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

Food: Circa, Parramatta

Hello. Hello. Hello.

This is my first official posting on F. Hehe.

Yesterday, I went to Parramatta with some of my besties, Anita and Renee.

It was no surprise that I was running late, but it turns out my friends were also running late. Except I was running an hour behind and they were only 15 mins behind. Mind you, I woke up before my alarm and decided to do productive things. Do you know the thing where when you have more time, you think you have heaps more time and then you go slower because you've already missed the original bus/train you were going to catch? Or is that just me?
I arrived at around 12pm, which I'd like to think perfectly timed to eat as soon as I got off the bus.
At first, we went to Three Ropes but there wasn't much space to settle for all three of us, so we opted for Circa. Thank goodness it was only a short walk because we're more about the eating and less about the walking. 

[On a little side note, I don't claim to be a culinary expert or any sort of expert. I just want to share my opinion on food that I have tried and if restaurants are worth the visit. Some of you may not agree with my opinion but it really is each to their own.]

We arrived at Circa and it was already full inside but we got a good sunny spot to sit and was greeted by a lovely French waitress. It's a nifty little cafe tucked away in the streets of Parramatta, creatively using a garage attached to terraces. 

(cafe comes equipped with a certified hipster)

I am not going to lie, I didn't know most of the stuff that was on the menu but yay for trying new things! There is a fair range of things on the menu with moderate prices ranging from $7 to $19. Unfortunately, on the bottom of the page of the menu, it states "no variations to the menu, please inform staff of any dietary requirements or allergies". I don't know if this means they will inform you of choices you shouldn't make or cater to your dietary requirements. Bless the gods that I do not have any food allergies. 

I ended up getting a hot chocolate (how juvenile) and French toast (never had French toast before). The hot chocolate was slightly watered down and I prefer mine to be milky and on the slightly sweet side. The French toast was pretty amazeballs. The fruit was fresh. Sometimes you get strawberry that are just about going soft or the ones that are sour and not yet ripe, but not on my dish. There was an orangey-yellow fruit in my dish that neither Renee, Anita or I knew what it was (maybe you do? Let me know). The labne was creamy and was just the right amount, working well with the toast and fruits. The added pistachio give the dish added texture. The bread was soft, coated well and cooked perfectly golden. Overall, the combination of flavours mixed well for someone like me who has a bit of a sweet tooth. 

I would recommend this dish for those who are looking for something that's not savoury and want something fruity as snack (maybe for big eaters) or brunch meal. It is well worth the price paid simply because of the quality of the fruit. And you would not be able to recreate this clever dish.

African Red Hot Chocolate; exhibits the hallmarks of African grown cocoa beans with delightful high fruity notes
4.5/5

French toast with poached rhubarb, mascarpone labne, cinnamon, berries and crushed pistachio
14

Anita had bacon and eggs and a mocha. She says it's the best bacon and eggs she has had. Just by looking at the sandwich, it is definitely is worth the value. The rating for this cafe is looking good so far!

Mocha (wasn't on the menu)
4.5

Barrosa Valley cured Schultz bacon, fried free-range eggs, house made tomato & capsicum relish and aioli on schiacciata bread
12

Renee went for a poached egg dish with tomatoes on toast. The egg was oozing yolky goodness! She says that the dish has a lot of pesto, so maybe reconsider if you are not into pesto. It is a dish screaming healthy with generous amounts of avocado accompanied with three large slice of tomato.

Iced coffee; deliciously sweet and balanced.
5

Heirloom tomatoes, poached eggs, avocado smash, house made basil pesto on olive sourdough toast.
12

Overall, I think the cafe is a lovely place to meet friends for a good catch up, as I did with my friends. We fought over the details of our hilarious twelvie (tb) days and dumb attitudes in the past. The cafe is emitting good vibes and relaxed atmosphere. It is cosy and quaint, the food is lovely and the service is great. Also, its not a long walk from Parramatta which is always a bonus for those who are extra hungry. Thumbs up for Circa! 

Afterwards, Anita and Renee were able to score themselves free strawberries and cream tea from T2 as they were born in 1996 and 18. T2 was having a promotion for turning 18 and was giving free tea to their birthday buds. Unfortunately, I was not born in 1996. :( Today, and the weekend coming up, they are gifting tea cubes to people so maybe I'll drop by T2 if it's within my vicinity. They are also having 18% off on everything, which by the way, never happens at T2. 

You know it was a good day when at the end of it you're so exhausted but you want to stay up doing more things because you're in a great mood. I hope to go on more food adventures with these amigos.

- Helen