85 Degrees Cafe (Selections around Sydney)

So I start a short blog update from a VERY short trip - Mumsie's Birthday!

Okay, not quite - I couldn't get time off work to leave Queensland on Mumsie's actual birthday, so called home as any good boy is required to. Little did she know that my brother and I had been cooking up a bigger surprise - that I'd be popping home for the weekend.

Unplanned.
Unscheduled.
Unannounanced.

UTTER TOTAL SURPRISE!

In hindsight: definitely worth it, and a very Happy Birthday to my dear Mumsie.

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Aside: well, we have to do something on the cake front. Last time I was home, we started a habit of purchasing four different slices, rather than a small cake to share. I think you guys have guessed it: we surprised her with another batch of flavours.

From left to right, these morsels can be purchased at 85 Degrees Cafe (Chatswood is my local one) for $3.50 - $4.20 a slice, and check in store for availability as 6oz or 8oz full cakes.

Hokkaido Strawberry: light milk (Hokkaido milk?) layered sponge cake on strawberry jams topped with crushed pistachio.
Blueberry Cheesecake: heavy on the cheesecake flavour, intermixed with blueberries and berry jam striping.
Taro Paradise: thick Taro-infused sponge coated liberally in Taro-infused purple cream. Decorated with a dollop of whipped cream and petal of white chocolate
Shangri-La Mango: cute decoration of strawberr(y) and cream encircled by a ribbon of white chocolate sitting on strawberry jelly. Multiple layered sponge cake separated by thin layers of (top) cream, (middle) strawberry jam and (almost bottom, orangey) mango.

Verdict: 8/10 - love the variety. Rumour has it that it may be all imported from overseas... - could anyone substantiate this??

My picks: Shangri-La Mango. Pretty & YUMMY. Not much on the mango side, but you get a nice refreshing mix of flavours throughout.
Hokkaido Strawberry gets a thumbs up: light and refreshing tang without a heavily kick of flavour - "Delicate and Fluffy"

Cheesecake is a no from me: too 'stodgy' and dense on the cheesecake flavour. Put in comparison to the others, the heaviness stands out =(
Taro Paradise - neutral: in essence we have a tradition Asian Cream cake without the fruit, lightly infused and coloured in the expected manner of any Taro offering. Without a strong Taro taste, this might turn away those who expect more.

N2 Extreme Gelato - Chinatown North

A change of style for once - a post that is more advertising than review. But what can you do when your stomach's only good for one serving?

N2 Extreme Gelato is the newest craze amongst bored little youngsters like us (I'm 23, but the point's still valid :P) After hearing that one of my friends talking about it, I really insisted that we head over here after dinner at Encasa (Spanish Tapas, see previous post).

Tucked away above Chinatown's north end (not the Market City end) along Dixon St, it's hard to miss this place with the astroturf right outside!

If sitting outside on the astroturf isn't your thing, then walk past the nitrogen tanks into the cosy retro-coloured stools and benches. On the way through, glance to your right - either ogle the staff in their lab coats and Ray-Ban like glasses/goggles, or ogle their funky mixers, freezing another batch of their yummy creations. Oh - and don't forget to glance at the chalkboard - their artistically decorated menu options.

To summarise: I thoroughly enjoyed myself snapping away whilst my friends were ordering, then placing my own order and talking with the guy at the counter. I was surprised: they had only been open for 33 days, making the gelati over and over again... and the staff were just as enthusiastic as if they were newly opened (well, they still were, in a sense)!

Gelato: a (freshly-chilled) scoop will set you back $6, with their board and staff insisting "you won't need a second scoop", and thus no prices for 2-scoops. After my experience, I'm inclined to agree - one scoop is quite filling for a female. Sorry to be sexist, but a guy has a better chance for attacking a second scoop... except for this thought: you don't want to mix and match flavours by yourself in one sitting. You're better off sharing with a friend, or coming back another time to enjoy a second flavour.

Me: I went for an old favourite - Mango sorbet. And simply "wow" - the thickest essence of mango I have ever HAD in a sorbet! For those wanting a natural flavour, then this would be a bit too artificial... but I'm not one to complain.

Other recommendations from my friend - the cheesecake series (blueberry or Oreo) is another "must-try" - I'll be back for more!

N2 Extreme Gelato
43 / 1 Dixon Street
CBD South, 2000

Directions: Get to Chinatown, and start walking. Walk all the to the north end, cross the road, and keep walking up Dixon St.

Open: Can't find the opening hours - just rock up and wait your turn!

Cost: $6 for a scoop. You can also get a Nitro Shake ($8), or T2 tea, or something else to drink whilst quaffing down your delicious scoop of goodness.

PS - there are cones as well, if you're a 'licker' who doesn't want to scoop things from a paper cup with a plastic digger-tool.