Balthazar

Balthazar, a restaurant I've been wanting to go to and finally the chance came when three old friends finally made a date/found a date after almost 2 years of planning! Ridiculous I know!

Balthazar is an old timer in terms of fine dining in Perth. Known to make consistently delicious fine foods. It's located on the Esplanade in the City and with a sign high above it is easily missed as you walk by. The solid wooden doors hides a bar to the left and wooden stools seatting to the right and in front. It has an air of exclusivity and it's as though you have joined a secret hidden club.

I rocked upon time to find no-one and was told to take a seat at the stools which I was happy to. But I was rather disappointed that I wasn't offered a drink until I walked in and out of restaurant a few times and until someone who kind of looked like a manager showed up. I was then offered the wine list. A very extensive wine list at that. The waiter was rather helpful.

Eventually when CN and EN arrived we were chauffeured to our seats. Balthazar's menu isn't extensive with about 5-6 choices of entree, mains and desserts, which is really the way I like it. It shows they specialise and focuses on making sure that their 5-6 dishes are the best (or at least I like to think that's how it is). We ordered a bottle of Riesling to start the night off, as the girls didn't like reds. Pity because the red wine list looked interesting.

We weren't very impressed by the entree choices so we opted to go straight to the mains and have desserts instead.

I ordered the Duck breast, quinoa, silverbeet, goji berries, pepper, caramel popcorn. I was slightly bemused by the inclusion of popcorn in my upmarket meal, but I suspect its an "in" thing, like mirco herbs and cooking in liquid nitrogen. The caramelised popcorn reminded me of the caramel popcorn you get in a bag, and ones I used to eat as a kid, and seemed rather cheap to me to be in a fine dining place. Textually though, the popcorn did work well with the quinoa, sliverbeet, goji berries and pepper. The duck was slightly pink and was well cooked. Wasn't perfect, but wasn't bad. I'm not sure if the flavours of everything went well together, I felt as though it was too peppery and the popcorn became soggy with the juices on the dish. And the pepper and the popcorn seemed to overpower everything. It was interesting and something very different to every fine dining duck dish I've ever had. So bravo for that.

CN had the Beef fillet, mushroom, smoked potato, creme fraiche and potato fondant. The steak was a good cut and cooked to the way CN liked it. There was lots of flavours and well presented, but it was like any steak dish so we weren't blown away by it.

EN had the pork with scallops and crackling. The pork was succulent and moist with flavour and the scallops were cooked to perfection. The crackling, seemed very store bought crackling (Nobby's pork crackling), disappointing in that respects. But the creamy sauce went well with the dish.

We were all a little disappointed with the mains and maybe because we have high hopes and have a high bar for renowned Perth fine dining places. This may stem from the fact that we've eaten at Quay, Press Club, Vue De Mode, Aria, Gingerboy etc.

However, there was still hope for Balthazar as their desserts sounded lovely. All the choices but alas we settled for three to share.

Firstly, there was the Chocolate fondant, chocolate soil, vanilla apples. It was rich, beautiful moist chocolate cake and cut into it and chocolaty oozes out. It was warm and a must for chocolate fans.

Secondly, there was the Date pudding, caramel popcorn ice cream. This time the caramel popcorn fitted like a glove with the sticky date pudding. The sticky date itself wasn't too sweet either. It was the perfect winter dessert.

And last but not least, but something that caught our interest, was the Strawberries, Truffle honey cream, Black Garlic and liquorice ice cream. A little bit of savoury and sweet all in a dessert. Curiosity for something different made us order this. The black garlic was subtle and could not be tasted but it had a nice texture and was extra creamy. The liquorice flavour was not too overpowering and was also rather subtle. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the liquorice ice cream, but it wasn't bad, I might just be biased because I've never been a fan of liquorice. The truffle honey cream was rubbery in texture, too much gelatin. It was also bland. Bit disappointing because it should have been the element to balance the whole dish and make it more dessert like. The strawberries had been preserved in syrup which seeped out with each bite. Overall, this dish was not fantastic, but I love how it's different and how it could have been amazing if some elements of the dish were perfected.

Balthazar has been around for ages, and I know why, it's because it takes a risk with it's food and most of the time it works. The elements and textures work, although it lacks some flavours because I feel as though it tries to incorporate too much. Having said that I wouldn't mind going back because it's different from the other find dining places around Perth, which is rather refreshing, because they all seem to be doing the same at present. I just wish they prefect some aspects of their dishes I've tried and perhaps most importantly improve their service. The service throughout the night was rather lacklustre. And when there is competition, service and food is everything.

Blissful RDO (Rostered Day Off)

Nothing beats a random weekday off from work for my RDO!

So what's better than spending it at a spa!

I went to the relatively new Endota spa opposite His Majesty's Theatre near Empire Games on Hay street in The city.

Climb the stairs and you are already starting to relax as soothing music fills the air and the rush of the city is left behind.

I had a lovely lady Laura look after mre. Shr firstly waxed my legs and shaped my eyebrows before leading me into dimmed room with soothing music. I had a foot massage and scrub before a beautiful one hour full body massage. Followed by a 30 minute calming facial. I swear I fell asleep at some point.

It was just blissful and I didn't want to go back to reality.

If only I was a lady of leisure wouldn't mind getting it done more often.

Crackle polish

I was playing around with my younger cousin's OPI nail polishes on Sunday night when I was over at her place. Although I own a crackle nail polish by OPI in silver I've never gotten around to using it. She had a rather blue/aqua/cyan crackle polish so I gave it a whirl.

I put on a coat of white OPI nail polish and placed the blue crackle polish on top. This is of course after putting your base coat on. Then finish it off with a top coat. The crackle effect obviously various and depending on how much you put on it may not crackle much at all.

Please excuse the photo taken with my phone.

I haven't done my cuticles in a long while, you can say good decent 9 months. So bare with my fingers. Furthermore this is my right hand so the nail polish is not nicely done as I had to paint with my left hand and I'm no left hander.

I'm not sure if I'm a fan. I don't know if it's the very contrast colour effect that makes me not like it or whether it's because I like perfectly manicured one coloured polishes. Granted as a teen I used to put two different colour polishes on one nail and place diamontes on my nails too. But alas those creative days are behind and I prefer streamlined neat and elegance.
Hmmm...perhaps if I put the silver crackle on black nail polish it'd turn out like lightning and that be pretty cool.

The verdict is still out as to whether I like crackle nail polish or not...

How about you? Yes or No?

consequences of my love of food

Story of my life.

I was really good in the past week, exercising three times a week. Doing double classes. Starting to feel like my fit self before laziness took over earlier this year.

Then...

Weekend happened...

Had pizza delivered to work on Friday night. Bf went and bought me ice cream at the movies. Had brunch on Saturday morning. Cousin delivered Grill'd to work for dinner on Saturday night. Had mum's homemade yummy noodles when I got home. (DOUBLE DINNER EPIC FAIL!) Then today... ate too much ice-cream for dessert at O's dinner party. T_T

There goes all the exercise...

SIGH..

here comes another week of committing to exercise!

Alive at Boubar

I've just been so busy with post-grad assignments, work, work projects, getting my house and trying to maintain some sanity by catching up with friends and family that this space has just been abandoned for a while. I have to say though nothing says I'm busy but having to do a Friday night shift followed but a Saturday night shift. This meant that the only time I could spend time with my boy was him picking me up Friday night to go and watch Snow White and the Huntsmen and really, Kristen Stewart still can't act and omg she just can't stop crying (I have to admit though that her ability to cry on cue is pretty impressive). I wish the evil queen story was told more. I did prefer this version simply because it was darker. 

Anyway, back to having to also work Friday and Saturday nights - talk about cutting into my social life. Bf and I decided to have brunch before work. We wanted to try the Tuck Shop cafe in northbridge, but even at 10am, it was a 20minute wait, which I couldn't afford as I had work at 12. So we ventured closer to work and went for Santi - which was unforunately closed due to a private function. By this stage I was getting very hungry and very anxious about not getting food and having to go to work hungry! 

So we went to Boubar, even though it was packed. It took them about 20-30 minutes to get our meal out but It wasn't too bad. I was rather impressed by the quality. And of course their long mac was well made. I had the chorizo, egg and baked beans on toasted bread. It came in a ceramic plate and the flavours of tomato, spices was well infused into the sauce which coated the homemade baked beans, chorizo and toasted bread. I had an extra side of mushrooms which went beautifully with the dish. The egg was fried lightly and folded back so the york was still slightly runny when it was cut into. The downside was I think it was a little too zesty after a few bites.

Bf had the egg florentine. The poached eggs were a little overcooked but he seemed to have enjoyed his meal. The holladaise sauce according to him was a little tangy, which he wasn't sure if that was usual holladaise sauce tangy or over-doing it. Either way he was full by the end of it, especially as he had extra mushrooms.

Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised by the food that Boubar put out. Considering their wraps and that aren't all delicious - I've had them a few times during lunchtime break at work. I have to say though, the prices are inflated but at least they give decent portions with lots of chirozo, mushrooms etc. in their dishes.

Overall, I was happy despite having to run around Perth just to get brunch before work.

I've disappeared because I've been too busy. Along with settlement of house (a place to call my own!), work being chaos and ultra busy, post-grad studies, there is really no time to write about my food adventures at Origins, Amuse, Meeka, Airsuru etcetera... And my other huge excitements. Until the time when I finish my post grad semester this will have to wait.

Party in your mouth thanks to cadbury!

I'm not sure how many of you have seen the Cadbury "Marvellous Creations" advertisment on TV, but bascially it sees the addition of jelly bits, beanies, smarties and popping candy mixed with chooclate. My work collegues and I are addicted to it, becuase OMG it is like a PARTY IN YOUR MOUTH. The popping candy just keeps on popping and it's just fun to eat and is fantastic. The cruchie with jelly one isn't as good. So go all out for the cruchie, popping candy, smarties, jelly bits marvellous creations instead!

Go and try it if you haven't already! I know I have to try the peanut toffee cookie one.

ps. this is not a sponsored ad, although I really wish it was! because i wouldn't mind having a good supply of them in my cupboard, despite trying so hard to kick-start my exercise and diet again! (That is another story to tell for another day -  trust me it's hilarious!)

Modo Mio

Located in the Burswood entertainment complex, Modo Mio is a fine Italian cuisine restaurant decked out in simple but very chic baroque style interiors. It serves authentic Italian cuisine with unsurpassed quality and when an Italian gf loves the place you know it has too be good!

 

Their selection of food is wide and varied with quality fresh in-house pastas, pizzas, steaks and seafood it was a tough choice.

They served us a side of bread with beautiful butter and olive oil and sea salt. We had to restrain ourselves from getting more bread as we knew the mains and dessert would be filling, this also meant skipping entree.

 

However, seeing as it was the first time I've been to Modo Mio and with their well-known delicious freshly prepared in-house pasta I went for the linguiani and MT went for the black ink fettuccine. 

 Linguiani with salmon and prawns

I must say the pasta was absolutely delicious. It was creamy, smooth beautiful pasta. The diced salmon and prawns with the sauce was fantastic. Although, again with my very sensitive taste buds I found this dish slightly salty. But nonetheless it was probably the pasta dish I've had and the freshness is so obvious. 

Black ink fettuccine with seafood

 

I didn't get to taste MT's dish as I'm allergic to squid/octopus/cuttlefish but she absolutely loved it.

This was of course accompanied by a glass of red wine.

For dessert, it was such a tough choice, I wanted almost everything on the menu, but alas we Tiramisu and the Panna cotta con fragole marinate all’aceto balsamico e basilico. 

The tiramisu was AMAZING. The richness of the marscapone with the strong flavours of the espresso. It was exactly the way it should be.

The panna cotta - again, the custard was smooth, creamy delicious. And the hint of sour and sweet fruits with the sweetness of the panna cotta was the perfect balance. 

We were both in dessert haven. I still however, preferred the tiramisu, simply because I love coffee-flavoured things (done with real coffee) and I don't particularly have a sweet tooth.

I must say, Modo Mio is definitely worth the fuss and is sure worth the visit. Just be warned, that the staff wasn't exactly attentive and the service can be somewhat lacking, but the food is amazing and ambiance makes up for it.

 

Mary Poppins Musical

If you get the chance go and see Mary Poppins live musical at Broadway, West End or even good ole Perth's Burswood theatre.

It's amazing. The setting especially and the lighting, effects, show itself! And of course the familiar music and songs.

Thoroughly entertaining and definitely a great way to end my one week holidays!

P'tite Ardoise Bistro

J'aime un bon restaurant français, I love a good French restaurant. The cosiness and simplicity of P'tite Ardoise and the friendliness of the very Frenchy staff takes me back to my time in Paris, (except perhaps the staff at P'tite Ardoise was nicer and much friendlier).

“P’tite Ardoise” means “little blackboard” or “little slate” in French, and the blackboard motif is used throughout the restaurant with a lot of their food being served on black slates - which I think oozes sophistication, elegance and simplicity. The decor is minimalistic, sleek and is very French. The waiters and waitresses are authentically French, one of whom was from just outside of Lyon and was here to study English. So you really were transported there!

The menu at P'tite Ardoise consists of a selection of regular menu items and a selection of seasonal items. It's intimate and yet quite a fine selection of food to choose from. 

Bf and I opted for a three course of French flare and the menu offered so many lip-smacking good dishes it was hard to choose. Whilst we were pondering what to get, the waitresses were rather helpful and were very knowledgeable about the dishes. The one thing lacking on their menu though was a wine list - when we visited last month the place was still waiting for their alcohol license and it was still BYO. I really hope they get it, because we forgot to bring a bottle and the meal would have been fantastic if we had it accompanied with some red. We instead opted for lemon lime and bitters - which really isn't the same.

Before the entree, we were asked if we would like bread (which I thought was free - but it turns out it's $3.50 for bread - so if you are a bread eating and planning to eat more than just one then get it otherwise forget it). Having said that though, the butter, olive oil and olive dip was rather delicious.The ambiance of the place was also remarkable - very much like we were in France - I was very much nostalgic and wished I was back in romantic Paris.

For entree bf opted for the scallops with pumpkin and pesto (i believe - i can't remember what the dish was called) . I remember it being very well cooked - the scallops were perfect - not rubbery and it had beautiful balance of flavours.

I on the other hand, opted for escargot cooked chefs way. It came in ceramic dishes with this lightly toasted bread on top and what was underneath was a bit of a surprise. There was a creamy, delicious broth (although slightly on the salty side for me) filled with escargot. With the bread soaked in the broth and with spoonfuls of the escargot, both and bread it was fantastic!

For the mains, bf ordered the steak while I opted for their signature twice cooked duck. The steak was tender with a great cut and fantastic sauce (which was served separately in a gravy boat), while the duck literally fell off the bone it was perfection, although I wished they gave more of the sauce. Although the duck did come with a side of vegetables. Despite that it was truly an amazing dish and bf thoroughly enjoyed his meal too!

Then the best part of the night - the dessert. There was such a lovely selection to chose from. I really wanted to try the chef's tasting platter but decided that I can get that next time I came back to P'tite Ardoise, so instead tried their seasonal dessert which was this "flowery" patisserie - the smell was so fragrant and the taste was sweet. The patisserie was unbelievable good and mixed with the melted chocolate sauce the dessert was sensational - granted it was huge!

Bf on the other hand got this chocolate delight - however it had peanut on the top so had to be sent back and they carefully scrapped it and gave it fairy floss hair! And the ice cream that came with it had intense flavours.

All in all, P'tite Ardoise was a culinary delight, and one with attentive, obliging, friendly service and smiles. The only downfall is that it is hard to get a booking -in fact they might have changed their rules since we were there and no longer excepts bookings. Apart from that, once their alcohol licensed is approved it would be the perfect place for a date.

ps. Sorry the photos were taking on my iphone without flash so they turned out a bit yellow from the lighting in the restaurant.

Week off

Annual trip to Melbourne and a well deserved break. Yay!

coffee break

It's rather exhausting shopping for homewares, manchester, furniture etc.

So after a yet another day of shopping (seeing as shopping days are limited to Thursday, Friday night shopping and weekends it's taking a while) my parents and I decided to take a break over coffee, latte for me and cappacino for my parents and of course a lovely lemon tart to go with it. The lemon tart was zesty with a touch for sweetness and crumbly pastry - surprisingly balanced lemon tart and the coffee, wasn't burnt and wasn't too milky and was decently made.

Lucky for me, the only thing left to buy for the house is a vacuum and perhaps more decorating stuff, which I can get anytime.

Pitter patter pitter patter.. Rain is falling down.. Splashing all around..

I love the sound of rain... Pitter patter pitter patter against my windowpanes.

It's so soothing, refreshing and cozy.

Listening to it before you drift off to dreams is pure magic.. Wish there was nights like this all the time.

See by Chloe

Oh what a steal!....

A lovely See by Chloe 3 buckle leather Carmel bootie At $290.00!

It's so versatile, gorgeous and most importantly comfortable!

I can pair them with my super skinny Lee jeans, some beautiful knits and dresses and stockings.

Here just a few examples of what I can wear them with..

Coffee on rainy days

Nothing is more charming and alludes warmness than exposed walls tight corners with black leather sofas. It screams New York!

That's what Brew-Ha in subiaco is. Oozing with coolness and yet still warm.

It's especially good to just sit in the corner leather sofa drinking a flat white and eating this perfectly balance of sweet and tangy (and not too over-powering) passionfruit tart and catching up with an old friend, whilst outside it's pelting down with rain.

The cherry on the cake would have to be that you also just finished yet another hell-ish Saturday shift on one of the busiest wards ever!

Life's great!