Daily Photo - 27 October

Daily Photo - 26 October

The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth

Drinking Buddy chose this place, she is a big fan of jazz apparently.  And, even though we were in a mellow mood, edging towards the end of the night, and therefore I wasn’t in ‘full critic’ mode, it definitely requires a second visit.

After paying a minimal cover charge, and being told that downstairs where the live music was playing was at capacity, we wandered upstairs.  After picking out two glasses of lovely Malborough sauvignon blanc, Drinking Buddy and I just relaxed into the evening.  With a side serve of being entertained by the birthday party surrounding us.

It was lovely, having talked ourselves out at the previous three venues, just to be quiet and share the moment together.  And people watch.

Though that is more a vision of the dynamic between me and Drinking Buddy, rather than the bar itself.  Though by that stage of the night, on the bar itself, it was mellow, the staff served efficiently enough, it was a nice place to quietly relax.

Verdict:  lovely first impression.  Will have to go again to double check

1907 Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Perth

Drinking Buddy was a bit uncertain when I led her down a darkened alleyway, and then down to a basement.  But 1907 is worth the dark, the alley, and the basement.  It is, literally, a hidden gem.   Pictures of Hollywood royalty from the 50s and 60s are interspersed with mirrors on the walls.  Fabulous décor, with booths you can literally melt into, they were that comfortable.  Friendly, dare I even say entertaining, staff, and cocktails, themed around the Rat Pack, for the most part.

I had a couple of Rogers beers (I won’t be making that mistake again), but couldn’t resist the siren call of the Candy Corn Caramel martini, or, as Drinking Buddy called it, Diabetes in a Glass.  It was So Frikkin Good though!  All the noms.  And to be at a place which is as stylish yet as laidback as 1907 is while having fabulous cocktails, it was indeed a treat.

I wish I could comment on the food here, but haven’t eaten at 1907 yet, and the menu, to be honest, looks a bit pricey.

Verdict:  If you want to treat yourself to a great drink with a relaxed vibe, this place should be on The List

Bivouac Canteen and Bar, Northbridge

After the Loudness that was the Ezra Pound Bar, we skipped across William Street to the relative safety of Bivouac.  I had discovered it a couple of weeks beforehand, and found the food was divine.  Yes, I can see myself becoming a regular, or perhaps at least a semi-regular.

It was packed and we were only able to grab a seat at the bar, after waiting a couple of minutes.  But it was a generous sized bar, not one of these micro shelves, and well able to handle the dinner plates that would be coming our way.  The staff were engaged with their customers, happy and, dare I say, perky to within an inch of being overly so.  But just staying on this side of the line, thankfully.

Drinks - I had an Italian beer, Castello, I believe.  Went down okay.  And Dining Buddy had a Campari with blood orange.  Never having had Campari before, she asked me to describe it.  Campari is Campari was all I could offer.  She didn't like it, the after taste was fairly strong, so we shared.  It will be a while before either of us will be Campari-ing again, methinks.

We ordered the 'charcuterie board' to start.  The Turkish bread went down so well, with just a light toasting.  And the baby gherkins and the other vegetables drowned in vinegar were surprisingly good.  The cold meats were nice, but the best part of the dish was the cacciatore sausage, jawdroppingly awesome.  My mouth is melting again just thinking about it.

Dining Buddy said the only thing missing was some olive oil to dip the bread in.

And we followed it up with a Tunisian lamb backstrap pizza, with peppers and tzatziki and mint.  I have been out to dinner with this particular Dining Buddy three times, and all three places have knocked our expectations out of the park.  And given our tastebuds exotic holidays, in Bivouac's case, to the shores of the Mediterranean.  Rome with the sausage, Carthage with the lamb - as I delve into the history side of me to reference the Punic Wars.

Verdict:  again, again, and soon please

Ezra Pound Bar, Northbridge

Believe it or not, but the proliferation of bars in Perth does have a downside.  When you are a social butterfly such as myself, you don't want to be pinned down with a set of 'regular haunts'.  So sometimes you have to just have a stab at Google Maps and figure out the nearest bar to where you are pointing.

You can tell this is going to be a positive review, can't you?

So yes, it did so much right that the fact that it was let down by a few things, maybe I will have to give it a second chance.

Down somewhat secret alleyway - check.  Street art, aka graffiti, adorning secret alley - check.  Cocktails to me and Drinking Buddy, which I believe were Moscow Mules, served in a funky glass (aka a jam jar) - check.  Said cocktail being damned delicious - yes.  Wide array of seating options, including loungers scattered around that don't quite match each other - also check.

I started to reassess when Drinking Buddy said she didn't feel hipster enough for the place.  And believe me, this girl can be as hipster as she wants to be.  But also, it was early evening on a Friday, the place was packed, and it was noisy.  Not just the crowd, but the most annoying thing I found was the fact that you had to shout to hear each other over the music.  Which wasn't all that crash hot anyways.  Sure, later into Friday evening, crank up the tunes, but not straight after the 9 to 5, please.

Or maybe me and my friend just have overly sensitive ears.  If it weren't for the flaws, we would likely have stayed there for more than just the one.  Will have to maybe give it another chance, on a quieter evening.  If only for the photography options the alley street art could provide...

Verdict:  Music too loud to think, at a time of day you may not want it up to Eleven

Daily Photo - 25 October

Chocolateria San Churro, Northbridge

Just a quick one (as will be usual with San Churros methinks), as we only - well, I only had a drink.  My Dining Buddy had a dessert.  This was after having our main meal of the night at The Moon, and, after shopping a bit (she more than I), we ducked into the Chocolateria.

Even though I don't go in for a fine dining experience or anything, I still enjoy San Churros.  It is always busy, there is always that nice level of chatter going on - not too loud, not too soft - the staff are always prompt and smiling (although this particular time it did seem they were short staffed), and the drinks and food, such as they are, are to die for.

There was so much on the menu, and I was only going in for a hot chocolate, that I changed my mind twice before settling on the hazelnut hot choc.  San Churros, the chain cafe that feels like it could be your local.

Verdict:  It is hard not to smile when even thinking about this place

The Moon, Northbridge

Even though I have been in Perth for over a year, it is the first time I have been to The Moon, which some of my friends rave about.  A snap decision at the last minute from the Dining Buddy to go in that direction.

We grab a booth, and grab drinks.  No complaints with the Little Creatures Pale on my part.  The ambience seems lovely, out the back of the bar it is an art gallery, with what look to be comfy loungers.

However, the staff seem either too attentive or too lax in their interest levels toward our table, and what we believe to be a starter, the nachos, is actually a share plate.  And although we are both in a nachos mood, after some hindsight, they were decidedly meh.  Average.

The mains I chose was the blue, pumpkin and thyme fettucine, which was decidedly yum.  Definitely made up for the averageness of the nachos.  All the gorgonzola, indeed.

I am sure I will be back at the Moon, and to be fair, it was a quiet Thursday night when we were there.  I am sure it would be different if it were busy.  Perhaps the Moon is an outsize micro-bar, because it certainly has aspects of the small bar vibe I have experienced around Perth.  The food was nice, but didn't have any wow factor that I have found elsewhere local.  And a safe beer choice for the evening.

Verdict:  Nice, but no wow factor

Two Eighty Five

A certain Sydney radio broadcaster is a twat. But yadda yah freedom of speech etc. But this headline has made me smile...

Alan Jones ordered to do journalism training

So much lawl.

Two Eighty Four

Chris Gayle and the Windies slogging the Australian cricket team out of a match.

I am having flashbacks to the 80s, Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall and the rest.  Although cricket is a much different beast nowadays than 25 years ago.

Two Eighty Three

On the train home.

The glow of the people coming back from the Royal Perth Show.  No sense of frazzlement from the people around me, just a sense of satisfaction that they had been, they had seen, they had conquered, and they had survived.  Though how they were going to get the energy up to walk to home or the carparks at least, was less clear.

The overall vibe of happiness.  From the young couple with all the chocolate and sweet showbags (surely not all for them) to the grandparent and grandchildren combination that had been out for almost ten straight hours, to the African family just patiently, quietly waiting for their train.

Happiness in a group situation, who would have thought it.

Two Eighty Two

One of my best interstate friends, Rhi, getting engaged.

Am so looking forward to catching up on my next visit here (next week, squee!) and hear all about it.

Two Eighty One

A reset.

Things are still going very well, to the point where I am actually just going and enjoying myself rather than you know, sitting down and writing about it.  But will try to post highlights from now on.

Sorrento Restaurant, Northbridge, with good mate Drina.  A sharp, surprisingly sweet Malborough sauvignon.  Chili mussels, fun but messy.  Penne with pork meatballs, it seems like forever since I have had a pasta meal.  Atmosphere great, the restaurant was buzzing, the service was excellent, just on the near side of being over attentive.  The staff nearly, but didn't quite break through that line.

Delightful conversation.  Delightful seating, next to the window, able to people watch the Bright Young Things stepping out on a Friday night.

Lovely.