Baffi & Mo

"I am so happy today, I finally opened my bowl after a whole week!"

Oh deary me, not the best start of the day for me to hear while I just woken up from hunger and waiting patiently for my breakfast. While in hospital, that is exactly my so call "room mate" told the nurse in great excitement in her husky and loud voice. A bit too much information for me to over heard such conversation. Somehow, I was able to finish off my selection of high calcium diet to boost the growth of my bones which includes raisin toast, yogurt and a small bottle of milk.

After almost a month resting at home, I finally feel well enough to dine out for brunch and the choice of cafe is Baffi & Mo which is recommended by my cousin during her visit over the weekend. I was so excited, not only am I finally able to dine out again but it's a cafe that I haven't been to.

Sydney is truly an amazing place with so many great dining places and more new restaurants coming along. Baffi & Mo is located at Redfern, the cafe was already filled with diners and customers whom waiting for their take away coffee when we arrived. Surely that must be a good sign for good cafe.

Funny enough, when we were seated the first thing I noticed is people around me, all seems to have branded handbags like LV , miu miu and Chloe. Probably Redfern is truly going to be the next Surry hills. Back to the food, Baffi & Mo provide a great range of brunch, lunch and sandwiches with reasonable pricing.

Ricotta hotcake / Potato hash stack

Having a sweet tooth like mines, I ordered their ricotta hotcake. The hotcake itself is salty but blend beautifully with lemon curd, passion fruit and strawberries. None the least, their coffee taste good as well. The serving is so big, I left totally full though am one very satisfy and happy customer.

P.S Can't believe I'll ask this, but have you open your bowl yet?

Buffi & Mo

(02) 8065 3294

94 Redfern Street

Redfern NSW 2016

The Boathouse Palm Beach

Just when I was thinking what to do over the weekend, my lovely friend Faye invited me to join her and her friends to celebrate Miki's birthday lunch at Palm Beach. I've only met Miki once over a year ago, was contemplating if I should attend. But knowing that I will be spending my weekend with friends, I happily accepted the invitation.

The lovely entrance decorated with many beautiful flowers

I've been to Palm beach a couple of times before but never know this cafe existed. The cafe is hidden right inside Governor Philip park and far away from the main street, which feels like one exclusive cafe. The surroundings is beautiful, overlooking the beautiful Palm beach. The perfect location for a weekend birthday celebration.

Tiger prawns ; local beer battered flathead and chips

Salt and pepper squid; Steak burger

All the dishes we ordered looks fantastic. I had the local beer battered flat head and chips served in a wooden box. The beer battered was crispy and not too greasy. Moreover, the home made tarter sauce aren't bad at all.

Birthday cafe from Bread Top

Of course, how can we celebrate Miki's birthday without a birthday cake. The 3D cake in the shape of a dog looks amazing and tasted great. All in all, was happy to see Miki, not to mention had a fantastic Saturday surrounded by lovely friends at such great cafe overlooking Palm beach.

The Boathouse Palm Beach

Barrenjoey Boathouse

Governor Phillip Park

Palm Beach NSW 2108

Phone (02)9974 3868

www.theboathousepb.com.au

Breadtop

www.breadtop.com.au

Deus Ex Machina

I always wanted to learn how to ride a bike, maybe because my dad used to ride one and his adventours stories trigger my interest. However, he himself strongly against me from learning, lucky him, I never come around to it. Still I dream of having my own Harley-Davidson. Althought, realistically this dream is not likely to happen with different reasons, at least for now I could go to Deus Ex Machina and admire their motocycles from classic to custom made or simply purchase their brand clothing with their tradmark - motorcycle of course.

Outside and interior of Deus cafe

Connected to the motocycle showroom is the Deus Cafe, with large communical tables and surrounded by funky artworks and a few different custom motocycles. It is a cafe where I love to hang out with friends for light lunch or simply enjoy their delicious pastry and coffee. Much to my delight, they have now extended their dinning hours to dinner as well.

Buffalo Mozzarella with prosciutto, tomato and roquette

I must be the hungriest among the group, with I'm the only one whom ordered an entree. Even though the serving size for this delightful entree was pretty big, it didn't temp any to try some. Instead my reluctant husband R ended up helping me to finish the dish, though he was happily munching away as he agrees with me the dish was really light and fresh.

Cutlet of kurobuta pork with split peas, barly and kipfler chips

Slow braised beef in balsamic stuffed with tomato, olive on caulifower and mash

Rump of lamb with beetroot relish, silverbeet and lamb jus

Pan roast Barramundi with white beans, pippes and prochetta

We each ordered different main. They all look great and smells wonderful. My barramundi was cooked to perfection. The white beans and pipes seems to have blanched in seafood stock together as it has a stong sweet seafood taste. While the chrispy prochetta gives an extra texture to the dish.

Apple tarte tatin with star anise ice cream

Without doubt, I ordered dessert. Star anise ice cream caught my eyes on the menu. Often, it is used in Chinese dishes but had never thought of star anise would be used as an ice cream flavor. When having this dessert separetely, the ice cream taste bitter and licorice like. While the apple tarte tatin itself had strong carmalised sweetness to it with the cruschy and fluffy base. The combination of both brings a balance between the bitter and sweet taste.

Dinning experience at dinner time was a bit different to their usual dining hours. A bit more formal yet casual at the same time. While their wait staffs were very friendly and helpful. Pricing for each dishes are reasonable, I certainly would come back for dinner again.

Deus Ex Machina

98-104 Parramatta Road

Camperdown NSW2050

Phone (02)9519 3669

www.deus.com.au

Pablo & Rusty's premium expresso

On the other side of the Gordon train station from Pecorino, there is this corner cafe.

It seems majority of their customers tends to have take-away coffee, while there are seats available both inside and outside to sit down and relax. If trying to find a seat outside the cafe, the chances are mostly taken by school kids. Instead, the sofa seats or the dark communal tables inside are just as comfortable and relaxing.

Coffee is certainly their speciality and I love it with a pleasing aroma. Beside coffee, there is also a light meal menu including pies, sandwiches or classic ham and cheese toasties. On this occasion, after having their yummy tosty, I am more than happy to try their muffin which sounds very tempting but all sold out! Never mind, I will certainly visit again for their coffee and maybe a muffin to go at the same time.

Pablo & Rusty's Premium Expresso

1 St Johns Av,

Gordon NSW2072

Phone(02)9499 8442

www.pabloandrustys.com.au

The French House

On the street of Dank street, with cafes that I love like Wah Wah Lounge, Dank Street Depot and Cafe Spora, I was hoping and expecting this new shop would provide wonderful food.

From the outside, it looks very impressive with the huge wrap around deck area. While the inside looks very French, with painting and mirrors on the walls, with fresh loaves of bread and both colorful and mouth watering pastries and cakes around as well as a communal table right in the middle as the centre piece. Beside the sweets, there are also the very French looking savory - coroissants, sandwiches and baguette.

First, the waitress delivered our coffee served in a fancy gold-rimmed cups and saucers, it taste alright however the saucer filled with spill coffee and the waitress didn't even apologize! While for my croissants, to my great disappointment, it was a bit soggy and not crispy at all. I thought maybe, their pastries would be alright but my friend which had a mango tart didn't look impress at all. She finds the tart taste a bit artificial and very sweet, too sweet for her liking.

This proves, looks could be deceiving. The decor looks very French, but the food certainly lack everything in French taste and texture.

P.S Unfortunately, this bakery does not allow photos both inside and outside of the premise.

The French House

1G Dank Street,

Waterloo NSW2017

Phone (02)8399 2770

Pecorino

Came across this cute little cafe while driving pass. It is conveniently located on one side of the Gordon train station next to a news agency. Just the right setting for the community to have a quick bite or read the newspaper before heading to train station or simply a casual gathering place. While R and myself simply here for brunch and enjoy our Saturday paper.

Brunch menu

src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWsbPfBjAKDUS4nxQadtiCcS45xMNRiMx7o2aUkAccwICiARVsWQCsUOydjD9kvP9MuhXVhz1owHYxnIKb-7G5Hmlj5aQaTwGYXnQ4HWlhG-0HeIGUAh_0eUOPTALx4_u5ZRt_AJnzyA/s320/DSC07176(1).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405275686985085762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />

Lemon & sugar crepes with vanilla ice cream

Corn & coriander fritters with roasted tomato salsa & crispy pancetta

Yes, sweets again for me! At first was thinking of trying their buttermilk pancakes, but with the heat I thought might just go with the ice cream, especially it will be and was my first to have ice cream for brunch. The lemon and sugar crepes were paper thin, very light and refreshing. The photo of this dish does no justice, it may look a bit dull but it is truly a heavenly dish for a Saturday brunch.

Pecorino

77 Werona Av

Gordon NSW2070

Phone (02)9498 8020

Bean Drinking

With such a catchy name, I wonder instead of alcohol as it may sounds like binge drinking, does this cafe offer a good cup of coffee for indulgence. From the awards hanging on the wall, seems like they pride themselves in providing environmentally friendly and sustainable coffee from organic , Fairtrade to Swiss Water Decaf. However, a poster with the heading "NAKED" espresso caught my attention.

Not being a professional barista, all I understand, to produce a good cup of coffee depends on the skills of the barista, the coffee machine and the blend of coffee. While apparently there's more to it - the extraction method . Hence the introduction of "bottomless portafilters" ( also known as naked portafilters) have been THE thing for the industry.

One of the friendly staff explaining the difference between the bottomless portafilters and the traditionally portafilters

It must be the bottomless portafilters, the coffee certainly lift up to the expectation of better volume and consistency and more crema except I would love the blend at Bean Drinking to have a stronger aroma.

Bean Drinking

Shop 1 , 13 Ernest Pl

Crown Nest, NSW 2065

Phone: (02)9436 1678

www.beandrinking.com.au

Sous Le Soleil

Unlike most cafe I've been to, this french cafe and shop (sells both home wares and clothing) is in an old cottage, set in the Roseville Park surrounded by leafy parkland, tennis counts and kids playgrounds as if one is far away from the city. With this beautiful setting and ample of outdoor dining area , it certainly fits for families both old and young.

Flat white with complementary biscuit

Firs Cottage breakfast: two eggs, prochetta, field mushroom and chipolatas

French toast with home made berries

After soaking up the sun on a relaxing Saturday morning, I enjoyed their friendly service and of course the lovely brunch.

Sous le Soleil

Firs Estate Cottage, Roseville Park

60a Clanville Road, Roseville, NSW 2069

Telephone: (02) 9880 8816

www.slshome.com.au

Open for breakfast & lunch, Tuesday to Sunday