Flower Child Cafe, Warringah Mall, Brookvale

Date Visited: Sunday 10 November, 2019

I feel like Flower Child Cafe is one of the OG (original) brunch places. It’s the Chatswood location that first became famous for its aesthetic food and aesthetic decor, but the second branch at Westfield Warringah Mall is just as good. It’s a great alternative for those living up north, and I was super excited about brunching here with a couple of friends.

Drinks first, with some classic juices and coffees. The tropical juice was my favourite, with the watermelon, pineapple and passionfruit definitely a super refreshing combination for the summer. For those who love their greens, the green juice with kale, spinach, celery and apple was a nice mix. We also tried the immunity juice ($9) with orange, carrot, lemon and ginger. Depending on how much you like ginger, you’ll either love this or not want too much of it.

In terms of coffees and lattes, the matcha latte with soy ($6.5) was a bit disappointing. The matcha was too subtle for my liking, and it is also priced a bit higher compared to other cafes. I did not try the cappuccinos or hot chocolate, so all I can say is that the latte art is beautiful.

Tropical juice – $9, green juice – $9

Can you get more classic than an eggs benedict? Loved the two poached eggs with a generous serving of avocado. You can also opt for prosciutto or house cured trout instead of avocado, or you can be like us and order house cured ocean trout as an additional side ($7). The croissant was flaky in a really good way, and I enjoyed how well everything tasted together, especially when you added in the beautiful ocean trout (bottom right in my flatlay above).

Eggs benedict – $19

For something a bit different, the crumbed barramundi fillet burger was an adventurous option that paid off. Sometimes a burger feels slightly healthier with fish instead of meat, and it certainly tasted fresh and tasty, though there were some comparisons made to McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish. Anyway, the sweet potato fries with this were the best! Even after spending ages taking photos, these fries were still perfectly crunchy, and seasoned generously the way I like it.

Barramundi burger – $22

I love how Flower Child Cafe has taken some really classic ingredients and changed things up, like this open sandwich with sirloin steak. It’s the little things that really elevate a dish and I loved how this was plated with the sauce served in the little onion cups! This was one of the favourite savoury dishes of the table, with a perfect match between the steak and sauce.

Open steak sandwich – $25

For something lighter, the fruit salad is an easy pick with a wonderful mixture of seasonal fruits, sweet yoghurt, watermelon orange granita, house baked granola and nuts. I enjoyed how fresh the fruit was, but otherwise this wasn’t my kind of dish, with the yoghurt a bit too creamy and overpowering for my personal taste.

Flower Child fruit salad – $19

A sweeter option is the hazelnut french toast, which is stuffed with Nutella and served with some lovely berries, sliced bananas and a heavenly hazelnut gelato. Not only is the plating impeccable, but this was one delicious french toast with unique chocolate and hazelnut flavours thrown in the mix. A generous portion size that is sure to fill you up as well.

Flower Child hazelnut french toast – $22

You also can’t go wrong with a crispy skin salmon at brunch, and this one was so refreshing, delicious and healthy. The salmon wasn’t dry at all, and complemented nicely with the French lentil salad – though we didn’t finish it all, as there were a lot of greens!

Tasmanian salmon and lentils – $27 – gf

Last but not least are these Belgium waffles with dulce de leche, crème Chantilly, vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce, berries and bananas. By far the sweetest dish of all, this was so indulgently delicious for the most part. The exception was having too much, as it then becomes extreme sweetness overload. I definitely think I have a big sweet tooth, but I wouldn’t be able to eat this dish by myself for a meal. I think it’s a perfect dessert option to share amongst a table though!

Banoffles – $21

This was a huge feast! Despite being pretty busy on a Sunday morning, the service was attentive and friendly and it was such a pleasant way to spend a brunch. There’s a huge variety on the menu at Flower Child, from super sweet to classic savoury dishes, and it’s no surprise that Flower Child remains a popular brunch choice. Definitely a great cafe to bring a couple friends along to share several dishes, with the option to shop afterwards to walk it all off!

Disclaimer: I dined as a guest of Flower Child Cafe, but all opinions and photos are my own. Thank you so much Cynthia (@cynthiaeats_) for extending the invite!

Flower Child Cafe | Westfield Warringah Mall, Old Pittwater Rd and Condamine St, Brookvale NSW 2100 | Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Celsius Coffee Co, Kirribilli

Date Visited: Sunday 18 March, 2018

I feel like Celsius Coffee Co is one brunch place that almost everyone has heard of. Known for its beautiful location on Kirribilli wharf, where you can eat with a view of the sea, as well as for its stunning waffle, it’s taken me far too long to get here. When we arrived on Sunday morning, there was already a lot of people milling about outside waiting for a table. We put our names down and waited about 15-20 minutes before getting seated. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a table next to the sea, but rather one of the inside tables, but we could still appreciate the view, just from a little further away.

Obviously, we had to order the Celsius waffle, as it is any food blogger’s dream. Also, have you really been to Celsius Coffee Co if you don’t try the waffle? One of the most beautiful cafe dishes out there, it also tasted amazing. Definitely one of my new favourite waffles, and it was pretty perfect, even though I stayed clear of the peanut butter cream. Upon first glance I was worried it would be a bit dry, but the waffle had the right amount of maple syrup soaked into it, and combined with all the lovely fresh fruit, every bite was a delight. I can see why this dish is so popular, and if I return to this cafe again, it’s an absolute must order.

Celsius waffle with berries, maple syrup, toasted nuts and peanut butter cream – $19 – v

Lately, I have also been quite into healthy vegetarian or vegan inspired dishes, so the super greens breakfast caught my eye. This dish included sautéed kale, asparagus, lime avocado puree, poached eggs, seeds and nuts on sourdough. This was also such a stunning dish, and I loved the presentation of it – it was definitely super green indeed! The mix of all the flavours wasn’t quite right for me, but it definitely ticked the box for making me feel healthy. The avocado puree was a bit strange and didn’t seem to complement the vegetables that well. I love that there was a poached egg in this though, as any dish with one instantly gets extra kudos.

Super Greens Breakfast – $18 – v

For drinks, I had one of their botanica cold press juices, and ended up picking the watermelon, apple and lemon one. $7.50 for juice isn’t the cheapest but it was really refreshing on the hot day. You can see a photo of my juice in the first flatlay photo above. My friend opted to try their cold brew coffee, which was a nice drink with a light caffeine boost that went well with the meal.

Cold brew coffee – $6

There are often really high expectations for insta-famous cafes like Celsius Coffee Co, but I felt like this was one cafe that really lived up to its reputation. I absolutely loved the waffle, and both that and the super greens breakfast was quite filling. Despite how busy it was, the service was also really good, and we did not have to wait that long to order or to catch the attention of a waiter/waitress.

Though Celsius Coffee Co is not the most conveniently located, it’s worth it for its unique ambience. The view below emphasises how it’s the perfect catch up place for any sunny day, and I feel like it won’t be long till I am back.

Celsius Coffee Co | Kirribilli Commuter Wharf, 1/2 Holbrook Ave, Kirribilli | Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Two By Four Cafe, Blacktown

Date Visited: Sunday 5 May, 2019

Two By Four Cafe feels like a totally hidden local gem. It is nested within Fairwood Sales and Display Centre overlooking a lovely little lake and is an incredibly peaceful spot. The outdoor seating would be so perfect on a sunny day, but being windy when we went we enjoyed the modern and cozy interior instead. I had some trouble finding the cafe but the food was definitely worth the effort. Although Google Maps lead me to Greenbank Drive, where there is plenty of residential street parking, it might be easiest to turn into the Fairwood Sales and Display Centre car park off Fairwater Boulevard.

I have to firstly rave about one of the weekend specials, the corn fritters. The sweet potato and corn fritters were served beautifully with a watercress salad, tomato salsa, poached egg and bacon. I think it was the addition of sweet potato that made the fritters so delicious and full of flavour. I haven’t had a brunch dish in ages that has blown me away like this one did. I absolutely loved these fritters and could have easily devoured it all by myself.

The poached egg was beautifully runny, and the fritters had a brilliant crunch you don’t get at other cafes. This was by far my favourite dish of the day and it was so damn good I would love to see it stick around on the permanent menu. It’s a dish I would revisit to have again. The specials run for 3 weeks, with this dish sadly ending on 19 May, so I strongly recommend heading over to try these fritters before they end.

Corn fritters – $16

The other special was the lamb burger, consisting of a lamb kofta patty on a brioche burger. This was a pretty classic burger done very well. Served with a side of crunchy and well seasoned beer battered chips, you can’t go wrong. The chilli aioli added enough of a kick and ensured that the burger wasn’t dry at all. Like the corn fritters, this was one of the dishes I enjoyed more, so it’s a bit of a shame this one also ends on 19 May. Another option is the zaw chicken burger, which we were recommended on their permanent menu. If it’s anywhere as good as the lamb burger, it would be a great choice.

Lamb burger – $16

For the more healthy, the 2X4 bowl is packed with nourishing goodness. Featuring kale, quinoa, mixed slaw, spiced chickpeas, toasted coconut and 2 poached eggs, it was a dish that left my palate feeling very cleansed. It was seasoned with a vinaigrette but was still very much on the bland side. Some vegetables have enough flavour on their own, but unfortunately not the ones in this bowl. It really needed a a dressing to bring it all together and make it a cohesive dish. We also added some marinated grilled chicken for a little something extra. The chicken was well marinated with a distinct flavour, but not moist at all and it didn’t really elevate the overall dish. My least favourite of the day, but it might be a good option for vegetarians or those more health conscious.

2X4 bowl – $14.5 – v, with marinated grilled chicken – $3

A classic cafe dish, the french toast here was pretty respectable. By no means the best I have had, it was still a decent rendition. The brioche toast was accompanied with some mascarpone, berry compote, maple syrup and seasonal fruits. I felt like the brioche relied heavily on the extras for flavours, without doing too much itself. This dish ticks all the boxes but doesn’t exceed expectations like the special corn fritters.

The frenchie – $14

Another classic brunch option is Two By Four’s version of the eggs benedict. With two poached eggs perched carefully on top of smoked salmon, spinach and a toasted English muffin, the dish was a delight for the eyes and for the tastebuds. Though the eggs are meant to be the star of the dish, I could not get enough of the smoked salmon. Combined with the smokey paprika and hollandaise sauce, getting a bit of everything into one bite gave me such a sense of delight. The muffin was also toasted super well, not too hard that it was a struggle to cut. You can have this with shaved smoked ham instead of salmon but I have grown to love salmon in brunch dishes. I really enjoyed this one!

Benny English – $14, with smoked salmon – $2

Moving on to a few last comments on the stunning drinks. I am not a coffee person so I didn’t have a taste of the large mocha, but it sure looks great! It gets extra kudos for keeping its appearance despite my group taking nearly an hour with the food photoshoot.

Mocha – $4, large – $4.5, with soy – $0.5

I am also not a chocolate person, but for anyone who does enjoy chocolate, this iced chocolate with cream would be so perfect. It looks like just what you need sometimes to indulge and treat yourself.

Iced chocolate – $6

We also tried two juices and the green rose tea. Though not made in house, they were still a refreshing accompaniment to the food. The cafe offers four teas from T2: earl grey, peppermint, green rose and english breakfast. We chose the green rose for something a little different, and I really enjoyed the mix of the subtle green tea with the flowery rose. The juice options are from Hrvst St. They ran out of the ones on the menu so we tried a pineapple and lemon juice, and a cloudy apple juice. Both were lovely alternatives.

Pineapple and lemon juice – $5.5 (top left), green rose tea – $4.5 per pot (top middle), cloudy apple juice – $5.5 (bottom right)

Ultimately, I had a thoroughly good time at Two By Four Cafe. It’s a completely unpretentious, wonderful little cafe in Blacktown. The menu has all the good brunch stuff, but it was really the weekend specials that shined. The specials are a great way for the team to experiment with new and unique ideas, as the menu does tend to stray more on the classic side. I would say that I’d be a tad more excited about seeing what they come up with for the specials, rather than trying out more things from the main menu.

However, one thing about the menu I think is great is how comparably affordable it is. When brunch dishes can sometimes stretch to above $20, it’s immensely comforting to see several more budget-friendly reasonable options. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Two By Four as a super pleasant and enjoyable brunch spot.

Disclaimer: I dined as a guest of Two By Four Cafe, but all opinions and photos are my own. Thank you so much Cynthia (@cynthiaeats_) for extending the invite!

Two By Four Cafe | Fairwater Boulevard Fairwater Sales and Display Centre, Blacktown NSW 2148 | Facebook | Instagram

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Glück und Selig, Hamburg, Germany

Date Visited: Wednesday 3 October, 2018

It was a dreary, rainy day but I was not deterred from heading out for my first proper brunch in Germany. Glück und Selig is pretty highly rated so I had some moderate expectations for the food. It was quite busy when we arrived, but we didn’t have to wait too long before grabbing a table outside. Unfortunately, it started drizzling while we were ordering and waiting for the food, but we were then able to move inside when a table freed up.

The menu was drastically different from the brunches I’m used to in Sydney. Rather than complex fancy dishes of avo on toast, eggs benedict or multilayered colourful pancakes, the cafe offerings were a lot more simple.  We decided to order five different dishes to share amongst the five of us. The prices below are in Euros, keeping in mind that 1 Euro is roughly approximate to AUD $1.6 at the moment.

One of the main dishes we ordered was the Orient (Hausgemachter Brotaufstrich, Hummus, Kirschtomaten, Oliven, Schafs-und Ziegenkäse, Joghurt mit Honig und Walnüssen, Butter, Seele, Nussbrot, Ciabatta). The homemade spreads and hummus went deliciously with the bread, and I think I had more than my 20% share. I’ve never been a massive fan of the other elements, such as the sheep and goat cheese, olives or yoghurt, but they helped balance out the fairly healthy plate.

Orient – €10.6

It seemed like a no-brainer to order the Glück und Selig breakfast dish intended for two people (Käseauswahl, Wurstalswahl, Frischkäse nach Art des Hauses, geräucherter Lachs mit Honig-Senf-Sauce, Marmelade, Nutella, grieschischer Joghurt mit Fruchtpüree und karamellisierten Kernen, zwei Bio-Eier, Butter, drei Brötchen, ein Croissant, Ciabatta).

Considering the size and cost of the Orient dish compared to this 2 person plate, this one was pretty disappointing in the amount of food. Featuring some similar elements to the Orient, such as the cheese and Greek yoghurt, this also felt like a pretty healthy plate. I enjoyed the smoked salmon the most, but there wasn’t anything else that impressed me too much here.

Frühstuck – Glück und Selig für 2 Personen – €22

We had to ask for the bread, but they then provided us with this cute box. For both the Orient and the Frühstuck, it seemed like a pretty generous amount of bread, and I liked the variety provided. The bread definitely went well with everything else on the plates, and they were especially needed to go with the spreads and cheese, which some on the table thought were too strong to eat on its own.

Assorted bread/ciabatta – with the Orient and Frühstuck

I adore waffles so we went for the fresh waffles with powdered sugar. It was exactly what it sounded like, but because I’m used to really elaborately decorated and flavourful Sydney pancakes, I didn’t find this anything special. It was a decent waffle in terms of price and taste though, and others might find its simplicity more appealing.

Frische Waffeln mit Puderzucker – €3.4

Probably my favourite dish of the brunch was this crumble dessert-looking dish with vanilla ice cream. The streusel topping was the perfect amount of crunchiness while the inside was perfectly warm and delicious. I probably could’ve eaten one all by myself.

Warme Crumbles (Streusel) mit Vanilla-Eis – €5.5

We also tried the house made scones with clotted cream and marmalade. There isn’t anything bad to say about these, with the scones pretty much made to perfection. I haven’t had scones enough times to be able to judge how good this was relative to other scones, but I definitely really enjoyed eating these scones.

Hausgebackene Scones mit Clotted Cream und Marmelade – €4.9

For my drink, I was super excited to see that there was a chai latte in the menu, since they are nowhere near as common in Germany as in Sydney. I was really pleasantly surprised when it was brought out in a massive glass, rather than the normal coffee-sized cup I’m used to. I’m not complaining though – this drink was definitely good value for money! It was quite a nice chai latte but tasted a bit different from the usual flavour. I can’t quite articulate what it was specifically, though I do remember that the drink on a whole was very foamy, which was not ideal.

Yogi Chai Latte – €3.4, mit Sojamilch – €0.3

When comparing to the Sydney brunch scene, Glück und Selig felt pretty underwhelming. However, it definitely felt like a very German brunch, which is probably the experience I should be focusing on. The major thing that struck me was that the main breakfast dishes all seemed super simple. There wasn’t really anything that required cooking, aside from perhaps the hard boiled eggs. Rather, both dishes simply involved assembling a variety of ingredients, which doesn’t seem too hard to do.

Looking at the bigger picture, the cafe itself definitely had a very cosy atmosphere, with pretty decent service. The waitresses were all fairly attentive and accomodating to our group. Whilst this was a nice and enjoyable brunch, it’s definitely a lot different from Sydney brunch and it made me miss the traditional brunch dishes I’m used to.

Glück und Selig | Heußweg 97, 20255 Hamburg, Germany | Website | Facebook

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Cuckoo Callay, Newtown

Date Visited: Wednesday 4 July, 2018

Cuckoo Callay has long been on my brunch radar, so I was long overdue for a visit. The Newtown branch is located right outside Newtown train station, with indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a great spot to people watch while having a coffee, or for a relatively convenient brunch with friends. It wasn’t that busy at all on a weekday morning, with many tables free.

Ordering started with drinks, of which they have a decent selection to choose from. I’m all about coloured lattes, so I decided to try one of the less common lattes you can find in a café – a beetroot latte. Cuckoo’s version was very subtle in flavour, with barely a hint of beetroot, but it’s still lovely to sip on during a winter morning.

Cuckoo’s beetroot latte – $5

You are spoilt for choice with the menu offering several dishes that sound unique and delicious. Perhaps one of the most seen dishes on Instagram, the Sideways Shuffle consists of a blue swimmer crab cake with corn and avocado salsa, watermelon, cucumber and lemon jelly, and a 63˚ poached egg.

Unfortunately, this was a little underwhelming. Though the crab cake was excellent in flavour, the dish as a whole was gone too quickly. The amount on the plate is on the smaller size, so it’s difficult to justify the $24 price tag, even in consideration that crab is a relatively ‘rarer’ ingredient. I couldn’t quite make up my mind whether the flavours of the crab cake, avocado and watermelon really went together or not (I think ultimately the watermelon is more for presentation than taste), but it’s still a dish I had no regrets trying.

The Sideways Shuffle– $24

One of the dishes I was most keen to try was the Bacon MacDaddy, and I was drooling at the mention of triple smoked bacon, bacon mac and cheese, tomato relish, a 63˚ poached egg and fried shallots on a toasted croissant. It’s hard to go wrong with a combination of such staple brunch ingredients, and this dish was a good one. Once you’ve taken a bite, it’s hard to resist taking another one. I really enjoyed the different textures of the crunchy bacon, soft mac and cheese and the flaky pastry, with the various flavours working pretty nicely together as well.

One thing to note was that the bacon was a little overcooked and a bit hard for my preference. This dish is also not the easiest to share as it’s difficult to cut without having all the ingredients spill out. Nevertheless, this dish was the most satisfying one of all our brunch dishes.

Bacon MacDaddy– $20

Another choice was the Cuckoo’s Nest, which was definitely on the healthier side. The dish was very vegetable heavy, with sautéed broccolini, baby kale, fresh peas and snow peas. It was accompanied with wild grains, spicy chermoula, herbed labnah, activated almonds and a 63˚ poached egg. Although all the ingredients try hard to work together, this was our group’s least favourite dish. It simply was not very memorable and the nest and vegetable bed was lacking that kick in flavour. Heads up that it’s also a little spicy if that’s something you look out for.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest– $22 – v

It’s hard to go wrong with fritters at brunch, and Cuckoo Callay’s offering consists of haloumi and corn fritters. They are served with spiced house labnah, bell pepper puree, zucchini ribbons, roasted cauliflower, cherry tomato and basil salad with a 63˚ poached egg. This was a much better vegetarian dish than the Cuckoo’s Nest, but still not anything overly impressive. It’s a very safe dish, with a combination of flavours that is hard to go wrong with. Considering how innovative other cafes are getting with their brunch dishes and fritters, this dish is pretty average.

The fritters themselves were nicely cooked and had a good consistency, but combined with everything on the plate, it wasn’t a very cohesive dish. I felt like it needed some kind of special sauce or dip to bring everything together.

All That Fritters is Gold– $20 – v

Cuckoo Callay offers some unique dishes, but in this case, I was unfortunately not overly wowed during my experience. Perhaps it’s because I had high expectations going in, or perhaps my standards have grown in consideration of competing cafes making new waves in the Sydney brunch scene. Having said that, I still had a very enjoyable brunch at Cuckoo Callay.

One thing that was especially commendable was their top notch presentation. Every dish is plated beautifully and it was definitely a brunch where the camera eats first. Being an egg lover, I also liked how all the dishes we ordered had a 63˚ poached egg, so I didn’t have to deal with the dilemma of whether I wanted a dish with a poached egg or one without! Other than that, I thought the dishes were inconsistent in quality, with some more tasty than others. The serving sizes also varied, making some dishes more worth it than others. I’m not sure if I would return again given the many other cafes out there, but I’m glad I had the chance to finally give Cuckoo Callay a go.

Cuckoo Callay | 324A King St, Newtown | Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Hattrick, Macquarie

Date Visited: Saturday 10 March, 2018

Hattrick is definitely a top brunch spot within Macquarie Shopping Centre that is well worth a visit! The cafe is pretty hard to find until you know the secret of how to get there. The easiest way is to make your way to Big W, and head to the left when facing Big W. There’s a walkway that goes alongside the car park and it’ll lead you straight to Hattrick.

This was my second visit and the menu has gone through an amazing revamp since I was last here the year before. I was incredibly impressed by how many options they had, how creative and inventive a lot of the dishes sounded, as well as how considerate they were with having several vegan options and listing all the ingredients. It definitely makes brunching so much easier and enjoyable for people with food intolerances.

The bacon and egg combination is an absolute cafe classic, and the what up BAE provides a perfect start to the morning. I loved the clever name, and this double bacon, double egg, bun seems like it would always be a super satisfying meal. The capsicum relish gives it a boost of flavour and the potato gems on the side are such a gem indeed. They’re so good that you really wish that there were more gems, but with this only being $10, it’s amazing value for brunch on a budget.

What up BAE – $10

My choice for brunch was the jungle eggs. The name initially piqued my interest, especially as I absolutely adore eggs. The dish was two poached eggs with sweet potato, mushrooms, spinach, almonds, rockets, olive oil, and chef’s moroccan spices. When the dish came I fell in love with it. The name is so accurate, as the spinach and orange sweet potato really gave it a jungle, earthy vibe. Better yet, it was absolutely delicious and I felt so healthy and fulfilled eating this. The poached eggs were also runny egg yolk perfection, though you can leave the eggs out to make this vegan. I enjoyed this so much I’ll have a hard time ordering anything else when I return to this cafe.

Jungle eggs – $16

My friend opted for the nourish bowl, which consisted of falafel, sweet potato, asparagus, chickpeas, cabbage, avo, almonds and black rice, served with chef’s epic dressing. She also added two veggie patties for $6, though you also have the option to add poached eggs or haloumi for $4, or wood smoked salmon for $7. This is probably one of the healthiest options on the menu, with a lot of fresh goodness. It’s a bit simple, and might not blow your mind, but the veggie patties are definitely a stand out.

Nourish me this – $16, optional veggie patties – $6

For the friend who’s more keen for lunch than breakfast, you can never go wrong with a good old burger. The club trick was a gourmet burger bun filled with crispy crumbed chicken, tomato, lettuce, cabbage and mayo, and served with french fries. It’s a pretty standard burger you can get at many places. This burger was definitely very decent and tasty, with the chicken cooked well, but wasn’t that exceptional.

The club trick – $18

Lastly, it’d be such a shame to visit Hattrick without ordering one of their famous drinks. They have some incredibly aesthetic smoothies, but none of us were really feeling one that day. However, one of my friends decided to get the iced chocolate, which was such a pretty sight and a really nice drink as well. I opted for my usual chai latte with soy, and was happily satisfied. No special latte art on this one, but it always warms me up on a chilly morning.

Iced chocolate – $8.50, Chai latte with soy – $5

I have tried several of the cafes at Macquarie and I’d have to say that Hattrick is definitely my favourite and stands out for several reasons. The food is not only delicious, but so unique and aesthetic as well. To really be a cafe worth revisiting, I think you have to have dishes that other cafes won’t have, and Hattrick ticks this box. I love how healthy and colourful most of their dishes are, and their presentation is absolutely on point. There’s really something on the menu for everyone.

The service and ambience of the place also makes Hattrick the cafe to visit. The staff were attentive when we went, and the interior decor of the cafe is honestly so stunning. It’s quite a light and open area, and the green decorations help create a really relaxing vibe. I would absolutely recommend Hattrick, and it’s such an awesome cafe to visit for a chatty brunch with a friend or two!

Hattrick | Level 1, Macquarie Centre, North Ryde | Facebook | Instagram

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Earth to Table, Bondi Junction

Date visited: Sunday 8 October, 2017

Earth to Table is a short walk from Bondi Junction train station, so it’s convenient to get to. One word to describe the inside of the cafe would be homely. In terms of food, if a cafe has vegan and/or dairy free options, it’s already got a big tick from me. So when I can eat everything on Earth to Table’s menu, it’s definitely super exciting. There were a lot of options, and I had an especially tough time choosing a drink.

I ended up picking the Shepherd’s pie because I’ve never eaten Shepherd’s pie before, and from what I saw on Instagram, the presentation looked interesting. It’s made from a mix of 10 vegetables topped off with a cauliflower mash, sweet potato chips and zucchini gravy. No regrets. It tasted great, the vegetables, mash and gravy worked well together, and though it looked small, it did end up filling me okay. I wouldn’t really call the sweet potato sticks ‘chips’, and they were a bit tough to chew at times, but they did add a nice crunch to the dish.

Shepherd’s pie – $19.90

My friend ordered the berry acai bowl (blend of acai, berries and banana topped with organic GRAWnola). Compared to other cafes, this acai bowl is pretty average. However, if you like acai bowls, then you’ll definitely enjoy this one too. The flavour was spot on, with a good amount of fruit and crunchy granola.

Berry acai bowl – $14.90

Lastly, the drinks! We both ended up opting for organic smoothies. My choice was the pink dragon smoothie (pink pitaya, mango, berries, baobab and coconut water) while my friend got the give me beauty smoothie (coconut mylk, berries, banana, macqui and vanilla). The pink dragon smoothie in particular is very pricey, even though I did enjoy it. Both tasted really nice, just with different emphasis on the fruit flavouring, so I would have equally enjoyed the slightly cheaper smoothie.

Give me beauty smoothie – $9.50, pink dragon smoothie – $11.90

Like many cafes, eating out here does leave a dent in the wallet, with the total bill being $56.20 for two people. I feel like you often do have to pay a premium for vegan/dairy free food, so I guess it’s worth it. A downside I’ve pointed out about some cafes that was also evident at Earth to Table is that the portion sizes aren’t huge, so if you are a big eater or very hungry, you will probably not last. As a relatively small eater, even with my smoothie and pie, I was only satisfied, and not yet very full.

The service was on point and always seemed ready, coming by right when we were ready to order. Ultimately, this was another positive cafe experience, and I would not hesitate to come back and try more dishes and drinks.

Earth to Table | 85 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction | Website | Facebook | Instagram

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