Fashion: Surry up the Hills

Kudos to Helen for coming up with the punny title and photos!! 

I've always imagined Surry Hills to be equivalent to the likes of Newtown (that is, crawling with hipsters). And you know what? There actually weren't that many. Instead I've noticed that it's mainly the middle aged and their dogs. Speaking of dogs, if you're not looking at where you're going, there's a 95% chance that you'll step on poop. Which I almost did on countless occasions because I was either staring at fluffy dogs or the interlocking trees on the side of the road. 

Some parts of Surry Hills made me feel like I was walking down the streets of Brooklyn. Not that I've been there, but I've watched enough Gossip Girl to have a pretty good gist of what it's like...

Felt hat - The Iconic

Sunnies - Rayban Clubmasters

Striped blouse - Valleygirl

Sweater - Dotti

Paperbag Pant - Dotti (they only stock black now)

Jacket - Gas Jeans
Dress - Dotti
Purse - Princess Highway
Flats - Chinese markets

- Anita :)

Food: Rustic Pearl, Surry Hills

(finally busted out the SLR, yay!)

Let me begin by telling you how much I love the decor. I just have a thing for interior design, so I'm going to comment on the design of restaurants. Rustic Pearl, as its name suggests, features a rustic design. It's actually quite a small restaurant and so there tends to be a line. Luckily, my friends and I went around brunch time so we just beat the rush. And even though there were people waiting, the waiters didn't rush us or anything. They probably knew that these people would wait to dine there because I would.

LIKE OH EM GEE! I cannot fault this restaurant for anything but being so far away from where I live!

Avocado smoothie; topped w/pistachio
7

When it comes to avocado smoothies, I'm used to the ones with just avocado, a sugar (most of the time condensed milk), milk and occasionally, a scoop of ice cream. No, this is no ordinary basic bitch style smoothie. I didn't think it would be because it's SEVEN dollars, a lot for a drink. But I really love avocado and avocados aren't cheap. It was worth the money. Coming in a oval cup with a steel spoon straw (yes, there is a spoon at the end of the straw), it caught me off guard. You can distinctly taste the honey within the drink. Not what I'm used to, but I'll accept it. The pomegranate were sour bursts against the sweetness of the honey and pistachio gave it texture. I love the pistachio flavour in the smoothie but I prefer my smoothie smooth (just like me, ha!). 

Fresh drinking coconut; w/ fruit garnish
6.5

My friend got the coconut drink and I expected it to come in a glass, but nope.

Sucuk bruschetta w/ char grilled sucuk, melted buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomato, avocado, rocket, pomegranate molasses & soft boiled organic egg
17

Being the indecisive person that I am, I asked the waiter what I should get and he suggested this. Um, freaking delish'! Normally, I'm not a fan of large amounts of fresh tomato, but this has to be the exception. Egg was perf. Sucuk was perf. Cheese was perfectly melted. Balance of the dish was perf. I had to saw through the crust of the toast but I don't mind because it was so scrum-dilly-umptious! Initially, we thought the dressing was balsamic vinegar but it actually pomegranate molasses. Its a tangy syrup made from boiled down pomegranate juices. The best feature is the generous layer of avocado. I'm going to keep coming back for more!

pan fried free-range chicken breast salad w/ crispy bacon, chickpeas, char grilled zucchini, agresto, almond & spiced apricot dressing
18

Homemade mixed wild mushrom gnocchi w/ tomato, garlic, parsley & goat's cheese
18

We shared this dish and although it was perfectly fine, I prefer the gnocchi at Criniti's. I believe its just a matter of preference here. Its very flavoursome with tomato being the strongest flavour. The pasta was soft and wasn't quite pillowy but nevertheless, its a dish to enjoy with its assortment of mushrooms.

Smoked waygu omelette w/ buffalo mozzarella, spinach skordalia, bacon dust, tomato relish & toast
17

Overall, I love this place to bits and I am going to go back. They will probably end up taking all of my money. Well, the very little money I have left since the dishes range from 17/18 dollars and go up to 24. It's not cheap but its not expensive either, but definitely worth the money you pay. 

They also do note that there is a waiting time with ordering dishes because they are trying to assure quality and freshness. This isn't so much bother if you're catching up with friends and they do bring out drinks for you in the meantime. It will only be a problem if you're starving, in which case, you'd still wait. 

They offer gluten free alternatives for a surcharge of $1. If you read the menu, you can see that they offer quality for a reasonable price.

- Helen

Food: Twelve, Newtown

We picked this restaurant because of its outdoor diners and opened up front. It was inviting and we were hopeful.

As a group of 6, we needed a large table but their tables mostly accommodated for 2's and 4's. The booth seat of 4 would have worked just fine for the 6 of us but the owner of the restaurant (assumed that he was because he was interviewing a girl later on) wasn't willing to move. I am not sure if he wants his restaurant to succeed at all. I read reviews after (just to avoid bias) my visit and the general consensus reflected my experience.

I ordered a beef burger because the lady suggested it as a special. Being only $8, I thought, why not? Um, because the beef was dry and the sauce was lacking. I have never been so dissatisfied with a basic beef burger. The burger was more bread than beef and it just threw the whole balance of flavours off and was pretty plain tasting.

There is not much more than I can say about this substandard burger. I hope they are able to up their game because they do have a neatly designed restaurant in a prime location.

Beef burger; lettuce, tomato, Gruyere cheese, gherkins caramelised onions mayo & ketchup
8
w/ chips 13

- Helen

Fave: Kina Grannis

Kina Grannis is seriously the bomb diggity! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I GOT TO MEET HER. SHE IS LITERAL PERFECTION.

I fell in love with her five years ago when I first heard 'Valentine' on YouTube. Her covers are all so amazing and her harmonies are always on point.

Here is her Valentine music video:

Here is one of my favourite covers by her:



Let me tell you why I think she is literal perfection after having the privilege of meeting her.
1. She is genuinely sweet. When she talks, you just can't help but fall in love with her. She is so down to earth and funny too. She attempted to do an Australian accent and said that if she were Australian she wouldn't stop talking. Haha, just adorbs!
2. What you see if what you get. You know how you expect singers to be not as great as their polished recorded songs? Kina Grannis sounds fabulous recorded and live. You probably couldn't even tell the difference.
3. She is beautiful. She's beautiful on screen but even more beautiful in real life if that is even possible. I GOT TO HUG HER TOO - touched by the beautiful creature!!!!
4. Her cute insignias. I really love her old girl with the guitar logo and her new triangles logo. I wanted to get her elements necklace but it was $40 and I just didn't feel it was worth the money.
5. Her passion for music. She is chasing her dreams and that's inspiring. Like seriously, she spent a good amount of time doing the 'In Your Arms' jelly bean stop motion animation music video. Crrazzzyy dedication!
6. I just had to add that her and Jesse (her husband) are the cutest! Even though it doesn't really add to her perfection, I'm totally jealous that he married her.

And even though I might sound like a crazy obsessed fangirl, I feel like these are all valid and you will understand when you listen and meet her!

Now, some pictures of that momentous day!

Thank you Kina Grannis!

Also, her drummer has the coordination of a god because she was able to play the drums, tambourine and sing at the same time. I mean, if I had that kind of coordination, I'd be set for life.

- Helen

Food: Devon Cafe, Surry Hills

Upon recommendations to try out this place out, my friend and I ventured to Surry Hills. This cafe is only a 5 minute walk from Central Station which is such a blessing for anybody, like me, who thinks that getting to the CBD is a trek. The first world problems of living in the middle of nowhere. And let me tell you now, Sydney public transportation system is not your friend. It costs you a limb and a half to access this service and it's never on time. The woes!

Before I continue this post any further, I would like to apologise for the quality of photos on this blog thus far and in the future. I feel extremely uncomfortable spending a long time getting a photo of food with my phone, let alone whipping out my SLR. As a person who a photography enthusiast and refuses to "like" photos on facebook because of terrible lighting, I should take more of an effort to get better photos. I don't know how to discreetly take photos using an SLR. Hopefully, I will grow some balls and forget about people judging me. But for now, please forgive the quality. 

I am a very picky eater but I am trying to fix this by ordering meals that I don't normally go for. The problem with that is I don't have the money to get a meal that I do like if I really hate it, being a uni student and all. I try to play it safe as much as I can but for some reason, on this day, instead of opting the french toast with NUTELLA on it (anybody who know me, know I live for nutella), I go for this pot of tomato sauce. Let me just say this, I don't like tomatoes. Tomato sauce is alright. I don't know how you are supposed to eat the dish I ordered. Heck, I don't even remember what it is called. It was a pot of tomato sauce with two half-cooked eggs and bread on the side, put simply. This is on the breakfast menu by the way and I thought you really couldn't go wrong with breakfast food. Oh, I was wrong. So wrong. I struggled to finish this dish. I poked the egg yolk out but it just mixed with the tomato sauce. It was just tomato sauce. I don't understand the dish. I will never order it again. 

That all being said, there is nothing wrong with the dish, I just wasn't feeling eating a slice of bread drowned in tomato sauce mixed with egg yolk. Perhaps this is because I am accustomed to an Asian palate but this was definitely not for me. My biggest regret is not getting that french toast. I may return to Devon cafe to try that French toast out because quality-wise, the cafe is on point. 

The hot chocolate was foamy, creamy and perfect drinking temperature when I received it. Not too sweet and not too watery.

So, in all, I would definitely go to Devon Cafe, I just wouldn't go for this dish. I can't really give bad ratings to a cafe that has quality food that I just don't have the taste for.

Hot chocolate
4

Two chicks in Basque; baked eggs, piperade, pistou, sourdough toast
14.5
(with blood sausage 5)

Kaya toast; coconut jam, butter, light soy 63' eggs, brioche toast
12.5

I tried a bit of the coconut jam that my friend got with the Kaya toast and it was delish'. The rest of the dish I can't really comment on but we agreed that we just didn't have the taste palate for it.

The front of the cafe is small and so the back room, meant for storage, was opened up for seating. We weren't seated in the best place. Sharing a large table with backless stools with six other people between a garage door was opened and the fridge and produce. To me, the decor was a bit confusing. They had a flowers on the table and the golden accented signage which didn't really complement the blue, artificial graffiti walls and wired fences. I wouldn't say this is the most comfortable place to settle down and catch up with friends as my back started to ache from having no support.


If I do go back for the French toast one day, I will be sure to update you. Perhaps it will change my perspective of Devon Cafe.

- Helen

Fashion: New to town

left- me! // right - Richard

I've been waiting to let this 90's inspired outfit see the light of day for a while now. But for a casual lunch with the family, this combination of tartan, distressed denim and pointy heels can be considered a bit too much. So, when my friends and I decided to leave our cave of pillows and blankets and venture out to Newtown for brunch, I knew - this was the outfit's time to shine.

Things you should know about me:

1. I am a sucker for scarves and will find any opportunity to wear one during autumn/winter. Here I am wearing this chunky knit infinity scarf that I got for a dollar!

2. I am also a sucker for boyfriend jeans. Boy am I glad this became trendy because now I won't have to go to the trouble of finding a boyfriend! 

3. I'm the Marshall of photographs. If you watch How I Met Your Mother, you would know that Marshall can never take decent photos because his eyes would be closed. Luckily, my eyes managed to stay open in these two (out of the hundred) that we took!

Jacket - thrifted
Shirt - h&m (similar here)
Scarf - Cotton On
Boyfriend jeans - Jay Jays (if you can't get your hands on a boyfriend, acquire one from here)
Vintage purse - borrowed from Helen because I cleverly left mine elsewhere
Shoes - Hong Kong

-Anita

Food: The Grumpy Barista, Petersham

Rhubarb gel, rose petal & dried lychee

Oreo & Nutella

Who- or should I say, what, compelled five "amateur foodies" to wake up at 9am on a blistering cold Monday morning to make a half hour trek to Petersham? Cronuts, my friend. Cronuts. The heavenly love child of croissants and doughnuts.

Mind you, it is winter break for us university students, so this was a feat that could not go unrewarded.

Thankfully, the diabetes god was smiling down upon us, and we soon found our way to the Grumpy Barista (without the help of the creepy man at the station). Located five minutes away from Petersham station, the café is hard to miss because it's the only one on the street with a big moustache hanging on the shop front. 

The hot drinks served by the equally hot barista were deliciously creamy, smooth and full of flavour. And considerably cheap too as they were around $3-4. We ordered the 'oreo & nutella' and 'rhubarb gel, rose petal & dried lychee' cronuts. Are you salivating yet? Because I am. Crispy and flaky on the outside, dense but still light in the inside. I should also mention that the inside is injected with some sweet sweet custard. I don't know what else to say besides the infamous "where the bloody hell are you?!" 

Seriously. Forget what your doctor (or google) told you, try them!!

Photographed by Richard Heng



- Anita

Food: Cafe Harvest (Bonnyrigg Garden Centre), Bonnyrigg

Before dining here, I've already heard lots about it by word of mouth. Now, as a Commerce student having studied the basics of Marketing, I know this is one of the best avenues of building a solid reputation. My sister even told me that Cafe Harvest was "really good". As you can imagine, I had great expectations and was anticipating to be wow-ed. Much to my disappointment, the cafe lacked any wow factor. I can only ascribed this place as over-hyped. 

The cafe is relatively close to where I live and it is one of the very few breakfast places and cafes that exist in the area. It's actually inside a garden centre which differentiates it from every other cafe. It means a lot of decor and greenery around which you can purchase. It also seconds a great post-eating activity. Notably, they have so many different variations of sand and dirt that I didn't know existed. My friends was equally as fascinated as I was. Haha, the employees kept looking at us, probably thinking "what are these five girls doing looking at the sand?" But in all honesty, I think I left ever so more educated and knowledgeable on plants and dirt. 

Menu-wise, there is solid selection of breakfast foods and lunch foods and have all the standard drinks. A neat thing is that you are able to design your own juice/smoothie if you wish to. The food range from a moderate $5 to $21. The perk about this place is that breakfast is served all day, so if you miss the Maccas 10am breakfast, here is your plan B. In my book, breakfast foods can be eaten at any time of the day. I mean, c'mon, cereal for dinner, who can say no?

I opted for fresh orange juice over bottled orange juice. Ok, assumed that the orange juice was going to be squeezed, not put through a blender. And for $6.50, I wasn't too pleased. Yeah, it looks cool in the mason jar type mug and its orange slice decor. I hate the taste of juice from juicers. It gives it a slightly metallic, oxidised taste. This is just a nitpicky preference of mine. But hey, at least it didn't have pulp (if you're the type that likes pulp, I will never understand you)

I went for the eggs benedict because I read some reviews about the cafe before my visit. I do my homework. I read that they had the best hollandaise sauce and I wanted to try it myself. Right, I'm no judge in the hollandaise sauce department, having only had it once, but I must agree that it was of good consistency and balanced flavour. The overall dish, though, wasn't up to par. They overdid it with the spinach. I would have preferred less spinach. But even so, the muffin was stale and hard to slice through. I will give them props though for not over cooking the egg which was perfectly oozing a bright orange yolk.

I also tried the rump steak sandwich. The rump was tough to cut and chew suggesting it wasn't the best quality meat. The caramelised onion overpowered the rump and made the sandwich on the sweeter side. If you are expecting a hearty meat sandwich, I would not recommend going for this option. And like the eggs benedict, the bread was on the stale side. Despite all this, I will credit them for having nicely seasoned and cooked perfectly crisp chips.

Fresh Orange Juice
6.5

Eggs benedict; w/sauteed spinach, poached eggs and house made hollandaise sauce on an english muffin w/ham (can get salmon for extra $2.50)
16

Yearling rump steak sandwich; rocket, tomato, caramelised onion and aioli w/fries
19

After my disappointing meal, I walked around the centre with my friends. They have a gorgeous glasshouse that is up for hire. It would be fabulous for an intimate, small affair. I'm guessing that it would only cater for a maximum of 20. The glasshouse does feature a chandelier and is surrounded by lush greenery.

In my opinion, after all that hype surround the cafe, it really didn't meet my expectations. For the quality of food I received there, I wouldn't say it was worth the price. Even so, I wouldn't dismiss the cafe entirely and do recommend a visit, perhaps it was a stroke of bad luck for me. It does hold a high rating on urbanspoon currently. Let me know about your experience at this cafe if you do happen to dine there!

- Helen