Flavour Report with Derek Goforth: Sampling the eggs Benedict and summer panna cotta at Geraldton’s Cafe Fleur

As a food reviewer, I often receive messages from readers suggesting other eateries worth trying. After my review of RT Cafe’s eggs Benedict, I received several recommendations to sample that dish at other cafes in town. One such suggestion was Cafe Fleur’s eggs Benny, so I decided to give them a try. To keep things fair, I ordered the smoked salmon version, just as I did at RT Cafe. But why settle for just one dish when there’s so much more to explore? So, in addition to the eggs Benedict, I ordered the Fleur summer panna cotta, and a couple of cappuccinos. On arrival, I was impressed by the excellent service and seating options. Cafe Fleur and its sister cafe, Jaffle Shack, are always bustling with activity, but there were plenty of staff on hand, and numerous indoor and outdoor seating choices. Even though we went during peak time on a late Sunday morning, we were served and fed within 20 minutes, which was impressive. The servers, as usual, were polite and helpful. Sitting outside the cafe, watching the world go by, was a pleasant experience, although it’s a shame there was no ocean view despite it being just 100m away. Nonetheless, the ambiance was still lovely. The bill for our breakfast and coffee came to just over $50, which is reasonable for the quality of the food and service we received. Speaking of which, the coffee was exceptional, smooth and mellow, with just the right amount of caffeine kick. I must admit, I love the cute little designs they put on the froth — perhaps it’s the ex-primary school teacher in me. Now, on to the eggs Benedict. Unfortunately, I was left underwhelmed. The free range eggs from Kalbarri were nicely cooked, but slightly overdone. The sourdough bread was well-toasted and had plenty of flavour. However, the hollandaise sauce lacked flavour, which was a letdown since it should be the star of the dish, tying everything together. Thankfully, the summer panna cotta made up for it, bursting with fresh flavours that were a delight to the taste buds. The coconut panna cotta was perfectly complemented by a variety of tropical fruits and toasted almonds, making it a memorable dish. Overall, would I recommend Cafe Fleur? Yes, but I would advise anyone new to the cafe to stick to their strengths, which are their mouth-watering pancakes, jaffles, and excellent coffee. The more I visit Cafe Fleur and its sister cafe, the more I appreciate their strengths and weaknesses.