The Grumpy Barista Petersham

The Grumpy Barista Petersham

What a quaint corner café!!! As you walk into the café; the awe and wonder of ‘what’s in the glass box’ will excite your tastebuds. You will be faced with traumatic dilemmas, what panini and/or cronut will I have? The variety of cronuts does change regularly the Nutella injected cronut seems to be a favourite, and is regularly sold out! the Honey and Pistachio, maple syrup and macadamia, white chocolate and raspberry with pistachio brittle.

Cronut filled with custard, topped with Nutella, sprinkled with cookies and served with a Nutella syringe shot AMAZING !

Toby’s Estate coffee is served. Despite its name – ‘Grumpy Barista’ – the coffee is superbly crafted and has a superior taste and delicate smoothness. Staff were friendly and obliging.

Toby’s Estate beans used to craft my delicious Latte

The ‘Green Smoothie’ was filling and delicious, packed full of super foods to counterbalance the cronuts, heaps of non coffee drink options available.

Uber delicious and super healthy green smoothie

The Rueben – A super delicious and filling sandwich, was divine – the perfect amount of mustard, generous amounts of corned beef, smothered between some sauerkraut and rocket.

The Ruben

You need to make sure you save some room for the Cronuts – a light and flaky ball of goodness. I chose the Nutella Injected Cronut with custard filling, with a Nutella syringe very yummy and definitely a winner
The café has ample indoor and outdoor seating so you should always find a spot to savour all of the scrumptious goodies at the Grumpy Barista.

Prato Cafe Diner – Abbotsford

Prato Café Diner

There is never a dull moment when dining at Prato. In the extra large café, the constant bustle of clients can be heard.  The wait staff are uber friendly and attentive that they even remember you name and order. The kitchen staff busy creating, baking and preserving.

The décor is warm, cosy and has a gorgeous garden outlook from the back veranda; it can, however, get a little noisy when it is a full house.

Most of Prato’s products are made in house, the bread, kefir, muesli, cakes and cookies just to name a few! Campos coffee is served and perfectly crafted each time.

The food at Prato is superb! Every dish is impeccably seasoned and presented; the passion the kitchen team has for food is evident in each dish that is served. The banana bread is the cake of choice, made on sight and super delish!

The breakfast/brunch menu has loads to choose from; the house made muesli or quinoa porridge are my favourites. The sautéed mushrooms on toast are amazing, as is the house smoked bacon and egg roll.

A plate of house made scones with jam and cream, will tame even the wildest hungers in need to a tasty and hearty afternoon tea.

Try the available bruschetta’s; they make a robust meal packed with flavour combinations which include beetroot ‘n fetta and hommus ‘n roasted cauliflower.

Sourdough is made on site, the pistachio and fruit loaf is perfect, bacon is house smoked, kefir is fermented on sight, the guys in the kitchen are passionate about creating good quality whole food.

What is Prato missing? A big breakfast plate – the quintessential Sunday option. You can assemble your own by ordering the eggs and adding extra’s as you wish. Prato’s service can be a little sluggish, during busy periods.

I am a Prato breakfast/brunch fan; it is my go to place in the Inner West. Parking is ample and untimed.

White chocolate and Cinnamon Palmiers

White chocolate and Cinnamon Palmiers

Palmiers are bites sized pastries that have a heart shape, light and sweet morsels of sweet goodness, when baking the sugar caramelizes adding a rich flavor to these little pastry bites. These are a great to whip up when hosting and afternoon tea. Cinnamon and white chocolate is a perfect flavor combination. These light and fluffy pastries will set your taste buds into over drive mode. Best of all they can be made ahead and placed in the freezer and baked as required (after step 4).

The addition of steam helps us achieve that beautiful ‘puffy’ flaky pastry’, if you do not have a combination steam oven fan bake at 180C for a couple of extra minutes.

Ingredients

2 sheets puff pastry

2tsp cinnamon

2Tb brown sugar

120grams white chocolate

1. Preheat combination steam oven to 180C quarter steam or standard convection over to 180C fan bake. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
2. Sprinkle ingredients evenly over 2 sheets of pastry.
3. Fold the left side and right side of the pastry in to the centre and lightly press, fold the left side and the right side of the pastry in half again.
4. Cut into 1cm lengths. Place onto baking trays with a 1cm gap between palmiers.
5. Bake for 12 minutes or until pastry is golden.
6. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Melt white chocolate, dip half of each palmier into white chocolate, place onto the baking paper and allow to cool.

Serve with tea of coffee or as a part of a high tea platter.

Salt n pepper Squid with homemade aioli

Salt ‘n pepper squid

This extraordinary seafood dish is a crowd favorite. It is easy to prepare, it cooks very quickly, you will need to have all of your equipment ready. Salt ‘n pepper squid is suitable for an entree or main it can even be served as a canape!

Most seafood outlets will sell the squid clean or clean it for you. Cleaning squid isn’t complex, it can get a little messy.

To get your squid to curl make sure you score the inside.

Pieces can be cut into the size of your choice, I usually aim to cut a squid in half and to get 5 pieces from each half (10 per squid) this is a substantial portion when served with salad/fries. If you are making a large quantity, line a tray with baking paper and pre heat the oven to 140C to keep squid warm, this is a handy trick if you are preparing the squid for a dinner party !

The homemade aioli is moorish and surprisingly simple, made with a hand held blender and a tall narrow jug in a couple of seconds !

Ingredients

4 squid tubes

½ cup flour

½ tsp chili

100grams mixed lettuce

1 lemon

1tsp salt

1tsp pepper

Aioli

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, crushed

¼ lemon, juice only

1 pinch cayenne pepper

Serves 4

Method:

1. Cut each squid hood in half lengthways. Using a sharp knife score inside in a criss-cross pattern. Cut each piece in half lengthways. Cut each strip crossways into 4 pieces. Pat dry with paper towel.
2. Heat 1cm of vegetable oil in a wok or frypan over medium-high heat.
3.  Combine flour, pepper, salt and chilli in a shallow dish. Lightly toss squid in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Cook, turning, for 2 minutes or until light golden.
4. Serve with salad greens and lemon wedges.

Aioli:

1. Crush the garlic extremely well, then add the egg yolk and salt. Whisk together until well combined.
2. Add olive oil and garlic into a jug, pulse with a stick mixer until garlic is pureed. Add remaining ingredients, turn the stick mixer on whilst it is submerged and pull the stick mixer towards you slowly. The aoili is done !

Cinnamon Churros

Cinnamon churros are delicious golden strips of deep fried dough, tossed in cinnamon sugar, what’s not to love !!!You can serve them as is or with a side of Nutella, melted chocolate or caramel sauce.

They can be whipped up in no time at all. To squeeze them into a shape you will need a piping bag with a star nozzle, most large chain supermarkets supply these.

Always use metal tongs to submerge the churros into hot oil to save any splash back burns.

Ingredients

1/3 cup caster sugar, plus 1 Tbsp extra

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup plain flour

2 litres vegetable oil, to deep-fry

Method:

1. Combine 1/3 cup sugar and cinnamon in a shallow plate. Place a wire rack over a baking tray. Line another baking tray with baking paper.
2. Combine 1 cup water, olive oil and extra sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil. Add flour all at once, stirring until it forms a ball and comes away from sides of pan. Remove from heat.
3. Heat vegetable oil to 180C in a deep fryer or large, deep saucepan over high heat (test with the a small amount of the dough if it bubbles the oil is ready).
4. Transfer dough to a strong fabric piping bag fitted with a 1.5cm star tube. Pipe warm dough on the lined tray into even lengths (this is up to you, long sticks, bites, S’s or U shapes).
5. Carefully transfer about 4 lengths of dough to the hot oil. Cook for 3-5 mins or until churros are golden and cooked through. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer churros to the wire rack to drain for 30 secs, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining dough and sugar mixture.

Serve churros tossed in cinnamon or if you are feeling extra wicked try some melted chocolate or Nutella !

Vegetarian Sushi

Vegetarian Sushi

Vegetarian sushi is a great meal or snack for any age. Kids really enjoy eating sushi and making it. It can be made into little pieces that they can easily grab. Children love being engaged in the production of a meal. Sushi is a great recipe for children to help with as the degree of difficulty is easily differentiated, children can help chop or simply roll the sushi.

Best of all sushi is really versatile, everyone can pick ‘n mix the flavours that they want to enjoy in a sushi roll. You could easily add some omelette, grilled chicken or tuna. 

Ingredients:

215g (1 cup) koshihikari rice

375ml (1 1/2 cups) water

1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar

4 nori sheets

1/2 small ripe avocado, peeled, mashed

1/2 small Lebanese cucumber, cut into thin strips

1/2 small red capsicum, deseeded, cut into thin strips

1/2 carrot cut into thin strips

Soy sauce and wasabi, to serve

Method

1. Combine the rice and water in a large saucepan. Cover and bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to very low and cook, covered, for 15 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Place the rice in a large bowl. Use a wooden spoon or rice paddle to break up any lumps. Gradually add the vinegar and gently fold through the rice (the rice shouldn’t become too wet). Set aside, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until completely cool.
2. Place a nori sheet, shiny-side down, on a clean work surface. Use wet hands to spread one-quarter of the rice mixture over half the nori sheet, leaving a 2cm-wide border along the edge closest to you. Spread one-quarter of the avocado across the centre of the rice. Arrange one-quarter of the capsicum and cucumber across the avocado and a piece of carrot. Roll up firmly to enclose filling. Brush edge of nori with warm water to seal. Repeat with remaining nori, rice, avocado, capsicum, cucumber and carrot. Set rolls aside, seam-side down, for 5 minutes to rest.

To serve: Cut each roll into 6 pieces. Serve with soy sauce.

Taste of Sydney

Taste of Sydney is one of Sydney’s premier foodie events !

Many of the best restaurants and local fine food purveyors will be in Centennial Parklands from March 12th-16th.

If you would like to win 2 free tickets to the opening night of Taste of Sydney click the link below !

Remember you’ve got to be in it to win it !

https://www.facebook.com/2foodwithlove/posts/626088417521918

Cheesecake parfait

These little cups of awesomeness will blow your tastebuds away. Deliciously light and fluffy. The recipe is versatile, you can top with any flavour you desire. I have chosen passionfruit,  you could try chocolate nutella, chocolate, mars bar, oreo, the options are endless.

Best of all these cheesecake parfaits look awesome. These were made in plastic glasses to take to a BBQ, if you are travelling with these cheesecake cups add the topping and cream just before serving.

Ingredients:

50g plain biscuits, finely crushed

15g unsalted butter, melted

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

100g cream cheese, at room temperature

2 tablespoons caster sugar

2 teaspoons milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream

60ml passionfruit pulp

Optional: Double cream, to serve

Method:

1. Combine the biscuit crumbs, butter and cinnamon in small bowl. Divide half the biscuit mixture between four 125-180ml (1/2-3/4C) capacity serving glasses or ramekins and press firmly to cover the base. Place in the fridge to chill.
2. Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese, sugar, milk and vanilla in bowl until very soft.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the cream in another bowl until soft peaks form. Fold into the cream into the cheese mixture in 2 batches.
4. Spread half the cream cheese mixture gently over the biscuit mixture. Top with the remaining biscuit mixture, then the remaining cream cheese mixture.
5. Pour the passionfruit mixture over the cheesecakes.
6. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until you are ready to consume.

Option: to serve with an dollop of double cream