First Looks: Fav Cup Cafe serves up specialty bagels and coffee

Fav Cup Cafe snuck onto the scene just before Christmas, throwing open the doors to their London Circuit cafe.

The cafe is a collaboration between Praewpitcha ‘Peach’ Chinsamai and Wilairak ‘Wicky’ Wutthiudomlert (who owns Canberra favourite Chong Co Thai), along with Wicky’s partner Piyada ‘Pat’ Siribunchakit. Peach also owns Cafe Nate in Roseville, Sydney.

Peach explained that when Wicky reached out to her to see if she was interested in opening a cafe in Canberra, she immediately wanted to do something with bagels.

“I’ve always loved bagels … I always wanted to serve bagels [at Cafe Nate], but unless it’s a specialty bagel shop, people tend to order other things,” she explained.

So at Fav Cup Cafe, they’re putting bagels front and centre with a menu that offers a mix of sweet and savoury options that will tempt anyone, whether you’re dining in or taking away.

Fav Cup offers five different bagels: plain, sesame, jalapeño & cheese, blueberry and Milo. The bagels are delivered fresh from a local Canberra maker, as Peach explains: “The bagels are homemade, just not made here. We’re sourcing them locally.”

Customers can choose their own spreads or go for one of the sandwich options. The kitchen team mixes their own cream cheese spreads, including a fabulous Thai-fusion Tom Yum flavoured cream cheese, which features on the prawn sandwich. Peach explained that she is passionate about incorporating Asian flavours wherever possible. Tom Yum Pasta is the signature dish and a best seller at her Sydney cafe.

Currently, Fav Cup’s most popular takeaway bagel is the BLAT – maple bacon, mixed salad, smashed avo and tomatoes.

Bagel traditionalists looking for a quick takeaway option might also be drawn to the smoked salmon with dill cream cheese.

Those with a sweet tooth are definitely well-catered for at Fav Cup. You can’t go wrong with a blueberry bagel topped with maple cream cheese, Biscoff crumb, fresh berries and a wicked drizzle of maple syrup. Or indulge your inner child with a Milo bagel topped with chocolate ice cream, Oreo crumbs and berries.

If bagels aren’t really your thing, or if you just want to mix things up a little, the team has got you covered. There are several tasty salad options on the menu, or you can opt to have any of the sandwiches made on sourdough bread, a ciabatta bun, or a tortilla wrap. And check the cabinet for banana bread, almond croissants and other sweets.

Fav Cup even has its own blend of coffee beans. Peach roasts the small-batch beans in Sydney and says she is excited to offer a different option for coffee in Canberra. There are also frappes and fruit smoothies available on the menu.

The team at Fav Cup had initially expected to be busiest during the week, but they have been pleasantly surprised at their weekend trade and have started introducing some weekend specials to the menu, like the Wagyu Cheeseburger Bagel. Talk about taking brunch to the next level!

Fav Cup is located at G09/39 London Circuit in the city and is open weekdays from 7 am to 3 pm, and on weekends from 8 am to 2 pm. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Riotact.