The new year has seen a reshuffle at Hamptons Home Living which occupies a prime position on Paddington's Latrobe Terrace.
The popular Brisbane venue is now more cafe than homewares with the large front room fully occupied by share tables.
Don't despair too much, owner Tanya Stringer has kept some of her favourite products to line shelves along the side so you can still pick up a few essentials like their beautiful hand washes.
The menu has been updated too with a selection of lighter choices devised by chef Andy Signorini.
I was invited to taste test the lunch menu and couldn't get past the first item - slow roasted duck sandwich ($15) with gorgonzola, spiced pear chutney and Manuka honeycomb. The other tempter for me was the five spiced pork belly sandwich with coconut infused kewpie mayo and lemongrass salsa. Another visit is required methinks!
K2 indulged his inner man with a Hamptons Burger ($19) which came with a beef burger, lyonnaise onions, Manchego cheese, double smoked bacon and green peppercorn mustard. It came with thick cut chippies as well.
If you are looking for something lighter there are also some tempting salads.
It was a tough call but we managed to find room for a half share each of lemon curd tart. It had a well developed lemon filling but I would have liked it a bit firmer so I wasn't tempted to lick the plate to get it all.
(It's okay Mum, I didn't lick the plate.)
Tania says the new breakfast menu is also proving popular with the honey roasted bacon loin with shaved fennel, sticky apple balsamic and poached eggs ($18) extremely popular, but strongly rivalled by ruby red grapefruit sprinklened with cassonade sugar and vanilla bean ($9).
There's also a special kids menu with toast and Vegemite or french toast with vanilla ice cream.
Bottom line: Popular cafe that has long standing cred now with a new, lighter menu
Best tip: Duck, gorgonzola, pear and honey is a match made in heaven
Hamptons Home Living
Kerry Heaney
Disclaimer: Ed+bK and partner were hosted by Hamptons for this meal.
