Humble Rays cafe, Carlton (and ghost toast)

I first visited Humble Rays cafe in Carlton back in 2017.  I made a note back then that it was an extremely instagrammable cafe.  When I visited twice in the last few weeks I was impressed that the cafe is still doing a great job in presenting beautiful food, such as the above ghost toast for Halloween. 

It was quieter recently than in 2017.  Back then when students at the nearby University of Melbourne had to attend lectures and tutorials in person.  Universities were much busier before the pandemic, especially during semester.  I don't think I queued on that day but I saw queues outside Humble Rays when I passed around that time.

 

When I went there it was busy with lots of international students.  The proximity to inner city universities and Asian fusion vibe of the menu no doubt is a draw card.

Humble Rays has a lovely colourful spacious entrance with lots of greenery.

The menu has changed since 2017.  On that visit I had Soba Spring Bowl: Organic soba salad, cucumber, quinoa, sweet corn, tomato, seasonal sprouts, seaweed, sesame tofu, sweet chilli ponzu saucese.  The sesame tofu was a bit lacking in seasoning but I loved the noodles and sauce.

I can't remember the day but I know that I had Green Tea Skookie for dessert.  It was a green tea double chocolate chip cookie,  house made marshmallow, vanilla ice cream, shaved white chocolate, matcha cookie crumbs.  The cookie was a slightly dry but nothing that a pile of toasted marhsmallow and ice cream could not fix. 

This collection of plants is lovely but they aren't there any more. 

So much has changed over the past seven years, but I was glad that Humble Rays is still here when I had their Smashed Avocado a few weeks back.  On the menu it looked nice: .Avocado on toasted bagel, Spiced hummus, Feta, Crispy kale, Sesame dukkah.  When it came it was more impressive with tomatoes, radishes, popped quinoa and amazing fried lotus slices.  I think I even see fried chickpeas in there but am not sure if I remember them or just wish I did.  There are not many other dishes I would eat on the menu but this is a winner, with a non-feta version for vegans.

Then we came back this week.  Where there used to be leafy plants were these evil looking jack o'lanterns.  Coincidence?  Or perhaps it was just that Humble Rays does a better job of Halloween decorations than keeping plants alive.  They even had a jack o'lantern bowl on the counter with lollies for a little trick or treat dip!

This grinning skull ghoul is another of the Halloween decoration.  Behind are the words "stay hungry, be humble" that you can see in one of the above 2017 photos.

I enjoyed checking out the cakes in the display cabinet under a Happy Halloween sign. 

The display cabinet offered both matcha and yuzu madeleines.  The green ones were so pretty but I am quite fascinated by yuzu flavours.  I think it could be my first madeleine ever.  I was surprised at how soft it was.  Soft and citrussy with a light sweet glaze.  It reminded me of the fluffy orange and lemon cakes that my mum baked when I was a child.  How very Proustian of me!

The reason we were there was to sample the Halloween menu specials.  Sylvia ordered a Pumpkin spiced home brew  of House Made Pumpkin Spiced Syrup, Cream, Sweetened Cold Brew, and Gingernut Biscuit crumbs ($9.50).  She described it as being pleasantly spicy and sweet, as much like Christmas as like Halloween.

The Halloweeen piece de resistance was the Spooky toast.  We called it ghost toast for obvious reasons.  It was a masterpiece of Honey Butter Toast, Salted Egg Pumpkin Custard, Meringue, Mochi Pumpkin Ice Cream, Pepita And Coconut Flake Candy, and Fresh Fruit.  The ghost was a scoop of ice cream with a floaty mochi topping.  The tiny ghost meringues were so cute.  And it all came together beautifully.  Even Sylvia loved who is not a fan of pumpkin.  I enjoyed my share of it more than I expected.  It was so delicious that I would definitely try some of the other fancy desserts if I found myself faced with this choice!

Humble Rays
71 Bouverie Street, Carlton
03 8354 8459
Open 7 days a week, 8am-4pm
www.humblerays.com