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Restaurant reviews, product reviews

Is Donburi, Northbridge

Miso chicken katsu don, $13.80

When my sister told me that Northbridge’s latest Japanese hot spot, Is Doburi was serving their katsu don with a special misonaise, I was very keen to taste it for myself.

And taste it I did, on both the pork, AND chicken katsu don, when I visited Is Donburi on a recent Friday night.

The combination of a crunchy katsu and egg is a classic Japanse combination that’s just perfect over fluffy white rice. All of the chicken and egg toppings I’d previously enjoyed were quickly coated in a sweet-salty soy sauce, but here, Is Donburi has kicked it up a notch, drizzling their protein double-team with a house made misonaise – mayonnaise and miso! Together! It’s the perfect balance of creamy and salty with just a hint of something-something, the fifth taste - umami.

Each donburi here comes with a complimentary side salad and bowl of miso soup, which are perfect to round out an already satisfying meal.

Combination sashimi 9 pieces, $16.80 – featuring salmon, tuna and kingfish

Both J and I were very glad to welcome this stunning sashimi combination to our table. The fresh chunks of tuna were smooth and creamy – without a hint of the rough, almost gritty texture that’s common with low grade fish. The salmon is similarly swoon-worthy, lightly rippled with fat, with a pleasingly firm bite.

The delightful kingfish

But it’s the kingfish on offer at IS Donburi is, that is seriously outstanding. We were both impressed with the care taken in the chef’s knife work on the lightly scored skin-side of the flesh, and floored when we nibbled on the fish itself.

It’s fresh with a distinct sweetness. Fish this fresh is offset so well by a smidge of wasasbi and a light drizzle of soy sauce.

I’m always pleased when I find a new food destination is as exciting and satisfying as everyone tells me it is. I’m now definitely a misonaise convert, and the sashimi was so good it had us talking about it for days. So much so that we returned in less than a week to sample the big kahuna (15 pieces for $26.50) !

On both our visits we were glad to find that service was consistently friendly and efficient. The kitchen and front of house teams handle service with a smile, all while managing a constant stream of customers eating in and ordering take away.

Is Donburi is a great little spot, whether you’re picking up lunch on the run (check out the spring roll sushi handroll!) or looking for comfortable place to eat in.

Open daily 11.30am to 9.30pm

Mon Ami Gabi, Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino

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Early mornings in Las Vegas are surprisingly serene. The morning air is cool and calm, minus the haze of tourist bus exhaust and cigarette smoke. It’s filled only with the quiet sounds of music playing from restaurants, as they serve breakfast to the rare early birds and night owls, making their way back to their suites after a night out.

Mornings in Vegas were one of my favourite times of day by far, as they were the perfect time for a spot of exploring without hearing the incessant snapping of wads of coupons in the sweaty palms of street vendors.

And of course, it was also the perfect time to enjoy my favourite meal of the day, breakfast, before the desert heat really took hold.

We met J’s parents for breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi, which is located at The Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. You’ll know you’ve found the right hotel when you spot the Eiffel Tower

The service was friendly and super efficient – from the wait staff to the bus boys and bar staff. It’s definitely worth asking for a seat on the outdoor patio, if tables are available (or you’re willing to wait), as it’s a really lovely spot. Perfect for watching the hustle and bustle on the strip in the comfort of Mon Ami Gabi’s shady surrounds.

J and his Dad both decided on the eggs benedict special of the day, featuring thinly sliced, tender medium-rare London Broil steak beneath two poached eggs and a spicy hollandaise sauce.

We all looked on with baited breath as they cut through their poached eggs…

I definitely recall a whoop of joy as the eggs oozed ribbons of silky yolk.

J’s Mum couldn’t go past the crepe special of the day, which came with Calvados glazed apples and chantilly cream.

Evidence of the deliciousness here is limited to this one photo. This golden crepe and the spicy apples were gone in a flash. Partly due to the fact that a certain daughter-in-law to be was more than happy to “help” finish them

One of my greatest joys during my visit to the States was the abundance of waffles on almost every breakfast menu.

Here at Mon Ami Gabi, the waffles on offer were light and fluffy on the inside, with a pleasing crunchy exterior. Fantastic when doused liberally with fresh blueberry syrup and lashings of chantilly cream.

Getting ready for a wedding is hungry work – so I also ordered a side of breakfast potatoes and crispy bacon. And at $4.95 and $3.95 respectively, these sides were infinitely more satisfying than any other happy meal I could buy for the same price!

Actually, our breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi was so satisfying that we returned later that night for dinner, on our last night on the town with our friends and J’s brother.

Whether it’s eggs, waffles or steak that takes your fancy, Mon Ami Gabi is a great spot to visit for breakfast. You’ll find it all – even at breakfast time – as bistro classics including French onion soup, Croque Madame and Steak Frites are available from 7.00am!

Other highlights from our last day as non-married people…

Mini Tabasco vs. Splenda. I’d never seen these individual serving sizes of Tabasco! Cute.

I think we may have walked past The Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace at least five or six times that day, organising last minute things. Who knew it was so difficult to find a medium, white men’s dress shirt? Not me. Or J. Yeesh.

In between our errands, I did find time to get my fortune “told” by Zoltar …

Here’s what he said – I thought it was pretty good!

The Merrywell, Crown Perth

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Wagyu mini burgers, $22, Wagyu beef patties with white cheddar,
BBQ caramelised onions, bread & butter pickles

We visited The Merrywell at Crown Perth by chance on a weekday night last month. After two different, but equally exhausting days, we decided a night out with good food, thirst quenching drinks and the ring of pokie machines in distance might just be the remedy we needed.

The offerings at The Merrywell are ‘delicious with a daring twist’ and the menu from chefs Grant MacPherson and Sammy DeMarco should appeal to a wide range of tastes, whether you’re a die hard carnivore or salad fan.

D-Man & G-Mac BLT, $28, porchetta, pork belly, pancetta,
egg, rocket, tomato, bacon aioli, bacon bread and onion rings

But we had other menu items in mind, inspired by our recent wedding and holiday state-side, where we’d further cultivated our love of sizeable sandwiches and juicy, artery clogging burgers.

The D-Man and G-Mac BLT was calling to me from the moment I spied it on the menu.

Sandwiched between bacon bread (you’ll spot the crispy chunks throughout), this ultimate BLT comes generously filled with thickly sliced porchetta, salty pancetta, and tender pork belly. Just in case you’re hungry for more, a softly set fried egg, crisp lettuce and sweet tomato slices are also included, topped with a creamy bacon aioli.

This a hearty sandwich salute to all things pig, and a great option if you’re particularly hungry! I struggled to finish this, even with J gallantly offering to help me finish it.

The onion rings were crisp, in a light, bubbly batter. They looked perfect, but were unfortunately quite cold by the time my plate got to me.

We both loved the large juicy spears of daikon pickle that came with the sandwich. It’s a shame they’re not available on their own on the menu – I’d order them again for sure!

Wagyu mini burgers, $22, Wagyu beef patties with white cheddar,
BBQ caramelised onions, bread & butter pickles

The Wagyu mini burgers were an absolute delight, showcasing the juicy and tender beef patties perfectly with minimal fuss, but maximum flavour.

I’m personally a big fan of minimally dressed burgers – especially when top grade beef is used – I think it really helps showcase the natural flavour and texture of the meat.

Extra juiciness was added here with the addition of the gooey white cheddar, BBQ caramelised onions and bread & butter pickle slices.

These burgers are served medium-rare (though mine looked closer to medium), on soft pillowy rolls which come joined together – a little detail I loved as it made me think of White Castle‘s often referenced sliders, and the potato rolls I so loved to gaze at in American grocery stores.

The Merrywell

We also decided on a serve of fries, plus cheese and Au Poivre sauce (that’s pepper sauce, in case you’re wondering). I was a little disappointed that the cheese had been sprinkled on top of the cooled fries, leaving it mostly unmelted over the chips. Luckily the Au Poivre came to the rescue – black pepper gravy remedies even somewhat lacklustre cheese fries!

To wash down our meals, J enjoyed a pint of Kosciuszco Pale Ale ($11), while the designated driver (ahem, me) had a mysterious non-alcoholic concoction care of our able barman. A generous slug of ginger ale, muddled limes, mint and orange juice were definitely involved here.

And the service? Well. Okay. Most of the time. Except for when we needed cutlery. And water glasses. Or napkins. Or menus.

There’s no table service at The Merrywell. A well-signed corner booth is the ordering station, and it’s first come first serve as far as tables. This arrangement suits me fine, as I quite enjoy being left to find my own table in a spot that suits.

However, in light of this seating arrangement and the constant flow of hungry patrons, I’d expect abandoned tables and dishes to be cleared quickly, and table-top caddies of cutlery, napkins and menus to be refilled as a matter of course. And forget about going to the water station to fill your glass yourself – you’ll be shooed away quickly.

I really hope the service we experienced was not indicative of how things are all the time. We really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, as well as the bar staff who seemed to know what they were doing. It’s a real shame when average service lets an establishment down, with what would be an otherwise winning combination.

Opening hours
11.30am – midnight Sunday to Thursday
11.30am – 3am Friday & Saturday

No reservations

Summer smoozies with Smooze

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How do you make December in Australia cold and frosty, even though it’s sunny and 30+ degrees (celsius) outside? Well, I can think of a few ways – but my favourite method involves almost any sweet treat that lives in the freezer.

A product that seems to have found a permanent home in my freezer is Smooze fruit ice – an all natural, coconut milk based frozen treat. I first found these on the shelves of my local supermarket last summer, and once I’d tried them, I knew we’d be friends.

For fans of tropical combinations, there’s coconut pineapple (tastes like a pina colada in icey pole form!), coconut mango and coconut pink guava. But if you’re into the classics (fans of vanilla ice cream, I’m looking at you), I definitely recommend the simply coconut – it’s smooth and creamy, with a fantastic ‘real deal’ coconut flavour – thanks to the main ingredient – coconut milk!

The coconut milk is the real star of Smooze. Their coconut milk comes from the same plantations in Sumatra that make the popular Kara brand coconut milk and cream.

For the lactose challenged, enjoying ice cream (and everything it comes in) can be a bit of a problem – so it’s fantastic to find something you can enjoy, totally guilt (and gut ache) free!

Besides enjoying Smooze straight out of the freezer, a little birdie also told me they’re great in smoothies too. Smoothies are a favourite workday breakfast on the go – so I’m always on the hunt for new ways to mix things up (and make the protein powder and oat bran combo more delicious).

I recently gave Smooze a test drive in a smoothie, and was very happy with the results. I blended together a ripe mango, a mango coconut Smooze, plus a simply coconut Smooze. The resulting smoothie was super creamy, and a delicious, healthy after-dinner treat on a warm night. I think the resulting mix would go down well any time of day – with the high fibre protein combo for breakfast, or even with a shot of rum, for a cheeky frozen cocktail.

Find Smooze at your local supermarket, in the dessert aisle (not the freezer section!). For nutritional information and stockist details, visit the Smooze website.

Full disclosure: Juji Chews received Smooze PR samples for review.

The Angry Moose, Mount Lawley

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The Angry Moose is a relative newcomer to Beaufort Street, opening while we were overseas during September and October. Brought to us by the team behind Lawley’s Bakery, the Angry Moose features meat from everyone’s favourite Inglewood butcher, Mondo di Carne, and buns made by (who else) Lawley’s.

J’s Angry Moose, came with a beef patty, green tomato chutney and oozing Emmenthal cheese. He decided to add extra caramelised onions, which proved to be an excellent choice, as they were cooked until sweetly tender and golden.

My oddly named B.E.L.T The Moose featured a beef patty, bacon, fried egg, lettuce, tomato and caramelised onion with a generous schmear of aioli.

I was happy with my choice when I found my egg to be cooked perfectly, softly set with just a hint of ooze

The golden yolk helped keep things juicy, and really melded together the flavours of the burger.

This is definitely a good option for those with a hearty appetite. There’s lots to like in this burger – literally – with everything from the bacon, lettuce and onions added generously to the sizeable patty and bun.

We initially opted to try the sweet potato fries, but their flaccid, soggy texture was so disappointing we decided to order a round of regular potato as well. Luckily the standard chips fared better. I couldn’t recommend the sweet potato fries to anyone.

The aioli which features in all the burgers offered here, also comes with the chip options too. It was packing quite a punch, with the tell tale sharpness that tends to come from adding chopped raw garlic to standard egg mayonnaise. It was a little jarring, and not really enjoyable for me – and after mentioning it to two other friends, I found my experience wasn’t a one off.

In fact, a fellow food-fan and burger connoisseur told me that on first taste he was sure they used jarred garlic in his serve of aioli. Hmm. Whether it’s fresh chopped or jarred, this quantity of raw garlic isn’t something I’m too keen on (and I like my garlic) - especially when it’s simply stirred through, rather than blended into the emulsion.

Have you been to The Angry Moose? What did you think?

Make yours a Man V Food Christmas!

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I don’t know about you, but I love a good food-related TV show. That joy is only magnified when I get to enjoy it completely uninterrupted, whenever and (almost) wherever I like.

Man V Food DVD cover

One of my favourite shows, which I’ve mentioned before, is Man V Food, hosted by Yale School of Drama alum, Adam Richman.

Man V. Food is part travel diary, part vicarious gluttony, as Adam takes you on his culinary quest across the nation.

If you’ve never seen it, this is a great way to learn about some of the USA’s finest local eats and take a look at some of the mind-boggling eating challenges that makes this show so infamous!

The bigger, the spicier, the faster… the better!

A special discount for Juji Chews readers

This Christmas, you might like to share the joy with the food-fan in your life – by giving them a copy of Man V. Food Seasons 1 & 2, which has just been released by Shock Entertainment.

Juji Chews readers can snap up the Man V Food DVD for the reduced price of $33.59 (normally $37.32, representing a 10% discount)!

All you’ll need to do to buy Man V Food Seasons 1 & 2 at the discounted rate is to apply the code JUJIVSFOOD to your cart as you checkout. The discount code is valid until 25 December 2012.

But please, don’t forget to check the delivery dates, if you are buying this for someone’s stocking this Christmas (you never can be too sure)!

Buy the DVD at screenpop.com.au

Full disclosure: This offer was provided to Juji Chews readers by Shock Entertainment. But this isn’t a “referral” or “affiliate” link situation – I don’t get anything out of it – I’ve already got the US editions of these series’, I just wanted to share this with you!

Metrio & Co, North Perth

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When my friend and colleague G recently mentioned a new cafe on Angove Street with ‘delicious pancakes’, I made a mental note to check it out.

It’s a street I’m more than familiar with, being home to one of my all time favourites, The Flying Taco. I’ve watched the neighborhood grow and change since I first visited it, when my sister Flexnib lived there years ago.

We managed to snap up the last table outside to enjoy the Saturday sunshine. After checking out the blackboard of breakfast options, I returned to the counter to order. The service was efficient and friendly – just what I want when it’s busy.

J chose the Salsa poached eggs, $17. The softly set, oozing poached eggs were perfection with lashings of spicy tomato salsa.

Juicy and sweet tomatoes worked their tasty magic with slivers of finely sliced red onion and creamy avocado.

I’m personally not too keen on overzealous use of balsamic plate dressing – sure, it looks nice, but sometimes it’s just too overwhelming a flavour. In this case, however, I think it set off the sweetness of the tomatoes beautifully. And J didn’t seem to mind much either.

Of course, pancakes were on my mind, and I wasn’t disappointed by Metrio’s fluffy Pancake stack with maple syrup, $12.

I think Metrio & Co’s chef might just be a fan of Bill Granger’s ricotta hotcakes. I’m pretty certain my foodie-spidey sense detected the addition of ricotta in the mix, adding to the light, airy texture of the pancakes on offer here.

I was pleasantly surprised to find them delivered with a side of tart berry sauce and creme fraiche, which was a lovely change from the usual cream or ice cream options I’ve become accustomed to expect.

I did wonder whether this was the usual presentation of this dish, though, as neither the berries or the creme fraiche were mentioned on the menu. Not a problem, by any means, but worth mentioning in case this was just a random off-menu bonus!

Our lazy Saturday morning wouldn’t have been complete without coffee, and Metrio & Co have definitely brought their A-game on the coffee front. Their Fiori coffee was made with beautifully textured milk (even for us soy drinkers), at a great temperature. Winning.

Hash House A Go Go, at the Imperial Palace, Las Vegas

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I first heard about Hash House A Go Go while watching one of my favourite guilty pleasure TV shows, Man V. Food. In typical Juji fashion, I was more interested in host Adam Richman’s visits to local Las Vegas food destinations, rather than his terrifying attempt to eat a gargantuan big badass burrito at the NASCAR Cafe.

Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken Benedict with maple reduction,
2 eggs (J chose scrambled), bacon mashed potatoes and a biscuit, $12.95

Hash House’s Executive Chef Craig “Andy” Beardslee takes traditional farm favourite recipes – like country fried chicken and biscuits – and adds his own unique spin, resulting in this restaurant’s signature style, Twisted Farm Food.

J’s choice, the Sage Fried Chicken Benedict is a Hash House signature dish, taking classic fried chicken and fluffy, flaky biscuits and turning them into something any farmer would envy for their early morning breakfast.

Sausage gravy and buttermilk biscuits, 2 eggs (I picked scrambled)
and mashed potatoes, $11.95

My attraction to foods of the American south is well documented, so it came as no surprise to my dining partners that I would choose this dish – hearty, moreish, carbohydrate overload.

And carb overload it was, my friends. There was an enormous portion of mashed potatoes beneath the eggs, biscuits and gravy. I barely made a dent in this serving.

I’ve never made sausage gravy, but after eating this, I’m convinced I need to do it – and soon. Maybe this recipe from Paula Deen would set me on the right path to sausage gravy success ?

Corned Beef, red onions and swiss cheese house hash, tossed with crispy potatoes and topped with two eggs. Served with fresh fruit and a biscuit, $12.95

L picked the corned beef hash – a jumble of homestyle corned beef (like your Mum or Grandma used to make), sweet red onions, swiss cheese and crispy potatoes. Unlike other corned beef hashes I’ve sampled (and made), this was a meat-only hash, with the potatoes cooked separately – keeping their crisp golden exteriors just right for every mouthful.

Oh, and it didn’t stop there. Also included in the price were two eggs, fruit and a biscuit. In case the corned beef wasn’t enough!

Ham, spinach and cheddar farm scramble, served with griddled mash or
crispy potatoes, fresh fruit and a biscuit, $10.95

I was really nice to see that A’s enormous farm scramble had been cooked perfectly – the eggs were set just enough to warm the ham and spinach, but also enough to melt the cheddar cheese.

And despite being the most perfect version of this dish for her taste (ie. it sounded like it was lifted out of her personal recipe book!), she was defeated early on.

Though I consider myself the carbohydrate queen of the universe – the side serving of griddled mash (Griddled! With BACON!) was so large I don’t think it deserved to be designated as a side. It probably deserves a separate plate. Or its own zip code.

We all agreed this was a great place to visit for breakfast. No matter where your preferences lie – Hash House A Go Go has an extensive menu, with options ranging from the classics (oatmeal, bacon and eggs, pancakes) to the down right twisted.

And don’t worry if you miss your early wake up call. Their most requested breakfast menu options are available all day – at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

So, I hear you ask, what did you do to work off this enormous breakfast?

We made our way to downtown Las Vegas to collect our marriage licence! Our friends A and L were on hand as our personal paparazzi, of course

Side note: our matching outfits were completely unplanned. I swear!

And we shopped. A lot. The North Las Vegas Outlet Mall is pretty amazing!

Holsteins, Las Vegas

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On our first full day in Vegas, we managed a solid sleep in followed by an initiation to American breakfast junk food. But over thirteen hours of flying and changing time zones can really mess with your sense of adventure.

The idea of straying further than the comfortable confines of our hotel in search of lunch on our first full day in Vegas was a little stressful.

Luckily, the huge range of restaurants at the Cosmopolitan offered us lots of great options for a late lunchtime feed. We stopped in at Holsteins, a burger restaurant which was tailor-made for the hotel.

Executive Chef Anthony Meidenbauer is the mastermind behind the menu concept, which primarily focuses on fresh organic produce (no mean feat for land-locked desert like Las Vegas).

My favourite part about the menu is that many elements in the dishes here are house-made, like the burger buns, fries and condiments.

I was dazzled by all the menu options, but nonetheless I still went with The Classic ($14.00), which featured a traditional beef patty topped with lettuce, tomato, red onions, mayo and pickles (comes with ketchup, but I ordered it without, naturally!). I added Pepperjack cheese for an additional two dollars. All the ‘big bun’ options come with shoestring fries or steak cut chips.

One thing about my burger which I found delightful and surprising? The wafer thin onion slices, which I think had been steeped in either a light pickling solution or just fresh water. This removed the sulfuric harshness of the onions without sacrificing their flavour or texture.

J still hadn’t recovered from our earlier breakfast visit (or possibly from early afternoon snacking), so he chose the Holstein beef tiny buns ($12.00), three sliders topped with grilled onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard. J added American cheese for an extra dollar.

The bamboozled shake menu offers classic ice cream parlour / soda shop flavour combinations with an adults-only twist. My Brown Cow Float ($11.00), pictured above, took my all time favourite float (or spider, I guess, for all my fellow Aussies) – root beer and vanilla ice cream – combining them with with a generous shot Smirnoff Whipped Cream Vodka. For a Wonka-style touch, a generous shake of Pop Rocks was added to the mix (and sprinkled on top).

We loved the burgers here so much so that it was the first food recommendation on our list of suggestions to my Mum and aunties.We even returned another two times!

Besides the drool-worthy burgers, there’s also lots of great sharing options on the menu, including the much recommended Buffalo Wings (favourites of my Mum and aunties who were also in town for the wedding).

The service is speedy and friendly, making Holsteins a popular choice for large groups and special occasions. Even after 2pm (when we arrived), the restaurant was busy and the kitchen seemed to be pumping out dish after dish.

It’s no wonder it was so busy, even at such a ‘late’ lunch hour. With food this good, it’s tempting to try and fit in a post-lunch pre-dinner snack.

Now, what should we call it, Linner or Dunch?

One for the grown ups: Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer

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I think I literally breathed a sigh of relief as I returned home last week. Feeling the sun on my face, and the warm breeze in the air reminded me that summer’s just around the corner. Though I’m a lover of layers, hearty food and crisp air, I think I have just about hit my cold weather saturation point (13 degree days in New York will do that to you).

Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer Before I went away, I received a sample of Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, a hugely popular tipple that’s now available in Australia. I’m not a beer fan, so I’m always on the look out for alternatives.

Crabbie’s is sweet, spicy and just a little bit fruity. On first taste, I was instantly reminded of my own experiments in making my own ginger beer. But I must confess, all of my attempts were pretty mediocre compared to this stuff!

This adults only ginger beer would be just the thing for a lazy Sunday barbecue, or enjoyed over ice with a slice of lemon, on a balmy summer evening.

Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer is now available exclusively through Dan Murphy’s stores nationally.

Pick up a four pack for RRP $15.99. Also available in 500ml bottles for $6.99.

Full disclosure:
This product was provided to Juji Chews for review consideration. All opinion offered here are my honest thoughts on the product. I wouldn’t share if I didn’t enjoy.

PS. Please drink responsibly. Remember, I said this was for grown ups.

Juji Chews

A Perth food blog