December 8, 2017 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

{NEW OPENING} Island Market, Trigg

Just a few years ago, Perth was lacking in quality dining venues by the beach. Now we are positively spoilt for choice! Up and down the coast are restaurants worth booking a table at, where the food is as fine as the view. Think Odyssea, Bib and Tucker, Shorehouse and now there’s a newbie to add to the list – Island Market.

Behind the menu of Mid-Eastern eats are two excellent Chefs. Head Chef Sonny de Ocampo (Formerly from Apple Daily), and one of Perth’s very best Chef’s David Coomer (Pata Negra, Fuyu, Star Anise), who acts as their consult chef.

Brunch at Island Market

On my first visit (yes, there’s been a few already!) we arrived mid morning for brunch. The interior of what was briefly “Kailis Trigg Beach” has had an upgrade. Now the dining room has a younger, more on-trend feel than it’s earlier Hamptons chic incarnation. The slick white dining room has splashes of baby pink everywhere. Chairs, neon signs, flooring, plant pots, even pink lights in the ladies bathroom…

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The eatery is bathed in natural light from the huge windows, giving diners a picture postcard view over the white dunes of Trigg Beach. We had a window table and I have to admit I was very distracted by the ocean, and it took me a while to focus on the menu and place an order!

Five senses coffee, one of my favourites, is the blend of choice at Island Market.

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The brekkie menu has all your brunch favourites with a Levantine-inspired twist. Think Israeli smashed avocado, Persian omelette, Blended strawberry and banana bowl with chia coconut pudding and much more.

I picked an old favourite, Shakshuka ($17). Two delicious free range eggs are surrounded by a wonderfully rich tomato sauce and creamy labne. Pita is usually served on the side, but I chose the GF option. Gluten free bread isn’t as exciting as their pita, but hey, the GF bread was still tasty dipped into the ooey gooey eggs – yummo!

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Chef loved his breakfast pide ($17), which is a sort of Turkish stuffed pizza. Inside is meaty Turkish sausage and peppers – topped with crumbled haloumi and a perfectly runny egg. He also ordered some crispy bacon on the side.

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Little Chef, who had already eaten breakfast, had a house baked orange and cinnamon morning bun from the well stocked cabinet of sweet treats. Continue reading →

June 6, 2017 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Canteen, Trigg

The old Trigg Island Café was transformed last year into a stunning venue overlooking the Indian Ocean. We’ve been spoilt with ocean side dining spots in the last few years and I was keen to try this offering from the Kailis group. There’s the upmarket Kailis seafood restaurant, as well as the casual Canteen next door.

We rocked up to Kailis without a lunch booking just before noon, hoping they’d set aside a couple of tables for walk-ins. Unfortunately for us, the only seats they could offer us was the outdoor area that’s mainly used by patrons of Canteen. I didn’t see the point in paying a premium if we couldn’t enjoy the beautifully fitted out dining room. So I put that lunch on the back burner and we decided to grab a quick take away style lunch instead.

Canteen has plenty of seating inside, but we chose to sit outside under the umbrellas. The sea breeze did get a little chilly, but the sun was shining down and it was such a beautiful view, so we braved it!

My parents both ordered fish and chips. My Dad had the traditional battered fish and chips ($11.50). The chips weren’t very hot and with the wind blowing too, they were stone cold in no time.

My Mum had the grilled fish and chips with greens ($14.50) and they both agreed that their fish was very tasty.

As well as fish and chips, there’s a lot of fresh and healthy options at Canteen. The salads will go down well with the many walkers and joggers that pass by. I chose the King Fish poke ($15), which sounded intriguing. It’s a Hawaiian raw fish salad with Japanese condiments and I found it refreshingly tasty. Served with brown rice, the firm chucks of king fish are bursting with tropical coconut, lime, chilli, pineapple and coriander. It was delicious, though I wish that the servings were a little more generous.

Afterwards, we had a little walk along the beach. It’s these kind of days, hanging out with my parents, in a lovely location like this that makes me so happy to live in Perth.

I could look at this view all day long…

If you’re eating out with little ones there’s a play area near to the car park too, which really should be fenced. There’s also a breakfast menu on offer for the early risers. All in all, Canteen is a good spot for a casual bite to eat by the beach.

November 7, 2016 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Odyssea – City Beach

Earlier this year Chef and I dined at Odyssea, enjoying a very tasty dinner with a sublime pink sunset. So when I received an invite in the post from Odyssea to check out their new brunch menu, featuring CharCol Springs eggs, I jumped at the chance to enjoy that stunning view over the Indian Ocean once more. Here’s that beautiful sunset by the way…

Odyssea are proud to use local West Australian produce and the star of many of their breakfast dishes are pastured eggs from CharCol Springs in Manjimup. The CharCol Springs hens roam around on chemical free pastures pecking on bugs and lots of greens. I can tell you the eggs are really tasty, you can definitely tell they are laid by happy chickens! I’ve cooked them myself, after I received some CharCol Springs eggs as part of the breakfast invitation – what a cute idea. 20161107_110149

I made it down to Odyssea for a 7.3oam breakfast, one of the perks of now being a #girlboss is that I can enjoy a lazy breakfast if I like, no having to rush off to work. Nice one! A group of Perth Food Bloggers and Instagram influencers sat in the dining room on a tall, long table with owner Eleanor Hupfer. It’s an ultra mod, light and airy space.

I had barely stepped through the door when a very efficient waiter asked me what drink I would like to order. I was a little desperate for my morning coffee, so I really appreciated that! My Fiori coffee arrived in no time. Looking over their new morning menu, there are so many tasty sounding dishes – many of the other foodies at the table were gravitating toward the meaty pulled lamb dish and I was no different.

Before breakfast arrived we indulged in some Peach Bellinis. I’m not usually one for boozy brunches, but I’m also not one to say no to a bit of fizz. These were absolutely scrummy!

I couldn’t go past the lamb shoulder hash, $22. I wasn’t sure if it would be too heavy for brekkie. Though it’s a filling dish, I found it fairly light. The crisp pulled lamb is served with sautéed courgette, pea and coriander. A CharCol Springs fried egg is served sunny side up and there’s a delicious harissa hollandaise on the side. I was so pleased with my choice and very impressed!

Here’s some of the other breakfast dishes enjoyed on our table from the new menu:

A healthy option is the gluten free granola, $14. Served with a rhubarb yogurt parfait and poached pear.

A tasty vego dish is the baked eggs, $18. Served with braised spinach, spiced yogurt, fried chickpeas and flatbread.

The prosciutto di parma, $18, looked tasty. Accompanied with a radicchio jam, blue cheese mascarpone and toasted sourdough, topped with a 65 degree poached CharCol Springs egg.

A dish I’d really like to try is the Torbay asparagus, $22. I couldn’t believe just how thick the asparagus was. Served with cured salmon, fennel, goat’s curd, soft boiled egg and sourdough toast. This is a beautiful, summery brunch dish.

Odyssea’s owner Eleanor, was keen for us to sample the house ginger bread, $16. I couldn’t resist having a bite of this pretty breakfast dish. The spiced gingerbread is absolutely scrumptious and served with whipped ricotta and fresh strawberries. A must try dish for sweet tooths.

Odyssea is a wonderful spot for a summery brunch whilst watching the waves roll in. With a great selection of house made pastries and breakfast offerings, delicious drinks and beachside dining – it really doesn’t get much better than this!

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Detail and the Odyssea team for organising a wonderful breakfast featuring freshly laid eggs by the girls at CharCol Springs, Manjimup.

April 4, 2016 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

A Day On Rottnest Island

Pinky Beach, Rottnest Island, Western Australia

I’d only been to Rottnest twice before, in my early 20s and it was high time Chef and I introduced Little Chef to the little jewel in the Indian Ocean that is Rotto. So close to Perth, but far away enough to feel relaxed and detached from day-to-day life.

We’ve had our Pommie cousins staying with us and thought a day trip to Rotto would be a fun and different outing. We were excited to play tourist too. Setting off early, to make the most of our day, we arrived at our ferry just after 7am. Our ferry crossing from Hillarys Boat Harbour took about 40 mins and was very smooth.

Our first port of call after arriving at the main area of the island, Thompson Bay, was the Rottnest Bakery. There were sorts of baked goodies on offer and Chef chowed down on a bacon and cheese pie for brekkie. Little Chef wolfed down a sausage roll and I chose a blueberry muffin. I suspect it was yesterday’s muffin as it wasn’t particularly fresh, which was a shame. I’d hoped it was just hot of the oven.

I’d ordered a coffee too, but the coffee machine was being serviced, so I headed to “The Lane” opposite and what a fab find that was! Great coffee. The little café has a gourmet hotdog menu, so I made a mental note to come back for lunch. 20160329_090010

Little Chef was keen to meet a furry Quokka and we saw loads of them! The friendly little guys, only found on Rottnest Island, are so sweet and don’t seem fazed by people at all.

Topped up with caffeine, we headed to the bike hire shop. Pedal power is the most popular form of transport on Rottnest, which adds to the laid back pace. We were planning to ride about 3kms along the north coast of the island to find some beautiful beaches. First, we stopped at the Wadjemup lighthouse and realised that we were a long way from Perth!

We spent most of the day beach hopping. First, we rode to the furthest point we were planning on visiting – stunning Little Parakeet Bay. We planned on a bit of snorkelling, sandcastle building, paddling and then to mosey our way back to Thompson Bay on our bikes. Though there were a few hills, it was a fairly easy ride, especially with stunning views like this along the way.

Little Parakeet Bay – Rottnest Island, Western Australia

We stopped at Geordie Bay, Fay’s Bay and Pinky Beach too. Each beach perfectly white and the turquoise ocean a million shades of blue. Little Chef loved it and said the sand was soft like sherbet.

By the time we made it back to Thomson’s Bay and dropped off our bikes, we still had time for a late lunch. We visited my little discovery from earlier – The Lane. Chef had worked up quite an appetite and tucked into the spicy Tarantino inspired “Reservoir Dog”, $10. These are not served like traditional hot dogs, but a curled Portuguese sausage is served burger style. Chef’s organic snag was topped with jalapeno harissa, sliced tomato, mesculin leaves, cheddar mayo and fried onions. He loved it! Little Chef scoffed his “Pup Dog”. It got two big thumbs up from him.

I’d been eyeing up the “Mongrel Dog” or “Downward Dog” (I do love a good pun hehe), but the lady who was in charge tempted me with the special of the day the “Sheep Dog”. It was every bit as fresh and tasty as she’d described – with tender and juicy slow cooked lamb shoulder, cooked in rosemary, garlic, cayenne pepper and sumac. Topped with creamy coleslaw and served on a fresh roll baked by Lawley’s Bakery – it was top dog for sure!

Simmos Ice creamery, the Dunsborough favourite, was right next door. We figured it would be rude not to… We’d done a lot of exercise after all! Bubble-gum, choc mint and cookies and cream were the favourite scoops.

We all loved our day at Rottnest – despite being a tad saddle sore from our bike ride! This was the third time I’d been across to Rotto for a day trip and each time I come to love it a little more. I left feeling relaxed and like I’d gotten away from it all – albeit briefly. I’d love to stay longer and really discover more of Rottnest – its history, the southern end (which I’ve never visited) and the restaurants too. With a few planned accommodation developments, it makes me excited for an extended stay in a year or two. Though if Little Chef has his way we’ll be back much sooner, which is fine with us. See you soon Rotto! 20160329_125616

July 26, 2015 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Bathers Beach House – Fremantle

Sunday afternoons are made for Fremantle. For me, they started in the early 1980’s, when my family would take a drive to Freo for some fish n chips, an ice cream and a wander around the markets. Little has changed. Though these days, the food choice at the Fishing Boat Harbour has changed dramatically from what was a simple choice between “Kailis or Cicerellos”.

Bathers Beach House is found in the building opposite Bathers Beach, where McDonalds was for many years. There’s not much to remind you that it was once home to the golden arches – though they have up-cycled their wooden deking, as cladding for a rustic feature wall. Look closely and you might see a pickle stain!

Bathers Beach House is one of the very few restaurants in the Perth metro area with an absolute beachfront view. If you like the sand between your toes there are sun loungers on the beach too. Inside, the modern restaurant is light and bright, with a wall of windows giving views out to the Indian Ocean. We gaze at a huge pelican surfing the waves, searching for a feed of fish.

I too feel like eating seafood. I look over the menu, which has a mostly casual, Modern Australian feel to it. Looking around the dining room it appears that many people are grazing. The share plates also double as starters. Chef and I chose an entree each, feeling like a more traditional “3 course” Sunday lunch.

The drinks menu is sizable and has plenty of local wines available. Searching for a little bit of summer, I choose a tipple from one of my favourite wineries, a Voyager Sangria ($10). The delicious mocktail is made from fruity Voyager Estate red grape juice, monin sangria syrup and freshly cut fruits.

Bacon hock, vintage cheddar & mustard Croquettes ($12) are crisp on the outside and wonderfully gooey on the inside. The tasty morsels have smoky notes and creamed cauliflower for dipping compliments the croquettes well.

I relish the caramelised belly of pork ($14). Though it’s not topped with crackle (an absolute weakness of mine) it is still very crisp. The moist meat sits upon sautéed bok choi, crisp nashi pear and is finished with a mouth-watering star anise reduction. Through the reduction are tiny specks of crackle, adding texture to the dish, though I would have preferred that it was left whole.

Little Chef gets his lunch served as our entrees come out. There is a good kids menu, made from quality ingredients. For $10 as well as his tasty fish and chips a drink and soft serve ice cream were included.

Chef enjoys the Flamed 200g brioche beef burger ($19) which is certainly much better than McDonald’s! The tender burger is layered with swiss cheese, cos lettuce, tomato, pickles & BBQ sauce and is served with a side of fries.

Seared salmon ($32) is served with creamed saffron potatoes and a curry spiced mussel & butternut chowder. This gluten free dish should please those with food intolerances, it is a little different and ticks all the boxes. I get my seafood fix – the salmon cooked perfectly medium rare and though I think the kitchen could have been a little more generous with the amount of plump muscles served.

We share a vanilla bean panna cotta ($12) for dessert. The panna cotta is as wobbly as it should be. The grenadine poached rhubarb gives a sharp contrast to the subtle vanilla. Unfortunately, the ginger snap doesn’t snap. It is far too thick and soggy. A disappointing end to what is otherwise a pleasant lunch.

Whilst nothing knocks our socks off, except for the view, the entire experience makes me think what an enjoyable venue Bathers Beach House is. The food is mostly good, the service is friendly – it will definitely be a spot to be seen at this summer.

*** First Published in the Post Newspaper***

At a glance

■ Bathers Beach House

47 Mews Road

Fremantle

Phone 9335 2911

■ Opening times

Weekdays – 11am till late

Weekends – 8am till late

■ Rating

food 3

service 4

ambience 4

value for money 3

■ style – Modern Australian

■ wine –many WA and

Interstate wines available.

■ Chef – Ross Tyre

■ Owner – Anthony Unmack

■ feel – cool coastal

■ wheelchair access – yes

■ cost

Entree – $8 to $72

Mains – $18 to $36

Dessert – $12 to $26

■ all in all – Friendly service,

modern venue & well cooked

food with a beautiful coastal vista.

April 25, 2015 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Driftwood Food Co – Mullaloo

With new venues opening left right and centre – it’s nice to revisit an old haunt. Chef and I hadn’t been down to the Mullaloo Beach Hotel for quite some years. I had eaten here many many times before – long before my days as a Perth food blogger. About eight years ago, not long after it opened, Chef worked there. We’d been asked along to a spur of the moment lunch, by The Pastry Chef (Chef’s little brother) one sunny Saturday. I suggested that we checked out the MBH, as I’d heard that the Panorama restaurant and it’s menu had recently had a big makeover.

It’s now named “Driftwood Food Co” – a rustic but modern coastal themed restaurant. It is refreshed and much more casual than it’s predecessor. It was a stunning day and I was glad to see the Pastry Chef and his lovely girlfriend K were already sitting out on the balcony. You can’t beat that view over the Indian Ocean.

There’s not table service, drinks and food are ordered at the bar. The menu consists of “share it” and “don’t share it” styles of food. Here’s some of what we ate…

I absolutely love the skewered chicken & Indonesian style peanut sauce ($17) from the “share it” menu. Head Chef Rob was handed this delicious satay recipe from a street food chef in Bali. I was hoping that would mean that the sauce was authentic-tasting and it most certainly was! It’s a great little share dish and there’s some also flatbread to mop up the remaining sauce – nice touch.

The tender 5 spiced squid ($16) was tasty and served with a garlic and chive aioli.

The Pastry Chef enjoyed his Fish Tacos ($14) on a flour tortilla, with tomato salsa, sour cream and jalapeños.

K had a wild mushroom linguine ($24). A selection of mushrooms, including enoki, was simply flavoured with white truffle oil, parmesan and fresh thyme.

The rack of lamb ($33) is also a winner – served with sautéed rocket, sundried tomato puree and a shiraz jus.

Little chef was also well catered for with pencils, colouring sheets and a decent kids menu.

We all enjoyed revisiting the MBH and enjoyed the vibe at the Driftwood Food Co. We arrived at 1pm and we were still there after 5 – we were seriously considering staying for dinner too! It is certainly a top spot for whiling away a few hours on a sunny afternoon.

Find out more at: www.driftwoodfoodco.com.au

March 17, 2015 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Scarborough Beach Bar

Lately I’ve noticed a bit of a pattern appearing in our family dining, being that it’s usually somewhere Chef can enjoy a wood fired pizza and an ice cold beer! Ahh the simple things… So when he suggests that we go to Three Sheets AGAIN – I suggested that we try somewhere different – and the new Scarborough Beach Bar sprang to my mind. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for sitting on the balcony at the upstairs bar and watching the waves roll in.

The interior of the bar is light and airy, with a bit of a nautical, coastal theme. There’s plenty of spots to sit, we opted for the high bar tables.

There’s no table service, so orders are placed at the well stocked bar – Chef was impressed with their huge range of beers and drinks.

Poor me, always the driver, had a pre made juice. It was an interesting and tasty mix of apple, peach, orange, mango, blackberry, elderflower, grape seed and green tea.

The menu is typical of a modern pub with share food and gourmet pizzas to choose from. I was feeling like a “bit of this and that” so chose a couple a smaller dishes. The super tender salt and pepper calamari ($17) with a spicy chipotle aioli was a hit.

I also chose the potato skins three ways ($19, GF) thinking that it wouldn’t be a massive serve – I was wrong! There were six potato skins stuffed full of pulled pork, smoked bacon with sour cream n chives and also tomato and red onion salsa. I enjoyed the fillings, though the pulled pork was quite soggy. I love a pork dish and this unfortunately, fell short on my pork-o-meter.

Chef chose the Farmhouse pizza ($18/$26). It is available in two sizes, Chef opted for the larger size, which he struggled with. The kitchen is very generous with toppings and the pizza was smothered in eye fillet, sliced bratwurst, bacon, diced chicken, Spanish onion, roasted capsicum and cheddar – all on a bbq base. He liked his pizza, the base was nicely crisp, but he said he’d order the smaller version in future. His eyes were definitely too big for his belly on this occasion!

There weren’t a lot of kids around – mostly only children like Little Chef. He was well catered for with a good kids menu and he wolfed down his hotdog and chips.

All in all Scarborough Beach Bar is a great casual venue, where the food is mostly good and reasonably priced. The Scarborough beachfront is far more upmarket these days with new bars and restaurants opening left right and centre. With more additions to come it’s fast becoming the place to be. And who can argue with a view like this…

September 7, 2014 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Matisse Beach Club {CLOSED}

I had been curious about Matisse Beach Club, which opened earlier this year on the Scarborough beachfront. It sounded decadent and chic – like a beach club in Miami or San Tropez.

Matisse has caused quite a stir already – I had heard a couple of things on the grapevine like the food wasn’t too flash and that the average age was pretty young, so I hadn’t rushed out to pay a visit. To be fair though, winter is not the time of year that one would think to visit a beach club!

I got invited to a dinner by Matisse’s management and looked forward to the opportunity to check it out for myself and forge my own opinion.

The last time Chef and I had been at this venue it was “The Lookout” nightclub and we were on one of our first dates. Fast forward about 12 years and there was not a sticky floor in sight – thank goodness! Mattisse is fresh, light and airy. The colour scheme has big splashes of colour which pop against the white. It looks fantastic.

Some people have been whinging about the plastic glasses at the beach club. I don’t see what the issue is – they’re not exactly disposable, frat party cups. To be honest they don’t even look bad. Check out my pretty cocktail below. Who’d even think it was in a plastic cup?! There IS a reason behind the plastic glasses and with two pools and many pairs of bare feet, glass is not a good option.

Scarborough has been dogged by a bad reputation over the years. Matisse uses a state of the art security system to keep the troublemakers out. IDs are scanned on arrival, which is linked to police databases. The average age for men and women is about 29/30 years, so my assumption it was full of 18yr olds was unfounded too – and that’s nothing against 18yr olds – but it makes me feel like a Nanna!

We started the night with lush Mai Tai cocktails ($18) and canapés by the pool. The pool is only 30cms deep – perfect for sitting in with a cocktail in hand. The colourful, neon cabanas can be hired. I loved the spicy chicken drumettes, with blue cheese dip – delicious!

We then went through to the dining room, where colourful dining booths mirrored the cabanas.

A large seafood platter ($70) was brought out for a shared entrée. It was brimming with barramundi, salmon, crab cakes, scallops, oysters, prawns, muscles plus salad, slaw and super chunky chips. We were also treated to pizzas and salads, which both feature on Matisse’s menu of light, share food.

We enjoyed sampling several dishes from the menu. I enjoyed the duck with a walnut and goats cheese salad ($32). I thought the food was very lunch-y and relished the club sandwich ($24), something I’d not eaten in a long time.

At $22 – $26 the pizzas were priced reasonably – the prawn pizza was scrumptious. BTW… it’s half price pizza on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Mattise, owned by the Reid family who are also behind the Breakwater at Hillary’s, will have a busy summer season on their hands. It’s a stunning venue for some drinks and nibbles with friends. Matisse is more laid back than it appears – mirrored by the casual food on the menu. You can even go in barefoot off the beach – shoes are optional before 8pm. Matisse hasn’t been open during hot weather yet, so hasn’t quite had it’s day in the sun. The beach club is something totally unique in WA and will be a big hit in summer.

Thank you to Sean, Michela and the Matisse team for a wonderful night.

April 26, 2014 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

The Kiosk – Floreat

When I was a child, my parents went to great lengths to dodge parks and toy shops, to avoid the inevitable pestering. There is no avoiding this beachside playground, as its smack-bang next to the entrance of The Kiosk. Little Chef, our 5 year old, makes a dash for the slide as soon as he sets eyes on it. I quickly turn it into a bargaining tool. He can play later if he eats all his breakfast. Everyone’s a winner!

Chef and I are ravenous on this re-run election morning – having not succumbed to the sausage sizzle at our local polling station. The Kiosk is light, airy and wedged in-between the beautiful white sand dunes of Floreat beach. We sit in the outdoor dining area, under the sails. I can almost touch the sand.

We brunch with my boss (Mr H) and his lovely family. They’ve been visiting The Kiosk for many years. It’s been operating under its current owner, Venetian born Stefano Rossi since 2008. Mrs H remarks on the lovely ocean view. You simply can’t beat a coastal vista I agree. It was only interrupted by a few morning swimmers, in speedos, walking past our table… yikes!

It’s a jolly atmosphere in the bustling café. Locals are enjoying their weekend; catching up with friends, popping in for a drink whist walking the dog or having a hearty feed after a morning swim. The breakfast menu is substantial and you can brunch there till noon. Chef orders at the counter and our drinks arrive in good time. I’m impressed with the freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.

I choose the Full-on Vego ($24). I hasten to add I am quite the carnivore, but I’m having some food guilt and a large plate of vegetables seems to be the answer. Included are two eggs, how you like, grilled haloumi, mushrooms, beans, caponata, tomatoes and thick toast. The beans are delicious and would be great in a dish of their own. I like the food, though the pesto mushrooms are quite watery. It’s an incredibly generous serving, which I can’t possibly finish.

Chef has the Eggs Benedict ($18.50). Two poached eggs smothered in hollandaise, leg ham and rocket sit upon thick toast, sourced from an artisan bakery. It is Chef’s breakfast menu favourite and his yard stick for a measuring a good brunching spot. It passes the test.

Little Chef’s eyes bulge as his breakfast arrives – a huge stack of pancakes ($14.50). I feel instantly guilty for telling him he must eat ALL of his food. The adult serve of three fluffy pancakes is swimming in maple syrup. I could tell this was going to end up with more syrup on him than consumed. Luckily The Kiosk is a casual place – there are sticky fingers, happy faces and sandy feet aplenty.

We grab a coffee from the outside take away counter and sit on the lawn watching Little Chef burn off those pancakes in the playground. Many weary looking parents, caffeine in hand, have the same idea. We sit back and enjoy the million dollar ocean view. The Kiosk is a great spot for families.

*This was first published in The Post Newspaper 25/04/14*

March 12, 2014 by The Chef, his Wife and their PERTH-fect life

Sculpture by the Sea – Cottesloe Beach

After a casual brunch at Il Lido in Cottesloe, Chef and I attended the opening of Sculpture by the Sea. On the sand and amongst the Norfolk Pines, you can view works by over 70 local, interstate and international artists.

I enjoy art, though my personal preference lies in photographic images. I’m not really the best qualified person to comment on sculptures. I simply like what I see, whether it is pretty, kooky or fun. There is a wide mix of sculptures, all shapes, sizes and made from a wide range of materials – even barbie dolls!

There is a skeleton riding a bike, tips of surfboards poking through the white sand, a wave made of dolls and much more. There are many sculptures that I simply have no idea what they are or what they are supposed to represent – but they look great. There were bags full of sand, outside the Indiana Tea House, which I didn’t even realise were part of the exhibition! Whoops. I really love “Red Centre”, hundreds of red and yellow flags that make a large circle on the beach. The flags look good in photos, but nothing like how amazing they look flapping together in the sea breeze.

Admittedly, being a wine lover – my favourite piece is the giant goon bag!! The actual name of the piece is “Bulk Carrier”, which was created by Mount Lawley Artist Norton Flavel. I love it for its playful novelty value. I had heard that the 15 meter sculpture has a price tag of $20, 000 – who said cask wine was cheap?!

Sculpture by the Sea is actually one of the world’s largest free public events. I’m not sure how accurate the figure is, but a local restaurateur told me that 250, 000 people were expected to attend the event. It’s on till the 24th of March. We’d love to enjoy this in years to come, so make sure you pop a gold coin donation in the bucket.