First I had a delicious brunch at Bruschetteria 102 at 102 Albion St, Surry Hills. Their Nutella coffee is divine and the atmosphere was really chilled and friendly; everything was cute as a button down to the individualised coffee cups and colourful placemats.
Then it was off to the Saturday markets in Glebe. But first, a stop at La Banette Patisserie (18 Glebe Point Road). Everything in their windows looked so pretty - tarts, millefeuilles, sourdough, eclairs, meringues, oh, there was so much of everything. No photos of their wares, sadly.
For dinner I went to Chef's Gallery (Regent Place, Bathurst St, Sydney). It's the latest Taiwanese-style dumpling and noodle house, quite similar to Din Tai Fung with the same open windows into the kitchen (hence the name) and quick, efficient service. At the moment it's very busy, there's always a queue to get in and many of the signature dishes seem to sell out early - but even so, it's worth a visit. I've already been twice in the past week!
While the handmade noodles are fine, and fun to watch being prepared in the front window, I'd recommend sticking to the array of dumplings, pork belly rolls, barbecue pork ribs, tofu, and pancakes with pork floss. And definitely leave room for the adorable desserts.
Finally this evening I came home and cooked a meal for the first time in days - Thai egg nets, mmm. And then my housemates roasted two whole fish with vegetables. And then we shared it all over wine. And then for dessert we had muffins. And then I was very very full. THE END.
Honey poppy seed cakes with orange icing
Cakes:
184g unsalted butter, softened
146g caster sugar
3 tablespoons honey
2 eggs
225g all purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
Icing:
210g icing sugar, sifted (uh, I used something closer to 80g, and it was just enough; about 100g should do it)
zest of 1 orange
1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F and butter twelve cup capacity muffin pan.
Place butter, sugar and honey in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Fold through the flour, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds.
Spoon the mixture into prepared pans. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in pans on a wire rack then carefully unmold.
Make the icing: place the icing sugar in a medium bowl and mix in the zest. Gradually add the juice, mixing, until desired consistency. Drizzle the icing over the cooled cakes.
Makes 12 cakes.
From Technicolor Kitchen - whose recipes, I realise, I've been cribbing from a LOT lately. I really do read a lot more blogs than just TK, I promise! /o\ Okay, next time I will definitely look further afield.
