Last Saturday With Mr Jones

Excelsior Jones, Canterbury

What a nice way to spend a raining Saturday. 

This little abyss is smack bang on the corner of one of the craziest roundabout/intersection in the quiet streets of Ashbury. Greeted by an awesome waitress with a sick Basquiat hair, she also took our order the way no other have done before- she sat next to us. Made us feel so at home. As she congratulated us with our food for three for two, our coffee and chai came short after :) Great coffee and if you normally like your chai with a little bit of honey, their brew is already on the sweet side. Although I found it rather unnatural to not add honey, it tasted amazingly without it! We missed out on the breakfast menu, so didn't try the granola, but the highly recommended mushroom on toast was on site, with cheeseburger and  Pork hash we were ready to own this joint. The Cheeseburger had sweet potato on the side which was awesome! The Pork Hash was so nice and the Mushroom on toast was definitely the best I've ever had. Besides the fact that I wish the music was a little bit louder, this joint had a chilled vibe with a relaxed non-pretentious Ashfield-Canterbury people (just hungry people) 

One thing Id like to point out was that I wish the music was a little bit louder :) 

Here's a picture, a keep sake. See you there !! x 

LIKE: AWKWARDVILLE BUT BEST MOCHA

Barmuda, Newtown

Finally got to try this gem everyone has been buzzing about on a nice sunny Sunday morning for brunch with my best friend. The talk of the town is that this place is great. Tucked away on the cute Australia Street (one of my favourite streets in Newtown. FYI!) this place was radiating with life. Before I get into the part where I think this place is great, lets knock a few bumps first. Sunday brunches is everything but quiet-- and I understand that there will be elbow bumpings, order swapping, coffee burning, seat disappearing and worse comes to worse order forgetting incidents (This is death when you're really hungry) but I have accommodated for these and I think I'm pretty lenient when it comes to cafe service. But attitude from waiters, that shit ain't cool. If I don't take it from anyone else, I certainly wont have it from someone about to serve me one of my favorite meals of the day.

Two hungry birds with gleaming smiles of excitement, we reach Australia street. The place was packed (good sign)! So we hesitated the usual bulldozer style set up shop wherever you feel like entrance and courteously waited outside instead. The waitress saw - ignored - waited for a minute- spotted an empty table for two- waited for another minute- waitress saw- nothing. Awkward. What do you do? WE awkwardly (almost rudely) go inside past everyone hypnotised with their awesomely looking aliments, towards the table AND had to actually point out the obvious to this girl - We need a table for two. There's one available right here! Can we sit down...? Immediately ordered a mocha and the usual SFW. I will have to point out, I don't mind coffee delays. I understand that there will be a 10-15 maybe sometimes 20 minute delay on the coffee during busy hours but 30? Come on thats pushing it a little don't you think? If you run a joint where people had to wait that fkn long for their "coffee to start of with", that's fucked. Get another barista for fuck sake. Funny thing is the WAIT wasn't the issue, as I called for service to ensure that our coffee was on the way and not forgotten, we were met with more awkward bullshit -

Me: Hey we ordered a while back, a mocha and... (interupted by waiter dude)
Waiter dude: (in the most stoned way)  You diiiiid!!?, did youuuu?
Me: (taken aback) yeah, just wondering if all is well and that its on the way.
Waiter dude: Yeeeaaa were just really busy right nowwww. Its just a little lonnnnger than exxpeccted.
Me: Oh cool. thanks :)
Me and my friend: (what the f? hahaha? awkward?)

My friend went to Planet Newtown - Bacon, bread, eggs, sausages, mushrooms and tomato; while I opted for the Monster Steak Sandwich- scotch fillet, rocket and aioli. Where my order came without the steak.... (Awkward.).

The coffees came after the food - which is totally the norm in Awkwardville. Still anticipating for the coffees - my heart felt the slowly approaching steps as the waiter places the cups down on our table. Coffee was great but across the table is where shit got real. There we were, frozen in amazement - this jaw dropping, mouth watering, sexual orgasm defying, groan producing gift from chocolate heaven in front of us. My friend is so cool and she let me have the first sip, and ITS FUCKING GOOD. And just like that, all the weird encounters and complaints before this moment dissipated into thin air. Like magic. So good and so worth it. BEST MOCHA. THERE IS CHOCOLATE MOUSSE ON THE FKN RIM! I don't know how shit can top this shit off !! Compliments to the sweet barista - he says he calls it the Chocolate Volcanic Explosion.


Oh, explosion it was indeed ;-p

THE MOTHER ICED TEA

ICED TEA DAYS

1. Black rose (T2), mint leaves, lemon
2. Blue Mountain (T2), kiwi fruit, mint leaves, lemon

xx enjoy

MINT LIFE

Love this one from T2.

BEST.

I can't say I am a dessert person. There are only probably a handful of desserts I have liked in my lifetime and fewer I still like and love. But I am open to try anything and when I do find the good shit- IT'S GOOD. Epitome of this example is this amazing Strawberry Watermelon Cake from Black Star Pastry in Newtown. Now I've loved this place for their coffee and overall vibe, but because I don't generally like desserts and cakes, and despite everyone saying that Black Star is great with their pastries, I've never tried anything. Until one immaculate day. From the moment this beautiful creation touched and tingled my taste buds,  I knew. I love this cake. It is my favorite. How can you not love a cake with crumble, cream, strawberries, pistachio  fkn strawberries and this amazing watermelon layer in the middle. Oh, lets not forget the sprinkled rose petals to top it off!! I mean its perfect.

Have a look through their cute website : http://www.blackstarpastry.com.au/
Better yet, pay them a visit !!

AT MOS PHERE

People say not to have expectations because it gives room for disappointment. I mean, Albion Street - what happens on that street? And the name, Reuben, so personal and direct. HAHA! Despite it all, I had very high expectations for this one. With standards high, Reuben Hills met my expectations and surpassed it. It was all in the atmosphere - friendly, chilled and cool. And the rest just made it perfect.

I try not to overuse 'dope' as an adjective, but this cafe is exactly that! The Fluorescent lights, unpainted concrete floors and walls, exciting minimalist/modern decor gives this place an interesting personality. Throughout brunch, I found myself going crazy at the fluorescent lights! Such a great idea, giving the place a night time feel. And to add to the awesomeness of it all, THE PLAYLIST. I'm going to let you guys experience it for yourself. But much respect to whoever was/is in-charge of the playlist- not only was it exciting for me to hear the songs I listen to at home being played, but cool shit that music like that is still being shared :)

On this visit, we made sure that we got ourselves covered - food, coffee and tea. For food, we wanted to have everything. It all looked ammmmazing! But decision had to be made and chicken was the way to go. Ordered the Chicken in a Basket which was great and had the best salsa. Ever. Dirty Bird was the other choice and it was just spot on. For the coffee, I initially had my usual (thumbs up !) and followed it up with the Kenya Nyeri (butterscotch popcorn) filtered coffee, which was a little intense- intensity of the good kind that is. We ended with Assam black tea which is one nice fucking black tea.

My next visit, which will be very soon, I will try different dishes - The Not Reuben Wagyu and the Chorizo Gritz looks good !! Not a dessert person, but will definitely give it a go next time.

Anyway, besides some corrosion in their steel mugs (which I've seen at a few other places) (which i'm hoping is not deadly), overall good shit. It was so good that I was incessantly talking pictures of everything and everywhere sending it to friends - all while I eat, drink and talk. I'm sure they call it, BAWS MULTITASKING.

Enjoy these shots ;-)

#ilovethiscity

VENN CAFE-BAR-GALLERY, PERTH

Sick cafe we found walking around the streets of Perth city. A little like how we found La Cholita.
Just as the name states, this place is a gallery, industrial design store, cafe by day and bar at night...

Awesome.

Hands down favourite ;-)

La Renaissance Cafe, The Rocks

This French cafe at The Rocks has never disappointed me. Good shit.

TACOS TEQUILA JOINT

La Cholita, Northbridge WA

It caught me at Tacos and then at Tequila. We just had to try it out. And the verdict? Definitely one of Perth's gems. Great atmosphere, good music, ammmmazing food and a wall full of none other than my main man, Tequila (from all over the world) - FKYES. Friendly bartenders and waiters. It does get very busy and waiting time do exist considering that the place don't do bookings, which is both good and bad. Definitely a must see and experience joint. Were from Sydney, we love this place. Going back for more, baby.

Here are some snapshots, but it can really only give you so much. Go for yourself gangsters.

BEST CHEESECAKE

Gotta love this place! Best Ricotta cheesecake. ever. Not to mention all the other cakes they have on offer. I wouldn't know where to begin. They serve small lunches too and good hot and cold drinks. But really, you should be here for the desserts! Check't out!

WITH MY DEAREST ROCKS

TGOA

This one topped it off. The dopest thing I've seen in Sydney, I must say. Sick joint. Closest to awesome. It's a cafe, restaurant, garden, farm, bar, warehouse, coffee roaster, play ground, village. Too good. PS. Super long wait for the restaurant, but I guess the space outside make up for it :)

Sick.

Best toilet signage.

SO GOOD

Coffee. Spot on.
Food. Awesome.
Service. The lady topped my take away Earl Grey with cold water so I can drink it straight away.

Sick cup.

SO GOOD. What a mess !!

Who is the genius that thought of this?

LOVE THIS

COW AND MOON GELATO ARTISAN

78 OXFORD STREET

The Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore. 

My absolute favourite. What made me fall in love? Easy.

Beautifully made All Press coffee, THE most amazing chicken pesto salad I have ever had in my life (I wake up somedays thinking about it), floors and walls of books, it's located in one of my favourite streets in Sydney. How can I not love this place? Ampersand is my home away from home. I get homesick when I see it for a period of time. I think everyone deserves to find a place (besides home) where they can fully relax, think, write, read, drink, talk, socialise, draw - do what you do. This is my place of complete solitary enjoyment... Where's yours?

GOOD

The Strand, Croydon

IVE GOT A LITTLE LOVE FOR THIS PLACE

Small but decent selection. Only the best.

This got a little too messy. The cheese platter was spot on.

An awesome cafe in the daytime and a sick chill out bar at night.

YORK LANE, Wynyard

Check it out :)