BISHOP OF OSTIA & POPE JOAN

The Bishop of Ostia

79 Nicholson Street,
Brunswick East
T: (03) 9388 8858
The Bishop of Ostia Website

In this life, the legend of Pope Joan is alive & well, serving locals in an East Brunswick cafe (at 77-79 Nicholson street, East Brunswick, on the number 96 route). A relative youngster in this life, the Pope cooks with a smile, as a wise & inclusive woman, having experienced hundreds of past lives, serving modern dishes made with the best produce from her own kitchen garden as well as beautiful food grown by local farmers, supported by a talented team, drawing on the traditional, the ways of people we’ve loved as well as new understanding. Conceived by business sweethearts Ben Foster & chef Matt Wilkinson in July 2010, Pope Joan serves her flock 7 days a week from 7.30am to 4pm and was recently blessed with awards for Melbourne’s Best Food Cafe and Three Cup status in the 2012 Age Good Cafe Guide.

While the Pope rises every day at sparrows’ fart, her adorable son rests right next door to her bosom. Wednesdays to Sundays around 4pm, once the Pope pauses, the Bishop of Ostia opens his neighbouring, local drinking house to the flock. The Bishop, born to Pope Joan on horseback in medieval times, dear friend of Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, frocks up and generously shares his music, his own love of cooking, as well as the Pope’s kitchen garden and outdoor space. He has a cracking bar snack menu & serves a shared meal to compliment some creative cocktails, a wine list that nods its head to Victorian wine regions, as well as excellent, cold, locally crafted beers. The Bishop earned a place in the 2012 Gourmet Traveller’s Top 100 places to visit making his Mummy proud.

Make sure to catch Bishop of Ostia & Pope Joan in the Sustainable Living Pop-Up
on Saturday 16th November.