Joe Black, Surry Hills

This hidden little gem right up the hyde park end of Commonwealth is easy to miss from the street. But we are glad we found it.  Glad we met Joe Black.

Many charming little idiosyncratic touches mark this cosy cafe. Diverse memorabilia lining the walls, particularly loved the juxtaposition of the famous Mexico city Olympics black power salute, Mohammed Ali boxing in front of a mirror& JFK with a framed Newington college 2006 Year 12 photo. But particularly memorable is the amazing siphon coffee which is produced using equipment normally found in a scientific laboratory (see pic) & takes a carefully detailed 15 minutes to make. Our coffee maker charmed us greatly, hello to you if you are reading this blog.

Before I go on to our review, we have to mention the Korean's young man's metro club that joined us (sat next to us but may as well joined us by sheer size and volume). The fashionabilitiness (yes I'm an English teacher so I have a license to make up words) of their shoes alone seemed straight from a Korean soap teeny bopper drama. This of course lead on to a discussion about plastic surgery.

Food was delicious. I went for Ham, cheese and avocado on toast which was lovely & I heard similar pleasurable mumurs/squeals emanating from my esteemed fellow brunchers. Coffee was like a ground-breaking scientific invention!!!

Quiz result this somewhat warm August morn was 19/20....if only we knew that Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmuller won an Olympic bronze medal in water polo. Incidentally readers, have you noticed the synergetic(more linguistic license) numerical pattern of our scores recently. 2 weeks ago = 17, last week = 18 & this week 19. Obviously, next week we will get a perfect 20.

ANDREW: Loved this morning. 4.5/5 golden eggs. Loved the coffee too.
BRAD: 4/5 scientifically prepared eggs. Great staff, totally relaxed as brunch should be.
SAL:

Barzura, Coogee Bay. 11th Aug, 2012

When the wind is howling and the temperature plummets, where else would one want to go but... the beach!.

Yes brunchclubbers, after some pressure from our coastal friend, we headed off to "Barzura" cafe at Coogee to sample the coffee and eggs (if not the rays). The cafe has a solid reputation and Brad remembered being here in the past when he was a 'local' for a few weeks (He was leant a friend's water view apartment right next door for a few weeks several years ago.)

We were advised to be there early and a good thing too. It is clearly a popular place with the locals. This may have impacted somewhat on the 'touch of a pre-fab feel' that was beginning to appear

Discussion topics were diverse but the level of contribution varied. The highlight was the spooky news of two different Robert Hughes in the news this week. One for being a brilliant mind and art critic, the other a child molester. Most unfortunate.

The Quiz: Well, shocking questions. All about popular culture, mummy porn and interior design. Still, the Club came up trumps and exposed at least one of us as having just a little too much general knowledge about such topics. Anyway, we scored a very respectable 18/20 but still felt like we needed a shower at the end of it.

Ratings:

BRAD: Good coffee but a little dull on the scrambled eggs which were a little too firm. You know I like things a little softer. 3 1/2 golden eggs

ANDREW: Thanks to my Coogee local colleague Kalliope for recommending this place. 3 1/2 golden eggs. Nice place but you must get here early. Sorry to my fellow brunchers that I had my period this day. Had a tough last 2 weeks & was nervous about doing the City to Surf in a twister. But shouldn't have worried, went amazingly well considering.

SAL: The highlight was the walk on the beach afterwards!

Dues Cafe

 

 A cool spot for anyone interested in custom bikes and also some interesting art works on the walls. Great brekkie. Brunch club this morning is missing one of our members whose left us for the Melbourne Film Festival this week end.

I really enjoyed my cured salmon with dill and creamy scramble eggs they were very good and coffee was okay. It was fun looking at the bikes and the accessories in the shop were great. I'd definitely go back to this one.

Conversation flowed freely about two of our favourite topics art and politics, interesting to note the painting of the Leader of the Opposition.

QUIZ: We did okay with the quizz 17/20 I think we may have improved on that score had Andy been with us.

SAL: 4 golden eggs the cured salmon was fantastic.

BRAD: 4 Golden Eggs. Especially as it was within walking distance!