Journal Café, Melbourne

I found myself with an hour today between meetings at around lunch time. Rather convenient I dare say. I choose to revisit a café that I found a few months back when trying to kill some time on night. Attached to a side of the city library in Flinders Lane, Journal only has two tables, offering a communal eating experience. Suspended from the cafes 14” ceilings above each table hangs a inverted pedestal hosting a manner of reading material from newspapers, magazines, novels and encyclopaedias. The adjacent bar / kitchen stands with a floor to ceiling bookshelves behind, in which the content morphs from books to a neatly arranged panty.

Today I ordered a Caprese Salad and was taken aback by the meal presented. In front of me lay hearty chunks of bright red tomatoes sitting atop of jagged mozzarella balls and basil. Upon presenting my meal the waitress leant over and whispered in my ear “This is my favourite dish … the buffalo mozzarella came in fresh from the farm this morning.” I was certainly impressed for my $11 I wasn’t expecting super fresh ingredients that would cost me more to buy at the market than the meal before me.

On finishing my meal a familiar voice returned … “Farmers market. ST Kilda. 7am. First Saturday of the month. Get in early.” And with that will come a whole new set of adventures ….