tuesday faves
Gino’s perfect tamagoyaki.
Tuesday faves isn’t going to be a regular thing – I just stuck on the Tuesday to make sure I would post it today. Apart from chronic procrastination, I’m blaming the lack of updates on the flu. Never mind the persistent cough, what really got me cranky was not being able to taste anything. It hit home hard that my life is driven solely by appetite.
Quite a few things have happened since the last post. I was on TV! Yes – TV! Along with Liz from Breakfast in Perth and Matt from Abstract Gourmet, I was interviewed by 7.30WA on a piece about food bloggers. It aired a couple of weeks ago and even though watching it makes me cringe, here it is. By the way, it wasn’t a ‘blogger’ impersonating Rob Broadfield. It was a reviewer on Urbanspoon (Rob Broadfeild), whose reviews deriding restaurants were really quite entertaining. (Everybody loves a good bitchin’!) Perhaps more entertaining than his correctly spelled namesake.
Left: Slow cooked egg on brioche with smoked salmon at West End Deli. This is the salmon that was ‘so good’ during the interview. *cringe* Right: High tea, somewhere in the northern suburbs…
There’s a lot of catching up to do – I have yet to tell you about a sweet, suburban high tea; we also visited the City Farm markets, plus had a fabulous dinner at The Prophet. I can still taste the labneh and mint. Yum. It was so good, we are going back in a couple of weeks! There’s also a fabulous lemon meringue cupcake recipe in the works (it’s from the Rockpool Bar & Grill cookbook – go and grab a copy from Big W now now now).
Lemon meringue cupcake.
There’s an article with my name attached to it in the current (November) issue of Feast. We were lucky enough to have dinner at Wabi Sabi Ryokan, a traditional Japanese retreat in Kalamunda. The kaiseki style dinner, served to staying guests, was amazing. Salmon fresh from the smoker, the best tamagoyaki ever and home made green tea ice cream were just some of the highlights from a very memorable meal.
Wabi Sabi’s tiny teahouse, groomed Japanese garden and Edo style architecture, plus the food, form a meditative cocoon. You really do feel transported to another world. Owners Adele and Gino Stevely are so passionate (Gino is a total firecracker!) From the ornate crockery to the incense burners, their attention to detail is exquisite. So if you have any Japanophile friends, a stay at Wabi Sabi Ryokan would really knock their socks off.
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Whilst sick, I did a lot of online reading. Here are some favourite picks.
~ Apparently TWG Tea Company *maybe* coming to Perth. The brand TWG is quite famous in Singapore, serving brews of premium tea and afternoon teas. However, I can’t help but see the resemblance to the older, and let’s face it, the original, Mariage Frères. From the uncannily similar shops to the yellow and black packaging – it’s a copycat without the fabulous heritage.
~ It was love at first sight – Williams-Sonoma have collaborated with All Clad to make the waffle maker of my dreams. It has it all: deep waffle pockets, spillage tray and handsome exterior. Le sigh.
~ Remember the no knead bread proliferation? 8 Great Recipe Memes that Rocked the Internet.
~ Being sick means a reading a lot of food blogs. I’m currently crushing on we love perth, stove top revolution, orangette (permanent crush) and la buena vida (gorgeous photos).
~ It’s been too long between public holidays. I can’t wait till CHOGM long weekend. Long weekends mean barbecues and barbecues mean salads. I want to make this: Jean-Georges Roasted Corn with Machego & Lime.
~ We had a quick lunch at Modo Mio the other day and their mains are fantastic. The cuttlefish ink risotto is lick-the-plate delicious. P’tit Ardoise and Petit Mort are also on our hit list. (Despite their names, they are unrelated. Ardoise means blackboard. Petit mort – the little death – is fainting at the height of orgasm. Yes, you read right.)
~ The ability to eat in a restaurant, let alone blog about it, is a first world privilege. Dinesmart, an initiative to raise funds for homelessness is launching in WA. Participating restaurants will be asking patrons to add $2 to their bill and all donations will go to homelessness projects. If you have the opportunity, please donate.
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| {8 comments} |
Ooh, can’t wait to find out more about that high tea. Everything looks so cute!
Josie – Hey Josie, I think that high tea post will be posted soon. That red velvet whoopie pie was something to write home about. Thanks for dropping by. x
Great to hear what you have been up to recently! Wabi Sabi Ryokan sounds and looks incredible. I’m interested in staying there! A Japanese guesthouse in Kalamunda, who would have thought?!
The ABC segment was interesting as well!
I’m with Josie, can’t wait to see where that fabulous looking High Tea is. My family and I use your blog as a guide to Perth, we have had breakfast at Mrs S (wow, wow, wow!), High Tea’s at various eateries (thanks for THOSE 5 kilo’s!) and various other finds…we are loving your site and look forward to your posts each month!
Food sponge – The guest house is literally a minute from Kalamunda town center. If you do end up staying there, ask Gino if he can accommodate a traditional tea ceremony. He’s actually formally qualified for it and most of the time, he performs the ceremony with his sensei, a little old Japanese lady. Thanks for dropping by food sponge! Keep blogging!
Kitty – 5 KILOS only! If only I was so lucky! That high tea was indeed fabulous. Aw, I’m glad you like the blog, it’s nice to know someone out there is reading! :) I really appreciate your comment and happy eating!
Hi Mei!
Thanks so much for linking to Stovetop Revolution! Just wandered over to your blog, it’s lovely :)
Sophie
Sophie – My pleasure! :D
Reminiscent of afternoon teas at a Mariage Frères salon de thé or a soothing tisane in a quaint little courtyard off busy Rue Dauphine in the 6th… watching the yummy mummys sipping tea whilst their au pairs run after the kids!