Carrotsticks and Cravings – Spectacularly Stunning Smashed Avo

After an arduous trek, or more like after an arduous run up Dempsey Hill, we finally reached Carrotsticks and Cravings in the nick of time at 2.50pm. The Cafe closes at 3pm, by the way. Carrotsticks and Cravings is a hidden gem located at 75E Loewen Road, which is near Dempsey Hill. For those who do not drive with the help of a trusty GPS, or have opted to walk up instead, note that it is quite easy to get lost trying to locate the Cafe, especially when roads branch out like veins in that area.

Nevertheless, when we finally reached the Cafe, all tiredness melted away at the sight of the friendly staff at the counter. Opened just 4 months ago by a friendly Melbourne-born food photographer, food stylist and author of 3 cookbooks, Carrotsticks and Cravings serves up some handsome-looking healthy food. The owner currently has 3 young kids, and this lovely Cafe is her self-proclaimed 4th baby.

At the counter sits a basket resembling a dream come true for the ‘grammers. The enthusiastic staff encourages photo-enthusiasts to go all-out to take their perfect shots. As such, props are available in a basket for those who want to experiment with food styling, before snapping their food shots.

In true Australian fashion, the signature item at Carrotsticks and Cravings is a perennial Aussie Breakfast item, “Smashed Avo”.

The Smashed Avo with Pomegranate ($20) tasted fresh and clean. The lemony flavour that perfumes the avocado added a delightful vibrance, while the sprinkles of cheese crumbles lent a more savoury touch. Nuts atop the cheese crumbles complemented the smooth smashed avocado with its crunchy texture. Furthermore, a fragrant layer of herb oil, which tastes like a wonderful mix of Indian spices, is spread on the Sourdough bread. A final garnish of pomegranate arils not only add a burst of sweetness, but also further beautifies the already stunning dish by at least 7 times.

Taste the different elements of the Smashed Avo separately, and you’ll find yourself amidst a sea of complicated yet intriguing flavours. It was interesting trying to discern the different components of the dish. However, tasting everything together was still the highlight. It was akin to entering a full-blown flavour explosion, and then reaching the zenith of what a multi-dimensional flavour profile represents.

We also ordered the Berry Coconut Acai bowl ($12), which was sublime — perhaps because the chilled acai bowl was the quintessential respite on a hot day. Nonetheless, both my friend and I concurred that this was one of the best acai bowls that we have tried, to date. It was very addictive, and we simply could not stop eating it. Those with a sweet tooth will love that this acai bowl is slightly sweeter than your typical acai bowls. Dig around the bowl, and treasures such as blueberries and coconut flakes start to surface.

Overall, the execution of both dishes that we tried at Carrotsticks and Cravings was pretty much flawless. My only gripe was that it is quite challenging to find the cafe. Well, but the toothsome food at Carrotsticks and Cravings was definitely worth the tiring climb up.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.