Grab a Mulligans Flat white at newly opened Kodo Cafe

Sajan Shahi runs the cafe with his business partner, Nirajan Ghimire, whom he met while they worked together at the Lake George Hotel.

The two passionate chefs have since run a food truck together, but this is their first cafe.

Sajan’s wife Anushka Gurung brings her front-of-house experience to Kodo after many years managing local cafes and restaurants.

“The passion and love for food is what we do,” Sajan told Region.

“When we run a business there’s obviously the money aspect, but for us the plate matters the most.”

Kodo makes an appearance – in the millet porridge and the ‘greens and grains’ bowl – on the comprehensive brunch menu. Sajan said they wanted to name the cafe after kodo because the ancient grain was a staple of their childhoods in Nepal.

“Kodo is very humble, nutritious, honest and resilient, and that’s what we want the cafe to reflect.”

Visiting with a friend for a weekend brunch, we ordered from opposite ends of the menu. She opted for the classic brunch dish shakshuka, and I ordered the crispy chicken bánh mì croissant.

The shakshuka lived up to its status as a menu staple: comforting and tasty, with a long piece of toasted focaccia for dipping. A sprinkling of feta, generous garnish of fresh herbs and plenty of chilli oil took the flavours to the next level.

The crispy chicken bánh mì croissant – a real mouthful to say – is quite a dish.

While your classic bánh mì can be eaten on-the-go, this iteration is a knife-and-fork affair. The generous application of pickles and fresh herbs contrasts the crispy chicken and buttery croissant. A lot is going on here, but it all comes together. Is it a healthy way to start the day? No. Is it delicious? Absolutely.

Fortunately, for those inclined to ‘walk it off’, there’s a whole big nature reserve right outside. Mulligans Flat is a real treasure, and hopefully Cafe Kodo will tempt more Canberrans to check out the beautiful native grassland filled with wildlife, including endangered marsupials.

At this time of year there’s a decent chance you’ll spot an echidna ‘love train’ – a mating ritual where several males follow a female in the hopes of being the last man standing.

But there’s a chance to see the wildlife even if you don’t leave the cafe.

In the open space of the visitors centre, there are tanks with reptiles. We were disappointed that the resident python didn’t make an appearance on arrival, but we got a great show on the way out as it rubbed off residual flakes from a recently shed skin. I was too engrossed/horrified/fascinated to remember to take a photo, so you’ll just have to go and see for yourself!

There’s also a dedicated kids play area and a spot for them to run around outside visible from the sunny deck.

Wildbark has a conference room and can also be booked for events, so Sajan said they’re working on catering and event menus now. They also hope to offer a high tea.

Kodo is located at Wildbark, 25 Rosenberg Street, Throsby. They are open from Wednesday to Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm. Follow Kodo on Instagram. Find out more about Wildbark at Mulligans Flat.

Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.