner of City Walk and Petrie Plaza in Canberra city. For opening hours, menus and more about the venue, visit the web site. You'll also find them on Twitter and Facebook. Tell me dear readers, have you ever eaten breakfast for dinner? And local readers, have you been to the V-Spot
Café in Canberra city? 5/9/2014 01:03:43 am
I have eaten breakfast at any time of day I feel like it, lol! Especially if I'm craving for something that's supposed to be for brekky. Was that the Turbo Fairy Bread atop the cup of coffee photo? Looks delish!!!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:32:34 am
Hi Julie, the turbo fairy bread was GF bread spread with ABC (Almond, Brazil and Cashew nut paste), topped with chia seeds!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:32:47 am
Jamie, I so agree with you!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:33:05 am
Oh yes, do please stop in and say hello to Chrissie and her team. 5/9/2014 01:19:29 pm
Cute little tastes. I don't usually eat breakfast in the morning but it's great at dinner time!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:33:40 am
Hiya Lorraine... I'd faint if I skipped breakfast.... and sometimes we do just have something simple for dinner.
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:33:53 am
Thanks Amanda, they sure were!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:34:06 am
Hi Adri, thanks ever so much!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:34:20 am
So true, Maureen! : ) 6/9/2014 04:24:17 am
There really should be no rules about who eats what when. I do live there idea about having a breakfast launch at dinner a great idea and yummy looking food
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:34:40 am
I hear you, Tania... the food was/is yummy and so healthy too! 6/9/2014 05:13:34 pm
I love the concept of breakfast for dinner! Just the other day, I had pancakes for dinner...yum!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:34:50 am
Nice idea, Amanda : ) 7/9/2014 02:04:19 pm
i will put V Spot on my list of plces to eat at next time go to canberra. i wish we had a place like V spot in hobart - their menu and philosphy is so enticing and positive.
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:35:03 am
Absolutely, Elizabeth : )
I haven’t been to the V-spot cafe, but it sounds great. And lovely to see something new in the good old Centrepoint Arcade!
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:35:32 am
Beck, you made me smile... I would happily eat pancakes for dinner, now and then! 15/9/2014 11:03:04 am
I love reading stories where jobs finish, redundancies happen & you think at the time your choices are limited, but whallahhh..... something magic happens & a new road opens up. Love this V Spot & thanks lovely Lizzie for such an awesome write up, sounds like a beautiful little gem of a cafe, one I have to get to quick smart.
Lizzy
16/9/2014 06:36:04 am
So true, isn't Anna... one door closes another opens! Yes, do pop in for a nibble! It's great food! And a great venue! Comments are closed.
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Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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