de Groots publishes the popular 'Dining Around Melbourne' guide. This is their review.

Imagine inhaling a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee while surrounded by the bleats of lambs, squawks of chickens and contented sighs of a freshly milked cow.

As a mother of two boys under the age of three living in the northern suburbs, there are certain things that are a necessity. A membership to the Collingwood Children’s Farm rates high on my list, closely followed by a decent cup of coffee, which thankfully they do at the Farm Cafe. Wear the wee ones out watching the cow being milked, trying to catch a sheep and watching the guinea pigs doing whatever it is that guinea pigs do before stopping for a breather at this outdoor cafe. Don’t worry, you don’t need a membership to eat here as entry to the Farm Cafe is free.

Food-wise there’s plenty on offer here for grown-ups and children alike. Start your day with the hearty farmer’s breakfast comprising poached free-range eggs with crispy bacon, field mushrooms, roasted Roma tomatoes, baked beans and tomato relish. For lunch tuck in to the farm’s own traditional beef and vegetable rolls served with crispy greens, mustard seed potato salad and tomato relish, or an individual organic roast vegetable and pesto tartlet piled with rocket and fetta. Kids get their own menu too with offerings like the baked beans in a little bowl with buttered toast soldiers, best enjoyed with a hot chocolate or, for the grown ups, organic coffee.

Veda Wickens, February 2007

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