Harvest Box

It has been a while since I've come across something that totally 'Wow' - ed me.

So there I was at my work desk doing the work thing which included looking at my not-so-work-related personal email accounts. As usual I came across the usual spam. Yet one of them had this thing called "Harvest Box - A healthy assortment of snacks personalised to your taste & delivered to your desk." It caught my eye before I ticked the box for deletion. Snacks? Personalised? Delivered to your desk? Well I wanted all of those! So I clicked on the link for Harvest Box.

The site looked cool. It came across as a legitimate healthy, fun, Australian website. And hey, they had this awesome deal whereby my first order is FREE, my second order is HALF PRICE (being $3.47) and then the third goes back to full price but is only $6.95 and that includes postage. I was like "Well, I spend around $6.95 on snacks a week anyways... may as well make it a healthy $6.95," so I signed up.

Immediately after signing I was concerned that I may have fallen for some fake deal. But today, a week later, the office clerk came to my desk and handed me a package. I was surprised "What? A package for me?"

A package delivered to my desk!

As soon as I saw the package, I knew what it was. I just didn't expect it as when I had signed up it said my first order would be delivered next week. I realised that it meant that my first paid order would be next week, and this was the free one. Quietly grinning from excitement I opened the package with the office clerk watching in curiosity. I told her it was my free box of snacks and she looked at me slightly confused, "Snacks?"

Healthy Snacks delivered to my desk!

Opening the package was really fun. It revealed a colourful treasure chest of goodies which I had to examine to see what was chosen for this special free box. It had mixes with dried mango, coconut and macadamia nuts, almonds, seeds and a whole lot more. I was definitely happy with this box. Especially since it came around 10.30am which was my morning tea time. I ate one mix and I was quite full despite initially thinking that the small serving wouldn't be enough! I can't wait for my next delivery!

So what is this really all about?

Snacks - Personalised - Delivered to your desk

Yum!

Harvest Box ships its packages of happy healthy snacks Australia wide to your office desk. It is definitely for people who need a bit of variety, want to lay off the office cookies and who enjoy receiving packages besides the work related ones.

Harvest Box has over 50 different mixed of dried fruit, nuts and seeds. When they say personalised, Harvest Box provides you with a package containing 4 mixes. After you have received your package you then visit the website and rate whether the mixes deserve a 'No thanks,' 'Try Me,' 'Like It,' or a 'Yes Please.' (To be honest I don't know the difference between the 'Like It' and a 'Yes Please'). After rating your mixes Harvest box will take it into consideration the next time they select your mixes.

Signing up and getting your first box free!

1. Go to harvestbox.com.au
2. Have a look around the site to get a jist of what it is all about. But to sign up go to 'Start Here' at the top menu bar.
3. You will then have to select the day you would like package to be delivered.
4. You then will need to fill in your personal details including place for delivery.
5. Then your payment details are required. The cool thing about this is that you can cancel your orders at any time!
6. For your first delivery to be FREE and then your second one to be half price type in this promotion code: 28691VFZ51
7. Wait for your box to be delivered to your desk.

Happy snacking!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jean Pierre Sanchos

I remember seeing a sign saying 'Jean Pierre Sancho - Patisserie & Boulangerie' on top of a shop being built on Hay Street as I drove by a few months ago, and then getting all excited that a French bakery/patisserie was finally opening in the Perth CBD.

So randomly about 2 weeks ago, on a casual lunch stroll with Kev, we had popped in and out the new apple store on Hay Street when I remembered seeing Jean Pierre Sancho, and then decided to take a trip further down Hay Street to have a looksee. It was open!

Everything is sooooo beautiful, dainty, and perfffffecct.

One breath and Kev and I just sighed in warm contentment. It just smelt like freshly baked breads. It was a refined smell, richer than the local bakeries. We just beamed and walked to the counter to see what they had in the windows. Augh! Everything looked so beautiful, elegant and so so so yummy! My jaws dropped when I saw the macaroons... MACAROONS! So colourful, so bite-sized, so mine.

Without hesitation, I bought the purple looking macaroon, which I think was blueberry. It was when I was served by the waitress and hearing her speak to the other assistants that I realised 'Hey, they are all French in this bakery!" Kevin also very excited, bought himself a Brioche. 

Walking out of Jean Pierre Sanchos, both with a paper bag in hand, we were so gleeful at our purchase. It was like as if the day just turn itself into one awesome surprise! My macaroon was perfect to my liking. The macaroon was chewy and did not crumble in my hand, the cream did not explode when I took a bite. It was so neat as well as being perfectly sweet without making you wince.

So, of course we returned... again, but for lunch with Kelvin and Benny too. We initially wanted to try the soup which is made daily and served IN a cob! But it was packed, and there were no table available, so we decided to have take away. Benny and I ordered the 'French Pancake' which looked like an omelette to me, whereas Kev and Kelvin both ordered a Baguette (I think). I also ordered a caramel macaroon for dessert whilst Kev ordered a snail.

My French pancake was sooooooooooooooooo good. Like it was soft and creamy. It was almost like creamy, cheesy egg with ham (I think... or it could be chicken... I'm not sure, it was just all round tasty). I would order it again, but when I can sit down, because the take away box started to get soft and would get caught on my fork each time I scrapped the bottom. (P.S the cutlery is all wooden!) Unfortunately I did not take any photos as I was too busy eating. The caramel macaroon was just as good as the blueberry one, and the snail was yummo. Was more bread based than pastry though.

The next experience was a lunch with Kev, Kelvin and Wilbur, and we got a seat this time, which allowed us to try the long awaited for soup! They serve 2 soups that day, one being the French onion soup, the other being potato and leak.

French onion soup is the choice for the day!

The French onion soup was the winner hands down. It was just all round tastier, which is definitely required when your soup is in a cob. The potato and leak just didn't stand out. We discussed that it other soups that would rock in this cob would be, tomato, pumpkin, minestrone or something  similar. Something with a strong taste. 

I also ordered dessert (because a meal is just not a meal without dessert!). Got the almond crossaint and a lemon macaroon.

ooooh baby... ooooh baby...

The almond croissant was really good. It was different to the almond croissant at South Perth's La Gallette de France (I think that is what its called from my google search.) It is on Mends Street tucked away behind a staircase. The almond croissant is to die for! Its chewy pastry, the ground almond paste in the middle awww... 

Ok. getting off track here. But yes, the almond croissant and Jean Pierre Sanchos was really nice. It was lighter than the ones at La Gallette de France, and instead of having a rich almond paste, it had a sweet, almond jam which was spread throughout the croissant. I honestly really like both... but due to my personal preference, I think the La Gallette de France version a little more.

As for the brightly coloured bumble bee of a macaroon, the lemon was very very sweet. A lot sweeter than the blueberry and the caramel. It made my mouth go "ziiiing!" I think I prefer their blueberry and caramel ones so far.

The most recent visit to Jean Pierre Sanchos was today! I walked there after work to wait for people to finish up and so we could hit drinks at the George. I was uber excited on my walk down. "Which macaroon shall I try this time?" I ruminated to myself, as I ignored the ridiculous line of people waiting to get into for the apple store for the new iPhone no doubt.

When I arrived, everything was almost cleared out =( 

Yes... that deserved a sad face.

I even asked the waitress if she had any macaroons hidden in the back. To my disappointment, no such luck, but I did end up getting a Brioche Mousseline which is similar to what Kev ordered first time round, but it had cream inside. 

Brioche Mousseline - indulge much? I think so!

It was definitely a splurge... and having a Brioche Mousseline for one, is not as good as when it is shared. I got quite full half way through it because it was rich. But I made sure I finished it, and enjoyed doing so.

If you feel like spoiling yourself:

Jean Pierre Sanchos

878 Hay Street

PERTH WA 6000

Telephone: 9226 2437

V Burger Bar is V Good!

I am a BIG burger fan. 

Ever since going to Melbourne in January 2009 and eating at Grill'd, and watching that episode of How I Met Your Mother when Marshall went on the hunt for the best burger in New York... I decided to embark on my own search for the best burger in little old Perth.

Burgers Burgers and MORE Burgers!!!

I have tried a lot of burgers in the past few years, and even more so within the last 6 months when a whole lot of gourmet burger joints have popped up all around Perth. From Jus Burger in Leederville, Alfred's Kitchen in Guilford, Flipside in Wembley, FAB Burgers in Hillarys, Burger Bristo in Shafto Lane, Grill'd in Mount Lawley, to the really really new joint called Branded Burgers in Northbridge. After trying all those places, I honestly thought that I had finally made up my mind of the order that I would extend my big love to these burger places in Perth.  I had decided on following order:

1. Grill'd - The burgers are made neatly, are easy to handle very little 'explosion' of the ingredients when you take a bite, plus the radish/capsicum thing they have in their burgers are extra extra tasty. Price range between $9.50-$15.50+ with the majority in the $11-$12 mark.

2. Flipside - Nicely made, tasty with the price range between $9 - $13

3. Burger Bristo - $12.80 - $16 with the majority sitting in the $14.50 - $15.50 mark. 

4. Alfred's Kitchen - For those cold late nights/early mornings... to sit in front of that bon fire hoovering down tasty home-made style burgers for a price range between $6.20 - $12.50.

5. FAB Burgers - Tasty, price range was between $11.50 - $19.95 ...bit too pricey for my liking, and would prefer going to Grill'd.

6. Branded Burgers - New burger join in Northbridge where Fishy Affair used to be. Burgers around the $10-$12 mark, very very very new. Some burgers were tasty, others were average. The service was extra extra slow. Waited around 30-40 minutes.

7. Jus Burgers - Burgers are over stacked, tasty, and a little too oily for my liking. Price ranging from $10 - $15+ with the majority of burgers in the $12-$14 range.

Then, somewhere along the grapevine I heard about a new burger joint called V Burger Bar which is located in Victoria Park.

V Burger Bar in Victoria Park is V Good!!!

After having my mind made up as to the burger places I would go to, going to V Burger Bar was well...more about the fact that they had a voucher in the Entertainment Book for 25% of the total bill. (And because I like burgers... but as I said before, I would have chosen Grill'd).

So on a late Saturday morning borderline lunch time, Kev and I trekked to Victoria Park to try this V Burger Bar and to save some money. It is a tiny place, with very little seating area. So Kev and I were lucky that it was pretty quiet when we arrived. We had a look through the menu noticing that all the burgers sounded quite good. I was tossing up between the Halloween, Crispy Crisp, F.B.A (Full Blooded Aussie) and the Med-Veg. The price range was pretty good, starting from $7.50 for a smaller burger up to $15, with the majority of burgers hanging around the $10-$13 mark.

The Halloween ended up getting my bet, having crispy breaded pumpkin, basil pesto, Danish feta and gourmet salad. Kev decided on trying the Crispy Crisp, which sounded crunchy to me. It was described as having a prime beef patty, cripsy battered onion, V relish, aoli and gourmet lettuce. Treating breakfast/brunch/lunch, and purchasing one Lipton peach ice tea, I ended up spending around $18 for the lot, thanks to my beloved Entertainment Book voucher!

The Crispy Crisp

Kev's Crispy Crisp was quite good! At a first glance I thought the burger looked over stacked. But Kev ended up squishing it to a manageable size and was able to start attacking it. He ended up taking out some of the cripsy onion to eat it alone to make the burger a little more manageable. But it didn't detract from the burger itself. The V Relish was also very nice, reminded me a bit of a tomato chutney...It was definitely  'Hrmmm' from the bites I had stolen from Kev.

The Halloween

My Halloween. Let me just say, that at first glance I was slightly disappointed. When I read 'crispy breaded pumpkin' I had imagined my bun being pumpkin based, almost like a panini with a beef patty and the usual burger ingredients. When the waiter brought it over, I thought that he had given me the wrong burger! It had this thick fried thing in the middle, and there was no chutney or anything... It looked really try to me, so I had that little sinking feeling in my stomach that "Boo, I chose a doozey again."

After watching Kev squash his burger, I did the same as the Halloween looked a bit over stacked too, and  then I just dove in. That first bite was like "WOW." I looked at Kev and said "this is really good," om nom nom nom "this is pretty good hey..." om nom nom nom... "I really like this..."

At my first "this is really good," comment, Kev quickly without hesitation quickly agreed with me with a "Hrm! Yea!" in between bites. He didn't really respond to my other comments, except for an enthusiastic nod, as I think he was enjoying his burger too much. The Halloween was really tasty. The crispy breaded pumpkin was indeed crispy, and unlike the usual battered fried foods, it held it's shape. The crisp did slip off like a loose sock when I pulled away from the burger. It stayed in tack with the pumpkin! It was also surprisingly sweet and not as oily as I had expected. The basil pesto reminded me a lot of a rocket and cashew pesto that I buy for a dip to eat with raw carrots and celery, and the Danish Feta... not as salty and over-powering as I was weary about when I saw the thick slab of it sticking out of my burger at my first glance. My burger was also very very neat to eat. I had no explosion or drippage from the bottom of my burger.

From the Hallween alone, V Burger has sky-rocketed up my list to take first place! The prices are pretty good, and Auuugghhh... I just drool when I think of it. I really want to go back and try the Med-Veg as I think they do their non-beef patties quite well. (Not that I have an issue with beef, its just if they do their non-beef patties better, then that's what I'm going to try.)

If you want to try V good burgers go to:

V Burger Bar

12/910 Albany Highway

VICTORIA PARK WA 6101

Phone: 9355 3702

High Tea by the Sea - Salt on the Beach

Photo taken by Chia Hui on her new SLR!

It has been a while since I've blogged. So there will be a flood of posts from me in the next few days because every time I have been out this month, I have still discovered and found new and interesting things that I have to share... because after all, sharing is caring!

So on a wet Friday in July I met up with my old friend Chia Hui to celebrate her birthday. Two old girl friends looking for some girly catch up time... what better way than the meal that is cute, petite and close to bite size so that us chickadees don't have to worry about over stuffing ourselves and still get a variety of both the savoury and the sweet? 

High Tea is one of those meals that are somewhat hard to find in Perth. So I googled it up, and stumbled across Salt on the Beach.

And what a lucky find! They were having a winter deal called "High Tea by the Sea" for a cool $26 per person!

On the drive to Salt on the Beach, Chia Hui noted that it was where the old Oyster Bar in Fremantle used to be, therefore it wasn't too hard to find. (I shall ignore the fact that we ended up looping a street twice... ha ha.. ha?)

Anyways when we finally arrived and got out of my car, winter by the sea hit us like a soggy wet towel. It wasn't the nicest of days (the forecast for that weekend was to be stormy), but believe it or not, it was still quite beautiful. 

Entering into Salt by the Sea Chia Hui commented on how she loved the interior. We decided that it reminded us of a holiday home that resided on the beach. A holiday home which I dreamed of owning one day and would visit on the weekends, and to walk around in track pants and cook some eggs, mushrooms on toast and eat outside on the decking looking out into the sea. As we walked to our reserved table by the window, I looked up and saw that the roof had "sail-like" sheets which were hanging with a somewhat casual elegance across the ceiling.

When our High Tea came out we were presented with this tier: 

The finger frolicking fine food that was up for offer at Salt on the Beach started with an open smoked salmon, crème friache, caper and dill sandwich next to a chicken, avocado and mayonnaise finger sandwich and a ham, cheese tomato baguette. The favourite on that tier was the open smoked salmon as it was refreshing as well as quite balanced by not being to salty. Unfortunately the chicken, avocado and mayonnaise finger sandwich was prepared with stale bread... which Chia Hui and I were quite disappointed about.

The next tier was by far my favourite!!! It had lemonade scones with a generous dollop of cream and strawberry preserve. I wish they gave us more... (Though admittedly I'd rate the scones at the Botanical Cafe in Kings Park over these scones any day. I will do a review on the Botanical Cafe in the near future... got to get me more of those scones!) Next to the scones were a pair of mini quiche and one citrus and poppyseed friand which was cut into half. The quiche was pretty nice and the poppyseed friand was tasty yet a bit too doughy for Chia Hui's liking.

By the time we reached the top tier, which had cute tiny lemon tarts and pairs of mini chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, we were both stuffed. We were not particularly fond of the sweets as they were too sweet (or we are just getting too old). 

Overall the experience was intimate and nice. We were there from 3pm till 5.30pm taking our sweet time, and never felt rushed or that we had to leave any time soon. We were able to witness the big storm rush onto the shores of Fremantle and enjoy the finger food, warm tea and each other's company.  I'd say that I still have yet to find 'the' place for High Tea, but... $26 High Tea by the Sea ... that is still pretty good.

If you want try out the High Tea by the Sea, you will need to make a reservation and pay in advance over the phone by credit card as the High Tea is not part of the usual menu and they will prepare it especially for you. (Side note, if you want to eat the normal menu, Salt on the Beach is in the 2010-2011 Entertainment Book.)

Salt on the Beach can be found at:

44 Port Beach Road

NORTH FREMANTLE, WA 6159

Phone: 9430 6866