Fleetwood Macchiato, Sydney

Sydney's brunch-and-cafe culture is a world of its own down under. I guess we had to visit a hipster cafe at once during this trip and Fleetwood Macchiato was worthy of our hard-earned cash. 

Though it looked every bit your industrial-chicoholic cafe, the offering at Fleetwood Macchiato is definitely more interesting than your average eggs-Benedict and the people running the cafe ooze more personality than a dark-rimmed-specs-wearing barrister.

KW has a cappuccino while I abstained from a third cup of coffee that morning. "Not bad" he commented. You can tell we aren't coffee connoisseurs, huh? 

Caffeine aside, we ate very well. I don't know what it is but even a VEGAN mushroom sandwich gave meaty sandwiches a run for their money. 

Mushroom, miso butter, pickled radish, mesclun

Smashed egg breakfast roll - 2 eggs, tomatoes, smoked chilli, chorizo, pickles, mayo, cucumber and mesclun  

I honestly had no idea you could stuff so much stuff between two slices of bread. But I know very well I could stuff the entire thing into my bully even though this was second breakfast. All hail hobbits!

The requisite egg porn shot

Double double at Messina Gelato, Sydney

Yes, I did it. I crossed over to the dark side. And Messina made me do it.

One not-so-merry afternoon in Sydney, in exchange for good behaviour, I bribed a restless toddler with the promise of ice cream. 

It was really just an excuse for us to get some sweet creamy treats in our system. 

HAPPPPPYYYY....

Trip #1

SO WRONG ITS RIGHT - cream cheese and caramel gelato smashed with white chocolate potato chips and duck fat, smothered in caramel sauce

GIANDUIA BIANCA - white chocolate & hazelnut gelato with hazelnut praline 

Trip #2

VANILLA MANJAR - vanilla gelato with dulce de leche filled doughnuts and salted roasted almond flakes

BOUNTY - coconut milk gelato with desiccated coconut and chic chip

I would do it again a heartbeat, especially for the aptly-named SO WRONG ITS RIGHT. 

Paddington Alimentari, Sydney

A stone's throw away from Surrey Hills is Paddington, home to Sydney taitais and retirees. We had an alfresco casual lunch the most darling Paddington Alimentari, perched on benches just outside the cafe. 

A to-die-for spinach pie that would make Popeye green with envy. Also helps that I am on a spinach rampage these days. 

A super-duper yummeh fettucine boscaiola that I will re-create at home one fine day.

And to finish it off on a healthy note, a chicken schnitzel salad. Cleaned out plates ensued. 

Crown Street Fish Shop, Sydney

For some reason, we ate a lot of fish and chips on this trip. Surrey Hills is probably THE place to go to for brunch on a weekend but as unlikely hipsters as we are, we decided to skip the queues and lunch at Crown Street Fish Shop. 

Fresh seafood, light batter and tasty dips... Yes to fish and chippys, no to hipster brunches. 

Hunter Valley, Sydney

Blue Mountains, Sydney

A break from the city, we took a day trip to Blue Mountains, making a stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park before that. 

Until I find more energy to write, that's all for now =)