Samson Girl in Sydney: The Grounds of Alexandria

Ok ok, one more post about Melbourne's rival city and then I promise I'll return to my normal Sydney-snubbing self. This Sydney cafe I feel hardly needs any introduction...in fact, I'm more inclined to call it more a Caffe 'Community' or 'Hub' of sorts, because to deem The Grounds of Alexandria a mere cafe hardly seems to do it justice.

I bravely attempted a weekend visit to my favourite Sydney hangout and, despite the huge lines and crowds of people, I was not disappointed. A friendly little farmers market greeted us, with cute stalls selling everything from delectable pastries and jewellery to caramel ice-cream sandwiches (oh yeah, you heard me right) and chocolate covered popcorn. Rather than a table in the cafe section, we wound our way through the outdoor crowds braving the cold to gorge themselves on burgers, chips and grilled meats from cheery stall vendors, and grabbed a table at the newly established Potting Shed. This section of the growing Grounds Community boasts breakfast, lunch and dinner and, though offering a different menu to its cafe-relation, the food can most definitely hold its own. With dishes of wagyu burgers, salt and pepper calamari, fresh and delicate salads and a cocktail menu that could kill, there is most definitely something to be enjoyed by everyone. And once you've eaten and drunk your fill, take a stroll through the ever-expanding space, purchase flowers from the Instagram-worthy florist, take a look at the amazing deli and do not, I repeat, do not simply walk past those ice-cream sandwiches. A trip to The Grounds of Alexandria really is my favourite way to say goodbye to Sydney.

Samson Girl in Sydney: Caramel Milkshakes and Damn Fine Coffee at Reuben Hills

Some call it a gift and others call it a caffeinated curse, but somehow, no matter where I am, I always happen to stumble across the best cafes in a city - not that it's particularly difficult to find yourself a good brew of black stuff when wandering around Sydney's Surrey Hills. In this suburb coffee reins supreme, cafes seem to outnumber residence and the hipster beard is almost a prerequisite uniform. While wandering through this beautifully leafy suburb on my first day in Sydney, I felt my caffeine senses tingling (this usually only happens closer to a full moon) as I approached Reuben Hills, a Sydney cafe that's like the barista equivalent of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Except on Steroids.

Reuben Hills' long and narrow interior, with a roller door out back and an unassuming shopfront, is full to bursting with extraordinary apparatuses that envelope you in a world of brew ratios, filtration methods and specialty coffee. Sitting proudly atop the long stone counter is the customised three group mistral, behind which dedicated apron-clad baristas work their magic on the specially sourced coffee. Owners Nathan Borg and Russell Beard are committed to making specialty coffee as appealing and accessible as possible, and by providing customers with a wonderfully balanced cup of coffee, they do just that. Make sure you try out the rotating espresso of the day as well as the deliciously drinkable house blend, which has proven to be a keen crowd pleaser. Borg and Beard now roast their beans on site, which are carefully sourced from their travels to countries such as Honduras, Colombia and Panama.

The menu also draws inspiration from their culinary exploits throughout Honduras and El Salvador, resulting in super-chilled food with a mexicano vibe. Think baleada honduran tortilla with egg, queso fresco and black beans, or a Charquican chillean beef stew with soft fried egg, tomato rice and fermented pebre. For something a little more lunchy than brunchy when you've got the munchies, go for 'the NOT reuben sandwich': two thick slices of rye filled with wagyu brisket, manchego, pickled slaw and horseradish cream. If you can handle it, follow up your meal with the salted caramel milkshake. Trust me, you won't regret it.

I know I'm supposed to turn my nose up Sydney coffee, but when it tastes this good how could I possibly resist the urge to congratulate this extremely awesome cafe on being, well, extremely awesome! With its unpretentious coffee-geekery, wonderfully modern space and a menu that induces unconscious drooling, I think Iv'e found the Sydney cafe that would make even the most smug Melbourne coffee lover swoon.

My Last Morning in Sydney at The Grounds of Alexandria

So far my holiday has been filled with beautiful Queensland beaches, folky markets, Great Barrier Reef adventures and a night with Jamie Oliver. Despite all these remarkable spectacles there did seem to be one crucial thing missing from my trip. Good coffee.  But where to find said amazing coffee when a 'mugaccino' is unfortunately common in Port Douglas and everyone knows Melbourne trumps Sydney for coffee quality...sorry, I couldn't resist that one. It can be tricky finding a good cafe on foreign soil, particularly when we're more than spoilt for choice in Melbourne. But after a little bit of insider assistance from a local who recommended Sydney cafe The Grounds of Alexandria, on my last morning in Sydney I found a place that, not only scratched my coffee itch, but left me speechless at its awesomeness. Rest assures folks, there was not a mugaccino in sight.

Built into the remains of a heritage listed Four'N Twenty Pie warehouse (it doesn't get much more Aussie than that) and spilling out into an enormous organic garden and courtyard in Sydney's West, The Grounds is as much a spectacle as the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is a completely innovative space unlike any I have seen before, where specialty coffee mingles with science - theres a coffee research and testing facility on site - and sustainability in a perfectly balanced equation. The expansive garden is home to heirloom vegetables and fresh herbs which are used throughout the wholesome and rustic menu. There are also numerous stalls scattered throughout the gardens selling everything from organic blueberries to strawberry lemonade, as well as a cubby house for the kiddies and an animal pen for a very well fed pig by the name of 'Kevin Bacon'. Oh yeah, they went there! The vastness and innovative design of the cafe itself, with exposed brick walls, hanging pot plants and industrial light fittings, was alone enough to render me speechless...actually that's probably the wrong expression given I couldn't stop exclaiming about the fit out for the first 20 minutes. But don't be fooled by the remarkable appearance of this cafe people, its not all just good looks and charm, because when it comes to coffee The Grounds put me at serious risk of hyperventilating. Their NASA standard of coffee toys (unfortunately these are not the kind if toys which can be purchased in a brown paper bag from a shifty guy for 15 dollars) starts with a new generation Syneso espresso machine, a customised Clover brewer, twin 7kg Probat roasters, volumetric milk taps (...I don't even know what that is, but it was invented by these guys) and finally a one of a kind retrofitted GS2 espresso machine taking centre stage on the brew bar. Oh yes, this place is the holy grail for coffee addicts all over the world. 

Not to be overshadowed by the coffee, the menu displays possibly one of the best breakfast and lunch selections I have ever come across. And that's saying a lot because, ladies and gentlemen, I've been around. The tantalising breakfast menu includes choices like The Grounds Smashed Avocado with roast tomato, grilled haloumi, Ligurian olives, parsley oil and a poached egg, and the ever so popular Breakfast Board, with double smoked ham, avocado, fresh tomato with Persian feta, two poached eggs, chunky pesto and house-made sourdough. My choice was the 'Well Being Breakfast': house cured ocean trout, gribiche eggs, and a green bean and fennel salad with beetroot relish, dill creme fraiche and two slices of charred sourdough. Its ok, I was drooling too. The flavours and textures of the crunchy, zesty salad complimented the rich smokey trout and the creamy eggs perfectly, with the beetroot relish adding a necessary sweetness that balanced the whole dish. My partner chose the breakfast burger: a fried egg, avocado, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato relish and smokey mayo on a brioche bun. Classic and delicious. 

 

Honestly, I could go on and on about the grounds of Alexandria. I could tell you about the delectable lunch menu, the remarkably cheery staff, the in house Grounds bakery that boasts a huge 800kg bread oven and produces house bread and sweet pastries, or I could write a whole nother paragraph about the deliciously fruity, sweet and perfectly balanced coffee...but I don't want to bore  you. Forget about the Sydney Opera House, don't worry about Bondi and laugh in the face of the Harbour Bridge. If there's one thing you must (read: MUST) do in Sydney, it's visit The Grounds of Alexandria. Throw away your guide books and get lost in the wilds of Sydney, I promise that you won't regret it.