Pawninsula Pups

By Phoebe Billing Photos Yanni & supplied

If there is one thing our peninsula is known for it's our incredible food and wine scene; that's why more cafes have expanded their menus so nobody misses out! The ‘puppy menu’ is the newest addition to the peninsula dining scene, catering for the cuter kind of cafe goers and combining two pillars of peninsula culture; family and food.

As of last year, around 1.4million Victorians owned a pet with the majority of owners being young families or individuals under the age of 55, according to the Victorian Pet Census. Respondents who owned a dog listed lifestyle and flexibility to be a main factor in choosing a dog as a pet, due to their unmatched ability to be included in our everyday life. With this, dogs are being included increasingly more in our leisure, from the likes of puppy school to puppy yoga. You name it, there is a puppy version. So why not mix puppies with cafes?

Miss Drew’s Bakery and Dog Cafe, is the first dog-only cafe on the Mornington Peninsula. Catering for all dogs, big and small, Miss Drew’s sets the tone for how expansive and impressive pet menus can be.

Owner Kim says, “dogs are an important part of many families' lives, so being able to include them in visits to a cafe just seems like a norm these days”.

“On the peninsula, where people enjoy a relaxed and community-focused lifestyle, dog friendly cafes provide socialising with both humans and dogs”.

But what goes into creating a menu we know dogs will enjoy? Besides ensuring that the treats are delicious, transparency behind the ingredients within pet menu items is of utmost importance at Miss Drew’s.

dog friendly cafes provide socialising with both humans and dogs

“Not all treats are created equal,” says Kim.

“Unfortunately, the pet treat and dog food industry often lacks transparency regarding ingredients and their sources.”

Kim ensures all ingredients used in creating Miss Drew’s dog treats are “human-grade” and Australian sourced, certifying that all menu items are of the highest quality.

“Just like children, dogs can have allergies, so fur-parents want to know what they are feeding their dogs,” Kim says. If you are looking for a special way to treat your fur friend, then “Singleprotein or few ingredient treats are best for everyday use, while special treats like birthday cakes and iced cookies are ideal for occasions like birthdays or special-treat days.”

You can find Miss Drew’s Bakery and Cafe in Tyabb, located behind the Tyabb Packing House Antiques complex.

As well as Miss Drew’s, other local cafes are following suit by welcoming our canine companions into the cafe.

Here are a list of just a few dog-friendly cafes across the peninsula that host puppy menus:

MISS DREW’S BAKERY AND DOG CAFE

14 Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Tyabb

Mornington Peninsula’s first dog-only café. Bring your fur baby along to Miss Drew's, a delightful, retro-inspired establishment. Let them enjoy a delicious selection of seasonal treats, pup-cakes, peanut butter bites and more. They can even send your pup home with a doggy bag full of goodies.

MERCETTA

115 Main Street, Mornington

Located in the heart of Mornington’s Main Street, Mercetta is a hot spot for social gatherings, a quick coffee catch-up, or boozy breakfast to spice up your week. Their large outdoor courtyard provides the perfect brunch set-up for you and your pup to enjoy. The pet menu includes the choice of a delicious puppacino, puppy pop, or a puppy paw cookie for the biscuit loving pup.

COFFEE TRADERS

3 Blake Street, Mornington

Just off Mornington Main St sits the Coffee Traders. Known for their exquisite coffee, this cafe caters for even the highest of coffee critics. It serves five senses coffee, alongside the usual puppy menu staples: the puppuccino and biscuits!

TWO BOYS ONE BEAGLE AND A COFFEE SHOP

59 Kareela Road, Frankston

Two Boys and One Beagle in the quaint Kareela Rd shopping strip hosts an adorable array of puppy treats. Choose out of the all time fave puppuccino or from a selection of ‘Holy Trinity Treats’. Once you've finished your pup cup, head over next door to Herberts Corner Store to browse their range of pet items or grab your own treats for the road.

CAFE MISE EN PLACE

Shop 2a/85 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza

Nestled in the Mt Eliza shopping village is the French dining gem, Cafe Mise en Place. Their outdoor seating looking over Mt Eliza Way keeps the dogs entertained with lots of street action to take in. Cafe Mise en Place offers a locally-made selection of doggy treats and biscuits for your pup to nibble while you enjoy a fresh croissant.

MORNINGTON PENINSULA CHOCOLATERIE & ICE CREAMERY

45 Cook Street, Flinders

If you ever find yourself looking for a day out with the pup, why not head further down the coast to Flinders? Finally, tick visiting the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery off your bucket list, and off your pup’s too because they have added the latest innovation to the puppuccino to their menu: the Carob Puppuccino. Made with dairy-free milk, carbon pastilles, and finished off with a peanut butter ball and dog biscuit, this hot chocolatesque dog treat is certainly for only the most special of occasions.

PANDA BLAIRGOWRIE

2871 Point Nepean Road, Blairgowrie

Panda has an extensive outdoor area in the front perfect for corralling the many dogs and their people that visit for lunch or dinner.

Ran by dog lovers, Panda is named after the owner's Old English Sheepdog. Panda and his lookalike brother Bentley are regulars at the cafe and enjoy mingling with patrons and their pooches.

Their food philosophy comes from respect for the Earth, sourcing what they can locally. With a commitment to sustainability, preserving, pickling and picking from their own herb garden are just some of the ways that they work to create minimal waste.