Furious 5 - Dello Mano

There may be nary a newsagent, supermarket or chemist anywhere in Newstead but if your prepared to give up those practical affectations, there's a whole plantation of coffee sellers in the area.  As a boost to my fitness, my enthusiasm for a decent coffee, secret fandom of Grandmaster Flash and a test of my blogging commitment, I am hoping to post 5 coffee shops in 5 days.

Criteria:
* Walkable from 639 Wickham St, Newstead/Fortitude Valley
* There and back in 30 minutes

Day 5 - Dello Mano

Walking Time:
1762 steps return
36 minutes return including travel, ordering and drinking

On Approach:

In prime position on the the corner of Doggett and Chester Sts with slightly elevated views towards the CBD.  It's was probably a corner store in a former life.  You'll spot the yoga mums gossiping on the corner with prams, kids and dogs in tow.

Inside Vibe:

Confusing.  Del Mano produce upmarket brownies with delightfully shiny wrappings that indicate elegance and sophistication.  Yet, the interior of the Del Mano cafe is crowded with furniture, cluttered with books, handbills and posters with a shabby chic motif that's more shabby than chic.   You can barely get to the counter to order.  The setting certainly doesn't match the sleek, refined salon I was expecting.

Coffee:
Medium blend, smooth and served at a good temperature.  The staff were unsure about what teas they sold and we couldn't find them listed. In the end, someone worked out that they sold green tea.  I was expecting that it would arrive in a pot or at the very least, in a tea infuser so a limp tea bag dangling was a bit of a let down.  Medium coffee - $4.
 

Food:
Small selection of sweet offerings such as the Toasted Coconut Bread w Chocolate Butter $6.50 and the full range of the justifiably coveted Del Mano Brownies.

Service:
Order at counter, service at the table.  Staff are friendly but flustered.  We had to ask after our Coconut Bread and were told by the owner that he could smell it toasting so it must be on it's way.  A few minutes more and it did arrive but there was quite a gap between coffee delivery and the arrival of the bread.  Given less than half the tables were full, I imagine there could be a wait or a few missed orders on a busy day.

Point of Difference:
Go there for the Brownies and the Brownies alone.  At $5.50 each, they are 50c cheaper in the shop than they are online.  One Brownie goes a long way and would easily feed 4 reasonable people or two little piggies at the end of a dinner party.

Dello Mano
29 Doggett St (Cnr Chester)
Teneriffe   Qld   4005
http://www.dellomano.com.au/

Furious 5 - 33 Squares

There may be nary a newsagent, supermarket or chemist anywhere in Newstead but if your prepared to give up those practical affectations, there's a whole plantation of coffee sellers in the area.  As a boost to my fitness, my enthusiasm for a decent coffee, secret fandom of Grandmaster Flash and a test of my blogging commitment, I am hoping to post 5 coffee shops in 5 days. 

Criteria:
* Walkable from 639 Wickham St, Newstead/Fortitude Valley
* There and back in 30 minutes

Day 4 - 33 Squares

Walking Time:

1142 steps return
26 minutes return including travel time, ordering and drinking

On Approach:

You could walk right by this place.  The Limestore is a small re-purposed warehouse that has a mix of business tenants as well as 33 Squares in the foyer.  A couple of tables under a leafy canopy on the street let you know you are heading in the right direction.
  

Inside Vibe:

There are some great stone walls that have been taken back to their original patina as well as a funky pop culture mural including a quirky reference to Vegemite v1.0.  A mix of smaller tables and stool as well as a longer shared table.  The broader foyer area has artwork made from coffee bags as well as pieces of the original hardware and tackle from the warehouse's former life.

Coffee:

Order at the counter, service to the table.  Coffee is medium bodied but has a slight bitterness.  Served at a decent temperature.

Food:

Sandwiches and salads.  There's sushi available which must be like a tall drink of water to people working in this industrial desert.  Menus are printed on takeaway paper bags, which is a neat twist.

Service:

Friendly and relaxed.  Whilst my friend and I sat and chatted, our coffees were delivered followed by bottle of water and glasses.  Staff are efficient in preparing food and happy to substitute.  Always a happy greeting at the counter.

Point of Difference:

For a start, it's the only coffee shop in this part of the precinct.  A big selling point for me were the Lolly Jars on the counter but the real appeal is in the welcoming and unharried atmosphere.  No one's trying to push you out the door or asking you to vacate your table.  In fact, they are offering to fetch you another bottle of water and encouraging you to take your time.  Opposite the massive Gasworks development, they'll be run off their feet very soon indeed so get in quick.

33 Squares

5a/33 Longland St

Newstead   Qld   4006

Furious 5 - Blue Sky Coffee

There may be nary a newsagent, supermarket or chemist anywhere in Newstead but if your prepared to give up those practical affectations, there's a whole plantation of coffee sellers in the area.  As a boost to my fitness, my enthusiasm for a decent coffee, secret fandom of Grandmaster Flash and a test of my blogging commitment, I am hoping to post 5 coffee shops in 5 days. 

Criteria:
* Walkable from 639 Wickham St, Newstead/Fortitude Valley
* There and back in 30 minutes

Day 3 - Blue Sky Coffee

Walking Time:
936 steps return
22 minutes return including travel, ordering and drinking (although I did need to take my coffee away as it was not finished)

On Approach:
Housed in a red brick, 1950's style former light industrial office with warehouse (now coffee roastery) attached at the back.

Inside Vibe:
Cavernous.  Large communal tables and a couple of smaller ones.  Funky modern art on loan from  Fireworks Gallery dotted around the walls, roasting and packing at the back.  Oh, and there's a motorbike and suit of armour. The high roof with silver tar paper looks very urban chic however be warned!  There's no insulation which means it can get devilishly hot inside on a summer's day, particularly if they are roasting coffee.

Coffee:

Blue Sky's own bean blend - on this day 'Ebony & Ivory'.  A smooth tasting medium blend with no bitter undertones.  Coffee is piping hot and took quite a while to cool to drinking temperature.

Food:
Florentines, cookies, poppy seed loaf, wraps, focaccias - you know the drill.

Service:
Hey.....weren't you my barista at Extract?  Indeed I was!  But I saw the light and have followed you down to the 'quality end' of town and I'm working at Blue Sky.  And you still remember my coffee order?  That's fantastic!  All part of the service.*

Point of Difference:
Works with the Terrace Timor Network to support the local community.  Roasts it's own coffee on premises and has some serious coffee techniques and paraphernalia for coffee wankers to try and buy.  There's a 'Bean Bar' where you can check out the latest beans available and any specials.

*Real life facts.  Imaginary conversation.

Blue Sky Coffee
32 Commercial Rd
Newstead   Qld   4006
http://www.blueskycoffee.com.au/

Furious 5 - Divisione Tecnica

There may not be a newsagent, supermarket or chemist anywhere near Newstead but if your prepared to give up those practical affectations, there's a whole plantation of coffee sellers in the area.  As a boost to my fitness, my enthusiasm for a decent coffee, secret fandom of Grandmaster Flash and a test of my blogging commitment, I am hoping to post 5 coffee shops in 5 days. 

Criteria:
* Walkable from 639 Wickham St, Newstead/Fortitude Valley
* There and back in 30 minutes

Day 2 - Divisione Tecnica

Walking Time:
1528 steps return
29 minutes return including travel, ordering and drinking

On Approach:
Hidden in a side street, on the edge of the massive new Gasworks development that's going gangbusters.  The unusual name may not reveal the secret within but the tables on the footpath make it easy to spot.  The entry includes a ramp making it wheelchair and pram friendly.

Inside Vibe:
As the young kids are saying: 'cool cool'.  A warehouse renovated to now incorporate an espresso bar as well as retaining the workshop where repairs are done on espresso machines and storage for parts.  Best spots are the converted loading dock that catches a good breeze and the small courtyard out the back.  There are also a couple of 1980's arcade games that you can feed your money into.

 

Coffee:

Strong!  As you would expect from an espresso machine repair company, they know their way around a coffee.  I was very surprised to learn that the coffee of choice was Di Bella. I have been disappointed with Di Bella to date but perhaps this says more about the baristas than the coffee.  You will need a glass of water when you drink this.  Medium - a bargain priced $3

Food:
The usual suspects in the chiller cabinet. I opted for the 'health loaf' made on wholemeal flour with dates, nuts and coconut.  I had it with an unhealthy serve of butter.  A very big portion that could easily be shared - $3.50. There are also some home style Italian dolci available.

Service:
Friendly and welcoming.  Order at the counter, served to your table.  Baristas are happy to chat as are any of the other staff working on repairs.   One barista talked with me about the artwork on their walls.  You couldn't get a nicer bunch.

Point of Difference:
Did I mention they service and repair coffee machines?  They also sell them.  Divisione are Italophiles and this is reflected in the products they sell including those cool Italian lever coffee machines.  They also contribute to various community initiatives both here and in Argentina.

Divsione Tecnica
16 Waterloo St
Newstead   Qld   4006
http://www.divisionetecnica.com/index.html

Furious 5 - Larder 2

There may be nary a newsagent, supermarket or chemist anywhere in Newstead but if your prepared to give up those practical affectations, there's a whole plantation of coffee sellers in the area.  As a boost to my fitness, my enthusiasm for a decent coffee, secret fandom of Grandmaster Flash and a test of my blogging commitment, I am hoping to post 5 coffee shops in 5 days.

Criteria:
* Walkable from 639 Wickham St, Newstead/Fortitude Valley
* There and back in 30 minutes

Day 1 - Larder 2

Distance:
1368 steps return
28 minutes return including travel, ordering and drinking

On Approach:
You could easily walk past this place as entry is at the very apex of a triangular shaped building.  Look out for the stools and umbrellas on one side of the shop.

Inside Vibe:
A serviceable shop with simple laminate countertops, a serve yourself drinks fridge and display cabinet with food.  Airbrushed decoration and Anime style figures feature on the walls as well as a couple of chalkboards letting you know what's on offer.  Chilled water from the Brita filter, local street press to peruse and half a dozen or so seats.  Opens directly onto Fusion Cycles.

Coffee:
Di Bella - medium bodied, slightly burned taste.  Coffee was medium hot, at a ready to drink temperature.  Medium coffee - $4.

Food:
Usual assortment of sweet and savoury muffins, wraps and panninis as well as breakfast options.

Service:
Friendly, relaxed counter service - lots of 'dude' and 'mate' greetings.  Slackers made good.

Point of Difference:
Adjoins a bike shop (of course it does!) so you can get your Dragster serviced whilst having your Tiffin.  Is the sister of Little Larder in New Farm.

Larder 2
68 Commercial Rd
Newstead   Qld   4006
Little Larder

Dispatches from Sydney - Oscillate Wildly

My final instalment (for a while) of Dispatches from Sydney is also the post that many have been waiting for.  I must apologise up front for the photos.  In all the excitement I forgot my camera and had to rely on my phone.

Jill & Terry's table

The first thing I noticed when I walked into Oscillate Wildly is how small the restaurant is.  There are less than a dozen tables in this small inner Sydney terrace, so it's a very intimate setting.  The second thing I noticed was that Jill Dupleix and Terry Durack were sitting at a table nearby.  As it was February 29th, I reckoned that they were celebrating a once in every 4 years treat of eating out together.  Ten years on, Oscillate obviously still pulls the right people.

Our menus were printed with the date and it appears that there is a different menu each evening, based on what's in season and what the chef is inspired to create.  Whilst we perused, we were offered out first little treat of the night. A large white tablet with a pattern pressed into it, sitting in a small dish.  Were Oscillate offering Ecstasy as an amuse bouche?  That would certainly make proceedings interesting.  'Don't eat it' advised our waiter/sommelier for the evening.  He returned and poured hot water onto the tablet to reveal an expanding, moistened hand towel.  How very civilised and a neat trick.

We started with the 'Foie Gras, Scallop and Hazelnut' presented.  The pairing with Hazelnut was sublime but I can't say there was much taste from the Scallop.  It was overshadowed by the richness of the Foie Gras.  Foie Gras is a guilty treat.  I love it but it's not good for the heart or waistline and generally not ethically produced.  I no longer order it from menus but if I'm forced to have it as part of a degustation, I'm not going to say 'no'.

Beef...mmmm...

Stand out dishes for me were the 'Pine, Curd & Needles' - represented by Pine Mushrooms, Goat's Curd and 'Needles' of Samphire; and, 'Beef, Yolk, Brussel Sprout' - the most savoury cube of beef I think I have ever had accompanied by a unctuous egg dressing and shaved (flaked?) Brussel Sprout.  As far as I'm concerned, this is the only way Brussel Sprouts should be served.  If they can't me served to you on fine china in a high class restaurant in the company of a world renowned food critic and food writer, then just don't bother.

Pine, Curd, Needles

Dishes were delivered at regular intervals and each time, it was prefaced by an intro from our waiter.  He was just as conversant with our wine pairings which was probably just as well given the myriad of styles and origins.  It wasn't all wine though.  Our Scampi was paired with a Sake.  And don't turn your nose up at the Moscato either - it's served as it should be, not as an aperitif but as a light alternative to a dessert wine.  I'll convert you all to good Moscato and it's proper place in wine service, if it kills me.  There was a brief halt in the pouring as the sommelier advised that Oscillate was waiting on a delivery of the next wine on the list.  I took this to mean that there was to be a replacement wine.  Indeed there was.  It was a replacement for about 5 minutes until the original wine arrived and was also duly poured.  I think it may well have been delivered from the owner's private cellar somewhere in Marrickville but I'm not complaining!  Shades of our visit La Manoir Aux Quat Saissons and our slightly delayed plum sake.

Good

Not So Good

Desserts were mixed.  'Rose, Lychee, Violet' had us in raptures with a tangy sorbet, fresh raspberries, unbelievably good freeze dried lychees and a scattering of flowers and micro herbs.  This should have been the palate cleansing dish to finish on.  'Pandan, Rye, Milk Jam' on the other hand, just didn't work for any of us.  The Pandan paste and buttery popcorn were tasty but the burnt milk skin was too bitter. Overall a  disappointing dish but hardly a reason to call the night a failure.

Oscillate is a degustation restaurant and whilst there are many places offering degustation or tasting menus, this place was doing it 10 years ago and, it's degustation only.  Risky in this economic climate, yet they manage to pull it off.  Whilst for once I did not feel like I was rolling out the door, if you're looking for a snack, you'll need to go elsewhere.  For philistines, 'Oscillate Wildly' is a song by The Smith's.  They featured throughout the background soundtrack and yes, they do take requests.  The highlight of Anthony's night.

 Oscillate Wildly Degustation

29th February 2012

Foie Gras, Scallop, Hazelnut

Navazos Nierpoort Vino Blanco

 Sanlucar De Barrameda (Spain 2010)

Scampi, Ponzu, Wild Rice

Taka 'Yamahai' Junmai Ginjo Sake 

Hitoshima, Japan

Pine, Curd, Needles

Chateau Broustet Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc

Barsac, France 2009

Blue Eye, Pea Hops

Duck, Sorrel, Plum

Tellurian Shiraz

Heathcote, Victoria 2009

Beef, Yolk, Brussel Sprout

Rose, Lychee, Violet

Cascinetta Vietti Moscato d'Asti

Piedmont, Italy 2010

Pandan, Rye Milk Jam

Coffee or Tea

w Petit Fours

Oscillate Wildly
275 Australia St
Newtown  NSW  2042

http://www.oscillatewildly.com.au/ (though it has nothing but the name & contact)

Visited: Wednesday 29th February 2012 - Dinner Service

Gazpacho on the Verge

In Pedro Almodovar's 1988 black comedy 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown', the plot revolves around Pepa and her fraught relationship with Ivan and his extended family.  Pepa's on the verge of a nervous breakdown!  Swallowing sleeping pills hand over fist as she tries to work out how to deal with Ivan.  She decides to make a  big batch of Gazpacho, spiked with sleeping pills.  As you can imagine, 'hilarious' results ensue.  When asked about the recipe for the soup, Pepa recites every single ingredient in her husky, 4 pack a day voice.  The first time I heard her recite the recipe to her guests, I thought 'Wow, Antonio Banderas is almost unrecognisable.'  Then I thought 'There's a lot more to Gazpacho than just tomatoes'.

24 years later, with Pepa's throaty voice rattling around in my head, the perfect opportunity to make Gazpacho presented itself.  The Gastronauts Picnic on a hot, steamy Brisbane afternoon.  I'd recently received a blender as a farewell gift from colleagues and was keen to expand my repertoire beyond Mango Lassis and Watermelon Daiquiris.  I was fairly sure that no one else was going to turn up with a cold soup so it took the performance pressure off.  It was also fuss free and quick to prepare as there was no cooking involved.  Tangy and refreshing, I made some Pide to go with it and we ate it picnic style out of plastic cups.  Of course there was one show off who brought a palate cleanser of individual Gin Punch Jellies to the picnic - you know who you are.....

Gazpacho on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

 Ingredients

• 600 - 700g best quality tomatoes cored & quartered (Romas are always good)
• 3 slices day old bread, crusts removed
• 120ml tomato juice or water
• 1 medium red capsicum, de-seeded & roughly chopped
• 1 medium green capsicum, de-seeded & roughly chopped
• 60g red onion, roughly chopped
• 150g cucumber, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
• salt & pepper to taste

Method

• Soak bread in tomato juice or water for 5 minutes until it softens. 
• Place bread, tomatoes, capsicum, onion, garlic and olive oil in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
• Add vinegar, salt & pepper then blend again.
• Chill for at least 1 hour but up to 24 hours to allow flavours to mingle
• Serve scattered with finely chopped parsley and or cucumber as well as a drizzle of olive oil.  Sleeping pills optional

Notes
- I skinned the tomatoes by briefly plunging in boiling water although this is optional
- Use the best olive oil you can afford as there is no cooking so you want the favours to be at their best
-  If your not a fan of cold soups, you should still give this a go.  If it's not for you, try it gently warmed with a swirl of natural yoghurt.  Nice huh?

For a Good Cause

A break in transmission from the 'Dispatches from Sydney'.....

In September 2011, my brother Edward was diagnosed with Leukaemia.  As I write this, he has been in hospital for over 6 months.  He is awaiting a bone marrow transplant at the end of this March that is likely to occur on his 23rd birthday.  Meanwhile, this week was my 45th birthday so to celebrate, raise some money for the Leukaemia Foundation and to show support for Edward, I participated in the 'World's Greatest Shave' (there's a picture at the bottom).  It was a great evening with lots of laughs and money raised for the important work of the Foundation.

But why am I writing about this on my food blog?  A few months ago, I discovered the website Melting Pot Gems, which sells the book 'The Melting Pot - Malaysian Gems'.  I have talked about my love of Malaysian food previously so I was already interested in filling a gap in my collection.  Exploring the website a little further, I learned that author Dr Vasanthi Duraiappah is donating proceeds of this book to the Leukaemia Foundation.  I met Vasanthi at a stall at the International Women' Day Breakfast in Brisbane on March 8 2012 where I bought one of her books.  I told her I was raising funds too and she wished me luck.  On reading through The Melting Pot, I learned that like myself, Vasanthi's family had been profoundly affected by cancer and this led her to the Leukaemia Foundation.


'The Melting Pot' author at the IWD Stall

But what's the book like?  The tag line on the book says 'Recipes handed down from my Grandmother' and indeed, it is like any collection of family recipes with a bit of this and a bit of that.  The 'melting pot' theme comes from the rich cultural mix of family and place with Ceylonese Tamil, Malaysian and Nonya.  Faves such as 'Chicken Biryani', 'Kway Teow' and 'Rogan Josh' are included and vegetarians are catered for too with 'Thev's Paneer & Mix Vege Kofta Curry' amongst others.  There's also a few 'international' recipes that have been adapted for family tastes - try 'Spaghetti w Prawns & Coriander Pesto', 'Mum's Indian Scotch Eggs' or 'Lindt Cake'.

I haven't made any of the dishes yet as I've just been so busy, leading up to 'Shave Day'.  I know however that they will taste great as these recipes have been tried and tested by Vasanthi's grandmother, mother and wider family.  When I start cooking from it, I'll make sure I write a post about my adventures.

In the mean time, it's not too late to support the important work the Leukaemia Foundation is doing by contributing to my Shave:  http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/FionaRyan
or
by buying the cookbook 'The Melting Pot' at http://meltingpotgems.com/buy-online/

Dispaches from Sydney - Martini

Sometimes going around the corner to Belljar Coffee just won't satisfy.  Sometimes there really is a need to schlepp up Alice St to King St in search of a tasty, savoury breakfast with a bucket of coffee to go along with it.  Such a need presented itself on Sunday morning after a long but festive night manning the barricades at Mardi Gras.  Watching all those marching boys in their pink lurex shorts can really take it out of a girl.

Martini is a firm favourite and I never tire of their extensive menu.  When I say extensive, I'm talking about 25+ menu items on their all day breakfast menu.  All of them tempting, many of them sampled and so hard to go past the favourites to break new ground.  There some great ideas such as Pumpkin Polenta Eggs; Balsamic Mushrooms w Feta on Sourdough; and, Vegetarian Montsro with roasted pumpkin, eggplant, baked beans, mushrooms, hashbrowns and more.  There is a heavy emphasis on vegetarian and organic and all eggs are free range.  Plenty of meat for the carnivores though.  On this day, I went for the Corn Cakes w Poached Eggs, Spinach & Bacon whilst the other two order at the table were the South Sydney Eggs w Pesto and, an enormous Breakfast Wrap w Scrambled Eggs, Bacon & Spinach.

We sat inside but Martini also have a courtyard out the back and in catering for needs of their most demanding customers, a kids room and 'chill out' lounge upstairs. The bucket of coffee arrived quickly and was a welcome injection into a bleary morning.  The breakfasts were delivered not long after and once again, Martini came up trumps.  I had asked for my eggs to be poached firm and am happy to report they were delivered as ordered. I realise firm poached eggs is probably not how they should be cooked, but that's how I like them and it's one of my breakfast tests.  Anthony said they looked like two little ghosts perched on the plate.  The corn cakes didn't thrill me. were more like something I would turn out in my Sunday morning kitchen.  They lacked seasoning and also needed to be much crisper.  What the meal lacked in crispness, it made up for in quantity and as you can see by the enormous pile of bacon on my plate, it was far too much for me.  The South Sydney Eggs and the Breakfast Wrap were polished off with gusto, so clearly no complaints there.

It's a buzzy little place with plenty of options, quick service and reasonable pricing.   All breakfast items are under $20 and most are under $15.  In the past while, Martini has started do evenings as a bar.  I imagine the home made style bar snacks and burgers are the reason why people were cramming the tables late on a Saturday evening as we wended our way home from the glittery street parade we had enjoyed.

Martini

529a King St

Newtown   NSW   2040

http://martinicafe.com.au/blog/

Visited: Sunday 4th March 2012 - Breakfast Service