Perth Voice Interactive

IT’S not often you get the chance to have an indulgent work-day breakfast and feel good about it.

Which makes 1905 Coffee on Newcastle very special.

Housed in a cute heritage building it’s part of not-for-profit organisation Workpower, which creates employment and training for people with a disability or mental illness.

It’s a long way from the gloomy sheltered workshops and the organisation runs a range of commercial businesses, including high-tech website development, fire-fighting equipment maintenance, landscaping and a retail nursery.

The cafe was added to the stable just over a year ago and catering was quickly added to its resume. With the go-getting attitude of the group it has already won a substantial Education Department catering contract.

The first catering job was “hair-raising”, says Workpower’s enterprise manager Peter May.

With 120 educators to cater for it was all hands on deck and even managers had to turn out at 5am to cut fruit for platters and butter sandwiches.

These days the staff take it all in their stride and Mr May’s left to sleep sweetly.

The welcome was warm, efficient and friendly when the D’Angers dropped in for brunch recently.

Chilled water was produced, along with the cafe’s new menu.

And in no time a particularly fine, fresh-squeezed orange juice ($7.50) had things off to a good start on a hot day.

I agonised over the pancakes, with strawberry, banana, maple syrup and ice cream ($13.50).

But the toss of a coin dictated oven roasted tomato, avocado and rocket on sour dough toast ($10.50).

It was a lucky toss. The moist, warm tomato was pleasantly sharp, the avocado fresh and nutty, the toast flavoursome, and the peppery rocket with balsamic glaze was the perfect accompaniment.

D’Angerous Dave is far from experimental when it comes to breakfast/brunch and predictably asked for poached eggs (on sourdough toast) and smoked salmon ($13.50).

On the up-side he’s well qualified to spot a good version and this got two thumbs up.

The eggs were rich and golden, the perfectly cooked yolks quickly soaked up by the toast—and there were three eggs not the usual two, he exclaimed happily.

Lunch options include lasagne, at a well priced $10.50 with salad, or $8 without, foccacia ($8.50), quiche ($6) or a range of baguettes ($7.50), and there’s a delicious range of cakes.

by  JENNY D’ANGER

1905 Coffee on Newcastle
231 Newcastle St, Perth
9445 6566
open Mon–Fri 7.30am to  3.30pm