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Memoirs of a Foodie

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    Circa Espresso is undoubtedly renowned for being one of the most popular cafes in the inner west and it's no wonder as it has been around for as long as I can remember and has been consistently serving delicious food and brewing great coffee. It's only a short distance from Westfield Parramatta Shopping Centre but you will most definitely be waiting at least 15 minutes for a table. There is a modest amount of outdoor and indoor seating available. 

    Iced Chai Tea
    A pleasant and refreshing iced beverage with the characteristic punch of chai to differentiate it from your usual milk tea. The crushed pistachio on the rim of the glass was a thoughtful touch and I appreciated the nutty aromatic flavours from them and the pop of green.

    African Red Hot Chocolate $5/$5.50
    DT's choice and I have to admit the exotic title of the drink was intriguing. It was a beautiful hot chocolate with a good consistency and had lovely subtle spicy undertones which added an extra depth of flavour to what would otherwise be your typical hot chocolate.

    French Toast $17
    I can't get over how photogenic the dish is with all the vibrant berries, green leaves and pretty assortment of petals against the golden french toast. Perhaps a bit bland overall as I think the french toast could have done with a heavier dusting of sugar and drizzling of spiced honey syrup (you probably think I'm out of my mind). In my defence, the fruits were more tart than sweet and the dollop of labneh (Greek yoghurt) was more than enough to balance out the sweetness. I loved the poached rhubarb and brûlée banana hidden underneath. The french toast had a slight crisp exterior and fluffy insides but admittedly, a bit on the dry side. Overall, it was completely filling and enjoyable to eat and take photos of.

    Ottoman Eggs $17
    One of the most iconic dishes along with their French Toast. The Middle Eastern flavours were prominent from the use of labneh infused with garlic and the beautifully poached free range egg sitting comfortably on the crumbed eggplant created a textural masterpiece. Two slices of seeded sourdough was the perfect complement to mopping up any egg mixed into the labneh and burnt chilli and sage butter. However, the dish could have done with more of a flavour kick considering the labneh was a tad overpowering with its creaminess.

    If you want a decent coffee to go with a good meal then Circa Espresso should be on your list especially if you're not far from the area and if you are a local and haven't visited yet then you're missing out on a total gem in Parramatta. Thankfully the cafe is open 7 days a week until 3pm, although their kitchen closes at 2pm so keep that in mind if you're heading in for a late lunch.

    Circa Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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    I have been to Jamie Oliver's restaurant in the city and was left feeling not quite satisfied as the food was average at best and the experience was only dampened further by the extremely long wait time. From memory, it was at least 40 minutes until we were seated and the lighting was very dim so it made it difficult to achieve decent photos. I wasn't completely deterred though and wanted to give Jamie Oliver a second chance and thus the trip to his second eatery located in Parramatta was warranted.

    We arrived at around 12pm and made a quick dash as it had just opened for lunch and there was already a stream of people lined up outside. Luckily we didn't have to wait for a table at all. The restaurant itself was quite spacious, being two storeys and the ambience was relaxed and friendly, suitable for families and larger groups unlike its CBD counterpart. The service was prompt and attentive and the food didn't take too long to come out (no more than 15 to 20 minutes) which was especially surprising considering many people were seated simultaneously.

    Polenta Chips $7.50
    I believe Jamie is quite famous for his polenta chips and there's no debate as to why. The crispiness and crunchiness of the polenta was so addictive and coupled with the fluffy insides they were indeed delicious and actually quite filling. The garnishing of shaved parmesan and rosemary were the perfect flavour combination.

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    Paper Plane Cafe is a lovely cafe situated in Parramatta and on the two occasions I dined there it was fairly busy however we didn't have to wait for more than 10 minutes for a table. Their kitchen closes at 2pm though so just be mindful as we did come here on one occasion at 2pm and were turned away.

    Cappuccino $3.50
    As usual I opted for a cappuccino and it didn't disappoint. Not overly sweetened with enough frothiness  for me to enjoy.

    Flat White $3.50
    The Midnight Cuban $15
    This was the best sandwich I have had and I am not fond of sandwiches at all. The pulled pork being triple smoked ham was soft and a delight to bite through, add in the melted Swiss cheese and BBQ white sauce and we have a winner for an unhealthy but really yummy toasted sandwich. The flavours were great, slightly sweet from the BBQ sauce but balanced out by the tangy mustard and the cheese. The thick cut chips were pillowy and soft inside but crunchy outside which is how I like them. The meal was super filling and it didn't help that it was quite a greasy meal overall but so so good.

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    I get a little bit excited when new Malaysian restaurants open up and even better when they open up not too far from home. PappaRich is a new and welcome addition to Parramatta but be warned that they do get quite busy for dinner and I advise to get in early (before 6 - 6:30pm) if you want to avoid waiting or not wait too long in line to get your dinner. I have dined at PappaRich on two occasions and both times I left feeling quite satisfied with the quality of the food and their service. Ordering is straightforward, you are required to fill out what you want on their order sheet and a buzzer installed on each table ensures you get quick service without struggling to get the attention of the waiters.

    Soya milk & sesame ice cream
    Soya milk pudding & cincau (grass jelly)
    They have quite an extensive drinks selection at decent prices, ranging from about $4 to $7. They are yummy and also pretty filling depending on what you get.
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    I was invited to have a complimentary meal for two at Grill'd in Parramatta Westfield back in February and so this review is long overdue. I remember Grill'd having its first store in the Sydney CBD a long while back and I am happy to see it has expanded greatly since then.

    The Famous Grill'd Chips with Herbed Mayo
    While not the focal point of the meal these thick-cut potato chips were delicious. They were not your ordinary deep fried pieces of potato goodness as they were seasoned with a unique blend of herbs and not oozing with oil so you will not feel greasy after demolishing them. And you definitely cannot deny a side of chips with your burger.

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    We do not usually venture out to have Indian food but when we do it is always at Neelam in Parramatta. I should try other Indian restaurants but thus far I feel Neelam serves really good and authentic Indian cuisine. I have come to like Indian curries as they are thick in consistency and therefore very flavoursome.

    Aloo Tikki ($7.90)
    We started off with potato patties which were surprisingly very green, I honestly do not know how they achieved that colour intensity but I am assuming a lot of peas went into the making of them. The outside was crunchy whereas the inside was soft and it was actually quite spicy making them all the more delicious. The masala yoghurt and tamarind sauce complemented the patties really well as the minty flavours balanced out the spiciness.

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