Posts tagged Cafe

My baby shot me down: BangBang Cafe, Surry Hills

Review 2 Comments
BangBang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

Fried chicken, $13.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

Slap me between two buns and call me a patty – it really does seem like Sydney’s burger craze isn’t going to blow over any time soon. From The cult favourite Burgers by Josh, to the down and dirrrty Mister Gee’s Burger Truck, to Warren Turnbull’s Chur Burger (do you even Chur, bro?), Sydney is absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to all the salty, cheesy, meaty, pickly fantasies that you can slap between two fluffy halves of a burger bun.

So when BangBang Cafe reeled me in with the promise of burgers, well…did you really expect me to say no?

Double Banger, $16.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

The Order:

Double Banger, $16.90
Double wagyu pattie, double cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and bangbang sauce

Fried chicken, $13.90
Buttermilk fried chicken, sriracha cabbage slaw, lettuce, tomato and sour cream

The Stack, $16.90
Potato rosti topped with wilted spinach, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and pancetta

The Food:

With burgers, bigger is always better, but sadly, I might not be woman enough for it.

Double Banger, $16.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewDouble Banger, $16.90

The Double Banger is a hulking stack of wagyu, bacon, lettuce, cheese, tomato and BangBang sauce. The patties were cooked to medium, the cheese oozing, and the sauce tangy – everything that I look for in a burger.

Fried chicken, $13.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewFried chicken, $13.90

Maybe I’m a purist (that’s my excuse, anyway) but I don’t think I’ve met a fried chicken burger that I actually like. Not that it stops me from trying! This particular burger – called Fried Chicken, obvs XD – was decent enough with moist chicken, light sauce and a fresh slaw, but really I didn’t feel any chemistry with it.

Because eating a burger should be like dating – if you ain’t completely satisfied, just move on.

The Stack, $16.90: Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog ReviewThe Stack, $16.90

But the surprise of the morning for me? The Stack. This take on eggs florentine (poached eggs, hollandaise and spinach) supercharged the already luxurious breakfast classic with the addition of rosti and crispy pancetta. Because potato and bacon makes everything better. AND you can still claim that it’s a healthy breakfast! Because spinach.

Seriously though. That hollandaise? Rich, buttery and the stuff of dreams. YAAAASSSS.

Food: 1/1

The Service:

Its always a bit tricky commenting on service when I’m invited as a guest of the cafe, but from what I can see from the other diners, waters were filled, tables were bussed and service staff actually knew the menus and specials off the top of their heads (it’s less common than you’d think). There was a definite passion about the place – recommendations were made personally and thoughtfully, and they actually sounded like they enjoyed eating there themselves.

Quite impressive.

Service: 1/1

Value for money:

Given the portion sizes and that BangBang is in Surry Hills, paying $16.90 for a burger is still fairly reasonable. Of course, not quite easy on the wallet if you’re on a budget, but something that you’d happily treat yourself to on the weekend without having to save for months. Not too hot, not too cold…like goldilocks.

Value for money: 0.5/1

The Vibe:

Bang Bang Cafe, Surry Hills. Sydney Food Blog Review

BangBang has a really nice, chilled vibe going on. And not like a hipster “I look like I’m chilled buy really I’m not” type of chill, but a relaxed, personal feel that’s reinforced by the service. The only thing that prevented it from being a complete package for me was that the personality didn’t quite come through in the decor – most likely because they were still in the process of changing things up in the decor department.

Good, but not quite an experience yet.

Vibe: 0.5/1

And finally,

It’s very impressive that Matt – BangBang’s owner of 11 months at only 24 years old(!) – has such a clear vision of what he wants, and enough experience in both back and front of house to execute it. It’s not often that someone so young has such carry through, and he (and his team) has my utmost respect for it.

Can’t wait to see how BangBang is going to evolve. ??

Bonus points: 1/1

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of BangBang Cafe.
BangBang Cafe
113 Reservoir St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone:+61 2 9281 0018
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Bangbang-Cafe-260790390627103/

Bangbang Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

A very important date: The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar

Best in Sydney Review
The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar, Redfern. Sydney Food Blog Review

The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar, Redfern. Sydney Food Blog Review

Even when I was too young to fully understand it, Alice in Wonderland has been one of my favourite Disney classics. And yes, I know that it’s…uncouth of me to talk about the movie and not the book, but I’ve always been partial to a happy song. You know that. 😉

So when The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar popped up on my “to eat” radar, I just knew I had to make it down there quickly, as if the white rabbit was tapping on his pocket watch impatiently. Cause the only thing I love better than a good schtick, is a theme that is expertly and sophisticatedly carried out.


The Order:

Ginger Snap Latte $5.50
Ginger, cinnamon and honeybush.

Turkish delight, $5
Rose and cacao combo

Tea marbled egg (topped toast) with kimchi, kale and black sesame, $16

Rainbow trout salad with potatoes, leaves, radish, beetroot and salsa verde, $18

Ginger and chocolate cake, $8


The Food:

Okay, full disclosure here: I was actually expecting the food to be fairly crap. I mean, generally, finding a cafe that hits up a fun theme, serves up well executed and presented food, with good service? It’s like discovering a damn unicorn.

It’s THAT rare.

Tea marbled egg (topped toast) with kimchi, kale and black sesame, $16: The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar, Redfern. Sydney Food Blog ReviewTea marbled egg (topped toast) with kimchi, kale and black sesame, $16

So you can just imagine my excitement when I found out that the food, was actually pretty awesome. I loved the subtle inclusion of tea in certain dishes, like the Tea Marbled Egg with Kimchi, Kale and Black Sesame, $16. Tea marbled egg isn’t a new thing, by any means – the Chinese have had a similar idea for aaaggeeesss – but I felt like I found a kindred spirit here. Especially when I found out that the egg was marinated in the smoky Lapsang Suchong tea, like how I love to do them at home!

What kept it from being perfect, though, was the subtleness of the tea getting overpowered by the riot of spice and tang from the kimchi, and the grey ring of death that indicates an overcooked yoke.

Small thing, I know, but it’s a really basic quality that I’ve come to expect from otherwise good cafes like this one, and it really ruins the impeccable illusion.

Rainbow trout salad with potatoes, leaves, radish, beetroot and salsa verde, $18: The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar, Redfern. Sydney Food Blog ReviewRainbow trout salad with potatoes, leaves, radish, beetroot and salsa verde, $18

The Rainbow Trout Salad, $18, was also a delight, with oily, luxurious flakes of hot smoked tuna generously flaked through halves of boiled chat potato, fresh slices of radish and sweet beetroot, and green salad leaves. Okay, so they’re not pulling Devon-level creativity with this one, but for something that was executed with finesse AND satisfying?

I REGRET NOTHING.

Ginger and chocolate cake, $8: The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar, Redfern. Sydney Food Blog ReviewGinger and chocolate cake, $8

But my favourite part of the whole meal, was the Ginger and Chocolate Cake, $8. A gargantuan slice of chocolate and ganache layered cake is topped with freeze dried berries, edible flowers and glace ginger gives you a mouthful so rich it’ll turn your teeth black. And I’ve never been so happy to look like I’ve got the oral hygiene of Captain Jack Sparrow. The cake itself toed the precarious line of being rich without being doughy, and the ganache was buttery, without leaving an oily film in your mouth. The ginger pieces just gave it a necessary zing to balance it all out, and float you slowly up to cake heaven. SAH GOOD.

Did I mention that they bake all of the sweet treats in-house? Impressed, I am.

On the tea front, the Ginger Snap Latte was my favourite: the aroma of cinnamon and Christmas surrounding me as soon as it hit the table. Also not as sweet as I thought it would be, so I felt like I was a real adult drinking it. The Turkish Delight wasn’t quite, well, conventional as I was expecting it to be – the cacao nibs provided a strange savoury note, and the rose petals didn’t come across as strongly as you would expect from a Turkish Delight. A bit of a shame: it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t the Turkish Delight that I wanted.

Food: 1/1


The Service:

The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar doesn’t really provide table service. You take note of your table number, and then pop up to the counter to order and pay. The food does get served to you, but this pared-back system means that it leaves weak spots in the experience. For example, the table that we were at took so long to be cleared that we ended up moving the dirty plates and cups to a recently-vacated table ourselves. When it came to the food, we were missing the cake (I thought that they were just taking a while to bring it out) until I went up to the counter to ask about it. Not the best on a quiet afternoon.

However, they were otherwise extremely pleasant to speak to, and showed an intimate knowledge of the food when I wanted to know more about the menu. The mixup with the cake was gracefully sorted – a quick apology and the slice came swiftly out, complete with two forks (they remembered that we were sharing!).

Service: 0.5/1


Value for money:

At first glance, it would be easy to label The Rabbit Hole as ‘overpriced’ – $16 for a hard boiled egg with pickles and toast? Amirite? – BUT when you consider the classy surroundings, inner-west location, passionate staff, and thoughtful menu…I’d say it’s well within reason for what they’re asking.

Value for money: 0.5/1


The Vibe:

GUYS. IT’S AN ALICE IN WONDERLAND THEMED CAFE.

…seriously, though. It’s executed with such sophistication that I felt both like a child AND an adult coming here! From the rabbit tail coffee cups, to the tarnished gold cutlery, to the playing cards that double as table numbers, this is a place that knows its identity, and expresses it with more class and anointed with a hint of whimsy.

If Alice was the cafe type, I’m sure she’d come here too.

Vibe: 1/1


And finally,

The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar definitely runs on the strength of its ensemble, rather than one particular schtick. The food didn’t hit the same creative concept as, say, Edition Coffee Roasters, and the surroundings didn’t transport you in the same way as the Alice in Wonderland high tea that I went to at The Waiting Room, but it does present a sanctuary from everyday life, albeit one with a foot still firmly in reality.

Definitely somewhere I’d pop by again if I were in the area, but I wouldn’t make a special trip out otherwise.

Bonus points: 1/1

This meal was independently paid for.
The Rabbit Hold Organic Tea Bar
146 Abercrombie St
Redfern NSW 2016
Phone: +61 2 9310 2207
Website: https://www.therabbithole.com.au

The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

COOH, Alexandria

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of COOH, Alexandria

Sydney Food Blog Review of COOH, Alexandria

When you say “brunch” and “Alexandria” in the same sentence, you’d probably start thinking about The Grounds of Alexandria and their farmyard pets. But with that, you’d probably also start seeing the bustling crowds and lack of parking, and long queues waiting for a table. Well, COOH has opened up just across the street, and with an expansive dining area and an open kitchen, it looks incredibly promising as a new brunch hotspot.


The Order:

Bruschetta, $16
Heirloom cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, pesto and balsamic on toasted sourdough

Raw ocean trout cured with Beetroot and orange, $22
Golden and mixed baby beets, gets mousse, skin crackling, and crunchy seed bark.

Hand cut sweet potato chips with aioli, $8 (large)


The Food:

Originating in North Curl, COOH has a menu that would fit right in with the organic/vegan/dairy free/gluten free people of the Eastern suburbs. Their menu is certainly very inclusive of special needs, and they certainly don’t pretend to reinvent the wheel.

Raw ocean trout cured with Beetroot and orange, $22: COOH, Alexandria. Sydney Food Blog ReviewRaw ocean trout cured with Beetroot and orange, $22

The Raw ocean trout cured with Beetroot and orange, $22, was quite lovely, with lightly cured salmon dyed a bright fuschia from the Beetroot. The mix of baby beets and leaves kept everything very fresh and light, and the goats cheese mousse brought everything together nicely. The “crunchy seed bark” was neither crunchy nor bark-y for me, holding more the texture of tempeh – slightly firm and tender; not bad, but certainly not the texture I was expecting.

Bruschetta, $16: COOH, Alexandria. Sydney Food Blog ReviewBruschetta, $16: COOH, Alexandria

The Bruschetta, $16, was exactly as advertised : bread, tomatoes, mozzarella, balsamic, olive oil, pesto…oh wait, did I mention that it’s a dairy-free pesto? At least, that’s what seems to be the case – the pesto was quite a uniform green and lacked body, and elsewhere on the menu we saw dairy-free pesto advertised.

2+2=5, I guess

Hand cut sweet potato chips with aioli, $8: COOH, Alexandria. Sydney Food Blog ReviewHand cut sweet potato chips with aioli, $8

Ahh the best bit of the meal, though, the Hand cut sweet potato chips with aioli, $8. The aioli was creamy and garlicky, perfect to dip the strips of sweet potato chips. The only thing preventing it from scoring a 10/10 is a slight lack of crispness – I know that sweet potato never quite gets quite that crisp, but if Harry’s can do it, then my dream lives on.


The Service:

When we went, there seemed to be a rather large number of bookings at COOH, but the waitress was nice enough to accomodate our request to be close to the window as best she could.

After we were seated, our orders were taken very quickly and service was readily available whenever we needed it. Very smooth sailing.


Value for money:

I would actually say that COOH sits in the middle with this one. It’s not the cheapest, but the portions were decent and it IS Alexandria, after all. $22 for cured trout? Sounds about right to me.


The Vibe:

With hanging lights suspended from high ceilings, a warm wood decor and cushy benches, COOH exudes a Surry Hills-esque vibe, minus the hipster coolness. It’s definitely the sort of place that you’d bring people who aren’t too particular about the food, but would like to enjoy a leisurely, comfortable brunch.


And finally,

With all the brunch options available in Sydney, I wouldn’t necessarily call this a destination brunch spot. It IS, however, very inclusive of dietary needs, which makes things much easier if you’ve got someone in your brunch group with special requirements.

Or, you know, if the Grounds is particularly busy and you do t want to wait. Either way it works. 🙂

This meal was independently paid for.
COOH
90-96 Bourke Rd
Alexandria NSW 2015
Phone: +61 2 9002 1333
Website: www.cooh.com.au

Cooh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Instagram Eats: Harry’s, Bondi

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Harry's, Bondi.

Harry's, Bondi: Sydney Food Blog Review.

“Where shall we go to eat?” Such a small question, such huge responsibility. After all, what’s the criteria for picking a place where you exchange your hard-earned money for sustenance, and hopefully an experience to go with it.

Well, in the case of Harry’s, the criteria was: Instagram. Yes, we’ve come to that. I’d seen my Instagram feed flooded with pictures from this bustling Bondi cafe, and I thought it was high time to see what all the fuss was about.

The Order:

Pulled pork roll, fried egg with coffee bacon jam with added sweet potato fries with kasoundi, $20

Quinoa and feta fritters, fattoush, avocado, labna and hazelnut dukkah with added poached egg, $22.5

Apple cider cured trout, soft egg, avocado, fennel, zucchini and grapefruit, $20.50

Green Tea, $4 per serve

The Food:

Well, Instagram got one thing right: Harry’s sure does serve up a pretty plate of food. Colours were vibrant, and the entire plate just screamed “fresh” and “seasonal”.

Apple cider cured trout, soft egg, avocado, fennel, zucchini and grapefruit, $20.50. Harry's, Bondi: Sydney Food Blog Review.Apple cider cured trout, soft egg, avocado, fennel, zucchini and grapefruit, $20.50

Flavour-wise, they got it mostly right. The Apple Cider Cured Trout was a work of art by itself, and the fennel, avocado and grapefruit combination gave the dish a lot of dimension. Depending on how much grapefruit you chose to have in any bite, it could get a touch overpowering, but otherwise, it was spot on.

Pulled pork roll, fried egg with coffee bacon jam with added sweet potato fries with kasoundi, $20. Harry's, Bondi: Sydney Food Blog Review.Pulled pork roll, fried egg with coffee bacon jam with added sweet potato fries with kasoundi, $20

The Pulled Pork Roll with fried egg and coffee bacon jam was a breakfast burger of my dreams, if my dreams were made of pulled pork and soft buttery buns. Which you know they are. The pork was unctuous and succulent – avoiding all the squeakiness that can come with choosing too lean a cut of pork. The egg added richness, and the coffee bacon jam added depth. Together, they sang in perfect harmony, and I was just the lucky person drinking eating it all in.

The sweet potato fries were the icing on the cake, with a small dish of Kasoundi, an Indian tomato relish that just kept me coming back for more. And that’s not even considering that the sweet potato fries were one of the crispiest I’ve ever had. ??

Quinoa and feta fritters, fattoush, avocado, labna and hazelnut dukkah with added poached egg, $22.5. Harry's, Bondi: Sydney Food Blog Review.Quinoa and feta fritters, fattoush, avocado, labna and hazelnut dukkah with added poached egg, $22.5

But with the ups come the downs, and the Quinoa and Feta Fritters didn’t quite work for me. A large part of it, I’m sure, comes from the fact that I quite dislike raw capsicum, but the fritters themselves ate fairly dry, and the other elements (crispy pita, pomegranate seeds, labna, avocado) didn’t come together to create a cohesive masterpiece like the other dishes. All the bits and bobs stood aloofly apart, kind of like if strangers come together for the first time and try to form a band. Potential is there, but it requires a bit of work to hit it.

The Service:

Our waitress was friendly and perky, and had an easy charm that made small mistakes – forgetting share plates that we asked for, mixing up our order and needing to come back to confirm – easy to overlook. Being a pleasant human being does go a long way: everyone makes mistakes once in a while, and being nice just inspires a lot of patience and, well, chill.

Value for money:

I went in with the assumption that I was going to over order – I always do – by choosing three dishes to share between two females. Turns out, while the portions were certainly not measly, we polished off all three plates fairly easily. And at about $35 a head, I kinda expected to be absolutely stuffed.

I guess it still falls in the realm of reasonable, though. It IS Bondi, after all.

The Vibe:

It’s hard to fault outdoor seating with the sound of waves crashing in the not-too-far distance. The music was boppy, and played at a volume where it filled the silence, but still allowed us to easily chat over our food. Stained wood and hexagonal tiles gave it a trendy feel, and the regular clientele simply exuded “cool” in their beachwear and towels.

Very chill, and very relaxed.

And finally,

I’m not sure that I would make the trek out just to go to Harry’s (I’m really not a beach person at the best of times), but I wouldn’t mind stopping by if I was in the area. Their sweet menu items (ricotta pancakes? Yaaaasss) look very promising, and there’s a selection of cake/tart things that’s simply calling my name. I like how relaxing it is, and perhaps it was the fact that I went on a weekday, but it spared me the claustrophobic crowds of similar cafes in Surry Hills.

Go if you fancy a lazy afternoon in a cafe by the beach, or if you’re after a satisfying breakfast. Or pulled pork burger.

Now that is a must-try.

This meal was independently paid for.
Harry’s
Shop 2, 136 Wairoa Avenue
Bondi Beach, NSW
Phone: +61 2 9130 2180
Website: www.harrysbondi.com.au/

Harry's Bondi Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Devon on Danks, Waterloo

Review
Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog Review

Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog Review

I’ve been very lucky to have very good friends in my life. Friends who will brunch with you, and support you when you go,

“Hmmmm. Do you think we should order one of everything?”

Okay, so it’s not quite that extreme. But Christine did help me with my gluttony by coming with Alli and me to Devon on Danks – the younger sister of the cafe-award-winning Devon Cafe in Surry Hills.

Because she’s a good friend, that’s why.

Now I’ve had a bit of a mixed experience with Devon. My first experience wasn’t that great, but then the second was much better. Maybe third time’s the charm?

A photo posted by Tammi Kwok (@teafortammi) on

Mmmmmm all the fish eggs.

Well that Salmon Blini isn’t quite available anymore, and a lot of stuff has changed since. Between the three of us, we ordered the Bruschetta with extra soft egg ($17), Brunching with the Sakuma’s ($27), Annato Spiced Fried Chicken Fillet ($7), Kaya Cronnie ($7), and a DD Special ($12). Okay, so I was exaggerating when I said with ordered one of everything, but we weren’t too far off!

Bruschetta, $17: Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog ReviewBruschetta, $17

Bruschetta ($17) first, because it was as close as we were going to get to our 5-a-day in this brunch. Homemade burrata melted onto balsamic chargrilled sourdough gets topped with basil, and confit tomatoes and basil. Very luscious, full of flavour, but curiously lacking the creamy naughtiness that a bursting ball of burrata gives you. A great bruschetta, but WHERE MY BURRATA?!!

Oh, but I really recommend paying the extra $3 to order the soft egg. Not only does it give you great egg porn, but the yolk also soaks into the toast, giving you a squidgy, rich bite.

And besides, the soft whites look like it could’ve been a ball of burrata, so um, we can pretend.

Brunching with the Sakuma's, $27: Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog ReviewBrunching with the Sakuma’s, $27

Then the dish that has caused a whole ton of debate in my circles – Brunching with the Sakumas ($27). The first incarnation, Breakfast with the Sakumas, had a smoked eel croquette, kewpie mayo, furikake (a Japanese savoury sprinkle that you usually have on rice) and a 63C egg. The salmon at the time, for me, was incredibly dry and overcooked, and for the new-hot-cafe-on-the-block, it just felt like an unacceptable thing.

I’m happy to report that this time, they’ve really upped their game. The roasted salmon is served in a thick piece, rather than a long, thin fillet, and this allows the inside to retain a silky softness, while giving you some serious crunch in the skin. Top points!

It also comes with potato noodles, clam and miso butter, onsen egg, and furikake. And you might be tempted to think that the potato noodles are made of potato starch, like other asian noodles? Nope. It’s spiralised potatoes, which should make the zucchini spaghetti lovers happy. It retained a slight crunch that polarised the table – and by that, I mean that I was the only one who liked it – but I think it provided a great body to otherwise soft textures on the plate.

Good show, Devon on Danks, good show. *slow claps*

Annato Spiced chicken fillet, $7: Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog ReviewAnnato Spiced chicken fillet, $7

Christine had already tried The Manny P Burger, so instead of going to whole hog, we order just Annato Spiced Fried Chicken Fillet ($7), with a side of their chilli mayo. Annato refers to a red spice, often used as food colouring in some Spanish cultures, that comes from the seeds of the achiote tree.

But besides a bright orange colour, I’m not sure how much flavour has come across. The chicken didn’t taste unlike typical fried chicken, and not particularly moreish in itself.

Annato spiced chicken fillet, $7: Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog Review

Dat chilli mayo, tho. Tangy, salty, creamy…all the qualities you want in a good condiment. If this chilli mayo was on Tinder, I’d swipe right in a heartbeat, and then proceed to stalk it on social media. Trust me when I say that YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE.

Kaya Cronnie, $7: Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog Review Kaya Cronnie, $7

On the sweet side, we got the Kaya Cronut Cronnie ($7). Whoever said that round shapes doesn’t fit in square things was lying. LYING. Deep fried croissant pastry gets pumped full of kaya, which hails from my side of the world: South East Asia.

To call it coconut jam would really be too simple. Think of it like…like Coconut Dulce De Leche, made with coconut cream, egg yolks, and a shit ton of sugar.

Which could bother some people, but you’ve just ordered deep fried pastry. I don’t think the sugar matters.

DD Special, $12: Devon on Danks, Waterloo. Sydney Food Blog ReviewDD Special, $12

Ah, this next one’s for the true connoisseur. Soft serve and salty chips are one of life’s great pleasures, and Devon on Danks has made a blue pea flower and jasmine soft serve for their DD Special ($12) this week. Blue pea flower is used in very traditional Peranakan desserts to add a sky blue tint, but it doesn’t have a lot of flavour, which is where the palate cleansing jasmine comes in.

Legit.

The staff at Devon on Danks have a much more relaxed vibe than the original, probably because the cafe itself has a chill vibe to it, assisted by wonderfully lit wide open spaces, beautiful decor, and beautiful wood and enamel-coated furnishings. Price-wise, it’s um, not student friendly, but fairly doable if you’re in a large group and splitting the bill. And you know, if you’ve got some savings. The food is well executed, and the seasonal menu means that the chefs are ever improving, which can only mean good things.

This meal was independently paid for.
Devon on Danks
2 Danks St
Waterloo NSW 2017
Phone:+61 2 9698 7795
Website: http://www.devoncafe.com.au

Devon on Danks Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour

Review 1 Comment
Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour. Sydney Food Blog Review

Prosciuto and Egg Sandwich, Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour: Sydney Food Blog Review

With the onset of 38C days, I think it’s safe to say that summer is officially upon us. It sucks, but it’s true. And with all the sweat, tears, and general grumpiness that accompanies it, also comes the headaches, and you know what solves that?

Iced Coffee.

Many ‘serious’ coffee places seem too snooty to do an iced coffee – there’s a stigma that iced coffee is somehow not worth their time because it’s more coffee flavoured milk than a serious caffeine hit. Fair enough, but that leaves people like me in the middle of nowhere, because I’m an unabashed fan of iced coffee that’s forced to either settle for the bottled stuff or make it at home myself.

Well Coffee Box Espresso in Darling Harbour comes to the rescue! Made with a shot of real coffee and scoops of ice cream, they actually make one of the best iced coffees I’ve had in Sydney. Assuming you like iced coffees, of course. Blended and frosty, it was creamy, sweet, and, I can’t stress this enough, made with actual coffee. Caffeine and sugar hit, all at once!

It’s a twofer.

And if iced coffee is a little bit beneath you (no judgement here! *backs away with hands raised*), then a cold drip might be your thing instead. This week, the cold drip coffee came in the form of an Ethiopian Koke Yirgacheffe, with was sweeter and less acidic than most cold drips I’ve had. Very easy to drink, especially for a coffee beginner like me.

Food-wise, I think Coffee Box Espresso do pretty well for a tiny little kitchen that’s pretty much the size of a kiosk. Sandwiches are made daily on-site, and the pastries are baked by “mother dearest”.

I kid you not. The owner’s mother supplies the baked goods, which instantly raises my respect for the place.

Strawberry and Passionfruit Muffin, Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour: Sydney Food Blog ReviewStrawberry and Passionfruit Muffin

We tried the Strawberry Passionfruit Muffin, which was covered with a very generous dusting of icing sugar.

Like the kind that will go up in puffs if you breathe too hard on it.

The muffin itself was tender and moist, and fell apart in the best way. Like a heroine in an old school romance movie. A little bit of tart, a little bit of sweet, and a whole lotta soft cakey crumble.

Well done, Mama.

And at the risk of eating dessert before the main – the sky is going to fall down on us! – we also tried the Prosciutto and Egg sandwich.

Prosciuto and Egg Sandwich, Coffee Box Espresso, Darling Harbour: Sydney Food Blog ReviewProsciuto and Egg Sandwich

Hard boiled eggs – but not too hard boiled! NO GREY RING OF DEATH!- are well, sandwiched between a crusty roll, together with strips of prosciutto, rocket and tomato relish. Very delicious mix of flavours, even though the bread was a bit, um, chewy for my taste. Which wasn’t too hard to fix – just take off the bottom and have it as a tartine!

My mama always said I was a problem solver.

The Coffee Box Espresso may only be a scant eight weeks old, but they seem to have their act together. The owner makes the coffee personally – for every customer, not just for me – and there was a sense of consistency and heart in the work. I’m glad to see a kiosk that tries for standard, rather than just ordering things in for profit and ease, and with the arrival of a new oven soon (so I’m told) it looks like it should go on that way.

Definitely stop by for a quick iced coffee if you’re in the area on a hot day – they aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but they sure do provide a smooth ride.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Coffee Box.
Coffee Box Espresso
Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre
2-10 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, NSW
Phone: N.A.

Coffee Box Espresso Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Kansas City Shuffle, The Rocks

Review
Kansas City Shuffle, The Rocks: Sydney Good Blog Review

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter, Kansas City Shuffle: The Rocks

What is breakfast food? Personally, I’m of the camp that any food can be breakfast food if you’re happy eating it first thing in the morning (fried chicken fans, rejoice!), but Sam has very specific categories that he likes to put his food into. For example, to him, rice is not a breakfast food, even though me and most of the Asian population of the world would disagree.

So what about, say, beef brisket?

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter, Kansas City Shuffle: The Rockseef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter

Well, at Kansas City Shuffle, breakfast does indeed include beef brisket with (gasp! Horror!) smoked chilli butter, on a crispy waffle. The secret to making it breakfast? Slapping an egg on it.

Beef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter, Kansas City Shuffle: The RocksBeef Brisket with Waffles, Smoked Chilli Butter

True story.

My favourite dish that morning, the beef brisket was oh-so-unctuous, and the waffle just soaked up all that butter. Because clearly my waistline I need more butter in my life. The poached egg I could take it or leave it, but if that’s the one thing allowing me to have this dish first thing in the morning, then I’ll take it.

Fried Chicken Burger, Kansas City Shuffle: The RocksFried Chicken Burger

We also ordered the Fried Chicken Burger, which was meant to come inbetween donuts, but we had brioche today because they were having issues with their donut recipe.

Because brioche is such a downgrade, amirite?

The burger itself was nice enough, but strangely enough I didn't actually get anything from the fried chicken. It could’ve been any other patty in there for all the texture and flavour it was giving me. The slaw and the pickle was pulling all the weight, and perhaps it was the lack of donut, but it just made this dish fall short of my expectations a little.

So really, I’ve just been stood up by a doughnut and starfished by fried chicken.

FML.

Pancake with Lemon Curd, Kansas City Shuffle: The RocksPancake with Lemon Curd

And because we’re greedy, pancakes with lemon curd, fresh berries and smoked almond to finish off. As far as the pancake itself, it was a bit doughy for me – you know when it keeps rolling around in your mouth too long? Yeah, like that – but I really liked the sharp tang of the lemon curd. Made me feel like I could’ve eaten more, and that’s always welcome.

Kansas City Shuffle has a great Surry-Hills-vibe to it, with none of the manic frenzy. The chefs seem genuinely happy to be there, and there’s a warmth in all the interactions – I should know, I was right next to the door watching everyone come in. The coffee was excellent, which makes sense since the owner has completed in multiple national coffee competitions, and placed in the top 5!

Sure, the food could have used a little finessing (not the beef though, that was hectic), But they did mention that they were still working out some kinks in the recipes.

So maybe I’d wait a couple weeks for them to find their feet before trying more of the menu. But in the meantime, I think we can agree that anything can be breakfast, as long as there’s an egg on it.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Kansas City Shuffle.
Kansas City Shuffle
195 Gloucester St
The Rocks NSW 2000
Phone:+61 415 362 038
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kansascityshufflesyd/

Kansas City Shuffle Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Limited..Edition Coffee Roasters, Surry Hills

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Edition Coffee Roasters, Darlinghurst

Garden of Valhalla, $16, Edition Coffee Roasters: Sydney Food Blog Review

I can count on one hand how much I know about Nordic culture:

  • 1. Alexander Skarsgard
  • 2. IKEA
  • 3. Gravlax

And that’s it. That’s really it. So when Aaron suggests lunch at Edition Coffee Roasters, where “Nordic and Japanese aesthetics meet“, I really didn’t know what to expect. An image of a Japanese Viking popped into my head, and beyond giving me the giggles, gave me no other clue as to what I was going to be in for.

So we follow Google Maps down Liverpool St, pass avant garde furniture shops (are they called lifestyle design, now?) and straight into…well, a MUJI catalogue. I kid you not – a small sun-drenched cafe filled with white tiles and light wood. Very Swedish, and very MUJI. Welcome to Edition Coffee Roasters.

We pour over the very short menu and make our decisions as I am thoroughly distracted by the beautifully carved wooden handles of the cutlery. Can I pop a couple into my handbag without them noticing? Surely they won’t notice if a couple forks go missing?

Thankfully the food arrived before I talked myself into a life of crime, and the cutlery in question was now to be used.

Garden of Valhalla, $16, Edition Coffee Roasters: Sydney Food Blog ReviewGarden of Valhalla, $16

The Garden of Valhalla, $16, was a riot of colours and flavours, pairing an orange mayonnaise with cos lettuce, radish and boiled potatoes. The cherry on the cake was the coffee cured egg yolk, and provided a sticky saltiness that added a hint of richness that grounded an otherwise delicate dish.

Mushroom Pond, $12, Edition Coffee Roasters: Sydney Food Blog ReviewMushroom Pond, $12

On the more Japanese side of things, the Mushroom Pond, $12, provided a lusciously rich and aromatic take on the comfortingly chewy wheat noodles know as Udon. One of the more well-known Japanese noodles, udon is commonly used in noodle soups and stir-fries (yakiudon). Here, it’s infused with a mushroom sauce to a deliciously nutty brown, and the mushroom cream added a finishing touch, much like vanilla ice cream finishes a warm brownie beautifully.

Fisksoppa, $19, Edition Coffee Roasters: Sydney Food Blog ReviewFisksoppa, $19

Showcasing the Nordic influence was the Fisksoppa, $19. A delicate shard of pastry, balanced on the top of a creamy blue cod and burnt eschallot stew. It was flavourful, though quite a bit more subtle than the other dishes at the table.

Edition Coffee Roasters is certainly providing so much more than just coffee. It’s an experience: transporting you to a whole other world that’s serene and calm, and filled with expertly prepared and sophisticatedly executed food. Mind you, you are paying rather dearly for the privilege – the Mushroom Pond could’ve been finished in a couple bites if I wasn’t deliberately taking my time.

Go with friends. That way maybe you can finish their food too. ?

This meal was independently paid for.
Edition Coffee Roasters
265 Liverpool Street
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
E-mail: info@editioncoffeeroasters.com
Website: http://editioncoffeeroasters.com

Edition Coffee Roasters Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

A chicken walks into a bar..Rocks Brewing Co., Alexandria

Review
Drunken Chicken - Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co. Alexandria

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Beer Can Chicken

 

It was a grey, GREY day. Even the rain didn’t know whether it was coming or going, falling in drips and drabs as I made my way to Rocks Brewing Co. in Alexandria, where I was invited to have lunch. And if there was anything that could make a dreary day worthwhile, it was the promise of hot food.

After 15 minutes of navigation over puddles like I was a tightrope walker with no safety net, I finally located the brewery inside an industrial looking collection of office buildings. My heart started to fall into the pit of my empty stomach as I wondered if this was going to be just another grey office lunch to match the weather.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Wild Mushroom, Quinoa & Rocket Salad, $21Wild Mushroom, Quinoa & Rocket Salad, $21

We left it up to the kitchen to feed us, and what came out was surprisingly vibrant. Traditionally, food made to match beers are heavy and stodgy – probably to match Mother England’s weather – but the Wild Mushroom, Quinoa and Rocket Salad was surprisingly light and tasted like it was nutritionally well-rounded. Not a very sexy description, I know, but between the scattered grains of quinoa, meaty mushrooms, fresh rocket and tart dressing, I really felt like I was eating my quota of vegetables in a very delightful way.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Mac and Cheese, $13Mac and Cheese, $13

Both the Mac and Cheese and Louisiana Hot Wings also packed a punch – the mac and cheese with a satisfyingly creamy sauce laced with the sharp kick of blue cheese, and the hot wings covered in a finger licking hot and sour sauce. This is one of the first hot wings that didn’t actually need the dipping sauce – I’d actually recommend eating them without it since the combination seems to cancel out any flavour that the components have by themselves.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Louisiana Hot Wings, $13.50/$22Louisiana Hot Wings, $13.50/$22

At this point, we knew that more was to come, but we kept picking at the food like fidgeting children. I mean, the last two mouthfuls of mac and cheese were just staring forlornly at me, looking like it had been abandoned. And just as I was about to put it out of its misery, along came the piece de resistance.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Beer Can ChickenDrunken Chicken, $49

The Drunken Chicken involved a whole chicken, roasted upright, with a bed of vegetables and bread to soak up all the errant juices. Nothing was to go to waste here. The chicken, covered in skin that was such a gleaming golden brown that it looked like it just came back from a relaxing holiday in the tropics, was so piping hot that steam escaped from every cut I made. By itself, the meat was a touch dry, but that’s where the pan juices came in.

The use of beer gave it body like a Victoria’s Secret Model – sexy without being too in-your-face – and if I could I would just drink it all up in a glass. But their method was good too, with pieces of crusty bread soaking up the juices and turning into the most addictive type of savoury bread pudding, accented by creamy chunks of roasted pumpkin.

*insert Homer Simpson’s drool face here*

Of course, we can’t forget the beer at a brewery, and if you prefer to drink your beer rather than eat it, then they also have a selection of specialty beers for your drinking pleasure. The House Alerkolsch was an instant hit, with a sweet, clean finish that reminded me of a dry white wine. Very refreshing, and a perfect accompaniment to the roast chicken.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Beer Tasting PlatterBeer Tasting Platter

To finish, we had the Baked Oreo Cheesecake which, while executed nicely, didn’t make as big a splash as the lineup that came before it. The salted peanuts on the caramel sauce was my favourite bit of the whole thing, but the cheesecake itself was a touch common, considering all the creativity that I’ve come to expect in my short time here.

Sydney Food Blog Review of Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria: Baked Oreo Cheesecake, $15Baked Oreo Cheesecake, $15

The rest of the menu is a great mix of creativity and old favourites – crunchy waffle fries sit right next to a pulled pork burger, and nothing looks to be terribly out of place. I’m looking forward to working my way through the menu on my subsequent visits – I think there’s a Cape Byron Tomahawk that’s calling my name.

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of Rocks Brewing Co.
Rocks Brewing Co.
160 Bourke Road
Alexandria, NSW
Phone: 02 9669 3600
Website: http://rocksbrewing.com/rocksbrewing/welcome

Rocks Brewing Company Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

What’s it all…About: Spicer, Woollahra

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra

Other than my time at Victor Churchill where I met Anthony Bourdain (I’m still fanning myself from the excitement of it all!), I don’t spend a lot of time in the Eastern Suburbs. I mean, it’s pretty and all, but I only ever get more absorbed in my plate of duck fat potatoes as fit people in gym gear run by with their giant dogs on a leash.

Chicken salt not included.

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Turkish bread and dipsTurkish bread and dips

So anyhoo, I put on my best sweaty gym chic – I’m just joking, it was just a hot day – and made my way up the hill to About:Spicer, who has just started serving up a brand spanking new dinner menu, featuring the oft-misused term, Tapas.

Tapas basically refers to Spanish appetisers, or snacks, and it’s a way to turn my food ADHD into a socially acceptable way of having a meal. The idea is that you order everything and the kitchen sink, and you share it with your friends so everyone can have a bite of everything.

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Prawn CocktailPrawn Cocktail, $18.50

Well, at About:Spicer, the Tapas is just a little on the large side. Much like the rest of Australia, it’s actually in a large enough serving that you can have it as a meal to yourself. Great for value, not so much for variety. The classic Prawn Cocktail, $18.50 is light, creamy, and ever-so-slightly sweet, and whilst not the most photogenic dish, was a refreshing dish for a balmy summer evening.

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Kentucky Bourbon MeatballsKentucky Bourbon Meatballs

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Stuffed MushroomsStuffed Mushrooms

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Stuffed Zucchini FlowersStuffed Zucchini Flowers

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Finger Lickin' Chicken WingsFinger Lickin’ Chicken Wings

Other notables included the Stuffed Zucchini Flowers, because you can’t go wrong with the words : cheese and deep-fried. Sure, the flavour of the goats cheese might be a little affronting to some people – goat and sheep dairy tends to have a love-it-or-leave-it relationship with many people I know – but I’ve always thought that zucchini is the wallflower of vegetables (or some might say, ahem, delicate) and the goats cheese was just the personality that the zucchini needed.

The Kentucky Bourbon Meatballs were finger lickin’ sticky sweet, and while not the most amazing meatballs that I’ve ever had, brought back childhood memories of loving glazed EVERYTHING. Glazed ham, glazed doughnuts…glazed look in my eyes. 😉 In fact, I still have a childish glee when I see the glossy sheen of sugar on my food.

And you know what else is delightfully notable? The service. Sina (pronounced Zee-na, like the warrior princess), our waitress, was bubbly and fun, and just exuded the kind of careless charm that only a European can pull off. It really made us feel relaxed, relaxed enough to actually believe we could take a nap right at the table to try and work off the food coma.

Sydney Food Blog Review of About: Spicer, Woollahra: Frozen Banana Cheesecake with Nutella and Kahlua FoamFrozen Banana Cheesecake with Nutella and Kahlua Foam

And food coma it was, compounded by the luxurious Frozen Banana Cheesecake with Nutella and Kahlua Foam. If you order nothing else at About:Spicer, you should order this. Packed full of actual banana flavour, and a strangely satisfying icy texture, I could bring home a whole tub of that frozen cheesecake and lick it all up with a spoon. The rest of it, however, I could take it or leave it. The kalua and nutella were saccharinely sweet, which probably wasn’t the best idea after eating my weight (and what a large weight it is) in food.

For a new menu, I think that About:Spicer is heading in a good direction. Nothing that I tried tasted too much like other things on the menu, which gives you value for variety, but the individual dishes could use a bit of finesse for my taste. The Stuffed Mushrooms, for example, didn’t deliver that salty kick that I wanted out of well, bacon and cheese, and it came off as a bit average for something that includes my two favourite things in the world.

I’d really like to see what they do for breakfast though – bonus points if that banana cheesecake is available in the morning too!

Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of About: Spicer.
About: Spicer
Shop 2, 128 Queen Street
Woollahra, Sydney, NSW
Phone: (02) 9328 2221
Website: http://www.aboutspicer.com

Spicer Street Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato