My kind of pick-me-up

Looking back at previous posts, I realised I failed to pass on that promised Tiramisu recipe from my Italian-inspired Christmas lunch. So here it is!

• 4 eggs, separated
• 100g castor sugar
• 265ml marsala
• 500g marscapone
• 250ml espresso, cooled
• Savoiardi biscuits

1. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until pale. Add 80ml of marsala and whisk until tripled in volume and mixture holds a ribbon (may take 8-10 minutes). Cool and then fold through marscapone.
2. In a separate bowl whisk eggwhites until soft peaks form, then gently fold through marscapone mixture.
3. Combine espresso and remaining marsala. Dip savoiardi biscuits in espresso mixture and place in the base of a square serving dish. Top biscuit layer with marscapone mixture, and repeat layers.
4. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Dust with cocoa powder and shave chocolate generously over the top before serving.

This recipe is from from Gourmet Traveller and here’s a little foodie fact for your evening; did you know tiramisu translates to ‘pick me up’? I personally take that as a sign that it’s okay to replace my morning coffee with a slice of this Italian treat!

The Kiosk ~ Maylands

I hadn’t seen one of my closest friends for six months so when she flew back to Perth for a short holiday I organised for us to meet up with another of our good friends and introduce them both to one of my new favourite breakfast spots in Perth.

The Kiosk is a short walk from the main block that boasts Mrs S, Chapels on Whatley and Milkd, housed in the City of Bayswater’s community centre.

I’m kind of relieved that this ‘new kid on the block’ has plenty of healthy competition because if The Kiosk became any busier, the small kitchen and lack of tables might cause it to struggle to keep up.

After a few minutes of table poaching we sat down and quickly ordered a mocha each, after seeing tall glasses slathered with chocolate syrup and filled with delicious smelling coffee on another table.

As you may know from reading anytime avo, I can’t go past avocado on any menu – so choosing the smashed avo with lime, coriander and herb pesto on a sliced baguette was a no brainer! Green on green on green may not be as visually appealing as a dish filled with colour, but the combination of crusty bread, creamy avo and crunchy nuts in the pesto make for a textural treat.

At $8 a side, we decided to share two: the mushroom, blue cheese and thyme ragout and the roasted tomatoes with goats cheese. Both were great accompaniments but the stand-out was definately the mushroom ragout –  I’m not usually a fan of blue cheese, so I surprised myself by wanting to devour the whole plate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-in-all The Kiosk may not have as much atmosphere as the elaborately decorated Chapels on Whatley or the bustling Mrs S but the friendly staff and delicious food certainly make up for it. And a bonus is the free parking at the rear of the community complex.

Why? No stuffing about flicking through huge menus – just one page of mouth-watering options.
Why not? Lack of tables but hey, if it’s a lovely day outside then theres a huge patch of grass outside to bring a back-up picnic blanket!
On the side: If you’re a Masterchef fan then you may be delighted to know that 2012 contestant Wade is one of the chefs here.

Mrs S ~ Maylands

Whenever there is a conversation about the breakfast food scene in Perth, Mrs S pops up followed by raving reviews.

After months of having it on the list of foodie places to try in Perth I finally went one Sunday morning with two other couples.

It’s popularity not just around the Maylands area but Perth-wide is clearly shown when waiting half an hour for a table of six, but it was definately worth it!

Coffee was ordered whilst pondering over the cute menu-in-a-children’s-book (I wonder which cafe/bar in Perth actually started this first??) and came out quickly but was a little bit of a let down when the waitress tried to convince us that a flat white was actually a long macchiato – despite the clear indicators of a different glass and the weak colour. This mistake was soon rectified when another waitress brought over the remaining orders and we did a little coffee-swapping around the table.

But my long mac was exactly what I hoped for – rich in colour with a bitter crema and very drinkable…I had to stop myself from finishing it before my meal arrived!

I ordered the free range poached eggs on ciabatta toast and tomato relish with an ‘extra’ of spicy beans and M ordered the breakfast tortilla. All the meals came out together and were served beautifully on large bowls and chopping boards and in BIG servings.

  

I was really pleased with the perfectly cooked eggs and the tomato relish that had heaps of flavour but wasn’t too acidic or overpowering. The let down was the ‘spicy’ beans that lacked spice and flavour, however on a good note it was a generous serving as an extra for only $3.

In the end the breakie is pretty great value for what you get, but don’t expect perfection. What makes this place is not the food itself but its location in the heart of Maylands and the interior charm that makes you feel like bringing a book and sitting there for hours, ordering coffee after coffee.

Why? The generous servings for a great price.
Why not? Bland beans.
On the side: I’m very keen to return for breakfast and try one of the sweet options – either the banana bread or rhubarb crumble.

A lovely winter’s morning

“Rain, hail…or 40 degree temperature”

It may be the motto of the Mt Claremont Farmers Market but I picked a beautiful sunny winter’s morning to walk down and explore.

Situated in the grounds of the Mt Claremont Primary School and held every Saturday morning, the markets are a bustling hub where the local community seem to swarm.

Picking a bunch of flowers to brighten the home, getting a bratwurst or perhaps something from the boulangerie, listening to live local music over a cup of coffee, or taste-testing delicious jams and spreads – whatever it may be, it seems the market is a perfect way to make the chore of grocery shopping very, very enjoyable.

Soon after buying an indulgent breakfast of an apricot danish from the La Galette de France stall, my basket was quickly filled with fresh produce and beautiful flowers. Radishes, baby carrots, green beans, rainbow silverbeet, cabbage flowers and a bouquet of silver dollar gum leaves – and I was one happy shopper!

The market is a perfect way to start the weekend – wandering down to experience the sense of community, then coming home and being inspired to cook a lovely meal. For me, this came in the form of a delicious vegetable terrine, which I will share with you soon.

Have a lovely weekend ahead everyone!

Visit the Mt Claremont Farmers Market website.

Eating the vegetable terrine while admiring the cabbage flowers and eucalyptus cinerea leaves