The other morning, I went all the way to uni for a 10am lecture only to discover, along with 3 others, that there was in fact no class on due to assessments. I’ve been telling myself all semester that I really, really should start checking my uni email daily, and now having learnt the hard way I think I will.
A similar situation landed me, and 3 others, at Double Roasters a couple of weeks ago. I’d suggested to my friend Skye, my Mum and Mum’s friend Denise that we go to Cornersmith in Marrickville, as they are all into made-from-scratch cooking and the cafe is known for it’s homemade mantra. However upon arrival, I was reminded by the sign on the door that every Monday they are closed for pickling. Reluctant to lunch somewhere subpar, we asked the lovely ladies at Cornersmith for a nearby recommendation, and Double Roasters was their first suggestion. So, we bid the smell of sweet brewing strawberry jam goodbye, and headed just around the corner to Victoria Street.
salad, $9.50 vegetarian, $12.50 with poached chicken
Warehouse cafes can feel unwelcoming with all their industrial chic-ness, but theres nothing more reassuring in a cafe than a display of house made baked goods, and here the glass counter houses an appealing selection. The savoury menu is brief but not boring, with some solid sandwich offerings plus daily changing panini’s. Three of us ordered the one and only salad,with rocket, cherry tomato, roast pumpkin, capsicum and goats curd tossed in a lemony house dressing. For some protein completion I added poached chicken, which went nicely with the generous sprinkle of pine nuts.
poached chicken sandwich, rocket, tomato, avocado salsa & mayo $8.50
Denise opted for the poached chicken sandwich with rocket, tomato and avocado salsa on gf grainy bread supplied by Naturally Gluten Free. A side of sautéed mushrooms also proved surprisingly delicious, juicy, herbed and garlicky, and worth ordering just on their own.
side of mushrooms, $4
As the name suggests, Double Roasters’ main focus is on coffee. The ’boutique roasting site’ has an extensive list of beans for sale, both brewed and in take-home bags, many from far away lands with fancy descriptions. I enjoyed a sweet, nutty latte with a sprinkle of rapadura sugar, provided in place of regular white.
peanutbutter blondie, $3.50
And the perfect way to accompany a good coffee? With butter laden sugary baked carbs, of course! More specifically, a peanut butter blondie and a caramel slice. Peanut butter things can sometimes fail to live up to their name, with too subtle a flavour, but this was the perfect specimen of salty-not too sweet-fudgyness. The caramel slice is texturally spot on too, with a perfect ratio of buttery biscuit base, thick dulce de leche and dark chocolate top. I strongly suggest ordering both and eating them simultaneously.
caramel slice, $3.50
I’d happily accidentally, or purposefully, come by Double Roasters again. Not uni though.
