Carven's Table

I often wonder why Sandrino is always packed full of people, after having dine there for twice (first time mainly due to the amount of people in there, 2nd time visit wasn't even my choice), I still don't get it! However, if you are looking for the Italian cafe atmosphere, I guess you will get it from here. You'll get to see chef in action on the left and a huge double wood fired pizza as the backdrop of the restaurant. Talk about atmosphere, there sure can provide it! If you are care about the food quality, my advise to you is to give it a miss. I've read some really positive review about this restaurant, but having try it myself twice, it is indeed quite disappointing. I brought visitors for lunch on a sunday after bringing them tour around Freo (that was my first visit). The room was a bit dark in the afternoon, not as lively, but the big wood fired pizza oven does add some character into the room. We ordered spaghetti marinara, a sausage + olive pizza and a ...

If you're a massive seafood lover like I do and love old school classic European cooking style, this is a place for you! We got to know this place from the entertainment book, without much expectation we thought to give it a try, since it's located in Hyatt Hotel. We searched high and low in Hyatt, only to know that they are not part of Hyatt Hotel group. They are in fact, just next to the hotel courtyard! If you go in from Terrace Rd, you would have easily locate them. We doubt for abit, once we step our foot in, the place was empty (it was a Tuesday arvo)! I wondered if they were open *gasp!*. Soon after, someone came out and greet us. Awards plaque, dated decor and furnitures, water tank with live seafood.  Gold plate awards plaque were all over the wall, that's a good sign, but some of them were dated back to 1996, i wonder if they are still any good today. Decor and furniture was kinda dated, you felt like you have just walk into your grannies favourite restaura...

Great! another new site dedicated to Perth coffee scene. It's exciting to see all these new coffee huts/shops/kiosk popping up on Perth's street. Visit http://www.perthcoffeescape.com/ for coffee reviews, checking out new coffee bar, or just to interact with other Perth coffee enthusiast. I'm liking the new scene. There will be more educated coffee drinker and the coffee quality will be expected to increase at the same time. I guess it's time to say good-bye to burnt and watery coffee! 

Got to know this place from a friend of mine, telling me that they serve black pig here, and according to her  "the black pig was so tender and soft, the ratio of fats and meats is just right to salivate your entire palette, the flavour from the fat oozes out, going around your mouth, makes you crave for more, it was the best porky moment of my life" - And that was few years ago. After hearing this, i suggest that we visit this place for black pig salivating moment and also do some wine tasting while we're in the valley. It was a beautiful spring day when a group of us visited, included the friend of mine who wants to indulge into the black pork again! We started off the morning with some coffee tasting from Yahava koffee , chocolate tasting from Margaret River Chocolate Factory , wine and beer tasting from various winery/brewery before heading up to Black Swan Winery. After much drinking, we were so hungry and can't wait to chow down a whole black pig!  We wer...

Ever wonder why Dim Sum Queen never actually writes a post about Dim Sum (Yum Cha) at all? So for the first time ever, I am doing a Dim Sum review. Having tried most of Perth’s Dim Sum, at times I felt kind of lazy to write about Dim Sum that is just mediocre. But I do keep a small booklet that write about my after thoughts about the Yum Cha place, in point form! Or just a small note to myself “never ever come back to this place for Dim Sum!” When I was still a kid, Yum Cha on the weekend with the family is more like a luxurious god sent present. They are never cheap, but the goodness from all those small little dumplings, makes your life feel so content.  All of a sudden, you forgot about the exam you are about to sit on the following week, the parents forgot about having to work on Monday. After having tried the dim sum in Perth, I was even more contented. Arguably that Perth doesn’t have the best Dim Sum in Australia, but what I love most about the dim sum is that everythi...

A little cosy restaurant that is tucked away from all the limelights along Stirling Highway or Cottesloe area. This tiny little restaurant here is on the ever quiet Glyde St, Mosman Park. Just walk across the road, you'll find Tsunami, another restaurant that is serving French and Japanese fusion food, and that's the hype about that street. Anyway, Twisted Fork was featured on the Gourmet Traveller's restaurant guide 2009 but it wasn't featured on the 2010's guide. I wondered if they have done something not so right that keeps them out of the guide. However, i went there with an open mind and see what's there has to offer. This pocket-sized restaurant has it's own character; white French door, tainted wall, crisp white linen, down-ward spotlight, brown chairs, mirrors and clipboard menu. Sounds familiar? A bit like Cantina 663 on Beaufort St? Yea, just a bit, but Twisted Fork has a more casual, matured but homely feel to it. We were served warm fluffy...