Restaurant Cuvee

Restaurant Cuvee @ Peterson Champagne House - Hunter Valley

Corner Broke Road and Wine COuntry Drive

Pokolbin NSW 2320

http://www.petersonhouse.com.au

P: 02 4998 7881

F: 02 4998 7882

Richard organised an overnight stay in the Hunter Valley for us (no reason, just cos he loves me! hehe <3)>

It was slightly cloudy on the morning we arrived (we left home around 6am, it was about a 3 hour drive north of western sydney) but with so much green and lovely scenery, we put the weather aside and just enjoyed our morning together.

Upon sitting down this little bird cacme to say hello, it was so cute and i was making sure not ta make any sudden jerking movements for fear of it flying away. It stayed with us for a good minute or two hehe.

With vineyards in our view, we went through all the wineries that we should visit, and also discussed where we should be eating for lunch, dinner, and the next day breakfast & lunch! (so this is the first of a few posts for the Hunter Valley)

We were the first to arrive for breakfast, whilst walking through to our tables i could hear clinking and clattering in the kitchen of food getting prepped, & we asked for a seat outside so we could take in the views and fresh air.

The house had a clean but rustic look about it, with everything set up really neatly, and with lots of room for outdoor seating, there was a lot of space between each table so it didn't feel very crowded. I also remember reading that they also offer wedding receptions... :P

mocha $4.50

chai latte $5.50

We started with hot drinks. Richard's mocha was strong and creamy, with a nice sprinkling of chocolate powder on top (which i usually get a heaped teaspoon of before Richard takes a sip hehe) and my chai latte was smooth with a nice chai smell (and perfect blend of spices) i really enjoyed my chai, not many places can make a proper chai latte (most often i find they just dunk in a chai tea bag and add boiling water and milk).

"magnum" $20

Bacon, eggs, sausage, grilled tomato,

hashbrown & thick cut sour dough

Their breakfast menu has interesting names and here Richard goes for the magnum (and also gives me the 'magnum' look that Derek Zoolander gives at the end of his movie which makes him famous once again haha).

When asked how he would like the eggs, he asked if he could have one poached and one fried sunny side up and the girl says she has to check and shortly.. comes back letting us know that it won't be a problem (yay i love runny yolks).

The bacon he says was moist with crisp skin bits and not too salty. & as you can see both eggs were cooked to perfection (lok at the sheen on the yolk) and the poached egg one prick of a fork and the yolk came oozing out it was a beautiful sight!

"cuvee" $18

marinated field mushrooms, English spinach &

Binnorie daily fetta served on toasted turkish bread

(extra hashrowns $4)

I loved everything on my plate and left nothing behind (and even ordered a 2nd hashbrown even to begin with hehe i love my hashbrowns). The fetta totally enhanced the flavour of the mushroom since the mushroom had only little flavour and the fetta was so creamy and just the right amount of saltiness, and the spinach wasn't too bitter (baby english spinach maybe it was).

The hashbrowns were so good, crisp on the outside with real potato on the inside much like a really good McDonalds hashbrown but just right out of the fryer and onto our plate so it was still hot. I also asked for a side of ketchup (can't have hashbrowns without ketchup) and i got a generous serving in a shot glass... what a messy eater i am hehe

Having breakfast here was a real treat, the service was excellent and having the whole outdoor area to ourselves (well almost, a family came in half way through our meals but because it was so spacious it was like they weren't there at all) we were able to sit and enjoy everything around us.

How perfect does the grass look?!

I would have to say this breakfast made the top of my list ! Shame its a 3 hour drive away though, i can't wait to come back to hunter valley i loved it (and look out for more posts coming up!)

The Coffee Bean

612 Darling Street

Rozelle NSW 2039

After a fun (but very seedy night) out in the city, and a nice sleep in at the hotel, we were all starved for some food in our stomachs. I had never been to Rozelle before, and seen a review on this restaurant, and i had my diary with me so it was time to tick off another restaurant name in my 'to-eat' list.

breakfast wrap w/ bacon, scrambled eggs,

haloumi, rocket & onion jam $13.50

Jeremy said his wrap was good (well he showed it rather than said it, with his nodding and mouth chewing a big bite hehe)

poached eggs, crispy pancetta,

spinach & hollandaise on brioche $14.50

I ordered this like Wensy but gave Richard the pancetta. The brioche was slightly sickening and dry.. but my eggs were poached perfectly.

eggs w/ bacon, sausage, field mushroom

& roasted tomato $16

Richard had a bit of everything, (plus my pancetta) so it was a protein packed meal for him.

All in all, i wasn't at all impressed with the food here, not a place that i would go back too, it just didn't satisfy my breakfast craving. However Richard did enjoy his mixed breakfast plate, so i'd say its not a very good place for a vegetarian, and i think slightly overpriced (but it is close to the city i suppose).

Mitte

76 Michael Street

(corner Rowe St)

Fitzroy North

VIC 3068

Ph: 03 9077 7379

Fitzroy is located about 10 minutes drive from the Cite Centre of Melbourne, & Ann knew a great breakkie place we could eat at before hitting the beach @ Sorrento.

It's about 10am and we arrive to a bustling shop of breakfast patrons, at first we quickly took over an emptying table outside - but with the slightly chilly wind we ended up waiting for an inside table.


Mitte is named after central Berlin's Mitte district (and also hip cafe quarter), but the menu is completely Australian (and semi-gourmet if ask me). With items like middle eastern fruit compote (compote of dried fruits, vanila, cloves and orange blossom water, topped with toasted pistacios and almonds, served with yogurt) and potato and chorizo omlette (served with a tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil salad, collingwood college kitchen garden tomato and fennel chutney and sourdough toast, it's almost like you can choose your own adventure at breakfast time hehe.

Also on the menu are the classic egg dishes, 3 cheese omlette, free range poached eggs with smoked salmon (for the people who arent feeling very daring)



The building used to be an old milk bar which was burnt down, and thanks to the large windows is now a wonderfully sun-lit cafe (yay to natural lighting hee hee)

Cappuccino $3.30

Calmer SUtra Chai w/ soy $5

My chai tea was mildly spiced, and if it weren't for the creamy soy milk i probably wouldn't of liked it as much. It was a large serving though, one pot yielding just over two cups.

Croque monsieur $12.50

Linh's came out first: an open toasted sandwich of dijon mustard, bechamel (that creamy lasagne goodness stuff), gypsy ham & St Claire swiss cheese. With four large pieces, she had trouble finishing this off but from what i could see, it looked a bit too dry (i prefer a larger topping : bread ratio in these food cases).

three cheese omelette $15

Omlette served baking dish style, the three cheeses being marinated goats fetta, grana padano and buffalo mozzarella (not your usual tasty cheese omlette) topped with green olive, cherry tomato, parmasen and rocket salad, served with sour dough toast. I had a taste of Ann's omlette, and it was salty (yum) but did not make me regret ordering my chick pea bake ... (further below)

iced chocolate $5

Jess's towering glass of iced hot chocolate looked so appetizing i couldnt help but take a sip soon after she had her first. Extra creamy with lacings of chocolate topping around the bottom and sides, as well as a dollop of creamy vanilla icecream - this was a true iced chocolate that makes you keep taking huge sips ahh..

free ranged poached eggs
with middle eastern chickpea bake $15

Both me & Jessica had this (Ann had been raving on about this for a long time prior our Melbourne trip) and said that i'd LOVE it. And LOVED it i did! What a massive breakfast for only $15 i was amazed st how full i was (and i couldn't finish it all either).

The flavoury chickpea bake was topped with a meredith marinated goats fetta & herd and shallot salad, with half of a large avocado, lemon wedges and sourdough toast. My eggs were perfectly poached (this usually leads to a GREAT day ahead for me if my eggs are cooked the way i like them), the chickpea bake was fantastic with a salsy tomato sauce i really couldn't get enough of it.

With such a cosy & warm environment, a casual friendly/family vibe, good service, and an excellent selection on the menu, i can understand why this place can be packed on weekend mornings.

Afterwards it was onto Sorrento Beach for a picnic of snacks, lazing in the sun, and photo-taking :)

Cafe Sweethearts

263 Coventry Street

South Melbourne VIC 3205

ph: 03 9690 6752

So, my first time to Melbourne VIC and i have Miss Huynh as my tourguide. She is a Melbournian living in Sydney, & we've been best friends since we met at the local gym!

I've been so excited and anticipating this trip ever since she booked flights (about 2 mths earlier). Another state, new restaurants, new culture, i've only ever been to QLD 2 yrs ago and back then i wasn't a blogger..

Ann has been raving on about this cafe for quite some time now, saying that i will LOVE it, and she was right.

The streets were quiet but alot of people were walking around, sitting down to a coffee & newspaper, and the cafe was particularly buzzing with patrons once we stepped in.

You can't tell from here, but there were a lot of people, just not in the front room. Over to the right there is another room of tables, the cashier table, and behind that the kitchen. We got a seat right at the front, looking out to the street, & the warm sun on us.

I ordered a grapefruit juice, and Ann an apple juice. Both were refreshing, but definitely not freshly squeezed.

polaroid Love :)

Eggs Romano

poached eggs on toasted english muffins with spinach,

hollandaise sauce, tomato concasse & fresh basil

Ann also got mushrooms instead of spinach, i guess to fill up on protein as she was eating vegetarian like me! I had a try, and the tomato sauce was very zing like- flavoury sensation like i was eating.. mexican?? It was so fresh, teamed with hollandaise sauce it was yummy.

Eggs Mediterranean

poached eggs on grilled herbed polenta with

sauted spinach, roasted red capsicum & herb pesto

I ordered a hashbrown on the side as well. & it's the round ball thing on the left- how embarassing when i got my plate & asked 'wait, where's my hashbrown?' & Ann pointed out 'that is a hashbrown'. haha :)

I've never had baked polenta before. I wanted to try something different, other than english muffin, & i don't regret it at all. The capsicum was really sweet, and still warm from the grill. I also ordered extra hollandaise sauce because Ann said it was the best.. & it was really thick with a smooth consistency, very creamy, and very bad for me! hehe.

The eggs were poached to perfection (thumbs up there), & now onto the hashbrown.. it's similar to a KFC Mashy, but gourmet style! Mashed potato mixed with some spices and spring onion, with a crispy outside layer. I've never had a hashbrown like this before, it makes me no longer want to eat the McDonald's style ones..

The pesto topped off the meal quite well, and although it doesnt look big, the meal was extremely filling (must be all the extra sides hehe)

Because i don't go to Melbourne much, i might not come back here for a while. If i ever came back to Melbourne though, i would love to try other places! But for anyone who is a Melbourne local, or to anyone that will be in South Melbourne - this is one place you have to try.

The service was quick, staff were very friendly, situated on a side street (not on the main road) & i just love the signage!

Barzura cafe + ristorante

62 Carr Street

Coogee NSW 2034

ph: 02 9665 5546

http://www.barzura.com.au

Richard, Ann, Jeremy, Nam & myself, went for a training run starting from Coogee, over to Bondi, then back again. Totalling roughly 12km, on a beautiful coastal track. City2surf was not far away, & i thought a run would do us well, help us prepare for the race!

We all managed under 2 hrs, Richard being the fastest time at an hour 30 or so (i think). Naturally, we were all wrecked & starved by the end of it, so a brunch was a must!

Tina had recommended me two breakfast cafes in Coogee. Coogee bite cafe was one of them (and i really really enjoyed having breakfast there), so i remembered to visit Barzura if i was ever doing the coastal run again.

The cafe is very roomy, with lots of natural sunlight coming in, and its right next to the water & the beach, a beautiful spot to have a cafe. It was bustling with patrons, mostly i assume were having breakfast/brunch. Booths running along the sides (which i baggsed hehe) & with inside & outside seating we opted for inside, out of the sun (we had been running all morning in the sun!)

Service was quick, & the food was excellent! I would rate this place one of my top two (the other one being coogee bite cafe aswell).

Scrambled eggs on sourdough toast

with goats cheese & field mushrooms $12.50

I had this, & eggs came out in a very generous serving. The goats cheese was creamy & light, & the field mushrooms were tender & juciy, gave me a great protein boost :)

Cornfritters with bacon, roast tomato and avocado $14.50

I like the colors used in this dish. So bright & colorful. A hearty breakfast, arranged on a plate so neat & artistically, i love it!

Side orders mushrooms & sausages $4 each

Sides are a must, for both Richard & I, especially after a sweaty session of exercising.

toasted sourdough with avocado, pancetta, roasted tomato & aoili $12.50

Richard is the one who likes to try different things when we go out to eat, & he also enjoys his rocket & spinach leaves. The serving didnt have much meat so he ordered sides of mushrooms & sausages.

Sausage & scrambled eggs

Nam went oldschool style sausage & eggs, & mentioned that when it comes to breakfast, he doesnt need anything fancy - toast with eggs & sausages or bacon, will do him well!

Nasi goreng

(Indonesian fried rice, bacon, chicken, fried egg) $15.50

Jeremy went with the nasi goreng, because it is more value for money! & also, why have bacon & eggs when you go out, when you can easily have that at home all the time? :)

side of baked beans $4

This was my sides, baked beans. Because i don't eat meat, i like to fill up on beans, avocado, mushrooms, eggs, because i know i dont eat as healthy as i should.. actually i think my iron levels are quite low..

I'm sure there are other places to have breakfast in Coogee, but until i get a recomendation, i am sticking to either Barzura's or Coogee Bite cafe, simply because, they serve a hearty breakfast which is filling & delicious, and the atmosphere of seeing the water when you look out - is just breathtaking. Hearing the sound of waves crashing, seeing birds fly by, people coming in and out in their cossies & boardies. I'd LOVE to live on the beach, !!

Dolci Dolci

Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre

Level 2, Shop 50, 1 Rider Boulevard

Rhodes NSW 2138

Phone (02) 9736 3650

So it seems, that my good friend Revinder, had not ever been to Office works, Spotlight, or Ikea, Ever since moving to Sydney a couple years back! So my mission was, to take her to all three places :)

I picked her up in the morning, so a brunch was needed before getting things started. First stop was Rhodes & the only cafe i could remember there was this place. There was also a coffee club in the shopping centre but.. they are very franchis-ey.

Revinder ordered the big breakfast which had toast, sausages, bacon, poached eggs & grilled tomato.

I went with the vegetarian breakkie, toast + roast tomato + mushrooms + scrambled eggs + avocado.

I had come here once before with Ann, and i think i had banana bread toasted with lots of butter. That was pretty nice, but i'd say the breakfasts here are pretty plain & average.. They mustn't use much oil at all, notice the matte looking colors ahah, & it was quite a dry breakfast. Personally, i don't skimp on calories when it comes to breakfast/brunch, cos its the most important meal of the day, you end up burning all of it during the day anyway!

Coogee Bite Cafe

Shop 126A

Beach Street, Coogee NSW 2034

Ph: 9665 0190

After exchanging a few emails with Tina from FoodBooze&Shoes, she had recommended her fav breakkie places, two of which happened to be in Coogee - where Richard and I were planning to go running the Coogee to Bondi Track & Back (training for the city 2 surf woo!)

After our run (14km in under 2 hrs) & we were famished! We LUCKILY drove past Coogee Bite Cafe on our way out, but wanted to check out Barzura's as well, to see which looked better to eat at.

I didn't have the exact address except for instructions that went like this 'south of Coogee, next to the beach' haha! We totally gave up after 2 mins, and just went to Coogee Bite Cafe, & quickly ordered some grub :)

I was totally eyeing the 'chai latte', & asked for caramel in it aswell (yup, LOVE my extra sweet hot drinks hehe). Beautiful chai latte, will definitely be my drink for next time i'm here.

Richard ordered the eggs with bacon, sausages, grilled tomato, mushrooms, hashbrown & turkish bread.

A very decent serving, & the price was only a tiny dent in our wallets! GREAT value for food :)

I chose another big breakkie which included eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, grilled tomato, spinach, hashbrown & turkish bread.

What annoyed me was that they put the mini tubs of butter right next to the hot food so half of it was melted! I was too hungry to ask for another so i just poured it onto my turkish bread... still good nonetheless!

I LOVED the servings of each part of my plate, i was able to finish it all and was fully s-a-t-i-s-f-i-e-d! i LOVE breakfast when i get lots of little servings of a lot of things, & this is why i enjoyed my meal so much. I think it overly replenished my energy levels from the run hehe

Richard ordered the 'eye opener' which took a while to come out. He only ordered it cos of its name, haha it tasted quite funkY! I didn't like it at all, & neither did he, & THAT'S what you get for ordering wierd named things :P

Coogee Bite Cafe is located close to the beach, so we had a nice cool breeze whilst eating, and semi nice views (while it wasnt front on from the beach, we still did see the water).

Service was quick, food was great, the cafe was packed but we still got our food really quickly.

Next time we're here, we're going to try out Barzura's, & do a comparison :)