Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Hello Happy Cafe


There are heaps of Korean people living in Sydney.  Yet, few Korean style cafés exit here despite that in Korean cafés are prevalently available and it is one of the leading countries in Asia in coffee industry.

Although this café has Korean style, most of the coffee choices are largely espresso based ones.  One interesting drink is green tea latte which I tried tonight.  The latte art was really cute!

I really love Japanese/Korean style cakes which are somehow different from western style cakes.  The former tends to be lighter in texture, mostly mousse instead of heavy cheese cake (Remark: The major difference between mousse cakes and cheese cakes is that the former do not use cheese (e.g. cream cheese) while other ingredients such as cream (and eggs in some flavors) are still available.  Yet the absence of cheese gives mousse cakes lighter texture.)  Usually these Japanese/Korean style cakes are made in different layers with various flavors and the appearance is always enticing!

悉尼有不少韓國人,在韓國,咖啡店隨處可見,而韓國亦在亞洲咖啡市場中,為領導國之一,然而,在悉尼卻很少能發現有韓式的咖啡店。

今天,來到這間韓式咖啡店,它的咖啡也是以意式咖啡為主導。但我仍發現一款他們很有趣的飲品-綠茶泡沫咖啡,他們把圖案弄得很可愛!

實在很喜歡日韓式的蛋糕,它們大致上跟西式蛋糕有點分別,主要在於前者的口感較輕怡,非起司為主的蛋糕,而是慕絲蛋糕 (註:起司蛋糕與慕絲蛋糕最大的分別,在於後者沒有用上起司(例如:奶油起司),卻仍會用上其他的材料成份,例如是奶油(有某些口味,會用上雞蛋)。但就因為慕絲蛋糕沒有起司,令其口感較為輕怡。)這些日韓式的蛋糕,常被做成多層次的口味,而且賣相也相當吸引!

22 The Boulevarde, Strathfield, NSW 2135
Mon- Sun 0830-2200





Mousse cakes of various flavors


Green tea latte




Sunday, 9 June 2013

Di Bella Roasting Warehouse



How to define a good café?  To me, putting aside the quality of beans, consistency of brewing (barista skills) is of prime importance.  Di Bella Roasting Warehouse was the first few cafés I visited when I started my coffee journey in Sydney.  Each and every time of the subsequent visits, coffee and food were of good quality.  

Today I brought a group of friends to come for a coffee gathering.  The location is perfect, situated close to Central Station.  Most of the cafés in Surry Hills close on the weekend.  Di Bella is one of the exceptions.  The place is quiet and you can enjoy good coffee chat with friends.

As usual, apart from house-blend coffee, you can also enjoy single-origin coffee here.  Today, they had Costa Rican coffee.  My day was lightened up by this well-prepared cappuccino with single-origin Costa Rican beans: well-frothed, with chocolate flavor, medium after-taste and good temperature.

Each plate of our ordered food was well-made with reasonable price and good portion size.  Flavour was good as well!

Wanna try some cold-drip coffee?  There you go for a huge-sized cold-drip set which attracts your attention soon after you enter the entrance.

If you want to make some home-made coffee, there is a variety of different brewing tools for you to choose, including mini-cold drip set, siphon set, mocha brewer, plunger, hand-drip filter, etc.

For a couple of lazy weekend mornings, I sat in this café reading books or observing the baristas and customers.  Life can be simple and beautiful when you give yourself some quiet time to observe people around us.  I like Di Bella, and I liked the moments spent there!

An earlier post of Di Bella Roasting Warehouse can be found at this link.

怎去定義一間咖啡店為好的咖啡店? 對我而言,若不把豆子的品質計算在內,沖煮咖啡技巧的一致性絕對是首要的重要性。這咖啡店是我來到悉尼以後,最先光顧的數間之一。往後的每一次光顧中,它的咖啡與食品質素,也相當之高。


今天,我帶一班朋友來這兒聚會。它的地點實在很好,因為就近就是中央火車站。同時Surry Hills一帶大部份的咖啡店,在週末都不營業,而Di Bella就是例外之一。這地方,基本上很寧靜,適合跟友人邊歎咖啡邊談心。


如常地,除了咖啡店的調配口味外,你也可以享用單品豆子。今天,我就選了一杯來自歌斯達黎加來的豆子。這一天,就因為這杯怡人的咖啡,整天的心情也被燃亮起:泡沬充份地打發、帶巧克力的味道、中度的餘韻感、溫度也適宜。


我們點選的每一碟食物也很好,不只做很美味和賣相好,價錢及份量也很合理。


想試一點冰滴咖啡嗎? 這兒有一座超大的冰滴咖啡壼,當你一進咖啡店,你的視綫會不期然被它吸引。


若你想試在家做咖啡,這兒有很多不同沖煮法所需的工具,包括:小型冰滴壼、虹吸壼、意式加熱煮咖啡壼、壓壼、手沖濾杯等。


有幾個懶懶的週未天,我坐在這兒看書,或觀察咖啡師與顧客。當你容許自己一點寧靜的時間去觀察身旁的人,生活其實是可以這樣簡單及美麗。我喜愛Di Bella,也喜愛在這兒渡過的時刻!

關於這咖啡店,較早前的一篇,見這超連結。

Shop 2/50 Holt Street, Surry Hills
Mon-Fri 0700-1600; Sat-Sun 0830-1600

Hand-drip coffee set


What a good coffee~Costa Rican beans!


The menu states that it's ham on toast... wow, it's Parma ham!

Big breakfast


The roaster is no long in use.  But still it's good for education purpose.

Thelma and Louise Café


Situated just beside Neutral Bay Wharf, this little café offers an awesome sea view as luxurious bonus for your breakfast or lunch.  Colors of the walls, fresh flowers on tables and glass doors all concert into a bright and fresh outlook.  Probably your mood will be heightened in such an environment.
 
The Cappuccino I tried was full of nutty flavor, well-frothed and with suitable temperature.

There was almost no flaw in the food ordered by me and my fellows.  All the dishes were well-presented, fresh and delicious.  Service was excellent.  Although we sat on the balcony which was separated by slide doors from the café, waitresses came to check for further service from time to time.

I’d better not write too much.  Hopefully the photos can bring you into an imagination in eating the delicious food in such a well-decorated café with sea view.  This is life!

這小咖啡店在Neutral Bay小輪碼頭的旁邊,在這兒享用早餐或午餐,簡直是豪華的享受。咖啡店內牆的顏色、桌上的鮮華,加上落地玻璃門外的情緻,格外協調,給人一種清新與明亮的感覺,只要你一進去,大槪情緒也會被提升。

我點的Cappuccino充滿果仁口感,泡沫打得充足,而且整的杯溫也很合適。

同行朋友與我點的食物中,我們幾乎找不到任何瑕疵。所有碟上食物的賣相都相當吸引、新鮮及美味!

我還是省回筆墨,少說一點,讓照片帶你走進一個幻想裡,你就在這小咖啡店內,享受著美味的食物,也盡享著眼前的海景。這就是生活!


Mon-Sun: 0700-1700
Shop 1/1 Hayes Street, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089













Saturday, 8 June 2013

The Rag Land

The first time to go to The Rag Land was a good one.  The café is situated in a street which I pass by few times a week.  Yet, I never knew this hidden gem.
 
The decoration here was special.  The customer area was decorated in an approachable and friendly way.  Rocking chair, iron board and shelves with books all created a harmonious home-like feel.  In contrast, the staff’s work area was a totally different domain in which all things are neatly put and presented.  The way they put the espresso bar gave you a clear view about how the coffees were made from the portafilter to your cup.  No secret at all!

How’s the coffee?  Excellent!  A considerable number of cafés in Sydney tend to make espresso-based coffee to an unnecessary high temperature.  It’s true that high temperature can make sugar dissolve easily.  Yet, this ruins the overall cup and brings out a lot of unpleasant bitter flavor (no wonder sugar is needed!)  The way The Rag Land made coffee tells you that they are professional.  I believe that they want us to enjoy the coffee, not to burn our lips!

Food was a surprise!  Baked beans were more than suitable to warm you in a chilly morning.  The Brekkie set has a generous portion size and is good.  I was satisfied with all stuff, including the muesli and yoghurt.  Everything was well prepared and presented.

My visit ended by a chat with Dave, the Café Manager, who had good knowledge about the cafés in Sydney.  I believe that when people know how others’ standards are, they know the industry benchmark and how well they have to improve.  This is called professionalism!  And The Rag Land has been put on my favorite list!

第一次到這咖啡店是一次愉快的經歷,它位處的街,是我每星期也途經數次的,然而,我從不知它是這小區的瑰寶。


它的裝潢很特別,食客的角落擺設得很友善可親。安樂椅、熨衣板及書架令這地方有種和諧的家庭氣氛。對比之下,職員的工作間卻是另一不同的天地,所有東西都是放置得整齊與雅觀。它們放置意式咖啡機的地方,讓你知道你的咖啡從咖啡濾器把手到杯上的過程,一目了然,沒有秘密!

咖啡水準如何?一絕!在悉尼,為數不少的咖啡店把意式咖啡為基礎的咖啡做得不必要的高溫,當然,這樣有助糖溶化,然而,這亦破壞了整杯咖啡的味道,帶出很多令人不舒服的苦澀(難怪要加糖!) 這咖啡店沖煮咖啡的方法該你知道他們的專業。我相信他們想我們享受咖啡,而不是燙傷我們的咀巴!


食物讓人驚喜!焗豆在冬日的早晨讓你暖暖胃。早餐定食的分量慷慨,味道又好,我十分滿意它的食物,包括是堅果穀物加乳酪。所有東西都預備與賣相都相當好。

臨行前跟咖啡店的經理Dave閒聊幾句,他對悉尼的咖啡店都相當的認識。我相信當人們了解別人的水準時,才懂得業內的標準及他們要做多少才能跟別人並列。這才叫做「專業精神」!而我,也把The Rag Land放在我喜愛之列!

Tue-Fri: 0700-1600
Sat: 0800-1500
Sun: 0900-1500
129 Ragland Street, Waterloo NSW 2017
www.theragland.tumblr.com












Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Street Smart Australia

StreetSmart Australia is a not-for-profit organization and it raises money for small grassroot projects and services which are not funded by the government. It takes action against homelessness.

On 7th June, if you buy coffee from the participating cafes, they will match the $1 from each coffee with their own $1 at the point of purchase. Please consider buying a coffee on June 7 to support this event:
  • 16 Feet Espresso: 91A Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Stanwell Park
  • Allpress Espresso Roastery Cafe: 58 Epsom Road, Zetland
  • Aslan Coffee: 1 Council St, St Peters
  • Bay Coffee: Shop 2/213 Rear Military Rd (Grosvenor Lane), Neutral Bay
  • Belaroma Coffee Centre: 75 Kenneth Rd, Manly Vale
  • Bent on Food: 95 Isabella St, Wingham
  • Bissys Cafe: 88 Warrendine Street, Orange
  • Cafe Cookie: 44 Brighton St, Bundeena
  • Cafe Mamma: 5/501 Olive St, Albury
  • Danes Gourmet Coffee: Shop 12, Railway Ave., Wahroongah
  • Di Bella Coffee: 50 Holt St., Surry Hills
  • Don Campos: Shop 1, 21 Fountain St, Alexandria
  • Estabar: Shop 101/61 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle Beach
  • Mockingbird Cafe: 86 Marine Parade, Kingscliff
  • Mr Benedict: 664 Dean St., Albury
  • Oggi's Jamberoo: Shop 2, 22 Allowrie St., Jamberoo
  • OneSixNine Cafe: 169 Alison Road, Randwick
  • Quattro: Suite 1.02 Platinum Bldg, 4 Ilya Ave., Erina
  • Single Origin Roasters: 60-64 Reservoir St., Surry Hills
  • Sunriser Espresso Crane Street: 2 Crane St., Concord
  • Sunriser Espresso Parramatta Road: 13 Parramatta Road, Concord
  • Sunriser Espresso Queens Road: behind Concord Oval; Cnr Loftus St & Queens Rd, Concord
  • Tamper Press Cafe: 35-37 King Street, Sydney
  • The Cake Man Lane Cove: Shop 5, 23-25 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove
  • The Grounds of Alexandria: 7A/2 Huntley St., Alexandria
  • The Little Queen Cafe: 28-30 Queen St., Chippendale
  • Toby's Estate Chippendale: 32-36 City Road, Chippendale
  • Trio Bondi Beach: 56 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
  • Uncle Tom's Pies: 1 Gulgan Rd, Mullumbimby
  • Whole Meal Cafe: 6 Flinders St., Darlinghurst
Enjoy the coffee; support the assistance to the homelessness~!

Please also consider forwarding the message in your network.
Website: www.streetsmartaustralia.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StreetSmartAustralia?ref=ts&fref=ts

Some people are poor because we are lucky.  
Be thankful for what we have, health, job, shelter, family, friends, partner, pets, etc. 

Photo Acknowledgment: newtown_grafitti 

Not just a name

Identity

Who cares?

All I am having

A home

Saturday, 1 June 2013

Bar Nosh – giving me ‘Chicken Soup’ today

I really hate the feeling of being sick.  With a low immune ability against flu viruses, I got affected almost each time people around me had a flu and usually the sickness lingered for days.  The last years before moving to Sydney, I had a flu almost once every 1 to 2 months and I even jogged in front of friends that my future COD should be influenza!
 
Being sick makes me feel very vulnerable and frustrated.  I can reach about half of my usual functioning, lose appetite, feel helpless and weak like a child.  I wouldn’t want that… :~(

In the past, I hoped that people could take care of me and soothe me.  Now I know I have to be strong and more importantly, I don’t want others to worry about me.  I’d rather to hide myself until I recover.  During this period, I’d better find something to soothe myself.

A cup of good coffee plus delicious food do help.  People recommend chicken soup for influenza.  Yet, I had a cup of cappuccino instead.  Without any appetite for meat, I ordered some salad.  Oh good, they had baked pumpkin and beetroot salad.  The warm and soft texture was really soothing.  I said to the beetroot and pumpkin, ‘Give me energy and make me recover by eating you!’… 

I had a dream in my afternoon nap.  In the dream, I danced with the pumpkin and beetroot!  :D

110 Swinson Street, Erskineville, NSW 2043
8021 4317
Mon-Tue: 0700-1500
Wed-Fri: 0700-1500; 1730-2130
Sat: 0800-1500; 1730-2130
Sun: 0800-1500