Arthur's + Martha's Pantry, Wellington (NZ)

It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a nana. I love eating dinner before the sun sets, discount vouchers really get me excited and tucking myself into bed for an early night with a good book is my idea of a party-time!

I do draw the line at watching Miss Marple on TV though (it's on too late), but cute, quirky cafes like Wellington’s Arthur's...and sister cafe come bakery Martha’s Pantry speak right to my inner nana. Crammed full with more bric-a-brac than your grannies house these two cute cafes are grandma chic and I LOVE them.



Located at the top end of trendy Cuba Street Arthur’s is a sweet little bistro that serves standard cafe/bistro fare in a homely setting that feels both welcoming and comfortable.  Arthur's is housed in one of Wellington’s lovely old wooden homes that remind me a little of a fisherman’s shack. So sweet...so nana-ish!

The Boy and I have basically been eating non-stop for five days so we decide to lunch on something healthy, yet hearty and the Ploughman's Lunch for two (NZ$32.00) is just the ticket. Arthur’s Ploughman comes on an adorable granny-inspired two tired cake stand that is crammed with delectable morsels like cold meat, local cheese, housemade terrine, homemade preserves, pickles, along with a of radish and apple chutney. The whole lot is served with some lovely focaccia bread & butter.

As we’d be so virtuous with our healthy lunch which decide to do some damage an order “spiders” for drinks...mine is a lime spider and The Boy sticks with tradition and opts for a good old Coke Spider.

Our drinks don’t seem nearly naughty, or calorie laden enough, so we decide to duck across the road and visit Martha’s Pantry for some good-old home baked goodies.

This bakery is just too cute and anyone with a sweet tooth and penchant for home-baked goodies will be in heaven here. They do a full-blown high tea (that you MUST book in for), but we just want a little something something.

The Boy was quite taken by The Hummingbird Cake that our blogging friend CatsLoveCooking made for a  recent trip to the Mi Casa Su Casa supper club so orders the Gluten Free Hummingbird Cake here. It’s good and sweet – but a tad dry (maybe because it’s gluten free), but we think CatsLoveCooking was WAY better – much more moist and the pineapple in her cake was tops.

I go all Jerry Seinfeld with my choice of the Neenish Tart – the black and white tart, that is so racially harmonious as Mr Seinfeld so astutely notes (though mine didn’t make me sick like poor old Mr Seinfeld’s did). I really loved this tart – crumbly shortcrust base that is filled with mock cream – half the cookie is then covered in chocolate. Yum.

You can find Arthur's at 272 Cuba Street (Te Aro), Wellington Central. Just across Arthur Street you find Martha's Pantry at 276 Cuba Street (Te Aro), Wellington Central, New Zealand.

Youeni Foodstore, Castle Hill

Surely it's no coincidence that in the two or so years since I've been living in Parramatta a number of very cool cafes have opened up in the area.  Okay, maybe not not?  Youeni is the latest cafe to set up shop in  Western Sydney and it's a really great addition to the neighbourhood.

Following on from successful Youeni cafes in Surry Hills and Darlinghurst it's Castle Hills turn to get in on some of the action. I think it's really wonderful that a successful inner-city cafe has decided to venture west.  It is good to know that businesses are starting to see the value of setting up shop in suburbs west of George Street.

Youeni's philosophy is to provide diners with local and seasonal food that is wholesome and delicious.  The simple menu centers around the slow food philosophy and differs between breakfast and lunch - with just five or six items on offer during both services. A dinner service a few days a nights a week started recently too. Even though the menu is small I struggled to decide what to order each time I visit.

My first visit is just a few days after they're opened and the place is already buzzing with eager locals keen to check out the new kid on the block. I'm here for breakfast and start off with their juice of the day - a refreshing orange and apple juice that comes with a good kick of ginger.

Feeling in the mood for something more on the lunch side of things I order the absolutely scrumptious Pate Brisse ($8.00) - the shortcrust pastry of this savoury quiche is crunchy, buttery and simply sublime. I love that the side salad comes with pieces of citrus fruit thoughout.

I'm back a few days later to try out Youeni's version of iced-coffee, which is served just the way I like it...a shot of espresso poured over iced with a splosh of milk.  As I'm sitting at the bar on this visit the barista asks me if I would like him to add some panela to it to sweeten it. I think I'm sweet enough, but sure why not.

The lunch menu is short and sweet but I struggle to decide on my order...everything just sounds so delicious. In the end I go for a hearty lamb sandwich ($13.00) that is served on bread that is freshly baked in-house every day.

This sandwich really means business. For starters it's HUGE, man sized really but I do my best to demolish it though it defeated me in the end which is really saying something about how big it was.  What's more, they've added thick slices of potatoes in amongst the succulent lamb (which had a gorgeous crispy crust to it), lettuce and sweet chilli mayo. I'm all for carb-on-carb action:  potatoes + bread = genius!

Oh look, I'm back again! To be fair I have been on a rather long holiday from work and it seems silly not to make the most of my break and enjoy cafes during the more quiet weekday.  I'm not normally a fan of scrambled eggs (I used to be allergic to eggs as a kid so I'm kinda fussy when it comes to my egg loving) - but I read about these on Celia's blog and had to try them for myself. Apparently they are made without the use of cream or milk yet I found them to be so lush and creamy. Really good - and I love the charred tomatoes on the side.

Tara decided on the avacado on toast with a side order of mushrooms.  She seemed happy with her choice and I have to say the meaty mushrooms really looked good.

The "things on toasts" breakfasts aren't huge but that's fine as I'd been eying off the dessert cabinet for a week now. It was time to dive on, tummy first.

I'd had my eye on the salted caramel tart and it did not disappoint at all. Initially I wondered why the tart came served a top of an old piece of menu, but as soon as I cut into the tart and the wickedly rich salted caramel glaze oozed out over the plate I had a light bulb moment...paper = less washing up. Surely that's it?

Tara chose the chocolate chai eclair which also had a slight ooze of it's own, hence another piece of paper underneath to catch the creamy chai filling. I loved the crunch cornflake-like topping that gave the eclair a nice audible crunch.

Youeni is a great addition to the neighbourhood - it's wonderful to have another option for weekend brunching + lunching. They also open for dinner a few night a week, and they also sell a few good looking things to take home like veggies, fruit, bread, muesli, tea...you know, the yummy stuff.

Youeni is at 250 Old Northern Road, Castle Hill. They are in the same building as Dan Murphy and there is a tonne of parking underneath.

Sweet Mother's Kitchen, Wellington (NZ)

I was lured to Sweet Mother’s Kitchen by the promise of po’boys.

I first tried po’boys at Hartsyard where I fell in love with their hearty crumbed oyster po’boy that comes smothered in a hot chilli sauce, served on a homemade English muffin and crammed full of creamy ‘slaw. It was seriously one of the best things I’ve ever put in my month.  Since that day I’ve decided to make it my life’s mission to try po’boys every time I see them on a menu.

In a token nod to Meatless Monday I ordered the Fish Po Boy (NZ $10.00) (I just could not bring myself to try the Tempeh Po Boy – as much as I love Tempeh). Sweet Mother’s po’boy is fashioned more on the New Orleans style sandwich than Hartsyard's more fashionable rendition.

Sweet Mother’s specially makes their baguettes which are then toasted and topped with lettuce, tomato and Creole mayonnaise. The fresh fish was coated in a cornmeal and Creole spice blend (that wasn’t very spicy).  It didn’t have the flavour punch of Hartsyard po’boy - a good dash of hot sauce, some ‘slaw and seasoning would’ve lifted things – but it was a good, simple sandwich.

To say I had food envy over The Boy’s choice of Fried Chicken (NZ$17.00) is an understatement - so much so that I went back for lunch the next day and ordered it for myself!

The buttermilk soaked (free range) chicken strips were so moist and tender, and the crispy fried outer shell gave an audible crunch as it was bitten in to.  It's incredible to me that even in a little student filled cafe like this they're using free-range produce. Way to go NZ, you're tops! The chicken was served with New Orleans style dirty rice that resembled turkey stuffing, along with some creamy coleslaw and the most amazingly flavoured sausage milk gravy that was peppery, fatty and smoky.

On our return visit (the VERY next day) The Boy ordered the Pulled Pork Po’boy and it really was very very good! The smoky marinade of the pork really lifted things in terms of flavour and the coleslaw added a nice fresh “crunch” to the sandwich.

We also ordered a side of crunchy and seasoned curly fries (NZ$6.50) served with Creole mayo that came served in an American diner style red plastic basket.  The fries go REALLY well dunked into the sausage gravy from The Boy's fried chicken dish.

I’m one of those people that study the menu of restaurants weeks, and sometime months before I actually get to eat there.  I’d had my heart set on the Peanut Butter Pie here for months so when the waitress told me they’d sold out of all their pies I was, needless to say, totally and inconsolably devastated.

Miracles do happen sometimes though as the waitress quickly turned my frown upside down when she told us that they’d unearthed one last, lone piece of Peanut Butter Pie. Oh my, it was everything I’d hope for – a thick, moist chocolate cookie crust with a chilled, whipped peanut butter filling that was as light as whipped cream!

Oh, Sweet Mother’s Kitchen – you really as are sweet as, bro!

Sweet Mother's Kitchen is at 5 Courtenay Place (Te Aro), Wellington, New Zealand.

Balcony Garden: Harvest Monday #13

The visitors to my balcony have become more sinister and destructive since Scratchy the cat went home.  A very noisy family of Currawongs has moved in to the big tree next to my balcony and they treat my garden like their own personal stomping ground.

They've taken exception to the beautiful Marigolds I was growing in the hopes of attracting bees. At first I'd find a few petals had been plucked from the flowers which I could deal with...and then one morning I come out find that those darn birds had uprooted the ENTIRE plant (both of them...roots and all) and thrown them over the balcony and onto the ground below. I mean really! They've also been having a go at my parsley, chives and sage - so it's not just yellow plants that they hate!

We brought in the big guns to deal with these pesky birds.  No not a gun, scarecrow or water canon.  These fake owls with swivelling heads and beady eyes from Bunnings deterred the birds for about....3 minutes and now their back on my balcony railing causing havoc!

The Currawongs also had a red hot go at my shallots. They don't seem to be eating anything that they pull up - they just rip it out of the pot and chuck it on the ground.  I thought I'd better harvest some of the shallots before I miss out altogether!

Up until now I've actually been pulling the entire shallot out of the pot...roots and all, but I've since been told that you can just snip off the shallot leaving about an inch at the base and the stalk will regrow! Who knew? Not me that's for sure.

It hasn't really been soup weather with all the crazy hot days that we've been having but that doesn't deter us from whipping up this super easy and scrumptious Prawn Dumpling Soup from an old cookbook that I have lying around (incidentally, this is the ONLY recipe I've ever cooked from that book).  The minute there was break in the heatwave this soup was on the boil.

At various stages I've made this soup with shallots, coriander or pak choi from my balcony garden - but I've not yet managed to make a soup using all three of these ingredients from my garden at once. One day. Maybe.

You can view more Harvest Monday posts on Daphne's Dandelions blog.

Assiette, Surry Hills

Assiette in Surry Hills (which is now called the Albion Street Diner) is the big brother restaurant to the recently closed District Dining. It's a little bit French, a little bit Mod-Oz and a lot delicious (that's probably a great example of really bad grammar right there, but just go with it...it's been a tough week).

Assiette can be found on Albion Street, just down the road from hipster hangout Rueben Hills and yet the two couldn't be further apart.  Asseitte puts the capital "S" back into Schmancy- look at all those white table clothes - there's not a polished cement floor or exposed brick wall in sight. It feels lovely and grown-up my friend Miss M + I are delighted.

Dinner kicks off with a bread roll that we slather in butter and sprinkle with sea salt. The roll is still warm and the butter melts and oozes into the soft pillowy centre of the bread.

We decide to go with the 6 course degustation. At $105 each it seems like a good deal, especially as we have a travelzoo voucher giving us $50 of the total bill (I'm always the bargain hunter - what can I say...it's in my DNA).

The feast begins with a light summery starter of Hiramasa ceviche with coconut, heirloom tomato, jalapeno and yuzu.  The fish is yet tender to the bite and the addition of the yuzu gives the dish a lovely zesty flavour. We're off to a good start.

Next up is the wonderfully luscious Jannei goats' curd with vincotto, figs, golden beetroot and "cereal". I enjoyed the crunch of the cereal against the creaminess of the slightly tart goats' curd and the figs were delighted sweet.  The golden beetroot was so lovely and fresh tasting with the basil crumb being just a little sour. Another summery dish and beautiful looking dish.

Miss M was little hesitant about the next dish - Glazed Silver Lake smoked eel with black sesame, grilled leek and onion puree - never having eaten eel before. I on the other hand am a HUGE fan of eel (the food, not the football team - just to be clear).  I love the firm meaty texture and slight oiliness of the fish and smoking the eel made it even more sublime and earthy.  I also enjoyed the onion puree that was seasoned with just a hint of fennel seed - the slight aniseed taste went so well with the eel. The leeks were perfect - as leeks always seem to be. I surprised Miss M by eating them roots on all...i figure if it's on the plate it's meant to be eaten (I think). 

Next up we had Bass grouper with saffron parsnip mussels, dulse and candied lemon.  No idea what dulse is - anyone?  The fish was nice - very simple in flavour.  I really loved the candied lemon in this dish - slightly tart, slight sweet.  It's a good example of "nose to tail" vegetable cooking (I'm kidding, but now that I think about it is good to see a wonderful use for something that often ends up in my bin at home)!

The crispy-skin quail with pickled carrot, Szechuan salt and ginger vinegar was AMAZING - possibly my favourite dish of the night! The quail was so delicious that it was a crime to just have two pieces each.  The skin was amazingly crisp yet the meat still tender and just a little pink.  The meat almost had a slight cinnamon flavour to it which I suppose came from the masterstock it was sous-vide in.

Another highlight of the night was the tender Milly Hill lamb loin with aubergine (aka eggplant) puree, baked Jerusalem artichokes and balsamic. I've only recently come around to eating my meat in anything less than a charcoaled state, but to have beautiful lamb cooked to almost burnt would, like I have in the past, really is a crime - what an idiot I've been!  I especially loved the balsamic tomato hidden in this dish - it was like eating a puff of air - so light!

Despite the six courses we've just consumed we've still got plenty of room for dessert. The portion sizes were perfectly balanced and we didn't leave Assiette felling overly full, or still hungry. Desserts commence whit a little pre-dessert of vanilla panacotta and blood orange sorbet.  It's only a mouthful or three, but it's just enough to get us into the mood for the main event.

Chocoholics will LOVE the chocolate marquise and sorbet with salted caramel ice-cream and cocoa nibs. My favorite part of this dish would have to be the salted caramel ice-cream, there's almost nothing better. The chocolate marquise was a circular disk of very dark, very rich chocolate mousse. Perfection.

We finish the meal with a little petit four of candied marshmallow - a bit too sugary sweet for me, but I did enjoy the soft pillowy marshmallow.

Assiette is at Albion Street, Surry Hills.  Phone them on 9212 7979.