Lunch time with the girls - Cafe Sopra

Seeing as Aunty Dob is here for a few days we may as well make the most of it and go somewhere decent for lunch. Sopra isn't far from work, for me, and not far from home for the girls. A convenient walk it is but I'd even take a long bus ride to eat here. Always so fresh and delicious. My sweet tooth craves the merengata (formerly known as the Eton Mess) - chantilly cream, meringue and strawberries. Georgia now has the taste for it and I have had to learn to share. Funny what you discover when you do research. Apparently the meringue was invented by an Italian chef in the Swiss village of Meiringen. Interestingly the meringue in the form of pavlova is the Australian, and NZ, national dessert. This merengata is essentially a smashed pavlova. I love pav.

Sopra for lunch

This is the first time we've been to Cafe Sopra since head chef Andy Bunn had moved on. Thankfully, as far as we mug punters go, you'd be flat out knowing he was gone. Whoever has taken over hasn't fiddled with the menu too much and all the old favourites are still on. Having said that when I saw a new special, fried liver, I had to try it. I used to hate liver as a kid. It was usually foul of taste and had the consistency of rubber. Sorry mum. Back in 2007 I accidentally ordered liver in a restaurant in Lyon. I think it was one of Paul Bocuse's Nordsud Brasseries - Le Nord or Le Sud or L'Este or L'Ouest. My French skills are sorely lacking when it comes to translating menus and I mentioned to Michelle as long as we don't get offal I should be okay. Oops. But the liver dish I got was exquisite so I'm not quite as afraid of being served up liver as I once was. This fried liver, while not the delicate exquisite meal of Paul Bocuse, was pretty bloody good.

Pan fried liver on spuds.

Vitello tonnato.

Bresaola, gala apple, parmesan cheese, green salad.

Eton mess

Creme brulee.

Macaron heaven just down the road from Cafe Sopra at Patisse. Patisse's macarons, especially the salty caramel macarons, are as good as Adriano Zumbo's. Maybe they aren't as adventurous (or weird) as Zumbo as far as flavours go but for straight freshness and taste they're second to none.


Patisse is in the PYD Building 197 Young Street Waterloo.

Cafe Sopra is in Fratelli Fresh 7 Danks Street Waterloo and has been awarded one Chef's Hat by the Good Food Guide.

We go out for lunch

We finally got out for lunch. In a restaurant. This is the first time eating out with Georgia so we went for something pretty relaxed and casual but still with excellent food. Cafe Sopra is above (Sopra means above in Italian) Fratelli Fresh, a fruit and vegie market, not far from our place. It has always had excellent Italian inspired food. Last year it was awarded 1 Chef's Hat by the Good Food Guide.

Sopra is noisy enough to be soporific enough to keep a baby asleep. Until, that is, she needs a feed herself.

Luckily Michelle ordered cold dishes - vitello tonato and a rocket, bresaola and apple salad - so when she was interrupted it was no drama to put down the eating irons and feed Georgia. I got to finish my parmesan encrusted chicken scalopini with "Sopra"-slaw because I'm not equipped to feed little ladies.

I got to play the proud daddy while Michelle finished her meal though.
We finished with a fabulous creme brulee.
It was great to get out again. It has been a while. Cafe Sopra was as awesome as ever and very kiddie friendly.
Cafe Sopra is upstairs at Fratelli Fresh at 7 Danks Street Waterloo.

Dessert dessert dessert

Dessert at Sopra
Buttermilk pudding with berries.
Spazzacamino - vanilla ice-cream, coffee and whiskey.

Salad salad salad

Sopra Insalata è buonissima.
White anchovies, asparagus, kumato tomatoes with vin cotto.
Panzanella.
Vitello tonnato.
Fennel, radish, arugula and reggiano.

Cafe Sopra 2

Oh so rich. Torta al cioccolato.

Cafe Sopra for lunch

Cafe Sopra is in Waterloo and is upstairs from our favourite greengrocers Fratelli Fresh.
Roast Pork Belly with lemon and arugula.
Pasta carbonara for Michelle. Side salad of baby cos, cherry tomatoes and salad cream.

Beats working

Cafe Sopra at Fratelli Fresh for lunch.