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Cafe Berlin; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Balmain, Sydney

September 7, 2014 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

A quick weekday lunch in Balmain brought us to Cafe Berlin. It’s the suburb’s oldest and longest-running cafe, having opened in 1984. We were attracted by the pretty display of food at the front counter, including the huge quiches which I ordered quickly after we were seated. Cafe Berlin is known in the neighborhood for its home-style cooking and sweets, made daily by owner Heidi Schmidt and her mum, Jan.

We ordered a vegetarian quiche and a side of fries, a steak sandwich, a croissant and a babyccino. The babyccino came in a takeaway cup with a marshmallow stuck on the straw — much to Miss E’s amusement and entertainment. My quiche was giant, and really delicious, the fries perfectly cooked, and salad fresh with a touch of dressing. Alec’s sandwich was juicy and well-cooked, and E’s croissant was flaky and quickly devoured.

Our meals all arrived pretty quickly, and the staff were very friendly. It was a quick in-and-out meal for us as we were on the go, and I really appreciated that everything ran smoothly and quickly to fit in with our plans.

Last Bite: A casual lunch or breakfast in Balmain. Kids welcome!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal – bring a travel stroller or sit at a table outside.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Cafe Berlin
249 Darling St,
Balmain NSW
Phone: (02) 9810 2336
Prices: $-$$
Hours: Daily, 6am-6pm
Get Directions

Addie And Me: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Hammondville, Sydney

September 7, 2014 / Cheese, Hammondville, South West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

I’ve been taking yoga classes in Hammondville, and every time I finish a yoga class I walk past Addie And Me back to my car. I always take a peek inside and see ladies with their babies, or old friends catching up for coffee. The cafe looked so sweet, like it had sprung straight out of Alice In Wonderland, so it was only a matter of time until I found someone to try it with me. My dear friend who has a sweet tooth like me, joined E and I with her three kids for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The cafe was packed — the lovely staff looked pretty wiped out by the time we sat down and admitted it was an unusually busy day. Addie And Me is part shop, part cafe. Lining the walls are an array of frilly tulle outfits, baby gifts, and older kid toys. Signs remind parents that these are for sale and not for playing with – so definitely a bit of an uphill battle for me and my curious three-year-old who wanted to explore every single shiny frilly item in the store. Thankfully my friend and her crew turned up before I had to buy out the store. We sat down at a large table in the rear, next to another family with two small kids. Our crowd of kids were like any crowd of little kids — up and down, a bit loud, a bit whingy at times, and always in danger of breaking something. A big thank you to the staff for not batting en eyelid even when their ceramic bunnies were in danger of being smashed to smithereens. We ordered each of the kids the Tiny Tots Rabbit Nibble Platter ($7). It came with a choice of sandwich (ham, cheese, vegemite, jam or honey), savory and sweet finger food: cheese, fruit, cookies, crackers and a small plain or flavoured milk. For the adults, we ordered an Iced Chocolate ($4.50) which was DIVINE, a coffee ($3.50), and two sandwiches. While all of the sandwiches on the menu included meat, the staff very happily made me a custom plain cheese and tomato sandwich on sourdough. My friend ordered the Turkey sandwich ($7.50) with Swiss cheese, rocket and cranberry orange relish on sourdough. It was a super busy day and I expected our meals might take a while, but I was pleasantly surprised with how quick they were relative to how many staff were on and how many customers were there. Our sandwiches were simple and really tasty. Perfectly toasted real sourdough — the perfect light lunch for an outing with four kids. It’s also worth noting that when I ordered the turkey sandwich, they said they’d run out of turkey but would run up to the shops to get some more to make the sandwich — really sweet of them considering they were already run off their feet. Our trip to Addie And Me couldn’t have been better. The staff really made us feel welcome, with big smiles and an easy-going manner. Even with lots of breakables sitting on every surface and two extremely active toddlers, we had a pretty relaxing lunch (well, as relaxing as it can be eating out with multiple young kids!), with so many things to entertain the kids that they didn’t know what to look at or play with next! From the rabbit plates for the kids to the waterproof rose table cloths, every detail was thoughtfully planned with little and big guests in mind. We will absolutely be taking another trip down this rabbit hole again very soon! Last Bite: A whimsical cafe best suited to non-moving babies or older children who won’t break the pretty tea sets! A delightful lunch or afternoon tea for a special date with your little one. Highchairs: Yes. Stroller storage: Yes. Easy access: Yes. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: Yes. Addie And Me 7 Stewart Ave Hammondville NSW Get Directions

Wizzy World Chatswood – Sydney's Best Indoor Play Centres

August 25, 2014 / Indoor Play, North Shore, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

We’re always in search of clean, big play centres to entertain our energetic kid in cold or wet weathers. We recently joined friends at Wizzy World Chatswood for a play date and were super impressed with the centre.

Wizzy World caters for children up to age 12, with a dedicated area for kids three and under. The toddler room was filled with soft climbing blocks, a jumping castle, play house and junior climbing gym. It was still popular with our girls, who are almost three and 3.5.

Wizzy World is absolutely huge. It lives in a 1600m² space and has one of the largest indoor play frames in Australia, plus a dedicated sports zone.

The girls were entertained for over three hours at the play centre, dashing between the little and big kid areas and stopping occasionally to eat. The big kid area is recommended for kids aged four and up, but since there were few if any big kids when we visited, it was perfect for our toddler/preschool-aged kids.

The Wizzy World play centre is not only huge, it’s extremely clean and new-looking. There was pretty much zero wear-and-tear on the equipment, with everything working perfectly and no marks/stains to be seen.

The cafe has basic food and drinks. All very simple but decent food for families to enjoy while taking a break from playing. I really enjoyed the dual proximity of the seating to both play areas, so we could change seating depending on where the kids were playing. We ordered babyccinos (perfect temperature, huge amount of foam with a marshmallow) and a large bowl of chips ($9). It was piping hot and was enough to feed all of us.

Wizzy World
Unit 9, 372 Eastern Valley Way
Chatswood NSW
Prices: Weekdays, over fours are $13.50, under 4s are $11.50, and under 1s are $5 (free with siblings). Adults free. Weekends, over fours are $16, under fours are $13.50. Mon-Thur disconted entry after 12:30pm of $8. Prices change during school holidays.
Hours: During school term: Mon-Thur 9:15am-2pm, Friday, Sat & Sun 9:15am-6pm
Get Directions

Pancakes On The Rocks: Kid-Friendly Darling Harbour, Sydney

August 25, 2014 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

If you are a Sydneysider, you probably grew up with Pancakes On The Rocks. The first Pancakes opened on Hickson Road, at The Rocks in Sydney on 17th August, 1975. The restaurant was inspired by a road trip the founders took around America in the late 1950s. They noticed the popularity of pancakes on American menus and wanted to bring that love of pancakes to Australia. The company has since also focussed on creating a casual dining atmosphere and a menu that has something for everyone on it.

We dropped by specifically for a pancake breakfast on our way to the nearby Powerhouse Museum. Miss E requested pancakes, so pancakes it was!

Upon being seated, our very friendly waitress very quickly delivered E a cup filled with new crayons and a big colouring sheet. Missy E has just started to enjoying colouring in, so this was a big hit.

We also ordered her a babyccino and a coffee for Alec, which he described as “very good”. High praise from the coffee addict.

As you’d expect from a family restaurant, Pancakes features a great kids’ menu, with cute items such as The Butterfly ($6.95): Three mini pancakes with strawberry jam, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream, and 100’s & 1000’s. Adorable. Since E usually only picks at food we rarely buy her her own dish. This time however, I found myself regretting not ordering her a kid’s meal, as she ate an entire one of my adult-sized pancakes.

Between the three of us, we ordered a side of scrambled egg ($1.95), sausage ($3), the Strawberry Patch ($13.95; Buttermilk pancakes with fresh strawberries, cream, vanilla ice cream and strawberry coulis) and the Bananarama ($12.95; Buttermilk pancakes with grilled banana and home made butterscotch sauce, topped with cream and vanilla ice cream).

The pancakes are amazing. Perfectly fluffy and light, and covered in fruit plus a drizzle of sauce and dollop of ice cream. I love my pancakes heavy on the fruit, and their fruit distribution was huge, so I was very happy. The egg was potentially microwaved and next time I think I would skip it, but it still tasted ok. The star dishes were, of course, the pancakes, which is the way it should be at a restaurant called Pancakes!

Last bite: A stress-free meal with kids. The pancakes are perfecto!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Pancakes On The Rocks
Harbourside Shopping Centre,
Darling Harbour,
227/229-230 Darling Dr
Sydney NSW
Phone: (02) 9280 3791
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sun 10am-6pm
Get Directions

Sydney Park + Cycling Center: A Tricycle Built For One

August 25, 2014 / Alexandria, Eastern Suburbs, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

A new favourite weekend location for us is Sydney Park in St Peters. This 40-hectare park contains large expanses of grass perfect for kicking a ball around, landscaped gardens, rolling hills (great for sliding down on cardboard boxes – not kidding!), pathways for strolling or running and wetlands home to native birds. The park is also super dog-friendly, so on any given day you’ll see many many many dogs rolling, running and snuffling with abandon. Our two favourite areas of the park are the huge playground and The Sydney Park Cycling Centre.

The playground is particularly great as it as it has tactile equipment for kids of all ages. A large, fenced in sandpit is fun for babies as well as older kids, plus swings, slides, a strung bridge and rope climbing web make for a one-of-a-kind playground that will keep children entertained for hours.

On the edge of the playground sits Sydney Park Kiosk, a great spot to refuel. Undercover seating is available. Bathrooms including change tables are next to the kiosk and playground.

The Sydney Park Cycling Centre is a short walk from the playground. The cycling centre is a unique area designed to help families teach their kids about cycling and road safety. Kids can test out their wheels undercover on a large asphalt surface, and then try the “road” – a circuit set up with traffic lights, lanes and pedestrian crossings. Perfect for teaching kids the basics about road safety before taking them for the real deal.

The Cycling Centre runs a free Parent & Child Clinic every Saturday to teach pre-schoolers to ride balance bikes. The sessions are staffed by experienced professional instructors who give advice and provide equipment to help kids get pedalling safely on two wheels.

The Parent & Child Clinic is open every Saturday from 11am. Helmets and balance bikes are provided free for kids taking part. No need to book. Sydney Park Sydney Park Rd, St Peters NSW Get Directions

Pancakes & Waffles: Bay Vista Dessert Bar, Brighton-Le-Sand

August 25, 2014 / Brighton-Le-Sands, Southern Sydney, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

When meeting friends who lived in opposite corners of Sydney, the most central place to meet with our three children was Brighton-Le-Sands. Bay Vista was chosen for our venue due to the delectable menu — desserts galore. We met for breakfast on one glorious winter’s day, on a quiet Tuesday morning.

Bay Vista opened in Brighton-Le-Sands in 1991 by Bill Mougios, a restauranteur who dreamed of creating a restaurant where young and old could enjoy simple treats in a casual environment. The cafe is now famous for their dessert menu, featuring ice cream, pancakes, sweet crêpes, waffles and a huge selection of cakes.

On our visit, we ordered the Strawbana Pancakes (two buttermilk pancakes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, strawberries, banana and your choice of sauce – I chose butterscotch), Strawberry Waffles, and the Traditional Cinnamon Scroll with Canadian maple syrup. The pancakes were light and fluffy, with a huge amount of fruit. The kids shared our dishes, plus a Kids Strawberry Milkshake and Babyccino. The milkshake was a great size for kids, serves with a large straw for easier drinking. The babyccino came with two (!) marshmallow and looked like a perfect tiny coffee. Cute!

After breakfast, we took the kids right across the road to the beach. Miss E happily played in the sand for about an hour and a half with no other toy than a few sea shells and a stick. A successful outing for us all!

Last bite: A dessert heaven made for kids and adults alike. Take kids to the beach afterwards to run off their sugar-high.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Bay Vista
83 The Grand Parade
Brighton-Le-Sands, NSW
Phone: (02) 9556 1727
Hours: Sun-Fri 10am-1am Sat 10am-3am

The Best Pastries In Town; Adriano Zumbo Cafe, Rozelle, Sydney

August 20, 2014 / Inner West, Rozelle, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

If it’s possible you haven’t heard of Adriano Zumbo until now, you’ve been missing out on the best pastry chef in Sydney’s amazingly creative desserts and macarons that the rest of Sydney have been raving about (and lining up for!) for years.

Zumbo is a country boy from Coonamble. He opened his first shop in Balmain in 2007, where the sugared-up locals couldn’t get enough of his unique pastries.

My own love affair with Zumbo’s pastries began many many years ago, back when the Zumbo cafe was on Darling street. It was teeny tiny and filled with desserts beyond my imagination. I was such a fan that Alec hired the cafe for my 30th birthday and treated all of my friends to a decedent afternoon tea. Fastforward past the MasterChef croquembouche season that made Zumbo a household name, and now he’s is so well known that you’d be hard pressed to go to any of Zumbo’s cafes or bakeries and not have to queue for a tasty morsel.

I absolutely love The Lab, the Zumbo cafe on Terry street in Rozelle. It has a bit of seating in the back thanks to some benches and stools, and sells lots savories like delectable quiches, pies, sausages rolls and sourdough loaves as well as the tarts, bar cakes, pastries and macarons that Zumbo is famous for. The cafe doesn’t have the full range of desserts (head to the Darling st Balmain bakery for that), but I prefer it so we can sit down, order a coffee and a babyccino, and eat the food the way Zumbo intended — which is very quickly after it was created.

There is in fact a sign in the cafe/bakery warning customers to eat their goodies pretty quickly. They don’t stand up to temperature changes and are very delicate, so it’s not uncommon to get your prized pastry home and open it to find it’s been smushed thanks to carless transportation.

While you’re lining up or sitting and eating, be sure to peer through the large viewing window and watch the chefs whip up the delicious creations which are then delivered to the Zumbo stores daily.

Finger bun is my favourite macaron (or “Zumbaron”!). It actually tastes like the best finger bun you’ve ever eaten.

Babyccino to go!

Last bite: Your best bet in Sydney for pastries. Wear loose pants and prepare to indulge.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: No. There are a few steep steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Jacques Torres
114 Terry St,
Rozelle
Phone: (02) 9810 7318
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm Sat & Sun 8am-4pm
Get Directions

Pasta and Gelato at Bar Italia; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Leichhardt, Sydney

August 18, 2014 / Inner West, Leichhardt, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

It’s impossible to lunch in Leichhardt and NOT sample some great Italian cuisine, right? That’s what I thought. Not being locals, we didn’t know where to dine — lucky for us, friends who had recently moved into the area introduced us to Bar Italia, a classic Italian diner-style restaurant. Bar Italia is famous for being serving home-style pasta and delicious gelato in a no-frills environment. Order at the counter, pay in cash only, and look out for the sign that boasts “no skim, no soy, no light, just milk”.

Bar Italia opened on Norton St in 1952, and is still the same old-fashion eatery that helped introduce conservative Australians to Italian food and coffee culture. The menu rarely changes, serving the same simple, traditional and tasty Italian fare and mouth-watering gelato in flavours like tiramisu and pistachio that made them a favourite among the local community.

Our group ordered a variety of dishes, like the Canneloni with spinach and ricotta ($15.50) and the Bacon and Eggs with mushrooms and fried tomatoes on toast ($8). Little E enjoyed her own babyccino and toast, plus sampling my canneloni.

Our meals arrived quickly. After lunch, we had to try the gelato. E requested mango, while I tried the toblerone. For $3 each, we received a huge cone of gelato. I did actually request two kid-sized cones, so I’d love to see how big the full-sized ones were.

The gelato was everything it was promised to be. The mango was tart, the toberlone creamy with specks of what I think might have been nougat. Whatever it was, the gelato was absolutely delicious.

After lunch, we walked a block north to Pioneer’s Memorial Park for E to run off the gelato. The playground is a good size with a variety of fun elements, like a large sand area, a water feature and basket swing. Hours of fun.

Last bite: Traditional Italian cuisine in a family-friendly environment.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes – room for strollers.
Easy access: No. Two steps.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Bar Italia
171 Norton St,
Leichhardt
Phone: (02) 9560 9981
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 9:30am-11pm
Get Directions

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.