Introducing Bootsy Collins, possibly the luckiest chook in Melbourne. Her owners, Jess and Dean, carry her around in a special Thai-made chicken carrying basket. She’s a beautiful chicken, a wyandotte, and she has the nature of a Persian cat. I first noticed her when I spotted Dean furtively dropping little pieces of bread into his bag. The bag responded with a cluck!Bootsy frequents one of my favourite cafés, just down the road from my work in St Kilda, Neighbours, makers of a consistently-perfect café latte.
I’m spoiled for choice with cafés locally. There are so many good ones in fact, that I gravitate towards the ones with a special something. These are my top 3, in no particular order.
1. NEIGHBOURS CAFE. Corner Chapel Street and Inkerman Street, St Kilda.
Perfect coffee. Check.
Nice people. Check.
Special something: They have a fab outdoor area with real grass and dogs are welcome! Great chicken salad (sorry Bootsy).
2. UNTITLED CAFE. 544 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick.
Perfect coffee. Check.
Nice people. Check.
Special something: They have their own art supplies store. They provide paints, paper and brushes for the kids. They screen vintage Disney cartoons non-stop. What’s not to like? Oh, and they run life-drawing and soup nights – the husband is there as we speak.
3. MONK BODHI DHARMA. Rear 202 Carlisle Street, Balaclava.
Perfect coffee. Check.
Nice people. Check.
Special something: There are usually friendly dogs lounging outside. It’s so darn cute, having been a bakery in the 1920s – like a mini warehouse hidden in a carpark. The food, all vegetarian, is drool-worthy. AND… once a week the staff spend the day in fancy dress for ‘dress up Tuesday’.
Have a most excellent weekend folks. Recipes coming soon. Oh, and just in case you’re unfamiliar with Bootsy Collins’ namesake, check out this.
Perfect coffee. Check.
Nice people. Check.
Special something: They have a fab outdoor area with real grass and dogs are welcome! Great chicken salad (sorry Bootsy).
2. UNTITLED CAFE. 544 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick.
Perfect coffee. Check.
Nice people. Check.
Special something: They have their own art supplies store. They provide paints, paper and brushes for the kids. They screen vintage Disney cartoons non-stop. What’s not to like? Oh, and they run life-drawing and soup nights – the husband is there as we speak.
3. MONK BODHI DHARMA. Rear 202 Carlisle Street, Balaclava.
Perfect coffee. Check.
Nice people. Check.
Special something: There are usually friendly dogs lounging outside. It’s so darn cute, having been a bakery in the 1920s – like a mini warehouse hidden in a carpark. The food, all vegetarian, is drool-worthy. AND… once a week the staff spend the day in fancy dress for ‘dress up Tuesday’.
Have a most excellent weekend folks. Recipes coming soon. Oh, and just in case you’re unfamiliar with Bootsy Collins’ namesake, check out this.
Great post. I wish I lived near you. Would love to meet Bootsy!
Thanks Tania. I do start the day with a big cheesy grin if I’ve been lucky enough to say Good Morning to Bootsy.
How gorgeous is her basket.
I know! It would look good with a bottle of wine in it too, or flowers…
Those chook baskets look ace. We have 3 chooks but one is so fat there is no way she would fit in that slimline basket, unless they come in extra large. Her name is Fat Choc. Am hoping to cook your lamb/ spinachy/ pine nut thing over the week-end…thanks for all the excellent recipes.
Fat Choc sounds gorgeous! I always wonder how rotund chickens manage to balance on those scrawny legs. Enjoy the lamb rice.