Tuesday in Townsville at Relish Cafe

Updated August 2018. Relish Cafe is currently closed.

Relish Cafe has been open for fifteen months and I haven’t been!  Meanwhile their reputation has been building – reports have been trickling through.

First of all my food loving friend had breakfast there with her daughter and raved to me about the combination of avocado and tomato in her Vegetarian Benny and she’s not even a Vegetarian.  But she is a Coeliac and loves patronizing places with innovative GF options.  

Then Budget Daughter, long time Vegetarian and recent Vegan, informed me that Relish had a Vegan Menu which we should investigate.

Our three months exploring TURKEY and CAMBODIA came and went before I had the opportunity for a Girly Lunch with my friend, but you know where we chose.

Arriving an unfashionable ten minutes early I was surprised by the huge outdoor eating area.  Wandering inside to check out the food cabinet, I ended up chatting about Chiang Mai – as you do – with the friendly waitress who impressed me with her menu knowledge and upbeat manner.

Situated in Kingsway Place, a newish high-rise inner-city development, that will encompass Townsville’s new entertainment hub, Relish is well positioned for the future, although the surroundings for now are a tad bleak.  Vision is what you need though and Canadian born owner and Head Chef Heather obviously has that in droves.

I was happy that I had arrived early and my fashionable friend a little late as it gave me time to study the menus.

Having been impressed previously by the GF beetroot burger $17, my friend opted for it again.

I was meandering down the path toward a greek salad with a side of smoked salmon, when I made a last minute change of direction toward the Relish Club $19.

The Verdict.

My Friend Loved the GF Beetroot Burger AGAIN.

I was over-awed and impressed by my Canadian sized Club Sandwich, and was promptly offered a take-away for any leftovers.  The taste and crispiness of the maple bacon in the sandwich was outstanding, the smoked chicken tender and moist and the greek salad superb.  Had I not made a last minute change I may have noticed that the sandwich was made from (I chose white) toasted bread which I found a little too crunchy after a while.  Due to the size of the meal, this was no biggie, I just left some of the toast on the side.

I was however hoping for a glass of organic or for that matter any wine but that was not an option. Well that’s what Girly Lunches are all about aren’t they?  What drinking problem?

What I really liked was Heather’s choice to use locally sourced products like granola, real free range eggs and honey – surely the way of the future.

Will there be a next time?  You Bet.

I must have the (yummy) greek salad with smoked salmon next time, or maybe I will order cornmeal pancakes with pomegranate syrup from the breakfast menu – I fell in love with pomegranate syrup in Turkey.  

Both menus operate throughout the day.  

The choices are endless.  

Children are catered for.

Bring your appetite along.

What do you think of the trend toward Cafes and Restaurants using locally sourced ingredients?