VISITORS and residents in Ballarat\u2019s health precinct now have a new eatery option.<\/p>\n
Located next to Johnny Alloo, the venue once operated by Cafe Cornucopia is now home to the Little Vine Cafe.<\/p>\n
The eatery officially opened on Tuesday, 21 June, and owner and sous chef Kamarul Kamaruddin said he\u2019s always wanted to open his own place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked as a chef for over 20 years and 15 around Ballarat and Hepburn Springs at places like the Grant and Blue Bean,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s always been my dream to open a small cafe and now it\u2019s coming true so I\u2019m happy, nervous, stressed, excited, everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be the expected toasties and pastries but we\u2019ll be serving something a bit different too with a mix of cultures, making a bit of everything and putting it in the one plate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Named after the plants clinging to the building, Little Vine Cafe offers a mix of Japanese, Malaysian and Australian dishes, which Kamaruddin will prepare alongside head chef Megumi Ikawa.<\/p>\n
The pair worked together at Hydrant Food Hall, and Ikawa said she expects many of their customers will be keen to see her new venture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re continuing something that I started at Hydrant with lots of accessibility with gluten free options, vegan options, pescetarian options, which I think in the country is hard to find,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of my customers from Hydrant, I know, are very excited for this place for that reason alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Between the mix of cultural offerings and a takeaway counter, Kamaruddin said the cafe has more than enough to set itself apart.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a very strategic decision to have this place here because of all the foot traffic and hospital staff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019ll be taking away from Johnny Alloo or Webster\u2019s. They have their own customers and they treat them very well so we\u2019re not very worried.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have our own regulars and I feel confident we have something different to offer that will help us to carve our own path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Little Vine Cafe can be found at 805 Mair Street.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VISITORS and residents in Ballarat\u2019s health precinct now have a new eatery option. Located next to Johnny Alloo, the venue once operated by Cafe Cornucopia is now home to the Little Vine Cafe. The eatery officially opened on Tuesday, 21 June, and owner and sous chef Kamarul Kamaruddin said he\u2019s always wanted to open his […]<\/p>\n