Spring Harvest Menu @ Feast of Merit
Feast of Merit is an inspiring communal dining house and The World Loves Melbourne was invited along to check out the new Spring Harvest menu.
Feast of Merit serves up exceptional seasonal produce and the breakfast menu hits the mark. We had one of our favourite cafe experiences of the year imbibing the high class dishes and meeting the standout staff. This cafe has a joy about it and the feel of an understated revolution. The charity passion is tangible but the food speaks for itself.
Remaining authentic, local and sustainably-sourced, Feast of Merit offers a “farm to table” philosophy for ethically-conscious Melbourne diners.
The World Loves Melbourne enjoyed Bircher muesli, Schulz organic yoghurt, dehydrated orange, new season spring berries. This was a refreshing nourishing dish with great textures.
Carrot juice is not something we normally order but this was so well balanced and delicious with navel orange, grapefruit, ginger and earl grey.
We were then offered a selection of new spring harvest dishes, for which The World Loves Melbourne chose BBQ ocean trout, hummus, preserved lemon, baby peas and tendrils smoked almonds, poached egg, toast. This was a cracking breakfast dish with the generous portion of BBQ ocean trout a highlight (love that pink flesh and crispy skin). The oozing poached egg and the smoked almonds brought wonderful texture and flavour for an exceptional breakfast dish.
Middle Eastern crumpets with vanilla and cinnamon lanbeh, mandarin curd, maple "honeycomb" were also a hit.
As was the Spring harvest breakfast with avocado, roasted cauliflower, smoked yoghurt, sliced eggplant, vintage carrots with soft egg and flatbread. Credit for photos below: Tim Grey
We were engaged by Pauline Duncan the General Manager of YGAP who told us of the social connection and charity work that impacts needy around the world. The YGAP recently raised funds for Polished Man campaign in raising funds to end violence against children. 1 in 5 children globally who suffer from domestic or sexual abuse before the age of 18. Feast of Merit has been donating 1 in 5 coffees to the campaign.
The World Loves Melbourne also enjoyed meeting inspirational Elliot Costello the CEO of YGAP and innovator visionary of Feast of Merit, as well as the young chefs, who have loads of passion, skill and wide experience. Not to mention the hospitality we received from Ruby.
The menu “Middle East Meets Melbourne”; a city with an undeniably vibrant food culture, where the public demands quality, accessibility and flavoursome produce. The all day dining menu includes a range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, showcasing a unique blend of tastes and treats, and is designed for the most adventurous or traditional of palates.
Staying true to its Middle Eastern inspired roots, the menu offers a variety of dishes; think breakfast dishes with crispy salted pork belly, red peppers and green eggs, or a favourite dinner option of braised beef shin splashed with seasonal spices and condiments. The light and bright bustling lunch vibe offers an assortment of fresh, nutritious salads, full of goodness, greens and protein also available “to go”. By night, the ambience turns warm and candle lit, and provides the ideal setting for an intimate sharing experience. For those who are hungry for more (and more), a dinner menu feasting / tasting option is in order.
Complementary to the unique menu offering is an equally impressive drinks list, which showcases a variety of wines from local vineyards with like-minded a sustainability ethos. Where possible, wines are sourced as organic and biodynamic.
Feast of Merit’s Head Chef has wide experience within the industry, having worked within prestigious kitchens across the globe. “We use only the best produce that has been sourced and grown using the most sustainable and ethical practises, celebrating community and the future of the slow food movement.
Owned and operated by YGAP, Feast of Merit is more than a restaurant; it is a social enterprise. All profits raised through restaurant revenue directly support local entrepreneurs in; Australia, East Africa, South Africa and the Pacific, who are measurably and significantly improving the lives of people living in poverty by helping them with a better income, a better house, a better education or reducing their risk of suffering from preventable disease or violence.
Design professionals collaborated to build the restaurant space, by donating their creativity, time and elbow grease, to structure a venue that represents both an amazing charity, and the bustling culinary culture of inner Richmond. With sustainability and authenticity as a leading factor with the design brief, the existing structure was stripped back to its original materials; featuring polished concrete floors, exposed red brick walls, whitewashed, and exposed timber ceilings. Feast of Merit combines Melbourne’s love for food and philanthropy in harmony, to effectively help those in need.