Snags & Sons

In a city devoid of a good sausage shop along comes Snags & Sons.  Justin Bell of Jus Burgers fame saw the gap and crammed it with this deli-style gem in Leederville. Always one to champion local produce, Justin has ensured that the tastiest snags around Perth are finally getting a nudge and devotion.  What's not to love about the humble hot dog when it's made to taste this good. We went early Sunday evening to find a little line creeping down the street.  Taking our seats at the high bar style tables we studied the menu for far too long.  The hot dogs were simple yet tasty and I am always happy to get change from ten bucks.  A great place to pop in for a cheap and cheerful catch up or bite before a movie at Luna.

Amelia Park beef snag BEEF BOEREWORS South African peach chutney, smoked Dutch cheese & baguette Mount Barker chicken snag RED CURRY SAUSAGE tamarind chutney, Asian salad, chilli in wrap Chittering Valley venison Snag VENISON horseradish cream, beetroot, apple & ginger jam & baguette

The red curry sausage was definitely the winner on the taste scale.    My venison was a little on the dry side but was singing with a balance of flavours.  Relish always works with game meat.  I don't think I have found my favourite yet though so I will keep going back until I do.

ihart

Last November saw the ihart exhibition take over the Claremont Hotel and Grey Door raising funds for The Heart Foundation. This initiative is the brainchild of Xpress Magazines Art Director, Dwight O'Neil and Michael Prendiville. ihart soon became a labour of love and it was held with huge success. This year ihart has it's sights set high to help one special child from the Starlight Foundation make his/her dream come true! Ihart is currently seeking submissions of A2 prints from artists, designers, sculptors, painters, photographers and creatives. There are also secret mediums for secret artists so if you want to know more hit the boys up at ihartproject.com

All proceeds from the sale of all art will be donated to the Starlight Foundation.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Curious Film is bringing possibly THE foodie movie of the year, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, to Cinema Paradiso.  These wonderful people are kindly donating movie pass door prizes for the Autumn Roving Dinner.   With rave reviews, this work of art revered as "breathtaking" by the likes of Anthony Bordain opens on 10 May.

Autumn Roving Dinner

Last year's Roving Dinner held on 17 October was such a success we thought we would do it all over again. This time two separate nights, four venues and 180 food and wine lovers. This is my heart, this is what makes me happy.

Phong Vinh

Phong Vinh's hot noodle soup for a sad and snotty nose.

Mi Ga Chien Don (Kho) - Egg Noodle Soup with Crispy Chicken (dry) Bun Bo Hue - Pork & Beef Rice Vermicelli in Spicy Soup

The Beaufort Street Merchant

I met with my fellow food loving friend Foodie Cravings and aghast! we went without eating.  I forgot how much I love coffee dates, less time chewing means more time for chatting. Michelle and her husband recently opened Crust Mt Lawley.  Working full time, running Crust, satisfying foodie cravings and blogging .. she is one busy lady.  So wonderful to hear that the pizza oven is cranking day day in day out keeping the hungry people of Highgate happy.

Special advanced and humungous thanks to Crust for donating vouchers to our Autumn Roving Dinner goodie bags.

Jus Burgers

I swear I always end up wearing my food. Our friends Chris and Tay showed us the double stick method.  Use two skewers to keep burger fillings in order and then cut.  Keep the sticks in place whilst you elegantly eat your burger.  I only remembered them saying "watch the pointy ends" when I had already punctured my gums.

Onion rings with aioli. Original beef ~ Amelia Park beef, MSA approved, hormone-free - chargrilled with creamed horseradish and balsamic onions Mullet ~ Amelia Park beef, MSA approved, hormone-free - chargrilled with bacon, beetroot, cheddar cheese and free-range egg.

La Cholita

I am quite happy to ride the mexican wave that is crashing down on Perth at the moment. I have been to La Cholita a few times now and I think the trick is ... embark on this adventure with friends who want to order for Africa.  This is always the best case scenario.  Damn you two people date night ... you just cannot sample enough in my opinion.  Maybe that is why I try and turn every catch up into a social fiasco. Was perfect to drown my sorrows with my Moogni (collective term for the three of us ... don't ever ask ... it's totally gay) over Tamarind Jarrito as they are both leaving me for fun times abroad.

Entradas: Guacamole, crispy flour tortilla, Market ceviche, Mexican street corn,Taco ~ beef cheek, pico de gallo, Quesadillas ~ chorizo, queso corelo

Fuertes: Wood roasted pork hock, recado rojo with Mexican rice - HOLY SHIT I will now order this every time.  You simply have to poke it with your fork and all that ham hock goodness just falls off the bone.  (Homer Simpson drool ... urghhhhhh).

Dulce de leche chimichanga - a devillish good dessert (an icrecream burrito deep fried and served with a condensed milk like sticky sugary caramel-y sauce.  YUM.

Tan Po Po

Every time I eat here I say OH BLESS. I think we all fondly remember eating at the old location. The little arcade, with the outdated magazines and five little tables. I always want to get up and clear all the tables for them and get their new site organised. Its still damn tasty and easy on your pennies so all is always forgiven. I just love the staff and especially the owner .. oh bless!

Daily Planet

It is always too long between ... ummm breakfasts with Liz.  When we catch up its always amaze! Liz has her own blog Breakfast in Perth and is getting pretty famous now!  Very exciting that she is taking her writing to the next level under the wing of Rob Broadfield for the Good Food Guide.  AMAZING! So proud! We spent the morning pondering food, friends, reminiscing on Teknoscape days and Perth Dance Music Awards. I eat so healthy at home and at work ... its the dining out where I tend to be extravagant.  For the average person that is fine. That is what life is about ... every now and then going out and spoiling yourself.  BUT my butt has been expanding due to the fact that I eat out a hell a lot more than your average Joanne.

I ordered the vegan stack.  Not something I would usually order but I just felt like having salad for breakfast seeing as my cold has stopped me from sweating out in the hot room.  Caitlin (best barista and full of fun) informed they were out of avocado but had added honeyed parsnip. Naturally the chickpea fritter was a little dry but the aioli and juiciness of the tomatoes made up for it.  The parsnip was definitely a welcome addition and the verde added freshness.  So nice to walk away from breky not in a carb coma!

I thought the food was really reasonably priced and it was so damn good to order a Caitlin again.   Free wifi is always a plus too!  Don't read all the urban goon reviews until you have made up your own mind.

Vegan Stack ~ chickpea fritter, field mushrooms, avocado, slow roasted tomatoes, salsa verde and tofu aioli Mex Eggs ~ scrambled eggs with green pepper and tomato salsa, smoked bacon, corn relish sour cream and jalapenos wrapped in a flour tortilla

THE CAITLIN: ristretto, honey, ice + a red haired barista These bad boys have gotten me through many many meetings.

Bored with your breakfast? Then you simply must  check out Liz's blog.

Maylands Fish Chips & Curry

We had been boasting about the best butter chicken from our new favourite Indian takeout on Eighth Avenue in Maylands.  We ordered fish korma, lamb saag, palak paneer and TWO butter chickens, three rice, two roti and three garlic naan and it only cost $87.33. Absolute joy!

The Imp

Vic Park always feels a little out of the way but I really do need to venture into this neck of the woods more often.   Alisha and I rarely catch up but when we do we order, eat and ramble like as old friends do.

I feel as though I missed the window to dine at The Imp.  It is almost like I am a little late, like I arrived at a party when half of the guests had already left.  If I do not visit within the first three months I always feel a little jaded by all that I have heard.  Rather than be fed by the stories of others, I always prefer to arrive at a venue with a clear head without the order this and don't order that swimming around inside my head. 
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I am always a little forlorn at the news the crispy pork belly was off the menu.  However,  the beef shin came with recommendation and served with charred spring onions and sticky soy sauce.  The meat just melted in your mouth and sinfully sweet goo was joy.  We also ordered the duck and fig frittata bites served with rocket and truffle oil and finished chatting over a cheeseboard.

My photos are so horrendous but you get the drift.  The Imp is a great little spot for an easy and tasty dinner with long lost friends.  

Namh Thai

Possibly best described as next level Thai.  This is probably about my sixth visit and it only gets better.  The new renovation makes for a more intimate and relaxing dining experience. An elegant foyer, plenty of space to ooh and aahhh without your neighbours hearing too much.  It was the perfect place for a double date for my housemates belated birthday present.  I think $75 per head is really reasonable for the quality of food.  Hello happy tastebuds.   Happy birthday Lozzie! x

Galloping Horses little tasty duck jockeys riding pineapple and mandarin. Seared scallop curry on shell and crispy salmon flakes, julienned apple, herbs. Salt and spicy soft shell crab, grilled watermelon, herbs and lime dressing. Lime cured beef, roasted ground rice, Thai herbs.

Green curry of tiger prawns with apple eggplant, baby sweet corn, Thai basil. Caramelised crispy pork hock with a herb salad, chilli and lime dressing. Braised beef shin in aromatic spices with sweet potato and roasted peanuts. Thick red curry with roast duck, quail eggs and lychees.

Sticky rice with mango. Lime tart with coconut icecream. Banana sago. Mungbean dumplings.

Bivouac

Pardon my deplorable camera skills. I am definitely a better eater than an artist!  We opted for eats at Bivouac before Pedro's Rooftop Party.  Post giggling ensued watching Napoleon Dynamite at Rooftop Movies followed by a dj set by Pedro himself. HILARE. I keep on going back to Bivouac and I would definitely say it is my favourite go to restaurant at the moment.  Honest produce driven food, vibrant staff and a well equipped bar.  They always use organic, free range and local produce wherever possible and it really shines through their tasty offerings.

Thom Yums to start ... whisky sour with a chilli kick.

The latest exhibition on the canteen walls is Milk by Mow Skowz. It reminded me of having a nightmare about teletubbies.

"They're pretty good, except for one little problem. That little guy right there. He is nipple number five. A good dairy cow should have, like, four." Pedro

I LOVE the staff at Bivouac ... so much so I could/should/do call them my friends. I always let them take over and do the ordering.  I never let anyone do the ordering ... so that says something.

Orange & rosemary sicilian green olives ... UM succulent! Patatas bravas are a new addition and oh so salty and flavoursome like the gems at bottom of a chip bag.

Cider braised mussels, chorizo and fennel. Oh so tasty and we ordered another round of turkish bread to mop up all the liquid goodness.  I did think about just gulping down the rest of the sauce ... I totally would have done that at home or if no one was watching.

Greek lamp backstrap, zucchini, kalamata olives, tzatziki and mint pizza. Pan-friend gnocchi, cauliflower, purple basil, stracchino and toasted almonds. Crispy Linley Valley pork belly, broccolini and horseradish cream. Secret Menu Steak ... this was all kinds of awesome! A hunk of beef marinated for 12 hours in home made red wine with smashed potatoes and white bean puree. We did consider ordering one more god damn I could eat it now.  We left full and happy and I still found it in me to eat popcorn.

A bivouac is designed for rest and recuperation and that's what we're all about. 

Sayers Food

Sayers Food does the best catering.  You just need to give them a little notice and you can walk away with platters to be proud of.  

Maylands Fish Chips & Curry

Don't you love it when you both agree on boycotting cooking for comfort food on the couch.

4 curries, 2 rotis, almost got change from a 50 ... win! Yes change from fiddy bones. I think I actually announced this is the best butter chicken of my life and started the spoon the sauce like soup. This little fish chip and curry shop on 8th Ave is absolutely legit tasty Indian and extremely cheap.  You can find their menu here.

Alliance Francaise French Film Festival 2012

Please don't say that Perth is boring. Seek and thou shalt find.  In fact, sometimes if Perth were a little less eventful I would be a rich and skinny lady.  We had the loveliest French film adventures. I just love Paradiso, it is homely, they always show hidden gems and you can drink red wine.  Gosh I have the best bunch of gal friends. 

These are my four favourite movies from this year.​

el PÚBLICO

I have already fallen hard for you el PÚBLICO and we only just met. I know that our future together holds many looooong nights together. We thought we would pop in for a quick bite before French Film Festival (ie. order everything off the menu twice and run late for the movies).

BOTANA (snacks) fried chickpeas burnt tortilla salt, street prawns, guacamole

ANTOJITOS (mexican street snack designed to satisfy a craving) pork tongue butter orange picked onion taco tasajo grilled cheese taco pasilla peanut sauce requeson radish habanero relish taco

POSTRES (desserts) "tequilla slammer" lolly <--- bombs of marshmallow bliss with an injection of tequila ... party in your mouth!

Zambrero

If you want fresh, fast and healthy then Zambrero is your answer.  Jamie and Eli opened their Mt Lawley store just in time for the Beaufort Street Festival. Following in the footsteps of big bro Leederville, the Mt Lawley store is always packed.  The line is full of patient peeps waiting to sink their teeth into quality ingredients and Mex with modern attitude.  I tend to opt for a salad bowl and I always get verde and white sauce. Oh how delish! When life gets busy I probably scoff a salad bol two times a week.

Happiness in a soft tortilla.

These two dudes are the owners!

This is the part about Zambrero that really hits home.

"Our plate4plate initiative has been running since April 2011. We work with Action Against Hunger, to provide high protein, high vitamin meals that help strengthen people suffering malnutrition.

Each quarter, we add up all the meals¹ we have served at Zambrero and deliver the resources to provide the equivalent number of meals to our distribution partner, Action Against Hunger, who provide the logistics to distribute the food relief to the areas most in need.

Why did we choose Action Against Hunger as a partner? Because with thousands of volunteers all over the world, and a 30-year track record of providing non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious humanitarian action, we were totally confident that our plate4plate donations would be distributed to the right people in the right places.

Plate4plate is funded through the profits of Zambrero, which means we’re never going to ask you for money. All you have to do is enjoy any delicious meal from our fresh, healthy menu and we’ll donate a meal in return—a definite win-win!

With your support, as Zambrero grows, the number of people we can feed increases and we hope it goes a little way to helping reduce world poverty. Thank you for helping us to help them!"