It has been at least 20 years since I was handed a Golden Book to read – I might even venture to say over 30 years since that has happened. But at Moose Cafe in Redfern, a Golden Book titled Prayers for Children no less, is what I am handed when they offer me the menu. I’m meeting M this afternoon for lunch. Outside Moose Cafe is on a quiet-ish side street but this doesn’t stop it from being constantly patronised with customers (mostly locals).

Owner Charbel is an former colleague of M’s. He is in fact an Information Architect who currently works three days in that end of the world and the rest in the warmer and fuzzier world of home made mueslis and jams. Did I mention the jams? No? Well on the wall there is a huge wall of them, all very nicely packaged indeed. There are two prices: “sober” $8.50 and “drunk” $9.50 and when you see the flavours you’ll understand why. They’re very grown up jams.

There are fancy schmancy flavours like rhubarb & mulled wine; strawberry & Earl Grey;  blackberry & sparkling shiraz and the most popular flavour gin & tonic marmalade (but more on that later ). They also come for the coffee, a brand called The Golden Cobra which is a coffee brand with a sense of humour. The Golden Cobra’s decaf blend is called the “Timothy Dalton” blend aka the slightly “lame James Bond”.

There are also a display of granolas including their best selling Belgian chocolate granola. Eat in prices start low at $4.50 with a gluten free banana bread (there are a few gluten free baked choices here) and the prices hover around the $10-$14 mark. Housed in a former butcher’s shop there are still remnants of the earlier institution, most notably the enormous cool room and the painted over meat hook rails. Service is friendly and sweet and without a trace of attitude and the excellent coffee is delivered by the barista with a big smile.

Flat White

Infinity Sourdough Toast with jams clockwise from top: rhubarb and mulled wine, blackberry and sparkling shiraz, butter, strawberry and Earl Grey and gin and tonic marmalade

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I feel  a huge responsibility when asked to choose a location for a get together, particularly if it’s for an interstate or overseas guest. I need it to a) suit that person’s likes and dislikes and b)  suit the other people coming along. And since the interstate visitor was Julia from Brisbane and my fellow diner was pastry chef Y it just had to feature something sweet. Lovely reader Crystal emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know about The French House and her quote “The kind (of place) you want to spend a whole afternoon chatting with your  girlfriends and eat their endless desserts ” clinched it for me.

It’s a Sunday afternoon around 1pm and they don’t take bookings. No matter as Y and Julia are there waiting for me having nabbed a prime position in the middle of the room. There’s outside seating in the partially sun dappled balcony that wraps around and inside is a stunning gilt edged French style room. There’s black marble tables edged in gilt, mismatched furniture, black velvet lounges and opulence abounds. I watch a photogenic family of five feeding their children pastries and baguettes.

Ordering is at the counter and we take turns getting up and perving at the selection. As I’ve missed breakfast I start with a ham and cheese croissant and unable to resist pastry I also opt for a mixed berry crumble danish. There are bread loaves available as well (from $4-$5.90) as well as a selection of baguettes and quiches (and one salad) and an array of about a dozen tarts and cakes.

Ham & cheese croissant $5.90

Everything comes out on pretty decorative plates. The ham and cheese croissant has been toasted and filled simply with cheese and ham. I would have liked a bit more filling so that it wasn’t as dry but the pastry is flakey if not particularly buttery. I also prefer ham and cheese croissants to have some of that lovely soft cheese filling.

Mixed Berry crumble Danish $4.50

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There’s a well known  quote from the Australian film “The Castle” that Mr NQN and I occasionally like to say to each other. It’s about bargains.

Darryl Kerrigan (father): Jousting sticks? What’s he want for ‘em?

Steve Kerrigan (son): Make us an offer. Give him a call?

Darryl Kerrigan: Yeah.

Steve Kerrigan: Dad? 450.

Darryl Kerrigan: For jousting sticks? Tell him he’s dreamin’!

And when we find out that that seafood curries are a tiny $14 at this little unassuming Thai restaurant in Marrickville we find ourselves crowing “13 bucks for a seafood curry? Tell him he’s dreamin’!”

Outside it looks like any other suburban Thai restaurant. A neon “open” sign flashes outside and there’s a large plasma television screen stuck to the back wall. A high chair sits at a large table and there is a  family dining in the corner. It could be just like any Thai restaurant except that the chef behind it is from Spice I am Polawat Danphasukul and his wife Phanissa Sricharoen is the sweet, smiling face on the floor. We take a look at the menu-legend has it that a seafood curry can be had for $13.90 and we’re excited. I realise that my Cheap Thrills $20 and under category hasn’t had many entries lately- I started it 2.5 years ago when it was actually possible to get a meal under $20 per person but these days it seems like it’s getting rarer and rarer. I had read about it Tina’s blog Food. Booze & Shoes knowing that Mr NQN would love it.

Curry puffs 4 for $5.90

We start with the curry puffs which are filled with potatoes and spices and a firm, crunchy pastry. I personally prefer the deep fried puff pastry (deep frying puff pastry has got to be some sort of genius move) and these are harder and a touch drier.

Lemongrass salad $10.90

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