MELBOURNE | 90s fashion and pop culture have been having a revival as of late, so it’s fitting that focaccia is also enjoying a resurgence (sans the sun dried tomatoes). Deli-style focaccia sandwiches have been popping up across Melbourne, but one cafe where focaccia is anything but a trend is No22 Cafe. I recently popped in to grab some photos for What’s On Melbourne.
No22 Cafe opened 18 months ago, before Melbourne focaccia resurgence. It’s owned and operated by Gaetano ‘Tano’ and his wife Jess. Gaetano was raised in a small town in Puglia, Italy, while Jess grew up just outside of São Paulo in Brazil. Their small cafe is simple and humble, a place with heart that reflects them.
Tano is an affable guy, passionate about his cafe and the food that he and Jess are making. You’ll find him chatting to customers about the food at No22, his background, and anything else that might be worth talking about at the time. You’ll be made to feel at home before you’ve even eaten a thing.
The focaccia that most Australians are familiar with, that you’ll find at places that have jumped aboard the current focaccia wave, is focaccia Ligure or Genovese. The version being made each day by Tano and Jess, however, is one you might not have seen before. It’s focaccia Pugliese, made using dough that’s left to rise only once, resulting in a flatter, almost thick crust pizza-like focaccia.
There’s around 20 different focaccias to choose from, with any one of five types of top quality Caputo flour from Italy being used. The classic ‘Authentica’ is filled with Stracciatella, mortadella, and crushed pistachios and is a great choice if you’re not sure what to order. Another popular option is the ‘Tartufata’. It’s filled with Prosciutto di Parma, Stracciatella, rocket, and shavings of real black truffle (Tano and Jess refuse to use truffle oil). There’s plenty of vegetarian choices, and the option of swapping out Stracciatella for burrata.
Along with focaccia, there are a few sweet treats in a display cabinet. Things like mini bombolini (Italian doughnuts), Nutella cornettos (Italian croissants), and (depending on how much time Jess has free in between all of the baking) tiramisu. To drink, there’s Italian sodas and Campos coffee.
No22 Cafe
140 Flinders Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9996 9542
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Fri: 7:30am to 2:30pm
Sat – Sun: 9:00am to 2:00am