THE LOCAL LIST

Marking a sea change for its owner-chef, this new Kirra cafe is a space for both leisurely brunchers and local artisans, writes Amber Macpherson

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CHEF Katrina Barlow has spent 15 years travelling the world and cooking for the masses, but her new cafe at Kirra Beach is where she feels at home.

The southern Gold Coast local has had an exciting career creating food on land and at sea, now Cafe All Sorts is the place she wants to be.

“I worked in propelled vessels, in the oil and gas industry, out in the ocean for eight years,” Katrina says.

“I’ve been living at airports and on vessels, cooking for all the hungry boys at sea. Like anything in life it had an expiry date. It was time.”

After meeting a couple of years ago in a sports team canteen, Katrina joined forces with business partner Cameron Shield to open Cafe All Sorts earlier this month. The space is a rustic, comfortable cafe overlooking the ocean, doubling as a creative space for local artists.

“We’ve engaged a lot of local artists to have a space down here where they can put their art up,” Cameron says. “We had an opening night where we sold six pieces. We don’t do it for commissions, we don’t get anything. That ties back into the name Cafe All Sorts. It’s all about the food and coffee, and the community.”

“I’ve spent my time travelling the world cooking,” Katrina adds.

“I like all sorts of cuisine, people, art. I believe variety is the spice of life.”

On the menu is classic breakfast and lunch fare with a seasonal spin.

“It’s not a complex menu —we are a cafe, and breakfast is huge on the Gold Coast,” Katrina says. “Our Byron Bay haloumi rosti is flying out the door — grilled haloumi, house-made rosti, field mushroom, two free-range eggs, baby spinach, za’atar sourdough toast with balsamic glaze.

“We’ve got a vegan, sweet potato kale fritter, which comes with a traditional cashew cream sauce.

“For lunch there’s Cajun spice arancini balls, a fresh prawn and spinach spaghetti, and a grazing platter with camembert, spring rolls, sweet potato fries and chutney.

“With the menu, we’re trying to be as sustainable as possible. We wanted to rid the cafe of plastic and make everything biodegradable.

“All our ingredients are from local suppliers. We’re all about the free-range eggs, bacon and smoked goods. Everything’s made on-site and very seasonal.”

The interior is decked out like a country Queenslander featuring timber furnishings and shabby chic decor, with an aqua blue colour scheme linking the dining room.

As for the caffeine, Katrina and Cameron held an interview process to make sure they were getting the right beans.

“We ended up with Fonzie Abbott, a Brisbane coffee group,” Cameron says.

“It’s a very nice kind of blend, medium roast. It’s been a big drawcard for us — when we had their A-frame sign out the front it generated a lot of interest.”

The duo are excited to watch Cafe All Sorts grow as visitors discover the border’s beach lifestyle. “Palm Beach has taken off, Kirra is still taking off,” Cameron says.

“There’s a fair bit of development (here), there’s three high-rises going up. People are just falling in love with the place.

“There’s still a local feel down the southern end of the Coast that I don’t think will go away.”

Cafe All Sorts is open daily from 6am to 3pm at 34 Musgrave Rd, Coolangatta