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Showing posts with label Big Breakfast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Breakfast. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Revolver Café: Café, Annandale (13 Aug 2011)

291 Annandale Street, Annandale NSW 2038
Phone: (02) 9555 4727


Brunching with the locals

“Our aim was to create a space that was like no other. To offer more than your typical cafe style food and coffee. To create a space that was in every inch and detail in some way a piece of me and what I love and to bring it all together in a timeless warm environment that makes people feel like they are at home not at a cold or clinical cafe.”

A casual brunch catchup with friends organised by Madam Wu from Music Munchies Review brings me to the popular Revolver Café nestled in the leafy suburb of Annandale. I was happy about all the free street parking in the area and the cafe seemed to have a nice community local feel. The decor was interesting and homely and the service friendly even though being very busy. The down-to-earth owner Rodney Jones was on service organising tables for customers and seemed to keep his cool and smile even under pressure. The Coffee ($3.20) and House made spiced chai ($4) were pretty good and the refreshing Watermelon and passionfruit juice ($5.50) was a nice combination — I wished the chai was bigger though. All the dishes ordered seemed quite reasonably priced for the quality.

The Lemon myrtle cured, house smoked ocean trout on sweet corn rosti ($15.50) flavours were enjoyed along with the Scrambled eggs, roast tomato, avocado & danish fetta & toast ($14.5). My Ricotta hotcakes with berry compote & maple ricotta ($14.50) were nice and plump in size although I had dish envy as I gazed at the Revolver Big Brekkie ($16.50) which came with everything you'd want to fill an empty stomach including crispy bacon. Perhaps throw a hash brown in there like Baffi & Mo to make it even more awesome. Chefs Eliot Richy and Rebecca Chippington seem to be doing a great job in their tiny open kitchen space and if you're interested learning more about the making of the Revolver Café then check out the Journey album floating around for some historic photos and newspaper clippings of how it came to be. There definitely seems to be a bit of heart and soul about the place that keeps the locals coming back for more, I certainly can't wait to return.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Friendly service, Interesting decor, Lots of street parking, Tasty dishes, Pretty good coffee, Prices seem reasonable for the quality
CONS: Expect to wait for a table when busy, Limited space on the small tables
MUST TRY: Revolver Big Breakie if you're hungry
DAMAGE: $76.90 for four
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Coffee ($3.20), House made spiced chai ($4)

Watermelon and passionfruit juice ($5.50), Coffee ($3.20)

Lemon myrtle cured, house smoked ocean trout on sweet corn rosti with chilli capsicum relish & avocado ($15.50)

Scrambled eggs, roast tomato, avocado & danish fetta & toast ($14.5)

Revolver Big Breakie: Two eggs baked in our housemade beans, honey cured bacon, roast tomato, mushrooms, pork fennel sausage & toast ($16.50)

Ricotta hotcakes with berry compote & maple ricotta ($14.50)

Whoopsy daisy — that's what happens when you try and share some of the hotcakes

Table water, Bill $76.90 for four people

Chefs Eliot Richy and Rebecca Chippington — amazing what they achieve in such a small kitchen

Homely decor




Lots of tempting cakes on display

Decor and cutlery

Framed saucepan and retro salt and pepper shakers

Every café should have a mantlepiece for the crystal ware

Fireplace inside and community notice board outside

Cute tea cups

Toilet decor and window

Journey album

It's all in the name

Owner Rod Jones (right) greets one of his favourite customers

Dog friendly (outside)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Taste of Belgium: Café with freshly made Belgium waffles, Seaforth (23 Oct 2011)

Shop 1, 549 Sydney Road, Seaforth NSW 2092
Phone: (02) 9949 5330


Spoilt for sweet choices

Thanks to Nelly Indrawati on behalf of Chef Didier Lannoote for inviting me to Taste of Belgium as a guest with my family to 'taste' the menu. Upon arrival it was clear to see Didier was certainly a passionate chef seeing so many choices of cakes, pastries, chocolates and their much famed Belgium waffles in the counter display — quite overwhelming actually as they all looked very tempting. He also took the time to greet his customers when he could as he popped in and out of the kitchen for his regular stint of a flat white and it looked like the locals knew they were on to a good thing. If initial plans had gone through to have the shop at The Spot in Randwick I'm sure it would have done very well and fair competition for the likes of Bourke Street Bakery and Croquembouche Pâtisserie. The competent Russian barista made a good Cappuccino ($3.50), Real Belgian Hot Chocolate ($4.50) and Mocha ($4.20) that I'd happily order again and the Malabar Chai ($4) was flavoursome.

I was glad to see that a small selection of savoury breakfast dishes were on the menu and hopefully more choices will be added soon. The Ham, Cheese & Tomato Croissant ($8.50) was light and flakey and the Duck paté with brioche ($13.50) comes with great tasting mushrooms. The decent sized Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($15.50) and Big Breakfast ($16) are worth having and for those who like it sweet the Belgium waffle with ice cream ($9.50) is probably a must. We managed to try a few tarts and if you dine in they get plated up with a bit of creative fruit coulis. They might be considered a little pricey but they're also big enough to share. I liked the toasted nuts in the Tartelette Aux Noix ($7.50) although a scoop of ice cream with it would have been great as well. The Tartelette Citron ($7.50) wasn't overly sweet and I was impressed to see the number of fruits in the Tartelette Aux Fruits ($7.50) — I counted six. To finish we were given a large selection of Belgium chocolates — I'm always a sucker to try the chilli chocolate. I survived the impending sugar overload, just, and wished such a cafe existed closer to home.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Large range of quality cakes and pastries made daily, Limited breakfast menu but done well, Good Belgium waffles and decent coffees
CONS: Limited seating, Toilet around the side needs a bit of renovation, Website not available
MUST TRY: Belgium waffle, Coffee, Any cake that tickles your fancy
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Owner and Chef Didier Lannoote. Showing off his croquembouche.

Barista of the day

Chocolate tarts in the making

Claim to fame: Pastry Chef to Bill Clinton and George Bush

Cappuccino ($3.50 regular dine in), Real Belgian Hot Chocolate ($4.50 regular dine in)

Mocha ($4.20 large dine in)

Didier's large Flat white

Mocha ($3.50 small dine in), Malabar Chai ($4)

Tea Drop teas: Lemongrass and Ginger tea ($4)

Ham, Cheese & Tomata Croissant ($8.50)

Duck paté with brioche ($13.50)

Brioche with jam and butter ($5.50) with coffee special ($6.50)

Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($15.50)

Big Breakfast - Eggs cooked to your liking, bacon, pork sausage, roasted tomato & mushrooms on homemade sourdough toast ($16)

Belgium waffle with ice cream ($9.50)

Tartelette Aux Noix ($7.50 dine in)

Tartelette Aux Fruits ($7.50 dine in)

Tartelette Citron - Lemon meringue ($7.50)


Handmade Belgium chocolates ($2 – $3.50 each)

Belgian waffles menu

Coffee and tea menu

Breakfast menu

Croquembouche and chocolate sculptures on display

Pastries and pies

Cakes display

Baguettes and freshly baked pretzels

Belgium chocolate display

Paté and freshly made waffles

Chocolate cake ($35)

Table supports can be a little awkward

Seating and service counter