West End Deli

I have been really bad with blogging lately since I have moved overseas for a few months to study. Just before I left, I had the pleasure to brunch at West End Deli which was on my wish list for the longest time. Lucky for me, my brunch buddy was up for trying out the West End Deli with me!

West End Deli is suitably near the CBD minus the hustle and bustle of the city traffic. It is popular with the office crowd, families and the well dressed crowd. It is quite unlike any cafes that I visited in Perth or Melbourne. It has a certain vibe and atmosphere that is homely yet sophisticated. It is a juxtaposition that scores two thumbs up from me, and another two from my brunch buddy.

West End Deli

From the outset, the sight of chairs hanging from the ceiling may be a cause of concern. However, as you enter, you will appreciate the creativity of using hanging chairs as light pieces.


Interior

Score for creativity!

Interior- so picturesque.

 This is my favourite picture of the interior.

At the checkout

As we were ushered into the café, we passed the checkout counter which was adorned by delicious looking pastries and cakes. My friend and I ogled at the sight of them and I made a mental note to order the Portuguese Egg Tart as I walked past.

I love how the West End Deli is innovative with its offerings that we had such a hard time deciding what to get. Even the drinks are not your typical drink offerings that you can get at any cafe...

Honeycomb Mocha with real crumbled chocolate and espresso (AUD$7)

I was craving coffee but the combination of honeycomb, chocolate and coffee won me over. This drink was delicious! It reminded me very much of Cadbury's honeycomb chocolate but in a drink form. It was chocolatey, with crumbled bits of chocolate that melted in my mouth and bits of honeycomb which provided hits of honeycomb sweetness with some crunch. My only complain would be that I couldn't really taste the espresso but it was, nevertheless, a very delicious drink. I contemplated getting another but the price tag prevented it.

Honeycomb Hot Chocolate with Real Crumbled Chocolate (AUD$6.50)

 My non-coffee drinking friend got the Honeycomb Hot Chocolate with Real Crumbled Chocolate and she was nice to offer me a sip. Surprisingly, this was less chocolatey than the Mocha version and she preferred it that way as she said it was easier to drink without feeling too overwhelmed. I, on the other hand, preferred the "chocolatier" version. ;)

Pink Snapper, Israeli Cous Cous, Cauliflower, Parsley & Raisins (AUD$24)

We picked our mains and decided to share them. My friend ordered the Pink Snapper which was absolutely stunning! It was our good fortune that the dish's aesthetics and taste were congruent. I don't know what it is with fish dishes but so many places always get it wrong. However, this checked all the right boxes. Imagine crispy skin, tender, juicy and flaky fish, light and fluffy cous cous and cauliflower with hints of sweetness from the raisins... The biggest highlights were those bright peeled tomatoes as the tomatoes burst into tart, sweet and tasty fireworks in my mouth.

Pork & Mushroom Croquette, Smoked Creamed Corn & Fried Egg (AUD$18)

 I couldn't resist the sound of croquettes much less pork and mushroom croquettes. The element of smoked creamed corn was intriguing as well so I grudgingly passed up the idea of ordering two mains (the Tasmanian salmon, sesame spinach, slow egg & miso broth sounds amazing).

Look at the juices from the pork and mushroom croquette!

I liked how the croquettes were crispy on the outside without being greasy and the insides were full of juicy pulled pork with vague hints of earthiness from the mushrooms. As a mushroom lover, I would prefer the mushrooms to be more evident in the croquette but that's just my personal preference. The smoked cream corn was interesting as it was smoky and sweet. My friend loved it so much that I happily traded it for a bit more fish. :) The parsley did not add or detract from the dish but considering the popularity of parsley, I thought that it could have been substituted with another herb or vegetable. (PS: I'm not a fan of parsley.)

Portuguese Egg Tart (AUD$3.50)

 I was glad when it was time for desserts! The Portuguese Egg Tart arrived on the prettiest looking floral plate that I couldn't help taking more photos of it. The egg custard was encased in a buttery and flaky puff pastry shell but I couldn't quite bring myself to love this because it wasn't a Portuguese Egg Tart. It was probably a Western take of the Portuguese Egg Tart as Portuguese Egg Tarts typically do not have cinnamon added whereas English Custard Tarts typically have cinnamon or nutmeg added to it. This Portuguese Egg Tart also lacked the caramelized flavour that comes with the blemishing of the 'skin' (milk protein). Nevertheless, it was still tasty but it would fare better as a West End Deli Egg Tart since it was neither an English Custard Tart (English Custard Tart uses shortcrust pastry) nor a Portuguese Egg Tart.

Potted Vanilla Cheese Cake, Salted Caramel (AUD$12)

The presentation of our final dessert caught us by surprise! The waitress explained that the salted caramel component was in the toothpaste looking object. True to the concept of a toothpaste, the entrance was sealed and you would need to reverse the cap and use the pointy part to break the seal. The waitress also advised us not to put all the salted caramel at the top. We should put it in separate stages so that we could get the salted caramel as we eat.



Potted Vanilla Cheese Cake Uncovered with Salted Caramel in a toothpaste form!

We uncovered the potted vanilla cheese cake and the top was covered with what looked like toffee bits.


Decorated the vanilla cheese cake with salted caramel!

We had fun playing with our salted caramel flavoured "toothpaste" and decorating our cheesecake. The presentation was very novel and we were nicely surprised once again. Remember those toffee bits? They were actually popping candy! We found out as the popping candy sizzled and fizzled in our mouths. This dessert was very interesting as the vanilla cheese cake was sweet and creamy while the popping candy cut through the creaminess by adding the element of sweet fizziness. However, after a while, we found ourselves neglecting the salted caramel as it wasn't what we wanted in a salted caramel. It lacked the buttery caramel flavour and tasted like fake salted caramel (for the lack of a better description). The biscuit crumbs at the bottom were also soggy. However, the presentation, sweet creamy vanilla cheese cake and fireworks-like popping candy brought delights to our hearts and tastebuds that I didn't really mind the other lacklustre elements.

I am very impressed by the menu's offerings and the execution of the dishes that I couldn't stop raving about the West End Deli to anyone that would listen to me. While my overall dining experience impressed me, I feel that service could have been a lot better. The wait staff were efficient but seemed a bit standoffish. Another friend of mine, who brought her mum to the West End Deli after listening to me rant, commented that service was bad while she was there and that the staff were unapologetic and snobbish. Hopefully, the service will change to match up to the food and all will be good!

West End Deli
Breakfast/Lunch Hours: Tuesday-Sunday (7am – 3pm) (Closed on Mondays),
Dinner Hours: Wednesday- Saturday (Dinner from 6pm)
Address: 95 Carr St, West Perth
Telephone: 08 9328 3605
Website: http://www.westenddeli.net.au/




Sweetlips: Sweet or Greasy Lips?

Seafood Box: Fish & Chips, Battered Scallops, Calamari Rings and Prawns on Skewers

 With a name like Sweetlips, one may be mistaken to think that they offer sweets rather than good ol' fish and chips. I had tried Sweetlips at the Leederville outlet before and I knew the quality was pretty good. So when a daily deal website offered vouchers for Sweetlips, the card made its appearance and the vouchers showed up in my email inbox.

Sweetlips Fremantle

It was a cold winter evening that my family and I decided to head down to Sweetlips at Fremantle to redeem our vouchers. One voucher entitled us to two sets of fish and chips, two battered scallops and prawns, three battered calamari rings and chips. It also comes with your choice of sauce to share. All that for $10- what a steal!

Sweetlips Fremantle Winter Trading Hours for 2013

When we arrived, we were promptly informed that the shop was closing as the people at Sweetlips pointed to the sign displaying their winter trading hours. "Bummer," I thought since it was 6.54pm when we arrived. However, the good people at Sweetlips offered to cook us our meal to takeaway. I won't lie, I did a little war dance there and then..........................................................................in my head.

Your choice of tartare, tomato, sweet chilli aioli, wasabi mayo or aioli.

We were handed a buzzer and we didn't have long to wait. Soon, we had four boxes of freshly fried goodies and containers of sweet chilli aioli and tartare sauce.

As we drove home (well, only Dad drove), the naughty passengers could not resist the tempting smell of fried food. My sister and I munched on the fried chips that were steaming hot. We did not ask for salt and vinegar for fear that our food will arrive home soggy so our fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Though the chips were a little bland without any salt or sauce, they were still good on their own!

Dad couldn't resist the smell and the sounds of us munching our chips. It is hard to resist freshly fried food! He asked for a box of food to snack on and Mum, who scolded us for impatience at first, joined in our little driving home feast.

The only box which reached home in one piece though it is a bit squashed...

My nearly chip-free box.

 When I arrived home, my box was nearly empty of its chips. It wasn't a long ride home so our food still remained hot and crispy. The batter was light and crispy, unlike the heavy sodden ones. The battered food did not ooze out with oil and the seafood was fresh though I cannot say the same for the scallops (I reckon they were frozen ones). Despite my suspicion, the scallops were plump, tender and nicely cooked. The calamari rings were tender (unlike places which serve rubber bands instead) while the crisp coating provided a nice textural contrast. The flaky and beautifully cooked fish inside the crisp and light batter also makes Sweetlips one of the better fish and chips places in town. The sauces were a tad weak compared to my memories of the sauces at Sweetlips Leederville but the sauces still complemented our food pretty well.

Though our food was good, I got a wee bit uncomfortable towards the end as my arteries started protesting. I am not accustomed to eating so much fried food so I reluctantly removed the batter around the rest of my fried fish. It might seem strange but I ended my meal with hot cups of green tea to wash down the greasiness of my fried meal and my lips felt pretty "moisturized" the entire night.

I won't be eating fish and chips for awhile but this is a meal to remember.

What do you drink in accompaniment to fish and chips? Is it strange to drink green tea after eating fish and chips?

Sweetlips Fish & Chips Fremantle
Winter Trading Hours: Monday- Thursday (9am- 7pm), Friday & Saturday (9am-8pm), Sunday (9am-7.30pm)
Address: Unit 8, 47 Mews Road, Fremantle WA 6160
Phone: (08) 94306902
Website:  http://www.sweetlips.com.au

Dude Food a la The Merrywell



BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadilla with Avocado, Tomato & Lime Crema

The first time I heard of the term "dude food" was when I was trawling food blogs featuring food in the United States. Pardon me if I got this wrong but I think the concept of "dude food" is very American. Dude food is aimed at "dudes"- men with hearty appetites, with a bit of flair. The menu also tend to feature men's love for "junky food" such as burgers, bacon, wings etc. As such, dude food is predominantly hearty, greasy, finger-licking and unfortunately, artery-clogging. Salad lovers and dieters may want to steer away from dude food.

Anyway, I digress. The second time I heard dude food being mentioned again was when MasterChef Australia 2012 featured dude food as one of its challenges. Boy, that episode became my favourite episode of the season. While I am very much a lady at heart, I have a soft spot for dude food. I mean, come on, who can say no to a good burger? Bacon anyone?

While dude food may have made its appearances over at the East Coast, dude food made its appearance in the form of The Merrywell at Crown Metropol Perth (formerly Burswood Resort). Fast forward a few months, when my friends wanted me to decide on a dining place for lunch, The Merrywell was on top of my list.

One section of the dining area at The Merrywell

Having researched on the menu extensively, I immediately knew what I was going to get. Lucky for me, my friends were on the same wavelength. After scoring a table and discussing our order, we split up: one to order food, one to get the drinks and one to look after the table. The Merrywell has a self-service policy. We ordered under the Share Plates section from the All Day Dining Menu as the Dinner Menu was only available after 5pm.

Swan River Sunset ($35 for 2L)

 First to reach the table was the pretty Seasonal Jug of Swan River Sunset. The description on the chalk bar behind the bar had us sold the minute we laid eyes on it. Tequila, lychee and pomegranate liqueur, lime and cranberry. Have I mentioned that we ALL love lychee and tequila? At $35 for a 2L carafe or jam bottle, it seems pretty reasonable since we managed to get 6 whisky glasses worth of drinks from it. As for the taste, Swan River Sunset was delicious until towards the end, where the drink became diluted from the melting ice.



BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadilla with Avocado, Tomato & Lime Crema ($22)

The BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadilla ($22) arrived looking like summer on a plate. Imagine having a Mexican BBQ at the backyard of a Mexican home, with all the tropical flowers and colouring of brightly coloured tomatoes and avocado. What a sight! This dish is visually stunning! It is rare when a dish taste as good as it looks and this dish was one of them! The quesadilla arrived warm, with crispy tortilla skins and soft, tender and juicy pulled pork. I detected a slight sweetness hidden amongst the pulled pork (could it be pineapple?) which went well with the entire savoury-sweet trend. Think of maple bacon and salted caramel...

The Merrywell Chips with Bacon Aioli ($15)

Speaking of bacon, one of the reasons why I was so eager for The Merrywell was because of The Merrywell Chips ($15). To call it chips would be misleading because they were more like uber crispy double or triple fried broken up potatoes. They are neither like your cut strips of fried potato (thick cut chips or shoestring fries) and nor are they wedges. While I doubt anyone can resist uber crispy fried potatoes, the piece de resistance is the bacon aioli. Yes, bacon aioli. Aioli by itself is pretty genius but throw bacon into the mix- it is a food idea worthy of culinary god status. However, while the bacon aioli tasted pretty good, it didn't taste like it was worthy of culinary god status. To set the record straight, culinary god status will evoke thoughts of "OMG!", "This is incredible!", and a few more minutes of "OMG-ing" in my head, while I start having tears in my eyes or I start having mental images of fireworks or images in my head. It is also interesting to note that the bacon aioli had paprika in it which gave it some spice and heat but for those who are shy of spices, the heat from the bacon aioli does build up.

Wagyu Mini Beef Burgers 3 pcs ($22)

The Wagyu Mini Beef Burgers 3 pcs ($22) arrived at our table with glistening bread tops that looked soft and squishy. One bite into the burger, juices flooded into my mouth (in a good way). It was incredible. It reminded me of the Japanese burgers with soft and fluffy buns. The bread buns were sweet and buttery- very much like a brioche. The patties were juicy and full of flavour while the cheddar, caramelised onion and pickles added their own flavours, elevating the dish to resemble a full orchestra playing the climax of a bellowing piece. This was easily my favourite dish of the day.

Lollipop Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Fondue & Celery Sticks ($21)

The last dish of Lollipop Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Fondue and Celery Sticks ($21) sent my food climax rolling down to the valleys. While my friends and I differed in our food opinions, we had a common consensus that we didn't like this dish. Spicy like it should be, the taste was very one-dimensional. It lacked a certain complexity of flavours. However, I like The Merrywell's tribute to authentic Buffalo Wings as buffalo wings are traditionally served with a blue cheese sauce and celery sticks.

S commented that prices are steep for American grub but she did live in the States for a few years that it seems natural for her to balk at paying such prices for American grub that she could get for a few dollars in the States. I feel the same about paying Perth prices for Asian fare that I can get at home. As long as I'm not in the States, I will gladly return to The Merrywell for my share of American dude food. As I type this blog post, I am happy to announce that I have made another trip to The Merrywell. I couldn't get the Wagyu Mini Beef Burgers out of my head!

The Merrywell
Address: Crown Metropol Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood Western Australia 6100
Telephone: (08) 9362 7777
Opening Hours: 11.30am – midnight Sunday to Thursday and 11.30am – 3am Friday & Saturday
Kitchen Hours: Open until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday to Saturday.