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Mint Organics

Candice Chung

Mint Organics: Where it's cool to go paleo, gluten-free or raw.
Mint Organics: Where it's cool to go paleo, gluten-free or raw.James Alcock

Contemporary$$

Some questions are instant mood killers at the brunch table, especially in the company of hungry, under-caffeinated friends. "Is this paleo?" is one. "Can I have almond milk with that?" would be another. Basically, anything that threatens to slow down the ordering process or confuse the wait staff is likely to trigger a collective eye-roll.

Former fashion buyer Kylie Daly knows how awkward this feels. In fact, it's one of the main reasons she founded Cronulla's Mint Organics, a wholefoods cafe where paleo, gluten-free and raw dishes are seen as the norm, rather than pesky requests of the health-conscious.  

Daly is a passionate clean eater. Having been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome in her 30s, she began studying nutrition to restore her health. "I was pretty much living on Diet Coke because I had such a stressful and demanding job. When I started to get unwell, that's when I decided to look into a new way of life, and a lot of that has to do with food." 

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Raw beetroot cake.
Raw beetroot cake.James Alcock

Tired of not being able to find a local cafe that offered decent preservative-free food, the Cronulla native decided to open her own in February. On a quiet afternoon, the beachside eatery is reminiscent of an Angus and Julia Stone music video clip: all dappled sunlight and languid greenery. Inside, there is no trace of its past life as a corner shop, save a few shelves of organic snacks and fresh produce. 

The lunch menu is brief – seven options from wraps to paninis to salad specials – but don't let the deceptively plain list fool you. A warm panini is filled with slow-cooked organic lamb shoulder that falls apart in your mouth. Served with a sticky red onion chutney, fetta and slices of house-made pickled cucumber, the humble sandwich reminds me of a Greek roast lamb dinner. 

Then we get to the vegie burger. Inside a plump brioche bun from Cronulla's Thoroughbread Bakery is a generous lentil patty  covered with toasted sesame seeds. Vegie patties can be hard to get right but this one is so well seasoned and delicate you can still see the dark pulses that are usually macerated by a machine. A word of warning: if you plan to share this, be sure to take your cut before your lunch companion gets carried away with it. It's that kind of burger. 

The vegie burger.
The vegie burger.James Alcock
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Mint Organics is known for its paleo offerings and the raw zucchini "pasta" salad doesn't disappoint. Long strands of al dente zucchini come alive with a tangy basil pesto dressing and pops of mandarin segments. Even as an unapologetic carb-addict, I can picture myself eating this almost every day.

The real standout for us, however, is the dessert selection. We go for a slice of raw strawberry and mango cheesecake and get a complimentary lesson in how to make our own by an enthusiastic staff member. The surprising creaminess of the filling, we're told, comes from coconut oil and ground cashews. I am smitten, even before I get to the nutty almond and date cake base.  Paleo muffins are being baked as we sip on our chocolatey Coffee Roaster lattes, but they will have to wait. If the quality of our meal is anything to go by, this certainly won't be our last attempt at clean eating.

THE LOW-DOWN
THE PICKS Vegetarian burger, slow-cooked lamb panini, strawberry and mango raw cheesecake
THE COFFEE
The Coffee Roaster, house blend
THE LOOK
Beachside chic
THE SERVICE Relaxed and knowledgeable 

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