Sloanes Café: Big Breakfast, Paddington (28 June 2009)

312 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
http://www.sloanescafe.com.au

Tucked away garden courtyard

This very popular café is located amongst the busy shopping strip of Paddington and is well located to take a break in it's nice garden courtyard. I noticed there's mixed reviews on Eatability with some not happy with the service but my experience today was very pleasant and the busy service staff managed to remain calm and friendly under the pressure of a full lunchtime crowd. For me the garden courtyard is much more relaxing than the noisy front dining section near the street.

Whenever I spot a Big Breakfast on a menu I'm always keen to try it and Sloanes cooks up a decent sized version which was very good and much better than the one I tried at Fifi Foveaux's on Crown Street. Everyone seemed very happy with their meals although the chilli and garlic in the prawn linguine was perhaps too subtle to taste and having the salad in the same bowl made the balsamic dressing start to mix with the pasta sauce. The fish I was told tasted very fresh 'like the sea' and the burger very filling, tasty and delicious.

Where's your favourite Big Breakfast in Sydney?

Fresh orange, pineapple, apple and carrot juice $5

Sloanes Big Breakfast: Free range eggs, bacon, mushroom, tomato, sausage and toasted sourdough bread $16.50

Beef Burger with chips and salad $16.50

Prawn, chilli, garlic linguine $15.50

Fish and chips with garden salad $15.50

Specials menu board

Menu

Garden courtyard

Front dining area

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Sticky Bar: Table for 20, Surry Hills (27 June 2009)

Level 2, 182 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
http://www.tablefor20.blogspot.com

Hidden little bar gem

Sticky Bar is one of the most hidden bars I know of in Sydney along with the intimate Madame Fling Flong. If you didn't know where, when and how to get inside then you'll probably never come across it. Entry is via a narrow lane in the backstreets of Surry Hills and reminds me of those Melbourne bars you find in those very dodgy and dirty looking lanes. It's located above the popular Table for 20 (which actually sits about 40 with two communal tables) and has nice comfy couches, dim lighting and a selection of quality International wines — here's a review by TimeOut Sydney. Tonight the Italian Prosecco goes down nicely and I noticed a few tempting bar food options available on the menu board for possibly next time. I've dined downstairs once before at Table for 20 which serves platters of yummy Italian dishes and suits sharing with a group of friends for a fun night out.

Have you dined at an Underground Restaurant before?

Laneway entry to Sticky Bar and Table for 20

Entry wall illustration

Sticky Bar

Table for 20



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Simon Johnson: Fromagerie, Pyrmont (27 June 2009)

181 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009
http://www.simonjohnson.com.au

Cheese lovers fromagerie

This is the first time I've visited the Simon Johnson store in Pyrmont and for any cheese lovers I'm sure you'd love their cheese room along with all the other delicious quality products they stock. Today's visit was in search of some cheese for a friends dinner and with so many choices on offer I usually get overwhelmed but once I spotted the St Agur I remembered I wanted to try it again after sampling it at the March Into Merivale Launch Party. Another friend also brought along some St Agur but for some strange reason the one from Simon Johnson tasted better — perhaps it's the way it's stored that makes a difference. They had limited stocks of the very expensive spanish jamón for I think about $60 for 100 grams but today I opted for the poor man's jamon of pancetta at a more reasonable price.

What's your all time favourite cheese?

Other stores for cheese:

• Formaggi Ocello (13 Feb 2010)

• Jones the Grocer (12 Sept 2009)

• Simon Johnson (27 June 2009)

Fromagerie

St Agur $17.68 for 160g ($110.50/kg)

Linguette with Onions $17.95

Pancetta $6/100g

Entrance amongst the roadworks

Shopping bag

Pre-dinner nibbles

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Central Baking Depot, Sydney (26 June 2009)

37-39 Erskine Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Yummy little tarts

Whenever I visit Taste on Sussex Lane for their baguettes I seem to also visit the Central Baking Depot around the corner to see what sweet goodies are available for an afternoon tea. The Apple and Blackcurrant Tart looks dry from it's appearance but it's filled with lots of wonderful fruit inside. A dollop of double whipped cream on top would go very well with this tart and make it even more delicious and moist. I've had the Pear, Almond and Chocolate Tart before which has the right balance of chocolate and pear without being too sweet. Chocolate Tart might be next on my hit list.

Other cakes tried from Central Baking Depot:

• Sour cherry danish (5 December 2008)

• Roasted plum tart (17 April 2009)

• Pear, almond and chocolate tart (28 April 2009)

• Apple and blackcurrant tart; Pear, almond and chocolate tart (26 June 2009)

Apple and Blackcurrant Tart $4.40

Pear, Almond and Chocolate Tart $4.40

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