Perth’s First Sausage Shop @ Snags and Sons, Leederville, W.A.

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Before heading out to Snags and Sons last week, I had a quick look at their website and was introduced to the concept of ‘Dude Food’ – a Melbourne term which describes food that can be eaten without cutlery. I am a huge lover of ‘dude food’ (and surprised to know that this term existed), including burgers from places such as Jus Burgers, which just so happens to be related to Snags and Sons (as they both have the same owner).

My friend Ashlee and I headed to Snags and Sons last week, as we were both keen to try Perth’s first sausage shop. Snags and Sons is not serving up the plain, cheap sausages that can be found at your local Bunnings BBQ, but rather the quality sausages that are locally produced and are a little bit more exciting in flavour and type, such as Free Range Linley Valley pork snags, Amelia Park Lamb and Beef snags, Mt Barker Free Range Chicken snag, Chittering Valley Venison Sang, Elmars Plantagenet Bratwurst snag, Organic Blackwood Valley Beef snags and a Vegetarian (and vegan) Margaret River tempeh option.

I’ve walked by a few times since Snags and Sons opened and it’s been consistently busy. On the night Ashlee and I went it was no different, however we were lucky enough to get a table straight away. There’s a great layout and colour scheme that makes you feel immediately cosy inside. The place is quite small but thoroughly organised to fit everything in (customers included!).

On the night, I ordered the Red Curry Chicken Sausage with tamarind chutney and Asian greens in a wrap ($9), as I was interested to try a curry-infused sausage. Ashlee ordered the Beef Boerewors (a South African sausage) with peach chutney, smoked Dutch cheese in a baguette ($8). To share, we ordered an Oven Baked Potato with Swiss cheese, candied bacon, sour cream and spring onion ($6) as well as a small plate of Grilled Chorizo with quince, lemon and rocket ($6).

It didn’t take too long for the food to arrive and it all looked very colourful and smelt great. I really liked my Red Curry Chicken sausage, which had a definite hint of red curry in it but wasn’t too overpowering or spicy. The chutney was only lightly applied (which is how I like it) and the Asian greens provided a bit of greenery to the snag. My only wish was that it came in a little baguette, as the wrap made my snag difficult to eat (as it was open at both ends).

Ashlee said that she really enjoyed her Beef Boerewors snag and especially liked the flavour of the South African sausage. I had serious food envy over her baguette which looked really fresh and crusty. You can always tell when the food is good when both of you eat in quiet!

The baked potato was also really lovely. We both mentioned how tasty the candied bacon was. It was a little bit sweet but still had the salty flavour of the bacon – a perfect combination, especially next to the potato. The Swiss cheese was lightly melted and tasted really distinct in flavour.

The chorizo was another great dish. It was lightly fried to make it a tiny bit crispy. There was a lot of flavour to the chorizo and the quince was a perfect accompaniment. We both really enjoyed it (plus the serving size is an absolute bargain for $6!)

There is something for everyone – whether you are gluten free, vegetarian or vegan, or if you are health conscious and prefer to eat a fresh, house=made salad. Snags and Sons is also BYO for just $2 per person.

Both Ashlee and I are keen to return for the ‘Gotta Av It’ breakfast option (served from 9am to 11am on weekends), which comes with a sausage or bacon snag, a cup of tea, a cold flannel, juice and a berocca!

All in all, a huge recommendation from PFJ!

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Tasty Malaysian Cuisine @ Mamak, Haymarket, N.S.W.

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I’m excited to say that my first try of the Malaysian dish, Nasi Lemak, was at Mamak, the well-known Malaysian establishment in Sydney on my recent trip. Afterwards, I thought about the dish for days – and now it has been weeks. How can such a simplistic dish be so amazingly tasty?!

During our trip to Sydney, A and I were conveniently located close to Chinatown. On one of our first nights there, it was decided that we’d head to Mamak for dinner. Two of our friends, The Food Pornographer and David (previously mentioned in the posts of El Publico and Standing Room Only), recommended Mamak to A and I before we left as a ‘must try’ during our stay in Sydney. I can now understand why…

There’s typically a wait to get into the restaurant, as it is extremely popular. On the particular occasion we went, we were there quite early (around 6pm) so the line was pretty reasonable. We waited only about 15 – 20 minutes (I say reasonable as A and I returned a few nights later at around 7.30pm and the line was literally down the street – it would have taken at least an hour to get a table). The wait time went quite quickly though, as we were able to watch some of the staff members make roti through the window and it was quite theatrical.

When we entered, I noticed that the place is actually quite big inside and has a lot of tables. The food looked amazing around us and the place was buzzing with energy. It’s BYO booze too ($2 per person), so there was a lot of people happily drinking a six pack of beer between their table while enjoying their food.

Seeing as though I was about to eat in a restaurant that is seen as one of the most authentic Malaysian restaurants in Sydney, I decided that I would finally try Nasi Lemak, typically seen as the national dish of Malaysia. It consists of fragrant coconut rice with sambal, peanuts, crispy anchovies, cucumber and a hard-boiled egg ($8.50). I also choose the option to add Ayam Goreng (fried chicken) for an extra $3. There are other options available for you to add a curry or sambal side dish of your choice as well.

A ordered the Kari Sayur ($14), a vegetarian curry cooked with lentils, fresh tomatoes, carrots, potatoes and eggplant with a side of rice ($2.50). We also ordered some Roti canal ($5.50) which is the original and plain roti. The roti is served with two curry dips and spicy sambal sauce.

The first dish to arrive was my Nasi Lemak. I don’t like to start eating until the whole table is served so I waited patiently waited until A’s dish came. However, the roti came out next and we were both keen to tuck in while it was hot. The roti was exactly as it states on the menu – crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The two curry dips were really flavoursome as well and were the perfect accompaniment. The roti was a good serving size but I am sure that the next time we head to Namak we’ll definitely be ordering two servings just for the two of us! It was a perfect start to a lovely meal.

A’s meal arrived soon after we finished the roti. We were both keen to start our dishes and I was immediately a fan of the Nasi Lemak. The little fried anchovies were light in flavour and really crispy. The flavour was a perfect accompaniment to the fragrant coconut rice and spicy sambal sauce. For me, this dish was not only great in flavour but texture as well, as each individual element supplied a different texture in the bite – crispy, soft, spicy, which was either warm or cold. I really enjoyed that aspect of this dish as each bite was different in flavour and texture, regardless of the individual elements being simplistic in their own way. An added bonus was that the cucumbers were fresh, the rice was perfectly cooked, the chicken was fried really nicely and was a perfect portion size.

A’s Kari Sayur curry was also really nice. The flavours were balanced really well and she enjoyed it thoroughly. The vegetables were all cut quite largely which was unusual but were still cooked nicely. When we were planning to return during our week in Sydney, A decided that the curry was so good that she would’ve ordered it again (unfortunately, as mentioned above the line was too long and we were too hungry to wait on the night we tried to return).

We cannot wait to dine there again and try some of the desserts listed as well as some other savoury dishes. Mamak is not only a restaurant that serves very tasty food but it is also really reasonable in price, as our meal cost a measly $33.50. I have now returned to Perth and have been in contact with a few other Perth food bloggers who are helping me find amazing Nasi Lemak in Perth to satisfy my cravings until I return to Sydney later this year.

If you are planning a trip to Sydney in the near future (or live there and haven’t been), A and I both recommend a visit to Mamak thoroughly!
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Yummy, Healthy Food @ The Healthy Choice Café, Victoria Park, W.A.

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I’m pretty lucky to love the taste of healthy food. I know so many people who dislike salads and/or vegetables. However, healthy food isn’t just salads and veggies and it also doesn’t have to be bland and unappetising. Healthy Choice Café has worked this model and produces tasty, simple, healthy food for a reasonable price.

My bestie B and I have been wanting to try this café out for months now and we finally got the opportunity a few weeks back. The place is quite small inside but it’s also quite cosy. There is a double sided food menu which also lists the options for gluten free, diabetic, vegan and dairy free options for those patrons who have dietary restrictions. The drink menu is also double sided and features freshly made juices and smoothies (and also provides a small description of the health benefits for each drink). As always, it took B and I a while to order as we have issues making food decisions however I finally decided to order the Nutty Nanachoc Smoothie ($6.99) to start with, whereas B ordered the Tropical Smoothie ($7.99). For our food, I decided to order The Works breakfast special ($16.95) which allows you to choose 5 food options out of a list of 15. I chose scrambled eggs, avocado, chilli beans, mushrooms and bacon. B ordered the Grilled Fish Soft Tacos with tomato and avocado salsa and salad ($12.95). We also ordered a side of Bubble and Squeak, as B was surprised to hear that I didn’t actually know what it was before our journey to Healthy Choice Café.

The first things to arrive were our drinks. B’s tropical smoothie was a pretty purple in colour and tasted really nice and refreshing. It was made with banana, mango, coconut milk, lime juice and honey and amazingly each individual flavour was evident. However, both of us were completely in love with my choice – the Nutty Nanachoc Smoothie which was made with banana, peanut butter, milo and skim milk. An interesting combination however it is pure genius. It tasted rich but also quite refreshing as well. It was thick and full of flavour. An amazing smoothie that I am now trying to replicate at home (however it doesn’t quite taste the same unfortunately!)

Nutty Nanachoc Smoothie (back) & Tropical Smoothie (front)

Our food soon followed suit and was simple in presentation. I was keen to try the bubble and squeak which was an interesting concept for a Middle Eastern girl like me. It was a lovely mix of potatoes, carrots and other bits of veggies thrown together and fried with a bit of onion.

My breakfast meal was really good. I really liked the chilli beans which were lovely in flavour and had a little bite to them. The eggs, bacon and mushrooms were cooked nicely and the avocado was fresh as well. It was a really nicely sized portion-controlled serving which didn’t allow you to overeat (which is a good thing in my books!)

B said that her Grilled Fish Soft Tacos with tomato and avocado salsa and salad was a bit understated and didn’t have much flavour to it. There also wasn’t too much salsa or salad served with it, as it seemingly states on the menu.

After lunch, we decided to share a Banana Split which was a bargain $5. It was quick to arrive and was again a lovely portion controlled serving. The Banana Split came with banana, apple, strawberries, lite ice-cream, walnuts and a tiny bit of cream on top. It was a great combination that was fresh and tasty.

Healthy Choice Café provides tasty, simplistic food that is also really healthy. The bonus is that if you have dietary restrictions, Healthy Choice Café provides a lot of options for you. A huge recommendation from both B and I as we absolutely loved this little place (another bonus is that it is still unknown so a little bit quiet – a perfect place for a casual, long lunch between two).

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Lovely Coffee & Cake @ Sherbet, Maylands, W.A.

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On a lazy Saturday a few weeks ago, A decided that she wanted to head out for a slice of cake. She wanted to head over to Maylands to finally dine in at Sherbet. We had been here previously for a coffee and sighted the large array of cakes on offer. We had always planned to return for a try, but it had taken us a few months to get there.

Sherbet is a tiny little shop on Whatley Crescent that serves predominantly cake and coffee. On arrival, I was overwhelmed by the choices available. There were cupcakes in lots of different flavours including red velvet, vanilla, vanilla-raspberry, vanilla-espresso, banana-caramel, and chocolate. There were also large cakes on offer in slices including  Apple Cake, Apple and Rhubarb cake, Carrot cake, Red Velvet cake and lots of others. I was having difficulties deciding but after a short deliberation I decided to try the Red Velvet cupcake ($4) and A ordered the Apple cake ($6.50). We also ordered two coffees ($3.90 each).

We were lucky to snag a table indoors, as the last time we ventured to Sherbet we were unable to get a table. It didn’t take long for our coffee and cake to arrive. Our coffees were well made with Fiori coffee beans and I would happily return for the coffee alone. However, the cakes won us over even more so. A’s apple cake was very moist and had large chunks of apples throughout it. There were also lovely chunks of nuts and it was served with a little ramekin of cream. Without realising it, my fork ventured over to her plate more than a few times. I would definitely order it again.

My red velvet cupcake was also very well made. It was moist and I was pleased to find the icing wasn’t sickly sweet, like some icing can be. In saying that, the icing to cake ratio was equal, and I wasn’t able to finish all of the icing! However, I am a keen fan of this ratio being even, as typically I like to eat my cakes with a tiny bit of the icing in every bite! It was divine – a great little cupcake for an afternoon treat.

The venue is tiny and like I mentioned above, it can be hard to get a table. The place is a bit retro in style and Sherbet state on their website that they were inspired by the cupcake bakeries in New York City. They also aim to use the finest ingredients in their cooking, including Madagascan vanilla beans, French Valrhona chocolate, free range eggs and fresh seasonal fruit.

Sherbet also offer gluten free and dairy free cakes, which is a lovely aspect for those with dietary restrictions. They also have a competition of naming their new cake. If your suggestion is chosen, you win a free cake (normally worth approximately $49). A was busy thinking up names of the cake during our time at Sherbet but unfortunately forgot to enter!

I definitely recommend Sherbet. I loved the two cakes we tried and will definitely return to try a few more in the near future. There’s an added bonus of well made coffee, which is a perfect accompaniment to any cake!

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Carbonated Iced Coffee @ Bench Espresso, Perth CBD, W.A.

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Recently, a friend recommended coffee at Bench Espresso – namely their carbonated iced coffee. I love iced drinks and was a little perplexed at the thought of carbonated coffee so naturally, I wanted to try it. Seeing as though I used to work in West Perth and Bench Espresso is located on the east side of the CBD, I found it difficult to visit Bench Espresso, which is only open on weekdays. Luckily, A and I had a Wednesday off and decided to take the opportunity to try a carbonated iced coffee and one of their cakes.

Due to my current diet of minimal wheat, I’ve been interested to see the options for folks who are gluten free. A and I ordered two takeaway coffees to start with – a skinny cap and a flat white (Large is $4.30 and small is $3.70) and also ordered a gluten-free White Chocolate, Nut and Apricot slice to nibble on. When we were at the till, I asked about the carbonated iced coffee and was told it is still being chilled and wouldn’t be available until lunch time. At that time, it had just passed 11am, so we decided to wait.

Bench Espresso has large windows as walls with no blinds on one side. It was a very hot day when we visited and at first we sat at one of the tall handmade benches near the window. However we soon moved after it become unbearably hot from the sun. Luckily, the venue is spaciously designed for it’s tiny premises so we were able to comfortably sit at one of the tables overlooking the till area that was a little out of the sun’s reach.

We didn’t wait long until our coffees were ready. Both A and I enjoyed our coffees, as they were well made and tasted very smooth. While we waited for lunch time, A and I drunk our coffees and spent a bit of time talking and watching people come in and out. We both really liked the decor and spoke a little about that as well.

The decor is neutral but with a touch of colour. The benches at the side of the cafe are hand made by Jarrimber and are a lovely feature to the venue. There’s special features of hanging lights and beautifully crafted furniture. It is a lovely fit-out.

There are a lot of food options available at Bench Espresso, including cookies, cakes and lunch options that are outlined on a tiny little chalkboard. The White Chocolate, Nut and Apricot slice was moreish and was definitely a highlight of our visit. The contrast in flavours of the white chocolate, nuts and apricot was delicious and the cake was delicate and lightly coated in icing sugar.

The time ticked by and I ventured back to the till to order the carbonated coffee I had made the trip for. I ordered it as a take away, as our parking was due to expire shortly after and we needed to be on the road (one downside of Bench Espresso – parking is a bit of a hindrance if you drive). The carbonated coffee was very strong in flavour and the carbonation was a lot weaker than I imagined. It wasn’t a fizzy iced coffee like I expected, but an iced coffee that tasted as if weak soda water was added to it. It wasn’t as milky as I expected as well, and I have to say I was a little disappointed.

In saying that, I like the concept of Bench Espresso. The fact that they are trying something different (which would also be deemed quite difficult) is appealing and the regular coffees we ordered were definitely well made. I would return again, especially for the delicious slice and for a try of their single-origin coffee. I recommend a visit and a try of the carbonated coffee if you are a coffee buff. It might not have been to my liking, but I am sure it could develop a fan base regardless.
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Non-Stereotypical Mexican Cuisine @ El Publico, Highgate, W.A.

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I’ve always loved Mexican food and even once went to Mexico (I crossed the border from Texas only, but it still counts!). Interestingly enough, when I was in Mexico I ate only quesadillas. I was offered lots of other food at the table but I couldn’t say no to the quesadillas, which were unlike anything I had tried before at that time and were incredibly addictive. So, when it came time to head to El Publico, I was expecting to see the usual Mexican dishes on the menu, such as quesadillas, nachos and tacos.

However, El Publico doesn’t serve the typical Mexican food that we are used to in Perth. There are tacos on the menu, but only one option and there’s no quesadillas (to my disappointment!) or nachos. The menu provided to our table of four was a double sided A3 sheet, however four parts of the menu outlined their booze selection, one part was their food menu and the other part was a handy glossary guide for the food terminology mentioned. El Publico sell themselves as a ”Modern Mexican Kitchen and Bar”, and to be honest, our table of four all mentioned that it was a tiny bit more alcohol based than food, thanks to the menu and our waiter who was happily trying to push an alcoholic beverage on us as soon as we sat down. This wasn’t just the usual, “Can I get you a drink?” question, but a full spiel on their different types of tequila and whether we wanted to add tequila to our soda water order or try a cocktail instead.

For this meal, A and I were dining with my friend David (previously mentioned in last weeks post of Standing Room Only) and his partner, Chris. Before heading to El Publico, we had popped into Must for a Charcuterie plate and a bottle of wine, so we didn’t feel like tequila afterwards. However, if you are a tequila drinker, El Publico has many options, plus beers and cocktails as well.

Seeing as though we weren’t ordering alcohol, we decided to try some of their house made sodas. David chose the Ginger soda ($6), Chris chose the Pink Grapefruit soda ($6) and I chose the Apple Lemonade ($6). We also ordered sparkling water for the four of us and El Publico charge $3 per person for free flowing sparkling water all night. The ginger soda was strong in flavour and could be smelt from the other side of the table. The pink grapefruit soda was refreshing and wasn’t as sour as I expected. I enjoyed my cloudy apple lemonade, which was like a bubbly apple juice that wasn’t too sweet.

Apple Lemonade

We were all quite hungry so eagerly looked at the food menu. We decided to order the Fried Chickpeas with Burnt Tortilla Salt ($5), Kipflers Escabeche ($9), Huarache House Green Chorizo Queso Fresco ($16), ‘Cowboy Beans’ ($8), Tasajo Grilled Cheese Taco Pasilla Peanut Sauce ($15) and Slow Cooked Pork Belly Piloncilo Chili Oaxacan Chocolate ($24). When we were ordering, A asked the waiter what the most popular or best dish was. He told us that his personal favourite was the Esquites ($9) so we decided to order that too.

The first dish to arrive was the Fried Chickpeas with burnt tortilla salt. This little snack was the highlight of the meal for me – the chickpeas were crunchy on the outside and soft and semi-hallow in the middle. The flavour of the burnt tortilla salt was amazing with the chickpeas and they were light and fluffy and super moreish. If only that little jar was neverending…

The second dish to arrive was the Esquites, and on first taste I understood why the waiter loved this dish so much. Esquites is mexican street corn served off the cob with chilli, mayonnaise, fresh lime and cheese. When it arrived, we were told to squeeze the lime on top before serving. The corn was still crunchy and with the flavour of the chili, mayo, cheese and lime it was very good! Another lovely dish which had a bit of a bite to it!

The next dish to arrive was the ‘cowboy beans’. On the menu it states that the dish is pinto beans cooked with pork and tomato, however on arrival it was beans in a tomato based sauce that didn’t have much flavour to it. It was very bland and there was no evidence of pork. A disappointing dish, to say the least.

The Kipflers Escabeche arrived next and the potatoes were cooked nicely and the seasoning was lovely, however they weren’t anything more than ordinary.

The Huarache House Green Chorizo Queso Fresco dish was an interesting dish. The Haurache is a toasted masa (‘masa’ is Spanish for dough) and we were told that all the tortillas were made in-house. The tortilla base was made well and the House Green Chorizo looked amazing. However, it didn’t have too much flavour to it unfortunately and was a little underwhelming. The queso fresco was lovely though (fresh crumbly cheese) and was the highlight of the dish.

The Tasajo Grilled Cheese Taco Pasilla Peanut Sauce was a really good dish. The Tasajo is thin sheets of salted beef, which were quite appealing in taste. The peanut sauce was light in flavour, but was a great accompaniment to the dish with the grilled cheese.

The Slow Cooked Pork Belly with piloncilo, chili, and oaxacan chocolate was the final dish of the evening. All of us were a bit perplexed to the flavour of the dish, and weren’t quite sure whether we liked it or not. The oaxacan chocolate (a Mexican chocolate made in Oaxacan that is used in savoury cooking) made the sauce taste really unusual. The piloncilo (unrefined mexican sugar) could have also made the sauce the strange flavour it was as well. I am still not quite sure if I liked the sauce of this dish however will state that the pork belly was very well cooked.

For dessert, we decided to order two serves of the Cinnamon Flan with Peanut Ice Cream ($14) and share between the two couples. When it arrived, I was a little disappointed. Both Chris and I pictured a pastry based flan of some sort, but instead the ‘flan’ was similar to an egg custard in a way that didn’t have any cinnamon taste to it. I’m not the biggest fan of textures like that so i chose not to eat it. There was also mashed banana under the peanut ice cream, which didn’t quite mesh with the other flavours. Plus, I think the banana element should have been mentioned in the dish title or description on the menu, as David stated he wouldn’t have ordered it if he knew it featured bananas. The highlight of the dish were the sweet sesame crackers that went very well with the peanut ice cream.

By the end of the night, we were a little disappointed. Plus, we were starting to get a bit irritated at the table next to us who were slamming back tequila shots the hour we were there and were getting quite rowdy. Also, our waiter was a tiny bit annoying. He was very pushy in regards to selling us alcohol and was sliding our food and drinks across the long table to us (I kept worrying that something would end up in my lap and not in front of me). The venue is quite nicely laid out and the booths in the front section of the restaurant/bar are super cute and look very comfortable. The bar is impressive to look at with lots of tequila bottles lined up in rows and a red donkey light in the middle of the wall.

The bill came to $144 and I would be interested to see how much it would have been if we had also ordered alcohol. The food is really interesting and is unlike what I’ve tried previously so I would still recommend a venture to El Publico for a new experience. In Perth, we are usually served the stereotypical mexican fare of nachos and tacos, however this menu is completely different and I love that aspect of El Publico (David, Chris and A mentioned this too). There were some great dishes and I would still recommend El Publico for the experience of non-stereotypical Mexican cuisine and their impressive tequila menu.

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Perth’s Newest Espresso Bar @ Standing Room Only, Perth CBD, W.A.

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Stepping into Standing Room Only, I couldn’t help but feel transported to Europe, minus the foreign language aspect. It’s typical to find a small bar in Italy where you can pop in for a quick shot of espresso before heading out again within a few minutes. I am the first to admit that I have a sincere love of coffee and will be cranky for a few hours if my first (and typically only) cup of coffee is burnt or weak. It was a weekday when a friend and I headed down to the Perth CBD from our office in West Perth. We were keen to make the journey down to try the newest coffee bar in Perth. It is classed as a ‘bar’, because there are no chairs, no tables and very minimal bench space for you to sip your coffee. Never fear though, there is still a reason to visit.

My friend David was welcomed warmly, as he is a frequent visitor of The Lounge Room, a café in Guildford that is the sibling of Standing Room Only. I left the ordering to David, who quickly asked about the single origins on offer and whether they were suited for milk-based coffees. The friendly gent (I say gent, as he had the cutest little 50′s style apron on and the word seems to fit) stated that the single origin at the moment was excellent for milky coffees, so we ordered two for take away. The single origin was a Five Senses blend, which at first worried me. David has been telling me for a while that Five Senses are a great blend, but I seem to always have a Five Senses coffee badly made so I had yet to see the brilliance. That is until my coffee from Standing Room Only.

The blend was extremely subtle on the palate, until the aftertaste which was full of flavour. It wasn’t as strong as I expected it to taste, but it certainly had the hit of caffeine. I liked it – it was definitely a different kind of coffee than what I usually find in Perth.

All of the milk-based coffees from Standing Room Only are made with two shots. I like this aspect, as I find that coffees made with one shot are a lot more milkier than I prefer. The prices are reasonable as well, as a small take away is only $3.80 and a regular is $4.50. However, add an extra 50 cents for single origin coffee beans. Standing Room Only offers two single origin options. The first is a Five Senses bean, and the second is a “guest” bean, which is currently the Melbourne roasted Proud Mary.

There’s a prominent coffee machine at Standing Room Only, which is one of the world’s most expensive coffee machines (it cost $36,000) and is a custom built Synesso with four heads and retro wooden handles. It is a pretty sky-blue machine that was based on a 1950′s vespa and a similar colour theme is prominent in the tiny premises.

Other than typical milk-based coffees and espresso, Standing Room Only offer three other types of coffee - syphon, V60 pour over, and cold-drip and on our venture to Standing Room Only, a barista was making a syphon coffee for a customer, who was busily chatting away with the barista in regards to his method. A lovely concept, as I am not too familar with these types of coffee brewing and would be inclined to do the same. The barista was very helpful, and David and I tuned in to hear this conversation whilst waiting for our own coffee order.

The head barista is Michael Munroe, an 18 year old who recently came third place in the AustralAsian Specialty Coffee Association’s WA Coffee Championships this year. He has a small team to help him, who were all young in age. Each staff member are very friendly at Standing Room Only and you feel comfortable in the small surroundings because of this aspect of the venue.

I definitely recommend heading to Standing Room Only for a try of their coffee. I can’t wait to return for an espresso or a short macchiato in future. 

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My Easter Celebrations (of Food!)

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I don’t normally blog too much about my personal life but I thought I would tell you a bit about my lovely long weekend and the great food and beverages I have encountered. It’s been a relaxing weekend before my last week in my current job (I quit last week due to an external promotion) and it’s also the week before A and I go on an Eastern Australian adventure to see my mum, her sister and family as well as shop, eat and relax!

It all started with a present A bought me – a bag of Lindt Stracciatella Easter eggs. They are based on the classic Italian ice cream recipe and are white chocolate eggs with cocoa pieces and a smooth white chocolate centre. She bought them for me as she knows I am a HUGE fan of cookies and cream and the packet promises that the chocolate replicates the flavour. The eggs are deliciously sweet and the flavour is similar to Cookies and Cream.

We also bought a few treats from New Norcia Bakeries, including fresh-from-the-oven Chocolate Hot Cross Buns (which were still warm!) and a Bacon and Egg Flan for our Easter Sunday lunch.

On the Easter Sunday, A’s parents came over for a lovely lunch. They bought with them a bottle of Pol Roger Brut Extra Cuvée de Réserve Champagne NV, which was a perfect accompaniment to the meal and the sunshine over lunch.

I also had a lot of Rekorderlig cider over the weekend, thanks to the lovely gesture made by Rekorderlig Australia to send me over a carton (I love the Strawberry & Lime flavour!)

We were also lucky enough to find two restaurants open on the long weekend. The first was Cha Baa Thai in Mt Lawley, were we ordered two Pad Thai (one with prawns, the other with chicken). Both were generous servings and the prawn Pad Thai had 10 prawns and the chicken Pad Thai (pictured) had a substantive amount of chicken too. Both were really tasty and the Pad Thai was minimal in sweetness (which is my personal preference).

The second restaurant we ordered take out from was The Zenith, found in Leederville. It’s a Chinese restaurant that must be very popular with the locals. While we were looking at the menu and waiting for our food, two separate parties mentioned to A and I how good the food was and that we should definitely try it. We ordered the Chicken Fillet with Ginger and Shallot ($16.80) and some steamed rice for two ($2 per person). Due to a 15% discount for all take away orders, it only came to a measley $17.90, which was an added bonus. The meal was really good – the chicken was really tender and the sauce was light. The ginger wasn’t overpowering but there was still a lovely flavour to the dish. We are looking forward to returning again.

However, the best food encounter of my long weekend was an Easter dinner hosted by my friends, Justine and Ben. There were eight of us in total and each couple was asked to bring something to contribute. A and I were told to bring a Middle Eastern salad, either warm or cold. My first thought was fattoush, a salad made with mixed greens, toasted pita bread, mint, sumac and a few other ingredients, which is a refreshing salad that is a great accompaniment to any meal (and is eaten with everything in the Middle East). Andrea and Barbs were asked to bring some spicy Italian sausages and Justine and Dan were asked to bring some wine.

Table Setting - Image courtesy of Heats & Arrow Photography (www.heartsandarrow.com)

There were a few additions to the night’s feast, including marinated Octopus made by Barbs a few days before. I am a huge fan of octopus so I was very happy to try it and ask how she made it. Barbs told me that typically, recipes state that it should be marinated in vinegar, however she substitutes vinegar with white wine. It was also marinated in chilli, lemon and herbs and was soft and delicate to chew. It was amazing and I was lucky enough to take the leftovers home.

Andrea is Italian and bought the spicy chorizo sausage from an Italian guy who makes them from scratch. I was watching him prepare the chorizo for barbecuing and he was kind enough to offer a sample before it was barbecued. The flavours were really subtle and there was a lot less fat evident than normal chorizo. Still, Andrea said that he won’t add any oil to the pan when he fries it to make it “healthier” – we all laughed at that! Once cooked, the chorizo’s flavour changed drastically. It got chewier, but also a lot spicier. It was an interesting spice to it, as it didn’t hit you until after you finished chewing and the spice would only be evident on the roof of your mouth. It was lovely!

After the nibbles of Marinated Octopus, Chorizo, fresh Turkish bread and honey-glazed peanuts, I was back in the kitchen watching Ben and Justine finish cooking the main attractions. Ben and Justine made “hangover cure” Pork Belly, Bourbon-based marinated Beef, Corn on the cob, Roasted Vegies (onion, pumpkin, potatoes, capsicums and garlic), served with the Fattoush salad made by A and I.

My favourite dish was the bourbon marinated beef. It was lightly pink in the centre and the lightly-sweet flavour from the bourbon marinade was moreish! Definitely a highlight. The pork belly was also really good, with a light crackle on top.

Bourbon Marinated Beef (back) & Pork Belly (front)

The vegies and fattoush were a perfect accompaniment to the meat and before long, it was time to take the dishes away.

Corn & Fattoush

There was a long gap between our main course and dessert, which was required due to the substantial amount of meat we ate! There was continuous chatter amongst our party of eight and lots of laughs. For the evening, I was drinking Rekorderlig cider, however I also tried a lovely 2008 Cabernet Merlot by The Alchemist (Margaret River), which was very smooth and light bodied but had a lovely flavour too (another to add to the PFJ wine list!).

Justine and Ben made three amazing desserts to end our feast. The first was “Knock Your Socks Off” bread and butter pudding with a bourbon based sauce. We were watching Ben make the sauce a little earlier in the evening and we were all mentioning the use of bourbon. Justine and Ben recently returned from a trip around the world, however they were mainly traveling around the United States. Ben discovered this Southern American recipe and we were the first to try it. He made the sauce separately in a pan, and added one cup of bourbon, butter and sugar. The recipe didn’t call for the mixture to be boiled, so it was mentioned that this could be quite an alcoholic concoction. When it was served, the pudding was soft, flavoursome and covered in a very strong and boozy sauce! Ben had two bowls and discovered that it might have made him a lot more tipsy than originally expected. A delicious, but strong dessert!

Justine made the other two desserts of the evening. The first was the Cheesecake Filled Chcoolate Easter Eggs. I haven’t actually seen anything like these before – they were so pretty and dainty! The ‘egg whites’ were cheesecake filling, whereas the ‘egg yolk’ was a mixture of passionfruit and apricot sauce. They tasted really good and looked too cute to eat!

Justine also made little ‘birds nests’ from crushed biscuits, cocoa powder, coconut, melted butter and vanilla essence, which were made to hold little chocolate eggs in them. These bird nests were really tasty and I loved the fact that they were crumbly. Another moreish dessert!

Bird Nests - Image courtesy of Hearts & Arrow Photography (http://www.heartsandarrow.com/3/post/2012/04/easter-treats.html)

It was a lovely evening of good food, good wine and good company! There’s not too much more you can ask for, is there? A huge thanks to Justine and Ben for organising the evening. It was lovely and everything was super delicious!

I hope all of you had a lovely Easter, with lots of yummy food and beverages, and that you feel rejuvenated after the four day break!

- Natalie (the chick behind PFJ)

Cha Baa Thai on Urbanspoon The Zenith - Contemporary Asian Food on Urbanspoon

Four Perth Food Bloggers Have Dinner @ Eureka Chinese Restaurant, Wilson, W.A.

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Last year, PFJ was invited to the opening night of the new Nespresso boutique store in Perth. During the night, I met a few of the other food bloggers in Perth. About a month later, Perth Food Engineers sent an email to the group of food bloggers that attended, asking whether we were interested in having dinner. It was a slow process of finding a date and venue that suited everyone, however we finally managed to meet at Eureka Chinese Restaurant in Wilson, which is a regular haunt for Miss Egg (from Perth Food Engineers).

Eureka Chinese Restaurant is a tiny little suburban restaurant that is situated in a tiny row of shops. There are six tables inside, which all feature Lazy Susans. The place is minimal inside in regards to decor and I couldn’t help but giggle at the waitresses shirt that read “If found, please return me to the pub”.

On the night, the attendees were Miss Egg and Miss L from Perth Food Engineers, CJ from Perth Munchkin with her lovely fiance GG, The Food Pornographer and her lovely partner Jac, as well as A and I. The majority of us had only met at the Nespresso event so it was lovely sitting around a huge table and discussing topics other than food. However, when it came time to order dinner, the food bloggers saw it as a serious task and we all went quiet and consulted our partners. Miss Egg from PFE knew that some dishes needed to be pre-ordered, so she kindly ordered the roast duck and the ‘prosperous chicken’ for the table a few days before. It was decided that we’d also order the Beef with Lemongrass and Chilli, Salt & Pepper Squid, Sambal Long Beans, and Chow Mien.

The standout dish of the night, in my opinion, was the Roast Duck. The duck was glazed and the flavour of the dish was amazing. It also helped that the duck was quite meaty and not too fatty. It was a huge portion and would be recommended by all the food bloggers at the table (as we all thought it was really good!)

The Prosperous Chicken was something new for A and I, as we’d never tried this dish before. It was a cold chicken dish that had lots of flavour, however I didn’t really eat too much of this dish, due to personal preference. It was well received by others though!

The Beef with Lemongrass and Chilli was another favourite for the night. The flavours were really strong and ingredients all seemed quite fresh.

A and I picked the Chow Mein (Dry). This was another great dish of the night. The noodles were lovely and each element in the dish had lots of flavour.

The Salt & Pepper Squid was the quickest dish to empty on the table. The squid was cooked really well and seasoned perfectly.

The Sambal Long Beans was well received by the rest of the group. I didn’t eat too much of this dish as I find the sambal flavour a little overpowering. However, Miss Egg from PFE tells me that this dish is Eureka’s speciality.

Each dish tasted really good at Eureka. We were all very full by the end of the night and there was still food left over. When the bill came, a few of us were shocked to learn that we were only required to pay $19 each. It was a definite bargain!

In saying that, I have to admit that I was really thirsty when I got home. I am not too sure why but I think there may have been MSG in the food at Eureka. If you venture there, it might be worth asking for no MSG. Also, Eureka does not serve alcohol on the premises but you can BYO wine. Eureka has two sittings, one at 6:00 and the other at 7:30, and the venue only has a few tables so I recommend making a booking in advance. I also recommend pre-ordering a duck if you go in a big group as it is a standout dish.

All in all, A and I had a great night at Eureka. The food and company were great and the venue was perfect for a casual catchup. A special thanks to the other food bloggers and partners who came along.

I recommend Eureka Chinese Restaurant for great Chinese food that is very reasonably priced.

Eureka Chinese Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Opening Night @ The Wine Store Wine Bar, East Fremantle, W.A.

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When A and I first started dating we headed into Fremantle for lunch. On our way back, A stopped in East Fremantle to go to one of her favourite wine stores, conveniently named The Wine Store. I remember choosing to sit in the car while she ‘popped’ in, thinking that she’d only be a few minutes. Twenty minutes later, A was still nowhere to be seen and I was getting restless. I was also intrigued to know what had kept her occupied for so long so I ventured inside. This was the day that I first met the brilliance of The Wine Store.

So when I got the email from one of the owners about the opening of their new wine bar, A and I were both excited to attend. Unfortunately at the last minute A was called into work and couldn’t accompany me on the night. Regardless, I headed along by my lonesome to check out the new wine bar in East Fremantle.

The Wine Store Wine Bar is situated next door to The Wine Store and is across the road from Hubble’s Yard. When I arrived, I was nerdishly on time, so I took the opportunity to wonder around the new venue. The decor is clean, modern, minimalistic and features natural coloured furniture, wood and lots of greenery. There are a few walls which are plastered with grainy photographs and the other walls are left with the natural brick work or painted white. The decor is lovely and it’s a very comfortable surrounding to be in. I especially love the plant features which add a little colour and vibrance to the rooms.

 

 

Once you enter the bar area to the side, you are introduced to an area that encompasses wine. There are wine bottles punctuating the area on different surfaces and the ‘windows’ on the back wall are actually windows into The Wine Store next door. I particularly like this feature as it links the two establishments nicely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bar is stocked with options, so if you aren’t a wine drinker you’ll still be catered for. There’s a great beer list, with beers on tap and in bottles, which features local and international beers. There’s also an extensive cider list and spirits are also available.

I made my way to the bar to try one of the many wines on offer. I chose a glass of the Jed Blanc de Blanc Sparkling from Argentina ($9). It’s a light bodied but acidic glass of sparkling, made only with white grapes. At the time of ordering, I didn’t realise that one of the owners of The Wine Store also co-owns Jed Wines, which produces and imports wine from Argentina. It was my first time trying a Jed wine and I would definitely order it again.

The wall feature of the kitchen preparation area

I was excited to try the food and sat near the kitchen to watch the preparation. The food began to arrive and over the night I tried numerous different options from the food menu. I have also heard that they plan to continuously change the food options according to seasonal produce and availability, so some of the dishes mentioned below might not be available if you venture to The Wine Store Wine Bar in future.

The first hors d’oeuvre to arrive were Fig with Blue Cheese on fresh bread squares. These aren’t on the menu but were a lovely addition to the night, as the figs were grown on premises.

The second arrival were fresh Oysters, which The Wine Store Wine Bar offer ‘au naturel’ or with Vanilla, Lime and Pickled Fennel ($3.50 each).

I was intrigued to try the next dish, which was Fremantle Sardines on Toast, ‘Bloody Mary Style’ ($11.50). I don’t normally eat sardines but for some reason I wanted to try this dish. A huge recommendation follows – the sardines were fresh and the light tabasco flavour in the tomato salsa underneath was extremely appealing.

The Warm Green Beans, Wild Mushroom Butter and Toasted Almonds ($8.50) dish had great flavours and was a very pleasant dish, as the beans were crunchy and the flavour of the wild mushroom butter came through nicely. The Chicken Liver Parfait, which was served with Toasted Brioche ($14.00), was a definite favourite of the night. The Chicken Liver Parfait had great flavour and texture and would be a great dish to share over a bottle of wine.

L-R - Warm Green Beans & Chicken Liver Parfait

There were a few other dishes floating around which I wasn’t able to get a photo of, including the Beef Empanadas ($12). These empanadas were really good and another recommendation from PFJ who had two on the night!

On the food menu there are other options, such as handcut chips, grilled prawns, croquettes and olives. All the dishes seem to be created especially to match the style of the venue, and it is very French/Apéritif style. In France, an apéritif is a snack that precedes a meal and is normally accompanied with a glass of wine or spirit.

The Wine Store Wine Bar has only been open for just over a month now but already it has gained attention from Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine, who recently mentioned the small bar in its April issue as an “instant hit”. You can tell the owners and staff are passionate about their wine and food, and have put a lot of effort in the opening of The Wine Store Wine Bar. I particularly like the idea of The Wine Store Wine Bar’s food menu and would recommend going to The Wine Store Wine Bar for a pre or post dinner drink and nibble (aka Apéritif).

I am looking forward to returning soon for a French-style apéritif!

The Wine Store Wine Bar on Urbanspoon

A special thanks to Rob, Anna & The Wine Store team for inviting PFJ to the opening!