The Point Milk Bar - Bulli NSW

Fettuccine with king prawn, chorizo and Parmesan shaves.



The owners of the Austi Beach Cafe, I am told, run the Point, located around half way between the beach at Sandon Point
and the Princes Highway in Bulli, just a short drive north from Wollongong.   Tucked away in a rather residential area, it is open for breakfast and lunch like most of the proliferation of cafes in the Illawarra.   The rains had subsided when a mate and I wandered there not long ago.

I chose the black board special of fettuccine with Chorizo, King prawns and Parmesan.  I did find this uplifting in both texture and taste - good value in pricing and combination of ingredients!   The menu may not be extensive but rather practical in options. 

Pulled lamb sandwich.

There is an ice cream/gelato bar, with a small display of sandwiches, quiche, friands and the like. Kids have access to some stuff from the cafe to preoccupy their attention.

Only one staff member was covering the cafe when we were there.    The coffee may not have stood out (the Illawarra is very competitive in this aspect) but the juices and shakes are all right.  The view from the cafe opens up to a road junction and houses.  Vehicle parking is by the road side.  Amongst the people I know, there is a perception that prices for things are higher here but it is up to each individual to visit and check out.



The Point Milk Bar is located at 40 Point Street in Bulli NSW, with the nearest cross road being Southview Street.
Contact + 61 2 4267 2850

George Town and more - February 2016

The Kai Tan San - Cantonese ribbon twist egg dough biscuits.  Green Lane, Penang. 
Photo credit : S.K.Teoh

Call this the Bubur Chacha or the Pungat, it is a vegetarian dessert only made to celebrate the close of the Lunar New Year festivities.  Baulkham Hills, north-west Sydney.

Baked Fujian biscuits and snacks - the Chinese providers and bakers from Penang and Perak now do face competition, have adapted to modern technological processes and have consumers at every age. 

Changi Singapore Airport knows how to captivate for the Lunar New Year of the Red Monkey.

Barista cafes are sprouting up in the colonial quarter of George Town, Penang.

A mate and I anticipate over our natural banana leaf plates, as the restaurant crew place dollops of pickled vegetables and spicy condiments.   The Kerala Restaurant, New World Park, George Town.

Valentines often fall close by to the start of Lunar New Year.

Pork jerky on display - popular amongst the southern Chinese, it is a treasured gift for families and relatives during the festive period.

Mass movements of people occur preceding and after the start of the Lunar New Year in East Asia.

Possibly not so healthy, but hell of yummy - the Choon Pniah or deep fried spring rolls.  

Mee Jawa, simmered in a spicy gravy with potatoes, tofu cubes, prawns and a squeeze of lime.

Typical coffee shop scene in Penang Island - for breakfast, brunch or lunch, you can have your choice of several street food offerings, each priced under one American dollar.

Not for the uninitiated - the Chee Cheong Fun, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and accompanied by tasty Hoi Sin and chili sauces.

Soy sauce stirred egg noodles with Char Siew cuts, veg, pork dumplings and a serve of vinegar infused green chili rings.

Wide flat rice noodles are cooked on a hot wok and garnished with meat cuts, eggs, prawns, veg and a corn starch finish.

Busy, busy.

This young kid knows how to multi-tasks in taking care of Daddy's food stall and catch up on his Smart phone.

Making fresh pastry on the spot.

Making Roti filled with love.

Nothing like a reunion over an eight course Chinese dinner.  The Tropicana Chinese Restaurant, Klang Valley outside Kuala Lumpur.   
Photo credit: Not determined

Sonoma Bakery Cafe - Waterloo NSW

Sonoma breads use simple ingredients like sea salt, sourdough starters and organic flour.  Their signature creations are the Sonoma Miche, with a stand out caramelised crust and the Sonoma Mission, with a contrasting inside of custard feel covered by a golden chewy crust outside.   There is also the pervasive and unique smoky flavour.....

The inspiration for Sonoma bread came from the delights of wood fired ovens and naturally fermented ingredients.   A hundred year old mixer from Bellata NSW came into the picture, together with some California influence in the form of American Allan Scott.  Bellata lies in north central NSW between Narribri and Moree -  and was the home base of the Sonoma founder's grandparents.

Standards like soy and linseed plus walnut fig and raisin are available along side an eleven seed loaf and a Kalamata olive and herbs combo.   The bite and look of the various breads here do stand out as being different.

Muesli cookies are lovely to me but you can also have other options like raw natural, spelt, maple and almond plus honey and spice combinations.

Coffee blends are divided into body and spirit labels.  The former, which I prefer, is stronger, taste more nutty and earthy, suitable for milk based orders and has a buttery and velvety body.  The latter has more complex sensations, with more of cocoa and fruity after taste, so they tend to be more acidic and body smooth.   The Single Origins are from Ethiopia, Kenya and Guatemala.

Sonoma has come a long way since 1997, when founder Kerry Connole began his operations with sons Christian and Andrew.   Along the way was a stall at Paddington markets in inner suburban Sydney.  Perhaps a key development in the Sonoma story was son Andrew's sojourn to and stay in California with Chad Robertson, an icon in sourdough.

Their emphasis on organic sourcing and a then rather unconventional way of baking have remained their trademarks and reputation.   Retail outlets are not large and remain true to village and neighbourhood embracing roots.   Such an ambiance do go well with the inner city and beach locations in which they are currently located.   They contrast with other commercial players in this space - oh no, I would not want to pick a loaf from Coles or Woolworths again...

The Petit Bretton butter cake or more correctly, the Kouign Amann, is more for sugar loving devotees, with creme patisserie loaded between layers of sugar,  butter and flaky pastry.   I like the cherry cheesecake strudel, although there are other favourites like the almond croissant,  Pain Au Chocolat, hazelnut brownies, banana loaf slice, quiche and the fruit Danish.

There are seven outlets in the greater Sydney area, but mainly clustered in the city centre and on the sea board side, including Balmain, Bondi, Woolhara, Paddington, Glebe and Rose Bay.


Sonoma Bakery Cafe Waterloo is located at 2/9 Danks Street in a suburb not far from Oxford Street in Darlinghurst and Moore Park.
Telephone: +612 9699 1920
Opening Hours are from 630am to 3pm every day.