Branching out
While renowned for chocolate and gelato, this former dessert specialist is showing a flair for savoury treats too
SET-UP & SITE:
Heading to Miann for a breakfast date feels vaguely naughty — until recently the cafe has been known solely for its decadent gelato and chocolatey treats. The team behind the dessert bar began dabbling in the brunch game only late last year, at their new Morningside joint. The dessert bar and cafe sits alongside a specialty chocolate shop, both of which are part of the Morningside Precinct — a hub of eateries a little like Ponsonby Central. Unfortunately, parking is as problematic as it is at the Ponsonby equivalent. We circle several times before finding a spot some way away. We arrive shortly after 8am and the cafe is still whirring into action. Rows of almond croissants and pains au chocolat are being arranged inside a glass cabinet, while beans are being ground for the first cups of coffee. Miann’s set-up is slick, all dark tiles and glass, with a few tables spotted around a sunny little courtyard out the front. We opt to enjoy some morning rays in a spot outside.
SUSTENANCE & SWILL:
The menu is divided into “bowls”, “toast” and “waffles”, with a handful of toppings on offer to accompany the latter two. The options are mainly fresh, and simple — there’s “smoked salmon, cream cheese, Long Keeper Farm herbs and lemon” and “prosciutto, mustard, fennel, walnut and Long Keeper Farm herbs”, along with classics like PB&J. The menu is decidedly light. Eggs don’t feature, nor does bacon make an appearance. The waffles come with the option of banana, berries or apple and there’s an option to add a scoop of Miann’s gelato. Really, how could you not?
I’ve brought my mum along for the meal, which works out well with my indecisiveness. We have a standing agreement for these situations — we pick two meals and swap halfway through. We go for one of the toast options — “goat’s cheese, almond, prosciutto, roasted pear and rocket” as well as the seasonal fruits bowl, which comes with vanilla bean yoghurt and freeze-dried fruit. The toast is outstanding; it’s a stellar combination, complemented with a drizzle of honey. Our sweet dish is also a hit. Stone fruits and berries are arranged atop swirls of yogurt and freeze-dried berries scattered over the top. Anyone with a sizeable morning appetite would likely leave a little hungry, but it worked out well as a side plate. We top off the spread with a pain au chocolat from the cabinet.
SERVICE & OTHER STUFF:
The service starts off faultlessly — we’re promptly given glasses of sparkling water — but after 15 minutes or so pass we realise we’ll need to head inside to order and pay. Though the lack of table service isn’t exactly unusual, it seemed odd at a time when there are only two other tables. This aside, the service we do get is cheery and helpful — we’re kept watered and our waitress checks to see how everything is. Everything is as it should be on the caffeine front; my macchiato is great and the flat white my mum orders is pronounced “just what she needed”. Miann is proving itself a strong contender for a breakfast stop — it’s simple, done well. While it’s proof we can’t pigeonhole the business for its expertise in sweet treats, you’d be crazy to leave without a pastry or another treat. Trust us.