Talking about food - Symposium

Symposium for breakfast suggested Number 1 Son, as we hopped into the car and drove to Brisbane's Fortitude Valley.

What did I expect to find at our destination? Maybe a group of suits talking business or long tables filled with water glasses and bowls of mints?

Instead I discovered a quirky cafe with an interesting menu in one of the Valley's main drags.



The man behind the menu for Symposium owners Ben and Ryan, is an old friend, Chef Jay, who apart from his love of food also has a serious collection of tattoos.  Thankfully, I've only seen the ones on his fingers and arms.

It's definitely a menu begging to be explored with options including chai poached pear with porridge and sticky molasses $12; Provincial swiss brown mushrooms with confit garlic and thyme served on spelt sourdough with a vintage port jus $17; and Gluten-free waffles with cream and white chocolate, macadamia nuts and cointreau marinated berries just a few of the options jumping out and yelling 'eat me'.

But I held firm on the protein breakfast option choosing Truffled eggs benedict with spinach, hollandaise and spelt sourdough  with local cold smoked Heinz bacon $16.  And it was good with just enough truffle to keep it interesting without overpowering.

Symposium has also made itself a name by offering a breakfast degustation menu for those who like to prolong the breakfast experience.

The winter degustation menu starts with a liquid course of a single origin espresso coffee, a mug of warm mulled red wine and spiced tomato gazpacho.  The savory course is white truffle immersed swiss brown mushrooms and a smoked salmon fillo bowl. The dessert course (dessert with breakfast?) is a trio of créme brülée.  It all seems rather reasonably priced at  $45 per person.

Both fortunately and unfortunately the dego was not up and running on the day I visited but my sources say it's usually available.

Symposium has a few more quirky offerings including a selection of house made biscuits for sale and an impressive range of takeaways in a cold cabinet.  There's also deliciously refreshing, house made real lemonade on offer - don't miss it for a real nostaglia hit for the way Granny used to make it.

And when you visit on the weekends, say hi to the lanky blond barista - it might be Number 1 Son!


Bottom line:  Worth the drive for a breakfast above the ordinary.


Symposium - 26 Commercial Rd Shop 2, Fortitude Valley, (07) 3852 3836