Friends in high places, they mean a lot of course but friends in the right places means a lot too. My friend M was just the person that I needed to speak to about a very important topic and she suggested that we meet up at Saks Espresso & Wine in Surry Hills as she works nearby. I did my due diligence (i.e. looking up reviews) and it all looked good. There’s a selection of arty books resting against the banquette near the window and inside is all red and it’s full with patrons.
I’m loaded down with things, a big umbrella, a bag and my handbag so I feel a bit unwieldy when I walk in. The owner smiles and tells me to follow him, my friend is already waiting for me. I go up the stairs and he shows me to… a complete stranger. We look at each other with an expression like “Hmm you’re not my friend” and he apologises and shows me to a table. M arrives a few minutes later and we order some food to share and within about 10 minutes it arrives. The waitress is very friendly and the prices are really reasonable for lunch with many options around the $10 mark which is good for eat in and the place although rather small, appears to be very busy.
Mixed dips $9
There are three mixed dips, a relish type of dip with capsicum and onions which is tangy and lovely, a carrot & pumpkin dip which is nice and creamy and a hummous which is strong with tahini but not overtly so. There is a generous serve of warm Turkish bread to go with it.
Mezze plate $15.50
The Mezze plate is rather large. In fact my eyes widen when it’s set down in front of me and M whispers “Let’s check that they haven’t charged us for two servings”. There is a variety of food there: marinated artichokes, black olives, marinated mushrooms, capsicum and onion and eggplant as well as a lovely, tender chicken skewer and two sausages which I didn’t particularly go for (and I’m usually a sausage fiend) and a tender shish kebab skewer. There’s also a pile of Turkish bread, which is usually my favourite, that we do our best to eat but it’s hard. We try but pause halfway through the pile defeated by the sheer volume of breadage*.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite bread? Sourdough? Naan? Baguette? Or something else entirely?
*Breadage is not an actual word but seemed apt 
Saks Espresso & Wine
82 Campbell Street, Surry Hills
Tel: +61 (02) 9281 1312
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30 Comments | Add your own
Sourdough. I am a fool for sourdough. Or a real thick wheat bread with butter…and honey….
I love any bread really. I do love sourdough bread though.
Iggy’s in Bronte does a great sourdough bread, and they have people lining up all the time.
there is no way on earth i could name my favorite bread. multigrain, sourdough, lavash, pita, and that’s just the regular stuff. when you get into breakfast breads and such, the list never ends.
SOURDOUGH ftw
But I love a good bit of Turkish. And dips..oh dips…
Really fresh sourdough! Actually, all types of bread are good.
That food looks delicious!! I’m litereally salivating over those pics – I think a visit there is definitely in order!! My favorite kind of bread is sourdough – I can NOT walk past a good loaf of sourdough!!
In general I am a lover of all kinds of bread.
I guess my favorite type is largely influenced by the other food I’m eating…for example, if I’m eating a curry, naan is my bread of choice. For sandwiches I love tangy sourdough or chewy ciabatta. In my opinion, there’s no bread that smells better than my mom’s white bread as it bakes…I totally wish I could bottle that smell!
Spelt sourdough any day of the week!
Love the red decor, and a nice cheap lunch is always good!
Favourite bread? Does brioche count?
‘Breadage’ so is a word as long as you think it’s appropriate. My other words are ’searage’ and ‘colourage’. Haha! =p
Three cheers for TURKISH BREAD!! Mmmm, especially when it’s freshly baked at a turkish cafe…. yum. My fave is a Melbourne western suburban place called Akaysa is St Albans. Looks like your regular old school suburban place but the bread .. OMG!
mmm I like organic spelt sourdough breadage, toasted and smeared with chunks of cold hard butter… Any bread and butter is heaven in my books.
Breadage is a perfectly adequate word for describing what it does! Sourdough, naan, Lebanese, baguette but mostly sourdough!
Turkish bread is the best! When it’s nice and toasted
Although I can’t say no to naan or sourdough! Those are massive servings for the price. I love all the random little cafes and restaurants around Surry Hills!
Sourdough, pita, and I do love a good pull apart on occasions.
It must have been funny to meet the wrong friend! Looks like good food for lunch, and the giant platter would be perfect for a man-sized eater.
It would have to be a tie between… cheese and spinach naan – or – the truffle naan at Zaaffran, Darling Harbour.
Mmmm… I can almost taste it now….
Favorite bread: BAGUETTE! not the wimpy fluffy kind, the good, crusty, chewy kind…ah, I miss baguettes!
My dear body has thrown celiac’s disease at me. I cannot eat wheat, gluten or yeast.
My favourite is what we call ‘puffy bread’ and is made from chick pea flour (besan flour). It is served at my favourite Indian supermarket / cafe in Belconnen in Canberra called Bharat and comes with chick pea curry.
Their food is divine and every well priced, although we westerners sometimes cannot handle the spiciness of the food and we have a dose of ‘Bharat belly’ afterwards – worth the effort though!
If anyone knows a good cure for a sick tummy caused by spicy food please tell me so I can enjoy eating at Bharat more often.
I love a good sourdough or a crusty french baguette slathered with butter
Pane di Casa or Ciabatta as I love tasty, crusty bread. In Italy you can also buy a salted plain pizza base still warm from the baker and smother it with the freshest ricotta cheese, now that’s a breakfast I’d go back for in a flash.
The Mezze Plate is great value for money for 15.50. The carrot and pumpkin dip looks amazing.
love all kinda breadssss!!! but specially naaan
hi lorraine
I see you have nice trendy places in Sidney and the food looks delicious ! thanks for the sharing !
cheers
PIerre
turkish, San Francisco sourdough, naan, brioche, ROTI, thick wheat bagels, hearty wholemeal with a crunch crust, Mum’s fresh home made bread smothered in Vegemite and butter! But the bread I’d kill for… hell, may have already killed for is Mum’s hand rolled, pull apart three cheese and onion bread. HOly crap. It’s AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!
I love reading about your adventures. Sourdough
I’m a fan of many kinds of bread, depending on my mood. Baguette if I’ve got some nice cheese and wine to go with, fluffy warm pita if I’ve got some chickpea-based substances to eat, brioche if I want to eat more calories than is sensible…
Actually, scratch all that. I would forsake all other breads for a lifetime supply of good focaccia.
Hi Blond Duck-Mmm yum I’m with you there!
Hi fat mum slim-ooh cool tip thanks so much!
Hi grace-You’re an equal opportunity bread eater I can see!
Hi Fiona- Yes Turkish has got to come with dips-in all colours of the rainbow!
Hi Anthea-Yes super fresh bread is fabulous!
Hi Katrina-Ahh good stuff! I love the chewiness of sourdough
Hi Faith-yes this is very true, Indian without naan is just missing something essential! Oooh yes! What a perfume!
Hi Shotochick-Ooh spelt sourdough?!
Hi joey-Yes it’s very eyecatching and good prices are always welcome. Sure does!
Hi ms délicieuse-Haha you understand don’t you!
Hi mish-Mmm yes! I just can’t be left alone with fresh Turkish bread
Oh wow! What a find! 
Hi Penelope-I love how specific you are!
Yes butter is best!
Hi Moya-Haha I knew you’d understand!
Mmm love a good sourdough 
Hi Betty-Mmm yes!!
I love those two too! Yes they’re got all these little places that you’d never know about 
Hi alex-Ooh yes pullapart! Forgot about that one!
Hi Arwen-I know! We both looked at each other and I’m sure both our faces dropped
Hi Ladybird-Ooh I must give that a try!
Thankyou!
Hi sophia-Yes it must be crusty and chewy!
Hi Ani-Aww no, you poor thing! That does sound lovely! I don’t know myself but if I do come across one I’ll let you know!
Hi sandra-Absolutely!
Hi Matilda-That does sound divine I have to say! Drools…
Hi Katherine-I know, isn’t it awesome value? :O
Hi nora-Ahh yes soft and fluffy naan!
Hi pIERRE-We sure do!
You’re welcome!
Hi prinny-I’ve never tried San Francisco sourdough! Yum you’ve really got the complete list there don’t you!
Has she shared her recipe with you? 
Hi Lea Ann-Thankyou so much!
Hi anna-Yes baguette is so gorgeous with a good cheese isn’t it! Haha yes I can’t believe I forgot focaccia! :O
LOL – imagine your surprise (and the other person’s!) when you were shown to the table of a stranger.
My favourite bread is fruit bread – because I confess to not being a huge fan of bread. If pressed to choose ordinary bread, I would go for a Scotch bap, because I like the soft white breads the best.
Hi Cakelaw-I know, we both had the same expression I’m sure!
Ahh yes a good fruit bread is mostly fruit!
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