Sayers Sister

"Oh my god you are engaged!" were the words heard by patrons enjoying their breakfast late Sunday morning.  They peered over coffee cups, watching me shake my friend Rhian whilst grinning like the Chesire Cat.  Catching up with an old friend is always lovely but catching up during life's most momentous occasions is just amazing.  Breakfast at Sayers Sister was the perfect place to celebrate.   

Mark & Stef Sayers brought breakfast to life in 2006.  Sayers Food opened its doors in Leederville, offering a relaxed, cheerful vibe and an evolving seasonal menu that people line up for time and time again.  This little cafe, so long ago, opened up my eyes as to how fabulous breakfast should be.  Sayers were among the very few who set the standard; bespoke coffee, perfect eggs and a produce driven breakfast menu.  Oh and some of the best banana bread I have ever enjoyed.  It was no surprise when I heard that another Sayers was brewing.       

Sayers Sister opened in the later half of 2012 and has been enjoying the same attention as its older brother.  I love the fresh flowers against the vintage decor, the long polished concrete table constantly full of cakes and chattering people, and the Mad Hatter's high backed chairs.  It is like being at Alice's tea party with all the pretty crockery.  The only madness is lining up for a table!

Photo credit: This stunning image is by Jason Thomas. 

We lined up, happily waiting, discussing sparkling diamond rings and weddings. Sayers Sisters has one of those menus with almost too much to contemplate.  I am always battling over a selection of savoury or sweet.  So I took the easy road, ordering something sweet to share.  

We sipped on our coffees, oohing over our comforting plate of pumpkin bread, cutting off little slices and slathering them in maple butter. And then it was time for our mains ….oh my.  I ordered the potato rosti with bramley apple and thyme chutney served with two poached eggs, bacon and rocket.  Rhi enjoyed the corned beef hash cake with fried eggs, toasted ciabatta and relish.  A gorgeous breakfast to complete a blissful weekend of celebrations.

El Último Hielero

The Last Ice Merchant follows 67 year old Baltazar Ushca.  For the last 50 years he has followed family tradition making a living from harvesting the rich, mineral-infused ice from Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo.   This touching short film is definitely worth 15 minutes of your day.

The Last Ice Merchant (El Último Hielero) from Sandy Patch on Vimeo.

GOT S3 EP9

'The Rains of Castamere'  a song for house Lannister.

If you were teetering on the fence then last night scrolling through your newsfeed you would have sealed the deal.   Embrace Game of Thrones or boycott it forever.  Social media was a steady stream of WTFs surrounding the Red Wedding.  Even after reading A Storm of Swords I still didn't see THAT coming.  

Doom doom doom ... silence.

It's like Zambrero's knew we were coming and it was nice to see dear old Ned Stark at the Mt Lawley store.  Kinda fitting really as there is a Zambrero's burrito a day challenge for the month of June happening in our friendship circle.  Dwight v James.  

Yelp and Revelation Film Festival

Revelation Film Festival ​officially kicks off on 4 July.  This month Yelpers have been invited to attend an Australian premiere screening for Gimme the Loot at Cinema Paradiso.  Just one more reason to jump on the Yelp train. Oh and you get free popcorn.

Quail eggs + candied bacon

If only every weekend was a long weekend, I would get so much done.  I bought beautiful new furnishings for our dining room, colour coded my cookbooks and fell in love with my new vintage teak study desk (which I have vowed to keep pristine and tidy). I even potted some herbs in my Angus & Celeste hanging jelly planters and found preloved books which I swear I will read (one day). ​ I attended the launch of the Winter Arts Festival then watched The Great Gatsby at Luna, DJ Rashad at the Bakery and Game of Thrones with friends.  I bought fresh flowers, made an Irish stew and started to rifle through my Urban Locavore box.  

I was lucky to pipe up early getting my hands on ​a wee half dozen quail eggs from Urban Locavore.  Speckled, pretty and so damn hard to crack.  After a weekend of eating out it was time to rustle up a quick snack of panfried quail eggs topped with goat's cheese and candied bacon atop crunchy toasted baguette. 

Ingredients​

6 rashers bacon
​4 tbs maple syrup
​6 quail eggs
​goat's cheese
​baguette toasts 

Method ​

​1.  Preheat oven to 180.
​2. Line baking tray with baking paper.  Place rashers on tray, evenly spoon maple syrup on each rasher. Bake until the bacon is crispy and the maple syrup reaches a toffee like consistency.  Remove from oven and cut into small strips.
​3.  Carefully crack and panfry quail eggs in EVOO on a low heat. 
​4.  Lay out toasts, top with quail egg, goats cheese, candied bacon and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. 
​5.  Eat.

Pretty quail eggs.

​We buy our bacon from Mondo's and I use organic Canadian maple syrup.

​You can find these three at Urban Locavore. 

Flower bombing

​The Flower Shop is now open for business and you will find Skye busy hosting workshops each Sunday.   Arrive, mingle and sip on rose coloured champagne from vintage flutes.  Then nibble on morsels of high tea whilst Skye shows you art of creating a FlowerBomb.    

It was the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning. Skye will be running all different workshops but still has a few Flower Bomb workshops coming up.  These would make  gorgeous alternative to a hens party or kitchen tea.    

This is Skye on the right in the pretty orange dress.  My bestie Brook is on the left and now knows how to make a mean Flower Bomb.

​This is my Flower Bomb.  Pretty bloomin' amazing huh!

It's Dark Outside

​One of my highlights from 2012.  

In the heart of Guildford

I grew up in the Swan Valley with a veggie patch and ponies.  With quaint and peaceful, rose laden Guildford only a stone throw away.   As a child the excursions to Guildford were so exciting.  Saturdays meant a trip to the bookstore for the latest Baby Sitters Club book, then frowning whilst choosing which ice cream to try at the Junction Ice Creamery.  Sunday afternoons were spent browsing with mum through clothing and vintage shops often stopping for hot chocolate and cake. Later in the life, weekends meant rowdy nights at our locals pubs consuming not much more than beer and cheap wine. Finding ourselves huddling around the fire at Alfred’s Kitchen devouring burgers at midnight.  

As I grew up, my taste buds matured and what Guildford had to offer was just not enough.  Many lovely cafes and restaurants have popped up over the years but few ever enduring the test of time.  Then along came Little Guildford.

Little Guildford has recently opened its doors to cheering locals.   You can find this pretty little café on Swan Street across the road from the historic Rose & Crown.  The décor is where old meets new, scattered bric a brac and blooms adding warmth and character.  A photo by Alfred Robert Linus Wright adorns the back wall showing Swan Street back in 1894, echoing Guildford's strong historical roots.  Beautiful mint green tiles set against rustic timber furnishings lend a touch of old world glamour.

The menu draws inspiration from local produce and honest home cooking.  The food truly embodies the whimsical, country feel of Guildford. The perfect stop before a wine trip out to the Valley.  Relaxed, casual and family friendly, even BYO! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Little Guildford is definitely worth the drive.   

ACE PIZZA

​If Cantina 663 and el PUBLICO were your big brothers, the shoes to fill would be rather large.  
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​Ace Pizza was born into the world gifted with the same strong genes. Inheriting the trait of striking good looks, charisma and charm.  The trio, Alex Cuccovia, Paul Aron and Michael Forde, have fathered yet another gem to join the Beaufort Street family. 

​You will find Ace in the shyer part of Mt Lawley, the telltale neon sign glowing from within, throwing green shadows onto the street where you must take the side entrance.   A big black couch tells your toosh to take a seat, relaxing here if you don't have a booking.  Otherwise you will retreat straight to a booth with a good bunch of friends sipping an Americano or two on tap.  Perched at the bar, you have a view of the open kitchen.  You can sit taking in the energy, watching the magic happen or marvel at the array of aperitifs and digestives.  Whether in a two, on a first date or a rowdy table of ten I feel that this place will do the trick. 

The menu is quite extensive and there is something for everyone.  Amongst the choices of pizza there are plates for sharing; dishes flamed in the wood grill and hearty offerings of pasta; whatever you fancy, Ace has got your back.  

The 'pork and pistachio slab' terrine was full of flavour.  Its gelatinous texture set off by the crisp pickled vegetables and house baked rye bread.   ​ 

Seriously, when was the last time you turned down deep fried cheesy pasta?  This is the second time I have ordered the 'fried mac and cheese', this time slathering  Ace chilli sauce all over the oozing cheesey cut slabs.

A gorgeous selection of mushies were served on a soft bed of buttery polenta and sprinkled with lashings of shaved cheese.  ​

​The 'flat iron quail' from the Wood Grilled menu was succulent.  It is hard to enjoy these daintily!  The garlic aioli was salty working well with the refreshing fennel salad and orange cheek warmed on the chargrill.

Cynar and chinotto share the same herbaceous, bitter citrus notes.  Both muddled with mint and lemon and named 'the black doctor' made for the perfect mid meal digestive.​

​And it was our mains that really stole the show.  The fat pasta, rabbit and porcini was comforting and satisfying and it will be one of those meals that will definitely be ordered again. 

Now when I dream of lasagne I will dream of this.  
​
​'Dad's lasagne' was served in a cast iron pan lovingly layered with béchamel, cheese and slowcooked beef tail. ​

nd we ended our meals the only way we know how, washed down with Italian specialties Averna and Amaro Montenegro.

Ace Pizza will be the place to go over the coming months.  Delicious meals and pretty easy on the wallet. This is one Italian restaurant I would be happy to line up for. 

Fine film, old sport

‘New York, 1922, the tempo of the city had changed sharply. The buildings were higher, the parties were bigger, the morals were looser and the liquor was cheaper.’

Viet Hoa

The drop in mercury has cravings for hot soup and comforting food emerge.   ​We dropped into Viet Hoa for chicken rice and hot beef noodle soup.  I should really say hot beef spaghetti soup as there was something oddly Italian about my noodles. 

exciting times ahead

July is just full of amazing acts.  Onra, James Blake and Alt J. ​

a girl flick

Ahhh to be French and in love.​

Winter is coming!

For some Winter means retreating for the warmth indoors, curled up on the couch clutching an earthy glass of red in one hand, remote control in the other. For the more adventurous, the colder months bring a snowstorm of entertainment.   The Winter Arts Festival is coming!

The last Friday of the next three months, sees the Winter Supper Club emerge at the Perth Town Hall.  It will have you warming up your hands on a cup of mulled wine whilst wandering hungrily amongst the food stalls.  It is the perfect way to end your working week or to drop in for a pre-show nibble.

The last time I watched Driving Miss Daisy was long, long ago so I am certainly looking forward to this Pulitzer Prize winning play. Angela Lansbury, fondly remembered from Bedknobs & Broomsticks and Murder She Wrote, stars as Miss Daisy with James Earl Jones cast as her faithful driver.  After rave reviews of sold out east coast shows, tickets will sell out quicker than you can say Mufasa!

I am also looking forward to dance works Wintering inspired by the choreographer’s voyage to the Artic and G, a contemporary rendition of the heart wrenching Giselle. Always a sucker for tradition, the beautiful production of Swan Lake will also be worth a look.

The Festival also brings a plethora of theatre and poetry readings.  Alienation has been inspired by interviews with Australian’s who believe they have encountered creatures from outer space.  Who isn’t totally down for an ET moment?!  Softly stepping out of my comfort zone, I have decided that this year I am also delving into the world of poetry. The Night Jar ‘the space where we live out our dreams, filling it with dark secrets and desires’ looks rather intriguing and a good place to start.

On June 12 the Spanish Film Festival returns with eight delicious days of Spanish and Latin American films.   I plan on squeezing as many as I can, topped off with a generous flow of tapas and sangria. Then it is party time as the Revelation Film Festival turns sweet sixteen!  Returning to its spiritual home at Luna with an arsenal of independent films.  And finally, the movie I am most excited to see! Frodo & Co take a walk from the Shire and beyond with WASO. The epic film, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, will be enriched by the orchestral sounds of WASO.  Amazing!

The Winter Arts Festival needs your support, in the same way your chilly feet needs those socks.   So find yourself in a theatre, gallery or cinema this Winter and retreat where it will warm your heart. 

The little tough girl

I am pretty sure this little tough girl is featured on the back of La Cholita's business cards.  I do love the atmosphere of La Cholita; loud, always busy with its endless shelves heaving with tequilas and mezcals. 

​We started the party with the usual offerings of tacos and tostadas.  Washing down the always satisfying queso and chorizo quesadillas with a tamarind soda.  The food here is always tasty and pushing the right buttons however, I was a little sad that our pork hock was allowed to leave so early!  The naughty piggy you should have stayed cooking for another two hours. You would (should) have been oh so tender! 

Tribute Dinner

The crew at ​el PUBLICO is paying homage to where it all began, back to the dusty streets of Mexico and the lady who started it all.   

Fast Fridays

Sometimes you just want to eat and run to the next bar for drinks.  It was Friday, this was the case. ​

The Flower Shop

​My wonderful friend Skye has finally stuck a pretty little label on the jar of talent she has been holding on to for so long.  She will bring beautiful blossoms into your life, creating special bunches for weddings and special occasions.  The Flower Shop will soon be running workshops full of flowers and fun.  I am a little bit excited to be flower-bombing with Skye and a bunch of pretty girls next weekend.  

GOT S3 EP7

Yee hawww!

If you are craving a dash of Canadian charm with your bottomless jar of iced tea, then head to Inglewood’s latest eatery for a comfort food fix.  This little piece of the US is the brainchild of Perth’s favourite Scotsman, Iain Lawless, and Liam Atkinson who spent a few years in the Rocky Mountains polishing up his Western ways in the kitchen.  Miss Kitty’s Saloon is full of all those things that make you smile and want to bootscoot.  Doughnuts, ribs for breakfast, poutine and fried chicken on waffles, what more could you ask for.

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Miss Kitty's Saloon
​882 Beaufort Street
​Inglewood WA ​