Sparkle Cupcakery and Luxe Espresso Kiosk, Martin Place (8 Feb 2012)

Outside 51 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.sparklecupcakery.com.au

Sparkle up your work day

For fans of cupcakes from Sparkle Cupcakery who work in the city they'll be pleased to know they're now available from the new Martin Place kiosk located outside Martin Place Bar on Elizabeth Street. To celebrate the new kiosk it looks like they're giving away free Mini-Me cupcakes this Thursday 9 February from 8 am but only for the first 50 people and you'll need to check-in to their Facebook page. Looks like they'll definitely be all gone by the time I bother getting into work. Luxe Espresso is in charge of coffees and hopefully it's as decent as what Espresso on York churns out near QVB or actually Good Co Café just near by. I'm not sure of the menu prices at this stage.

I think it's a great idea for Martin Place and there should be more of these kiosks being set up for food and beverage. I'd love to see a Vietnamese Pork Roll (Bánh mì) kiosk like Hong Ha or Marrickville Pork Roll. Perhaps a hot dog kiosk, taco kiosk and I'm sure Turkish Gozleme and Poffertjes Dutch Pancakes would happily get in on the act too if you gave them half a chance. And how about a fantastic freshly cooked Cinnamon Donut kiosk like the one in Berry known as Famous Berry Donut Van.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Handy location for city workers near Martin Place, Sugar hit assured, Coffees available from Luxe Espresso

CONS: Very limited range of cupcakes available, No seating, I didn't spot a pricing menu, Didn't see any cakes or breads from Luxe Espresso

MUST TRY: Remembering for a quick afternoon pickup

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Limited range of cupcakes on offer — I'm suspecting it's their most popular flavours

Coffee available by Luxe Espresso

Located outside Martin Place Bar on Elizabeth Street

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Centennial Park Kiosk: 30 years on and still going strong, Centennial Park (8 May 2011)

Shelter Pavilion, Duck Pond, Parkes Drive, Centennial Park NSW 2021
http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/our_places/centennial_park/mobile_food_van

Still popular after 30 years

I fondly remember visiting the Centennial Park Kiosk many times when I was a kid on my bike to get an ice cream and after all these years it's great to see it's still going strong. This time I try the Bacon and Egg Roll ($5.50) which uses a fresh roll and fairly lean bacon which is good to see. It's not too messy to eat and hits the spot for an early tasty brunch. Their Hot chocolate ($3.30) is served very hot so be careful when sipping it — I nearly burnt my tongue but thankfully has a decent depth of chocolate flavour. The kiosk is well-positioned pretty much in the centre of the park and is close to one of the best ponds to watch black swans, ducks and if you're lucky some sneaky slimy eels close to the waters edge.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Friendly and efficient service, Reasonable prices, Some table and shelter seating nearby but limited, Gelato available in 12 flavours, Fresh air and sunshine on a good day, They have a real coffee machine

CONS: Limited menu selection, Weather permitting for a nice day out, Open only Saturday and Sunday

MUST TRY: Bacon and Egg Roll, Next time I'd like to try the hamburger deluxe and gelato

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Bacon and Egg Roll ($5.50)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Hot chocolate ($3.30) — served very hot so be careful when sipping

Kiosk next to shelter pavilion

Drinks on offer

Menu boards

Duck pond filled with plenty of black swans

Swan meets eel

Why do swans rest their feet on their back?

Where there's food there's pigeons

Head down Parkes Drive until you get to the intersection of Randwick Pond and Duck Pond

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