Sick as a puppy...

I've been sick since Tuesday and I thought I was getting better but I've been coughing up my lungs and I'm all congested.

So not only have I missed work but missed an all important date with the girls - a triple date and it was to see Danny Bhoy with epic close seats. Sigh.

But my god vicks vaporub is my friend! That and paracetamol.

Current Elliott Jeans FOR SALE

I bought these Current Elliott Jeans online and it didn't fit! MASSIVE FAIL.

So alas I'm selling them BRAND NEW on eBay at a bargain bid price of $50.. original retail price is USD 198...

SIGH..

so sad..

but check it out here and bid if you like them and are a size 26 in jeans!

Blackbird

Blackbird is one of my local restaurants whom I have sworn I will visit. It has been how many years and how many times I've said I'll try it, and finally this weekend that just went by I went with bf before going to La Marea (an outdoor play that is part of the Perth Art Festival - I'll save that for another post).

We didn't have a booking but we were there just before 6pm, they were just getting ready to open and although fully booked were able to fit us a seat outside in their alfesco area.

To start the night, I got myself a white (because it was such a hot day!), a mascato. Lovely, sweet and refreshingly cool. I also loved the vase and the little salt pot that was on the table so took a photo of it. It was just too cute!

So many people walked past, families, couples, runners, and of course those that were coming to the restaurant. I've forgotten how beautiful this part of East Perth was. It helps when the duck pond is filled with water and there are ducks. Most of the time, in summer at least, the pond dries up. But obviously the council is looking after the area.

Blackbird's alfesco area is lovely, with little pot plants of succulents and flowers lining the windows of the restaurant. They also have a basket with Aerogard! (Mossie repellent!) - SCORE. All restaurants with an outdoor area should have one! We didn't use it, but I probably should have because I was starting eaten alive. Anyway, the restaurant is so cute, all painted black inside, cosy little thing. Very Mediterranean style on the outside. Reminds me of the many Paris and Nice restaurants.

We were served by a very friendly, funny waiter, who was very helpful in terms of choosing our dishes to eat for the evening. We were rather indecisive. Even though the menu was small, everything on it sounded pretty yummy. We ended up sharing an entree, a main each and having two small desserts to share.

For the entree we opted for the Blackbird plat du jour - which consisted of skewered prawns and squid, brie with toasted bread and blackberry jam and chirozo on fried polenta. The skewered prawns and squid was delicious. Lightly grilled and had that smokey taste to it. It was on top of a bed of salsa/tomato sauce. Perfect for summer. The brie and the jam was delicious, the jam was sweet and lovely, I wish there the slice of brie was thicker or more brie in general (they kind of skimped out on it) because the jam seemed to have overpowered the taste of cheese. The chirozo were a little tough but are of good quality. I would have preferred it without the polenta and perhaps a few more pieces of chirozo. I suppose we did only order for one plate, but it left us wanting more. Overall it was a good start to our dinner.

Blackbird's Plat Du Jour

For the mains bf had his favourite meat - beef.. This time in the form of beef stracci, sweet potato, mushroom. The beef was delicious. It was char-grilled. It had this lovely smokey taste and the beef was tender, although it was on a bit of well-done side (he preferred medium) and it was odd that he wasn't asked how he wanted his beef done. Nonetheless, the flavours in the dish worked well and that smokey taste and smell was just fantastic. Was glad he gave me a decent portion to taste.

Beef stracci, sweet potato, mushroom

Unlike the boy, I had huge troubles making up my mind about what I wanted. Torn between the pasta, the fish and the lamb oh and I also wanted the beef. In the end I decided I will get the healthier option and opted for the fish of the day. The fish of the day was grilled snapper in a wonderful seafood broth, with a "nest" and salad. The snapper was perfectly cooked and again had that smokey flavours through it. The seafood reduction was so well seasoned and you can really taste the seafood, in particular prawns. Which, I wasn't sure if it was coming from the fish at first, but it was from the broth. The seafood broth was definitely flavourful and lovely, and slightly salty. Surprisingly it came out looking like nothing I imagined, but a pleasant and delicious dish that I enjoyed.

Fish of the day - grilled snapper with seafood broth and nest

Then to throw our diets right out of the window we opted for dessert. We ended up getting their homemade ice cream, which really should be three different ice cream but because one of them was macadamia nuts (the curse of that nut for poor bf) we ended up getting two scoops of the honey and fig and one scoop of orange mint chocolate. The flavours of the ice cream were rather intense and they also had pieces of fig on the plate which was a nice touch. However, the texture of the ice cream was all wrong. It wasn't smooth and creamy enough and was a little icey and it definitely didn't look like it was frozen long enough. Perhaps it was a fresh batch? It melted way too fast much to our disappointment.

Trio of in-house Ice Cream - Honey and Fig and Orange Mint Chocolate

We also had the chocolate truffles to go with our ice cream. 5 little chocolate truffle balls coated in coconut. It was lovely, but it felt like it was frozen for a while, because you really couldn't get that texture of silkiness in the centre that you usually get with truffles.

Chocolate truffles

Bf and I ended up having a lovely dinner at Blackbird and I wouldn't hesitate to refer the place to you. It's a cosy restaurant, rather romantic and relaxing. The waitstaff are friendly and the service is always present. The menu is small, but they do the dishes very well and from the looks of the different plates coming out for other people it all looked beautiful. To top it off, the price is so decent for Perth. Worth checking out at least once.

No. 4 Blake Street Restaurant full of surprises

I was kindly invited by Tom Randolph (owner of Tom's Kitchen) and his team to visit their restaurant No. 4 Blake street, which I remember seeing somewhere a few weeks before the email landed in my inbox. Nonetheless, when I got the invite I was rather excited to check out the new place, especially when it was to be a theatrical experience. And I love a bit of a show especially when there are fine foods on display.

Tom Randolph (Owner and Head Chef of No. 4 Blake Street)

No.4 Blake street restaurant is literally where the restaurant is, at No.4 on Blake street in North Perth. The name is not exactly creative, but then it makes you guessing as to what type of dishes you'll be served. Simple black and white decor with exposed lighting with red velvet curtains (where the kitchen lies) greets your eyes as you enter. Although, the second room there is a large collection of wine on display. You would also notice that the tables are laid bare, no cutlery of any sorts at all. This is so that the artists (the chefs) can prepare your meals and serve it on a clean canvas. The cutlery will be served to you as needed throughout the night. No fuss dining at a fine dining establishment. Interesting concept and one which I like.

The blank canvas that is the table

Bf and I were warmly greeted by Majdouline and Romain and we took a seat next to the Miss SM and Miss Anise of Perth Food Engineers and Michelle from Foodie Cravings along with others from the Perth blogging scene. It was nice to see them all and to catch up. We were poured some sparkling, photos were taken, including from the photographer from the Sunday Times (we ended up in the STM social pages) before Tom came out of the kitchen to introduce himself to us. A very warm, friendly guy with a lovely smile. He presented us the philosophy behind the restaurant - a typical dinner but with elements of surprise in the form of the Al Dente and the Palate Cleanser. Tom stated that, the restaurant is an opportunity for him and his partner in crime in the kitchen to be creative with fresh produce and ingredients from around the state. A bit of a show where fine foods are the final products by the actors (chefs).

Tom Randolph

Bf and I in STM confidential with a photo of owner Tom and waitress Majdouline on the right.

We started of the evening with some bread - olive or white sourdough. I tried both. To complement the homemade bread we had three freshly made butter - Olive, Pedro Ximenz and Orange. Out of the three butters the pedro was probably the best, but all three had lovely flavours and taste, with the orange butter, being well, very orangy and I wasn't so sure about it being in butter form.

Trio of butter - L to R - Olive, Pedro Ximenz and Orange

We were served with two wines chosen by Romain for the evening. The Rockford, Semillon 2002, Barossa Valley and D'Arenburg, Shiraz Viognier 2004, McLaren Vale. Being a lover of red I settled for the red for the evening, which ended up going beautifully with all the dishes I was served. BUT before I started on the red I had a taste of the white, and I must say it was a beautiful refreshing white wine that I probably could drink.

Romain the in house sommelier

The amuse bouche was a platter containg little shimeji, porcini foam, mushroom glass, sweet corn pannacotta and truffled popcorn. The combinations of flavours and textures on the plate was so well executed. Meshed so well together - the sweetness of the pannacotta, the saltiness and crunchy texture of the popcorn and the bite of the mushroom was just divine. It got our mouths watering and eager for the rest to come out.

Amuse Bouche - shimeji, porcini foam, mushroom glass, sweet corn pannacotta and truffled popcorn

For entrée, we were served on alternate seatings with bf getting the goat's cheese gnocchi, aromatic oils, baby herbs, borage blossom in tomato water. This flavours of the tomato 'soup'/water was just amazing and I was very lucky to have had the chance to try it. The gnocchi was also amazingly soft and had a nice punch to it (as goat's cheese do..) but with the tomato (the juices squeezed out for 12-16 hours!) herb aromatic oil infused water it was divine. A dish that caused a buzz amongst all the bloggers in the room.

Entree choice 1: Gnocchi, aromatic oils, baby herbs, borage blossom in tomato water

The rabbit parfait, belly presse, loin and kidney terrine with pomegranate jelly was the other entree and one which I had. The rabbit parfait was amazing. It was the best parfait I've had in a long time. Silky, smooth and full of flavour. The belly presse was a little salty for me, but then I have a low tolerance of salt. I just wished that they gave us more of the pomegranate jelly, it went so beautifully with all the elements of the dish.

Entree choice 2: Rabbit parfait, belly presse, loin and kidney terrine with pomegranate jelly

The next course for the evening was the Al dente - an surprise pasta course which changes each day. We were however served a tortellini with sweetbreads with a champagne cream sauce and orange zest. I really thoroughly enjoyed this dish and really wished there was more of it. The pasta was fresh and made in-house and the sweetbreads in the pasta is a little something different but amazing.

Al Dente: Tortellini with sweetbreads with a champagne cream sauce and orange zest

Mains came not too long after, with 3 varieties of mains on our table due to Miss SM's of PFE dietary requirements. I was more than happy about that, it meant more displays of No.4's dishes and Miss SM was kind enough to give a taste of her seared duck breast! Bf and I ended up with same dish of glazed pork, white eggplant caviar, mustard, cassis, eggplant crips as he wasn't a fan of fish or seafood and wanted the pork so swapped with Miss Anise of PFE, who couldn't eat the pork dish due to her dietary requirements. So after a bit of playing musical plates we were settled in to eat our mains.

The glazed pork, white eggplant caviar, mustard, cassis and eggplant crips, was well seasoned, beautiful combination of flavours, although bf would have preferred something with crackling on it (but then he's a little obsessed with pork belly and pork crackling!).

Main 1: Glazed pork, white eggplant caviar, mustard, cassis and eggplant crips

The barely cooked ocean trout was a winner on the table, with those who had it singing its praises. With how silky and melt-in-your-mouth moment the trout was and the squid ink cracker was that little something special.

Barely cooked trout, squid ink crisps and cuttlefish

Miss SM of PFE gave me a little tasting of her druck breast. It was cooked so beautifully, so tender and well seasoned, a little on the salty side for me, but with the plum sauce it cut through the salt and was the perfect partner to the duck.

Duck Breast

Then the second surprise dish of the day - the palate cleanser. We had tropical flavours presented on our plates with coconut sorbet with a sesame base, popping candy, sago and pineapple granita. This dish was well loved by everyone at the table. I was so excited about the popping candy and the textures and flavours of this dish was well matched and so refreshing, the perfect cleanser for my palate before the dessert.

Palate Cleanser: Coconut sorbet, sesame base, popping candy, sago and pineapple granita

The desserts caused a stir to our table, alternate seating of chocolate pot garden and textures of passionfruit. Although before was rather upset and disappointed (and still is) that he couldn't eat chocolate garden (still whinging about it!).

So I must say that bf although whinging that he got the passionfruit dessert (which really isn't his style and more mine sort of styled dessert) - white basil ganache, mango, salted sesame and coconut sago, he polished the plate before I could try it. But from what was said around the table it was refreshing.

Dessert 2: Textures of passionfruit - basil ganache, mango, salted sesame and coconut sago 

(the presentation is oddly similar to that of the palate cleanser)

The cherry chocolate garden pot - valhrona chocolate mousse, salted peanut, dacquoise, cherry and macadamia nuts. It really looked like a garden pot, as it was presented in a ceramic pot (no idea who they would wash that!) with the micro herbs being the flowers. Cutest presentation ever! Love it! The dark chocolate was divine and with the crunch of the nuts provided that additional texture. It was beautiful if not slightly rich for me at the end, but if boy were to have it he would have adore it. Pity it had nuts in it, otherwise he could have shared.

Dessert 2: Cherry Chocolate garden pot - Valhrona chocolate mousse, salted peanut, dacquoise, cherry and macadamia nuts

The evening was very enjoyable and hosts Romain and Majdouline certainly made us feel welcomed and were very friendly. Our thanks to the chef and owner Tom and everyone involved for the beautiful evening at No. 4. I can't wait to take my girlfriends there for a nice night out or even for the high tea (it sounds exquisite!).

No. 4 Blake street really was a special experience with many pleasant texture and flavour surprises which worked beautifully. It's priced decently as well for a 6 course meal at $90. They also do breakfast, lunch and high tea (an exciting and a different sort of high tea menu!). No. 4 Blake street is worth checking out with that special someones.

Busy week

I have been meaning to share with all of you the wonderful dinner I had at Tom Randolph's new fine dining restaurant No. 4 Blake street, in North Perth. It was absolutely wonderful for him to have invited me and my boy. But alas, I have been swamped with family commitments since I had the dinner ONE and a HALF weeks ago and I am never behind with reviewing places I have been kindly invited too.

It's just with Chinese New Year and the lovely visit of my Uncle, Aunty and cousin from UK it has been a whirl-wind of late nights, along with the usual chaos of work!

In fact, I really should be sleeping instead of updating this on my phone. I have work tomorrow and it starts at 730am!!

So, I leave you with the Chinese New Year Massive dinner that is celebrated by my immediate family (no uncles, aunties, grandparents involved - that came on Tuesday and Wednesday that just went..).

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I hope to post tomorrow or Sunday! promise!

Like I said the immediate dinner celebrations for Chinese New Year was a banquet! Cooked by my Mum and Dad. It was lovely. The strawberry sorbet was the perfect cleanser after the massive meal. I love Weis.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Here's to the new year and to the year of the snake!

Style Inspiration: Emma Watson

One of the wonderful things for us audiences is watching your actor or actress grow in front of you on the big screen. None is more evident than Emma Watson.

From the shy, cute 11 year-old to a beautiful young woman with an amazing sense of style. There really isn't much to say. From her pixie haircut to her long blonde/brown hair, she's able to pull off any look with sophistication, with ease, with elegance.

Look how she has grown...

Casual and chic in skinny black jeans, flats and hey all you need is a good coat/outerwear.. and she'll show you how to wear shorts..

Then her dresses... oh how I love her dresses...

It's magic really. And I believe she doesn't have a stylist and does her own styling too.. not bad I say.