Review: Cafe XXII, Pyrmont

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day so you shouldn't skip it. It helps the kids learn better at school, it sets the right tone for your day at work and overall just keeps people happy so it should never be missed. But these days, everyone is rushing around with little to no time on their hands, preferring to sleep in that extra bit than to grab a bite to eat in the morning. Fortunately for me, where I work now, I can eat as much free breakfast as I want to keep my healthy self going through the day so that's not much of an issue for me. But when it comes down to it, if given a choice, no matter what time of the day it is, I'd usually opt for breakfast. It's the most important meal right? They just never said when you had to eat it!

So begins the tale of my first visit to Cafe XXII with SK on a Sunday morning. A short stroll from my temporary apartment and my work, the relatively large cafe is always filled with people - business people on weekdays, relaxed locals on the weekends. We were offered both breakfast and lunch menus but the two of us naturally gravitated towards the former option. 

Being the greedy one, I chose the XXII Big Breakfast which I did not regret in the slightest (with the exception adding to the many trips I owed to the gym since I started my new job). It was a brilliant start to a Sunday with creamy scrambled eggs, succulent tomatos, crispy bacon and hash browns, golden brown toast, mushrooms, spinach, feta and sausages. If you've skipped this paragraph and started looking at the photo, the answer is "Yes, it really is as good as it looks - if not better!"

XXII Big Breakfast $16.50

SK decided to be a bit more experimental and tried something neither of us had heard of. The waitress herself said in response to our query, "Well, I've never tried it before but all the customers I've seen eating it seem to love it!" Not sure how convinced we were but it was definitely worth a try! The Egg Al Forno was an interesting baking dish of spinach, eggs, chorizo sausages served with a beautifully golden slice of sourdough on the side. When I was younger, my father used to bake eggs in an Asian way but it was a sweet treat; nothing like this. The flavour combination was really quite delicious, warming and just oozing with goodness. 

Eggs Al Forno $16.50

Finally, to wash it all down we both go organic juices (which looked almost exactly the same). I played the safe card and went for the Orange while SK went for the Peach & Mango. Just my luck that the latter tasted yummier - the orange was just a tad sour.

Organic Orange, Organic Peach & Mango Juices $4.50 ea

I'd be lying if I told you this place wasn't worth visiting. Especially since I came back with my team from work within the week to try their Spanish Eggs which was smaller in size but so exquisite! I'm definitely coming back a couple more times to this joint!


Cafe XXII
22 Union Street, Pyrmont
Sydney NSW
Ph: (02) 9552 3092

Review: Ash's Table, Manly

Just a quick note that I’ve been overwhelmed with work and focussing on the organisation of setting up a brand new food blog server for all your readers out there so my posts are a bit delayed! Sorry! So anyway…=) I've lived in the Northern Beaches region for the large part of my life and but I've rarely eaten around the area. My frequent haunts are all around the Sydney CBD area or Eastern suburbs, especially when it comes to brunches and lunches. Everyone's been on hardcore exam study sessions lately, leaving me with no one to hang out and eat with! I chose all assessment based subjects this semester so I didn't have exams, which most consider to be lucky but at the same time, I have to spend all my free time with myself anyway! It just so happened that a large gap appeared in AW's exam timetable and since we live quite close to each other, we decided that Manly would be a nice place to satisfy our tummies.

As always, AW was running late, so by the time we found parking on the beach side of Manly, it was already 11am. Having both skipped breakfast - we were pretty much ready to devour anything. It was an overcast Sunday morning but there were plenty of people walking around in wetsuits, pushing prams and just enjoying the relaxed beach lifestyle - so it was only natural that every cafe or restaurant we could see in the distance was bustling with crowds of people. Briefly glancing at the menu, we were greeted warmly by the owner (I assume), who happened to be pinning up the lunch menu, and so not really wanting to keep walking in the rain we settled on eating at Ash's Table.

I'm always extremely grateful that when cafes, or any other eatery for that matter, keeps their breakfast menu available for most of the day. Well-cooked breakfast is something I think that I'd be willing to eat no matter what the hour! Going through the menu, AW and I were quick to decide that we would pick one breakfast item and one lunch item and with tummies madly grumbling at our neglecting them, we promptly selected a pizza most appropriately named The Meaty - tempting me with bacon, pepperoni, chorizo, mushroom and capsicum on a sweeeeet chilli jam base topped with mozarella cheese - as well as a classic Sausage and (Scrambled) Eggs served on sourdough.

The Meaty (small) $18.00


Sausages & Eggs with Sourdough $12.00

On top of that, we also ordered a Mango Smoothie and a Latte :) For the amount of people in the cafe, I was quite impressed at the quick service we received. The waiters didn't stand there and leer at us, but did periodically check with us to see if we were ready as they rushed around serving other customers. My only criticism would be the relatively long wait for drinks to arrive - they were on our table with only a few minutes to spare before the food came which caused a slight raise of the eyebrow. Having said that, my Mango smoothie was yummy and refreshing (I love mangoesss!) and after AW's initial puzzlement over how to consume her piece of biscotti, she seemed quite satisfied with her latte.

Mango Smoothie $6.00

Latte $3.00

So what about the food? Well boys and girls, I am currently doing a marketing placement for a large bread company and just recently, happened to be involved in taste testing of various sourdough and let me tell you – the sourdough served here was really just plain bread. There was not even the slightest hint of a sour note – not in the first bite and it didn’t build up to anything either. The bread itself was also slightly stale. The only item I appreciated was the scrambled eggs which, although not brillant, still filled my tummy with protein goodness. And what of the pizza? Well it was indeed, extremely meaty. The layers of meat far outweighed any previous encounters I’ve had with self-proclaimed ‘meaties’ from the popular fast food pizza outlets and definitely satisfied my carnivorous yearnings. But…yes, there is another ‘but’…it was wayyyy too oily. Literally dripping with it. When something is that oily – you just feel sick. That’s probably why AW only ate a little and delegated the rest to my mouth and stomach.

I think I’ve been quite harsh with this little review. I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere, service and just the idea of a little lunch near the beach even in the dreary weather – but when it came down to the food…it just didn’t quite cut it. I will however, revisit that strip of cafes and try my luck at another one next time.

Ash's Table
93 North Steyne Road
Manly NSW 2095
PH: (02) 9976 3382

King Mushroom and Shallot Omelette

Why? Because Sunday's are just much more fun when you wake up to an awesome breakfast.

And also because I just had to get away from the pile of uni work that I'm buried under at the moment. You may have noticed the shortage of posts this month, but it's because it's that time in the semester where all your tests, quizzes and assignment come together and give you one helluva SHAZAMM!

Putting that aside...

Much to my delight, as I rummaged through my almost empty fridge, I found a packet of the most scrumpdiddlyumptious babies in the world. KING MUSHROOMS!

These beasts kick all other mushrooms in the backside anyday. They're meaty, flavoursome and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Field mushrooms ain't got a thang on these thugs.

Oh and mum, if you're reading this. WE'RE STARVING over here! Our fridge is empty.

We call these Chicken Drumstick Mushrooms in Mandarin. Funnily enough, I do see the resemblance. Uncanny isn't it?

Start with one of these and just slice in half, and then some. You don't want them too thin or you'll lose the meaty texture of the mushrooms once they start sweating in the pan.

If you feel like more, feel free to slice up another one. The world is your oyster.

You'll also need about half a sprig of spring onion, finely diced.

Can you tell I've been practising with my camera?


You'll also need about 40g of grated tasty cheese. I simply julienned my COON slices - it won't make a difference because you'll be needing to melt the cheese later anyway.

I also use light cheese...just in case you wanted to turn me into the Heart Foundation for some serious lessons on how to not kill myself with what I eat.


Freshly grated parmesan will also help. 1/4 cup.

And no, it most definitely must be fresh. Ah-a-a-, no buts.

Whisk 3 eggs up. 4 if you feel like something quite cafe-sized, but promise me you'll share. 4 eggs in a day just isn't healthy. Neither is 2, but it's still better than 4. Less is more.

Melt some butter in a shallow frying pan. Feel free to use olive oil, but personally I always use butter with mushrooms as they provide a nicer colour and flavour.

Oh, and a grill-proof/ovenproof frying pan would be ideal. We'll be needing the grill later.

Throw in your sliced mushrooms and a sprinkle of salt.


Toss the mushrooms around until they a golden brown. These ones don't sweat all that much compared to the likes of button and field mushrooms, but you still need to sweat them in the pan properly before adding the egg.

Once mushrooms are done, turn the heat right down to low and pour in the egg. Go make yourself a cup of coffee or something while you give it a minute or two to just set on the bottom.

Sprinkle the tasty and parmesan cheeses. You may want to start the grill on about 250°C .

The cheese will begin melting, but it won't colour. Once the egg looks like its started to cook on the top, sprinkle the spring onions over the top of the omelette.


Next, pop the entire pan into the grill.

Once upon a time (say, when I was still in primary school), I remember the grill and oven used to be separate compartments underneath the stove. I also remember that when you used the oven, you had to remember to close the door (seemed kinda silly if you didn't), but when you used the grilling device, you had to leave the door open.

So when our new oven arrived post-renovation, I flicked through the instruction manual hoping to find instructions on what you should do with the oven door when you switch to the grilling element on the combined grill/oven system.

The manual gave me nothing. Zero, zilch, nothing.

It wasn't until my trip to the Blue Mountains that AL finally enlightened me that we are to leave the door ajar even on the combined system. Seems kind of dangerous doesn't it?

Oh well, so that's pretty much the way I've been doing things since. It makes better photography anyway. This post with the picture of marinated vegies grilling is still one of my favourites all time.

Pull the pan out once the cheese is golden brown on top. It would have puffed up quite a bit, but will sit back down before you manage to find your coffee.

Give us a moment as we admire the mushroom poking out of the omelette.

Finally, serve with a slice of buttered toast and a mug of (soy) coffee. Sundays just couldn't start in a better fashion could it?


King Mushroom and Shallot Omelette
Serves 2

Buy:
40g Cheddar/Tasty cheese, grated
1/2 Spring onion, finely diced
1~2 King Mushrooms, sliced thickly
3 Eggs, beaten
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Butter, for frying
Salt, to taste

Make:

1. Melt butter in an ovenproof/grillproof frying pan
2. Brown mushrooms in pan until golden brown
3. Turn the heat to low, and gently pour in beaten eggs. Do not stir and allow to cook for a minute
   
4. Sprinkle cheese over the top then allow it to melt into the eggs
5. Turn grill to 250°C
6. Once the top of the eggs look like it is starting to set, sprinkle spring onions over the top
7. Place pan underneath the grill and allow cheese to brown
8. Remove from grill and transfer to plate
9. Serve with buttered toast
   

Review: Caffe Incontro, North Ryde

Big Breakfast - Sausage, scrambled eggs, toast, tomato, mushrooms and bacon

Oh Lazy Saturdays, how I love thee!

Well, it's been a while since I've had a bit of time to just relax and enjoy the morning sunshine. I woke up on Saturday morning absolutely starving and JL felt like demolishing a big breakfast before heading out to his soccer game. There was no food in the fridge or pantry, and alas, no soy milk in the fridge for my morning coffee.

JL knows better than to let me out of the house before my morning coffee, so he quickly locked me up in a cage, packed me into the car, and drove down to Cox's Road for some brekky.

Haha, I joke.
Mushroom and Cheese Omelette

Caffe Incontro is a family run cafe and the food there is very much like what you would get at home, except you pay to not have to get groceries, cook or do the washing up. We've been here a few times now, and if it weren't for the fact that we were really feeling like brekky as opposed to seafood/italian/the-most-amazing-charcoal-chicken around (I have not yet visited El Jannah's), I don't think this place would have crossed my mind.

I can't stress this enough, but homecookery is what best describes this place. As you can probably tell from the pictures, foie gras and truffles are definitely not on the menu, but they do a satisfactory job with what is available.

I was thoroughly disappointed with my soy cap though. The froth bubbles were GINORMOUS - to the extent where it was pop in your face as you tried to sip it. I don't think the person at the machine was the real barista. The coffee was fine the last time I visited the place, and I had a quick squiz at the coffees on other tables and they looked fine.

Oh well, can't have everything in the world.

Caffe Incontro
203 Cox's Road
North Ryde, NSW 2113
Tel: (02) 9888 9901