<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328301</docID> <postdate>2024-09-21 12:17:39</postdate> <headline>Wholesome cafe food comes with a conscience</headline> <body><div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-0 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-large'> <figure class='gallery-item'> <div class='gallery-icon landscape'> <a href='https://citynews.com.au/spanish-tortilla-img_6175-resized/'><img width="900" height="600" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Spanish-tortilla-IMG_6175-resized-e1725341872668.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-328294" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Spanish-tortilla-IMG_6175-resized-e1725341872668.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Spanish-tortilla-IMG_6175-resized-e1725341872668-600x400.jpg 600w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Spanish-tortilla-IMG_6175-resized-e1725341872668-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></a> </div><figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-328294'> Spanish tortilla… made with slices of potato and onion, combined with egg and dished up with a house-made tomato relish. Photo: Wendy Johnson</p> </figcaption></figure> <figure class='gallery-item'> <div class='gallery-icon landscape'> <a href='https://citynews.com.au/potato-masala-toastie-img_6182-resized/'><img width="900" height="675" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Potato-Masala-Toastie-IMG_6182-resized.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-328297" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Potato-Masala-Toastie-IMG_6182-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Potato-Masala-Toastie-IMG_6182-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Potato-Masala-Toastie-IMG_6182-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></a> </div><figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-328297'> Potato masala toastie… Indian spiced potato curry made with sauteed greens, fried onion, tomato relish, cheddar and a spicy mint chutney. Photo: Wendy Johnson</p> </figcaption></figure> <figure class='gallery-item'> <div class='gallery-icon landscape'> <a href='https://citynews.com.au/brined-chippies-mg_6178-resized/'><img width="900" height="675" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Brined-chippies-MG_6178-resized.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-328295" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Brined-chippies-MG_6178-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Brined-chippies-MG_6178-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Brined-chippies-MG_6178-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></a> </div><figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-328295'> Brined chippies… the chips were placed in a brine (likely a combo of sugar and salt) and let to sit for some time before being fried. Photo: Wendy Johnson<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class='gallery-item'> <div class='gallery-icon landscape'> <a href='https://citynews.com.au/mushrooms-and-broccolini-img_6174-resized/'><img width="900" height="675" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mushrooms-and-broccolini-IMG_6174-resized.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-328296" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mushrooms-and-broccolini-IMG_6174-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mushrooms-and-broccolini-IMG_6174-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Mushrooms-and-broccolini-IMG_6174-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></a> </div><figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-328296'> Mushroom and broccolini… the thickly sliced mushrooms are pan-fried in seven spices. Photo: Wendy Johnson<br /> </figcaption></figure> </p></div> <p><span class="kicker-line">Reviewer <strong>WENDY JOHNSON </strong>dines at a cafe that's <strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">a certified work integration social enterprise and a registered charity, where dining there supports creating inclusive employment and training opportunities. And the food's pretty good, too.</span></strong></span></p> <p><b>On a little side road on Hawdon Place, Dickson, is a special café that serves wholesome, tasty food and creates opportunities for migrant and refugee women from culturally diverse backgrounds. </b></p> <p><img class=" wp-image-234855" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Wendy-Johnson-207x300-1.jpeg" alt="" width="242" height="351" /></p> <caption>Wendy Johnson.</caption> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first thing that hits you with the vegetarian menu at Café Stepping Stone is how the dishes are inspired by many cuisines. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Dickson location (ground floor of the Common Ground Dickson housing project, hidden between Dickson Playing Fields and Sullivan Creek) has a large, sunny outdoor area out front and an impressive outdoor area out the side. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Windows are floor-to-ceiling, and the long, open-concept kitchen enables aromas from the food being prepared by the café’s busy cooks to waft through the dining area. Your taste buds are truly stimulated.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As its name implies, the café’s business model is about providing a "stepping stone" for women to progress in their future. The prices are eminently reasonable and, while the café has an extensive beverage list, it’s not licensed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mushroom and broccoli dish was moorish and soul-satisfying ($23). The thickly sliced mushrooms are pan-fried in seven spices and cooked to retain some bite. The broccolini added a burst of colour and flavour. The veggies were served on sourdough with pickles, hummus and plenty of herbs, plus a wedge of lemon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I eyed the Turkish eggs but settled on the potato masala toastie ($16.50), motivated by the promise of Indian-spiced potato curry. The curry was made with sauteed greens, fried onion, tomato relish, cheddar and a spicy mint chutney. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was packed in between two slices of bread. I couldn’t fault the flavours and the toastie was such a generous serve I couldn’t finish it (I did, however, devour the sliced side pickles). </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The third member of our party ($19) ordered the Spanish tortilla (also known as Spanish omelette). This traditional dish was presented more like a stack with a vibrant, fresh salad. The tortilla was lovingly made with slices of potato and onion, combined with egg and dished up with a house-made tomato relish.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We shared an order of brined chippies ($9.5). The chips were placed in a brine (likely a combo of sugar and salt) and let to sit for some time before being fried. They were chunky and we dipped them into Stepping Stone’s special mayo. They’re a real treat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stepping Stone is a certified work integration social enterprise and a registered charity, so dining there supports creating inclusive employment and training opportunities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Café Stepping Stone also has a home at Strathnairn Arts in West Belconnen. Since opening in 2020, Stepping Stone has employed and trained 43 women from diverse migrant and refugee backgrounds. Impressive indeed.</span></p> </body>