The annual return to Maggio's for the anniversary.That being the third anniversary of one of the original founding members of Brunch club the inimitable & not to be forgotten DADP. Maggio's was Brad and DAP's local cafe. Three years may have passed but that doesn't make the loss any more palatable. To lose someone so special it does feel like the whole world is lesser. Therefore, we will continue to remember him every brunch close to November 20. Sadly, his great friend Jacqui couldn't join us this year but we hope she can join us next year.
The service and food up to its usual excellent standard - groovy iphone apps for the waitresses had us impressed.
Delightful brekkie with the core brunch clubbers. Our brains were not switched on for the quiz today we only managed to scrape through with a miserable score of 13...OMG.
Despite being shunned by one of our members who was 'burnt out' after a hard week (diddums!) and who was seeking refuge in a book (Wuthering Heights), Sal and Brad ventured over the bridge and back to Crows Nest to an old favourite - Not Bread Alone.
Reliable food and good service still pervade this local treat and a solid Brunch experience was had by all.
We shared our experience with the usual lower north shore crowd of dinks and young professionals, and Brad even had an unexpected re-union. Hard not to get a little nostalgic when back in Crowie.
Quiz was average, partly due to a worthy lack of knowledge about popular culture and inconsequential song lyrics but 16 wasn't too bad.
SAL: Love this place. Great food, especially the smoked trout. 4 Golden Eggs
BRAD: Glad to see this place is still good. 4 Golden Eggs.
Brunchers gathered at Maggio's in Cammery a cafe of significance for the originations of this group being the place where many a breakfast/brunch was had with David Patrick.
Special guests this morning Jackie and Sal added to excellent conversations covering education and the complexities of teaching different genders. More art discussion on the latest auctions and purchases. And lots of fun with the quizz. The service at this Cammeray local was excellent, whilst a little camera shy. The patron's included the tennis ladies and local families enjoying the morning. The menu was easy and all the food was beautifully prepared excellent poached eggs and the frappe's where popular. The only draw back to the cafe is its proximity to a busy road where the trucks were making their presence felt.
QUIZ: 15/15 - with all those bright minds!!!
SAL: Enjoyed the food very good poached eggs and bright company on a day where some of the brunchers were subdued as they reflected on the anniversary of their friends death - 4 golden eggs.
ANDREW: A very sad day for me, the second anniversary of the death of my mentor, Brad's best friend & original Brunch Club founder David Patrick. Very happy to have two of his dearest friends with me Jackie and Brad. "Oh Annie, I still think of you every time I see the sun/ Didn't want a life without you but here I am living one." [Brooke Fraser -Ice on Her Lashes]
BRAD: Like old times. This cafe fits like a comfortable shoe. I have to give it 5 golden eggs just.. well, ... because.
Early 830am start for Brunch clubbers which suits two of us fine and the other one sometimes has his nose out of joint about brunching before 10am, a controversial point between us. But this time the night owl in fact suggested such an early start due to our very special guest Mummy Bear being with us this morning and her need for an early departure on a 570km route to Coonamble.
Thelma & Louise is one of our very favourite spots. In fact this is now our third brunch club there but first one this year and so first one to be blogged. Besides earning top marks for its eponymous nod to one of our favourite movies, & consequently many ensuing references to driving off the canyon from us, it is a truly beautiful spot. Magnificent sparkling water on the Neutral bay foreshore ferry dock which dominates the outdoor deck part of the cafe, so glorious that we are yet to sit inside.
Food is highly commendable also. Delicious and well presented. I remarked on how the coffee froth resembles a Jackson Pollock.
Great conversations as usual even at such an early hour. Politics, Sydney University colleges (where one of us lives), movies ('Eye of the Storm'), theatre (The exceptional production of 'Summer of the 17th doll' at Belvoir St), Shakespeare conspiracy theories (we scoof at them), fashion (see Mum's matching green number below) and of course more than a few double entendres with Mummy Bear present. Joyous.
The quiz was 13/15 and Sal and Andrew would like to publicly skite that we are now getting the 'what word can precede the following 4 word's questions much quicker than the nascent English professor/doctorate and recently crowned Hunter Baillie fellow.
SAL: 4.5 golden eggs. Perfect brunch club morning. Food, great friends and a sparkling Sydney harbour what more can you ask fo?. Special thank you to my amazing chauffer Brad for my post- surgery care.
BRAD: 4 Golden Eggs This time we kept a hold of the menu and it didn't fall through the cracks. Thelma & Louise never fails
ANDREW: 5 Eggs unequivocably. What's with my stingy brunch clubbers and their scoring systems? I just completely love this spot and would definitely drive off the canyon with my brunch clubbers in support of this place.
MUMMY BEAR: I'm so happy to take up my position as the Number 1 Brunch club special guest. It's just wonderful to brunch and actually do the quiz with the brains trust rather than doing it on my own at home. Final quote;
"I'm off to pick up my pussy scratcher now from the pet shop before my departure."
As a last taste of civilisation before one of our members tramped off to the mud of cadet camp, we treated ourselves to a little Spanish flavour at Delicados.
Waited upon by the mandatory private school boys, a family friendly environment with a multi-purpose edge. Clearly a great tapas, wine bar at night, we were, however restricted to breakfast and purchasing some pastries to take away.
Good relaxed ambience. The service was fine but sometimes confusing with the multi-waiter approach - not our preferred method.
Conversation was a varied affair. Our two guests digressed into what could only politely be described as being..., well, ... impolite. I hope they let us back.
Quiz results - mediocre. Best forgotten.
Sal: 4 golden eggs. Mango muesli in a matini glass. Beautiful.
Brad: Loved the baked eggs. 3 1/2. Only because it was a little predictable.
With one of our number interstate (if you can call ACT a state!), we happy few were joined by a guest to try out this much vaunted venue. Well, it lived up to its reputation.
A beautiful Sydney winter's sun dappled through the eucalypts that framed the priceless views from Woolwich point (on the north side) out towards the harbour, with the Harbour bridge and CBD in the distance. Yachts sailed by, birds sang and... the coffee was plentiful.
The conversation flowed, assisted by sensitive but obliging service, and the food was the perfect pitch for this tres tres Sydney brunch spot. To give our readers a sense of how much we enjoyed this morning at one point the waitress asked, "Is there anything else I can get you? More coffee? The lunch menu?!" Was it really that late?...
Perhaps the rose-tinted take on the morning was enhanced by the fact that our Quiz score was...15/15!! Only our second perfect score.
Ratings:
BRAD: I admit it the food was probably reasonable but I was so swept up in the whole morning that I really can't fault it. Reasonable prices, great service and perfect setting. Five full golden eggs.
SAL: Simple Darling. Five Golden Eggs. I'll be back.
JAMES: "This is the life! Sign me up! What's that you say about golden eggs?"
Brunchers gathered at Maggio's in Cammery a cafe of significance for the originations of this group being the place where many a breakfast/brunch was had with David Patrick. 
Early 830am start for Brunch clubbers which suits two of us fine and the other one sometimes has his nose out of joint about brunching before 10am, a controversial point between us. But this time the night owl in fact suggested such an early start due to our very special guest Mummy Bear being with us this morning and her need for an early departure on a 570km route to Coonamble.
Food is highly commendable also. Delicious and well presented. I remarked on how the coffee froth resembles a Jackson Pollock.
SAL: 4.5 golden eggs. Perfect brunch club morning. Food, great friends and a sparkling Sydney harbour what more can you ask fo?. Special thank you to my amazing chauffer Brad for my post- surgery care.
With one of our number interstate (if you can call ACT a state!), we happy few were joined by a guest to try out this much vaunted venue. Well, it lived up to its reputation.
The conversation flowed, assisted by sensitive but obliging service, and the food was the perfect pitch for this tres tres Sydney brunch spot. To give our readers a sense of how much we enjoyed this morning at one point the waitress asked, "Is there anything else I can get you? More coffee? The lunch menu?!" Was it really that late?...
