2 Page Road, Kelmscott
Ph: (08) 6290 2614
www.thatplantcafe.com
Go Nuts For Plants
It was a beautiful day for a drive in the country and that is how it felt as we headed out to Kelmscott. Blue skies, lots of trees, hills in the distance and hardly any sign of people or buildings. When we arrived at That Plant Café, my first impression was that it did not look all that special however, I soon discovered that the emphasis is on the quality of the food and drinks, not on the surroundings.
When we entered, I was surprised to see how busy it was; it is popular with those in the know. Nearby the entry there is a set of shelves full of potted plants, flowers and coffee bags for sale. We were greeted enthusiastically by staff, shown to a table and asked if we would like a coffee to start with. A long Mac topped up was my choice to start the day and it was way better than I expected. Not your average cafe coffee. It is a custom designed blend from Rubra, exclusive to this cafe.
We started with an Acai Bowl drizzled with biscoff crumbs. It had lovely fresh flavours and lots of different textures – icy cold, smooth Acai, tangy blueberries, slices of fresh, sweet strawberries, creamy banana slices and the crunch of the granola and biscoff. We felt very virtuous having such a healthy and nutritious dish.
We sampled the Thai Beef Salad next from the lunch menu. This is one of my favourite dishes and this did not disappoint – tender strips of grilled porterhouse steak on a bed of mesclun, carrot and red onion, garnished with crushed peanuts, crispy shallots and house-made dressing. We enjoyed this with a glass of 2024 Wildflower Rosé, Margaret River (WA)and could even be matched with a white wine or a beer.
This was followed by the Potato Rosti, which was served with crispy bacon, onion and bacon relish, a poached farm egg, rocket, parmesan and citrus vinaigrette. This was very tasty and would make a hearty breakfast or a great brunch or lunch dish, and perfectly matched with the 2024 Wildflower Rosé, Margaret River (WA).
We finished our meal with the Espresso Panna Cotta, which was so pretty on the plate – a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds, and another tasty mix of flavours and textures that worked well together. The pannacotta was creamy and surrounded by creamy vanilla bean yoghurt, topped with fresh mandarin, strawberries, blueberries and passionfruit. This was a delicious way to end our meal and would make a delightful light breakfast or snack on its own.
We chatted with Chef Robert Nixon, who told us that their best seller is the Big Breakfast, which is great value at around $25. Robert spent his childhood in the kitchen with Nanna and Mum, and has been a Chef for the past 25 years. This is his third year at That Plant Cafe, and he and his team have been nominated for multiple awards. Robert’s personal favourite dish is the classic Steak Sandwich – no frills, just good ingredients and done right.
The crowd was steady throughout the morning and it is easy to see that it is a popular hub for the local community. Not surprising, given the genuine passion for quality and hospitality.
By Georgina Goss
