The Institutions: eighty/twenty creates delicious taste combos with zero guilt

Why have I not come here before now?

eighty/twenty in Braddon is thrumming with life this Saturday morning. Every pavement table is filled. Servers bustle around delivering vibrant breakfast plates and steaming mugs of coffee.

Owner Aakash took over eighty/twenty three years ago, and he has kept the cafe’s focus on “delicious-nutritious-REAL”.

“We go to great lengths to produce vibrant, nourishing food that doesn’t skimp on taste. And we want everyone to feel relaxed coming here to eat. Coeliac and gluten-free patrons can rest assured that there will be no cross-contamination. We prepare their meals on a separate bench with its own utensils.”

While I skim through the café’s deliciously healthy menu, it is ironic that Aakash tells me he actually discovered a passion for food when working at Domino’s. He began his working life as a computer engineer and worked at Domino’s in a technological capacity. Aakash says it was there that he first fell in love with the business side of the food industry.

After a satisfying flat white, it is time to explore the breadth and depth of the healthy brekky scene. In the name of research, obviously.

First, the buckwheat waffle.

Each mouthful of this substantial vegan waffle has a nutty quality with a hint of cinnamon. Bursting with delectably presented fresh fruit and berries, topped with a scoop of vegan ice cream, a crunchy nut mix and a scrumptious, caramelly date sauce, this is the prettiest waffle you will ever lay eyes on. A variety of textures in a dish bring excitement to a plate and this breakfast delivers that in spades.

I am spoilt by experiencing my very first acai bowl at eighty/twenty. The unique method they use to make their acai creates an absolutely magical texture. My ‘crunch bowl’ looks like something you would find at an exotic resort or health spa. It brings a peanutty/cacao hit.

The acai is smooth and lush, with fresh berries incorporated into its creaminess along with house-made peanut butter. An entire sliced banana nestles on the side, and the bowl is topped with toasty oat-free granola and the added crunch of cacao nibs. I literally feel the wrinkles from years of unhealthy snacks melting off my face and being replaced by the glow of health. It is AMAZING!

“Acai is our biggest seller,” Aakash admits. “The way we make it produces acai that is thick, creamy and dense, a proper scoop. And our acai does not contain added sugar.”

I take a nutrition bowl to go. I don’t know what flavours and spices make this bowl so moreish. First, the tahini dressing is slamming. Then warm vegetables and the combinations of grains with the tang and sweetness of currants. This would be a dish I would order every time I come here just for the combination of salt, tang and piquancy, and the exciting textures.

I visited eighty/twenty in Braddon, but they’ve also branched out into Kingston, Greenway, Belconnen and Barton. The eighty/twenty team has become a family.

“All our other four eighty/twenty locations are owned by our staff members,” Aakash says. “People who have worked with us for years and put in so much work. We give them opportunities and support them in the setting up and the initial phase.”

Follow eighty/twenty on Facebook and Instagram to drool over some of their gorgeous food or, better yet, drop into eighty/twenty. It’s located at 1/18 Lonsdale St in Braddon (or check out their other locations). It is open seven days a week from 6 am to 3 pm.

Original Article published by Michelle Taylor on Riotact.