Melbourne’s best porridge dishes
Don't underestinate the possibilities of a bowl of oats. By Emily Rutherford
VEGAN QUINOA PORRIDGE AT THE GRAIN STORE
This quinoa and coconut porridge is dignified with grilled pineapple, passionfruit, agave and flaxseed dukkah. It’s a tangy, refreshing take on the traditional porridge. 517 Flinders Ln, Melbourne 3000.
FIVE-GRAIN CACAO PORRIDGE AT BARRY
Kind of like a breakfast Bounty, this five-grain cacao and coconut porridge tastes as good as the chocolate bar, only good for you. 85 High St, Northcote 3070.
OAT PORRIDGE AT TOP PADDOCK
The crew at this Richmond stalwart keep the the base of their oat porridge classic, and adorn it with strawberry and rhubarb compote, violet sugar and pistachios. It’s floral and warming – think South of France in winter. 658 Church St, Richmond 3121.
AMARANTH PORRIDGE AT HAMMER AND TONG 412
Doing it for the vegans, this amaranth porridge is stewed with almond milk and topped with earl grey-poached winter fruits. Who needs tea with breakfast when you’re already eating it? Rear 412 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 3065.
STEEL CUT OATS AT INDUSTRY BEANS
You’ll be handed an extensive coffee menu as soon as you’re seated at this Fitzroy roastery-cum-café. The caffeine game is strong here, but so are their oats: steel-cut, in fact. The soft, pleasantly chewy oats are embellished with pandan pear, coconut yoghurt, ginger crumble and freeze dried fruits. Warehouse 3, 62 Rose Street, Fitzroy 3065.
FIVE-GRAIN PORRIDGE AT RUDIMENTARY
Chef Shane Donelly (ex-dutchess of Spotswood) isn’t playing around with his five-grain porridge. Poached pear layered with a lavender and ginger crumble proves this shipping container conversion holds wisdom beyond its years. 16-20 Leeds St, Footscray 3011.
POLENTA PORRIDGE AT THE KETTLE BLACK
The south-side sister to Top Paddock and Two Birds One Stone boasts glossy-mag interiors, Small Batch coffee and ambitious café fare. The polenta porridge with burnt maple and textures of strawberry and basil is gaining Insta-fame for its delicate beauty. Don’t spend too long agonising over filters: demolish it while it’s still warm. 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne 3205.
ORGANIC QUINOA PORRIDGE AT THE SERVERY
Known as the Tropic Goldilocks, this porridge uses organic quinoa with coconut milk as its base. Add spices, almonds, pistachios and poached rhubarb and you’ve got a dish to warm you from the inside out. 48 Rosslyn St, West Melbourne 3003.
THE PORRIDGE AT STOVETOP
This schmick campus café backs onto the University of Melbourne; which makes its superfood-charged breakfast bowl an A-plus choice. This porridge of distinction is packed with hemp seeds, cacao nibs, goji berries and coconut, and brewed with a chai-infused almond milk. 100 Leicester St, Carlton 3053.
MUSHROOM CONGEE AT MIGHTY BOY
Congee is a rice-based breakfast dish popular across Asia; porridge’s savoury cousin, if you will. The mushroom congee at this Southeast Asian-influenced café is everything the dish should be: salty, textured and layered with numerous types of mushroom. Add their house-made Chiang Mai sausages to up the level of spice. 59-61 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065.
RICE PUDDING AT PROUD MARY
A favourite among the two-wheeled set, this Collingwood café is pushing the perfect fuel for your ride. Rice pudding topped with sweet mandarin, pistachio and honeycomb shards is an athlete in the porridge game. 172 Oxford St, Collingwood 306 3066.