Saturday, January 5, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Coffee
Coffee in Sydney has BOOMED over the last few years, and only gets better. I mean its always been around, but cafes are getting more and more popular, and more so trendy, pending on what coffee blends are served.
Im attempting to blog about some of the cafes serving great coffee and cakes, that I have come across in Sydney.
A Coffee machine at home helps, so you can bring back the blend and see if it tastes as good at home as it does at the cafe.
Im not suggesting that my list below is the best coffee (as there is always someone that will disagree), but it will list some examples of the best coffee served in Sydney, and some of the new Cafe's around.
CAMPOS COFFEE
My coffee of the month has been CAMPOS for some time. Since I stumbled across the Newtown flagship store a few years ago (which Ive been told is almost 10 years old), many more cafes have opened since, serving Campos Coffee.
This must be the trendiest coffee in sydney, not only for its taste, but also for their eye catching army green cups. Very disctinctive, and a relief when you see someone holding one of these cups when your'e in an unfamilair area. (A cafe serving CAMPOS is near by).
Some of the cafes I have visited are located around Glebe, Newtown, Marrickville and found Campos coffee served in a cafe in southern suburb of Picton.
So Newtown, Flagship Campos cafe. I would count almost 8 people working behind the counter on a busy weekday between the hours of 7am and 10am. 4 Baristas working furiously, and 4 serving the anxoius Campos lovers queing out the door.
Cafe is tiny, with limited seating within the store, but majority of customers are take outs.
They offer many different blends, from quality beans around the world. There website explains further.
I give this a 9/10.
Chrysler Coffee Bar
127 Castlereagh Street (entry to Piccadilly arcade), Sydney. They have three other cafes in Sydney.
Great smooth blend of coffee, thats not too bitter. Staff here are also great. Hint, you may get a free pastry when ordering a 3.30pm coffee !!
I also give this a 9/10
NEW - DULCE LUNA CAFE
Dulce Luna Viennoiserie - 66 King street, Sydney
The newly refurbished 66 King Street building has a touch of Paris brought to Sydney. Not only has a new French themed pub has opened, "Le Pub", so to has Dulce Luna Cafe serving French style pastries, with a touch of Argentinian & Viennese influence.
THE PASTRIES ARE little croissant type pastries with a sweet glaze.
COFFEE - Delano Coffee
Dulce Luna is Spanish for "half moon" which is a Argentinian famous pastry, shaped as a half moon.
Viennoiserie is the French name given to bakeries that specialise in Viennese style baked pastries made from a laminated dough but with added ingredients to give them a richer and sweeter character.
Im attempting to blog about some of the cafes serving great coffee and cakes, that I have come across in Sydney.
A Coffee machine at home helps, so you can bring back the blend and see if it tastes as good at home as it does at the cafe.
Im not suggesting that my list below is the best coffee (as there is always someone that will disagree), but it will list some examples of the best coffee served in Sydney, and some of the new Cafe's around.
CAMPOS COFFEE
My coffee of the month has been CAMPOS for some time. Since I stumbled across the Newtown flagship store a few years ago (which Ive been told is almost 10 years old), many more cafes have opened since, serving Campos Coffee.
This must be the trendiest coffee in sydney, not only for its taste, but also for their eye catching army green cups. Very disctinctive, and a relief when you see someone holding one of these cups when your'e in an unfamilair area. (A cafe serving CAMPOS is near by).
Some of the cafes I have visited are located around Glebe, Newtown, Marrickville and found Campos coffee served in a cafe in southern suburb of Picton.
So Newtown, Flagship Campos cafe. I would count almost 8 people working behind the counter on a busy weekday between the hours of 7am and 10am. 4 Baristas working furiously, and 4 serving the anxoius Campos lovers queing out the door.
Cafe is tiny, with limited seating within the store, but majority of customers are take outs.
They offer many different blends, from quality beans around the world. There website explains further.
I give this a 9/10.
Chrysler Coffee Bar
127 Castlereagh Street (entry to Piccadilly arcade), Sydney. They have three other cafes in Sydney.
Great smooth blend of coffee, thats not too bitter. Staff here are also great. Hint, you may get a free pastry when ordering a 3.30pm coffee !!
I also give this a 9/10
NEW - DULCE LUNA CAFE
Dulce Luna Viennoiserie - 66 King street, Sydney
The newly refurbished 66 King Street building has a touch of Paris brought to Sydney. Not only has a new French themed pub has opened, "Le Pub", so to has Dulce Luna Cafe serving French style pastries, with a touch of Argentinian & Viennese influence.
THE PASTRIES ARE little croissant type pastries with a sweet glaze.
COFFEE - Delano Coffee
Dulce Luna is Spanish for "half moon" which is a Argentinian famous pastry, shaped as a half moon.
Viennoiserie is the French name given to bakeries that specialise in Viennese style baked pastries made from a laminated dough but with added ingredients to give them a richer and sweeter character.
Nigella's Chocolate Christmas Cake 2012
As I blogged last year, i stuck to what was a success, and a treat for all that tried my chocolate Christmas cakes made previously.
Thanks again to Nigella, whose recipe is always faultless.
More chocolate, and less fruit.
I made two this year, and both with walnuts, Tia Maria liquor, and chocolate added to the dry mix.
No time for fancy decorations, as with this cake, it's best eaten within a week or two after baking.
Time to enter it into the Easter show!!!
A few of my favourite pastries. Portuguese tarts and Custart Horn, a Apple Vanilla cake.
PIZZA
Grimaldis Pizza Pie
I have an obsession with looking for the perfect pizza. Thin and simple.
Many pizza chefs have their own style, and claim they have the best pizza in town, but at least I like to compare and taste the many "Best" pizzas Sydney has to offer and pizzas from around the world.
Click onto the names to their website. No particular order. Im sure this list will grow, and
Im sure there are places I havent visited, and perhaps have just as good pizza's, and Im keen to try.
Many pizza chefs have their own style, and claim they have the best pizza in town, but at least I like to compare and taste the many "Best" pizzas Sydney has to offer and pizzas from around the world.
Click onto the names to their website. No particular order. Im sure this list will grow, and
Im sure there are places I havent visited, and perhaps have just as good pizza's, and Im keen to try.
Sydney
- La Disfida -Haberfield
- Wood fire Oven. Very thin authentic Italian pizza. Great selection of home made pasta also.
- We keep on going back to this place. Great atmosphere.
- Campbelltown - Fillippos at Macarthur Tavern Campbelltown
- Wood Fire Oven. Thin Pizza. Pizza chef has been trained by the best italian pizza chef.
- Rosso Pomodoro - Balmain
- Very thin Pizza. Dont ask for Hawaiin or Pineapple here. Very authentic. Loved it.
- Pizzeria Bullucci - La Piazza Bankstown Sports Club
- Wood fire oven. Loved what they have done here. Little italy inside the sports club. Pizza'a are great. Thin and basic.
- Ventuno - Walsh Bay
- Wood fire oven. Great position at Walsh Bay (Sydney Harbour). Thin Pizza's. One size per person.
- Franks Pizza - Forest Lodge/ Camperdown
- Normal Pizza Oven. Medium thickness (not to thin, not too thick). Cash only. Great spot. Franks has been around for decades, and moved down the road to a new location a couple of years ago. Nothing over the top. If you cant get in, then across the road is Deus Cafe. More than just pizza slices, set in a garage style environment.
- La Rosa Bar & Pizza - Strand Arcade Sydney
- I love this place, especially the building its located in. Great traditional pizza, and they do takeaway.
- Located opposite Pendolino (run by the same owners) - great wine selection.
New York
- Grimaldis - Under the Bridge Brooklyn and Hoboken
- Massive New York style Pizza, cooked in a coal oven. Thin but not too thin.
San Francisco
- Pizzeria Delfina - about a15 minute cab ride from the heart of San Fran. 2 locations. We went to the 18th Street location. and yes, be prepared to wait (no bookings). Put your name on the blackboard and wait for your name to be called. Its worth the wait. Great Thin pizza'a and pasta. And for desert walk up the road (approx 100m) to Bi-Rite Creamery & Bakeshop, and try their salted caramel icecream. This is a webisode I found whilst surfing the net for Pizza in San Fran. Great website also for Pizza fans. Pizza Quest
Digressing a little away from Pizza, whilst in San Fran you need to eat at these spots.
- Best Hamburgers Hubert Keller's Burger Bar (located on the 6th Floor at Macys Geary street entrance).
- Desert two levels up (level 8) at the Cheesecake factory (beware of long wait).
- Pancakes - If you are in San Fran for Breakfast, you can't miss pancakes at Sears. They serve the best Swedish pancakes. Great cosy cafe/restaurant. Lovely in winter. 439 Powell Road. and yes be prepared to stand in a que.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Cake Crazy
My Topys Turvey attempt
Doctor Who Tartis
Ganache of one of my cake creations prior to Fondont
At Carlos Bakery workshop Hoboken, New Jersey
Red Velvet Soccor Cake
Middle daughter's Fathersday bake
Eldest Daughtes Fathers day bake
Youngest daughter Fathers Day bake
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