The idea of a book shop and cafe appeals to me enormously. I love the idea of reading while waiting for food to arrive. Not that I have anything against conversation – a book can often be something to start a conversation. The thing about reading a newspaper while waiting for your brunch is that I cannot stand the newsprint on my hands. Yes, it’s another sign of my OCD but I just cannot abide getting my fingers blackened. That’s why I read all of my news on the internet. Awful I know.

So when we walked past Sappho books and saw their picture of a leafy courtyard cafe out back we thought we’d stop here for brunch. We walked in through the shop, past the bookshop into the cafe section and order and pay at the counter. As I am not very hungry we order a grilled chicken panini and an apple and cinnamon bread with ricotta to share. We take our number out to the deceptively large courtyard. There are plenty of seats, the most prized one among the science fiction books looking out towards the leafy courtyard but unfortunately that table is taken so we walk to the back and take a seat where there are many plants but no books.

After watching many episodes of Kitchen Nightmares and The Chopping Block we were just the other week discussing that we’ve been relatively lucky in never having to wait very long for our meals. Our run came to an end here. The paninis, although pre-made (I didn’t realise this until after I ordered them) just need a light toasting along with the apple and cinnamon bread. But its 20 minutes later and we’re still waiting. My husband enquired and we were assured that they wouldn’t be long. 5 minutes later they arrive, I assume after being forgotten they were then toasted when reminded by his enquiry.

Chicken panini $9

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On our visit to Bourke Street Bakery a few weeks back, we drove past The Book Kitchen, a cafe spilling over with patrons inside and out. It looked intriguing and there’s nothing more enticing than a busy cafe so we made a mental note to come back. Looking a their website featuring organic and bio dynamic produce (http://www.thebookkitchen.com.au/) we knew just who we would take here -my husband’s vegetarian, health loving family. So after some tandem bike riding in Centennial Park, appetites well and truly worked up, we descended. In some minor miracle, parking in Surry Hills was not a nightmare and we found two spots right outside The Book Kitchen. Inside we stake out our spot on one side of the large square communal table and order. It appears that everyone likes the sound of the same dishes so we all agree to share dishes, such is our curiosity.

We order our drinks and settle back to choose from the amazing variety of books-mostly food related with some design books thrown in for good measure. I feel like I’ve come home to my dream library and I’m picking up book after book. I’ve got Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, my husband has a design book on Industrial Interiors, A&D have a book solely devoted to potatoes including some incredible and bizzare looking Peruvian ones and Anneli is looking for her favourite cookbook -the I Hate to Cook Book.

Mixed berry frappe $5

Our drinks arrive first and the Mixed berry frappe ($5) with Berries, apple juice and lemon sorbet is refreshingly good, especially for a sweltering day like this. Its not too sweet courtesy of the lemon sorbet but still resonant with antioxidant berries.

Sunshine shake $5

The dairy free Sunshine shake ($5) with rockmelon, honey, orange juice is delicious-its very creamy and fruity so should sate any lactose intolerant people and fool their food demons! We barely notice the time that it takes for our food to arrive, from reading reviews, its reported to be very slow but the food arrives before we know it thanks to our reading entertainment-a clever trick to keep the hungry boys occupied.

Avocado, sour toast, Persian feta, poached egg, rocket, and lemon infused olive oil $14

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Its been a long time between visits to Le Petit Crème. Since moving across the bridge I’ve had to say goodbye to some of my favourite haunts and Le Petit Crème is a place that I do miss. So when my friend Carbon Debit and I decide to have breakfast, on a bleary eyed Saturday morning before she sets off for a long drive, I figure that sustenance, in the form of delicious eggs, is in order. We meet at 9am and since its too early for most Darlinghurst-ites to have rolled out of bed, we have our choice of tables and nab ourselves an outside table.

There’s no menu to be had at the tables, only one large chalkboard menu in the front of the cafe. Amazingly, it looks like nothing has changed in the years between visits. I have a hankering for one of their fabulous omelettes, unmatched whenever and wherever I’ve travelled. They’re offering us their weekend special Eggs Benedict, two eggs on toasted brioche with a choice of either ham or smoked salmon with hollandaise and a touch of parika. Carbon Debit orders the Eggs Benedict $14 and I order the cheese and ham and mushroom omelette (served with greens and baguette) $14. There is a choice of other fillings that can be added to it but I am going with tradition. I also order a bowl of cafè au lait $4.50-yes that’s right, they have bowls of it and we’re not talking tiny dainty little bowls, we’re talking heaping great-serve-soup-in-bowls.

Bowl of Cafè au lait $4.50

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