Custodian Kitchen

Spring gnocchi//

//spring greens, pan fried gnocchi, fromage blanc, fresh herbs, lemon.

Spring might bring a strange mix of weather, but also brings with it delicious early season greens. Snow peas, sugar snaps, asparagus, bright herbs (and an absolute abundance of lemons).

Our gnocchi of the moment 😘🤌

Custodian.

Pan roasted eye fillet, pomme anna, parsley salad, sauce béarnaise.

Our little Father's Day present from the kitchen for tomorrow.
☺️🙏✌️

If you still need a table, please call ahead.

Peace!

Team Custodian.
🐱☺️🦜😘

This Sunday is Father's Day!

The kitchen team are busy cooking up a mean treat this Sunday for all the fantastic father figures in our lives.

Call us on 9191 9454 to organise a table.

Peace!

Team Custodian
✌️

Smoked eel rillette, potato focaccia, fennel radish salad, whipped honey butter.

One of our seasonal menu items to help us through the tail end of Winter.

The other dish is Anthony (not available).

A lunch to restore the soul: Pork and veal rotollo, with smoked tomato, spinach and mushroom.

Fluff's dedication to a traditional Monte de Toni family dish, picked up on her culinary travels, lovingly re-created in our kitchen.

Our lunch special, available through to next weekend.

✌️

Steaming, warming, soul nourishing, hand made gnocchi.

Oh me oh my.

Turkish spiced lamb, tomato, mint, feta and pine nut cream.

On until this Winter blast blows over.

Peace!

A little special from the kitchen for the weekend.

English flapjacks with apple, quince, almond ice cream & almond crumble.

Limited serves. Unlimited service.

With 🫀

Team Custodian.

Cool weather, cold cuts.

Our thick cut corned beef with potato salad, mustard and cos lettuce, served on a soft lunch roll.

New to our sandwich offerings to get you through this side of solstice.

Peace! ✌️

Team Custodian.

Pativee-wut?

Pathivier! Duck, mushroom & water chestnut in pastry, served with lentils and spiced jus.

On for the weekend. Very limited. Very delicious.

!

Hugh on the tools 🔥🔥

For the past 6 years Hugh and I have loved our little corner of the world. We willed Custodian into existence from our own dreams and the ashes of the ubiquitous local milk bar, into what it is today. It has been a fantastic journey so far.

For the next 12 months however, our dear Hugh's focus will be on another demanding, all consuming and life fulfilling quest: being a doting dad.

But don't fret pet! Hugh is still a part of Custodian. He will be back periodically to roll out new menus, drink coffee, and hand out the hugs until his full return.

And so, dear Hugh, we wish you and your family all the best. Safe travels and wishing you happy, unrushed memory making in the months ahead.

With love,

Team Custodian
☺️🤗❤️

smoked potato doughnuts - all long weekend!!

Grab your friend/wife/husband/lover/partner/bestie or just bring yourself in and enjoy the tasty, tasty goodness!!

We’re open Monday, too. 6.30-12pm for the King’s bday.

- 🧡 Team Custodian.

this post comes wayyyyyy too late today, I know!!

Our first attempt was at 8am this morning, when it wasn’t supposed to be that busy.
Turns out, on the first day of winter, a lot of people wanted caffeine early. So the post went out the window. Until now!!

Everyone - This weekends special.

white onion kimchi + aged cheddar + provolone toastie w/ tofu creamed corn + burnt honey.

It’s ugly delicious 🤤

7th of June - we’re scratching the itch again!

Yes, yes! We’re putting on another dinner, this time to ring in the winter season.

$85 per person with two dining times available - 5.30 & 8pm.

Of course, there’ll be delicious cocktails, warming mulled wine and a tight selection of well curated wines on the night, too!! If you’re going to do it, you need to do it right, right?!

Give us a call to secure your spot!!

Love - team Custodian.

our kinda mushrooms on toast

It’s pine mushroom season everyone. And this excites us! They are so delicious, so we can’t not get some in. To the point where every time the season hits, we put them on special.

So, allow me to introduce you to our weekend special.

Pine mushrooms + ‘nduja + black cabbage + fennel + charred sourdough + poached egg.

Allow us to allow you to relax this weekend!

Dear everyone. Happy Mother’s Day!!

Love Fluff.

Croissant bread & butter pudding + roasted quince + brioche ice cream + black sesame + lime curd.

some special specials, for your special someone this mother’s day.

And just a reminder folks. We tend to fill up quick, so it pays book ahead.

9191 9454. Or drop us a text via Insta.

It’s going to be fun.

Little fiery number for chilli days!!

‘Nduja + leek + fennel + pecorino

Yes, we’re being the heat this brisk weekend with a little ‘Nduja. A fermented spreadable sausage from Italy.
Served with braised and caramelised leek, fresh fennel, and a little pecorino crumb.

Warmth from the inside out!

SURPRISE!!!

New menu starting this weekend.

There’s a couple ‘o’ new dishes. Some you may have tried as specials,(here’s looking at you, Fluffs rolled pork belly!!) and one that’s completely new, well tested, 100% delicious and full of umami goodness!!

Come down, check it out!!

G N O C C H I

As always - house made!!

Pan fried + beetroot + parsnip + goats cheese + burnt honey

Oh hey dal.

Or is it daal? Or dahl? Either which way, it’s lovely. It’s also this weekends special.

Lentil dal + coconut crepe + sweet potato + orange pickle.

While the crepe is not a true Sri Lankan hopper (which Hugh is very much obsessed with!), Fluff has made a fermented coconut batter to make the crepe from. They’re cooked to order and are crispy and super tasty.

Authentic? No. Delicious? Yes!!

People often ask us what our most popular dish is. While that’s a loaded question, and there’s probably no true answer to this conundrum, our porridge is a staple of our menu.

Hot, filling, generous, and probably most important. Delicious!!!

If you haven’t, you should. If you have, you know!!

Seeds & grains + maple soaked fruit + honeycomb + cultured butter.

Photo bombed! 🤦🏻🙊

All I wanted was a nice shot, but no… you had to jump in.

Punishment? Immortalised on our Insta feed.

We’re labouring for you so you don’t have to!

Of course, we love it so much, it would never feel like a drag. 🤣😉😘

Stay hydrated everyone. 🧡🧡

Smoked potato doughnut!!!

You may have heard of it. You may have tried it. Maybe you’re like what the hell is Hugh on about. But I promise it’s worth a taste.

Served with parmesan custard and sherry jam.

Yes folks,
Coffee with a smoked potato doughnut ✅
Chai with a smoked potato doughnut ✅
Eggs on toast with a… you get the idea.

We’re open all long weekend, ice machine is full, air-con is on, hugs are free.

Slightly early come Monday, too. 6.30-12.

Love you!!

- H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y F L U F F -

🎉🎉🎂🎂🥳🥳🎈🎈🎊🎊🎁🎁

Yes, this lady deserves all the birthday emojis.

Fluff has been with us since pretty much the beginning, and really, where would Custodian be without her. Chef, mentor, friend, confidante, wearer of hats, and sometimes barista!! What can’t she do?

Her birthday falls on the very appropriate International Women’s Day. And having said that, we’d like to mention all the wonderful, strong women we have working with us here at the cafe. Sophia, Bella, Lauren, Maddie, Peggy, Helen, Dani, Nikita, Aliya and Maddie. Each of them powerhouses in their own right, and like Fluff, have helped mould Custodian into the cafe you know today.

Couldn’t have done it without you!! 💜💜💜

What have we got?!?!

Other than another reason to some down and say hi this weekend.
It’s, a new “Fluff original”. 🤤

Free range pork belly + sour cherry & pecan stuffing + tea smoked egg + basil & apple salad + black vinegar.

Available this weekend or until it’s sold out.

Who says it ain’t easy being green?!

Our current gnocchi says “it is!”

Pan fried + celeriac + pear + almond + basil

We’re throwing a little soirée to kiss summer goodbye.

Friday - March 1st. $75 per person.
Two sittings - 5.30pm - 7.30pm & 8pm - late.

Yes, it was a strange summer to say the least. Blistering hot one day, pretty average the next… maybe it never really got going at all, yet we find ourselves at its end. So we’re marking the occasion!

Having said that, and probably the real reason why we’re doing this, is because Gerry, Fluff and I have had the night time itch for a while now. We needed an excuse and Custodian is lovely at night. Plus we like the fun and the theatre of a dinner service.

There’ll be some nicely curated cocktails and a tight lil wine selection to sip from, too. Dietary requirements? Just let us know.

So, there you have it friends. Limited spots, so booking are essential.

Well… Quite the downpour to end our hot streak.

Big shoutout to all who braved the furnace, and came down to say hi over the last couple days. We 💙🤍 you all!

It’s been a weird summer to say the lease. So here’s to the next week being a bit more stable. Ignoring the 19 degree day tomorrow of course! 🙊

Much love - Team Custodian.

Secret staff recipes are a mainstay in our industry.

Sometimes they make it out in the wild, because they're just too too good to keep to ourselves.

What's Taaj's secret drink? Espresso milkshake.

That's right.

Espresso.
Milkshake.

When you realise you need this in your life, just ask.

😎🧊🤘