My cravings for proper
Also, if it is true, a little bird has told me that another branch will be opening in Carousel Mall in Cannington. True or False? Only time will tell. Thanks for the invite PappaRich Northbridge.
A boy goes Perth story! Finds good Perth food. Essentially, a Perth Food Blog. - no longer active!
Over the weekends, my friends and I decided to meet up over dinner with Brika capturing our mind instantly. Set in the fringes of Northbridge, Brika has a lovely eating space that can get quite cozy for two if quiet. But considering the intent of festivity most people have in mind with alcohol, it is almost never. The eating style is communal and for our chirpy group of 7 this was a perfect spot. Fans might even liken it to Duende, Cantina 663, and Old Crow.The way we started was very typical of the cuisine in the region. We skipped the cured meats and olives but feasted on dips like the Tatziki, $7 (cucumber, garlic & yoghurt) and the Taramasalata, $8 (mullet roe dip). Both of which were rather good with the warmed Pita slices, $4 for a serve of 6. The way the dips were prepared were rather unconventional with the dips having more bulk than having a runny consistency. This almost made the Pita and dips a meal of its own. If only the Taramasalata was not so salty.
Next up was the Spanakopita ($14). Prepared in an unconventional way, this felt like the Greek’s rendition of the Asian Spring Rolls except for its filling which consisted of spinach, leek and a variety of cheeses. Each bite into these little pastries were greeted with a crunch followed by layers of flavors derived from the mixture of spinach and cheese. The leak though, was less obvious and almost felt non-existent at time. This was pretty yums but everyone one found this a little salty.
The next deep one were the Kolokithakia or Zucchini Fritters ($8), another house favourite according to the waitress. Comparing this to the Spanakopita, I preferred this one more. Who knew that Zucchini could ever taste so good!? Flavors were well balanced, and felt fresh despite being deep fried. After having this, I would rather put a Zucchini in the hands of a Brika chef rather than any other chef. These were just yummy!
Next up was the Saganaki ($12) which was a serve of pan fried cheese. Perceived as a Haloumi on first sight, it turned out to be another type of cheese called the Kefalograviera. It had a beautiful crust but a much saltier consistency. The many serves of Pita which I ordered definitely played a crucial role in us finishing the two serves of cheese which I mistook to be something else. To be honest, my vocabulary was ridiculed as I scanned the small plate dishes on the menu that I simply ordered two serves of almost everything haha. Slightly chewy with a hit of saltiness in each bite followed by a mild acidity from the lemon. A man once said that if you prepare something simple, it had to be spot on. I am not sure how spot on pan-fried cheese can be. Perhaps this is too simple? Maybe a herb spice blend to top it all?
Whilst the shared plates were a mixed bag ranging from yummy to OK, I was really chuffed with my choice of meat for the night. I chose the lamb which was absolutely moorish. The seasoning used kept the dish very basic. Salt, pepper and to finish, a sprinkling of herbs. Essentially, it was all about celebrating the piece of quality meat on the plate. Slow cooked to perfection, it fell off the bone effortlessly. Every tiny scrape with the fork is guaranteed to tear the tender flesh apart. Such joy!
This was the other dish of octopus we ordered. At first sight, it felt like the perfect way to celebrate the protein. Sitting on the plate, it looked plump and well-charred on its edges. To put it simply, it looked sensational all around. However, it was only halfway there for me. Yes the octopus was very tender and juicy, but there beautiful smoky flavors to complement the charred edges was missing. I expected a stronger hint of smokiness and a mild crunch, the same one I get from Kanta every time I go there. I do not know is whether a modern grill or a charcoal grill was used to prepare this dish but one thing I know for sure is that a conventional charcoal grill is hard to beat when it comes to flavors. To sum it all, it was rather pedestrian. Whilst we had many others that night, I was lazy to snap a photo of everything. The fish was pretty decent and so were the sausages. As for the prawn dish, it came in a rich tomato braise that was moreish with the Pita! The quantity of the prawns though, were rather questionable. All in all, the meal at Brika was satisfying although it does not quite reach my Nirvana just yet. I see great potential in Brika and with its already large fan base, I have no doubt that the quality Brika brings will be more than enough for most.
As for the price, it cost us just $250 for a group of 7 without drinks. This includes 3 pitas, 3 dips, 6 shared plate and 7 serves of meat. Bloody hell this was by all means great value for Perth. Very very good in fact! One more thing to love is the ease of parking. Unlike the stupid central Northbridge/Perth, the parking at Brika is easy and boy that is a massive plus point. Ask yourself this question, how many times have you been 20 minutes early to a dinner only to be 10 minutes late thanks to the horrendous parking?
To end, I want to say that creativity like happiness can be something viral. The rise of food entrepreneurs in Perth is in full force over the last two years. This has paved the way for many food vans, festivals and eateries. Such is the story of Brika, the result of people who dare bring paper concepts to reality. And boy I am thankful.
WenY
Establishing itself as one of the pioneers of Contemporary Japanese food, Bonsai has always gotten my fancy for a place that keeps your buds interested without punching a hole in the wallet. True enough, the banquet which saw us have 10 appetizers and a main each only cost $49 bucks and with the Entertainment Book, you can get a further 25% discount. Hospitality never strays too far their practice as the supervisor, a cool looking bald-headed guy ensured that our no-prawn and no-crab dietary requirements were met. Water was always brought to the table and the waitresses despite serving a massive crowd of people never failed to put up a smile.
The night started with our favourite Chicken Salad topped with crisp wanton skins. Delicious chicken and as mentioned before, can salad even be that tasty? Mind boggling. We also had a substantial Beef Tataki well drenched in the citrus ponzu that suited the palate before moving on to a refreshing Salmon Sashimi Bites. A delicious salmon tartare dressed with aioli on a mildly bitter-ish witloaf. Good balance of flavors and textures with a refreshing bite. Then comes the lovely Salmon Aburi Nigiri. Another table favourite. I have always loved my oily fish on a charcoal grill or blowtorched a little bit. The oils when heated gives out that delicious smoky smell and the protein becomes buttery. Topped with a in-house miso, booms!Pic (clockwise): Boys be Boys, Crispy Chicken Salad with Wanton Skins, Tempura Baby Squid, Salmon Aburi Nigiri, Salmon Sashimi Bites
For most parts, our crabs and prawn dishes were swapped into a squid dish. Deep-fried in a spicy batter or a tempura one, they were exceptionally moorish. Even XL who tends to stray from squid had a bite and found that they were actually really tasty!
Pick (clockwise): Teri-Steak, Pork Belly Kakuni, 2-Style Fried Chicken, Teriyaki Toothfish, Yv and the Boys, Spicy Cuttlefish, and Jimmy with the girls (middle)The mains made no less of a good impression than the appetizers. If anything felt lackluster at all, it was probably the chicken Katsu/Kaarage combo which felt a little underwhelming after having all the deep fried goodies during the appetizer! However, for one down, we had three joys. For instance, the beef teriyaki is a classic favourite still resisting the change of time. Since my first visit to Bonsai a few years back, this yummy steak in a garlicky butter teriyaki sauce have impressed. It still does really as Jim who repetitively mentioned throughout the night “This sauce is so good. I wonder how they make it”. Then we have the toothfish which was cooked to perfection. Another stunner with the skin still mildly crisp when it first reach the table. Lastly, the pork belly kakuni! A delightful soy sauce pork that when accompanied by rice, felt like a match in heaven. While it could do with more time in the cooker, nobody was complaining.
The meal at Bonsai was no less satisfying than the meal we had there last year or earlier this year. Its flavors, presentation, and service did not fail us that night. Seems like an exaggeration but when you realize how little $50 buys you in Perth, you tend to be more than satisfied. If there was any regrets at all that night, it was probably the missing chocolate cake that Yv, Nee, XL and I love so much. Perhaps better luck next time? :)
WenY
“Kitchen! More chips please!” shouted the man serving us. At 12 o’clock, its crowd was busier than ever. A new eatery has sprung up in the quieter end of Northbridge near my former workplace. From the outside it just looks sensational. Its monotone interior of black and white is very modern and inviting. More importantly, the prices are quite affordable for the gourmet salads and roasts that looked rather healthy. For between $12-14 you could get a meat of the bain-marie with 2 sides which includes a variety of salad and chips!
But can the food sitting under the scorching food lamp maintain delicious as the restaurant serves crowds of different times? That was what my ex-colleagues and I were about to find out.The chicken schnitzel ($12.50) topped with gravy came with a side of chips and steamed vegetables. For me the chicken was just yummy. It was still crunchy and its batter was more than just flour. It had various herbs which made it a tantalizing bite. The chips were pedestrian and for most parts could do with an extra pinch of salt. As for the steamed vegetables, the cauliflower florets and carrots were cooked spot on but the broccoli flowers were very mushy. To the extent that my friends felt that it was squirting out buttery fluid.
We also had another one called the Peri Peri Nice Chicken.The chicken here was a little below par compared to the schnitzel. I suspect that the chicken was a little over-roasted and having it sit under the heat lamp for so long only meant that it was still cooking while waiting to be eaten. The sides we choice were similar to the one we had with the schnitzel.
The pulled beef with chips and Greek salad.This one had decent consistency, not melt in your mouth but still soft and tender. But for me, one of the beauties of pull pork is how the meat absorbs all the lovely juices and marinade that it is cooked in. This one here could do definitely with more flavor.
Looking at the food on the bain-marie. It was all a little bit of a hit and a miss. I loved the schnitzel but desired less of the Peri-Peri Chicken. As for the pulled beef, that would probably fit better on the $9.50 roll option done with philly cheese, salt n’ pepper. We also ordered a crispy pork belly which was actually pretty damn good. But then, why would I eat here again if it is like any other take away? That is because it is not like any other take-away. As my friends and I were dissatisfied with the options on the bain-marie, we decided to call something else to share. This time around, we ordered a $17 open-steak sandwich from the kitchen. Here it was simple. You get a delicious and hearty slab of scotch fillet cooked to medium with crispy bacon. Definitely one of the crispiest in town. Caramelised onions and barbecue sauce finished the sandwich with a bang. Chips came out warmer as the lunch crowd had dispersed and we were one the last groups left. From this humble sandwich, we all agreed that things are better when made fresh from the kitchen, not things cooked prior and left out to dry. With a range of burgers and food cooked fresh to order like the steak sandwich, chicken parmi and salmon, the premium paid over the typical lunch fare is definitely worth the extra buck!
For this reason alone, if you work in Northbridge but find crossing over to the city too much of a hassle, drop by The Cutting Board Eat House to try their food! But beware, Jus Burgers is just around the corner. I have not found many burgers that can beat Jus Burgers.
WenY
A small parcel of land can only fit so many good restaurants from my experience. In Vic Park, we see A Spicy Affair serving delicious curries alongside the Prophet’s Lebanese cuisine with V Burger just opposite. In North Perth, Nine Fine Food is just beside Nahm Thai and just around the corner, Sayers Sister. Its older restaurant Sayers is definitely one of the best in the brunch business. But is it’s younger sibling Sayers Sister's any good? Coming in at 11am, we had to put up with a 45 minute wait. Ordering at the counter, we waited for another 45 minutes for the food to come out. They were clearly a favourite among the locals. But with a wait that long, my expectations were high.
Ed’s Bubble and Squeak @ $19This came arranged perfectly with a thick bacon steak at the bottom topped with poached eggs, wilted spinach, potato cake and hollandaise. Whilst he enjoyed this for most parts, his comment as a “typical diner” was that perhaps the thick bacon cut made the dish saltier than what he would have liked.
My pick was the Lemon Myrtle & mustard seed enoki, button, field, brown & oyster mushrooms, Bacon & fried egg on toasted brioche & fig chutney (I think it was fig)The flavors here worked for me. Brioche, and the perfectly cooked mushrooms with a whiff of lemon myrtle went nicely with the salty bacon and a hint of sweetness from the chutney. But I think I would have liked poached eggs with this one. A runny yolk would have wrapped the whole dish up nicely as it blends the flavors together more nicely. Then again, that is just a personal preference. But for $18.50, this was quite a steal! So much technicality for a small price tag.
XL ordered the Buttermilk Pancakes with Caramelized Banana $16.50.For $16.50, the pancakes were humungous. And I would be extremely happy if they were executed. But on a busy Sunday morning, these pancakes were stodgy as hell with the inside feeling sticky from uncooked batter. When I asked, the waitress said the syrup have sipped in… I am not much of a blogger if I fell for that right? I can immediately tell that the Sunday rush has got to them. Even the bananas were coated in slightly gritty coating, not the beautiful caramelization I expected. Not the best and I immediately got a refund. I looked around the internet to see the picture of people’s pancakes here … none looked as crappy as the one she was served. Disappointing. Very.
Paying a 1.5 hour wait for decently cooked breakfast it quite a put off especially when all you wanted is a smooth sailing Sunday. But I have to commend the efforts of the staff to keep diners away from hunger with the free muffins. The service here was poor on a Sunday and so would be a Saturday. For many reasons, I feel that the café is a let down due to its inability to serve the crowd. But come any other day and you will be blow away. So maybe next time I will either be first in or a week day. For now, it will be Sayers.
WenY