Brunetti is Moving

Brunetti is an iconic cafe. An institution. And a significant part of my life in Melbourne.

Brunetti Cakes began trading in Lygon Street, Carlton in 1974, but has been at the current location in Faraday Street since 1985.

Not just an Italian cafe, Brunetti calls itself "a truly authentic Roman Pasticceria". This is a place you can get coffee, cake, biscuits, chocolates, gelato, foccacia ... the options are endless.

A famous, Italian-style coffee.

Some of the sweets on offer.

Neil and I had lunch at Brunetti today with Lucinda. Why? Because it is moving.

Moving just around the corner, back to the original Lygon Street location.

It's not a great distance. But it is a big change.

Neil in the front window of Brunetti.

Brunetti in its current location has been a big part of Neil's life. He completed three degrees at the nearby University of Melbourne, and it was a favourite meeting place for the students.

Brunetti has also played a big part in our relationship. It was the scene of our first date, on Monday, 26th May, 2003.

I can remember arriving early, and loitering in the nearby Borders bookshop before walking around the corner to Brunetti. I hadn't gone out on a date for coffee before, and I was very nervous. But I saw Neil in the window straight away (already drinking his coffee!) and we talked for hours.

Neil likes to joke about the providential guidance he received when arranging our next date (for the following Monday). I told him I was vegetarian, and he glanced across the road and saw Shakahari vegetarian restaurant directly opposite. It was meant to be!

Neil in the same seat he sat in almost ten years ago.

The view across the road to Shakahari vegetarian restaurant.

We dated for four years before marrying. One of our favourite activities was going out for dinner, or even meeting after dinner, and browsing in either Borders or Readings bookshops (or both!) before having coffee at Brunetti and talking about what we'd seen.

The night before our wedding (Saturday, 26th May, 2007), we snuck out after the wedding rehearsal for a quick coffee at Brunetti, to mark the four year anniversary of our relationship.

But the memories don't end there. Among many others, I can recall watching Neil collapse over his arrancini after his first testicular biopsy; eating a foccacia caprese after one of my IVF transfers at the Royal Women's Hospital; and bringing numerous overseas and interstate visitors to marvel at the selection of desserts.

We haven't been to Brunetti so much over the last few years. Having toddlers does that! But it was amazing today to see Neil sitting where he sat for our first date almost ten years ago, this time holding our third daughter.

Lucinda is starting out early on the coffee scene.

The new Brunetti will be in Lygon Court, where the Borders bookshop used to be. They are working on the fit out now.

Neil inspecting the building works.

I'm sure we'll make plenty more memories in the new location. Perhaps Lucinda's first babycino?

(PS Sorry for the poor quality of the photographs, which were taken on my mobile).