What a surprise!.. the Corner Post Cafe, Beaconsfield…read more
This quaint little restaurant cafe tucked away on the bend of Woods street in Beaconsfield, Melbourne Victoria, Australia, is a pleasant surprise and a gastronomical gourmet just awaiting to tantalise and satisfy your appetite and palette.
Open for breakfast and Lunch from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, it resides in modest but cosy 1878 colonial building, presumably first opened as a Post Office, complete with warm fireplace, multiple dining rooms and central open kitchen. The atmosphere is cosy and the staff are friendly and professional, and understand the concept of 'hospitality.
The food is all and more you would hope and expect... some may say 'exquisite gourmet', others, like me "yummy, delicious and superb!"
I'm not sure where Dunstan the Chef originally came from, but frankly Scarlet, it doesn't matter, because he is a passionate, dedicated Chef and a superb cook!
We first accidentally arrived at the Corner Post Cafe on an outing one day, and just had a cafe latte with Dunstan's fresh home baked scones, jam and cream. Now in my time, as a leading Executive Chef having worked in some of the most prestigious establishments around the world, you can imagine, I have not only cooked a million scones, but also tasted as many. I bit into Dunstan's scone and my tastebuds were overwhelmed... in the best possibly way. They were nothing short of delicious and perfectly cooked... perfectly.
We returned a few times to indulge in Dunstan's scones again, but then decided to branch out and try a lunch dish. I have to say, that was probably the best decision I made all that week.
My wife and I shared one meal of a gourmet Beef, Mushroom and Burgundy Pie with salads and a side server of a delicious home made tomato chutney sauce, and a special of Salmon patties and fresh garden and potatoes salad.
Well, the pie was indeed exquisite. It was constructed like something from a fairy tale, a perfectly cooked hightop puff pastry pie, with tender slow cooked beef and mushrooms in a perfectly balanced naturally thickened sauce... I mean, no starch to bulk it up, just pure natural demi glaze. The garden and potato salads were fresh, and properly cleaned and washed... one of my pet hates is restaurants that do not wash greens properly.
The Salmon patties were light, but had enough body to feel like a proper meal, tasty with perfect seasoned balance. The accompanying salad included perfectly cooked asparagus and Chinese broccoli among an assortment of gourmet tomatoes, julienne of peppers, carrot, cucumber and eschallots, accompanied with a side server of a tasty homemade Aioli mayo.
Both dishes were very well presented with care, and were a perfect balance.
The prices were average, some a little less than others, but when the meals came out and we indulged, they were worth every cent.
What a surprise, what a secret little find... we will certainly be going back to the Corner Post Cafe, and trying some of the Chef's other delights. We are going to try and make it for breakfast one day, as I have been told they do an excellent 'French Toast' with a twist, and I am intrigued.
I have no hesitation in recommending this little treasure and if your don't enjoy it, I will eat my Michelin hat!
Happy Dinning
Chef Cristo
