Bites: The Cutting Board Eat House

“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

Bites: Toastface Grillah @ Grand Lane, Perth

Toasties, a childhood classic most often associated with crunchy bread, gooey cheese and sometimes, the fabulous fillings that taste so much better piping hot than cold.  While most Australians love vegemite, mine is the chili tuna haha.  In Perth, a new cult following dedicated to toasties had led to a craze that drive people to Toastface Grillah.  Obscurely located in an  back alley, this hidden eatery does not find people but instead people find them.  So how does a shop with a single sandwich press, recycled looking furniture and bread drive droves of people to their little eatery? I wonder!

 

The blade wall, is a toastie.  All bling with gold chains on one hand and the uzi on the other, this very much blends in with the music that plays in this eatery.  Its not really hipster-esque but rap.

 

Décor is nothing more than a few pillows, random wooden benches and stools.  Definitely feels like a place cool enough to hangout!  Over toasties if anyone is keen? haha.

 

As we got in, we got served real friendly and my mate were thrown by their coffee prices that were totally whack.  $3 espresso and a large coffee for $4.  That is a bargain.Flavor wise, apparently decent coffee but a little stingy on the cocoa for the cappuccino.  I am no coffee drinker so I shall abstain from commenting :P!  Comments were from AC and Bel :)!

 

Between the few of us, we shared four toasties!Pear Grillz @ $9 was  blue cheese, pear and lime chutney sandwiched between two cinnamon toast.  Lightly burnt cinnamon flavor was yummy but blue cheese was a little underwhelming.  When I order blue cheese, the flavors has got to be SLAM. Not mediocre.  I love cheese and this for me was a little disappointing.  But hey, good attempt!

 

Chili and Cheese @ $7; cheddar, paprika and chiliChili and cheese? Match made in heaven.  With bread?  I will give it a try.  This was a pretty damn good bite.  I loved how the paprika added a little smokiness to the salty cheddar.  The chilies will definitely be potent for most.  But I could probably go up one notch.  Especially when it is tasty :)!  What not to expect though is some fancy chili bean filling.  This here is a simple pleasure my friend

 

Apple & Gouda @ $8; gouda, ham, onion and appleAs much far as I know, the gouda is those big yellow barrels in the supermarket!  This Dutch cheese was good but for me, the highlight here was the subtle onion aroma this toastie emits even before taking a bite!  This was actually pretty nice.  But is it the best?  Definitely not.

 

Danny Zuccho @ $9; brie, zucchini, prosciutto This for us was THE crowd pleaser.  The brie had the typical flavors without any hard rind bits.  This was joy to the mouth!  What made this a standout was the prosciutto.  It had a distinct flavor which sets it apart from the typical ham.   It is slightly salty yet sweet in its own way and was paired perfectly with the creamy brie.  Zucchini for me added bulk which was nice but definitely not something I would consider refreshing.  Yums :)!

 

Toastface Grillah despite being the new kid on the block has rose to fame with its motivation to serve simple pleasure food.  Affordable coffee here is a plus but that does not make up for its pricey toasties haha.  For me, its hits were definitely more than misses.  In fact, almost no misses were spotted.  Displeasures were merely fixable flaws due to quantity judgment.  Would I come here again is definitely a question that needs answering.  My visit here today was one of curiosity and hype.  I would not pledge my loyalty to toasties but when a craving kicks in, everyone knows that the only cure to one is to satisfy it.  This instance is such that will get me back here for sure.  Its gooey cheese, delicious filling makes it hard to deny.  For me, holding a hot toastie on winter is like a portable ramen.  Minus the noodles and the amount but every bit as hearty to fight the winter gloom!

 

WenY

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