Casa Mexicana - El Compa

Dining at this little cantina is like being welcomed into the home of your Mexican friend.    It's that house you visit and think gosh I wish I lived here. After all El Compa’s name translates to ‘Mexican house-best mate’. 

Warm and inviting with cheery plastic tables swathed with brown paper and crayons to scribble.  Not too trendy with not a sniff of tex-mex, El Compa is somewhere in the middle and it has found it's sweet spot.

Generous servings of guacamole and corn, soft tacos filled with carnita and cactus and sticky de luce drizzled over crepes.  A perfect little haunt for a cheap night out.   

Kettle Cafe

Every pocket of the globe needs a great local cafe.  Somewhere to walk to on a Sunday morning knowing the smell of coffee and a paper await.  Kettle Cafe has recently popped up in Lathlain much to the delight the locals piling in for honest home cooked fare.   

Our friends who all live close have been singing Kettle's praises since it opened.  Breakfasts are my favourite catch ups so we quickly snapped up the opportunity to check it out.  The cafe has a breezy neighbourhood feel with warm furnishings and welcoming staff.  There are cosy and intimate tables for lovebirds, larger tables for groups and the rustic communal table is perfect for spreading out the paper.  The rugrat friendly corner is right by the low, lounge style seating for parents to enjoy their meal whilst the little ones play.   

The breakfast menu is short and simple and the counter filled with sweets and muffins for those wanting a sweeter start to the day.  

I can never understand my boyfriend at breakfast time.  He always orders what I think is the boring option, this time the classic free range eggs poached with avocado and bacon which was wolfed down in seconds. The lemon and thyme polenta served with creamy mushrooms, rocket, thick shavings of parmesan and a drizzle of basil oil caught my eye so I added a serve of poached eggs on top.  It was warming and hearty, tasting like a Winter breakfast should. 

 Kettle Cafe is a quaint little cafe just perfect for this corner of the world. 

​Ain't no party like a cheese toast party!

With its namesake a clever play on Wu-Tang words, Toastface Grillah was carefully curated to reign supreme.  You can't help but  think .. how was this not thought of earlier?! 

Tucked away down Grand Lane (home to Lightspace Lockers amongst other sweet projects) this little toastie joint breathes life into a somewhat seedier part of the 'hood.  

The sunny outdoor area is a mix of crates and makeshift seats making it the perfect place to hang as you suck up some rays or shelter from the  rain.  

Relax, kick your sneakered feet up and knock back a coffee (which I hear is first rate) or in my case a bottle of Sarsaparilla whilst you wait for the magic.   

We ordered an Apple & Gouda and a Ham & Cheese both ticking all the right boxes and gobbled down in seconds.   I think what makes a good toastie are a) two thick slabs of wonderful white bread b) a generous application of salty butter 30 good quality (and plentiful) cheese and trimmings and d) it must be thrown onto the grill at the right temperature instantly sizzling the butter warming up to golden brown as the cheese slowly melts down the sides.  

Whilst I would have loved to tear through the menu chowing down multiple toasties my gluten hatin' tummy would not have left smiling.  But that's okay ... I am quite alright with tackling each menu item one visit at a time.  

Yee hawww!

If you are craving a dash of Canadian charm with your bottomless jar of iced tea, then head to Inglewood’s latest eatery for a comfort food fix.  This little piece of the US is the brainchild of Perth’s favourite Scotsman, Iain Lawless, and Liam Atkinson who spent a few years in the Rocky Mountains polishing up his Western ways in the kitchen.  Miss Kitty’s Saloon is full of all those things that make you smile and want to bootscoot.  Doughnuts, ribs for breakfast, poutine and fried chicken on waffles, what more could you ask for.

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Miss Kitty's Saloon
​882 Beaufort Street
​Inglewood WA ​

light lunch

​Oh Mrs S you always get it right!  I had forgotten how tranquil the cafe is after 2pm.  It is nice to beat the rush, sit down spreading out over the big table without anyone eyeing off your spot the moment you put down your fork and brush the crumbs from your mouth.  
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The Manwich was a perfect love affair of pulled pork, beetroot pickle and salad embraced by a firm, fresh  ciabatta roll.   I love that the Autumn menu has an offering of tasty and decadent salads which all seem healthy enough to warrant #cleaneating.  The nutty wild rice and charred pumpkin salad was riddled with cranberries, pecans and pepitas adding texture and crunch.  The salad of French green lentils laden with gorgonzola, pear and broad beans had a beautiful balance of flavouts set off by the bitter salad leaves.   

A perfectly light lunch with a perfect pair of friends. ​

Subiaco Hotel

Five Bar

Five Bar is working wonders on the humble sandwich.  Medium rare sliced roast beef atop slaw doused in horseradish and pickles.  Corned beef amidst corned beef, Swiss cheese,  Russian dressing, and sauerkraut aka Reuben sandwich.  Venison chorizo with chutney.  And lastly the dish I simply can never look past ... steak tartare.