We’re so glad to have since found a few better options, and some reasons to actually leave the house to eat at the pub…

Hibernian Hotel 365 High Street, Golden Square 5444 3804
This pub has been completed refurbished – including the menu. Four options to choose from the last time we visited – eggplant parmigiana (delicious), pumpkin gnocchi, vegetable frittata and a vegetable parcel – we never have that many meals to choose from, and the chips are good. Unfortunately no vegie options on the kids menu

Brougham Arms 150 Williamson Street 5442 3555
When we last visited ‘The Broughie’, the vegetarian special had finished – at 6pm – before dinner service had started! Luckily, the lovely chef whipped up something special for us. The Brougham Arms also has a separate vegetarian menu, including gluten-free and kiddie options.

Camp Hotel 35 High Street, Eaglehawk 5446 8888
Tuesday night is Parma night at the Camp Hotel – with 10 varieties to choose from, they even have a vegetarian (eggplant) parmagiana! Bookings are essential, apparently. We’ve yet to check it out… if you have please let us know what you think.
Update: We’ve been advised that also on the menu is minestrone soup, stuffed mushrooms, eggplant parmas, vegetarian Thai green curry, risotto, spinach & ricotta lasagne, and a vegie pasta option. We’re definitely off to The Camp Hotel for our next pub visit.

Pratty’s Patch 35 Monsants Road, Maiden Gully 5449 6341
Pratty’s Patch offer three vegie options – we’d say they’re a little better than the average, so we’re including them on the list. Nice ambience and a decent list of local reds too.

Mt Edgecombe Hotel 79 Olinda Street, Quarry Hill 5443 3044
This used to be a shining light, but I haven’t heard too many good things lately – we’d like to update this with a better review… soon, hopefully.

If you have any recommendations for decent vegetarian pub food, please comment below or send them to us at iheartbendigo (at) y7mail.com

View Point Handmade Gallery 13 View Point (opposite the fountain)
Gorgeous wares, made by the locals!
Beautiful soap from Urthly Organics, individual jewellery pieces from the likes of Melissa Urquhart, and Your Organ Grinder, as well as pieces from Villa Hunter and gorgeous clothing from Ineke Designs.
Part gallery, part retail space and part community hub.
Tuesday–Thursday 11am-5pm, Friday 11am-7pm and 11am-4pm weekends.

Hudsons Hub 78 Mitchell Street
Stocking local, national and international contemporary Pop Art, lowbrow art, pop surrealism and underground art, art and design books, vinyl collectible figures and ceramics.
Hudsons Hub holds exhibitions frequently too!
Tuesday–Thursday 11am-5:30pm, Friday 11am-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm

bob boutique 17 Williamson Street
“Cute and kooky things to warm your heart and make you smile”
Most of what you find at bob is both handmade and Australian made, with over 50 independent labels in store.
Monday & Tuesday 11am-3pm, Wednesday-Friday 11am-5pm and 11am-3pm weekends

Of course you can’t go past the Bendigo Pottery for quality ceramic tableware. Iconic, classy and that piece of Bendigo for you to take home; some hand-decorated. The pottery is just out of town at 146 Midland Highway, Epsom.

The gift shop at the Bendigo Art Gallery is pretty cool too.

Also check out The Square, Bendigo’s Handmade market, a beautifully organised event held at the Bendigo Town Hall each season. The next markets will be on:

• Saturday 16 June 2012
• Saturday 15 September 2012
• Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 December 2012

Caffe Latte at El Gordo – image courtesy of chompandslurp.wordpress.com

Bath Lane Cafe 13 Bath Lane
Open 7 days
A review by Break-Faarce in Bendigo on 9Jul11, Almost Always Ravenous on 7Sep10 and half-eaten on 13Jul10.

Bendigo Corner Store Cafe
305 View Street
Open 7 days
A review from JavaJane.

Café au Lait 20 Mitchell Street
Open Mon-Thurs: 7.30am-5pm, Fri: 7am-6pm, Sat & Sun: 8.30am-4pm.
Review from CHOMP and SLURP.

Eaglehawk Bakery Cafe, 80 High Street
A review from Almost Always Ravenous from 18Sep10.

El Gordo Chancery Lane (off Pall Mall, between Williamson & Bull Streets)
Mon– Fri: 8am -4.30pm, Saturdays on occasion: check Facebook.
Reviews from CHOMP and SLURP on coffee and lunch, and one here from JavaJane.

Gallery Cafe at the Bendigo Art Gallery, 42 View Street
A review from Almost Always Ravenous from 8Sep10.

Green Olive Cafe 11 Bath Lane
Mon – Fri: 7am – 5pm, Sat: 7am – 3:30pm, Sun: Closed
Here’s a short and sweet review from back in Sep10 from Almost Always Ravenous.

The Groove Train Bendigo Marketplace Shopping Centre
A good review by Break-Faarce in Bendigo on 4Dec11 and a not-so-good one on 14Jan12.

T’Hooft 322 Lyttleton Terrace
Mon – Fri: 8am-4pm, Sat: 8am-3pm, Sun: 9am-3pm.
A review by Break-Faarce in Bendigo on 16Jul11.

The Loaded Plate 521A Napier Street, White Hills
A review by Break-Faarce in Bendigo on 25Feb12 and 6Mar12.

Masons of Bendigo 25 Queen Street
A glowing review from Food For You Reviews on 13Apr12.

The Old Green Bean 179 Lyttleton Terrace
Open 6 days – closed Sunday
A funky review from 24Mar12.

Sim’R 236 Hargreaves StreetOpen 6 days – Closed Monday
A review by Petit Pexl on 21May12.

Twenty2 22 Williamson Street
Mon-Sat: 7:30am-5pm, Sunday 7:30am-4pm
A review from Almost Always Ravenous from 23Sep10.

If we’ve missed a review, please let us know!

Updated 27 May 2012.

T’Hooft (322 Lyttleton Terrace) use fair-trade beans and have a sustainable ethos. We’ve heard they have siphon coffee too. Here’s a recent article from the Bendigo Weekly about these Bendigo master roasters.

Brewhouse Coffee Roasters
It’s out in the back blocks of Bendigo at 7 Eve Court, Golden Square.
Rumour has it that owner Corey has travelled the world on a coffee mission and he knows his stuff (he’s obsessed, apparently), we can certainly taste it. Their coffee offerings change seasonally, and their Synesso machine makes one mean brew. Go! 

At the very popular Old Green Bean (179 Lyttleton Terrace) they roast their own coffee in-house to produce seasonal blends and a changing variety of single origin offerings.

Custom Coffees or (Grata) were provincial Victoria’s first coffee roaster. They supply quite a few cafe’s around Bendigo, including Sim’R (236 Hargreaves Street) with their own special blend of fair trade beans – definitely worth tasting a cup (or two).

The Bendigo event involves two distances, a 4km walk or run and an 8km run around Strathdale Community Park; through the bushland park, around Kennington Reservoir and back to the ovals.

Sunday 13th May
Registrations start at 7:30am

Beischer Park
Reservoir Road, Strathdale

Cost

• Adult – $15
• Student / Health Care Card holder – $8
• Child (16 years and under) – $8
• Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) – $35
• Family (1 adult and up to 4 children) – $22

To register or for more info, go to the official page here. You must register by Wednesday 9 May 2012.

Sourdough bread from The Good Loaf - image courtesy of www.houseofhumble.com

Strathfieldsaye Bakery 5439 4647
Shop 4, 25-33 Blucher Street, Strathfieldsaye
Best Loaf   Traditional White Loaf
Best Pie   Steak, Cheese & Bacon
Best Cake/Pastry   Blueberry Muffin
Top Seller   Plain Pie

Our Pick! The Good Loaf Sourdough Bakery & Cafe 5444 2171
404 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo
Best Loaf   Roasted Pumpkin Semi-sourdough
Best Pie   Vegetable Calzone
Best Cake/Pastry   Indian Love Cake (with cardamom, pistachios & dried fruit)
Top Seller   Date Scones

Country Cakes 5442 3601
Cnr Breen & Russell Streets, Bendigo
www.countrycakes.com.au
Best Loaf   Cheese & Bacon Sausage Rolls
Best Pie   Egg & Bacon
Best Cake/Pastry   Jaffa Mousse Torte
Top Seller   Custard Tarts

Max Bakery Cafe 5442 2598
172 McIvor Road, Bendigo
Best Loaf   Wholemeal Multigrain
Best Pie   Chicken & Mushroom
Best Cake/Pastry   Raspberry & White Chocolate Cake
Top Seller   Pasties

Bath Lane Bakery 5443 0737
20 Bath Lane, Bendigo
Best Loaf   Knot Rolls (White, Wholemeal & Multigrain)
Best Pie   Steak
Best Cake/Pastry   Chocolate Chip Muffins
Top Seller   Apple Cakes

Eaglehawk Bakery 5446 9067
80 High Street, Eaglehawk
Best Loaf   Pumpkin Bread
Best Pie   Wagyu Beef
Best Cake/Pastry   Doughnuts
Top Sellers   Vanilla Slice & Steak Pies

Huntly Hot Bake 5448 8556
Huntly Shopping Centre
Best Loaf   Berry & Custard Scrolls
Best Pie   Chicken, Cheese & Honey Mustard
Best Cake/Pastry   Caramel Vanilla Slice
Top Seller   Curry Pie

Flora Hill Bakehouse 5442 7724
Shop 1, 13 Retreat Road, Flora Hill
Best Loaf   Traditional White Block Loaf
Best Pie   Plain Mince (Gold Pie – Award Winner)
Best Cake/Pastry   Vanilla Slice (Another Award Winner)
Top Seller   Steak, Kabana & Cheese Pie

Banjo’s Bakehouse 5442 3249
Shop 2, 307 Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo
Best Loaf   Pasta Dura
Best Pie   Steak & Cheese
Best Cake/Pastry   House Cakes (Ed: not sure exactly what these are)
Top Seller   Sausage Rolls

Gillies Pies 5443 4965
Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo
See www.gilliespies.com.au for other locations
Best Loaf   Traditional Vanilla Sponge
Best Pie   Traditional Meat
Best Cake/Pastry   Vanilla Slice
Top Seller   Sausage Rolls

Garlands Café & Bakehouse 5447 7782
124 High Street, Kangaroo Flat
Best Loaf   Block Loaf
Best Pie   Steak & Kidney Pie
Best Cake/Pastry   Vanilla Slice
Top Seller   Plain Beef Pie

Reproduced from The Bendigo Miner, Thursday 24 November 2011.

Do you think this represents all the bakeries in town? No? Send us info to iheartbendigo@y7mail.com or comment below.

Some of the cheese on offer at Bendigo Wholefoods

Well you can’t go past Bendigo Wholefoods for quality local offerings; from Meredith Dairy, Goldfields Farmhouse Cheese, to Holy Goat and Lochelian. They have many more cheeses on offer and also have a special section for vegetarian (animal rennet free) cheese, as well as an entire store of foodie goodness.

The Epicurean Delicatessen has a large range of international and local cheeses, a full delicatessen (the proper kind, with sliced meats on the bone etc.) and an awesome assortment of gourmet food.

The Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market is held on the 2nd Saturday each month at Sidney Myer Place (the Rosalind Park end of Williamson Street). Meet the cheesemakers and farmers selling their own produce – Lochelian, Boosey Creek & Holy Goat, as well as all the other goodies the market has to offer, including olives, quince paste, artisan bread and good local wine to go with your beautiful fromage.

Bendigo Wholefoods 5443 9492
314 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo (opp Coles carpark)

The Epicurean Delicatessen 5443 2699
79 Mitchell Street, Bendigo

Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market (See previous post here)
Sidney Myer Place, Bendigo
2nd Saturday of every month

Although, there are some crazy people who get up at the crack of dawn to serve us on a Sunday, and they are:

The remnants of breakfast at Cafe au Lait

The Dispensary Enoteca
Chancery Lane (off Pall Mall, between Williamson & Bull Streets)
Open from 8am, the friendly staff are ready to serve you with a perfect coffee and breakfast that is a notch above the average. Menu changes seasonally. Open Sundays 8am-4pm.

T’Hooft 322 Lyttleton Terrace
A Bendigo favourite. You may have to wait for a table as this joint is very popular. Their fair-trade coffee hits the spot and they have a modern menu with a few vegetarian and vegan friendly options. Like!

Bendigo Corner Store Cafe 305 View Street
Our favourite. We don’t want to say too much more as we’d still like to get a table. Fantastic daily specials, and they use organic ingredients wherever possible. Try and nab a spot in the sunny backyard, if we don’t get there first. Breakfast served until 3pm.

Wine Bank on View 45 View Street
Breakfast is served from 8:30am-11:30am on Sundays with a seasonal menu featuring poached fruit, pancakes (three toppings to choose from) and your choice of eggs with all the trimmings. View their menu here.

Twenty2 22 Williamson Street
Cafe Twenty2 offer, amongst other delights, a big breakfast (eggs any which way, tomato, spinach, bacon, hash brown, mushroom & sausage). Lavazza coffee and T2 teas. They also cater for all dietary requirements.

Spencers on Carpenter 19 Carpenter Street, Quarry Hill
I think the locals would like to keep this a secret, but we won’t tell anyone will we?
Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, eggs any which way, with bacon, tomato and mushrooms. Open Sunday 7am-5pm – great for the early risers!

Update: Sim’R 236 Hargeaves Street www.simr.com.au
A new addition to the restaurant scene in Bendigo from the talented Blakemores. Their breakfast menu includes the classics, as well as oven baked ricotta – sensational!
Open from 8am-4pm on Sundays.

Update: Bath Lane Cafe 13 Bath Lane
We just heard that this kid-friendly cafe is now open on Sunday. Will update with opening times when we have them!

Update: The Green Olive cafe 11 Bath Lane
This popular cafe is open from 8:00am-3:00pm on Sundays.

Café au Lait 20 Mitchell Street
We hear that the baked eggs here are divine and the porridge is good. Good reports on the coffee too. Open from 8.30am until 4:00pm.

Update: The Puddler is no longer open. The Woodhouse Redgum Chargrill and Woodfired Pizza has taken it’s place and is not open for breakfast.

If we’ve forgotten your favourite café, please let us know!

Cafe Thirty8 38 King Street (opposite Target)
They make quite a good coffee (Brewhouse) and also offer lots of home-made goodies such as pumpkin soup, sausage rolls, chow mein, lasagne, zucchini slice, quiche, baked potatoes and gourmet pies. Helpful service too.
7am-6pm Weekday and Saturdays from 9am-2pm.

Café Roubaix 66 Queen Street
New at Hardings Cycles! Haven’t been yet, but they have food, coffee and wifi!
Please comment below if you have been here.

Cafe au Lait 20 Mitchell Street
Rumour has it that Cafe au Lait also has wifi. We will confirm.
Monday to Thursday 7.30am-5pm, Friday 7am-6pm, Saturday & Sunday 8.30am-4pm
www.cafeaulait.com.au

Beechworth Bakery 158 High Street
Free wifi (30mins) with any purchase. Open every day 6am-6pm except Christmas Day.
www.beechworthbakery.com.au

The Bendigo Corner Store Cafe (305 View Street)
The Bendigo Corner Store Cafe will be offering free wifi every day from open till 12 and 2.30 till close with any purchase made on the day.

Updated 30 May 2012

We’ll be there at 10:00am on the dot to bag some goodies, so we don’t miss out. There is so much lovely produce to choose from; I’ll have a crack at naming some of the home-made products on offer:

Preserves

• Savoury; wholegrain mustard, olives, kasundi, preserved lemons, dukkah, spiced nuts, spiced figs, pickled plums.
• Sauce; tomato, plum.
• Pickles; green tomato, lime, eggplant.
• Chutney; mango, apricot, nectarine, tomato, lemon.
• Vinegar; raspberry, strawberry and mulberry flavoured.
• Jelly: crabapple, pomegranate, rosemary wine, mint, quince.
• Jam; apricot, plum, fig, raspberry and plum, fig and ginger, mulberry, strawberry, quince, mandarine, kiwi fruit and apple, pear and ginger.
• Marmalade; orange, 3 fruit, grapefruit, lime, cumquat.
• Savoury jam; red onion, red capsicum, tomato and chilli jam.

Mini fruit mince pies

Christmas baking
Christmas cakes and puddings (including a gluten-free range), shortbread, panforte, meringues, and a variety of speciality biscuits including fruit mince pies.

Plants