The cafe that managed to polarise the Australian online community on Tuesday with little more than a bread board and a spoonful of Vegemite has defended its controversial dish after a storm of criticism.
Core Espresso, in Newcastle, NSW, became the subject of bewilderment and outrage on social media after one dissatisfied customer uploaded a photo of the cafe’s unique take on Vegemite and toast.
The picture shows a wooden board with two pieces of sourdough bread, a quenelle of butter and a pseudo trendy smear of Vegemite struck through the middle.
A cafe has responded to social media outrage after an image of its unique take on Vegemite on toast went viral
Core Espresso, in Newcastle, NSW, say they’re just having a ‘good laugh’ at all the hysteria that’s been drummed up online
But while critics continue to pan the cafe for its ‘hipster’ attempt at overpriced, deconstructed toast, head barista Danni Kerr says staff are just having a ‘good laugh’, The Daily Telegraph reports.
‘We don’t serve up deconstructed anything … we’re very laid back and we’re pretty proud of what we put up,’ Ms Kerr said.
‘It’s a bit ridiculous because I think people are talking about it like it’s $17 but you can’t get quality sourdough for any less than $7.
‘We use good quality local sourdough which you can get from us if you fancy it over a slice of toast you’d get from Woolies.’
Head barista Danni Kerr claimed that the deconstructed model was ‘to let people do what they want and put on their own amount of Vegemite or butter’
Ms Kerr went on to suggest that what might seem like an extortionate price tag is in fact the product of a capitalist system.
‘It’s funny people are carrying on about it, because I think people forget what capitalism is and that (when you go to a cafe) you’re paying for service as well as food,’ she said.
While the idea of deconstructed Vegemite on toast might have divided the online community, Ms Kerr argues that it offers a solution to a more common debate among everyday Australians.
‘It’s good to let people do what they want and put on their own amount of Vegemite or butter,’ she said, claiming that most Australians can’t agree on the perfect ‘Vegemite to butter ratio.’
Ms Kerr went on to say that she’s surprised at the amount of attention the meal has drummed up, pointing out that ‘it’s just toast’
Overall, though, Ms Kerr and her colleagues are just surprised at all the hysteria an otherwise simple breakfast has drummed up.
‘I’m really shocked it has gotten this big … it’s just toast… it’s one of our staples and you can get it with jam or peanut butter,’ she said.
‘It honestly wasn’t intentional and I think it was more about us finding creative ways to present our food and the chef having a bit of fun’.