Bianchini's Espresso Gymea NSW

A morning's welcome during the cooler season - and at other times as well!





The menu is practical, not over done and not pricey.   Bianchini has Italian vibes but also so dinky di Aussie in its streamlined items offered of burger, salad, eggs, breads, pancakes and porridge.    There is the expected Big Breakfast.  Sandwiches are available at lunch time.  The coffee is good and reliable.   It is a place for a quick drop by or to linger longer.  Located on a side road, it offers relief from the main road in Gymea's main strip.   The staff are friendly and yet focused on their work. It is an easy going atmosphere for customers.   Oh wait, there are also Italian styled cakes....

So a lifeguard in Italy is also known as a "Bianchini."   This espresso business is also open at Surf Road in Cronulla Beach, the first outlet opened in 2014.   And there is the connection between this business and the southern Sydney shire lifestyle.




Bianchini's Espresso is located at Shop 2, 4-8 Warburton Street, Gymea NSW.   
Opening hours are from 7am to 4pm every day.
Contact + 61 2 9525 2294



My impressions of the Bianchini's Espresso in Gymea NSW:
Ambiance: 2.5 out of 5

Customer Engagement: 3.5 out of 5
Culinary Delight: 3 out of 5
X Factor:  2.5 out of 5
Overall:   11.5/4 out of 5

 

Bread & Circus Wholefoods Canteen Alexandria NSW

Eggs are described as biodynamic.  Some eggs are labelled as not so scrambled.  Butter is available in an interesting combination of cinnamon, thyme and honey flavours.  There are phrases used like "preservative-free" and "free range".   The Kimchi is described as probiotic, slow fermented and raw, which is accurate.   Organic chicken is poached with olive oil or a combination of ginger and lemon.

Touches of truffle and white Quinoa.   Menus handed out state the current calendar day.    I noticed the Rainy Day Toast.  Communal table seating,  a first meet counter like before entering a hotel facility outlet.    There is a buzz at meal times , not just from BAC itself but also from its neighbouring fellow food outlets. Oh yes, there are the blends, smoothies and cold pressed juices, as in any respectable farmers' market but in a urbane landscape.

I noticed the prevalence of assembled food boxes at BAC, a feature I came across as well at the Flat White With One Cafe in Russell Vale NSW.   Here quality ingredients are selected and assembled for putting on bread or just eaten themselves.  There are less plates to clean up and cutlery is as usual provided on the tables. 

It is worth the while checking out the BAC teas - I noticed the Genmaicha and the Sencha Fukashima super premium blends available.  The former has roasted brown rice puffs in a rather comfy gentle tea and the latter is more mellow and a seasonal blend.   

The Dan Cong Oolong has got funky sensations of apricot, peach, chocolate and dry crunchy tannins.  My fav tea from South Africa, the Rooibos, lies side by side with the Himalayan Earl Grey in the menu.

I am a bit hesitant about the Liquid Lama -  oowah, butter and coconut oil into your coffee fix?  I opted instead for the Daily Green, which came out greenish and had pineapple , lemon, mint, kale and spinach.

Next I shall go for the Affagato, which has French vanilla gelato supplied by The Cow & the Moon Cafe in Enmore NSW together with the espresso.

My assembled box.

With so many ingredients, I trust that there must be some systemic and well driven process for staff to ensure every described and listed stuff actually arrives on the customer's serving.  Now at times, BAC is so packed that even people may forget to take away their shopping..... in all this excitement.

Even the meats offered skew to the so called healthy side.   Pino's smoked turkey, beef, ham, Inglewood chicken and Bangalow pork, they are served with yoghurt, avocado, salad, tomato, cheese and nuts.  For those used to burgers and roast grills, they may not have seen a wider variety of veg, herb and non-meat offerings at one sitting.. No burgers though and no seafood.

When there are queues at certain time slots of specific days, do have a strategy, walk around exploring the neighbouring food outlets whilst one in your group stands in queue and just breathe and relax. 

Is the BAC a fruit market, a farmers market or just a gathering place for a different eating lifestyle?

Rustic, casual and sense of community eating.

BAC offers a fresh change of air and vibe - the food and drinks are more healthy options,  the place seems to be a fruit and veg market (but it is definitely not) and there are numerous combinations of ingredients for each one to say 'Why not?".

The females saw pink, the guys saw greens.   I saw  a different kind of layout, with a dynamic menu that can change with seasonal supply and a new dimension in this competitive world of pleasing palates in the Australian city space.

The Bread & Circus Wholefoods Canteen is located at 21 Fountain Street, near the corner of McEvoy Road and Fountain Street, in Waterloo NSW.   It is one of five businesses operating within the same building.This building is across the road from the car park provided by Dan Murphy's.
Opening hours are from 7am to 3pm every week day and from 7am to 4pm on weekends.
Contact + 61 418 214 425




My impressions of the Bread & Circus Wholefoods Canteen in Waterloo NSW:
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:
Summer on toast with goat Chevre, torn basil, chilli flakes, Heirloom tomatoes and lime.
Flourless Pancakes with caramelised banana, strawberry, biodynamic egg, lemon butter and Ricotta. 
Foxy Autumn Porridge, a riot with Pistachio, toasted coconut, blueberry,caramelised banana, pre-soaked and whisked organic rolled oats and mint drizzled with Agave succulent flavours  (Cream is optional).
The Foetal Position tea blend, with Bragg's apple cider, tea tree, honey, vinegar, cinnamon, thyme, rosemary, ginger and lemon.
Fritatta, with goat Feta, pumpkin, biodynamic egg, caramelised red onions, thyme, basil, kale and salad of your choice.

 

La Vigne Bakery Eastwood NSW

It was late evening and the first truly chill had set in over the north-west of greater Sydney.
I am always impressed that the La Vigne Cafe is open till late, when the norm is for similar cafes to shut latest by 5pm. Vigne refers to the vineyard and sets the theme for their cakes and displays.

Family groups came in throughout the evening, mostly having take away.  There is 
tightly spaced seating as the place is rather compact, although by street side along Eastwood's so-called Korean section of commerce, near Aldi's.  

Korean bakeries have a slightly different way of making their pastries, breads and cakes.  Some say  they are more light on the bite, others say they are not so intense with ingredients and so the over all flavour is a mixture of French, Oriental and fusion.  One thing strikes me - there are unique Korean stuff they utilise, like red beans, green tea and sticky rice.  This leads to my favourite item from La Vigne - the sweet potato cream cake, heavenly on the taste and elegant on the bite.  It is not starchy at all and breaks all perceptions of carbohydrates dominating anything else.  This particular cake I like is made from  a specific purple coloured sweet potato.

I am told celebrity New Yorker David Chang of Momofuku fame did have a soft spot for the La Vigne.   The coffee here is not that strong but I do find the varoiety of cakes do mroe than make up for this.  Next I yearn to try their Patbingsu!





The La Vigne Bakery is located at 82 Rowe Street, Eastwood NSW.   
Opening hours are from 11am to 10pm every day.
Contact + 61 2 9858 3005



My impressions of the La Vigne Bakery in Eastwood NSW:
Ambiance: 2.5 out of 5

Customer Engagement: 3.5 out of 5
Culinary Delight: 3.5 out of 5
X Factor:  2.5 out of 5
Overall:   3 out of 5 



Recommended Menu choices:
Sweet potato cream cake
Gingerbread man
Patbingsu, an ice shave dessert with fruits and red beans, related to ABC Ais Kacang in south-east Asia
Coffee bun
Strawberry Chiffon
Chocolate cake