4fourteen, Surry Hills

Colin Fassnidge is a technical marvel. He is epitome of the comfort food refined. Take my older post on Four in Hand: shockingly good roast chicken, swede soup and a clever clever crab taco. Then a deal came up on Dimmi with 50 percent off 4fourteen, the baby sister restaurant. Am I in? You betcha.

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Otto Ristorante, Wooloomooloo

All Italian happens to fall in either two categories being mod Italian and old-school traditional. I love Italian. Mod Italian interpretations however, like anything 'mod', I'm a bit iffy about. When it works, it really gets you thinking long after the meal. When it doesn't, it's a disaster. Otto Ristorante happens to fall under the former but optimistic as always with fingers crossed and a long walk ahead of us to Wooloomooloo, off we ventured.

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Wooden Spoon, Cremore

Put your hands up if you've ever been invited to event and arrived a DAY early? Oooooh me me! Pick pick me. Yes that's right, that was me to this event. The incredibly affable owner Livia Wang invited me a couple of days ago for a tasting and I arrive a day early. Not a minute early. Not an hour early. But a day. Great start.

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Bridge Room, Circular Quay

21st birthdays always marks a special occasion. Not that we need one to eat out of course. Despite being knocked off the top 50 restaurants in the world, Sydney is never fails to remind us that it is a cauldron full of innovation just simmering away with deep complexity hidden beneath. At the surface of that innovation lies Bridge Room, well regarded as one of Sydney's premier restaurants with head chef Ross Lusted named Good Food Guide 2013s chef of the year.

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Three Williams, Redfern

Yes yes yes. I'm late to the party. Three Williams. Now that is a name that's rung a couple of bells. Especially amongst the locals of Redfern. Hot off being recently opened, it's been welcomed with much fanfare with social media driving up most of the publicity. 

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Black Star Pastry, Newtown

T'was Black Star Pastry's truffle weekend the other Saturday and Sunday and on top of that I ordered a croquembouche from them for Y's 21st that very Saturday. Double the fun! Little sad that there's only 2 items this year compared to the 8 last year but it was a fairly busy day. I've been there heaps of times before and they're very reliable while it comes to pulling off big pastry jobs so they were the obvious choice when it came to making a croquembouche cause I sure as hell ain't making it.

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Devon Cafe, Surry Hills

All the hip people of Surry Hills are slowly converging their way into the newly opened Cafe Devon. They've got a lot of things go for them. For one them, they've managed to coax ex-Guillaume chefs from a fine dining atmosphere into a more casual breakfasty one.

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Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie, Paragon, Singapore

Canelé patisserie is a little cafe branch (with 4 other locations throughout Singapore) that specialises in sweets and brunch. We happened to be there for the sole purpose purchasing stuff to eat on the plane later the next day and the allure of the yellow Canelé sign and macarons brought us in.

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Black Star Pastry, Newtown

Newtown - a treasure trove of fashion trends, 6.50 thai, music, street art and good food as i'm slowly discovering. Whilst passing Oscillate Wildly the other night, I spotted a quaint little bakery next door and it turns out it was the famous Black Star Pastry. Christopher The is the genius at work here, formerly of 2 hatters Universal and Claudes, Christopher has since left and opened up a little patisserie in the heart of Newtown.  I haven't had much time to visit it lately but I knew a visit was inevitable sooner or later.

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Max Brenner

Tutti Frutti Waffles for Two

What is it?
Max Brenner is a chocolate cafe. Not a HUGE fan of chocolate like I am? They also serve icy shakes, coffee, tea and a variety of desserts.

Where is it?

There are quite a number of Max Brenner cafes scattered around Sydney - believe me, I've been to most of them. If you're in the city centre then head to Pitt Street. There's a cosy Max Brenner on the lower ground floor of David Jones. Can't find a seat there? Just walk across to Westfields and there's a more spacious cafe on level 6. This one is opened until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays too! If you've been sight-seeing around Circular Quay and The Rocks, walk down George Street and you'll find a Max Brenner on the corner of George Street and Margaret Street. Treat yourself to a coffee or hot chocolate after an adventurous day :)

What is there to do?

1. Dessert time!
2. Relax with a coffee, tea or a hot chocolate.
3. Try some of Max's desserts. The waffles are the best!
4. Buy a box of pralines or choose from the many gift options for your friend ;)

Max Brenner Giftcard

When is it opened?
Opened 7 days a week.


Lower Ground Floor, David Jones, Elizabeth Street.
Monday-Wednesday 9.30am to 6.30pm
Thursday-Friday 9.30am to 8.30pm
Saturday 9.00am to 6.30pm
Sunday 10.00am to 6.30pm

Level 6, Westfield Shopping Centre, Corner of Pitt St Mall & Market Street.

Sunday-Thursday 9.00am to 10.30pm

Friday-Saturday 9.00am to 12am

Metcentre, 273 George Street NSW 2000.

Monday-Thursday 7.30am to 11.00pm

Friday 7.30am to 12am

Saturday 9.00am to 12am

Sunday 9.00am to 11.00pm

How do I get there?
The nearest station is Town Hall for Max Brenner's in David Jones or Westfields. Wynyard is nearest to the Metcentre. 


Recommendations?
Yummy: Tutti Frutti Waffles and the Thick Italian Hot Chocolate. I order this almost every single time.
Not so yummy: I didn't enjoy the Chocolate Souffle. Who knows. Maybe I am just not a fan of souffle.

Tutti Frutti Waffles & Thick Italian Milk Chocolate

Chocolate Souffle

What I Have Tried...

• Italian Thick Chocolate (Milk) ($6.00) YUM!

• Italian Thick Chocolate (Dark) ($6.00) 
YUM!

• Chocolate With Crunchy Waffle Balls ($6.00)

• Cookieshake ($7.60)

• White Shake ($7.60) (Chocolate is obviously the cafe's speciality. I don't know why you would want to order a fruit shake... but I was feeling adventurous :P)

• Choc-Banana Pizza ($17.00)

• Chocolate Souffle ($10.00)

• Tutti-Frutti Waffle one/two ($14.00/$18.50) 
YUM!

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Buon Ricordo, Paddington

Kings Cross. Not exactly the most ideal place to be at 11pm but I'm slowly discovering the Cross to be a hub of gastronomic delights. Often called the fore-father of Australian Italian cuisine, owner Armando Pecuoco brings to Sydney our little version of the exuberant Italy. I've been planning this visit for a year and a half already, although my friend E remains adamant it was a last minute thing. Please.

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Noggi & Moochi, Strathfield

Chocolate and orange are a great match. So is chocolate and salt. Chocolate and peanut butter together are just insanely good. Chocolate and anything basically. Cold weather and frozen yoghurt on the other hand, not so much. Before Sunday I think I was the only one of my friends to have not tried froyo at Strathfield. Frozen yoghurt at either Moochi or Noggi that has to be the quintessential foodie experience in Strathfield besides Korean barbecue so I had to give it a try. The preference between Moochi and Noggi is quite possibly one of the most heated when it comes to food in Sydney. Being froyo noob and more of a good old ice cream enjoyer, I really don't add much to the debate but I have yoghurt on a daily basis so I guess that counts for something right?

Noggi

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