Dear Dairy,

Today I had a total and utter carbfest. It started with the morning where I heard howling and outside doors banging hard from the wind. It was freezing when I got out of bed (must learn how to set the timer on the heater so that I am woken at a more civilised temperature) and didn’t get much warmer. Even though I knew we were going out to eat shortly, it didn’t stop me from heating a bread roll, smothering it with butter, stuffing it with ham and swiss cheese and devouring it just before we left for a bakery to have brunch.

And so the day went on and we had our carb and pastry filled lunch and finished with creamy pasta with roasted pumpkin, peas and pinenuts. And I only need now to describe to you the lunch in which I stuffed myself full of bread.

Love,

NQN
xxx

I’ve rung ahead to find reserve myself a pie. Yes I know that sounds mad but I had heard that the pies at Sonoma were good and if I am to brave the crazy howling winds outside, I need to know that the trip will be worth it. We walk into their small shopfront, a bakery that churns out lovely sourdough for many of Sydney’s top restaurants along with a happy public trade. There are 4 small wood tables inside along with some stools outside. My husband takes a seat inside by the window and grabs a copy of Gourmet Traveller (who knew he was interested?) while I order. I choose a Reuben sandwich (toasted) $8, the Lamb and Rosemary pie that I ordered ($6.50), a Chocolate Croissant ($2.80) and a cappucino ($3). For good measure I also buy a round loaf of the Olive bread ($6.00). It’s lucky I did reserve the pie as there is only one lone sausage roll in the warmer, the rest of the pies having sold out.

Lamb and Rosemary pie ($6.50)

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Deusexmachina is a motorcycle shop that we’ve driven past many a time which peaked our interest due to the clever name and eyecatching windows. Deus Ex Machina means literally in Latin “God out of a machine” which is a rather clever name for a motorcycle shop, cum cafe, cum gallery. The way it reads on the outside almost looks like “De Sex Machine” which really catches the eye. And for those who can’t quite recall what Deus Ex Machina means, it’s a plot device used in books, movies or television that allows for the improbable but neat solution to resolve a situation or plot. Think Dallas and the question “Who Shot J.R.?” being resolved with “It was all a dream”. I couldn’t have ever imagined stopping there to have a look as I don’t have any interest in Motorcycles until I read that they actually had a cafe attached to it, called naturally, Deus cafe.

One lazy Sunday afternoon we decided to have lunch there (ok it was brunch but at lunch time). As they close at 3pm we had to get our butts into gear, across the bridge and down the peculiarly numbered Parramatta Road earlier than we would normally leave the house on a cold Sunday.

Entering the huge space of the cafe you’re immediately struck by the low lighting, large communal tables and the fact that it is jam packed for an area that doesn’t have that much nearby. The mark of Dare Jennings, the Mambo founder is stamped across everything. It’s that rustic, laidback, boy friendly but not girl unfriendly look where objects look like a collection of cool vintage and new.

We share some surprisingly soft and comfortable wicker couches with others and I go to order. I take a good 5 minutes standing (probably open mouthed) trying to decide that to order. There are specials that finish at noon, cakes, rolls, salads, breakfast eggs in all sorts of variations as well as more substantial lunch food like lamb shanks. I wanted to order the Bircher muesli with fresh stewed fruit but they’ve sold out, as they have with the granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. I settle on the fruit toast ($4) as I’m told it’s made on the premises, a New England Clam Chowder with Deus roll ($10) and a Lamb sausage with tzatziki, tomato confit on Deus bread with chips ($12). It’s order and pay at the counter and they provide complimentary help yourself filtered water. There is a huge tables of magazines from the New Yorker to the Sunday life and newspapers so I grab some and get reading.

Fruit toast $4

Our fruit toast arrives first, two thick wedges of lightly toasted raisin bread with 2 squares of butter at the perfect temperature so that it spreads easily. I am glad to see that it is packed with lots of raisins and even though my husband isn’t a big toast eater, whereas I am, he enjoys this as much as I do.

New England Clam Chowder $10

The New England Clam Chowder and the Lamb sausages arrive together about 10 minutes later. The clam chowder is full of lots of bacon, celery, potato and some very tiny sliced up clams. Although it’s not particularly clam-my or briney, it’s creamy and comforting and lovely with the freshly baked roll, which is like across between a panini and a turkish roll. I’m hoping my husband won’t like it but of course he does.

Lamb sausages with tzatziki, tomato confit and chips $12

The Lamb sausages sit within a split lightly toasted Deus roll with two confit of tomatoes and a generous serve of tzatziki. The sausages are strong in fennel seed and whilst it’s nice, there is a little something lacking in the sandwich. I find myself adding salt which improves it slightly but not enough for me to want to eat more. My husband finds that there is too much roll for the filling and I have to agree. The french fries are actually stone cold which is a disappointment but we can’t be bothered waiting to wait for a fresh serve.

We’re full so we walk into the shop adjacent to the cafe where there is the distinct smell of grease and oil. Lots of motorcycles, books and interesting displays adorn the shop and for a motorcycle enthusiast, it’s probably their idea of nirvana.

Deus Cafe, part of Deus Ex Machina

98-104 Parramatta Road Camperdown
Tel: +61 (02) 9557 6866
Parking to the right via Barr Street
Open 7 days:
Mon-Sat: 8:00-3:00pm
Sunday: 9:00-3:00pm

http://www.deus.com.au/

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

The panini is delicious with chicken breast, sun dried tomatoes, olives (scant), lemon mayo, rocket and cheese with the panini soft and chewy on the inside and toasted on the outside. Its thick in filling which I like although I confess that when I finished my half, I didn’t think I could eat a whole one as it gets a touch dry.

Apple and Cinnamon bread $4 with ricotta and lemon side $1 extra

The apple and cinnamon bread with a side of cinnamon dusted ricotta and lemon is beckoning me with its enticing cinnamon aroma. Its thick and studded with apple pieces and cinnamon and although the ricotta at first seems not sweet enough, after a few bites it’s definitely the one to order again or at least try to make at home.

Sappho Books Courtyard Cafe

51 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Sydney NSW Australia
Tel: +61 (02) 9552 4498
Open 7 days including pbluc holidays 8:30am-6.30pm
http://www.sapphobooks.com.au

Sel et Poivre is one of my favourite restaurants in Sydney. In, fact, I usually celebrate my birthday here, lured by the fabulous, and very authentic French fare on offer. Its also a reliable place when you’ve got fussy eaters. A group of friends that we dine with includes a friend, Hot Dog, who likes his food just so and is likely to get the waiter or waitress who doesn’t seem to want to convey this wish to the kitchen so he ends up supremely frustrated. Not here though, we don’t hear a peep of complaint from him when we dine here.

I know the menu back to front and have already pre ordered my dishes in my mind. I never veer, although sometimes I do if its winter and I ask for the Cassoulet (not a menu item, you have to ask for this). But since the weather is warm, I order my usual two entrees instead of an entree and main: the Salmon Marinated in Olive Oil, Aromatic Herbs, Mixed lettuce and Warm Steamed Potatoes $17.90 and the Crispy Galette of Fresh Swimmer Crab, Leeks and Sauce a l’Americaine $15.50. My husband orders the Marinated Braised Beef Cheeks with Miramar Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce and Frites $24.90, Rose does the two entree thing too with the Crispy Galette of swimmer crab and the Duck Terrine with Armagnac $16.90 and Ronald orders the Duck Leg Confit with lentils and salad $25.90 and we have a serve of mash for the table ($6.90). We’re seated at my favourite table, on the outside with the cushions but not the table right on the street.

Salmon Marinated in Olive Oil, Aromatic Herbs, Mixed lettuce and Warm Steamed Potatoes $17.90

As its relatively early, its quite empty but we know that it will be busy by 8pm. After all Darlinghurst-ites don’t exactly dine early and we overhear them having to knock back people without reservations. Its not long before Rose and my cold entrees arrive. My Salmon Marinated in Olive Oil, Aromatic Herbs, Mixed lettuce and Warm Steamed Potatoes is, as always, delicious. The soft, olive oily salmon beautifully textured and the potatoes dotted with finely diced spring onion. The accompanying birds eye chili and garlic clove, although decorative, remains untouched, I think either or both would overpower the fish.

Duck Terrine with Armagnac $16.90

Rose’s Duck Terrine has two thinly sliced pieces of mottle hued duck meat. Together with the fresh baguette pieces, its delicious, the Armagnac giving the flavoursome duck meat just a hint of brandy. Its delicious and surprisingly filling given the thin pieces. I may have found another must have-I wonder how I’d go ordering 3 entrees next time?

Duck Leg Confit with lentils and salad $25.90

Ronald’s Duck Leg Confit with lentils and salad is fall apart loveliness. Slightly crispy on the outside with the skin, he’s impressed at how soft and delicious it is and how easily it falls off the bone. What’s surprising for both Rose and Ronald is the puy lentil salad, housed in a ramekin on the side. Neither having eaten a lentil before in their life, and probably relegating it to the repulsive sounding and much maligned pulse category, their first experience is with this. Its strong with bacon flavour with finely diced carrots, tomatoes and herbs mixed in and topped with diced tomato. Its easily a dish I could order just by itself by the bowlful and one that has them impressed and nodding their heads with satisfaction.

Marinated Braised Beef Cheeks with Miramar Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce and Frites $24.90

My husband’s Marinated Braised Beef Cheeks with Miramar Cabernet Sauvignon Sauce and Frites arrives. Like the Duck Confit, the dark hued meat, set in a pool of darkest cab sav sauce, is fall apart soft, the meat incredibly tender and unctuous with an almost gelatinous texture to it much like marrow. There are also pieces of carrot, mushroom and bacon in it to add to the flavour. My favourite fries and mash in the world are here, the fries gloriously crisp and crunchy, the mash creamy and buttery smooth. The frites are dipped in this and then mash and this is repeated until every last drop of this deliciously rich sauce is gone-call it a more decorous way of licking the plate clean.

Crispy Galette of Fresh Swimmer Crab, Leeks and Sauce a l’Americaine $15.50

Rose and I have our Crispy Galette of Fresh Swimmer Crab, Leeks and Sauce a l’Americaine to devour. The round orb of crab filled pastry sits in a sauce based on tomato, onion, and herbs, cooked in wine. The outer pastry isn’t as crispy as I recall it to be but the inner is delicious and packed to the brim with fresh swimmer crab and leeks, the amount of crab particularly impressing Rose. For a crab and pastry lover like me, this is deliciously decadent.

Sadly, as we have to dash, we must forego my favourite Creme Brulee in the world-one housed on a long shallow-ish dish (maximum toffee crunch here) where an earth shattering toffee crunch is always had. By now the restaurant is full and our white papered table is earmarked for another group of lucky diners.

Sel et Poivre

263 Victoria St
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Tel: +61 (02) 9361-6530
Fax: (02) 9360-8926
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