Christine Knight, Author at Adventure, baby!

Christine Knight

Christine is the editor of Adventure, Baby!

Buckle Up: Car Seat Safety For Kids

August 11, 2014 / News, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

When you’re out and about in Sydney, chances are you’re going to be doing it in a car. Even though we whine about the traffic, it’s still the favoured transportation method of most people (hey, like us!).

After you have kids, everything that seemed simple suddenly required a new learning curve to get right with your baby. Jumping in the car when you have a baby suddenly means installing a car seat.

If you’re anything like me, this is a foreign and daunting task. I have absolutely no idea how to put our car seat in and out of the car, and, to be honest, my husband’s not entirely sure either. We follow the instruction manuals and do our best, but we end up buckling it in and then wiggling it around, wondering if we’d put it in there correctly.

And we’re certainly not alone! It turns out that two in three car seats are not used properly, putting children at risk every time they’re taken for a drive in the car. Scary, isn’t it? Aren’t you just wondering if your child is in one of these two our of three car seats? I certainly am, which is why I have been checking out the new Transport for NSW’s website, childcarseats.com.au for expert advice.

The site gives info such as: car seats that have been scientifically tested for crash safety and ease of use, and gives star ratings so you can pick the best car seat for your child based on their height, age and weight.

You can also get tips on how to fit and use car seats correctly, and helps you locate your closet authorised fitting station, so you can get expert help if you need it.

Some tips that I found particularly helpful:

1. Parents should regularly check their seat is correct for their child’s age and size. It sounds obvious, but 50% of parents are not using the correct seat for their child (exactly — off I go to double check our seat!).
2. Check the straps aren’t twisted. (I’m guilty of this one.) The harness straps should be straight and in flat contact with the child.
3. Height is the most important factor when choosing a car seat. The new Child Car Seats site helps you choose the right seat, prioritising a child’s height over age and weight.

You can get more information on what type of car seat your child needs for their height, age and size and tips on installing and checking car seats at childcarseats.com.au

Happy Birthday To Me! A kid-free weekend in the Hunter Valley

August 11, 2014 / Australia, Family, Hunter Valley, Sydney Life, Travel / 2 Comments

This year, there was only one thing I wanted for my birthday – a break. Mum and Dad very kindly agreed to watch Cheese for the weekend so Alec and I could have a few nights to relax. Our first kid-free weekend in three years!

We drove up to the Hunter Valley for the getaway. I booked us a room at the Spicers Vineyard Estate – a beautiful little retreat in Pokolbin. Our room was large, with a fireplace and spa. Our package included two breakfasts and a dinner in their restaurant, Botanica, and complimentary minibar.

The property is set in 25 acres of vineyard and bush, and we took a leisurely stroll around the boundary each evening at dusk. Which, by the way, is the perfect time to see the wild kangaroo families as they come out.

During our stay in the Hunter we dropped by the Pokolbin Chocolate And Jam Company, the Smelly Cheese Shop, two of the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company locations and two wineries: Tempus Two and Audrey Wilkinson.

I adore moscato, and chose these wineries based on their production of the sweet wine of my choice. The Audrey Wilkinson cellar door is a bit off the main track, but worth the extra drive. St up high on a hill, the view out over the wine country is spectacular.

Hunter Valley Muse Restaurant via akissgoodnight.co — Muse Restaurant

Since we were child-free, we indulged in a LOT of food, including two dinners out: Muse Restaurant on my birthday, and Restaurant Botanica the following night. Muse was the perfect restaurant for a fancy, special night out. It was like a fine dining establishment in the city. Delicious creative dishes (I had a kale risotto with winter vegetables), with a friendly, relaxed vibe.

Restaurant Botanica was more relaxed, and perfect for a Sunday night dinner. The food was simpler and perfectly prepared. After the previous day of rich, complicated food, the elegant and slightly more traditional fare at Botanica was exactly what our stomaches craved. Dessert was donuts and cinnamon ice cream. Absolutely a treat.

The last mention on our food extravaganza is Sabor In The Hunter, a dessert bar that popped up while we were away. For lunch (!) one day, Alec and I indulged in the Medley Tasting Plate, which included Opera slice, Mini Lemon Curd meringue in a sweet pastry, Strawberry mousse & mixed berry compote topped with Strawberry, Mini Gianduja layers and a caramelised nut triangle tart. Indulgence complete.

The really great thing about the weekend was being able to spend time with Alec and just take a breath. We talked more than we’ve talked in years, and had energy to focus on each other for the first time in what felt like forever.

Spicers Hunter Valley via akissgoodnight.co — In-room breakfast at Spicers

The three days/two nights was the longest I’ve spent away from Cheese so far. We called in regularly and spoke with her and my mum – she was absolutely happy and chirpy the whole time, running my parents off their feet while charming them simultaneously. When we arrived back home I felt like I had more energy to spend on her than I usually would, the break away really refreshing me.

So it was pretty much a perfect birthday.

Kid Heaven at The New Coogee Pavilion – Kid-Friendly Cafes In Sydney

August 6, 2014 / Coogee, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

I’ve never been to Coogee before — how is that even possible? I might not ever have visited this gorgeous suburb if I hadn’t badly wanted to check out the brand new fit out at the Coogee Pavilion. After an extensive renovation the lower floor has just reopened. And boy, was it ever worth the visit.
We dropped by at 10:45am not long after the new pavilion opened. When we visited, their breakfast menu was not yet being served, but they were already filled with curious locals milling around, buying a takeaway Will & Co coffee or a freshly pressed Love Juice. At 11am sharp the pavilion officially opened the rest of their venue, and tables filled quickly.

The pavilion is kind of like bar meets upscale food court meets restaurant meets giant games room. All in the one huge area. The restaurant section requires bookings several days in advance for the full menu. You can however drop in at any time and sit anywhere else — around the bar, in the lounge chairs, booths or near the game area. These areas all serve the bar menu (order and pay at the bar).

The restaurant has a kids’ menu, but the bar menu does not. It does however serve favourites you could share with kids like pizza, fish and chips and burgers. Simple, hearty food. The pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven in the centre of the pavillion, where kids can watch their pizza go from dough to being sliced. Pretty cool.

We found a booth near the games area. While we waited for our food, we checked out the huge amount of toys and games that were nearby. For toddlers, we found things like a Mr Potato head, blocks, a toddler-sized colouring table stocked with crayons and giant sheets of paper, a life-sized Connect Four and a Scrabble board with magnetic pieces mounted to the wall (yes, too old for them, but still plenty of entertainment sticking the giant magnetic tiles to the board and climbing up and down the ladder).

Older kids loved the ping pong and foosball tables, and we noticed adults taking boardgames like Trivial Pursuit back to their tables as they clearly settled in for the afternoon. Opening soon are an in-house theatrette and Rudy’s barbershop, where you can get a trim while you’re waiting for your meal to arrive. So entertainment was not a problem. It was more of a problem to get her back to our table to eat when food arrived. Next time we will forgo the table and instead sit in the couches right on the play area so E could play while we ate, without one of us having to trail her around.

We ordered a Margherita Pizza (San Marzano, Bufala, basil $20), Fries with Aioli ($9) and the Coogee Diner Burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, burger sauce $18). My pizza arrived quickly and was delicious. I shared mine with Missy E and was a bit sad I couldn’t eat more. Delicious sauce, soft cheese and a slightly crispy base. Perfect. Sadly something happened to the rest of our order and the burger and fries didn’t arrive. After about 40 minutes of waiting, a staff member noticed we still had food outstanding and very quickly put through the order again.

The rest of the food arrived about 10 minutes later. So over an hour after we ordered it, but thankfully there was so much to entertain the kid that it didn’t matter. Alec described the burger as “American-style”, saying it was OK but her preferred Aussie-style burgers. The fries were smocking hot, crispy and cooked through. They were tasty and gone in seconds.

After eating our meals we kept playing until we dragged E out of there to the beach. I honestly thing she would have stayed all day if we’d let her.

Upper levels are currently undergoing extensive renovation. When they re-open over the coming months you can expect a rooftop bar and a fine-dining restaurant.

The Coogee Pavilion is smack on Coogee Beach, so if your kids need to play or you could use a walk after a big lunch, the gorgeous beach is at your disposal.

Last Bite: One of the most family-friendly eating venues in Sydney. Go before it’s as popular as The Grounds.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Coogee Pavillion
169 Dolphin Street,
Coogee NSW
Phone: (02) 9240 3000
Prices: $$$ Hours: (Ground floor)
Daily, 11am – late. Breakfast menu coming soon so times may change. Take away Love Juice and Will & Co Coffee available daily from 7:00am. Reservations required for seating in main dining area. Call 02 9240 3000.
Get Directions

What I Love, What I Miss: Adjusting To Life Back In Sydney

August 5, 2014 / Family, Sydney Life / 2 Comments

So we’ve been back in Sydney for about two months and are still struggling to find somewhere to live. Ugh. I forgot how long it takes to settle back after such a huge move. I’ve been enjoying a lot of little things that I’d either totally forgotten about, or never discovered before I left.

Gelato Messina
The best gelato I’ve ever tasted. I’ve eaten is almost every single day since being back. I’d eat it every day if their locations weren’t so far away. Bounty, choc chip and berry yoghurt are rocking my world.

Beaches
I wasn’t a beach person before I left Sydney. I have really fair skin and so have been a “sit in the shade” rather than “sit on the beach” type. Now I have a kid who is mad about playing in the sand, I have a new found love of beaches. Insanely gorgeous, plus hours of free entertainment. Just add sunscreen.

Mersey Valley Cheese
This has always been our favourite cheese. Being in the US however and surrounded by supremely average supermarket cheese, I have a new appreciation for just how awesome this cheese is. Crumbly and sharp – it’s hard not to polish off the whole block in one sitting.

Moscato
I love love sweet wine. Moscato has always been my wine of choice. I did find it in the US, but it wasn’t as common as here, and there wasn’t as much variety. Moscato here is amazingly good and also reasonably priced.

Thai food
I didn’t eat much Thai when I was in the US as whenever I did, it was pretty bad. The Thai in Sydney is so good – I think it’s the closer proximity to Asia, plus the large Thai population living here that contributes so the great food. Whatever the reason, I’m devouring curry puffs and pad see ew like they’re calorie-free.

Supermarket chocolate
Cadbury is awesome. There’s a giant bar of Snack and a packet of Carmel Crowns sitting in the fridge right now.

The sunshine
The weather here is just insane. I arrived back in time for winter (yay!) and it’s been warmer almost every day than it was for the entire of NYC spring.

Target
Target in Sydney is awesome! Super clean, big variety of quality products. Very different to the Brooklyn Target that I used to visit occasionally.

I’m also missing little things about NYC that I also didn’t even think about. The big things I miss are obvious, but the little things caught me by surprise.

Iced tea
Sydney doesn’t do iced tea. I’m so desperate for my daily fix that I’m steeping big jugs of black tea and chilling them every few days.

Bagels
How did I ever live without bagels pre-New York? It’s a mystery.

The subway
After the super fast and frequent NYC subway, my hatred of Sydney’s trains has only intensified. I don’t know what’s worse some days, the crazy traffic when I take to the roads, or the slow moving infrequent trains.

Amazon
Now I’m without my Amazon Prime free two-day shipping, I actually have to get in the car and drive to a shop to buy everything. Even stupid cables and boxes of nappies. I also miss Fresh Direct, Diapers.com and basically every other website that sent me the products I wanted with free shipping.

Cheaper prices
Ahhh the great Aussie price gouge. Buzzfeed has a really funny article about the great Aussie rip off. Paying more for things I only recently bought at a significant price difference is hard to take.

Ben & Jerry’s
While not my favourite brand of ice cream, B&J’s was my face supermarket brand. Now if I want a tub of Karamel Sutra I have to shell out $11 for the privilege.

Ample Hills
My favourite ice cream of all time. Australia doesn’t really do ice cream. It’s does phenomenal gelato and sorbet, but not ice cream. I am dying for one more scoop of Ooey Goey Buttercake and Sweet As Honey. Yuuuum.

Levain Bakery cookies
The best cookies I’ve ever eaten. So big and fat they were almost rock cakes. Big chunks of chocolate that melted in your mouth. Yes we have cookies here, but not like that!

The fast pace
I actually love the frenetic business that is the city. I thrive on over stimulation and love having a lot of colour, buildings and interesting people all around me. Back in Sydney I’m finding it hard to adjust to the slower pace and having personal space again.

Doormen
I had never had a doorman before my NYC apartment. Not only do I miss the community of my building, but I also miss the big-hearted doormen who became friends after seeing so much of them day in and out.

Vegan & Gluten-Free Fare: Sun In Bloom, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

August 4, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Park Slope / 0 comment

One of the best things about New York City is the amazing variety of food you can enjoy to meet any type of dietary requirements you might have. A good friend of mine has a gluten and dairy intolerance, so we regularly eat at cafes and restaurants where her dietary needs are met — and where she has more choice than a salad or eggs.

Sun In Bloom is a gluten-free, vegan & raw food kitchen, with locations in both Brooklyn and Tribeca. We visited their Park Slope cafe for brunch to see if their pancakes measure up when they’re made without delicious gluten. All three adults in our party ordered the Gluten-Free Pancakes with Spiced Germinated Walnuts & Side of Maple Syrup ($11.50), but we each chose different combinations of fruit toppings to go with it.

The pancakes were surprisingly still yummy even without gluten, and the fruit on top was fresh and sweet. We gave Missy E a side of Sprouted Wheat Toast and Sunflower Seed Butter to try, but it was too crunchy for her and so she preferred the pancakes and fruit. At prime brunch hour there was no wait for a table, but when we were leaving the cafe it was quickly filling to capacity. The wait on some of our items was a little longer that I would have liked, particularly since Missy E was being a whiny pain that day and we were desperate to eat and leave! We all enjoyed our brunch and will be back, particularly when entertaining people with special dietary requirements.

Last Bite: A healthy brunch option that caters to the special dietary requirements of vegan, raw-food-followers and gluten-intolerant diners.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Sun In Bloom
460 Bergen St,
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Prices: $
Phone: (718) 622 4303
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-9pm Sat & Sun 10am-5pm
Get Directions

Why I Keep Taking My Child To Restaurants

July 27, 2014 / Family, Kids / 0 comment

Why I Take My Child To Restaurants via akissgoodnight.co

Taking our toddler to a restaurant is hazardous for all parties. It’s always rushed, food ends up on the floor/our laps/the ceiling, and we always end the meal saying to each other, “Let’s never do that again.” And yet, every weekend, without fail, we take our crazy child to a restaurant. In case you’re wondering why, here are the main reasons we persist in torturing ourselves—and fellow diners—by taking our child to dine in public:

1. We love good food

This is the absolute number one reason. My husband and I love to eat out, and the thought of giving this up for a few years is one sacrifice we’re not willing to make. It’s our way of keeping part of our old lives alive while we give up the rest of ourselves to being parents.

2. It’s a social thing

How many social gatherings revolve around food in restaurants? Exactly. Pretty much all of them—unless your entire party is full of tiny children. If you want to socialize with other adults, especially in a city, you do it in a restaurant. Rather than not seeing any of our pre-child friends, we keep going to restaurants, with the child, and hope that the venue they’ve chosen is kid-friendly.

3. Table manners

We hope that by exposing our child to restaurants from a young age that she will eventually pick up social cues on how to eat in public. Things like, how to sit, be patient, order politely and eat around other civilized people (read: eat with cutlery rather than shoving fistfuls of cheerios into her mouth).

4. Exposure to food

I’m an average cook. I actually hate cooking and only do it because we need to eat to survive. Our diets as a result are healthy, but pretty plain and unadventurous. When we eat out, however, my daughter is exposed to cuisines from cultures I’d never attempt to cook, like Japanese or Indian.

Dining Out With Kids via akissgoodnight.co

In case you’re wondering how we make it as stress-free as possible, I’ve added some tips that help us navigate the New York City and Sydney restaurant scene with a less-than-desirable dining companion.

1. Choose your location wisely

I’d never take my child anywhere that isn’t suitable for a little kid. For me, this includes spots that have space between tables so she’s not dining on our neighbors’ laps, somewhere to park the travel stroller and a park nearby for a quick getaway. A restaurant with long wait times is also a big no-no.

2. Order quickly

We order something for the kid as soon as our bottoms hit the chairs, and then food for ourselves shortly after. With a kid who hates to sit for long, you want to make the conditions as favorable as possible for a happy outing.

3. Have an exit strategy

If she’s particularly resistant to sitting that day, one of us will take her outside for a walk until the food arrives, and we ask for the check as soon as the food lands on our table. This way, we’re actually seated for a pretty short amount of time!

4. Be prepared

I bring her current favorite toys (Anna and Elsa with clip on dresses), small snacks and load up the iPhone with games or YouTube playlists. Even though we have a zero Youtube policy these days after seeing our child turn into a zombie watching Playdoh videos, we relax this when a pleasant dining experience is at stake.

5. Tip big!

Even if the meal is a disaster and we leave shame-faced, we always tip big so when the staff sees us again, they hopefully remember the tip and not the tantrum.

This article was first published on Mommynearest.com.

The Wiggles Exhibition at The Powerhouse Museum

July 24, 2014 / Indoor Play, Museums, Sydney, Sydney Life / 1 Comment

Having spent her entire life until recently in the US, Miss E had never experienced the phenomena that is The Wiggles until we took her to the new Wiggles exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum. It was a cold and miserable winter day and we were short on ideas to entertain her. I was hoping that it wouldn’t matter that she didn’t know The Wiggles, and, thankfully, the exhibit was so good that she didn’t even noticed that it was based on characters she wasn’t familiar with. She just thought the whole thing was a giant play space, which certainly says something about how well the exhibit was designed with little kids in mind.

It was E’s first time at the Powerhouse Museum in general, and my first time visiting in years and years. A special mention goes to the huge steam train inside the entrance — equally fascinating for kids and adults-alike.

While, as an adult, I’ve never been particularly fond of The Wiggles, I’ve always been interested in them as they studied early childhood education at my university (Macquarie Uni!). Part of their popularity I think can be attributed to the way in which The Wiggles structure their performances around how young children develop and learn.

The Wiggles exhibition at Powerhouse Museum is carefully curated so that adults are (almost!) as entertained as children. While we spent most of our time in the exhibit chasing around our kid, I was still able to read a few panels on the amazing rise of The Wiggles. What we were there for, however, was to let little E play — and play she certainly did.

I was super impressed with the exhibit. It had great high-tech interactive elements, such as what I can only call a life-sized game of Fruit Ninja (even Alec had a go!), a touch-screen coloring book, a holographic performance by The Wiggles, and iPads with The Wiggles games on them (sadly only two out of the four actually worked when we tried them however).

The exhibit also featured free-form play elements, such as Dorothy’s house with a tea party inside, a shape-sorting and fruit cutting table, and a pirate ship with telescopes, steering wheel and raft. There were also a few arts and crafts stations, where kids could make a rose for Dorothy’s house, or write Dorothy a letter and post it to her.

Kids who were clearly fans were delighted to see the life-size Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus. Since she was new to The Wiggles, E thought these huge creatures looked like a lot of fun and tried to hug them, which sadly wasn’t possible. She did however enjoy yelling “wake up Jeff!” to waken a sleeping Jeff character projected onto a screen. I guess it’s time for us to start watching The Wiggles!

The last stop in the exhibit is the famous Wiggles red car, which kids can climb into and watch some Wiggles action on a screen in front of the car. It’s a great photo op and was in hot demand when we visited.

The Wiggles exhibition was a great cold weather outing.

Entry to the Powerhouse Museum is $12 for adults and free for kids under four.

The Wiggles at Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris St,
Ultimo NSW
Phone: (02) 9217 0111
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm
Get Directions

An Upper West Side Standard: Isabella's, UWS, New York

July 24, 2014 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, Upper West Side / 0 comment

Isabella’s has been our go-to restaurant of choice when we visit the American Museum of Natural History for the past two years. It’s a truly delightful combination — fuel up on really delicious food, then hit up the dinosaurs and then Central Park. We’ve been taking Missy E to Isabella’s since she was about 6 months old. Taking her as an almost 3 year old means we really get to enjoy all the kid-friendliness this restaurant has to offer.

Isabella’s is popular. It has a great reputation for a reason — it’s REALLY good. As such, you need a strategy to get a table with minimal wait on a weekend. Arriving when they open is one option, or after the first rush is over, at around midday. If you arrive after 1pm, forget it. The wait is pretty long. (Isabella’s takes reservations, but not for brunch.)

We took E to see a new dinosaur exhibition at the AMNH during the early members hours, and then to Isabella’s for late breakfast. After a short wait, we sat at our table, and were greeted by a friendly staff member bearing a “welcome pack” for our toddler. The pack contains crayons, some cool sticky stick things and a kids’ menu that doubles as a coloring page. We ordered her a Bagel with Cream Cheese ($4) and asked for one of their complimentary straw cups for kids filled with water.

I always order the same thing — the Goat Cheese Omelette with marinated tomatoes and basil ($14). It comes with home fries, which I swap out for regular fries. E loves to pick at a lot of different foods, so this way she eats a decent amount of omelette, fries and bagel. She adores cream cheese. Alec ordered the Classic Breakfast Sandwich (scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, $15). On Sundays, brunch includes a beverage of choice, so we had our bellinis included. Cheers to that!

Last Bite: Isabella’s is a hit with the whole family. Adults love the elegant atmosphere (without the snootiness) and absolutely delicious food, while kids are happy being well attended to and given new things to play with.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes. Bring a folding stroller though, as during rush hour, you’ll struggle to find a place for anything bigger.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Isabella’s
359 Columbus Ave
New York
Prices: $$
Phone: (212) 724 2100
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm Sat & Sun 10am-11pm
Reservations
Get Directions

Brooklyn Neighborhood Guide: Cobble Hill

July 22, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Cobble Hill, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

The quiet neighborhood of Cobble Hill is home to a LOT of strollers. It’s often joked that once Manhattanites start breeding, they move to Brooklyn. If this is the case, then a lot of these new parents must move to Cobble Hill, as it is literally bursting at the seams with babies, toddlers and lots of kiddie fun.

Best Breakfast: Ted & Honey
This little cafe is the go-to breakfast sandwich spot. Order an egg sandwich on your choice of multi-grain, brioche or ciabatta (the bread is freshly baked from nearby Caputo’s bakery). The haloumi and avocado is our fave. While you’re waiting, look on the bottom shelf for books and puzzles to entertain your little one. If your child is not the sitting and eating kind, get your sandwich to go and sit in leafy green Cobble Hill Park next door. 264 Clinton St, Brooklyn

Best Quiet Nook: Cobble Hill Park
This little oasis of calm amongst the brownstones is a popular haven for mothers’ groups during the week, and families on weekends. A little play area at the end of the park entertains older kids with a sand pit and climbing structures. The park is lovely year-round, but is especially pretty in spring when tulips and daffodils are blooming.
Clinton St. Between Verandah Pl. and Congress St., Brooklyn

Best Lunch Spot: BareBurger
Grab an all-natural burger, shake and fries for lunch at Bareburger. Kids can order a Cubby Meal, choosing from items like a grilled cheese panini or “grizzly” burger (with a quinoa veggie patty option). Adults: order from a wide variety of burgers (including “build your own”), sandwiches and salads, all made with organic ingredients free of hormones, pesticides and other unsavory elements.
149 Court St., Brooklyn

Best Playground: LICH Playground
This large playground has climbing structures for toddlers and older kids, plus a few swings. The main attraction for the toddler set, however, is the ever-changing walker and car toys that are routinely “donated” to the park throughout the year. The park is well-shaded on afternoons, and the trees put on a beautiful display of color in the fall.
Henry St. and Amity St., Brooklyn

Best Kids’ Store: Picnic
Dress your little one like a Brooklyn hipster at Picnic. Owned by local mom Lindsey Engler, the store stocks adorable outfits and accessories for kids from baby and up. You’ll also find a range of NYC and Brooklyn books and toys.
192 Amity St., Brooklyn

This article was first published on MommyNearest.

Egg Of The Universe: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Rozelle, Sydney

July 22, 2014 / Inner West, Rozelle, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

If you love wholesome, minimally processed, nutrient-rich meals then Egg Of The Universe is the cafe for you. Situated underneath BodyMindLife yoga studios, yogis are known to leave class then step out into the sun drenched courtyard to fill their bodies with clean, organic food. Egg Of The Universe caters to everyone from vegans to omnivores, and those with gluten-free or dairy-free needs.

At the register, you can grab quick snacks like the Chocolate and Beetroot Cake and Raw Caramel Slice ($5 each). Take a seat in the back courtyard under the Chinese elm tree for the full table service menu.

Lucky us, we found the large back table free for our party of four adults, two toddlers and one baby. Plenty of room for the strollers to park right up at the table, as well as lots of space for our wriggly toddler to run around the tree while we waited for our meals to arrive.

To start with, I ordered the Dandelion Tea ($4), which was delicious. Our table ordered a wide variety of meals: a side of Ancient Grains ($6), Super B.L.A.T (Feather & Bone Smoked Bacon, Leaves, Avocado, Tomato, Aioli, Herbs & Hemp Seeds, $18. Add a Fried Organic Egg $3), Bread/Toast & Butter, $6, Spiced Kicharis (Seasonally Spiced Indian Rice & Lentils with Salad, Tamarind Chutney & Minted Yoghurt, $14), and the Avocado, Tomato (Spelt Sourdough, Hemp, Oregano, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, &16. Add a Poached Organic Egg $3).

The food is fresh, bursting with flavour, and feels good on the stomach several hours later. No heavy after-effects after eating such wholesome food. Perfectly poached eggs, creamy avocado, fragrant tomatoes and crusty fresh bread. Absolutely delicious. The kids munched on toast and banana bread (that I was too slow to photograph) and happily danced around the courtyard while the adults enjoyed the peaceful ambiance.

Last bite: Wholefoods for the whole family at this laid-back, healthy cafe.
Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes — lots of room for strollers.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: There is a table in the bathroom that can be used a a change table.
Kids’ menu: No.

Egg Of The Universe
711 Darling St, Rozelle
Phone: 02 9810 3146
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm Sat & Sun 8am-4pm
Get Directions