We previously reviewed The Fern almost a year ago.  The café hardly put a foot wrong resulting in a very high rating.  I returned again today solely to enjoy Fern’s Benedict.  Sadly this time it was missing as The Fern has updated their menu.

The menus are now housed inside record covers so don’t be surprised when you take a seat and it looks like they are placing some vinyls infront of you!  Some of the old dishes remain but overall there has been a nice update which we’ll get to later.

The Fern is open for breakfast through to a late brunch and then reopens in the evening for dinner and cocktails. The evening menus which you can see on The Fern’s website have a decidedly South American and Southern North American flavour with the likes of sliders, empanadas and ceviche.

Everything feels very casual and calm here.  The staff are friendly, the courtyard & interior are both clean & comfortable and the snacks & cocktails menus in the evening look perfect to relax with (we intend to find out for sure soon!)

On with the breakfast though…

The Gravity coffee was superb and one of the best coffees we have had in recent memory.  Our skim cappuccino ($3.50) had been expertly prepared and tasted exquisite.

Two smoothies ($8) are available.  I ordered the banana & honey which tasted gorgeous.  The right consistency and plenty of banana with a hint of honey.  As I saw the neighbouring table being delivered a mixed berry smoothie though I became very jealous and asked for some strawberries to be added.  Not only did the staff oblige but my 1/4 drunk smoothie was returned topped up, with fresh blended strawberries and no extra charge on the bill!

We went back to look at our shots of the menu from our last visit but could not see the first version of this dish.  The hangover cure 2 ($17) is obviously highly reliant on The Fern’s proven track record of pork expertise.  Well-seasoned and crispy hash browns serve as the base of this dish.  This is covered with mixed greens including rocket, fresh tomato and a green onion mayonnaise.  Thick, succulent smoked speck above this as well as bacon and two poached eggs.  Neither my guest who ordered this dish nor myself could find anything to fault.  Well presented, perfectly poached eggs and a fantastic mayonnaise to bring it all together.

With Fern’s Benedict MIA, what was I to order?  Being a pulled pork addict, I had surprisingly completely forgotten that a friend had ordered the corn fritter ($18) last time.  Although simply naming this dish “corn fritter” hardly does it justice.  ”Mmm”s and “oh my God”s were frequent as I relished the breakfast.

The corn fritter at the base actually has more egg throughout than I expected which not only gives it more substance but allows it to stand out from the crowd of other corn fritters available at cafés.

The pulled pork itself is not only plentiful but smoky, slightly spicy, immensely tender and simply delicious.  The guacamole is fresh with a nice bite of lemon.  The goat’s cheese proves that it can work well with any dish and added great texture and flavour.  Again, I am without any words of negativity.

While our dishes cost slightly more than our average weekly spend (of about $20 per person whereas this meal was $23), with food of this quality I have no complaints and would gladly pay more.  Knowing how much work can go into the preparation of pulled pork as well as some of the other dishes on the menu and the amazing all-round experience we had, I applaud The Fern once again for an amazing breakfast.

What else can we find on the menu?  Eggs “your way” ($8) with toast can be ordered with sides (smoked pork belly, bacon, pulled pork ($3.50 each), avocado, beans ($2.50 each) or smoked salmon ($4.50)), The Fern salad (peach, tomato, toasted walnuts, Spanish onion and goats cheese, $13), The Pocket (see previous review, $16) and pancakes (with banana and coconut yoghurt, $17).  Is your mouth watering yet?

Visit the website for the full menu but we can only recommend you make tracks to The Fern now!

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Beach Café at the Warriewood Surf Life Saving Club sits directly on Warriewood Beach with amazing sights and sounds of the surrounding activities.  The café is somewhere between a beach kiosk and a typical Sydney café.

On the weekends it is always buzzing especially as crowds of cyclists refuel in the middle of a training session.  We had a table sorted fairly quickly although we suggest calling ahead to book one.

Orders and payment is organised at the counter.  Only cash is accepted although we were given the gracious offer of eating then leaving a belonging of ours while we went up the road to get some cash.

The atmosphere can get slightly hectic as nippers, dogs, cyclists lifeguards and large families come and go frequently but as we sat facing the rolling waves, all our worries melted away.

The orange juice is freshly squeezed and served ice cold so no complaints here!

 Smoothies available are mixed berry and banana.  My mixed berry smoothie was too milky and could definitely have done with some thickening be it with yoghurt or ice cream.  The berry flavour (mainly strawberry) was great though.

Campos is the bean of choice at Beach Café and our coffees combined with the view were superb.

Hugo’s omelette ($10.50) is a nice sized serving for the price.  Thanks to the thinness and plenty of other ingredients, the amount of egg isn’t as overwhelming as other omelettes we have tried.  Mixed within we found ham, cheese, tomato and mushroom.  Chives throughout and rocket on top freshen the flavours and overall we enjoyed the dish.

 Berry overload this morning as I combined my berry smoothie with French toast with berries ($11.50).  The white bread had been well-soaked which is always a good sign.  Ricotta was served on top and there was enough for the whole dish.  The berries were slightly too soft as they were not fresh but with the maple syrup on the side the flavours worked well.

 Home baked muffins ($4.50) change weekly and this time it was the turn of the raspberry variety.  This was an excellent muffin if I do say so.  Soft and loaded with berries, we would return for these!

We did find the service to be a bit erratic with some near-drops and plates being plopped down on the table, sometimes infront of the wrong person.  However Beach Café is a friendly and perfectly situated establishment which is punching above it’s weight and landing some blows.

Next time we intend to try the bacon and eggs special (served with herbed tomato salsa, aioli, rocket and Turkish bread, $12.50), croque monsieur/madame ($6/8.50), pancakes (with maple syrup/ice cream & berries/ice cream and chocolate or caramel sauce/bacon, egg and maple syrup, $9.50/$12.50/$11.50/$15.50) or the beef or chicken burger ($15.50).

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The Wolf & Honeybee is a newcomer to the Sydney café scene.  They have retained the previous “milk bar” signage but have transformed the interior into a clean dining area with a retro influence.  They are currently seeking artists’ submissions for their walls so if you’re looking for a space to hang and sell your works, contact them.

The menu is limited and only cash is accepted however on the plus side this is not only a Campos coffee establishment but they also serve baked goods from Brasserie Bread.

And thankfully the coffee (regular $3.50, large $4) did impress.   It was served quickly and with a smile.  Cold drip coffee (regular $3.50, large $4) is also available.

My hot chocolate (regular $3.50, large $4) looked like a work of art and tasted as good.  It was smooth, hot and had the right amount of chocolate.

Their tea of choice is  Tea Craft tea ($4).

Toast ($4.50) is available as sourdough, quinoa & soy sourdough or schiaccata (Turkish) with spreads.  Your other options are to add avocado and lemon as we did or goats cheese and tomato (for a total of $7.50 for each dish).  As with most items on the menu, this is a simple meal but the ingredients do all the talking.  Perfectly ripe avocado, faultless Brasserie Bread toast and olive oil on the side won us over.  We added plenty of salt and pepper too and this tasted delicious.

 The smashed egg roll ($6.50) can be ordered lightly toasted (as I requested).  The sandwich is made up of egg, rocket and fresh tomato.  A lot of the flavour came from the bread but we think the dish could be improved by adding something to bring the flavours together such as a herbed mayonnaise.

The banana bread ($4.50) can also be ordered with ricotta and honey (extra $2) which we would recommend.  The bread was lightly toasted, moist and full of flavour.  The ricotta and honey are a perfect match.

Currently the sandwiches available include chicken, avocado, aioli, Spanish onion & rocket, rare roast beef, cheese, tomato & mustard pickles and pesto, rocket, tomato and provolone ($9.50 each).  These all sound very tasty and if they’re made and presented with the care our dishes were shown, we’d love to try them.

For such a young café, we expect some menu changes and more artists to jump on board so keep an eye on The Wolf and Honeybee’s Facebook page.

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Does that entrance look familiar?  How about now?

We were very disappointed when the hidden gem At Perry Lane closed for business.  But the sunny courtyard now plays host to Not Just Coffee.  They have made themselves slightly more visible to the Oxford Street crowd by placing signs there and we can only hope it works for them.

The specials board is constantly changing so you are always in for a treat.  The current slow cooked pork and bean burger ($14) has been so popular though, that is has remained a special for almost two months.  There’s a shot of it on their Facebook page.

As you can see above, they are still very dog friendly.  Hugo was treated to a dog biscuit and a bowl of water when we visited.

We found the waitstaff to be extremely attentive and friendly throughout our visit.  Coffee (regular $3.50, large $4) was first on the agenda and it came fast and hot.  Both our large and regular skim cappuccinos tasted terrific.  Di Lorenzo is the bean of choice.

 As well as fresh juices (orange, apple, whatever is in season, $6), Devil’s Lake iced chocolate ($6.50), milkshakes (regular $6.50, kid’s size $3.50) and the Super Duper Fiber Blend (chia seed, bran, low fat milk, mixed berries and honey, $6.50) amongst others, smoothies are available with whatever fruit is available on the day.

My mixed berry smoothie ($7) was full of berries and very thick.  The thickness was because it was a little too yoghurt-based.

The menu is quite varied and unusual.  You’ll recognise a lot of dishes but NJC has added their own twist to all of them which is refreshing to see.

The good ol’ bacon & egg wrap ($10) is served in a soft toasted tortilla with plenty of filling and therefore plenty of flavour.  The twist comes with the in-house relish which is sweet and delicious.  The friend who ordered always picks the breakfast roll or wrap on the menu and even he was impressed!

Prepare yourself for indulgent flavour!  The 3 musketeers grilled cheese ($9, or $10 for the jalapeño version) is the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.  Oozing out of that delicious centre is Swiss, provolone and cheddar.  Just to be extra greedy, this was ordered with a side of bacon ($2.50)!

So simple yet well executed.  If you enjoy your grilled cheese, you can’t go passed this!

 The breakfast croissant ($6.50) is currently joined by a smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, cheese and avocado version ($10) which is on the specials menu and looked delectable as it was delivered to a neighbouring table.

The standard version which we enjoyed comes with ham, cheddar cheese and tomato.  Again a simple dish but done well with a buttery, fluffy croissant and stacks of ingredients.  The price also can’t be faulted.

 The two ‘egg breakfasts’ available are the Egyptian eggs flair (poached eggs, spiced cannellini beans and dukkah, $13) and the creamy baked ricotta ($15) which is what I ordered.

The ricotta  is served on toast and topped with two poached eggs (in my case one with a hard centre, another soft).  The ricotta was well herbed but overall I found the flavour lacking a bit.  The mashed carrot on the side was an unusual match which felt slightly out of place.  I added bacon on the side which was nice and crisp as I had asked for.

The cranberry scones ($4.50 each) are another current special.  Served either with honey & apricot or passionfruit butter, they were of a shape we have never see scones in before.  Beneath the crispy interior though was the familiar fluffy scone we recognised.  There certainly were plenty of cranberries and a hint of citrus throughout.  Both of the butters tasted delicious but the honey & apricot was unanimously the preferred!

Other breakfast dishes include red robust bircher muesli with fresh fruit ($12), wholesome yoghurt parfait ($10), 21st century chicken sandwich (lemon pepper chicken, cheddar, avocado and herb aioli ($12), Tower of Pisa (prosciutto, avocado, rocket, bocconcini and sweet pepper relish, $13) and Sakura noodle toss salad ($14).

Mothers with children also have the ability to order any sandwich with another half of that sandwich for an extra $3.50 which is a thoughtful offer.

NJC are being very clever with their promotions.  Facebook, Twitter and their own homepage are helping to spread the word.  Facebook is updated with specials and shots of some patrons of the four legged kind.  All of this combined with the friendliness evident from the staff makes Not Just Coffee a fantastic and relaxed breakfast retreat before you indulge in a Paddington shopping spree.

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Now and again I visit a café that I simply can’t wait to get home and write the review for.  I found one today in the form of Twig located on the premises of Garden Life, a gardening and landscape design shop.

The seating available varies from the sun-soaked sidewalk to the calm interior, to the lush courtyard, to the terrace with table suitable for larger groups.  We snatched a sidewalk table where we enjoyed the company of two pairs of couples as they came and went, sharing coffees and hot cross buns amongst themselves.  We were enjoying ourselves too much to be in such a rush!  Water, menus and a smile soon presented themselves thanks to the professional and friendly staff.  Even though it’s close to the corner of Cleveland Street, our surroundings were very calm and relaxed.  And our visit was about to get better…

Gorgeous organic fair trade hot chocolate ($4) (mocha is also available).  Rich and creamy, it was a treat.  Had it not been so good, I would have kicked myself as I now review the menu and notice at the top: heavenly hot chocolates – hot hazel (with hazelnuts) and bounty (with roasted coconut) ($5.50 each).  Next time.

Some other different additions to the menu include Marco Polo iced tea ($5) with strawberry & lime and Moroccan mint ice tea ($4).  Twig also squeezes their own juices including old faithful (orange juice), citrus blush (ruby grapefruit), going troppo (orange, pineapple and mint) and pick me up (apple, carrot and ginger) ($5.50 each).

Single Origin’s Mostro is the coffee of choice here and boy does it taste fantastic.  Our skim cappuccino (short $3, regular $3.50, large $4) was rich and full of flavour.  It was also served promptly which is what we needed.

The seasonal fruit salad ($11.50) is served with plain Country Valley yoghurt.  Our bowl included strawberries, watermelon, melon, pineapple, blueberries and apple.  The yoghurt was great and most of the fruit very tasty however some were not as in-season as we had hoped.  This can obviously change from time to time.

The most popular dish at Twig is the egg in the basket ($12.65).  The Berrima Ridge organic free range egg is panfried in the centre of rye bread and topped with spinach and feta.  On the side is Dicky’s spicy tomato relish.  I do not know who Dicky is, but I love his relish!

Even without the addition of the relish, this dish is simply outstanding.  The bread was flavoursome and chewy and the eggs still slightly runny.  The spinach was smooth in texture and had been quickly fried in some marvellously-tasty olive oil.  The feta melted in your mouth and the relish (which by the way we found more sweet than spicy) was a perfect match.  We added bacon ($5) which was nice and crispy but frankly, we need not have.  It was not needed!

As I was reading the description of this dish, I thought it sounded needlessly complex.  Look at this list: corn and mushroom risotto fritter, roasted tomatoes, pork and fennel chipolatas with Dicky’s new roast eggplant, caramelised apple and rosemary relish ($18.50).  What a mouthful, so many flavours!  Would they all work?  The red “yum” near the price of this dish on the menu sounded promising.

How unique it was.  Again like the Basket, this dish was about textures.  The risotto fritter had been rolled in polenta before frying to give it a golden crispy exterior.  Smooth inside with some ‘chewance’ added to the rice on the outside thanks to the frying.  The spinach and roasted tomato worked wonders and the thick, snappy, juicy chipolatas were also full of flavour.  Dicky obviously knows what he is doing with his relishes.  The rosemary was very faint but the sweetness of the apple was evident and complimented the savoury fritter very well.

Our neighbouring table recommended we return for the house cured ocean trout with avocado on rye with sauce vierge ($15).  I agree.  The buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries and crisp pancetta ($16) also looked delicious.  Do yourself a favour and visit soon!

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Considering Copo Café and Diner is located just off a major road overlooking a car park, business is doing very well.  It has two levels with the ground floor containing the barrista and plenty of tables.  Internal stairs lead to the kitchen and a sunbathed terrace with more seating.

The terrace also plays host to several plant beds which contain herbs and other leaves & flowers for dressing Copo’s dishes.  We thought this was a fantastic personal touch.

The tables and benches are mismatched and there are a few old school chairs thrown in.  There are pots of succulents on the tables which compliments the natural tones of the benches.  We even spot a vice on one of tables, a nice throwback to its former life. Drummoyne is an area which is crying out for more cafés so be prepared to wait if you arrive at a peak time on a weekend.

Upon arrival we were greeted by a line of about six seatings deep which meant Copo was either very popular or very slow.  It’s a bit of both – we waited for about fifteen minutes for a table and later on our food was a good twenty minute wait.  At one stage, looking around the interior, we couldn’t see one table with food on it.

The coffee is from Campos (regular $3.50, large $4.40) which is usually synonymous with quality.  Today’s feelings were mixed.  Some thought that it wasn’t anything special.  However one of our guests found her soy flat white smooth and creamy.  It didn’t have the bitter taste that some soy coffees have.  Another said that although not quite hot enough, the flavour of his cappuccino was lovely and it was presented nicely.

Smoothies ($6.50) on offer include banana, blueberry, mango, raspberry or strawberry.  We were impressed with our banana and strawberry version which had loads of fresh fruit and was served in a much-admired glass.

Frappes ($6), milkshakes ($5.50), thickshakes ($6.50) and a huge assortment of Nudie and other cold drinks mean that Copo have the cold basics covered!

The presentation of the Moroccan eggplant baked eggs ($18.90) was very impressive.  Look at those fresh herbs on top thanks to the herb garden!  Overall the dish was tasty but slightly dry, perhaps a little overcooked.  It was a perfectly sized serving and none was left on the plate at the end.

The bruschetta on miche with zucchini, mint and parmesan ($10.90) was also beautifully presented.  We liked that it was a unique dish and also came with purple flowers/leaves scattered on top.  The combination of fried garlic, bread crumbs and soft zucchini was a winner!

The other bruschetta on miche featured mushroom and chevre ($10.90).  It was very light, and the goats cheese added a tangy accompaniment to the herbed mushrooms.  A dish that had been prepared with care.

The South American style baked beans ($15.90) were a taste sensation.  The mixture of herbs combined with the assortment of different beans and bacon was an amazing combination.  There was a bit of bite to them as well thanks to the chorizo and other spices.  The serving was very large but the side order of egg ($3.50) did a lot of to break up the flavours and accompanied the beans perfectly.

As with a few other menu items bubble and squeak ($15.90) is something we don’t see often in our exploits.  Copo’s version is served with speck, cabbage, peas, potato and a slice of toast.  The potatoes were dressed up with herbs and this was a great dish filled with some gorgeous textures.  The egg was slightly overcooked for our liking – it would have been nice if it oozed over the rest of the dish but overall for the price, Dane was happy.

It was hard to leave without sampling some of the delights on the counter.  The jaffa torte ($5.50) was sweet and moist.  There were strong notes of citrus which went well with the dark chocolate ganache.

The chocolate, macadami and ricotta cake ($5.50) was a little bit disappointing. We expected it to be more nutty and chocolately, however there was no dominant flavour nor a blending of what was promised.

The interior of Copo is great to look at.  The chandelier (pictured above) made of old glass bottles and a winch, the Copo typewriter at the entrance, pre-loved tables and custom made herb garden all present a unique and exciting café surrounding.

If you’re in the area we recommend a stroll (beware it’s 7km in length) around the Bay Run, a swim at Drummoyne Pool or if you feel like a spot of shopping try the newly developed Birkenhead Point.

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Gallery Café is a spacious establishment stretching to the very end of the building it inhabits with comfortable seating throughout.  Outside tables at the front are limited and there is also seating for the numerous people lining up for the Campos coffee.  After initially being seated, we found service to be very slow (which I was prepared for after reading comments on various social media).  I eventually went to call a waiter over who begrudgingly took our order.  The wait for drinks and food was slightly longer than we’re used to but not horrendous.

The gallery muffins are baked daily and one of the main attractions of the café.  Despite best intentions, I could not manage another bite after breakfast today so you will have to visit and try them yourself!

The only freshly squeezed juice is orange (small $4.80, large $6.50).  The small we ordered was a good size for the price and was chilled with ice which was a nice touch.  Milkshakes (chocolate, strawberry or vanialla, $5.50), frappes (orange juice with ice and raspberry, strawberry or blueberry, $5.50), iced coffee and iced chocolate ($5.20 each) are also available.

Apparently the menu we had was old so the banana that was mentioned under smoothies is no longer available (huh?).  The flavours available are strawberry, raspberry or blueberry.  I chose the strawberry smoothie ($6) and found that even though fresh strawberries were used, there were too few of them.  The flavour overall was very milky and infact when I used the straw to drink from the bottom of the mixer, it tasted like slightly flavoured milk.  Disappointing overall.

Don’t think that just because a café serves Campos coffee that it serves good coffee.  We have had badly prepared Campos before!  Luckily Gallery Café’s barristas know what they are doing.  Our skim cappuccino ($3.50) tasted fantastic.

The quesadilla ($12) exists on the breakfast specials menu alongside the toasted ham, cheese and tomato croissant ($9), one pan breakfast (bacon, chorizo, semi dried tomato and eggs, $13) and smoked salmon breakfast (avocado, sour cream, poached egg and rocket on sourdough miche, $16).

They all sound good – there seemed to be something on the menu for all palates.  The verdict on the quesadilla was split between myself and my guest.  Other versions I have tried have always been delightfully crisp with plenty of cheese and a spicy kick inside.  I found this tortilla to be much softer (probably due to the dressing and tomato on top or it was left too long before serving).  Spices were absent, more relying on the chorizo, ham and manchego cheese to provide the flavours.  Which they did and as I said my guest truly enjoyed the meal.  She was fond of the dressing on top as well as the roasted cherry tomato salsa.

The guacamole was filled with some great flavours and a nice touch but for me there were was too much on the plate and it needs to be simplified with the salad served on the side.

On the other hand I did really enjoy my chorizo eggs ($15.50) which was an incredibly filling serving of creamy scrambled eggs with potato, red onion, chorizo and herbs on Sonoma toast.  The potato and eggs were herbed and spiced to perfection and there was also a decent amount of chorizo.  The toast was soft and delicious but cut slightly too thick.

Other dishes on the breakfast menu that sound worth a try include free range eggs ($9) with a large amount of sides available, spinach feta eggs ($14.50), pesto feta eggs ($14.50), apple and ricotta pancakes ($13) and French toast ($13.50).  The last two are available with any of fresh banana ($2), sweetened yoghurt ($3), bacon ($3), triple berry compote ($4) or rhubarb and pears ($4).

Despite the service, we enjoyed our visit to Gallery Café; the food was tasty.  There are some areas that deserve improvement and if we aren’t in a rush, we will return to try some of the other dishes.

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Tired of eggs Benedict?  Tired of French toast, ricotta hotcakes and big breakfasts?

How about some  traditional Colombian cuisine courtesy of Café con Leche (literally “coffee with milk”).  This week some Colombian friends, Yulieth and Jason, introduced me to a little piece of their country.  This quaint corner café makes the most of its small footprint but it does so in style with a mix of modern and colourful authentic furniture.  The wait staff were exceptionally welcoming and water was brought immediately.

Other than the small blackboard inside, there are no menus.  The wait staff use a Colombian food book to explain the dishes that are served which I found different and a clever way of getting around the language barrier.  I just sat back and allowed Yulieth to do the ordering for me.  And order she did as I don’t think there was anything we didn’t try…

 I was about to discover that Colombians love their cheese.  For what other reason than love would you crumble cheese into your hot chocolate ($4.50)?  CcL serves theirs the traditional way: prepared in a specific metal jug and served with a molinillo for stirring (hold it between both palms and rub to spin it).  The cheese (which is the same as the white cheese as that used in the envueltos and arequipe below) has the consistency of slightly creamy feta and should be broken into 10c-sized pieces in the cup before pouring the hot chocolate over.  The hot chocolate itself was absolutely fantastic and easily put any other café hot chocolate I’ve tasted, to shame.  The cheese was an unexpected addition but tasted great as I scooped it out or sipped the chocolate through it.  This is a must-order when you visit.

It’s not often one gets to try a new fruit.  Lulo (as it’s referred to in Colombia) can be ordered as a freshly squeezed juice ($6). I’m not sure where CcL sources theirs from but it tasted spectacular.  It is definitely something that you would love or hate.  Slightly similar to a passionfruit in tartness, it is also quite sweet and I was instantly reminded, strangely, of a typical sweet American candy when I tasted it.  It was served with crushed ice which made it even better!

The envuelto ($14) is like a fried corn bread.  It was dense yet quite fluffy and served topped with more of the white crumbly cheese.  A pleasant flavour but this was not my favourite dish of the morning.

The best way I can describe tamal ($14) is that it has the consistency and flavour of a very reduced soup.  It is solid enough to slice and serve but quite soft.  There is a strong corn flavour throughout and layers of vegetables such as potato and carrots.  The chicken inside has obviously been cooked for a long time and so is very tender.  The guacamole on top is apparently not traditional.

This platter is based around three kinds of arepa.  Available in many varieties and with many fillings, this muffin-come-fritter came to us in the form of (from left to right) cheese filled, white corn and sweet yellow corn (choclo).  The condiments provided the flavour hit.  In the centre was ropa vieja which is slow-cooked shredded beef with spices.  The small bowls (from left to right) contained aji (chilli), guacamole, hogao (tomato with spices) and sour cream.  Both the aji and hogao were favourites and we found ourselves mopping them up with our arepas.  A great dish to share.

Something for us simple Australians!  The South American eggs can be ordered with chorizo ($14), on toast ($8.50) or vegetarian.  Even the eggs by themselves tasted fantastic.  They have a delightful chilli and spice kick but that doesn’t stop them from adding plenty of chorizo too.  The guacamole on the side tasted good but it was simply not needed.  Great flavours here.  At this point may I say we had two of these dishes at our table!  All of this between four and we weren’t done!

Caldo de costilla ($14) is a traditional breakfast soup made with beef ribs and apparently a fantastic hangover remedy!  The marrow from the ribs provide a lot of the flavour and the meat literally falls off the bone.  Potatoes make up a large proportion of the soup but it was altogether very flavoursome and highly recommended.

Another must-try from the morning!  The arequipe is a South American caramel that will literally leave you wanting more.  Again served with the white cheese, it actually works together remarkably well.  Regardless of what you order, be sure to have this!

I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of Colombian breakfasts and would happily return.  You may be crying out that we did not review the coffee and you are right.  However we could not have managed to try anything else!  Columbian coffee is available at Café con Leche though so you now know where to go for your South American fix!  Note that CcL is not open on Sundays.

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For regular readers, Uliveto needs no introduction.  We have been twice before but keep returning!  See our first and second visits.

So let’s jump right in.

As you can see we sampled almost every coffee!  All cups delivered fantastic flavours and were only let down by the fact that we were there on a Sunday and not a Saturday (when Uliveto’s award winning coffee artist is in the house)!  Not pictured was the strawberry and banana buttermilk smoothie.  The buttermilk smoothies are something I indulge in each visit.  They are remarkable and a must for any smoothie junkie.

The breakfast special of the day was a fry-up ($15) consisting of two fried eggs, bacon, potato, spinach, mushrooms and onion.  As can be expected from Uliveto, they add their own flair with herbs and spices.  The size is good for the price and it was great to taste something new.

The hollandaise topped breakfasts can be ordered with ham, bacon or salmon.  The bread below was lightly toasted and very light.  Perfectly poached eggs and a slightly tangy, well prepared hollandaise to top it all off.

The Uliveto big breakfast ($12.50) is served with eggs any style, bacon, tomato, pork sausages and toast.  Today’s guest raved about his scrambled eggs and was extremely impressed with the speed with which we were served and meals were prepared.  His sausages had great snap and he enjoyed mixing the harissa-style paste with the eggs.

Until I find something better, I have to declare the baked eggs, Spanish style ($15) as the best baked eggs in Sydney.  It became difficult to fend off the numerous forks invading my bowl.  Served boiling hot and swimming in spices and flavours, you’ll find capsicum, chorizo, slightly runny eggs and a thick tomato base.  A large serving of bread comes on the side.  As I’ve said before, this is a must-try.

Ulivetto shows us how to make muffins.  The blueberry muffin contained too many blueberries to count and that’s definitely not a bad thing.  This was fluffy and bursting with flavour.

Looking at the pastry counter it was hard to miss the plum tart.  Sweet but with a light and thin crust below it was a delight.  The plums were slightly sour but worked very well with the cream on the side.

The strudel was delicate and airy with an almond paste inside.  Another dessert that was shared around the table and enjoyed by all.

We found the wait staff to be as efficient and friendly as normal.  Our six dishes (two people ordered the special) arrived within about ten minutes of ordering and it was difficult to fault any part of our visit.  Not just brilliant, but consistent too.

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We’re subscribed to Labancz’s Facebook page and have been receiving photo updates of sumptuous looking pastries and hot cross buns.  Today we decide it’s time to visit in person and sink our teeth into some freshly baked treats.

The café has been open for two months and only one table is free when we arrive.  We like that there is a table taken outside to accommodate patrons with dogs which adds to the Parisian feel of the place.

We order a skim cappuccino and flat white and would like them made slightly stronger but they are served promptly with a smile so we can’t complain.

The baguettes sitting on the counter make our mouths water so have to try. The ham, dijon, cornichon and roquette baguette ($7.50) lived up to expectations with fresh crusty bread and fresh fillings.  It was a decent size too so you won’t be left hungry.

We receive a quizzical look when we ask whether the bacon and egg roll ($6.50) is premade or fresh.  They are definitely fresh and they are definitely delicious!  The tomato relish makes the biggest contribution to the flavour and we can’t recommend it more.  The roll is dense but soft and we can only think of improving this dish by adding some Gruyère and another slice of bacon (“call us indulgent” , Dane).

Are you drooling yet???  We are!  The counter of in-house freshly baked goods is simply a delight.  Not only do they look great but they are made with love and the prices are extremely reasonable.  The pain au chocolate ($3.50) have a light, buttery and layered texture which sends us to food heaven.  They quickly disappear off the shelves due to  passers-bys who drop in for takeaway coffee and a treat on the side.

Don’t you just want to dive in?  My stomach just rumbled!  The soft fruit in the centre of the danishes ($3.50) contrast with the pastry and hit the sweet spot.

Also available on the blackboard menu amongst others is quiche (Lorraine or spinach & feta, $4.50), pies (chunky beef, chicken & leek or lamb & potato ($4.50) and ciabatta rolls (tuna, mayonnaise, olive tapenade & watercress and smoked salmon, ricotta, capers & watercress, $7.50).  We’re off for a walk now to digest some of the butter and sugar we ate.

Darling Street, Rozelle has some interesting shops to visit including Velo Fix, for bike lovers, The Essential Ingredient for cooks and the Paper Plane Gallery for lookers.  Just down the road are the Orange Grove Markets so if you spend enough time looking around you can pop down and buy some fresh produce for lunch.  They are open on weekly on Saturdays from 8am-1pm in the grounds of Orange Grove Public School.

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