February 24th, 2010
It may just be a taste hangover from the previous rabbit post, but again I’m in the game, for game. And good wine.
Aside from the standard European table-fare of game (rabbit, boar, pheasant, grouse, etc), we decided to have a crack at Kangaroo, Emu and Possum.
Yes, I know eating all of our national coat of arms would probably make the rest of the world recoil in horror, but I must tell you, when paired with good wine, it’s a combination worthy of the deserved political atrocity.
Kangaroo is now a common meat available at most retail supermarkets, but keep hush-hush about it. I’d like to see it at $13.67 per kg for a long time still.
Emu is less common. With a dark meat, and similar pH, texture and taste to beef, you’d be hard pressed to convince a Beefeater it was a giant bird from Australia.
Last was Possom. Confit(ted), it tasted like duck with a slight ripple of porkyness. The texture was akin to chicken thigh that had a run-in with a forceful kitchen-hand. New Zealand has an issue with possums; they should eat them crumbed with sweet chilli. “Sweet Chilli Possum Wrap at KFP” — Perhaps it’ll take a while for the market to warm.
The wine that we decided to pick-a-part on the night was Forest Hill Vineyard “Boobook” Shiraz Viognier 2007 [Great Southern]
From first inspection it’s easy to tell there is much going on below the surface. Good splatterings of ripe berries and decorous oak which swayed between vanillian and cedar. On the tannin-front the wine presents a powdery texture, as if you copped it in the mouth in a baby-parlour. Purposefully balanced, with Viognier’s heart sent on complimenting Shiraz and not providing too much to dwell on; Florally lifted, tumultuous fruit. As easy going as you’d expect from Great Southern for the price. 17.6 points
Spend Summer with the Locals. Flora and Fauna.
Tags: 2007, Australia, Boobook, Emu, Fauna, Floral, Forest Hill Vineyards, Game, Great Southern, Kangaroo, Locals, Possum, Shiraz, Summer, Viognier
Posted in Drink, Eat, General, Gourmet, Wine | 2 Comments »
January 24th, 2010
Who would ever think that one of the most destructive introduced pests to Australia would fetch $21 per kilo at your butcher? Though I can say that these rabbits are farmed; they’re white (to be honest I prefer the wild rabbit) and pretty much taste like – you guessed it – chicken. And for a whole boned sectioned carcass, that’s about $24 a pop.
Leaner than beef, pork and chicken, rabbit meat is per meter squared, the most ecologically sustainable animal protein. They can be grown in hutches, mature quickly and, er, breed like rabbits. I don’t understand why rabbit meat isn’t:
1) cheaper
2) introduced widely among culinary menus (along with Kangaroo).
3) readily avilable available (thanks wonderfully accurate and anonymous literati for your contribution)
Our hopping friends are our only future if every one of the 6.6 billion hungry mouths are to get adequate protein and not reduce the earth to dust.
So we thought we would roast a rabbit (or two) and enjoy with some WA wine. I’ve kept wine it in the theme of the Rhône Valley. Shiraz (Syrah), Viognier, Marssane, and Roussane.
I could have been daring and picked a few bunnies off the road on the way to the butchers. But with the recent spell of Bikram weather, they’ed be close to jerky au jus than anything else.
Tags: Chardonnay, Cooking, Frankland Estate, Frankland River, Game, Isolation Ridge 2008, Margaret River, Rabbit, Stella Bella, WA, WA Wine, Wine
Posted in Eat, Gourmet | 15 Comments »
January 5th, 2010
So you’re fresh from your Christmas holidays with the crisp white pages of 2010 to unfold. Your desk is eerily vacant and suspended in time from the last joyous hours of 2009. You’re back into the daily grind till the cooling days of Autumn brings Easter (with more festivities). You also know what’ll help you along the days is coffee. Bitter, sweet, luscious and hot. And if you’re lucky enough to work in West Perth and be in need of the bean, there may be a little (coffee) house right up your alley (literally).
Pony Express O is a coffee house in reverse. Like me, you could be forgiven to think you’ve come through the rear, or heaven forbid, behind the bar. But you’d be wrong. If you’re trying to be smart and go on the other side of the bar, you’ll be faced with another expresso machine. Clearly the function of this coffee house is bring you to the steamy face of coffee. You get to see the extraction as clearly as the barista. This used to be the Ashton Stables, the building is now heritage listed. The space has been transformed. Art hangs from the walls, high airy ceilings upon to a faux-grassed lane-way under umbrellas. The only equine link is the rib-nudging name, Pony Express O. Get it. Hah Hah.
The brain-child of Garret of Blink in South Fremantle, it carries some of those elements. Smart use of space, clear access to expresso machines, a funky coin payment system and above all else, fine coffee. Crema is his choice of bean. Get to know it. It’s the new Fiori. His attitude is casual, inquisitive and friendly. It’s a communal joint, where you’ll see regulars popping in, picking up conversations where they left off, and others lounging about reading books and eating their lunches. There is a bring-your-own-lunch policy here. Pony Express O plays its cards well, limited sweet pickings in favour of BYO. Bring your books too or read the paper, and use the foot massager. Yes that’s right. A foot massager.
Pony Express O
21 Mayfair Street West Perth
Tags: Café, Coffee, Perth, Pony Express O, West Perth
Posted in Cafe, Coffee, Drink, Experience | 4 Comments »
December 18th, 2009
If you’ve been trundling down St Georges Terrace in the past few months, no doubt you would have seen the construction of one of Perth’s most anticipated small bars slash restaurants. The Greenhouse.
Drawn from the valiant effort of its older sister in Melbourne, Perth’s version has the rooftop garden (complete with veggie patch, fruit trees, and herb rows) and that oh so intriguing external lattice. Yes, those are individual terracotta pots. Yes, strawberries. Hundreds of them.
The idea here is simple. Be green. Minimise the carbon foot print. Make us scratch our heads over the energy inefficient lives we live. From the straw-bale insulation to the recycled plastic-container reinforced concrete, every effort has been made to reduce, reuse and recycle. More planning has gone into this than meets the eye. It’s one of those light bulb moments, where the environment and architecture have combined. It’s the way it should have always been. Ecologically sound, holistic approached. In many ways, The Greenhouse is leading by example.
On the menu you’ll find offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All ingredients are sourced from producers either biodynamic or organic. Crushed peas & basil, poached eggs & toast to break your fast, or the tomato & goats curd tart, mixed leaves, aged balsamic for a midday feast, and dinner time it looks like a tapas. Piquillo pepper & manchego croquettes and pig head & trotter terrine, pickled cherries. Yum. And very reasonably priced.
It’s an interesting little zone, the Greenhouse. It’s unbleached, organic and recycled. It’s unapologetic hippy-esque nature lends to the charm. There is a prodigiously young staff-ship who look like they’re on their way to a Copenhagen; chirpy, hard-wired for action, in the first flush of youth.
Can’t wait to see those strawberries bloom. And for the place to put down roots.
The Greenhouse
100 St. Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Mon & Tues 7am – 5pm
Wed to Sat 7am -12am
Tags: CBD, Greenhouse, Perth, Small Bar, The Greenhouse
Posted in Experience, Restaurants, Small Bar | 5 Comments »
December 7th, 2009
You know you’re doing something right when the queue for takeaway is snaking down the footpath.
Perhaps vying for a slice of burger glory in Perth, Jus Burgers is good example of so called ‘junk food’ done well.
Located in Leederville, it has become the touchstone for quality meat between two buns.
Ingredients are sourced locally, with particular emphasis on Western Australian produce. I may hazard a guess that most sources of food (sans meat and grain) would come from the metro area. You have Turkish bread from Vic Park, fruit and veg from Morley and chippies from Bibra Lake. Local produce means two things:
1) the distance from the produce to your plate is reduced, delivering fresher ingredients;
2) less distance equals less carbon footprints.
On the menu there are various takes on the humble burger (enter cheese, bacon, onion etc). You have wagyu beef, lamb, kangaroo, borewors, fish. Then three veggie options: vegan, chickpea or pumpkin to satisfy any table-thumping militant vegetarian (such as my partner). Meals range from less and $15 with lunch specials hovering at $10.
It’s ludicrous to think companies ship fruit and veg across the Nullabor in hulking refrigerated semi-trailers.
“To market, to market to buy a fat pig.” What ever happened to those days?
On a side note, try Stella Bella Chardonnay with The Bokka (Borewors Burger). It was a OMG taste moment. Nothing like skipping a NZ Sav Blanc for another local hero.
Do it local and do it right.
Jus Burgers
743 Newcastle St
Leederville 6007
Perth, WA
Phone: 08 9228 2230
Posted in General | 4 Comments »
November 30th, 2009
Sunday was not only the birthday of my brother (the auspicious 21) and my partner’s brother (25).
But it was also the wedding day of my cousin.
Although I was not the offical photographer, I simply couldn’t resist taking a few candid pics of the day.
To capture the energy, as my gift to them.
Congratulations guys. You’re a beautiful couple. May you have many joyous years ahead.
More photos here.
Tags: Weddings
Posted in General, Live Life Love, Observe, Photography, Weddings | 1 Comment »
November 28th, 2009
OK.
So I may be a little obsessed with wine from Great Southern as of late.
But I can assure you there is reason for this unhealthy obsession. First it was the 2001 Gladstones.
Unfortunately I was remiss in brining my camera to the tasting, thus no review.
But I can say, if you have it sitting down somewhere, drink it now. The leather tones are only going to increase.
Speaking of leather, the Pinot offering by Castle Rock Estate is something worthy of a fatty chew.
As with most Pinots, it’s the colour of an anaemic Cabernet. On the nose it’s mixed-tape of rhubarb, strawberry and a certain barnyardiness that gives all Pinots their allure.
Over the tongue, it’s got a deep sinewy feel. Something not unlike a fatty cheddar. But I’ll leave it at that. It’s racy with electric acidity but held into check with a good expressive fruit weight.
Well worth a try.
Go Great Southern*.
*if this was facebook, I’d like this.
Tags: 2008, Castle Rock Estate, Great Southern, Pinot Noir
Posted in Drink, General, Wine | No Comments »
November 23rd, 2009
It was in a sunday night and I wanted to have a bit of fun light-painting.
After a hectic week at work, it was supposed to be relaxing few hours up on the knoll of Kings Park.
Painting on a canvas of blackness with palette of light.
But unlike the beach, there are
1) lots of people
2) light spill from the city
3) murderous hordes of mozzies
4) lumpy grass that makes sticking a tripod to it ludicrously hard
5) murderous hordes of mozzies
6) candles that can’t fight the wind
7) and hunger pangs for hot chocolate at The Moon.
So I guess it didn’t work like how I intended.
Light painting fail.
But thank-you for all that were involved. You know who you were.
Posted in General, Observe, Photography | 2 Comments »
November 18th, 2009
It has become somewhat of a Perth institution that lead the way into opening up the now gilded King St. From what used to be warehouse storage and a no-go zone of Perth, the change has been, to use a sorrowful pun – dramatic.
King St Cafe AKA 44 King St, is a contemporary Australian menu with offerings from pizza to cous cous in a laid back atmosphere. It stares across the street at Tiffinay and Louis. Quite possibly the classiest street in Perth.
For ten years it’s been operating, churning out it’s own breads, roasting it’s own coffee and providing the people of Perth a friendly, artisanal experience.
Not a bad environment to be in, when you’re sipping to the cup of inspiration. The coffee is very well made and fruit toast is amazing.
Speaking of amazing, the wine list is probably one of the best in the state. Any (Australian) wine worth its salt you’ll find gracing the carte de vin.
The place is decked out with the functioning bakery at the back, mirroring the other side where a coffee roaster sits flanked with rows of roasted beans. It adds to the grass-roots feel of the place, the open air kitchen pushes further the theatre of food. You may stay longer than you had intended, for this is what happened on this particular day.
And if you were after a live performance of whatever takes your fancy, His Majesty’s it’s less than 30 meters away.
7am till Late every day
44 King St Perth
Take your time. Enjoy.
Tags: King St, Perth, Westende
Posted in Cafe, Coffee, Drink, Eat, Experience, Fusion | 1 Comment »
October 29th, 2009
I acknowledge it has been a while since the last small bar review because life seems to have its way of insisting to apply more attention to where it’s needed most.
So it was refreshing that to get back into a small bar late on a sunny afternoon in Fremantle.
Mrs Brown is the name. And she ain’t as boring as she sounds.
As the story goes Queen Victoria had a little thing for a Scottish servant called John Brown. Perhaps it was more than the companionship he offered or how he fiercely protected her. Either way, Vicky and John became something of an informal item, hence her name Mrs Brown. The location of the small bar (not the late monarch) is on Queen Victoria Street. The location of the bar is a good enough excuse for that name, I say.
You could be forgiven into thinking that this place brings back memories of The Stanley. In some ways it does.
There is a Flipside burger bar next door, and patrons are welcome to bring food over.
Even decor of the bar feels the same. Shabby-chic. Retro meets federation. Have a squiz at the portrait of Mrs Brown and spot the 10 modern elements. Check out the crazy welded lighting feature or play with the magnetic words. It’s mature-age fun.
Wines appear from across the international board, there is one tap beer and the rest are well selected bottles. A top range of spirits crown the shelves, Hendrick’s Gin appears to make an impromptu feature along the stairwell wall.
Grab a burger from next door, sit down with a G & T and watch the world blur by.
Mrs Brown
241 Queen Victoria Street
North Fremantle
P: 9336 1887
Monday to Saturday – open to midnight
Sunday – open to 10 pm.
Tags: Fremantle, Gin, Mrs Brown, Perth, Small Bar
Posted in Experience, Small Bar | 4 Comments »
