Watershed washout

So a couple months of ago the girls and I headed down to Margaret River for a weekend driving down at 730 in the morning stopping by at Busselton to walk the jetty before checking in and then heading to a winery, more specifically Watershed to grab some lunch and of course, bottles of wine.

The grounds of watershed, like most places in Margaret River was lovely. The restaurant overlooks the vineyard, which provided the perfect setting for the start of the girlie weekend. However, the view was about the only thing that was served right.

The vineyard at the back of the restaurant. It really was a lovely, idyllic view. 

The way weekend getaways should be.

For a Saturday afternoon, the place wasn't too busy so the lacklustered service seemed unacceptable. Water wasn't placed or offered for the table, the service was slow, we waited about 30 minutes for someone to take our order, than almost an hour for our mains to come.

Both O and A grabbed the beef fillet with mushrooms and truffle shavings, while I got the duck, and T wasn't hungry so got the entree of seafood croquette.

O's and A's beef fillet with musrooms and truffle shavings - beef was overcooked 

although the truffle shavings were generous it just didn't tie well with the sauce or the meal.

This was supposed to the Duck Confit - it was crispy (which I have no problems about) but I do have a problem when the duck meat itself is dry and almost tastes burnt - definitely overcooked.

This was probably the best dish - but really most deep fried food is.

The saving grace and probably the only good thing about going to Watershed was their wines. They are just fantastic. We ended up going to the cellar after taking a few photos and grabbed ourselves 6 bottles.

Holiday blues

My boyfriend drives me crazy. And not necessarily in a good way. Sometimes being stuck with just one person on a holiday sucks big time. I can tell you he wouldn't win the amazing race anytime soon. He can be such a sook!

Paris Marais Falafel

I'm spending my first night in the city of lights, one of the most romantic and idyllic cities in the world, Paris!

Despite having had a massive day I'm not sleepy and it's past midnight. Alas it means I must blog.

Instead of blogging about my trip I'm going to review tonight's very late dinner in Paris. We ventured into the heart and soul of Marais and i have determined to find the famous falafel restaurant (and of course the local's favorite dine in and take away venue, and the New York Time's and Rick Steve's favorite falafel restaurant), L'As Du Falafel.

The restaurant is just your local restaurant, almost hearty fast food like hawkers. Small, intimate, not necessarily 100% clean but packed to the brim with local French and some international diners. There is also a take away area at the front of the restaurant which had a line when we got there at 9pm. The restaurant itself was also packed out.

They served us with plastic plate and folk but that was only really needed to stop the spillage! Bf and I had the pita sandwich. I opted for a vegetarian falafel special while bf had it with lamb. It came out folded like a pocket in baking paper served by one the guys from the restaurant who just held the pocket in his hands.

The serving was generous, more than enough. There was plenty of falafel in the pocket of pita bread and plenty if lamb too!! Lots of vegetables and sauce (but not too much that it soaked through the bread.)

It really was delicious and definitely worth saying the best in the world. The falafel was cooked beautiful not dried out and the coating was not too thick that you lose out of actually tasting the falafel. The lamb was also cooked superbly and not dry or tough.

Although downside is that it's hard to eat, although I suppose that's also the excitement and the fun of it too!

To top it off I got to sit next to two very nice French girls who comes to the place often and recommended me their favorite dishes on the menu, one of which I tried tonight and if I get a chance again I might get the chicken that she recommended. One of them agreed that the servings are large but she is so used to eating and lives it so much that she always feels as though she should eat two!

I must say if I get peckish during the day and I'm around Marais or get peckish at night, I hope to make it down from our hotel and cross a few blocks and grab a take away! It's that hearty, yummy and satisfying! To top it off it's cheap-ish eat (7-8 euros) not snotty it's warm friendly and welcoming, although it feels a but rushed, but at least your food is served quickly.

Ps don't bother with sides of chips like we did. Although we did manage to finish the fries too, but it's just over kill.

Resting after hunting Lochness Monster at Morag's Lodge

I'm blogging on my phone at Morag's lodge - which by the way is an awesome spacious hostel in Lochness Scotland UK. Highly recommend it!

Our driver and guide - Alan with Hamish the hairy highland cow

I can't believe I'm 10 days into my holiday! Absolutely loving Scotland, really which I have more time.

View from the bus.. the Scottish countryside

Have tried various haggis dishes (below is a haggis on top of a venison patty burger). At the moment I am waiting around until we walk down a few blocks to learn more about the ways of the Highlanders!

Pre travels

With deepest regrets I don't get a chance to update my blog before I left. But alas I will be in UK an France for the next month.

So until then.

This will probably be in a long hiatus

So close yet so far

6 more working days... Just 6..
After waiting 357 days it doesn't seem so bad...
But it still seems so far away...
Too excited to contain my excitement. I think I'm starting to annoy people.

numbers

6kg - weight lost in 6 months
4kg - more kilos to lose until reaching goal weight
10days - until I board a jet and go on my long awaited trip to UK, Ireland and France
10kg - expected weight to gain from trip... MUST NOT LET IT HAPPEN!
488days - bf and i being this thing called "coupledom"
9376506130561057 - possible number of photos expected to be taken on trip
roughly 3 months until Christmas again.
 

painting the road..

Listening to the radio - the morning talk shows rumbling about yet another superficial thing.

Steering along the same road, dodging cars, changing lanes, knowing exactly which lane will be faster - then - knowing how to get back onto the right path, such routine can be done with eyes closed.

As I drove down Mounts Bay, the same road, I see a familiar car, whom I swear drives down with me every morning, a driver rushing to their day jobs.

I look to the sky, same route, but the colours of the sky today is different - in fact everyday is different.

It gives me hope that even if I'm sticking to the same path, I can still break free and paint the colours of my road every colour of the ever changing sky. I just need to take the chance, slow down and paint.

push me.

someone should invent life switches..



ON-OFF
Stay awake/sleep
Work/unwind
Eat/fast
Focus/daydream
Think random unnecessary thoughts/think only good optimistic thoughts




Life would be so delightful.

Sleep wake

Waking up from your slumber unrefreshed and unenergised sucks

The Taming of the Shrew Ballet

I've never been to a ballet, and when I do see the shows on telly, on SBS, I never really appreciated it, partly because ballet isn't meant to be enjoyed on a small electronic screen. But after seeing the Taming of the Shrew, I'm a huge fan!.

The Taming of the Shrew is masterfully retold by John Cranko. This great romantic comedy skillfully conveys Shakespeare’s wit and sharp understanding of human character. With Shakespeare's charming characters and Cranko's striking choreography, almost flawless ballet (a poor chorus ballerina slipping but gracefully covering it up!), fantastical music, lavish sets and costumes makes it an unforgettable night at the ballet.

I was blessed enough to sit front centre at His Majesty's Theatre and was able to see every detail, in extreme detail. The expressive facial acting of the WA Ballet dancers, their amazing body language and of course they danced beautifully and were brilliantly comic.

Tonight's performance saw Petruchio being played by Filip Barankiewicz, guest artist from the Stuttgart Ballet. He was absolutely amazing! Such power in each and every one of his moves. Playing opposite him as the tempestuous Kate, Fiona Evans was a pint-sized firecracker. She was just so tiny and skinny (skinny but with muscles!). And I must say Gremio, played by Andre Santos was such good comic relief! Humourous in every way possible.

There was laughter roaring through the crowd from start to finish, and the buzz at interval and after the show was electric. There is such humour, wonderful dancing and magical musical accompaniment, I thoroughly enjoyed it and if you have never been to the ballet before, or if you want to show someone else how fun it can be, then this is definitely the show for a first timer.

Secret Admission

For the last 10 years I have dreamt about being the girl who is presented with the red rose by the dancing busker guy in the city at the end of his Enrique Iglesias act.



ps. i swear he still looks the same as when he first started doing it...

urban beauty.

 

I love driving down St. George's Terrace at peak hour traffic.

Not for the traffic.

But.

The pretty road lined by street lights

tall buildings lined the terrace 

like man-made trees.

The view,

especially coming around and down the hill

makes me really love Perth.

In all it's urban simplicity it's beautiful.

 But I can never capture the feeling of the view.

Even as the car stops due to traffic and I whip out the phone

it just doesn't do it justice.

But really, do drive down the terrace from King's Park Road into the city.

Urban Beauty can exist.

nothing fixes routine and dullness like a trip to the hairdressers

I feel fat.
exercise.
done.
lose weight.
accomplished, sort of, half way to ideal weight.

feeling unfashionable.
nothing in wardrobe.
get haircut.

just a small change in colour, trim hair, get new side fringe.
some unexplainable reason my clothes look better. there is new lease on old outfits and looks.

NOTHING is a better mood uplifter than a trip to the hairdressers. Think every make-over scene of almost every Hollywood movies.

Point Walter

Point Walter is a park/nature reserve south of the city of Perth. It has a wonderful view of the swan river and if the tide is low you are lucky enough to walk on the exposed sand dunes all the way to a little island in the middle of the river, and maybe even to the otherside.

 If you are even luckier, like we were, we saw dolphins playing!

 SEE DOLPHINS! (although it was so cute, my little cousin thought it was sharks!)

Street Art in Northbridge

There are a lot of artworks happening around the city of Perth, it's their bid to make laneways more people friendly, which I love. On top of all this revamp, there more quaint little clubs popping up everywhere in the laneways. Very Melbournean.

On one of my many brunch mornings in Northbridge with friends, and wanderings/shopping on William street, we took a few photos of the street artwork that was on a vacant lot. I must say it was pretty spectacular despite the fact that the vacant lot looked like a dump! Just walk with care.. EXTREME CARE!

The Beaufort Street Merchant

I walk pass The Beaufort Street Merchant and drive pass it even more. Having visited their unique wine shop and gourmet goodie store, I have always wanted to try their food but have never had the opportunity.

I finally ventured into The Beaufort Street Merchant with a group of work mates - all of whom are avid foodies. We managed to book a Friday night dinner for about 12 people about a month ago and I couldn't have been more excited.

We managed to find a two very nice red wines from their wine range (which is not just limited to what's on the list but you are also free to chose any wine that is sold at their wine cellar area) their list is not just limited to wines; cocktails and beers are also available. We grabbed the 2009 BONE TREE HILL CABERNET MERLOT and the 2009 SOL DE MAYO MALBEC ARG ENTINA - both were easy drinking and went perfectly well with their menu.

The dinner started off with two share plates - the Spanish Tasting Board and the French Tasting Board. I didn't have the opportunity to try the French Tasting Board, but I was a little disappointed with the Spainsh tasting plate. I've had better. But the olives, roasted almonds and the cheese was fantastic and the bread was beautiful.

The Spanish Tasting Board

 

The French Tasting Board

The mains, however were beautiful. Our group ended up picking a few different dishes from the menu. 

There was the Coq Au Vin Pie - which was so hearty and beautifully flavoured. The slow cooked chicken coq au vin was tender, it was well mixed with bacon and the red wine sauce was just the right touch. All this was served on top of a nice layer of mash potatoe. It was the perfect meal for a cold winter's night. Highly recommended.

  Coq Au Vin Pie

Then there was the fish of the day - barrumundi - it was cooked to perfection, cripsy skin juicy fish. In a fantastic sauce.

Fish of the Day

One of the girls had the steak burger - something light and easy. But it was still a massive serving and looked and smelt fantastic. The chips that came with it was from sliced pieces of potatoes and was nice, cripsy and well salted, and the aioli that came with it was one of the better homemade aioli I've had.

The Steak Burger

The last dish and the one that I ended up getting was probably the most disappointing. I had one of their specials the Duck - cooked in several different ways. It was a bit dry in some areas and just seemed lacking compared to the flavours of their fish and the pie.

Duck Special

After such a disappointing main, I had a fantastic dessert. I had the Nutmeg and Quince Custard Tart with spiced pear compote and it was just so divine. The perfectly baked crisp tart shell enhanced by the silky custard filling. This was made even more enjoyable by eating it with the spiced pear compote.

Nutmeg and Quince Custard Tart with Spiced Pear Compote

The Double Chocolate Jaffa Pudding with vanilla bean icecream

Mixed Berry Cobbler with maple pecan ice cream

with anglaise

The mixed berry cobbler was beautifully warm and hearty dessert with beautiful homemade pecan ice cream.

The Beaufort street Merchant has shown why it is so popular with the locals and foodies alike. The quality of their food is high, well executed, flavours wholesome and the dining experience was wonderful with great ambience and loving that haphazard, rustic, found-objects & Asian timber carvings interior. I can't wait to try it again and to come one day for breakfast! 

Bonsai Restaurant

The Bonsai Restaurant situated on Roe street in Northbridge an all-in-one Japanese fusion restaurant, cafe and lounge. I've heard many good things about the place but I haven't had the pleasure of going until a few weeks ago, with a few workmates to catch up after a hard week at work.

Huge and spacious, Bonsai Restaurant is a refurbishment of an old rundown warehouse with remnants of the old - exposed brick walls and hanging wires on high ceilings mixed with modern colours and sleek decor. Dining in the restaurant section is a dimly lit and also cavernously airy affair. I don’t know whether it’s more romantic or spooky.

The menu offered a la carte main meals or tapas Japanese. After a quick peek at the menu we decided sharing was the perfect way to taste the menu seeing as it was proving impossible to choose between all the interesting and tantalising options.

I didn’t judiciously note the name of every dish, we had; crab crawl, sashimi salmon on asparagus, agadashi eggplant, scallops, panfried mushrooms, and a bowl of miso soup amongst other things. And of course, dinner is never complete without the desserts, we opted for green tea tiramasu, crepe thingie, and chocolate delight, all which were surprisingly good.

The freshness of the ingredients was stunning. Bonsai had not one dish that fell below expectation in flavour or portion. I was thoroughly impressed by Bonsai. Usually fusion Japanese is always a miss but Bonsai have got the right, have nailed the Japanese love for texture and flavour experimentation. The complexity of flavours were harmonious, balanced and shows time and thought has gone through planning the dishes.