Herald Sun - Sunday Magazine, August 27 2006

You shouldn't really start house-hunting after falling in love with a cafe, but that's what happened when I first laid eyes on Pepper. After alighting from Newmarket station on a casual Sunday morning property "recky" earlier in the year, I was immediately drawn to the warm, friendly cafe directly opposite. Set in an Edwardian building on an Elm-lined street, Pepper proudly displays it's original facade, showing an earlier incarnation as the Girdwood's Hygienic Library and is beloved be locals who sit outside with their children, friends and dogs. It's the sort of place you could while away a few hours - or even the whole day. Having already sampled the signature breakfast of champions and then simple gourmet pizza selection offers from 4pm on previous visits, it was time to tackle lunch. As it's a blustery day, we opt to sit inside by the fire and pass on the array of tasty sandwiches and focaccias and instead try something from the small but diverse specials menu chalked up on the blackboard. My aromatic pappardelle with mixed mushrooms, rosemary and walnut pesto, rocket and parmesan went down a treat with a cheeky glass of Serres Tempranillo, while the other half declared his Penang chicken curry with lemongrass and ginger, pak choy and jasmine rice "tasty and filling", though not as authentic as the curries at one of the many Asian restaurants on nearby Racecourse Road. We finished with one of Pepper's delicious coffees before ambling up the road to browsing in some of the little boutiques that are now neighbours - lucky things - to Pepper. We'll most definitely be back. Again.

Joanne Hawkins