Urban Bites - a bit underwhelming

A few weeks ago, I went to meet my friend Margaret for brunch in Newtown. On this particular day, we were meeting for brunch at a cafe called Urban Bites in Newtown.  This is one of the many spots I've noted on a warm, sunny day, and had been jealous of the people actually eating there.  Today, it was my turn.  The forecast was particularly sneaky; when I got dressed, it read 23, so jeans were appropriate.  However, by the time I reached the midpoint, the temp. had shot up to 31 degrees and I was dying; having to call M to tell her I'd be delayed since I could barely function putting one foot in front of the other, let alone doing it quickly.  

I'm pretty used to the Sydney temps these days, but when you're not dressed for it (as in, wearing as little clothing as possible), it's a bit of an ordeal for a Newfie girl.  When I got to the resto, after downing about a litre of water, I noticed a canine a few feet away.  Normally, I'm not a fan of animals in restos (it's gross; am I wrong here?) but M and I agreed that this pathetic-looking pooch pretty much summed up how all of Sydney was feeling that day.

Margaret ended up ordering the Big Breakfast - I think - which consisted of bacon (back bacon) 2 eggs and (sourdough) toast for something ridiculous like $8.  This is a bargain, folks.  I also love how Aussies tend to add a grilled tomato to breakfast - that's my kinda garnish.  

Big Breakfast? 

I was feeling eggs and smoked salmon of some kind, so I went for the scramble with spinach.  It was delicious.  I felt like shoving the whole thing between those two slabs of Turkish toast and making an awesome sambo, but I erred on the side of conservative calories, and simply had my pile of eggs with a touch of toast. 

Smoked Salmon & Spinach Scramble
w/ Turkish Toast ($15-$17ish)

I also ordered a pretty good coffee - but one that ended up costing me about $6! Australians are serious about their java.  I once ordered an iced coffee and received a glass of the brew topped with about two scoops of vanilla ice cream.   I wanted cold coffee, not a calorie fix!  Anyway, on this occasion, I ended up with a frappucino-y type-thing, which sated my fix for both caffeine and a cold  drink -  though it wasn't wallet-friendly.

That being said, I recall my b-fast bill being about $24 for the eggs/java, so l likely won't head back to this spot again.  And in Sydney, why would you - when there are so many options for bfast right around the corner.

Countless options for bfast at the Clipper Cafe

Last week, I met my friend Margaret for brunch in Glebe. Margaret is a pal that I 'borrowed' from my sister - they met in Manhattan. Actually, Margaret is the wife that my sister 'borrowed' from her boyfriend's best friend.  Keep up people!  Anyhow, luckily for me, M now lives in Sydney as opposed to Manhattan, so I get to meet her sporadically to catch up; talk about life, food, fun and how much we both miss my sister.

Since we met up in her 'hood (Newtown) the last time, we decided to reunite in Glebe on this sunny Tuesday am.  We decided to go to the Clipper Cafe because: a) my gal pal Christine works there, and b) I wanted to introduce Mags to the amazingness that is La Banette.

When I arrived, M was already waiting patiently with her latte in hand, so we set about ordering some bfast.  Having already poured over many of Sydney's food blogs at images, I decided on the baked eggs Napoli while M decided on a panini sambo.

Baked Eggs Napoli w/ Chorizo & Mushroom

w/ Toasted Sourdogh ($10ish)

Sadly my gal Christine wasn't at work, however, one of her colleagues assisted me with my dilemma: Instead of having to choose between Chorizo and mushroom (pancetta was the other option), she suggested that I have 1/2 and 1/2!  And she didn't charge me extra either.    But seriously; this was such a fantastic dish - and such a creative one too.  The poached eggs (which were a little runny for my taste) were nestled deep within the tomato sauce, topped with a pile of the piquant sausage and tender 'shrooms.  There were even bits of halloomi cheese scattered about.  In all honesty, I haven't eaten this much in one sitting in a long time, but it was just so good - and not something I was going to get packed up as a takeaway.  And, who doesn't love to mop up the tomato sauce left at the finish?

Toasted Sandwich
w/fresh tomatos, pesto & Bocconcinni ($8)

I didn't try M's sambo (I had enough to deal with), but she did rave about the quality.  Looked delish, as did the Prosciutto, mushroom and Brie option.

And once we were finished, I took M over to La Banette where we ooo'd and aww'd over the precious baked goods.  Naught was had however - were were both ready to roll down GPR at this point after our uber satisfying and well-priced bfast at Clipper.  Return visits are soon to happen too, as ther were so many tantalizing options on that menu board. I should note too, that many of the items were vegetarian friendly. :)

My go-to bakery is La Banette

A couple months ago, I discovered this little gem: La Banette, on Glebe Point Road.  It doesn't have a website, but thankfully, it does have a Yelp! page, where plenty of Yelpers have uploaded their own pics! 

On this particular occasion, I was dying for a nice savoury pastry, and had only a small amount of cash on me.  As I was trotting down GPR looking for that very specific bite, I remembered my friend (who works at the Clipper Cafe) mentioning this amazing French bakery next to her work, so I decided to take a peek.

What an incredible spot.  The bakery is open to the street and emits an intoxicating aroma of yeast, sugar and butter the likes of which I've never experienced.  The bread is stacked on wooden shelves behind the counter, while lovely petit fours, pies, palmiers and mereigues lay on display in their glass casings.  On top, are a variety of baskets holding olive breads, muffins , scrolls, croissants and this; the savoury cheese twist.

I bought my cheese twist (between $3.50-$4) and took a seat overloking the street adorned with this beautiful bundle of lilacs.  Lilacs will always have a special place for me because we have the most magical lilac tree in our backyard in Newfoundland.  The pastry had it all; savoury and sweet; buttery and cheesy; crispy and squidgy.  All good, all dangerous, and all making La Banette the logical choice to shop for baked goods/sweet treats of any kind.

Serious scramble at Citrus

On a sunny Saturday in September, I took myself out to brunch in Newtown, a 'hood within 15 minutes of Glebe.  Having the time to actually venture out of my area, I decided to trek over to King St. and have a seat at whichever cafe managed to grab my attention with their menu. It's a nice little walk from Glebe to Newtown, and I'd take the opportunity to walk around the pond in Victoria Park any day.

By the time I arrived in Newtown, I had worked up a nice appetite, so I was  set on finding a cafe to sate my hunger immediately. I was pretty specific in what I wanted; scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and was thrilled to find just the thing at Citrus for just $12.99.  I managed to score a table outside, but the resto looked quite pleasant as well.  My server brought out an icy-cold btl. of H20 and I immediately placed my order for a Long Black and my scrambled eggs.

These were absolutely delicious.  I have to give restos in Oz a big shout-out; they really know how to cook their eggs.  Of course, the breakfast culture in Sydney is much more prevalent than it is in Canada; you won't often find a resto that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I'm happy to have such a great selection here.  

The portion of the dish was huge, and I was full without even having touched the English muffin.  The eggs were so fluffy and creamy, while the smoked salmon was tender and fresh.  And since no meal is complete w/out a bit of fruit or veg, I was thrilled by the addition of a grilled tomato on each half.

Scrambled eggs, Smoked Samon &
Grilled Tomato on an English Muffin ($12,99)

And as if my delightful brunch wasn't enough on such a lovely day, I came home to find my housemates sunning themselves in the backyard with some cold, crisp James Squire beers.  I've tried their 50 Lashes, Four Wives and the Chancer, as well as an tasty brand called Little Creatures.  Uh-oh...I came to Oz to try wine, but I just might end up a bit of a beer hound....

A relaxing brunch at Cafe Otto

On the heels of a fairly traumatic night in our apartment, my housemate and I went out for a much needed nosh of breakfast at Cafe Otto on Glebe Point Road.  The circumstances are not important, but the fact was; we were stressed, sleep deprived and not at all in the mood to even consider making some eats, so we trekked out to this local neighborhood hot spot.

Unfortunately, my roomie has a slew of allergies - not even including her allergy to sulphates making it impossible for us to share a btl. of wine - but she's also allergic to eggs, so we have to look for restos that contain enough non-eggy items for her...and enough eggy items for me!

Cappuccino ($3.50)
And after the night we'd had - it was the best coffee I'd ever tasted..

We started with an order of onion rings; Kylie's genius idea.  These little babies were an tasty - and a great value for the plate at $6...They look a little sparse in this photo, but the order was a good size. The batter was super-thin and light, and they were served with an atomizer  on the side so that you could lightly spritz and evenly distribute the vinegar.  Again; genius!

Salt & Vinegar Onion Rings ($6.)

Kylie had (one of my favourite Aussie sammies) a BLAT; bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato. Look at this sammy!  Crusty bread, smooth avocado spread and thick, salty bacon made for a filling, multi-textured lunch. You know what they say: what's simple is best, and when the best quality ingredients are used, it results in a pretty great meal.

Bacon & Avocado Baguette ($7)

w/ tomato, lettuce & mayo

My omelette doesn't really look like much, but it was quality.  Chock-full of succulent salmon and creamy avocado, it had the most beautiful sauce of zingy cream cheese with lemon which melted all over the filling.  The side of was less than thrilling, but when the egg is so good, you don't really notice the token toast.

Smoked Salmon & Avocado Omelette ($16)

What a night; what a breakfast.  The meal certainly perked us up.  The trauma is long over at this point, but the meal has stayed with me and I've been having good ones at Cafe Otto ever since!

The Treehouse: Brunch in North Sydney

On the heels of the night at Golden Century, I met some 'new' friends at their place in North Sydney.  Once I arrived, we walked to one of their local favourites; The Treehouse.  I call them 'new' because I met them via intro from one of my lovely pals in Halifax - whom I miss dearly.

The Treehouse is definitely one of the nicest spots that I've been in Sydney and I'm happy to have a go-to spot on the other side of the bridge.  With such chic decor and a playful atmosphere, the F&B is almost a bonus.  They have  a great brunch menu (available on Saturday from 8am - 3pm);  a menu for the kiddies during the daytime; and a fantastic selection of both Aussie and import wines.

I was in the mood for a standard; the eggs Benedict with ham - which I have opted for lately (as in my post for Tigerbakers).  As per usual, I got the hollandaise on the side, but the sauce was really nice and the eggs were poached perfectly for me.

Eggs Benedict w/ Ham ($15.50)

My friend had this pile of envy; zucchini, pea and haloumi fritters.  The fritters themselves were so light and airy and the chilli relish on the side was delish. Always a fan of roasted tomatoes, they were the perfect side to this - already perfect - dish.

Zuchinni, Pea & Haloumi Fritters ($16)

w/ Roast Tomato & Chilli Relish

There were many other amazing-looking dishes on the menu for both brunch, lunch and dinner.   If I go out in NSYD again anytime soon, this spot will definite be on the tip of my tongue for dining options.

San Choy Bow at the Dragon Palace

I was in Sydney for less than a week before my first road trip.  We were attending an agricultural fair in Gunnedah, rural NSW and were among the 10,000 visitors who descended on the town each year.  

The best part about this trip was the incredible scenery.  These shots were all taken from a car window and each mile  was more beautiful than the last.  The yellow fields of canola flowers stretched as far as the eye could see.  We drove past one of the largest Thoroughbred stud farm in the country; roadways covered in fresh cotton and idyllic lush rolling hills.

Our accommodations were in Tamworth, but we stopped for bfast at The Verdict Cafe on Conadilly Street (the main drag) in Gunnedah.  Sometimes the most simple meals are the most pleasing.  This (big) plate of bacon and scrambled eggs was delicious, and a great deal at just $8.  The Aussies really know how to cook their scrambled eggs.  Lately, I've taken to ordering my eggs that way as they're always so light and fluffy.  The bacon here was a tad too greasy for my taste, but it was good quality with more meat than fatty bits.

After having set up our booth, we went home for some R&R....which ended up with me going for a run around Tamworth.  It's a cute little town, made all the more adorable by the local wildlife.  In Canada, you see flocks of pidgeons, seagulls and blackbirds.  In Oz, it's cockatoos and budgie birds.  Yup, I definitely paused my run for at least 10 minutes to watch them before they spooked and flew away.  

When we went out for dinner later, we chose the Dragon Palace on Peel St. We both started with a Short soup - commonly referred to as Wonton Soup in North America.  You can also get Long Soup, which contains long noodles as opposed to the pork-filled wontons.  This one was 'Oh so good'.  You'd think that this soup would be pretty generic, but this was definitely one of the better versions that I've had.  

Short Soup ($6)

Among other things; a plate of scallops with vegetables; a beautiful paler of steamed veg w/ broccoli, cauliflower and shitakee mushrooms and an order of  beef in Szechuan sauce, my boss introduced me to the most amazing Chinese dish: San Choy Bow.  This dish is particularly popular in Oz, I'm told, and I was blown away by how fresh and flavourful it was.  The minced beef was flavoured with a slightly sweet sauce, dusted with sesame seeds and wrapped in a shell of crisp iceberg lettuce.  Consider it a...low fat Asian burrito, yeah?  This was also an easy plate to dissect, and I'll be making it at home some day soon.

San Choy Bow ($20ish)

What a meal!  And what a day!  I'll forever remember that trip to Gunnedah, for the beautiful scenery and for the time that I fist tried San Choy Bow, which will now become one of my favourite home-cooked meals.  

Best eggs Benny at Tigerbakers Cafe

Within less than a week of my having arriving in Sydney, my big sister's pals met me in the city for bfast.  I'm super thankful for these friends; he's originally from Melbourne, and she is an New Yorker through and through...and they're both amazing!

I met them in Darlinghurt at Tigerbakers, a cute little cafe with awesome food. They both ended up having the porridge w/ rhubarb compote ($9.90), which looked phenomenal.  Not that I'm a big fan of porridge, but I AM a crazy rhubarb fan.

My eggs Benny was fantastic.  Though I had to wait for another serving of eggs because mine were undercooked, the Hollandaise was the best I've ever tasted; uber lemony, rich and creamy and the ham was the yummy, back-bacony kind.

Eggs Benedict w/ Ham ($13.90)

Since I now work fairly close to Tigerbakers, I'll probably end up here again for dinner sometime soon.  With a good vibe, super friendly staff and really tasty food, I'll call this spot a Darlinghurst/King's Cross staple.

Brunch at The Armview

My gal pal Heather and I met up last week for a good, efficient working breakfast.  If you're not aware of it, you should really check out her business Twin Bridges Photography.  She and her work are awesome!!

Anyhow, we're talking about food here, so I'll get to the good stuff.  Originally heading out for brunch at the Heartwood Cafe and Bakery, we were pretty bummed to see that it was closed (which I've since found out was for renos - not permanently).  Since we were in that end of town, we opted for The Armview instead.  I've heard tons about this place, but had never been - carless, I normally stick to restos within walking distance.  

When we arrived, we were greeted by a sweet server who kept our coffee mugs full.  Heather opts for the breakfast sandwich; the Chebucto with bacon, egg and cheddar cheese served with a fruit cup for $8.

 The Chebucto

   I have to admit - I had a bit of food envy.  Look how delish!!

I, as per usual, tailored my order!  I chose the Senorita ($11); poached eggs, avocado and salsa served on slices of tomato as opposed to the English muffin.  I'm always nervous about my benny being drenched in the sauce so I always have it served on the side as well.  This was a pretty good breakfast.  Forget about food groups, I had all the food textures covered; rich & creamy (avocado/Hollandaise), fresh & spicy (tomato/salsa) and salty and crispy (home fries).  Speaking of crispy, those home fries were perfect - for my taste that is.  I'm very particular about my potato products; they MUST have a crispy exterior!

The Senorita

This was a great spot to stop for breakfast - whether working or just enjoying time with good friends.  I think I'll make these two feet do some walkin and stop by another time soon!

Hankerin' for Henry House

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had never had a Reuben sandwich.  Several people were shocked about this fact, but I didn't really see it as a big deal.  I'm actually not all that much of a sandwich gal.  I like the occasional Bahn Mi or a little hot turkey action over the holidays, but most of the time, I could take it or leave it.

And then...I went to the Henry House. I've been a few times before and on this particular occasion, for some random reason, my psyche was jonesin' for some the smoked meat. As far as my research goes, the HH has a pretty standard edition: (marbled) rye bread topped with sweet Thousand Island dressing, tangy sauerkraut, nutty Swiss cheese and a pile - I mean pile, of smoked meat.

Well...I'll have that again. I tried to do the noble thing and save half for later, but failed miserably.  The slight heat from the meat's seasoning mixed with the subtle flavor of the Swiss cheese is a flavour combo that I'm sure to crave again.  Not to mention the yummy, crispy, skin-on fries that filled out the plate.

Reuben Sammy

                            

My pal's lobster roll was huge!  With big 'ol chunks of lobster, including a full claw, the mayo-based dressing was light and didn't overpower the lobster's delicate flavour.  Paired with a tasty Caesar, she was a pretty happy gal.

Lobster Roll w/ Caesar Salad

With our bellies full, we finished off our pints on the patio.  If you're in the South end of Halifax, the Henry House has a great patio on which to spend a sunny afternoon.  And it's not bad in the winter either!

Snacks, Apps and Entrees at Estia

I've eaten a fair amount at Estia on Spring Garden Road in the last couple of months. As opposed to doing individual blog posts, I thought I'd combine the meals to provide a good snapshot of the offerings on the appetizer, entree and dessert menu.

Estia is located in the same spot as the ill-fated Sebastien's restaurant, and the space of the former Deco Restaurant. When I first saw its Aegean blue awning, I thought: "Oh great, another Greek spot in Hali." Little did I know that I'd soon refer to Estia as "The best Greek spot in Hali."

Estia is truly one of those restos that, upon walking through the door, makes your mouth water. The aroma of freshly baked bread is the first scent to meet you. This seasoned caraway bread comes to the table with a zesty lemon-oregano dipping oil to take the edge off your hunger. Now I'm the type of person who generally considers the bread basket as filler, however, I would go to Estia simply for a glass of wine and a bread basket - Yeah, it's that good.

Some of my favorite apps include the Saganaki; melted oeey gooey cheese flambeed with brandy, ans served with THE bread. Another favourite is the crispy calamari, served with the richest, creamiest tzaziki I've ever encountered. Lastly, is the Greek Nachos - a fantastic idea and a dish that lives up to its name. Deep fried pita chips are layered with black olives, green onions, tomato and topped with Mozzarella, Romano and Feta cheese. With cheese that stretches as you pull the thick, hearty chips apart, this dish should launch an all new category of 'Best nachos in Hali'.

Saganaki

Pan-fried kefalogravieria cheese flambeed / Metaxa Brandy

Calamari

served w/ tzaziki

Greek Nachos

Deep-Fried Pita Chips sprinkled w/ Mozzarella, Romano & Feta Cheese

topped w/ green onion, tomato & black olives

served w/ creamy tzaziki

The Greek platter is great for 3-4 people wanting to try a bit of everything. With all the Greek

specialties, the platter provides a taste of the traditional Greek dishes. My personal favorite is

the stuffed tomato.

Greek Platter for 2

Moussaka, pastitsio, stuffed pepper & tomato, chicken & pork skewer.

Served with lemon roasted potatoes, rice & tzatziki

Estia also does a great breakfast/brunch. I only wish I hadn't been so hungry so as to devour my Aegean omelet before taking a photo. However, lunch provides a good mix of options as well. My BF always seems to go for a sandwich/soup combination, so I've pretty much tried them all; Smoked Applewood Cheddar Panini with Pineapple Chutney or the succulent Lamb Burger with Tzaziki and Feta. He tends to pair these with soup; the traditional Avoglemono egg-based soup or the Tomato soup with Lamb and Orzo pasta. The panini below is so tasty, it could almost do without the chicken for a killer vegetarian sammy...again, with the melted cheese...

Grilled Chicken Pesto Panini

Charbroiled Chicken Breast, Roasted Red Peppers,

Melted Provolone and Basil Pesto

And, when you're jonesin' for something light, the Greek salad always fits the bill. A meal in itself, a small salad and one of the tasty soups is a fantastic pairing.

Greek Salad

Romaine, Feta Cheese, Kalamata Olives,

Red & Green Peppers and Tomatoes

I'm not normally one who goes for dessert in restos. A big piece of cake may appeal to some, however, I'd rather use that extra stomach space for savoury items. However, when I dine at Estia, it's tricky to resist the homemade Ekmek. Somehow, this desert contains all the elements of richness; whipped cream, vanilla custard and honey-drenched phyllo, but still appears light on the palate. Sneaky...

Ekmek

Shredded phyllo, honey-syrup, vanilla custard &

whipped cream topped with pistachios and almonds

The Wired Monk...More than just delicious coffee

A couple weeks ago, I found myself needing to kill some early morning time in the Wired Monk neighborhood. A big fan of their java and baked goods, I decided to stop in to try out their cappuccino.

Wired Monk's Cappuccino is a 'goodie', likewise the rich and creamy hot chocolate. We also had the incredibly delicious Breakfast wrap. Squished in a panini press, the wrap enclosed some melted Cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, veggies and a mild black bean and yellow corn salsa. The wrap itself was pretty big, so 1/2 was just enough to get the day started.

Cappuccino & Hot Chocolate

Wired Monk Breakfast Wrap

Innovative Brunch Indulgences at The Costal Cafe

Brunch is my favorite dining experience - there, I said it! I love everything about the brunch - it's the perfect opportunity to eat steak with eggs, drink champagne before noon and have your dessert first. Yes, brunch allows you the opportunity to choose savoury or sweet, cure the night before hangover and get a good buzz going for the day.

There are a few great brunch options in Halifax, but my favorite is definitely The Coastal Cafe on Robbie Street. Chef Mark Giffen has a gift - of combining good quality ingredients to create stellar, intriguing meals that are not your standard Eggs Benny...although I'm sure his would be kick-ass too if he made them. As a person who eats out a fair amount and who counts eggs as one of my 'Top 5 Must Have To Live Foods', brunch at the Coastal is always a treat, as I'm sure to be surprised, seduced and stuffed by the menu's offerings.

Take for example, The Durty South, a combination of several comfort foods piled together on a plate of sweet and savoury, saucy and chewy goodness. Nestled in the bottom of the bowl was a bed of sweet, earthy baked beans and chunks of sweet potato, topped with 2 fried eggs and a pile of smokey, tender pulled pork. Adding to this dish of delight was some golden buttery cornbread.

Les Oeufs d'Automne - my friend's meal and my second choice - consisted of a decadent combo: poached eggs, crisp bacon, roasted parsnip, sweet maple syrup, tangy goat cheese, pecans and crisp, toasted baguette.

I have to admit - this blog post is a bit delayed and the menu items have been slightly altered. However, I hope the photos and description of these dishes will lead you to the sunny yellow awning over The Coastal's door. This place tempts your tastebuds with some fantastic meals that you won't soon forget!

Durty South

Baked Beans, Fried Eggs, BBQ Pulled Pork and Cornbread

Mmmm Cornbread

You can even see the pieces of corn - no mix here folks!

Les Oeufs d'Automne

Poached Eggs, Bacon, Roasted Parsnip, Pecans, Goat Cheese