the stables bar…

 It’s the same old city, but yet it’s not.  Perth has never been a place to flock to, never caused a ripple or a stir in the melting pot of ‘must see’ cities of the world & for a long time, I’m sorry to say – there weren’t too many great words used to describe it either.  Perth – it is the same old word but it’s not the same old place.  It’s changed, it’s busy & bustling & growing finally into the big brother of its former self.  True, it might not yet be a city worth flocking to, but if you’re already a part of the herd – you can be pretty happy that after a long dry summer, the grass is finally growing.

This is The Stables Bar, a new venue in our city CBD…

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It’s a long laneway that blazes a trail to The Stables Bar & courtyard.  Turning in from the hectic lunch time stampede of Hay Street, you’ll be greeted with a calm landscaped oasis & surprisingly, for a city – space…

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The downstairs bar is spacious, dark, stylish & rustic…

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The serious business of lunch was taking place in the upstairs dining room, with which I am in love.  In fact, I’m in love with the complete fit-out of this venue.  Where the downstairs bar is dark & edgy, upstairs is bright, airy & classic, with views of the city from the outdoor garden terrace.  The references to the venues history as one of Perth’s original horse stables & residences fuels the imagination.  The old black & white canvas photographs lining the wall & the dark green studded bench seats complimented by lush green velvet chairs are all well thought out inclusions to this interior…

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and then of course there’s my love of lights…

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Of course you’ll want to know something of the food.  We shared a few items from their all day grazing menu – freshly shucked oysters, eggplant chips & zucchini, pea, mint croquettes with cardamon yoghurt.  For mains we tried chicken schnitzel, pan-fried ricotta gnocchi & a warm salad of beetroot, farro, goats curd & candied walnuts.  All thoroughly enjoyed.

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Where:  The Stables Bar – 888 Hay Street – Perth

Any dirt to dish?  The lunch portion sizes if you’re a big burly male might not fill you up – so graze a little longer if you feel the need.

The Stables Bar on Urbanspoon

banana cake…

Too many bananas left in the fruit bowl?  Grab yourself 3 of them & get baking.  The icing is a simple lemon frosting & it’s yum…

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Banana Cake

250g softened butter – 1 cup caster sugar – 2 tablespoons golden syrup – 3 eggs, lightly beaten – 3 ripe bananas mashed – 1/2 cup chopped walnuts – 2 cups self-raising flour.

Lemon Icing:

1 teaspoon softened butter – 2 cups icing sugar – 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice all mixed together.

Do this:

Preheat oven to 180-200C & grease & line a square baking tin – cream butter, sugar & golden syrup – add eggs & bananas – stir in the nuts & sifted flour – place mixture in prepared tin & bake for 40-50 minutes.  When cool, ice with lemon icing.

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It’s dense & moist.  Be sure to share!

Recipe adapted from one my mum has made zillions of times, taken from the Country Women’s Association – of course!

Have a great weekend.

 

may madness…

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Hope all the mums out there had a beautiful Mothers Day.  May is a hectic month for my family, with 4 birthdays & Mothers Day in the first 2 weeks, but as of tomorrow it all slows down & the cake baking can take a rest!  But that’s tomorrow – first we have to get through today & today is my birthday – it’s a milestone one & although it’s crept up on me way too quickly, I’m trying to embrace it all the same because growing old is a privilege denied to many (thanks G) & growing older & having your health - more & more – these days seems like a reserve class gold ticket.  I’m thankful for so much in my life, it is full with a big family & beautiful friends.

   Thanks to my gorgeous family, all of you, for being so awesome & supportive.  To all the people who have been stopping by this little blog spot & taking the time to hit the ‘like’ button or for taking even more time to comment, I want to say a massive thanks to you because I know I don’t say it enough.  Your support is what keeps me blogging & keeps me photographing.

With that said I’m going to soak up every minute & memory of this day & remember it for as long as a geriatic can.  I’m off for my very first birthday cuddles with my little guys, who for some strange reason, have slept in this morning – thank you birthday Gods!

Have a great week! 

 

cool calm collected…

If you take a stroll into Angove Street, North Perth you’ll be taken no doubt by this very quaint & decadent little store called Cool Calm  Collected.  It’s a small space filled to over flowing with gorgeous original pieces of pre-loved furniture finds, antiques, bric-a-brac, lighting, accessories & objects de art.  It’s interior styling with quirk, giving great credence to the mix of old, new, vintage & icons of a by-gone era of furniture design.  In short, it’s pretty cool & does owner Alex proud.

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If there was ever a door handle worth pinching – this would be it…

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Cool Calm Collected – 34 Angove Street – North Perth

Have a great weekend.