#024, sam i am, 130310

company: K
conversation: MLIA, university, life and Dog Shows.

** Thank you to K for the pictures! **

After a long day of work, K and I met up to go on our first Sydney coffee adventure. After studying here for already 2 years, K had found a street near her university that boasted many coffee shops so we decided to start there. I passed many stores that were really full as it was a weekend and a flee market was going on. Thinking I might have walked a bit too far, just as I was about to turn around, this little shop caught my eye.

Walking in, I noticed how spacious the coffee shop seemed to be. Although empty, I later found a couple sitting in a courtyard behind the shop leading to a larger seating area outdoors for smokers. There was a blackboard with several meal deals hung above a desk with magazines and pamphlets to read through.

Ordering at the counter was interesting as they had so much stuff to look at, the menu was not extensive but they did serve breakfast and lunch with a larger variety of drinks. I was not surprised they didn't open for dinner as competition along the street was fierce and because they were quite a walk away from the main road, they might not get as much business.

Looking around, the place was very relaxed and chilled. Excellent place to study and chat as it was quiet comfortable. I guess you could really imagine a student coming in, ordering a beverage and staying for several hours with their books all spread out on the table in front of them. Pop art painted on the walls as well as posters were prevalent, giving the surroundings a modern feel.

The waitress was nice and casual, giving us a tiger figurine as our table number. So cute (but scary, if you ask me)! (As you probably might have guessed, I spent most of the time in the cafe making roaring noises and attacking our food and drinks with the tiger). I noticed their tips jar had a leaning cow on it with a label saying "Tipping Cow"... Ha ha, get it? I wanted to get a picture but it would have been weird.

ROAR!

I asked exactly how many floors there were to the store and the waitress replied saying including the courtyard, it counted as 4 floors! Amazing! I didn't even bother counting how many seats that would be. I also observed them to have air-conditioning on the higher floors, which is an uncommon thing in Sydney (or at least the places I've been to) because fans are usually sufficient. Although good for hot summer days in Sydney, it was fairly chilly where we sat (in front of the air-con, smart) and my coffee got cold fast.


I had a cappuccino, regular, AUD$3.5. K had a berry frappe, AUD$5.5. We both shared a french toast, AUD$16.

The coffee and frappe arrived very quickly. Although small, the foam was creamy and espresso was strong but not very bitter.

Since visiting this store, I have had a lot more coffees to try out. Maybe it's just me but the bitterness no longer gets to me as much as it did before. Now I wish to try different blends and roastings to identify the beans' properties and taste.

Temperature is another thing that has been getting to me lately as well. At work, we do not have a thermometer to measure the temperature of the milk whilst it being steamed. When I make coffees, my hand is usually red after holding the jug and for me, the coffees can be drunk (or gulped, up to you) on the spot. On the other hand, my colleague made me a cappuccino the other day, and it scalded my entire tongue (am still recovering). I am confused as to how people like their coffee. And which extreme is acceptable amongst regular coffee drinkers.

Presentation was simple, nothing extravagant.

The berry frappe was very tropical, refreshing and cool. Perfect for a summer day. I tasted strawberries, raspberries and I assumed there would be blueberries in there too. They were also very generous with the amount as you can see it filled right up to the top!

As I was sipping my coffee, all I could do was think about the french toast that was coming soon. I figured the combination of espresso coffee and sweet french toast with caramelised banana, strawberries and maple syrup would be a perfect end to my day. But whilst chatting away, I had finished my cup of coffee and the french toast was nowhere to be found.

The waitresses had already begun mopping the floors and generally cleaning up for the end of the day, so I figured the french toast was being made... But surely not for that long? I agreed with K after a while that the dish was rather expensive, especially as there might have been cheaper options elsewhere but I was adamant on staying. Turns out, they actually forgot about our french toast! Boo! When it finally did arrive, my stomach was more hungry rather than peckish so it was more like wolfing down the toast rather than savouring it.

Sam I Am being so far away from the main street, definitely has it's work cut out for them in trying to attract residents and pedestrians within the area. I would assume it would be busier during the weekdays when university is in session.

Although quaint and original in their ideas, the coffee was good, the frappe was good and the french toast was good... But not that good. Maybe it was the fact that they forgot our order and I have a fear of being forgotten. Or maybe it was a long day and I wanted to enjoy my coffee with the french toast. Or maybe it was even the pricing of the french toast which could have bought me a meal instead. Sam I Am makes me want to watch the movie (which I have not seen yet) instead of reminding me of a coffee shop I once visited.

Whilst a good place to study, relax and chat with friends, there are alternatives cheaper in price and closer in distance to the main street (it was a good day to have a nice stroll but it rained afterwards so that was annoying).

address: 99 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037, Sydney, Australia

#023, bookworm cafe, 200210

company: Dad and Mum
conversation: Food, apartments and general chit-chat.

After a HKD$14.5 (for adults) ferry ride from Central to Yung Shue Wan taking approximately 20 minutes, we arrived on Lamma Island. It was kind of like walking into another world, everything was less rushed and more cultured, even the air was different. A 10 minute walk from the pier along the only main path, I realised that the group of people on the same boat had melted away attracted by the many seafood restaurants (Lamma Island is famous for their seafood) and various cuisine restaurants.

We found ourselves alone as we stumbled upon Bookworm Cafe, strongly recommended in My Coffee Guide. It was a small but easily seen entrance with an old school sewing machine on the side (holding their business cards).

I should point out here that this restaurant is completely vegetarian, meaning things like imitation meat and lots of (vegetable) protein. Definitely something new for me.

It seemed a little dark inside (hence the blurry pictures) but we sat at a booth that might have been a bit cosy for 4 adults next to a window allowing the afternoon's warm sunlight to come through.

What I first noticed once we sat down were several post-it notes taped along the shelves above us with quotes and sayings that bought an authentic-feel to the place. They even wrote on a small blackboard in the corner to: "Please be patient, our food and drinks are fresh!"

Underneath the shelves above were many cute kids pictures stuck on the walls, this made me realise exactly how established they were within the community of Lamma Island.

The waitress that bought our menus told us that the soup of the day was beetroot soup, which definitely intrigued me. Looking through the menu, I realised that the espresso coffees and various drinks were inexpensive, approximately HKD$20 - $27, many of the food items ranged from $50 - $80. I spent quite a while deciding what I wanted as I noticed that there were facts about various vegetables and vegetarianism at the bottom of almost every page. Both interesting and informative, I attempted to read each one.

Bookcases lined one side of the wall with CDs, books, magazines and many games. It was only when I heard the sound of scrabble tiles being mixed together did I notice that they had created their own mini-library and that you had to apply for membership. Being in a relaxed environment, you could spend hours upon hours just reading and playing games.

Everything just seemed so quirky and unique. My eyes darted around just trying to absorb everything but finding new intricate details in the process. They made their own salad dressing, there is Wi-Fi available, they're closed on Thursdays, community gatherings are sometimes held here, even the people eating in the restaurant were interesting.

I had an Eggs Orlando Brunch, HKD$65 and a cappuccino, regular, add $10. Mum and Dad both had the beetroot soup, small, HKD$25 and medium, HKD$45 and a hot chocolate, HKD$25.

Once again, I was surprised to find my cappuccino with cinnamon sprinkled on top. I heard the barista frothing the milk which seemed to be good but at first glance at my froth, the large air bubbles and its lack of creaminess was a bit of a disappointment.

Whilst hot to the touch, it burnt my mouth. The espresso was bitter and strong and up to standard although it was watery and did not seem very thick. The mug was large which was well worth the $25 I would have otherwise paid for, but the watery espresso coffee in it did not appeal to me and thus would not be worth it.

Similar to my previous post at United Bistro Cafe, the smell of cinnamon greatly overpowered the espresso coffee aroma that I would have smelt just before drinking. Although I am not adverse to the idea, it is still an interesting and new concept to me. Whilst providing a slight sweetness to the beverage, I guess maybe I have grown accustomed to drinking cappuccinos with chocolate to appreciate a difference in taste.

Unfortunately, the hot chocolate did not live up to standard either. It was watery and tasted like hot chocolate made out of the powder, which I know is what is usually used but sometimes it is creamier and thicker. The foam, again was bubbly and unappealing as it formed craters on the surface as the bubbles burst.

My Eggs Orlando brunch was a special for the weekend. This included: Scrambled eggs with avocado, veggie hams, baked beans and a toasted bagel. It may not seem like much especially as no meat is concerned, but as I munched away happily, I began to feel satiated. Funnily enough, if you had given me a blind-fold and told me to try the veggie ham, I would not have thought it any different to a normal piece of ham (even looking at it, I would have been fooled).

I ended up not finishing the bagel as I was full and that maybe it had been toasted for a little too long, turning out to be more of a very crunchy bite rather than being soft and crispy.

With all the beetroot I have eaten in Australia, I could not imagine what it would taste like as a soup. The once tangy and sharp juicy beetroot was mushed up and at first glance looked like purple pumpkin soup. It even smelt like it. It was incredibly thick and although strange to look at, was very good (with a little salt added). Just don't get it on your clothes.

The soups were accompanied by garlic bread which was surprisingly well-made (y'know how I love my garlic bread). With a lingering garlic taste and just enough butter for the salty and rich taste. An adventurous dish.

Bookworm Cafe established since 1997 has obviously become quite a popular restaurant for visitors and residents on Lamma. Not even 15 minutes after we walked in, the restaurant was practically full (we noticed later that there was an extended bit outside that was more open). As I seldom visit Lamma Island, this was a nice little trip to somewhere further away where the hustle and bustle of the city was far from our minds.

I could imagine sitting there for hours on end, chatting, playing games, reading the newspaper or books, or just staring into space. It might have looked a bit dated but that is what gave the restaurant character and personality. Sometimes old is good.

Whilst the beverages were not great and afterall, this is specifically a coffee blog, I would not recommend coming here if you are looking for an Italian cappuccino. But otherwise, please do. The other pictures of their food items looked appetising and were just calling out to me. I would not mind coming back to try their vegetarian burgers or even their salads.

As it is the overall atmosphere and company rather than just the food and beverage that makes an adventure complete, this one is sure high up on my list. Usually I don't expect much to be happily surprised but after planning the trip for quite sometime, it lived up to my expectations (apart from the coffee).


address: G/F, 79, Yung Shue Wan Main Street, Lamma Island.
(There are two piers, the other being Sok Kwu Wan. Don't get confused or else it will take you about an hour to hike to the other pier.)
For more information regarding ferry timetables, please visit Lamma Island's website.
website: Bookworm Cafe
phone: 2982 4838

**Sorry it has taken so long for me to even post some of my older adventures from Hong Kong. Whilst uni has picked up and I am working again, I am excited to continue with this blog but I hope that you will be patient. Thank you.**