The loves of the week

veggies! Steamed and roasted veggies with spicy coconut sauce

restorative coffee and cake

blue skies and fluffy white clouds

kitty snuggles

something less than $1

little treasures from long ago

something else from long ago

friend's fabulous reno job

memories of India

Discovering....South West Rocks

We've been exploring the mid north coast (of NSW) a bit.

Last week we wandered up to South West Rocks - or "The Rocks" as the locals call it. (Which is very confusing if you are from Sydney, as The Rocks is a district there!)

First stop....coffee and cake!

And what a find!
The delightful Boatshed right on the river.

In what was once an old boatshed I guess.

They only opened just before christmas and have the menu for lunch and dinner looks great.

You can hire boats and partake of other watery activities as well.

Very nice, thankyou.

Out and About - Henri Marc

It is a widely-held view that the western suburbs are a cultural and culinary wasteland.
OK, we do have The Joan*...and when I say "we" I mean "they" as I do not, strictly speaking live in the western suburbs (I am beyond all that), but it is my closest shopping centre and all that stuff.

But The Riff ** has never had a lot going for it......until now!

Henri Marc is in town!

They have the . best . coffee by miles.

It is a bit tricky to find and doesn't really jump out at you.
Can you spot the cafe here?

But once you are inside you know that it is not just your normal-run-of-the-mill place.
It's a bit hipster - yes?

Last time I went I had a muffin that was as good as mine! Home-made and really, you know, muffiny.
Not cakey.

(yeah, it's blurry....no, it's not your eyes.....yes, it's a shocking photo)

 Today I had the french toast with poached peaches and salted caramel.

Oh, my word! It was to DIE for. Seriously.
I would be happy if I had to eat only this for the rest of my life.

I was severely temped by the "caramel on toast".
Also by the "avocado, tomato, ricotta, pesto on sourdough", sounds ordinary.....looks amazing and I bet it tastes amazing too!

So if you are a westie or a bluey*** or you are travelling west anytime between 8am and 3pm Monday to Saturday go check it out.

Don't be put off by this -

Pst, I'll give you a clue it's near the war memorial.

*The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.
** The Riff = Penrith to locals
***From the Blue Mountains

This week I loved.....

Going to the movies at our little local independent cinema.

Going for a bushwalk to a spectacular lookout, even though it was very hot!

A lovely morning walk to meet friends for coffee.

Getting a beading magazine in the mail.

More movies! A whole week's supply for $5!

A walk among the big bluegums.

Movies again! Spoiled rotten at Gold Class.

Yay! That was at least 7 things I loved this week.
How about you? How was your week?

Today I'm loving....

How was your week?
Did you find some things to love?

mr planet's homemade pizza

the maltovine home guide from 1930

...I invited them to dinner and then they cooked!

dinner on a fast day

beautiful mountains summer day

unexpected really good coffee and muffin

alfresco dinner with a view

Ah, there seem to be a few too many food and drink pics creeping in!

Must try harder next week.

I also did not love -

bye bye books

Book sorting and de-cluttering!
It was very traumatic.

Have a great week and see you next Sunday.

An ace new coffee haunt in my 'hood

Coffee is a very personal thing isn't it?
One man's delight is another man's dishwater!

So I'm delighted to find a great new little coffee shop a stone's throw away.

It's tucked underneath, down-the-back of a little strip of shops.

But they've done a great job of making it welcoming.

It's only tiny - 4 or 5 tables.
It has some quirky elements.

It had lovely chairs.

And also did I say that it has fab coffee!
Well I think so anyway.
They actually roast their own coffee beans right next door, so it smells divine.

I can imagine that I will be getting quite a few take-aways from there are I have to drive past it to go anywhere!

The place?
Euphoric Coffee at East Blaxland.