Mount Street

It’s been a year since I started this little blog, so what better way to welcome in 2013 than review what has surely become my favourite restaurant in Perth, *Mount Street (well I think that’s the name – they are a little vague about what the place is called at the moment).  Situated at the bottom of Mount Street (obvs), this cozy little place has had many incarnations over the years, most recently Bouchard.

The place is small, warm and welcoming.  I took a seat outside with my dear friend D, ordered my poached eggs and began chatting.  The eggs were delivered looking inviting and delicious.

Now, you know how I bang on constantly about the butter placement; someone finally got it right.  The perfect temperature, taste and position. As I placed my knife into the white bundles, the yolk spilt out over the toast and onto the side of the plate – you could practically hear it pop.  I think I might have even squealed just slightly! They were fresh and cooked just as a poached egg should be.  The toasted multigrain was flawlessly crisp and doughy at the same time. Not easily achievable.

And the bacon…  Don’t even get me started.  Best bacon I have had in a very long time.  I think it was baked, so there was no fat or oiliness.  Punching well above its weight in flavour, I could have eaten my body weight in rashers.

Will I go back?  Well, I just so happen to have a client breakfast meeting there tomorrow morning.  And lunch, and another lunch…

1. Presentation (25)
2. Poaching Consistency (25)
3. Toast (25)
4. Service / Value (25)

Overall Score = 100/100  |  Total cost = $12.00

*In the interest of full disclosure, I must mention that I’ve become friends with the chef.  Originally out of Longgrain in Melbourne, the very talented Bec is now running the show.  Try her out for lunch – her food is the best I’ve tasted in Perth for a long, long time – but don’t tell too many people OK?

West End Deli – Take Two

I wasn’t intending on doing another poached egg review of the West End Deli, but I couldn’t let it go.  It was that bad.  Unlike last time (I ordered the poached eggs sous vide), this time I ordered them straight from the menu.  Sat back, opened the paper and waited in anticipation.

I waited.  And waited.  I mean how long should you have to wait for your breakfast when the place wasn’t even busy?  Clearly way too long.

Where do I start?  The toast was much too thick and on turning over one of the slices, it was burnt.  It was so obvious they were trying to hide it.  The eggs were, well, almost to the stage of being hard-boiled.  The second egg was practically inedible and I couldn’t bring myself to eating it.  I think it’s true that you eat with your eyes and my appetite was waning fast.  I wanted out of there.

For a place that prides itself on their food, this was bad.  Really bad.  The only good part about the breakfast was seeing my lovely friend Aurelio who’d also had an equally bad experience with his granola.

No more breakfasts for me at The West End Deli.

1. Presentation (10)
2. Poaching Consistency (4)
3. Toast (4)
4. Service / Value (10)

Overall Score = 28/100  |   Total cost = $11.00

West End Deli

I’ve wanted to go to the West End Deli (West Perth) for the longest time..  Specifically it was their brunch that has the foodies in Perth getting their micro herbs in a twist proclaiming it one of the best places for brunch in Perth.

The ‘Engineer’ came with me this morning to sample these delights.  He ordered fried eggs and bacon on toast.  It looked delicious – the bacon thick and the eggs cooked sunny side up to perfection.

I asked the very cheeky but efficient waiter how they cooked their poached eggs.  As he was telling me I just happened to mention my favourite way was sous vide.  Low and behold he told me he had those as well!

They arrived in their very own little bowl along with two slices of toast.  Whilst the toast looked a little too thick it was easy to cut through and I enjoyed each and every mouthful.  Now I have to be honest and tell you that I think poached eggs cook this way look ‘raw’, but they were far from that.

These two free-range globes were just the wrong side of 60 minutes and could have used another 2/3 minutes, but they were almost perfect.  The yolk had the texture of soft marshmallow and the egg white translucent and full of flavour.

I loved the overall experience (don’t even ask about the deconstructed toilet – they’re still in the middle of renovations) and the prices are extremely reasonable.  I will definitely be visiting this place again, very soon.

1. Presentation (12)
2. Poaching Consistency (22)
3. Toast (23)
4. Service / Value (20)

Overall Score = 77/100  |   Total cost = $11.00