Cafe News January 2006

Happy New Year Everyone!

2006 promises to be a great year - we're hungry already. We're starting this
year off with two new reviews ready to go - first of all our January
Restaurant of the Month is Una's in Broadway, continuing the wonderful
Germanic/Austrian home-spun tradition of providing great, filling meals for
the Inner West of Sydney.
We're organised enough to also now have our February Café of the Month
online, it's the Pine Inn Bistro in Concord, where chef Bryan King is
providing a pub bistro Mod-Oz style menu with some eclectic edges.
Also have corresponded with a couple of excellent Foodie websites recently,
there's the very cool-looking Café Geek created by Rob Barac, and some
awesome recipes on the Melissa Cooper foodblog Chewlog.com
If you're a café or restaurant owner and want to promote your venue on
Sydneycafes.com.au the news is our traffic is now over 1200 unique users per
day, and most of our readers are looking for places in Sydney to dine - to
contact us just email marketing@sydneycafes.com.au
If you're a reader, we welcome any feedback on cafes and restaurants in
Sydney. Email your recommendations, or recommendations-to-avoid, to
editor@sydneycafes.com.au

Splash - Masters of the Fishy Universe

Since opening about 18 months ago, Splash Seafood Café in Newtown has truly
thrived in the highly competitive King Street dining scene. There's only one
way to impress the very spoilt locals, and that is to provide top class food
at Newtown prices, and Splash have achieved that effortlessly - the place is
always pretty busy and the diners always look happy. Now Splash has a liquor
license (the night we visited recently a birthday crowd was definitely
taking advantage of the shooter option), as well as being newly renovated so
they can seat 70 instead of just 50. Their Splash Seafood Platter For Two is
still massively popular, and despite having expanded their "restaurant
feel", they're still doing a roaring take-away trade. To check out Splash's
previous editorial profile (new review soon though) click here.

Cafe News December 2005

Avtov Cafe: A Bulgarian Jewish Coffee Shop in Bondi

We always get excited here at Sydneycafes.com.au when something appears
on the scene unlike anything we've been previously aware of. Hence our joy upon
hearing from Dana Alexander-Avtov, the owner of the brand new Avtov Cafe. Dana wanted to
create a place where people who have a love of traditional European cuisine, or people who
can only eat 100% Kosher cuisine, can enjoy feeling very at-home in a casual, warm-hearted
environment made special by very high quality (but not expensive) cakes, strudels, kifla, salads
and of course, burekas! Excellent Amanti coffee is available served by Dejan Avtov, and their already-becoming-famous Mirjana's Orange Cake, which takes chef Mirjana Burnaz six hours to
make, and is just one of the secret recipes wooing fans, most of whom are Jewish, Bulgarian,
even Russians, Yugoslavs and Hungarians. Non-ethnic locals also are setting their clocks
to Avtov Cafe's timetable, which means taking into account that they're not open on Saturdays
until the bizarre starting time of 8.30PM!!! That's when the Bondi Jewish community pours
out of the synagogues, which means one thing: Avtov Cafe is cornering the "kosher niche".
Also their food is available for catering. Avtov Cafe, 38 Wairoa Ave, Bondi. Open Mon-Thurs
6am-9pm; Fri 6am-3pm; Sat 8.30pm - midnight; Sun 8am-9pm. Ph 0407 256 101.

Desperately Seeking ... Vegan Pizzas!

Reader Beth is wondering if anyone can help her in her search: "I am trying to find a place that
makes vegan pizzas. I had no luck searching your site but was hoping you may be able to
help me out via your contacts, etc. I was told there's a place in Surry Hills but the person
couldn't remember the name of the cafe/rest. I'd be happy to find a place anywhere in Sydney,
it doesn't have to be the place above in Surry Hills if you know of another. Hoping you
can help me out!" If you can help Beth out, please email the Sydneycafes.com.au
editor, via editor@sydneycafes.com.au - and we'll pass the information on.

Le Mille-Feuille Cafe Opens in Glebe

There are two perceptions that come to mind when visiting Le Mille-Feuille: that Belgium has no famous people, only recognised products, and that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Both, it seems are true - our only usual Belgian thoughts other than chocolate are Tin Tin, the saxophone and bakelite ... and the fact that after only three weeks of trading Le Mille-Feuille has regular North Shore and Eastern Suburbs patrons arriving for a pastry fix in humble Glebe proves that this new habit has formed faster than usual. The opening of this new patisserie has brought high standards and a European quality to Glebe Point Rd like an oxygen tank to an emphysemic.
The offerings of Le Mille-Feuille coupled with a dose of their Di Lorenzo coffee give no better reason to get out of bed, and no god or goddess could tempt you to stay in it. The Next Big Thing in Sydney cafes is here, and it is passion personified.
Belgian Head Pastry Chef and owner Dominique Van Droogenbroek is an artist, the cafe his canvas. His palette is the best quality ingredients available, and his inspiration the desire to educate the sugary tastebuds of sweet-toothed Sydneysiders. Apprenticed by an Italian family in his home country, Dom has trained and worked in Japan, Italy, Greece, Singapore and the US and is also an accomplished ice-carver. The Hilton, Stamford, Menzies and Ritz-Carlton hotels all bear Dom's footprints, and his skills have impressed John Travolta (hence the "JT Cake"), Bill Clinton (our favourite cigar man arrived at Dom's door in dressing gown and slippers to humbly request Dom's apple tart) and our own Kylie Minogue (drawn to his hand-made truffles which take two days to make). All these delights are now available to us, at prices you don't have to be a megastar to afford (a box of 16 truffles is only $9.90).
Like anything brilliant, this place is more than the sum of its parts, and in the spotlessly clean open kitchen and under the ever-present guidance of Dom, is Damien, Yohsuke and Sunny while out front you'll find an innate love of people in Matt, Kristina, Maria, Allan and Martyn - be amazed at Martyn's ability to remember your coffee preference upon your second visit!
In Sydney, we expect to pay for anything worth having (or not having: think Cross City Tunnel and Johnny Howard) - but you won't find that here. Such fair pricing for truly tantalising treats: biscuits and chocolates from $1.50; gourmet pies with real jus and real meat for $6.50; tarts from $4.50; or individual cakes and mousses from $4.50 to $6.50. For those on a sugar-free diet, sit yourself down for any one of eight delights for $5.50, including the popular milk chocolate "Extravaganza", the white chocolate and raspberry mousse of "Mont Blanc" and a magical dark chocolate sculptured "Voodoo Cake." For gluten-free gourmands, there's the choice of vanilla, chocolate, or coffee "French Kiss" - an affectionate expression of chantilly cream and meringue. All tarts and cakes are available in 8 or 10-inch versions with 48 hours notice, so remember that for the next time you want to really impress! The smoothest coffee is $2.80 ($3 for a large), a pot of spring leaf tea is $3, and $3.50 will get you the only true Chai available within this (un)fair city - sensually aromatic with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and honey.
"Le Mille-Feuille" means "a thousand layers" and it surely denotes the minutiae that make this place exceptional. Everything is made daily on the premises with fresh ingredients, and as more proof of the compassion of those who understand the importance of food, part of the profits of Le Mille-Feuille go to sponsoring two children through Global Vision.
All I can do is recommend you visit the place with the aphorism "Il n'y a pas de gateaux au ciel, mangeons les sur terre" - "There are no cakes in heaven, eat them on earth."
Le Mille-Feuille Fine Patisserie, 95 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe.
Open Tues-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun 7am-7pm. Ph (02) 9552 2234.
Review by Suze Wyhldher.

Erciyes Turkish Restaurant

What better way to enjoy the festive season than with a night out at Erciyes Turkish Restaurant on Cleveland Road in Surry Hills? After months of renovations, this family-owned business has just reopened its doors and four of us went in with big mouths ready to launch into the banquet-style feast (accompanied by a couple of belly-dancing goddesses).
Bill and Mustafa Saracoglu own the business, churning out Sydney’s best Turkish food: breads, dips, pide, pizzas and more (the Kusbasili is sensational with humous) for 19 years. Seating 150 people, Friday and Saturday nights include live belly-dancing and music so you should book ahead. It's busy, social (so don’t expect a quiet dinner on Friday or Saturday nights!) and action-packed with waiters running around and belly-dancers beckoning you to dance with them between courses.
Owner Bill recommends the Banquet ($30pp), a five-course delight, and we wholeheartedly agree as it’s the ideal way to savor a variety of dishes:
Entree: Mediterranean salads, fresh Turkish bread and meticulously prepared dips – humous, parsley, pumpkin, super-spicy paprika and beetroot (I buy my dips here as they are superior to any other dip producers that I have ever tasted).
Mains: Kusbasili (Turkish-style lamb pizza), spinach and fetta pide (both served with parsley and lemon), shaved beef with yogurt and chili, a mixed meat platter (lamb chops, meat patties, chicken) and finally dessert.
Delightful traditional Turkish desserts are served with Turkish coffee and apple tea and we couldn’t walk out of the restaurant – we had to roll out as we were so full.
Also caters for weddings, engagements, birthdays and office functions.
Erciyes Turkish Restaurant, 409 Cleveland St, Surry Hills.
Open 7 days a week, licensed & BYO, ph (02) 9319-1309.
Review by Sonja Vilek.

"Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are"
- Brillat-Savarin 1825

Cafe News October 2005

Matching Food & Wine

Looking for a new foodie book as a gift, or so you can match it with your
hominus gourmus friends? There's a quite brilliant new reference book out by
food broadcaster Lyndey Milan and wine educator Colin Corney - it's titled
Balance: Matching Food & Wine What Works & Why. On page seven it gives you
their Top 20 Sensational Matches (and this beautifully illustrated book just
gets better from there):
Asparagus and Sauvignon Blanc
Goat's Cheese and Sauvignon Blanc
Seafood and Semillon
Freshly Shucked Oysters and Riesling
Runny Brie and Chardonnay
Chinese Duck and Pinot Noir
Duck Confit and Pinot Noir
Red Duck Curry and Barossa Valley Shiraz
Slow-cooked Venison and Shiraz
Roast Rack of Lamb and Cabernet
Pizza and Sangiovese
Caviar and Champagne
Christmas Dinner and Sparkling Red
Ripe Pears and Asti Spumante
Bouillabaise and Rose
Foie Gras and Botrytised Semillon
Beef Consomme and Amontillado Sherry
Tapas and Manzanilla Sherry
Chocolate and Tokay
Released on 1st October 2005, this book is now widely available. For more info
you can check out Lothian Books by going to www.lothian.com.au

Cafe News September 2005

Fine Food Exhibition

Australia's largest food, wine and equipment exhibition kicked off at
the Sydney exhibition centre from 12-15 September. If you work in
food or hospitality, you had to be there - as there were over 800 exhibitors
and thousands of new ideas on show. Some of the highlights were:
delicious Savion dips such as their awesome new Smoked Trout flavour,
as well as their Tuna Spread and the best Humos we've tried; wonderful
GM-free Macadamia Muesli from Brookfarm in Bangalow; a lovely drink
called Appletiser perfect for the cafe scene; and a fine organic Elderflower
soft drink by Belvoir drinks. For more info on next year's show go to
http://www.finefood.com.au

Bar Show 2005

The annual Bar Show happened at Wharf 8, King Street Wharf, on
Sept 20 and 21. Thanks to Ofra Ronen from Barazi for the free tickets -
they have a fantastic new coffee machine out which we will profile soon!
For more information on Bar Show go to
http://www.barshow.com.au

3 Fat Fish

Bondi locals have a lively new seafood cafe to enjoy in the shape of
3 Fat Fish in Bondi Beach. We attended the opening
night and loved the understated, stylish decor, the communal tables,
and the cool eclectic crowd which gathered. Doing fantastic
seafood at cafe prices, we sent along our scout Sonja Vilek one night
for dinner and she came away giving it both fins up. Then another of our
Eastern 'burbs scouts, Zanthi Avila, texted in the following: "their signature
dish is combination of No. 6 sagakani prawns, stuffed calamari w scallops
and soft-shell crab ... also loved the whole fried snapper w special coconut jus
or the swordfish with wasabi jus & panfried beans with baby prawns".
3 Fat Fish, 141 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach. Ph: (02) 9365 0088.
Hours: Seven nights dinner from 6-11pm. Weekends open for lunch from midday.

Restaurant of the Month

If you're living in Sydney's north-west, you may well be hankering for something
approximating truly sublime Indian curries. Well we've just had the pleasure of reviewing
Adils Indian Cuisine in Castle Hill, and we'll be talking about their Tasty Beef Curry,
their Tandoori Kangaroo and their Saffran & Pistachio Kulfi for some
time to come. For more info check out our review by clicking here.

The Lexicon of Lard

The new Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide loves to chart
the frontiers of foodie language - and so it is folks that we recommend
that you never embarrass yourself by mentioning Modern Australian cuisine again -
please call it "Contemporary cuisine" ... and don't talk about Asian Fusion - it's
now "Modern Asian" thankyou very much ... guess we'll have to adjust the pages
we've created under those categories - not good on the internet to be oh-so-2004.

360 Bar & Dining

Meanwhile Sydney Tower's new 360 Bar and Dining by virtue of its
revolving nature has had its waiters wandering around fully laden
with food trying to find suddenly vanished tables. Two chefs hat
award-winning chef Darren Vaughan is behind the pans, as 360 Bar &
Dining leaves its bar open 'til 1.30am. Stunning scenery! 360 Bar &
Dining, Level One, Sydney Tower. Entry at Gallery Level, 100 Market
St, Sydney. Ph: (02) 9235 2188. Open Seven Days for Lunch & Dinner.

Cafe News August 2005

Slices Deli Cafe

We started August off in fine style with a short trip to Gladesville to check out Slices Cafe Deli. What a great deli-style cafe operated by Kelly Centellas. Absolutely perfect attention to quality and details, and reminiscing is causing our tummies to rumble, even though when we left last week we were so full, we thought we'd never know hunger again! Check out their catering menu, or if you live at least remotely nearby, they're worth befriending. We live in increasingly enlightened times regarding food, and Slices Cafe Deli will make you delighted this is so. We started with an Antipasto Platter, sailed into a Pumpkin Blue Cheese Tarte and an Eggplant Parmigiana, sampled their unmissable Thai Pumpkin Soup with Coriander, and then overdosed on a Lemon Sourcream Cake and an Apple and Blueberry Crumble. Best Thursday lunch we've ever had! You can even email your catering orders to kelly@slicescafedeli.com.au
Slices Cafe Deli, Shop 15, Gladesville Shopping Village, Flagstaff St, Gladesville, Ph: (02) 9879 0822. Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 8am-5.30pm; Thurs 8am-6.30pm; Sat 8am-5pm; Sun 9am-4pm.
www.slicescafedeli.com.au

Best Organic Food Guide in Australia

Congratulations to Malcolm McGuire who has just published a fantastic high-quality matt-finish organic lifestyle guide, called the CleanFood Organic. Not only is it a first-class read, but there are many lists of organic suppliers, eg organic wine suppliers, organic coffee companies, certified organic baby food and the like. This is the best resource of its type we've yet seen. For more information, or to order the book, check out their website by clicking here.

British People in the Sydney Food Industry?

Just received via email: "My name is Katie Greengrass and I work for ITV in London. We're looking for some young, enthusiastic high flyers to star in a new primetime TV show and we thought your restaurants & cafes would be an ideal breeding ground. Do you know of any people who would be interested? Could you put up our advert (see below)? Many thanks ... “
"Outgoing British ex-pats wanted for UK TV show"
Fancy showing your family and friends back home in the UK how much fun you’re having in Sydney?
Granada Television is looking for Brits now living in Sydney who are loving the high-flying lifestyle of the Harbour City. We need outgoing guys and girls who are living and working in Sydney and making the most of its sun, surf and social scene. We’re looking at doing a series on ex-pats now Down Under, so if you think you fit the bill or know someone who does please email us at sydneystories@granadamedia.com asap.
Please include some basic details about yourself or friends; ie age, how long you’ve been in Sydney, which part of Sydney you’re living in, occupation, photo and a brief explanation as to why we should include you/your friends in this series.

A Newtown Local's Recommendation

Newtown local Sue Cunningham wrote to tell us we must let readers know that the Courthouse Hotel on Australia Street "is always a great eatery. They have just amended their menu and have lots more great specials ... I love the Lamb Shanks on Mash with Chunky Tomato and Onion Sauce. Their signature meal is     Chicken Parmigiana with either chips and salad or vegies. The sizes of the meals are huge and the quality is great, you can't fault it. The menu consists of heaps more but you will need to eat there for yourself to truly appreciate it - and be hungry!!!" Thanks Sue! Courthouse Hotel, 202 Australia St, Newtown, NSW 2042. Ph: (02) 9519 8273.

Vegetarians A Night For You

The World League for the Protection of Animals (WLPA) will be screening episodes 5 and 6 of "Animals Matter", Australia's first animal rights television show, on the last Friday in August. There will be segments on desexing and eco-tourism, as well as a vegan cooking demonstration. Guest speaker Tania Jamieson, founder of the Australian Vegetarian Society (Vic), will give a talk on the importance of vitamin B12 in any diet (vegan, vegetarian and omnivore) and the symptoms and consequences if a deficiency arises. Light refreshments will also be provided. When: Friday 26 August. Time: 7pm. Where: Level 1, 201 Victoria Road, Gladesville (entry from Cowell Street). Cost: Pay what you think it's worth. Bookings: phone 9817 4892 or by email: admin@wlpa.org

August Newsbytes

A quick email received today from Sandy Bruns: book your Christmas function at Swell Restaurant in Bronte Beach and receive a free bottle of French bubbly: for more info click here:
www.swellrestaurant.com.au
Pinnacle Catering have joined our Caterers page, to see the Caterers in Sydney page click here, to see the Pinnacle Catering website click here:
www.pinnaclecatering.com.au
And a new delicafe has opened in Surry Hills called Two Good Eggs, to check them out click here: 
www.twogoodeggs.com.au

Cafe News July 2005

SBS Eating Guide to Sydney

Just released, this is a fantastic (very fat) pocket companion as you seek to gorge yourself on the greatest gastronomic options in our wonderful foodie city. By Joanna Savill and Maeve O'Meara, who've been exploring Sydney food together for almost 15 years. For more info click here.

Think French Degustation

The next Swell Degustation Dinner is themed 'Think French' and is on Tuesday August 9th. To find out more about it click here.

Cafe Society Band Looking For Cafes to Play In!

Here in the Sydneycafes.com.au office, where the coffee's always hot and the muffins always soft, we've been listening to the very fine music of August Way, an acoustic duo who write some beautifully crafted songs. With a chap called Omen on guitar and vocals, and a chap called Mobius on cello and vocals, their sound is gentle, heartfelt and yet entwined with some of the finest lyrics we've sang along to in quite a while. Much better that they seek out venues which suit their laid-back melodies - and that's why they're angling at getting gigs in Sydney cafes, Sydney restaurants, or maybe at spots which cater to the more mellow-minded among us. To find out more about these guys click here, email them via music@augustway.com.au or call them on (02) 9990 4448

What a Load of Crepe!

Jeez we love a good Chicken and Mushroom CREPE!!! And thanks to Maria Paula and Samir Ademovic, folks in the vicinity of Oxford Street (near Crown Street intersection) can enjoy the best crepes now available in Sydney. They've just opened the memorably-themed Holy Crepe, where Sweet Crepes and Savoury Crepes meet hotdogs and milkshakes in a premium-quality environment, shining even brighter due to the fantastically great-value prices - they've only recently opened and the low-cost-factor is a REAL invitation to try them out. Holy Crepe, Shop 2, 107-111 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Ph (02) 9356 8818. Mon-Wed 7.30am-7.30pm; Thurs 7.30am-9pm; Fri 7.30am-midnight; Sat 10am-midnight. Closed Sundays. www.holycrepe.com.au

Around The Traps

Ocean Room has a "Live Tank Sale" offering 15 varieties of seafood, click here ... Prague Restaurant has just earned praise from the Sydney Morning Herald click here ... Also the Herald reports that seminal Blue Mountains restaurant Vulcans at Black Heath is for sale, click here ... A head chef is required at the Olympic Park Convention Centre - email Joszi Feszt click here ... and it may be your last chance to dine at Salt as there's rumours it's closing at the end of the month, for a last dip click here

And Many Thanks To ...

Bondi's now-quite-famous Blue Orange, who we first reviewed two years ago when they opened, are now the subject of a new review on Sydneycafes.com.au as they have an entirely new menu - and have effectively "grown up"! To check them out click here.

Cafe News May 2005

Cafe Owners: Can You Help?

From a reader: "I love your website, it's really useful and fun to use.
I am a painter living in Bondi and I am looking for cafes and restaurants who would be interested in displaying my colourful abstract art on their walls. There is absolutely no charge to them and if the paintings sell, I will give the restaurant cafe 10% commission on the sale price. In the meantime they get amazing free original art on their walls and their support local artists in getting some exposure. I was wondering if there was anything you could do to help me with finding interested places? You can view my art by clicking on the above banner or www.murielmoret.com ..." Nice art Muriel ... hope someone can help out?

Cupcake Heaven

If there's awards for the most unique cafe in Sydney, the newly opened Cupcake Cafe will take the the, er, cake. Located in a stunning location directly above the Cook + Phillip Park Swimming Pool, their coffee is fantastic, they have a growing savoury food menu too, they're even licensed so you can enjoy a fine wine or beer, and they have now been launched as our May 2005 "Cafe of the Month". Currently only open during the day, Cupcake Cafe's spectacular open and airy vistas will see this become a hot new night-time Sydney functions venue before too long - to check it out before everyone else does click here.

Number 1 in the World!

After four years of dedication, we've finally cracked it. This website is number 1 in the world for the search-string keyword "cafes"! Don't believe us? To view this esteemed pagerank click here.

New Product Review Page

This month we're launching a product review page. First foodie delight off the rank is the Fruit Fusions Very Berry Dessert. To check out this new page click here. If you have something you'd like reviewed, please email us with the words "product review" in the subject line via eat@sydneycafes.com.au

We Told You They's Damn Good!

Good news from our mates at Zachary's in Kings Cross - they've just won the award for Best Restaurant at the Kings Cross 2005 Food & Wine Awards. Also, they have just launched an All You Can Eat Pizza night on Thursdays, which is a degustation style with your choice of mini pizzas from the entire menu for only $18.50 - for more information click here.

Web, Even Webb Migration ...

This month's sponsor of Sydneycafes.com.au is Webb Migration Services, whose new website has recently gone online. They deliver a thoroughly professional and caring service and have a "No Visa, No Fee" policy, and have many deeply grateful (and successful) clients which their testimonials page shows. Thanks to them for helping keep Sydneycafes.com.au on the webb, er, web.

Cafe News April 2005

Cheesy Hunter

The Hunter Valley Gourmet Cheese Festival is happening on Sat 30 April and Sun 1st May. For more info click on www.cheesefestival.com.au

Cafe News March 2005

You're Big on Thai

We've just discovered that "yai" means "big" in Thai, which might explain the generous leanings of the dishes at Yai's Thai in Newtown. In March 2005 our "restaurant of the month", we and many of our readers have been very impressed with the authentic Thai style that chef Siriwan 'Yai' Srisiwanuwat is servng up. It does appear, with the phenomenal critical success also being enjoyed by Spice I Am in Surry Hills and The Best Thai in Darlinghurst, that the big trend among diners and food writers in Sydney is towards "authentic Thai". To check out Yai Thai's profile click here, to view our list of Thai cafes and restaurants in Sydney click here.

Otto Ristorante Best Celebrity Dining in Sydney

The Daily Telegraph ran a great feature article recently on Woolloomooloo Wharf's Otto Ristorante, where they catalogued the famous diners who go there, which table they sit at and what they eat. Jennifer Love Hewitt? Salad. kd lang? Figs. Megan Gale? Oysters. Dennis Hopper? In all the time, ate everything on the menu. LeAnn Rimes? Five consecutive lunches, same dish: chicken pappardelle in tomatoes with green olives. Tables? Tom Cruise number 34. Bill Clinton number 58. Sam Neill number 54. John Laws (radio announcer and co-owner) always at number 53. For more info click here

Cafe News February 2005

Parramatta on Parade

February's "Cafe of the Month", The Albion Hotel in Parramatta, does a great array of functions food, from finger-food to very generous set menus looking after anywhere from 40 to 100 people. Check it out by clicking here...

Wineries Winding Up

Wine exhibitions are the rage this February with the first seeing Victorian winemakers showcasing their wares to the good people of Sydvegas. Over 50 wineries will be putting 300 wines out for tasting on February 2, 3 and 4 at The Ballroom, Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington St, Sydney. $25 admission includes all tastings at one session. For more info, visit www.vicwineweek.com ... following that, you can sample over 300 wines from 70 New Zealand wineries at the Taste of New Zealand Wine Fair on 15 and 16 February. Trade entry is free with a business card, and it's at the Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George St, Sydney. Public entry $30 pre-paid or $35 at the door. For more info/times call Carole on 02 4448 5181 (to pre-book call 1800 110 059) or email champagnec@ozemail.com.au

Cafe News January 2005

Donate Tonight's Dinner To The Tsunami Victims

Why not donate the money you would normally spend on tonight's cafe dining to the Tsunami victims? Click on the links below to donate to the organisation of your choice.

TSUNAMI EMERGENCY APPEAL FUNDS:

Red Cross
www.redcross.org.au

Medecins Sans Frontieres
(Doctors Without Borders)
www.msf.org.au

Oxfam
www.oxfam.org.au

UNICEF
www.unicef.org.au

CARE Australia
www.careaustralia.org.au

World Vision
www.worldvision.org.au

Cafe News December 2004

Zachary's

December's "Cafe of the Month" delivers a very comfortable and casual atmosphere with a subtle touch of style. Definitely THE best new hang-out in Kings Cross, besides the Bourbon of course! Great gourmet and deluxe pizzas with a range of sensational cocktails, this Bayswater Road cafe/bar directly across from Hugo's Lounge (and next to Bayswater Brasserie) is instantly making a lot of new friends, both with the locals, and with those who like making this leafy avenue their weekend local. To check out their profile click here

Cafe News October 2004

Modern Italian Border Cuisine, Anyone?

October's "Restaurant of the Month" is a delightful restaurant doing some great dishes under a flexible and contemporary umbrella of Italian food - we've enjoyed our recent visits to Sabatinis Restaurant in Crows Nest - and we're damn sure you will too.

Cafe Biz - the expo for coffee fanatics

The next Café Biz annual expo will be held at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay, Monday 25 October 2004. The event will host a full day of informative tips on the national café industry. Sean Edwards, Cafe Biz organiser, reports a fantastic line-up of some of Australia's leading educators within our hospitality industry. The day will see the main stage showcasing many innovative café products and services. There will be three café workshops run on the day covering the topics Café Start-Up, Coffee Economics and Marketing Your Café. The course leaders are recognised educators who have run profitable café businesses. There will be over 50 exhibits of products and services including new café-smart solutions. Again Cafe Biz will be hosting, in partnership with The Gourmet Coffee Institute, their Grand Barista Competition. This year's first prize booty will be $5000 with many other prizes to be won. Information packs for sponsorship and attendance can be obtained from the Café Biz website: www.cafebiz.net

Cheers to Nova - the Magazine that is!

This month we begin an advertising promotion in Nova Magazine, which is Australia's highest circulation holistic health publication, with a monthly print run of 120,000 nationally. We're publishing an ad which is promoting our Sydney list of Vegetarian Cafes and Restaurants - targeting Nova's 250,000 health-conscious and eco-friendly readers. Click on the link above if you're interested in such healthy fare - and if we've missed a great veggie-burger cafe or luxurious herbivore fine-diner, please tell our high priestess of cafe culture, Jade, all about it by clicking eat@sydneycafes.com.au To find out more about Nova, click here.

Bloomin' Marvellous

Also this month we've joined forces with Netbloom, our hosting providor, starting a new chapter in Sydneycafes.com.au's four-year history. After being hosted by USA-based companies who couldn't care less about our hard-earned Aussie dollars, Netbloom are a breath of fresh air, providing quality reliable website hosting with that all-important personal touch. Over the coming months Netbloom will be renovating the website, starting with the homepage, so expect a more futuristic look from us shortly.

La Renaissance in Catering

Inspired by a great French patisserie in The Rocks which also offers catering for functions, we have begun a new page which lists caterers around Sydney. Thanks to La Renaissance Cafe Patisserie, we're on the hunt for Sydney's best catering options. The page so far can be viewed by clicking here - if you have any to recommend please email us via eat@sydneycafes.com.au

From Katoomba to Leura

Recently our intrepid foodie journalist Stewart Dawes took to the hills to research Blue Mountains restaurants and cafes. The result is a new webpage listing the best dining options in the region. To check out our new page click here - and to be on this list, click here.

Cafe News September 2004

Olay, Olay Olay Olay

September's "Restaurant of the Month" comes off the usual foodie radar, all the way from Top Ryde. The locals will appreciate this newcomer, Dingolay Restaurant & Bar, as a venue intimate enough for a dinner for two, or expansive enough to put on a decent-sized function. To find out more about Dingolay click here - if you're a cafe or restaurant owner looking to increase your exposure (last month we had 281,735 hits) to our corporate/office-bound readership (80% of our traffic is on weekdays between 9am - 6pm) then email our newest high priestess of cafe culture, Jade, via eat@sydneycafes.com.au

Getting Functional

With Christmas party and wedding season just around the corner, we have started a Function Rooms listing page, and we welcome readers and venue owners' contributions to our list. While dreaming up new pages, we realised we needed a page for cafes and restaurants which don't neatly fit into our category sections. For example, Splash Cafe in Newtown qualifies under our categories of Seafood and Inner West, but some other of its many qualities were hard to define. Sitting there having dinner one night, we dreamt up the category Friendly & Funky - this fits Splash really well. If you know somewhere that fits either of these new categories, then email our high priestess of cafe culture, Jade, via eat@sydneycafes.com.au

Confused about Fusion Cooking?

Then get yourself onto the Northern Beaches where Mark Holland explains the mysteries of East-meets-West, in a culinary sense at least. It's happening on Tuesday, September 14, at Food Stuff Mona Vale, 9/11 Bungan St, Mona Vale from 6.30 - 8.30pm. Bookings (02) 9999 3033

Congrats to Cochin

Speaking of Asian Fusion cuisine, one of our fave spots got a very decent 14/20 from the Sydney Morning Herald this week. It's called Cochin, a snazzy Vietnamese/French outfit tucked "in the wrong part of Surry Hills", as their reviewer Matthew Evans describes it. Evans went on to rave about the pork neck and Cochin's signature dish of twice-cooked duck. For more Asian Fusion in Sydney, click here.

Cafe News August 2004

Splash It All Around

August's "Cafe of the Month" is Newtown's fishy noshery Splash Seafood Cafe. A few hearty marinic meals there and we became fans. Friendly service, a fun design, and a Pacific-sized Seafood Platter are all just part of a great new spot - open since January this year. For a review and some pics, click here.

Chocolate Obsession

The Sydney Morning Herald's rumour-mongers are right. The empty Banc restaurant site in the city will open as a Lindt Chocolates cafe-cum-shop in October. Lindt's managing director in Australia Steve Loane finally confessed to SMH's Short Black section that their dark chocolate tale was true. If the concept of serving Lindt chocolate cakes and ice-creams works in Australia, it will become a global strategy, SMH's sources confirm.

Sardinians in Season

The North Shore is getting a new restaurant very early this financial year, as Giovanni Pilu of Cala Luna fame has jumped onto the site formerly known as Freshwater. There will be more Sardinian dishes than at Cala Luna, which is flying a "For Sale" sign. Give it a few days and it will be open. The name of the place? Pilu at Freshwater, Moore Rd, Harbord, dinner Tues-Sun, ph (02) 9938 3331.

Cafe News July 2004

Getting Well Connected

July's "Cafe of the Month" was Glebe's happening Well Connected Cafe - a great grungy urban hang-out which is simply lovable. To find out more click here.

Australia’s Fiery Food Festival

In the first week of August, hotels, restaurants, cafes and delis around Manly will celebrate all things hot & spicy in the lead-up to the hottest event - ‘The 7th Australian Fiery Food Expo’ at the Manly Pacific, Sydney.
Sat 7th & Sun 8th August 2004
Sat 11am – 6pm Sun 10am – 5pm
The Chilli Press 7th Australian Fiery Food Expo is on again hotter than ever, at the Manly Pacific, Sydney - Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August. Australia’s largest range of hot & spicy products will be available to sample and buy. Also:
- Acclaimed chefs will dish up some hot nosh and talk about their
favourite fiery food. Watch them in action and learn new ways to cook with chillies.
- BBQ’s on the Balcony: Chefs will be firing up the BBQ with a variety of fiery food
- Assembled in the Main Hall will be the largest range of chilli products available in
Australia, from hot sauces to hot pants, from seeds to salsa, chilli wines and chilli lollies,
jams and jellies. Hot products from across Australia and around the world! Taste and take home.
- The Manly Pacific, Sydney will have a selection of hot & spicy meals to enjoy from their Spice Bar on the balcony overlooking Manly beach. Match your dishes to the wines and beer available.
- The infamous Chilli Eating Competition!
- Live entertainment all weekend.
The Chilli Press Fiery Food Industry Awards 2004 are on again. We are judging the best chilli products in over 30 categories. Come to the Expo and judge for yourself. The Scoville Award for the Best Australian Product Range Overall. Part of the prize for the winner of this category is a stand at the USA Fiery Food Show. The winner in 2003, The Food Lovers Co from Canberra, with a fabulous range of chilli products available from the Belconnen Markets. Find out at the Expo who has won the most prestigious award.
For more info on the Fiery Food Festival, or The Chilli Press Fiery Food Awards email: fieryfoodfestival@chillipress.com.au Tel: 02 9977 0737 Fax: 02 9977 0744
For more information on the festival as it comes to hand check the website: www.chillipress.com.au

Australia’s First Licensed Certified Organic Restaurant

Australia’s first licensed, Certified Organic restaurant has opened in Sydney. Fringe Café, located in Surry Hills, has recently achieved Certified Organic status, making it Australia’s first licensed, Certified Organic restaurant/café. Fringe’s chefs have also developed a portfolio of certified food products.
“We want people to experience the taste of real food, but in a sophisticated way,” says Betty Leone, the co-owner of Fringe. “At the moment, too much organic food is either boring or not truly organic.”
Fringe Café spent months preparing to meet the stringent requirements of true certification. Everything, from the ingredients to the detergents used in the kitchen, now meets the scrupulous requirements laid down by the Australian Certified Organic Standards. Certification is a guarantee of integrity, and is not awarded lightly. Even the items which aren’t organic have to be prepared in the same environment as the certified organic.
What makes Fringe Café so appealing is that the entire menu, including the organic range, remains priced at the café market—though it’s prepared by two in-house chefs.  And Fringe only uses fresh Australian produce, direct from the farm gate where possible.
True organic certification is difficult to achieve. To begin with, ingredients must be tracked at every stage of the process. The cooking environment must convert to appropriate sanitation methods and products, and prevent cross-contamination with foods that aren’t organic.
The reason for the stringency is that food can only become certified organic if it is rigorously monitored from paddock to plate. There must be no artificial fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides involved in the primary produce. The food cannot be genetically modified or artificially ripened. It can’t even be prepared in pans that have been used for food that isn’t organic. The end result is food the way nature intended it to be—full of real flavour and without hormones, antibiotics or other adulterants.
“The biggest difference is the taste,” says Leone. “I used to hate muesli until one of our chefs convinced me to try our organic toasted version. Now I almost stand over our breakfast customers and force them to try it.  And organic tomatoes—heaven!”
There are many producers and cafes that claim they’re offering organic foods. But if it isn’t certified, there’s no guarantee that it’s actually organic. But the biggest surprise that Leone had was discovering that she could offer fully certified organic food at competitive pricing.
“We can do a full certified organic meal, chef prepared, with wines, and it’s still cheaper than the celebrity restaurants,” says Leone. “And our range of organic fruit breads, sauces and jams are already in demand.”
Fringe Café’s imaginative and appealing food is available either on premises, or for boardrooms or functions. The café is open for breakfast and lunch from Monday to Saturday as well as evening functions, by arrangement.
Fringe Café, 23-33 Mary St, Surry Hills. Contact Betty Leone: betty@fringecafe.com.au or on (02) 9280-1161.

Cafe News May 2004

All Calm on the Redfern Front

Despite all the ruckus about Redfern's recent riots, it still remains a suburb on a steady gradient of gentrification. Freshest symbol of this upwardly-mobile vision is the emergence of Caffe e panini, just a couple of hundred metres from the spot where the urban warfare reached its frenzied peak. In fact, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Caffe e panini opened the day after the riots, according to owner Michael Iuliano. Expect panini stuffed with excellent produce plus soup and pastas galore. Caffe e panini, 13/137-141 Regent St, Redfern. Ph (02) 8399 0350. Open Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Correspondence from a Reader

Thanks this month to Tim Ngui, who emailed us the following: "Have you checked out Varga Bar in Newtown yet? It's on the corner of Wilson St and Erskinville Rd, Newtown. One of the coolest new cafes in Newtown, especially on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. They have great music, great food, THE BEST coffee in Newtown and not just according to me. The staff are all Newtown Cool and they have a take away window where you can order a latte to go. Highly recommended."

Cafe News March 2004

A Month of Cheddar

Jones the Grocer at 68 Moncur St, Woollahra, is presenting "A Month of Cheddar", featuring 3-year-old Somerset Cheddar, King Island Cheddar (cloth-wrapped), Wide Bay Cheddar from New Zealand, and Busselton Cheddar from Western Australia. Yum! We're there ... for more info ph (02) 9362 1222 or email admin@jonesthegrocer.com.au

Organic Food & Farmers Market

New every Friday in Bondi Junction's rapidly gentrifying Oxford Street Mall, is an organic food market occuring every Friday from 10am to 3pm. It also occurs in other parts of Sydney on other days of the week - for more info go to www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au

Seeking Sales Guru with Cafe Fetish

Do you like doing business with the buzz of an espresso machine in the background? If so, you could be the wo/man for us! Sydneycafes.com.au in conjunction with Fresh Magazine and Westcoastcafes.com.au are looking for salespeople on the ground in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, to sell promotional packages to cafes, restaurants and bars (click here to see the package). Plus we're looking to offer sponsorship banners to coffee companies and wine producers. If you think you're up for a fantastic adventure in cafe-land, and are willing to work for 50% commission-only, email your CV to Jade by clicking here. No time-wasters, please ...!!!

Cafe News February 2004

Bookmark for Future Valentine's Days!

The week preceding this year's Valentine's Day saw a massive amount of hits on this Sydneycafes.com.au website. Our most popular page that week was the one where we have a list of the most Romantic Restaurants in Sydney - thanks Google. Makes us think that Sydneysiders are getting gushier than ever - what's that all about? Whatever ... if you're a confessed unashamed romantic, you'll want to have the above page handy for next year - click here to view it.

Iron Chef - The Ultimate Foodie TV Show Challenge

If you haven't watched Iron Chef on SBS yet, you're missing out on probably the best foodie show even shown on Australian TV. On every Saturday evening, Iron Chef fuses Japanese, French, Italian and Chinese cuisines with the thrills, tension and grandeur of eccentric Japanese game shows, to produce some unmissable entertainment. The translators' mimicry of the intonations and comments of the Japanese guests on the show add an amusing twist, while the competing chefs, seemingly intimidating at first, always display a wonderful humility when their dishes are sampled and the verdicts are announced. Click here to see more.

La Gerbe d'Or Goes Geeky

Paddington's celebrated French bakery, La Gerbe d'Or, in business for 20 years, has developed its own website at www.lagerbedor.net - well worth checking out. 255 Glenmore Rd, Paddington, NSW 2021.

Rowntree's Restaurant

A neat little discovery in Balmain is Rowntree's Restaurant on 127 Rowntree St, less than a minute from Darling St and doing excellent Mod Oz cuisine - we liked it enough to declare it "Restaurant of the Month" - click on the photos for more info.

Coffee Days are Here at Last

A great new business has been launched in Sydney, ideal for coffee-lovers who like to brew at home, and who are also adventurous connoisseurs. Coffee Days is the brainchild of a chap called Mark Rotenstein, who figures that people will appreciate a delicious yet educational sojourn through the world's best coffees (starting with an Ethiopian blend direct from the birthplace of coffee) delivered freshly roasted directly to their door every month. Coffee Days also features experts' tips and a membership can make a great gift. When you become a member of Coffee Days, you receive:
- A different gourmet coffee each month
- Tasting notes describing the coffee in full detail
- All coffee is specially selected and optimally roasted by a master roaster
- Shipped fresh – within 48 hours of roasting
- Special member-only offers on coffee equipment
- Backed by their 100% Money Back Guarantee
Free to join, Coffee Days is an affordable indulgence working out at just 70 cents a day - much less than the cost of buying hot coffee and a hundred times better than instant - this is a concept well worth investigating.
Check out www.coffeedays.com.au

Kobe Jones - Great Website!

One of the best looking restaurant websites in ages has appeared in the form of Darling Harbour's swish new venue Kobe Jones. To check it out (it's very informative re: menu, and also they do have function space for Christmas), just click here

Sounds like ... Cafe

Congratulations to Longrain on bringing out their second CD, continuing a trend as Sydney's more laidback DJs collaborate with the coolest cafes around to produce some very arresting collections. Says Longrain owner Sam Christie: "A lot of people come up to our DJs playing in the bar to ask about a song or to find out more about our first CD - which we ended up doing two print runs of it". Meanwhile new compilation series Sounds Like Cafe "has been distributed to 400 Australian eateries", according to the Daily Telegraph. Longrain had a great CD launch, well hosted by DJ Clive Smith, and serving up a seemingly infinite array of awesome (and free) cocktails - it was the night to be there! We will have some social pictures from the night uploaded on Sydneycafes soon.

Cafe News Summer 2003

Cafe Biz - The Cafe Society Expo

Thousands of Sydney's caffe latte set are expected to walk through the doors of Cafe Biz this year, which is happening on 25 and 26 October, 2003. Café Biz is the annual get together for café owners, workers, suppliers and coffee lovers, created by the industry for its business and educational needs.
Café Biz has a comprehensive website and online registration at www.cafebiz.net or phone (02) 6550 4052 or 0419 287 608 for more details.

Cherubini's First Birthday

Paddington’s Cherubini has just celebrated one year of bringing a slice of Italy to the Eastern suburbs. They serve some of the best coffee around, courtesy of the Di Lorenzo brand, and they do some perfect Italian food. For all the info on Cherubini, including photos, highlight dishes and the dope on what makes them sparkle, check out their webpage here.

Cafe News July 2003

Fishy Five Ways

Paddington’s Five Ways has gone all fishy with the opening of a gourmet seafood shop titled A Fish Called Paddo. Its location, in virtually the underarm of the Royal Hotel, has been notorious for ventures which came and went with alarming regularity – it was a butcher shop, then a flower shop – but we reckon that owner Trent Demos and collaborator/chef Palasis Cooney have got the fishy formula to make this location fly. Within moments of opening they have been steadily visited by Paddington locals, each seeking a kind of seafaring adventure that warms the heart and satisfies the soul. A Fish Called Paddo doesn’t let them down – there’s delicacies like Moroccan Swordfish, Honey Soy Salmon, Lime & Coconut Perch, Tahitian Lime Salmon or the Ginger & Shallot Tuna to whet the imagination. All based on the success of their flagship, A Fish Called Coogee, which has built a reputation across the oceanic end of the Eastern ‘burbs. A Fish Called Paddo, 239 Glenmore Rd, Paddington (Five Ways), open midday-10pm seven days, ph 9326 9500.

Cocktail Classes

Cruise Bar has launched a course in cocktail-making and mixology - informative and entertaining get-togethers where Cruise Bar’s esteemed experts share their secrets from the basics of the classic martini to the intricacies of daiquiris and stick drinks. For a mere $40 per person, participants can step behind the bar and blend, bash, crush, shake and stir their way to cocktail nirvana. Among the luxurious education, canapés will be served from Cruise Restaurant, then you can relax with a cocktail of your choice while enjoying the glorious view of Circular Quay and the Opera House. Quintessentially Sydney, what more can we say? And … the person who initiates the booking will dine learn for free! For more info, contact the Cruise Bar manager via admin@cqhotels.com.au or call (02) 9251 1188. www.cruisebar.tv

Fresh Magazine Cafe Feature Article

To celebrate September’s “Good Food Month” status, Sydney’s newest magazine is preparing a feature article on coffee and is expanding its café and food review section – and there are still a few spots remaining for café and restaurant reviews – if you’re a café or restaurant owner – or coffee company owner – and you’d like to be featured, contact editor@freshmag.com.au urgently (as in now, dudes)!

Love Those Foodie Shows

Mark your diaries, foodophiles! The 6th Australian Fiery Food festival will be ablaze on 25-26 August at the manly Pacific Hotel, 55 North Steyne, Manly - for more info check out www.chillipress.com.au - and the 2003 Cafe Biz Expo happens on 25-26 October at the Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE Ryde College - for more info check out www.cafebiz.net

Shoot The Chef!

"Offbeat submissions" are particularly requested by the organisers of this year's "Shoot the Chef!" competition, as photographers can salivate over the prospect of having their wild and whacky photo of a chef (anything from Neil Perry to your mum is fine) hanging in the Art Gallery of NSW as part of Good Food Month in September. Student photographers can win $1000 worth of Kodak gear, while professionals can win a trip for two to New York (any free dinners thrown in?). The deadline is August 15, to enter picsnappers must send a colour or b&w print that is at least 30x40cm to Shoot the Chef! Sydney Morning Herald marketing, Level 24, 201 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000. Students will need to prove they are enrolled in a photographic course. For more info ph (02) 9282 2063.

(It Was A) Good Food Show

Above are samples we couldn't resist taking away from the recent Sydney Good Food Show - a crazy atmosphere, packed to the rafters, at times it was like watching flocks of ravenous seagulls as punters jostled for every scrap of free tucker available. We decided to settle back in the wine section, floating from winery stand to winery stand to sample excellent viticultural pleasures - the highlight was an Elliot Rocke Estate "Late Harvest" botrytis-influenced dessert wine (pictured right in the 375ml bottle) which we just had to grab for home - it was simply sublime. Apple and cinnamon, marmalade and apricot with just a touch of oak - yum.

Lucio's in the Biz for 20 Years

Congratulations to Lucio Galletto who has achieved 20 years in the fickle and demanding world of restaurants. His birthday celebration menu runs until the end of August. Lucio's, 47 Windsor St, Paddington, NSW ph (02) 9380 5996.

Don't Say "Cafe", Say "Salon"

John Ubaldi, owner of Bar Europa, has opened another city venture, it's called Salon GMT in Governor Macquarie Tower. There's a retro feel to the menu, with chef Martin Chichester concentrating on confort food albeit using a lot of organic produce, including organic sausages, and serving organic coffee - Di Stefano by Primo. Salon GMT, Shop 1, Governor Macquarie Tower, Farrer Place (cnr bent & Young Sts), Sydney, ph (02) 9252 0222. Mon-Fri 7am-5.30pm.

Goat's Cheese

Goats cheese is no longer a food for the trendies. It’s becoming a staple in many of our kitchens and works well on its own or mixed in pastas, salads or antipasto. Recently we received a visit from the people who run Hobbitt Farm, and sampled their Snowy Mountains Chevre, a moist, creamy product with a delightful taste and aroma. Melt-in-the-mouth consistency makes it perfect on crackers or just shoveled directly into the mouth. For a local restaurant serving Hobbitt Farm, try Buon Ricardo in Paddington. Handmade at Jindabyne, in the style of traditional French farm cheeses, you can access Hobbitt Farm directly on (064) 578 171.

Cafe News June 2003

Celebrating Cheffery

Where is Sydney's glamour crowd wining and dining? According to the SMH, they're ditching carb-free diets and diving into the lasagna al forno at Fratelli Paradiso (12 Challis Ave, Potts Point, 9357 1744) or they're basking in the candle-lit ambience of the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar (1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach, 9365 9000) where one's complexion looks as creamy as the gorgonzola panna cotta. They're sipping vanilla martinis sustained by plates of grilled sirloin with mustard butter and fries at Fix (229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst, 9332 2566) or canoodling over a Campari and soda in the cosy corners of the bar at Lotus (22 Challis Ave, Potts Point, 9326 9000). Or they're downing lychee martinis and Thai Tea cocktails with smoked eel betel leaves at Jimmy Liks (186 Victoria St, Potts Point, 8354 1400) while planning a big night out in the grand dining room at est. (Level 1, Establishment Hotel, 252 George St, City, 9240 3010)."
If that's not enough sycophancy for you, there's plenty more: "Show us a chef elsewhere in the world doing the food of Tim Pak Poy at Claude's (10 Oxford St, Woollahra, 9331 2325) such as smoked salmon jelly filled with unpasteurised salmon roe. From Peter Gilmore at Quay (Overseas Passenger Terminal, West Circular Quay, The Rocks, 9251 5600) five textures of Valrhona Chocolate. Tetsuya Wakuda, Luke Mangan and Neil Perry are one-offs at the top of the culinary tree. There's a reason luminaries such as Britain`s Pierre Koffmann and Thomas Keller (from the US`s French Laundry, recently ranked Best Restaurant in the World by UK`s Restaurant Magazine) have been spied in Sydney restaurants in the past few months." Proud fighting words from the SMH. Do you have any other spots to recommend to us? Email us by clicking here.

Cafe News May 2003

From Banc to Credit Union

A cute article recently appeared in the news pages of the Sydney Morning Herald titled "Posh Noshery Turns Bistro". It concerns owner Stan Sarris deciding to forego Banc's luxury status as "prices will be cut and its menu restructured in an effort to turn a profit". The Herald opines: "In its heyday, banned company director Rodney Adler held court at the Western end of Banc's lavish mirror and marble interior ... around him the city's business elite dined on chef Liam Tomlin's variations of foie gras". So if you're looking somewhere cheap but stylish to dine, you can Banc on better value. 53 Market Place, Sydney, ph (02) 9233 5300.

Bondi Brilliance

A sensational discovery for us. Unheralded chef Shane Lurie is doing some great food at Blue Orange Cafe/Restaurant at 49 Hall Street. To appreciate the tastes you're gonna hafta get out of your chair! For photos of Blue Orange - and more gushing words from our editorial department (plus Blue Orange's phone number so you can "do yourself a favour"), just click here.

Send us your news

Are you in the cafe industry? Got a new dish you'd like us to sample? Winter is here and we'd like to insulate ourselves with an extra layer of fat. So why not invite one of the Sydneycafes.com.au writers into your cafe? All they ask is a free feed for them and their dining buddy, and in return, you get a decent plug on our cafe news page! To tap into our corporate readership (nearly all our 8000+ daily hits happen during weekdays 9-5), click here to email the lovely Jade, and we'll send over a salivating wordsmith - pronto.

Cafe News April 2003

Only in America

The French are getting a harder time in the United States for their anti-war stance than they did in Australia when they tested nuclear weapons in the Pacific. Already we've seen the almost instant demise of "French fries" - they are now called "Liberty fries". French wines are being boycotted by diners and restaurants are de-Frenching their menus - Tavern on the Green, reports the New York Times, has renamed its filet mignon "grilled tenderloin", while Artisanal brasserie has seen customers saying they refuse to be served by French waiters! Fortunately there aren't any Iraqi restaurants in New York - the last one was hit by a precision bomb as it's suspected it was harbouring terrorists - turned out to just be a seven-year-old child clutching a cap gun. As you can probably tell, we at Sydneycafes.com.au are not against the war - we're against the invasion/slaughter. Bit grim folks, but that's reality, sorry 'bout that ...

Even More Shocking

Now this will make the killings in Iraq fade into the background. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Neil Perry, Australia's original celebrity chef and owner of Rockpool, has, dare we reveal, returned to having butter on the table. That's right, we know it's outrageous, especially considering he's one of the bread-breaking bratpack who first introduced us backward Aussies to the highbrow sophistication of having olive oil de rigeur (oops, the CIA will be reading) on the table. "That means a lot," says the Herald's food writer Matthew Evans, who later in the article boasts: "I've eaten almost all 13 entrees and ten mains (at Rockpool) and the highs are unbelievably high". Matty ... mate ... there's a war on - show some restraint!

Neil Perry - On the French Side!

Lord, it just gets worse! In further breaking news from the culinary battlefield that is The Rocks, it's revealed that Neil Perry has committed a very un-patriotic sin - especially considering Australia is a branch office of the USA - in controversially returning to butter, he has foresworn our very patriotic US-supporting local farmers, prefering instead to to use French Lescure butter (we even heard it get called buerre!!!) with flakes of sea salt, the whole Axis of Evil completed by marrying this combo with small, crunchy rolls from the Victoire bakery (sounds French to me!). Outrageous! This is more traumatising than seeing the Opera House daubed in the words "No War"! More devastating than the horror of watching a few Sydney students express their rage at the war by throwing cafe chairs around. More horrifying than the front-page SMH image of the half-blinded young Iraqi girl whose mother had just been shot in a gun battle (and not a bottle of San Pellegrini to be seen in that photo). Care about that do you? In that case, we recommend www.iraqbodycount.net

Cafe News March 2003

Summer Still Swingin' at Speedo's on Saturdays

North Bondi's Speedo's Cafe, as a direct result of the youthful ownership of George Dannaoui, is creating a gorgeous beachy vibe every Saturday afternoon from 3-6pm when DJ Shane "Son of the Sea" Barnes plays some ultra-chilled ambient groove. The place was comfortably crowded - not to overflowing - as this Aussie DJ, freshly returned from overseas, spun some stunningly subtle sounds. Shane's season continues every Saturday at Speedo's, and he's also available for other events via his email address: aliveankicking@hotmail.com
Speedo's Cafe, Shop 1-2, 126 Ramsgate Ave, North Bondi, ph 9365 3622

Papaver of the Month

The friendly crew from Papaver (above) tickled our tastebuds this month and so they join our ranks as March 2003 "Cafe of the Month". Our new reviewer, Joel Thompson, is fixating on Newtown cafes over the next few months - if you have any recommendations for that neck of the woods, or any places you recommend we AVOID, email eat@sydneycafes.com.au

Empire-Building

The Sydney Morning Herald reported recently about the new movers and shakers - cashed-up and cafe-hungry - who are buying up Sydney's chef-hatted restaurants. Late last year 28-year-old Paul Sarlas purchased Kirribilli's respected Milsons restaurant - in the middle of Feb this year he was adding the one-hat Jaspers in Hunters Hill to his collection. At least staff know that Sarlas has a policy of keeping the same team in the flow. Meanwhile Mark Scanlan and Mark Dickey, the dynamic duo who drove the Milsons and Jaspers success stories, are focusing on expanding their new Garfish eatery concept. Sarlas, whose parents owned cafes, plans to add to his portfolio with his own start-up, Feast and Coffee Bean, opening opposite the Brookvale Hotel on Pittwater Rd in six weeks.

Cube

When the cafe stalwart of George Street's cinema district, Alexanders, closed last May, one could only bemoan the lack of eateries in this precinct. Now a new operator, Mark Pullen, has opened a rather swish cafe in the Alexanders premises, it's called Cube - incorporating a cafe at the front and a cocktail bar down the back. Its menu has been described as "busy and eclectic" - and reports are positive. Cube, 550 George St, Sydney, open daily 7am-late, ph 9264 4446.

Cafe News February 2003

A New High

Good news for cafe owners is that Sydney's love affair with cafe dining grows and grows. Last week this website recorded a new record 56,000 hits for the week - even so, that's still just a fraction of the actual dining public - with estimates suggesting that over 2 million Sydneysiders eat out at least once a week. For more info email eat@sydneycafes.com.au

 

Burgerman, Oh Burgerman

Very rare finding a really divine gourmet burger in Sydney, but after this month's photo shoot at Caffe Fellini on Victoria, we were about to hop into our car when we saw Burgerman, and that late afternoon tummy-growl had us. Awesome beef burgers, lamb burgers, fish burgers and even a massive vegetarian burger will see us back again. 116 Surrey St, Darlinghurst, just off Victoria St. Ph 9361 0268.

Growers Grows

The Good Living Growers' Market kicks off the year at Pyrmont this Saturday, with former Australian Gourmet Traveller food director Kathy Snowball and chef Syd Pemberton continuing the market tours and cooking classes they started last year. Numbers are limited to eight people for $121 foodie-festive show including lunch (you'd hope so at that price). They also run tour and classes for the Northside Growers' Market on the third Saturday of each month. Info: 9410 0653.

Bloo By You

Homeware stores which double as cafes are probably one of the neatest stylistic fits in the foodie kingdom, with the fabbo Orson & Blake in Surry Hills having reigned at the top of this genre for a short while now. Springing up in Cammeray of the moment is the rather schmick looking bloo, with its homewares out the back, Allpress Coffee and lashings of schiacciata bread up front. Bloo, 1/510 Miller St, Cammeray, ph 9929 7100.

Cafe News January 2003

Gabbys Goes Nights

Legendary Bondi cafe Gabbys, after 15 years of serving pretty well only breakfasts and lunches, has opened up seven nights a week for Greek taverna-style dinners - which are very delish too. Owner Tommy Pontidas has teamed up with a good mate of his, USA-born Kevin Darbison, who runs the show at front of house with considerable charm. They'll stay open from 6pm til midnight if the crowds are good - and so far, they have been. After all, getting a huge serve of Barramuni as Fish of the Day for just $19.70 with Greek Salad and chips (and a lush tsatsaki sauce) is a reason in itself to visit. Another reason is the flowing spectacle of Bondi folk as you sit al fresco on Campbell Parade - on a warm summer's night, truly a Sydney delight. Gabbys Cafe, 94 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, licensed & BYO, bookings not necessary, breakfasts & lunches still as good as ever, for more info email kevinpd@ozemail.com.au

Vietnamese is the new Thai

The Sydney Morning Herald has declared Vietnamese food the successor to Thai Food's long reign as Sydney's cheap & cheerful cuisine of choice. "Step aside Thai," writes SMH foodie literato Scott Bolles, "Vietnamese is the latest cuisine exploding faster than bath bombs and springing up on street corners across the inner city". Bolles quotes a few faves: Red Lantern in Surry Hills, the each-way Viet-Thai bet called rQ and the December 2002 opened Phamish Vietnamese Cafe in Darlinghurst. Phamish's chef Van Pham receives special plaudits for his "crispy pancakes wrapped in rice paper". Where live these new kids? Phamish Vietnamese Restaurant, 354 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst, ph 9357 2688. Open Wed-Mon.

Fresh Magazine - Our Sister Site/Magazine

The preliminary stages of Fresh Magazine, our first foray into hard copy publishing, is currently spawning itself on the web. While Fresh Magazine will feature a vast quantity of foodie literature, it will also be a "guide to all things FRESH and new in Sydney," says editor Adam Frontier. While the first edition is due to hit outlets on May 1st, 2003, Mr Frontier welcomes submissions/cafe profiles beforehand in order to get the website alive & kicking in advance of the magazine. For more info, check out www.freshmag.com.au or email editor@freshmag.com.au

Westcoastcafes Celebrates First Birthday

Our cafe cousins in Perth, www.westcoastcafes.com.au have just celebrated their first birthday, recording just over 100,000 visitors in their first year. To help them celebrate, why not click over to them and say "hi"? They're a quirky lot over there as you'll discover from the website. If the quirkiness continues, we'll be launching www.tassiecafes.com.au with a special feature on "extra finger food". In the meantime, to spread the cheer, click on the West Coast site here.

Stanley Street Renaissance

Three new cafe/restaurants have opened in Stanley Street recently, with one of them, Dishy Cafe, our Cafe of the Month for January 2003. There's a fourth to open soon and we will profile them all soon! Watch this space.

Send Us Your News!

We are hungry for more Cafe News - email eat@sydneycafes.com.au with your tidbits and we'll make you a star!

Cafe News December 2002

Sunday Best?

Cafe and restaurant owners - do you make a special effort on Sundays? Even once a year? - because here's a tip for you - we received the following email from a friendly journalist looking to publicise your Sunday Best - read on: "I am a freelance journalist and am writing a new weekly "what's on" each Sunday for the Sun-Herald. I have lots of categories and one is "foodie delight". I would love to hear about anything special that is happening at any Sydney cafe/restaurant on a Sunday. I write it about a week and a half in advance so the earlier I have information the better. If you see Sunday's paper (metro section) It is called Sunday Best. Please feel free to pass my email address on to anyone who might have a press release to send etc. Many thanks, Alison Cameron." Email Alison at:
cameronpress@aol.com

Bamboo Cafe

Looking for healthy organic vegetarian options? We discovered a very underrated little Bondi backstreet diner called The Bamboo Cafe - not only do they do awesomely delicious food with a strong emphasis on health, they also do a great assortment of fresh ORGANIC juices - perfect for that recovery chapter of a typical Bondi weekend - let's whet your thirst for their juice selection:
RED DEVIL CLEANSER - Apple, Beetroot, Watermelon, Ginger
FLU CHASER - Orange, Kiwi Fruit & Ginger
SUNRISE QUENCHER - Pear, Mint & Watermelon
REFRESHER - Apple, Celery, Watermelon & Lemon
LIFESAVER - Carrot, Parsley, Beetroot or your choice from Carrot, Celery, Beetroot, Ginger, Apple, Orange, Pear & Watermelon.
... Also they run Urban Beachside Retreats - and deliver organic vegies on Mondays - for more info, pop into 45 Gould St, Bondi - or check out www.bamboocafe.com.au

It's a Long Drop From the Top

Sorry to hear that Restaurant V11 closed at the end of November. The ambitious restaurant and neighbouring bar opening in 2000 with a huge $5 million design and a big name chef from another long-since-departed upmarket eatery, Ampersand, but like so many of these overstated enterprises, it ran out of bucks as there are only so many diners who want to pay forty bucks and above for mains and equally high prices for all the rest. Also, the financial repercussions of the Manfredi chapter of bel mondo restaurant are coming to light - creditors can expect just 10c in the $1 from their investments. What killed this fine diner? Perhaps the $500,000-a-year rent had something to do with it!!! The Manfredis eventually sold the restaurant for $150,000 to - guess who - their landlord!

Oh (No)! Calcutta!

A somewhat disappointed letter crossed our virtual desk this week - from a lady by the name of Camilla Castree. It reads: "Winning the same award, year after year, I regret does not guarantee an award winning experience, as I realised very recently. I had recommended the 'award-winning' restaurant Oh! Calcutta! to a group of friends, and as we were ushered inside, we seemed to be insulted, hurried and generally
patronised from start to finish. The owner who served us made remarks regarding Al-Qaeda which were wholly inappropriate (which he tried to pass off as a joke afterwards), insulted one of our group's parentage and didn't appear to know what customer service was, or how to talk to his staff. If you fancy being insulted and paying over the odds for the privilege and, in my view, mediocre fare, then I would fully recommend Oh! Calcutta!."
We await Oh! Calcutta!'s response .......

Cafe News November 2002

So Green it's Green's

Excellent reports on the new Green's Cafe in Bondi, owned by Cathy Armstrong who previously worked for Sean Moran of Sean's Panaroma and also managed the kitchen at Swell in Avalon (not Swell Cafe in Bronte). The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Living Guide raved about their coconut bread - the secret of which are ground cloves, according to Cathy. Also acclaimed by the Herald: The Baked Eggs with English Spinach, Gruyere and Mushrooms. Green's Cafe, 140 Glenayr Ave, Bondi Beach, ph 9130 6181. 8am-4pm, closed Tuesdays.

Oxford St Update

Oxford Streets famous KINK Cafe has closed down and now been replaced by a very clean and colourful joint called BUTCH - it's at 137 Oxford St. We popped in and had some great Mod Oz tucker. More on it soon. Meanwhile we also enjoyed the pastries from another Oxford Street newcomer, it's called The Grumpy Baker, open for four months and with very urban opening hours - it's open seven days a week, and for 24 hours on both Fridays and Saturdays. The Grumpy Baker is at 151 Oxford St, ph 02 9380 4177.

Good Living NSW Wine Festival

At the Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quay Sydney, this event features public tasting sessions, Masterclasses and a Winemakers' Dinner. Happening on 11, 12, 13 & 14 October. Details and bookings 02 9518 6937 or go to www.boutiquewines.com.au

Cafe Biz 2002

Cafe Biz 2002 is a complete business conference for cafe operators and owners, created for the industry, dealing directly with issues and legislation affecting this growing business market. The conference this industry has been waiting for is confirmed for 28 October 2002 at Star City Casino. For information on event coordination, tickets, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities‚ contact Andy Collings at KISS Marketing on (02) 6550 4052 or click on www.cafebiz.net

Dish It Up

A top quality cafe/restaurant has just appeared in Newport - it's a product of Hugo's graduate Tony Deger teaming up with business partner Thomas Olsen - and they've scored a great chef in George Fransisco, who, ironically enough, has a lot of Fransisco on his CV - namely mid-1980s San Francisco trendsetter Jeremiah Tower's Stars restaurant and San Francisco seafood restaurant Farallon. The design of Dish was done by Jo Larrat, who designed Aqua Luna. Reports from the Northern Beaches are very positive, with entrees being $16 and mains $26. Dish, 352 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport, ph 02 9999 2398.

Slice in New Woman

Annie di Natale, the chef of Paddington's lovely Slice Restaurant, is enjoying some well deserved recognition this month, as she's a fullpage feature in a story they're doing comparing, ahem, individual Sydney women with the characters from Ally McBeal. We're pleased to say we organised the link-up between the New Woman journalist and her talented subject. For more on Slice, click here.

October Is, Of Course, Good Food Month

For the full details, click on www.smh.com.au

Bar Show 2002

Bartender Magazine presents Australia's new two-day bar show at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay in Sydney on 28 and 29 October from 10am to 5.30pm daily. Cost is only $10 for two days. For more info, click on www.barshow.com.au

Cafe News September 2002

The Quay to Our City

Congratulations to chef Peter Gilmore and the people at Quay Restaurant for winning the Sydney Morning Herald's "Restaurant of the Year" award, announced on 2 September. Best New Restaurant went to Guillaime at Bennelong (with an honourable mention to Becasse), Best Country Restaurant went to Fins in Byron Bay, and "Three Chefs Hats" went to Claude's, MG Garage, Rockpool, Tetsuya's and of course Quay. Best cafes???? Well the absolute winner was Danks Street Depot, but making up the Top Ten are Allpress Espresso in Rosebery; Apartment in Sydney; Bathers' Pavilion Cafe in Balmoral; bills in Darlinghurst; Canteen in Balmain; Ecabar in Darlinghurst; Ripples in Milsons Point; six seven ate in Chippendale; and Swell in Avalon. To check out Quay, just click on the above pic of Peter Gilmore.

Cafe Biz 2002

What gets talked about at a cafe owner's summit? The price of coffee? How to deal with loafers who sit all day but buy only two cups? Whether to stick with posters of French poets kissing in the streets or take a renaissance punt on that old dogs playing snooker image? Well, you can find out at Cafe Biz 2002, a complete business conference for cafe operators and owners, created for the industry, dealing directly with issues and legislation affecting this growing business market. The conference this industry has been waiting for is well underway in its production stages with dates confirmed for 28 October 2002 at Star City Casino. For information on event coordination, tickets, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities‚ contact Andy Collings at KISS Marketing on (02) 6550 4052 or click on www.cafebiz.net

Not Bread Alone

Reader Doreen Boyce sends the following recommendation: "I'm an avid fan of Saturday & Sunday brunches and am always on the lookout for great new cafes. I've tried Groove, Waters Lane & Chaos in Neutral Bay, Preggos, Village Road Cafe & Village Green in Mosman (3 of the better Mosman cafes), Balmoral Sands in - you guessed it Balmoral. My quest to find the perfect cafe is measured by the quality of the coffee - not too strong, not too weak, and never ever burned (sacriligious). But more importantly to keep my tummy happy, I always try the scrambled eggs. My preference is soft, creamy scrambled eggs but without the overdose of butter. Unfortunately of the cafes tried around the Lower North Shore so far there has been only one cafe that has tantalised my scrambled taste buds and it was a cafe off the beaten track for me. It's called Not Bread Alone and is based in Crows Nest just off the Pacific Highway near Freedom furniture. Not only was the scrambled to die for, but the sausages (gourmet) are as fat as you can handle and a delight to eat. Not wanting to make a pig of myself, I was unable to finish my breakfast in case I was unable to stand again. (actually the truth is that I spotted some Passionfruit Friands and wanted to leave some space - yum yum yum). So - if any of you guys and gals out there are brave enough to venture over to the North Shore I would fully recommend giving this cafe a try... lunches are served also (mean lamb shanks I'm told). Enjoy!"
Good on you Dors for the insight into the patchy rollercoaster of North Shore dining.

Quirky Redfern

One of life's greatest pleasures is discovering a fantastic cafe - and we're delighted to say we've found a great one in rapidly gentrifying Redfern. Quirk's Grocery DeliCafe (pictured above) really hits the spot. We can't wait to get back there - so we made it this month's Cafe of the Month. To see their profile in full just click on any of the above pics. Since we're being totally subjective for a moment, the latest news on our www.sydneycafes.com.au website is that last week was our busiest ever, with 28,000 hits recorded.

NSW Regional Wine & Food Weekend

The NSW Regional Wine & Food Weekend including the 2nd Annual "Feast of the Olive" is coming up on Saturday & Sunday 28-29 September at The Rothbury Estate on Broke Rd, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley. Wine and food from the Hunter, Orange, Mudgee and Cowra regions will be available for tastings. For more info phone (02) 4998 7363.

Janni Drives Away

Celebrated chef Janni Kyritsis is leaving MG Garage at the end of October - and MG Garage will close for three days - not as a "wake" but for a facelift, reopening on October 31 with a new snakeskin and chartreuse yellow look with Melbourne chef Jeremy Strode behind the wheel. So if you haven't experienced the magnificence of MG Garage in its current incarnation ('scuse the vague pun) with Kyritsis at full speed, do it now.

Cafe News August 2002

The Great Aussie Wine Festival

At Fox Studios, this spectacular event ran from Fri 2 - Sun 4 August, with Mon 5 August being the "Trade Day". It seemed like the whole of Australia's winemakers were there - indeed, over 7000 wines were available for tasting - and the goodwill was wonderful. This was arguably the best foodie event of the year. For all the details click on www.wineaustralia2002.com ... for some amusing pics of the event go to www.spittoon.com.au

Gertrude & Alice

Booming Bondi Beach Bookstore/Cafe "Gertrude & Alice" has teamed up with Delizia Espresso Bar on Elizabeth Street in the city. 148 Elizabeth St, City. 7am-6pm daily. Ph 9266 0401.

Viva La Republic

Previous royalty in Circular Quay, Paul Merrony, has lowered his foodie colours, deciding that "serious dining has disappeared in Sydney". He's just opened Merrony's Republic, with none of the mains over $20. Shop 105/46-50 Burton St, East Sydney. 7am-4.30pm daily. Ph 9326 0877.

Cafe News July 2002

By Jay Vidal

Yoshii Returns

The canapes, wine and sake were wonderful when Ryuichi Yoshii opened his new restaurant, the eponymous YOSHII Restaurant, last Thursday night. Food editors mingled with TV stars and PR beauties as the cosy 40-seater served up exotic sashimi blends - the master chef is going for a fusion of French and Japanese after all. Where? Yoshii Restaurant, 115 Harrington St, Sydney. Ph (02) 9247 2566. Email: yoshii@saqura.com

Fiery Chilli Festival

On 12-14 July, 2002, the Fifth National Fiery Food Festival goes off at Wharf 8, Hickson Rd, The Rocks. There will be a Cook Off, a Chilli Eating Challenge, and great food and drinks available. For more info go to www.chillipress.com.au

The Rocks Aroma Coffee Festival

Sample the country’s finest blends, join in coffee-making workshops, or treat the kids to a babycino while you enjoy some of Australia’s best live music.
Feast on an Aroma $25 lunch special at one of The Rocks’ restaurants, or enter the draw to win great prizes including a Vespa motor scooter.
There will be Gourmet Coffee Roasters, Live Entertainment, a Coffee Machine Expo, workshops on "Advances in Coffee Technology," "Become the Barista" and "The Coffee Grinder – why is it so important?"
You could also meet coffee plantation owner and roaster Zeta Grealey of Carrool Coffee, winner of Gold medals in the 2001 and 2002 Royal Agricultural Society Fine Foods coffee competitions - and there are lots of free activities for kids.
Aroma is Australia's largest coffee festival and this year, its fifth, celebrates 100 years of espresso coffee.
For more info, click here.

Hunter Valley Wine Expeditions

Fancy being chauffer-driven through the Hunter Valley in a 1960 Pontiac Laurentian? Hey, any car will do, as long as we don't have to drink 'n drive! Wine-tasting your way through the region's finest wineries, you'll be thanking us for giving you this tip. For more info, click on www.wineexpeditions.com.au

Cafe Biz 2002

What gets talked about at a cafe owner's summit? The price of coffee? How to deal with loafers who sit all day but buy only two cups? Whether to stick with posters of French poets kissing in the streets or take a renaissance punt on that old dogs playing snooker image? Well, you can find out at Cafe Biz 2002, a complete business conference for cafe operators and owners, created for the industry, dealing directly with issues and legislation affecting this growing business market. The conference this industry has been waiting for is well underway in its production stages with dates confirmed for 28 October 2002 at Star City Casino. For information on event coordination, tickets, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities‚ contact Andy Collings at KISS Marketing on (02) 6550 4052 or click on www.cafebiz.net

Bay Swiss Opens in the City

Is Bay Swiss becoming the next Starbucks? Sheesh - at least this company is home-grown. They've just opened their seventh store - in the Metcentre in the city - and are aiming to open another seven by the end of the year. Owners Paula and Gary Horwitz started humbly enough fourteen years ago in Glebe - yet it seems the fusion of contemporary global homewares and scrummy Swiss deli food served on giant Balinese teak tables is what the public loves. This new Bay Swiss, located at the corner of George and Margaret Streets, is the biggest yet - including a balcony so you can enjoy the sights of the city. Inner-city corporate catering is also a speciality - available until 8pm. For more info, contact Cathy Barlow - click on cathyb@bayswiss.com.au

Cafe News June 2002

By Jay Vidal

People Who Feed People

Last week we received some "food for thought" in the form of an email from a Sydneycafes reader called Hugh Foster:
"I write to you as part of the community of people whose business involves providing food to people. You may grow it, process it, cook it, serve it or write about it. Whatever role you play, you are part of a large community of people who feed others.
For the most part in Australia, providing food is a business and the people we feed, while grateful for it, are rarely dependent upon one company or person alone for their daily sustenance. This is not the case in many parts of the world where hunger is a daily reality.
The impact upon our world of having a large proportion of its population unable to rely on the most basic requirements for survival, food and clean drinking water, is becoming increasingly dangerous. Moreover the injustice of a small but extremely powerful minority controlling the wealth and resources of this planet to the obvious detriment of the majority is becoming increasingly obvious to those who are deprived.
Therefore I am inviting you to think and act as a community, to come together to support projects which will help rid the world of the scourge of hunger and its causes. I welcome input, support and actions, which will make this a reality. I am asking you to become “People who Feed People”.
Initially I see the possibility of our community creating money-raising projects to support aid and relief agencies such as Oxfam Community Aid Abroad who have already expressed interest in this idea.
One idea, which would be relatively easy to implement, would be a contributive cookbook with proceeds being donated. Each restaurant along with its pledge to donate will also submit a recipe, a signature dish, along with a few words on why it is important for us to help those who cannot help themselves. The best will be collated into a cookbook, which I would like to be launched this year. The book will act not only as a high quality cookbook but also due to its uplifting visuals and messages of hope act as a powerful coffee table book re-enforcing our “sense of community”.
If 2000 restaurants Australia wide were to donate $500 each annually (less than $2 a day) we would collect $1 million, a drop in the ocean in the face of the enormous problem that is world hunger, but enough to show that we are capable of making a difference. In fact I believe that restaurants, their customers, food producers and many others would find a myriad of ways to gather far more than this amount. Individual restaurants pledging money, food fair events, special themed nights, there are many possibilities. Most importantly we must find ways to maximize the percentage of the money raised getting to the very people for whom it is intended. Later projects could include the adoption of third world communities and using our own expertise to help in projects that would impact on communities affected by hunger. An eventual goal is to make this an international phenomenon in all developed countries of the world, and to involve high profile food celebrities as spokespeople for the fund.
If you are in any way moved to act to make this concept a reality I ask you to contact me on the e-mail address below. It is not enough that we agree that something should be done, action needs to be taken. I am completely open to any suggestions and ideas and invite you to involve as many people as you wish.
Most of all I invite you to think of yourselves individually and collectively as people who can make a powerful difference in the world. The act of participation in your community will powerfully transform your lives and those of many others.
With thanks in advance."
Hugh Foster
moorish@bigpond.net.au
Phone: (02) 9331 4995

Cafe News May 2002

By Jay Vidal

The Good Food Show

Starring Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein and over 40 TV and restaurant chefs entertaining over 33,000 visitors over three days - and with hundreds of stands featuring food, wine and coffee, this is one of the premier events on the foodie calender. Happening at Homebush from 31 May to 2 June. Also in Melbourne from 8-10 June. For more details click on www.goodfoodshow.com.au

Give Us Your News!!!

Last week we received a somewhat irate email from Leanne at the Appetite Cafe in Redfern: "I've just found and read cafesydney (sic) site for the first time it seems you discuss news of expensive top resturants (sic) ie "tetsuya" "bathers" these are not cafes and we always know about these restuarants (sic) cause they ALWAYS get write ups so why dont (sic) you discuss the happens (sic) of real sydney cafes?" - our response was to inform Leanne that we are always asking cafe owners to email us news of the happenings at their cafes - new chefs, new dishes, new cafes opening up - you email it to us, we'll publish it. Understandably, many cafe owners are very busy, but the publicity they will receive is worth the ten minutes effort (in April we recorded 76,053 hits on our site). To fill the void, we pick up on the news stories doing the rounds in the mainstream press, which we agree, Leanne, is ALWAYS (well, often) about the above-mentioned luxury diners. So come on, you overworked foodsters, send us some juicy news to eat@sydneycafes.com.au

Gentrification of Bourbon & Beefsteak

Is it possible? Well, there's a new chef and a hot new designer at this iconic Kings Cross bar, and apparently the picket fence and pot plants are heading for the rubbish dump. New chef Colin Holt, who received two chefs hats when at Bistro Pave, will reintroduce the 24-hour, seven days food and will contemporise the menu without desecrating the down-to-earth traditions of this much-loved legend. The lifesize American Indian will remain at the door (that would be sacrilege to remove) and the wall-to-wall memorabilia dating back to the 1960s will also remain.

Cafe News April 2002

By Stewart Dawes

Hello Amaro, Goodbye Moana

Owner John Wilson has redesigned his One Chef's Hat pad formerly known as Osteria Moana, dimming the bright lights, chopping up the shared tables, dissecting the set $38.50 menu (now there's five mains, five entrees, five desserts and a more expansive wine list), choosing another make-over by decorator Iain Halliday and changing the name to Amaro - it's the masculine form of Italian for bitter as in the aperitif Averna Amaro. Anne Taylor still caresses the antipasto, Andy Bunn is still in the kitchen and Wilson is still on the floor. 73 Macleay St, Potts Point, ph 02 9356 4166.

Balmain vs Starbucks

The politics of coffee is alive and well as Balmain's residents and cafe owners prepare themselves for the arrival of caffeine monolith Starbucks. Glued to the window of the proposed site at Pentimento Bookshop, Darling Street is a petition apparently even signed by a particular J. Howard, Kirribilli. What do you think about Starbucks nudging its way into the Sydney cafe latte scene? Do you care? Send us an email with your opinion - email eat@sydneycafes.com.au

And The Winner Is ....

Two Australian nominees are up in the James Beard Awards - the Oscars of the foodie world - in the Best Food Photography award. They are Christine Manfield's Stir (Viking, $45) with food shots by Ashley Barber, and Tetsuya Wakada's Tetsuya (HarperCollins, $55) with food shots by Takashi Morieda. Apparently one billion cookbooks are sold worldwide each year, or three million daily - value $10 billion per year - and the figures have doubled in the last decade. For more info, check out www.jamesbeard.org

Volnay Business Lunches

Volnay in Le Meridien Sydney is currently offering The Business Lunch - two courses plus a glass of wine for $35. So get in there and crack that deal!!! They're at 11 Jamison St, Sydney. To book phone 02 9696 2656 or email volnay@lemeridien-sydney.com

Cafe News March 2002

By Stewart Dawes

Best In The World

A prestigious food magazine has named two Sydney restaurants among the top 10 in the world. Restaurant Magazine ranked Rockpool as the fourth best restaurant in the world and Tetsuya at number ten in a survey of 50 people with a keen interest in food and travel, including several prominent chefs. Barcelona eatery El Bulli was ranked the best in the world with London's Gordon Ramsay second. London was the only other city to feature twice in the Top 10 with The Ivy placed eighth. The varied and international list also included some surprising destinations with Spoon in Mauritius ranked fifth, 1884 in Mendoza in Argentina at seven and Elgensinn Farm in Ontario, Canada, ranked ninth.

Buon Ricordo Looking for New Home

Eastern Fringe landlords take note - Armando Percuoco, owner of 2002 Italian Restaurant of the Year Buon Ricordo is looking for new premises. His ex-wife, Trudi Percuoco, is selling the Boundary Street building encasing the restaurant, and since it was up for sale once before - and the For Sale sign gets people thinking the restaurant itself is on the market - he's decided to start afresh. So if you've got a commercial premises with a bit of charm, pop down to Boundary Street before it's too late.

Cleopatra is Dead

Historical Blackheath dining legend Cleopatra has closed down as the guesthouse which housed it has been sold to a mystery buyer who's converting the building into a private residence. MG Garage backers Greg Duncan and Ian Pagent sold to the highest bidder for a rumoured price of around $1.5 million after their former partner, Bistro Moncur chef Damian Pignolet cashed in his shares last year. Recent head chef Fabrice Boone has gone to Lilianfels in Katoomba.

Cafe Kindness for Charity

Tickets are now on sale at Inside Out Cafe in Parramatta for their charity night on 15 May 2002 raising money for Parramatta Mission. Says owner, George Georgaklis: "There will be lots to be auctioned and prizes to be won. $60.00 will include beer, wine, soft drinks and plenty of fingerfood. We thank the companies who have already made donations to the auction. We thank Tuckers seabrook for their donation of the lovely Deakin Estate ladies who will serve the white and red wine. All reserved tickets must be purchased within 7 days of the reservation. At our first charity for Westmead Childrens Hospital we raised nearly $12,000. Our second must exceed that by at least $10,000." To show your support for such a worthwhile event call 02 9687 9045 or email George to reserve tickets via georgegg@insideoutparramatta.com

Bathers Pavilion Crazy Rent Council

Mosman Council has added 40% to Bathers Pavilion's rental bill, making the cost to owners Victoria Alexander and Serge Dansereau almost $500,000 per year.

Lunch Specials

Xu Australasian Bistro & Bar in the Millennium Hotel at the Top of William Street is currently offering a 2-course a la carte menu with a glass of Tempus Two wine for $28 per person. Their Dinner Special is $49 for a six-course degustation. Ph 02 9356 1111.
Manta Ray at Woolloomooloo Wharf is doing one oourse with a glass of wine for $25, or two courses with a glass of wine for $35. Ph 02 9332 3822.
MG Garage continues its $28 lunch. Ph 02 9383 9383.
And Bel Mondo has one course with a glass of wine for $25 - the dish is Grilled Ocean Trout with Salsa Verde and a Vegetable Giardiniera - thought we'd best let you know in case you don't like fish. reservations@belmondo.com.au

Aria Wine Company

... is looking for an On Premise Sales Executive to manage the prime Sydney territory. You must be dynamic with proven sales ability for on-premise within the wine industry. Phone Joanne Marshall on 02 9251 4866 or email indulge@ariawine.com.au

Culinary Travel

Coinciding with the World Gourmet Summit, you can join Christine Mansfield, author of "Spice" and "Stir", on a Gourmet Tour of Singapore from 8-15 April 2002, featuring masterclasses with Marcus Samuelsson (Aquavit in New York) and Michael Ginor (USA generally) and much more. Places are limited to 12 and the cost is $6599 per person twin share (conditions apply). Call Cheryl Evans at Singapore Airlines Holidays ASAP on 02 9352 3327.

Gourmet Safaris

Fancy a 3-day food and wine weekend in Mudgee from 15-17 March (all-inclusive $625)? Or how about a Tropical North Queensland yumfest from 22-29 June? For more info, call 02 9960 5675, or email maeveomeara@ozemail.com.au ... or ... see www.gourmetsafaris.com.au

Cafe News February 2002

By Stewart Dawes

Valentine's Day Romantic Stuff

Our current Cafe of the Month - Slice in Paddington's Fiveways - is having a special Valentine's Day menu "with the usual oysters, baked figs ,duck confit, tarte tatin for two and other treaties," says owner-chef Annie Di Natale. Still spaces available - ph 02 9331 2308, 248 Glenmore Rd, Paddington.
For those who like to splash out on such an occasion, Tetsuya's in the city is hosting a degustation menu for $300 per person (including beverages) under the theme "share the happiness, share the table" where everyone will be seated on tables for six. So if you're popping the question, expect an audience! Ph 02 9267 2900.
Aria Restaurant, last month's Restaurant of the Month on this website, is asking $150 per person for an a la carte menu including champagne on arrival and a box of hand-made petit fours on each table. To enjoy their awesome view of the Opera House, ph 02 9252 2555
Bathers' Pavilion? Chef Serge Dansereau will dazzle with a $175 (excluding wine) degustation menu in their beautiful Balmoral Beach abode. Ph 02 9969 5050.
MG Garage in Surry Hills will stick to its regular menu, though chef Janni Kyritsis may toss in some surprises for the romantics. Ph 02 9383 9383.

West Coast Cafes Online

Finally breaking through the border barrier, our sister site in Western Australia has been born. Deeply parochial, www.westcoastcafes.com.au promises a light-hearted approach to Perth cafe culture, while still showcasing the multicultural delights that have emerged to tempt western (sic) palates. Sheesh, this writer remembers arriving in Subiaco in 1986 to discover their idea of a salad was a piece of lettuce WITH a few slices of tomato and a dollop of mayonnaise. Thankfully, those medieval days are over! Their first Cafe of the Month is a natty Italian spot called Monza (pictured) in Leederville's trendy Oxford St (not quite Sydney's Oxford St, we hasten to add). Monza is a spag-bolognese-free-zone, instead offering "pecorino, pappardelle, tallegio, caponata and rotolo". Perth's best cafes? Waw ... go the Eagles!

Sensational Sushi Chef Returns

Investment company SAQURA has bankrolled the return
of the man they consider the best sushi technician in Australia.
Ryuichi Yoshii, whose book Sushi elevated local sushi
from craft to artform, will be opening in a backstreet behind the
Regent Sydney in The Rocks. With his previous Pyrmont restaurant
having been too out-of-the-way to properly showcase Yoshii's
vivacious persnickertiness (some regarded him as overly inventive), here's an opportunity for Sydney sushi fans to learn some secrets:
heck, who of us knew, before Yoshii pointed it out, that the pickled ginger is meant to be eaten between dishes as a palate-cleanser
or that green tea is there to remove the oiliness after eating fish?
We thought green tea was one of those anti-oxidant issues -
we've gotta stop reading Women's Health magazine!!!

Yutaka Japanese Restaurant

Cosily positioned in East Sydney for the last twelve years, the gentle little Japanese restaurant so well regarded by the locals is moving to Chippendale. Yukata, reports manageress Aiyi Qin, is moving into the Noah Lodge at 179 Chippendale Street from 7 March, 2002. It will still do excellent take-away on the new number, ph 8399 2567, and will still be licensed & BYO as well as being featured on Noah's website, www.noahlodge.com.au .... so if you love their very cute current location, get down there soon: 234 Crown St, East Sydney, ph 9361 4804.

Smug, Self-Centred & Superficial?

Writer Frank Robson has eloquently articulated what Sydney's last few people-with-soul had always feared - that Sydney really is a very shallow harbour, intellectually-speaking. In an article titled "Mwaah! Mwaah!" (onomatopoeiacally satirising the Eastern Suburb air kiss popular among society types) in the Sydney Morning Herald (Good Weekend, 02/02/02), he lets rip: "The other day I saw a woman snorting something while driving a car through Double Bay. And I just thought, "What a fucked city"." Ridiculing the vacuous conversations at Hugo's Lounge is a pretty easy target - and he scores a bullseye. Just as easy is the farce of Otto restaurant being "the place to be" because contra-king John Laws dines there: "why would anyone want to share a restaurant with a cadaverous old DJ?" he scoffs. What do we think??? Bloody agree mate, haven't you society snobs noticed we only publish photos of people who aren't among that social set Robson describes as "fabulous nobodies"? Our golden rule, folks, we only feature cafes and people who are kind-hearted, aware and who reveal a humanitarian streak. There you have it! We're lefty snobs ...

Cafe News January 2002

By Stewart Dawes

Lounging in Leichhardt

Instantly popular is the flamboyantly renovated Leichhardt Hotel
redesigned by Scott Weston with the assistance of manager
Joe Semrani. Upstairs is a spacious lounge bar
sporting 15-person lounge booths, a stash of beverages,
pool tables and plans to feature 3-piece bands.
Downstairs is a vibrant social bar and lounge and a vast
front-end winegarden dwarfed by a fresco of Bacchus
- the Roman god of wine - plus a Malaysian kitchen
supplying laksa heaven to diners who can even take
their meals upstairs - that's free-range dining.
The Leichhardt Hotel
Open 10am-midnight Sat-Wed,10am-3am Thurs-Fri.
95 Norton St, Leichhardt. Ph (02) 9518 3476.

December 2001

By Jenny Dikranian

Codswallop!

Star City?s Astral restaurant?s head Chef Sean Connolly has taken on another assignment. He?s dishing up during the day at Codswallop ~ a fish caf? at the Lord Roberts Hotel. Codswallop, 7 Stanley Lane, East Sydney. Open Monday to Friday for lunch. Phone 9331 1326.

Tanks for Nuthin ....

For two years Stan Sarris and Justin Hemmes have been feuding over the exclusive use of the name ?Tank?. Sarris has agreed to rename Tank at the GPO the "Senate Bar". Hemmes who operates the nightclub Tank claims he had the name first and had a registered trademark before Sarris. At least now, there?ll be no confusion when people mention drinks at Tank.

Bourbon Anyone?

For the first time since it?s opening in 1967, Kings Cross?s Bourbon and Beefsteak is up for sale. But until new operators move in, it?s business as usual 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Bond's 4 Sale

Bond owner Matthew Monahan is trying to sell his CBD restaurant. Chef Christopher Whitehead (formerly of Berowra Waters and Cicada) and most of the kitchen team have already left. Incidentally, Whitehead has moved to Opera Bar on the Concourse level at the Opera House and begins operating mid-December. Named after the bond market, this establishment is ironically a casualty of the depressed CBD dining market.

Tea Temple Near Terraces

QVB?s Tea Temple is now at a new location in East Sydney. With a large range of interesting teas, this is the place connoisseurs of tea should venture to from time to time. Tea Temple, 284 South Dowling Street, Paddington. Phone 9360 1371.

Landmark Changes

The Mirvac group has got its hands on Potts Point?s Landmark Hotel and it will convert it into luxury apartments. This follows from the demise of the Gazebo, Manhattan, Chateau, Top of the Town and Sebel Townhouse. The plan includes restaurants and cafes on the ground floor in Macleay Street.

Manna

Manna at Petersham now has a private dining room that caters for 20 people. The funky establishment has converted an old kitchen into a new room that features (in true Manna tradition) odd chairs and furniture. Manna is also open for brunch on Sundays from 9 am. Manna, Corner West and Station Streets Petersham. Phone 9568 4644.

Tony Arena

Tony Bilson is now a consulting Chef at Arena in Bent Street at the Fox Studios. His first gig at Arena was the charity launch party of Nicole Kidman?s flick The Others. Sumin who operate sushi bars in the CBD have now opened Asagao in Hornsby?s new Westfield Shopping Centre. The restaurant provides alfresco dining and entertainment is on the cards. Asagao, open 10:30 am to 9:30 pm 7 days, with longer trading Thursday to Saturday.

Cheaper Eats

Quay Restarant who newly appointed chef Peter Gilmore has dropped its food prices. Entrees are now between $22 and $28 and mains are priced between $34 and $38. A maximum saving of $6 for entrees and $8 for mains. Est has also dropped the cost of it?s formal set price for a three-course dinner from $85 to $70 for two. The more affordable lunch menu has moved across to dinner with two courses closer to the $50 mark.

New! New! New!

New emerging restaurants include Guillaume Brahimi?s Guillaume at Bennelong in the Opera House. Phone 9241 1999. Justin North has opened B?casse in Surry Hills. Phone 9280 3202. The former old kiosk at Clovelly is reopening with the name Seasalt. Darling Mills Chef Andy Davies is Consultant Chef with Genenieve Copland also in the ranks. Former Bennelong operator Gay Bilson has moved to Adelaide where she is concentrating on writing about food, wine and cooking. She is also co-ordinating food related needs of artistic events and handling gourmet dinners. Chef Christian Poulsen is no longer at the newly opened Minc at the Blacket Hotel on King Street in the CBD. No doubt his talents will crop up somewhere else.

Majestic

Paul Merrony and two Chefs of the former Merrony?s restaurant now board the Majestic II harbour cruiser each morning to prepare a gourmet buffet of six hot dishes, up to ten salads, seafood and dessert. The two-hour lunch cruise departs the King Street Wharf at noon and the cost is $58. To savour Merrony?s delights make a booking on 8296 7296.

Why?

Cockle Bay?s Baia San Marco Caf? Bar has expanded and now comfortably seats 450 people, that?s up from 230! Also new to Baia is the model of Michael Schumacher?s Formula One Ferrari racing car that will be hung on the wall.

Ripples

The North Sydney Olympic Pool is getting closer to offering an all day bistro called Ripples. Operated by Bill Drakopoulos, Ripples will service both swimmers in the pool arena and diners in general from the other side of the wall. The cuisine will boast seafood meals with breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Scheduled for a February 2002 opening, Ripples will open from 7 am 'til midnight every day.

One Shimbashi Better Than Two

Lovers of Japanese noodles will be sad to learn Neutral Bay?s Shimbashi Soba has had it?s day. Due to the difficulty of operating two restaurants, Yoshi Shibazaki sold the restaurant to the Japanese chain Yabu. But the good news is soba is to stay at the Woolloomoolloo restaurant.

Savage Funk

Nathan Head, owner of Darlinghurst?s newest restaurant, Savage is giving his staff a special insight into jazz and funk music. How good is that? Not only can you ask about unfamiliar menu selections but about the background music and be told right then and there by knowledgeable staff. The food department is being looked after by Ian Alexander (former Bathers? Pavilion Chef). Savage, 182 Campbell Street, Darlinghurst. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 7:30am 'til midnight. Phone 9357 6700.

Things to Boast About

It will cost around $12 million but in the end, the Manly Wharf Complex will boast eight new restaurants, a waterside pub, eight fast food outlets and two kiosks. Cove and Armstrongs will remain on the West side of the wharf. Chris Kennedy, owner of Rogues has put on a new management and service team to tap into the 25-plus corporate market. The first change is the inclusion of a Chinese restaurant Tip Top on the Oxford Square street level that operates from 10 till 10. Thereafter, the nightclub on the level below opens. Rogues, corner Riley Street and Lois Lane Darlinghurst. Phone 9380 9244.

If you have some caf? news for us, contact our roving Cafe Editor, purveyor of fine coffees and quaffer of illustrious wines ... Email: eat@sydneycafes.com.au