The General Food Store

Our local. Our favourite. Our happy place.
I’ve eaten my way through a lot of fancy Melbourne cafes, and The General Foodstore is a standout. I don’t even want to post this review because it’s a hidden gem in my opinion and I don’t want to share it with anyone!!! (I’m an only child, have I mentioned that?)
The place is small, but cozy and the staff are so attentive. They also sell three of my favourite things: Darryl’s Peanut Butter, Panna Choloctae and freshly baked sourdough bread. Check out their little nook of goodies when you head to the register to pay.
The menu changes monthly depending on the fruit and veg that are in season (I’m a sucker for places that do this!). It a great place for vegetarians and vegans because the dishes are so creative and healthy, you never feel like you’re missing out. It’s also great for all you omnivores and meat eaters. Their dishes also hero juicy bacon, chorizo and sausages as well.
Every time a dish is placed in front of me I’m pleasantly surprised with the beautiful presentation and quality of the produce. This place has exceeded my expectations in so many ways, and that’s saying something!

Great café in Emerald, quietly nestled away near the Puffing Billy. Small in size, although adequate to allow groups of most sizes to be accommodated. Outdoor seating available as well for those beautiful weekend brunches. Great variety on the menu with an emphasis on fresh local produce and single origin coffee blends. Definitely recommend a visit if you’re in the area for a breakfast or lunch!

Our regular brunch spot, this delightful hole in the wall has an amazing menu that mixes it up with clever twists on favourites like waffles and poached eggs. They all have unusual names like ‘the arabesque’ and nothing we’ve tried yet had failed to impress. The coffee is also really good, well worth the drive out to emerald which is half the fun — the countryside is stunning.