Second Wife

This is Semir Elamazi and Reiji Honour’s second cafe together, after Dosage in Burwood, hence the name. The “wife” is depicted in a striking mural by artist Danielle Weber and graphic designer India Ainsworth.

Second Wife is focused on healthy food and caters to most kinds of diets, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal. The menu also touches on Honour’s Japanese heritage. The okonomiyaki is one example: Japanese cabbage pancakes with spring onion, smoked salmon, Kewpie mayo, freeze-dried seaweed, pickled ginger and katsuobushi (skipjack tuna) flakes. Elamazi’s Middle Eastern background is represented by the Moroccan Eggs – poached eggs with red capsicum sauce, hummus and toasted Afghan bread.

The bowls-your-own-way menu is a take on poke bowls. Choose your base, add some toppings, pick a sauce, and finish with a Medina Halal Meats protein. Other suppliers include Industry Beans for coffee, Sassafras Tea Leaves, Dench Bakers for bread, and sweets by Proof is in the Pudding.