Breakfast at home

Dear readers,

Before stepping out this morning to breakfast camera in hand I opened the fridge door for no particular reasons and saw that we had some stuff that would make an ok breakfast. There was some great chicken and fennnel sausages, left over asparagus, mushroom pasta salad and I boiled an egg, you couldn't get much easier than that - and it turned out to be quiet tasty.

It can be just as nice to stay in set up the table, make a cup of coffee/tea and read the paper without having to get dressed. N didn't mind staying in - more time in bed for him.

Next week I will get back to you from the streets. Any favourite places you can suggest for the perfect breakfast - email me on sydneybreakfast@gmail.com

paddington | Grind

With N in bed sleeping off last night and me only feeling slightly less shabby (mainly because I didn't see the sun come up) I headed off for a solo breakfast. Not wanting to go to far I headed to an old favourite - Grind on Oxford Street Paddington. No worries about getting a table this morning, but then you never really have wait.

Settling in with a chai latte which was perfect (I know the coffee is great here so no need to test run that). My water is filled up by Grind's timeless host. Grind wouldn't be the same without her smooth efficiency and easy manner.

Moments later breakfast arrived, smoked salmon, philly cheese, capers and rocket on turkish bread, with a segment of lemon on the side..yum. The salmon bright and tasty with firm texture and cut to a perfect thickness (about 3mm). Not tricky but with a squeeze of lemon and strategically placed caper, a great mouthful.

The rest of the menu reflects Grinds simplicity and it is done well. Other favorites are the BLT and the egg and bacon roll with barbecue sauce and caramelised onion or else you can choose a classic bacon and eggs done to your choosing.

Time to drag myself away from a great value breakfast spot and get some dinner ingredients from the world's most expensive grocer - then that's Paddington.

Too Fatz

Thanks to Sarah for the tip on Too Fatz. Like the sign says the food here is well priced, just be careful of the extras they tend to bump up the price. It was good having the choice of small or regular sizes costed accordingly. Chris joined the review team today and gave this one the thumbs up for a recovery breakfast.

While Chris told us about his trip away we finished up the begal and poached eggs (perfectly acceptable), Sauteed mushrooms on Turkish with a side of avocado (great pan flavours coating the mushrooms), Bacon with poached egg ontoast. N's bacon was particulary crispy, also the seeded mustard on the toast under the egg worked nicely.

Too Fatz gets a 8 out of 10 for food. The menu threw up a number of choices from a nicely put together classic breakfast menu. Yet again we didn't try the coffee. N loved the iced chocolate, definately one for the chocolate lovers, with sticky fudge coating the inside of the glass (ready for an industrial cleaning. Jed's still wins on atmosphere. Two Fatz didn't quite get there, once again the street frontage lets it down. Maybe this is too harsh.

The food is good, fuelling us for the remaining morning wondering through Hall Street and Campbell Parade shops. Two cozy's for me (oops but the shop assistant was very good) and two CD's for N. All in all a good morning.

Too Fatz - Gould Street Plaza (leads onto Campbell Pde), Bondi Beach

Lou Jacks

This Sunday's drive took us to Newtown and a step back in time, when was pulp fiction released, we thought as the sound track played overhead. Lou Jacks has a happy place in my past probably about the time the above mentioned movie was released. It is a stayer and possibly the first place to introduce Haloumi to a breakfast plate, that and yes the iced coffee make the trip worth it. N for some reason is on the iced chocolate, so we didn't taste the coffee, but from memory it was always better than average. If there is a minimum entry criteria for this blog it is the coffee, the rest follows suite.

Well the eggs benedict was a disappointment, poor N dragged around town to sit through public embarrassment of me taking photos of our breakfast and not to even get rewarded with his favourite. What is in hollandaise sauce was the question as latter back at home Stephanie's cooks companion was opened, we weren't to sure what Lou put in his. Butter, vinegar, egg yolks and lemon is the answer, no cream on that list however we reckon some got mixed in - it didn't really work with the ham.

I ordered the big breakfast minus eggs, bacon and sausage, leaving haloumi, mushroom, roasted tomatoes and adding some spinach. I could have made that easier, however the staff got it which is good because we are both on low speed this morning. Actually so was the service. However once the order was in, our food was on the table just as we had flicked through the papers and finished the quick quiz from yesterday's Good Weekend. Today N gets the points and the glory.

Mine was not bad, really you can't go to wrong with some mushrooms, tomoatoes and toast but something was missing. Lou Jacks is reliable and forgetting the egss benedit the food was tasty. I think the spark is missing in today's reviewers, not the food. If you are passing through Newtown it is worth a look in.


Lou Jacks: 420 King Street, Newtown.

Green's Cafe

On Eds recommendation we headed down to Greens on Glenayr, Bondi Beach. The menu was interesting stretching the standard breakfast fare. I chose the baked eggs with mushrooms and Gruyere, N was disappointed that they didn't have eggs Benedict so settled for scrambled eggs, mushroom and toast. Mine was tasty, particularly the homemade relish, just the right amount for a late breakfast.

I chose an ice coffee so can't report on the real thing but thought it was a bit too icy, not as good as Lou Jacks in Newtown (review coming up soon). It is a shame about the passing traffic, this has caused the reviewers to deduct a few points. Plan to sit inside if you go.

Toby's

SB set off to Toby's on Claire's recommendation, who also happened to be heading in the same direction.

The highlight is definitely the coffee, smooth without any jarring bitterness. Organic Fair Trade approved so we don't have to feel guilty about who picked the beans. N wins the best pick of breakfast with the Agoffagato. It felt to uncool to take a photo of it, you will just have to try it, double espresso with pistachio gellato. Rich and creamy is the best description N will provide, maybe the double shot has short circuited his vocab.

Food wise the tip is to get there before 12 we Claire made an early call for the last remaining egg and bacon roll with hollandaise, N and I had egg and bacon toasted sandwich with yummy runny eggs. No cooked breakfast if that is what you are after.

You can also buy Toby's specially blended and packaged tea and coffee.

Tobys - Cnr Manning & Macleay Street, Potts Point.

Jeds Bondi Beach

We sit down and hear a Latin remix of Smooth Operator playing which aptly sums up this place. Always reliable, good service when it matters, easy going and helpful, a great barrista who keeps the coffee coming out in good time. Goood soy too for those who prefer it.

Eggs Benny was well put together with glistening poached eggs (can't do this at home), creamy holandaise, toast, spinach and a side of mushrooms - "flawless" N says. N & I usually share cooked breakfasts but this time we got two half serves which was the perfect amount. This morning I had old favourite when you can't decide what to eat, BLT. The dressing was perfectly tangy balancing the saltiness of the bacon, add some avocado for extra indulgence and enjoy. Yum. Love the juices too, try the Baby Jay for a lift if you're not choosing coffee.

Perfect for catching up with friends - child friendly as well.

Jeds: Cnr Glenayr Ave & Glasgow Ave, Bondi Beach

BLT


Eggs Benny (full serve)