Candy, Ice cream, Pancakes. All before noon. It’s the new dish that has Melbourne foodies talking, and bouncing off the walls.
Hammer and Tong 412 is serving up Brunswick St’s sugar quota in one dish, all thanks to Chef Simon Ward. Hailing from Vue de Monde, the chef with a sweet tooth created popping candy pancakes in a fit of nostalgia. Who doesn’t remember walking to the corner store and spending their pocket money on popping candy? He and co-owner Dennis Ferreira (also ex-Vue de Monde) are having fun.
Once you get through the initial sugar rush, there’s a blueberry buzz to keep you going all the way through a fat stack of buttermilk pancakes.
Hammer and Tong 412 does savoury breakfast too – there’s a decadent truffled duck egg you’ll smell before you see, oil and yolk soaking into a generous serve of chunky brioche toast that’ll keep you going all day.
Serving salads and a soft shell crab burger at lunch, slow roast chickens and brussel sprouts with candied bacon for dinners on Thursday and Friday nights, this eating house is covering all its bases.
They’ve taken a leaf out of some good books – expect salt and pepper in conical flasks on the tables, vintage-style Spirit espresso machines, Dukes beans in the grinders, succulent cacti on the counter and an open kitchen – the Melbourne café formula.
Little touches are where Hammer and Tong 412 has raised the bar. Homemade chai, beautiful Made in Japan ceramic plates and seriously friendly staff encourage us to linger.
Who wouldn’t you when Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is on the playlist and candy is still buzzing round your brain.
Hammer and Tong 412
412 Brunswick St, Fitzroy Melbourne
T: 03 9041 6033
Tues – Wed: 7am – 4pm
Thurs – Fri: 7am to late
Sat – Sun 8am – 5pm
Twitter: @HammerandTong
