Restaurants Archives | Page 16 of 20

La Banette Patisserie (Glebe, NSW)

21 June 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 2 Comments Category: Food, Restaurants

One Friday afternoon of Autumn, a walk along the streets of Glebe Point Road led us to a rustic looking patisserie called “La Banette Patisserie“.

The view of two abandoned coffee cups seemed inviting. We decided to have coffee and pastries for a bit.

Ahhhhh life in Sydney. I’m currently curating photos and planning to compile my Life in Sydney series into a collection.

La Banette is a bakery cafe. We immediately saw the counters full of bread and pastries as we entered the premises.

On the far end of the shop, we can see someone kneading dough. It was a lovely sight as it shows how freshly-baked their breads are.

The dining area is tiny. We’re grateful we arrived at a good time as there were a few seats available for us.

They’ve got cute looking tables and chairs too. The table is only as wide as the chairs we were sitting on.

The Husband and I each had a cup of coffee; latte for him and long black for me. We got the Chocolate Danish and Apple Tart. The Chocolate Danish was crispy on the outside but pillowy soft on the inside.

The Apple Tart became an instant favourite with its perfect crust and apples fresh and sweet.

We enjoyed the time we were at La Banette. The place may be small but I found it cozy and non-intrusive. It was our beautiful find that one fateful day in Autumn.

La Banette Patisserie
18 Glebe Point Road
Glebe, NSW 2037
Phone 8095 9688

Pastry Lunch at Cafe Bariloche

24 May 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 2 Comments Category: Charmed Life of a Mrs, Food, Restaurants

Moving to Sydney has influenced me to become a bit creative with how I eat and enjoy my food. This place is a foodie’s haven as this city is composed of different cultures from all over the world. Everywhere you go, you’ll see cafes and restaurants specializing in a cuisine of your liking.

It was not intentional but I’ve been having some interesting meals depending on whom I eat with or what the occasion is. I sometimes have Pastry Lunches and Pub Grub Lunches with workmates. Last year, I gifted the Husband with a Pastry Brekky for his birthday. When my Mum was here, I introduced her to a Dessert Dinner.

My latest favourite lunch adventure is having Pastry Lunch with my workmate. She’s a foodie like me and we enjoy having foodie conversations all the time.

We’re lucky that our workplace is surrounded by several cafes and restaurants–and good ones at that. One day, we decided to have a Pastry Lunch at Cafe Bariloche which is known for their best-tasting Meat Pies and Empanadas.

Cafe Bariloche is a pastry shop in Glebe and they only sell nothing but savoury and sweet pastries, plus coffee. I like the exclusivity that “just pastries” entail, there’s something sacred about that. Their shop is small but regulars like us always get a table.

Everytime I eat there, I always get a savioury pastry for my main meal and a sweet pastry for my dessert partnered with a hot cup of coffee.

Their bestseller is their huge Empanada and it is what I always order for my main meal.

The pastry baked to perfection, the innards of minced beef is always juicy and mildly spicy. What makes it more of a winner is that it has boiled eggs and olives. Really yummy!

For dessert, I love their Custard Pie. It’s creamy, smooth and at the same time, I taste a tinge of lemon. It’s refreshingly sweet but not cloying.

Yesterday, we went out to have Pastry Lunch again but they’ve ran out of the Custard Pie (*gasp* *sad face*)

I chose to have the Apple Danish instead and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Their Apple Danish is exceptionally beautiful as it was abundant with apples.

Cafe Bariloche also makes the best meat pies in Sydney and a few other sweet pastries. If you’re in Glebe, drop by for a cup of coffee or buy some treats for take-away.

Cafe Bariloche

333 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Phone: 9660 3524

Open for Breakfast and Lunch

Zushi Sushi & Baskin Robbins at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (Broadbeach, Queensland)

10 May 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Blog Life, Deep Thoughts, Food, Restaurants, Travel

If I had one free week, I’d go on a blogging holiday and I’d do nothing but blog. While I’m not pressured to update this blog on a daily basis, I do like writing about my food and travel adventures because more than anything else, I blog for myself. Keeping a blog has become a useful tool for me as sometimes I go back to my previous posts on places, restaurants and recipes when the need arises. I still haven’t figured out how to I will share our Philippines, Gold Coast and Melbourne trips (they all happened last year!!!) as efficiently and concisely as possible but I have an inkling of a plan. In the meantime, let me share with you a restaurant that fascinated us when we visited Gold Coast in December 2011.

On the morning that we arrived at Gold Coast our room wasn’t ready yet (we were early for check-in time) so our first agenda was to attend mass (it was a Sunday) and then find a place to have a meal and hang out for a few hours. Our relatives recommended to visit the biggest mall at Gold Coast, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, located at Broadbeach.

We found St. Monica’s Church not too far away from our hotel so after mass, we took the bus to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

Arrived a little after 12noon, we felt famished and a bit tired. We assumed all the getting up early and travelling to Gold Coast had taken a toll on us. For lunch, we wanted something fast but fresh. At one corner of the mall, we found a Japanese Restaurant called Zushi Sushi and immediately cheered when we saw the sushi train.

Sat ourselves on the sushi train and wondered, “Where are all the sushi?”

Then suddenly, we saw a miniature train on the sushi train tracks! Oh how cute!!!

Restaurant: Zushi Sushi (Broadbeach, Queensland)

Behind the miniature train were the plates containing yummy sushi.

We only got two plates of sushi, both freshly-made and delicious.

We ordered a plate of stir-fried spicy beef with rice, soup and salad. It was good enough to share. The beef tender and juicy.

For our first meal in Gold Coast, we enjoyed the food and were greatly amused by the creativity that is the miniature train. This is one sushi train experience we will never forget.

We had a good walk around Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and we instantly felt how laidback it was at the Gold Coast. If Sydney feels laidback, Gold Coast is more of that.

Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (Broadbeach, Queensland)

It was during dessert at Baskin Robbins when I told the Husband, “I want a life like this–simple, more laidback.” The Husband agreed.

Zushi Sushi & Teppanyaki – Pacific Fair
http://www.zushisushi.com.au/
Shop 148 Western Food Court
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Broadbeach, QLD 4218
07 5572 7877

Emperor’s Cream Puffs (Chinatown, Sydney)

15 March 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 8 Comments Category: Food, Restaurants

A walk towards one end of Dixon Street in Chinatown will usually result to the wonderful aroma of sweet custard drifting in the air. Have a look at the side of the street and you’ll probably see people queue up at a small window. The sign “Emperor’s Cream Puff” looks discreet that the only indication that it exist would be the many people waiting to get a hold of these cute and delicious custard-filled puffs.

For 30cents each or AUD$1.00 for four pieces, it is a good deal.

Production of the cream puffs are non-stop. As long as there are people lining up and ordering, their machine continuously creates one after another. The cream puffs are given to the customers fresh and hot.

The bite-sized, fluffy cream puffs are filled with smooth egg custard. I find this quite addicting because it’s soft and so easy to eat.

If you’re in Chinatown, this is one of the food shops worth lining up for.

Emperor’s Cream Puff
beside Emperor’s Garden Restaurant
96-10 Hay Street
Haymarket, Sydney 2000

Dessert Train at Adriano Zumbo (The Star, Sydney)

28 February 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 7 Comments Category: Food, Restaurants

After 483 years (exaggeration! hehe), I finally got to share with you my Dessert Train experience at Adriano Zumbo‘s newest venture at The Star.

Say what? Dessert train? Did I read that right? Is that what I think it is?

Yes, yes, yes!

Newly-renovated The Star (formerly known as Star City, Sydney’s premiere Casino) now has new fancy shops and restaurants and Sydney rejoiced that Adriano Zumbo was part of the addition. Opened on the 4th quarter of 2011, the Adriano Zumbo at The Star looked the part of a glittery signage of a theatre, the concept very apt for a casino place.

Dessert Train at Adriano Zumbo (The Star, Sydney)

The store that looked fun and whimsy inside was divided into two: the Patisserie and the Dessert Train. The Patisserie is merely for take-aways. You get to choose desserts and macaron flavours of your choice displayed in playful cabinets.

Inside the “In Case of Emergency Break Glass” cabinet are macarons!!!! Brilliant!

On our second visit, we made sure that the Dessert Train was fully-operational. While the Patisserie is open everyday from 11am onwards, the Dessert Train is only open from Tuesday to Sunday, afternoon onwards (please check their website before visiting).

We lined up for the Dessert Train at about a quarter to six in the evening and we were third on queue already. Good thing we were early as the line was getting longer by the time they opened the Dessert Train area.

And just like kids, the Husband and I oohhed and aahhed as the desserts came out. We felt like kids in a Willy Wonka movie! Haha.

And to add to that childlike ambience, they had little anime figures on the side of the conveyor.

Just like the concept of a Sushi Train, each dessert plate was coloured and equivalent to a cost. They also have ice cream for AUD$3.50/bowl.

The Husband grabbed a plate of this rich chocolate cake covered in smooth chocolate cream.

I was being boring that day so I grabbed a pink plate that had my Zumbo favourite, The XIWT.

Crunchy pastry that housed gooey innards of caramel and chocolate.

Once a few plates of macarons were out, we couldn’t resist getting at least one even if we were already full. We got the orange-milo-salted caramel combo and it turned to be a good finale to our dessert rendezvous.

A little disappointed that they didn’t offer coffee or tea. I thought they did and was actually looking forward to having a cuppa as we savour our dessert. I thought maybe they didn’t want people to stay for long. Seating was limited to about 20 (just my estimate) and customer turnaround was quite fast since one can’t really handle that much dessert (not unless that was your dinner).

The Husband and I had a cake each and a plate of macarons (which we shared), plus a bottles of orange juice and water to cleanse our palate from all the sugar. We thought of getting a bowl of ice cream but passed…maybe next time.

Some days, I say ‘No to desserts’ as I have a bit of aversion to sweets (especially in big amounts). But who would say “No” to experiencing a Dessert Train? Not me. It was sugar overload (at least for me) but I loved the foodie experience.

Adriano Zumbo at The Star
Shop 1, Cafe Court
The Star
80 Pyrmont St., Pyrmont, NSW 2009
Entry Via Edward St

Patisserie Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday, 11am till 11pm
Friday & Saturday, 11am till Midnight
Sunday, 11am till 10pm

Dessert Train Opening Hours:
Monday, CLOSED
Tuesday to Thursday, 6pm till 10.30pm
Friday & Saturday, 6pm till 11.30pm
Sunday, 12pm till 5pm

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