Aug 17, 2012 4:22PM
The Carrington Brunch Review
In which we drink bacon-infused vodka cocktails at 11am and eat dessert for breakfast.
Spanish baked eggs!
One of our favourite local watering holes, The Carrington, has just started doing breakfast/brunch. We were invited to test it out (our Editorial Assistant Emily was unable to attend due to the fact that she had been at Star City Casino the night before. She only eats cheese, salt and vinegar chips, and food that is white so the Spanish menu may have been wasted on her very specific dietary requirements anyway).
Our Editor Alice arrived with her little sister, and Ariane, our Deputy Editor, promptly ordered a 'Bacon Caesar', which she describes as the best cocktail she has had ever had. Jamie Wirth, the brains behind the whole joint, had recommended it — a drink served in a tin made from bacon-infused vodka (!), and calamato, which is a deceivingly delicious mix of tomato juice and clam broth. Ariane was also very impressed with the fancy toothpick that came with the drink, and commented on it numerous times. I ordered an iced latte because I'm an idiot when it comes to selecting season-appropriate beverage choices. Who orders an iced latte in winter?
When it came to the food, no one was left hungry. After googling every exotic-sounding word on the menu using my iPhone, I finally settled on the avocado, tomato and manchego on toast ($10) — below. Manchego is a type of Spanish cheese — thanks internet! It was delicious. Alice agrees because she ordered the same thing (she branched out though and also got a poached egg). I was donated a grilled shroom the size of my face which came with Ariane's big breakfast, consisting of eggs, bacon, tomato, chorizito, rosti and bread ($20). Overcoming her ordering anxiety and fear of missing out when it comes to food, Alice's sister got the spanish baked egges with sofrito (a tomato-based sauce), piquillo peppers (a type of chilli from Northern Spain) and smoked eggplant ($16), and was actually very satisfied with her choice. The idea of baked eggs has always COMPLETELY freaked me out, but I sampled her dish, and was pleasantly surprised with the sweet and spicy party which was occurring in my mouth.
Because the food was so good and also because adults are allowed to eat dessert for breakfast, we ordered the torrijas (Spanish bread pudding) with grilled banana and clearly amazing-sounding churros ice cream ($16), along with a banana, peanut butter and oatmeal thickshake ($6). The intention was to share, but fortunately/unfortunately I basically finished both these dishes on my own. The torrijas were so good that I am naming my first born Torrijs in their honour.
The Carrington is located at 565 Bourke St, Surry Hills, and is open for breakfast/brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 9am - 1pm.
Ingrid Kesa
