Conscious Cravings Co is a plant-based café with a new location in the bayside suburb of Mornington, south of Melbourne. Since tragically losing her daughter, Conscious Cravings Co-Owner Darelle ‘Dee’ Menzies has been on a mission to create food that supports gut health and mental wellbeing, without causing harm to animals.
“I have a passion for promoting healthier foods that are consciously made and better for our bodies. I want to make people aware that there are other options, because it’s really hard to find food that’s good for you,” says Dee.
Founded in 2017, the café began as a small home business in Mornington Peninsula which quickly gained a strong following for its raw, vegan, gluten-free desserts, and treats. Today, the more extensive café menu at both locations is designed with health and wellbeing in mind. Everything is plant based, FODMAP friendly, and predominantly gluten-free. If customers are still hungry, there’s a huge range of healthy smoothies to enjoy.
“Everything is made from scratch, and we’re inclusive of everyone that has dietary requirements,” Dee says.
She describes the atmosphere as “warm and inviting” and a “calming place to inspire the community to eat better and feel great”.
“We wanted [the new location] to look fresh and bright. It’s a wide-open space with natural tones and baby pink walls, benchtops, and a La Marzocco Linea Classic S three-group machine,” she says.
Soak up the sea breeze and escape the everyday hustle in Conscious Cravings Co’s uniquely designed space, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The view can be enjoyed with Locale Coffee Roasters’ Eco Warrior organic espresso blend, with notes of milk choc, sweet spices, raisins.
“I wanted something different that you couldn’t get at every café. It’s a lighter blend that is equally delicious as an espresso or through milk,” Dee says. “And the service from the whole team is unbelievable. They really look after us.”
Conscious Cravings Co
784 Mornington Esplanade, Mornington, Victoria, 3931
Open Monday to Sunday 8am — 3pm
This article appears in the June 2023 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.