Tucked away in the industrial backstreets of Collingwood is a green oasis – the dining hub of hospitality social enterprise STREAT.
STREAT is a Melbourne-based organisation that offers disadvantaged youth aged 16-25 a supported pathway from the street to a sustainable livelihood. Since it started in 2010, STREAT has trained more than 520 disadvantaged youth in hospitality across five cafe sites in Melbourne.
Their newest permanent site is a former manor from the 1860s and houses an expansive cafe, on site artisan bakery, coffee roastery, meeting spaces and function rooms.
The best part is that it’s surrounded by a lush garden, a stark contrast to its industrial neighbours.
Other family-friendly facilities include high chairs and shelves of toys and books, though Baby 2.0 spends most of the time exploring the garden and trying out the hammocks and deck chairs
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The food is absolutely stunning in terms of presentation and flavours. I highly recommend the Matcha parfait, scorched yuzu marshmallow, rice crunch ($18.50). I’ve never had a dish like it before in terms of the melding of flavours and textures and it’s like a (sort-of) healthy dessert on a breakfast plate.
Also generously proportioned and healthy is are the white corn tortillas with broccoli molé, pickled carrots and roasted cashew crema ($16). The produce is super-fresh and while the dish is vegan it is full of fantastic flavour that a non-vegan will still enjoy.
Baby 2.0 happily devours a giant flaky sausage roll ($12) and then for dessert we have a Genderbread Person. It’s not your typical gingerbread man and costs $12 because all profits allows a young person who identifies with being LGBTIQ to participate in the program. Each Genderbread Person comes inside a little booklet explaining the concept and Baby 2.0 and I have an interesting discussion about what makes up how a person feels about their gender.
Hipster Collingwood is not an easy place to find a family-friendly place to dine and the spacious STREAT ticks all the boxes. Delicious food and coffee, wonderful surroundings, friendly staff – and a place where every dollar counts towards helping a young person in need.
HOT Tips:
- Pram access;
- High chairs;
- toys;
- Courtyard;
- Standard menu suitable for kids;
- Note parking is difficult to find in surrounding streets.
STREAT, 66 Cromwell Street, Collingwood (03) 9629 4222
Monday to Friday, 7am – 4pm
Weekends, 8am – 4pm
