Official Launch of Public House Kitchen and Bar

Event: 
Opening Night and Media Launch of Public House Kitchen and Bar
I had the privilege of being invited by Telina Menzie (executive chef of The George, Wolf Lane, Byrneleigh, and the Avairy) for the opening of the very cool, sleek, Latin American/South American tapas-like bar in the city's heart and soul, Adelaide Terrace (corner of Victoria Street) -  Public House Kitchen and Bar.

Style: 
Dress: Cue
Shoes: Vangoh Shoes
Bag: Country Road
Ring: YSL Arty Ring

The Public House Kitchen and Bar is so sleek, and sexy with hints of fun through murals and graffiti, the moose head, the wine bottle feature wall, the wooden wheel thing on the ceiling. The staff there are also friendly and rich in accents, you feel like you've escaped from the city for a little while.

The menu is oriented towards South American cuisine, with tangy, spicy, smokey and yet refreshing flavours. Personally, I think the best items on the menu is the oysters with homemade flavoured pearls and the fish and salmon ceviche. Fresh produce, with secret ingredients and sauces, it's the perfect summer dish to share with friends.

Then there is the smoked ribs marinated with this sticky coffee sauce (and the sauce is given to you to brush onto your ribs so that the flavours are even more prominent). Ah, the tasters weren't enough to satisfy me on the night, I must go back once I get back from my holidays and once the silly season is over.

If you get a chance, definitely check it out. It's a great place to eat, drink and be merry with friends and hey summer is here, the perfect time do be doing all that. I'll be taking my mates once I get back from my holidays!

I also ended up getting a lovely gift bag to take hope consisting of the Public House's hot sauce, recipe to make their lovely fried chicken wings, a traditional Latin American cocktail along with some choccies. It was a blast and can't wait to go back to have more of the oysters, the chicken wings and the ceviche!

Merry date night at Merrywell

I feel fitting that I should post about Merrywell, as this "Men's up-scaled pub" recently turned ONE and has been a hit with may Perthians. Bf and I braved the cold, the wind and the rain to visit Merrywell for our mid-week date night. We originally didn't plan to go there, simply because the parking at Crown Casino is the biggest pain in the butt (even on weeknights.. do people not go home??!) and I've had craving for Ciao Italia's tiramisu and was hoping to go there, but the line for the restaurant is the worst I have ever seen! I guess I also had to satisfy the boy's need for MEN FOOD.

I'm suppose to be on health-kick but I've jumped off the bandwagon for a while and it's been hard trying to climb back onto it, so I figured a night (or more) of bad food can't be too bad for your soul (even if it is bad for your waistline).  

The Merrywell is decked out in almost a semi-circle and I love how you can access the place from inside the casino (blackjack is just outside) or go from the outside (it's opposite the main entrance to the hotel). The outdoor area is rather stylish and I prefer it to the indoors. Either way, it's dark and it's moody and LOUD. It can get hard to find seats so prepare to share a table with randoms.

After hunting for a seat we ended up getting one in that's away from the bar and a little more secluded (making it a little bit lower on the decibels). We ordered our mains and I really wanted to try one of their share plate and opted for the grilled ham and cheese pops with cuban-style mustard dip.

Ham and Cheese Pops with cuban-style mustard dip

These were an absolute delight to eat. The cheese wasn't like mozzarella so there wasn't that trail of mess everywhere, but it was lovely, almost light in texture. The mustard dip just gave it that zap to the pops and the dip had the right amount of mustard to give it that little spice kick.

The Merrywell Angus Burger

The boy had the burger and I may have stuffed up his order as I forgot to ask for extra egg.. opps.. my bad. The burger with the chips accompaniment is the usual suspects at Merrywell and suffice to say, why wouldn't it bad as it's fairly delicious and they have won awards for their burgers. 

My choice of meal for the night was somewhat inspire by my up and coming travel adventures to the states and to Vancouver. I got myself the fried chicken with red velvet waffles with honey. 

Fried Chicken with Red Velvet Waffles and Honey

This is probably the most unhealthy meal ever, but damn it was good. Whoever came up with this dish and concept is damn smart. The touch of red velvet to the waffles is also rather nice. The melted butter on the waffles added a little something special and the fried chicken drizzled with the sweet honey yum. Now to try it with maple syrup when I get to Vancouver! I can't wait. If it tastes so good here it must be amazing there. Anyone that can recommend me a place to visit that serves these sort of dishes in Vancouver please comment or send me an email!

It's not hard to see why Merrywell, even in it's infancy of pub/restaurant dining the place is abuzz with people. They are probably one of the perfect watering-hole with a great selection of beers, wines, sparkling, cocktails and jugs to share along with some mouth-watering food from burgers, to buffalo wings, steaks to salads there is something for everyone on the menu (except a little limited to those that are vegetarian and vegan). I hope it stays true to it's laidback, very Australian vibe with very American-Style Food.

After the Merrywell, we detoured to Ciao Italia in South Perth to satisfy my craving and have takeaway dessert consisting of tiramisu. And anyway, the desserts at Merrywell I've tried already (if you didn't recall or didn't get a chance to read it the link is here).

Can't get better than that - fried chicken, red velvet goodness and heavenly tiramisu shared with my boo.

The Wine Store and Wine bar

I love discovering quaint little places around Western Australia. My latest discovery is a corner deli shop turned into a boutique wine store and bar on George street in Fremantle. Such a random place to find amazing wines and good food! It's in the middle of residential area!

The Wine Store is divided into two areas - the store stocks boutique wines sourced locally and around the world - from vintages in Burgundy and Bordeaux to joining the new-world - Argentinean revolution, wines from Portugal, brewing behind the iron curtain and winemaking at home in Australia and at such fair and affordable prices and the bar next door has a cellar downstairs (perfect for functions and perhaps a very intimate wedding reception!). Their team is also very knowledgeable (did you know Malbec actually originates from France. The French then brought the grapes over to Argentina where it thrived in the climate and now everyone thinks it originates from Argentina) and they really appreciate well made wines that are true to their vineyard and of course taste.

Then there is the food, the menu is European and South American inspired made with fresh, local Western Australia produce. Oh and of course cheap coffees with free babycinos (which is the way it should be!).

I had the privilege of being invited to the Yelp Elite event and getting a chance to check out the place and taste test their canapé menu.

The interior design is so nice and the cellar.. perfection for a function. Just look at the photos.

The interiors of the bar upstairs. Love the wallpaper

The cellar dining area - wines on display and right at the back is this beautiful wood table.

An intimate Wedding reception can be held here. If only I had a small family for an occasion like that. But unfortunately I don't. (These two photos are taken by the lovely Adam the photographer of Yelp - thank you muchly for allowing me to use these on my blog).

PLEASE NOTE: The mains shown in this post may not be what is available currently at the Wine Store as the menu changes often.

They also have a open kitchen were you really can see everything. I spent way too long hanging around watching them prep the food. 

On the night, Yelp provided the yelpers with canapés - This lovely ham and cheese croquette with salsa. Divine. I ate a bit too much of those yummy balls. 

Ham and cheese croquette

Then there was the beef empanadas with this nice chilli (hot meter of slight). It was packed with goodness and the pastry wasn't too thick either.



Beef empanadas 

Then the food came out for other people at the bar and I took the opportunity to photograph them and make them look as sexy as possible.

Salad

Fried fish heads

The two canapés didn't cut it, and we were still hungry and the menu looked so good so we stayed for dinner to sample more of the food. 

 Cousin and I - the obligatory toilet photo

 My obligatory social media update on my Samsung Galaxy S4 - the screen is so much bigger making it so idea for instagram and facebook and using blogger on the phone!

We ordered the stuffed field mushrooms to start. They gave us three rather large stuffed mushrooms with feta and breadcrumbs. It was rather tangy which was something I was not expecting. 

Stuffed mushrooms

I really wanted the gnocchi but with the urging of cousin and my health conscious kicking in I want with the half roasted quail and chorizo with sweet corn puree. 

Half roasted quail with chorizo and sweet corn puree 

The sweet corn puree was creamy and sweet and added the much needed flavour to the quail. With the quail they gave me the wrong half, I ended up with two wing pieces instead of a wing and thigh, which greatly diminished the amount of meat I got on my plate (and considering quails are already rather limited in meaty-ness).. it was little bit of a let down (especially when the canapes were so good!).

My cousin got the steak with fries. Her fries had old oil being used and were cold once it reached her. The steak itself was perfectly cooked medium with a tangy pesto sauce on top, which complemented the dish rather well. 

Steak and fries with pesto sauce

The Wine Store is a little gem of a place. It's ambiance is so chilled and with couches to lounge in with a glass of beautiful red or white or even sparkling in hand and with people you love nothing is more glorious. And hey if you want to buy a bottle of the wine you have on hand you can always pop in next door (before 8pm - the liquor store closes at 8:00pm) and get it for cheaper (they stock things not found anywhere else!). They also do breakfast and lunch and cheap (but good) coffee. 

I can't wait to come back with my friends and just spend the night talking, laughing, enjoying good wines and going through the small bites menu. Then going next door to get a bottle of the red we had so we enjoy it all over again at home.

**PLEASE NOTE THE MENU DOES CHANGE OFTEN SO PLEASE CHECK THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE TO SEE WHAT IS ON OFFER**

Disclaimer: The last few dishes were bought by us where the two canapes were part of the Yelp Elite function so thus were on the house!

Reminder: This website is under copyright so if photos are going to be used please kindly credit them back to me. All photos taken by me with my Chiro (Nikon D90) exception of the two that I have credited.