Our Breakfast Club

Source Foods, Northbridge

Eco-friendly breakfast on the footpath

Come a sunny Sunday morning we all converged on the corner of Beaufort and Brisbane Street to engage in some delightful organic fare. Source Foods is located at 4/289 Beaufort St Northbridge, adjacent to the Brisbane Hotel. Source is a café whose philosophy is based on sustainability behind every dish. This is evident in the menu that not only informs you of gluten free and vegan options but also how far your food has traveled and its ecological footprint. How about a bit of green info with your bacon, “yes please,” we say.

Guest bloggers Arielle, Tim and Bosco the dog joined us on our breakfast club adventure. Suz and David rode their bicycles in (one on a completely flat tyre – whoops), a fresh start to the morning. Nat and Jet arrived first and realised that thanks to our fluffy poodle friend (who has the best dog afro we have ever seen) we would have to sit outside. Outside seats are at a premium with four tables pushed up against the wall. We ended up with the Beaufort St side, which made the whole breakfast experience slightly like sitting next to a highway. No fault of Source but a bit grating none the less. It has to be said though the staff were very accommodating letting us push tables and chairs to and fro and letting another dog owning couple bring a table outside. None of the “that chair must stay there or the café will explode” mentality which can be typical of other stuffy establishments.

• 1x Abhi’s Fruit and Nut Toast w/ butter – $7.50
• 2x Spinach feta scramble – $16.00ea
• 2x Poached eggs on toast + bacon – $9.50 + $5
• 1x Big Eco w/ beans instead of tomato – $18
• 1x ‘Health Nut’ juice
• Many coffees, range from $3.30ea to $4.30ea

The food came out quite quickly and the wait staff were tops, conveying a very relaxed, “we make ceramics and frolic on the beach in our spare time” vibe. We had no complaints about the food, except for the fruit toast, which Arielle noted was a bit dry and heavy. The menu makes special mention that the toast has won various awards, the nuts are different, but as a whole the meal is mostly just dry and heavy.

David and Jet hit the spinach feta scramble which was large and filling, we’d recommend it if you’re hungry. Suz and Natalie ordered the poached eggs with a side of bacon. A special note goes to the bacon: the girls hoed into it and declared it really yummy. Bosco the dog also got a great treat of wrapping his chops around some of it when Jet (who is a vegetarian it must be noted) nicked some from Nat’s plate. This was the best day of Bosco’s life. Everything else was very fresh and well cooked in the large kitchen behind the counter.

The coffee was rich and smooth but some came out a bit cold. No orange juice was ordered on this particular morning adventure, so we can’t report whether it’s freshly squeezed or bottled. We’d hope freshly squeezed. Tim did opt for what we like to call a ‘dirt juice’, aka Health Nut, with apple, carrot, beetroot, ginger, and chlorophyll. It tastes like you would expect, but it perfect for the soul. There are a range of juices in the fridge inside as well as organic chocolate bars if you’re in the mood for something sweet but not from the menu. A daily spread of muffins and other sweet treats are available in the display cabinet.

Source Foods was an enjoyable dining experience, with tasty and eco-friendly food. It must be noted though that feeling a carefree sense of kindness to the environment comes at a price. The breakfasts are on the expensive side and if you want to add on you are looking at a brekky that will reach the $20 mark very quickly. But can you put a price on good karma? The Breakfast Club will leave you with that.

PS – If you’re interested in little ways you can be a more eco-friendly human, from changing light bulbs to shopping at grower’s market, check out our friends at CleanLife. Click on “Clean tips” and “E-mail tip archive” on the navigation bar and see how little changes can make a huge difference on our delicate planet.

Highs: Eco-friendly options, friendly staff, delicious food
Lows: Pricey – but good for your soul, fruit and nut bread is Dry McDry
Our Breakfast Club’s final score: 7/10 coffee mugs

One Response to “Source Foods, Northbridge”

1. Hannah says:

   Monday, May 10 10 at 10:03 pm

   Funnily enough, I have never been tempted by the nut bread…

   Because I am so in love with Source’s fresh-made baked beans, the ‘Vegan Heaven’ has my vote – with the ‘Eggs in a Daze’ at a close second. Thanks so much for sharing your review!

   H