Brewtown, Newtown

I am such a sucker for dessert especially pastry. So when I heard about this somewhat new fad called the cronut, I was very eager to try it! I mean, who doesn't love croissants with its enticing flaky pastry? And donuts as satisfying comfort food? That can only mean pure deliciousness in combination right?!

Brewtown is one such cafe which is pumping out the cronuts at a unbelievable rate. Tucked away from busy King St, this cafe stands out with a lively ambiance of customers all wanting to relax with a good coffee and food. Many customers were constantly coming into the cafe to order multiple coffees and cronuts for takeaway as well. 

The cronuts came in four different flavours: chocolate, glazed, cinnamon and jam. I tried the jam cronut first and it was divine! The pastry layers were buttery and well balanced with the sweetness of the icing sugar sprinkle and luscious strawberry jam. This was definitely a trade up from your everyday croissant or jam donut and worth the calories! On the other hand, the cinnamon cronut was still tasty with the same lovingly made buttery pastry but to me, the flavour and texture wasn't as sensational as the jam cronut. It was much like the Chinese egg puff (沙 翁) you get in yum cha with the same sugary coating.

Jam Cronut (L) and Cinnamon Cronut (R) $4.50 each

Coffee here also exceeded expectations. It was evident that a lot of care has been put into each coffee they serve simply from the beautiful latte art and more importantly the robust, aromatic and well rounded flavour.

Cappuccino $3.50

The loose leaf spiced chai was a delight and possibly one of the best I have ever had. Unlike the chai at Bread & Circus, this tea was gently spiced and homely in flavour and was a wonderful accompaniment to the cronuts.

Loose leaf spiced chai $4.50

All in all, Brewtown is a cafe that is worth trekking to just for the coffee and cronuts. The breakfast and lunch options look pretty exciting and tasty too so I definitely have to visit again in future for brunch!

Brewtown Newtown
6-8 O'Connell St, Newtown
Open 7 days 8am-4pm

 

The Refinery Espresso, Hornsby

Just walking towards the cafe, I got excited. My eyes were first drawn to the massive Triplette Mirage espresso machine attended by two baristas and the mass of customers waiting for their caffeine fix. It can only mean that this place is serious about the quality and uniqueness of their coffee. So much so, that they roast their own special blends of beans from Columbia, Cuba, Ethiopia and Brazil every week!

Inside the cafe, the look is simple and relaxed. Wooden tables and panelling and cute cushions on the seats adorn the cosy interior.

The menu offered a wide range of breakfast options including eggs benedict, Italian scrambled eggs, hotcakes and bircher muesli. I decided to order the huevos rancheros otherwise commonly known as baked eggs. I was apprehensive at first to see whether the eggs would be dry and overcooked but to my delight the egg yolks were still runny. They added a lovely texture to the aromatic, slightly spicy tomato salsa, along with the tasty chorizo, baked beans and potato cubes. The baked eggs were served with a slice of crunchy Brasserie bread. Indeed, this was tasty comfort food, ideal for a winter's day!

Huevos Racheros $14

Rather surprisingly and somewhat hilarious for a cafe crazy about its coffee, my cappuccino came in a glass as they had just run out of coffee mugs! However, the taste of the coffee was wonderfully homely and well rounded in flavour with a nice bit of milky froth.

'Cappuccino' $4

All in all, The Refinery Espresso is a great cafe if you happen to be in the Hornsby area with decent breakfast and lunch options and superior coffee.

The Refinery Espresso

10 Coronation St, Hornsby

5:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday

6:00am-2:00pm Saturday

 

Bread & Circus Wholefoods Canteen, Alexandria

Bread & Circus is no ordinary canteen (or cafe joint for that matter). Rather, it celebrates fresh and organic food where the vibrantly colourful fruit and vege shine as the decor!

Certainly the menu itself is refreshing with an emphasis on healthy food. You won't find any sausages and bacon here! The parmesan not-so-scrambled eggs topped with luxurious truffle oil and herbs were incredibly fluffy and fresh. But more amazing was combining the eggs with the sweet and juicy tomatoes, just ripe avocado, baby spinach and crunchy sourdough...simply delicious!

parmesan not-so-scrambled eggs $20

For someone who isn't a huge fan of bananas, the caramelised lemony banana pancakes were sensational. I have never tasted pancakes like these which were perfectly balanced - lemony, fluffy and not overly sweet. The ricotta, caramelised banana and strawberry basil salad accompanying the pancakes were again fresh and gave the dish a textural edge of creaminess and fruity sweetness.

caramelised lemony banana pancakes $19

There was also a huge range of fine teas and juices. The signature organic lemongrass and ginger soy chai was unexpectedly spicy. Not so good if you're not a fan of ginger! On the other hand, the iron goddess oolong tea was beautifully fragrant and gentle.

organic lemongrass and ginger soy chai $5

iron goddess oolong tea $4

 All in all, if you are looking for a cafe with a lively and community feel and deliciously fresh produce, the trek to this warehouse style canteen is certainly worth it!!

Bread & Circus Wholefoods Canteen
21 Fountain Street Alexandria
Open 7 days
Weekdays 7am-3pm
Weekends 7am-4pm