Coco’s Sunday Brunch, The Sebel Cairns
Last Sunday I attended a friend’s birthday brunch at Coco’s Restaurant at The Sebel in the city. I have long said that this particular buffet, though expensive, is the best in town. Alas this is no longer the case. I have observed the price rise of the buffet over the years from $40 odd dollars including alcohol to their current pricing ($58 per person without the drinks or $70 with the drinks). The buffet includes seafood (crab, prawns, bugs and oysters) as well as hot and cold dishes and the delectable dessert bar. The drinks package includes selected cocktails (margaritas, mango and strawberry daquiris), sparkling wine and soft drinks, although the alcohol content of the cocktails is questionable but with the amount of food that one normally eats at a buffet alcohol intoxication isn’t really a factor.
MS and I arrived at The Sebel, which is a beautiful hotel I might add. There was live music playing and while we waited in line to pay for our buffet we were offered a glass of champagne (whoops I mean sparkling wine). We both chose the $58 non-drinking package which didn’t seem to matter because the staff continued to top up my glass of sparkling wine long after I placed it down in front of me at the table. This was much to my detriment later on in the afternoon as I wasn’t feeling too great following my 4 or 5 glasses of sparkling. I certainly wasn’t complaining about the free refills at the time. MS and I sat down at the table, did the introductions and then waited the obligatory 56 seconds or so before we raced to the buffet. I went straight to the seafood while MS, well… who knows I wasn’t paying any attention because I was consumed with the pile of bugs and oysters in front of me. First things first, I know my seafood. Lets just say my parents have owned a seafood business since I was just a twinkle in their eye so I do know what I am talking about and if I don’t I just ask my dad. After dreaming about oysters since having the most amazing oysters of my life on Christmas Day (they were NZ oysters) I was finally going to get my fill of them again. Initially I was most disappointed with the size of the oysters. They were small. Tiny. Minute. Nothing compared to the delicious oysters that I had been fantasising about or had recently consumed. Size isn’t everything though. I piled a few oysters on my plate, grabbed two bug halfs, a handful of prawns (with tongs might I add) and took my seat at the table. I am all for oysters being small as long as they taste good but these didn’t. They didn’t taste nice. I don’t want to go on and on about the oysters but good, fresh seafood is so important! I asked one of the waiters where the oysters were from and he informed me they were from Tasmania. I’ll wrap up my oyster rant with this… It’s no wonder so many people don’t eat oysters because I wouldn’t either if I had only ever tried oysters that tasted like these ones. Now I’m going to move onto the bugs. The bugs were overcooked and tough. Not sweet and juicy like bugs should be. I wasn’t the only one that noticed the distasteful bugs. On a lighter note there were two types of prawns available at the buffet – tigers and endeavours – and these were delicious but for someone who had intended on dining on almost nothing but bugs and oysters at the buffet I was reduced to look elsewhere on the buffet for a feed after my disappointing seafood encounter.
Prawns, Bug and Oysters
Further down at the hot buffet station there was the usual breakfast fare… English Muffin Eggs Benedict (the eggs were runny mind you – HALLELUJAH), Bacon, Chipolatas, Frittata and Raspberry and White Chocolate Pancakes. Other dishes at the hot buffet station included Roast Lamb, Salmon, Chicken Laksa, Pork (with crackling), Steamed Vegetables and Soup. The Roast Lamb was amazing but then again isn’t all Roast Lamb amazing? I think I actually went back for thirds of the lamb. The pork was dry but then again, most pork is dry. That is really all I helped myself to at the Hot Buffet section and spent the rest of my time in the salad section eating things like the Mushroom, Goats Cheese and Red Onion Tart and the White Anchovies that someone had left just for me near the ‘make your own’ Caesar Salad’ section. I’m pretty sure the website calls this the ‘Sushi and Salad Bar’ but there was no Sushi there on this particular day much to my dismay.
A section of the Sushi and Salad Bar
Because it was a friends birthday there was birthday cake so I only had a tiny taste of the desserts that were on offer. The dessert display looks amazing and the pastry chef at Coco’s Restaurant really does know how to make some enticing desserts. Unfortunately I only managed to try the Coconut Pannacotta since the guilt of eating Chocolate Ganache birthday cake as well as Cheesecake, Frangipane Tart and other yummy desserts had caught up with me, along with the 3 or 4 plates of food I had already eaten and the disapproving looks from MS.
Dessert Bar
The last time I had Sunday brunch at The Sebel was almost a year ago and I found it to be a little disappointing then. When I say disappointing I mean everything other than the seafood was delicious however the seafood just isn’t up to the standard that it used to be so I hardly ate any this time around. But lets be honest here it’s really not worth paying a minimum of $58 if you are not going to eat the seafood. The service is fantastic and you never have an empty glass or a dirty plate in front of you and I guess the service is part of what you are paying with the hefty price tag. It seems to me that the standard of food at Coco’s Restaurant has taken a bit of a turn for the worse since Mirvac Hotels took over from the Cairns International Hotel and it then became The Sebel. It is important to note that they are serving Australian Seafood and not the imported crap but I’m still not feeling it. So in my opinion the Sunday Brunch buffet at Coco’s Restaurant is no longer the Best Seafood Buffet in Cairns and for now the title is up for grabs. Any takers?
Coco’s Restaurant
17 Abbott St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4050 2101
Opening Hours: Every Sunday 11.30am – 2.30pm
Breakfast @ Caffiend, Cairns
I have been a little bit slack with my posts lately. My sister texted me a few days ago to so eloquently inform me that my last post was on the 8th of January! Shock! Horror! Who would have thought?! But seriously a girl has to work and I just haven’t been able to get a quiet minute with my laptop. That’s not to say that I haven’t been eating out though. On our latest quest to find a new breakfast spot following recent disappointing meals at two close-by but unnamed establishments MS and I rolled on into local haunt Caffiend. Tucked down the arcade and facing onto the graffiti filled alley way Caffiend is cool, relaxed and very Melbourne-esque. On a wet and drizzly Saturday afternoon Caffiend was only about half full but I’m pretty sure we arrived not long after the rush of the market-going diners. No complaints here.
We perused both the breakfast and lunch menu since it was 12.30pm but neither of us had had breakfast as yet so we opted for the breakfast options. Again, being a big, hungry man MS opted for the closest thing to a Big Breakfast on the menu – The Morning Glory which consisted of Two Poached Eggs, Streaky Bacon, Slow Roast Pumpkin, Oven-Dried Tomato, Crunchy Chat Potatoes, Rocket Salad for AU$17.90. Having only recently discovered omelettes (up until about 4 months ago I thought that omelettes were horrible, nasty things full of onion and capsicum – oh how wrong I was) I chose the Basil and Goats Cheese Omelette with Roma Tomato and Sourdough Toast for AU$13.90, along with a side of Chilli Jam for an extra AU$3. In the meantime our coffees arrived (it was goooooood coffee) and our attentive waitress bought us a jug of water and some glasses. Our breakfasts took just a little bit longer than desired to arrive but in the grand scheme of things it wasn’t too long. In the meantime we drank our coffees, admired the graffiti art and read the ‘Letters to the Editor’ in The Weekend Post.
On arrival of our meals we inspected the two poached eggs on MS’ plate. More often than not I am disappointed with overcooked poached eggs. As I have said in previous posts poached eggs should have runny yoke, not hard boiled yolk (that’s my opinion anyway). The eggs were perfectly poached… HALLELUJAH! The Roast Pumpkin and Crunchy Chat Potatoes provided something different to the meal and gave it a bit more pizazz rather than the usual Big Breakfast staples like Baked Beans and a greasy Chipolata.
Morning Glory – 2 Poached Eggs, Streaky Bacon, Slow Roast Pumpkin, Oven-Dried Tomato, Crunchy Chat Potatoes, Rocket Salad (AU$17.90)
The Omelette was always going to be a winner with me, mostly because it had lots of yummy goats cheese on it (my new favourite cheese) but also because it was cooked to perfection and the Chilli Jam was the perfect accompaniment. According to the menu the Chilli Jam is made in house and although you only get a small dish of it that is all you need because it certainly has a bit of bite to it. Much more than the Chilli Jam I knock up at home anyway. The omelette was light and fluffy and a generous size despite how the picture may appear below.
Basil and Goats Cheese Omelette, Roma Tomato and Sourdough Toast (AU$13.90) with a side of Chilli Jam (AU$3)
Caffiend is a funky little out of the way cafe that is definitely worth dropping into even if it’s just for a coffee to enjoy with the secondhand book you just purchased in the arcade. The staff are friendly, the coffee is made with love, the food is delish, the goats cheese is plentiful and there is a huge graffiti art of a girl with no top on right outside in the alleyway. What more could you want with your breakfast? A word of warning though: Be careful of the slippery floors if it’s been raining.
Caffiend
5/78 Grafton St, Cairns QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4051 5522
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 7.30am-2pm, All day breakfast, Lunch 12pm-2pm
Vivo Bar and Grill, Palm Cove
Just a quick one – If you are looking for somewhere nice to go for breakfast out towards the Northern Beaches then go and check out Vivo Bar and Grill. MS and I went there a couple of weeks ago for a mid morning breakfast. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the beach actually looked nice (sometimes that’s a bit of a rarity for poor old Cairns) and we had a fantastic view from our little table for two out the front of Vivo. Our waitress, a bubbly woman whose name I cannot remember for the life of me, gave us fantastic service that never faultered, even when we decided we didn’t like where we had sat ourselves and moved to the other side of the restaurant. The breakfast menu looked super yummy but MS and I both went for the low carb omelette option in preparation of the Christmas onslaught. I ordered a Smoked Salmon Omelette while MS ordered the Chorizo Omelette, both around the AU$18 mark. We enjoyed our cappuccino’s and the view while we waited for our omelettes, which arrived together in ample time.
Genovese Coffee
My omelette was packed full of Smoked Salmon and Dill. They certainly weren’t stingy on the amount of smoked salmon they used as some cafes and restaurants can be. It was all topped off with some fresh Rocket and Tallegio Cheese on the top. YUM!
Smoked Salmon Omelette
MS really enjoyed his omelette, even if the Chorizo was a little spicy for him. Again his omelette had plenty of Chorizo and juicy Sundried Tomatoes topped with fresh Rocket and Parmesan Cheese.
Our omelettes were packed full of flavour and a perfect breakfast portion for us to start our day (at 11am). Vivo has the whole package with delicious food, fantastic service and a great relaxed atmosphere in an upmarket suburb. Next time I head out to Palm Cove I’ll be having dinner at Vivo Bar and Grill.
Vivo Bar and Grill
William’s Esplanade Palm Cove
Ph: (07) 4059 0944
Opening Hours: 7 days from 7am for breakfast, lunch, tapas and dinner
Website: www.vivo.com.au
Candy Cafe Bar, Grafton St
Last week MS and I were looking for somewhere else to go for breakfast (somewhere other than our usual options anyway) so we decided on new cafe Candy in Grafton St. Candy is a new venture by owners of The Raw Prawn on the Esplanade, a restaurant that I have been to many times for an enjoyable and scrumptious lunch. This new little cafe/bar is located a couple of doors down from the ever busy Lilypad Cafe with a couple of sets of chairs and tables out the front, a big open window looking onto the coffee machine and heaps of chairs and tables inside. Situated where the old Italian restaurant Il Sorrento was (if my memory serves me correctly), Candy has been newly fitted out with green artificial topiary walls on the shop front and green artificial planter pots around the tables on the footpath as well as inside, just for something different. The fitout, although unfinished, seems to have a bit of vintage theme to it and you certainly can’t miss the place when you walk past.
MS and I perused the menu, which seemed to be both a breakfast and lunch menu in one. There was a total of 14 items on the menu, 6 of which could be considered breakfast items and there is even a selection for the kiddies such as a Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Lamb Sticks with Cucumber, Chicken Skewers and Grilled Fish with Salad (don’t know how many kids eat cucumber and salad but hey) all for AU$9. I was tossing up between The B & E Stack – Bacon and Egg Stack, Tomato Relish, Aioli and Toasted Turkish for AU$11 or The Madam – Mushroom Tart, Roast Garlic, Thyme, Spinach, Poached Egg, Pesto Goats Curd for AU$16 and after some umming and ahhing I ordered The Madam. MS went with the closest thing to a big breakfast that he could find on the menu so aptly named The Usual – Bacon, Poached Eggs, Garlic Mushrooms, Rosemary Tomato, Black Pudding and Truffle Oil for AU$15 but being the big sook that he is decided to forgo the Black Pudding in exchange for some extra bacon as confirmed by the waiter. I was happy to steal the Black Pudding off his plate and eat it myself but he wanted extra bacon. We ordered two cappuccinos and waited for our breakfast. Our cappuccinos took a little while to arrive and when they did the Barista apologised and explained that he was still getting used to the coffee machine. We appreciated the apology but our coffees were cold. One thing I did notice about the coffees was the ornate collector stirring spoons that came out on the saucer. Very cute and a nice little added touch to go with the vintage theme of the restaurant.
Our meals arrived not long after. MS thought his breakfast was very disappointing and I tend to agree with him. I’m not sure if they gave him extra bacon or just took the black pudding off because if that is the chefs idea of extra bacon well he is going to have some tough opposition from the bacon lovers out there. The bacon that MS did have was nice thick cut bacon but he would have liked just a couple more rashers for the price.
The Usual – Bacon, Poached Eggs, Garlic Mushrooms, Rosemary Tomato, Black Pudding, Truffle Oil (AU$16)
My meal was small but nice. I guess I had different expectations when I read ‘Tart’ on the menu. I was expecting some sort of pastry tart but instead it was a tart made only out of mushrooms (I know that is also considered a tart in some culinary circles). The mushrooms that made up the ‘tart’ however were big and juicy and the pesto goat’s curd matched perfectly with them. But, one of the things that I do judge a restaurant or cafe on is their ability to poach an egg properly. Poached eggs should be runny. When you pierce a poached egg with your knife the yolk should ooze out of it onto the plate. Unfortunately the eggs that we were both served were more like hard boiled eggs and there was certainly no oozing yolk in sight.
The Madam – Mushroom Tart, Roast Garlic, Thyme, Spinach, Poached Egg, Pesto Goats Curd (AU$16)
All in all the meals were good but the servings were very small and we were both pretty disppointed by this. In stark contrast, the Lilypad Cafe next door serves ridiculously large breakfasts and although I wouldn’t expect the same from Candy they may need to up the ante a little if they are going to try and steal some of their customers. I know that the owners are still waiting on their liquor license to be approved and are also planning on opening up for dinner in the near future. The fitout of the restaurant hadn’t been completed yet and I did noticed that the place looked very unfinished. Just a suggestion but maybe they should have waited until the Barista’s were trained up properly and the fitout had been finished before opening their doors. I will come back to try the enticing lunch menu in a couple of months when they have smoothed out a few creases. Having said all that heres hoping that considering the success of The Raw Prawn, Candy will come into its own soon enough.
Candy Cafe Bar
70 Grafton St, Cairns QLD
Ph: (07) 4031 8816
Driftaway’s On The Water, Yorkeys Knob Boat Club
I’m just a regular person that enjoys food, enjoys eating out and enjoys writing about it. As an anonymous diner I do not, nor do I want to, get any benefits or perks from the places that I dine at. It must also be said that all restaurants that I review do not know that I am going to be writing about them. As a local that wants to support the cafes and restaurants of Cairns I don’t particularly want to write bad reviews but sometimes it’s deserved and the experience just can’t go untold. A few days ago I had the unfortunate experience of having dinner at Driftaways On The Water at Yorkeys Knob Boat Club. It was not my choice (I wanted to go to the new Indian restaurant at Harbour Lights) however my friend that chose to dine there soon regretted it also. I have dined at Driftaway’s once before for the $10 a dozen oysters on Saturday’s and found it to be pretty good but then again how hard is it to stuff up natural oysters? You really just have to put them on a plate with a bit of lemon and away you go. This time however we were there on a Friday night so there were no $10 a dozen oysters to order. We perused the dinner menu and my friend ST opted for the Salmon Pasta described as Penne Pasta with Atlantic Salmon, Capers, Spanish Onion, Cherry Tomato and Baby Spinach in a Light Cream reduction (AU$24), while I opted for the Tiger Prawn Spring Rolls as a main (AU$19). We decided we would share a Traditional Bruchetta Bread (AU$9.50). I’m pretty sure it’s spelt ‘Bruschetta’ with an ‘S’. We asked for all the meals to be brought out together which they were and in good time too but the food was terrible. The Bru(s)chetta Bread was stale and I mean REALLY stale. They had used stale bread and tried to toast it to hide the staleness of the bread. They didn’t toast it nearly long enough to do this. I took it back and they brought out ‘fresh’ bread (or was it just different pieces from the same loaf toasted longer this time?) ST thought her Salmon Pasta was horrible and asked me to taste it to see if it tasted ok. Ok is an overstatement. Let’s just say the Salmon Pasta wasn’t what either of us expected it to be especially for the price. My Tiger Prawn Spring Rolls, well in my exact words ‘tasted like food poisoning’. We ate half a spring roll each and left the rest. I’m surprised I didn’t get an upset stomach from them. I don’t think I need to say anymore on the matter or Driftaway’s. The service I must admit was pretty good despite having to order your meals at the counter but the food is atrocious and no restaurant should serve food of such poor quality, ever.
Driftaway’s On The Water
Ph: (07) 4055 7711
Opening Hours: Dinner 6pm – 9pm daily
Website: www.ykbc.com.au
El Mundo Tapas Bar, Edge Hill *CLOSED DOWN*
By complete coincidence I was invited by friends (BC, JuC and JoC) to dine at El Mundo Tapas Bar in Edge Hill on the same day that they made the front page of The Cairns Post and voted by Trip Advisor to be the number 1 restaurant to dine out in Cairns out of a whopping 177 restaurants. Do we really have that many restaurants in Cairns? Sheesh! I was certainly in luck to be going to El Mundo and also lucky that my friends had booked a few days prior because the place was absolutely packed out. I have noticed that when El Mundo first opened mid last year there was a couple of tables inside and a couple of tables outside. Since then that number has grown and now they simply cannot fit anymore tables outside. The entire sidewalk is now taken up by tables and chairs full of happy diners enjoying their tapas. I have dined at El Mundo previously and even attempted to review it but the pictures I took were so damn dodgy (even more so than usual) due to the poor lighting where I was seated that I decided it wasn’t worth doing a post. On this occasion however I had ample lighting to take pictures of the delicious plates of tapas that were arriving at our table. Now for those that haven’t been to El Mundo Tapas Bar before every month they feature a different type of cuisine. This month (December) is Turkish Month, while a few months ago when I last dined there it was Sri Lankan month. Along with their regular menu of mouth watering tapas they feature a selection of dishes from that particular country and instead of having waiters coming around and taking your order (they do take your drink order in a very timely fashion and regularly replace your water bottles) each table gets a little blackboard and some chalk to write down a selection of tapas of their choice from the tantalising menu. The waiter then comes and retrieves the blackboard from your table and ‘VOILA’! Your order has been placed. The blackboard ordering system is a fun and unique way of ordering your dishes.
Ordering via blackboard
Now the restaurant was packed this particular Thursday night (I even saw them turning people away) but the food still arrived in ample time and we weren’t waiting long for our first batch of blackboard choices to arrive. First up we went with a mix of both Turkish themed tapas and some of the usual thoroughfare that they have every month. Ever the chilli lovers BC and I both gushed about the ‘Chilli Rellenos’ on the menu, having tried them previously and I have to say they are my favourite item on the menu. First to come out was the C & L Garlic Beef, Soy marinated tender chunks of bite sized beef served with zesty lime and peanut dipping sauce (AU$7.50). The beef was tender and juicy and although JoC had a bit of trouble getting the pieces onto her fork she certainly enjoyed this dish. JuC announced that having previously tried this dish it was in fact one of her favourites.
C & L Garlic Beef – Soy marinated tender chunks of bite sized beef served with a zesty lime and peanut dipping sauce (AU$7.50)
Next came the Chilli Rellenos, Jalapeno Chillies stuffed with Cheddar and Bacon and lightly fried in Tempura Batter (AU$6.90). These are a little bit spicy but OMG they are amazing and I could eat them, as my mum would say ’till the cows come home’. Apparently they are one of the favourites on the menu with customers. These were so good that we just had to order another plate because one chilli was not enough! I could have even gone a third plate! YUM just doesn’t cut it!
Chilli Rellenos – Jalapeno Chillies stuffed with Cheddar and Bacon and lightly fried in Tempura Batter (AU$6.90)
The vegetarian Gozleme, Crispy Turkish Style Pastries stuffed with a Fresh Spinach, Herb and Fetta Centre (AU$7.90), was the next item brought to our table. These were simply delicious and everyone at the table commented on how tasty they were. You could taste the fresh herbs that were enveloped in the crispy pastry and they tasted authentically homemade.
Gozleme – Crispy Turkish Style Pastries stuffed with a Fresh Spinach, Herb and Fetta Centre (AU$7.90)
After round one of our tasty tapas we were ready to order some more. Our resident scribe JuC neatly wrote down some more dishes that we collectively chose and sent the blackboard off with the next available waiter. Soon after the first dish of our second round of tapas arrived, The Turkish Dips, described as a Trio of flavoursome Turkish inspired dips: Roasted Red Pepper and Fetta Hummus, Eggplant and Black Olive and Spinach and Yogurt served with Grilled Flatbread (AU$7.90). There was eight pieces of flatbread all up, enough for two each which was handy because I’m not the best sharer. The dips were delicious but the spinach and yogurt one was definitely my favourite.
The Turkish Dips -A trio of flavoursome Turkish inspired dips: Roasted Red Pepper and Fetta Hummus, Eggplant and Black Olive and Spinach and Yogurt served with Grilled Flatbread (AU$7.90)
Following closely after this dish was the Pistachio Crusted Trout described on the menu as ‘Fresh trout pieces coated with a crispy pistachio and thyme crust, served with spicy herbed yogurt (AU$8.90). One of my pet hates is overcooked seafood , whether it be at a friends place or out at a restaurant some people just can’t get it right (not me of course because I AM a fantastic cook) but here at El Mundo they certainly got it right. The trout was cooked perfectly, not overcooked, not undercooked but just right. It literally melted in my mouth and my dinner buddies who sometimes aren’t too fond of seafood ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ about how yummy the bite sized morsels of trout were.
Pistachio Crusted Trout – Fresh Trout Pieces Coated with a Crispy Pistachio and Thyme Crust served with Spicy Herbed Yogurt (AU$8.90)
Keeping with the seafood theme we continued on with the Calamari (AU$7.90) and the Coconut Prawns served with Mango and Lime Salsa (AU$9.90). The Calamari was cut into strips and lightly fried with a salt and pepper coating. A very simple dish but again so many places stuff it up. Not El Mundo though, their Calamari was superb and a really generous serving (still I was glad we chose to order two plates).
Calamari – Tender Calamari Strips Lightly Fried with a Salt and Pepper Coating (AU$7.90)
The Coconut Prawns were nice and big with crunchy coconut on the outside and juicy and tender prawn on the inside, accompanied perfectly with the zesty Mango and Lime Salsa. These little babies were snapped up pretty damn quickly and even after the prawns were long gone I was eating the salsa on its own because it was so yummy and I just couldn’t let it go to waste!
Coconut Prawns – Crispy Coconut Prawns served with a fresh and tangy Mango and Lime Salsa (AU$9.90)
Our last savoury dish of the night was the Camembert, bite sized pieces crumbed and lightly fried, served with Roasted Pepper Sauce (AU$7.90). Well, what more can I say because who doesn’t love cheese and even better… melted cheese? Perfect melt in your mouth morsels of cheese! BC even finished off the Roasted Pepper Sauce after the cheese was gone so that didn’t make me feel so bad for finishing off the Mango and Lime Salsa.
Camembert – Bite sized pieces of Camembert, crumbed and lightly fried, served with a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (AU$7.90)
Having finished our tapas selection for the evening (I still could have eaten some more of those Chillis) we looked towards the dessert menu which was personally brought out by the man of the moment co-owner of El Mundo Tapas Bar Mark. He had a bit of a joke and a laugh with us and thanked us for coming along before introducing us to the dessert menu and giving us a bit of a rundown of what was what. There was five options to choose from on the menu including Pavlova, Creme Brûlée, Sticky Date Pudding and Affogato. While BC opted for the ‘I will have a taste of everyone else’s and not order my own’ approach, the remaining three at the tabe including myself ordered two Plum Pudding Ice Creams and a Chocolate Brownie (that was me).
It didn’t take our desserts long to arrive and when they did our mouths all watered at the size of the warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream that was placed in front of me. I did have this Brownie on my previous visit to El Mundo and it was mouthwatering. This time was no different except this time I am sure the serving was much bigger. The Brownie literally melted in my mouth and it was light and fluffy and not too rich. Everyone else at the table had a taste and agreed it was delectable. Needless to say despite the portion size I finished the entire dish spurred on by the huge effort I had put in at the gym earlier that day (hey I deserved it!).
Choc Brownie (AU$9.90)
JuC and JoC both tucked into their Plum Pudding Ice Cream, which again was a nice big serve and they most certainly enjoyed it. I’m not the biggest fan of currants and the like so I had a small taste but it wasn’t for me (probably because I was way too distracted by the giant Brownie). Since its so close to Christmas it was nice to have a little bit of festivity on the menu along with the other yummy but classic dessert options.
Christmas Cake Ice Cream (AU$9.90)
While eating my dining companions and I discussed our current Mayoral situation, BC’s new stereo system and T-Box and the risks associated with opening a new restaurant in Cairns particularly in a residential area. Owners of El Mundo Tapas Bar Mark and Carlie have obviously overcome any hurdles that may have stood in their way by creating a fantastic owner run establishment with a homely, friendly and laidback feel to it. Mark chatting with us while he took our dessert orders gave our dining experience that nice personal touch and its easy to see that although he is a very busy man he still takes time out to show appreciation to his diners. The food is delicious, the service is personal and the prices are reasonable as are the serving sizes. The people have spoken and if the packed tables of happy customers are anything to go by El Mundo is soon to become a Cairns institution. Well done to Mark and Carlie on your little gem of a restaurant in the heart of Edge Hill!
El Mundo Tapas Bar
3/124 Collins Ave, Edge Hill
Ph: (07) 4032 0550
Opening Hours: Wed – Sun 5.30pm till late
Website: www.elmundotapas.com.au
My Favourite Chai Latte @ Jamaica Blue
I like to think of myself as a bit of a Chai Latte conoisseur having tried many in my time (well over the last 6 years or so since I discovered them anyway). From franchises like Gloria Jeans to The Coffee Club and even the little independent coffee shops, these places have nothing on the Chai Latte at Jamaica Blue. Sick of being continuously disappointed with syrupy and spicy Chai Latte’s at other coffee shops I don’t order them anywhere but Jamaica Blue anymore. The team at Jamaica Blue Cairns Central (particularly Mel) make the BEST Chai Latte’s I have ever tasted. Forget the syrupy crap that some places insist on serving, powdered Chai all the way! Yeah ok, I realise this isn’t the traditional or authentic type Chai but it’s sooooo good! And…although I’m not lactose intolerant, I do prefer Soy with my Chai because it makes it taste a little creamier. Get a Chai in ya!
Soy Chai Latte
Jamaica Blue Cairns Central
Cairns Central Shopping Centre
Ph: (07) 4041 0577
Website: www.jamaicablue.com.au
2-4-1 Locals Meals @ Green Ant Cantina, Bunda St
As a regular driver along Bunda St I can’t help but notice the hive of activity at the Green Ant Cantina on any given night. The Green Ant (as it is more commonly referred) is a gathering place for backpackers and locals alike. I first dined at the Green Ant Cantina a couple of years ago for a friends birthday and didn’t rate the place. I found it too noisy, the food took a very long time to come out (at least 45 minutes) and when it did it wasn’t very good. However, a few years down the track after reading a few positive Facebook status updates from friends I decided to give it another go.
Tuesday nights are 2-4-1 locals night on presentation of I.D so this seemed the perfect time for M.S and I to check it out. The whole place was seemingly overflowing with people both out the front, inside around the bar and out the back in the beer garden, still we managed to snavel ourselves a booth outside in the beer garden after ordering our meals (a grand total of AU$26 thank you 2-4-1!). My expectations weren’t very high I must admit and after seeing the amount of people that were at the Green Ant I thought we would be waiting a long time for our meals. I was wrong. We waited 15 minutes maximum and were both very surprised when the girl arrived at our table carrying our meals.
I ordered the Enchiladas, soft flour tortillas stuffed with mexi marinated chicken oven baked and topped with tasty cheese and fresh salsa served with fresh green salad and sour cream (AU$26). I tend to find Mexican food very rich and cheesy which is why I don’t eat it very often (maybe rich and cheesy is the point?) but I didn’t find this meal too rich at all, in fact I quite enjoyed it and have been looking forward to going back ever since.
Enchiladas (AU$26)
MS ordered the Chiquita Chicken Quesadilla, grilled 12″ tortilla folded and stuffed with mexi-marinated chicken, tasty cheese, spanish onion and roasted red capsicum served with sour cream, fresh salsa and homemade guacamole on the side (AU$23). I think his expectations weren’t very high (that may have been my partly fault) but MS really enjoyed his meal and when he finished it there was nothing left except for a couple of pieces of cheese and some salsa. Like me I think he is also looking forward to going back again soon.
Chiquita Chicken Quesadilla (AU$23)
The 2-4-1 locals special on Tuesday night makes for a cheap, yet tasty dinner. Having said that I probably wouldn’t dine at the Green Ant if the meals weren’t 2-4-1 because I think 26 odd dollars per meal is a little bit expensive especially considering you have to order your food at the bar and it is a backpacker hangout (aren’t those places supposed to be dirt cheap?). Still I’m happy to pay AU$26 for two very tasty meals and although the food at the Green Ant is not your true Mexican fare it is close enough and having tried the other two Mexican restaurants in town (that will remain unnamed) I think it’s by far the best in Cairns.
Green Ant Cantina
183 Bunda St, QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4041 5061
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 4pm till late
Website: www.greenantcantina.com
Breakfast @ Mama Coco, Westcourt
I have been a little slack lately with keeping my blog up to date and writing regular entries. I admit I have had a couple of weeks off. Not a couple of weeks off eating out, just the writing about it part. This whole dining out thing is a tough gig. Who am I kidding I love it! Moving along, its not very often that MS and I get our act together early enough to get to breakfast before 11am. Now before you judge me and think that I’m a bum and all I do is eat out and sleep in. That’s not the case at all. Let’s just say our jobs though entirely different are very accommodating of this lifestyle (no I’m not doing anything illegal). Now I’m getting off track…
Last Thursday we managed to get our act together and decide on a place for breakfast before 11am. In my last Mama Coco post I said that I wanted to try their breakfast and although I have tried it once before time got away from me and I didn’t end up writing a post about it. This time however I am putting pen to paper, so to speak and what a great breakfast it was. A few months ago I introduced MS to the world of Mama Coco (a cafe I discovered through a friend earlier this year) and he seems pretty taken with it too. In fact I have noticed that Mama Coco has quite a large local gathering. The first time I ate at Mama Coco I found myself wondering how a little cafe out of the main thoroughfare (by that I mean the city) can survive in what is tough times for Cairns but 6 months down the track I can see that this place is doing a roaring trade because of the quality food and good old fashioned service provided by Davey and his team.
The breakfast menu is reasonably priced and has a nice range of things to choose from. The avocado on toast with coriander, lime and chilli almost had me but since I’m sticking to a low carb type arrangement (well sort of) I decided to go for the Omelette of the Day which was Ricotta Cheese, Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus for AU$13. YUM! MS went for the closest thing to a big breakfast that he could get and chose the Dexy Special: poached eggs with all the sides (roast pumpkin, mushroom, bacon, slow roasted tomato and pesto) for AU$15. When our food came out I think MS had food envy when he looked at my omelette. Not to say that his didn’t look awesome but my omelette looked better and tasted delicious. The tomatoes were sweet, the asparagus was crisp and the ricotta cheese was plentiful. I would go as far to say that this omelette was in fact the best one I have ever had (although I have probably eaten fewer than 10 omelettes in my lifetime) .
Omelette of the Day – Ricotta Cheese, Asparagus and Roasted Tomatoes (AU$13)
MS was very happy with his brekky. It had plenty of bacon (he LOVES bacon), the poached eggs were perfectly poached and not overcooked, the mushrooms were big and juicy and the roasted pumpkin gave it that little bit extra bang. He did however steal a taste of my omelette but I got some pumpkin and mushroom too so it was only fair.
Dexy Special: poached eggs with all the sides (AU$15)
I continue to go to Mama Coco because the food is good and I mean consistently good. That is hard to find in Cairns, it really is. It does get quite busy at lunchtime and you may have to wait a little bit longer for your food but that’s a given. Mama Coco is a great little place where you feel like everyone knows your name (sounds super soppy I know but its true). Janelle makes great coffee and always serves you with a smile. Davey is a fantastic cook, always smiling and damn does he work hard! I will endeavour to drag my butt out of bed and get to Mama Coco before 11am more often!
Mama Coco:
Shop 4, 196 Mulgrave Road Westcourt QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 40521227
Website: www.mamacoco.com.au
Courtyard Cafe @ Coffee Works, Mareeba
If you are headed up the range to the Atherton Tablelands then you should think about stopping in at Coffee Works at Mareeba for a bite to eat. Do not confuse this with Skybury Coffee, a place a little way out of Mareeba that I really don’t rate but that’s another post entirely. I have been to Coffee Works a couple of times now and really enjoyed it. There is a massive gift shop that MS claims is ‘full of junk’ (typical male) but I didn’t think so. The gift shop has some really beautiful and unique things things to buy as a gift for someone, hence the name ‘Gift Shop’ and its definitely one of the better gift shops I have been to. However, on this occasion we came for lunch, not to buy gifts except for some chocolate coated coffee beans to take with us and eat on the drive back down the range.
View from the Courtyard Cafe
Everyday the Courtyard Cafe has what they call the Flamin’ BBQ with a chef whipping up yummy Steak Sandwiches and the like for the hoards of hungry locals and tourists arriving at Coffee Works. MS and I both had a Steak Sandwich (around the AU$14 mark) that comes with or without Blue Cheese Sauce. Being a lover of Blue Cheese (as my saying goes ‘I could shower in that sh*t’) I opted for the Blue Cheese Sauce while MS decided against it. For something a little bit different the Steak Sandwich comes with Smith Chips on the side. I’m assuming the chips are meant to be added to the sandwich for that extra crunch. It’s a nice touch and we both really enjoyed our Steak Sandwiches.
Steak Sandwich with Blue Cheese Sauce and Smith’s Chips
Coffee Works is a nice place to check out, just a little bit off the beaten track (well my beaten track anyway). The only problem I have with Coffee Works is the flies. They are plentiful and really annoying when you are trying to enjoy your delicious lunch and tend to put a dampener on the whole experience. Might I suggest a fly trap?
Coffee Works
136 Mason St, Mareeba QLD 4880
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-4pm
Ph: (07) 4092 4101
Website: www.coffeeworks.com.au
foodvixen 