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Laying in bed on Sunday morning, sun streaming through the half-open blinds, the cat leaning gently on my legs, Netflix flickering in front of my well-rested eyes(let’s talk about Wet, Hot American Summer another time), everything was pointing to staying right where I was.

Until that usual Sunday sign started flashing in purple neon behind every tranquil thought, “COFFEE..COFFEE…COFFEE”.

Being the 13th day of my new smoke free life, the coffee signs were now signs I actually dreaded. Coffee is not just coffee on a Sunday, coffee is ‘coffee and a ci…’

I cant even say it, it’s still too soon.

After a few minutes, coming to the conclusion that I couldn’t switch it off, I decided I’d have to make my “coffee getting mission” about something more, or else I would have a battle on my hands with the little, grimy, cigarette craving monsters.

SOS.

Text Sister.

<SISTER< NEED YUMMY FOOD<NEED GOOD COFFEE<NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE>

“SISTER, Whatcha doin’?? 🙂 🙂 ”

I had’a have something amazing. I needed coffee, but I needed more. I needed food of epical proportions. I needed super food!!

The neon sign in my head switched from purple to a multi-coloured, flashing, fairground attraction: CALIFORNIAN SUPERFOOD SALAD WITH POACHED CHICKEN.

“Sister, we’re going to East Melbourne!!”

TO GET THIS >>>>>

It may not look like much here, but the first time I had this salad it floored me (and the second time I married it and had its babies.)

The fresh, the crunch, the kick, the warmth. Every element filling every space in my mouth with a unique texture…I dreamt about it for weeks.

I first visited Square&Compass cafein East Melbourne a couple of weeks after it had opened, on recommendation from my very well-informed and gorgeous, foodie friend. (check out her blog, she’s amazing:LILSEATS)

I had sent her one of my SOS texts late on a Saturday night, describing the kind of cafe I was looking for, to enjoy a lazy catch up with my friend the following day. Being a fellow food and service snob – and an extremely well-stretched brunch player – she was a source I could trust. So when she threw Square&Compass in my bubble I immediately set my google maps to Clarendon Street, East Melbourne, and my alarm to a reasonable time.

Anyway, back to Sunday just gone. Back to that salad.

Because I work in a cafe and have access to some of the best breakfast dishes around, it takes a mountain to move me when I brunch out.

For starters, the coffee has to be good, great. Secondly, the service must not annoy me.

In. Any. Way.

Square&Compass have nailed that.

Sweet, perfectly brewed, Seven Seeds coffee supplied me with my caffeine gift. And aptly good-looking, friendly, prompt and not over-the-top-cool servers greeted us at the entrance to this fresh, clean eatery.

Thirdly, the food must be exciting but not scary – and bonus points of there is no kimchi on the menu.

S&C – like my other fave, gorgeous sister cafe BARRY in Northcote (chef/co-owner, Jeremy Fraser’s prior home) – bang square on all three of my requirements. Anyway, back to that salad.

Kale, heirloom tomatoes, charred corn, goji berries, wild rice, black turtle beans, quinoa, jalapenos, coriander, salted ricotta (+optional poached chicken); chuck in a good book, a neck massage and a swim in the ocean and you’ve pretty much got all my favourite things in the world in one bowl!

This salad is crazy good.

But you know what made it even better, watching my un-flappable sister sneak a few thousand giddy glances over my shoulder during the meal, at the gorgeous and charming Andy Lee, who sat in the sun-drenched courtyard behind me enjoying a very down-to-earth lunch with his lovely GF. You see, just the type of effortless glamour Square&Compass delivers on all levels

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Go there. Eat there. Chill there. Drink up the tranquility of the oldy-worldy East Melbourne backstreets. And if you have room for dessert; get the waffles. FOR REALS.

Also, by the time I’d ordered my second coffee for the day and the superfood bowl was in front of me, my dirty cigarette cravings had all but left the building – and the back of them looked almost as good as the backside of Andy Lee as he left the building. Mission accomplished.