Monday 17th December 2012

ENDLESS DELIGHT CHINESE RESTAURANT
145 Newcastle Street, Perth
After visiting our friends in hospital, the happy new parents of a gorgeous little girl, we had a craving for Chinese food. With lots and lots of ginger.

Why?

In Chinese custom, after the birth of your child, the mother is 'confined' to indoors and fed dishes containing 'heating' ingredients like ginger, sesame oil and black vinegar, for the first month. These days, there are those Chinese who follow it and those who don't. Even those who follow it tend to pick and choose what rules they will follow, with showering and hair washing being the most commonly abandoned. Let's face it, who is going to go without a shower for a month!?

Anyhow, the new mother's mother is following the tradition to see her daughter through the confinement period and so she's bringing delicious meals to her in hospital (and will continue to cook for her for the next month) and we were all hungry for ginger after leaving the hospital!

So we quickly settled on meeting in Northbridge and finding a Chinese restaurant.

We thought with a name like this, we must find endless deliciousness!

Mah Poh Tofu

Schezuan Beef

Chicken

Chinese Vegetables with Garlic and Soy Sauce

Hot and Sour Soup

Dumplings
I've never seen them do this with dumplings before! It looks like they make a little crepe that cooksk in the bottom of the pan, with the dumplings on top of it, but then they flip it all over onto a plate so that the crepe is actually over the top of the dumplings!

We couldn't find any dishes containing ginger as a main ingredient, but we did find the food surprisingly good! Very basic flavours and it didn't leave us feeling like we'd eaten alot of oil. Very much like food we'd eat at home if our parents cooked it.

I must satisfy my ginger craving another way...

Wednesday 21st November 2012

MILKD
45 Eighth Avenue, Maylands

Open Chicken Sandwich

Sunday 11th November 2012

NINNIKU JIP
867 Albany Highway, Victoria Park
Dinner with Dad tonight, so it had to be some sort of Asian cuisine.

Takoyaki

Kim Chi Pancake

Sizzling Beef

Sizzling Chicken

Vegetable Stirfry

Friday 2nd November 2012

SHIRAZ PERSIAN RESTAURANT
78 Terrace Road, East Perth
One of my friends is dating a Persian gentleman and has since been indulging in all things Persian! I haven't dined at a Persian establishment before and was eager to see what the cuisine was like. I've eaten some Iranian dishes and I was sure I would enjoy the food tonight.

There were many Iranians/Persians dining in the restaurant when we arrived so that is always a good sign! Marissa and I ordered a few dishes to share.

Saffron & Barberry Rice with Chicken
As Marissa showed me, you have to stir the butter through the hot rice. I loved the fragrant aromas from the dishes we ordered. Subtle but warm and inviting. Lots of saffron!

It isn't very pretty to look at on the plate, but it tastes great!

I couldn't fit in dessert but ordered it anyways.
After the meal, I was full and content. But, I have to admit, I did miss my spice. The food was full of subtle sweet flavours and so beautifully aromatic, but I missed having some heat with it. Gimme my chillies!

Saturday 13th October 2012

CHAPEL'S ON WHATLEY
196 Whatley Crescent, Maylands
I caught up with friends for lunch today after work. I like the ambience of the place but some of the artwork is a bit disturbing for my tastes. Especially the painting of a stereotypical Asian guy in the nude. While I'm eating? Conjures up images I'd rather not think about while I'm trying to eat!

Marissa and I shared the Curry Puffs
I think this was about $18 - what a rip off!
My mum makes these and could make two dozen for less than that!

We also shared the Beef Rendang, which was money better spent.
Delicious, melt-in-your-mouth chunks of beef.

I cooked a Roast Beef dinner tonight and had a few friends over. I love roasting a big chunk of meat but rarely do it since it's not really a meal for one.

Roast Beef with homemade Gravy (that Ling made)
with steamed Beans and Cambot's Potato Bake
After such a great meal, we had to follow it with a dessert. So, Ling set to work.

Chocolate Fondant Cakes

We all held our breath as I broke into mine to see if the centre was gooey - SUCCESS!

Wednesday 10th October 2012

ZEN
2/1 Seddon Street, Subiaco
I was catching up with a friend after work for dinner and we wanted to go somewhere nearby that was low key. I googled restaurants in the Subiaco area and narrowed the choice down to Japanese restaurants. I hadn't heard of this place so we decided to try it. I googled directions and it said that it's located in the car park, so in my mind I was thinking that it was going to turn out to be a small, dimly lit place that serves not-so-fresh crappy sushi rolls.

I was small.

It was dimly lit.

But the food was awesome! We ordered an array of dishes to share.

Sea Urchin Sashimi!
I finally get to have sea urchin! Every other time I have been to a Japanese restaurant that has sea urchin on the menu, it's always followed with 'seasonal' and it's never available. I came served in a banana leave tucked into the urchin shell. It tastes quite like the red roe of a scallop. Delish! I really wish I had a glass of white wine to wash it down with.

The Tuna Sashimi was super fresh. Look at that amazing colour!!

Smoked Salmon Roll

Takoyaki

Their signature dish - Zen Style Spider Roll - soft shell crab.

Gyoza

We were too full for dessert, but they gave us complimentary vanilla panna cotta - just a spoonful. It was enough to make it a fine finish to the meal!

Definitely recommended.

Sunday 9th September 2012

PENINSULA TEA GARDENS
Tranby House, Johnson Road, Maylands
I had a lovely lunch with some ladies today. I like the menu on offer here at the Peninsula Tea Gardens because it caters to different budgets and you can order what you feel like on the day. Either sweet or savoury.

Finger Sandwiches

Scones with Jam and Cream

Savoury Scones with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese

Carrot Cake

Saturday 8th September 2012

the TUCK SHOP CAFE
178 Newcastle Street, Northbridge
Lunch with the siblings and Mum today.

I had the Mixed Berry Pancakes with Vanilla Mascarpone

Mum had the Smoked Salmon

Jocelyn had the Meatballs

and Christina had the Pork Belly and Chorizo.
The lady who served us was absolutely AMAZING. Despite Jocelyn's fussiness, she was so polite, helpful and accommodating. She didn't get the slightest bit impatient even when Jocelyn changed practically every component on her dish! Christina and I ordered soy short macchiatos but they came out curdled and without asking, she gave us a full refund and got Christina a replacement coffee for free.

I would definitely recommend this place! Just get ready to wait for a table if you don't get there early enough as they don't take reservations.

Thursday 30th August 2012

Ursula brought in these gorgeous homemade dumplings today at work. Good thing Brendan wasn't at work today...there wouldn't have been any left! Some where vegetarian and some were beef and cheese. Yummo!

THE GREENHOUSE

Hand harvested brown rice with marron, mussels and saffron.

My gosh, I didn't think I would be able to get through so much rice, but I couldn't stop eating...the flavours were absolutely amazing! And I loved the texture of the rice. It was cooked perfectly. Not gluggy or undercooked. Just perfect. Would have liked a bit more seafood though!

Orange blossom frozen yoghurt with lilly pilly berries.
The frozen yoghurt was divine and refreshing. However, it was really well hidden beneath alot of fruit. I had to keep digging but only managed to get a bit of the frozen yoghurt out before I gave up. It was such a large serve too! I would have liked it better if they just gave me a scoop of the yoghurt with a few slices of the fruit on the side.

Tuesday 28th August 2012

Dinner at the Craftsman at Westfield Carousel tonight. Although the service was almost non-existent, the food was fantastic!

Saturday 25th August 2012

BALLINGUP MEDIEVAL CARNIVALE 2012
We couldn't have asked for more gorgeous weather today as we took a stroll back to the Medieval world. We packed a picnic and bought fresh bread from the markets.

Later that day, we headed back to Donnybrook and had dinner in the tavern. The garlic bread was awesome - Turkish bread sliced lengthwise and covered in cheese and garlic butter.

My steak dinner was terrible. I asked for it medium rare but it came out well done and tough as a shoe. For $35, I sent it back and copped attitude from the backpacker waitress who insisted it was medium rare. After almost an hour of waiting, I got a new steak cooked but it was just as well done. Not happy Jan. I ate the mashed potatoes (which were really good) and had to go back to our motel room to eat potato chips.

Wednesday 18th July 2012

I spent today catching up with some of my neighbours. We drove to Fremantle and had coffee at Zephyr Cafe in East Fremantle. It's a family friendly place with a large park and playground beside it for the kids. It's also situated right on the edge of the river so you get this gorgeously peaceful vibe.

Mocha and a mini Quiche.

The kids shared a toasted Ham and Cheese Croissant and Baby Cinos.

After a stroll beside the river, we hopped into the cars and drove to the Left Bank for a light lunch. Being a Wednesday, they had a special for their seafood platter so we ordered one to share between all of us.

The oysters were fresh, the prawns were juicy and sweet. The chilli mussels were ok, the fish was mostly batter and the calamari and chips were overcooked and dry. And cold. It's great value for money though - $40!

The burgers looked good!

Saturday 14th July 2012

THAT LITTLE MEXICAN PLACE
382 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
Tonight a group of friends and I went out for dinner, drinks and bowling. I've been to TLMP in Victoria Park and really enjoyed it, so we were looking forward to trying their restaurant in North Perth. It's just down the road from where we were going bowling afterwards.

The place was small but we arrived just as they were opening. However, they had gotten my reservation wrong. Initially I had booked for ten people but called up several days before to alter the number to six. They had me written down for two. Hmm...

Anyhow, they were able to put us on a table but it was right near the door so everytime someone came in or went out, we got blasted by the chilly draft. After a few drinks it wasn't so bad though!

We ordered a range of dishes to share and the food was once again, very good!

Tacos de Nopal
sauteed cactus paddles with roasted tomato and chipotle salsa
served on house made corn tortillas.

Tacos de Carnitas
pork braised in citrus, shredded and pan fried
served with salsa verde on house made corn tortillas

Jalapenos Rellenos
breaded jalapeno peppers stuffed with a blend of cheeses

Camarones al la Diabla
sizzling prawns cooked with achiote and cayenne

Chayote Relleno a la Veracruzana
choko squash stuffed with tomato, olives, capers and chillies
served with a melted cheese sauce

Barbacoa de Cordero Vastago
smoked lamb shank smoked braised with chipotle and tomato