i’ve made no secret of my love for chez dré, right around the corner from the south melbourne markets. on a weekday it has a relaxed peaceful feeling (perfect for studying, working or escaping work!). and on a weekend it has a lively infectious vibe full of laughter, talking + people enjoying themselves. it is certainly my favourite in melbourne, made easier by its proximity to both home and work for me.

but before i continue with my love of chez dré. please allow me a quick moment to brag about another of my loves… my extraordinarily talented husband who released his much-anticipated debut album yesterday! we are both so excited! he has worked (and practiced) unbelievably hard to get to this point and i am so super proud… it is a momentous week in the inlovewithbrunch apartment.

so, the below photos are a collation from multiple visits to chez dré (so please don’t judge me a glutton -i’ve spaced out my culinary pleasures!)

brioche french toast with spiced apples, pain d’épices crumb, blueberry gel, caramelized pecans + vanilla mascarpone pretty as a picture and beautiful complimenting flavours. this disk is not overly sweet like some french toasts + the crunch of the walnuts are divine.

truffled eggs with prosciutto, pecorino, coddled eggs, white truffle oil + toast sourdough if the brioche french toast is ying, then this dish is yang. not a hint of sweetness or sugar, this dish packs a sharp tangy punch from the combination of meat, cheese + truffle oil. the coddled eggs were smooth, soft + delicate.

pistachio tapioca with passionfruit curd, rhubarb, chia seeds + pistachios this was a weekly special earlier in november, so you may find it’s not on the menu when you visit – but if it is i definitely recommend trying it! i absolutely love tapioca / sago dishes (operator25, chin chin, rice paper scissors) and this was no exception. the passionfruit curd was beautifully tangy/creamy + pistachios always remind me of christmas. delish!

lemon-hazelnut tart with lemon mousse, pâte de praline, lemon crème, hazelnut dacquoise if you have not yet experienced the patisserie cabinet at chez dré you are seriously missing out. this indulgent lemon-hazelnut tart is just one of 13 amazingly constructed sweets you have to choose from (i’m talking banofee st. honoré, caramel éclair, chocolate tart). and then there’s 12 flavours of macarons too. seriously sinful, but seriously worth it!

scrambled eggs + bacon not only do they do fancy well, they also do a simple satisfying aussie brunch well! a seriously huge serving size (i couldn’t finish this), delicious bacon + some seriously good scrambling skills!

the coffee is always consistent, a locally roasted house ‘symmetry blend’ by the maling room in canterbury. i love the fair trade and ethically sourced consciousness too.

there is certainly no way i can hide my love for this café, and while i sound super soppy + overly optimistic, it truly is a special space. staff are always friendly, even on a busy weekend when they are full to overflowing + juggling a million things. love love love.

verdict: hands down, my fave in melbourne
find: www.chezdre.com.au