X-wray cafe

X-wray Cafe
3-13 Essex Street  Fremantle
(08)9430 9399

Ooooo that sounds nice doesnt it?! Just rolls off the tongue. Kinda sounds like pig latin. I was never any good at speaking pig latin. But that is beside the point.

It was monday lunchtime and Flash and I were due for a date. I caught the bus to freo and sat outside in the sunshine waiting for him. We didn't have anywhere planned to go, and when Flash suggested x-wray I agreed. I've walked past there many a time and it always seemed like a hippie hangout...just the kinda place I would feel comfortable in. Fairy lights, chalkboard menu, giant pots with fishes in them and lots of greenery, plus a sheltered area with plenty of sunlight.

We walked straight up to the counter to order, and I immediatley knew that I had to have a burger. I don't usually go out for lunch (because I think it's silly) but when I do, burgers are my go-to choice. So I ordered a beef burger, Flash got the haloumi burger and we grabbed some water and set up table in the sunshine (nicely protected from the wind by those see-through plastic sheet thingys).

I feel like this image speaks for itself. HOW FREAKING GOOD does this look?!

Our burgers came out in about 15 minutes and I was impressed. Hello freshly toasted bread roll. Hello colourful lettuce (no iceberg to be seen), home-made relish, fresh tomato and onion and HEEELLLOOOOOO BEEF PATTY...delicious non-greasy and not watery flavoursome beef patty. It was delicious. Came with a side of the best chips I have had in perth (aside from clancys), well salted wedges with the skin on and yummy yummy aoli. I was happy. Flash had his haloumi burger. I love haloumi, but I love meat more...and while his was delicious, there just wasnt that satisfaction that comes with a BEEF burger.

mmmmmmm CHUPS!

So we ate, and we talked, and we sat outside in the sunshine and it was lovely. I would like to go back here, as there were lots of signs for live music and amazing cocktails. It would be a place where you could meet all your friends, grab some food to share and a few drinks and then carry on partying - or get out on their dancefloor. When people usually catch up for a drink in freo its at little creatures. I think x-wray would be slightly less pretentious, cheaper and definitely more intimate. The staff were great - efficient and well adjusted, and I my only complaint is that I haven't been back... apparently their breakfast is pretty amazing too. So, here is to out-of the way cafes in fremantle, I will be back for sure. In fact...probably next sunday for my luna movie date...feel free to join me?!!

The Precinct - breakfast

The Precinct.

GO THERE.

That is all.

But no seriously, I have been to the precinct twice for breakfast. TWICE. I hardly ever go anywhere twice because there are sooo many good places in perth to go.

The first time was with dan and sim. Again, I had heard good things and decided we needed to try it out.


Walked in on a saturday morning and were greeted by the staff and told to take a seat anywhere. Menus and water were delivered to the table and I poured over it. A suitabley hot hipster waiter came over to take our coffee orders and while we waited I comtemplated my potential breakfast choices...waffles, or bacon/banana/peanut butter toastie. It had been a while since I had waffles, so I opted for that. Sim chose slow cooked eggs with polenta and tomatoes and dan chose the breakfast cassoulet.
Our drinks arrived in about 10 minutes and I got to pouring my chai. The red teapot it came in was really cute, but it was weird that sims latte and dans long mac were served in a cup...in a small (branded) cup - which was a little off putting as they are usually served in glasses, and sans branding (no, I am not a fan of advertising on my coffee, unless it is a takeaway cup).

waffles with maple syrup and lime something or other

I can't really remember how long the food took, but I do remember being hungry. So lets say it took a little longer than I was willing to wait. But that was ok because there was much to talk about. The food came out and looked absolutely beautiful - the plates were black, which was funny, and I didn't like the sound my fork made on them - but the overall presentation was great. My waffles were crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle, not too sweet and beautifully complimented by the lemon curd, which was the lightest lemon curd I have ever tasted. Sim loved her polenta, with roasted tomatoes (still on the vine) and olive tapenade. Dans meal...well...we had to ask the waiter what it was. It was huge. It was tasty (very manly) but we're still not sure what it was...something with beans and eggs and duck and pork and sausage and kinda like a stew.

Peanut butter, bacon and bananana toastie

So that was breakfast number one. Breakfast number two was with matticus. I had to wait for him, which was great as I had the newspaper (slight disappointment that there were six weekend wests but no weekend australians (with superior crosswords) on offer). This time, I had the toastie...again, well presented, hot crisp toast filled with very well cooked bacon, taffy like peanut butter and fresh banana. It was weird yet wonderful eating this, as the peanut butter just stuck to the top of my mouth, the banana just smushed its flavour everywhere and the toast and bacon crunched. YUUUMMMMM.

Price wise, TP is not that bad. I was expecting quite high prices, but TP hasn't gone pretentious, and kept them in a vic-park price range. My waffle was $12, toasty $10. Sim payed $16 and dan $20. I think coffee was around $4.5. I wouldn't go twice if I didn't think it was reasonable!

So, the food here is good. The price is reasonable. The decor is warm and inviting - there is a super cool mural on one wall, and another wall lined with wine bottles. Blackboards hang from the ceiling advertising the liquor/wine of the day and the kitchen is open air...great for people watching. The staff are hip and cool yet still attentive. The only bad things are the fork/plate sound clash, the fact that the bench seats are waaaay too low for the table, there is no weekend australian AND because the floor is wooden, some of the staff sounded really loud when they walked by - which was off putting. BUT the food is delicious and well presented, and really, thats all that matters :)

stay tuned for TP - dinner.

Little Pantry

I read about Little Pantry on the 1000's website and decided I better try it out. Love a good cafe.
Dan was in town, I needed a good chat and a cheer up, so he picked me up on the bike and we headed down the freeway.
 LP is located on nicholson rd, in subi, and its probably one of the prettiest streets in perth, with lots of trees and cute little cottages. All of a sudden, in suburbia is this area of shops - a post office, homewares, real estate and a couple of health places and of course, LP. We parked down the road and walked up to the cafe. It was cold out, and the front of the cafe was shaded, so we sat inside.
I could tell straight away the LP is alll about the coffee (may have been the shirt the baristas were wearing) and not so much about the food.
So we walked to the counter and I looked at the cake available and I asked the tall dude
"what cake is that?"
"eet ez zee zucchiiiiini cake"
"ahhh (points at another that looks like chocolate) - i'll have a slice of that"
"yeeez okay one pieze ouf peppermint slize...will you have coffeeee"
"no thanks, just a soy chai in the pot please"
SHOCK HORROR CROSSES HIS FACE
"ahhh i zink we cannot doo that"
So I talked to the barrista and came up with a solution. Also, if you coudn't tell - the tall dude was french, and obviously didn't have much time for the customers. Its not that he was rude, or obnoxious, but I got the feeling it had been a looong day and all he wanted to do was go home and eat a croissant.
Anyways, our drinks came, and our slice/food came, and it was yuuummmooo. The slice was crisp on the bottom with chunks of delicious pappermint in it and a yummy chocolate icing. It wasn't really that satisfying so I went back for more (brownie - which could have been a bit gooeyer and had stuff in it). I also like my cake served with cream. But that's because i'm a fatty.
My chai came in a glass and tasted good too - but its not as fun when you don't get to pour the tea.

As for the decor - it was a very small cafe, nice blue paint, wooden furnishings and a fun bookshelf full of exciting things to look at. Plus a great range of newspapers. There were only 4 seats with a back (unless you want to sit outside) so it was lucky we got a spot where I could lean against the wall - because I'm not very good at sitting on a stool. The customers were coffee hipsters, dog walkers and a few couples. You probably wouldnt be able to sit a group bigger than 4 or 5 comfortably - its the type of place designed for takeaway.

The price was expensive - my tiny slice was $5 and dan payed for the rest of it, but coffee probably around the $4.5 mark. I guess that's what you get when you dine in subi.

I'm glad I tried it, and if I or a friend was in the area, I would recommend going there for coffee, and a piece of peppermint slice - definitely not a meal - but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there :)

Superstar Waffles

Ever since I was a little girl, on sunday, after church, mum would make a 'special' breakfast. Most of the time it was pancakes (coz pancakes are easy), and sometimes it would be french toast. But, if we were really REALLY lucky, we would get WAFFLES! Soon, I was allowed in the kitchen by myself, and I started to make waffles every sunday morning (they were actually easy mum).

I live out of home now, and have my own waffle machine. On the 25th of march, I always organise a waffle breakfast, because the 25th of march is international waffle day.

Since moving to australia I have come to the sad realisation that most people have grown up believeing gelare waffles are a 'real' waffle. GELARE WAFFLES ARE CRAP. CRAP I TELL YOU! I have spent many mornings making waffles for friends to prove this point.

The perfect waffle

The perfect waffle is hot. It is served with mayple syrup. It is crispy on the outside. It is fluffy in the middle, and when you break it open you should be able to see the steam. It has a slightly savoury, bland taste (like white bread) - you add maple syrup to make it sweet. Or, if you are in norway you eat it with fresh strawberry jam. mmmmmm.

Anyways this is all beside the point. When I heard there was a new waffle joint open in perth I knew I had to try it out - will their waffles exceed gelare and live up to my waffle expectations?

We walked in around 9pm on a saturday night (yes, I spend my saturday evenings eating waffles. so what?) to an empty cafe. SW is located down the alley next to ezra pound. Empty cafe is ok, coz it meant we would get served first - and quickly.

I sat down and looked at the menu (which I had already looked at online) and knew that I had to have the smores waffle with marshmallow fluff, nutella, and marshmallows on the side. My roomie, KC had the banoffie pie (caramel, banana and biscuit on waffle) with icecream. Janeo took a plain waffle with chocolate icecream.

In about 15 minutes our waffles arrived. I spent all of about 20 seconds taking a photo and then dived in.

CRISP WAFFLE. STEAM. FLUFFY INSIDE. INSANELY SWEET MARSHMELLOW FLUFF. and nutella. and a shot glass filled with baby marshmallows to add. It was insane. The marshmallow was sticky and sweet, the waffle was delicious and I was in heaven. The only problem was that I needed more nutella (the lovely waitress brought some over), the cream came out of a can (gross) and that I ended up with a sugar headache.

Janes waffle was actually amazing, even though I scoffed at the 'plain waffle with icecream' the chocolate icecream was quality, and the waffle was the perfect sponginess to mop up all the melted icecream. KC had a whole banana and yummy caramel - and even managed to fit in a scoop of icecream as well!

After our pig-out, we all sat around for a while, drinking water and digesting, before attacking the chalkboard - hilarity ensued.

All in all, superstar waffles is definitley a great example of a REAL waffle - made the american way with all the toppings. They have friendly staff, an open space that could fit up to 30 people, decent music, open late night and the coolest tip jar I have ever seen.

Late night dessert lovers, rejoice!