Tuesday, July 19, 2011

the Source Cafe, Newcastle, Australia


The Source Cafe along the Honeysuckle development in Newcastle is a great spot for brekky.  Good coffee and an interesting breakfast menu are just two reasons to come.  The other ones are a beautiful setting and great service.  These guys are super flexible and you can basically design your own meal from items on their menu they are so accommodating.  Substitute your bacon for eggs, add a few mushrooms... not a problem.  I like the smiley service here, green outlook and yummy menu.  

the Source Cafe
Shop 1/74-76 The Lane
Maryville, Newcastle
NSW 2293
+61 (0)2 4940 8023
info@sourcecafe.com.au
www.sourcecafe.com.au

Cafe Sydney on Urbanspoon

Monday, July 18, 2011

Morpeth Sourdough, Newcastle, Australia


Morpeth sourdough is THE bread to buy around the Hunter. The bakery is at Morpeth but you can find a range of their breads in speciality stores around Newcastle.  This particular loaf came from Beaumont St. in Hamilton.  The bread is hand made using only flour, water and sea salt.  No yeast is added but rather the technique of utilizing naturally occurring lactobacilli and wild yeast is used to make the dough ferment and rise.  Because of this method the bread has an extended shelf life and doesn't use any artificial preservatives.  Stephen Arnott is the great great great grandson of William Arnott, the founder of Arnott's Biscuits and the historic bakehouse (now restored) was once the home and workplace of the Arnotts in the 1860s.  The historical village of Morpeth, located between Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, is worth a visit to meander through boutique shops and eateries and pick up some of this delish bread.

Stephen & Allison Arnott, Bakers
148 Swan St.
Morpeth
NSW 2321
Australia
+61 (0)2 4934 4148
service@morpethsourdough.com.au
www.morpethsourdough.com.au

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Schnitzel House, Double Bay, Sydney, Australia

Hearty breakfasts.  Great "morning after" meals. 
Schnitzel House Double Bay (formerly Una's Cafe & Restaurant)
372 New South Head Road
Double Bay
NSW 2028
Australia
(02) 9327 7287
unas@tpg.com.au
www.unasdoublebay.com.au

Schnitzel House Double Bay (formerly Una's) on Urbanspoon

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bodega, Sydney, Australia









Bodega Tapas Restaurant and Bar, with its high tables and stools, bright muralled walls and wine bottle lined shelves is the perfect backdrop for enjoying amigos, comida and vino.  The bite sized tapas are ideal for sharing and slowing filling up on while you sip South American or Spanish wine - ambrosial complements for this style of food. Hits at our table were the deep fried artichokes, chorizo, scallops and pork buns. We were enticed by seemingly ordinary dishes such as the fish fingers and banana split which were nothing as imagined. The fish fingers comprised of sashimi kingfish served on garlic toast with cuttlefish ceviche and mojama.  The banana split was a delectable fresh banana marshmallow beside cream flan topped with a ginger biscuit sprinkled with roasted peanuts and served with dulce de leche icecream. This dish could be improved by dishing the peanuts and replacing them with cashews or brazil nuts - but it still made a tantilizing finish to an exciting sequence of well architectured bites.  The only thing that didn't quite fit the ambience was the choice of background music.  While I love the dark intense sound of Nick Cave, a lively Latin mix would have been better suited.
Bodega Tapas Restaurant & Bar
216 Commonwealth St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: +61 2 9212 7766
Email: enquiries@bodegatapas.com
bodega.restaurant@gmail.com

Bodega on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Red Door, Sydney, Australia


Find the red door and you've found a loungy spot for a before, in between or after meal drink.
The RED Door
65-67 Foveaux Street
Surry Hills
NSW 2010
Australia
+61 (0)2 9212 4194
www.thereddoor.com.au

Monday, July 11, 2011

Wine Library, Sydney, Australia










I visited the Wine Library in Woollahra (other end of Oxford St.) on a Tuesday night and it was packed - not like sardines in a squishy way but more like eggs in a carton - not a lot of room but cosy and each with her own spot.  The crowd was lively and buzzing (although it could have been me doing the buzzing after spending 10 hours already on a food and wine crawl with my gastronome gal Shaz).  Sitting at the bar was a perfect spot to enjoy the tapas style food and sophisticated but friendly service from the Hugh Jackman look-alike barman.  Loved the detail of having hooks under the bar for your bag or coat.  With a pleasing wine list, gratifying eats, and couth yet convivial surroundings, the Wine Library makes for an agreeable evening.

Wine Library
18 Oxford St
Woollahra
NSW 2025
Australia
+61 (0)2 9360 5686
Wine Library on Urbanspoon

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Fix St. James, Sydney, Australia


Fix St. James is an affable little nook in the heart of Sydney and a terrific place for a drink with friends.  They have food too, which looked enticing, but I didn't try any so can't comment.  Their charismatic wine list however is more than enough to make a worthwhile detour from your schedule.  You'll find wines here not available on commercial shelves.  In their own words, " Our wine list is dedicated to hands-on-makers, small growers, crazies and fanatics..."  It's entertaining just reading about the offerings on the menu, however be sure to ask the boss what you should be drinking and he will be sure to tell you (if he hasn't done so already).  Come for a wonderful wine experience.  Love this place!


Fix St. James
111 Elizabeth St.
Sydney
NSW 2000
+61 (0)2 9232 2767
eat@fixstjames.com.au
www.fixstjames.com.au



Fix St. James on Urbanspoon