When two become one….
What goes together better than Ross and Rachel? Coffee and homewares! Add in Vietnamese food and you have the trifecta. I mean let’s be honest, if I could catch up with a friend in a dream scenario it would first involve coffee, then a spot of shopping, followed by Bánh mì. And if I could do all that without having to drive or walk my tired legs between the three, that’s even better!
Cue: Foliage Coffee and Hobby Home & Garden, located at 30 Beulah Rd, Norwood.
Partners, Abel Prasad and Linh Vo decided to combine their hobbies and put them under one roof. She’s the cafe and he’s the homewares and together they have made one hell of a business.
First, Coffee
Brewing their own brand of beans to make the perfect cup of cino, Foliage Coffee pride themselves on their customer experience and satisfaction. “We just want people to come inside and feel safe, like they’re at a friend’s house. If times are tough, tap me on the shoulder, I’ll look after you and your coffee will be on the house, nobody needs to know.” With plenty of space, and light, it’s the perfect place to bring your pooch… inside! Yep, dogs are welcome too.
Homewares
Hobby Home & Garden has a gorgeous selection of indoor and outdoor pots, plants, stylish mirrors, cushions, throws, kid’s clothes and toys, photo frames, decorative pieces, and statement furniture. If you’re homeware obsessed like me, this place will be your jam! Just when you thought the place couldn’t get any larger, out the back is a garden centre with everything you need to spruce up your back or front yard!
Food
A family affair, owner Linh Vo’s mum (or Mama Vo as she’s known) is out the back making traditional Vietnamese delights, sweet and savory! “We use the freshest ingredients from local growers and businesses and we always support our Vietnamese community.” The Vietnamese pastries are supplied by the Vietnamese Bakery in Arndale and trust me, they are delicious!
Sitting amongst the greenery, you can feast like a queen on traditional dishes like Dim Sims, Cold Rolls, Banh Mi, Bun Bowls and Fluffy Baos. If you’re not vibing on the whole Vietnamese thing, that’s okay too. They also offer sandwiches, toasties, croissants, amazing pastries from Prove Patisserie and other popular brekky items.
The special corner
Just over a year ago Abel’s sister passed away suddenly in her sleep. Before she passed she had big plans to build a coffee shop in her own doctor’s practice because she loved the idea that coffee brings people together and makes them feel good. So, as a tribute to her, Abel has a special nook in the cafe decked out in a pair of plush pink chairs (her favourite colour) as an ode to the coffee shop she was never able to build. “After losing my dad in a car crash and my sister in her sleep, I feel like life is too short to not do all the things you were born to do. I want to give back, help charities, frontline workers, people who are struggling. I also try to make everything affordable so nothing is out of reach.”
As awesome as the experience is in-store, if you can’t make it or you live interstate, you can always shop their homewares online, here.
Foliage Coffee + Hobby Home & Garden is open Monday to Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm and Saturday to Sunday 8:00am – 3:00pm.
