Espresso Warriors - Parramatta, NSW

We are in such a blessed time to be living in Parramatta. I almost feel like every single day, I find the area thriving, expanding and become more and more like its eastern counterpart. There have been so many new openings that I've barely been able to keep up but I think out of everything that has recently opened, the Mrs is probably the most excited about Espresso Warriors and for one reason: eggettes. These little bubbly waffles from my hometown have seemingly overtaken the foodie world...with every rendition getting more and more pretty and extravagant. Whilst I personally am not a fan of paying exorbitant amounts of money for things I used to be able to get on the streets of Hong Kong for mere dollars, I do understand the attraction the Mrs (and everyone else) has to these items and as a result, we find ourselves at Espresso Warriors right on the week they opened, having brunch and trying out their delectable food items.

Despite having only just opened, Espresso Warriors seems to be getting a pretty steady flow of traffic and to be honest, they are situated in the MOST optimal position being right next to EVENT cinemas and the escalators from all the other food options this side of Church Street. We were very anxious about finding a table since there's been a bit of 'gram hype about this place so we got there early and quickly parked our car and power walked over just in case it would be packed out. We were fortunate to get there earlier and we got a table straight away! Score!

The fitout is a mix of stripped out industrial with green overlaid in the form of hanging pot plants and a greenery covered ceiling which gives a very serene feeling...a separation or a form of escape from the crowded shopping mall outside. One thing that stands out the most from start to finish is how attentive and how impeccable their service is. You really do feel very well taken care of and they make sure to check in with you very frequently so kudos to them! The menu is extensive and I was very interested in the lunch options but they didn't have the lunch availability times on the menu so I wasn't sure if we could order it. I ordered the Golden Eggs Benedict whilst the Mrs ordered the Morning Hash.

The Morning Hash consists of a rustic potato rosti topped with broccolini, rocket, bacon, poached eggs and salsa verde. A very moreish and delicious package altogether though initially, the poached eggs did come out somewhat overdone but they were more than happy to provide us with two replacements which was fantastic!

In my opinion, my Golden Eggs Benedict was way more delicious though as the eggs were done perfectly: a crispy layer of fried panko enveloping a perfectly poached egg with a gooey, golden centre. I normally don't like kale but I really, really enjoyed it in this dish...a very nice, nutty flavour from the slight sauteed they gave it. I also paired mine with smoked salmon which is always delightful to have over a nice piece of toasted brioche.

We would not have left today without trying the eggettes of course! But which to choose? Since we live so close, we heeded the advice of the staff and started with the Tokyo Waffle so we can come back later anytime and try the LA waffles. The Mrs was watching them prepare the dish with a very keen eye and spent the whole waiting period mumbling to herself about what she would have done when making the eggettes. The Tokyo Waffle is a green-tea flavoured eggette housing mochi, coconut, taro ice cream with taro sauce and as a whole, the dessert was very pretty and the flavours worked rather well together. The only point of improvement though would be the eggette...it sort of came a little deflated so it would have been better if the bubbles maintained their shape and crispiness. It was also hard to pick up the cone and take a photo so I made the suggestion of serving it on a ice cream cone holder instead of a plate (but I'm sure they've considered that as well).

Overall, we had a wonderful time at Espresso Warriors and hopefully, we'll be able to grab a table as easily as we did this time to try their other lunch and brunch options. I doubt it'll be as easy next time though since I definitely anticipate that their customer-base will expand exponentially in the days to come!

FCBA x Kelby's Cafe, Marrickville, NSW

It's funny to think about how long we've been doing this food blogging business as a hobby. Contrary to how I initially thought it would play out, it's actually gone rather smoothly. Maybe it's a combination of our frequency, tenacity and the fact that my writing got better and more personal but I feel as though it's going a whole lot better than my previous attempts at maintaining this hobby. How "well" something is going (especially something like a hobby) is hardly quantifiable...that said, I'd make the argument that we're doing pretty well! We've been invited to events and we've met so many like minded people so if you want to say that we're successful as food bloggers? Yea, I think we're doing alright.

So, last weekend, we were invited to attended a small gathering as a part of Food Critics and Bloggers Association (FCBA) where we went to Kelby's Cafe for a delightful food sampling. We've been members of the FCBA since we were recommended to join by Drool Worthy World but we've never really attended any events partly because we haven't been entirely available but also because we didn't really know how to RSVP whilst securing out spots. Fortunately, we got on it right away as soon as we got the invite and before we knew it, we were sitting down at Kelby's cafe with Sophia @ FCBA, Wonggreg and Aroundtheclockfoodie.

The general feel of the cafe reminded us of a friendly, neighbourhood eatery where everyone knows each other. Comfortable, cosy and homey...initial impressions wise, it's not a place you would expect to see inventive and inspired dishes but we were pleasantly surprised! Looking past the standard menu, you will notice many specials plastered onto the blackboard covered walls. As explained by our lovely host, the dishes are inspired by his Lebanese upbringing and he wanted to bring a bit of exoticism into his dishes which is what differentiates Kelby's from the rest.

The five of us decided to start with a few drinks. The Mrs was the standout by ordering the chai tea which quickly caught momentum with our other dining guests. I stuck quietly with my usual coffee but I did note that the cups and saucers were very, very attractive. Each had a different and very detailed African animal patterned onto it. When it came time to order food, we unanimously decided to order five items from the specials menu to share.

All five items came at the same time so we'll go through each dish one-by -one. The first special, the chilli eggs consisted of chilli scrambled eggs, grilled haloumi, avocado and pita bread. In my opinion, this would be the dish that most people would be used to. Imagine a mixed breakfast with toast replaced with soft, toasted pita bread served with buttery, flavoursome scrambled eggs, avocado and a really refreshing, spicy sauce. In summary, a much better version of what you would normally be able to eat for breakfast...most definitely a favourite of mine.

The Kelby's Hash had to be one of my other favourites of the day. I reckon this was the most luxurious and decadent dish as it contained wilted spinach, sujuk, crispy roast potatoes, haloumi, caramelised leek all topped off with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. If you're a hungry, hungry man (like me) this will definitely be the dish to order as you will be so satisfied after! Such a substantial and delicious meal!

The crowd favourite had to be the Autumn Delight which were poached eggs over toast with avocado, tahini yoghurt dressing, a grilled tomato and balsamic glaze. With this dish, you get to enjoy a nicely toasted piece of sourdough bread that's slathered with a mix of fresh, buttery smashed avocado and dressed with this creamy, tart yet savoury yoghurt dressing. The tartness is balanced by the sweetness of the balsamic glaze and then you get the runny poached egg on top and the sweet grilled tomato as well. Simply sensational!

If you're looking at a less substantial light lunch, the next dish is the one for you! The Not Too Naughty omelette was the lightest of the five dishes we ordered. A fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside omelette containing diced potatoes, sage and feta cheese...the dish is perfect for someone who wants a richly flavoured dish that won't sit heavy on their stomach.

Finally, the Green Eggs would be the perfect pick for pescatarian friends. Pesto infused scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, asparagus and fried capers. This would probably be (in my opinion) the most savoury dish of the bunch since the briny and salty fried capers works really well in accentuating the flavours of the whole dish. The buttery eggs and smoked salmon slices meld really well together and the toast helps carry all of that into your mouth.

Overall, the Mrs and I had an absolutely lovely time at Kelby's cafe. Not only is their hospitality absolutely amazing, their passion for fine food really comes through in all the dishes they produce. Thank you Kelby's for treating us to such a lovely brunch session and thank you to FCBA for providing us the opportunity to dine with you. We hope to have the opportunity to attend the next event and the next event after that.

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).

Circa Espresso - Parramatta, NSW

It's actually quite sad...I've been feeling really lazy and lacking in motivation lately. I used to enjoy coming home after a nice lunch/dinner and writing all about it but lately, all momentum has been lost. Some more obvious reasons include (a) the launch of Overwatch and (b) the release of Pokemon GO (literally, all the Mrs and I have been doing is going for walks and catching Pokemon). The less obvious reason is that well...I just couldn't find enjoyment in it anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still love eating and I still enjoy food but I think I've lost touch with my reason as to why I started doing this. I put too much emphasis on being a part of the food blogging community.

But yea, to reassure you all, I have been eating out (quite a bit if you follow my Instagram) and I have had a few good meals. One of the more memorable meals I've had was when the Mrs and I returned to where it all began: Circa Espresso. Looking back at my photos from when I first started posting on Instagram, it's been a while since I've returned to Circa. I'm not really entirely sure why either since I live so close now but, spured on by the desire to eat great brunch food but stay local, the Mrs and I decided to walk to Circa and check it out.

We had anticipated a long wait and were told it'd be 30 minutes to a table that day but fortunately, it was much less time than that! I had no idea they had seating right next door in the little house either...great location for when the weather is decent. I knew exactly what I was going to get as soon as I sat down and so did the Mrs so without further adieu, we flagged down one of the super helpful staff and placed our order for two Ottoman Eggs. The Mrs stuck with her usual coffee order but I decided to go with the cold brew which in retrospect was an absolutely brilliant decision. Fruity, mellow and sweet...the coffee I received was akin to a fine wine or smooth, aged whisky. In short, it was great.

Even more amazing was the Ottoman Eggs....oh man, so. moreish! Crumbed eggplant, creamy labneh, spicy, fragrant oil, crispy fried leeks and poached eggs. Eat that all with the crunchy, toasted bread and you will have an amazing time. Eating this really reminded me of exactly why I started doing all of this...having such an amazing meal that I want to get people hungry and tell the world about it.

So at the end of the day: it really doesn't matter too much about the community. I didn't really start this journey because I wanted to be liked by other people or because I wanted to be a part of the hype. I started this to tell the world about how amazing food is and how much joy it can bring to your life. Thank you to the guys at Circa Espresso for reminding me of that. 

Badmanner Thymes Espresso - Parramatta, NSW

Another weekend, another opportunity for the Mrs to drag me to brunch...well, not so much drag anymore. I'll admit, I secretly do look forward to the opportunities I get to go and enjoy a quiet and quaint meal with the love of my life. She's been able to convince me that additional to the delicious food, I get the time to just slow down and just enjoy moments of tranquility between us. That, I believe, is the most precious part of brunching.

The Mrs decided to take me to a local favorite of hers (one which I've yet to come to). Located right opposite of another popular brunch destination, Paper Planes Cafe...Badmanner Thymes is the perfect place to come when you're looking for an alternative to their ever popular neighbour. I really don't see why this place isn't as packed (or more so) than Paper Planes as there's a huge and spacious dining area with ample seating and the food comes out so quickly....people are missing out.

We ordered some beverages to start off with: the usual coffee for the Mrs and a green tea latte for myself. The coffee was very good however, the green tea latte was a bit stronger in the matcha flavour than I'm usually accustomed to...still, I enjoyed it thoroughly as it made me really slow down and sip at it which meant that over time, I got to liking the drink a lot more.

Despite the other really delicious sounding items on the menu, I opted for the safe option of eggs benedict as I was feeling particularly breakfast-y that day. This was a great choice as the eggs were on point...perfectly poached eggs sitting on top of some smoked salmon, avocado (additional to the order) with some shallots and wilted spinach to accompany it all. They didn't cover the thing in hollandaise which meant you really got a well balanced breakfast.

As usual, the Mrs picked the better brunch dish as she had ordered the black forest with additional chorizo. If (more like when) I do go back for brunch, I will 100% order this next time...it is actually divine. The combination of ricotta cheese and mushrooms along with the eggs done sunny-side up (my favorite way) just made the whole package undeniably delicious. The addition of chorizo meant that if meat was important to you, you didn't miss out on it. The salty, spicy pork sausage just made you crave the other components more.

The more I visit Parramatta, the more excited I get about the prospect of becoming a permanent member of this community. I can say with confidence that one of the only things that matters to me (the abundance of food) is well and truly catered to here. The level of quality this establishment provides and the service we received made the whole experience unforgettable.

@ the corner - Peakhurst

It's been a bit of a dry week for the Mrs and I (mainly cause I'm limited by how much money I have left to spend until pay day) but also because the Mrs and I haven't been all too free. The next week is gonna be a good time (stay tuned) but for this week, bear with us a little. As you all know, the Mrs loves brunch and with the expansion of options in my area, I decided to take her to a new local place that came at the recommendation of a fellow insta-foodie, @ the corner.

Being that it's legitimately less than 3 minutes drive from my residence, it's a super convenient place to check out for a quick brunch. The Mrs and I also decided to bring along the mothership...you know, the more the merrier! They have plenty of parking on the street and the cafe was rather large so it looked like it could seat a number of people so that was good. Seating came immediately so that's another plus in my books. The menu is brief but not limited (which is the way it's supposed to be) with some seasonal specials on the blackboard. Sadly, I had missed the soft shell crab burger's run but I'm hoping that it makes a return for my next intended visit. The pastry selection is also rather wonderful with three flavours of cronuts on offer.

The mothership ordered coffee and the salmon sandwich which was a good choice as it was quite delicious. A soft boiled egg, flaky bits of smoked salmon and rocket encased in two slices of some of the best bread I've had. I'm always glad to eat with my mother because she rarely ever finishes her own food, which means more for me at the end of the day.

Would you like some??

Look at that egg!

The Mrs blew out and ordered scrambled eggs and toast with mushrooms, bacon, and avocado. According to the Mrs, the dish as a whole wasn't amazing (bear in mind this comes from an experienced brunch snob) but it was decently filling and satisfying. Appropriately sized for the price we paid for it. In all honesty though, I would have been glad to have her dish when compared to mine...

I'd have to say the biggest disappointment to me was my dish: the cheeseburger. I mean, Sydney's new wave of hipster burger purveyors are both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, we have amazing, greasy burgers that rivals the states...but on the other hand, an otherwise standard cafe burger is detrimented in comparison. Make no mistake, it was a decent burger but for me, the patty was too "industry" and lacked the charred, beefy, grisly flavour and texture I desired. The lack of melty american cheese, sauce and pickles didn't exactly help either. The typical lettuce, tomato and slices of tasty cheese just doesn't do it for me anymore...the fries (more like wedges) were good though, fluffy on the inside and lightly seasoned.

Looks a little small cause of the angle, but it was decently sized.

Inside shot

Did I mention I also had a nutella thickshake?

@ the corner is a great place for what it is, local and accessible. It provides the proposition that you don't have to go all the way out to the inner city suburbs for good brunch. Ignore your previous experiences with other places, take @ the corner for what it is and you'll be able to appreciate this cafe for it's simplicity. It really is wonderful to see the local scene develop and grow.

Brewtown - Newtown

The week starting the 20th of October was a rather eventful week for me: I worked my last day at my previous employer, bid farewell to some good friends and got some quality time off before I started the next exciting phase of my life. With all the free time I had, the Mrs and I decided we would cross a name off our ever-expanding list of cafes and restaurants: we went to Brewtown!

Our expectations of this establishment were high, so high that we sang many songs about it all the way there. Lucky we went when we did because there was literally no line - definitely a good thing when you're super excited to try a place.

Quickly seated and with a quick glance at the menu, we decided to place our orders. Our drinks came first: the Mrs deciding to stick to her usual and ordered a soy latte. I found that I had recently acquired a taste for filter and cold drip coffees (for health reasons and the fact that you get all the coffee taste and very little acidity), I decided to order the cold drip. Perfect choice for a warm day.




Our dishes came quickly after (much to our excitement) which was good because at that point I was getting a little hangry - yes, hangry. I ordered the eggs on toast with an additional side of blood sausage and mushrooms. The only criticism I had for the dish was that the toast was cut rather thickly which made the process of eating it quite cumbersome.

The large jagged pieces of toast were rather hard to cut in the curved dish  on which it was served, meaning that it took more effort to compile a perfect bite however I was quite pleased with the blood sausage.

Fun fact: When the Mrs and I eat out, we order based of two items that she fancies. In the circumstance where she doesn't appreciate her dish quite as much as she thought she would (which in my opinion is about 50% of the time... She likes to be a bit adventurous) I would be able to switch with her, thereby making us both happy. In this case, I can say that her order trumped mine ten-fold. Squid Ink pasta with prawns, kale and a hint of lemon. 

The succulent, plump pieces of prawn complimented the perfectly cooked pasta and kale and the sauce...don't get me started on the sauce.










And of course, if you ever go Brewtown, could you even fathom leaving without trying their signature Brewnut? I think not. (We most certainly didn't) 

Would we return? Definitely.

Recommendations? That pasta is a must order. Cold drip was also quite impressive as well.

Areas of improvement? None as far as I'm concerned. Well, parking in the narrow streets of Newtown can be trying at best but they can hardly be blamed for that.