Flour & Chocolate, Morningside

the new 'it' bakery.

where // flour & chocolate, 4g/621 wynnum rd, morningside

 this unassuming patisserie has been the talk of the town since it started to serve the cronut (croissant-donut hybrids). unfortunately i missed out on them (they're now called gonuts due to copyright issues) as they only serve them on wednesdays and thursdays. on the bright side, they have $4 brownie day as well as bagels on fridays, as well as other specials on the weekend.

 when // friday afternoon

what // as i said above, friday is brownie and bagel day. i tried to show some self restraint so picked up two brownies, two bagels, a croissant and a little savoury tart for lunch.

pumpkin, spinach and feta tart (5.5) it would have been nice to have it served warm, but i was headed home anyway so popped it in the oven. generous with the feta which is a plus, but a bit light on the spinach. in any case, you can't really go wrong with this mix of flavours.

buttery biscuit brownie (4) the brownie itself was fudgy and delicious, i'm not sure that the biscuit added too much to it - i kind of just wished there was more brownie instead of the biscuit!

double choc brownie with white choc chip (4) richer and more fudgy than the first brownie. absolutely delicious. it's so rich that it's difficult to finish in one sitting - but that just means it lasted for longer.

black sesame seed and onion bagel (1.8) my first venture into the world of flavoured bagels. this was a lovely light lunch coupled with a smear of cream cheese. the onion was flavoursome without being overpowering.

caraway rock salt bagel (1.8) i suppose i should have been forewarned by the name, but i found the salt quite overpowering. it would have been better with some less salty filling.

almond & raspberry jam croissant (4.5) i didn't eat this one myself, but the person who did rated it well.

verdict // the brownies were a hit, as was the onion bagel and the tart. despite the long journey to morningside, i definitely plan to return to sample the gonuts and more of their brownies.

info // they open wed-fri 6.30-4pm, sat 6.30-1pm and sun 7-1pm. gonuts are on offer wed-thu, with brownies and bagels on friday and specialty breads on the weekend.

links // http://www.flourandchocolate.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/FlourAndChocolate
 

Hamptons Home Living, Paddington

a ridiculously gorgeous café interior and a killer balcony view.

where // hamptons home living, 180 latrobe terrace, paddington

 as a combined homewares store and café, it's no wonder hamptons home living is as beautiful as it is. the unassuming facade gives way to a bright, spacious interior which has a rustic yet contemporary feel. head straight for the rear balcony to enjoy the beautiful views over brisbane.

 when // yet another sunny day for afternoon tea

what // they do breakfasts and lunches with meals mostly under $20. on this occasion, we just stopped by for a sweet treat.

flat white (3.8) the coffee wasn't too bad - probably not as much strength as i'd like. it also came with chocolate sprinkled on top. (fortunately i love chocolate!)

apple tarte tatin (8) honestly, it's hard for me not to like dessert. this one was no exception with a lovely crisp base and icecream setting off the tang of the apples wonderfully.

verdict // the ambiance of hamptons alone is enough to get me going back again. i've read mixed reviews about their food, however, so i'll have to reserve judgement on that. but i can highly recommend it as a nice place to hang out on a lazy afternoon.

info // hamptons is open 7 days a week from 7am, with lunch starting at 12. its located at the far end of latrobe terrace (from the city) and there's parking on nearby streets.

links // http://www.hamptonshomeliving.com.au/
 

El Divo Espresso Bar, Taringa

a tiny café to relax in and watch the world go by.

where // el divo espresso bar, 82 swann rd, taringa

it's easy to miss this espresso bar as you drive along the winding and hilly swann road. situated in the heart of taringa on the corner of princess st, the coffee shop is a wooden deck with a few benches and tables, a counter from which the coffee is served and a fridge for homely light snacks. it's certainly a handy place for uni students who want to venture out close to campus. located right next door is the the diva lounge, a day spa.

 when // on a beautiful sunny afternoon - a great place to enjoy the queensland weather

what // in addition to the titular coffee, they offer a range of baked goodies (including gluten free varieties) as well as light café fare including sandwiches, crostata and wraps. i unfortunately neglected to snap the cute chalkboard menu, but i am keen to try out their arancini.

flat white (3.5) as a self-proclaimed espresso bar, you'd want the coffee to be good. el divo delivered on this front - my flat white was lovely.

baked goods (3) white choc and raspberry slice (gf) and choc macadamia brownie. as someone who often finds cake servings too big and too pricy, these were the perfect accompaniment to the coffee. i also love that they were served on a wooden board - a nice touch.

verdict // albeit short, i did enjoy my visit to el divo espresso bar. part of its charm is its isolation from other shops or other cafés - perfect for a day time place to relax or even study. swann rd can be congested during peak hour - i'm not sure it would be so pleasant if traffic were busy. however, i'll definitely pop back for coffee and snacks in future. 

info // el divo has really great, long opening hours. it's open mon-fri 6am-5pm to cater to the office crowd, and 7am-4pm on weekends. lots of street parking available. 

links // www.facebook.com/eldivocafe