salt on the beach, Fremantle

Whilst on a family holiday in Perth we found ourselves with a free Sunday afternoon. A hot Sunday afternoon.

After a blissful late afternoon glass of sparkling at 'The Indiana' which is an iconic and beautiful building in the trendy beachside suburb of Cottesloe we had to decide where to eat.

First choice was 'Barchetta' in Cottesloe but the 40 degree blazing sun wouldn't let us enjoy the small balcony table we were shown to. It was stifling as the rays reflected off the concrete floor and aluminium table. Our fault for not making a booking weeks ago as the place was buzzing. Generally a good sign.

Our second option was 'salt on the beach' in Fremantle. I had read about the indoor playground and thought our two young daughters would enjoy that whilst Sean and I could relax over our meal. I should have known better after 7 years of motherhood. Any restaurant that has an indoor playground is generally too family friendly for the sort of cuisine you write a glowing blog post about.

The problem with salt is that it has a personality disorder. It's a kid friendly venue seating up to 300 people with a menu consisting of largely fried food. Then it describes itself as having "beautiful seaside romantic dining in the elegant 150 seat restaurant" and after that throw in a micro brewery operating on-site as well as a beachside kiosk. That's many fingers in many pies.

We decided to sit in the playground area but order off the restaurant menu. Not allowed as I was informed in a most unhospitable manner. Apparently if they did it for us, they would have to do it for everyone. And so? Anyway, all 4 of us moved into the "romantic" area which was fine as the girls amused themselves with sticker books. The view of the ocean was lovely and we were inside with air-conditioning so the heat wasn't an issue.

As requested, all our dishes came out at once so we could eat together and then leave to get the little ones back to the hotel in time for bed.

The girls insisted on fish and chips and I figured that would be fresh. It was and they devoured it without complaint. No leftovers.

We ordered a mini crusty loaf with smashed roasted garlic in olive oil which was ok. Definitely warm and crusty.

I had the salmon dish and the redeeming features where the juicy and perfectly cooked scallops and sweet oven-roasted tomatoes. Unfortunately the salmon fillet was overcooked for me - I prefer more pink on the inside. Oh, and the eggplant decided not to show up.

Tasmanian salmon and seared scallops, miso braised eggplant
and tomato, bok choy and ponzu sauce

Sean was bitterly disapointed with his meal. The steak was tough and overcooked and the jus thin and bland. We were also expecting more from prawns this close to the ocean! If you are going to charge $45 for a main course, you need to deliver a bit more.

Surf & Turf, chargrilled Scotch fillet served on a leek & potato gratin
with pan fried prawns, brocolinni & a roasted garlic jus

Side dishes were a good variety of green vegetables (asparagus, broccolini, bok choy) and one of the limpest rocket salads I think I've ever encountered. Sean refused to go near it. At least they remembered to put the dressing on the side as requested.

I'm not keen on writing negative reviews and if you want a venue that can cover pretty much any eventuality then give salt a try. Just don't expect too much in the way of extreme top-class food and make sure you enjoy the view.

http://onthebeach.net.au/

We dined on 11 March 2012

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Auge, Adelaide

We couldn't think of anywhere we would rather celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary than our favourite restaurant in Adelaide - Auge which is well located in the city centre. We love everything about this place:

• the decor which manages to combine a slick and modern interior whilst still feeling warm and inviting
• the food which is Italian, but not cafe style, using only the freshest ingredients. You know they are serious when you can choose the olive oil you want served with your bread. The menu is comprehensive but easy to read as it is split into cured meats, appetisers, entrees, pasta & risotto, main course, sides, desserts and cheese. There are also a selection of degustation menus but we are yet to indulge in one of them - we keep promising oursevels "next time".
• the wine there is something for everyone although we generally don't even look at it, putting our trust in the sommelier.
• the service is professional, friendly, discreet (if you want it to be) and I just love the aprons worn by the staff. They look neat, tidy and so very Italian. Thanks in particular to Martin (Restaurant Manager Extroidonaire) and Terry (Host with the Most)!

The website states:

For the ultimate combination of modern dining and style, you have to experience Auge pronounced (OW-je). Welcome to our warm and modern atmosphere in the dining room from the long bar, where guests can enjoy a selection of Spuntini or a drink before or after their meal. If you are looking for a something relaxing and casual, why not just come and enjoy a simple classic Italian meal and a aperitivo in our Spuntini bar. Come relax and enjoy the experience that we take pleasure in offering to our guests.

So, onto our night. We started with champagne in the bar and a plate of "fritto misto di pesce" which translates to "fried local fish & shellfish with fresh lemon". I'm not a fan of fried food generally but found some firm white fish amongst the octopus which was delcious and not covered in crumbs or dripping with oil. Needless to say Sean had no trouble polishing off the entire plate - he loves salt and pepper squid which is a very similar dish. The presentation was exceptional.

We moved from the bar and onto our table which was intimate and set with a crisp white tablecloth, candlelight, quality glassware, sea salt and pepper.

To start with I went light and fresh, selecting the "finely sliced citrus cured salmon with a petit salad of organic herbs & extra virgin olive oil". This was the highlight dish for me, complimented perfectly with a glass of crisp white wine from local winery, Bridgewater Mill. The flavours were amazing, particularly the addition of lime segments amongst the oranges and nothing works better with soft, juicy salmon than dill. Loved every mouthful, especially with the carroway seeded fresh bread. The meal looked like art....., lovingly presented.

Salmone agli agrumi con piccola insalata da coltura biologica

Sean went with his favourite Italian entree - finely sliced beef tenderloin with pickled mushrooms, truffle cream & extra virgin olive oil. He described it as "delicate, fresh, clean and a top class carpaccio."

Carpaccio di manzo

The time gap between our entree and main was perfect, not too rushed. We talked and sipped our wine, enjoying the restaurant ambience. A bottle of Barolo had been decanted earlier and we looked forward to tasting it when our mains arrived.

The fish of the day was pan-seared kingfish served with mussels and prawns in a white wine broth. I just love this sort of dish. The crispy skin of the fish with some of the juiciest mussels I can remember having (wish there had been more than 3!) and a rich but not creamy sauce to dip my bread into and douse the broccolini in.

Last time we were at Auge Sean had tried to order the pork dish but it was sold out. You should have seen his face! Thankfully there was pork available for him, specifically "12 hour braised berkshire pork belly stuffed with aromatic herbs & served with shaved apple & fennel salad garnished with micro radish & sour apple sorbetto". What an amazing description - it almost made me want to order it too. I tasted a mouthful and it was delicious. A beautiful piece of pork - crunchy and salty - happily served next to an old-school slaw and unexpected and fresh sorbet.

Porchetta aromatizzata alle erbe servita con salsa al finocchio e mela, piccolo ravanello e sorbetto alla mela acerba

I love sides dishes almost as much as mains and Sean generally lets me choose. That's why we've been married for 12 years. Bring on the crisp lemony broccolini and bitter radicchio with fennel and walnuts!

Broccolini al limone e aglio

A thoughtful surprise by the staff was the presentation of a white chocolate pannacotta with a message just for us :)

We won't be waiting until our 13th wedding anniversary to enjoy a meal at Auge again. Highly recommended if you are in Adelaide.

We dined on 3 March 2012

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Bijan, Kuala Lumpur

I love the first night out on holidays. Whilst it's true that it generally takes me a good 48 hours to wind down and relax, being somewhere tropical means that tends to happen a little faster. I love the heat and I also love any type of Asian cuisine.

After much online research, I made a dinner reservation for our first night in Kuala Lumpur at Bijan. The website states:

Bijan opened its doors in September 2003 to offer a unique dining experience to discerning palates. The Bijan experience is modern in presentation yet wholesome in flavour. Traditional Malay cuisine is taken out of hawker stalls and buffet lines, and served against a lush backdrop. Modern in its surroundings with distinctive Asian accents, Bijan is warm, yet chic; intimate yet spacious.

We enjoyed a slow walk to the restaurant from our hotel, through the night markets and hawker stalls which made us even more hungry by the time we arrived.

As much as I'm completely in love with Asian food, often it looks ugly in photographs! I mean a whole fish with a red sauce heaped over it or chunks of beef (tender though they might be) served in a mound just don't look pretty.

We loved Bijan. The decor was Malay in style and simple but there were canldes on the tables and clean white tablecloths as well as a good variety of wine glasses.

Did I mention just how fresh, authentic, delicious and CHEAP everything was? My plain rice was less than $1 and whole fish for main course one of the most expensive items on the menu at around $18.70

We shared a couple of entrees and the one below was completely unlike anything we had ever tasted before. We both marvelled at the lightness yet intensity of flavour and I would have happily ordered another but held myself back.

Daging Bungkus Kukus
 Delicate parcel of steamed minced meat & herbs wrapped within a layer of pancake & coconut gravy

For main course we ordered a dish each, a vegetable side and a couple of serves of rice - Nasi Putih
(Steamed white rice) and Nasi Lemak (Rice cooked in coconut milk & served with deep fried anchovies, peanuts and sambal). By the noises Sean was making from across the table, I knew his lamb had amazing flavour and tenderness. My fish was fresh and firm but was served with a lot more sauce than I had envisaged which was perhaps a little overpowering for my clean and simple tastes. The green vegetables were spicy and crisp and a great accompanyment.

Kangkung Goreng Belacan
Water spinach stir-fried with belacan sauce & dried shrimp

Rendang Kambing
Chunks of lamb shoulder cooked in an aromatic infusion of spices & coconut milk
over a slow fire

Ikan Bawal Serkam
Black pomfret grilled in banana leaf with a spicy & tangy topping of fresh herbs &
chillies

Bijan gave us the spicy and traditional dinner we had hoped for. For me, the entree was the standout and I'm on the search to find something similar at a restaurant back home.....

We dined on 22 November 2011

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The Fireplace, The Hyatt, Sanctuary Cove

After days of splashing around the pool with our two daughters and eating our meals in a rush due to early their bedtime, Sean and I were looking forward to a relaxing evening out. 

We dropped the girls at 'Camp Hyatt' and proceed to the Regency Club. The canapes and drinks on offer were standard fare (couple of dips, carrot sticks, stodgy sushi, salami and cold quiche squares) but we still ate enough so that main course only was required.

The Hyatt website states:

With cherry wood wine cabinets, classic rustic décor and signature wood-fired oven provide the perfect stage for our chefs to create delicious contemporary grill and provincial style cuisine. 

That could have been written last week or last decade..., the decor description still applies. It's simple and kind of out of context with the beach resort feel but there is that 'colonial' aspect which I suppose is where the design originates. The table settings consisted of a single clear glass tealight holder and that was about it. Nothing amazing there. The feature of the room is the wood-fired oven and I couldn't see much that wasn't plated up right on the bench in front of us all except for the desserts.

The menu was simple in layout and dish descriptions.

I ordered the Queensland snapper with cherry tomatoes and asparagus. That was exactly what arrived. All mains come served with roasted chat potatoes (in a plain white bowl, no garnish) and The Fireplace house salad (served in same plain white bowl and consisting of what I suspect was tinned corn, cucumber, capsicum and assorted greens). Whilst all the flavours and presentation were simple and perhaps a little uninspired, the crispy skin of the snapper and smokiness from the wood oven were sensational. When food is of high quality there really isn't much you need to do to it to make the meal memorable.

Sean was all set to order steak but was disappointed the largest serving on offer was only 250g of fillet. So instead he went for the Frenched lamb rack with crsip white polenta and spring vegetables. The lamb looked sensational - served medium rare and a very generous portion. Here I found the presentation and "provincial" aspect mentioned in the description to be a little more apparent.

The only other accompanyments were wood oven warmed white ciabatta and bearnaise sauce.

Whilst on first glance the prices seemed high, the side dishes were included in the price and we were dining at a major international hotel which generally means add 10%.

The service was ok but they only just squeezed our meal out before we had to collect our girls from Camp Hyatt. Mind you, they wouldn't have cared if we had stayed out another hour or two......

We dined on 8 November 2011

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