Jones the Grocer, Westfield Sydney

My first experience of Jones the Grocer was in Singapore, can you believe that? Dining at a well-known Aussie establishment all the way in Singapore. Great job, Chrys... not. And so, to make up for it, I took the chance of a weekend out in the city with D to finally walk into their place inside Westfield, conveniently situated right at where the direct-link Pitt Street Mall to Food Court escalators are.

Honestly, my photos do not do the food justice. I mean, just look at this parmesan panko crumbed chicken schnitzel with hot mustard coleslaw and fresh lemon ($19.00). Looks very normal, doesn't it? According to D, it did not taste just 'normal'. It was crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside. The hot mustard coleslaw helped to add a little excitement to the tastebuds, too.

I ordered a burger off their specials board, a burger which I would think is very similar to their 100% Aussie wagyu burger that is pork belly instead. Served on a board with truffle mayonnaise and fat steaming hot Jones chips, the house-baked bun of the burger was glazed to perfection (look at how shiny it is in that photo!)

Inside, there was pork belly, bacon, gruyère, pickles, mustards and caramelised onions. Mm... I also liked how the portion was just right for my appetite - too heavy a lunch maketh a sleepy Chrys.

Both of us had a cup of hot drink each and left feeling very satisfied with the food, the service and the ambience of the place. No idea what it would be like during peak lunch hours on weekdays though...

Jones the Grocer, Westfield Sydney
Shop 5018 Level 5, Westfield Shopping Centre, Corner Market & Castlereigh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 8072 7755; E-mail: westfieldsydney@jonesthegrocer.com; Group booking e-mail: events.sydney@jonesthegrocer.com
Monday to Saturday 8:00am to late
Sunday 8:00am to 7:00pm

Happy Chinese New Year 2015

Perhaps it is the long distance.

Perhaps it is the long periods of absence.

Perhaps it is the gradual increase in age.

Perhaps it is because life has made me realise that the people and things that matter most are those that seem insignificant on the surface.

Have you called your loved ones yet? 

Have you sent that e-card or greeting card yet?

Have you travelled home yet?

Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year, one full of happiness and good health.

Sweet Infinity

It was on a rare weekend out in the city with D that presented the opportunity to try the sweet looking things on display in a window I always walk past in The Strand Arcade. That window belongs to a tiny cafe called Sweet Infinity.

I was intrigued by their fuchsia pink feature wall, as I thought it was cleverly decorated with baking trays of different sizes. The space though tiny, was functional.

As we just had lunch, we ordered one dessert to share over a cup of tea, each. D had a cup of chai latte ($3.50) while I had a hot cup of peppermint tea ($3.50).

The dessert we shared was a caramel slice ($6.00), which we enjoyed.

Nice place to just stop for a cuppa when tired from shopping but beware of tourists on weekends.

Sweet Infinity
18 The Strand Arcade, 412-414 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9235 2902
Monday to Wednesday & Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm
Thursday 9:00am to 8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm

Croissant Delicatessen

I am so proud to introduce to you this new cafe, Croissant Delicatessen, which is owned by my childhood friend of 25 years and her partner. Woohoo!!!

For those familiar with Hartamas Shopping Centre, the cafe is located in between Subway and Pastryville.

As with all narrow spaces, the use of a mirror on one wall helped create the illusion that the place is more spacious than it really is. I like the shade of yellow used on the feature brick wall right up the back of the cafe. Gave the place a slight rustic feel. Photos of their feline pets lent a hand in making the place feel more close to home (and heart).

It would be a pity not to try their coffee since they source their coffee beans from the reputable WA Cafe. As I perched over the (very tall) counter top, I could hear the beans calling out to me...

My first cuppa was a hot mocha (RM11.00). Would have loved a wee bit more coffee - it was not bad - but that's just because I like my mocha with a higher coffee to chocolate ratio. Not everyone is like me.

I very rarely order a latte (RM10.00) so I would refrain from commenting on the taste. I should have really just stuck to my regular choices of either a mocha or cappuccino. However, one of my friends did take note of how he found it a tad small, as he thought that most lattes are served in a bigger glass/cup.

The croissant, eaten on its own with no fillings, especially when just out of the oven, was delicious! I am a pumpkin-lover so I had myself a pumpkin croissant (a la carte, RM5.00). Very slowly, I savoured each fluffy mouthful...

In addition to pumpkin, the croissant also comes in three other flavours - classic (plain), garlic and wasabi. Alicia tried a garlic croissant with turkey ham, broccoli and cheese filling (RM14.80) and had to figure out how to eat it. In the end, she took it apart and had it using her cutlery like a civilised person, unlike me.

I devoured my pumpkin croissant with supreme egg mayo and additional smoked salmon filling using my hands. LOL! I really liked the combination of flavours and it was not too large a serving.

Cath had a classic croissant with garlic and basil chicken filling (RM15.80) and felt that she would have enjoyed it more if there were more chicken and less of the basil pesto. Or they could maintain the current chicken portion but cut down on the pesto so that the taste of basil does not overpower everything else. But again, she really liked the texture of the croissant.

For those who are hungry, the grilled German bratwurst (RM15.80) is apparently their most filling er, filling. We all had a bite of the bratwurst and I do not know about the rest but I found it very tasty. Okay, fine, they found it tasty, too. 

I may be wrong but I have a feeling that they are the first croissant sandwich cafe in KL. Just based on that alone, they are worth a try, don't you think?

 

Croissant Delicatessen

Lot P-3M(2), Plaza Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, 60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +60 3 6206 4410; E-mail: croissantdelicatessen@hotmail.com

Daily 10:00am to 10:00pm

*Cash only