One step into Braddon’s latest café Kith + Nosh and you are greeted like part of the family – the space oozes warmth and comfort which is also an accurate reflection of its passionate owners, Michael and Sandee Smith, and kids who also work in the café – a true family affair!
Hospitality has been in the Smith family for decades. The pair ran a string of restaurants in Brisbane, before relocating to Dalby to run a cookery school for 10 years. Along with a love for healthy, hearty food also comes a love for the snow, which saw them pack up and make the move to the nation’s capital where they could combine the two.
Kith + Nosh means ‘friends and food’ in German and Yiddish, and its menu is all about mindful eating, cooked with lots of love and care by Micheal and Sandee themselves, using local whole and ethical produce including Canberra suppliers including 3 mills Bakery and Jordo’s Chop Shop in Wanniassa. Vegetarian, dairy-free, vegan and paleo diets are also all catered for.
For those who aren’t the best home cooks or are just a little time poor, Kith + Nosh has got you covered! It also offers its own range of fresh and frozen take-home meals, which are available in store, so you can now enjoy variations of your favourite dishes and continue your healthy eating at home.
There’s also a mini supermarket and deli at the front of the store, where you can conveniently pick up some delicious produce, ingredients, snacks, drinks and goodies to-go.
Michael and Sandee have scoured the region to source the best local produce for the café. A great example of this is the Snowy River Wood-smoked Trout with dukkha eggs, roast carrot, cashew cheese, Sandee’s black sesame kimchi (yum!) and pumpernickel. The trout is cooked to perfection and its smoky flavour is the star of the dish. While a generous sprinkle of dukkah evenly coats two delicately poached eggs bringing all the elements of the dish together seamlessly.
For breakfast, our top pick is the Pumpkin Almond Meal Pancakes with blueberry drizzle and fresh banana, raw honey and coconut cream. As much of a feast for the eyes as for the belly, this tower of fluffy goodness looks like a guilty pleasure but is actually oh-so-tasty and a healthier alternative to your usual sugar-filled pancakes. The fruits atop provide a delightful balance of zest and sweet, and you’ll be mopping up the remains with every bite.
If you’re after a substantial feed that’s surprisingly light on the stomach, don’t go past Kith + Nosh’s Chargrilled Seasonal Vegetable Pesto Salad with balsamic glaze and lemon zest. Boasting enough energy to keep you going throughout the working day, this dish features perfectly grilled greens and vegetables – a dish which features the freshest ingredients that speak for themselves.
At the time of our visit we were also treated to a dish off the Specials Board – toasted paleo bread, Roza’s tapenade, smashed avocado, scrambled eggs, sumac and lemon aioli. Keep your eye on Kith + Nosh’s ever-changing specials to try some of its unique recipes and creative dishes.
A feast is not complete without dessert, or in our case, a whole platter of desserts, treats and fruit! It was all gluten-free which makes it okay to eat it all to yourself right? Kith + Nosh’s cabinet offers a colourful array of nibbles for the sweet tooths out there. Muffins, slices, cakes and more – drop in today to see what’s in store.
Last, but definitely not least, ahh the coffee… Passers-by of Lonsdale Street are spoilt for choice when it comes to their daily source of caffeine, but the aroma of Kith + Nosh grinding 100 percent organic Veneziano Coffee coming from the café is enough to draw you in for a hot cup – even if it is your fifth one for the day. Guilty!
Open Tuesday to Sunday, make time to pop in to meet the Smith family and the friendly faces behind the city’s Kith + Nosh café. Take our word for it, you’ll leave feeling revitalised, happy and definitely well fed!
