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CERES (the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) is a community environment project that “…exists to initiate and support environmental sustainability, social equity, cultural richness and community participation”mission statement.

Located next to the Merri Creek in urban Brunswick East, it is a green haven of good ideas and great intention. It is a place to learn about sustainable living and alternative methods of energy, grow and eat organic produce, have a cultural experience, take part in a community project / weekend workshop, or attend the food/craft market on Saturday. And that is just a very small list of what CERES achieves.

As a somewhat self-confessed foodie, I think it is a great place to source some wonderful seasonal produce and purchase some kickarse artisan breads. As a person who is interested in how our footprint impacts this earth, I find it inspiring. I have only been there twice, but I think the place is just fab. I wish more communities would aim to achieve such collaborative spirit as I have witnessed there.

Anyway, this particular Saturday started off with breakfast at the CERES cafe. As the cafe is in an outdoor garden setting (covered by a veranda or marquee), it can be a little exposed to the elements. So in the cooler months, don the winter woollies and you’ll be just fine.

I am such a sucker for a well intentioned cafe latte, and this proved wonderfully tasty as well. The barista said they used an organic coffee called Coffee Supreme. It was a very smooth blend and possibly the best organic coffee I’ve tasted.

I had the Basmati breakfast, a porridge of basmati rice spiced generously with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. It was studded with plump currants and dried apricots and topped with a toasted mixture of coconut, pepitas and almonds. Served with pure honey on the side, it was seriously stomach warming. It is the kind of dish the old adage “stick to your ribs” would apply to. Anyway, it was perfect fare for a chilly Melbourne morning.

My breakfast companion had the hot Indonesian eggs breakfast, which consisted of fried free-range organic eggs (layed on the premises by very happy chooks) on white rice with a chilli sambal, spring onions, mint, coriander, sweet soy, crushed peanuts and salad greens. They said it was “fresh, crisp, healthy and not too overpowering”. I think it looked stunning, and something I would love to try on a warmer day.

We also shared the fruit toast, which was accompanied by house made organic apricot jam. I mistakenly though the jam was plum as it was quite dark and intense. It was nice, but I much prefer a lighter apricot jam (both in colour and taste).

After breakfast we wandered up to the market. All of the produce is organic and most is grown/sourced locally. CERES is also initiating a fantastic Urban Orchard project, which aims to harvest fruit/nut trees from homes in the area. The produce is then donated/sold to CERES for sale at the market. You can read an article that appeared in the local Leader newspaper here. What a brilliant idea.

Can you get any fresher than this? Happy apples and pears and super crisp greens just begging to be consumed. Curly kale, cos lettuce, silverbeet and spinach. Pink Ladies, Fujis, Johnathans, Granny Smiths and Packhams. Mmm.

This is the artisan bread shop. Better than a Brumbys or Bakers Delight, eh? Lots of sour doughs and bread products, such as sour dough croissants (I haven’t tried this one as it just goes against all conventional thinking), biscuits, muffins, danishes etc.

I purchased the following breads:

• Baker D.Chirico Fruit Loaf (top right corner). Incredibly dark and dense, this is no half arsed fruit loaf peppered sporadically with mingey sultanas and currants. This loaf is chock full of dried apricots, figs and dates, and is brick-heavy in weight. In my opinion it is a bread for toasting and consuming warm - my choice of topping, ricotta and honey. By the way, you can read a very interesting article on Baker D.Chirico here.
• St.Andrews Rosemary & Olive
  Loaf (bottom left). A long, wide loaf of bread, it is generously filled with crushed kalamata olives and sprigs of rosemary. I was quite happy to eat this unaccompanied. Delish.
• Purebread Bakery Casalinga (bottom right). Mmm. It was chewy and dense with the perfect amount of sour. A beautiful looking loaf as well.

So with my bags full of bread and my heart filled with joy, I left CERES wishing I had something similar to participate in closer to home. Hmm.

Written by mellie on May 20th, 2006 | Tags: restaurants | Category: Uncategorized |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL