#030, bondi cafe, 170112

company: Sh

conversation: The future, work, Australia

It was the name that caught my attention. After eating dinner nearby, I saw the poster for Bondi Cafe on my way back home, took a photo and made a mental note to check it out the next day with Sh. We kind of, maybe, sort of, got lost before finding the cafe on the second floor of a dingy industrial building thinking we had got the address wrong. I guess I wasn't really expecting a restaurant outlet somewhere like that.

Two large and heavy doors welcomed us with a strong aroma of coffee inviting us in. We had come at about 1.45pm, just as the lunch crowd were dissipating although there were quite a few tables free for us to choose from. Seating was vast (I counted 50 seats - impressive) and spread out to allow for a relaxing and comfortable place to wine and dine.

The decor was quite minimalist (I like!) with a few pictures of iconic Sydney destinations lining one wall and a shelf showcasing wine specially imported from Australia. Before entering, I noticed two cakes of ground coffee (not edible cakes, silly) on the floor beside the door which I thought was an interesting and unique touch. You can see it on the bottom right-hand corner of the first picture!

Sh and I had a cappuccino, $30, and shared a tiramisu, $30.

Feeling a little bit like I was back in Sydney, I noticed the range of types of coffee available from piccolos to flat whites and the presence of another Australian accent from Bondi's owner, Kenneth (hi!). He took the time to answer my questions regarding the type of coffee beans used (Single Origin) and gave us a good ol' Australian outlook on the type of businessman and barista he is.

Boasting lamb cutlets, grilled prawns, salmon and NZ ribeye on their lunch menu, the prices fared a bit high for me (ranging between $88 to $158) but with the amount of people there during lunch time, it seemed to be a success. The plates looked rather generous and were presented nicely as were the coffees.

Our cappuccinos arrived in cute coloured cups at a good temperature, creamy froth but seemed more like a latte (there was a bit too little froth on the surface). The flavour was bold and quite strong which I found surprising having had quite a few disappointing coffees in my time here. Sh marvelled at the "golden coffee sugar" sachets that were available that I had never seen before: they are coffee flavoured and are larger sugar crystals than brown sugar!

The tiramisu, on the other hand, left a bit more to be desired. Maybe we weren't that hungry but it was a bit soggy and underwhelming.

In a culture where service standard takes a backseat to profits and efficiency, it was refreshing to chat with Kenneth about his views on HKers and their take on food and coffee. It was interesting to find out that he also studied at UNSW and had once owned a coffee shop at Mascot.

Bondi Cafe, was a little bit of home away from home and made me realise how much I miss making coffee. Kenneth's easygoing, Australian attitude towards life (think: "Evs, man") and the industry was insightful and was reflected through the atmosphere of the cafe.

Having learnt that he had only opened in the last week (which explains the lack of reviews on OpenRice), with the use of pamphlets and posters here and there, business was surprisingly successful and going strong. I'm pretty sure those working in offices around will turn into loyal customers if not for the food then definitely for the coffee.

Just so you know, the above photo of Bondi beach displayed on one of the walls was actually taken by Kenneth himself! (There's my reference.) Despite Bondi Cafe being out of the way for some, I would recommend this cafe/restaurant if one was in the area, I hope to be back soon too!

address: Room 203, 2/F Elite Industrial Centre, 883 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok

phone: 3996 7806

sometimes i forget the little things

I realised the other day that I missed making coffee. I worry that when I return I would have lost my ability to steam milk, to make latte art, to serve something that I would be proud of despite a rush of coffees at the hotel. I just want to make myself my double shot, flat white with chocolate powder on top.

Trying new coffee shops in Hong Kong is great; I'm catching up with old friends, meeting new people, and generally enjoying the coffee that is being produced over here. But it might be due to recent events, a change of plans, that I find myself also missing Sydney. It's a Catch-22, I miss Hong Kong when I'm in Sydney but I miss Sydney when in Hong Kong. It's like I'll never be satisfied wherever I am. They're both home to me, with people I care about and miss all the same, there's no way I could choose one over the other.

And you're asking me to choose.

#029, barista caffe, 110112

company: JL & CN

conversation: Life, shopping and movies

**It's been too long. Despite my lack of updates on this blog; I have continued to drink coffee, visit coffee shops and perfecting my coffee making skills (latte art? Heck yeah). Nevertheless, I'm excited to be back.**

After walking up three flights of stairs, of course we needed to get a drink! Situated in the midst of many restaurants and office buildings, I was surprised to find a table available for us in the middle of lunch hour.

With approximately 35 seats, the area was spacious and didn't feel packed even when all tables were filled. I noticed that the majority of patrons were ladies, probably from the offices surrounding the area, a stack of magazines on the side were well-utilised by these ladies waiting for their food. I, on the other hand, was a little preoccupied by the different types of coffee-making equipment and pictures of farmers picking coffee beans which added to the coffee shop atmosphere, but I couldn't help but observe how it much more it seemed like a restaurant.

I had a cappuccino, $28, JL had a double espresso, $18 +$5 and CN had a mocha, $30.

Drinks ranged between $28 to $35, with quite a few interesting flavours of coffee (Caffe Banana, Macadamia Nut) and unique teas available (Sangria Tea). There was also a set lunch menu available with pastas, curry, pizza and burgers ranging between $45 to $52, inclusive of drinks (although iced and specialty coffees were an extra charge).

I recently visited another coffee shop in Sheung Wan where the barista kindly taught a couple of friends and me how to prepare a cup of coffee using a syphon coffee maker, (go check out Knockbox Coffee Company if you have the time!) which I assume is how Barista Caffe would make the specialty coffee they offered. Maybe next time.

We did have to wait a bit before our coffees arrived; there was only one coffee machine in the kitchen, and maybe it was because there were quite a few tables in the restaurant, I can understand. CN's mocha arrived first, looking impressive. As much as I would like to admit that my latte art has improved drastically since the last time I posted, I do have to say that it is never consistent!

My cappuccino arrived next. I noticed that it was actually in a smaller cup than the mocha, but that suited me better because I prefer my coffee to be less milky. Yum! The temperature was almost there, although we did spend quite a while taking photos and waiting for JL's double espresso.

We were quite disappointed in the fact that they didn't offer a macchiato for JL, so I went ahead and scooped some of the foam off my cappuccino and gave it to her. I was a bit sad not to have any chocolate powder on top of my cappuccino but it's okay. I remember once at work we ran out of chocolate powder but we got slammed for coffees, so we didn't have time to transfer the chocolate powder into the sprinkler. I ended up trying to sprinkle the powder onto the drinks with a teaspoon... Needless to say, it didn't look as delicate.

Barista Caffe, was a pleasant surprise. The coffee was up to par with other more well-known coffee shops, the interior light and welcoming, and staff not too overbearing. It never got super busy or crowded and made for a nice little place for us to rest our feet and chat.

JL also pointed out that this place allows people to book the whole restaurant for a minimum charge of $3,000 and can fit approximately 40 people. Although there is no view, it seems to be quite an affordable venue for parties. I think Barista Caffe would be a good backup coffee shop to visit if I'm ever in the area, although I'm always on the look for new places to try out!

address: 3/F, E.A. Tower, 18 Ashley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

phone: 2511 0998