Ristretto and Co, Liverpool

A slice of Surry Hills in Liverpool all the way in South West Sydney? Say it isn't so! I can remember being disappointed by the lack of quality restaurants and cafes in the area. When Ristretto and Co opened its doors in 2012, it has built a solid following in the local community. This is perfect if you are like me, you have so much trouble getting up early on a weekend for a breakfast or brunch cafe outing and you have to travel 30mins-1 hour for all those renowned cafes in Surry Hills, Newtown, Alexandria...and even Parramatta!

Located next door to a hairdresser and a few blocks from Liverpool Plaza, you may think that it's one of those very small hole-in-the-wall cafes. When you step inside, you can see lots of tables located at the back of the cafe. From the fit-out in the outdoor seating area, it felt like you stepped into one of those old-fashioned garden courtyard complete with lots of wooden tables, barrels and even a bird cage. 

Skim Mocha ($4.00)

Ristretto and Co uses Campos coffee beans for their brew. Was quite creamy and milky compared to some of the other mochas I've had. Not too bitter either. Cute coffee art.

Iced Mocha ($4.00)

There were a few days where the weather was too hot to enjoy a hot coffee. So it's good to see that a few cold drink options are available. So far, I've tried the iced mocha. While it was the same price as a regular sized coffee, the serving was much bigger. It was pretty creamy as well with a good hint of cocoa. Great to have on a hot 35-degree Summer day. 

Cold drip coffee ($4.00)

I'mnot an expert when it comes to cold drip coffee but I've been curious to try for a while. Ended up ordering this on another hot day in Livo. Made some use of the syrup on the side for the sweetness but the drip coffee was a different experience. Not as strong as I expected.  

Uovo in Pomodoro - free ranged egg poached with chorizo, spinach and pomodoro sauce in a claypot served with toasted sourdough ($15.00) 

I LOVE my baked eggs. So when I first realised this signature baked eggs dish was available so close to home, I was already keen to pop by Ristretto and Co ASAP. The only problem is that the breakfast menu is available till 11:30am. Good since it's close to home but not so good because I still love sleeping till late on weekends. Compared to the baked eggs I've tried so far, the sauce was quite watery and the egg was slightly overcooked however it was still delicious and flavoursome. Great to dip with lots of bread. The pomodoro reminded me of a Bolognese/ragu type of sauce which certainly showcased the Italian inspiration in the cafe menu selection. At $15, it's one of the more expensive items on the menu but the serving size should keep you full and satisfied.

Corn Fritters with tomato, chutney, oven dried tomatoes and rocket ($11.00)

I also enjoy corn fritters so I was equally curious to try this as well. With lots of fresh corn kernels, flour and egg, the fritters delivered a more rustic texture to the dish. It wasn't as flavoursome as I would have liked but the extra condiments like the chutney and the tomatoes helped in boosting the overall taste.

Bresaola Panini - Pomodorini secchi, fior di latte, provolone and rocket on ciabatta ($9.00)

If you end up at Ristretto and Co after 11:30am, you will need to order from the lunch menu. This mostly consists of a selection of panini sandwiches and salads, including their popular 'Orecchiette Pasta Salad'. This sandwich may look simple, but it is also very tasty. The slices of bresaola worked so well with the fior do latte and provolone cheeses as well as the pomodorini secchi sauce. Sandwiched between two toasted yet soft slices of panini bread and you got yourself a winning sandwich. Extra points whenever the cheese gets stringy mmmmm.

While there was a couple of items that were slightly more expensive for what you get in the South West Sydney area, the menu prices were actually on the cheaper end of the scale compared to most cafes in the Inner Sydney/Inner West area. It's very popular on weekends especially in the morning with diners queuing up for a table. The service can be a mixed experience. Most of the time I found them to be polite and attentive but they can get iffy if you take photos around the cafe besides the food (I learnt it the hard way). Besides that minor mishap, it's a breath of fresh air to see a cafe like this opening up so close to home especially when I have brunch cravings and going to the city is too much effort. 

It's very close to Westfield Liverpool and Liverpool Plaza if you happen to be in the area for your shopping needs. It is good to see how successful it has become with recognition in the SMH Cafe Guide in 2013 and 2014 as well as a mention in the Cafe section of SMH's Good Food Guide 2014. Hopefully one day, the Liverpool food scene will grow in a similar vein to Parramatta in recent years. With R&C's second branch 'The Shed' opening its doors at Bigge Park last month, this growth is looking promising.

Ristretto and Co

158 Northumberland Street, Liverpool NSW 2170

(02) 9821 1880

https://www.facebook.com/RistrettoCo

Mon-Fri: 6:00am - 4:00pm

Sat: 7:00am - 3:00pm

Sun: 8:00am - 1:00pm

The Stinking Bishops, Enmore

Apologies for my lack of action in blogging lately. In the last few weeks, I have been settling back to full time work, getting active at high intensity training, attending bdays and various special events, and watching endless repeats of 'If You Are The One'. Mostly the latter. Got a few good reviews lined up especially for those who love Japanese food. But more on that later. This review is all about the cheese!!!

It may be hard to believe now but I actually despised cheese when I was a kid. In fact I still wasn't too fond of cheese until a few years ago when I visited Hunter Valley for the first time. That's where I tried some of the cheeses that I wouldn't have touched including washed rind and blue cheeses. Going to The Stinking Bishops in Enmore when it opened last year was when I really fell in love with the formaggio. Sounds cheesy (pardon the pun) but it's true. Even though the name of the venue itself may not sound as enticing since it's named after a washed rind cheese renowned for its pungent smell.

By now CC and I have probably visited The Stinking Bishops at least 10 times over the last year. We are both diehard fans of this cheese and wine bar since our first visit. Everything we've tried here has been incredible. The dishes mentioned in this post is just a sample of what we have tried during our many visits. Mainly because most of our visits were at night where the lighting wasn't as awesome. There's not much seating at the venue and it fills up quickly at night so there's often a waiting list for dinner.

Three Cheese Board - Clockwise from Top: Bert 3 Latte, Quickes Oak Smoked Cheddar, Epoisses ($29.00) 

Three Cheese Board - Clockwise from Top: Isle of Mull Cheddar, Cashel Blue, Bruny Island Oen 

The Stinking Bishops has a wide selection of different cheeses to choose from whether it's a hard/semi-hard, washed rind, white mould/surface ripened or a blue mould cheese. Despite the numerous visits, it is still very hard to narrow it down to a four cheese board (let alone three or two) especially with that many options. You can get a two cheese board for $20, three cheeses for $29 or four cheeses for $36. This was served with a basket of sourdough bread and crackers, muscatel grapes (had fresh and dried ones on separate occasions), quince paste and a slice of fig and walnut log. 

While I would suggest to try most of them, my recommendations so far have been the smooth and creamy Bert 3 Latte (with cow's, goat's and sheep's milk); the runny washed-rind Epoisses, the soft Bruny Island Oen wrapped in vine leaves, the hard, crumbled and smoked Quickes Old Smoked Cheddar, the semi-soft, milder Irish Cashel Blue. Others faves not pictured would be the bitey French Comte and the smooth and nutty Holy Goat Brigid's Wall. 

'Mr Crispy' Sandwich - Smoked Wagyu Beef, Le Gruyere, house made pickles and horseradish mayo ($12.00) 

Besides the platters, another fave of mine at The Stinking Bishops has been the 'Mr Crispy' toasties. I actually only started liking toasties recently thanks to this dish. The cheese was slightly stringy (the best part!!!), the beef was tender and smoked while the rest of the contents balanced the fillings to make this one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Sadly it's only available for lunch but give it a go if you work around the area or pass by for lunch during the weekends.

Mac n' Cheese n' Onion ($21.00)

Personally I thought the cheese taste and smell in the Mac n Cheese was slightly too strong for my liking especially after digging into all the of the other cheeses. It was certainly a carb feast just going through the bowl. It's great dish to have as a comfort meal during the colder winter seasons. 

Pinot Grigio ($12.00/glass)

Pinot Noir ($11.00/glass)

Of course there was a bit of wine action when cheese is involved. Can't think of anything else more suited to each other than this. 

Other dishes I would recommend would  be the cured meat platters. If only I could do a combination of meat and cheese platter. Hopefully one day. The only qualms were that you had to get there early to get a table if you are there for dinner. It can also be quite noisy at times. Plus the prices aren't cheap which was to be expected for a boutique cheese bar.  If you love your cheese, The Stinking Bishops is a must visit. The staff are super friendly and they REALLY know their cheese! If you aren't a huge cheese fan, this may actually convert you. It certainly has for me. Looking forward to making 1000 more visits for 2015 and beyond hehe. 

The Stinking Bishops
Shop 5, 63-71 Enmore Road, Enmore NSW
(02) 9007 7754
http://www.thestinkingbishops.com/

Brickfields, Chippendale

Been wanting to get this review out sooner than later but the last few weeks have been so busy for me in terms of work and getting sick. Recently, I've started a new job up in the Pyrmont area so I've been slowly adjusting to life in that end of the city now. One of the eateries that has been in my drafts for a very long time has been Brickfields. While it does have its own cafe in the growing foodie town of Chippendale, Brickfields is actually well-known as a bakery with its bread being distributed to various cafes across Sydney. It's one of those cafes that keep me coming back for more especially since their menu changes regularly. I believe that an item or two on this review may no longer be on the current menu but then again it might make a comeback soon. Right?

Skim Mocha

Satisfied by my skim mocha made with Mecca Espresso coffee beans (my personal fave right now). It's actually quite creamy but still has that aromatic Mecca taste that I loved from trying it at their own branches. 

Bacon. Manchego, Pickle with Greens ($10.00)

Because it's well-known for its artisan bead, you gotta try a sandwich...or two! The filling change on a regular basis but the seeded bread remains the same throughout all my visits. On one of my more recent visits, I've got to try this bread with none other than bacon! With Manchego cheese! While the Manchego cheese has a bitey taste that you would expect from harder cheeses, this tasted incredibly delicious with the zesty pickles, various greens and that damn crispy bacon. 

Mushroom Melt with Truffle Mayo and Pickled Jalapeno ($10.00)

If you think this post is at its peak by that bacon roll, think again. May I present you the Mushroom Melt. Again I'm not sure if this is still on the menu as of now but it was around for a while during my previous visits. The earthy truffle and mushroom aroma hits your senses immediately when it arrives at the table. While I usually spot enoki mushrooms at various Asian restaurants, this worked very well as a filling for this sandwich. And of course, that melted cheese was absolutely divine when you bite into it. It was also quite spicey thanks to the jalapenos, which hits you slowly after multiple bites but this kick made this sandwich amazingly flavoursome. 

Canele ($4.00) 

You certainly get good value for money since the sandwiches and other main-sized plates can fill you up. Decided to go simple and get a canale for my post-meal treat. It was slightly sweet with that firm and crispy crust on the outside with fluffy insides. Not a big expert on caneles actually (only tried Flour and Stone's version so far) but I thought this was really nice to try.

With all the dishes priced at less than $16 (half the dishes on the menu costs less than $10), this was actually cheaper compared to most cafes around the area. Service was attentive though it was interesting paying for the dishes at the counter before sitting down first. Seating can be a bit random because of the unique seats by the benches that can get you carried away...literally. The cafe was actually quite small so I could imagine it to be very hard getting a table on the weekend if you decide to eat in. If this cafe was around when I was a student back at UTS, I would definitely be a regular here especially after those dreaded morning lectures and tutorials. Will definitely be making even more visits on the weekend when I have the time to try more of the constantly changing menu that this delicious cafe offers including the sandwiches, big plates and the baked pastries and treats.   

Brickfields
206 Cleveland Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
(02) 9698 7880
https://www.facebook.com/brickfieldsbakery
Mon-Fri: 7:00am - 3:00pm
Sat-Sun: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Palomino Espresso, Sydney CBD

To be honest, I'm always intrigued at the number of bars and cafes located on York Street. With eateries like Stitch Bar, Loaf and Devotion, Ipoh on York, Uncle Ming's, Mojo Record Bar and Palomino Espresso located on the same street within minutes of each other, the world is really your oyster when it comes to a lunch or dinner outings in that vicinity. When it comes to a quick but filling lunch, I've been making regular trips to Palomino Espresso for their decent selection of lunch options that won't break your budget. 

From the look of the cafe, you can imagine it to be something you would see in Surry Hills or Newtown rather than your average CBD cafe with the cute decor, down-to-earth staff and freshly baked delights. The vibe is incredibly busy especially at peak hour lunch but the turnover time to order and get your food is actually very quick unless you purchase something that is made to order. It's pretty hard to get a dine here due to its small space so it's easier to get takeaway if you are having a very short lunch break. The lunch selection is also generous from sandwiches to salads to even a few pies that are only available on certain days.

I've ordered the Reuben sandwich a couple of times from this cafe with different experiences. The first time, I got it takeaway to bring back to the office due to a busy day. When I took a bite of this sandwich, I was in heaven! Balanced ingredients and flavours with decent slices of leg ham and lightly toasted rye bread. The melted swiss cheese didn't have a strong taste though it was stringy which was what I loved in cheeses hehe. It was so good that I was keen on ordering it again on my next visit.

Reuben sandwich w/leg ham, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, ($7.50)

On my next visit, I had more time on my hands so I opted to dine in even though it was packed inside the cafe. While it was delicious, there was noticeably an overwhelming amount of sauerkraut which overpowered the sandwich and not as much ham compared to my earlier visit. Despite that, I still enjoyed this meal and would like to order it again and again. Whether you dine-in or takeaway, this will only set you back at $7.50 which is pretty damn cheap for a cafe in Sydney these days.

Very pleased with the coffee from Palomino Espresso. It uses Morgan's Handmade Coffee beans which delivers a smooth, creamy texture and a slightly strong coffee taste that gives you a kick when work is tiring you out. Didn't get to order it when I was dining at the restaurant since I was already overloaded with coffee that day but I did have a peek at the coffee art presented to the diners during these visits.

Skim Mocha - Small ($3.50)

Recently I made another trip to try something different. I was craving for something beefy and the roast beef sandwich caught my attention immediately. While it was more expensive than nearly everything on the menu and it took much longer to make since it was made to order, it was worth the experience. The picture below does not do this sandwich any justice. It is a massive sandwich to each. It was sweet, tangy and incredibly messy to eat with generous portions of fillings between the bread slices. Probably good to share with a friend or a co-worker who happened to be staring at your sandwich for a few minutes.

Roast beef sandwich w/ caramelised onion, tomato, rocket and aioli ($13.00)

Since making the trip to York Street, this place has been one of my new fave cafes for a quick cheap lunch these days. Great place to check out. Very different to many other cafes you see around the city with its buzzing vibe as well as niche and interesting decorations. Service was good from past experience and the food has been delicious. Need to make more visits to try out the baked goods (especially that brownie) on the stands near the counter in addition to those healthy and seemingly delicious salads. If only the brekkie menu was available all day and this cafe was much closer to work.

Palomino Espresso
Shop 1/61 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (near Wynyard Station)
https://www.facebook.com/PalominoEspresso