02 Apr Frances Food & Coffee, Melbourne CBD

Frances Food & Coffee has bagged a spot right next to Queen Vic Markets, which is particularly handy for those on the way to or from market shopping, or an outing at Flagstaff Gardens. Most of the fresh produce used here does in fact come from QVM, enabling the brother and sister duo, Sofia and Stefan Soltys, to support local businesses.

Sauteed balsamic mushrooms with Persian feta, confit garlic puree, wild rocket and multigrain toast ($16)

The crispy pork belly with beetroot relish, chilli scrambled eggs sounds great, but I’d been eating out a lot recently so decided to go for something lighter. The sautéed balsamic mushrooms arrived with crumbled Persian feta, a large smear of heady confit garlic puree with wholegrain mustard, wild rocket and slices of multigrain toast. The mushrooms were full of flavour, especially with the garlic puree, yet with all that strong garlic it still managed to be well balanced.

Crispy pork belly with beetroot relish, chilli scrambled eggs ($18)

Brunch prices are slowly creeping higher, but Frances manages to deliver tasty food that isn’t too harmful to the hip pocket.

Frances Food & Coffee
1/245 Franklin St
Melbourne, VIC, 3000
(03) 9329 4629
www.francesfoodandcoffee.com.au/