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.

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).

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.