In the suburban surrounds of Garran, you will find Paparazzi Café tucked away in the local shops. This cosy café has been running for the last 12 and a half years, serving the surrounding community and building a loyal clientele.

Step inside and be transported to the movies. A bright red feature wall filled with framed black and white photos of scenes in classic movies and celebrities dominates the room. One cannot help but gaze at all the photos to try and name all the movie scenes – like some more traditional version of ‘Scene it’. The owner’s love of the movies is demonstrated through the name Paparazzi and it is this feature wall that adds depth and warmth to the small indoor area.

The weekend breakfast menu is served all day, along with a specials menu that’s changed each week. All the favourites are there, such as Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine and Benedict Royale. Healthier and lighter options include Paparazzi’s own blend of muesli or grilled ham cheese and tomato fingers.

The Buttermilk Pancakes with banana and caramel sauce looks impressive and one cannot help but salivate at the sight. Six soft pancakes with slices of fresh banana are layered in between each one, smothered in caramel sauce and served with a scoop of vanilla gelato on the side. Deliciously sinful! For those with a sweet tooth, there is always a pancake option at Paparazzi with regularly changing flavours.

The Big Veggie Brekkie is one of the café’s most popular dishes. Served with two poached eggs, spinach, pan-fried mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, avocado, sourdough toast and the addition of smoked salmon, this is a healthy start to the day. What’s clearly noticeable is the freshness of the ingredients. The juicy mushrooms are full of natural flavour. All produce is locally sourced, and sometimes locally grown, with boxes of fresh vegetables often delivered to the café.

Fresh produce is a significant priority at Paparazzi. The staff does not believe in buying in bulk and only the freshest ingredients are used. Homemade chutneys and relishes are made with local produce and no preservatives. Soups are extremely popular (even in summer) and are made using what’s in season such as chicken and corn, tomato and roasted capsicum, and Thai pumpkin. Boxes of soup can be bought from the fridge to take away.

Interestingly, Paparazzi are employing yeast starter to produce its sourdough bread. For those unfamiliar, this involves using yeast as a raising agent rather than baking powder. The mixture is grown to size from the live yeast and then cut into portions. These are then made and baked into new products such as the various types of sourdough bread that is sold at the café. A portion is always kept aside to continue the growing process. This way the bread lives on and is always fresh!

About 90% of clientele that visit are regular customers coming in to say, “Hello!” and enjoy a quick bite – making visitors to this café one tight-knit family. This is a reflection of the warm and friendly service provided. Everyone is welcome at this relaxed family oriented café – babies, small kids and even your furry little friends.

Head down to Paparazzi Café and try it out for yourself.

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