Long before a butterfly spreads its wings, there is a quiet evolution that occurs throughout each stage of its life. At Madame Butterfly’s Kitchen and Table, that sense of evolution and change is felt in the food, the atmosphere and most importantly, the person behind the counter and in the kitchen.
Yvonne Ng isn’t new to the hospitality industry. In fact, by the age of 17, she was already managing her first restaurant, an Indonesian venue on Leigh Road called Serena’s. Those early stages were about learning, observing and taking in everything the industry had to offer.
Now in her fifties, Yvonne is slowing the pace down, opening a new cafe in Reynella. “This is sort of like my retirement,” she said. “I don’t think I can keep up with the fast pace of big establishments anymore.”
Madame Butterfly offers a lot of the staples a normal cafe and kitchen does, but with a far bigger personal touch than your run-of-the-mill establishment. The restaurant is a reflection of Yvonne’s own personality and style. “ I put my heart into everything.”
The menu features all of her favourites, like tortellinis, noodles, and curries, as well as classics like fish and chips and schnitzels. “ One of my favourite cuisines is Italian and French , and because I’m of Asian background heritage, a lot of my food is of Asian influence.”
In the kitchen is where Yvonne thrives, often getting creative and testing out new recipes for her customers. “They get to be my guinea pigs,” she laughs.
“Every day is different.” If a customer wants something that isn’t on the menu and she has time, she’ll happily make it happen. “Every customer is different and they all have different needs.”
Madame Butterfly also offers homemade baked goods and coffee, which Yvonne admitted wasn’t going to be a big focus when she first opened the space. “I thought about it and decided to do it properly, so I invested in quite a bit of coffee, and I got a thousand coffee cups,” she said.
With the extra cups, an idea was generated. A quick treat, but with a creative quirk: cake in a cup. “It’s simple dishes done well, and throwing a little magic here and there, although sometimes it goes sideways.”
The treat was created by trial and error, which is something welcomed at the little corner cafe, from burning three batches of lemons trying to dehydrate them in the oven to learning how to cook on a different stovetop. “It’s different from a standard cafe you’d come across.”
Expect to be well fed at Madame Butterfly’s Kitchen and Table as it officially spreads its wings to the public.
Madame Butterfly’s Kitchen and Table
When: 8.30am – 5pm every day, except Sunday
Where: Shopping Centre, 211 Old S Rd, Old Reynella SA 5161
