Sunday, January 6, 2013

062 - Perth, Australia - Just Throw It On The Baa-bie, Mate!



For those readers waiting for a post that is actually about Perth, and not just our suburbian hideaway and Taz's poop, fear not, it’s coming.
But, for now we’ll whet your appetites with a little gastronomic indulgence 
(for the fellow gluttons in the crowd).

We are pumped to be back down under where we can get all the Southern Hemisphere fare that we can’t easily find at home.
 (Seriously, this is the kind of thing you get excited about when you have two kids and too much time on your hands).

The creamy, buttery (and dirt-cheap!) goodness of Tasmanian Oysters is hard to beat,  
But, the not surprisingly, kids are partial to the Magnum Ice Cream Bars…

And, the availability of a barbeque, our proximity to some outstanding local produce, fish and meat markets, and the willingness of Ciel and Tasman to eat anything we put in front of them (as evidenced by the aforementioned “Hello Kitty” incident, Ref. Blog #061), have culminated in a perfect storm of culinary conjuring.

We’re one week in and have already been to six different grocery stores, two produce markets, three fish markets and one butcher.  


And, as a personal challenge, we are still batting 1.000 on dinnertime barbeque usage:
(Apologies in advance for the incomplete photo array)

1. English Sausage on Ciabatta Rolls with Caramelized Onions and Seedy Mustard served with Greek Salad

2. Peppercorn Cream Scotch Fillets with Sweet Potato Fries and Boston Bibb Avocado Salad
3. Grilled Portabellos, Peppers, and Zucchini with Ash Chevre and Rocket on Ciabatta with a side of Sweet Potato Fries

4. Grilled Chicken Burgers topped with Tomato, Lettuce and Avocado, served with Greek Salad

 5. Lamb and Beef Koftas , Cucumber Yogurt, Homefried Roots (Parsnip, Turnip, Carrot) and Caprese Salad

6. Cumin, Peppercorn, and Coriander Encrusted Beef Tenderloin...
...in Cilantro Chimichurra, served with Jalapeno Corn Latkes, Fresh Tomatoes, Avocado Cilantro Yogurt, and Boston Bibb Salad with Pomegranate.

7. Grilled Lemon Butter Coral Trout and Lemon-Dill Basmati Rice served with Tomato, Basil and Shaved Parmesan.

8. Grilled Tiger Prawns in Cilantro-Lime Garlic Butter, Fresh Tomato Corn Salsa, Britt's World-Famous Guacamole and Homemade Flour Tortilla Chips.

And with two rolls of South African boerewors, a phalanx of portabello mushrooms the size of dinner plates, and a some tantalizing baby back ribs on the horizon, we’ve got no signs of letting up.

The olive oil is flowing like water, and with coastal supplies running low, we were forced to venture inland in search of further provisions.

The arid outback crop, was a little dismal compared to the lush orchards of Crete,
But we got what we came for.

And it isn’t just dinner that gets the team salivating.  In true Bearss fashion, Ciel and Taz are also rather partial to snack time.  In fact, it’s such a draw that we’ve taken to calling all meals “snacks” just for the enthusiasm it garners.  
That, along with officially instituting 4 pm “Potato Chip/Popcorn Happy Hour” has been a big hit.

One possible explanation is that unlike mealtime, snack time comes with a song (that Ciel learned in preschool).
"Snack time, snack time, I'm so hun-gry, 
Table, table, here I come..."
(You've been spared the full rendition, as the Caramelized Onion and Chorizo potato chips interfered with the live video performance.)

But, the more likely draw is the accompanying G&T’s and/or beer tastings.

Hard to blame them for that.


Friday, January 4, 2013

061 – Perth, Australia – New Kids On The Block


We touched down in Perth a little after 9:00 am, but unfortunately our accommodations weren’t available until late afternoon.
So, rather than wandering around the city aimlessly, lugging our forty-seven bags in the 38°C heat, 
we chose to wander around aimlessly, lugging our forty-seven bags in the air-conditioned comfort of Perth International Airport.
With all the attractions, it was easy to keep ourselves entertained.

There was the foreign film cinema,



Fine dining,

A first-rate fitness centre,

And a luxury spa.
We really pampered ourselves.

Eventually, we arrived at our newly renovated bungalow in the ‘burbs.



With its quaint little backyard, complete with all the trimmings.
Barbeque,

Private pool,

Lounge seating,

And a mango tree!
(Why buy a mango, when you can pick it over the fence?)

Now we just need to figure out where to sign up for T-ball and the Neighbourhood Watch...


In hindsight, perhaps we shouldn’t have put Taz in charge of unpacking Ciel’s toys,


“Um, didn’t we have 12 of these things?”


“Bah! I’m sure it’ll turn up somewhere…”

Sure enough, a couple days later…
“Hey, I think Taz just did an aqua dump in his swim diap… and it’s meowing.”

This is the stuff legends are made of…


As it turns out, “Helly Kitty Colon Cleanse” was number three on Taz’s list of New Year’s resolutions.

New Year’s Eve was a big night for Team Bearss.  Britt and Ciel lubed up early with some wine and Tasmanian oysters,




“Sorry, Taz, you snooze, you lose, buddy”


Next were the Peppercorn Cream Scotch Fillets (Ribeyes) that came highly recommended by the guy ahead of me in the line at the meat counter.
 “Aww, yeeah, mate. You gotta try these, they’re bloody beaut!”

(Clearly, I was not a tough sell. )


After dinner we were ready to give ‘er, so we invited all our neighbours over, and partied until the wee hours.

(Disclaimer: Details may not be entirely accurate)


In keeping with our new suburbanite lifestyle, we headed out New Year’s Day for a leisurely stroll around…the local shopping mall.
Aussie style.



With Ciel’s past history of Jolly Jumper mastery, we thought she’d be a shoe in for this thing, 


And we came a hair’s breadth from convincing her to give it a try,

Until reality checked in…
So close.

I didn't go over so well when I told her that since she didn't jump we had to drop her off here.

But Mummy came to the rescue with the purchase of stylish new bathers for her and Taz.


“Surf’s up, ladies!”

A few laps in the new ($15 Kmart special) floaty boat later,


And all was forgiven.


All and all not a bad way to end off the year.



HAPPY NEWD YEAR!