Happy 20th birthday to my littlest sister, Vanessa! I am treating Ness to a high tea masterclass at Rochelle Adonis. Ooooh I love presents such as these. It's nice to move away from dust collectors.
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
RECIPE baked Asian salmon
This is one of my favourite simple and healthy dinners. My latest obsession is using coconut oil. A healthy and nutritious alternative.
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.
caramel kisses
Donna Hay magazine is my kind of porn. I have promised myself to stop merely flicking through and actually make something. Baking is much more fun when you are baking for someone else so I made a batch for my bf's work. Caramel maple mud cakes with caramel fudge frosting. I made the frosting a little saltier ... caramel loves salt. It told me.
Recipe is on pg 151 of issue 62 April/May 2012 Donna Hay magazine
Able and Game
I am SO obsessed with cards by Able and Game. I have found them at Black Plastic before but I am going to do a bulk order because I have a writing cards fetish.
You would totally regret this if you said this to me.
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.
Hangover Cure
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.
Five Bar
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.
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.
In the Mix: Great Thermomix Recipes
Duck Liver Parfait at Cantina is possibly one of my favourite dishes. I love it so much that I ordered 1kg of Maggie Beer's Pheasant Parfait for my bf's birthday soiree. I used a recipe from In the Mix using the new found love of my life (my Thermomix) and it was absolutely rich, delicate and simply divine.
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.
wish list
We do not realise that it is the little things that make us happy. When you write wish list we jot down fancy things, diet ambitions wanting to be skinny, the latest phase like a rose gold Marc Jacobs watch but all we really need it more time. I am going to start blocking out for me to fit in all of these things on my wish list.
