Vaucluse House (Wentworth Rd Vaucluse) 14 Feb 2015

Having been some time since any member of the Club had been to Vaucluse House, our memories were somewhat faded all be they somewhat rose-tinted. Heading across on this saturday morning there was always the slight fear of thwarted expectations and the dreaded prospect that this might be a little too touristy for our brunclclub tastes. Well, we need not have been concerned. Vaucluse House remains one of the gems of the east.

Beautiful surroundings amid gorgeous gardens and situated amid a nationally listed historic building the cafe/restaurant is situated in a separate building overlooking the gardens and the main building. We couldn't have asked for a better brunch club experience.

The service was excellent, the tables were generous (always a plus for we stoic broadsheet newspaper readers) and the food was excellent too. True, it is a somewhat limited menu but that was a good thing because the dishes they serve they serve well.

The smashed avocado and the corn fritters were both hits, as was the coffee. Helped by our guest, Peter, the Club scored a respectable 17 in the quiz too. Huzzah!

RATINGS:

Brad: I'm a huge fan of the Wentworths (not necessarily the member for!) and I love this place, so I was always going to be happy. However, the avocado dish with egg and pecorino was srummy. I give this a 4.5 golden eggs. One of my top pics.

Sal: Hear! Hear! Full marks all round. Reminiscent of my squatocracy days. 4 effortless golden eggs.

Peter: So nice to be back and what a wonderful day. Not sure I am allowed to vote but I give it a distinction (17/20).

 

Bootsdarling, Darlinghurst (28 June 2014)

Despite the comedy of errors for some of us in finding this place, it was worth persisting. And especially as we had much to celebrate. The newly-minted 'Dr" was in the house (despite getting lost and lurking on the front counter for 20 mins not realising that fellow clubbers were already dining at a table out the back. Oh dear! Absent-minded professor symptoms already showing!) and special commemorative Charles Williams coffee mugs were presented to loyal Brunch Club supporters.

Together with the 'Nam' rellies and another guest, Richard, it was quite a gang. And quite a chaotic gang we were too this morning. But to their credit, this new little café took it all in their stride and we all left feeling like we had been served with style and care but no fuss. Just the way the Club likes it.

Bootsdarling was Sal's hot tip (which we had postponed from last week) and it proved a real winner. Good coffee, great dishes and excellent genuine service. This new addition to the growing bolt-hole coffee/cafes on and around this little stretch of South Dowling Road deserves loyal patronage.
True, it's cosy but its welcoming and homely. Yes, there is the ubiquitous hipster influence (and the baristas all had the obligatory Kelly beards) but somehow it didn't seem like they were trying too hard.

And the icing on the cake was a perfect score in the quiz. Huzzah! PhDs were awarded all round.

Ratings:

(Dr) BRAD: Loved it! The shredded pork was perfect and just the sort of hearty dish one needed on this sunny but brisk Sydney morning. The service has tipped this into a 4.5 golden eggs.

SAL: 'Darling' is right. I love this place! (once I found it.) Great to have 'Mummy and Daddy bear' with us again. The juice was particularly scrummy.

ANDREW: Worth getting up for.

Gowings Bar & Grill - Sydney CBD (28 Sept 2013)

You know its been a great brunch when you lose track of the time to the point where the kitchen closes, the tables are re-set, the lunch shift move in and... you're still there chatting and laughing. Such was the case when an extended and cosmopolitan brunchclub made its way to Gowings Bar & Grill, located on the first floor of the much-loved iconic Gowings building on the corner of George and Market St.

For the males amongst us, memories of the Gowings that was - a place where gentlemen could get all their sartorial and toiletry needs attended to by polite and reassuring staff - were initially hard to reconcile with its re-incarnated state as a groovy ultra-Sydney venue that its interior designed to within an inch of its life. However, any reservations were soon swept away by the quality of the food, the congeniality of the company and the high quality of service - replete with even a genuine French waiter, can you believe it?!

While one of our permanent members had been granted leave, joining us this morning were guests from   as far afield as San Antonio, Texas, Walgett, the "inner

south" and even Woolhara. Animated discussion included the dedication and steely determination of our new PM (foreknown by one our members), lively debate on the the role of 'elite' sports at certain GPS schools, which prompted a reflection on the value of true eduction (the type that produces the lad who won the Alumni medal at a gala event last night). If only more successful people could quote John Donne! Such conversation would have nourished any soul but there was also the food...

Rockerfella Eggs-cooked at 63 degrees exactly, on brioche, with spinach and black caviar. Yum!
Smoked salmon tortilla puree advocados and green chillies - to die for!

SAL: 5 golden eggs! The tone, ambience, flavour and bon vivant was hard to beat. Too frigging cool by half but I loved it!

BRAD: 5 (63 degree) golden eggs. A new Gowings and a worthy successor. Service was spot on and I loved it.

GUESTS: Too busy to rank. Altogether... yummy!

Underwood Cafe (20/07/13), Canberra weekend (26-28/07/13), Excelsior Jones ( 03/08/13) & Wellco Norton St Leichardt (10/08/13)

Hello readers. Remember us? Apologies for the more than two months since our last post due to one bruncher's incredible first Eurotrip & the others in mourning (maybe not) & then just our general slackness in updating our last three weeks.

In summary, the day of my return from Wimbledon, Manchester, Berlin, Hamburg, Gottingen, Munich, Muttenz, Basel & Lucerne (not to boast of course) found us at Underwood Cafe with the Brunch three, Connie & the first time guest the wing commander. Main recollections were lovely hidden location with a typical 'tude' Eastern Suburbs staff  (what can you expect if it is owned by Singo) & a perfect 20 out of 20 in the quiz to top off the jet lagged frenzy.  3 Golden Eggs


Next,  -4 degree trip to Canberra (Brad was salivating) for another  Brunch club special with Shelley though sans the boy from Coonamble. Cultural, visual grazing delight as always. 5 Golden Eggs forevermore.


Last weekend, the entire Fatty Family (one day dear Bloggers we will tell that story of the side-splittingly hilarious tale of the infamous & seminal 1993 Art Gallery car park nab) was reunited at Excelsior Jones for brunch club in Ashfield. Ma and Pa Lampe were the first to arrive to win us a much needed place in this popular, delicious but poorly acoustic spot recommended to us by our occasional Brunch club guests Nigel & Caz. And by the end of the morning we had our youngest member of Bclub join us the

adorable Jude along with his devotee parents. Little bit underwhelmed in the quiz but conversation was warm with even a bit of political disagreement for once!!! Overall we would rate this place between 3.5 & 4 Golden Eggs

Finally, we arrive at this morning's Bclub & lets just say dear reader that you better strap yourself in for this one because the conversation was both libelous & of tears streaming down the face quality. Participants were we happy three & regular guests Connie with Poodle pet in tow & Jan. The bar was set high (or maybe low) for the conversation flavour when our first topic was the penis in the cab. sav. latest Queensland political scandal involving the ethics committee member Dowling. From there we moved on to Hezbollah and Gaza Strip infiltrations, the absolute mark of superficiality of the phenomenon known as cocktail cruising, as well as certain well known identity's penchant for exotic holidays in Thailand leading us to wonder who stands up for the local boys. But the absolute culmination of the morning was  the discussion of salami weekends. To explain, we started on Connie's beloved former poodle's starring role in the second underbelly series as the Mckay hitman's pet which led us to the mafioso in Griffith which in turn lead us to Jan's recollection in Palermo being warned about some infamous Italian families and their fondness for Salami weekends. At this point, the tears flowed and the mascara ran.

CONNIE: No wonder they have such a large family with their fondness for Salami weekends.

Dear readers, we haven't finished yet. Even the quiz ended in apoplexy. Question 16 asked us to name the sport of a former 1984 Olympic Australian champion at which point one of our Brunch club guests answered 'Sailing. He was an old root of mine.'

No more to say. A Brunch club like no other. 4-5 Golden Eggs from everyone for the conversation alone. Who cares about the cafe, which by the way was excellent.

St Judes, 02/03/13

This very cool and exceptionally good small cafe on..wait for it...yet another wet Saturday morning think this is the fifth one in a row. However St. Judes provided us with an excellent brunch this morning. Very good service, friendly staff, excellent food. I really enjoyed an updated version of french toast with cherries and mascapone - the corn and pumpkin fritters where great as were the eggs with dukkar and avo smash with interesting bread.

So another really pleasing spot for brunch. So good in fact it deserves top marks - 5 Golden EGGS!!!
Service, ambience, coffee, food all excellent.
We were all that brilliant with the quiz this morning only a pass...

Sal:  5 out of 5 Golden Eggs. Great absolutely a recommendation from me.


Brad: 4.5 Golden Eggs.
Probbly a slight miscalculation to come to Surry Hills on Mardi Gras weekend - too busy - but this is a great cafe. The food, service, setting combination is spot on. Only half an egg of for being a little pressured to 'move on' after we'd finished our meal.

Andy: 4.5 Golden Baby Eggs. Loved it. Loved also having SJ join us once again. But agree with Brad the pressure to move us on was intense which is indicative of the cafe's demand, I know!

The Dunes, Palm Beach 29 Sept, 2012

Eager for some coastal air and with our Interstate guest (regular) with us again, Brunch Club went to Palmy for a bit of posh nosh.

Despite the online booking system letting us down ('Oh, yes, we never check our emails".) the friendly waitress gave us the best table in the restaurant and so began a very pleasant brunch experience indeed.

Surrounded by Martha Stewart decor and with the gentle sound of breaking waves jut over the, well, .... 'dunes' of course, we began our chat with politics and theatre. Poor old Andrew struggled at times to keep the Club's focus on finalising theatre subscription choices for 2013. We were also occasionally distracted by the cliche middle-aged Nautica wearing types of the peninsula, but we were soon brought back to our core mission when the food arrived.

Big Breakfast, Eggs Benedict and the coffee were all first class. And we all enjoyed excellent service. Helpful but not invasive.

Surrounded by such beauty and with the cares of the week well behind us we reached a high with a 20/20 for the Quiz. Huzzah! [Stage Direction: Throw Good Weekend into the air]

We'll be back.

ANDY: 4 1/2 golden eggs. I fear we are all doomed to become our own Nautica-wearing types one day.

BRAD: 4 1/2  Golden Eggs. Loved it. I'm more a Ralph Lauren man but I know what you mean.

SAL: Darling, I love it. 4 1/2 from me too. Now pass me my Gucci sunglasses.

SHELLEY: Well done Sydney!

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:

Burnt Orange, Middle Head, Mosman. Sat 9th June, 2012

What a gem!

Thanks must go to our two friends, Andrew and Jenny, for letting us in on this Sydney secret. We knew about Ripples and the Gunners' Barracks but it was only today that we discovered and savoured the delights of 'Burnt Orange', perched on middle head overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Perhaps best described as Laura Ashleigh meets Australian Federation chic, the wide verandahs, enormous windows of this converted golf country club is warm and welcoming from the moment you emerge from the native bush that surrounds it to the moment you are kindly offered a seat and all the pleasure in between.

Perhaps the glorious sunshine helped (amid a gloomy wet week), but we (Sal, Brad and regular interstate guest, Andrew) all agreed this was one of the best brunch spots to date.

Highlights included:

* Excellent personal service. Attentive but not invasive.

* Wide tables (which allowed one to spread out the paper while eating brunch) - a rarity at too many cafes these days.

* Excellent food.

*Attached cottage gift shop where, among other things, you can purchase homemade (As in, yes, on site) marmalade. Which we did.

* Birdsong drifting up from the parrots in the eucalypts.

Ok, if we're sounding a little sappy and, well, Mozzman Mummy, too bad. When on the north side and amongst the locals.. let yourself go.

QUIZ RESULT:

Probably because of the sensory overload, we only achieved 16/20. Annoyed that there are too many popular culture questions and not enough of the traditional History, Literature, Geography. We may have to write another letter...

RATINGS:

BRAD: I can't believe I've driven past this one so many times on my way to Ripples. Burnt Orange 'kicks ass'. Sorry, don't know what prompted that gratuitous vernacular, but I do rate this place highly and will bring guests back here, especially international or interstate. 5 Golden Eggs.

ANDREW (Shelley): You did it again Sydney. Hard not to be impressed. A thoroughly delightful morning among friends, fine food, good coffee and beautiful vistas. 4.5 Golden Eggs. Can't give anything perfection outside Canberra.

SAL: A piece of Mosperson heaven what a delight. Large timber tables that you can both read the paper at, excellent service and my food  -  eggs florentine where excellent. Very good choice for anyone with a visitor in town. Top marks 5 Golden Eggs

Sideways Deli Cafe, Constitution Road, Dulwich Hill , 26th May 2012

Where to start about this superlative inner-west cafe situated on a Dulwich Hill roundabout? We arrived sans Braddles to our second Brunch club outing (we never blogged it the 1st time) to the Sideways experience slightly late. Stopping at the roundabout we saw that there was only one table left at this deservedly ultra-popular spot so Sal did a bit of a drive-by, turfed me out & I made a frenzied beeline for a much coveted spot in the sun almost on top of the roundabout. While waiting for Sal to park I had three different wait staff ask me if I was being looked after & knew immediately that this Sat morn was going to be a memorable one.

Initially Sal & I chatted about the outstanding production we saw at Belvoir St last night of the reworked Eugene O'neill play 'Strange Interlude' http://www.belvoir.com.au/productions-1/strange-interlude  . While we were chatting, our missing third rib unexpectedly showed up fresh from his meet and greet the Wesley parents weekend extravaganza. What a thrill to have our missing third back! We felt whole again!

After this reunion excitement, we really got going. We covered politics(of course!!!! but interestingly Craig Thomson was only mentioned fleetingly), the best current theatre & film to see, Wesley parents, Wesley high table dinner guests &- my favourite topic- bowel movements which I like to discuss at the absolute top of my voice. Many hilarious antics ensued, Sal wearing two pairs of glasses at once (see pic), my heightened yawn which came out more like a cry for help or labor pains giving the table behind us quite a fright, titty litter (when food misses your plate and lands instead on your mammaries) & the waitress      mounting the curb in order to get the best picture of the three of us with the best back-lighting.

Unfortunately, our quiz score did not match our ecstatic mood & cafe experience this morning despite Sal intuiting that Norah Jones was born Geethali Shankar & my knowing that Pollock carked it in a car accident.
But when the cafe is this outstanding who gives a toss about the quiz.

ANDREW SAYS: Top notch in every aspect. This is about the most fun I've ever had at a brunch outing. Food & lovely cafe & customer service was unbeatable. Loved my green eggs. 5 GOLDEN EGGS, no question!

SAL SAYS: Brunching at this exquisite inner-west cafe on a beautiful crisp Saturday is what this brunch club is all about.
Lovely food, top-notch service and wonderful atmosphere make  this THE PICK of all the inner-west cafes.An unequivocal 5 GOLDEN EGGS

MEET THE PARENTS(Brad) SAYS: This was worth running away from my college commitments of pamper the parents weekend. Although I had already breakfast'ed my coffee and oh so cute tiny teddy were delicious. 4 GOLDEN EGGS but the reason I haven't been as effusive as my esteemed brunchers is because I was only in partial attendance.

Clipper Cafe Glebe Point Road, Glebe

 Our last gathering for the year with the full compliment of all members of the brunch club. To a cafe favourite of the university students Clipper in Glebe. 

Sitting at long share table we all enjoyed our brekkie this morning.

The service at this cafe is fantastic. Absolutely 5 golden eggs! Efficient, fast paced and friendly.

The menu has a wide range to suit all tastes. Brad and I chose eggy crumpets with bacon and maple syrup were an interesting choice, crumpets and egg were a bit on the  solid side - chewy. Andrew's regular big brekkie looked good.  

Brad's friends from Melbourne arrived and brunch was in the midst of text messages of meeting points. A download of the week's activites and the travel plans for Christmas coming together were the general discussion as well as auction viewings still to come.  A scanning of the news is alarming - Gas hub in WA and Polyamory!! what is next - where is the voice of everyday Australians our Federal Government is an embrassment.

Clipper has special significance as it was here in 2010 that I joined these guys quite by accident. We began our Saturday morning adventures and the Brunch Club started for me.

QUIZ 13/15 this week so finished the year on an Distinction average for the last month.

 ANDREW: Wonderful end to a difficult year. Clipper is superb. A full 5 golden eggs from me

BRAD: Oh, I love "the Clipper". Great to end the year where it began for the trio. What a year it has been. Certainly not dull and the Brunch Club has certainly fulfilled its manifesto. Can't wait to see what 2012 has in store!

SAL: It was mixed feelings this morning I will miss the two main men now for six weeks or so whilst we go our separate ways for the Christmas break.

As this year comes to an end we had a moment of pause to remember some very close friends we've lost to earthquake and cancer.

So we are all looking ahead to next year and hoping for a positive and bright 2012.

Camperdown Canteen (15 Fowler St, Camperdown) 22nd Oct

A great week. On one side of the planet a tyrant is removed. On the other, a true sovereign blessing her people with style and grace. The beginnings of summer, with a view over Camperdown Park, people relaxing on picnic rugs and it's Saturday at 10am.

Food was fluffy scrambled eggs, (would have been great with a tomato relish) eggs benedict with bacon and a big brekkie sandwich - the full monty with poached eggs, bacon, cheese, rocket and herbs all above average and served promotely. Coffee was great.

Got the feeling these people care about their locals lovely atmosphere.



Quiz Results = 15/15!!! how smart are we....

Ratings:

Andrew: 5 Golden Eggs. Recommended by my dear Kel doll this was sensational. Loved everything about it. My meal was delightfully delicious. Perfect start to our brunch club birthday week (two of our birthdays are this coming Thursday on the same day can you believe it?).  15/15 for the quiz was thrilling it's been a while. And I'm in an especially good mood because the gigantic toad is finally dead.

Sal: I've driven by many times but never stopped - so it was illegal parking this morning! Loved it from the moment I arrived; relaxed, great service by a good looking sort from Tamworth, and great coffee served in YSL coloured cups - 4.5 golden eggs.  Oh, and great bonus seeing Mrs Rabbit who popped in mid-brunch and meeting Phoebe.

Brad: It was a winner the moment I sat down and saw the sugar bowls with a correct sugar spoon for appropriate portion control. 41/2 golden eggs. Unpretentious, reliable and good honest service.

NB: Today's post comes to you live from the postgrad digs and art of one of our sponsors.

Digi.Kaf (St John's Rd, Glebe) 13th August 2011

One of our best!

After a slight glitch at the start ("No, you can't have a table for 6 until they all arrive" ??), this turned into one of our best brunch experiences.

Great food with an extensive and interesting menu. There was everything from pea and ham soup to nasi gorang to french toast to corn fritters. Even the regular affair, 'The Big Brekkie' also offered a 'not so big' option - genius!

We were joined this week with the 'extended family' and, whether it was the food, company or weather, we scored a 14/15 in the quiz. All hail the ubiquitous Beyonce! who, thanks to her media saturation, was even able to crack Brad's normal disdain for popular culture, to get us to within one point of a perfect score.

Andrew & Sal cogitate over their ratings...

...while Chesty Bond watches on from above.

RATINGS:

SAL: I rate this very highly. My corn fritters were delightful. A sweet tomato relish that was the perfect compliment to the fritters. I give it 5 golden eggs. It is certainly the best so far.

BRAD: Empathising with my uni compatriots, I went vego and was glad I did. The pesto mushrooms were perfect. I think my audible comment to the initial glitch, 'But, don't they know who we are?' may have helped but the service was excellent. This, as always is a critical factor for the perfect brunch exprience. I give it 4.5 golden eggs. My best score so far.

ANDREW: I was still hungry at the end but was helped over the line by mummy bear's leftovers. I thought the food was great and happy with our 'fluke' success on certain questions in the quiz. I rate this a 4.5 golden eggs. I'll be back.