cafes – Page 2 – Regina Chow

Uncategorized

Cafes in Melbourne Part 2

October 26, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

Karen was enlisted as our cafe-hopping accomplice on the second day of our Melbourne trip. It’s amazing how often I’ve been meeting Karen despite being down under most of the time this year. I’ve been seeing her every month and now, I can’t wait to embark on our New Zealand trip in December!

My dear friend is a huge fan of the french toast from Degraves Espresso, our first stop for the day. Located along a quaint alley that’s bustling with life, this cozy little joint reminds me of the European cafes that I have grown to be so fond of.

I have a penchant for attractive food presentation, so you can imagine my delight when the french toast was served with a light dusting of sugar. Little details like this make such an enormous difference to the entire gastronomic experience.

Hot chocolate is a staple for Karen because like me, she doesn’t take caffeine.

Unfortunately, Karen lamented that the French toast that day was not up to standard. According to her, it is usually crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The bread was indeed a tad too hard, but other than the texture, it was relatively yummy.

Just when you thought we would be full from all the carbohydrates in the morning, we headed immediately to our next stop for food – MART 130! Sometimes, I wonder where all the food we eat go to, because we hardly put on weight considering that we’re eating practically all the time!

Situated at a tram stop which has since been refurbished and converted into a cafe, the very aptly named MART 130 (read it the other way and you’ll see why!) offers a wide array of food that’s bound to delight your taste buds.

We ordered the pancakes with fruits compote and corn fritters to share. You can never go wrong with pancakes in Australia. I’ve had my fair share of thick, fluffy pancakes here, and never once have I been disappointed!

I’ve a huge soft spot for corn fritters. In fact, I’m determined to learn how to make corn fritters so I can have them any time of the day!

On a completely random note, I had just bought this gorgeous pink fur coat from Harry Wragg (a fabulous vintage store in Melbourne) and totally couldn’t keep my hands off it.

Karen was pretty in pink too!

Looking forward to seeing our outfits for the day?

Here they are:

Hairclip from Alannah Hill

Floral Dress from Liz Lisa

Angora Fur Coat from Harry Wragg

Uncategorized

Cafes in Melbourne Part 1

October 24, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

It is no secret that Melbourne’s cafe culture is a huge inspiration to many cities around the world, including Singapore. Sipping chai latte in petite hole-in-a-wall cafes is one of my favourite pastimes. That explains why I literally spent every single day cafe hopping while I was in Melbourne. The relaxed vibe, chic decor, enticing food and aromatic coffee are enough to make me giddy with excitement!

One of my favourite cafes is Hardware Societe, which serves delicious breakfast in a cozy, intimate setting. Unlike most cafes, where the food tends to be hit and miss, Hardware Societe whips up hearty and flavourful dishes that are bound to tantalize your tastebuds!

I am not an early bird and hardly have much appetite for breakfast in the morning, but the omelette with saffron potatoes, confit tomatoes, persian fetta and herbs (A$16) was just what I needed to whet my appetite. The fresh and tasty ingredients complemented the fluffy omelette perfectly, and every bite was accompanied by an explosion of flavours. It was an orgasmic experience!

JW had the baked eggs with chorizo sausages, paprika, spiced tomato concassee and idiazabel ewes milk cheese (A$16). If you’ve been to Wild Honey at Mandarin Gallery in Singapore, this tastes pretty much just like it except that the flavours are richer.

JW was also full of praise for the coffee at Hardware Societe. But then again, bad coffee is virtually non-existent in Melbourne!

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Chai Latte, my personal favourite of all time. Most chai lattes that I had in Melbourne turned out to be huge disappointments. Thankfully, Hardware Societe’s Soy Chai Latte was wonderful and the icing on the cake came in the form of a little churros ball. The cinnamon spices in the churros ball goes really well with the spices in the Chai Latte!

As you can tell, JW was very pleased with the food and drinks at Hardware Societe, so if you ever decide to pop by Melbourne, this is one cafe you have to stop by for breakfast!

If you’re crazy for Chai Latte (like me), you have to check out 1000£ Blend Cafe.

This cafe was formerly a motorbike repair garage that has since been refurbished to become one of the most interesting and distinctive hideouts for the creative community in Melbourne. Parked within the cafe itself is an art gallery and an air-conditioned cinema space, which are unique features that distinguish itself from the other run-of-the-mill cafes.

If you’re wondering why the both of us are busy looking at our mobile phones, that’s because this is one of the few cafes around with free wifi all day long!

Although we didn’t try the food here as the menu was rather limited, the chai latte here was the best that I’ve ever tried. Freshly brewed from tea leaves, this sweet, creamy concoction is the epitome of perfection. I was so bowled over by this delightful drink, I visited the cafe two days in a row just to get my chai latte fix!

Hardware Societe:

120 HARDWARE STREET, MELBOURNE, VIC 3000

1000£ Blend Cafe

361 LT LONSDALE STREET
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Look out for more reviews on the cafes I visited in Melbourne in my next post! 🙂

Uncategorized

Coffee and Snacks at Common Ground Cafe

October 10, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Tucked in the corner along the streets of Katoomba is a gem of a cafe waiting to be unraveled.

I’ve heard so much about the beautiful decor of Common Ground Cafe from JW and friends. Coupled with the fact that it is ranked #2 on Tripadvisor’s list of restaurants in Katoomba, it was only natural that I had high expectations of this cafe.

And now for the moment of truth. I was enthralled by my surroundings the moment I stepped foot in this cozy cafe. The rustic decor and folk music wafting through the air reminded me of the set of Lord of the Rings. At that instant, we felt almost like hobbits returning to our humble abode!

We were led to a corner seat by one of the friendly owners (this cafe was set up by a group of friends). The story behind the setting up of this cafe is a meaningful one. The owners envisioned the cafe to be a place where human beings can all see beyond our own differences (wealth, rank etc.) into the hearts of others and eventually find a common ground where our hearts can find peace.

A common misconception that most people have about this place is that it is a Christian cafe. Instead, this cafe is operated by members of a Messianic community called The Twelve Tribes (they believe in Jesus too). Some articles claim that it is a cult that advocates female submission and disciplining children with canes, but from the looks of it, the people here seem more peace-loving and kind than anything else.

For those of us who grew up in Asian societies, didn’t your parents use the cane on you when you were young? I for one, remember my mum using it on my brother and I when we were naughty, and while I don’t endorse this method of disciplining a child, I knew my mum did it entirely out of good intentions. Caning and lectures usually went hand in hand. But at the end of the day, I guess what matters is that both my brother and I turned out well! 😉

The food here is lovingly made with wholesome ingredients. I had the cheese and tomato melt (A$5.00) while JW had the BBQ Chicken Burger (A$11.50). All in all, I would say the food is very reasonably priced, tasty and not to mention healthy!

According to JW, who’s now a hardcore coffee addict, the coffee here is the best he has tried thus far in the Sydney and Blue Mountains region. So coffee lovers, now you know where to go.

We liked the cafe so much that we took Felicia there on our next trip during the Leura Festival. More on that in a separate post. 😉

Remember to visit this quaint cafe if you’re planning to visit Katoomba at the Blue Mountains. It’s certainly an experience that you’ll never forget. 😉

Uncategorized

Fouratefive

August 16, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Having heard so many rave reviews about fouratefive at Surry Hills, I had sky-high expectations of the cafe before I even made my way there. Honestly, the name alone is so apt (it’s located at 485 Crown Street), in a cheeky way no less, it totally cracks me up.

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Cafe Guide 2012 rated the coffee here a grand total of 3 cups. That was the main reason why we dropped by, although we were told that the food is great too.

I love that cafes here usually offer organic juice or soda drinks. It’s probably psychological, but such drinks make me feel that I’m actually drinking something that’s healthy and good for me. Besides organic drinks, I have also taken a liking to free-range eggs. Free range eggs are produced by chickens that are allowed to roam freely beyond the confines of their cages and are thus deemed to be the healthier alternative to caged eggs.

Anyway, back to the coffee. The latte definitely met our expectations in terms of coffee art. Did you know that the leaf design is the most difficult pattern to perfect? I personally prefer the heart shape design though. It is so much cuter. 😛

I believe the general consensus was that the taste was up to mark too, but perhaps not as good as that of Campos Cafe.

That’s the barista at work.

Sadly, we didn’t think very much of the food. We ordered the highly recommended pork sandwich but it turned out to be pretty average. The only saving grace this time was the broccoli soup with goat cheese, which was absolutely superb.

Although I much prefer the food at Reuben Hills, I am still somewhat reluctant to write off fouratefive completely until I’ve tried a few more items on their menu, especially given the number of hits and misses. You’ll be the first to know when I next head there. 😉

Uncategorized

First Encounter with Affogato at Don Campos

August 14, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

I had my first taste of Affogato recently at Don Campos, the best brew bar in Sydney according to the Sydney Morning Herald Good Cafe Guide 2012.

Affogato is an interesting mix of vanilla ice-cream and a shot of espresso. It’s great for non-coffee drinkers like me because you feel like you’re just having coffee flavoured dessert. I can finally order something else besides hot chocolate now! The only flip side is, only a handful of cafes serve affogato. :S

We were there on a terribly windy weekend where strong winds of 100km/hr were wrecking havoc all over Sydney. It was certainly very comforting to sit indoors for a hot drink and ice-cream.

It was quite amazing that we didn’t get lost while searching for Don Campos given that it is located in an obscure industrial estate. If you look out of the window from the cafe, you can even see construction works going on next door!

Despite its relatively inaccessible location, it is surprisingly crowded. I guess the accolades and testimonials from customers were huge draws. It is incredible to know that one would go to such extents just to get the best coffee!

JW took a barista course recently and it’s fascinating to know that so much precision is involved in coffee-making. Did you know that the temperature of the milk affects the flavour of the coffee too?

I am a complete noob when it comes to coffee and needless to say, all these fancy equipment are so alien to me.

The only reason why I visit cafes is for the ambience, which is conducive for cozy gatherings. I also love to browse through the papers or magazines over a cup of anything (even water is fine) as well as catch up on the latest happenings with my other half and friends.

Before we left, we bought a packet of powdered chocolate. Yay, we can now have hot chocolate in the comfort of our home. 😀

Address:
Don Campos
Shop G1, 21 Fountain Street
Alexandria, NSW

Uncategorized

Campos Coffee and Sweet Potato Fries in Newtown

August 9, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

My coffee addict of a husband and I have been hunting down the best coffee in Sydney, so it was no wonder we decided it was time to head down to the flagship Campos Coffee store located at Newtown, which was awarded 3 cups (i.e. full marks) by Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Coffee Guide 2012.

Established 10 years ago, this cafe used to be a sleepy shop beneath an apartment. Things are different now of course, and it’s always bustling with life, even on weekdays!

The first floor is where the expresso bar is situated. Throngs of tourists and locals alike flock here just to savour the best coffee. No menus are provided but they offer the usual classics like latte, espressos, and also extras such as affogatos, iced coffees, teas and hot chocolate.

We only realized on hindsight that the second floor has a cupping room, which is probably worth a go for every coffee lover at $30 per pax. For the uninitiated, cupping is similar to wine tasting.

According to Campos Coffee’s website, “Cupping is a basic method of tasting coffee which is standard across the world. Whether it be Guatemala, Canada, Indonesia, London, Mexico, Kenya – everyone uses this same procedure which is almost a ritual. 5oz of water at 92 degrees is added to 10g of coffee coarsely ground. The coffee then steeps for 5 minutes and then the grinds removed- and the coffee is ready to be analyzed. “

Never knew brewing a cuppa coffee was so technical. 😛

After coffee, next up on our to-go list in Newtown was Burgerfuel for sweet potato fries with aioli!

They call it Kumara fries with Aioli on the menu. Aioli is a stronger, more pungent version of mayonnaise and is made of garlic, egg and olive oil. I’ve never tried it in Singapore previously but it certainly proved to be a very tasty complement to fries, especially sweet potato fries!

I’ve never tried sweet potato fries in my life either but these are really yummy! It’s the perfect alternative to its oilier counterpart (i.e. french fries) and is a much healthier treat for the health conscious.

Besides food and coffee, Newtown is also home to quaint little shops that line the lively streets. I would love to visit this suburb at night one day, because that’s when the lesbian bars come alive! 😉

Uncategorized

The Wedge

July 30, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Do you remember Le Monde Cafe? (If you’re interested, click here to read my post) Two of their baristas left in late 2011 to set up their own cafe in Glebe. This cafe is non other than The Wedge.

I love the laid-back, relaxed vibes that percolate every nook and corner of this cafe. It’s tucked away from the main traffic flow that travels down Glebe, providing quiet respite from all the hustle and bustle.

The large windows open up into exposed bar counters, letting in warm bursts of sunlight which are a much welcomed relief from the wintry weather.

I also adore the modern industrial decor topped with a retro touch. The gunnysack look-alike cushions and raw, uneven brick walls lined with retro pictures add character and are quite a visual treat too.

It’s the perfect place for spending a leisurely afternoon chatting over good coffee and healthy but equally delicious food.

Chicken sandwich (Again) – JW eats only chicken, fish and beef most of the time…

My organic blood orange soda, which I personally think tastes better than San Pellegrino.

My toasted sourdough bread with vegemite and butter. This has become a staple for me!

Finally, here’s JW’s beautifully roasted coffee. The Wedge uses Perth’s Five Senses coffee, which is supposedly a superior brew because of the lighter roast.

Address:
53-55 Glebe Point Rd (Enter on Cowper St) Glebe 2037

Uncategorized

Le Monde Cafe

July 27, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Coffee is a must before, during and after every meal. Well, for JW at least. I don’t take coffee at all, but I do love checking out cafes and trying out non-caffeinated drinks on the menu. So yay, that makes checking out cafes our shared interest.

I know everyone has heard so much about the cafe culture in Melbourne, but trust me, the cafes in Sydney are just as good. We’ve been hunting down the cafes listed in the Sydney Good Cafe Guide 2012 and so far, the coffee served by these recommended establishments is always rich, fragrant and smooth (JW attests to this), while the food is almost always tasty and flavourful.

Le Monde was one of the cafes on our checklist (it had a 3 cups rating in 2011, which means the coffee here is top notch!) and that was where we headed after breakfast at Bills. Latte is JW’s favourite type of coffee and it’s not difficult to see why.

The glass of creamy caramel goodness capped with an artful leaf design atop a cloud of fluffy floam is enough to make anyone go weak in the knees. I personally like the appearance of coffee. It’s the taste that disagrees with my taste buds for some strange reason.

So what do I settle for then? I usually go for either hot chocolate or salted caramel smoothie. The salted caramel smoothie here is pretty blend and doesn’t quite cut it for me. I much prefer the one at Reuben Hills. If you’re interested, you can also read more about Reuben Hills in my previous post here

The food menu looked interesting but we were way too full from breakfast to stomach anything else. We’ll definitely make a mental note to come back here for a meal though!

Uncategorized

Bills & Ricotta Hotcakes

July 27, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

We woke up bright and early one weekday morning for breakfast at Bills, supposedly also known as king of the breakfast scene in Sydney. Bills is the brainchild of Bill Granger, a self-taught cook who now owns a chain of restaurants in Sydney, Tokyo and London.

As you can tell, it’s crazily crowded even on a weekday! I shudder to think of what the crowd is like on weekends.

There were some empty seats beside us, but they were completely filled within minutes. Makes me wonder if the people in Sydney actually go to work….

We were famished by the time we arrived at the Surry Hills branch as we decided to take the public transport to town and it took us eons just to get there. That probably explains JW’s look of anticipation here. LOL.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for our food to be served! We ordered the famed Ricotta hotcakes, which is very healthy as no sugar is added. Instead, it comes accompanied by a generous dollop of honeycomb butter and ripe bananas, both of which add a delicious dose of sweetness to the fluffy hotcakes. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I also ordered the home-made lemonade, but honestly, it’s nothing to shout about as it tastes more like soda water with lemon juice.

I’m not ordering this ever again. Haha.

For more information on bills, do check out their website at http://www.bills.com.au/

Have a good weekend ahead!

Uncategorized

Surry Hill

June 28, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

We visited Reuben Hills, one of Sydney’s most popular cafes last Saturday. Don’t let the shopfront fool you. The moment the door opens, the cafe instantly springs to life!

Reuben Hills is located at Surry Hill, home to most of the hippest cafes in town. As we stood in line for our turn, we realized this is also where the dressiest and most fashionable crowd hang out in Sydney.

Let’s take a peek at the menu, shall we?

The cafe is famous for its coffee, which is rich and potent. Another popular favourite is the salted caramel milkshake. It comes in a gigantic tin cup and one sip is enough to blow your mind.

We shared a table with 2 friendly Australian ladies who not only offered to take a couple shot for us, but also gave us recommendations on places to visit.

The potent concoction. In general, the coffee in Sydney is much better than that in Singapore.

JW had the spice grilled chicken fillet burger. The food here is surprisingly good!

I had the soft baked eggs with shaved jamon. If you’re familiar with Wild Honey in Singapore, this is the equivalent of Tunisian on their menu. I like Wild Honey’s version, but sadly, it pales in comparison to Reuben Hills’.

Reuben Hills
61 Albion Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
(02) 9211 5556

After filling our tummies, we drove further down the street where all the vintage shops are situated!

Grandma Takes a Trip and Cream on Crown (http://www.creamonline.com.au/) are 2 of the most popular vintage shops in Sydney.

Besides vintage clothes, you’ll also find a record store (http://www.recordstore.com.au/) that specializes in vinyl records.

One of the guys from the store saw how captivated we were by the wall paintings outside and promptly invited us in for a visit.

Here’s what the store looks like.

Thus far, the people whom we have come into contact with have been extremely kind, courteous and friendly. The service staff always serve with a smile and most (if not all) of the time, you can genuinely sense their sincerity when they strike up a conversation with you.

Even the drivers on the road are polite and always ready to give way when you signal. Everyone’s graciousness is so infectious, it’s no wonder Australia is crowned the happiest country in the world!

Page 2 of 4«123 4 »

Cafes in Melbourne Part 2

Cafes in Melbourne Part 1

Coffee and Snacks at Common Ground Cafe

Fouratefive

First Encounter with Affogato at Don Campos

Campos Coffee and Sweet Potato Fries in Newtown

The Wedge

Le Monde Cafe

Bills & Ricotta Hotcakes

Surry Hill

About Me

Searching for a post?

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta