Smashed Gero (on toast): Jaffle Shack review

Some mornings, breakfast is eaten at 7am with a tall glass of orange juice after an early morning sweat session. Or at least, that’s a rumour I heard from a reasonably reliable source. Last Sunday — on the first weekend of the year —- I ate my breakfast at 2pm. Geraldton’s moonlit skyline kidnapped me from the Old Man and the Sea the night before, and I wasn’t asleep till way past my bedtime. Then I found myself in a bit of a state the following morning. When I am not feeling my best, nothing tops up my cup more than cheese, carbs and a dip in the ocean. The Jaffle Shack kiosk on the Foreshore ticked every box. I took a friend who was also feeling rather poorly. She refused to let me take her photo, and honestly, it was for the best. We both ordered jaffles — I got the “spaghetti” and my mate ordered the “nutty”. My jaffle was stuffed with angel-hair pasta, pesto and cheese. The choice was between wholemeal, wholegrain and white bread. I went for wholegrain. The cheese was premium and formed a spider-like web when I pulled each half apart. But, there was a lot of it — an unholy amount even. My pal said her jaffle was much the same. She ended up picking half the cheese out, saying it was more than she could handle. I think she is a coward. Fill a tub with melted cheese and let me soak in it. Spaghetti toasties can be a little dense, but the fine variety of pasta the Shack used helped give it great texture. Even though she got a little fussy about the cheese, my friend who ordered the nutty was very satisfied with her jaffle. It came filled with chicken, almonds, basil, chorizo, cheese, aioli and spinach. While the cheese was the main thing she could taste, she said the basil and spinach seemed fresh. “I think they must have a very good supplier,” she said in a very serious tone for somebody eating breakfast after noon. She also really appreciated the venue's architecture. Hailing from Melbourne, she was suffering in the Geraldton January heat and loved the way the black mesh sheltered the kiosk from the sun while still allowing the breeze to pass through. It’s indoor-outdoor living. “Innovative,” she said. Speaking of the heat, we ordered two soy iced lattes. They were above-average in terms of the coffee strength and went down an absolute treat on the hot summer’s day. The Jaffle Shack on the Geraldton Foreshore — built in a little shipping container — is the original store, but they’ve since popped-up on Marine Terrace and down south at Hay Street, Subiaco and West Perth. It’s clear why they’ve been such a Gero success story. The Shack serves great coffee and has focused its energy on a simple and affordable dish, with a smell that travels beyond the walls of its stores, enticing beachgoers — as its logo suggests — to “get their edges squeezed at the shack”. My advice would be to wait at least 30 minutes before rolling to the beach and getting in the water. All that cheese, bread and milk — I nearly joined the crew of a Batavia Coast shipwreck. THE JAFFLE SHACK Foreshore Drive, Geraldton WA 6530 DIETARY REQUIREMENTS:Soy, oat, almond, rice and oat milks. Gluten-free bread and separate gluten-free jaffle machine for coeliacs. Many menu items can easily be made vegan on request. COFFEEDelicious stronger coffee. PRICE$30 for two people