The Farm Bethel, Killarney Heights

Today, I went back to my lil’ ol’ hometown. A tiny island of a suburb, Killarney Heights is almost like a little untouched time capsule from the 1960s, having been largely undeveloped. The houses are still on large blocks of land with plenty of space in between, which I find remarkable since in Newtown I can hear my neighbours speaking […]

My Grandma’s Louisiana BB

Just to be clear, not a cafe, just my Grandma. She’s achieved all the major points I wish I could when it comes to baking-your-own BB: it’s got some good height and has risen properly with an even consistency (mine always tend to be stodgier towards the bottom), it’s deliciously moist and has a good level of sweetness. It’s very […]

Redleaf Cafe, Double Bay

This little beach kiosk could practically be considered a real cafe, with its very decent kitchen and cafe-grade fare. I would normally expect a sub-par coffee somewhere like this, but this coffee is good (albeit too hot for the occasion – next time remind me to order an iced latte). My BB is also good (albeit slightly sandy, thanks to […]

Flour Drum, Newtown

Flour Drum’s Christmas bakery treats, which I was there purchasing, are absolutely phenomenal. I’d been there once before, at Easter, when they had little baby bunnies in a hutch out the back. You could hold them, so I took the kids for a fun outing. The courtyard and garden is eclectically styled and very cool. Today, the coffee was perfectly […]

Corelli’s, Newtown

I have fond memories of Corelli’s from my uni days. I remember hearty salads full of protein, big trays of house-baked pastries and giant muffins, juicy with berries. Cheap prices, large portions. The food was good, but it was a bit homely, like the kind of fare I’d serve the family on a weekend, and homestyle food that appeals to […]

Bourke Street Bakery, Newtown

Having recently concluded my tour of North King St with Cafe Newtown, today I started the southbound journey – the side of King St with which I am far less familiar. And so, I approached the fork in the road excitedly wondering what the first cafe would be. My face fell: it was a Bourke Street Bakery on the entrance […]

Cafe Newtown

First, I’ve just gotta say that this is hands-down by-far the cheapest coffee and banana bread combo I’ve ever seen: $6. It’s 2023. I couldn’t get coffee and BB this cheap 15 years ago. I don’t know how they do it – not only must they have cheap suppliers, they must have incredibly good deals with cheap suppliers. None of […]

Hoochie Mama, Newtown

I used to come here fairly often when my kiddo was in primary school, but they’d always be closing up if we tried to grab a post-school shake. This morning, the service was the second worst I’d ever received. I was waiting at the counter trying to make eye contact for at least an awkward minute while various staff members […]

Soul Brew, Newtown

Soul Brew have carved out a pretty good thing for themselves down their end of the iconic Australia St. Literally surrounded by multiple (better) places for coffee and food (Black Star Pastry, Tokyo Lamington, 212 Blu), one is kinda left wondering what Soul Brew has to offer. For a start, on New Year’s Day, it was the only place open, […]

Blacktoast, Annandale

Mmmm, these guys sometimes do a pumpkin bread. It’s sweet, a little zesty and nicely spiced. Blacktoast has a fantastic food menu and a beautiful seating area with full-length windows and a nice view (somehow, in suburban Annandale). But Blacktoast seemed to go through some sort of shift recently. The menu changed a little (for the worse), but only slightly, […]