M's Food Find #68

Now yesterday's food find was in Singapore, today's shall feature something in Perth where I am. I went there in during the seasonal change between winter and spring so still relatively cold. Located in the heart of Subiaco, and on Rokeby Road, Witch's Cauldron is known for its fare and quite a dining experience. I was quite excited to bring my parents there on their visit because well, given its good reviews from quite a few people I know and its reputation...

Here we go.


So not impressed with alot of Aussie restaurants' menus. Such classless presentation for the prices we are to be paying. Its always the whole package. A piece of paper hardly shows any signs of details does it?


The decoration is obviously quite inspired by the name and the interior is pretty cosy I would say.


The scallops were beautifully done. Very fresh and juicy. The right touch of panseared goodness. However, in my opinion the good point ends here...



I ordered the lamb shank. I had the biggest craving and finally had the chance to have it. To me lamb shank should be melting off the bones, this wasn't really quite up to scratch. The mash was quite buttery and smooth, with the gravy, pretty yums. I didnt even quite want the lamb after that. Which is a big pity because the point of this dish is the shank not the mash!



Mama had the fish, she quite liked it. It was fresh but slightly overcook. She didnt find anything too wow about on the whole.



The famous garlic prawns. I also have a friend who I knows completely adores this. She loves it so much I can see her practically drooling just the thought of it. So does it live up to its hype? Well, the prawns were fresh and plump. You can just taste the ocean. The sauce was slightly bland and the garlic punch could have been stronger.


And we had to end the dinner with dessert, I aint going anywhere without dessert. I want some. And we did. Ordered the sticky date toffee pudding to top off the very aussie dinner menu. The butterscotch sauce was quite burnt? I didnt find it to-die-for. The toffeepudding, lets just say I have had better.


Photos credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

And of course, with Daddy around, there will always be wine... Cute touch on the wine glasses.

Will I return? Probably not. Will I recommend it to any visitors? Probably not. Will I take my friends and family there when they visit? Probably not. Why? Because there are much better places around with better prices. And maybe I am spoilt with the standard of fine dining I have been exposed to all around the world.

And honestly, the prawns and scallops which were outstanding here, it was really the quality of the produce which i can find in the amazing markets around here and cook it myself. Have you been? What's YOUR experience like?

M's Food Find #68

The same restaurant featured in Food Find #55, this is part deux because (A)LURE had two parts to their dinner seatings. Before 8pm, they had their 3 course sunset menu available where ala-carte was only available from 8pm onwards.

This time, I got to attend the sunset seating with my family on the first night as it was the closest thing we could have and make our Harry Potter movie in time.

Having these choices, it was not difficult to know what I want and turned out that my combination was not bad choices at all. Here we go!

I got the Chicken Caesar Salad as my entree. I love the cut-up lettuce leaves and generous caesar dressing. Chicken pieces were quite big and tender as well. While it is alittle on the salty side, I totally would not mind having it again and again. There is just something addictive here.

Sis and Mum got the oysters kilpatrick with bacon. Quite like char siew, and the combination was really good. Reminded me of the first oyster I ever had and liked when I was like 5. This entree would be the best value here.

Dad had the fresh ones, similar good value here.

The setting for Mum's Japanese tasting plate for main. Love the chopsticks!

Anyway, my main course was the barramundi which was cooked very very well. Near perfection, melt in your mouth goodness. The fish was fresh and really went well with the mashed potatoes. The cherry truss tomato was fresh and I love the pop in my mouth. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS, even over the beef.


Both Dad and sis got the beef. Nothing to crow about and very chewy. Sis took a million years to eat hers and she wasn't a fan of it.

Mum's Japanese tasting plate for main. She was not impressed and neither was I. I think it is the cheapest one here, so not great for value and if you want Japanese food, go to a Japanese restaurant instead. Dad ordered this for her so she had no choice. She really wanted the barramundi...

Now, time for desserts. Remember my love affair with (A)lure's bakewell tart. So no prizes for guessing my instant dessert choice the minute I saw it was an option here...

With my favourite vanilla bean ice cream, nothing beats this! I SUPER LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! The tart is really warm and the cake texture is just wonderful. Perfect. Toasted almonds really add a different taste level here, bringing out the buttery flavours.


Sis had the Toblerone ice cream dessert encased in chocolate.

Photos credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

It came with a melted caramel centre, really quite special and yummy too. A rather good choice.

All in all, it is very well priced for a wonderful three course meal and amazing service as usual. In Burswood, (A)lure is so far the only restaurant I would recommend going over and over.

Till my next food find, Mayy xo

M's Food Find #66

Yes, even when there is so much to do, I managed to procrastinate and spent my whole Sunday in front of the telly. And still feel pretty shitty. ANYWAYS, it is quite an exciting time for Perth's culinary scene with so many amazing new restaurants and chefs taking interest here and many anticipated openings coming up.

Of course, one had already launched in Burswood, ROCKPOOL! Oh yeah. Dad managed to score the family a reservation on pretty short notice and we celebrated Mum's birthday in advance...Let the journey begin!

When you enter the grand looking doors, you are greeted (no not by me) with this long beautiful walkway lighted by candles and glass panels in between. On one side, raw meat (yeuch!) and on the other wine bottles!


The menu by Neil Perry...

Our attentive waitress.

Beautiful lighting behind the couches

Dessert menu! Sorry the photos are all over the place, I had to use sis' camera and mine so the syncing was off.

And no harm in introducing dessert first here. Complimentary from the restaurant, their Devil's Food Cupcake for mama. So worth the money if you were to order this for the dessert. It is what a chocolate cupcake should be. Light moist chocolatey...ooooooooooooooooooo with the right amount of icing there.


Bread and water. Nahhhh, kidding, we had more definitely!

The menu came in a big piece of paper to not sugarcoat it. I really prefer nice bounded copies.

Our seating area. The place is pretty big and spacious within actually and still very nice and private. Perhaps created by the mood lighting...



After the long walkway, that's the 'concierge' with pretty (busty) ladies in beautiful black dresses escorting you to the tables.

Yeah, thats the raw meat in the glass panels to your left.

Dad got the oysters. Well, you can taste the sea and they are fresh. 'Nuff said.


The aged beef ordered by Sis, a tad chewy and she can't help comparing it to her time at CUT by Wolfgang Puck in Singapore. Apparently, Rockpool comes in second but not by a close margin even. UH OH.





Toilet break...





Menu


The soup was very nice and whilst it is a creamy kind, it is not too heavy and sits in the mouth very well. I would totally recommend it.

Sis had a good laugh about it, she said kinda makes her feel better she is eating happy animals?! WHAT?!

Another beef on the menu, Dad had this the more expensive one, but swapped with sis I think because it is such a tiny portion. Again, nothing to rave about according to both of them BUT they are really quite spoiled rotten when it comes to beef.

The macaron ice cream sandwich sis ordered for dessert. YUMS. Totally want that but it isnt like A WOW dessert. Banana and refreshing...

You spot the busy clean white bright kitchen when you walk through the candlelitted walkway. Buzzing is the word. But I admired the way how bright and clean it is.

My entree with pork belly. Could very well been my main and I would have walked away from this experience a much happier satisfied customer. But alas, it was not to be. The pork belly is a little chewy but overall I think they did it very well. Paired well with the other ingredients here. Totally recommend this.

One of our side dishes, roasted pumpkin WHICH WAS SUPER GOOD and everyone loved this one. AMAZING, BIG APPLAUSE FOR IT.



Woodfired broccolini....meh.

Spot the bar?


Namecards of Rockpool from all round the world.

LOL. House rules which are so cute! Love the concept.



Mum's coral trout. A tad overcooked but overall very fresh and tender. 6.5/10 but I am a very harsh marker on fish.

My dessert of meringue tart which was too small but tasted quite nice. Not overly sweet. In comparison to cupcake and macaron, this is number 3.



Dad ordered coffee which comes in this cute little alien looking container for sugar. AND CARAMEL POPCORN WHICH REALLY ROCKS. A little 'lao hong' but tasted so fragrant and yummy. I wonder how they do it....drools.....




























Photos credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

Not one of my most organised blogposts but I am in kinda rush hahaha. Not supposed to be on here but I really want to share this with you so who cares if there are repeat photos. Bask in them...

Overall my experience in Rockpool is pretty special because I had my family with me and it was Mum's birthday celebration. Other than that, I have had better dining experiences foodwise and servicewise. Nothing to crow about and definitely not worth the $$$$$$$ one has to shell out here. So I am thankful for this one time experience and I look onwards to Nobu for a better quality experience!

Till my next food find, Mayy xo