Gather on the Green

As compared to Hong Kong, Sydney has more ‘blue’ and ‘green’ – blue sky and grass and trees, things people living in Sydney should not take for granted.  Not to say having a picnic on the lawn, you can’t even sit/lie/walk on the lawn of some major parks in Hong Kong… Ridiculous, right?!

 

At the time when I called to make a booking at this café, the staff asked, ‘Do you want to borrow the blankets to sit on the lawn?’  Wow… something I have never thought of!  Yes, I can imagine how great it will be for having food and fun with friends or family on the green.

It’s a shame that the time when we visited the café, it was a rainy day.  But we still sat outside the café to soak up the early spring breeze.  The café was so popular that there’s hardly any empty table even it’s a rainy day!  No wonder … the food and coffee were so good.  We had 13 people in this brunch and we were all happy with the food, nicely done and tasty!  Definitely, it deserves another visit on a sunny day!

跟香港比較，悉尼的「藍」與「綠」的確是比較多－藍藍的天空，跟綠綠的草與樹，這一切也許居於悉尼的人絕不應當是理所當然。莫說是在草地上來個野餐，你休想在香港的公園坐／躺／踏在草地上！很荒謬，對不對？

致電預約的時候，店員問我：「你要借用我們的野餐坐蓆用在草地上嗎？」噢！這是我從沒想過的！對，我能幻想，若跟家人或朋友坐在草地上分享食物及歡樂，那是多棒的一回事！

可惜我們到訪咖啡店的那天，是一個下雨的早上；然而，我們仍坐在咖啡店的門外，享受一下早春的和風。這咖啡店很受歡迎，即使是下雨天，仍座無虛席！怪不得！原來因為咖啡跟食物都用心製造。我們一行13人，全部人都對食物相當滿意，不單有賣相，也很美味。當然，我絕對認為這咖啡店，是值得在一個好天氣的日子，再訪一次。

15 Fowler St, Camperdown NSW 2050

https://www.facebook.com/GatherOnTheGreen

Mon- Sat: 0700-1700

Sun: 0800-1700

Phone: 9557 4106

Espresso Organica

I like the idea of Suspended Coffee.  People have a chance to beware of the needs of others, those less advantaged than us.  People of various types, including homeless, jobless, refugees, asylum seekers, torture claimants, elderly and living on the limited allowance from the Centrelink (equivalent to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance in Hong Kong), receive no or limited government financial support.  To them, a coffee is luxury.  To extend our concern and love to others, the concept of Suspended Coffee was born.  You and I can pay for a coffee which will be given free to a person in need.

At the time when I searched for cafés in Sydney doing Suspended Coffee, this café became one of my target ones to visit.

Although being situated in a quiet suburb in Concord, this café is popular and busy in both daytime and nighttime. 

They roast their own coffee so as for freshness and quality control.  The design of the exhausting pipes is interesting because the few roasters all join to the main pipe for central processing and outlet.  People who have concept about roasting must know that the greatest issue of roasting is the processing of the heavy smoke (almost looks like a house on fire! LOL).  You must appreciate their design here.  As the name implies, they are using a lot of organic beans which organic advocates would support. 

Coffee quality is undoubtedly satisfactory.  Apart from coffee, food was outstanding.  I went there with two groups of friends, one for dinner and one for breakfast.  We were all satisfied with the food (and the price!)  They also do stone grilled pizza and dessert.

I like the decoration here, probably because of the old historic items.  Historic things always tell you and I about the wisdom of our ancestors and how lucky we are for the things we are having.

Well done Espresso Organica, for the food, the coffee and the concern about those in need in the community!

很喜歡”預付咖啡”這個意念，讓我們能夠意識到社會上一些比我們不幸的人士。社會上不同人因各種原因，得不到或得到僅足餬口的政府經濟援助，這些人包括：無家可歸者、失業者、難民、尋求庛護的人士、酷刑聲稱者、老人及得到有限度社會保障的人士。對於他們來說，一杯咖啡簡直是奢侈品。基於以上的原因，預付咖啡的槪念產生了，好使有需要的人得到關懷。我們所付的預付咖啡，將會到有需要的人的手中。

當我在搜尋悉尼咖啡店中，有哪些是提供預付咖啡服務時，我找上這一家。它雖於位處於一個寧靜的小區Concord，但實是當地很受歡迎的咖啡店，無論日與夜，你都可以見到顧客在內光顧。

他們自家烘焙豆子，確保新鮮與質控。烘豆機的排氣管是特別設計的，把數個烘焙機的排氣孔都連上，集中處理與排氣。假如你對烘焙有認識的，大槪會了解控制烘焙後產生的煙，往往是最難處理的(控制得不好，整個室內空間可以像是著了火樣的誇張!) 因此，你也許會欣賞他們排氣的設計。同時，跟咖啡店的名字相關，你或許能想像到，他們用上不少有機豆子，因此，有機支持者大槪會喜愛他們。

他們的咖啡水準不用置疑，除咖啡以外，食物的質素也相當超水準！

我跟兩班朋友到這兒光顧過，一次是晚餐，另一次是早餐。我們對他們的食物也感到相當滿意(價錢也相當合理)！他們亦同時自家製作石烘意式薄餅及甜品。

我喜愛這兒的裝潢，也許因為那些帶歷史的物件，它們往往告訴你我，前人的生活智慧，以為我們現今有多幸福，能享有這麼多的東西。

為這咖啡店在食物、咖啡及對社區關懷上作出的種種而打氣！加油!!

43 Majors Bay Road, NSW 2137

Website: http://espressorganica.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspressOrganica

Mon: 0530-1800

Tue-Sun: 0530-2200

Phone: 9736 3222

coupons of suspended coffee

Bread and Circus

Situated at a corner of the complex of 21 Fountain Street is this little café – Bread and Circus.  In a chilly winter morning, nothing is better than sitting in the café facing the window to enjoy some sunshine.

Every corner was well-decorated with fresh vegetables and fruits, potted plants and colorful flowers.  What an experience!

The coffee was well-made with nutty flavor.  The signature breakfast – not-so-scrambled egg set was good in both presentation and flavor.  It marked a good start of my day.

Next to the counter, you could also find some freshly baked products for a lighter choice for your breakfast.  Drink menu was amazing.  You could find a whole page of drinks with different combination of fresh vegetables and fruits.  What can you ask for more?

I totally have no hesitation in recommending this café!

來到澳洲以後，讓我重新認識陽光，感到它的溫暖，讓我不知不覺的愛上它。乍暖還寒的早上，還未能穿上短裝，風吹來，仍是冷冷的。這一刻，陽光透過咖啡店的落地玻璃，吻在我的臉上，非常溫暖，讓人有點感動。

咖啡店的每個角落，也看得出經過悉心佈置，新鮮的蔬果、翠綠的盆栽、鮮艷的花朵在你的周邊，讓你如置身於田園裡，輕鬆悠然的享受美好的景緻。

咖啡造得很好，入口是一陣的醇和，不澀不苦，卻有一陣果仁的口感。

點了一份早餐，它叫Not-so-scrambled eggs，從食物的賣相，到質素，我想沒有能讓我批評的餘地。

它們還有新鮮烤焗的糕餅，給你一些輕怡的選擇。

要一讚的，是他們設有一整張餐牌的飲品，全部都是新鮮的蔬果搭配，讓你在味覺與健康上多給予選擇。

這，絕對是值得推薦的咖啡店。

Shop 2, 21 Fountain Street, Alexandria, NSW 2015

Website: www.breadandcircus.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breadandcircuswholefoodscanteen

Mon- Fri: 0630-1600

Sat & Sun: 0700-1600

Phone: 9698 2939

Not-so-scrambled egg set

Sub-Station Cafe

Along McEvoy Street, there sits the premises of the then Electricity Sub-station 152.  Having finished its mission in the electricity work, it became the premises of a little character café in September 2012 – Substation Cafe.

Once you enter the café, your eyes will be attracted by the little outdoor courtyard where you can enjoy the sunshine with a cup of coffee.  Beans are from Single Origin Roasters.  Cafés and coffee lovers know that Single Origin Roasters is careful in choosing the cafés to which it supplies the beans for quality control purposes.  Therefore, coffee quality is a guarantee here.

Food?! 4 friends and I visited the café today and all of us were satisfied with the food.  Ingredients were fresh.  Tastes were good.  Presentation was excellent.  Most of the bakery products were freshly made in the café to ensure customers can enjoy the freshness of them.  What else could you ask for? 

From the food quality and the ingredients they presented to the customers, I could feel the deep passion of this little café to provide quality food and service to the customers.

Last but not the least, the service of Orit, the owner, and the staff members was excellent. 

All the best for this character café to bring good food, coffee, service and joy to people who visit it!

沿著McEvoy Street, 你會發現前供電站152的舊址，當它完成了供電的使命後，在2012年9月，成為這小小型格咖啡店－Substation Cafe。

步進咖啡店後，你的眼光會不其然投往室外天井的小角落，在那兒，你可以享受陽光，唊一口咖啡… 豆是來自Single Origin Roasters的，咖啡店跟咖啡愛好者都知道Single Origin Roasters很著緊品控，因此小心選擇供豆的咖啡店，因此，這咖啡店的咖啡當然有一定的保證。

食品?! 今又四位朋友跟我光顧這咖啡，我們一致讚好，食材新鮮、味道極好、賣相也出色。它們大部份的包餅都是自家製造，讓顧客可以享受到食品的新鮮。你還再有要求嗎？

從食品質素及食料，絕對能感受到這咖啡店的熱誠，致力為顧客提供有質素的食物及服務。

最後要讚的，是站主Orit及店內的員工，他們的服務非常出色。

衷心祝福這型格咖啡店，能為顧客提供好的食物、咖啡、服務及喜悅。

124 McEvoy Street, Alexandria, NSW 2015

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SubStationCafe

Mon- Fri: 0630-1600

Sat: 0800-1600

Phone: 9557 9868