Cornersmith, our diamond in the rough

You can spot it from a mile away - must be where the cool crowd milling on the corner, sipping on lattes are.  People don't usually wait around for breakfast, so it must be good.  Amongst the cultural melting pot that is Marrickville, the newbie Cornersmith has emerged much to the delight and relief of trendy city skirt locals.


So, we jot down our name on the butchers paper and join the line as we get the sense that it will all be worth it.  A reflection of their organic ethos, the staff are friendly and unpretentious, and it's not long before we are seated and soaking up the buzzy atmosphere; perfect for our Saturday morning catch up.

Decisions, decisions!  With a mostly homemade menu focusing around local and in season produce, it's a hard choice.  We finally decide on Poached Eggs on rye toast with spicy eggplant relish ($9) with sides of Baked beets and lentils as well as Avocado and z'ataar; a dish showcasing the best of what's fresh now and you can definitely taste it.  We also couldn't go past trying the Zucchini, pear and almond loaf with honey (made in their rooftop hive!) and locally made creamy ricotta ($7) and we're so glad we did.  It was a healthy and delicious treat all in one gorgeous loaf & we desperately want this recipe!!

Diners note: adorably, Mondays are closed for pickling and they sure are talented at it.   The Spicy eggplant relish was so enjoyable that we both pick up a jar to take home ($9).  Trying more of these signature concoctions is just one excuse to come back.

The beauty of Cornersmith is the ethical and well rounded honest-to-goodness food at such affordable prices.  We say, Sydney needs more of this winning formula.

Jasi et Emmsy.Xx



Cornersmith

314 Illawarra Road
Marrickville
www.facebook.com/Cornersmith

Hooters.

Now that I have your attention, can I share with you just how sick I felt after an outing to the family friendly Hooters?! Looking at these pictures I know why - everything was deep fried, americano style.

Before you start judging I would just like to point out that this was very much a birthday party with great company (and the snazzy strawberry daquiris with vodka added) over anything else. At least it provided a charming conversation topic come Monday morning catch ups at work :)

The Western burger came with your cheese, bacon, onion rings, smokey sauce and curly fries. Despite being better than expected, after the oily carnage below I only managed around 3 bites before calling it a day.

Western burger

Lots A Tots: Tater Tots covered in plastic cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream and chives. The tots are deep fried, not baked. Such an indulgence that turned into such an error after consuming the 5th tater tot. (and the fifth, and sixth, seventh and probably also the eighth....) . The onion rings aren't great and I'm pretty sure they came out of a packet - but I love deep fried onions and these ticked both boxes (being "onions" that are "deep fried) so really, who am I to complain?!

Lots A Tots

Onion Rings

Chicken Wings in spicy garlic marinade

I had heard much male excitement over the wings and I started getting my hopes up when I found they came boneless, and you can pick from 8 different marinades that vary in spice and flavour. The spicy garlic hit was certainly there but it was probably fried for a few minutes too long and these were a little on the dry side. Others with boned wings didn't seem to have the problem.

And thus brought the end to an interesting night. The girls are attractive and the service extremely friendly. I was bombarded with tacky dancers, but what else would you expect at Hooters?!

xx emmsy

 

Hooters Australia
132 James Ruse Drive
Parramatta

Clover Cafe Annandale : my new & greatest love.

I stumbled across this amazing little place in heaven when my other annandalian place-in-heaven was too full for my poor tummy to wait. There is only one way to describe this gem - it is the place you want to tell everyone about. I knew as soon as I went through the menu that it would be a great place, and it really was.

Arriving at 10 am and the cafe is busy. Not annoyingly Surry Hills busy where queues are out the door, but busy enough that all tables are filled. We are luckily enough to grab a table for 6 outside with no waiting time and sit ourselves down with wide eyes and high hopes. 

So, after sitting there and texting anyone and everyone that would want to know, I booked in a group brunch the following Sunday to be able to eat myself through the amazing menu.  So, without further ado, I present to you - Clover.

The juices are all fresh and the tea comes in cast iron pots. Clover serves Alchemy coffee and their own blend of chai tea is so fragrant it has me wanting one - and i'm definitely not a chai fan!

Clover specialise in lots of "pot" breakfasts - they do a mean hot pot brekky (one with meat and one without) and slow cooked lunch specials. The lamb tagine and the ragu were definite favourites of the day, and i can't wait to go back and try the third slow cooked special, "grandad's fish pie".

 

Clover fresh juices: passionfruit, lime + soda & watermelon + orange

Earl grey tea served in cast ironware

Clover french toast with sweetened labne, maple syrup, pistachios

The french toast is served on thick cut sonoma bread, perfectly fried and seasoned with mascarpone sweetened labne which helps stabilise the sweetness of the maple syrup.

Eggs in clover: poached organic eggs with basil+macadamia pesto, mushrooms, parmagiano reggiano

Super slow cooked special: Lamb shank and fig tagine - served with chermoula steamed cous cous, greek yogurt and a side of beetroot, feta and mint sala

There is something about being served an entire lamb shank that brings out a different side in many people - a side of avid hunger, desire and happiness. It is incredibly primeval but for this dish, I would do anything. The chermoula cous cous has so much greatness that I find myself sitting there wishing I had the recipe so I could cook it every day for lunch. The lamb falls off the bone and is perfectly complimented with the beetroot, feta and mint side salad. There wasn't a cous cous in sight once finished.

Brekky hot pot: baked chorizo, potatoes, beans in a tomato based sauce

Super slow cooked lunch special: unkle tom's pasta ragu of veal shi

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A close up of the amazing veal ragu

The slow cooked ragu is so warming, with thick ribbons of pappardelle and bread to mop up the delicious sauce. I usually avoid ordering tomato based pastas because there is so much room for error but this was a winner, the kind of meal you would love to curl up on the couch with as it gives you a great, big, carbohydrate loaded hug. 

Complimentary brownies - how can you go wrong?

Just as we are about to pay our bill and roll out the door, our waiter tells us not to go too quickly as we have a complimentary dessert coming our way. This completely unexpected act of generosity has us even more impressed with Clover, and we noticed that the cute cocoa dusting matches his spoon and fork wrist tattoo.

If you are what you eat, today I am definitely filled with treats of epic proportions. Great food makes me love more and I love everyone today :)

There is a terrific little vintage store around the corner from clover (Eva's on Johnston St) and i found myself walking out of there with a silk chloe blouse. Get onto it!

xx emmsy

Clover cafe
78 Booth St
Annandale