TABLE TALK

THREE TIERS of taste

WORDS LAHNEE PAVLOVICH PHOTOS PABLO PAVLOVICH

IT WAS BUSY and bustling, yet serenity still lingered in the air. However, it’s no wonder when you have a view from every angle, looking out over the trees covering the Kondalilla valley, your eyes skimming the mountain ranges no matter which way you turn.

Elements at Montville is a bit of a Sunshine Coast institution now. Locals come for their morning tea, while travellers detour to stop in and browse the eclectic mix of gifts for sale, from porcelain fi gurines to funky tea towels, silverware, art, beauty products and so much more. Walkers and hikers stop by for a takeaway coffee and toasted sandwich before carrying on to the falls. Brides to be and groups of women spend the better part of the day in the beauty rooms before enjoying a delicious high tea.

And it is easy to see why.

The space is relaxing, yet vibrant. It is cosy and the aromas coming from the kitchen even more so.

As I entered, I was greeted with a smile from the staff and

“Locals come for their morning tea, while travellers detour to stop in and browse the eclectic mix of gifts for sale ”

the scent of boiling raspberry tea mixed with that nostalgic baking smell you get when you visit your grandma. It was delicious and I was eager to taste some of the goodies.

Luckily for me, I had arranged for one of Elements’ house favourites. Elements at Montville offers up a lot, but its main drawcard remains the high tea.

Think macarons, mini cakes with chocolate twirls, sandwiches cut in delightful strips – including the must-have egg and lettuce, a personal fave – that melt in your mouth as they burst with fl avour. Then there are the scones complete with butter, jam and cream. The cherry on top of an already mouth-watering tower of treats.

Something I’ve always loved about a high tea, aside from the food itself, is the way the food is presented. Here, it’s extra special with delicate tea cups, a table setting with roses adorning the space and, of course, at Elements specifi cally, the view.

Owner Sarah Hallam says this signature set-up has become something people keep coming back for. “We do beautiful three-tiered high tea stands with fresh buttermilk scones, jam and cream, fi nger sandwiches and delicate petit fours that will change depending on the day,” Sarah says.

“And it is all served with an array of teas in fi ne porcelain, on beautiful vintage linen, and our signature touch is defi nitely the beautiful fresh table roses,” she says.

“People love the high tea and petit fours, but some other crowd pleasers are defi nitely the pear and coconut cake, the sticky walnut and date cake, and the savoury fritters. And,

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“we have built up a reputation for our delicious food, unique gift-wares and the love that goes into making it all ”

everything is house made on site by our beautiful team of cooks, and we use predominantly local ingredients, as well as a holistic approach, which we will be expanding on in the future too,” she says.

Elements at Montville was brought to life more than a decade ago and today, as it was back then, the focus is on dishing up delicious food while providing a comfortable space to soothe the body and mind.

“It is funny because we have been open more than 12 years now but it feels like only yesterday that we started here,” Sarah laughs.

“I used to run a similar business in Brisbane and decided to simply create a bigger version when we moved to the Sunshine Coast many years ago. Since then, we have built up a reputation for our delicious food, unique

gift-wares and the love that goes into making it all.

“We are more than just a cafe; we are a quirky teahouse and beauty salon in the heart of the hinterland that dishes up yummy treats. And that was always the idea, to be unique and personalised. We have worked hard at our ethos, at building a brand that people can fall in love with and that is always different to whatever else is out there,” Sarah says.

“There are some exciting projects ahead so you will just have to keep watching this space.”

And we certainly will.

elementsmontville.com.au

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