If you are looking for wholesome goodness in a meal, you will find it in Linda and Jessica’s café, Affinity on Errol.

In 2019, a chance came up for the close friends to build a business together. Thanks to a tip-off from their friend Poppy Liu from the salon Kenny and the Sunshine Girls in North Melbourne, Linda and Jessica purchased an Italian-themed cafe across the road in Errol Street and rebranded it Affinity on Errol.  

“We had a lot of help along the way, including from my ex-boss who ran a Japanese restaurant,“ explains Jessica. “Our business is the result of the relationships between like-minded people. That’s how we came up with the name ‘Affinity’. ” 

There is a heavy Japanese influence on the menu because the cuisine aligns with Linda and Jessica’s food philosophy and sustainable focus. Keen eyes will notice that many of the menu items are featured on the decorative blackboard mural.

“We try to be true to the produce and to use the best quality ingredients. Our veggies are from a local supplier, and our meats are sourced from Regional Victoria and free from any hormones or chemicals.” 

“You can really taste the difference in every dish. The produce has a fuller flavour and is better for you.”

Their best-selling dishes include the mushrooms and crispy tofu bowl (Linda’s personal favourite), the handmade gyoza served with homemade chilli oil and the naked burger from the low-carb section of the menu, designed with the help of one of their regular customers, a doctor. 

Many dishes are garnished or flavoured with fresh herbs transplanted from Jessica’s mum’s garden into the cafe’s outdoor planter boxes. 

For now, Linda and Jessica are content to focus on Affinity on Errol, striving to provide nutritious and delicious food options that are good for the body and the planet and excellent service to their customers.

“We love the people in North Melbourne,” says Jessica. 

“It’s a little suburban area that is closest to the city, but it’s very calm and quiet. People help each other out, give back to those around them and everyone thrives. It’s a really nice community.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna EncIO