Café Blanco brings a taste of Latin America to Kambah

Posted on 15 September, 2022

Stepping into a small neighbourhood café in Kambah, the last thing you would expect is to be transported to Latin America.

But as Café Blanco opens its doors to bring a taste of Latin culture and cuisine to the area, that’s exactly what southsiders will experience.

Founded by Jose Blanco (of Mocan and Green Grout, Italian and Sons and Monster Kitchen and Bar) and his partner Bridget Meli, the idea behind the café was for Jose to share his Latin heritage and passion for traditional food and coffee—a dream he’s held since he first started working as a kitchenhand.

“I got a job when I was about 12 or 13 and from the moment that I walked into that restaurant I knew I wanted to have one of my own,” he says.

“It’s been a journey. It’s a good feeling—it feels good to do something that you love, and it feels good to work towards something that I had in my mind since I was very young.”

Transforming the space where Shabby Attic and the Lazari Bros Espresso previously held tenancy and kept locals happily caffeinated, Café Blanco injects a whole new look into the busy suburb. Gone is the eclectic mix of bric-à-brac and cosy interiors—instead warm white walls, natural timber, brown accents and terrazzo tables bring a chic and breezy feel. And with a menu to match, you’ll no longer be dreaming of that summer escape, with the café offering table service for breakfast and lunch as well as takeaway options.

Choosing Kambah as the location for the culinary venture was easy for the couple—to them, it’s always been “home”. Bridget was born in the area, and they currently live down the road from the café with their son, Leonardo. It only seems fitting that Jose is now sharing his own upbringing in Venezuela and Colombia with the local community.

Exploring the many flavours of Latin America—from the coast of Mexico to the snow-covered mountains of Argentina—Jose explains that the menu will evolve throughout the four seasons, using flavours that are in his DNA.

Drawing inspiration from ingredients all infused with Latin culture and love, the idea behind the menu was to create a fresh take on café favourites, from French toast with dulce de leche and hazelnuts to a chorizo and egg roll with provolone and salsa.

And that’s not all. The menu also brings the flavours of black beans stew “caraotas” with baked eggs, chervil and queso fresco, as well as roast pumpkin salad with radicchio, lentils, chimichurri and macadamias and octopus tostada with almond mole and avocado; while, for the coffee lovers, a taste of Venezuela awaits as they serve locally roasted Red Brick Coffee, sourced from a town near where Jose was born.

“I’m comfortable with the flavours, it’s the food I feel the most comfortable cooking, it’s the food I know the best,” says Jose.

“I could have opened a classical French restaurant or an Italian restaurant, but I don’t think that’s what Canberra really needs at the moment…It’s time for something fresh and different and fun.”

And while Café Blanco has only just begun to welcome customers, Jose and Bridget hope that locals embrace the change as they aspire to become one of Canberra’s culinary institutions.

“I want the café to represent Canberra—the mix of cultures and flavours. We’ve got everything in Canberra, we have every single nationality that you can imagine,” says Jose. “I would like Café Blanco to become one of those institutions.”

“We love this community,” says Bridget. “We wanted to bring something really special to Kambah because we think they’re ready for it, I think they’re ready for something a bit more elevated.”

But while it might be a community café with all the perks—from the friendly staff to an accessible location—there’s no denying that it’s also the perfect culinary escape for when you want to get out of Canberra.

Photography: Ash St George for Pew Pew Studio