This fun café on the corner of Mt Alexander Road, Essendon, serves up hearty breakfasts, substantial lunches and overwhelming ‘crazy shakes’. I was here with Unbeleafable, who had been invited to try their vegan menu.
First, it is a nice space. Ten One Ate is on a corner block with floor to ceiling windows and a courtyard decorated in greenery. On a Friday morning to afternoon, it was a chilled vibe with friendly staff, relaxed customers in pairs and singles, and the kitchen staff working efficiently beyond the high bench at the back of the room.
The menu is pretty extensive. Vego breakfast options include huevos rancheros (think scrambled egg burrito), avo on toast, cookies and cream waffles and blueberry hotcakes. They wanted to show off the vegan menu to us, and without ordering, bought us the strawberry and banana smoothie bowl, granola, and vegan salad bowl.
The granola was my favourite, served with lots of fresh roasted nuts, coconut yoghurt and a perfectly skinned and poached pear, this would be the perfect breakfast to set you up for the day.
The vegan salad bowl was filled with yummy veggie goodness: quinoa, chunks of soft avocado, roasted pumpkin, spiced chickpeas, spinach, roasted almonds, roasted Dutch carrots and broccoli. This dish is all your essential vitamins and minerals in one go. This was served with a tangy lime and tahini dressing.
The strawberry smoothie bowl was very cute with its pink base, carefully cut strawberries, chia seeds, banana, coconut and pistachios. I really liked the coconut flakes and nuts as the additions to this one.
As if this had not been enough to keep out hungry tummies satiated, we were also served a range of drinks. It was my first time tasting a taro latte, the waitress suggested trying with coconut milk. It was truly delicious with a sweet, malty flavour. I am always on the look out for interesting caffeine free hot drinks, and am definitely a convert to the taro latte movement now.
The matcha latte was mid-strength, unsweetened and with beautiful art on top.
We also got to try a couple of the smoothies: the Coco Charge and the Tropical Storm. I loved the fun Mayan-like cocktail glasses with grumpy glass faces looking out while you sipped (or gulped – yes, they were that good). The Coco Charge was a blend of cacao, peanut butter, banana, dates and almond milk. It was filling but more-ish with just the right amount of sweet and nuttiness. The tropical storm was more refreshing with pineapple juice, mango, passionfruit and coconut milk. This was decorated with slices of kiwi and coconut flakes which soaked up the flavours and the moisture of the smoothie – yum.
Overall, I really liked this place. There are so many interesting things on the menu, that I would love to go back and taste more. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The servings were large. And the food was fresh and interesting without being complicated or pretentious.
First, it is a nice space. Ten One Ate is on a corner block with floor to ceiling windows and a courtyard decorated in greenery. On a Friday morning to afternoon, it was a chilled vibe with friendly staff, relaxed customers in pairs and singles, and the kitchen staff working efficiently beyond the high bench at the back of the room.
The menu is pretty extensive. Vego breakfast options include huevos rancheros (think scrambled egg burrito), avo on toast, cookies and cream waffles and blueberry hotcakes. They wanted to show off the vegan menu to us, and without ordering, bought us the strawberry and banana smoothie bowl, granola, and vegan salad bowl.
The granola was my favourite, served with lots of fresh roasted nuts, coconut yoghurt and a perfectly skinned and poached pear, this would be the perfect breakfast to set you up for the day.
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| Vegan granola |
The vegan salad bowl was filled with yummy veggie goodness: quinoa, chunks of soft avocado, roasted pumpkin, spiced chickpeas, spinach, roasted almonds, roasted Dutch carrots and broccoli. This dish is all your essential vitamins and minerals in one go. This was served with a tangy lime and tahini dressing.
 |
| Vegan salad bowl |
The strawberry smoothie bowl was very cute with its pink base, carefully cut strawberries, chia seeds, banana, coconut and pistachios. I really liked the coconut flakes and nuts as the additions to this one.
 |
| Strawberry and banana smoothie bowl |
As if this had not been enough to keep out hungry tummies satiated, we were also served a range of drinks. It was my first time tasting a taro latte, the waitress suggested trying with coconut milk. It was truly delicious with a sweet, malty flavour. I am always on the look out for interesting caffeine free hot drinks, and am definitely a convert to the taro latte movement now.
The matcha latte was mid-strength, unsweetened and with beautiful art on top.
We also got to try a couple of the smoothies: the Coco Charge and the Tropical Storm. I loved the fun Mayan-like cocktail glasses with grumpy glass faces looking out while you sipped (or gulped – yes, they were that good). The Coco Charge was a blend of cacao, peanut butter, banana, dates and almond milk. It was filling but more-ish with just the right amount of sweet and nuttiness. The tropical storm was more refreshing with pineapple juice, mango, passionfruit and coconut milk. This was decorated with slices of kiwi and coconut flakes which soaked up the flavours and the moisture of the smoothie – yum.
Overall, I really liked this place. There are so many interesting things on the menu, that I would love to go back and taste more. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The servings were large. And the food was fresh and interesting without being complicated or pretentious.
Ten One Ate
1018 Mt Alexander Road
Essendon 3040
03 9379 4892
Opening hours:
Daily 7:00am to 4:00pm