The Ground Wollongong NSW

Opened last year, the Ground is along Kembla Street towards the Crown Street Mall, up a slope on the hill that is Wollongong CBD.  

Coffee is by Di Bella  - something good for the morning at being strong, flavourful and wholesome.   Di Bella in Australia started in Queensland and now have around 1100 retail outlets specialising in this blend.

The cafe has a modern setting, with its inner walls packed with things to read or catch the eye.   It has both indoor and outdoor seating.

I was tempted for another Eggs Benni, but held myself back.     

A special on the black board, the smoked salmon with omelette and greens, caught my eye.  A beaut combination, with a succulent salmon and a well done thin omelette.     To me it was just right, though a bit light for lunch  for some others.  The menu list is neither over the top nor too little.  

Nothing like a chat with the barista to break the ice.  The food came out rather efficient for sit in customers,  although I noticed someone waiting patiently for his three boxes of take aways.

So it was a good introduction for me to another of Wollongong area's breakfast and brunch scene.   

There were many take aways happening during this visit.   Kembla Street also has a residential flavour towards its north.   The Ground can be said to be sited between the business side and this residential reference.   Vehicle parking can be on the road sides but do be aware of parking meter requirements in the day time. 

My impressions of the Ground Cafe Wollongong:
Ambiance: 3 out of 5
Customer Engagement:  3 out of 5
Culinary Delight: 3.5 out of 5
X Factor:  2.5 out of 5
Overall:   3 out of 5




The Ground Cafe is located at 45-53 Kembla Street, Wollongong NSW, near the ATO and Red Cross Blood Donation Centre.
Opening hours are from 630am to 4pm every week day and from 730am to 2pm on Saturdays.  Closed on Sundays.
Contact +61 2 4227 5375

Beast & Bread - Wollongong NSW

Is the emphasis more on the bread at B & B?   I reckon it's more on a healthy lifestyle.  There is something refreshing about the menu.  There are already so many cafes for breakfast and  brunch in the Wollongong region  - but B & B stands out, the moment you step in, mindful of the steps from the sloping and narrow Crown Lane, and note the sandwiches, salads and other stuff on people's tables.  And what a crowd it was, with me mindful that Humber was just next door.

It must be more than just the food.  Ales, wines and beers?  That helps.   Yummy sandwiches, a definite yes.   Salads bring us to a new dimension, for example:

- Cinnamon and Paprika Roast Potato with Zucchini pickle, chive, shallot and Cuban Mayonnaise.
- Ramen Noodle Slaw with Edamame bean, sweet cucumber and fried onion.
- Spiced Roast pumpkin, green bean and fennel.

And I still have not quite nailed the X Factor.....

Wholesome lunch bite with this braised pork roll - Mr. Pig sandwich.

The interiors are another testament to Huddle & Co., with a bright looking northern Euro feel, allowing the natural light to permeate the atmosphere.  Ply, steel and solid timber have been arranged and designed to provide a contemporary look.  

The hand made communal table can be viewed as the centre piece, instead of the prep and coffee counter, which is placed to one side.   What caught my eye as well is the magnetic panel which solidly holds cutlery beside each side table.

Hessian covered pots, great strong coffee, regular changes in protein plate options.    A lively lady staff member who still manages to cope with the increasing number of customers streaming in with expectation, who are hungry and who like what they see in the menu.

What adds to the vibes is perhaps a rising sense of a community knowing where to find reliable, yummy and interesting ways of preparing so called cafe menus.    True, at times, we can depend on southern fried chicken and pork crackling being available.  Then there are delights like  buckwheat slaw and Salsa Verde.  I observe the generous portions.I have to reckon more about B & B, all I can say now is the positive energy it has...

My impressions of the Beast & Bread:
Ambiance:  3.5 out of 5
Customer Engagement:  3.5 out of 5
Culinary Delight:  3.5 out of 5
X Factor:  3.5  out of 5
Overall:  3.5 out of 5 


Recommended menu choices:
Mr. Pig Sandwich
Light and refreshing salads.
Pork, fennel and Ricotta meatballs.
Various combinations of protein plates.




Beast & Bread is located at 8 Crown Lane, Wollongong NSW and is part of the GPT Shopping Centre down town.
Opening hours are from 8am to 5.30pm every week day;  from 8am to 10pm on Saturdays; and from 8am to 4pm on Sundays.
Contact +61 2 4226 4629

Blackbird & Co - Erskineville NSW

I realised that I had just encountered the most innovative Eggs Benedict in the Blackbird Bennie.  Speckles of taste in Prosciutto crumbs dotted the poached egg and truffle Hollandaise sauce.  This topping merged with the right choice of double smoked ham below, layered and nestled on the toasted English muffin with hidden delights of wilted baby spinach.  The effect on the palate is mellow, smooth and silk like.   The Hollandaise takes a gentle back seat as other ingredients are allowed to uplift the whole experience.

The brew is from Five Senses.   Menu offerings are consulted with the Barista and other staff by the Chefs, Janice McGregor and Leo Nguyen and owners Chau Tran and Minh Nguyen.   Chau and Minh have adopted an open mind of embracing the possibilities with the cuisine and creations at this new cafe and culinary adventure.

We have been exposed to fusion for many years now in this burgeoning multi-cultural and cosmopolitan society that Australian policy had wrought and developed.   The journey in culinary fusion continues significantly with Blackbird.

Chocolate croissants.

With lots of choice in seating alternatives, Blackbird offers a garden setting outside and also tables inside where you can watch the goings on the street and pavements.  The place does have a sunny aspect with generous glass panels and a long wide counter, below which I noticed beautiful tiling.  It reminds me of Vietnamese-French influences in the lay out, just like in the food.  Yet the menu is refreshingly contemporary, changing occasionally for the customers and with an underlying modern Aussie angle. 

Blackbird's so called big Breakky - the "Breakfast of Champions"  has confit field mushrooms lying together with spinach on sourdough, enhanced by the grilled Chorizo and smoked bacon, filled up by scrambled eggs and uplifted by the sharper taste of grilled tomato.   More Mediterranean than Asian or Aussie.

The Blackbird Granola has Chia seeds soaked in almond milk, apart from the expected load of puffed grains, dried fruits, yoghurt, roast nuts and cuts of seasonal fruits.

Brunch Risotto is what I look forward on my next visit.  Contrasting textures of smoked pork and soft quail eggs are offered with garnishing of Swiss cheese, field mushrooms and semi dried cherry tomatoes.

Star anise is added to throw a sort of spanner in the bite of the mixed fruit sourdough, served with Ricotta, pear and a dash of spread on honey butter.  

Waygu beef and Swiss cheese is packed into a burger with a molten cheese centre, garnished by tomato, rocket , onions and in-house pickles before being drizzled with smoked garlic Mayonnaise.

A perhaps less heavy burger choice is the one with mushroom Schnitzel, graced by onion Chutney, smoked garlic Mayonnaise and Mozarella cheese.

Opened in mid-April this year, Blackbird & Co. has enthusiastic and energetic staff dealing with customers.   The tall guy attending that morning had good vibes interacting with every one else and a female staff had this passion in her eyes when chatting with me about the cafe and its development.   People are eventually what counts  - and when you also have exciting creations made in the kitchen, it can all result in a powerful combination, outcome and experience.

My impressions of the Blackbird & Co.:
Ambiance: 3.5 out of 5
Customer Engagement: 4 out of 5
Culinary Delight: 3.5 out of 5
X Factor:  3 out of 5
Overall:   3.5 out of 5


Recommended menu choices:
Blackbird Bennie
Coconut infused and Lime flavoured Panna Cotta.
Aussie smoked Bacon and fried egg Bahn Mi with home made pickles,Pate, soy Mirin, herbs and home made Vietnamese styled barbecue sauce.
Smoked salmon Bagel with capers, watercress and Kimchi infused cream cheese.
Buckwheat pancakes with toppings of Miso caramel, crushed peanuts, bacon, fresh banana, coffee infused Mascarpone and berries.



Blackbird & Co. is located at 1/177 Mitchell Street, Erskineville NSW.    This is near the junction with both Maddox and MacDonald Roads.
Opening hours are from 7am to 4pm every day.
Contact +61 2 9516 1961