Hemp Kitchen - St Kilda

Imagine a café with a menu focused on Hemp? Stop imagining, I found it! Hemp Kitchen is all about higher living without the high. It’s a first for Victoria, and I’m happy to say its 100% gluten free, with accreditation by Coeliac Australia. I had the pleasure of meeting owners Ousmane Jongue Emanuel Cerera, and was enthralled by their story. Both knew of the health benefits of hemp, and decided to open a venue where chefs could use traditional Italian methods to create a menu that specialised in Pasta, Pizza, and Burgers; using hemp as the staple ingredient. Until now, I had no idea hemp was a superfood loaded with protein, is rich in two essential fatty acids, omega-6 ω-3, and a selection of vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and magnesium to name a few. We ordered the Spaghetti Cozze e Vongole, which came with mussels, clams, parsley, cherry tomatoes, and a white wine garlic oil base. The spaghetti had a mild nutty flavour, which paired well with the Hemp Caprese Salad served with a cold pressed hemp oil and balsamic glaze. They also serve a selection of organic wines, beer, and spirits, including a hemp-based gin, and hemp vodka. It’s the one time I can actually get high, legally!

From the moment we walked in we were welcomed and given options of where we could sit. Water was provided from the moment we sat down and replaced straight away once we filled out glasses. We decided to try the pizzas and the staff were super friendly with providing information as to what was on the menu. The pizzas were delicious and defiantly a new experience from the old styles pizzas. We look forward to trying the burgers and eggplant parmas next time!

Just when you thought there was no more room for a new cafe or restaurant in St. Kilda, a new restaurant with a new concept pops up, Hemp Kitchen. Hemp Kitchen has a beautiful indoor and small cosy outdoor area to enjoy a meal. We picked a summer’s evening to go down and opted to sit outside. We ordered a glass of Shiraz and a glass of Pinot Noir to start us off. I spotted a dish that resembled bruschetta and scanned the menu for it. It looked so fresh and appealing.

A restaurant based around the use of a super food is an ingenious idea, and The Hemp Kitchen is capitalising on this, by incorporating hemp into most of their dishes. I have yet to try hemp in food, so I was excited to try it. On a great corner location, the restaurant has loads of light as large windows surround the whole space. A wood fired oven sits in one corner, so you can watch the pizzas being made; and the decor is modern and elegant. I found the staff to be really attentive, and they were also nice and friendly. The hemp as an ingredient even extends to the drinks menu, and we enjoyed some fabulous cocktails made with hemp vodka. I couldn't really taste the difference, but hey, vodka is vodka, and the cocktails were delicious. Our starters included arancini balls coated in hemp bread crumbs, and chickpea chips. The arancini were perfectly crisp with an oozy mushroom risotto filling. The capsicum sauce was tangy and added some fresh taste to the plate, and the pecorino added some sharpness abd saltiness. Now to the totally addictive chickpea chips. I easily could have eaten the whole bowl on my own, and it was a generous sized portion. These moreish snacks were so tasty, and the texture was out of this world. These are my new favourite type of chip, and I'm not sure that I can go back to the regular potato variety. Hemp Kitchen is known for their killer pizzas which use hemp flour in their bases. This makes them super light, and also adds a nutty flavour. We had to try one to test this theory, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good the pizza was. The crust wasn't heavy or stodgyat all, and still supported the delicious cheesy toppings. We chose a pizza with a pumpkin based sauce, and it really was divine. The combination of nutty crust, sweet sauce, peppery rocket and sausage and salty cheese was unreal, and it's easily one of the best pizzas I've had this year. Our second main was a homemade gnocchi with a hemp pesto, and this again was an amazing dish. The vibrant green pesto was so full of fresh flavour, and the potato dumplings were fat and soft, just how gnocchi should be. Topped with lots of cheese, this truly was a lovely and decadent plate. With barely enough room left to fit in dessert, but wanting to try hemp in a sweet incarnation, we soldiered on. Home made canolli made with hemp flour were crispy and filled with a sweet ricotta filling. Dipped in hemp seeds for added crunch,this was a fabulous sweet treat. We also had the tiramisu which uses hemp cookies, and again, was another fabulous dessert. The cookies add a nuttiness to the traditional coffee dessert, and it really was sublime. I'm always happy to try new things, and am so glad that I have experienced the use of hemp in the fabulous dishes at this restaurant. Despite it's niche, Hemp Kitchen also delivers on great hospitality, service and ambience; but it's the fantastic food that should continue to bring people through their doors.

Friendly staff. Good variety of food options. The chickpea fries were delicious!