Sparrow & Finch Espresso, Bar & Grill Brisbane

Business rush hour, but on a Thursday, in the so called banking precinct of Brisbane city centre, on the other side of the River from South Bank.   We just followed the trail of office workers and the presence of banking corporate offices.  Then we entered a fresh looking interior, with outdoors visible to Adelaide Street, and felt the vibes of people seeking a quick pick me up or slow business lunch.    The wait space was like a long corridor, Creek Street Corner outside was more of a lane and the ambiance is light and airy but with a buzz.   We chose a table on the pavement under stand up foldable umbrellas but with protection from the road traffic.


The menu is a balance of practicality, so called more healthy and office crowd favourites.  Yoghurt, pasta, wraps and Mediterranean salads are offered along side burgers, steaks, Parmigianas, sandwiches, chips and calamari.   Much of the food is already prepared before  hand and laid out in warmed containers in the long glass display.   My group of four adults and an infant had the pasta, curry and pizza.  Brisbane is a city that does not get into your face, like the brash courier cyclists, self-obsessed middle aged men in suits and the obvious lack of infrastructure causing crowds you find in the Big Smoke of Sydney.   Even in a business hub of town I found it relaxing, although the staff at S & F were caught up in the lunch hour rush.


It is obvious that the place opens late to pamper and relieve the office and corporate workers as the week moves on.  The facade at the entrance is already corporate like, with a deeper yellow colour to further entice us in.    The dishes we had were acceptable in standard but again, I could not expect much further than this as the kitchen churned out food on the go.   Maybe I should return in the evenings and see if the dining lifts up above the daytime rush.


The dark wall colours and layout does suggest attempts to create a more upmarket eatery and drinking hole.    It is likely its location is also its advantage, a stop along a crawl for half suited office crowds to recover or celebrate after the day's events at the office.




Sparrow & Finch visited is located at 100 Creek Street Corner, Adelaide Street, Brisbane Queensland.

Opening hours are  from 630am to 5pm on Mondays and Tuesdays;  from 630am to 9pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays; and from 630am to midnight on Fridays.  Closed on weekends.
Contact +617   3236 5353





 

Mr.Edward's Alehouse & Kitchen Brisbane

Eggs Benedict, first dished up in New York, is now a commonly found staple in breakfast cafes across Australia.

We were looking for breakfast and were diverted from visiting the Anthology Cafe in downtown Brisbane, due to the road blocks set up for Chris Helmsworth and Tom Hiddleson doing their stuff on location shooting their movie Thor: Ragnarok.   I always find magic when something is preventing achieving a plan but then we get to discover something else.    This early morning it was not exactly going on the less trodden path, as the shut off for foot traffic at the junction of Mary and Albert Streets on a working day did cause traffic diversion of both vehicular and human versions spilling on to the nearby city centre roads.


And this was how we discovered Mr. Edward's, aptly named right alongside the road's namesake.    I sensed we were sort of in a tourist visitor area but I could be wrong.  The Verve Hotel was just a stone's throw away, providing a kind of pub and dining environment, and so was Mr. Edward's.  Well this was just at 9am on a work day, but the male staff greeting us, was absolutely helpful, engaging and welcoming.


Mr. Edward's has many cured and smoked meats, so I opted for their version of the   Aussie Big Breakfast.  I was duly rewarded by the most lovely sausages and mushrooms, with a hint of southern European and the Australian farming regions.    What topped my serving was the rather well made bread, good enough to eat by themselves.


Perhaps I have seen too many Eggs Benedict in the greater Sydney area and the Illawarra coast.   The version by Mr. Edward's is drier and the poached eggs are not Onsen style, so there was some comparison in discussion with my breakfast companion SK.  


I am told that the chef here has an experienced reputation, so expectations are set rather high.    We did not experience long waits for our food on this visit.   I reckon it is also a gathering place for parties, with an extensive alcohol bar featuring crafted beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and more - the way to go like in contemporary Sydney and Melbourne, a licensed place with meats, seafoods and in a happening place.   Further, Mr. Edwards is a showcase of Coopers Brewing stuff  - and I did note the Coopers beer infused banana bread...


A further peek into the menu reaffirmed my positive vibes in what they put out for their customers.    Simple sides for main meals later into the day and night included duck fat roasted potatoes;  chips served with Parmesan cheese and truffle;  beetroot slow roasted with almonds and Greek yoghurt; and saute button mushrooms.   The cheese selections are worth checking out - with Cremeux from the Adelaide Hills; the Barossa Triple Cream; Cave Age Cheddar from Somerset; and the Ubriaco Al Prosecco, a salted Italian cow's creation with light citrus notes.

Big Breakfast Mr. Edwards style.

The Trio of pork as a shared plate has ham hock parcels, Tamari char grilled Chorizo, slices of crispy pig ear, braised pork belly and potato scallop.  Tamari is a niche soy sauce produced in the Chubu area of Japan.


The seafood Paella is brimming with spiced Pimiento  (a large, red and heart shaped cherry pepper), Whiting fish, mussels, octopus and squid, and further enhanced by Chorizo, peas and fresh herbs.


I must return....especially for the cherry baked Alaska, with vanilla bean ice cream, hazelnut sprinklings and chocolate sponge.   Plus the wild Rabbit Saddle Sous Vide Ballentine, a rather captivating dish that has artichoke puree, blueberry gel and hand picked spinach looking Sorrel gracing an apricot flavoured pork and rabbit Bon Bon. 


There is also a spanking new barista coffee machine at the front (Edward Street side) - Establishment coffee.   Mr. Edward's opened at the end of July 2015  - owners Daniel Whiffen and Gerry Murphy have designed and run a place to stand apart from typical competitors by offering an Euro feel not just in cuisine like slow cooked meats, but also in the drinks list, and still retaining a familiar ambiance for Brisbane diners.

The early morning after the night before....

Mr. Edward's Alehouse & Kitchen visited is licensed and located at  46 Edward Street, Brisbane.  This is at the junction with Margaret Street.

Opening hours are from 7am to midnight every week day and from 9am to midnight every Saturday.  Closed on Sundays.
Contact +617  3137 1590

New Chambers Greek Islands Taverna Sutherland NSW

We did get our Grappa to close off our meal.    John came up with this idea and we appreciated this, as we felt content, like back on an island village courtyard with the ambiance and buzz with mates and family.


Greek cuisine are a community thing, so share plates are always a good idea with these Mediterranean restaurants.  The menu may be male skewed, but then that could be related to the cuisine.    There is Haloumi but perhaps more salad creations can be valued by anyone of both genders to balance the meaty stuff and chips.   Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire for many years and at times I am blurred in my understanding of what is Turkish, Greek and Lebanese.

It was a packed Friday evening and the mostly young wait staff were quick on their feet.
Starters were to warm up the palate and we had the only salad then - the usual olives, tomatoes, Fetta Cheese and the like.    There was this pink salmon dip which was gentle but perhaps not strong enough for me.   


On the next opportunity, I would love to try the lamb Casserole, made with a heady mixture that includes Okra and the inevitable tomato.   I am also eyeing the grilled pork chops and the Zucchini fritters.   Interesting enough, the New Chambers also offers the GIgantes, Greek styled baked beans, something perhaps more suited for breakky time.

I am not fully a grilled meats person but i must recommend the quail and chicken offered as the mains.    That evening they were done just right, with a light smoky taste that also allowed the marinade and the meat texture to show.   The Ortikia or quail is my recommendation   - I like to split the bones, I savoured the well cooked meat and thought it was better than chicken or the lamb. 

What impressed me most was the dessert, but then again I am a dessert person.   I already  love angel hair pasta in savoury dishes and was amazed that they used this for the Kataifi, which turned out pleasantly not to be as sweet as the Baklava and the Bourekakia.     With nuts, lemon juice and cinnamon accompanying this dessert, Kataifi could have been a fusion creation in the Middle Eastern region from long ago.    Bourekakia is the Greek cousin of Borek in Turkey and are essentially flaky dough puffs with various fillings.







The New Chambers Greek Islands Taverna visited is located at Suite 47, 40-44 Belmont Street in Sutherland NSW.


Opening hours are from 12 noon to 2pm and from 6pm to 930 pm from Wednesdays to Fridays;  from 6pm to 930pm on Saturdays; and from 12 noon to 930pm on Sundays.  Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Contact +612  9542 2333



My impressions of the New Chambers Greek Islands Taverna are that it wants to be a party place and a village hub.   It helps when they organise their dishes into packages and share plates.  Its location in the southern suburbs may have a benefit as there is no hassle for vehicle parking like in Cronulla or in the inner city suburbs.  

My group of five adults and a child did not get to try the seafood but that is another test of how well the Greek food comes up.   There was an enjoyable atmosphere when we dined but we seated outside and not in the middle of packed tables at the back.    I found service was efficient and the stages of the set meal for us progressed well.


My impressions of the New Chambers in Sutherland are:

Ambiance:  3.5 out of 5
Culinary:  3.75 out of 5
Customer Engagement: 4 out of 5
X Factor:  3.75 out of 5
Overall:  3.75 out of 5

Super BBQ, Level 3 Food Court, Market City, Chinatown Sydney NSW

I had been tipped off by a family from the north-western corner of the greater Sydney area to try this outlet.


They always go for the roast duck.  Now this can be a tricky bird, as it naturally has lots of oily portions to keep the cold out.   I had eyed this Aussie guy smilingly collecting his noodles with the duck...it did look captivating.   So I had a test with the traditional mix - soy sauce stirred egg noodles, dumplings and roast duck.


I loved it and would return!   It also made me get takeaway boxes of the Char Siew and roast pork.   The former has a juicy tenderness and the latter has a crispy top over the succulent meat.    I can only compare with the barbequed meats at the Eight Modern Chinese Restaurant at market City Sydney Chinatown and with some of similar servings at Hawker. 


The roast duck has an oomph at this Super Chef BBQ.   Its outer skin is not dry and the meat inside has flavour.   Now there is no fancy orange and cherry stuffed inside here, it is just how the skin is hung so dry to capture the honey and other coatings done Cantonese style.





Super Chef BBQ visited is located at the Food Court, level 3, Market City, Haymarket Sydney NSW.


Opening hours are from 930am to 830am every day.
Contact +612  9211 3118

My impressions of the Super Chef BBQ are  focused on one thing - the luscious and tasty roast duck.   No Hong Kong styled goose though.....but prices charged charged are practical and service is fast at this takeaway.   The meats are not overly oily as found in other competitors.

Cafe Long Shot Beecroft NSW

Owners Daniel and Melissa Farr have a busy cafe going on the weekend arvo we visited.   The staff are young and abuzz with work.   I do love the burgers here and they can be wholesome plus yummy.   The pumpkin wedges are a good idea that stands out.   There are hand crafted cakes, looking colourful and inviting.   Vehicle parking is not that hard for the shopping centre has provided that, although at rush hour one has to be patient, in this corner of a north-western Sydney suburb.


Coffee is Morgan's.  Why head down to Surry Hills or Balmain when you can have all this nearby from home?   This cafe is not to be confused a similar name sake in the Melbourne Docklands.   The brunch and breakfast menu is comparable to what I find in many of Wollongong's better barista cafes but the crowd in Beecroft can be of a different variety.   Maybe it is after Saturday morning activity for the kids and the older folks here look more reserved.  


We sampled the vegan lemon cheesecake and it was elegantly made, was rewarding and not too strong.  I would return for the burgers....

Cafe Long Shot visited is located at Shop 18, 6-8 Hannah Street, Beecroft NSW.
No reservations taken.
One Cup from the Good Cafe Guide from the Sydney Morning Herald.

Opening hours are from 7am to 5pm on weekdays; from 7am to 3pm on Saturdays and from 7am to 1pm on Sundays.
Contact  +612  9980 5377