Cow Cow Ice

EDSA corner J. Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

What a surprising delight to stumble across this delectable store! Not only is Cow Cow Ice – Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory an instant head-turning store, with some nicely cut cheeses, cookies, small, cute cheesecake and cheese biscuits. I believe the store has three types of cheese biscuits, and I remember tasting one type of flavour and it was pure bliss. I’m thinking of purchasing a pack of 10, but because of its steep price… I don’t know. It’s definitely worth it, but still a bit pricey. The cookies would make a fantastic gift.

I couldn’t say no however to their soft-serves! I got one mixed (milk and cheese) and one pure milk soft-serve. Both were amazing, like it was not too sweet, had the creaminess of cheese and it tasted so bright. I enjoyed the thickness, has it slowly melted in your mouth, allowing you to enjoy every second. From looking at pictures, I believe you can also add the cookies or cheeses as toppings. Makes me want to go and visit Hokkaido.

Little Flour Café

G/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall Building D, EDSA, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Part of the Wildflour group and a younger sibling of the well-known Wildflour cafe, you know Little Flour cafe will be just as good!

What I love about this cafe is that they offer breakfast all-day everyday, so if you’re like me who loves to eat breakfast for dinner, you’ll enjoy this place. You will find a mixture of continental and Filipino breakfast and brunch dishes. I ordered their Filipino Breakfast item, that came with their homemade longganisa, garlic fried rice, eggs, pan de sal and coconut jam. Everything spelled out Filipino in this one dish, though it did pull back on the oiliness, whilst still keeping its moisture. I was craving chips so I squeezed that in. My partner ordered their Veggie Rice Bowl, since he had wanted to eat a bit cleaner.

The lighting in the cafe was dim, setting the mood for a comfortable and laid-back dinning experience. Waitstaffs were reachable if you wanted their attention, music was not too loud and the price averaged around $15 AUD. For some gentle cleanse, try their Fresh Ginger and Turmeric Tea.

Two By Four Cafe

Fairwater Boulevard Fairwater Sales and Display Centre, Blacktown NSW 2148

INSTAGRAM

A new local community popped up recently, which has their own lovely cafe. The cafe is surrounded by leafy greens, a waterfront and has a verandah on the side if you prefer eating outdoors! We were fortunate to be eating on a clear, blue sunny day, as the wide windows in the cafe allowed a flood of sun to enter. There’s a mixture of table sizes in the cafe, small and large groups can be accommodated.

Two By Four Cafe did not kid, with the bowls, I was struggling with the size of mine. The chicken strips/cuts and vegetables blended great together, it tasted clean and was not heavily sauced. The juices were cold pressed, which was definitely refreshing. The highlight, that I really want to go back for, is their french toast. It was delicious, dangerously soft and not too sweet.

Kusuka

12/339 Sussex St, Sydney NSW

WEBSITE

An Indonesian fusion cafe, operates 6 days a week with long hours (7:00 – 19:30). The quickest way to get there, is to jump off Town Hall and it should only take 10 minutes to get there!

The interior is instagram worthy, with tasty pinks and cream and make sure to check out the quote on their wall. It is a cosy spot, so make sure to get in there early or out of rush hours. Unfortunately when I visited, their air-conditioning was not running so had to brunch in the humidity. This however did not lessen my excitement for their dishes! What makes them unique is their fusion of Indonesian and Western food. Try their Superbowls, which has one layer of tasty Mi Goreng and another layer of pork belly, sausages, herbed corn, melted cheese and corned beef. The cravings are real! There are other items that will certainly entice you for a second or third visit.

Service was lovely and quick! Make sure to take a snap or two, as their interior and food presentation calls out for a snap or two. I have a feeling I’ll be back.

Mr. Cafe

Shop 11/418 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Visited during a bright lit day, it was a refreshing start. With plentiful street parking, Mr. Cafe is located comfortably in a quiet suburb, with ample open indoor and outdoor seating. The staff are friendly, prompt and I can say the same thing when the food came out. Coffee was strong but beautifully roasted.

I got what I heard was popular from their menu, which was the ricotta filled cinnamon doughnuts. It was tastefully topped with honey, ginger and peach crumbs and half a peach on the side. The dough was sugary and soft and with the fillings, it gave another hit of sweetness. Ordered another plate of sandwich, separating chicken, avocado and eggs. I definitely would come back!

Three Williams

613A Elizabeth St, Redfern NSW 2016

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Set inside a warehouse interior, this refreshing cafe was a sure welcome to kick start the day ahead. The minimalistic space is so wide, that you can stretch your legs comfortable and take your time enjoying the food.

A health conscious ‘all day’ menu, with a cheeky cocktails menu which I didn’t get to try, its kitchen runs from 7am to 3pm. I ordered a regular almond milk latte, it was beautifully roasted as well as the vegan bowl. The creamy blend of roasted pumpkin, pumpkin hummus, shredded kale and the crunch of the roasted hazelnut was superb. The prices are what you expect to find in Sydney cafes, and the quality that was served made it Got seated quickly, meals got delivered quickly and got the day started off in the right direction!

Concrete Jungle

58 Kensington Street, Chippendale, 2008

WEBSITE |FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

From it’s modern interior and incorporating bits of the ‘jungle’ within the cafe, splashes of green within the sleek, industrial furniture, you will feel part of the busy bustle of Sydney! At the same time finding a comfortable sanctuary within the cafe.

Its menu emphasises the importance of not only serving amazing coffee, that Sydney is known for, but also highlighting local plant-based ingredients and “ethically-sourced meats”. I got my avocado on toast and the avocado paste was amazing! The consistency was thick, sweet and it was not over-powering. Also the vibrancy in their dishes was captivating, don’t you want to eat food that not only tastes good but also appealing?

It is a new cafe that landed in the hip part of Sydney, check it out!

Avenue on George

200 George Street Sydney 2000, Tenancy 2

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

I had visited during the busy lunch hour, found right across from a major company. You can either order your coffee and be off your way, or choose to casually dine amongst business suits.

The menu consists of modern, seasonal produce and serves from breakfast to lunch. I loved the interior, mostly consisted of browns against white and grey, I can imagine people having frequent meetings within. Enough about the interior, let’s talk about the food! Fresh, it deceivingly does not look filling but it sure was. I had particularly liked mine, which I believe was the Avenue Veggie Breakie Bowl.

Service was efficient and looked polished. The only downside is that the waiter got my coffee mistaken, but hey it still taste good!

Abattoir Blues Restaurant, Cafe & Bar

C, 1 Herb Elliott Ave, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Did not know we have another close cafe, though still about 20 minutes, beats driving to the city any day. Upon entering, I did not realise how large the inside was! It had this canteen, beach, european type of vibe.

The big, open windows allowing the sunlight to flow in, was gorgeous and we hit jackpot with perfect weather. Abattoir Blues had a selection from burgers, pies, salads, chicken, fries and so fourth. I highly recommend their cheeseburger, this dreaming about it till this day. Oh and their fries!

VIVO Café

388 George Street, Sydney CBD

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

If you are ever about in Sydney in the CBD, this café is a great spot to dine-in/take-away. It has a relaxing atmosphere with attentive wait-staffs. Extremely spacious within and outside, where they have those heated poles making it a perfect area to also enjoy the city scenery.

What I chose for that day was a French brioche I think which has a nice sweet after taste. But let me tell you, their piccolo was bomb! It had that right consistence of milk and espresso.