I didn’t know the rules. That the honest truth, pure and simple.
Frankly, I was pretty oblivious to the new world of donut frenzy. Stores ordered to stop trading because the queue for donuts was causing traffic jams? Yes, this scenario exists even in the world of vegans, just as prevalent, in fact, as it is in mainstream dining.
So, now I’m warning you: Don’t get in the way of manic vegan donut eaters on the way to All-Time Coffee. And if you really want to enjoy some vegan donuts of your own, you’d better be there early!
I wasn’t, which led to a third time pout. I’d heard about them, read about them, and even joined vegan friends for a coffee and donut there to no avail.
Finally we got up early enough to score a deal. Success!
All-Time’s donuts are pretty damn amazing, actually, all soft and doughy in the centre, mine filled with a rich strawberry jam…well worth the effort.
Opening in September 2015, couple Ben and Elle decided to mix Elle’s love of vegetarian food with Ben’s love of coffee to open All-Time Coffee, a café which serves simple, tasty food (all vegan-friendly), as well as vegan donuts, including my berry version, candyland, strawberries and ‘cream’, chunky choc-mallow, fairy bread topping and notella (a vegan ‘not Nutella’-filled) donut.
“Coffee!” screams the giant Steen Jones mural from the wall. It’s obvious that you’ll also get good coffee at All-Time. Anytime, actually, for a Belissimo coffee, iced coffee, tea or chai. The fit out and menu of the café may be recycled timber and exposed brick basic, but it suits this couple, who have decided to buck the status quo on lots of fronts. More kudos to them!
Although it’s the donuts and coffee that have taken the coast by storm, the couple’s toasties and jaffles are well received as well, with everything on the menu now available vegan, including fillings of baked beans, vegan meat and cheese.
There’s another twist on this little ‘tail’…All-Time is one of the most dog friendly cafés in town. It’s a true indication that these guys are real. Want to star on All-Time’s Who’s Who page on Facebook? The take your dog, and maybe they’ll be included on the doggie feature album.
Relaxing in the leather lounge as we sip coffee, dine on a jam donut for brekkie while we read the paper, we could be in the US, except that these donuts are so much better. Oh, but we forgot to borrow a dog…
1/2478 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach Ph: 07 5679 8362