A foodie's worst nightmare...

I had an allergy test done recently. It was one of those skin prick ones to see if you react to certain things within 15 minutes. My left arm was for food and my right arm for inhalant allergens.

When Alice tumbled down the rabbit hole, I think she may have landed here at Sotto on West. You'll see her inside on the Mad Hatter's tea party mural and if you get a chance, you'll find her hanging out in the backyard. The real evidence would be her teapot and teacups that hang upside down from the ceiling.

paleo, P A L E O, paleo

That's how a Great Australian Spelling Bee contestant would spell it but how would they say it? How do you say it? Is it "pah-lee-o" or "pay-lee-oh"? The trusty google search confirmed both versions are right.

Growing up in Manly, I remember the after dinner beach walks with mum and dad. The first resting spot would be the information kiosk and then I would meet them further along at the playground. That information kiosk is now The Pantry, serving the locals and visitors alike with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Spanishalex

My lack of blog posts lately is a sure sign of working too much and clearly not enough blogging and brunching! So where's my blog, brunch balance?

Last Sunday instead of running the 14km City2Surf with 80 000 others, the ladies of brunch club decided to do what they do best - brunch!  Seasalt Cafe in Clovelly was next on the hit list and what a gorgeous day it was for a visit.

Clovelly Bay

Dare to be different?

Once out of our comfort zone, it's natural for us to feel a bit anxious or even scared. Haven took a chance at being different in providing a unique cafe experience with an Asian infused menu and tailoring coffee just for you. It definitely put me out of my comfort zone but it was worth it!

Will the real inventor please stand up?

Have you lost your car in a shopping centre car park? I once thought mine was stolen only to discover I had absentmindedly parked elsewhere (doh!). Now I take photos to remind me and I did exactly that at Castle Towers. Yellow 1A Row 3, tick. The Reject Shop, tick. Now where in the world is The Baron? 


After 20 minutes I found it outside the shopping centre, near the bus stop on Old Castle Hill Rd. Oozing with some serious cool factor, it's filled with conversations mixed with kitchen clatter and some funky beats. Small wooden tables for two line the bare concrete walls opposite the open kitchen and a restored communal table is the centre piece.

Regular $3.50 Large $4.20

The simple all day menu is a play on your breakfast classics proudly supporting their local suppliers. It's creative and the jams, relishes and sauces are all made in house. I do like the way they pour their coffees but if you don't like coffee there's also milkshakes, tea, juices and sodas.

Return of the avo on toast $14

If I had to pick a favourite so far, it would be the return of the avo on toast. Simple yet so delicious, there was feta, avocado and confit tomatoes with a salsa verde. My friend who loves her bircher says the muesli is a close favourite with yogurt, jam and peanut butter powder.

PB&J muesli $15

BAE roll $12

This BAE roll is the BAE of all BAEs. When you have a perfectly fried egg with lots of bacon, bread smothered with aioli and tomato relish and a bonus of avocado, that's a winning combo (if I do say so myself).

Baron benny $15

Hate to be the eggs benny nazi but a 63 degree egg just doesn't work on the Baron benny and my bacon needed a bit more time in the pan. Though the sourness of the cucumber pickle, heat from the english mustard and the sweetness from the brioche went well with the delicious hollandaise sauce.

Maxx power 3.0 $16

Deliciously filling, Maxx power 3.0 will have you covered for breakfast and lunch and is satisfyingly healthy. I rolled my soft boiled eggs into the quinoa and savoured each bite with some of the side diced sweet potato, raisins and macadamia nuts.

Sam's affogato with popping candy $6.50

As a treat, there's cakes and slices but I ordered Sam's affogato. Trying to be clever with my food pics, I shocked myself as I posed for an action shot with the coffee pour. True to the word, the candy popped and spat everywhere (and the photo a disaster)!


This modern industrial chic cafe has something good going, so good the guys have opened up another cafe The Tuckshop in Glenhaven. I'm still to check it out but I have managed to drop by The Baron three times in one week catching up with friends - I don't even need to take a photo of my car anymore :)

In a nutshell  Breakfast Coffee ●● Food ●●● Service ●● Price $$ Atmosphere

♥♥ All day, everyday  Regular $3.50 Single origin roasters Modern Australian Order at table, pay at counter Toast with condiments $5 A bit noisy, really busy, gets really cold

The Baron - Shop 461, 4 - 16 Castle St, Castle Hill
http://thebaron.co/


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Large, hot coffee $4.00

Elbow Room Espresso provides a nice injection of the very much loved inner west brunch scene into Chatswood. Their selection of beans and the different coffee extraction tools that line the front bench indicates that you're in for a good coffee.

Nice cold brew $6.00

It's not just about the coffees here either with an all day breakfast menu that always leaves me so indecisive. Every time I can't decide between two different dishes but every time I'm not disappointed (except the first time when I got a solid poached egg, tsk tsk).

Hot dog de Elbow room $12

Starting with their signature dish, this Hot dog de Elbow room definitely boasts originality and screams eat me! The fried egg takes centre stage hiding a chorizo covered with chipotle mayo, english mustard and melted cheese. Full of flavour, the tomato salsa and extra gherkins on the side was nice to cut through the deliciously unhealthy goodness.

Eggs benedict on brioche with ham $16

The most popular dish is the eggs benedict, a picture of perfection. A layered stack of brioche, wilted spinach and ham topped off with two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and pomegranate seeds - a fabulous idea to add that pop of sweetness.

Wild mushrooms $14

My favourite dish would be the wild mushrooms, deliciously satisfying. I have also noticed the last dishes on the menu changes which tend to be quite tasty too.

Grilled asparagus and prosciutto bruschetta $18.00

Over summer there was grilled asparagus and prosciutto. The flavours on this plate all worked well together with the soft mashed minted broad bean and peas adding some sweetness to the savoury prosciutto.

Baked beans with grilled haloumi $18.00

This winter there's the hearty baked beans warmer. Yes, the baked beans are house made not the out of a can variety and you just can't go wrong with grilled haloumi cheese.

Herbal "Heal" tea $4.00

I've realised I have just showcased savoury dishes but they do offer sweet and healthy dishes like french toast, bircher muesli and house made granola. There's also sweet baked goodies at the front counter.

Green power juice $4

Cold pressed juices by prodjuice are available here instead of freshly squeezed juices. Very on trend! I missed out on my visit but got to try the green power juice by Emma & Tom. Scary ingredients of kelp, spinach and alfalfa mixed with fruit juice was actually really nice and refreshing.

They have redeemed themselves with perfectly poached eggs

Nine months ago, I only gave Elbow Room Espresso one Brunch on Joy heart but it's time to be upgraded to ♥♥ with perfectly poached eggs and a much friendlier service. There is outdoor seating if you want to bring your dog although I'm not sure if it's child friendly (no high chair). Just remember to bring cash as they don't accept anything else.

Original post 19 November 2014 ♥, countless visits and photos in between
Re-review post 5 July 2015 ♥♥

In a nutshell Breakfast Coffee ●●● Food ●●● Service ●● Price $$($) Atmosphere

♥♥ All day breakfast until 2.30pm Houseblend, 5 senses, single origin Modern Australian Friendly, cash only Toast with condiments $5 Casual, relaxed, good vibes

Elbow Room Espresso - 6 Spring St, Chatswood
https://www.facebook.com/elbowroomespresso2013


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It's all about the coffee, coffee, coffee...

Regular coffee $3.50

Now that Salvage has a competitor right next door it's about time I posted something about this little coffee shop. I frequent this place often enough that people would say it's my local. A small space "salvaged" by three hombres (Dan, Matt & Toby), it's a little rough around the edges but an absolute charmer once you give it go.

Cold brew $5 - perfect for the hot days

What keeps me coming back? There's just something about their coffee that I love. I think it has something to do with the level of acidity? Or maybe the skilled baristas? I'm no expert but whether it's a skim cap, piccolo or a cold drip I am always happy with how it tastes.

Croque madame $14 - weekends only

Their all day menu is scribbled on a black chalkboard which is extended on the weekends boasting some interesting dishes. As Toby puts it -  "Chef Dan works magic in the Salvage kitchen. Innovative, forward thinking and full of flavour". Kudos to the Chef who now runs pop up dinners there. 

Smashed avo $12 + poached egg $3

To name my favourite dish here is almost like telling people which one is your favourite child. I definitely can't go past their smashed avo with roasted pine nuts and lightly seasoned sliced tomatoes. I always get a poached egg to add that extra ooze factor.

Croque madame $14 - weekends only

I also can't go past the croque madame. The best thing you could eat to sort out that hangover or just to be naughty. It's an indulgent buttery toastie with gypsy ham, melted gruyere cheese, dijon and that bechamel sauce. You'll find a poached egg too - Hello waistline :)

Beetroot cured salmon $17 + poached egg $3

Other dishes show off Chef Dan's skills with some pretty neat plating and clever creations. The beetroot cured salmon is refreshing and perfect for summer (maybe minus the egg) and every now and then different versions of the eggs benedict make an appearance.

Southern benny special $20

Conveniently located near Artarmon station you can't miss the crowd here on a sunny day. I'm not sure what happens when it rains as it's mostly outdoor seating. The guys and gals are friendly and their love of coffee and good food shines through. I think I might resist from trying out next door just a little longer (promise the boys didn't pay me to write this!).

In a nutshell  Breakfast Coffee ●●● Food ●● Service ●●● Price $$($) Atmosphere

♥♥ Everyday until 2pm, Sundays midday  Regular $3.50, Artificer Coffee Modern Australian Friendly, fast Toastie $8 Good vibes, busy

Salvage Coffee - 5 Wilkes Ave, Artarmon
http://salvagecoffee.com/

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Breaking the Moroccan fast

I was so excited when I heard Out of Africa was doing brunch on weekends. What exotic flavours will I be treated to?  My last experience in this African oasis was pretty good, sharing many different delicious dishes for dinner.


A stranger to Moroccan breakfast cuisine, I wanted to try everything from the breakfast menu. Wishing that I could I had to settle on one option from each category "breaking your fast", "breakfast tajines" and "sweeter breakfast".

Moroccan breaking of the fast tray $14

So I broke my fast with the Moroccan breaking of the fast tray. I could've gone the eggplant breakfast stack or the deep pan potato omelette they call a tortilla but the Moroccan bread intrigued me. It was like a Malaysian roti just flat and loved it with a bit of feta, caramelised onion, rocket and quail egg. The orange segments made it taste lighter and fresh.

Merquez sausage tajine $16

In winter I think we all love a nice warm baked eggs. Very similar are the Moroccan breakfast tajines, slow cooked savoury stews with eggs thrown in cooked your way. Torn between the 4 cheese, seafood and merquez sausage options, I ended up ordering the latter with medium done eggs. I scooped the contents of the tajine with my khobz (a type of Moroccan bread) enjoying the combination of flavours.

Rghati with caramelised peaches $12

On the recommendation of the waiter, rghati was the lucky choice from the "sweeter breakfast" section. Described as layers of soft dough fried and folded into crispy parcels in butter and honey I could only imagine how decadent this would be. Served with caramelised peaches and more honey this was unimaginably delicious. Definitely a plate to be shared.

Moroccan coffee $4.90, Acai smoothie $6.50

Keeping with the Moroccan theme, I tried the Moroccan coffee served with cloves and a cinnamon stick. It tasted a bit diluted with the frothy milk. There is the option of Arabic or regular coffee or hot chocolate if you don't like coffee.

Mixed berry & pomegranate frappe $6.50

If you're looking for something different to juices, the acai smoothie is rather delicious. The mixed berry and pomegranate frappe is really refreshing with bubbles instead of crushed ice.

Moroccan green mint tea $5.50

I had to finish my meal with the traditional Moroccan drink of choice - Mint tea. I don't know what was stuffed in the teapot but the waitress showed off some skills as she poured it from a height to aerate the tea and create a froth. After three rounds of this I was treated to a beautifully aromatic tea that was easy to drink although it was very very sweet.

Hassan M'Souli with his daughter

Owner and Celebrity Chef, Hassan M'Souli introduced Moroccan cuisine to the northside of the bridge over 25 years ago and he is doing something very right. His version of soul food combined with the African theme style and great service has created a fan out of me. Worth checking out their weekend brunch if you are looking for something unique to start your day.

In a nutshell  Breakfast Coffee ●● Food ●● Service ●● Price $$($) Atmosphere

♥♥ Weekends from 9am  $4.90 Arabian or Moroccan Moroccan cuisine Friendly, accommodating Moroccan bread basket $9 North African theme. Suits all

Out of Africa - 43-45 East Esplanade,  Manly 
http://www.outofafrica.com.au/


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I used to wonder why people took their birthday off from work, sacrificing 1 out of the 20 days of annual leave allowed each year. This year I decided to be one of them as my annual leave doesn't accrue anymore. Now I wish my company just simply gifted us with a day off, now that would be a great present!

Me, myself and brunch!

Ocean views and the sound of waves are a few things that I love (that's non food related) so I treated myself with a visit to Balmoral beach and brunch at Bathers Pavilion Cafe. The drive was a dream run with no peak hour or weekend traffic and I found a free 2 hour parking spot right near the beach first round. #winning

Bathers Pavilion Cafe on a winters day

Even better, there were no queues and plenty of tables although none available by the windows. I chose a small round table just back from the window but still with a beach view.

After ordering I did the unthinkable - I pulled out my work phone and checked my work email. Why did I do that? My stress levels rose as I proceeded to respond to an email I found unacceptable. It was at that point a window table became free and I asked if I could move. As the waitress started moving my stuff, this rather short round lady pushed through, sat down and huffed that she was promised a window seat. How rude.

My waitress was polite and I didn't want any trouble so I just stayed at my table. Wow, I didn't realise it was such hot property. I later hear their waitress advise she had already reserved another table for them. Lucky for me this distraction let me discard that draft email reply.

Mushroom & spinach tart $22

Trying very hard to eat slowly and savouring all the flavours, I tucked into my meal. The chive hollandaise was perfect - light and fluffy. The eggs, liquid gold. Tempted by a nearby glass of champagne I was good and had a green envy fresh juice to complete my brunch.

Rocky point

Bathers' never fails me for a good brunch experience and it was nice the sun peeped out during my walk along the beach. I even found a $2 coin! I think I might do this every year. No traffic, no brunch queues, ocean views and eating my favourite meal of the day #winning

Do you take a day off for your birthday?

My lucky gold coin

Read my Bathers Pavilion Cafe review post.

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