Projects & Discussions | Retail, Drinking, Dining and Aesop Soaps [Archive] - Page 3

BartBart

December 26th, 2009, 10:11 AM

Looks like someone at the West must have been reading this thread for ideas:

p16 today's West

Perth diners fork out a third more
STAFF REPORTERS

Perth diners are paying up to 33 per cent more for a cafe meal and 21 per cent more to eat in fine dining establishments than their Melbourne counterparts, an investigation by The West Australian has found.

The average price for a main meal at Perth's Zafferano was $48.30, while the highest average price for a main in Melbourne was $38.

While prices for entrees and desserts in family restaurants were marginally cheaper in Perth, the average main meal was $22.85 — 15 per cent, or $3, more than Melbourne.

Pub grub fared little better, with Perth diners paying an average of 16 per cent more than they would on the east coast for a main.

Sam Farfoud, who owns Melbourne's Cafe Matto, said he was staggered by the difference.

"That's massive," he said. "I guess in Melbourne there is more competition — there's a cafe next door and two across the road so suppliers have to compete to meet our demands, and maybe there's a bit more leeway for us to have lower prices."

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive John Hart described the results as "completely unsurprising", citing wage pressure and higher rent and food costs.

"The absolute majority of these higher costs are wages and you would expect that the price is charged on to the customer," he said. "The resource industry creates a lot of pressure but it's also basic supply and demand — we've had wage pressure in the west for a long time now and it is not going to alleviate."

WA's inflated restaurant prices had a negative impact on the State's ability to attract tourist dollars, accbrding.to Adams Coachlines managing director and Australian Tourism Export Council member Adam Barnard.

"It is very evident to interstate visitors and can quite often become a topic of conversation," Mr Barnard said.

Australia Adventure Travel owner Fran Codispoti said high prices across all sectors in Perth and regional WA were a further disincentive to domestic and international tourists.

"Having such high prices for eating out really doesn't help at all when people are already paying such huge airfares to get here and more for their accommodation than in other parts of the country," Ms Codispoti said.

Tourism Council chief executive Graham Wood said he didn't believe restaurant prices would have any impact on tourists' decision about whether to holiday in Perth.

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5872/food0002.jpg

Diners must put knife into inexplicable bills
ROB BROADFIELD
For those who eat and travel a lot, The West Australian's research into the comparative cost of restaurant food in Melbourne and Perth is hardly a surprise.

The "why do Melbourne restaurants routinely dish up more interesting and likeable food at a better price by staff who deliver far superior service?" question has become a mantra for Perth gastronomes who travel and dine. But while it's hardly a surprise, the raw numbers are still a slap in the face.

In Perth — famously home to the $55 simply grilled piece of fish — one of our more celebrated restaurants plates up a tomato, red pepper and goat curd tart entree for $29.50 while at Port' Melbourne's stylish Graham Hotel an entree of lightly smoked duck breast, foie gras parfait, pickled peach with watercress and hazelnut dressing is $19.50.

Forget for a moment the outrageous disparity between the cost of ingredients — the tart is essentially vegetarian and has no expensive meat proteins while the Graham's entree includes duck breast and foie gras — and the pricing differential is extraordinary. And inexplicable. Take something a little more posh like The Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel in Melbourne — stunning room, impeccable service, amazing wine service, well-executed bistro classics — and not one main is over $40.

Oh, and you can dine on linen in Mouchel's million-dollar dining room and'enjoy any two courses for $44.50, which includes a side dish of your choice.

So what's it all about?

It's about us. We've let it go on too long. We need to become militant diners. Perth's chefs won't listen — they blame rental costs, staff costs and food costs as if somehow Melbourne restaurants don't have these inputs —-so we need to take charge and drive market forces. We need to applaud and recommend those restaurants such as Bistro Felix, Must Margaret River, Red Cabbage, who think that the important thing is a happy customer, not a chef prating on endlessly about "how Perth diners don't know what they're on about" or that their kitchen can boast an 18-strong brigade.

Make no mistake, there's nothing nicer than a well-marbled Wagyu steak at $90, so this isn't about being "cheap"—it's about value for money. And as The West Australian's figures have discovered, our long-held suspicions are now supported by damning evidence.

It's time to rock the sauce boat.

City eatery stakes success on its ecological footprint
JANE HAMMOND

Surrounded by walls covered by 3500 terracotta pots and strawberry seedlings, The Greenhouse is making its mark on the conventional cityscape of St Georges Terrace.
One of Perth's newest restaurants, The Greenhouse is a standout both in design and concept. It was built from recycled materials and boasts a rooftop vegetable garden, worm farm and water tanks.

The restaurant opened its doors for business two weeks ago and has attracted a steady stream of office workers and others keen to sample the home-baked bread and freshly harvested vegetables and herbs.

Owner Paul Aron said the restaurant aimed to provide value for money in a sustainable setting. While it is not yet possible to be completely sustainable, the restaurant is making an effort to reduce its ecological footprint and demonstrate how material can be reused and cities become greener.

The concept started as an art installation in Melbourne and its success prompted. Mr Aron, designer Joost Bakker and friend Jason Chan to look for a city in which it could find a home.

Perth was chosen as the city most ready to take on a sustainable dining experience. But Mr Aron said Perth was an expensive city to live and work in. Rent, wages and general costs pushed up the price of restaurant and cafe food compared with other Australian cities.

p24 editorial

High-priced dining out gives Perth a bad name

The results of our survey today which give an insight into how much more it costs to eat and drink in Perth compared with Melbourne, the dining-out capital of Australia, will come as little surprise to many. The comparison of prices in four categories from pubs to fine dining shows menu prices from 15 per cent to 30 per cent higher in Perth.

There have been anecdotal reports of the high cost of dining here for years and this research just adds to the evidence. Another survey by The West Australian found bar prices of boutique beers higher in Perth than in Sydney and Melbourne.

It would be easy to dismiss these findings as something we have to live with — part of what we put up with for living in a relatively small, isolated city. Even if that were the case, it is not just locals who have to fork out the high prices for a meal and a drink. Tourists are captive to the local market. Dining out is part of the experience for visitors to any city and they will notice most vividly when they are hit with big bills at the end of a meal.

The claim of high prices is often accompanied by accusations of lower quality fare and a poorer standard of service in Perth compared with other Australian cities. Although these suggestions are harder to quantify and it is unfair to generalise about a diverse hospitality industry, they add to the perception of poor value. That is damaging for a tourism industry trying to promote a positive West Australian experience.

The restaurant industry lists the higher costs of rents, wages and fresh food in Perth compared with Melbourne as reasons for the difference. For some products, transport costs have to be added. These are valid points but it is questionable whether they account fully for a differential of up to 30 per cent.

A big factor accounting for the difference is the level of competition. Stroll down any street in central or inner-suburban Melbourne and you are surrounded by dining options. People are eating inside, upstairs, downstairs and, most obviously, on the footpaths. The weight of numbers works to keep standards up and prices down.

Perth is not likely to see that level of competition in the foreseeable future but local diners can do something for themselves.

Not all Perth establishments are serving over-priced, poor value produce. There is such a thing as people power and we should make an effort to seek out the value and refuse to accept exorbitant prices elsewhere. It will take time, but that negative perception can be turned around.

BartBart

December 26th, 2009, 10:23 AM

p25 & 30 today's West

You say potato, I say patatas bravas

As you tuck into the Christmas leftovers, restaurant reviewer and chef Rob Broadfield looks at the food trends that defined a decade.

It was the decade of salmon on mash, duck confit, pork belly, tapas, the single-name celebrity chef (Curtis, Jamie, George), organic produce and the singularly most overrated meal in Australia, the Wagyu burger.

This decade also saw the long arm of Spanish uber-chef Ferran Adria reach all the way from the Basque country to spread his gel-making, foam-creating, "air"-generating theology among Australian chefs eager to embrace the molecular gastronomy fad.
But most of all, it was the decade when Margaret Fulton became cool again.

It was also the decade when Australian chefs got all jiggy over new machines and techniques. You weren't serious unless you were giving your lamb fillet the old sous vide (more on that later). It was out with the Robot Coupe (food processor) and in with the Thermomix (a Swiss-made processor that chops, cooks, weighs and makes ice creams, soups and custards — and splits the atom at weekends).

And if your plate didn't come with cooking's fashionable new addition, the skid mark — sorry, smear — you were soooo last century.

But perhaps the ultimate emperor's new clothes moment this decade was the creation of "soil". Yes, soil. Emboldened by the weirdnesses of the undoubtedly brilliant Adria, Aussie chefs without the talent to pull off the Spanish wunderkind's molecular marvels cherry-picked from his oeuvre, and used their newly-purchased drying machines to create dried-crumbled stuff that you wouldn't normally dry and crumble. Beetroot soil anyone?

How did chefs ever imagine that the word "soil" on a menu — regardless of its context — would bring a customer to drooling expectation?

There's nothing wrong with avant-garde of course — it can be the progenitor of great change — but avant-garde without substance is just posing.

The good news is that smearing, sous-videing and the soiling of one's plate are culinary distractions that have had their day. There's still a bit of it about but there's a new honesty emerging in restaurant food.

There's also been a great leap forward (or two) this decade. Australian chefs discovered dry ageing, and not before time. It has been around for a long time in Europe and North America and at only a handful of specialty steak restaurants in Australia.

Dry-aged meat drops up to 20 per cent of its moisture in a properly controlled cool room, making meat more tender than a Nora Ephron screenplay, and with deeply concentrated flavours. You won't find it everywhere — it's too expensive — but a lot of chefs and customers are now switched on to the dark delights of aged cow.

The decade has also seen a decline in vertical food. One suspects there's a cultural-societal connection with food that teeters.

It reached its height (sorry) during the dotcom boom at the turn of the century — with food so high it needed oxygen — and slowly became less vertiginous as the bull run of the noughties came to its abrupt end in 2007. Vertical food is an embarrassment now, and like shoulder pads in the 80s and Abba in the 70s, no one admits to having had anything to do with it.

Sous vide has also gone the way of this century's fin de siecle fads. Sous vide is the act of putting a perfectly good meat protein in a hermetically sealed plastic bag and cooking it in a water bath at very low temperature for a long time. It's a marvellous technique, delivering meat proteins which are as soft as a CPA's handshake. But when it became ubiquitous, it was time to move on.

The explosion of tapas has spawned a million variations of what was once just a simple snack with a beer or a glass of wine. In the hands of some of our smarter chefs, tapas became so haute right now, morphing into a blingy, small-plate cuisine that it never was, even in Spain.

And at the other end of the food scale, suburban pubs with tapas lists were plating up vulcanised arancini and catering-pack dim suns and giving tapas a bad name. Good tapas will survive. It will grow stronger. It's here to stay.

Much has changed in. the last 10 years. Distressingly, much hasn't.

We remain Australia's most expensive city in which to eat. It's not a popular view among Perth's chefs but it's the inconvenient truth. If I had a dollar for every time someone came back from Melbourne scratching their head and saying, "Why is Melbourne food and service better, cheaper and so much more professional?" I'd be a wealthy man. It remains inexplicable, but I think it says more about us than about chefs. If we really wanted and demanded Melbourne levels of food and service, we'd probably have it.

I would urge every West Australian to dine at Melbourne's Cumulus Inc. if they get the opportunity. It's an exemplar of well priced, innovative, customer-friendly food, cooked with precision, plated with elan and served with style and genuineness. There is nothing like it in Perth. Try Cumulus's mustard-crumbed pig's tail, garlic snails, pickled shallots and cress for $19.

The locavore movement has become more mainstream over the decade. It's about sourcing and cooking only that food which is available locally and seasonally. The newly opened Greenhouse in Perth's CBD is an example of a sustainable restaurant which takes the locavore ideals seriously.

It's a trend that shouldn't surprise: the current generation of young chefs are part of the global warming generation. Just as The Bomb cast a pall over school-age baby boomers, carbon emissions and climate change have defined the thinking for 20-somethings.

Their response? Source food that doesn't have to travel 3000km in the belly of a plane, grow your own produce where you can and seek out sustainable producers with a passion for climate-friendly horticulture and animal husbandry.

But the exciting trend for the next decade will be the rise of the maitre d'. For the past decade or two it's been all about the chef. But if you look closely at those restaurants that really sing year in, year out, the business often circles around the man (or woman) out front. For cultural reasons unknown, Perth's name chefs have never teamed up with front-of-house partners. Sure there are good front-of-house professionals, but they are mostly employees.

One hates to .. mention the Eastern States again, but brand name front-of-house professionals like Mallory Wall at Cafe Di Stasio, Bryan Lloyd at Vue de monde and Tom Sykes at (Sydney's) Rockpool Bar & Grill are a reason people go to these dining rooms.

The era of the maitre d' is upon us.

The front-of-house guy with the business plan and a brand-name chef in tow will presage the single greatest leap forward in restauranting WA has seen for many years.

Exciting times.

NZer

December 26th, 2009, 12:27 PM

I hate this town sometimes.

acc521

December 27th, 2009, 12:41 AM

Got myself 2 shirts today :carrot:. One work and one casual. +1 to post Christmas sales!

http://products.tedbaker.com/EMERGE_50-DEEP_PINK_78109/productdetail/1664_633881823443581085.jpg

http://products.tedbaker.com/CHECKTO_10-NAVY_79516/productdetail/4202_633899235974310894.jpg

I want to buy a pair of shoes too. Was thinking of getting one of the below. Still undecided though.

http://jdsports.scene7.com/is/image/JDSports/80527sa?wid=504&layer=1&src=is{JDSports/sclick_w?wid=480}&pos=1430,-1000&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultImage=JDSports/sizeDefault

http://jdsports.scene7.com/is/image/JDSports/80516sa?wid=504&layer=1&src=is{JDSports/sclick_w?wid=480}&pos=1430,-1000&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultImage=JDSports/sizeDefault

acc521

December 27th, 2009, 01:05 AM

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/shoppers-vote-with-their-feet-at-boxing-day-sales/story-e6frg13u-1225813811633

Shoppers vote with their feet at Boxing Day sales
By JOE SPAGNOLO Political Reporter From: The Sunday Times December 26, 2009 4:39PM

SHOPPING BLITZ: Perthnow poll shows shoppers want longer hours.

PREMIER Colin Barnett's piecemeal solution on trading hours falls far short of what shoppers want.

In a secure PerthNow poll, which attracted almost 1500 votes, 87 per cent of respondents opposed his new laws - which even Mr Barnett concedes are discriminatory and a "second-best option".

From January 1, shops in an expanded Perth tourism precinct can trade until 9pm on weeknights and open 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Shops across the metropolitan area were besieged by bargain-hunters yesterday as shopping centres and other outlets opened on Boxing Day for the first time.

Last year, only Rockingham, Fremantle and the Perth CBD were allowed to kick off their sales on December 26.

In the poll, respondents rejected the tourism precinct approach to extended trading.

Overwhelmingly, they called for the whole of the metropolitan area to be allowed to trade longer, not just businesses in the Perth CBD, Fremantle and areas of Subiaco, Mt Lawley, Victoria Park, and East, West, North and South Perth.

Joondalup, Midland and Armadale could soon be added to the list.

In a separate PerthNow poll, which attracted 400 respondents, 62 per cent preferred 9pm as the closing time for shops on weeknights, while 20 per cent said they wanted 8pm.

Only 8 per cent said they wanted shops to close at the current time of 6pm or 7pm.

The result contradicts claims by the Opposition that the public doesn't want 9pm weeknight trading.

Business groups, shopping centre and retail representatives this week urged Mr Barnett and Opposition leader Eric Ripper to fully deregulate shopping hours throughout Perth.

Some of Mr Barnett's own MPs have broken ranks on the issue.

Jandakot Liberal MP Joe Francis this week said he had written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission asking it to investigate the fairness of the laws, which he believed discriminated against some retailers.

Joe Lenzo, the WA executive director of the Property Council of Australia, warned yesterday that shopping centres could mount a legal challenge to the new laws based on "restriction of trade".

"Governments shouldn't be telling any business when they can or can't trade," Mr Francis said.

WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer James Pearson said the state's political leaders could no longer hide behind a five-year-referendum result in which West Australians had rejected extended weeknight and Sunday trading.

"Why are politicians going back to the middle of last decade to justify their position when poll after poll, including the PerthNow poll this week, show clearly that Perth wants extended weeknight trading and Sunday trading," Mr Pearson said.

"Lots of our members are really upset that some shopkeepers have been handed a lucky break by the new laws which disadvantage them even more than before."

But Mr Barnett and Mr Ripper this week again refused to contemplate Sunday trading for the whole of Perth.

They are prepared to extend weeknight trading hours throughout Perth, but can't agree on the closing time.

"The Liberal Party's preferred position across the metropolitan area is to uniformly extend weeknight trading to 9pm. This is by far the best option," Mr Barnett said.

"I am very disappointed the Labor Party did not accept the compromise I offered them - we prefer 9, we were willing to go to 8.

"Had that been accepted, we would have uniformity across Perth.

"Because Labor rejected that, we did what we could to increase shopping opportunities in limited areas by broadening the tourism precincts.

"This is a second-best option as it discriminates, with some areas having extended trading yet adjoining areas miss out."

Mr Ripper, who wants shops in Perth to close at 7pm, blamed the National Party for the mess.

"Perth shoppers could have 9pm shopping tomorrow if Colin Barnett could get his National Party colleagues to support Government policy," Mr Ripper said.

A spokesman for Brendon Grylls said yesterday the National Party had not ruled out moving a disallowance motion when parliament resumed in February to try to stop the extension of Perth CBD boundaries and trading hours.

samboy

December 27th, 2009, 04:21 AM

Meanwhile in the REAL world I had a bloody fanatastic dinner for 2 at a fine dining restaurant with impecable service, extreme attention to detail at 11:00PM for $40.

ryan79

December 27th, 2009, 05:08 AM

Got myself 2 shirts today :carrot:. One work and one casual. +1 to post Christmas sales!

http://products.tedbaker.com/EMERGE_50-DEEP_PINK_78109/productdetail/1664_633881823443581085.jpg

I like that shirt, except I'd make it less gay :)

London sales are awesome and last for a month or so AND its not stock thats been sitting there for 15 years.

Meanwhile in the REAL world I had a bloody fanatastic dinner for 2 at a fine dining restaurant with impecable service, extreme attention to detail at 11:00PM for $40.

That makes me sick!

JWPJ

December 27th, 2009, 12:14 PM

I went to Karrinyup today at 10, didn't really start to get busy until like midday... Floreat forum was deserted, half the shops closed, but EB Games was open so I was happy :)

GAbE27

December 28th, 2009, 10:08 AM

GAbE27

December 28th, 2009, 10:13 AM

I have received some more info from EPRA re: william st upgrades. It isnt really that affordable! they offered me 3300k a month in rent + ongoings.... epra raised the dijorido shops rent but 60% and were trying to raise the butcher shops by 50%!! So epra is full of SHIT!!

crave

December 28th, 2009, 10:43 AM

lawl @ food price articles... woop. woop.

it's weird how every chinese restaurant up in surfers paradise has "seafood" in their name...

chinese seafood restaurant. it's very porpoise pit, muriel... and so are tha peoples...

jackso

December 29th, 2009, 10:52 AM

I had pizza at 80 x 20 today. Nothing special, although i do like a good potato pizza.

Also noticed that Paul & Joe at wesley was closed with blacked out windows today. Mayne they didnt do to well.

Eco-rat

December 30th, 2009, 07:16 AM

Do you WA people have a deregulation thread? Trying to find out the latest on the shopping hours.

Cygnet

December 30th, 2009, 08:09 AM

Do you WA people have a deregulation thread? Trying to find out the latest on the shopping hours.
No dedicated thread, but any relevant articles are usually posted here and/or in the "News & Issues" thread.

The article posted above by Acc521 is the latest I have seen about the issue:
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/shoppers-vote-with-their-feet-at-boxing-day-sales/story-e6frg13u-1225813811633

Gotta love Ripper's swipe at Grylls... talk about hypocritical! :eek:

Sanj

December 30th, 2009, 04:31 PM

Had a pretty good dinner at the Beaufort st merchant today. Pintxos/tapas were slightly disappointing (still tasty though) but my bone marrow main was very good. Only gripe is they had run out of the house made brioche and served it with some baguette instead. Not a huge deal but if you're substituting an essential part of a dish you should tell the customer I reckon, especially as I had been really looking forward to the brioche which is the best I've had in perth.

Popped into Clarence after for a drink. Menu looks interesting, some items I'd definitely try like the potted rabbit. Had a tasty citrus marmalade ice cream for dessert for $3.50 and the wine list by the glass was quite good.

Bonus points for me being able to go to both places in shorts, tshirt and thongs. All these twat infested pubs around perth can eat a dick with their bullshit collared shirt and leather shoes rule

acc521

December 30th, 2009, 05:18 PM

^^Seems like the Merchant has really expanded their offerings over the past year. More places like this in Perth please.

Good to hear about the casual vibe of the places. Agreed that the other places can fuck off. When I went to have a drink at the outdoor part of the Luxe with 2 mates on a 40+ degree Sunday afternoon early this year, they wouldn't let us in because we had shorts on. I mean honestly!

BartBart

December 30th, 2009, 05:22 PM

I must have missed it acc - you back in Perth for the Xmas period then?

acc521

December 30th, 2009, 05:51 PM

I wish. Christmas is not a good time to be away from family! I was still here in Jan this year, which was when I had the Luxe experience.

Dilaz89

December 30th, 2009, 06:00 PM

went to Greenhouse for the first time today, was impressed overall.

Had to wait 15 mins for a table so we hung out upstairs in the bar section. Very cool and unpretentious with cocktails averaging $12. Our waiter came and fetched us after a while and we were seated outside. It was great bieng able to see the foot traffic along the Terrace. Our waiter forgot to give us menus though but another girl happily obliged a few minutes later. The menu itself is decent for lunch, very good prices with the most expensive thing bieng $25, the cheapest was the $12 pizza which changes daily. The origin of key ingrediants is also explained on the menu. I ordered the shredded snapper flatbread with avocado puree ($17). Didn't take too long to come out, the snapper was cooked to perfection and the flatbread was just delicious. My only gripe was that it did not fill me up.

Overall i'd give them 8.5/10 (food, price, service, ambience). Can't wait to go back and try new things. I do hope they don't go too coo fo' schoo on us *cough C Restaurant*

acc521

December 30th, 2009, 06:02 PM

^^either you are easily impressed or Samboy is a miserable old man (or a bit of both lol).

samboy

December 30th, 2009, 07:28 PM

Although I am a miserable old man (used to REAL value/service) I was just talking about my breakfast experience. Sounds like Dilaz had a good one. Goes to show a lot of these places are just not consistent.
Anyway, I've had such a bloody great experience at restaurants around SE Asia in the past week and a half I can't even compare it to Perth at any level. Different kettle of fish I guess. 2 more weeks of the same I'll be returning a fat bastard.

acc521

December 30th, 2009, 08:34 PM

Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself mate.

BartBart

December 31st, 2009, 02:58 AM

Nate Von Longneck II

December 31st, 2009, 07:08 AM

Get the yellows!! If not Send em my way mayne!!

Agree - go the yellow..nice kicks...

I just spent four days camping between Margaret River and Augusta and surrounds. Some great wine to be had, and the country side really is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been to.

..on the food tip, nothing amazing, except for some great camp-fire specials.

Sanj... got your message, but, I have been conned into having a party at my house tonight.... you are welcome to pop in if you're in the area...!

Kelli

December 31st, 2009, 12:31 PM

Where did you camp down there NVL?

Blindfold

January 1st, 2010, 09:14 AM

Just stuffed my gob full of pizza from the Norfolk Hotel in Fremantle which is the best in Perth as far as i'm concerned. Their handcut chips (with skin) and aioli are also to be raved about.

While I was in the vicinity I also picked up a laksa from the interestingly titled 'Tasty Taste' in the Old Shanghai foodhall. I think i'm addicted to it. Seriously!

vic-k

January 2nd, 2010, 09:59 AM

Just stuffed my gob full of pizza from the Norfolk Hotel in Fremantle which is the best in Perth as far as i'm concerned. Their handcut chips (with skin) and aioli are also to be raved about.

For me it's Little Creatures and their chips and aioli.

The kebab shop on the strip (Ali Baba, I think) is also pretty damn good. For kebabs I mean.

acc521

January 2nd, 2010, 11:37 AM

The food at Little Creatures is great. Unfortunately it is vastly overpriced. The only affordable thing on the menu are the chips (and the beer/cider itself), which are some of the best around - along with the fries and Aioli from the Belgian Beer Cafe.

Sanj

January 2nd, 2010, 12:22 PM

acc521

January 2nd, 2010, 12:36 PM

Kelli

January 2nd, 2010, 03:55 PM

I like the pork belly from Little Creatures, with roasted potato and apple with cloves. It might be overpriced, but compared to what $18 more often than not gets you at other places…

bought myself thomas keller's new cookbook ad hoc. am cooking the buttermilk fried chicken.

How is the buttermilk used in that recipe?

jackso

January 2nd, 2010, 04:22 PM

bought myself thomas keller's new cookbook ad hoc. am cooking the buttermilk fried chicken tomorrow, gonna be awesome. thinking of serving it with a green bean and potato salad with anchovy dressing, some corn and possibly coleslaw too. very excited cos ive been way too busy to cook recently
http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Sections/TVNews/Today%20show/Today%20Food_Wine/2009/11-November/Fried%20Chicken_Small.standard.jpg

Sounds great. Butermilk goes well with Chicken, I think Nigella has a really easy recipe, but thats roasted not fried.

Speaking of cookbooks, today i bought myself 'Made In Italy' by Giorgio Locatelli. Its not just recipes but lots of food stories and other interesting things.

Im still eyeing off Larousse Gastronomique. I have a debit card arriving next week, and it just might have to be my first purchase from bookdepository.co.uk

acc521

January 8th, 2010, 01:20 AM

New season of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations starts this Monday in the US yay!

Nate Von Longneck II

January 8th, 2010, 04:04 AM

^^

time to get my download on, thanks acc

jackso

January 8th, 2010, 04:05 AM

Damn im already way past half way over my download limit, and not yet 2 weeks in. I really need to change internet comapnies.

perthgazer

January 8th, 2010, 06:26 AM

This is making the Perth office email rounds today

NOTE:

Do not attempt to go to the Greenhouse for any type of food or drink consumption:

· Small drinks – beer size “two mouthfuls”

· Off wine – full price for half serve

· Small servings

· If you have more than 10 persons, you only get the choice of 3 menu items….they throw in 2 more options if you complain

· If you have more than 15 persons, a deposit of $50 per person has to be paid.

· They do not have ANY extra chairs should an additional person wish to come

· Service – each person serving had complete “attitude”

Over and out

vic-k

January 8th, 2010, 07:13 AM

New season of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations starts this Monday in the US yay!

I f**king love the guy. To anyone who even has a passing interest in the food industry, I'd recommend you listen to/read his book, Kitchen Confidential.

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 07:17 AM

recommendation - toto vietnamese in vic park.

the soft bone pork rice noodle soup is very very good and the best iced lemon tea ive had in a while.

Dimethyltryptamine

January 8th, 2010, 07:24 AM

ryan79

January 8th, 2010, 07:30 AM

I would love to spend a week dining out with sanj. I would learn heaps.

The shit he mentions on here I have never heard of.

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 07:39 AM

How often do you guys eat out?

I personally don't eat out all that often, because my parents pay someone to cook for our family as they're usually home quite late due of work. I we ate out more often as a family, but with my stupid parents -- that's off the cards.

serious suggestion here - why dont u learn how to cook etc or at least attempt it? coming from an asian background so much of our family bonding is done over food and if your parents are busy it could be a great way to bond with them and your siblings.

I would love to spend a week dining out with sanj. I would learn heaps.

The shit he mentions on here I have never heard of.

:lol: thanks. i must admit im a bit obsessed, im constantly reading about it but ive still got soooooo much more to learn. cos im back on my diet now i ordered that dish without the noodles and with extra sliced pork but it was a great example of a bloody tasty and filling but healthy meal.

Dimethyltryptamine

January 8th, 2010, 08:04 AM

serious suggestion here - why dont u learn how to cook etc or at least attempt it? coming from an asian background so much of our family bonding is done over food and if your parents are busy it could be a great way to bond with them and your siblings.

I have tried cooking before, I even did hospitality in high school but somehow I manage to stuff everything up. Maybe I'll take some cooking classes or something along those lines. As for my siblings, I have no support from my one and only brother. All he ever does is sit on the computer all day. There's no hope in hell he would help me cook anything if I even tried to make him. I'm always jealous of my friends parents and siblings who all manage to get along just fine.

:x

meh, I'll try.

ryan79

January 8th, 2010, 08:48 AM

:lol: thanks. i must admit im a bit obsessed, im constantly reading about it but ive still got soooooo much more to learn. cos im back on my diet now i ordered that dish without the noodles and with extra sliced pork but it was a great example of a bloody tasty and filling but healthy meal.

Actually, a week wouldn't cut it really. I'll just go by your recommendations - been good so far! ;)

Its interesting what you say about family bonding and food. My mother was a terrible cook. I swear I must have had no taste buds growing up. Its funny now because my Mum is more into cooking now so she can make some good stuff. More time I guess.

So for me I have little knowledge of good food but its growing and before I came on here I had no idea how little I knew. Its great to have a good source for food with someone who's so passionate about it.

Sizzler was going to a restaurant for dinner when I was growing up and largely is for some members of my family. I feel sorry for them. I dragged some family members out to Elmars for my birthday because I like German food. Some of them were stunned and had no idea what to order. I got a schnitzel and one family member remarked in a rather rude way "You bring us to a sausage restaurant and you don't even order a sausage". Sigh........

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 09:30 AM

Actually, a week wouldn't cut it really. I'll just go by your recommendations - been good so far! ;)

Its interesting what you say about family bonding and food. My mother was a terrible cook. I swear I must have had no taste buds growing up. Its funny now because my Mum is more into cooking now so she can make some good stuff. More time I guess.

So for me I have little knowledge of good food but its growing and before I came on here I had no idea how little I knew. Its great to have a good source for food with someone who's so passionate about it.

Sizzler was going to a restaurant for dinner when I was growing up and largely is for some members of my family. I feel sorry for them. I dragged some family members out to Elmars for my birthday because I like German food. Some of them were stunned and had no idea what to order. I got a schnitzel and one family member remarked in a rather rude way "You bring us to a sausage restaurant and you don't even order a sausage". Sigh........

hahaha awesome.

yeah us asians are obsessed with food, for example u'll find nearly half the food bloggers in australia are asian

re german food, i dont know much about it but have u been to rembrandts in inglewood? it's polish food that from the limited knowledge i have has a fair bit of overlap?

they apparently do a mean schnitzel and pork shank or hock. it looks like alt heidelberg might be reopening as well (in the same building as source cafe) cos it looked like renovation was going on when i drove by. ive got no idea if it is any good though.

ryan79

January 8th, 2010, 01:35 PM

Hey sanj, and others, if anyones interested Joseph Anthony are having a sale.

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=6344eb784d6518ffaaf8e7aa7&id=f86bf8f658&e=5fcf8ec182

I've booked myself in for next Sunday to meet with them. The sale prices seem quite reasonable.

ryan79

January 8th, 2010, 01:39 PM

hahaha awesome.

yeah us asians are obsessed with food, for example u'll find nearly half the food bloggers in australia are asian

re german food, i dont know much about it but have u been to rembrandts in inglewood? it's polish food that from the limited knowledge i have has a fair bit of overlap?

they apparently do a mean schnitzel and pork shank or hock. it looks like alt heidelberg might be reopening as well (in the same building as source cafe) cos it looked like renovation was going on when i drove by. ive got no idea if it is any good though.

Nah haven't been to Rembrandts. Might be worth checking out then.

Pork shank is one of my faves but I need to be in the mood for it. Its a fuck load of pork to have in one sitting. I rarely finish one.

jackso

January 8th, 2010, 01:58 PM

crave

January 8th, 2010, 02:03 PM

most places neglect tha anchovies... so so so wrong.

jackso

January 8th, 2010, 02:10 PM

Im not a fan of whole anchovies, but in the dressing or cut up I can deal with. I also like it with the poached egg on top.

I'm not completely opposed to variations, but some are just ridiculous.

BartBart

January 8th, 2010, 02:15 PM

Am I a heathen for not liking par-cooked egg yolk?

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 02:15 PM

It really pisses me off when people throw a whole heap of food together, add Caesar Dressing and then call it a fucking Caesar salad. A Caesar salad does not have red onion. A Caesar salad does not have fetta. A Caesar Salad does not have prawns, chicken is even pushing it. Its such a simple salad and people piss all over it.

/food rant.

:lol: completely agree. reminds me of anything with pineapple being somehow hawaiian

the thing is it is the simple things that are often done badly. dont get me started on the abomination that is carbonara in perth restaurants. such a great dish done so damn badly

jackso

January 8th, 2010, 02:19 PM

Very true. They veil below-par cooking by overloading on flavour and unneccasary ingredients.

BartBart

January 8th, 2010, 02:19 PM

:lol: completely agree. reminds me of anything with pineapple being somehow hawaiian

...

As long as you don't say anything bad about pineapple itself!

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 02:20 PM

Nah haven't been to Rembrandts. Might be worth checking out then.

Pork shank is one of my faves but I need to be in the mood for it. Its a fuck load of pork to have in one sitting. I rarely finish one.

yeah agreed, it really is a shitload of meat. let me know if youre keen to check it out sometime, we could go halves in a shank and then try something else, maybe the pierogi etc.

acc521

January 8th, 2010, 02:21 PM

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 02:26 PM

Talking of simple things and eggs, I'm now thinking of that fried baby squid and egg dish from El Quim that you recommended. Still one of the best things I have ever eaten. Simple food done well is the best. I always tell people about that dish.

haha i was thinkign about that dish 2 weeks ago. arent u glad i pretty much forced u to go there? i believe u were weighing it up between quim and that other restaurant that i had been to, the one with around 10-15 seats and where everything is cooked ala plancha. cant for the life remember what it is called though.

that dish was definitely one of the best things i ate in that year. damn u acc, now im craving it.

edit - cal pep is the name of that other place

Sanj

January 8th, 2010, 02:29 PM

acc521

January 8th, 2010, 02:34 PM

Yeah can't remember what that other one was either. Just to make those who don't know what we are talking about hungry:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm268/acc521/Europe%202009/Barcelona/20090321_1418.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm268/acc521/Europe%202009/Barcelona/20090321_1420.jpg

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm268/acc521/Europe%202009/Barcelona/20090321_1422.jpg

JWPJ

January 8th, 2010, 06:49 PM

That picture just reminded me why I don't like seafood... though I'm sure it was nice all the same...

vic-k

January 9th, 2010, 01:22 AM

yeah agreed, it really is a shitload of meat. let me know if youre keen to check it out sometime, we could go halves in a shank and then try something else, maybe the pierogi etc.

Sanj, you're so right about the making of food being a great family affair.

Growing up (in a Polish Jewish household), I remember spending a whole day cooking. Pierogi were made by hand (down to grinding all the meat, or if they were "Russian" pierogi, then making the potato mix), or getting taught from a young age on to make challah.

There is a fair bit of overlap with German/Polish food, especially in terms of pork dishes, though at least from the part of Poland where my family's from, we call wiener schitzel "cutlett", and schitzel is mixed hamburger meat shaped into a fat patty. Where the two intertwine is in cabbage and potato dishes (order "golombki" if you get a chance, or "platski"/"latkas").

I don't know about the other guys/gals on the forum, but I eat out maybe two-three times a week, dinner that is. The rest of the time I have no problem whipping stuff up at home that tastes a treat (that said, I did work in a kitchen for a fair while).

vic-k

January 9th, 2010, 01:26 AM

Am I a heathen for not liking par-cooked egg yolk?

Haha, in my opinion, yes. I'm a fan of breaking the yolk open and using it as a sauce. Can't stand undercooked whites though. However, my sister, raised on, for the most part, the same food that I was, can't stand runny yolk.

vic-k

January 9th, 2010, 01:32 AM

I have tried cooking before, I even did hospitality in high school but somehow I manage to stuff everything up. Maybe I'll take some cooking classes or something along those lines. As for my siblings, I have no support from my one and only brother. All he ever does is sit on the computer all day. There's no hope in hell he would help me cook anything if I even tried to make him. I'm always jealous of my friends parents and siblings who all manage to get along just fine.

:x

meh, I'll try.

Technical ability only gets you so far. Go to cheap places around Perth, like the Asian restaurants in Northbridge, and just take the time to try to identify the flavor profiles of the meals you're eating. More over, try to pinpoint all the ingredients. Once you build up a proper repository in your head, then you can try your hand at making dishes yourself.

Balance ingredients in a dish with your taste buds. Recipes and measuring spoons are for chumps. :tongue4:

Sanj

January 9th, 2010, 04:19 AM

Sanj, you're so right about the making of food being a great family affair.

Growing up (in a Polish Jewish household), I remember spending a whole day cooking. Pierogi were made by hand (down to grinding all the meat, or if they were "Russian" pierogi, then making the potato mix), or getting taught from a young age on to make challah.

There is a fair bit of overlap with German/Polish food, especially in terms of pork dishes, though at least from the part of Poland where my family's from, we call wiener schitzel "cutlett", and schitzel is mixed hamburger meat shaped into a fat patty. Where the two intertwine is in cabbage and potato dishes (order "golombki" if you get a chance, or "platski"/"latkas").

I don't know about the other guys/gals on the forum, but I eat out maybe two-three times a week, dinner that is. The rest of the time I have no problem whipping stuff up at home that tastes a treat (that said, I did work in a kitchen for a fair while).

thanks for the info! i know nothing about jewish and/or eastern european food but i definitely want to know more, especially jewish food. is there anywhere around perth i can get some? i dont think ive ever had jewish food but have read a little bit about it.

speaking of heathen, ilan hall the winner of second season of top chef recently opened up his first restaurant. he is one of those mongrels, israeli mum, scottish father, has lived all over the world etc and on his menu is a bacon wrapped matzo ball!

Technical ability only gets you so far. Go to cheap places around Perth, like the Asian restaurants in Northbridge, and just take the time to try to identify the flavor profiles of the meals you're eating. More over, try to pinpoint all the ingredients. Once you build up a proper repository in your head, then you can try your hand at making dishes yourself.

Balance ingredients in a dish with your taste buds. Recipes and measuring spoons are for chumps. :tongue4:

i both agree and disagree with u here.

i completely agree that intuition and being comfortable with the ingredients and flavours is key but i think technical ability and recipes etc can play a big part when youre starting out or when youre doing quite high end stuff.

recipes also help if you dont have much confidence, dont know where to start etc cos the intuition and confidence will come once u get a few things right.

BartBart

January 9th, 2010, 04:52 AM

Technical ability only gets you so far. Go to cheap places around Perth, like the Asian restaurants in Northbridge, and just take the time to try to identify the flavor profiles of the meals you're eating. More over, try to pinpoint all the ingredients. Once you build up a proper repository in your head, then you can try your hand at making dishes yourself.

Balance ingredients in a dish with your taste buds. Recipes and measuring spoons are for chumps. :tongue4:

Except when desserts are involved.

Haha, in my opinion, yes. I'm a fan of breaking the yolk open and using it as a sauce. Can't stand undercooked whites though. However, my sister, raised on, for the most part, the same food that I was, can't stand runny yolk.

:puke:

vic-k

January 9th, 2010, 12:45 PM

thanks for the info! i know nothing about jewish and/or eastern european food but i definitely want to know more, especially jewish food. is there anywhere around perth i can get some? i dont think ive ever had jewish food but have read a little bit about it.

Honestly, its been a quest of mine to find a Jewish restaurant here in Perth (and I don't just mean kosher).

speaking of heathen, ilan hall the winner of second season of top chef recently opened up his first restaurant. he is one of those mongrels, israeli mum, scottish father, has lived all over the world etc and on his menu is a bacon wrapped matzo ball!

He was an arrogant prick, but damn did he know how to cook. I grew up eating matzo ball soup, so it remains as one of my ultimate comfort foods (that or sliced offal in beef consume, heavy on the marjoram). Nothing against Ilan, but I can't really say that bacon wrapped matzo balls have me salivating uncontrollably. It's not even like I'm the best Jew ever, as I find it hard to resist a good weiner schnitzel, but the whole joy of eating matzo balls is the juiciness and delicacy of the whole thing. To wrap it with bacon seems to defeat the whole purpose.

That said, I'm not a fan of the current trend of chefs trying to incorporate bacon into everything. To anyone who has watched the latest season of Top Chef, I'll just say I happy a particular someone was admonished for their use of it in a desert.

i both agree and disagree with u here.

i completely agree that intuition and being comfortable with the ingredients and flavours is key but i think technical ability and recipes etc can play a big part when youre starting out or when youre doing quite high end stuff.

recipes also help if you dont have much confidence, dont know where to start etc cos the intuition and confidence will come once u get a few things right.

Okay, I guess you do make a point. There's a world of difference between paper thin slices of garlic slowly infused into a dish, verses big hunks of it thrown in that are all all the rage here in Perth. Finely diced onions sautéed in butter can be amazing (timely enough, on top of pierogi), whereas big chunks of onion can all to often be overwhelming. And like you said, with higher end stuff, like truffles for example, anything thicker than shavings is just a sin.

Actually, when I think about it, to harken back to a previous post, the first step should be to read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. A damn useful, and interesting read.

vic-k

January 9th, 2010, 12:49 PM

Except when desserts are involved.

A damn good point. Desert cooking is a science, and while proteins and vegetables are no problem for me, deserts, and pastries in particular I have never been able to get a handle on.

:puke:

:lol:

BartBart

January 9th, 2010, 12:58 PM

Honestly, its been a quest of mine to find a Jewish restaurant here in Perth (and I don't just mean kosher).

He was an arrogant prick, but damn did he know how to cook. I grew up eating matzo ball soup, so it remains as one of my ultimate comfort foods (that or sliced offal in beef consume, heavy on the marjoram). Nothing against Ilan, but I can't really say that bacon wrapped matzo balls have me salivating uncontrollably. It's not even like I'm the best Jew ever, as I find it hard to resist a good weiner schnitzel, but the whole joy of eating matzo balls is the juiciness and delicacy of the whole thing. To wrap it with bacon seems to defeat the whole purpose.

That said, I'm not a fan of the current trend of chefs trying to incorporate bacon into everything. To anyone who has watched the latest season of Top Chef, I'll just say I happy a particular someone was admonished for their use of it in a desert.

Okay, I guess you do make a point. There's a world of difference between paper thin slices of garlic slowly infused into a dish, verses big hunks of it thrown in that are all all the rage here in Perth. Finely diced onions sautéed in butter can be amazing (timely enough, on top of pierogi), whereas big chunks of onion can all to often be overwhelming. And like you said, with higher end stuff, like truffles for example, anything thicker than shavings is just a sin.

Actually, when I think about it, to harken back to a previous post, the first step should be to read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. A damn useful, and interesting read.

That is bound to become someone's signature at some stage.

vic-k

January 9th, 2010, 01:07 PM

That is bound to become someone's signature at some stage.

Hahahahahahahahaha.

I don't know if it's that I'm tired, or not really in the mood to go to work, but that had me holding my side from laughter.

BartBart

January 9th, 2010, 01:57 PM

p49 last Wed West (6/2/09)

Claremont's fresh food quarter opens soon
VIVIENNE RYAN

Claremont Quarter's fresh food retailing space is set to open by the end of the month, completing stage one of the development and featuring a range of boutique food outlets including a main food retailer.

The major retailer which has yet to be named will take 1000sqm of the final 2000sqm of retail space to be opened in stage one and fills the gap left when The Herdsman walked away from the development last year.

The remaining 1000sqm will be occupied by gourmet delicatessen Deli Divine, cake shop Babycakes, Baker's Delight, bottle shop WA CleanSkinCellars@Claremont, Showcase Meat and Poultry, a cafe and a Japanese restaurant.

The Claremont Quarter, a joint venture between Hawaiian and Brookfield, is a two-stage development with 30,000sqm of retail space plus upmarket residences. Stage one is anchored by a Coles supermarket.

Sanj

January 11th, 2010, 02:38 AM

Hai gais, hope u all enjoyed your vegemite and/or baked beans for brekky. Just thought I'd let u know I'm about to have roti canai, mee rebus and kopi in KL

Nate Von Longneck II

January 11th, 2010, 02:44 AM

Hai gais, hope u all enjoyed your vegemite and/or baked beans for brekky. Just thought I'd let u know I'm about to have roti canai, mee rebus and kopi in KL

words cannot express what I am feeling right now

Sanj

January 11th, 2010, 02:58 AM

Haha mission accomplished. I just arrived and I'm leaving tomoro night so have to cram a lot of food in. At the moment the plan is this food now, nasi lemak as a late morning snack, late lunch of frogs legs in petaling st, seafood dinner (chilli crab, butter prawns, steamed fish) and nasi kandar for supper after drinking. Haven't decided on tomoro yet

Nate Von Longneck II

January 11th, 2010, 03:31 AM

you're a bastard

my first day back at work today, and I have to read this.

dazzyd

January 11th, 2010, 05:47 AM

Sanj i just got back from KL and Thailand Yesterday.. i Is a Fat basterd now too. Ate too much and drank too much. Lesson Learnt marry a Malaysian Girl and you will be eating and drinking too much.

Cruise

January 11th, 2010, 06:34 AM

Sanj i just got back from KL and Thailand Yesterday.. i Is a Fat basterd now too. Ate too much and drank too much. Lesson Learnt marry a Malaysian Girl and you will be eating and drinking too much.

And Malaysian girls can also do that trick with the ping pong balls

crazyknightsfan

January 11th, 2010, 06:36 AM

can we have a mod change the title of this thread?

i think sanj officially owns this thread since mincy hasnt posted in it for 3 weeks.

acc521

January 11th, 2010, 08:50 AM

jez_24

January 12th, 2010, 12:41 PM

Do you think we'll ever be able to have asian style food vendors on our streets? I know that there are rules for food prep businesses such as being required to have a hand washing sink that is separate to the one used to wash dishes. Not sure how that fits in with the two hotdog carts we have in the malls. Man, that'd be sweet...being able to get cheap, tasty exotic food that you can walk around with, plus the smells and noise.

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 12:50 PM

^^Doubt it. I'd love to see it happen though.

jez_24

January 12th, 2010, 01:17 PM

I just realised, it's not that far fetched. Freo markets kind of have that happening in the bit between the fruit and veg and the other main bit.

I guess in practical terms any street vendor area would need collective access to water, electricity and waste disposal. A grease trap of some sort.

How cool would it be if they went ahead with closing lake and james streets to traffic and street food vendors moved in. Maybe some part of the NB link will be suitable, i haven't looked closely enough at the plan.

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 01:45 PM

On a practical level it's more than do-able. It's getting the council to both allow it, and not impose prohibitive restrictions and costs on the operators that's the problem.

There was a discussion on here a few months back where I said Perth could differentiate itself from the other Australian cities by becoming known for it's wide variety of CBD street vendors, selling tasty, affordable food from around the world.

It's all too simple, that's the problem.

jez_24

January 12th, 2010, 02:00 PM

Well yeah, it makes sense (to someone who hasn't actually thought too hard about it lol)
Low overhead costs, gastronomic diversity, adds a bit of character and atmosphere, flexible way to earn a little extra income, could give some life to laneways etc. Could be difficult to ensure sanitary food prep etc, wonder how that works in other cities?

jackso

January 12th, 2010, 02:04 PM

They manage in Sinapore. All vendors are given a grade (a,b,c) and they have to display it.

I recall talk in some of The Link documents about street vendors, but that could mean anything.

jackso

January 12th, 2010, 02:07 PM

Saying that though, Singapore manages alot of things we don't.

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 02:17 PM

One of the many advantages of being a city-state and having a very progressive government that is not bound by election cycles (we shall leave the negatives for another day!)

BartBart

January 12th, 2010, 02:21 PM

Too many words to write, too little time?

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 02:24 PM

Too many words to write, too little time?

Something like that ;)

jez_24

January 12th, 2010, 02:34 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/dining/01truck.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Turf wars among street vendors in NYC. Some issues with apparent under-regulation lol.

Sanj

January 12th, 2010, 02:55 PM

Hai gais, yesterday I had the most awesome Chinese seafood dinner. More details to follow, just thought I'd rub it in for now

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 03:04 PM

Pics or stfu.

Sanj

January 12th, 2010, 03:17 PM

Sorry no pics. 2 normal sized girls and myself did order 10 full sized dishes though, of which 8 were seafood. It was truly epic. The selection at this place was amazing, they had over 40 different tanks of live seafood, some of which I hadn't seen before

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 03:20 PM

:drool:

samboy

January 12th, 2010, 03:30 PM

Too many words to write, too little time?

allow me - Reasons why we'll NEVER see Asian style street vendors here.

1. Health and safety regulations (cough)
2. It will be sanitised beyond recognition and therefore no charm.
3. Forget about value for money
4. The demographic that operates these things doesn't exist in Perth.
5. May be after a nuclear fallout one day

jez_24

January 12th, 2010, 03:42 PM

allow me - Reasons why we'll NEVER see Asian style street vendors here.

1. Health and safety regulations (cough)
2. It will be sanitised beyond recognition and therefore no charm.
3. Forget about value for money
4. The demographic that operates these things doesn't exist in Perth.
5. May be after a nuclear fallout one day

if we did it would probably go a lot like this
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/604034

And yeah I guess you're right. I didn't think about number 4.

Sanj

January 12th, 2010, 03:52 PM

Serious question here, what do u mean by the demographic not being here? We have heaps of azns

Nate Von Longneck II

January 12th, 2010, 03:56 PM

Anybody who has spent time in Singapore, realises that Perth *does* already have Singapore-styled hawker/food centers. However, no city on earth, that I am aware of, can beat the quality, variety, and price, of Singapore's food centers.

Are people aware that in Singapore, there are zero street food vendors? All hawkers are indoors (food court style), or outdoor markets. There are no vendors on the streets anymore.

As for other Asian cities - I can tell that Malaysian or Thai hawkers, they would definately not be able to operate like that in Perth, or any other western city, due to our health and safety regulations.

I am the worlds biggest fan of asian street hawker food, and with a few small changes, it would be more than possible to set up a few hawker stalls in Perth.

Nothing on Samboy's list (for example) is unsurmountable.

1. Health and safety isn't a problem, many markets in Perth already have a very limited number of food vendors specialising in one dish.

2. Perth's food palette is growing up, certainly enough to support at least a few genuine asian dishes. If by sanitised, we mean, cleaner stalls, then yes, it will be sanitised.

3. Food at asian restaurants here already offers more value for money than almost any other cuisine. I can get a genuine asam laksa in Perth for $6.50, made by a Penang family who's other kin run hawker stalls in Penang.

4. Many asian immigrants run restaurants in Perth, and make a good living at it.

It's more than obvious there is a HUGE market for this sort of thing. Darwin, which has the same general laws/regulations/demographics as us, already has a hawker styled market.

If Darwin can do it, is there any reason Perth can't?

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 04:07 PM

Because we're unique?

BartBart

January 12th, 2010, 04:30 PM

allow me - Reasons why we'll NEVER see Asian style street vendors here.

1. Health and safety regulations (cough)
2. It will be sanitised beyond recognition and therefore no charm.
3. Forget about value for money
4. The demographic that operates these things doesn't exist in Perth.
5. May be after a nuclear fallout one day

I was referring to the negatives of the city-State that acc was going to list another day.

jez_24

January 12th, 2010, 04:58 PM

Nate Von Longneck II

January 12th, 2010, 05:18 PM

Yep Jez, it would be difficult to do on the street, much easier at the markets.

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 05:23 PM

But if you could get the approvals to do it on the street in the CBD, it would be a license to print money. Put it down a laneway in a temporary style stand with a makeshift outdoor small bar consisting of noting but some random chairs and graffiti.

Nate Von Longneck II

January 12th, 2010, 05:30 PM

Would be awesome acc, but is unlikely to ever happen (IMHO).

Just think, even in Singapore, one of the food capitals of the world, you couldn't do it like that.

acc521

January 12th, 2010, 05:39 PM

Sounds like a challenge...

Dilaz89

January 12th, 2010, 05:51 PM

They had hawker-style food stores in Bondi Junction when i was last there. They were just for the passing lunchtime crowd but i can imagine something similar working in Perth.

Before someone says zomg bondi is more vibrant than perth, the mall is littered full of tacky shops like king kong. The shopping centre drains any meaningful retailers from the mall.

samboy

January 13th, 2010, 01:20 AM

Are people aware that in Singapore, there are zero street food vendors? All hawkers are indoors (food court style), or outdoor markets. There are no vendors on the streets anymore.

As for other Asian cities - I can tell that Malaysian or Thai hawkers, they would definitely not be able to operate like that in Perth, or any other western city, due to our health and safety regulations.

I am the worlds biggest fan of asian street hawker food, and with a few small changes, it would be more than possible to set up a few hawker stalls in Perth.

I was referring to STREET food, not hawker style or market food which won't happen in Perth as you already pointed out. 'Small' changes in Perth typically equals tons of red tape which equals too hard basket which equals to may be in the next lifetime.

Hawker style may happen but again I'm talking about the charm of genuine street stuff. By sanitised I mean, it will be regulated to a point where it's just going to be another glorified foodhall and not offer much of a difference to what's already available now

Sanj - As for the demographics. I was referring to Asian (developing countries) style street vendors who come from lower socio economic backgrounds and work the streets for very little income. In Aus they're called the centrelink customers. What I was really getting at was that it would be impossible to get cheap street food in Perth due to the above.

Dilaz89

January 13th, 2010, 07:52 AM

06/01/2010 "QUEENS CHAMBERS"
97-107 William Street
PERTH WA 6000
Retail Tenancy T19 -
proposed new 'Industrie'
Clothing Store, new
internal fitout and external
shop front.
138,000.00 BA-RF 2010/2

06/01/2010 140 William Street
PERTH WA 6000
Shop facade including
signage - Swarovski
(Shop 3)
25,000.00 DA 2010/2005

08/01/2010 149-157 James Street
NORTHBRIDGE WA 6003
Modifications to Street
Facade Including
Changes to Windows and
Entry Door as a Result of
New Internal Fitout -
Dome
450,000.00 DA 2010/2007

11/01/2010 Unit 11/103-109 James Street
NORTHBRIDGE WA 6003
Change of Use from
Office to Cabaret Lounge.
700,000.00 DA 2010/2010

11/01/2010 "GROSVENOR HOTEL"
339-341 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000
Gantry - 4 Weeks 0.00 H/GAN 2010/3501

12/01/2010 Unit 3/369 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000
Change of Use to
Convience Store.
50,000.00 DA 2010/2011

acc521

January 13th, 2010, 08:20 AM

A new Industrie store. Just what the men of Perth need ugh!

Johnvb

January 13th, 2010, 02:37 PM

Indeed! However its a pretty good location in the wesley quarter.

BartBart

January 13th, 2010, 02:47 PM

So the Swarovski is the 2nd shop away from the CBA building in Murray Street. Is $25,000 a lot for a facade and signage relative to other shops?

jackso

January 13th, 2010, 02:52 PM

I dont think $25 000 is a whole lot. Mind, it is just for the facade and the signage, so we should probably expect another BA sometime soon, if it hasnt been posted already.

crave

January 14th, 2010, 03:48 AM

i'm glad i actually spent time to read tha menu at my little bbq shop... i noticed they had stir fried beef w/ bitter melon in black bean sauce... i usually overlook tha beef given it's a bbq place... haha.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2568514049_b5d55de2c8.jpg
sauce'd (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2568514049_b5d55de2c8.jpg)

Dilaz89

January 15th, 2010, 10:15 AM

ryan79

January 16th, 2010, 04:40 AM

So I finally got around to going to Jacksons last night.

Service - perfect, couldn't fault it. Very friendly staff who knew how to do their job properly. Not pretentious at all.

Food - whilst very good was small on the portion size and IMO quite pricey. $44 for all mains. I had a lamb dish which was cooked nice and medium rare but not nearly enough of it. The girl had an awesome looking pink snapper fillet wrapped in proscuitto. Had a bacon mash with truffle oil on the side which was great but the bacon bits in it were tough and spongey when I would have thought they'd be nice and crisp.

I had dessert which was chocolate I love chocolate. Was very nice but not worth $17 IMO.

Overall I was happy because the service was great but the food, whilst great, did not impress me for the price.

The Dego menu looks really good and I'd go back to try that.

Sanj

January 16th, 2010, 05:36 AM

Maybe check out the degustation at star anise or amuse before heading back to Jacksons. Have only heard good things about amuse and enjoyed my last star anise meal.
Did u have entrees also? With fine dining meals they are usually designed to be 3 course meals and often won't fill you up if you only have 2

ryan79

January 16th, 2010, 10:58 AM

samboy

January 16th, 2010, 04:20 PM

I'm suprised you are surprised Ryan

city_thing

January 17th, 2010, 01:43 AM

A Downtown conveniene store will be opening up on the corner of king and murray (where varga was)

http://perth.wa.gov.au/web/Council/Council-and-Committee-Meetings/?date=2010.1

Lucky 7 just opened one down the road at Kingsgate apartments and another will be opening at Royale.

Why has 7eleven never opened in Perth? They're quite literally everywhere on the East Coast. Surely with their muscle they could just buy out all the existing convenience stores in Perth and rebrand them as 7elevens? Their slurpies are addictive.

I can see why Starbucks never opened in Perth, especially now with their closure of 80 stores around the nation. But you would imagine that 7eleven would have moved into Perth years ago.

crave

January 17th, 2010, 02:04 AM

Dilaz89

January 17th, 2010, 05:43 AM

I wish 7/11 would come to perth. Slurpees are teh shit.

Sanj

January 17th, 2010, 06:29 AM

No entrees, which I knew we might have needed. Maybe I'm being ignorant but I expected more for my $44 main. Either better quality/larger portion. Or am I paying more for the service?

Those 2 are on my list.

actually for once im going to defend the restaurant here. $44 is about standard for fine dining. i agree it is expensive but u really are paying for the service, the expensive cutlery, the number of chefs it takes to put out those meals etc and obviously quality produce.

like i was saying u do need 3 courses to get full. obviously cant talk about the food cos i wasnt there but u did say it was tasty.

this is obviously based on my prior experience there, it could have been way too small for all i know

BartBart

January 17th, 2010, 06:35 AM

^^ Agree - my family went to Peregino just before Xmas. They are aimed at the high end and do everything well. But you pay for it.

samboy

January 17th, 2010, 06:39 AM

It's a bit like the kids who get drunk at home before going out. Have something to eat before you go out then savour the small portions at a fine dining restaurant without completely breaking the bank ;)

acc521

January 17th, 2010, 11:26 AM

High price and value for money when talking about food are in no way mutually exclusive.

This extract by Frank Bruni (outgoing NY times food critic in his last article) sums it up perfectly. Take out the references to specific restaurants and it is applicable anywhere.

WHERE CAN I FIND GREAT VALUE?

At some of the more expensive, extravagant restaurants in New York, that’s where. Value doesn’t mean a low price: it means you’re getting a lot for what you’re paying.

At Eleven Madison Park, for example, the $88 prix fixe includes five one-bite amuse-bouches per person, terrific gougères, unlimited bread with both goat’s milk and cow’s milk butter, an appetizer, an entree, a dessert amuse-bouche, dessert and petit fours. Plus you’re sitting in comfort in one of the city’s most beautiful dining rooms, with many polished servers attending to you.

At Momofuku Ssam Bar, where you’re encouraged to build a meal from a sequence of small, medium and large plates, you’d probably need five selections, including dessert, to match that amount of food, and you could easily spend $68 in the process. And what you’ve given up, for a $20 savings, is the ability to make a reservation, a real chair (the restaurant is all backless stools), comparably pampering service, etc.

I’m not denigrating Ssam Bar: I love both of these restaurants. But you could argue that Eleven Madison is the better value — and there’s a larger point here to keep in mind before dismissing expensive restaurants.

ryan79

January 17th, 2010, 02:24 PM

I'm suprised you are surprised Ryan

Yeah, good point actually.

actually for once im going to defend the restaurant here. $44 is about standard for fine dining. i agree it is expensive but u really are paying for the service, the expensive cutlery, the number of chefs it takes to put out those meals etc and obviously quality produce.

like i was saying u do need 3 courses to get full. obviously cant talk about the food cos i wasnt there but u did say it was tasty.

this is obviously based on my prior experience there, it could have been way too small for all i know

Yeah fair enough. I'd estimate no more than 100g of Lamb on my plate and a few strips of egg plant.

I'm not really experienced in fine dining so that might be my uneducated opinion. However I had a Lamb dish at Galileo that was not only bigger but IMO tasted better and was presented just as well for $28.

It's a bit like the kids who get drunk at home before going out. Have something to eat before you go out then savour the small portions at a fine dining restaurant without completely breaking the bank ;)

Thats good advise, on both accounts. I like to drink before going out drinking but I don't like eating before going for dinner. I like to be hungry when I go to dinner.

acc521

January 19th, 2010, 09:05 AM

This place sounds promising.

DECISION OF DIRECTOR OF LIQUOR LICENSING
APPLICANT: IAIN THOMAS LAWLESS
PREMISES: KITSCH
PREMISES ADDRESS: 229 OXFORD STREET, LEEDERVILLE
LICENCE NO: 12935
NATURE OF MATTER: CONDITIONAL GRANT OF A SMALL BAR LICENCE

The applicant lodged a public interest assessment (PIA) for the conditional grant of a small bar licence in respect of the premises to be situated at 229 Oxford Street, Leederville. In terms of location, the applicant states: “Kitsch is located at 229 Oxford Street, Leederville, approximately half way between Leederville CBD and Oxford Hotel. This area of Oxford Street is referred to by Local Council as the Commercial „Hub‟ of Leederville.”; and “Kitsch appeals to the developing vibrancy of the Town (of Vincent), and specifically adjoins the vitality of Vincent Street and that of Oxford Street in Leederville.”The applicant submits that its premises will operate as “a bar which serves great food, with a liquor license (sic) and the ability to serve alcohol without a meal.”

There will be a focus on providing “substantial food to patrons enjoying a drink and conversation.” It is submitted that the food served to patrons will be of Asian influence and will be actively promoted and provided. The applicant further summarises the concept as follows: “Kitsch is not fast food and fast alcohol, instead it caters to the more cultural and proficient individual. The concept is based primarily on the Melbourne/Sydney small bar/restaurant scene. With a focus on quality and lifestyle both the space and the staff at Kitsch are warm and welcoming.” The premises will offer a unique environment that is “visually eclectic and innately humble” and the targeted demographic for the premises will be individuals aged 25+ years with “mature taste”.

The premises will also operate as an “educational facility providing demonstration cooking lessons.” It is provided that the cooking school will operate one evening a week and that the premises will be “closed to the general public during cooking schools, at which time only the approved maximum number of people will be onsite, with no transient custom.” It is intended that the cooking school will profile Western Australian chefs and in time will attract interstate and international chefs to host cooking classes.

BartBart

January 19th, 2010, 02:17 PM

^^ Is it named after the previous Foreshore plan?

acc521

January 19th, 2010, 02:33 PM

That's the first thing that popped into my mind lol. Ben Juniper probably helped provide finance or something.

samboy

January 19th, 2010, 02:36 PM

It's the old cafe next to the Re-store. They've done quite a bit of remodelling so I'm guessing they think it's in the bag. Although we're talking about TOV so good luck!

Dilaz89

January 19th, 2010, 02:55 PM

"C-I-L or GTFO"- ToV

ryan79

January 19th, 2010, 02:59 PM

It's the old cafe next to the Re-store. They've done quite a bit of remodelling so I'm guessing they think it's in the bag. Although we're talking about TOV so good luck!

They are probably connected so it'll be fine.

jarkti

January 20th, 2010, 10:28 AM

13/01/10
'SHAFTO LANE'
872-884 Hay Street PERTH WA 6000
Change of use from Retail to Bakery.
0.00
DA 2010/2014

13/01/10
'BRASS MONKEY'
209 William Street NORTHBRIDGE WA 6003
Extended Trading Permit- The Brass Monkey
0.00
HEALTH 2010/9505

13/01/10
221 William Street NORTHBRIDGE WA 6003
Tempory Extended Trading Permit- Universal Bar.
0.00
HEALTH 2010/9506

14/01/10
74 Francis Street NORTHBRIDGE WA 6003
Restaurant Partitions- REF 09/2313
19,000.00
BA-RF 2010/5

acc521

January 20th, 2010, 11:09 AM

It will be interesting to see what the bakery in Shafto Lane is. A proper bakery in the CBD would be a very nice addition.

samboy

January 20th, 2010, 11:14 AM

The old furniture shop (can't remember the name) was leased, unleased now leased again. May be it's that? Although that's not really suited to a bakery.
In all likelihood it's a brumbys/BD so I don't want to get my hope sup

BartBart

January 20th, 2010, 11:15 AM

I thought bakery was retail. Is there a specific use listed for a bakery?

jarkti

January 20th, 2010, 11:16 AM

I looked on Street View, would the bakery be in the Natuzzi building?
orrr would it be down the lane?

samboy

January 20th, 2010, 11:18 AM

yeah that's what I meant - natuzzi. I doubt it though, it's probably down the lane. Or it's some really fancy bakery

jackso

January 20th, 2010, 11:26 AM

Bart, I would say selling food would require a change of use. Even the convinience store on King & Murray required a change of use from retail (general) to retail (special). I assin this allows them to trade different hours.

BartBart

January 20th, 2010, 11:28 AM

Oh ok. Just thought bakery was being very specific - but I suppose at Local Govt level they are that specific.

acc521

January 20th, 2010, 12:07 PM

If it's where Natuzzi is than it's likely to be Brumby's or Baker's Delight. If it's down Shafto itself, I would expect it to be more of an artisian bakery. Probably overpriced and of a lower quality than claimed but hey, it's good to have a glimmer of hope.

BartBart

January 20th, 2010, 02:46 PM

Went to Must Winebar tonight. Quite busy - very good service. Always topping up water, etc. without being overly conspicuous. Food was presented very well and everyone agreed that they were happy with their mains and dessert. Big selection of wines (which probably didn't need to be said since they have Winebar in their restaurant name).

Ipggi

January 20th, 2010, 05:55 PM

Why has 7eleven never opened in Perth? They're quite literally everywhere on the East Coast. Surely with their muscle they could just buy out all the existing convenience stores in Perth and rebrand them as 7elevens? Their slurpies are addictive.

I can see why Starbucks never opened in Perth, especially now with their closure of 80 stores around the nation. But you would imagine that 7eleven would have moved into Perth years ago.

7/11 franchise in Australia is owned by a couple of families from Melbourne. Even though they have operated the franchise in Australia for 33 years now it seems hey only choose to operate in NSW, VIC & QLD.

http://www.7elevenfranchise.com.au/why/

acc521

January 20th, 2010, 06:35 PM

^^A lot of Eastern States businesses tend to but WA in the ''too hard'' basket. Rather naiively I think - especially these days.

Ipggi

January 20th, 2010, 11:41 PM

^^A lot of Eastern States businesses tend to but WA in the ''too hard'' basket. Rather naiively I think - especially these days.

Maybe the Perth business scene is too clicky, the social scene certainly is? I don't know personally but there must be a reason why franchises seem to leave the WA market until last?

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 02:30 AM

So Sank, my friend took me to Chutney Garden for lunch. For $10, we both ordered the vegetarian Thali:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Miensie/ChutneyGardens.jpg

This is huuuuge. I could barely get through it and I was starving.

Very tasty though, especially the top left curry. Mmmm...tangy. We were given a mango lasi (sp?) that was very nice too. I love the mint dip they give you as a starter.

My friend said it's a bit hit and miss but this was definitely a hit.

Good stuff and most definitely worth $10.

Sanj

January 21st, 2010, 02:36 AM

mincy! how are ya?

cool, glad to hear, might check it out sometime. did you have the chai as well? they make really good proper chai, none of that chai latte syrup nonsense

in other news, might be going to thailand with one group of friends in march and then joining another group in HK after. quite excited, this has just happened yesterday/today.

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 02:44 AM

mincy! how are ya?

Really good, doing really well, thanks Sanj. Hope everything's running right along for you too :)

did you have the chai as well? they make really good proper chai, none of that chai latte syrup nonsense

Ah, crap. Forgot about that. No, I didn't.

It was 37 degrees that day though so wanted something cold.

Will try and remember next time I go back as I will be going back.

Is it spelt lasi?

in other news, might be going to thailand with one group of friends in march and then joining another group in HK after. quite excited, this has just happened yesterday/today.

Jealous. Jealous.

Do you know for how long yet or too soon still?

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 02:59 AM

^^ Agree - my family went to Peregino just before Xmas. They are aimed at the high end and do everything well. But you pay for it.

Oh really? What did you think overall? Service is top notch ain't it.

I love the place :drool:

Sanj

January 21st, 2010, 03:02 AM

it's lassi.

mates going to thailand from 5/3-20/3, other mates going to hk from 25/3-5/4.

just had a call from a mate of mine about going to melb food and wine festival though which is 12/3-23/3.

dont see myself being able to take 4 weeks off work (although id love to) so will prob do thailand and then a few days of food and wine fest.

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 03:13 AM

Cool. That sounds really awesome though Sanj. Very jealous about Thailand though. My sis has just come back and all I've heard are stories that make me drool.

By the by, Samby, are you back from overseas? How'd it go if you are?

Kelli

January 21st, 2010, 05:22 AM

So Sank, my friend took me to Chutney Garden for lunch. For $10, we both ordered the vegetarian Thali:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Miensie/ChutneyGardens.jpg

Hello Miensie. What is that item in the bottom right corner? It looks like it might be a dessert?

I tried a rosewater lassi recently, which was nice but too sweet for my taste as usual, shame.

Bart, if it is not being too nosy, what did you eat at Must?

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 07:17 AM

Hello Miensie. What is that item in the bottom right corner? It looks like it might be a dessert?

I tried a rosewater lassi recently, which was nice but too sweet for my taste as usual, shame.

Hi Kelli! You are right, it was a pudding of sorts. Had a bit of a nutty texture through it though. I kinda gagged when I tasted it so didn't eat it all.

Rosewater is divine. You would not have liked this mango lassi then, it was very sweet. And rich.

acc521

January 21st, 2010, 08:33 AM

Anything flavoured with rose gets a +1. Brilliant stuff. Where is this place miensie?

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 08:35 AM

Where is this place miensie?

Chutney Garden, corner of Lake and Aberdeen St.

acc521

January 21st, 2010, 08:40 AM

Is it new?

miensie

January 21st, 2010, 08:41 AM

Is it new?

I noticed it late last year, can't be sure when exactly. Sanj had been in quickly before me though.

Sank?

stadiumdesigner

January 21st, 2010, 10:14 AM

Back at Sayers everyone. Come in next week if you get a chance...I'll def be in Monday morning. Running some Guatemalan Santa Clara through the second grinder for the espresso drinkers....and if you're lucky enough, I might just have some Ethiopian Beloya still. I opened the first bag of it today, and was instantly engulfed by the smell of blueberries. Truly amazing.

In other news, it looks like Elixir Espresso is opening on Monday. Went in there for a look and a chat with Justin and Jonny today. The decor is magnificant, the coffee is exceptional, and the food will be no different. Expect the rest of the coffee scene in perth to have some catching up to do!

Sanj

January 21st, 2010, 10:15 AM

is elixir where the grocer used to be?

stadiumdesigner

January 21st, 2010, 10:15 AM

is elixir where the grocer used to be?

spot on Sanj

Sanj

January 21st, 2010, 10:20 AM

cool. there isnt much good coffee in the western suburbs, will be interesting to see how it does cos there will be zero walkups in that location. i suspect it will do very well once the western suburbs crew gets onto it.

will be an interesting mix of coffee snobs (i mean that in a good way) and housewives during the day. hope they do well, we need more passion in perth food although u do get the feeling things are changing for the better

stadiumdesigner

January 21st, 2010, 10:26 AM

cool. there isnt much good coffee in the western suburbs, will be interesting to see how it does cos there will be zero walkups in that location.

not entirely true. The boys were counting. There is a bus stop out the front. Every 10 minutes about 10-15 people get on the bus. So theres a potential of lets say 90 customers an hour. Although not all of them would go, it will build a name. Fitness club across the road, a few offices, and heaps of resi.

Eventually, i think the income will come from the roasting side of the business

Sanj

January 21st, 2010, 10:28 AM

fair enough, i guess i should have said not many walk ups. didnt realise that many people used that bus stop though, interesting.

how many coffees a day do dedicated coffee places generally aim to get to make it worthwhile? 500?

acc521

January 21st, 2010, 10:36 AM

SD, where's the best place to get freshly ground beans from in Perth (for use in a French press)?

stadiumdesigner

January 21st, 2010, 10:49 AM

depends whats easy for you to get to acc. If the city is easy, then Velvet. I love the velvet blend. But if you can get to nedlands, then definitely Elixir!

Sanj - On a normal day at Velvet we were hitting about 700. I've been in there on a 800+ day. Very hectic. 22kg of coffee later!

BartBart

January 21st, 2010, 11:27 AM

Oh really? What did you think overall? Service is top notch ain't it.

I love the place :drool:

Can't fault the service at all. Not the sort of place you'd go often - a pretty special occasion.

Hello Miensie. What is that item in the bottom right corner? It looks like it might be a dessert?

I tried a rosewater lassi recently, which was nice but too sweet for my taste as usual, shame.

Bart, if it is not being too nosy, what did you eat at Must?

No worries about being nosey - that's how it works on here.
I had a entree special (main size) - king prawns with mango chopped small on top with a few other things (like lime juice, finely grated carrot that had been fried) on top. Others had:
Angel Hair Pasta Tossed with Blue Manna Crab, Tomato, Chilli, Basil Cream & 34° South Organic Olive Oil
Pan Fried Potato Gnocchi, w/ Braised Rabbit Ragoût, Caramelised Onion, Sicilian Green Olive, Shaved Parmesan
can't remember what my mum had - one of the specials

(no-one left anything from the main or dessert on their plate)

Desserts - I had what was essentially a chocolate pudding with cherry sorbet, mum had apple tart tartin with fig ice cream, others had chocolate sundae and a brulee with blood orange sorbet

http://www.must.com.au/must_highgate/menus/BistroMenu.pdf

acc521

January 21st, 2010, 01:17 PM

depends whats easy for you to get to acc. If the city is easy, then Velvet. I love the velvet blend. But if you can get to nedlands, then definitely Elixir!

Cheers

The info is for my brother as the CBD and Nedlands are both a bit difficult to get to from London lol.

acc521

January 21st, 2010, 01:42 PM

That sounds brilliant Bart. Choc Cherry is one of favourite flavour combos ever.

BartBart

January 21st, 2010, 01:47 PM

Was yummy. I tried a bit of the apple tart tartin with fig icecream (well - not the fig icecream :() and that was yummy too - the pastry was thin & melt in the mouth.

Kelli

January 21st, 2010, 02:00 PM

^Thanks Bart and Miensie, I love living vicariously through other peoples dinners.

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 02:22 AM

Can't fault the service at all. Not the sort of place you'd go often - a pretty special occasion.

Yeah, I go there once a year for our Christmas lunch. Though I've been trying to talk my girlfriends into going with me for lunch :D

By the by, Sank, meant to ask before, did your Mum find the mango at Lucky ok?

stadiumdesigner

January 22nd, 2010, 02:33 AM

Cheers

The info is for my brother as the CBD and Nedlands are both a bit difficult to get to from London lol.

Haha, you know what I mean! Get in to Elixir i'd say :)

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 02:38 AM

I know you've mentioned this b4 but where exactly is elixir again? was it near chelseas?

stadiumdesigner

January 22nd, 2010, 03:06 AM

I know you've mentioned this b4 but where exactly is elixir again? was it near chelseas?

Same complex, where the grocer used to be. If you're driving on Stirling Hwy, its visible if your heading city bound.

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 04:15 AM

Has anyone been to Laqua (spelling) in East Perth? I remember seeing them in the local paper and something must have caught my eye. Did a search but all I can find is Laqua in Sydney.

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 04:18 AM

mincy - yeah mum managed to find the mangoes, thanks.

samby - havent even heard of it. where in east perth? im guessing it's new?

edit - dear samby - pls learn how to internet.

http://www.bradleysrestaurant.com.au/profile.html

IMPORTANT UPDATE

As of 9th November 2009

Bradley's Restaurant will be under new Ownership and will be called L'Aqua Restaurant

All current bookings will be honored and be contacted by the new owner.

We wish to thank all our friends and customers for their support over the last 3 years and hope that they appreciate our desire to spend more time with our beautiful baby girl!

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 04:19 AM

Haha Samby, I saw that review too. Yesterday's Voice, non?

Sank, cool, just wondering.

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 04:24 AM

Thanks Sanj!! Yup that's the one Mincy. Seemed ok in the Voice. But I know better than to trust the Voice without some feedback or a website to check the menu.

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 04:28 AM

was it katie or andrei buters?

or that giovanni torre guy? i hope to god he isnt part of the torre butchers family.

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 04:31 AM

samby

Xmas Dinner at L'Aqua
2009-12-19

Our final event for the year being our Christmas Dinner was held at L'Aqua (formerley Bradleys).

While the ambiance and company was a delight, unfortunately the same could not be said for the venue. While we tend to avoid being too critical, the evening was worthy of complaint. We were informed that the new owner was previously head chef at a reputable & established hotel, so we were confident when we planned the function. Unfortunately on this occasion, he was attempting to work the floor as much as the kitchen so the quality was very disappointing.

We always appreciate quality in food & service & fortunately we have rarely been disappointed!

http://www.partnersandfriends.com.au/previousevents.php?id=2

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 04:31 AM

edit - dear samby - pls learn how to internet.

http://www.bradleysrestaurant.com.au/profile.html

IMPORTANT UPDATE

As of 9th November 2009

Bradley's Restaurant will be under new Ownership and will be called L'Aqua Restaurant

All current bookings will be honored and be contacted by the new owner.

We wish to thank all our friends and customers for their support over the last 3 years and hope that they appreciate our desire to spend more time with our beautiful baby girl!

:lol:

Too funneh. You guys are perfect for each other ♥

Nate Von Longneck II

January 22nd, 2010, 04:31 AM

was it katie or andrei buters?

or that giovanni torre guy? i hope to god he isnt part of the torre butchers family.

I think there's a new chump now at the voice

(probably doing all the reviews for food/realestate/lifestyle/fashion etc etc)

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 04:35 AM

I think there's a new chump now at the voice

(probably doing all the reviews for food/realestate/lifestyle/fashion etc etc)

yeah i do feel bad for them cos obviously it would be hard/impossible to write about everything but some of the realestate and food articles are ridiculously bad.

i remember reading one (i think by andre buters) about reflections apartments being very spacious etc - they are all narrow and long apartments so ive got no idea what he was on about.

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 04:46 AM

I dunno, ever since Bella Vista, I only glance at the restaurants they feature in The Voice. They also had a review about Siena's yesterday. Ugh.

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 06:54 AM

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 07:25 AM

Nice edit Sanj. But let's face it you're better than the interwebz. Your credibility may have suffered a little since losing some 'cuddliness' but still up there in my books :)

Awww cute couple award! ♥

You need to lift your game, Nate!

Mincy now I remember why I was asking. You're right there was an article about Sienas in the same breath which dampened my enthusiasm instantly.

Best pizza in WA, my foot.

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 07:37 AM

Nice edit Sanj. But let's face it you're better than the interwebz. Your credibility may have suffered a little since losing some 'cuddliness' but still up there in my books :)

Mincy now I remember why I was asking. You're right there was an article about Sienas in the same breath which dampened my enthusiasm instantly.

awww thanks toots

mincy/samby - what did they say about sienas? really said best pizza in perth?

speaking of which, anyone checked out little caesars in leedy yet?

jackso

January 22nd, 2010, 07:42 AM

Went to go last week (or maybe the week before) for lunch on a wednesday or thursday and they were closed! Went to Jus instead.

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 07:48 AM

mincy/samby - what did they say about sienas? really said best pizza in perth?

I didn't read that article as it's not the first time they've 'reviewed' the place in there but they have said that about it before. Fat lot they know.

Speaking of Jus Burgers, I had the most frustrating experience over the break. It was a Saturday night, about 9.45pm, and we tried the one in Leederville. As soon as we stepped inside, we were told they weren't taking any more orders. Drove to Subiaco and they told us the same thing. I think we went into so many places that night trying to find a place that was decent and still had the kitchen open, but nada.

I was about to pull my hair out!! Gah! 10pm on a Saturday night and you can't get anything other than Dominos/Hungry Jacks etc.

:wallbash:

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 07:56 AM

that's ghey.

i was in freo with some mates on a fri or sat 2 or 3 weeks ago and we had to eat at bloody ginos cos everywhere else was closed at 9.45pm

seriously, what the fuck. ginos was pretty shit as well, no idea why so many people love it. the food ranged from average (some squid a friend ordered, you could train a monkey to cook deep fried squid though), to shit (med rare steak coming out well done with average sauce on it, to stodgy (pasta)

mincy - kitchen closes at 11pm at duende in leederville. granted it might be more expensive than what u were planning but at least it is good food.

word of warning though, there are some changes going on in the kitchen in il lido/duende so no idea if they are having teething problems etc.

what did u end up eating in the end?

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 08:01 AM

mincy - kitchen closes at 11pm at duende in leederville. granted it might be more expensive than what u were planning but at least it is good food.

I didn't know that. Will keep it in mind for the future. We were getting so frustrated I would've settled for something well below par.

what did u end up eating in the end?

Heh. Went home and I cooked. It was that or Dominos pizza. I'd rather go hardcore camping.

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 08:09 AM

why didnt u go the azn option? hawkers etc?

on an unrelated note, it's no wonder little creatures is as successful as it is, check out the brains trust behind it. i would LOVE to sit in on one of their meetings.

http://www.littleworldbeverages.com/Directors/

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 08:15 AM

why didnt u go the azn option? hawkers etc?

Couldn't be bothered to be honest. Was hot, hungry and tired. Cooking calms me so I did that.

jackso

January 22nd, 2010, 08:19 AM

That is one hell of a Board Sanj.

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 09:04 AM

awww thanks toots

mincy/samby - what did they say about sienas? really said best pizza in perth?

speaking of which, anyone checked out little caesars in leedy yet?

I'm in Mincy's boat Sanj, the title pretty much put me off but it was more of a 'great for children' angle. (which is probably true as it's cheap and cheerful)

As for ceasers, I've driven past it some nights where it's been absolutely overflowing. Never tasted it but just looking at the menu, not woodfired oven etc it's not my cup of tea. imo it's just the 'commercial' stuff with probably more quality ingredients and lots of hype. I'm not paying a premium for that. Reminds me of "Stones" pizza which has apparently won lots of awards etc and I didn't find to be anything special.

If I was going to have that sort of pizza I'd rather to to 'Aurora' in Mt Hawthorn where it's cheaper and you can really pig out on reasonable quality pizza.

But as I said that's just my gut feeling I've never eaten at C so it could be spectacular.

PS: Ginos is crap. Even their coffee is shit. I remember ages ago when they were nextdoor they used to be good (or may be I was too young to know)

acc521

January 22nd, 2010, 09:08 AM

why didnt u go the azn option? hawkers etc?

on an unrelated note, it's no wonder little creatures is as successful as it is, check out the brains trust behind it. i would LOVE to sit on one of their meetings.

http://www.littleworldbeverages.com/Directors/

Bloody hell talk about high powered, intelligent people! These are the kind of people one wants to be working with and learning from.

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 09:08 AM

I'm in Mincy's boat Sanj, the title pretty much put me off but it was more of a 'great for children' angle. (which is probably true as it's cheap and cheerful)

If I was going to have that sort of pizza I'd rather to to 'Aurora' in Mt Hawthorn where it's cheaper and you can really pig out on reasonable quality pizza.

The children at Siena's *shudder* ugh. Part of the reason why my first experience there was baaad.

Will now add Aurora to my list, thanks Samby! :okay:

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 09:15 AM

I'm in Mincy's boat Sanj, the title pretty much put me off but it was more of a 'great for children' angle. (which is probably true as it's cheap and cheerful)

As for ceasers, I've driven past it some nights where it's been absolutely overflowing. Never tasted it but just looking at the menu, not woodfired oven etc it's not my cup of tea. imo it's just the 'commercial' stuff with probably more quality ingredients and lots of hype. I'm not paying a premium for that. Reminds me of "Stones" pizza which has apparently won lots of awards etc and I didn't find to be anything special.

If I was going to have that sort of pizza I'd rather to to 'Aurora' in Mt Hawthorn where it's cheaper and you can really pig out on reasonable quality pizza.

But as I said that's just my gut feeling I've never eaten at C so it could be spectacular.

PS: Ginos is crap. Even their coffee is shit. I remember ages ago when they were nextdoor they used to be good (or may be I was too young to know)

yeah ive only tried it the one time (little caesars) but like i said before i want too impressed. i definitely want to give it another go though, surely soooo many people cant be wrong (yes i realise how silly that sounds already).

havent heard of aurora, will check it out. i dont eat pizza often at all so im no authority on the subject. they dont look to be much cheaper than little caesars though

http://www.menulog.com.au/aurora_pizza_and_pasta#menus

anyone been to clarences yet?

ive only been for wine but i want to go back to try their potted rabbit and they had a pork belly dish that sounded good. also have pretty tasty (just a touch too sweet) marmalade ice cream for $3.50 a scoop which is a bargain

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 09:16 AM

The children at Siena's *shudder* ugh. Part of the reason why my first experience there was baaad.

Will now add Aurora to my list, thanks Samby! :okay:

Cool! Don't get you hopes up too much though. It's just a take away joint that does some good deals on 2 pizzas. They're generous with the toppings and quite fresh. I got 2 family pizzas one night ($34) which would have been enough for five BIG eaters. The seafood one was saturated with prawns and mussels with no fishy smell at all.

edit: Sanj you're right the prices aren't that different but the sizes are bigger and they do specials.
http://www.aurorapizzapasta.com/specials.html. Like I said though it's more of a takeaway watch the footy type pizza.

Sanj

January 22nd, 2010, 09:24 AM

yeah that is pretty good, will keep it in mind. thanks.

acc521

January 22nd, 2010, 09:25 AM

yeah ive only tried it the one time (little caesars) but like i said before i want too impressed. i definitely want to give it another go though, surely soooo many people cant be wrong (yes i realise how silly that sounds already).

By brother never liked Little Caesar's but he reckons the Leederville one is much better than he can remember the Mundaring one ever being so there might be some hope.

jackso

January 22nd, 2010, 09:28 AM

Oh i went to Francois Patisserie the other day to try that also but they were still on their Christmas Break/New Year break.

miensie

January 22nd, 2010, 09:33 AM

Cool! Don't get you hopes up too much though.

I wouldn't worry about it. Your suggestion about the pizza at Funtastico was good :)

acc521

January 22nd, 2010, 09:35 AM

I'm still in shock that Funastico has gone that much downhill. Killing my favourite pizza is an unforgivable sin :(

samboy

January 22nd, 2010, 09:48 AM

same here... that was my all time favourite in Perth about 5 years ago and from memory it was around $15.

Nate Von Longneck II

January 22nd, 2010, 10:00 AM

Couple of weeks ago, I went to a friends party.

Met two guys (of relevance to this thread).

Guy 1 : Italian, heavy accent, been in Perth for kess than a year. Me: what do you do? "I am a pizza chef at Funtastico"....

Later that night, guy 2 : Italian, been in Perth a few months. Me: what do you do? "I am a Pizza chef" (at that place in Carillion)

ryan79

January 22nd, 2010, 01:15 PM

Has anyone been to Laqua (spelling) in East Perth? I remember seeing them in the local paper and something must have caught my eye. Did a search but all I can find is Laqua in Sydney.

samby

Xmas Dinner at L'Aqua
2009-12-19

Our final event for the year being our Christmas Dinner was held at L'Aqua (formerley Bradleys).

While the ambiance and company was a delight, unfortunately the same could not be said for the venue. While we tend to avoid being too critical, the evening was worthy of complaint. We were informed that the new owner was previously head chef at a reputable & established hotel, so we were confident when we planned the function. Unfortunately on this occasion, he was attempting to work the floor as much as the kitchen so the quality was very disappointing.

We always appreciate quality in food & service & fortunately we have rarely been disappointed!

http://www.partnersandfriends.com.au/previousevents.php?id=2

I went to L'Aqua, funnily enough for our Xmas dinner. Wasn't impressed. Food was average, I had some lamd dish.

One girl with us was vegetarian and her dish was so bad she couldn't eat it. Can't remember what it was or why but they said there was nothing they could do about it. Service quite bad.

It was Xmas and they had only taken over so might have improved.

If your going to be in that area go to the Royal. They do a brilliant mustard and herb crumbed lamd rack.

Yes, I love lamb.

BartBart

January 22nd, 2010, 01:29 PM

p3 Western Suburbs Weekly

Shop hours meetings
by michael gill

SUBIACO Business Association president Geoff Parnell is rallying local businesses for a meeting early next month to discuss ways of capitalising on their new Perth Tourism Precinct status.

The SBA will host a meeting for traders to share their thoughts about opening later on weeknights and on Sundays, at the City of Subiaco's council chambers on Monday, February 1, from 6.15pm.

Mr Parnell said while there was "a mixed response" from local stores to the bigger FTP since it started this month, the number of shops opening on Sundays had increased.

"This week, we're also starting a shop-to-shop survey around the Subi-aco CBD and other areas to find out from stores their current trading hours, whether they have changed their hours or are looking to change their hours," he said.

"We're taking the approach that it's in the best interests of Subiaco overall to approach non-SBA members as well.

"Hopefully from there we can get to some common ground on the City's approach to trading hours."

To make the process easier for shoppers, the SBA has started developing a map for its website that will highlight businesses offering extended shopping hours.

Mr Parnell said he hoped the map would be available by the end of February and the SBA could regularly update it if traders decided to vary their hours.

A supporter of more shopping choices, Subiaco Mayor Heather Henderson said she, too, had noticed more stores opening on Sundays.

But she said it would take three to four months before making a judgement on whether the FTP had proved a success locally.

"There will need to be some planning to make sure the stores know what's expected of them," she said.

"But I think we will also find that the community will drive the changes to opening hours."

BartBart

January 22nd, 2010, 04:20 PM

Cambridge Post p1 & 78

I thought IGA were the ones that were multinationals

Coles, Woolies cash in
By ROMY RANALLI

Coles and Woolworths are booming with the government's new late night tourism trading laws, but other shops aren't interested in opening.

The change has proved that only the big chains will benefit, say the independent grocers.

Subiaco business people are organising a meeting to persuade smaller local traders to stay open, but they face an uphill battle.

In central Perth, Myer and David Jones have chosen to stick to their regular 6pm weeknight closing time, with smaller retailers in the city following their lead.

Even Harvey Norman, famous for challenging WA's trading hours laws in the Supreme Court in 1999, is shutting shop at its City West store at 5.30pm.

Since January 1 shops in the Perth tourism precinct, which includes Subiaco, West Perth and West Leederville, have been allowed to open until 9pm on weeknights.

John Cummings, president of the Independent Grocers' Association of WA, said the result showed that, as he had predicted, extended trading reform in WA benefited only multinational supermarkets at the expense of his members.

"Extended trading is more than dead in the water," he said.

"If any retailer even gets their paddles out they're a masochist.

"As we told the government from the start, it will not work and will do more harm than good."

Woolworths says the changes are paying off, with steady growth since their introduction.

"Feedback from customers has been extremely positive," media relations manager Luke Schepen said.

"Sunday trading has been going very strong and as customers start to become aware of our opening hours they are really taking advantage of them.

"Since January 1, trade has steadily increased; we are very pleased with it and so are our customers.

"Having those extra few hours in the afternoon is a very convenient option, and we're also noticing an increase in trade later into the evening."

Commerce Minister Troy Buswell increased shopping hours by changing the tourism precinct regulations after Labor and the Nationals blocked a move to extend trading hours.

Mr Cummings said allowing the big supermarket chains to open because the areas were tourism districts meant the government did not have to formally change the law.

"The proponents for this were the advocacy groups that saw this as a way of gaining market share and more of the retail dollar," he said.

"It's not just groceries; think of the local pharmacist, newsagent, florist, any business chasing the retail dollar is being affected by this."

Local IGA stores and other independent supermarkets like Farmer Jacks were already hurting. Mr Cummings said.

"There has been a substantial drop in turnover since January 1," he said.

Mr Buswell said it was too early to judge whether the changes were working.

"As with any change, I expect that people, including consumers and retailers, will take time to modify their behaviour and adjust their habits," he said.

"In this government's efforts to provide a contemporary retail trading framework, our focus is on giving consumers choice, not on protecting the profits of independent supermarkets.

"I do not apologise for giving consumers the opportunity to exercise choice in regard to where they shop.

"This is a small step on a long path to delivering trading hours reform to give people the choice they deserve."

Myer WA regional manager Kerry Davenport said the store was not considering introducing extended trading hours permanently.

"It makes more sense for us to offer extended trading hours during peak times of the year like Christmas when customer demand to shop later hi the day and into the evening is at its highest," she said.

"Consumers don't shop in department stores on a Monday or a Tuesday evening when it's not the peak trading time; the same level of demand isn't there.

"This is very different to supermarkets and other food retail outlets because no matter what time of the year it is, consumers will always shop at these stores on the way home from work or later in the day if they need something."

Myer, David Jones and some other bigger city stores were open until 9pm on Friday night, and City West traders were opening on Fridays until 7.30pm.

The Subiaco Business Association will hold a forum about taking a common approach to opening hours instead of each business doing its own thing.

The forum will be held at the Subiaco council chambers on February 1 between 6 and 7pm. Retailers can RSVP on 9381 3219.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said developing a bustling after-hours city was a gradual process.

"When we have a greater number of residents in the city, along with workers who are working different and extended hours, we will inevitably see the changing patterns of trade from retailers," she said.

Some smaller store owners have complained that they cannot put in so many hours seven days a week.

"The fact is we need to assist them to try different hours and train part-time staff to take the pressure off them," she said.

"Some still maintain they dont wish to do that but at the end of the day we all need to understand it takes all of us to create (he type of city we really want."

Coles spokesman Jim Cooper said weeknight trading had been an outstanding success.

"It will take some time before a regular trading pattern becomes apparent, but so far we've seen very strong customer traffic through the doors, and it appears that a lot of them are people who would not necessarily have shopped at a particular store before but are now doing so because it's open," he said.

"Our expectation is that if everything continues this well, we will be looking to put on extra staff to cover the new hours."