Trader Profiles
Sips, stories and lots more
Sips, stories and lots moreFrom northern India to Surrey Hills, the journey of Garv and his family, who conduct the quaintly named Sips and Stories, a coffee shop and eatery in Union Road, has been one of grit and passion.The family migrated to Melbourne during COVID in 2021 and established the business two years later on the site of a former café.
“I started working in cafes and the hospitality business when we first came to Australia. Doing daytime work and making coffee and food and the customer interaction got me motivated,” Garv said.
Garv’s father Binni, who owned a couple of fuel stations in India, his mother Vomica and brother Mehul are all invested in Sips and Stories. Ava, a family friend who also grew up in northern India, helps out while studying psychology at Swinburne University.“Ava has been working here from day one. She’s part of the family,” Garv said.
Sips and Stories offers the complete range of premium coffee, tea, hot chocolates and chai as well as smoothies, fruit juice, shakes and cold drinks.Their all day breakfast and lunch menu options include classic favourites and popular picks such as omelettes, burgers, French toast, avocado, barramundi and chips, breakfast salsa, eggs benedict, granola bowl, chicken, pumpkin feta, veggie breakfast, fruit platters and a range of salads along with bakery items such as cakes, slices and croissants.
Sips and Stories also has a kid’s menu including scrambled eggs and bacon on toast, mini brioche French toast and tenderloins and chips.Since starting up the business in 2023, Garv and his family have embraced the environment in Surrey Hills.
“We come across so many people from all age groups and all walks of life every day. We get to hear a hundred different stories every day,” he said.“It’s such a beautiful community, so loving and so supporting.
”The family also conduct businesses in Malvern and Ferntree Gully.Outside his busy working life, Garv enjoys catching up with friends on weekends and going out for dinner and playing badminton and pickleball.
Sips and Stories is located at 111-113 Union Road, Surrey Hills. It is open on weekdays from 6am to 3pm, Saturday from 7am to 2pm and Sunday from 8am to 2pm.
The café has seating for 40 people indoor and alfresco. There is ample parking at the front and back of the shop. For more information visit the website sipsandstories.com.au
Hooked on fish and chippery
Teresa and Sean, the owners of Mont Albert Fish & Chips in Hamilton Street, describe working in their business as a labour of love.“We really love our work. We know all the names of the locals and their families,” the energetic Teresa said.
Sean established the business in 2008 after working in a fish and chippery in Kew for a number of years. Before they married in 2016 Teresa served in a takeaway chicken shop at Campbellfield for four years.
The couple between them have more than 30 years’ experience in the hospitality business.Their sister-in-law Grace helps out during the busy periods.“We employ teenagers from Year 9 level to work on the cash register and in the kitchen on an hourly basis,” Teresa stated.
The menu at Mont Albert Fish & Chips features an impressive selection of fresh gummy flake, blue grenadier, flathead, snapper, barramundi and red emperor and golden, crispy chips, available in generous portions.
Other speciality seafood items include scallops, tiger prawns, scallops, crab sticks, calamari rings and mussels. “We make our potato cakes from the whole potato. Most shops are selling frozen potato cakes,” Teresa said.
The menu also includes grilled wraps, burgers, steak sandwiches and egg and bacon rolls. “We think our seafood basket at $36 is great value for two people.”
Mont Albert Fish & Chips has a commitment to serving only fresh quality fish and local ingredients, friendly service and a clean and safe environment.“We keep the shop clean, we use only fresh fish, we keep the quality and maintain the reputation,” Teresa said.
A committee member of the Mont Albert Traders Association, Teresa has a genuine feel for the shopping village and her customers. “We would like to stay in the same shop doing the same job every day and seeing the same people,” she said.
Mont Albert Fish & Chips have an affordable catering service for schools, sporting clubs, birthday parties, events and functions.
The shop is open for takeaway from 11am to 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11am to 9pm on Friday and from 4.30pm to 8pm on weekends. A delivery service is available on phone 0412 716 333 or 0421 136 777.