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New Places To Eat In Perth 2014

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9 January 2015

The past year has seen the opening of many new places to eat in Perth. From restaurants to cafes, and bars to uncategorised “eateries” the options have never been more plentiful. I visited in December and, armed with a list of the best of the best, tried to fit in as many as I could. Here’s a run-down of all the places I managed to try, plus the ones on my list that I wasn’t able to get to that are, according to people whose opinion I trust, well worth checking out.

For a guide to some of Perth’s hottest new bars, many of which also serve great food, check out this list New Bars In Perth 2014.

The Flour Factory

Housed in the space formerly occupied by Venn, the Flour Factory is the latest venue to be opened by Andrew Freeman, the man behind recent openings Varnish on King and Darlings Supper Club.

The interior looks relatively unchanged from when it was Venn, with a variety of upstairs, downstairs and outdoor spaces however the offering is quite different, with a strong focus on food as well as drinks. There are a wide range of house cured meats, cheese and some rather impressive looking hot dogs on the menu however I ordered what it was that brought me here in the first place, which was the pig’s head bacon and “lambcetta” with a hard cheese to match. Neither of them disappointed – I think I could have spent my entire week in Perth just eating these two things.

I didn’t order anything to drink, the cocktail menu and wine list looked very decent – I can how this place works well as both a cafe/restaurant and bar.

The Flour Factory

16 Queen Street
Perth
Western Australia 6000
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9485 1711
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://theflourfactory.com//

Open
Mon – Fri: 7:00am to 12:00am
Sat – Sun: 4:00pm to 12:00am

Propeller

Hamish Fleming and Siobhan Blumann seem to be opening a new place in Perth every other day, with Propeller being the newest addition to their portfolio of venues across the city (Mechanics Institute, Flipside, The Dominon League to name a few). Propeller is located at the site of the former North Fremantle Town hall, and contains a restaurant section as well as an outdoor cafe/bar operating outside of a re-purposed sea container. I really enjoyed sitting outside and breathing in the fresh Freo sea air.

The food is Lebanese inspired with a variety of other influences dotted around. The food is designed for sharing and, as I visited with my family we had the benefit of being able to try a variety of things on the menu. The pizzas were brilliant with perfectly thin, crispy wood-fired bases topped with just the right amount of ingredients. The highlights of the menu were undoubtedly the pizzas and Lebanese inspired dishes, with some of the other options falling a bit flat. It’s still early days with Propeller only having opened in December, and I have no doubt based on my visit there that they’ll settle into their groove and become a reliable fixture in this part of town.

My tip is to get the eggplant pizza and the quail eggs – simply divine.

Propeller

222 Queen Victoria Street
North Fremantle
Western Australia 6159
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9335 9366
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://propellernorthfreo.com.au/

Open
Wed – Fri: 11:00am to 10:00pm
Sat – Sun: 7:00am to 10:00pm

Bread In Common

Nic Trimboli’s Bread in Common has been around for over a year now so is not strictly “new” in the true sense of the word however despite trying their excellent wood fired sourdough bread I’d not eaten in before and was happy to finally get the chance to visit on my last day in Perth. Housed in a quite large old brick warehouse, there’s a lot of character to the space – a very long bar, long wooden communal tables, hanging lights. exposed brick all great a great atmosphere.

Food wise, it’s modern Australian cooking with a focus on quality ingredients. I had the duck fat roasted potatoes and shared two of the desserts – the flourless chocolate cake with crushed Oreos and berries as well as the peanut mousse with chocolate brownie ice cream and raspberry gel. The desserts weren’t cheap, but they were positively delicious. I’ll definitely be returning for a full meal next time I’m in town.

Bread In Common

43 Packenham Street
Fremantle
Western Australia 6160
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9336 1032
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.breadincommon.com.au/

Open
Mon – Thu: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Fri – Sat: 9:00am to late
Sun: 9:00am to 10:00pm

Hylin

Owner Josh McGinnity was an architect before he decided to open up his own cafe and his influences in designing the place, namely New York City’s High Line is very evident from the moment you walk in. New materials mix with old, the small space is used very wisely and there’s a lot of natural sunlight.

The menu contains a small selection of breakfast and lunch options, along with a variety of rotating daily choice also on offer. Coffee beans come from Fremantle’s Micrology Coffee Roasters and the coffees here are perfect. Service is sharp and there’s a really laid back, causal vibe about the place, which is fitting of the area.

Hylin

178 Railway Parade
West Leederville
Western Australia 6007
Australia

Telephone: 0401 815 804
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.hylin.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sat: 6:30am to 3:00pm

La Veen

Another place that’s been open for the best part of a year (with the people behind it being set up in Subiaco for a few years prior), La Veen has what I’d consider the best range of coffee available in Perth. Walk through the front doors and you’ll immediately be faced with what is the largest Synesso espresso machine I’ve ever seen – the thing has 5 group heads and take up almost the entire bench! I asked for an explanation of the beans on offer with some of the filters and was responded to with some really in depth tasting notes and facts on the origin of each bean. Clearly they team here really know their stuff and the cold drip that I got was really tasty.

A focused selection of breakfast and lunch options are also offered. I didn’t eat, but peeking at what was in front of those around me while seated at a bench watching the world go by I’ll say that the food did look decent.

La Veen

90 King Street
Perth
Western Australia 6000
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9321 1188
Email: n/a
Website: http://laveencoffee.com.au/

Open
Mon – Fri: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Sat: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Sun: 9:00am to 3:00pm

No Mafia

The first of the places that were on my list that I wasn’t able to try, No Mafia was unfortunately closed when I went to check it out on Boxing Day which was a shame as I was really keen to try their modern take on simple southern Italian cooking which I had heard good things about. Occupying the space that formerly housed Jus Burgers, the team behind Vic Park’s “The Precinct”, the first thing one notices about this small space is the motto “no pizza, no pasta”. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love a good pizza or pasta dish but it’s really refreshing to see place put the spotlight on other things that a region’s cuisine has to offer.

Rustic food, quality ingredients, great wine – sound like a good thing to me.

No Mafia

Shop 11, 189 William Street
Northbridge
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: n/a
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nomafia.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sat: 10:00am to late
Sun: 10:00am to 10:00pm

Habitue

Habitue is yet another new place to eat in Perth that’s opened in the little hub that’s growing in North Fremantle. It’s a Mediterranean restaurant set in an old weatherboard cottage. This creates a casual setting in which to eat the fresh, seasonal food that’s designed to share. The fact that there’s live jazz on Sunday afternoons makes the package sound even more enticing. I didn’t get around to trying it while I was over but it remains on the list for next time.

Habitue

1 Harvest Road
North Fremantle
Western Australia 6159
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9336 1265
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.habituerestaurant.com.au/

Open
Tue – Sat: 5:00pm to 11:00pm

Sprolo

I first got wind of Sprolo when some rather enticing photos started appearing on my Instagram feed a few months back. A “traditional Singaporean” breakfast with house made Kaya jam you say? A Nuttella brownie with espresso caramel and ice cream you say? A few months down the track it became apparent that the food and service lived up to the promise of the photos and I knew I had to visit. Time got the best of me while I was over so unfortunately I didn’t make it to Sprolo but it’s still on my list, and I know exactly what I want to order next time I’m in town.

Sprolo

138 Canning Highway
South Perth
Western Australia 6151
Australia

Telephone: 0401 625 134
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sprolo.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sat: 7:00am to 4:00pm

St Michael 6003

Another new place to eat in Perth that I wasn’t able to check out this time around was St Michael 6003, which is housed in the space formerly occupied by Perth institution Jacksons. Owners Scott O’Sullivan and Tod Stuart have converted the space into something very casual. The food is modern Australian with a focus on technique and high quality local, seasonal ingredients. Causal, small plate food at this level is something that’s become very popular in Melbourne over the past few years and it’s great to see Perth getting on board with the idea – it really does make eating great food so much more fun because you get to try more things. I look forward to eating here the next time I’m in town.

St Michael 6003

483 Beaufort Street
Highgate
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9328 1177
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://stmichael6003.com.au/

Open
Wed – Thu: 5:00pm to late
Fri – Sun: 10:30am to 2:30pm; 5:00pm to late

The Bomb & Hiroshima Today

Japan
Travel

Paul

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8 January 2015

2

Hiroshima. Arriving in the city by rail on a day trip out of Osaka I’ll admit that the sum total of my knowledge about the city was that the atomic bomb (“a-bomb”) dropped here in World War II. While I was very interested in the history surrounding this, I also wanted to get an impression of Hiroshima today, or at least as much of an impression as one can get in a single day.

What draws most tourists to Hiroshima are the historical sites, monuments and museum related to the a-bomb. They are contained in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is where the a-bomb was detonated in the centre of Hiroshima, the area formerly being a busy commercial and residential part of the city. Many of the striking monuments, including the museum were designed by Japanese architect Tange Kenzo.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dōmu) or “A-bomb Dome” was, at the time of the explosion, used as an exhibition hall. It was located only 160 meters from they hypocentre of the bomb and was the only building in the area to survive the explosion. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

One of the first things I wondered was “how is Hiroshima a safe metropolis of 1.6 million when most of Chernobyl is, unsafe for human habitation?”. The answer to that question is actually quite simple.

The a-bomb that was detonated over Hiroshima, Little Boy, contained 64 kilograms of uranium. The Chernobyl reactors contained 180 tonnes of nuclear fuel.
Only 0.91 kilograms of Little Boy’s uranium reacted and became nuclear, as opposed to 7 tonnes of nuclear fuel which reacted and was released into the atmosphere.
Little Boy was detonated 600 metres above the earth’s surface, meaning the radioactive debris was dispersed by the mushroom cloud. In Chernobyl, the explosion occurred at ground level, causing the soil to become radioactive.

A statue at the base of the Memorial Tower to the Mobilised Students.

The long, low-standing structure in the background is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It’s a striking building, completed in 1955 and contains several exhibits related to the a-bomb and the immediate and long term effects on Hiroshima and the victims, including several items that belonged to victims of the bombing. The focus isn’t on the war itself, but rather on nuclear science, the immediate devastation and aftermath of nuclear war and the promotion of peace. Some of the tales and first hand recollections are quite harrowing.

The Children’s Peace Monument is dedicated to Sadako Sasaki and the child victims of the bombing. Sadako Sadaki was a student who was aged 2 when the bombing occurred. In 1954 she was diagnosed with leukaemia and made it her goal to try and fold 1,000 paper cranes while in hospital, folklore claiming that if one could fold 1,000 paper cranes they would be granted a wish. She died on 25 October 1955 and to this day remains a symbol of peace and the impact of nuclear war.

This photo was taken underneath the “Flame of Peace” with the Peace Memorial Museum and Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims in the background. The Flame of Peace has burned continuously since it was lit in 1964, to be extinguished only when all nuclear bombs on Earth have been destroyed.

The Rest House is a building on the outskirts of Hiroshima Peace Park that survived the bombing. A man, Eizo Nomura, was in the basement of this building at the time of the bombing. He survived the blast and went on to live into his 80s.

I am aware of the differences in the way that Japan and Germany have confronted their roles in World War II and those differences were apparent when I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. When I visited the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg, the permanent exhibition “Fascination and Terror” dealt with the causes, connections, and consequences of National Socialism and there was a very frank discussion of Germany’s role in the war that occurred throughout. A lot of time is given to trying to figure out how it could have all happened when, at the end of the day, the vast majority of Germans living during World War II were decent minded people.

I walked away under no illusions as to Germany’s acceptance of the role it played during the war and fact that they are deeply regretful about it.

In Hiroshima the focus is, as I discussed earlier, on nuclear science, the immediate devastation and aftermath of nuclear war and the promotion of peace, along with the desire to eliminate all nuclear weapons from the world. The question of why this happened in the first place is avoided, and there is very little to no recognition of the role that Japan played in the war.

Moving away from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and into the streets of the city itself, one of the most obvious consequences of the bombing is that everything is quite modern, with most of the buildings being built post 1945 during the reconstruction of the city.

A lot of this kind of architecture can be seen around Hiroshima. If you are interested in 1950s and 1960s architecture there’s a lot to see.

Another very noticeable thing in Hiroshima is the presence of covered shopping streets – something that I saw quite a lot of in Osaka and Kyoto too.

Food wise, there was only one thing I was ever going to eat in Hiroshima and that was Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake-like dish that contains a mixture of ingredients in a batter. Where Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki differs from the more common Osaka style is that the ingredients are layered, rather than mixed, there’s a lot more cabbage and noodles are used as a topping. I also noticed that mayonnaise wasn’t used here.

I’m a big fan of okonomiyaki and the Hiroshima version of the dish didn’t disappoint. The crispy noodles really added another dimension to it.

There are no shortage of hole in the wall bars and shops dotted around Hiroshima. I was looking for a record store, any record store and saw a sign outside of a building down a side street that indicated there was a record shop on the 4th floor. My friends and I went upstairs and found this place, which was only about twice the size of what you can see in the photo. To the left were a number of punk and rock CDs and Vinyl records for sale and, at the bar there were a handful of alcoholic drinks available, plus Japanese curry. When the owner realised that we were Australian, he put on the album “Back In Black” by AC/DC. I later found out that Hiroshima has quite a vibrant independent live music scene, and actually got an LP from a local punk rock band.

One of the things that I love most about Japan is that these multi-purpose tiny venues can be found all over the place. Got an idea for a shop, bar, restaurant or any combination of anything and a space that you can put it in? Go for it. I wish that it was as easy to do this sort of thing in Australia.

To end the day, we stumbled across one of the few craft beer pubs in Hiroshima “Raku”, which had a decent selection of Japanese craft beers on tap, including some specific to this part of Japan that I hadn’t seen before.

Raku also has 2 hand pumps. I’ve had the Yona Yona Ale before, but on hand pump “real Ale” style it took on a much smoother, cleaner taste. Highly recommended if you ever find it on a hand pump.

I only spent one day in Hiroshima and came away very impressed. The historical, a-bomb related things are well worth visiting and it’s a really fun city to walk around. I only wish that I had an extra day to explore because if the few places that I discovered while walking around in the afternoon were anything to go by, Hiroshima seems like it would be a really fun city to get under the surface of with lots of independent shops, bars and food spots.

Pearl Barley & Whisky Butter Mushrooms: Recipe

Paul

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6 January 2015

4

This recipe for pearl barley & whisky butter mushrooms will make the most hardened of carnivores question the idea that every meal requires a meat component. They taste great, have a good, dense texture to them and are really filling. You can eat a few of these as a main, or serve one as a side to accompany another meal. You could make it healthier by removing the whisky butter component but do you really want to do that…?

Preparation Time: 15 minutes / Cooking Time: 15 minutes / Serves 2

Ingredients

6 portobello (or similar) mushrooms
30ml whiskey
20g unsalted butter, softened
150g pearl barley
50g feta cheese
½ lemon, juiced
rind of 1 preserved lemon, finely sliced
½ tsp (2.5g) fresh dill, finely chopped
a handful of fresh flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
12 sprigs fresh thyme
½ brown onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 birds eye chilli, seeded and finely chopped
2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Method

Cook the pearl barley as per the instructions on the packet.
Preheat your oven to 200°C fan forced
Remove the stalks from the mushrooms. Dice the stalks and set aside.
Place the mushrooms heads stalk side up onto a tray lined with baking paper.
In a bowl, mix together the softened butter and whiskey. Once combined, place the mixture evenly across all of the mushroom heads.
Sprinkle the mushroom heads with the leaves of 4 thyme sprigs and bake for 10-15 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.
In a bowl combine the mushroom stalks, barley, feta cheese, preserved lemon, thyme, dill, chilli, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil and set aside.
Heat some oil in a frying pan and add the onion and garlic. Fry the onions until they become translucent. Remove from the head and transfer into the bowl containing the barley.
Add salt and pepper to taste and divide the mixture evenly across each mushroom.
Eat now, or put into the fridge and eat cold later – either way it tastes great.

Notes

If you’re adverse to alcohol you could just use butter without the whisky. It won’t taste quite as good, but will still be tasty – add a pinch of sugar to the melted butter for some sweetness.

Interview With Gavin Bellinger, Owner of Double Double

Travel

Paul

-

5 January 2015

6

When I was in Perth I had the opportunity to catch up with Gavin Bellinger, a friend of mine and owner of cafe turned small bar Double Double in Subiaco. Gavin is the perfect example of the new breed of small bar owner in Perth – a guy who quit his day job and backed himself to follow his dream of owning a small bar, the kind of place him and his mates would like to hang out in. I was keen to hear Gavin’s thoughts on opening running a small bar in Perth and here’s what he had to say.

You’re winding down after a long day. What’s your drink of choice?

I am a big fan of ginger beer during the summer, simply garnished with a couple of lime wedges and some crushed ice.

What rum based cocktail do people need to be drinking now?

I’m really enjoying a cocktail that I give to people who come into Double Double and tell me that they don’t like rum. It’s called “My Pet Squid” and contains Kraken Rum, peach and pineapple. It’s delicious and converts even the most ardent detractors.

Perth’s small bar scene has changed immensely over the past few years. What do you predict for 2015?

I sense that there will be a bit of a shift away from the CBD and Northbridge, with more suburban “local” bars popping up around Perth. I think that Perth’s bar scene has reached that level of maturity and is ready for that next level of diversity. Drink wise, we’ve seen rum slowly become more popular as 2014 has come to a close and I see people really getting into experiencing the diversity that rum has to offer in 2015.

I know you had some difficulties with red tape when it came to getting the license for Double Double extended. What changes would you like to see made to Perth’s liquor licensing laws?

There is a lot of double dipping between the rules and regulations of local councils and the Department of Racing, Gaming & Liquor (“Department”), which really drags out the process. Also once the assessment of a new/amended license begins there is no contact between the applicant and the Department no matter how hard you try and what your individual circumstances might be. It is a very long, complicated and frustrating process that could very easily be streamlined and simplified – applicants would get their applications processed faster and cheaper and the Department and local councils would save on administration costs.

What was your favourite new bar of 2014?

Either The Dominion League (downstairs) or Sneaky Tony’s. Both great bars that have really helped elevate the small bar scene in Perth.

I’ve heard rumours that you’ve got something big planned for 2015. Can you tell us more?

I don’t want to give too much away yet but yes, there’s something very special on its way.

New Bars In Perth 2014

Paul

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4 January 2015

6

I went back home for a week recently and while I was there I was keen to check out some of the new bars in Perth. The small bar scene in Perth continues to improve, with several places opening only a month or two prior to me visiting. Unfortunately Perth’s restrictive licensing laws means that most of these great new places are unable to open past midnight, leaving residents and visitors with a major lack of quality options after this time. Having said that, some operators in Perth are getting creative too in an attempt to circumvent some of Perth’s unnecessarily restrictive licencing laws – think small bars that also serve decent food until the early hours of the morning in order to operate under a restaurant license or basements/rears of venues with existing nightclub licenses that offer something very different that the unsophisticated drinking spots that used to occupy the space.

Should bar owners have to do these sorts of things in order to open up quirky, unique drinking establishments that promote responsible drinking and conversation amongst mature adults? Of course not but alas it is what it is. Kudos for the entrepreneurs who managed to work their way through the red tape to ensure that 2015 was a very good year for people in Perth who like quality spots in which to have a drink and socialise.

For a guide to some of Perth’s hottest new food spots, check out this list New Place To Eat In Perth 2014.

The Standard

The Standard is a perfect example of the direction that Perth’s bar scene is moving towards. Roe street has been unloved for a long while, with memories of a lively street housing great spots such as the old Perth Markets long fading away. With the Perth City Link project and covering of the railway lines finally removing the barrier between Perth and Northbridge, this part of town is undergoing a serious makeover.

Owner John Parker, whose recent experience includes stints at Melbourne’s Gin Palace, Bar Ampere and Madame Brussels certainly knows his stuff and has converted this very 1980s-esque space (can frosted glass squares and pink lights invoke any other era?) into a welcoming venue that contains an impressive bar/interior with a backyard-like outdoor courtyard. A decent array of wine, cocktails and craft beers are on offer, as well as quality food from WA chef Chase Weber.

The Standard

28 Roe Street
Northbridge
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9228 1331
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.thestandardperth.com.au/

Open
Mon – Thu: 4:00pm to 12:00am
Fri – Sun: 12:00pm to 12:00am

Lot 20

Lot Twenty is the latest place to breathe life into Perth’s Cultural Centre. What used to be a no-go zone up until a few years ago is these days an unrecognisable area containing bars, cafes and people young and old. Brought to Perth by the brains behind Bar 399 and Five Bar, Lot Twenty is a surprisingly large venue for a spot with a small bar license. The downstairs and outdoor areas of this saloon-style, wood heavy venue are very casual, while low seats and tables upstairs provide those who want a substantial meal a more sit-down meal focused area.

Decent, well priced local craft beers are offered on tap and the keen pricing also flows through to the cocktail menu which is fun and innovative. Food wise it’s all about local produce and ingredients, with are a variety of snacks and more substantial options on offer.

Lot Twenty

198-206 William Street
Perth
Western Australia 6000
Australia

Telephone: (08) 6162 1195
Email: n/a
Website: http://www.lot20.co/

Open
Mon – Sat: 10:00am to 12:00am
Sun: 10:00am to 10:00pm

Sneaky Tony’s

An unmarked bar that’s located down a lane way at the rear of a building that requires a password to get in? You read it right and no, this isn’t one of my Melbourne posts. Grab the password from Sneaky Tony’s Facebook page and let the mysterious person behind the small slit in the door know what it is. Wait for the door to slide open and step into a low lit prohibition era themed speak-easy that contains a vast selection (over 300 at last count) of rums as well as a few other options for those who aren’t that way inclined. A small bar menu contains options from one of owner Clint Nolan’s other venues, Pleased to Meet You but really, this place is all about the rum.

A word of warning – this place is very popular. I wasn’t able to get in the first time I visited (a Saturday night) as it was at capacity with about 15 people waiting to get in. Try earlier or after work during the week instead.

Sneaky Tony’s

Rear, 38 Roe Street
Northbridge
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: n/a
Email: n/a
Website: Facebook

Open
Mon – Sat: 4:00pm to 12:00am
Sun: 4:00pm to 10:00am

The Dominion League

The team behind the Mechanics Institute and Mrs Brown are at it again and their latest venue is The Dominon League, named after the Political Movement of the 1930s that came very close to succeeding in having Western Australia secede from the Commonwealth of Australia. Housed in the space formerly occupied by Court Wine Bar, The Dominion League contains a ground level bar with a food and wine focus and a basement bar that puts more of a focus on spirits (over 300 of them) and cocktails.

I was really impressed by the cocktails here as well as the selection of whiskeys, including a few new, upcoming brands that I hadn’t seen before. Although I didn’t eat anything when I visited, the bar menu that chef Kurt Sampson has put together looked very decent, containing things such as Spiced Lamb Belly & Ribs, Moorish Pork Skewers and Ouzo Prawns with Barrel Aged Feta.

The Dominion League

84 Beaufort Street
Perth
Western Australia 6000
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9227 7439
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://dominionleague.com.au/

Open
Tue – Thu: 4:00pm to 12:00am
Fri: 12:00pm to 12:00am
Sat: 5:00pm to 12:00pm

Joe’s Juice Joint

Clint Nolan has been a busy man in 2014 and makes his second appearance on this list with the American dive bar-inspired Joe’s Juice Joint. The last time I was here it was the basement of Bar Open and, while the lane way entrance and stairs leading into the basement were instantly familiar, the interior is anything but. The lights are low, the music is loud and rocking and the space is suitably grungy – anyone who has been to Frankie’s in Sydney will know exactly what to expect. It’s still a bit “clean” feeling at the moment, but that’s to be expected given how new the venue is. I had a lot of fun there and can see it really finding its proverbial groove as the months roll by.

This space has a nightclub license so in a big plus for Perth drinkers who want something better than a club full of drunk kids, it’s open late – until 4:00am on weekends!

Joe’s Juice Joint

Rear, 232 William Street
Perth
Western Australia 6000
Australia

Telephone: n/a
Email: n/a
Website: Facebook

Open
Wed – Thu: 6:00pm to 2:00am
Fri – Sat: 6:00pm to 4:00am

Northbridge Brewing Company

The Northbridge Brewing Company is one of the more extreme examples of the level of unfathomable bureaucracy that exists in Perth. When “a brewery in Northbridge” was first announced I was still living in Perth, my adventures in London and Melbourne still to come. Eight (yes that’s not a typo!) years later and Northbridge Brewing Company is brewing beer as well as serving up food and drinks on Northbridge Piazza.

The beers that are brewed on site are all on tap and contain the usual suspects – a lager, pale ale, wheat beer, red ale. Nothing mindblowing but all perfectly acceptable examples of their style that are easily drinkable. Other beers from local breweries like Mash and Feral are also on offer and there’s a better than average selection of wines and spirits too. Food wise it’s standard pub grub that’s on offer. The main attraction here really is the space, which makes most of Perth sunshine and the piazza.

While the food and drinks won’t win awards, but it’s a great spot to chill out in – hopefully head brewer Ken Arrowsmith starts to experiment with the beers and we see the Northbridge Brewing Company pump out some more innovative beers, which WA breweries are famous for across the country.

Northbridge Brewing Company

44 Lake Street
Northbridge
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: (08) 6151 6481
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.northbridgebrewingco.com.au/

Open
Wed – Sat: 8:00am to 12:00pm
Sun – Tue: 8:00am to 10:00pm

What are your thoughts on Perth’s 2014 bar openings? Do you have a favourite new spot you’d add to the list?

The Historical Sites Of Kyoto

Paul

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31 December 2014

2

To say that there are a lot of historical sites in Kyoto is an understatement to say the least. The former Japanese capital is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including several castles, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines. Normally I don’t spend much time on the tourist trail when I’m travelling but it’s impossible not to be wowed by the history that’s present at every turn.

Below are a few of the historical sties in Kyoto that really impressed me.

Kyoto Gosho

Kyoto Gosho (Kyoto Imperial Palace) is the former ruling palace of the Emperor of Japan. The palace consists of several structures including residences, gates and rooms that were used for a variety of official purposes. Destroyed for fire eight times over the course of its existance, the current palace dates back to 1855, with several of the structures built to resemble Heian period architecture (the Heian Palace was the original Imperial Palace of Kyoto and was used as such from 794 until it was destroyed without being rebuilt in 1227).

As is to be expected, the place is swarming with tourists. Appreciate the Kyoto Gosho as best you can and ponder the irony that you yourself are one of the tourists who is contributing towards making the experience less peaceful than it ideally should be.

Nijō-jo

Nijō-jo (Nijo Castle) was built in 1626 as the residence of the Tokogawa Shoguns until 1867, when authority was transferred to the Imperial Court, who used the castle as a palace. In 1939 the castle was gifted to the City of Kyoto and opened to the public the following year.

Nijō-jo consists of Ninomaru palace as well as several smaller buildings which were used for a variety of functions. The gardens are also very impressive, especially when the cherry blossoms are blooming in Spring.

Rokkaku-dō

Rokkaku-dō (Rokkaku Temple) is one of the many smaller temples that can be founded dotted throughout Kyoto. It was established during the Heian period and played a part in the origins of traditional Japanese flower arranging (Ikebana). Rokkaku-dō is located in down town Kyoto, very close to the Nishiki Market.

Tōfuku-ji

Tōfuku-ji (Tofuku Temple) is one of the five great Zen temples of Kyoto and was founded in 1236. The original structures were destroyed by fire however were rebuilt in the 15th century as per the original plans.

There are several Hojoteien Zen gardens in the temple, with perfectly raked concentric circles being a striking feature.

Apart from autumn, when locals flock to Tōfuku-ji to view the striking foilage of the temple’s gardens and surrounds, the area is relatively quiet. This peace really does add an extra element that is often lacking from the more popular temples.

The main gate is massive, and was one of the most impressive structures that I saw in Japan.

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Fushimi Inari-taisha (Fushimi Inari Shrine) is one of the most popular shrines in Kyoto, in the main because of its striking orange pillars. The earliest structures were built in 711 however the temple was relocated in 816, with the main shrine structure not being built until 1499.

There are several torii paths located at the shrine. Fushimi Inari-taisha is very popular with tourists and it can be frustrating as many walk in the wrong direction through the torii and block the path while posing for photos. My advice is to walk a bit further up the 4 kilometre trail up Inari mountain and explore some of the smaller shrines an torii that line the trail. The vast majority of tourists don’t venture beyond the lower levels and those who do go a bit further up (my wife and I went up about 1 kilometre) are rewarded with solitude, serenity and an amazing view.

The kitsune (fox) is regarded as a messenger and symbols of it can be found all over the shrine.

Tō-ji

Tō-ji (East Temple) dates back to 796, in the early Heian period. Its main feature is the 54.8m tall pagoda which dates back to the Edo period and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. A flea market is held on the ground of Tō-ji on the 21st of each month.

Vietnamese-Style Banana Leaf Fish: Recipe

Paul

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28 December 2014

5

This Vietnamese-style banana leaf fish recipe is inspired by the street food of Vietnam. One of the things that’s clear when travelling around Vietnam is just how much street food is part of the culture. Food is purchased, cooked and eaten on side-walks and down alleyways in cities all over the country.

When Lauren and I were visiting the Đồng Xuân market in Hanoi we came across a kitchen supply shop and had to get a few things – two of them being a little metal grill and a device to hold fish over the top. They’ve been sitting unused for a while and finally instead of firing up the Weber kettle we decided to try our Vietnamese purchases, which was appropriate given what we were cooking. This dish is really easy to make, with moist tender fish contrasting with a crisp, almost claypot-like rice.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes / Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes / Serves 4

Ingredients

200g short grain rice
200ml water, room temperature
2 banana leaves, about 30cm long
1 large barramundi fillet, about 500g
1 lemongrass stalk, finely sliced
2 birds eye chillies
2 tbsp (30ml) fish sauce
15g dill, finely chopped
20g basil, finely chopped
1 lime
1 shallot, finely sliced

Method

Heat up some charcoal/briquettes for your barbecue.
Soak the rice in water for 10 minutes.
Add the lemongrass, chillies, fish sauce, dill and basil to a pestle and mortar and grind.
Drain the rice and add it to the pestle and mortar and grind it in with the other ingredients until combined.
Transfer the mixture to a larger bowl and add the zest and juice of 1 lime and the sliced shallot.
Place the mixture in the middle of one of the banana leaves, covering about the same width and length of the fish, then place the fish on top, skin side down.
Tightly wrap the contents with the banana leaf, and then wrap again with the second banana leaf.
Reinforce the wrapped parcel with some twine.
Your charcoal/briquettes should now be hot. Place them in the centre of your barbecue and place the wrapped parcel onto the grill directly above the heat.
Grill for 15-20 minutes and remove from the barbecue. Open the parcel and serve.

Notes

Cooking this on charcoal/briquettes really gives the food a great taste but if you aren’t able to do this, you can cook it in your oven using the grill setting and it will still taste really good – you won’t get the crispy finish on the rice though.

Best Restaurants In Melbourne 2015

Paul

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18 December 2014

11

As 2014 comes to a close it’s time to take a look back at what happened in the world of food in Melbourne and decide just what were the top 10 best restaurants in Melbourne. As is always the case in this city, there was a constant stream of new openings spread out across the year – despite eating at a fair few places over the year, my list of places to try as it stands today is actually larger than it was at the start of the year.

2014 was the year that properly saw the end of the Mexican trend, with many of the Mexican spots that jumped on the bandwagon in 2012 and 2013 closing down and many menus switching from Mexican food to American “dude food”. 2014 was also harsh for many restaurants, with some quality spots closing down – for example Brunswick East’s excellent Raconteur which fell victim to the curse of being the right place in the wrong spot.

Speaking of trends, 2014 was undoubtedly the year of regional American food. General “dude food” menus full of burgers, sliders and fried chicken gave way to Nashville style fried chicken, New Orleans style po’ boys and New England inspired lobster rolls.

There’s nothing technical about this list. No formula, no rules just my opinion based on my own experiences over the past year. These aren’t necessarily the top 10 restaurants in Melbourne, however they are 10 restaurants that I’ve visited multiple times and never had a bad meal at. They are the restaurant that I take friends and family to when they visit from interstate or overseas, they are the restaurants that, to me, best represent the categories that I’ve included them in.

You’ll notice a definite skewing towards places north of the river and the reason for that is twofold. Firstly, it’s just where a lot of the good stuff has opened up in recent years and secondly, I live in the north so naturally I spend more time eating there than I do south of the river. You also might notice that this is one of the few “best restaurant” lists in 2015 that doesn’t include Brae. You can read what I thought about Brae when I visited here. It’s certainly got the potential to be one of Australia’s best restaurants, but I do think that many have gotten caught up in the hype. Very good? Yes. Great? Not yet.

Best Restaurant

Winner – The Town Mouse

The Town Mouse opened up in Carlton in early 2013 and went under the radar for the best part of a year, all the while serving up those in the know with tasty, inventive, seasonal food in a casual, neighbourhood friendly setting. Soon enough word got out about what owner Christian McCabe, head chef Dave Verheul and his team were doing and in 2014 things exploded. The signature dessert was used for a Masterchef challenge, the received a chef’s hat in the Age’s Good Food Guide 2015, Verheul won the Hot Talent award in the Time Out Melbourne Food Awards 2015 an McCabe was awarded Maître D’ of the Year in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards 2015.

What has all this meant for the Town Mouse, apart from making it a lot harder to get a table? The answer to this is nothing at all. The team at The Town Mouse have continued doing what they do best – the food is fresh and inventive, the technique in the cooking is outstanding and the service and friendly atmosphere is just the same as it was before the hype, with McCabe remaining as down to earth as ever.

The wine list is great and always contains something interesting and I’m a big fan of the fact that beer isn’t wine’s poor cousin here – there’s always a small selection of interesting, proper craft beers on offer.

I’ve eaten here several times and have never had a bad meal. Whenever I have friends over from Perth and they ask me where they should eat, this is the first place I recommend without hesitation.

Read my full review here

Runner Up – Saint Crispin

Collingwood’s Saint Crispin opened up shortly after The Town Mouse with a similar type of offering however unlike The Town Mouse it had a very short honeymoon period before the cat was let out of the bag and it became one of Melbourne’s hottest restaurants. Owner/chefs Scott Pickett and Joe Grbac’s restaurant was awarded a chef’s hat in the Age’s Good Food Guide 2014 only a few months after opening and very quickly went from being a place you could walk straight into to a place you needed to book in advance. This year it was awarded a well-deserved second chef’s hat, plus a number of other awards.

The space is long and narrow, with high ceilings and a very casual atmosphere. It is very well suited to Pickett and Grabc’s stated aim of delivering “contemporary cuisine combined with “sophisticated, warm friendly service and accessibility and approachability for regular diners”. From the food through to things like the leather menu covers and the custom designed wait staff aprons, the attention to detail at Saint Crispin is impeccable.

The upstairs bar, Thomas Olive is rather brilliant too – head straight outside to the back and up the stairs to your right and you’ll be rewarded with a selection of some of Melbourne’s best cocktails.

Read my full review here

Best New Restaurant

Winner – Northern Light

Northern Light in Collingwood is the restaurant that I’ve eaten at more than any other in 2014. I first visited when the opened at the start of the year and the food was excellent – the menu containing quite a few intricate dishes, with signs of co-owner/head chef Adam Liston’s time spend living in Shanghai and travelling throughout Japan evident throughout. The food isn’t Chinese or Japanese food per se, but rather Chinese and Japanese inspired – “the food that we like to eat” as Liston’s wife Genevieve put it when we spoke to her.

Over the course of the year, the food has become simpler, and the Japanese influences more pronounced with some properly Japanese dishes being included alongside the Chinese and Japanese influenced ones. Sauces are made on site and the flavours are properly authentic. I travelled to Japan twice in 2014 and I’ve encountered more of the flavours and techniques that I encountered in Japan at Northern Light than I have at any other actual Japanese restaurant in Melbourne. Service is also great, with co-owner Glen Bagnara ensuring the front of house runs smoothly.

Northern Lights has flown under the radar since opening but I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more about it in 2015 once the mainstream media realises just how good it is. It offers excellent food that’s designed to share, using high quality local produce that’s allowed to shine in a fun, casual environment. What’s not to like?

Read my full review here

Runner Up – Supernormal

I don’t know if Andrew McConnell is in the possession of some kind of artefact that has granted him with special powers as he has an uncanny ability to strike gold whenever he opens a new restaurant.

Supernormal in Melbourne’s CBD is McConnell’s most recent opening and it comes as no surprise that it’s excellent. The restaurant is ostensibly Japanese themed, from its neon signage and sleek, clean-lined wooden and metallic interior to the Pocky dispensing machine but the food is more a fusion of modern Australian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese flavours and techniques.

Dishes such lobster rolls share the menu with cold rolled pork belly, steamed duck buns and peanut butter parfait. The food is fun, tasty and designed for sharing with quality ingredients, deceptively simple food elevated by technique and flawless (for the most part) service combining to produce a great experience.

Read my full review here

Best “On Trend” Restaurant

Winner – Belle’s Hot Chicken

2014 is the year that American “dude food” went regional and Belle’s Hot Chicken in Fitzroy is the place that exemplifies this best. Owner/chefs Aaron Turner and Morgan McGlone said goodbye to the world of fine dining a little while back to spend some time in Nashville discovering how fried chicken is done in that part of the world. Fast forward to the second half of 2014 and they’ve opened Belle’s Hot Chicken which brings what they learned to the table – namely spicy fried chicken.

Things are kept simple on the food front. You choose your meat – wings, tenders, dark meat, fish or mushrooms and then choose the level of heat you want – southern, medium, hot, really hot, or really f**kin hot’. Add some sides (chips, potato salad, mac & cheese to name a few) and your sauce(s) of choice and you’ve got yourself a meal.

The food is great, with the chicken not being oily at all and having a very flavoursome powder-like coating, it’s keenly priced (the baller bucket is our tip) and the wine list contains several unexpected delights. Just be warned – the really f**kin hot is named as such for a good reason!

Read my full review here

Runner Up – Rockwell & Sons

Rockwell & Sons was the place I ate at more than any other in 2013 and, while the competition has heated up in 2014, the proper American comfort food served by owners Casey Wall (Head Chef) and Manu Potoi (Front of House) remains solid. The double patty smash burger is one of the best burgers in Melbourne – a Smith Street institution. The lamb ribs and duck wings are amazing, and you’ve never tasted devilled eggs this good before. Add to that a decent, rotating selection of craft beers and you’re set. When looking for a reasonably priced, tasty feed in this part of town Rockwell & Sons really is one of the best options out there.

Also if you can get there for “Fried Chicken Wednesdays”, you can grab some amazing fried chicken (organic chicken brined for 3 days and finished with buttermilk) along with proper southern style biscuits, devilled eggs and 3 sides.

Best “Anything But A Trend” Restaurant

Winner – 400 Gradi

Trends come and go but if there’s one cuisine that Melburnians love more than any other it has to be Italian, a staple part of Melbourne’s restaurant scene ever since the first wave of Italian immigrants started opening up restaurants along Carlton’s Lygon Street back in the 1950s.

Italian food is of course quite varied but more often than not its pizza and pasta that people want and why shouldn’t they, seeing how great both dishes can be. 400 Gradi has won many awards over the years for its traditional, authentic Neapolitan pizzas and I can confidently say that it deserves every one of them as the pizzas here are amazing. Thin, springy, charred wood fired bases and never more than a few different types of ingredients on any given pizza mean that the quality of the ingredients really shines through.

I dare anybody to come here and not be seduced by the simplicity of a classic Margherita pizza. The rest of the food on the menu is great too. No-nonsense, good quality, simple Italian food done well.

Owner Johnny Di Francesco has recently opened up “Gradi” at Crown, but for me, there’s something special about the original Brunswick East venue. I live in the area and 400 Gradi is full every single night of the week. There’s a good reason for this.

Runner Up – Gazi

If there’s a cuisine other than Italian that’s stood the test of time in Melbourne it’s that of the other major immigrant group of the 1950s, the Greeks. For many years Greek food was held back by expectations of what it was in this country – namely souvlaki and chips. While there’s always a right time for a dirty souvlaki and chips, there’s so much more to Greek food than this and one of the key players in bringing a better quality of Greek food to Melburnians has been George Calombaris.

He might be household name today, with a big restaurant empire and a reputation to match, but once upon a time he was a young chef with a full head of hair and a determination to show the people of Melbourne that there was a lot more to Greek food than what they thought.

Gazi, in Melbourne’s CBD is the best example of Calombaris’ food in Melbourne. It serves up Greek “street food” with a fun, casual vibe and impeccable service. The food is simple yet sophisticated and, most importantly it’s very tasty. It’s the kind of place you can go to with a group of friends or with the family and share a variety of dishes and have a great time.

…and yes, while there might be more to Greek food than souvlaki, there are a number of “mini souvlakis” on the menu which taste great, wrapped in Calombaris’ soft, fluffy, irresistible pita.

Read my full review here

Best Former Trend Restaurant

Winner – Los Hermanos

Los Hermanos is proof that while fads come and go, if a restaurant serves good food at a fair price people will come regardless of the trend of the day. This place is a bit of local’s secret as not only is it out in Brunswick, but it’s in an unassuming building surrounded by warehouses just past the Upfield rail tracks on Victoria Street – if you don’t know it’s there you’re not going to be stumbling across it.

Those who do make the effort to seek it out though are rewarded with some of the best Mexican food and drinks that Melbourne has to offer. The place is always packed, there’s a small, focused menu with 7 different types of tacos complimented by gorditas, sopes and flatuas. There are a range of Mexican beers, tequilas and mezcals as well as a small selection of cocktails.

Must order items are the De Pescado (Fish) Tacos and the Ensalada de Nopales (Cactus Salad). The food is authentic and tasty and both the food and drinks are well-priced. Add to this the lively atmosphere and locals vibe and there’s no wonder Los Hermanos is always packed.

Runner Up – Piqueos

Peruvian food is the trend that always is but never was. No matter how much the mainstream media seems to want to will Peruvian food into being the next big thing in Melbourne it never quite takes off. A few places have opened that serve Peruvian food however and Carlton North’s Piqueos which opened in 2013 is one of these. The menu is actually Peruvian and Argentinian, inspired by co-owners Shaun Burke and Dave Mills time spent working in London’s Gaucho and Floradita respectively.

The food is great, especially the meats that cooked on the parrilla (a type of charcoal grill) – charred and salty on the outside, mouth-wateringly tender on the inside and full of flavour. The food at Piqueos is designed to share, and it’s a great place to come with a small group as there are a lot of things on the menu that you’ll want to try.

Along with the impressive Argentinian wine list, there is a very extensive selection of pisco on offer – try a pisco sour, the national drink of Peru while you’re there.

Read my full review here

To the owners, chefs and staff of the restaurants above, I give you my sincerest thanks for some great meals over the past year. To my readers let me ask you – have you been to any of these restaurants? What did you think? Do you have a favourite that you think should have made the list? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Slow Cooked Osso Bucco Tacos: Recipe

Paul

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16 December 2014

8

Usually I use flank steak for my tacos but the other day I used slow cooked osso bucco meat and I really enjoyed the flavour and texture. Some people like to do a salsa and guacamole separately but I like to combine the tomatoes with the guacamole to make things easier.

This is a really flexible recipe and you can combine the ingredients as you wish to make tacos just the way you like. If you don’t add cheese (and I don’t think there’s any need to with this recipe) they are actually quite healthy too.

Preparation Time: 1 hour / Cooking Time: 4.5 hours / Serves 4

Ingredients

The Osso Bucco

1.4kg osso bucco meat
1 tbsp (15g) Mexican oregano
¼tsp (1.25g) sweet paprika
1 jalapeño chilli, halved lengthwise
1 small brown onion, finely sliced
1 garlic clove, finely sliced
3 cups (750ml) water
1 cup (250ml) orange juice
1 lime, juiced
salt & pepper to taste

The Tortillas

2 cups (500g) maize flour
1 cup (250ml)hot tap water
5 tbsp (75ml) water

The Black Beans

2 bay leaves
400g cooked black beans
6 peppercorns
1tsp (5ml) oil

The Guacamole

500g avocado flesh (about 5 small avocados)
1 garlic clove
15g fresh coriander, finely chopped
10 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 lime, juiced
½tsp (2.5g) rock salt

Method

The Osso Bucco

Place all of the ingredients into a heavy bottomed pot and bring to the boil.
Reduce to a simmer and leave simmering on the stove for 4.5 hours uncovered.
After 4.5 hours, the meat should fall off the bone and there should be very little liquid left. Discard the bones and any excess liquid.

The Tortillas

Combine the flour and 1 cup of water in a bowl.
If the dough does not form a ball, add 1 tbsp of water, and then another 1tbsp of water and so on until the flour and dough have completely combined. This is very dependent on how humid the kitchen is.
Cover the dough with cling film and set aside for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into 20 balls.
Place the dough balls one by one into a floured tortilla press and flatten.
Cook the tortillas on a hot frying pan for 2 minutes per side, until they are ever so slightly brown.

The Black Beans

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the peppercorns and bay leaves to the hot oil.
After 3 minutes, add the black beans and cook for a further 5 minutes – until the beans are heated through and mushy.

The Guacamole

Add the garlic, onion and rock salt to a pestle and mortar and mash into a paste.
Add one avocado at a time to the mortar and combine. You may need to transfer the mashed avocado to a bigger bowl as you go.
Transfer all of the mashed avocado to a bowl and add the coriander, tomato and lime.
Mix well.

To Finish

Put the meat, black beans, avocado and, if you like, cheese and hot sauce into separate containers and serve with the tortillas, letting those eating combine the ingredients on each tortilla as they please.

Notes

If you use already made tortillas, the preparation time will reduce to 20 minutes.

You can roll the tortillas with a rolling pin however it’s quite time consuming and it’s hard to get consistency. If you plan on making tacos a few times, it’s well worth getting a simple, inexpensive tortilla press.

The Peninsula Picnic Mornington 2015: Upcoming Event

Paul

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15 December 2014

0

Historically I’ve only written about things that I’ve experienced, be it an event, bar or food spot I’ve attended, a place I’ve travelled to or a cookbook I’ve used. I’ve avoided writing about upcoming events because I didn’t want my blog to become full of posts that were nothing more than me rehashing press releases.

What though, of upcoming events that I’m generally interested in and that I think you, the reader will be interested in too? Surely if I’m made aware of something that sounds pretty good my readers might want to know about it too? As long as I’m posting the regular, high quality content that my readers have come to know and love surely I can make room for the occasional heads up too?

After thinking about these things for a little while, I’ve decided that I’m going to give it a shot and write up posts when I’m made aware of an event that’s “food, travel and culture” related that I’m interested in and that I think you’ll be interested in too.

My first post of this type is the main subject of this post, the inaugural “Peninsula Picnic” which will be held on Sunday 29 March 2015 and will be the Mornington Peninsula’s largest food, wine and music gathering. Those who attend will be given the opportunity to discover the hidden gems from the region’s leading producers, growers, orchardists and gourmet store-owners set to the sounds of some great live Australian music.

Food wise, some renowned chefs are going to be involved in creating lunch menus for the event using seasonal and local ingredients. Melbourne Racing Club’s consultant chef Ian Curley (The European) will be joined by head chef at the National Golf Course on The Peninsula, Craig Gorton along with Matt Wilkinson (Pope Joan), Pierre Khooja (Flinders Hotel) and many others.

On the wine front, it’ll be local wines from the Peninsula that will be featured and music wise a selection of Australian bands will be making an appearance on stage including The Waifs, Something For Kate front-man Paul Dempsey, Tinpan Orange and more.

I’m a big fan of the Mornington Peninsula and the few times I’ve been down there I’ve had a really good time. The Peninsula Picnic certainly looks like an event that’s got the potential to be pretty great – it’s hard for a chilled out weekend on the Peninsula not to be.

If you’re interested in attending the inaugural Peninsula Picnic you can get tickets from Ticketek. I’ve included profiles on the chefs and musicians from the press release below. For further details, visit the Peninsula Picnic’s official website.

Meet The Chefs

Terre
Terre chefs, Rowan and Janine Herrald, source as much local produce as possible to use on their menu including an abundance of wild produce such as wild mushrooms and a variety of the lesser known edible wild herbs, flowers and sea succulents growing on the foreshores – rock samphire, sea blight, coastal bone fruit, sea parsley, sea spinach. Using these types of ingredients adds incredible texture and flavour that gives a unique ‘taste’ – unmistakably the taste of Terre, on the Mornington Peninsula.

Montalto
Montalto love food; growing it and making it! They’ll be bringing along their fresh home grown and locally sourced produce to create a truly memorable dining experience, honouring exceptional produce in a beautiful environment. Acclaimed Head Chef Barry Davis has been at the helm of the restaurant since 2005. His menu is inspired by regional France, but anchored in the fresh, seasonal produce of Montalto’s estate and surrounds.

Ian Curley
Melbourne Racing Club’s consultant chef, the owner of Kirk’s Wine bar and executive chef at The European, Ian Curley, will feature alongside his good friend Craig Gorton, head chef at the National Golf Course on The Peninsula. Ian & Craig will source the best produce on the Peninsula to serve an authentic delicious fare.

Terminus at The Flinders Hotel
You’ll be able to indulge your culinary senses for a truly memorable experience on the Mornington Peninsula with the Executive Chef from the Terminus, Pierre Khodja, who will be producing a sophisticated melangé of French and Mediterranean cuisine with subtle, aromatic undertones from his North African heritage.

Pope Joan
Matt Wilkinson is chef and co-owner of Brunswick neighbourhood eatery Pope Joan, much-loved for its homely dishes – led by locally grown, seasonal produce – with a distinctly British twist. In 2013, Matt and business partner Ben Foster opened Hams & Bacon, Pope Joan’s produce store where customers can purchase many of the beautiful, local ingredients featured on Pope Joan’s seasonal menus.

Matt will be sharing his love of the freshest, top-quality ingredients with a classic, retro-inspired menu. He has just four words for you: toasties, salads and soft serve.

The Long Table
Andrew and Samantha, founders of The Long Table Restaurant will create a unique food experience, offering passionately produced food reflective of their own personalities and their love for wine, food and art. Head Chef, Daniel Whelan’s move to the Mornington Peninsula has delighted patrons of The Long Table old and new. His classic yet simple inspired European fare is matched with a locally focused and eclectic cellar of wine, beer and cider.

Dee’s Kitchen
Dee’s Kitchen will be bringing their sense of celebration, diversity and culture, through their multicultural menu. It is about much more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of food, heritage, culture, and of course being social, within the relaxed environment of a beachside community. Dee’s menu is largely influenced by an Israeli and Mediterranean heritage. They’ll be serving healthy, simple flavours that everyone can enjoy including a Middle Eastern inspired sweet dish. They believe in keeping the dishes simple and honest to their origins, with fresh flavours.

Max’s at Red Hill Estate
Established 20 years ago, http://maxsrestaurant.com.au was the first winery restaurant on the Peninsula and today continues to delight guests with a seasonal, produce driven menu, combining the best the Peninsula has to offer with modern culinary techniques in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Their picnic menu created by the man himself, Max Paganoni, will feature fresh, flavourful food perfectly suited for a relaxed yet refined afternoon of revelry.

DOC Mornington
http://docgroup.net will be exhibiting their real Italian eating and age-old simplicity refreshed with contemporary flair. A celebration of heritage. A joy in sharing. Authentic, exuberant… and outrageously Italian.

A Menu Of Music

The Waifs
From a journey that began in 1992, with two sisters and a friend travelling in a van playing gigs for anyone and anywhere, to half a million record sales locally and multiple ARIA awards, The Waifs have plenty of tales to tell through their music – and storytelling they do well – their trademark honesty, passion and humour shines through their musical offerings, attracting legions of fiercely loyal fans.

Sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson deliver their stories with the help of Josh Cunningham on guitar, who they met by chance in Broome way back when. The trio are often joined by the rhythm section of David Macdonald on drums and Ben Franz on bass. Reuniting for select shows across the summer will be bringing their beloved mix of folk, blues and rock sounds, playing their classic tracks.

Paul Dempsey
Paul Dempsey has been busy. He’s spent the majority of 2014 travelling the country with Something For Kate celebrating their 20th anniversary with a massive sold-out national tour, a film, a book and their entire back catalogue reissued on vinyl, CD and iTunes. Something for Kate’s career over the past two decades has been widely celebrated, and Paul’s place as one of Australia’s great songwriters has been widely acknowledged by fans and critics alike along the way.

Having put his solo pursuits on hold over the course of the year, Paul has spent the last several weeks holed up working on new material. He’s decided now is the time to get out for some fresh air, and will make a couple of very special appearances over the summer. He’ll play songs from his gold-selling solo album ‘Everything Is True’, some Something For Kate classics, and generally have a great time on stage armed with just a guitar and a canon of fantastic songs. It’s that simple really.

Pierce Brothers
A humble beginning busking on the street has paved the way for the brothers to become the hardworking artists they are today. Having progressed from playing Bourke Street Mall to playing a record breaking five sold out shows at Melbourne’s Shebeen they sold out shows in London and performed to a monster crowd of 10,000+ punters at Lowlands Festival in The Netherlands. Melbourne’s own Pierce Brothers that have exploded onto the international scene over the last few months and will be bringing their energetic and engaging performance, featuring didgeridoos and high jumps and a twist on folk music all their own to the Peninsular for the very first time.

Tinpan Orange
In 2012, critically acclaimed folk-pop musicians, Tinpan Orange released Over the Sun, an album nominated for The Age Music Victoria Genre Award for Best Folk Roots Album and one singer-songwriter Emily Lubitz refers to as ‘the greatest album of my life’. Months later, just to pay the bills, Lubitz sang the anonymous lead vocal on an Australian train safety commercial that became the viral internet sensation – Dumb Ways To Die.

54 million YouTube hits later, Tinpan has played all of Australia’s top festivals, including Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Laneway Festival, not to mention sharing the stage with the likes of Martha Wainwright, My Brightest Diamond and The Cat Empire. Picture Emily, twirling her hair out across a complex and original musical creation, in which virtuosic instrumental performances and intimate song writing merge to form a wholly unique sound.

Hayden Calnin
The ink lines that would shape Australian, singer/songwriter/producer Hayden Calnin and his musical career were drawn in his teen years after his father gave him a guitar at age fourteen. He hasn’t gone a day since without playing it. Dabbling in bands through his teens led him to add drums and piano to his repertoire he finally decided to take on vocals. Now, Hayden’s music manifests itself as honest storytelling with a progressive edge. Heartfelt vocals showcase a range that walks a steady pace from sweet, tip toeing falsettos to warm and husky lower ranges that belt out raw lyrics.

THE CITY LANEEAT & TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

THE CITY LANEEAT & TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

The Flour Factory

The Flour Factory

Propeller

Propeller

Bread In Common

Bread In Common

Hylin

Hylin

La Veen

La Veen

No Mafia

No Mafia

Habitue

Habitue

Sprolo

Sprolo

St Michael 6003

St Michael 6003

Ingredients

Method

Notes

You’re winding down after a long day. What’s your drink of choice?

What rum based cocktail do people need to be drinking now?

Perth’s small bar scene has changed immensely over the past few years. What do you predict for 2015?

I know you had some difficulties with red tape when it came to getting the license for Double Double extended. What changes would you like to see made to Perth’s liquor licensing laws?

What was your favourite new bar of 2014?

I’ve heard rumours that you’ve got something big planned for 2015. Can you tell us more?

The Standard

The Standard

Lot 20

Lot Twenty

Sneaky Tony’s

Sneaky Tony’s

The Dominion League

The Dominion League

Joe’s Juice Joint

Joe’s Juice Joint

Northbridge Brewing Company

Northbridge Brewing Company

Kyoto Gosho

Nijō-jo

Rokkaku-dō

Tōfuku-ji

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Tō-ji

Ingredients

Method

Notes

Best Restaurant

Winner – The Town Mouse

Runner Up – Saint Crispin

Best New Restaurant

Winner – Northern Light

Runner Up – Supernormal

Best “On Trend” Restaurant

Winner – Belle’s Hot Chicken

Runner Up – Rockwell & Sons

Best “Anything But A Trend” Restaurant

Winner – 400 Gradi

Runner Up – Gazi

Best Former Trend Restaurant

Winner – Los Hermanos

Runner Up – Piqueos

Ingredients

The Osso Bucco

The Tortillas

The Black Beans

The Guacamole

Method

The Osso Bucco

The Tortillas

The Black Beans

The Guacamole

To Finish

Notes

Meet The Chefs

A Menu Of Music

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