eggs

The Best of Sydney: Brunch Edition

Posted on by leolawrence94

Dear Readers,

My sincerest apologies for my several month long absence! I was fortunate enough to undertake the trip of a lifetime around those old United States and life on the road was busy to say the least. However, the fruits (and burgers and hot dogs and tacos) of the travels will be documented here on holdthelettuce in their entirety in the coming weeks and months. It was a truly mouthwatering journey and I can’t wait to relive it with you all!

In the meantime, let me finish off the Australian adventures with the following post (and one more after that!) about that fancy mealtime also known as brunch.

The Best of Sydney: Brunch Edition

The world revolves around brunch. Plain and simple. Not only is it the first meal of the day when one can enjoy a beverage sans judgement, but it is also a particularly social occasion that is, dare I say, the most heavily documented meal of the day on social media. While brunch mania has taken hold all over the world (see post: Imperium brunch) the fever is especially high in Sydney, where people take immense pride in their coffee and avocado (preferably sold separately). Thus, in the interest of saving everyone precious time in this fast paced world, here is a guide to my favourite brunch spots in the city.

Speedos Café: Bondi

A beach view, bomb smoothies and Nutella cronuts. Done. Mic drop.

Just kidding. Whether you’re in the city or by the beach already, it is most definitely worth heading out to Bondi to pay a visit to Speedos Café, a little breakfast spot up on the hill overlooking the beach. They have a very diverse menu featuring the classics but also cater to the healthy crowd (looking at you, hikers) that frequents this area so be sure to try their smoothie bowls and milkshakes, if only for the ‘gram. However, for those who found that the hill up to the restaurant required maximum physical effort, reward yourself with one (or three) of the amazing pastries. A word of warning: Speedos is pretty compact and the view-facing tables snap up very quickly so get there early on weekends if you don’t want to end up throwing a tantrum when they’ve sold out of cronuts.

http://www.speedoscafe.com.au

Bangbang Café: Surry Hills

We’re back in Surry Hills, aka the hipster brunch mecca. Bangbang café is a local favourite catering for all meals of the day (they have great burgers – check out their Instagram) but I would be inclined to say that brunch is where it really shines. It’s only a short walk from Central Station and is tucked on the leafy, residential Reservoir Street with a giant open façade that makes for fantastic people watching and soaking up the leisurely morning vibes. Bangbang serves up your breakfast favourites but it has made its way onto this fabled list because of its excellent serving sizes. Here you can order your side of avocado safe in the knowledge that you will receive more than three measly slices and, thankfully, the same goes for bacon. For fear of repeating myself multiple times throughout this post I will stress here that, as above, most of these restaurants are compact in size and very popular so be prepared to set up camp and wait for your reward.

 

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https://www.instagram.com/bangbangcafe/

Cyren: Darling Harbour

If you’re looking to impress your friends with some excellent harbour views that don’t include swarms of tourists attempting to get the right photo of themselves holding the Opera House in their hand then hop on over to thriving Darling Harbour. With a plethora of dining options as well as bars, museums and the world’s largest IMAX theatre, this place is bustling but on a smaller scale than that famous harbour down the road (or water). Cyren takes the biscuit as the best brunch spot because it has a slightly classier feel than the other tourist traps around the harbour and has a great outside dining area. The breakfast menu offers more savoury options than sweet so if you’re looking for pancakes, look elsewhere, but if you want to be able to personalise your eggs benedict with four different options then look no further than this waterfront hotspot.

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http://www.nicks-seafood.com.au/venue/cyren/

Local Mbassy: Ultimo

There are two words that should make you drop whatever you are holding and dash for the door in the direction of Local Mbassy in Ultimo. Those two words are: red velvet. The trendiest colour and flavour around has infiltrated the menu at this popular joint in the form of red velvet pancakes and a red velvet latte and boy, oh boy are they worth a try. As with many restaurants popping up these days, Local Mbassy has jumped on the industrial chic train but the quirky factor here is the outdoor seating in a small garden area set back from the street. Again, this place gets pretty busy but it’s a great place to get away from the usual Surry Hills eateries and try out some unique breakfast options. (I repeat, red velvet everything).

https://www.instagram.com/localmbassy/

Reuben Hills: Surry Hills

After that little Ultimo jaunt it’s back to Surry Hills we go! This place perhaps tops the list of the Surry Hills cluster in this post for several reasons. Firstly, it has the industrial chic vibe down to a t in that it is an airy and spacious (which is rare for these breakfast spots) converted garage with some pretty swish neon lighting. Secondly, it has a different menu to your run of the mill brunch restaurants that is the perfect amount of pretentious without being repellent. For example, I will happily try bacon custard whereas something like foie gras ice cream is a less appealing concept. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the music in this place is exceptional. As soon as you enter, a wave of smooth hip-hop greets your ears and all is right in the world. Coffee plus eggs plus Drake equals true happiness.

http://www.reubenhills.com.au

Haven: Surry Hills

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another Surry Hills brunch spot. Well, you just have to trust me on this. Sorry, not sorry. Haven (full name Haven: Tailoring Coffee Joyously) is quite the special place on this list owing to its unique take on coffee. At Haven, you are able to pinpoint the exact kind of coffee you like by using their handy taste chart that allows you to specify the levels of aroma, sweetness, body and aftertaste you prefer. After you have done this, they craft an individual coffee blend that is personalised to you. I don’t know how much more exclusive your coffee-drinking experience can get, folks. As if that weren’t enough, Haven is also known for its Hong Kong style egg waffles served with toppings such as red beans, sesame sauce and Matcha ice cream. Trust me, it works. If that’s not up your street, the regular menu is diverse and brunch is available all day. A dream come true.

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http://havenspecialtycoffee.com.au

So concludes the brunch fest! Go forth and taste, readers, and be sure to report back with your findings and any new spots that deserve a place on this prestigious list.

Briarpatch

Posted on by leolawrence94

Briarpatch, Winter Park, Florida

We’ve hopped stateside! A short hiatus from Sydney leads us to Orlando, Florida for the next few posts. Enjoy!

Orlando, Florida: The home of Disney World, Universal and all things synonymous with fun (unless you’re a heartless scrooge). While no trip to Orlando is complete without a visit to these amusement parks, there is much more of ‘The City Beautiful’ to be discovered, unbeknownst to many tourists. The city has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years with its downtown neighbourhood’s revamp into a vibrant and, most notably, pedestrian friendly area. However, the neighbourhood whose praises I will be singing throughout this post is Winter Park, a beautifully dreamy amalgamation of fountains, green parks, boutiques and quaint restaurants. Also home to Rollins College, Winter Park is the playground for college students and retirees alike, living harmoniously in this sun-drenched Floridian oasis.

Strolling down Park Avenue, one is presented with a plethora of dining options with outdoor seating spilling onto the pavement beneath colourful awnings. Upon recommendation, Ole Sib, Papa L and I headed to a restaurant called Briarpatch for brunch with my aunt and uncle in tow – a merry gathering! Sadly we were unable to secure seating outside given our party size and the popularity of the restaurant and its al fresco area, however the inside of Briarpatch was bright and airy, with snazzy light fixtures and modern art adorning the walls. The disappointment of not being able to dine in the sunshine was nothing a couple of blood orange mimosas (a wonderful twist on the classic) couldn’t solve. Next up: the impossible task of deciding whether to head down the sweet or savoury route for brunch, perhaps the only serious downfall of this revolutionary mealtime (see post: Imperium brunch). While the french toast was no doubt trying to woo me, I opted for savoury and chose the California Eggs Benedict, for what is brunch (or life, for that matter) without eggs?

Now perhaps you are wondering what the difference is between a classic eggs benedict and this blonde, tanned Californian version. Let me put you out of your misery. This west coast take on the favourite breakfast dish came with avocado (the most fashionable fruit around) and a chipotle hollandaise sauce that went down like a house on fire with a heap of golden home fries. The bacon was also of the streaky variety, whereas the typical eggs benedict tends to feature ham or back bacon. All in all, Briarpatch’s California Eggs Benedict blew the regular version out of the water. The inclusion of avocado was welcome, because a breakfast instagram post without the familiar green hue of this popular food is quite frankly insufficient in this day and age. Furthermore, while hollandaise does not tend to rank highly on my list of condiments, this smoky chipotle version was a fantastic alternative and went swimmingly with the home fries.

In great spirits and full of eggs, we took a stroll down Park Avenue to soak up the sun (shout out to those Sheryl Crow fans) and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Winter Park. In the name of full research and because it was so gosh darn good, we returned to The Briarpatch a mere two days later to head down the less travelled sweet brunch route and sample some good lookin’ french toast and my oh my was it worth it. All boxes checked, it can safely be said that Briarpatch is the hottest spot in town for all your breakfast and brunch needs (and the menu looks pretty good for those less hip mealtimes, too!).