Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Cat's Meow with Blossom...

Yesterday I spent some time with my Blossom-girl.
It's been nine months since she moved out of home so we treasure her rostered days off work because they are opportunities to spend quality time together catching up on life, the universe and everything.
Our destination for this relaxed brunch was a new-to-us  cafe on Charters Towers Rd in Townsville, "The Cat's Meow". 
It's vintage inspired, just around the corner, and oh so cute!
 Our menus were displayed inside old Golden Books...

 ...and the cutlery was wonderfully aged too.

 We ordered cold drinks and Vienna coffee...
 

...and relished French Toast and Pikelets served on dated plates!

All the dining settings were delightfully mismatched and there was a handmade flower in each of the jarred table numbers...

The cafe also has a section devoted to vintage finds like crockery, cutlery, depression glass and furniture which you can purchase...
...and I must confess that one particular item made it's way home with me!

We've fallen in love with The Cat's Meow so I'm sure you'll see more photos of this sweet cafe in the future!
Maybe Mr E can take me there for my birthday....?? Mmmm.

Do you have a favourite cafe, and if so, what do you love most about it?
(...and where is it - for those like me who are wondering?)


28 comments:

Sherri said...

What a charming cafe! It is so full of clever ideas, I really like the handmade flower.

Leeanne said...

I wish that cafe was here! it looks like a place I would visit often! pretty jug that came home with you, did it jump in your handbag :-)

Baa. xxx said...

Oh that café looks so wonderful - no wonder something had to make its way home with you!

Christine M said...

Looks like of lovely cafe, Jenny. Mel and I have been to one a bit like that here in Melbourne called Jam and Cream. It also has all the gorgeous old crockery. I love the just you bought.

selina said...

ohhh my, lovely little cafe! love all the miss matched old furniture, makes it so homely & cozy, lovely little gravy boat too. love collecting teapots & jugs & lately have been collecting some old dishes too (roses seem to be my favourite atm)
can see a few more of their sells making it home with you!
have a wonderful day!

Christina said...

Omg that is the most darling looking cafe. Your meal looked yummy too.

Michelle said...

That is the cutest. What fun! So sweet and pretty is your gravy boat.

Createology said...

I would dearly love to spend time with my daughter just as you and Blossom are able to do. We live almost 600 miles apart. Lovely little cafe and how delightful to have vintage mis-matched pieces. This setting fits your year of Gentle Domesticity...

Allie said...

Ooh what a sweet place - made even sweeter by sharing with your lovely Blossom! My grandma used to have a gravy boat like that, wonder what happened to it? The menus inside the Golden Books are inspired! Although some Golden Books are worth a fair bit of money in good condition...

Janet said...

Hi Jenny, Just a quick quick question when is your birthday? Mine is tomorrow the 18th of February.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Happy birthday for 'today' (its already the 18th in Australia!), Janet!

My birthday is the 21st.

Julie said...

Just beautiful Jenny - love it all :-) Especially the vintage utensils, the vintage plates, the mismatched china, Oh where shall I stop !!! Your new jug is just rather gorgeous too . . . thanks for sharing it all. Oh & the food looked rather yummy too x0x0

Larissa said...

Such a sweet cafe!!! I know there are a few places in the city up here, but since that's almost 45 mins drive from where I live, I rarely head in there. If I DO go to a coffee shop, it's usually Gloria Jeans in one of the two main shopping centres here (Palmerston & Casuarina). Nice coffee, but not lovely and vintage like The Cat's Meow! ... A beautiful gravy boat you found there luv!!! xx

Anonymous said...

It looks like a wonderful place! I'd love to go there. In Glendale, outside Phoenix, Arizona, there's an area of cute shops called Catlin Court, an historic district of town. One of them used a wonderful place for fancy sandwich lunches and elegant afternoon teas. Two, actually, one called Aunt Pittypat's, after Gone With the Wind. I think they are both gone now, but there are others to take their places. Catlin Court Shops

Sparky said...

Ohhh I love your home away from home cafe....very quaint...I have 2 fav cafe's one where we are now is called "Hot Brew" which is one of those spots that everyone knows your name....kind of like cheers but very upscale....and then there is one at home that we frequent for decades called W.D.'s A place where many pharma/med meet up....Everything is served in beakers and staff where lab coats...
I loved your pics....made me smile....looks like a place that has special meaning..

Thoeria said...

What an adorably cute cafe! I love the menus in the old books! Very very clever :)
And the food looks scrumptious!! Tumeric ginger beer?? Never heard of that before! Is it any good?

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenny what an awesome cafe and i love what you bought.xx

Tammy said...

Oh that looks like the cutest lil shop . I would love to visit it...But I never will...I live way on the oth3r side of the world...I am so glad you took photos to share with us...

Little Penpen said...

What a sweet sweet place!!! I have always dreamed of having a vintage shop/ coffee shop in a small charming town. The Cat's Meow is perfect!

Kathleen said...

Oh my goodness! I'd be there every day if that place was close to me! The only similar place somewhat near me (no vintage things for sale though) would be a B&B called the Asa Ransom House. You can go there for a Victorian style tea served in beautiful tea cups and sandwiches and sweets served on tiered serving trays.

jugglingpaynes said...

I love the use of the Golden Books as menus! What a clever idea! I'm sure I would spend more in their gift shop than I would on food!

We're not very imaginative here, we spend a lot of time in bookstore cafes. However, there is a wonderful children's book store--The Voracious Reader--that is owned by a fellow former homeschooler and has a little in-store tea shop. I'm sure you would love it!

Peace and Laughter!

Judy said...

The Cat's Meow café is adorable!!!
LOVE IT!

RoseMary Baty-Willcox said...

What a wonderful place to rest, think and enjoy friendships. Just love the table and chairs. Love the flowers with the button. thank you for sharing.

Jo in TAS said...

I can see why it is a favourite :-)

TerriSue said...

What a delightful restaurant! I understand why the one little pitcher had to come home with you, I have a feeling it would have come home with me also.

Ondrea said...

An awesome cafe! Oooo, I so wish I could have a vienna coffee, haven't had one in years. The food looks yummy too. Alas, all no nos for me. Love your little jug. A local cafe uses those books as menus too but it always upsets me when I see books torn up. Just a book lover's thing I guess. I still have some of my Golden Books that were passed down to my girls. Hopefully they will be read and loved by grand children in the not too distant future. Thanks for sharing your cafe with us. Well worth the promo.

Margaret Vernon said...

What a wonderful time you had, Jenny! Such a picturesque little cafe ... I would just love it. My husband and I went to an interesting cafe/bookshop in Mareeba (don't know what it's called) - fabulous - hard to get away from it as the eyes always tended to find just another book or two that was so interesting!! Nearby me in Thornton, is Savannah's in Morpeth - in a beautiful sandstone building on the corner closest to the historic bridge - sweet, and has gift shop upstairs. Another I like is in Heritage Gardens Nursery near East Maitland ... nothing better than a beautiful morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea served on mismatched fine china and then a wander through the nursery and gift shop ... have never come home empty handed!!!

zenuwpees said...

Tout est très beau Marie-Claire