Buenas noches

Months can pass before we synchronise calendars to spend some much needed time together.  I love that even we can still be the same four friends we were seven years ago no matter how many lunar cycles have passed.  

As much as we love eating out it is sometimes the simple nights over home-cooked meals that are the most memorable.   I am  happiest in the kitchen busily throwing together dishfuls of flavour whilst we trade secrets over a glass of red wine. 

The Menu ...

Strawberry Gazpacho from Dani Valent's In the Mix 2 cookbook
Iceberg lettuce chunks with chilli mayo
Oven baked corn cobs with paprika butter
Chipotle and ancho chicken tenderloins with lime wedges
Jalapeno guacamole
Old Lira pizza bases with cheese and chorizo 
Tomato medley with persian fetta and torn basil

The Inspiration ... 

Pretty prints

Slowly becoming obsessed with giving our home another breath of fresh air.  I first spotted Beth Hoeckel prints on my friend Naomi's blog and am now dreaming of the ones I once spotted at Behind the Monkey.

LA LUCCIOLA (Seminyak, Bali)

breakfast by the sea

Weave your way through the parking lot of Petitenget Temple, past the laughing children and street carts spilling coconuts onto the pavement and will find an open aired haven. 

Revered as one of Seminyak's original hotspots, La Lucciola boasts a relaxed dining experience.  Chef offers a Italian and Mediterranean menu full of classics and some featuring a touch of Asian spice.  Take in the waves crashing on the sprawling beach as the warmth of the breeze takes you to that bliss you can only feel on vacation.

Our morning here was a delight with crunchy grated hash cakes, pillowly cheese souffles and some damn good french toast drowing in caramelised bananas and bacon.   A lazy breakfast by the sea as its best.

Find La Lucciola at:
Jalan Petitenget 80361

CHICKEN RICE LAH

Ever since my Tian Tian experience I am always on the hunt for chicken rice.   Tucked away in the Morley Coventry Markets is Singapore Chicken Rice, a busy little place with shiok chilli sauce and welcoming smiles.  The chicken rice was just okay but I do love getting change from $10.

Kinfolk Table

Every now and then you meet someone who breathes life into everything they touch.  Stacey Clark is my new found girl crush.  You can read all about the magical Kinfolk Table event she lovingly created in her blog post.  

breaky burger

It would be a sin to leave a weekend of gourmet escaping without putting one of these bad boys into your belly.  This breakfast item has been getting some airtime lately, often popping up in my newsfeed.  This bouncy toasted brioche containing bacon, fried egg, swiss cheese and aioli will have you lining up for Morrie's next time you head down to Margs.   

And exhale ...

We did it!  Another wildly successful Beaufort Street Festival was held on Saturday, 17 November.   Our latest instalment saw a cheeky 120,000 people flock to our beloved strip immersing themselves in music, arts, fun for the family, fashion and of course, my personal favourite, food.

The festival is the culmination of the determination, creativity, talent and hard work of an amazing bunch of people.  I feel so blessed to work with the Beaufort Street Network, Jump Climb, The Event Agency and the army of volunteers all of whom continue to inspire and challenge me.   It is even more rewarding to work with people you love, those you can call your friends.  

Photo by Adam Nalapraya

People always ask me 'How do you find the time and energy?'.  I always answer; How can you not?  How can you not haul all your energy into the things you love.  Find your drive, follow your passions and you will soon be enjoying those dreamlike adventures with likeminded souls who will run beside you.  You should always find the time to do what makes you smile, even when facing moments of doubt which then usually follows with rushes of excitement.  Push through your comfort zone and you never know were you might end up.    

Thank you Naomi for this magical little quote.

EL PUBLICO ghetto kiwi caeser

Against a looming onslaught of Beaufort Street Festival madness the very thought of opening my fridge makes me shudder.  Its around this time of year that my vegetables sadly wither and my puppy dog happily adds organic Mondo's meat to her diet.  My phone goes into meltdown and my bikram mat hangs dry from neglect and the only way to clear this haze is to head out for dinner.

Digging into an unctious salmon ceviche and dunking mogo mogo into a creamy chipotle cream is definitely my kind of Tuesday.   We kicked it off with a bowl of corn (returning to  the menu ... REJOICE) and a swift serving of El Publico's take on a stiff G&T.  This reincarnation boasts the distinct flavours of kaffir lime with Patron silver (hola!), tonic and cucumber.  It went straight to my head and melted everything into happy as we debated whether to order pork belly or sope.  

Maybe Sam heard us arguing or he just wanted to show off as a pretty crazy looking lettuce suddenly landed at our table.   Dressed in a sweet mayo, reminiscent of the salad creams of your youth, laced with delicate air dried beef and sprinklings of bitter chocolate.  FK ME.  So amazing! Head down and get your hands all sticky as you dive into an iceberg salad or as Sam likes to call it his ghetto kiwi caeser. 

fried chicken + duck pancakes

You would think that fried chicken smacked between a whole lot of carbs has no place at a table of fair maidens.  The fear of a gluten attack would scare some away, but not my friends.  We even ordered three of these bad boys! Whilst the girls gnawed on these signature lunch slabs at Mary Street Bakery, the duck was my bird of choice.  Delicious pancake laden with the good bird with a slathering of hoisin with a crunchy Asian style slaw.  Hello heaven!  

Hanoi Hannah

It is all sex, drugs and rice paper rolls at Hanoi Hannah.  The kitsch little Vietnamese diner in Prahran is bustling with pho slurping and pork belly slider crunching.  

A warm hug

The secret to this big bowl of love, also known as Pho, is the quality of the stock.  Lately we have been getting our weekly dose of warm hugs from Lido in Northbridge.  
 
Where do you love to tuck into Pho?     

Cecchi's

Being greeted like old friends is something that is lost of our age of dining.  As you walk through the door Dino Cecchi welcomes you, shows you to your seat and whisks away with your bottle of wine.  A moment later you are sipping on your vino already learning what chef has in store for the hours ahead.  

It really is a family affair with son, Mark Cecchi, only 21 years young heading up the kitchen.  Spending years in the family Italian restaurant, then exploring traditional cooking at its roots in Italy, he then went on to refine his skills under Scott O'Sullivan at Red Cabbage.  It is these influences that shine in your experience at Cecchi's.  
 
Hidden down the quieter end of Beaufort Street this warm and welcoming restaurant was the perfect spot for a long table dinner with a bunch of friends.  With Mark creating our feast upon request, we just had to bring the wine, enjoy the seasonal offerings and leave smiling. 

Amuse Bouche
Jerusalem artichoke soup
 
Fresh bread + olives 

Entree
 Lamb agnolotti, olive crumb, paremesan custard
Beetroot ravioli, goats cheese, asparagus
 
Main 
Veal fillet, potato pav, chestnut, prosciutto crumb
Barramundi, saffron soffritto, prawn, fennel salad 

Dessert
Pumpkin pannacotta, popcorn
Ricotta donuts, chocolate ganache, parfait 

Magical

Words cannot describe how breathtaking the Kinfolk Dinner was last month.  Luckily this video captures the wonderment of stylist Stacey Clark, Lauren Ioppolo of Nectarine Photography, Fox Rabbit, Kent Street Deli and the many other collaborators that brought the gathering to life.  

Just watch. 

Kinfolk Dinner Perth from Orriss Films on Vimeo.

Best job in the world!

Just when you think you have a pretty ace wicket, Rich Keam comes along and knocks you for six.  Rich is the lucky winner of the Best Job in the World competition which allows him to travel through Western Australia sampling all the glorious produce we have to offer.  Rich wanted to check out the goods on Beaufort Street and joined us for our Roving Dinner.  Look out for Rich at the Beaufort Street Festival, he will be making a couple of appearances on the Food Stage.  

Sarah Turnbull (TourismWA), Rich Keam (Taste Master) and myself at Mary Street Bakery

Casa Mexicana - El Compa

Dining at this little cantina is like being welcomed into the home of your Mexican friend.    It's that house you visit and think gosh I wish I lived here. After all El Compa’s name translates to ‘Mexican house-best mate’. 

Warm and inviting with cheery plastic tables swathed with brown paper and crayons to scribble.  Not too trendy with not a sniff of tex-mex, El Compa is somewhere in the middle and it has found it's sweet spot.

Generous servings of guacamole and corn, soft tacos filled with carnita and cactus and sticky de luce drizzled over crepes.  A perfect little haunt for a cheap night out.   

Old Lira

Saturday night in calls for three things.  Booze, pizza and a movie.  Luckily for us we have a fave new local.  One that offers simple combinations of the freshest ingredients lovingly scattered on hand stretched sourdough.  

After a trip through Rome sampling the finest of pizza and a good season or two popping up at markets all over town, Gubs and Steph took the next step.  They planted their feet and set up shop in Bayswater.  Their little pizza place is tucked between a wonderfully convenient bottle-o and a rickety old car yard lit up by the words 'pizza is for lovers'.  Opened only in August, Old Lira is already a busy little joint where you can dive into pizza three nights of the week. 

3. Pepperoni, mozzarella, marash pepper
6. Mixed mushrooms, baked ricotta, mozarella
12. Olives, feta, rocket

The Perks of being a Wallflower

Solomon's Cafe

It's almost kinda hip to have an allergy these days.  Those buzz words raw, paleo and gluten free are now so proudly spoken.  

With all the talk of nourishing thy body and people embracing a cleaner way of eating, its no surprise that Solomon's Cafe is bustling.  Holistic eaters have welcomed the latest offering brought to Beaufort Street by local hip-hop artist Drapht and his sister Alisa.  

Here you can treat your body to a smoothie or two then enjoy the best damn pumpkin pancakes you have ever dreamed.  I am pretty sold on the breakfast offerings at Solomon's.  Healthy and nourishing, its a lovely way to start your weekend.