Mooloolaba – Sunshine Coasting

Where to eat breakfast on the Sunshine Coast

Back in August, I gave you ten ideas for breakfast on the coast…here are some more…in no particular order…

Winnie, Woombye

If pressed for a favourite, this would come out near the top. The black rice porridge with ginger syrup really should be tasted to be believed, and the avo smash is lifted with micro herbs, feta and radish. Just fabulous. I wrote about it here.

Winnie is named after the owner’s son, Winston. They also have Little Boat at Marcoola – which is named after her other son, Otus, or Oatey Boatie. Too cute. Speaking of which…

Little Boat Espresso, Marcoola

I haven’t blogged this place yet – I’ll need to go back to get some better photos. Now, there’s a good excuse if ever there was one.

Little Boat is open from 6.30 – 2.30 every day at 3 Lorraine Ave, Marcoola. They also open on Friday nights – but for drinks only. You bring your own food from the Marcoola Markets…such a cool idea.

Jimmy’s Catering – Coffee – Eats, Warana

I told you about this place here. Sure there are no ocean views, but the coffee is great and the breakfast sliders are well worth the carpark vista.

These guys are all about local and seasonal food – and excellent coffee.

Guru Life, Rosemount

Another place without an ocean view, your outlook here is green and serene. Coffee is taken so seriously they have their own blend, and the food is…well, just look at it. And there’s plenty to choose from if you’re vegetarian.

You’ll find the post here.

Central Beach Club, Mooloolaba

I nearly wasn’t going to include this place on my list given that they only open for breakfast from Thursday – Sunday. Even then they don’t open until 7am – relatively late on the Mooloolaba strip. That aside, I had to give them a spot even if it’s just for their baked eggs. They are really that good. Naturally, there are other things on the menu – other good and very yummy things – but I do love the baked eggs…and the view. On a sunny day watching the world stroll by and the surf across the road, there’s not many better places to be than on Mooloolaba’s Esplanade.

Update June 2018 – this cafe is now closed

Two Point Oh, Maroochydore

Somewhere else I haven’t blogged yet is this relatively new vegetarian cafe in the Kontiki Building in Maroochydore. Again, it’s because I want to go back and take more photos. Yes, really. Have you seen their Instagram page?

The only way I can describe the food is to say it’s innovative…or maybe progressive? Whatever word you use to describe it, it’s the type of vegetarian place that the non-vego can walk in and not notice that the bacon is missing.

The smoothie bowls have been lifted to a different dimension from the acai that you see on every street corner here on the coast, and the avo smash is turned upside down with smoked beetroot hummus, smashed peas, feta, rocket and avo.

Oh, and the decor is stunningly simple and beautiful.

Open for brunch Monday – Wednesday 7:30 – 4pm and Sunday 8 – 3pm and Dinner Thursday – Saturday 5pm-10pm

Chances

I’m here working so often you’d think I was their resident writer.

Again, I haven’t blogged it and I really need to. Anyways, Chances was the first of the major tenants in The Wharf redevelopment – I’ve told you about that when we talked about Rice Boi and Saltwater. Yes, it’s a bar and it’s open late and it has a fabulous vibe and food for that sort of thing, but for now, we’re talking about breakfast.

They have all the usuals, plenty of muffins, a DIY breakfast, a breakfast stack that defies gravity (that’s it in the pic below), and a smashed avo that I swear I must have every time I’m in. And you must try the savoury mince jaffles.

You’ll find Chances on Mooloolaba Wharf, opposite Sea-Life, Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba. It’s open most days from 7am, but check out their Facebook page for more info.

Mooloolaba Surf Club

Many of the surf clubs do a good value brekky, and they’re well worth seeking out – and not just because they usually have the best view on the beach. Our “local” Mooloolaba Surf Club does breakfast each morning from 7am and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better view.

Mooloolaba Esplanade

Ok, there are plenty of places up and down the Esplanade.

Acai Brothers do, well, I’ll let you guess… Then there’s Quarterdeck – open for the early birds. They don’t have an avo smash as such, but they do sourdough with a smash on the side which is, unusually for places doing avo on the side, a good sized serve.

Dejavu, another early opener, is in the middle of the main foodie part of the Esplanade opposite the beach. At $20, their avo smash is mortgage-bustingly expensive, but also humungous and, therefore, good value – especially if you’ve worked up an appetite with an early morning walk/run or a swim…or all of the above. Their breakfast wraps are also pretty yum.

I’m sure that I read somewhere that Gainsbourg has changed hands relatively recently and are in the process of changing their menu. I’m hoping this benny with smoked trout and quinoa fritters makes the cut.

Do you have a favourite brekky spot on the Coast? If so, let me know…I’ll add it to my list.

Rice Boi, Mooloolaba

Let me say this first: I’m in dumpling heaven.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way…actually no, I need to say it again – the dumplings really are that good. In fact, Rice Boi really is that good. This is the street food style eatery that Mooloolaba has been needing. It’s the street food style eatery that I’ve been needing, with the handmade dumplings I’ve been craving.

With a grungey industrial style fit-out that wouldn’t be out of place in Melbourne, fabulous food, a price point that’s affordable for everyone – there’s nothing over $20 on the menu – and that incredible view over Mooloolaba’s canals there’s so much to like about Rice Boi.

The menu at Rice Boi (from their Facebook page)

So, what did we have, aside from the dumplings, of course? here’s another view of them.

The food comes out street food style – as it’s ready – and is designed to share. We nibbled on some lotus chips to start. I first had these in the owner, Tony Kelly’s other restaurant Junk at Maroochydore. As an aside, he also created Hello Harry’s burger restaurant at Maroochydore and Caloundra, and the newly opened Saltwater Fish and Chippery also at Mooloolaba Wharf. This guy really knows his food and his market.

Anyways, the lotus chips. If there was ever a snack designed to be eaten with beer, this is it.

We also shared the kung pao calamari and the salt and pepper chicken wings. We’ll be back next week to sample the bao and curries…and the ramen, which looks prettier than any ramen has the right to look. With a couple of drinks each (wine for me, beer for him), we had a great night out for not much more than $60. Next time, though, I’m trying the cocktails.

Where

You’ll find Rice Boi on the Wharf at Mooloolaba, Parkyn Parade.

When

From 11.30am – late 7 days a week

Licensed?

Yes

How much? $

There’s nothing on the menu over $20

Vegetarian options?

Yes

If you want more info, check out their Facebook page.

Update…

Since I wrote this we’ve been back to Rice Boi a few times and sampled so much more. Spoiler alert – the bao are a-freaking-mazing.

10 great breakfast places on the Sunshine Coast

The smashed duo – pumpkin & avo – at One Block Back

I’m a big fan of the weekend breakfast, but let’s be honest – not all avo smashes are created equally. So where’s the best breakfast on the coast? I have no idea…yet, but here are 10 of my favourites.. so far…in no particular order… Watch this space for part 2!

The Shak, Buderim

Since moving to the Sunshine Coast, we find that we’ve been naturally eating in a way that is more aligned to the seasons than we ever did in Sydney. A very welcome aside to this is that much of our produce is grown or sourced locally – or relatively locally. The Shak Organic Cafe and Wine Bar prides itself on being Buderim’s only organic cafe – and one that is pretty much as local as you can get.

Located in the centre of Buderim Village, we couldn’t go past their version of eggs benedict – served on herbed potato rosti rather than bread. I’d go as far as to say it is one of the best eggs bennies I’ve had – and so so pretty. Next time, though, I’m trying the Balinese black rice pudding…

The Velo Project, Mooloolaba

A quirky interior and great food and coffee makes this cafe – located a few blocks back from the Esplanade – worth seeking out.

The avo smash is great and there’s a huge range of fresh juices and herbal teas available, but my fave (so far) is the pumpkin and goats curd “gnocchi” with chorizo, avocado, rosemary roasted chickpeas and sage butter.

The Velo Project is open 7am – 3pm 7 days a week. You’ll find it at 19 Careela Street, Mooloolaba.

One Block Back, Moffat Beach

If I were really pushed for a favourite from this group of cafes – and I mean really pushed – it would probably be a toss-up between here and The Velo Project…although I do love #Phresh… Seriously though, it would come down to the quirk factor, and OBB has it in spades.

Located in a quiet street back from the main Moffat Beach Village, One Block Back would be equally at home in Abbotsford as it is here on the Sunshine Coast.

The eggs benedict with pulled pork, beetroot relish and paprika emulsion is a winner, as is the beans with eggs and ham hock. The award for prettiest breakfast though has to go to the nutella panacotta with banana rolled in granola and a whole host of other gorgeous bits.

You’ll find more instaworthy pictures of food on their Facebook page. One Block Back is open from 7am.

Hashtag Phresh, Mooloolaba

A relatively new offering on The Esplanade, #Phresh also has one of the cheaper avo smashes on the strip. At $10.50, with tomato, feta and dukkah, it’s a very satisfying brekky.

The #BennieBagel is also very good – and highly instagrammable. If, however, you’re into acai bowls – I’ve told you before about my suspicion that there are more acai bowls per head of population sold here than anywhere else – and smoothies, you’ll be well chuffed by what’s on offer.

#Phresh is open from 6.30am 7 days a week. You’ll find it on the Esplanade at the base of the Landmark Resort.

Update June 2018 – Hashtag Phresh is now closed

One on La Balsa Cafe, Buddina

We tried this place at the end of a walk around the Pt Cartwright headland and down the path to Kawana, but you don’t need to make any excuses. Located opposite La Balsa Park, there’s plenty of parking and always something happening in the park or on the water.

The avo smash with bacon was yummy, but my daughter – who fancies herself an expert on acai bowls – declared this one a winner.

One on La Balsa is open from 6.30am Tuesday – Sunday. You can find out more here.

Elliott’s Bistro, Alexandra Headland

From the minute we walked in I knew that Elliott’s would know how to do smashed avo the way it’s meant to be done. It wasn’t just the soundtrack – Bob Dylan and This Wheels On Fire – it was the service, the cute beach-side shopfront, the whole package.

We weren’t disappointed. Miss 19 was well impressed with her avo smash – which she declared up to Melbourne standards. It came with perfectly poached eggs and sharp, salty feta perched on top for the perfect avo. Hubby made his version even more perfect by adding bacon and tomato.

Elliott’s also know that anyone can do the basic bacon and eggs, but a great breakfast place should do that plus something a little more interesting. Something like, say, potato and gruyere croquettes. Served with fried eggs, bacon, a dollop of relish and a dab of blue cheese, this was bacon and eggs with hash browns taken to a much higher level.

You’ll find Elliott’s across the road from the beach at 102 Alexandra Parade. It’s open from 7am. Their Facebook page is here.

Kimnat Little Market and Cafe, Woombye

We found this place accidentally one morning when the ATM wasn’t working at Hinterland Harvest and we ran out of cash for breakfast. The closest ATM was in the IGA at Woombye, and just down the road was this little treasure trove.

The smashed avo was beyond good – so much eating, so many herbs and greens – and the tarot and guidance cards on the tables outside were just another fabulous little new agey touch.

You’ll find them here.

CK Wholefoods, Mooloolaba

Ok, the first thing you need to know about this place is that it’s huge. The next thing that you should take into account is just how popular it is. And why wouldn’t it be? Just off the Esplanade in Brisbane Rd, CK really is a healthy alternative.

Now, I’ve never been one to have my coffee other than as real coffee, but if you’re into turmeric lattes (which it seems half of the Coast is) or matcha or dandelion lattes, you’ll be in heaven. Of course there’s a great range of coffees and black as well as herbal teas also available. When it comes to food, CK has all your paleo and raw food options covered, plus more for the, shall we say, more dietary challenged.

I chose the Japanese pancakes – okonomiyake – with perfectly cooked salmon and a poached egg and was absolutely not disappointed.

Open from 6am for coffee and 7am for breakfast 7 days a week. Check out their full menu here.

Monica’s at Maleny

Maleny is a town with plenty to offer the hungry breakfast seeker, but it was Monica’s that we chose when arranging a real-life meet-up of social media friends. I had the baked eggs, and my friends had the eggs benedict. Gluten free requests were handled without fuss. My only regret? I was too busy chatting to take photos. Ooops.

Monica’s is open 7am – 3pm 7 days a week. Their website is here.

Decisions Cafe

The premise of this place is fabulous – decisions. Your first decision is choosing between the superfood or super junk menu – and this is not a decision to take lightly.

Another place where we went for the avo smash and acai bowl, but for the life of me I can’t find the pics! You’ll have to take my word for it.

Decisions is open from 6am at 10 Capital Pl, Birtinya.

Whale-watching with Whale One at Mooloolaba

There’s a flat part to the water – completely glass-like. It looks almost like an oil slick, but it isn’t. It’s a “footprint” left behind when a whale dives – as the up-thrust of it’s tail drives water to the surface.

It’s just one of the ways that we know there are whales around – another are the blows…and they’re all around us.

We’re on Whale One, about 11- 12 miles off the coast of Mooloolaba and we’re excited. In fact, even the crew is excited. Today is a good day – there are plenty of whales about and they’re having fun.

Miss 19 and I don’t have a great record with whale watching. We had 2 attempts in Kaikoura – both times the cruise was cancelled due to bad weather – and another off Auckland where we saw nothing nada zilch. It happens – and when it does, it’s best just to enjoy the sights and experience of the cruise.

This time we’ve timed (accidentally) our whale watch experience to coincide with the peak time of the Humpback whale’s northern migration – and these guys have energy to burn. Given that they won’t eat again until they’re back in Antarctica later in the year, they probably have more energy now than they will have on the return journey. I guess every road trip needs some fun, and this one – to the Barrier Reef and then back again – is longer than most.

Leaving from the Wharf at Mooloolaba, we cruised up the river – past some multi-million dollar properties – to where the river meets the ocean at the rock wall. On the way out we passed a trawler heading back in with their catch. ‘There’s plenty of them out there,’ the deckie called.

From here things got choppy – and more than a few people were pleased to have taken the precaution of sea-sickness tablets. Miss 19 and I, however, were completely unaffected. The crew kept coming around to check on everyone and hand out bags where required.

As we motored out to the main whale highway – an area anywhere between 8-12 miles off Mooloolaba – Shorty, our skipper told us more about the whales and their behaviours. Migaloo, the famed white whale, had been seen off North Stradbroke a day or so earlier and was rumoured to be in the area, so Shorty told us about the day he spent almost 3 hours with Migaloo back in the late 90’s.

At about the 10 mile mark we saw our first blow – and then another. From this point it just got better and better as we witnessed breach after breach and a couple of corkscrews. We even saw a rare double breach – where 2 whales came out of the water at the same time. Sadly I don’t have the photographic proof, but it was epic.

As we idled in the water – Shorty explaining how far we needed to stay from them to guarantee their safety and that of any newborns – the whales came to us. One went under the boat, surfacing on the other side so we all had a good look at her. I got so carried away with pointing and cheering that I couldn’t take photos. Thankfully Miss 19 took over and I have her to thank for all the pics in this post.

The pictures tell just a small part of what was a completely awesome and breathtaking experience. Just fabulous. Oh, and we didn’t catch up with Migaloo – although we did come across a gorgeous dappled (probably) female that got us awfully excited for a little while.

Want to know more?

Whale One runs two cruises a day during the peak whale-watching season – each lasting about 3 hours. They also have a speed boat – the Wild One – which gets you to the whales quicker. Those tours last 2 hours.

Don’t forget, whales are wild animals and as such their behaviour can’t be predicted – nor can sightings. The brochures might show breaches, but this sort of action isn’t guaranteed. Whale One has a very good strike rate – check out their Facebook page for the daily action – but even so, we got extremely lucky.

You can book cruises at their website.

Mooloolaba Sea life…Underwater World

We’ve been coming to Sea life (or Underwater World, as we’ve always called it) since Miss 19 was Miss still in a pram. It’s become a tradition – one of the first things we had to do each time we came to the coast.

But it’s been a few years since we’ve been here and, well, the otters have gone – and I can’t seem to find out why. (If you know, please tell me).

Other than the missing otters, Underwater World still delivers.

There’s still the ocean glass tunnels with the massive gropers, rays and reef sharks.

There’s still the billabongs and the river zones, the seahorses and pacific reef. And there’s still the seals – watching their antics is worth the price of admission alone. Make sure that you time your visit for the twice daily shows.

The touch pool out the front is still a source of wonder for little kids, but at the moment it’s also serving as a nursery for a clutch of baby turtles. They’ll be grown in the aquarium until they’re 15cm long and have a fighting chance in the ocean (did you know that just 1 in 1000 sea turtles survives to maturity?). The turtles are tagged, released, and their travels tracked. With luck, they’ll survive to come back to the beach of their hatching to lay their own eggs – many years from now.

The jellyfish are also pretty incredible. Coincidentally, I heard a podcast only the day before we visited Underwater World that was talking about how jellyfish are both an early warning system on an ecosystem that’s failing – and the cause of a failing eco system getting substantially worse. They’re fabulously interestingly weird creatures – and extremely photogenic.

Worth a visit?

Absolutely. Buy your tickets online to save queues – particularly on weekends and at school holiday time.

Underwater World is also the perfect rainy day school holiday activity – not that it ever rains here on the Sunshine Coast…well, hardly ever…

The Velo Project

I don’t know about you, but if I’m going out for breakfast I want something a little, well, different to what I’d get at home – and I say that acknowledging that my husband makes a flipping good brekky and an even better avo smash. I don’t want overpriced avo smash, or, worse, overpriced avo smash that’s been smeared rather than piled onto the bread. Speaking of which, I don’t want overpriced, smeared avo smash on badly toasted, ordinary bread. Nor do I want my eggs rubbery, the decor sterile or the menu boring.

No, when I have breakfast out, I want breakfast the way that it’s intended to be: somewhere a tad quirky, served with a sunny smile-up, and a menu that has you considering your options. It’s even better in a place that only locals know about. See how I just slipped that in? Even though we’re still officially summer people, we will be locals in just a few weeks…

Anyways, The Velo Project is all that with a side of vintage and fabulous coffee.

There’s a lot to look at here – something in every corner. If you can drag your view away from the bits and pieces, the menu – presented in vintage encyclopaedias – is worth consideration over a cup of excellent caffeine presented in the type of china I’m trying to get rid of at the moment.

‘See,’ my husband said, ‘vintage china is really in at the moment.’

‘Perhaps, but do we need that much of it?’

‘We threw out the souvenir teaspoons, didn’t we?’

The thing about vintage china and nik-naks is that they look great in a semi-industrial space (this used to be an old mechanics/ garage) in a place where nothing matches, nothing is trying to match, and everything (including the menu) feels young and vital. In any other circumstance, it just looks old. Here it works.

As for the food? I somehow managed to resist the urge to try the eggs benny (next time – although with four different varieties, I could try a different one each visit) and went instead for the avo smash – as did Ms T. Served on good ciabatta, the avo is mixed with fresh red onion, roasted garlic, corn, lemon juice and piled high with fresh herbs – I suspect from the garden out the back. At $17 it’s a little pricier than some, but kept us going through a harrowing morning of real estate agents and open homes.

Hubby went for house made toasted banana, macadamia and date bread served with mascarpone and orange cardamon syrup ($10.50). It looked beautiful and tasted even better than that.

This place gets super busy on weekends, but there are some tables out the back too – where the herb garden is. The menu is also jam-packed with smoothies, enough varieties of coffees and teas to make even a Melbourne-ite proud (turmeric, ginger & honey brewed on coconut milk or dandelion latte anyone?) and plenty of options for the too young to drink coffee crew.

The Velo Project is located off the Esplanade, a few streets behind Mooloolaba Beach at 19 Careela St. It’s open 7am-3pm 7 days a week and is well worth seeking out…