Mr NQN was picking me up from the airport and I turned to him with a familiar cry.
“I’m hungryyy” I said, having missed the cookie on the plane. To me, starting off the day eating a cookie sets a dangerous precedent.
He countered with “I’m starving, do you know somewhere to go?”
With a green light like that, I immediately thought of St Jude’s in Redfern, close by to where we live. It’s a small 33 seater cafe perched on the corner of Bourke Street and Thurlow, the hint is the throng of people standing outside waiting for a table. Named after the patron saint of lost causes, chef Dominic Hewitt formerly of Bistrode and Assiette joins the group of chefs that are stepping out of the hatted atmosphere and trying something more casual.
The decor is quirky with vintage framed photos of saints staring beatifically down at diners. Alongside, are vintage dolls, the kind you’d swear came to life at night (or perhaps that’s just the way I see them 
).
Service is friendly and attentive and we quickly find what to order. The coffee and drinks came out quickly and are brought to us by sweetly smiling waiter with blue nail polished nails.
Sweet corn and pumpkin fritters with avocado cream, soft poached egg, hollandise and shaved zucchini and baby spinach salad $14.50
The fritters were recommended to us by more than one person and they are certainly worth ordering. Served as three oval fritters, the corn is juicy and fresh inside them and the sweetness in the corn matches the sweetness of the smooth pumpkin puree. There are some Indian spices to give the fritters an extra dimension and they sit on a bed of smooth avocado cream. On top is a runny yolked poached egg and a river of hollandaise sauce and to the side is a fresh salad with zucchini strips and baby spinach. A word of warning: don’t share these because you may not want to give it up after one half!
Pulled pork pocket with celeriac and fennel remoulade $15
The sandwich on a toasted quinoa loaf (all of their bread is from Brasserie Bread) comes out looking like a crocodile with its mouth open. It is split partway and filled with soft pulled pork and paired with a creamy celeriac and fennel remoulade. Salt and pepper is also given and it needs a little of both, and the sandwich is satisfying and filling.
Boys or girl’s facilities
Our second visit, the next day was a cold and early morning visit. Whilst the outside tables weren’t out in full force due to the potential for rain, the inside was warm and cozy. A nice touch is being remembered by some staff and we are sitting in the corner eyeing off the baked goodies on the share table. This time, we’re not quite sure what to order so we go for a sandwich again on the waiter’s recommendation as well as the soft boiled eggs just because we liked the sound of the dish.
Chai $4.50
The chai comes out in a teapot, slightly sweetened already with honey and is aromatic and milky.
Poached ocean trout sandwich with dill pickles and rocket on rye $13
The poached ocean trout sandwich is served on fresh Brasserie Bread New York Rye bread, with a generous amount of soft, cold, poached ocean trout with slices of dill pickles, rocket and mayonnaise. A bit of seasoning is needed for this and this is a favourite along with the first egg dish from the day before.
Two soft boiled eggs, rolled in bacon and poor man’s parmesan breadcrumbs with toast, butter and tomato relish $8
The two peeled, soft boiled eggs are rolled in a bed of bacon bits and toasted, oiled breadcrumbs, mostly breadcrumbs, are served with two slices of quinoa toast, a cube of butter and a side of house made tomato relish. Spread each toast piece with butter and then relish and halve the eggs and place on top and you get a satisfyingly simple and tasty breakfast. We saw quite a few of these coming out to tables.
Coconut cake $4 (approximately, I didn’t see the price, just the total)
On my way to pay at the front counter, I spotted a pretty display of pastel coloured cakes so I decided to order one. They are also from Brasserie Bread as are the rest of the share table display, and are moist, absolutely moreish little coconut cakes with a tiny splodge in the centre of berry jam and boysenberry icing on top.
So who says that starting the day with cake is a bad thing? I stand corrected…
So tell me Dear Reader, do you ever start the day with cake or cookies? Am I just being too uptight with not eating sweets for breakfast?
St Jude carries a coffee pot and cup
St Jude
728 Bourke Street (corner Thurlow St & Bourke St), Redfern NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9310 3523
Open: 7:30am until late afternoon 7 days a week
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46 Comments | Add your own
This is why big expensive hatted restaurants are struggling, because cool, hip, food focused establishments like this are becoming the new trend. Great review, will check this out, thanks Lorraine!
It was very cold in the winter where I grew up and people worked quite hard. I’m not sure if that’s where the tradition for pie and donuts for breakfast started but it must have something to do with getting the engines going in the mornings.
I don’t think I ever saw a morning that my father didn’t have pie or donuts or pancakes for breakfast.
I am guilty of poking a fork in a leftover dessert.
I had icecream for lunch the other day….does that count??!
LOL, I will remember not to share the fritters. I don’t like cake for breakfast either.
This looks like a very homely and wonderful cafe
Gorgeous looking food and delicious cakes, which is of course fine to start the day off with
That doll though… creepy
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I like the idea of the bacon crumbs, but obviously need more than that! The fritters also look very delicious.
A crumpet/ muffin/ toast slathered with butter and jam is probably just as high in fats and sugars as most little cakes… So don’t listen to the voice of reason Lorraine- listen to your tummy instead!
I’m with you on the dolls – creepy! And there’s no way I could share those gorgeous looking fritters.
Isn’t it just awful when on a flight pretty much all they have is a cookie. Or maybe a packet of peanuts. It’s grim up in the air! I do love the look of the corn fritters. That’s a great looking breakfast. And the icing on the little cake is gorgeous. xx
Starting the day with cake comes a close second to starting the day with cold leftover pizza. Both leave you feeling a bit guilty, but man it’s good at the time you’re eating.
It’s not just you … that doll not only comes to life, its head spins a full 360 as well! On the plus side, the food looks fantastic!
Haha you are funny. That topic is always discussed between my husband and I. My mom was strict and sweets were never been considered as proper breakfast. My husband’s mom obviously served (leftover) cakes and sweets for breakfast if it has to be eaten quickly… How about our kids? Kind of between.
this restaurant looks very good. How nice to have such lovely place near your home!
Lorraine my friends in Tuscany start the day with a cookie, if they go out in the morning they grab a pastry, no guilt in Italy.
When I lived in Italy they would eat cake for breakfast….I tried, but couldn’t bring myself. I will be a toast and vegemite girl till the day I die.
Love the look of those eggs!
In Italy I always have an apple sfoglia and a cappuccino for breakfast. I miss it when I am in Australia.
I love living in this part of our neighbourhood – we are spoiled for choice, and they are good, quality eateries too! The “poor man’s parmesan” sounds interesting!
The quinoa bread, eggs and relish look fantastic, and meet the criteria for low FODMAP sufficiently for me to want to dive right in!
I agree about sweet breakfasts setting you up badly for the day, but sometimes you want to be naughty! I don’t get the US obsession with donuts, cinnamon buns, bread and butter pudding etc on a hotel buffet. Waffles and pancakes I get, most of the rest I don’t!
HAHHAAH I had to laugh at your question LOL Cuz i start with sweets as breakfast on so many occasions lol I probably eat cake for breakfast more than I eat cereal
Looks like a great little cafe and I really like how they’ve plated the pulled pork pocket hehe
Oh – and the doll thing – don’t ever go into the American Girl Doll shops in the US. They have cabinets full of dolls that I was sure would come out marching with machine guns coming out of their heads like the true Dr Who villains they pretend not to be!
Another great review Lorraine!I still prefer to start the day with something sweet, and cake…well, yes, sometimes that too, hahaha!
I don’t usually, but on my birthday I started the day with birthday cake – chocolate ganache and all!
it has heavenly!
Can’t wait to try this cafe, Lorraine! Lovely photos, as always!
I always levitate towards pulled pork anything, you can’t go wrong with it! I love how it’s presented. What a quirky little cafe. Those Brasserie Bread cupcakes are heavenly!
No I’m the same although I do sometimes have breakfast dessert!
Love the ambiance of the place and find the menu items you have shown just a tad different and appetizing. Were I still living in the E Suburbs would certainly go and try! Sweet things for breakfast: well,from this herrring and smoked eel gal, somewhat of a ‘no’
!
If I may: @ those watching ‘Masterchef’ or able to do so – did you catch last night’s double elimination mentored by Marco Pierre White, who has featured on Lorraine’s posts. I am not easily impressed or in awe of anyone – the hour I ‘spent’ in his company will remain in memory banks for the longest time! What a presence! As will his definition: ‘Perfection is a lot of little things put in one’! Think about that one and do play ‘catch up’ on Channel 10, if you missed the episode!!
I DO agree with celia, TRUE!
LOVE unique, quirky, great food too!
WHY not start off from dessert backwards, as life is too short to live any other way!
With enjoying food, I look forward to EACH and EVERY day!
You should totally have your own food show!
I love homely feel this cafe has! I certainly want to try out the Sweet corn and pumpkin fritters with avocado cream, soft poached egg, hollandise and shaved zucchini and baby spinach salad.
I don’t think I should answer this for fear of judgement
The decor is quirky indeed, that would scare me off… As of sweets or not in the morning, it all depends in what mood I am in. There are times (rare though) when I crave for something sweet in the morning, but usually I want a savory meal to start my day…:)
Sweets in the morning, DEFINITELY, especially if I just happen to be passing Bourke Street Bakery at Alexandria. Who can resist their pastries and tarts – not me……..
My friends in USA eat sweet cake/pastries as the norm for brekkie.
I love everything about this place–the quirky vintage decorations and the interesting food. Those fritters sound amazing–such an unusual combination of ingredients.
Unfortunately, if there is really good cake or cookies around, I could be tempted to have some for breakfast. Oh yes.
Boiled eggs rolled in pangrattato sound divine! I d love a good breakfast…
Lorraine, uptight may be a little strong perhaps, but if you don’t like sweets for breakfast does that mean you never ever ever indulge in croissant (pain au chocolat especially), or a Danish??? Oddly, they taste soooo much nicer in the morning than later in the day. Only 1 tiny step from a cupcake so I say, go for it!
Lovely!!
Starting the day with cake is never wrong my dear…
LOL….
I have to agree those dolls may be vintage but little scary but then with that gorgeous food.. who cares right!!
That doll looks freaky as!
The eggs rolled in bacon is what I’d be going for if I ever end up going to this place!
Although I can’t bring myself to start the day with cake or cookies, my favourite breakfasts double as desserts! Pancakes and waffles, especially blueberry buttermilk pancakes
I always see sweetcorn fritters on my Aussie friends blogs. They do have some in KL, but not very popular yet.. maybe noone does them as well here.
I like how this place looks and serves. How did I never figure to roll poached eggs in bacon before? Or some homemade bread crumbs? Better than cake for me.
What a cute local place, Lorraine. Personally I feel breakfast is a good meal to keep low calorie, such as a simple slice of toast, no butter, served along side grapefruit and blueberries. Now lunch and dinner are a different story!
If I had my way, I’d start every day with cake or cookies. LOL
If only!
The corn and pumpkin fritters is OMG-perfect for my other half, so it’s off to Redfern we go! Thanks Lorraine!
Yep! I’m a little conservative and usually avoid cakes and sweets at brekkie.
Yep! I’m a little conservative and usually avoid cakes and sweets at brekkie.
The quinoa toast sounds interesting especially in combination with the pulled pork etc Here’s another foodie pit stop to add to my list.
Hi,
Are the sweet corn and pumpkin fritters have more cakey texture or the crunchy one? In Sydney, even though they say fritter is more cakey than crunchy like asian corn fritters.
Cheers,
ST
Tried StJudes on the weekend and was not disappointed. Such friendly service ( no prob that we had a well behaved 5yo with us). I had the pulled pork. Could not fault it. Other guest with me had the trout after reading your comments. Again, terrific. I visit from Melbourne to this area, now this is my fav place.
Love this cafe – it was our local until recently (which explains why I’m in one of the pics!).
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