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Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Bird Cow Fish, Surry Hills, Sydney (CLOSED)



EDIT: Bird Cow Fish has closed

"When you wake up in the morning Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.


I love this quote by Winnie The Pooh from The House at Pooh Corner by AA Milne. Bird Cow Fish co-owner and chef Alex Herbert loves it too, the quote printed at the top of her breakfast menu, setting the scene for a morning of deliciousness.


Short black $3.50

Coffee is a night-owl's best friend when it comes to early mornings. My Single Origin short black is perfect - aromatic, full-flavoured and intense with a smooth crema on top.


Flat white $3.50


Zucchini and walnut bread served with unsalted butter $4.50

Zucchini and walnut bread is almost cake-like in consistency, a moist loaf that is generous with shreds of zucchini and chunks of walnut. Its toasted surface is crunchy and sweet, protecting the soft interior.

And the butter. It's so good we eat it on its own. Quite literally, cutting little chunks off with our knife and nibbling on it like mice. We find out later it's Girgar Danish-style butter, our waiter having to check in the kitchen fridge when we wax lyrical about it (partly to explain our butter-smeared lips, too).


Three egg omelette $16.50
with braised leeks and Woodside goat's curd; sourdough toast

A three egg omelette is a folded affair in a happy hue of summer yellow, the silkiness of the egg offset by the slight tang of Woodside goat's curd and a hidden huddle of braised sweet leeks.


Slow braised and grilled pork belly $16.50
with a baked egg on potato mash and onion jam

Slow braised and grilled pork belly is a decadent way to start the day. The slice is small but rich, and meltingly tender, garnished with a dollop of sticky caramelised onion jam. A baked egg swathes over a bed of buttery and smooth potato mash.


Croque Madam $10.50
Double-smoked ham, Dijon mustard, Heidi Gruyere and a fried egg

I start my day with the croque Madam, a chunky toasted sandwich that celebrates protein. Thick slices of chewy sourdough bookend layers of double-smoked ham, fried egg, Dijon mustard and melted Heidi Grueyere cheese. It's so simple but so good, with the flavour of the Dijon mustard really coming through. There's a slight crunchy laciness to the fried egg, its yolk still moist, and the melted Gruyere oozing seductively out the edges, adding a salty sweetness.

A storybook ending of deliciousness. And happiness.

Really the same thing.


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Bird Cow Fish on Urbanspoon


Bird Cow Fish CLOSED
500 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9380 4090

Bistro opening hours
Monday to Sunday 12pm-2.30pm
Dinner Monday to Saturday 6pm-11pm

Espresso bar opening hours
Monday to Friday 11am-11pm
Saturday 8am-11pm
Sunday 8am-3pm

Related Grab Your Fork posts:
Breakfast - All About…Romana's, Balmain
Breakfast - Bar Biscotti, North Strathfield
Breakfast - bills Darlinghurst
Breakfast - bills Surry Hills
Breakfast - bills Woollahra (Jun07) and (Jan07)
Breakfast - Kazbah on Darling, Balmain
Breakfast - La Grande Bouffe, Balmain
Breakfast - Pancakes on the Rocks, Northmead
Breakfast - Post Cafe, Marrickville
Breakfast - Rendezvous Cafe, Burwood
Breakfast - Una's on Broadway, Ultimo
Breakfast - Yellow Bistro & Food Store, Potts Point

Surry Hills - Alio
Surry Hills - Bodega Tapas Bar
Surry Hills - Maya Masala
Surry Hills - Oceanic Cafe
20 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 8/05/2009 12:44:00 am


20 Comments:

  • At 8/05/2009 2:35 am, Anonymous Yas @ hungry.digital.elf. said…

    Ohh yea. This is one of my lunching spots in Surry hills! (I work just a few blocks away!) But I never knew about the Zucchini & walnut bread. I'm going to get that next time

     
  • At 8/05/2009 3:09 am, Blogger Unknown said…

    Oh I do miss Australian breakfast places - this cafe sounds fantastic (and love the Pooh quote as well)

     
  • At 8/05/2009 5:24 am, Anonymous Jackie at PhamFatale.com said…

    I wouldn't mind a piece of Zucchini and walnut bread. ALl that delicious food makes my tummy start growling lol

     
  • At 8/05/2009 6:01 am, Blogger Anh said…

    We go to Bird Cow Fish quite a bit for breaky (a nice change from Bills which has been my fav spot in Sydney). I quite like the atmosphere there. The food is nice, too.

     
  • At 8/05/2009 8:26 am, Blogger Stephcookie said…

    Hehe I love that quote too, I couldn't agree with it more! Liking the look of your Croque Madam, yum. And it's always good they have a good quality butter :)

     
  • At 8/05/2009 8:31 am, Blogger Betty @ The Hungry Girl said…

    I love going out for breakfast, because you can over indulge and then attempt to burn it off for the rest of the day, or have healthier meals to balance out! The croque madam sounds delicious, and i love the gooey egg on top of that potato mash!

     
  • At 8/05/2009 9:07 am, Blogger OohLookBel said…

    Love the Pooh quote - so apt!
    I've never thought of bird cosw fish as a breakfast place, but it looks like they do it well.

     
  • At 8/05/2009 9:19 am, Anonymous Howard said…

    During Mon - Fri I am blessed with really good coffee options in the CBD, sadly there is NO decent coffee on the weekend in the South West. It just means more trips up to places like Bird Cow Fish on the weekends just for a decent coffee and brekky :/

     
  • At 8/05/2009 10:33 am, Anonymous shez said…

    My-oh-my would you look at that cheese! I'd never considered birdcowfish as a breakfast place either, but their offerings look more than up to scratch. Love that they serve a really good butter with their bread instead of just whatever-is-available-at-the-time.

     
  • At 8/05/2009 11:12 am, Anonymous Yas (aboutthefood) said…

    Everything looks amazing, including the restaurant's literary tastes!

    I can't wait to go there. Actually, I want to go right now.

     
  • At 8/05/2009 12:17 pm, Anonymous clekitty said…

    That Pooh quote is adorable!

     
  • At 8/05/2009 1:20 pm, Blogger A cupcake or two said…

    I just had lunch but now I'm kinda hungry again. Great Blog...

     
  • At 8/05/2009 7:48 pm, Anonymous Jacq said…

    I didn't actually know Bird Cow Fish served breakfast but it looks great! I like the idea of pork belly, egg and mash for brekky :)

     
  • At 8/05/2009 9:42 pm, Anonymous Arwen from Hoglet K said…

    That's a brilliant quote, and the food looks superb. The goats cheese and leek sounds like a great combination.

     
  • At 8/06/2009 7:40 pm, Blogger K said…

    I must have gone past place and laughed at their name like a million times yet I've never thought to eat there! The pork belly looks so good! yumyum!!

    and yay for piglet appearing in a foodblog! hehehe

     
  • At 8/06/2009 8:36 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hahah I love that quote!! Bird Cow Fish has been on my list for aagggess but maybe I will change it to a breakfast eating mmm thx!

     
  • At 8/07/2009 12:16 am, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Yas - Oh you work so close to so much good food. The zucchini and walnut bread was good - otherwise you could try making your own, at um 3am? lol

    Hi Gourmet Chick - If only the Pooh quote came on a t-shirt :)

    Hi Jackie - Food blog surfing is definitely a dangerous past-time. Best attempted with snacks at hand!

    Hi Anh - It's a lovely space and seemed very relaxed when we there. A bit more room than Bills too, which is always appreciated!

    Hi Stephcookie - The Croque Madame was delcious. I really should make it at home for brunch/lunch/dinner :) And oh butter, that could almost be a meal in itself!

    Hi Betty - I always tend to go downhill eating-wise from breakfast. lol! The baked egg was delicious.

    Hi Belle - They had quite a few options for breakfast which was good. Plenty of savoury and substantial dishes on offer, although there was some pained debate on whether we had room to get the pain perdu.

    Hi Howard - Nothing like the search for good food to motivate you to get out of the house. I use my stove top dripolater for coffee on the weekends. So good and so fast!

    Hi Shez - I do love my butter. The highlight of any meal And maybe cheese :)

    Hi Yas - I notice that Bird Cow Fish also host literary dinners. So sorry I missed the Elizabeth David night - that would've been so much fun.

    Hi clekitty - I think Pooh in general is always adorable. But yes, the quote is so perfect, especially for food lovers!

    Hi A Cupcake or Two - lol. Hope you found something to nibble on, and thank you :)

    Hi Jacq - I agree. Who doesn't love an endorsement that yes, pork belly is a valid breakfast item?

    Hi Arwen - Goats cheese and leek do go well together, and egg is a worthy complement too. I always find restaurant menus inspirational at recreating dishes or ideas at home :)

    Hi K - I do like their logo, and Alex Herbert is really committed to sustainability and the head-to-tail eating approach which I admire.

    I think there have been lots of piglets in this blog before. lol.

    Hi FFichiban - I keep meaning to have the duck confit at Bird Cow Fish. There are so many places to try in Sydney... the list just keeps on growing!

     
  • At 8/07/2009 9:02 pm, Anonymous Teresa said…

    I had the Croque Madam sandwich at Eveleigh Markets. It was possibly the best sandwich I've ever had...!!!

     
  • At 8/07/2009 10:46 pm, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Teresa - Oh that's a big call! I love that Alex Herbert is often manning the stall too.

     
  • At 8/11/2009 9:47 am, Blogger Unknown said…

    The Croque Madam is one of the greatest toasted sangers I have ever had. The lady and I once had brunch at Bird Cow Fish, dinner at BCF (beef cheek pie omg!) and then brunch again the next day!

     

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