Chic Chippendale

Inner city Sydney is constantly revamping and re-energising itself thanks to the need for inner city dwelling and rich developers wanting to make more money. Luckily for us, places like Redfern, Waterloo, Alexandria, Chippendale have become hip, tasty and aromatic.

Our perfect autumn day started at Cafe Giulia, a long blackboard bedazzling us with its offerings. However it was somewhat limited in sweet breakfast so (SHOCK HORROR) our CEO allowed savouries breakfast for those attendees who couldn't stomach sweets first thing in the morning. [I tell ya, she'd gone soft since she fell in love! Chuckle chuckle....]

Chocolate brownie, sourdough with maple and ricotta, waffles with mascarpone and rhubarb, sour dough French toast with bananas and maple, a wholesome muesli, and pancake stack with strawberries and maple. All were well made, very tasty, hearty and smile inducing. Good coffee - many of us opted for the very French bowl of coffee, which was probably double the size of a normal coffee and VERY strong ... could it be more than a double shot? @_o

I actually didn't really want to move. It was such a lovely courtyard (when shaded) on a gorgeous day, catching up with friends (there were many). But we moved on anyway by the lure of Brickfields. Just a week or two earlier this place received a glowing review in SMH - again I ask, how did you find these places KT? I am just so pleased that you, not I, are doing the research (I just turn up and eat).

Lemon polenta cake, Persian love cake, lemon curd tart, choc hazelnut tart, fig sourdough with home made marmalade. All very delicious. Persian love cake full of aromatics, lemon curd tart (adjective, not noun), choc hazelnut creme lush, marmalade full of flavour. Good coffee too.

Languidly we move on as the warmth and the satisfaction lulls us to drowsiness ... no the caffeine didn't do much for me, it's a good sign that the coffees were properly made (bad coffee gives me palpitation and shaky hands). Something for Jess awaits - yet another little watering hole servicing the lucky locals.

I was drawn immediately to the fig and pistachio affogato (yes, another coffee) which was fab. The rest of the DDDs actually were having lunch - WHAT!!! Burritos were on the menu ... and they did look very good.

Next stop - House Specialty Coffee, which was pretty much just around the corner. Arrived at a packed up cafe, nothing left on the counter, and the coffee machine about to get cleaned up and shut down. Oops ... Clearly they do good business on a Sunday. [KT: They have their own coffee blend from The Little Marionette, so we'll be back!]

What a lovely day, smiles all round - don't think there was one dud order throughout the day (savoury dishes included). And welcome back Eze, aren't you glad we turned the weather on for your arrival!!

[KT: Welcome first time DDDs - Julia, Minnie, Jean and Susie!]