A growing number of bright young Australian expats are bringing laid back, nutritious and very Instagrammable dishes from Down Under to the booming New York breakfast scene.
With more cafes opening than daffodils in spring, the art of the Australian breakfast has well and truly taken NYC by storm.
From Greenwich to Bushwick, New Yorkers now crowd the sidewalks waiting for a feast of folded eggs with peas and spinach, gluten-free acai bowls or luscious ricotta hotcakes and sandwiches dripping with bacon, tomatoes and chilli relish.
Here, FEMAIL take a look at the successful business ventures that have transplanted winning elements from the Aussie food scene to the streets of the Big Apple.
We also investigate just what makes the ‘Aussie brekkie’ so appealing.
Ruby’s NYC is one of a plethora of Australian transplants in the Big Apple who are opening doors to a whole new world in the American breakfast scene
Manhattan or Melbourne? Soho or Sydney? A satisfied diner at the hugely popular Two Hands New York City, with locations in cool neighbourhoods Nolita and Tribeca
A growing number of bright young Australian expats are bringing laid back, nutritious and oh-so Instagrammable dishes from down under to the booming New York breakfast scene
The healthy, no-nonsense dishes that accompany the Australian brunch scene have great appeal for Americans whose dine-in breakfasts are usually something more greasy and starchy.
The New York Times described the stereotypical Australian breakfast as a ‘healthy, natural and luxurious’ dish all at once, featuring colourful mixtures of nutritious staples like seasoned poached eggs, salmon, mushrooms, peas and, of course, the holy grail: avocado on toast.
A social media user endorsed Australian themed Greenwich Village haunt Banter NYC by declaring ‘Aussies know how to brunch!’.
Keeping it Aussie: The staff at Banter NYC in Greenwich Village contribute to the laid back, slow-paced atmosphere of the Australian-influenced establishment
The humble but delicious avocado smash has proved a massive hit with New York diners, who can’t get enough of the healthy classic
The stereotypical Australian breakfast served at Flinders Lane in New York’s East Village (pictured) often includes colourful ingredients such as seasoned poached eggs, salmon, mushrooms, peas and avocado
Scores of these cafes have sprung up across New York City over the past decade, including central Manhattan’s Little Collins, named after the Melbourne street.
This morning mecca offers cleverly christened brekkie favourites like the Muze (bircher muesli with berries and cinnamon jam), the Convict (the simple Australian classic toast with Vegemite) and the Smash (avocado and feta mash on toast with chilli flakes and pepitas).
Paying tribute to it’s roots in the Melbourne food scene, Little Collins created an innovative twist on the traditional avocado using ice cream and caffeine.
Their ‘Avogato Smash’, a sweet creation served in a coffee cup, contains avocado gelato, mint, chilli flakes, pepitas and espresso for an added kick.
Manhattan based cafe Little Collins paid tribute to their Melbourne roots by creating the ‘Avogato Smash’, an innovative twist on the generic avocado toast containing avocado gelato, mint, chilli flakes, pepitas and espresso
More-ish ricotta hotcakes and berry-topped acai bowls are specialities at Two Hands, where the owners aim to bring the lengthy, ritualistic style of morning dining to the frenetic streets of New York City
Famous for its ‘creamy flat whites and berry-topped acai bowls’, Two Hands in New York’s Nolita neighbourhood is regarded as the epitome of Australian breakfast.
Two Hands’ co-owners Giles Russell and Henry Roberts are both native Sydney-siders, and told Vogue they believe a strong brekkie culture is the foundation of Aussie well-being.
‘In America, with both coffee and breakfast, you’re shoving something down your throat to get you through the day… we spend a little more time taking breakfast on as a meal,’ Mr Roberts said, adding he sees the morning dish as ‘a bit of a ritual’.
Instagram users praised the menu, writing ‘one of my NYC faves, nothing beats an Aussie breakfast!’ and explaining how it ‘reminded me of home’.
Australian staff at Ruby’s focus on breakfast as a ritual as opposed to a necessary meal to be wolfed down in a rush
Famous for its ‘creamy flat whites and berry-topped acai bowls’, Two Hands in New York’s Nolita neighbourhood is regarded as the epitome of Australian breakfast
Reviewer David Siegel branded Little Ruby’s serving of vegemite ‘too much for Americans!’
So popular is Oceania’s morning fare that the Aussie-influenced Bluestone Lane chain of cafes even boast dedicated ‘Toast Bars’ with a glittering array of condiments like almond butter, citrus jam and classic Vegemite.
One discerning Vegemite toast enthusiast took to Instagram to give an amusing review of Little Ruby’s take on the simple Australian classic.
David Siegel aka Vegemite Toast and Surf Blog rated the bread 8/10, while ‘toastiness’ fell short at just 5/10.
The reviewer also slammed the volume of Vegemite, declaring it ‘too much for Americans!’.