7 years with the Mrs - Meraki Merchants + Restaurant Hubert

I can't believe that it's been 7 years exactly since the Mrs and I started dating. The 25th happens to be a really special day for the Mrs and I since it's the day that we've always devoted to each other without fail. Despite our tradition of celebrating monthsaries, the annual ones do signify a lot more than the monthly ones since they represent the fact that we've made it through another year in each other's lives. Even better, this year, the 25th of February falls on a Saturday! Meaning I didn't have to leave for work and I got to spend the whole day with the Mrs.

We woke up and had a lot of potential plans in place but due to the weather, most of them went out the window. So we lazed around until we decided on the next best thing: breakfast. Thing is, neither one of us really wanted to go too far so we quickly agreed on a local cafe. Both the Mrs and I have been to Meraki Merchants previously but we both went separately and I had never had the opportunity to stay for food. We parked the car right outside (we could have walked but got too lazy) and quickly ordered since both of us knew exactly what we wanted.

I ordered the Sultan's Jaffle which the Mrs had previously had before whereas the Mrs ordered the Mackerel. It's really, really hard not to like a jaffle...crunchy, toasted edges sealing in some form of hot filling like a flat dumpling but even so, this particular jaffle was out of this world delicious. Filled with this tomato based sauce with sujuk, feta and olives, the meal makes for a perfect light lunch/breakfast option as the tart, refreshing and savoury sandwich helps awaken your tastebuds, giving you energy to tackle whatever comes next (be it actual work or just lazing around).

Despite my enjoyment of the jaffle, I do have to say that the Mrs ordered the better (and more substantial) meal with the Mackerel. Slices of toast are served with half an avocado, some labneh and a can of delicious mackerel for a make-your-own-adventure kinda meal. I reckon if we were forced to stick with our own meals, I would end up still craving more food after (I am a massive glutton) whereas if I had ordered the mackerel in the first place, I'm confident I would have been somewhat satisfied...no matter, since I still ended up eating most of the Mrs dish anyway! Also, we got to sample some complimentary sweets which was totally unexpected but very much welcome! If you're in the area, well worth checking these guys out!

So, after getting our tummies filled with delicious food, the Mrs and I went back to the apartment to take some well deserved naps before getting ready for dinner. At roughly 4:30pm, we made our way out to the city by car and were fortunate enough to quickly find some street parking pretty close to our dinner destination: Restaurant Hubert! The Mrs originally had no idea where I had planned to take her, though, she was rather close to finding out when she questioned me on why we'd never gone after seeing that a friend of ours had recently dined there. I tried desperately to brush it off and utilised a bit of misdirection to ensure she didn't find out until the day. I would have also tried to make a reservation for the night but unfortunately, Hubert doesn't take reservations for groups less than 6 so we had to go pretty early and hope that they could accommodate us.

We obviously weren't able to get a table immediately but we did put our names down and were promptly directed to the bar where we were free to grab some drinks and some food first whilst we waited for our table. This actually worked out a lot better for us since we could pace our meal a lot better. We settled down with a glass of rouge for the Mrs and a Nikka Taketsuru for me (somewhat obsessed with Japanese whisky at the moment, I must say) as well as some food to snack on: the Malakoff and the Prime Beef Tartare.

First, I'll start with the Prime Beef Tartare...two words: unbelievably good! I am a sucker for tartare (I see tartare, I order tartare) but this was on a whole new level. There's this unabashed savoury, moreishness to it since it was rich and packed with flavour in classic french fashion. No joke, the dish literally reminded me of some of Sydney's best cheeseburgers. Tender chunks of sliced and diced raw beef that is covered in a classic french-style dressing served with some very well seasoned fries...seriously, nothing better to start your meal with. I know raw meat can throw some people off but if you're game enough to push your boundaries, this is definitely the place to try it.

The Malakoff was another outstanding yet simplistic dish. Literally, when it arrives, the dish can seem a bit underwhelming since all you see is a small brown fried ball on a plate with two slices of pickles but there's actually much more to it. In it's original state, it yields barely any aroma which means you don't really know what to expect but cut it open and the melty gruyere cheese oozes out of this magnificently decadent fried ball of goodness and each bite yields the same rich taste and creamy sensation you'd expect from fondue...magnifique!

We were slowly nibbling on the dishes so as to ensure maximum enjoyment and to spend as much time as possible and near the end of the tartare, we were informed that our table was ready. I quickly shovelled the remaining tartare into my mouth and we moved over to where we would enjoy the rest of our meal.

Quite frankly, I was originally planning on ordering the Cote De Boeuf which would have been a massive 1kg steak but in discussing it with the Mrs, we opted against it since we had already had beef earlier and wanted more dishes to share between us. So between us, we ordered the baguette to start, the Le Grand Aioli, the Lobster Spaghetti and the Bavette Steak to share. Almost immediately after ordering, a basket of warm baguette slices were placed in front of us which was great because at this point, our appetites were in full gear. The baguette was intensely soft and doughy with a really nice yet mellow yeasty flavour to it.

After the baguette came the Le Grand Aoili which consisted of a plate of four mussels and some seasonal vegetables served with a massive plate of aoili. At first, the Mrs and I were somewhat confused about whether or not the vegetables were edible but after trying some, we realised that the vegetables were cooked and definitely edible so we chowed down and finished almost everything. Absolutely everything on the plate went well with the aoili...especially the pickled mussels. There was a certain spiciness to it that made the entire dish rather pleasing and appetising.

Next, came possibly...nay, hands down the BEST lobster spaghetti I've ever had (and I've had a lot). My reaction was literally like this when I had it:

The flavours presented in this dish do not yield at all as the perfectly al dente spaghetti carries lashings upon lashings of this luxurious, velvety bisque-like oil and sauce into your mouth, As the sensation of the flavours start to meld into your tongue, you first taste the butteriness of the sauce and then, you get overwhelmed by the intense savouriness of the lobster based sauce. You bite into each meaty chunk of lobster and find that it's cooked to perfection...not rubbery in the slightest but soft and tender.

To finish, the Mrs and I shared the Bavette Steak and a side of Pommes Anna. In a similar fashion to the Lobster Spaghetti before, this steak does not hold back on flavour. The outside is seared to a perfect brown crust and is seasoned ever so thoroughly. The rich, beefy flavour of the flank steak is only accentuated by the richness of the bordelaise butter and each bite is this wonderfully balanced mix of beef, fat and salt. Pair that with the crispy layered potatoes and creamy sauce of the Pommes Anna and you have, literally, heaven on a plate.

Overall, I think that today has been one of the best anniversaries the Mrs and I have had. We've come a long, long way since we first started dating...being married and living together has only made us closer and better as a couple. We share an equal sense of adventure when it comes to our food and I anticipate (or hope) that we can continue to eat like gluttons very far into the future.

To the Mrs: Thank you for staying with me all these years and thank you for all the good times and happy memories you've given me. Happy 7 years my love....may you stay by my side for many more years to come.

Kepos Street Kitchen - Redfern, NSW

So, the place I'm about to blog about is a bit special to me. Reason being that the Mrs had been talking about this place for almost two years now and each time she does, she tells me how amazing the food was and how memorable her experience was. Not once had she ever been back with me (not for a lack of me trying to suggest it). That was until now...a close friend of ours just happened to be back in Sydney visiting friends (she flew in from Melbourne) and was staying in the inner city area so I immediately thought "what better opportunity for us to finally go and eat at Kepos Street Kitchen!"

It wasn't a particularly sunny spring day and there was a slight bit of precipitation but this did not dull my excitement to go and dine at KSK (oh...and to see my friend). I was gonna go try this place regardless of how difficult the drive was, how horrible the parking would be and how long it would take for me to get in. Fortunately however, the weather held up, parking was a breeze and we got in within 10-15 minutes of us arriving. The place was quaint with a limited number of tables so I was really surprised with how quickly we got it. Soon as we sat down, we immediately set about getting comfortable with a few drinks over a good catch up session. I ordered my usual weekend coffee (cappuccino with no sugar) and the Mrs ordered the chai tea with soy milk whilst our friend ordered a chocolate milkshake (great choice).

It didn't take us long before we decided what we wanted to order for lunch but the Mrs insisted that at the end of it all, the Mrs insisted that we had to order the churros (more on that later). The Mrs ordered the wood fired hot-smoked salmon salad with olives, kipflers, soft boiled egg and dukkah (again) and though she has had every opportunity to do so, the Mrs never changes her order (for good reason)...it's really, really delicious. The salmon is super fresh tasting and combined with the other components of the salad, make for a really refreshing and filling meal. I especially like the flavour profile that the dukkah seasoning provides.

My friend and I decided to go HAM and we both ordered the southern fried chicken sandwich. Rather than a sandwich, I felt this was more along the lines of a burger (since it was served in a burger bun) and I normally associate sandwiches with not-really-being-that-full but this really hit the spot. It was almost like they managed to wedge two super juicy pieces of deep fried chicken and some moreish, spicy, herb slaw in between a soft pillow-like burger bun then decided to be humble about it and call it a "sandwich". Luckily, I had plenty of experience taking down huge burgers so I knew the tactic had to be divide-and-conquer but if I didn't, it would have ended up a hot mess.

After all that (as if we weren't yet full), the Mrs continued to insist that we had to have the churros so without hesitation, I flagged down one of the lovely and helpful staff members and placed an order. Shortly after, out came this brown paper bag containing 4 pieces of cinnamon sugar dusted churros with a luxurious dollop of salted caramel on the side. I, unfortunately, gobbled my portion without taking photos of the actual churros (novice mistake) but I can confirm they were as good as the Mrs said they'd be. Crispy on the outside with a fluffy, sweet interior...almost too good when you dip it in the salted caramel.

It's the good times like these that make it a worthwhile hobby...to be honest, this post has been sitting around in my drafts for some time now. I've been going through quite a bit in life and as a result, I haven't been able to muster any motivation write about my experiences. I'm glad I finally managed to make an effort and finish this one off (even though I can't say this was much of an effort).

The Elevation - Parramatta, NSW

It's Saturday, just before noon and the Mrs and I have been diligently cleaning all morning. We start to get hungry, so we decide to walk to Church Street, check out Eat Street Vibes and possibly get a bite to eat. Along the way, we notice a new cafe had opened up right next to Coco Cubano and Rio Brazilian BBQ: The Elevation. My interest was immediately piqued by the hipster looking decor and clean environment. Fortunately, the Mrs was also convinced to try the place and so we decided to pop in on a whim and enjoy a nice lunch.

I personally think they did a wonderful job with the shop fitting. You have the almost-standardised industrial fit out but it's bright and clean. The light fixtures are hung up above the counter and all over the roof in criss-cross patterns. The simplistic tubes of fluorescent light shine upon the mostly wood and concrete coloured surfaces. Strewn throughout the cafe, there are separate terrariums that sit below the counter and around the front of the cafe which bring a little green into the mix. Overall, I'm really, really impressed with how this place looks as it's exactly the theme I want for our apartment. 

We decided on what we wanted to eat so I flagged down one of the helpful staff to order but I'm then reminded by the Mrs that it's specified on the menu to order at the counter... Silly me! I get up, place our order and we patiently waited for our food and drinks to come. It wasn't long before our drinks arrived at our table, the Mrs opting for an iced latte on a moderately hot day and me going for a cappuccino, my regular selection when I go to work. The coffee here is rather nutty and creamy which is great since it's exactly the way I like my coffee (I don't appreciate acidity much at all). The Mrs was also very impressed with her iced latte as it stayed robust in flavour despite the ice melting.

There was a tiny bit of a delay with our food coming out but I'm always okay with that as new kitchens need to be given some time to find their feet. The staff also apologised quite a few times which helped quite a bit (you tend to care less when a place acknowledges that something isn't ideal). When it did come, the Mrs order was the first to arrive and boy did it look delicious! The Mrs ordered avocados on toast with onsen eggs. This arrive in the form of two jiggly, barely cooked eggs sitting on top of two slices of rye bread with smashed avos mixed with chia dukkah and lightly dusted with matcha powder. The Mrs was rather impressed with the bread as it was fresh, doughy and the perfect vehicle for the other components. The chia dukkah provided a really nice nutty and smoky element and there was a nice textural balance from the crunch in the sunflower seeds which was mixed in with the avocado. The jewel on top of the crown had to be dusting of matcha powder which allowed it to stand out amongst the many smashed avocado dishes out there. It also provided a really nice bitterness at the back of your tongue, making the dish all the more savoury.

Me, being the carnivorous meathead that I am, couldn't bring myself to order anything but the ultimate breakfast: a smorgasbord of all the delectable items on offer. The plate is made up of maple bacon, chorizo, onsen eggs, miso mushrooms, blistered cherry tomatoes, wilted spinach and two slices of sourdough toast...try not being satisfied after that. To be honest, I was expecting more from the maple bacon as it ended up tasting like normal bacon...more of that sweet, maple goodness would have been better. Still a great dish though as there were the earthy, umami packed mushrooms and delicious chorizo to eat as well. The eggs were gooey, rich and buttery and the sweetly acidic tomatoes and refreshing spinach made it an awesome meal.

The Elevation also had many delicious looking cakes on display but unfortunately, the Mrs and I were stuffed once we'd finished our plates of food...oh well, we'll try it next time since we live so close! I honestly fell in love with this cafe instantaneously as the decor, staff and food were all amazing. In addition to that, their coffee game is strong. Luck for us, they sent us off with a complimentary bottle of cold brew! We had it as soon as we got home and it was delicious!!! Smooth and not a hint of acidity with a humble sweetness that made for an awesome, refreshing caffeine hit. Thank you guys at The Elevation, the Mrs and I will surely return for many more lunches and brunches in the future!

The Tuckshop + Jack's Newtown - Glenhaven & Newtown, NSW

Compared to my Saturday, my Sunday was far busier than I could have ever anticipated. As with our annual tradition, the Mrs and I headed to Glenhaven to attend the yearly Christmas get together with her girls. This year though, rather than cook ourselves, we simply decided to head to The Tuckshop for a quick breakfast/brunch. It just seems so much more logical since within the last year, four members of our little group became parents (yes, we're old now).

Since our last visit it's been awhile since we last visited Tuckshop and the menu's changed a bit...not complaining since most of the menu items were right up our alley in terms of flavor profiles. I ordered the cold drip for myself and a large skim latte for the Mrs (it was particularly early) while we waiting for everyone to arrive. It was a little scary at first since we got an outside table and I was rather worried the weather wouldn't hold up since I felt a couple of sprinkles but luckily, it didn't rain at all!...it just maintained a steady, sticky humidity.

Our friends slowly started arriving and as everyone got settled, we went up and ordered our food. The Mrs and I decided to share a beef brisket burrito and a southern fried chicken burger.

To be honest, after tasting the burrito, I was somewhat disappointed with the beef brisket. The last time we came to Tuckshop, we had a beef brisket roll that was not only fatty but tender and moist. The brisket in this burrito was bland tasting and didn't even compare to the last brisket dish we had here. There wasn't any defining or outstanding features as the salsa was just rather mediocre...the flavours just didn't meld very well. 

In comparison, The Mrs' burger was much better. A well spiced and crunchy southern fried chicken fillet wedged between a pillowy burger bun served with the usual salad options. The fries were also quite delicious as they had a nice crunch to it and were seasoned well. 

Although we didn't get to try anyone else's food (we don't get to share food...sad face), our generous friends still allowed us to take many happy snaps of their various items!

Breakfast Smoothie

Tuckshop Breaky Box

Group shot!

Croque Madame?? I expected it to be more indulgent.

Breakfast Taco

Soft Shell Crab burger

I always look forward to any opportunity we get to see the Mrs' friends. Times change and everyone gets busier and more stressed but year on year, we've continued to form a bond more akin to family than friends. That is something that will never change or fade and with each new addition (whether they be newborns or boyfriends) I'm thankful that we have the opportunity to grow closer and closer.

But that's not the end of my day...For the last week and a half, the Mrs and I have been racking our heads over a particular matter. You see, we recently purchased a rather oversized television...and I drive a Corolla hatchback. Immediately, you can see that equation doesn't really work out. So for fear of my safety and wellbeing, the TV has been sitting in the garage at the Mrs parents place for a while now. Just when we were out of ideas on what to do, the B.R.A.D crew (minus the D this time) offered to help ferry the TV back to the apartment! Happy days! Conveniently, I'd also been task with going to Annandale to pick up our pre-wedding canvas from our photographers...and what's next to Annandale? Newtown! And what's at Newtown? Jack's!...perfectly sensible logic right?

The Mrs needed to stay at home to do work so I extended the invitation to the B.R.A as thanks for driving the TV to the apartment (not gonna lie...I had a vested interest in this trip). Being located right on the corner of Missenden road and Princes Hwy/Kings St, Parking can be little hard to find but I am notoriously lucky when it comes to finding street parking so I got parking right outside the restaurant with no issue.

Fitted out like any hip and trendy diner, they definitely do take a less-is-more approach. The tables are walls aren't overcrowded with random graffiti and everything is clean and crisp looking. This really makes the massive neon burger standout as the defining feature of the room. Word of advice: if you don't like being in a hot, enclosed environment, I'd suggest visiting at nighttime when the temperature cools down. I don't think they have air-conditioning yet and the open kitchen really makes it feel warmer than it needs to be.

The burgers tend to come in waves but when they do arrive, they arrive one after another in quick succession. The boys and I got our food within 7-10 minutes of ordering which in my opinion, is actually really quick. We did go mid afternoon on a Sunday so that might have contributed to the quicker service times but as you can see above, still packed with hungry burger lovers.

At Jack's, they only have two burgers to select from: the cheeseburger (bacon optional) and the vegetarian burger. You can then go on to make small adjustments to your meal like doubling the meat or ordering some (super crunchy and potatoey) crinkle cut fries and/or a soda. We're actually really lucky in that right now, the Sydney burger scene is full of great burger contenders. What this means is that if you've eaten enough burgers (and I have) you can really see the strong and weak points of this burger. For me, Jack's definitely ranks as one of the top burgers in Sydney (4th...1st being Mistergees, 2nd: Mary's 3rd: Five Points)..what's noticeable with this burger is how chewy and doughy the bun is. Soft and pliable yet texturally magnificent, the bread is definitely a highpoint of the burger.

I wasn't originally supposed to get bacon with my burger but having accidentally taken someone else's burger, we decided to stick with it anyway. The bacon really adds some depth to the flavor of the burger as it gives it a really nice smoky, porcine richness that you'd miss out on with the standard offering. Now, where Jack's can improve....I have a preference of having my patty pink in the middle...which mine wasn't but that wasn't too major an issue. You still get a grisly, beefy mouthful when you bite into it so no harm done. The outside of the patty though could benefit from a little bit more maillard reaction. I found myself looking for more little pockets of crispy exterior only to be left mildly unsatisfied. Finally, the sauce was delicious but at times, reminded me of big mac sauce...no idea if that was intentional or not but, if it could exceed the level of deliciousness and decadence that is big mac sauce...that'd make a heavenly burger.

A's burger...drowned in sauce...with extra sauce.

Although a spectacularly busy day, I don't regret any part of it since I got to hang out with group after group of lovely, fun people doing the thing I love most....eating. Things will steadily become busier and busier over the next month so please stay tuned! I'll try and blog as much as I can!

Me enjoying my Matcha Softcream from Zuzuzu while the B.R.A walk ahead.