Earl Canteen is about Real food

EARL Canteen
500 Bourke Street (enter via Lt Bourke)
Melbourne, 3000
(03) 9600 1995
Website
Google map

There has been a lot of buzz on tweetverse lately about Earl Canteen, the baby of both Jackie and Simon. I was also very fortunate to be invited to the launch of Earl where I met Duncan (Syrup & Tang), the macaron man, in person! I was over the moon, star struck and speechless.

So what makes this little hip cafe on 500 Bourke Street so irresistible and different from the many cafes around Melbourne CBD?

Question and Answers:

Q1. Tell me a little more about yourself (Jackie) and Simon.

A1. Both of us have been in the hospitality industry all our working lives. Simon has worked and specialised in high end restaurants just like Rockpool Bar & Grill and before that, worked as a Sommeliar at Circa. As for myself, I was a food stylist and menu designer/consultant for more fast paced type places.

Q2. What is the philosophy of Earl Canteen?

A2. It is rumoured that Earl of Sandwich was the one that invented sandwiches. It has a humorous catch to it. We wanted something quite fun and memorable. The word ‘real’ came out when playing around with Earl. And that is what Earl is about as well. Serving real food. We make our own mayonaisse with Green Eggs. Our meats are free range of high end restaurant quality, for example, the Ottway pork for our pork belly sandwiches. And also we try to have low impact on the environment. Our packaging comes from 2 suppliers in Sydney. The lunchboxes are made from sugarcane and corn starch. Even our straws is made from a material called PLA which is corn base and not oil base.

Q3. You have opened not too long ago. How has the journey been so far?

A1. It has been really good. So much support from friends and also the food blogging community. This is the first commercial kitchen that I have worked in and needs a lot of getting used to. But it has been very exhilarating experience. I will be blogging about the quirky and funny quotes from bloggers and customers. 

Q4. What makes Earl Canteen unique to the many cafes around the Melbourne CBD?

A5. It goes back to our philosophy of this place. We source and serve using ingredients that are used in high end restaurants. It will be hard to find another cafe that uses the produce that we use.

Q5. Tell me a little more about the catering side of Earl. Is there a specific menu?

A5. There is a menu but it is ever changing. We will also adapt and change according to the needs of the client. There is always room for customisation. We have done a few caterings so far and the word is spreading. But as Earl Canteen is operating, our menu is one of ethnics. We are trying not to leave too much carbon footprint behind.

Q6. Why are you so passionate about food? What is it so important?

A6. Life is too to eat bad food. And it feels good when good food is consumed. And cooking to me is like a creative outlet. I have never really thought of myself as a creative person but cooking gives me that feeling. It takes stress away.

(I definitely can relate to this totally – There is a certain calmness that cooking brings to me, personally)

Q8. What is your favourite comfort food and why?

A8. Roast lamb. Reminds of mum’s Sunday roast lamb with cauliflower and cheese. The aromas of the roast, the family sitting together for a meal, all these bearutiful childhood memories. It is very comforting. We did have a lamb sandwich special which was sticky lamb and peas. And also coming up may be a corn beef sandwich which we are trying to source and pick up some really good corn beef.

Q9. What will your last meal be?

A9. I have very fond memories of trawling school prawns with Dad when I was a kid. I have to say it will be a kg of the freshest cooked school prawns with aioli and a glass of champagne. Simple wholesome goodness.

Q10. Might be early but any future plans?

A10. We do have plans for more Earl Canteens. Canteen also means feeding people in local areas. And feeding food that you will want to eat at home. Still early days. But first, we need to nurture this baby before thinking of more babies.

Earl Canteen is opened from Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch only.

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So what is my verdict on the food? Was it really good or a hype that is created by the industry and bloggers?

@tristankenney and I made a trip down to Earl Canteen for breakfast one early Friday morning. We both ordered the Earl crumpets and it was served with a side of lemon curd and jam. All the elements are made in house. No store bought dodgy jam or curd. The curd was the winner for me. Sweet, tangy and silky goodness. So dangerous tempting and evil.

** My photo does it no justice. And also Jackie did mention that there was an issue with the crumpet maker that day. But the curd! You must try it.

@tristankenney was delighted when Earl especially made him a lunchbox to take away. Make sure if you like to have lunchboxes taken away during your breakfast at Earl that you call the day before to order. @tristankenney was a lucky boy that day.

Earl lunchboxes consists of a sandwich, a salad and a sweet. They are priced at $13.50 a box.

After all the talk up of the pork belly sandwich on Twitter and I did miss out on a tweetup at Earl as well, I had to travel from South Melbourne to the city to try this “sex sandwich” that @thatjessho and many other bloggers are raving about. The cafe was packed when I got there. There was a queue and people waiting around for lunchboxes and sandwiches. I love the buzz and for a new cafe, they did handle the crowd quite well and many punters were very patient and understanding as well.

While I was waiting for this Otway pork belly sandwich, I could hear many orders for lunchboxes. And watching the scene of the dozens of lunchboxes being escorted out of this little cafe was quite inspiring. It was indeed a ‘sex sandwich’. The crackling crackles. The generous portion of the meat was tender. It was pork that tasted like pork. The slight tang of the coleslaw provided a nice refreshing and sweet crunch to the sandwich.

And of course, I could not leave without macarons. Unfortunately, I could tell you what flavour that is. Maybe it was the coffee and rose that was mentioned on the blog. Oh dear, this is quite embarrassing. But what I can confirm is that it was absolutely delicious. A nice gentle crunch and then chewy and followed by the creamy filling. And also thanks to Jackie for a little sweet surprise of lychee jelly in my little brown bag

It isn’t just about the sandwich for me that tick the boxes. It is about the care that these guys brings. The ingredients talk for itself. I am very sure many of us (bloggers) and their regulars have been back many times. That is a testament itself on how good the food is. Simple food made with love and the best ingredients. What else can we ask for?

Jackie is right. Life is too short to eat bad food.

In The Age – http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/filled-with-surprises-20110207-1ajir.html

A list of Melbourne food blogs that have written about Earl Canteen:

• Cooking with Goths
• Eating Melbourne
• I’m so hungree
• it pleases us
• That Jess Ho
• Melbourne Gastronomy (Vegetarian take)

** Jeroxie has been a guest at Earl Canteen’s opening only. Jeroxie has paid for both breakfast and lunch**

What does food mean to you? Why is it important?