Juan - Bowl & Tea, Redfern

I’m so stoked to see many more tea and coffee concept restaurants popping up around Sydney. I also love that this city has embraced Japanese fusion shops like Edition Coffee Roasters, Cafe Kentaro and Cre Asion. The latest addition to this scene is Juan by Anna Ishiguro. Chocolatesuze and I went to check this new joint out!

This tea and bowl concept shop is probably one of my most anticipated restaurants to open this year. Chef Anna has a pretty impressive culinary background including working under renowned Sydney Chef Tomoyuki Matsuya. Juan’s space is minimalist with a touch of refined chic and colour theme mixtures of cream, grey and white. Lots of natural lighting flowing through, concrete bars and a sketch like bamboo wallpaper mural. I really dig it and it reminds me a lot of restaurants around Omotesando and Jingumae in Tokyo! Menu has some classic Japanese Western-style dishes like tonkatsu and modern twists of other Asian dishes like Hainanese chicken.

They have a great range of premium tea choices ($6-9) from Hojicha to Long Ching Dragonwell. Beautiful filter coffee ($4) from Artificer in Surry Hills is also available.

Wagyu rice bowl

The Wagyu rice bowl ($22) consists of rice with butter garlic, 2hr slow cooked Wagyu, onsen egg, fried lotus root, beetroot miso paste, fresh wasabi, snow pea sprouts and and sweet onion sauce. The garlic butter rice was so addictive and it went well with the Wagyu and runny onsen egg. The beetroot miso was nice but the wasabi alone with the beef would have suffice. A delicious dish nevertheless!

Tonkatsu

I loved the tonkatsu bowl ($21)! It was like a tonkatsu and omurice hybrid. It had rice with onion gravy covered in fluffy buttery flavoured blanket of scrambled eggs just like an omurice. Paired with a super fatty perfect 2hr slow cooked then crumbed bangalow pork. It also has roasted tomato which was full of umami, apple mustard mayo, red cabbage and miso sesame sauce.

Unagi hitsumabushi

The unagi (eel) hitsumabushi ($21) was nothing short of excellent! The rice was mixed in some sort of caramelised sweet soy sauce, shiso, okra, kaffir lime and generous pices of unagi . The rice was aromatic, flavoursome and full of umami from the eel. It was also topped with fluffy scrambled eggs and haloumi. To mellow down the flavours and add complexity, pour some of the hojicha dashi.

Sakura matcha tiramisu

We ended our lunch in the most perfect way with their sakura matcha tiramisu ($9).

This place exceeded my expectations in terms of food quality and portions! Each dish was actually quite generous. The service was excellent. This is a place definitely worth checking out and I will definitely return for more! Omedetou gozaimasu Anna-san!

Juan
Shop 5
94a Pitt Street
Redfern NSW 2016
(Update from the restaurant) Soft opening: Booking essential by e-mail juan.redfern@gmail.com

Open Wednesday to Sunday
 Lunch 12:00pm to 3:00pm (Last order before 2:30pm) and dinner 6:00pm to 10:00pm (Last order before 9:30pm) 

Closed Mon & Tues (this may change)

The Roots Espresso, North Sydney

One of my favourite jams to listen to while chillin’ is “You Got Me” by The Roots, Erykah Badu and Eve. Just like that song's title, I got coffee to pick me up. No other drink has got mah back like coffee yo! The Roots band makes amazing music with soulful poetic lyrical content. Then there’s a café in North Sydney called The Roots Espresso that serves amazing coffee and soulful food. They're not associated, but both excel in their respective crafts.

The Roots Espresso is a humble café tucked away in Elizabeth Plaza. It’s the only specialty coffee shop of its kind in North Sydney at the moment. The space is very hipster with industrial décor and fit out. Their passion for coffee is very evident from the brewing bar set-up that includes siphons, chemex, cold drips and a sleek espresso machine. Blends and single origin/estate beans from roasters like Reuben Hills and Single Origin Roasters are available. The uncomplicated lunch menu showcases comfort food that soothes the body and mind. I’ve longed to visit them ever since they’ve opened eight months ago. I was full of excitement when I finally had the chance to check them out with my fellow brunch loving buddies.

Hot chocolate

Filter - Single origin from Guatemala San Antonio by Reuben Hills

I strayed away from my usual milk espresso drinks and decided to go filter. A single origin from Guatemala San Antonio that was roasted by Reuben Hills was available that day and it was gorgeous. It had a light to medium body with lovely notes of black currant.

Reuben sandwich

The reuben sandwich ($11) consists of paprika slaw, pastrami, gruyere cheese, mayo and pickles in a nicely buttered rye sourdough bread. I'd prefer a bit more pastrami but I think they are just being careful not to overfill the sandwich. It is still everything delicious that one would expect from a reuben. I also like their own spin on replacing the traditional sauerkraut with paprika slaw.

The roast pork sandwich ($11) was a winner! It had all the ingredients that would make a glorious pork sambo such as crackling, apple puree and pickled fennel slaw. The sweetness from the apple puree went perfectly with the juicy pork. The fennel component of the slaw served as an excellent pork flavour enhancer.

Chicken and matzah ball soup

Then there's the chicken and matzah ball soup with bread ($12). This classic Jewish soup is a perfect winter comfort dish. The broth was aromatic and light with subtle flavours from the chicken, parsnips and carrots. Matzah balls are normally egg and chicken fat based dumpling-like morsels. Their version had an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture with very subtle chew. Every sip was like getting light kisses and warm hugs.

Last but not least was their awesome 12 hour brisket roll ($13). Besides the tender pulled beef brisket, it also has beetroot slaw, pickles and barbecue sauce (there could be mayo in it too) that all work well as a filling. It got a bit messy but it was definitely legit with wonderful smoky and tangy flavours.

The Roots Espresso is a well-rounded cafe that delivers excellent coffee, food and efficient service. It's a mini Melbourne in the heart of North Sydney. Tip: they also serve Brewtown brewnuts every Friday (you're welcome!).

The Roots Espresso

Shop 7, 2 Elizabeth Plaza

North Sydney NSW 2060

Website: http://www.therootsespresso.com/

Opening hours:

Monday – Friday 6:30 am to 4pm

Three Ropes Espresso, Parramatta

If one were to ask a coffee aficionado for great coffee and food in Parramatta, one would be directed to Circa on Wentworth Street. But what happens when the great Circa decides to branch out? A laneway cafe such as Three Ropes would be born. That is exactly what happened a few months ago.

Three Ropes Espresso is nicely located as a corner/laneway cafe on Darcy Street, Parramatta (close to Hungry Jacks and across the Parramatta train station).  It is humble and yet it embraces everything cool.  I love the rustic hip look with decors including a vintage robot and vinyl record player. It even has a dope street art right next to the takeaway counter on the laneway area.  On a day off work weeks ago, I made my way to Parramatta to check out Three ropes. I sure am glad that I did!

Flat white

Mocha

The flat white ($3.50) was made with Little Marionette beans. It had a thin layer of velvet foam, milk was at perfect temperature and the coffee had a full body taste. It also had a hint of fruity taste on the palate. The mocha ($4) had the perfect balance of chocolate and coffee flavours.

Silverbeet sandwich

The silverbeet sandwich ($9) is one of the most awesome sandwiches I've had. It had silverbeet that is cooked down, mixed with three cheeses namely: Feta, parmesan, and gouda. There was also some aioli and a little bit of chilli for some kick.

Flourless chocolate cake

The flourless chocolate cake ($3.50) was dense and very moist. It was full of flavour and definitely a good way to end my breakfast.

Three Ropes is another Cafe and food establishment that Parramatta should be proud of. It is perfect for a quick caffeine fix where you can just chill and savour your coffee and food.           

Three Ropes Espresso

10A Darcy Street

Parramatta NSW 2150