[Native pepper pork loin on roasted pumpkin w/ housemade tomato relish]
Have you ever been yelled at by a chef and a barista for taking photos in a cafe? Well now I have. Don’t worry though, this story has a happy ending.
On Saturday I went to lunch with my friend and fellow blogger, Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella, her husband Mr NQN (apt, huh?) and my husband Dillon (there you go, The Bear’s real name is Dillon). We went to Cafe Ish in Surry Hills.
We were meant to go on a picnic to Palm Beach, but alas, mother nature had it in for us and produced the only overcast day in more than a fortnight. Lorraine had even baked a delicious rustic picnic pie which I never got to taste - cranky!
When we realised that it was indeed too windy for a picnic we started thinking of places to go out instead. Lorraine has a permanent long list of places she wants to visit so I just let her to choose.
Sushi Suma, her first option, was closed. But then she remembered an excellent review for Cafe Ish she’d seen recently on another food blog, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry. It was full of praise for the owner slash head chef Josh and his business partner slash barista Ai. We decided to check it out.
As soon as Mr NQN’s (massive) cup of coffee arrived he whipped out his camera and took a quick pic. The coffee looked great. It had a perfectly textured crema and pretty heart shaped design on top.
While Mr NQN was taking the photo someone stormed up behind us and loudly shouted - I mean, Gordon-Ramsey-style-loud - ‘no pictures’. He was extremely agitated. It was Josh, the owner. To be honest, it scared the crap out of me, I’ve never encountered this before. Mostly people are happy to get free publicity from food bloggers.
The barista and co-owner, Ai, was also very upset about us taking photos so Lorraine and I approached the counter. We chatted with her for a while and handed over our business cards / blog addresses while she explained that professional reviewers always ask before taking pictures. (Point taken, we should have).
She mentioned that other bloggers had been taking photos of their coffee and comparing them with other surrounding cafes on their blogs. Apparently she doesn’t like being compared online and asked us to email her when the post goes live so she can read it.
With the drama over we settled into good conversation and the occasional request from the colourful locals for spare change or to lend a lighter. Our reply was always the same; ’sorry, we don’t smoke’.
When the food arrived all was forgiven. I think I got the best thing on the menu followed closely by Lorraine’s choice of Japanese style omelette with soft shell crab. Actually, Cafe Ish is famous in the food blogosphere for that omelette, and although it wasn’t on the menu Josh made it for her anyway. Nice!
My dish of the native pepper pork was absolutely beautiful. The pork was juicy and flavoursome with a thick layer of crisp fat (see pic above) and the accompanying pumpkin was heavily spiced and aromatic. No complaints either about the housemade relish; sweet, spicy, sour and perfectly seasoned.
The boys had a wagyu beef burger (I didn’t taste it, but the bun was a little singed) and a Japanese curry with crocodile, apple, muntharies (native Aussie berries) and lemon myrtle flavoured rice. I haven’t eaten crocodile before and was surprised that it tasted like a cross between pork and fish with the texture similar to a firm fish like monk.
After our meal Josh headed over to our table to apologise for his outburst. We thought this was very kind and can totally understand how hot it gets in the kitchen. Couple that with some bad food blogger experiences and I’d probably shout too.
We followed him back to the kitchen (tiny!) and chatted about how on earth he makes such wonderful food in such a small space and without gas! I can’t believe it, especially when we learn that everything is made on the premises, except for the bread and the ice cream.
Josh tells us that there’s a special ice cream flavour made just for Cafe Ish; Wattleseed and Macadamia. Our eyes widen with the intriguing combination and he quickly offers us a scoop. To my delight it’s not overly sweet and the macadamias are still crunchy. Delicious.
So it’s true, something good can definitely come of something bad, sometimes. I recommend Cafe Ish for good coffee, excellent food that’s ethically sourced and passionate owners. Just ask them first before whipping out your camera.
Happy eating! Christie x
PS. For another opinion on how it all went down and lots more photos, check out Lorraine’s post at Not Quite Nigella.
Cafe Ish (currently no website)
82 Campbell Street
Surry hills, corner foster and campbell
Ph: +61 2 9281 1312
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25 responses so far ↓
1 Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella // Jan 18, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Great report Christie and lovely having lunch darling
Let’s do it again soon sometime!
2 Christie // Jan 18, 2009 at 8:45 pm
@Lorraine - Thank you! We loved lunching with you! Another date is a must!
BTW - Lorraine’s post will be up tomorrow morning. Be sure to check her blog then!
3 Howard // Jan 18, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I love this place, Josh and Ai are such a nice couple and her coffee is amazing. I think for my next visit I will take your advice and ask for permission before whipping out my camera. On our first visit and review/post they didn’t seem to mind, but I can understand their concerns! I joined their Facebook group and posted the review for them to read and also a lovely photo of Ai and the waitress.
Ah the soft shell crab omelette brings back good memories. Also try their ‘Big ish’ breakfast, bloody amazing and is sure to cover anyone for brekky and lunch.
4 Peter G // Jan 18, 2009 at 9:24 pm
what an interesting story….I can see it from both perspectives. I know this is “naughty” but I just tell the owners it’s my b’day and I want to remember everything I did and ate…so I snap away. Sounds like a good place to visit and being of Greek descent I understand passion! …LOL
5 MsGourmet // Jan 18, 2009 at 9:24 pm
LOL- all that song and dance about NQN’s pie and you ended up at Surry Hills!
6 noble pig // Jan 19, 2009 at 3:03 am
Wow. Christie, you must be a very levelheaded person because if that happened to me, I would have walked out. I mean, they could have with so much more finesse asked what your intentions were. I know so many people who on vacation take pics of their meals and do not blog!
I mean if they can’t handle a “not so favorable” review on the net and being compared…well, I think the saying is. “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen”.
Like I said, you must be a sweetheart and they chose their victim wisely.
7 Review: Cafe Ish, Surry Hills, Sydney | Fig & Cherry | Movie Newz // Jan 19, 2009 at 3:29 am
[...] by as Uncategorized Another fellow blogger added an interesting post today on Review: Cafe Ish, Surry Hills, Sydney | Fig & [...]
8 Helen // Jan 19, 2009 at 3:48 am
I’ve got to agree, I would have walked out too. The owner said they don’t like being compared online but, it’s not up to them! What a silly thing to say. You are giving them free publicity! Every paying customer has the right to disseminate their opinion of the food in whatever way they choose. They got lucky with you!
9 Ursula // Jan 19, 2009 at 4:24 am
Sounds delicious. I’ll be coming home to Sydney to visit in March, so will add this on the list of new places to try.
10 Restaurant Review: Cafe Ish, Surry Hills @ Not Quite Nigella // Jan 19, 2009 at 6:59 am
[...] Check out Christie’s review of Cafe Ish on her blog Fig & Cherry! [...]
11 Ju'eta Amir // Jan 19, 2009 at 8:54 am
I’ve been there and love it!
12 Arwen from Hoglet K // Jan 19, 2009 at 9:15 am
Goodness that sounds really terrifying. I’m glad the food was nice, that icecream sounds beautiful.
13 Linda // Jan 19, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Glad you’ve finally made it to one of our favourite cafe in Sydney. We’ve been there a couple of times, each time Josh and Ai were very pleasant and more than happy to discuss with us their creations. It’s a shame to hear that your first time was not so great, as you mentioned, he must have been really busy and therefore abit frustrated. Not a great excuse I know. Anyway, I’m glad the food more than made up for it.
14 Helen Yuet Ling Pang // Jan 20, 2009 at 5:20 am
It sounds like the meal made up for being shouted at. I’ve been told ‘no photos’ but never been shouted at. That would have made the meal far less palatable for me (and rather embarrassing). But you handled the situation really well! The pork loin photo is gorgeous…
15 diva // Jan 20, 2009 at 9:30 pm
haha it sounds like a great eventful meal! and cafe ish is such a cool name. i like it already, even if i’m a world away! gorgeous photo - it’s making my mouth water very badly. haven’t visited for quite a while, i hope u’re well christie! x
16 Scott at Realepicurean // Jan 21, 2009 at 5:05 am
It sounds delicious and looks even more so!
17 Christie // Jan 21, 2009 at 9:02 am
@Howard - They were very nice after the incident. Looking forward to going back and checking out their new menu in a few weeks…
@Peter G - Haha! My Middle Eastern background understands passion (read: temper) too! That’s probably why I could handle the outburst
@MsGourmet - I know! You can’t help the weather!
@Noble Pig - LOL, I know! I’ve rad some of your encounters… Hahaha!
@Helen - That’s why you’re a professional reviewer and I just wanted a nice lunch with my friend!
@Ursula - Great, I hope you try it out!
@Ju’eta - I didn’t know that! Not with me…
@Arwen - The food was delicious! Luckily!
@Linda - Like I said, it’s hot in the kitchen and totally understandable sometimes. It was so nice of him to come back later and chat to us.
@Helen - You’re right. The food more than made up for it! Sorry you had the opposite though. What a bummer.
@Diva - Hello again! It is a cool name and in a cool part of town too.
@Scott - Thanks! It was really yummy
18 Marc @ NoRecipes // Jan 21, 2009 at 9:53 am
Wow that pork loin almost looks like pork belly!
19 Helen // Jan 22, 2009 at 7:06 am
Well I don’t tolerated being shouted at in any situation, be it professional or just having lunch with a friend…
20 Cosmetic Tattooist - Melbourne // Jan 26, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Looks good I must try it when next in the area
21 josh nicholls // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Not shouted…told..
theres a big difference.
I am always obliging when asked for something, ie can i take a photo please.
but they made for good headlines….
nice review thanks, and now I know how come i gotta put that bloody crab omlette on my next menu
Josh
Yelling, screaming, grumpy, protective, CHEF
22 Christie // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Hey Josh, Thanks for dropping by. Yes, being a copywriter it’s imperative that I put the most ‘news worthy’ info at the beginning of the article
Cheers, Christie
23 F // Nov 18, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I love their food but they are rude. Josh near enough knocked my elderly aunt over because wanted to get past her waiting at the counter to pay.
24 sw2000 // Jan 8, 2010 at 10:03 am
They’ve just opened up at the old Cafe Saks place (corner Foster & Campbell)- and open for dinner. Really great place for relaxed interesting food. As for grumpy chef - well it was nice to actually meet person who cooked for me. Passions. That’s what it’s about
25 Josh Nicholls // Jan 14, 2010 at 8:40 am
Yes we have opened at the old Saks site.
Nights wed-sat
days 7 of them
organic and bi dynamic wines
organic, handcrafted and native beers
sake and more sake
izakaya style night menu
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