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Southern Comfort & Biscuits: Buttermilk Channel, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, NY

November 25, 2014 / Brooklyn Bites, Carroll Gardens, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

What is possibly the most famous brunch spot in Brooklyn, Buttermilk Channel, has always eluded us as a brunchery with our child. The thought of a long wait has been too daunting to even try it. One rainy weekend, however, my desire to eat well (and potentially run into Beyonce, who apparently loves their chicken and waffles) got the better of me, so we grabbed our obliging neighbors and headed on down to Buttermilk Channel. The doors open at 10am on the dot. We arrived at 9:55 and were the 2nd in line. By 10am, there were over 10 other people behind us. So lesson learned — the early bird gets the waffles.

We were seated at a great table straight away, and had very attentive service. I particularly liked how our waitress brought the toddlers tiny glasses of water and crayons without being asked, and did ask us if we wanted to order anything for the kids while we were looking at the menus for ourselves. (And yes, yes we did.)

I ordered Buttermilk Biscuits ($4) for the toddlers to snack on while our meals were being prepared. I ordered the most exotic sounding dish on the menu — the Pecan Pie French Toast, with Bourbon, Molasses & Toasted Pecans ($11). It was outstanding. One of the best brunch dishes I have ever eaten. Thick bread generously soaked in egg, and covered with a thick, sweet molasses . . . absolutely incredible. The entire table had food envy so I had to share it so that everyone could enjoy its glory. That being said, every dish was delicious: Eggs Huntington with Poached Eggs, Buttermilk Biscuits, Benton’s Country Ham & Hollandaise Sauce ($11), Short Rib Hash, with Sunny-side-up Eggs, Toast & Organic Greens ($13) and the House-cured Salmon Platter, with Fried Peppers, Green Onions, Cream Cheese, Pumpernickel & Organic Green Salad ($12).

Buttermilk Channel does not disappoint. Its reputation is completely well deserved as one of the best brunch spots in Brooklyn, and the restaurant is an absolute must for anyone who loves fine, Southern-inspired food (and celebrity spotting). Their kid-friendliness is just such an added bonus that enables parents to enjoy top-quality food without feeling like pariahs for bringing small, noisy children with them.

Last Bite: Buttermilk Channel is worth the effort, even if you have to wait in line. Arrive early to avoid the throngs of New Yorkers also hankering for a divine brunch with their families.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a stroller that folds and be prepared to leave it outside.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St,
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 852 8490
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Wed 5pm-10pm, Thur 5pm-11pm, Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 10am-3pm, 5pm-12am, Sun 12am-3pm, 5pm-10pm
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Nan’s Place; Kid-Friendly Cafes, Zetland

November 18, 2014 / Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Food, Zetland / 0 comment

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I just moved into our new place in the inner Eastern Suburbs, and discovered the (also new to the ‘hood) Nan’s Place in Zetland. This cute little cafe is certain to be our new regular hangout. I really appreciated how sweet the staff were when I arrived one afternoon with a friend, her 3-month-old and my 3-year-old in tow.

We had a lovely window seat, which meant I could sit on the end and stop Miss E from escaping. E really enjoyed looking out the window behind us and waving to the people trying to eat their lunch.

The babyccino was a choice of a tiny takeaway cup or glass.

For our meals, I ordered myself the Nutella Filled French Toast ($7), and E the Vegemite and Two Cheese Toastie ($7.50). My dining companion ordered the Poached Organic Hens Eggs ($10) with Caramlised Fennel and Confit Garlic Hash and House Hot Sauce ($5).

Our food arrived quickly, and was all well-cooked. My French toast was decadently perfect, and E’s Vegemite toastie was absolutely delicious. Lucky for me she only ate half, so I was able to sample some of her meal too.

Nan’s Place has a new menu coming in the next few weeks, and will be opening up an outdoor garden eating area too. We will definitely be back to try the outdoor garden space.

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

Nan’s Place
2a Portman St,
Zetland, NSW
Phone: (02) 8084 0731
Hours: Tue-Fri 6:30am-3:30pm, Sat 8am-3pm, Sun 9am-2pm

Milkshakes and Sundaes at Daisy’s Milkbar, Petersham (Kid-Friendly Cafes Inner West)

October 18, 2014 / Inner West, Petersham, Sydney Food / 12 Comments

I’m a sucker for a milk bar. I absolutely love milkshakes, sundaes and grilled cheese, so I was a little too excited to visit Daisy’s Milk Bar in Petersham.

This cutie pie milk bar has a retro vibe, with brightly coloured pastel booths and signs, a free cordial station for an extra sugar hit.

We arrived at prime lunch hour on a Sunday and had a bit of a wait for a table.

We ordered a kid’s Chocolate Milk Shake ($3.50), which was actually big enough for an adult, but Little E drank the whole think anyway, Avo Toast (seasoned smashed avocado on toast with heirloom tomatoes, $8.50), plus a side of Persian Feta, $3, and Eggs, $4, the Egg and Soldiers, $5, and a Mini Sundae (chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge sauce, flaked almonds and whipped cream, $8).

Our food arrived pretty quickly, and was absolutely delicious. The ingredients were all fresh and busting with flavour, particularly the tomatoes. The eggs perfectly poached, and the boiled egg for E was just a touch runny for dipping in the toast soldiers.

A shared sundae was a must, so we tried the mini one after breakfast. I’m a picky ice cream lover, and this sundae was absolutely delicious. The cream was freshly whipped, the ice cream very chocolately, contrasting nicely with the almond flakes for some added crunch. The decadent fudge sauce throughout was just to die for. Yes, I do love my desserts.

There is a large selection of board games that can be borrowed and played at the tables, as well as card games (we spotted UNO) and drawing materials.

It’s safe to say we’ve found a new favourite cafe in the inner west, and will be back again to try a bit more of everything (plus a sundae or two).

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Not exactly, but a lot of the food is suitable for kids.

Daisy’s Milkbar
340 Stanmore Road
Petersham NSW 2049
Ph: (02) 8065 3466
Prices: $$
Get Directions

Bitton: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Alexandria

October 18, 2014 / Alexandria, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Food / 0 comment

For a French-Australian inspired brunch, locals in Alexandria head to Bitton – particularly if they have kids. Parisian born owner and chef, David Bitton, serves up a delicious all-day brekkie menu including authentic French Crepes and One-Pan Bacon and Eggs. For a grab-and-go snack, you can try one of their daily-baked muffins, cakes and pastries.

Bitton Cafe is especially popular with parents with a great kids’ menu and a play area in the back terrace section, close to where parents can keep a safe eye and still enjoy a coffee or meal.

We arrived on a busy weekend at prime lunch-hour, but were still given a table quickly, and then moved to the section adjacent to the play room when I discovered it.

We ordered: French Crêpes with Bitton Strawberry and Vanilla Jam ($13), Eggs Cooked Any Way with Wood-fired Sourdough ($12.5), a side of Avocado ($4), Eggs Benedictine with Poached Eggs, Smoked Salmon, Spinach and Hollandaise Sauce ($18.5), a Babyccino ($1), and Pommes Frîtes ($8).

The food arrived pretty quickly for a busy day. It was all well-cooked, using fresh ingredients. My eggs were perfectly poached, the sourdough tangy with a crusty edge. My only criticism was of the avocado – it was quite under ripe. The French crepes were just like I remembered them to be from my last trip to France – thin, and served with a delicious helping of home-made conserve.

We really enjoyed our lunch at Bitton, and will definitely be back again.

Last bite: French-inspired food in a child-friendly environment. Great for small families or large groups.

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

Bitton Cafe and Grocer
36-37A Copeland St,
Alexandria
Phone: (02) 9519 5111
Prices: $$
Hours: Sun-Tues 7am-5pm Wed-Sat 7am-9pm
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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

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

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

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

Brunch & Play at Cafe 2773; Glenbrook, Blue Mountains

July 17, 2014 / Blue Mountains, Glenbrook / 0 comment

A drive to the Blue Mountains makes a great city escape. On our most recent expedition, a friend recommended we break our journey this time at one of her favourite finds, Cafe 2773 in Glenbrook. The cafe is almost exactly halfway from where we were starting our journey in Sydney’s south-west, and our final destination (Katoomba), so it seemed like a good idea to try it.

2773 was everything I’d been promised. The cafe seemed like the type of place I would frequent in the Inner West, which was somewhat surprising to find in a tiny little town on the outskirts of the mountains. Despite it being an absolutely freezing day, the cafe was packed. Diners braved the outdoor tables, prevented from getting frost bite by a few heat lamps. We requested an indoor table because it was frigidly cold, and only had to wait about 15 or 20 minutes for one to finish up and be cleared. If the weather had been finer, the perfect place to dine with children is actually outside, at a table overlooking the playground area.

While we were waiting, E kept warm by running around the little play area like a maniac. A few steps past the play area lay some pens with piglets and chickens — another great entertainment device not unlike the famous Grounds in Alexandria.

The menu at 2773 focuses on use of local organic produce, with an extensive selection of local beer and wine. And, as a plus for parents like us who love great food, 2773 pride themselves on being a family-friendly venue for the local community to enjoy.

We ordered E the kids’ Egg On Toast (usually comes with bacon and sausage, $10), and a Babyccino, $1.60. After we ordered her food we realised we hadn’t even asked how it would be cooked, so asked our server when she came back for our orders. After we were informed it was usually fried and asking if she could have it scrambled instead, it was no problem to have our order changed, despite it being pretty much done.

E’s babyccino came with sprinkles and a freckle chocolate on the site. She was so delighted. Chocolate for breakfast!

Alec and I ordered Green Tea (China Jasmine) $4.00 and a Latte $3.90, and the same meal: the design your own breakfast option. Our choices were: Toast (sourdough 2 slices, $4), 2 Eggs (poached, fried or scrambled, $7), Spinach ($3), Roast Tomato ($3), Avocado ($3), Haloumi ($3).

Our food was absolutely delicious. Perfectly poached eggs, soft sourdough with crispy edges, a giant hunk of haloumi cheese. What really topped of our already fantastic experience was the staff. Our server came over multiple times just to check on how E was doing and to make sure she couldn’t bring us anything else to make our dining experience even better.

A truly wonderful breakfast, and we will make it our regular stop when driving to the mountains from now on.

Last Bite: Great food in an environment where kids can run free.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No but there is a low shelf/table in the ladies that could be used in a pinch.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Cafe 2773
19 Ross Street,
Glenbrook, NSW
Phone: 02 4739 5908
Hours: Mon-Wed 7.30am-4.30pm, Thu, Fri & Sat-7.30am till late, Sun 7.30am-5pm

Best Babyccino in Sydney at Bar Contessa, Balmain

July 16, 2014 / Balmain, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Ever in search of cool cafes that remind us of New York, Bar Contessa “a casual cafe/restaurant which brings a unique slice of New York City cool to the streets of Balmain” sounded right up our alley. In fact, on walking through the entrance, Alec remarked, “this is just like Brooklyn”. Result!

Bar Contessa is actually one of the longest-standing eateries on Darling St (it was established in 1992). The current owner and head chef, Marco Adoncello, took over almost 10 years ago. Since then, this family owned and operated cafe has become renowned for its American-inspired fare infused with Adoncello’s Italian heritage. Recent renovations brought a New York-feel to the cafe, with a bold, sprawling street art mural, leather booths, bare bricks and swinging bulbs.

Adoncello sources his fresh produce from friends and family who operate a range of fruit, vegetable and butcher businesses within Sydney. Bar Contessa’s free range eggs are delivered directly from a farm on the Hawksberry River, and their breads and sweets are delivered straight from the Luxe Bakery ovens to their café at 6am every morning.

I have to admit however, that Bar Contessa came to my attention through an Instagram photo I saw of their babyccinos. The most adorable babyccinos ever. And yes, that is what we are all about these days. Something to entertain the kid, and (hopefully!) exceptional food for the adults.

We were quickly seated during prime brunch hour on a Saturday, by a very friendly waitress. I couldn’t see the famed babyccino on the menu, so I asked the waitress if they had one. She confirmed that they do indeed, have the fancypants babyccino from my instagram feed, commenting that they get a lot of families dropping in particularly to try one.

Alec and I ordered the same dish, Rosa’s Breakfast Bruschetta (named after Adoncello’s wife: thick slice of toasted organic soy linseed sourdough w/smashed avocado, fresh roma tomato, basil, rocket, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic reduction & free range poached egg $16.50), and we shared a side of the Chunky Beer Battered Fries (served w/ ketchup & mayo). Bar Contessa doesn’t have a kids’ menu, but they do make dishes to order for little ones. We asked for a small scrambled egg and sourdough as it’s Miss E’s current go-to breakfast dish.

Our meals were delicious. The bruschetta had the prefect mix of creamy avocado, poached egg with balsamic cutting through it. The thick fries were to die for. Piping hot, soft on the inside, with a tasty batter that barely needed sauce.

We enjoyed our meals and entire dining experience so much that Bar Contessa is sure to become one of our regular haunts.

Last bite: There’s something for everyone at this stylish, Inner West cafe.

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

Bar Contessa
371b Darling St,
Balmain
Phone: (02) 9555 7399
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 7:30am-3pm
Get Directions