Tag Archives: Perth

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe

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Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe has once again transformed Perth’s iconic beach to an open-air Sculpture Park.  Over 70 local, national and international artists have created cool works for everyone to enjoy.  Best thing of all, it doesn’t cost a cent. That’s right, it’s completely free.   From the grandiose, to those that are fun for the kids, to the thought provoking, the range of sculptures will appeal to a variety of tastes.  Some sculptures are truly beautiful and pretty cool, while others left me wondering, really is that what they call art?

I checked out the 9th Annual Sculpture by Sea very early on opening day and was as impressed as I have been in past years.

I particularly loved the fishing rods piece, aptly named ‘casting around’.

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casting around, Ruth Downes & Geoff Webster, NSW

This big wooden sculpture called ‘upside down again’ was also really cool. It was big and I loved the way you can look through it and see the ocean.

There we so many great pieces, it’s hard to choose which ones to write about. I’ll let the pictures paint the words and do the story telling, then you can see for yourself and make your own mind up.

Upside down again
Casting Around
glacier depository
Exhibition inside the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
m.130301.2 with liquorice all sorts in the background
Happy floating dream cloud
the listrumpet
Tokyo crows
jewel de la mer
tolerance, change, difference
(cray) pot luck!
habibi
how close we are
ghost net crocodile
portal
oushi zokei

A great night out would be to grab some fish n chips and enjoy dinner on the grassy banks or on the beach itself surrounded by inspiring art.

If you end up going, let me know your favourite piece. I really liked habibi on the end of the groin, portal depicting three men crouching together, and upside down again twisted wooden cavern.

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe started on 8 March and finishes on 24 March.

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Lunch in the West End, Perth WA

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The West End Deli on Carr Street in West Perth was our cafe choice for a Saturday lunch. I was thrilled to see breakfast dishes on the lunch menu.

It is a popular place, which isn’t surprising given its great reputation.

I was tossing up between slow cooked egg, peas and anchovies or the two crab omelette. The helpful waitress recommended the omelette and that’s what I chose.

Two crab omelette

Two crab omelette

It was an excellent recommendation. The omelette was fluffily and light, the crab meat was sweet, the coriander gave it a zing and it was seasoned just right. I loved it. I could have eaten two of them and in fact had to make a conscious effort to slow down and savour it rather than scoff it down.

As a side dish, a girlfriend ordered vine ripened cherry tomatoes with goats curd. They were delicious. Intense tomato flavour complemented beautifully with the salty goats curd. I was polite and only had one. Again, I could have easily wolfed down the whole plate.

Vine roasted tomato with goats cheese

Vine roasted tomato with goats cheese

A good coffee was the perfect finish to a light lunch. I was very tempted by the potted cheesecake with dulce de leche for dessert and even ordered it, but when my girlfriends resisted dessert, guilt got the better of me. I cancelled the dessert order.  I’m on a quest to drop the extra kilos that have crept on in recent months, and as anyone knows, losing weight ain’t easy.  I felt happy that I was strong enough to say no.  But OMG did those desserts look amazing!  I will be back when I’m skinny and will try that potted cheesecake, and that’s a promise.

I’ve eaten at West End Deli a few times in the past for dinner (BYO, no corkage, brilliant), but never for lunch. It was a winner.

FACT FILE

West End Deli
95 Carr St, West Perth
Tel 08 9328 3605

West End Deli on Urbanspoon

Top 5 Roof Top Bars in Perth

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In Perth, it seems that roof top bars are the new black. And why not? Not only are they a fabulous way to use space, you are up high and often have magnificent views as a result.  Here’s my top five list of roof top bars in Perth:

  1. Mechanics’ Institute Bar
  2. Bob’s Bar at the Print Hall
  3. The Aviary
  4. The Green House
  5. The Conservatory

Special mention must go to a local of mine, The Cabin in Mt Hawthorn, and the Roof Top Movies - whilst not technically a bar, you can buy beer there and it is a super cool space.

1. Mechanics’ Institute Bar

Urban, grungy, warehouse feel with scaffolding, exposed brick and long plank tables – then inside their bar tenders are renowned for their cocktails. Entrance is via a back alley making this Northbridge roof top bar feel like you could be in Melbourne lane way. Best of all, you can order a Flipside Burger from the bar and it gets delivered to your table.  Beer is reasonably priced as are cocktails that range from $12 to $17.  It’s a busy place and the bar is often two deep on Friday evenings.  Despite the staff shaking and stirring cocktails for eager patrons, the efficient service means you are served quite quickly.  A cool place that attracts a mixed age group. I like it.

Mechanics Institute

Mechanics' Institute Bar on Urbanspoon

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2. The Print Hall – Bob’s Bar

Part of the Brookfield Place complex in the city, the Print Hall comprises of several bars and restaurant in the old West Australian newspaper building. The roof top bar is an ode to Australia’s larrikin former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.  Bob’s Bar is popular with young hip city dressers.  The wine list was average, the service was good, the large ottomans, wooden outdoor furniture and roof top shrubs are nice. Love that part of the roof can close to keep the rain or cold out.  It’s a slick city space that charges Perth city prices.

Bobs Bar Print Hall
Print Hall Fine Dining on Urbanspoon

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3. The Aviary – the Nest

This place certainly made a splash when it opened in November last year (2011). Queues would be the norm most nights of the week.  Artificial grass, big canvas umbrellas, high wooden tables, massive big screen (awesome on Melbourne Cup day!) and a killer view are the elements that set a über cool ambience at the Aviary.  In the Bird Cage downstairs and indoors, you’ll find a restaurant that has had mixed reviews. Expect to pay Perth city prices for a drink here.

The Nest roof top bar is a great place for a drink when the sun is out and it’s not too hot.  On those baking Perth summer’s days, you might go looking like a cool chick, but there’s big chance you’ll leave as a roast chook!

Photo from the Aviary Facebook page

Photo from the Aviary Facebook page

The Aviary – Nest Rooftop Bar on Urbanspoon

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4.  The Greenhouse

The Greenhouse sometimes gets overlooked as a roof top bar because it has such a good reputation as a restaurant. The outside is alive with stacked planter boxes that make this place unique and, well, green. Everything that was used to build the Greenhouse was from recycled material – the stools are converted from wooden packing crates to form seats and candle holders are empty jars.  The roof top bar is small and has a lovely feel to it.  Surrounded by planter boxes growing herbs that are used in the kitchen downstairs, the Greenhouse roof top bar sits in the shade of the tall buildings around it. A great place to have a drink before eating downstairs.

Photo from the Greenhouse Facebook page

Photo from the Greenhouse Facebook page

Greenhouse on Urbanspoon

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5. The Conservatory

The Conservatory was the first cool roof top bar to open in Perth when it opened its doors and its roof in 2011.  That’s right, it has a super cool retractable roof.  Artificial grass gives the indoor space an outdoor feel and when the roof is open, well, I suppose you are outdoors. Kind of.  The stairs leading up require some skill to negotiate particularly if you are wearing high heels.  The wooden tables and outdoor BBQ give it a relaxed vibe. It’s popular with the city set on a Friday evening. The restaurant has had mixed reviews and expect to pay Perth city prices for drinks. It’s a pleasant space for a drink and a shared plate of nibbles.

Photo from Conservatory's Facebook page

Photo from Conservatory’s Facebook page

The Conservatory Rooftop Bar on Urbanspoon

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So what are Perth city prices?  Expect to pay $8 for a half pint of beer on tap, $10 or more for a Corona beer, $12-15 for a glass of wine, and $18-25 for cocktails.

What is your favourite roof top bar in your home town?

Please can I have some Moore?

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Moore & Moore Café is situated in the heritage listed Moores Building in Fremantle, Western Australia. It’s decorated with odd yet funky kitsch furniture and bizarre light fittings. The Café is also a gallery.

The breakfast menu is great and had interesting choices like 7-grain toast with avocado or home made baked beans with rocket and cherry tomatoes which is what I had. It was delicious!

Best of all, their coffee is gooood.

It’s a real “Freo” experience.

FACT FILE

Moore & Moore Café
46 Henry St, Fremantle WA 6160
T: 08 9335 8825
http://www.mooreandmoorecafe.com

Moore & Moore on Urbanspoon

InContro, South Perth – review

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Could InContro be a candidate for my new favourite restaurant in Perth?

This beautiful South Perth restaurant offers not only superb food, but uninterrupted sublime  city views across the Swan River.  The views are hard to beat.

Inside the restaurant at the view of the city beyond

The setting has an air of sophistication, the waiters are well versed, some donning French accents, and the napery, glassware and cutlery are what one would expect in a fine dining restaurants.  It’s all lovely.

It not just about the views though is it? It’s about the food.  InContro, which means “meeting” in Italian, offers first class Mediterranean style cuisine.  You can dine on the ‘piccolo’ menu – much like tasting plates or Italian tapas, the regular menu, or mix it up like we did and choose from both.

As one comes to expect when dining at a fantastic restaurant in Perth, it ain’t cheap.  No sir.  But for a special occasion, it is seriously worth splashing out for a food experience at InContro.

Leo, Katie, Matthew and John

Our family was celebrating a special occasion, Zorba‘s mother’s 70th birthday.  She is as fit as a fiddle and enjoys nothing more than sharing a meal with her family. Dining with us was Zorba’s sister Marnie and her triplet boys, Leo, John and Matthew, who are seven years old.  There is never any hesitation taking the boys out for dinner with us because they are nearly always well behaved in restaurants and thanks to their Greek and Italian heritage, they love food and eat everything!

Pizza Margherita

As most seven year olds are starving by 5pm, you can imagine how famished the boys were at 6.30pm. We ordered a couple of fresh pizzas for them straight away.  It was enjoyed by Masters Seven with gusto!

Entree was a selection from the piccolo menu; zucchini flowers stuffed with salmon mousse, Rottnest scallops and king fish carpaccio.  It was presented beautifully on a tiered  tray. I could not fault anything, simply beautifully cooked, delicious flavours, and the perfect way to start dinner. The zucchini flowers were my favourite – crispy on the outside, smooth mousse on the inside. YUM! I could have eaten a whole plate of those!

Zucchini flowers

How good do these dishes look?!  Are you hungry yet?

Rottnest Scallops

For main course, we decided to choose our own.  I couldn’t go past the Turkish Sticky Black Angus Short Rib ($45).  Marnie had Linley Valley Pork Belly Vanilla Pear Pomegranate ($36), Zorba and Katie both had Duck Confit Cauliflower Puree Quince Salad ($38).

Turkish Sticky Black Angus Short Rib

My beef rib was nothing short of sensational. Slightly sweet, oh-so sticky, rich with smoky undertones, and the meat was so tender, sliding away from the bone with just the gentlest nudge from my fork.  I have never had a beef rib as good as this one – and that’s a big call.   Whilst expensive, it was a decent sized serve which is just as well or I would not have shared any of it!  The boys all agreed that it was the dish of the night.

Marnie loved her pork and really enjoyed the pomegranate salad.  Katie and Zorba seemed to thoroughly enjoy their mains as well.  To accompanying mains, we had Albany asparagus and shaved fennel pear with candied walnut salad.

Finalmente!  Dessert time.  The seven year old nephews were chomping at the bit waiting for dessert, especially once they heard that fairy floss was a feature.

We all had the Eaton Mess with Fairy Floss and ordered some desserts from the piccolo menu to share. A two-course dessert – now that’s my style of eating!

Eaton mess with floss

The wine list was fairly extensive, but on the high end of pricey.  We shared a bottle of bubbles, a prosecco, to start ($70) and then went for one of the cheapest shiraz blends on the menu on advice from the waitress. I love my red wine but didn’t want to spend upwards of $90 for a decent drop. The waitress’ recommendation was perfect.  The 2010 Sons of Eden shiraz blend ($65) was a beautiful smooth easy drinking red.

The only other time I have been to InContro was for a friend’s wedding late last year.  For a function, it was the best food I’ve ever had. I was excited to finally be going back there again.  And it didn’t disappoint.

It would be hard to imagine anyone being disappointed dining at InContro. It is first class in every sense and really worth splashing out for for a special occasion.  Impressive and highly recommended.

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FACT FILE

InContro
79 South Perth Esplanade, South Perth WA 6151
Tel. 08 9474 5566

Open Lunch and Dinner, Tuesday to Saturday

InContro on Urbanspoon

Food Wine Sleep

Beaufort Street Merchant, Perth. Review

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Great coffee, delicious food.  The Beaufort St Merchant has never failed on any of my visits and I must have been there on at least 50 occasions.

The ambience is comfortable and the decor can be described as urban farmhouse – a huge set of knife, fork and spoon adorn one wall, there’s a large blackboard that often has thought provoking quotes chalked on it, and the comfy sofas, wooden furniture mixed with leather arm chairs make for an instantly warm and comfortable setting. You could be forgiven for thinking that you have stepped into a great eatery in London or Melbourne.

Lunching with a good friend who lives close to this great local, we couldn’t decide what to order – the menu isn’t huge, but the choices all sound so good.  So we asked the accommodating waiter if we could share two dishes and it was no problem at all.  Extra plates were brought out for us to make sharing the dishes easy.

The quinoa salad with roasted beetroot, goats cheese and lemon yoghurt dressing was fresh, healthy, perfectly cooked, and the flavours burst in my mouth. I felt like I was getting healthier by the minute eating this dish.

The pumpkin rotolo with roast plum tomatoes was a rolled pasta sheets, spread with a gorgeously smooth pumpkin mix, rolled and pan fried (I guess) until crispy on the outside in a sage butter sauce.  It was sliced like a jam roll. It tasted so divine, smooth, sultry, and ever so warming on the inside.  It was like eating a hearty winter dish that wasn’t so heavy and perfect for a sunny autumn day. I couldn’t get enough of this dish.

My taste buds were loving it at the Beaufort Street Merchant so when we were tempted with dessert, my taste buds decided that they didn’t want the party to end. It was hard to resist the triple chocolate dessert, but I did. Instead, I chose the French toast brioche with berries and cream.  It was heavenly.  Crispy brioche on the outside and soft on the inside. The berries were not overly sweet, which balanced the brioche beautifully.  It was a huge serve so maybe consider going halves with someone if you decide to have it.

My lunch buddy had creme brûlée with apple and biscotti. Her creme brûlée had the nicest sugar caramel crust on it and it was silky smooth underneath. She enjoyed it, although she said, “I have dessert envy!” when she saw my dessert come out!  So I let her have a taste or two ;) .

The service was great, courteous, friendly, efficient and not intrusive. We were left to sit, basking in the afternoon sun for an hour after we finished lunch in peace, the waiter checking in to see if we wanted another coffee or a drink. We were never rushed and it was appreciated.

If you wanted to have a drink, they sell a wide variety of wines in the shop and you can drink it with your meal without being charged wine-list prices.  They also sell a yummy selection of gourmet treats – great cheeses, pates, organic crisp bread and all manner of other things that you can take home. This is how the business started – as a shop – and then developed into a small café before becoming so popular that the owners, brother and sister team Angie and Scott Taylor, had no choice but to expand the kitchen along with the menu a couple of years ago. It has thrived ever since.

The Beaufort Street Merchant is an all time favourite of mine and there is no excuse for not blogging about it earlier.  After a delightful lunch on a sunny day, sitting comfortably on a sofa watching life go by from the pavement, I felt compelled to write a post to tell the world how great the Beaufort Street Merchant is (I secretly want to keep it to myself because on weekends it can get quite busy for breakfast and brunch).

The Beaufort Street Merchant on Urbanspoon

FACT FILE

Beaufort St Merchant
488 Beaufort Street, Highgate  WA 6003
Tel: +61 (0)8 9328 6299

Open from 7am til late, 7 days per week

Trustee Bar and Bistro, Perth City

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The Trustee Bar and Bistro on the ground floor plaza of the new BHP tower, known as City Square, has lived up to the hype and not disappointed.  The new French bistro on the city block has already made a mark for itself in just five weeks of being opened.

A beautifully appointed urban feeling brassiere delivered spectacularly.  A small but well designed menu tempted us to try three courses – sharing the duck liver and smoked eel parfait ($22), chateaubriand (for two, $95), and salted caramel chocolate pudding ($15.50).

Duck liver and smoked eel parfait – magnificent

Melt in your mouth Chateaubriand, seriously amazing

Chateaubriand accompaniments, hollandaise sauce, mushroom burguignon, apple, walnut, rocket salad – there’s also salt roasted fat chips x

The wine list came in two forms – the short list and the full wine list. The short list was perfect for what we were after – and I was delighted to find a Fraser Gallop Cab Merlot for $45. Exceptional value for a quality Margaret River red.  Despite husband wanting only a beer, I had to succumb to a bottle of red, it’s that good. After his beer, husband enjoyed a glass of the Fraser Gallop cab merlot too.

The service was efficient, prompt, and friendly when engaged – the perfect combination.  Good news, there was something chocolatey on the menu. I always want something sweet to finish off a meal – and by sweet, I mean chocolate.

Chocolate salted caramel with creme fraiche ice cream

To sum up, it was a $200 dinner for two, but worth it for a special night out.  Our special night was knowing that our debt has somewhat been lessened thanks to a few good investments, so we were celebrating on a Tuesday night.  A random Tuesday night and  Trustee was booked out. However, the kind manager suggested some bar tables in the downstairs bistro where we could enjoy the full menu.  And enjoy our experience we did.  A city venue that’s worth the trip into town for for a special occasion.  Or one for those with corporate credit cards to keep going back to.

Well done Trustee.

FACT FILE:

The Trustee Bar and Bistro
133 St Georges Terrace
Perth, WA 6000
08 6323 3000
thetrustee.com.au

Open every day for lunch and dinner, except Saturday lunch. Bookings required.

The Trustee Bar and Bistro on Urbanspoon

Authentic Spanish Flavours, Perth

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A local favourite of mine, Spanish Flavours offers simple, honest, tasty Spanish fare without the rip-off prices that are sometimes found in Perth.  I must have eaten here five times in the last three months.  The authentic tapas include the best ever jamon croquettes, coated in crispy crumbs with silky smooth potato and smoked ham centres.  To. Die. For.  When in season, the white marinated anchovies just melt in the mouth, delectably.

Other tapas items include authentic chorizo, baked mushrooms, grilled baby octopus, meatballs in tomato salsa and cold meat platter.

Paella is generous and delicious, cooked to order and comes with seafood or without – you choose. Admittedly, Paella isn’t my favourite Spanish dish – I prefer to eat lots of different tapas and a range of dishes, flavours, textures and choices.  And the tapas here are good. As good as the tapas I’ve eaten across Spain.

Delicious paella

One of the best things on the menu is the churros.  O. M. G. The thin crispy on the outside Spanish vertical donuts are fluffy on the inside and served with liquid chocolate.  The chocolate sauce isn’t overly sweet, yet it is delicious.  Not greasy at all, unlike those churros you get at a chain that shall remain unnamed.

Added bonus, Spanish Flavours is BYO.  I love that.  Price wise, a tapas dinner for two consisting of four or fives dishes and corkage will typically cost less than $100, making this place good value too.

Spanish Flamenco dancing

Little Spanish Rosa, the proprietor, and her team of Spanish speaking staff make this little suburban gem a welcoming restaurant with a lovely relaxed vibe.  The decor is simple and the furniture is Spanish taverna-esque.

For my birthday party, I booked the restaurant out, organised a set menu, and upon my request, Rosa organised a team of Spanish dancers to perform a flamenco dance for us (at an additional cost).  It was the perfect finish to a wonderful night.

FACT FILE

Spanish Flavours
413 Oxford St, Mt Hawthorn
08 9444 6183
www.spanishflavours.com.au
Open for dinner Thursday to Saturday.
Operates as a deli 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday .
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Spanish Flavours on Urbanspoonb

Another fabulous meal at a favourite local, Perth

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Dinner at Cantina 663 in Mt Lawley, an inner city happening neighbourhood of Perth, was once again fabulous. I must have eaten at Cantina 663 ten times in recent months and it is so easy to just keep going back.

Every dinner I’ve had at Cantina has started with the duck liver parfait.  It is rich, smoothy, velvety, and so delicious on the charred bread. The sweet onion jam accompaniment makes this dish so good it has been my entire reason for going to Cantina in the past. And one of the reasons why I keep going back. I have tried several times to get the recipe by asking inquisitive questions like, “how do you get this parfait so smooth?” and “this is so amazing, I can’t pick if there’s any alcohol in this- is there?”. I have also tried the direct approach and just asked for the recipe.  All attempts have been met with a friendly yet authoritative, ‘No’ (or ‘nice try’).  I’ve resigned myself to wait for the Cantina 663 cookbook. I hope they hurry up and publish one soon!

Last night, three of us shared the duck liver parfait, chorizio with house pickles, and salt cod croquettes for entree.  Not a fault can be said about any of those dishes, excepted it would have been nice to get more than five croquettes so we weren’t fighting over who was having seconds!

Main course was of course the gnocchi.  Cantina 663′s world famous gnocchi, fame it truly deserves.  Pillow light pan fried gnocchi served with pumpkin mash, walnuts, and an exotic cheese.  We had that with a roasted baby beetroot salad.  Seriously good.

I love the friendly staff who are knowledgeable and help recommend wines that are unfamiliar on the wine list. The service is efficient and the prices are normal for Perth.  Not cheap, but not ridiculously expensive either.

I had breakfast at Cantina 663 a few weeks ago and it was nothing short of amazing. Baked mushrooms in a tomato sugo with poached eggs.  Yes please!

Thanks Cantina 663. Keep up the good work.

FACT FILE

Cantina 663, 663 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley, 08 9370 4883. www.cantina663.com.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day (except Sunday dinner).

Urban Spoon reviews
Cantina 663 on Urbanspoon