Cherry and Coconut Slice

It’s the same recipe as Coconut Slice, and I add dried cherries in stead of jam.

I love dried cherries, they are juicy and nice to be added to baked sweets.  I usually buy them from Kakulas Brothers in Northbridge ( website ) or Kakulas Sisters in Fremantle.  I like these shops as you can buy ingredients as much (or little) as you want.

They sell various types of flour, dried fruits, nuts, beans, coffee, seeds, cheese, olives etc etc.  You can scoop those food into plastic bags and buy at the counter (like a self-service grocery shop).  It’s good if you want to just try out the food (even if just 10 g of spicy Macadamia nuts, you can)

They also sell some exotic snacks from Europe, Asia (including Japan) and elsewhere.  At Kakulas Sisters in Fremantle, they sell home-made cakes such as cheese cake and poppy seed rolls too

These retail shops opened just a year ago or so, but they’ve been doing wholesale service for more than 30 years.

Kakulas Brothers in Northbridge started selling freshly brewed take-away coffee since few month ago.  You can also purchase the coffee beans from there, and there is a grinding machine if you want to grind the beans.

<Kakulas Brothers>  

183 William Street, Northbridge, WA 6003  :  08 9328 5285

<Kakulas Sisters>  

29-31 Market St., Fremantle, WA 6160  :   08 9430 4445

90 Hillsborough Drive Nollamara WA 6061  :  08 9440 6642

Korean Food

Last night I had takeaway food from Perth Kimuchi.  I like vegetable kimuchi (cucumber, daikon radish etc) but in-law bought squid one.

The Bulgogi meat is tender, and very nice.  I love Korean food… similar to Japanese food, but spicy and healthy

I’ve never been to South Korea, but many Japanese people go there for shopping and eating.  Things are cheaper there than in Japan, and the food is so delicious…  The flight is actually cheaper than flying within Japan sometimes.

I love all the Korean food.  Korean cuisine uses lots of vegetables, and some of the vegetables are used as medicine around the world.  

By the way, I had a funny experience in a Korean restaurant in Northbridge few years ago.  I had used to eat Korean food often in Japan and I knew most of the food on their menu.  I wanted to eat Korean chilled noodle (韓国冷麺) , so I ordered “can I have this Korean chilled noodle please?”  Then, what the waitress said to me was ” oh no no no, you shouldn’t eat it.  It’s not nice!”  … why they put it on the menu if the food is not nice? :p  I was little shocked.  I think, they thought I’d never eaten Korean chilled noodle before.  And, I assume that they thought many foreign people don’t like this dish (?) .  I told them ” I think I will like it, I used to eat Korean chilled noodle in Japan very often.”  Then they allowed me to order this dish and I did enjoy it.

First Weekend 2010

How was your long holiday?  I assume many people headed down south, or flew somewhere else.  I stayed in Perth all day during this holiday.  After Christmas there’s huge post Christmas sale everywhere, and shopping centres were packed with lots of people…   I’m kind of happy to know that some shopping centres open Sundays from 2010.  I’m the type of person who always find something I need to buy on Sunday :p

On the last day of this holiday I had massage at Vanilla Face + Body Spa in Scarborough.  I had a voucher, but my husband didn’t want to get anything (as I told you before he doesn’t like getting massage etc).   So I had to use up this voucher by myself!  I made appointment for Shirodara few weeks ago.  Lucky I didn’t book for body massage… my whole body was aching from the sunburn I got after BBQ party in South Perth.  

Shiradora is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment where a fine stream of warmed oil is gently poured on to the ‘third eye’, includes a scalp and facial pressure point massage.  This hypnotic treatment deeply relaxes the mind, settles the central nervous system, and has recognised benefits for headaches, insomnia and sinus conditions. (from Vanilla website)

I wanted to try this treatment since reading my friend’s blog.  She said “everyone who gets Shiradora will sleep during the treatment”.  I was curious if I’m really going to fell asleep.  

On the day, I wasn’t really sleepy.  My body was rather excited after shopping and two cups of coffee.   The warm oil was little tickling first, but then the movement and head massage really led me to sleep!  I woke up many times by hearing myself snoring :p  

It was a relaxing holiday for me after all.  Now I’m back to work.

Perth Kimchi

This kimchi shop opened its door just one month ago in Myaree.  Although the shop is new, customers keep coming back to buy the fresh delicious home-made kimchi.

Kimchi is traditional Korean pickled dishes made of vegetables with varied seasonings.  The most common kimchi is the spicy Chinese cabbage variety.  Cucumber and daikon radish are also popular kinds.  Kimchi is eaten as it is as a side dish to steamed rice, but is also used as an ingredient to make some of the delicious Korean dishes, such as kimchi friend rice, kimchi jigae (kimchi soup/ steam board), topping on bibinba or Korean cold noodle.  

I love kimchi, it’s a great accompaniment to a beer  

She gave me a free sample, and I really loved her kimchi!  Very fresh, unlike those packaged kimchi you see in grocery shops.  There are some unique kimuchi such as squid kimuchi as well.  (see my dinner photo)  She, the owner, is from Busan, South Korea, and she makes her kimchi everyday at the shop.  No wonder the kimchi is so fresh.

Plus, Korean BBQ dish, Bulgogi (beef and pork) is also available there.  You may need to go there in the morning as this item is very popular

This shop opens 6days a week, from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00.  If you like this spicy Korean pickles why not try some?

37 Hulme Court, Myaree WA 6154 /  (08) 9317 8688

Seoul Mart Korean Grocery Shop

The second largest Korean grocery shop, after Hi Mart, in Perth is Seoul Mart, I think.  Seoul Mart started its original shop in Perth few years ago, and now there is one in Myaree, and one in Southlands shopping centre.

I’ve been to all of them, but I didn’t like the Perth shop.  When I went there the staffs were very rude!  On the other hand, Myaree and Southlands shop staffs are very polite and friendly.  I’m not sure if those 3 shops are owned by a same owner, or different, but I really don’t feel like going back to the Perth shop.  (but Perth shop does monthly special sale and things are cheap!)

The owner (I think) at Myaree shop is a very very nice guy.  He serves customer with smile and try to answer any questions customer may have- most of the items are written in Korean, so non-Korean customers need some assistance !  At Myaree shop, they do vcd/dvd rental service of Korean drama / film as well.

Out of those three, I think Southland Seoul Mart is the biggest one.  They sell not only food but also some household stuff such as rice cooker, grilling plate (for Korean BBQ) and stationery.  The staff at Southland are friendly too.  The shop is next to Reject Shop in Southland Shopping Centre.

Seoul Mart City (open 7 days)

Shop 4-5, 544 Hay St (on Pier St) (08) 9221 0322

Seoul Mart Myaree

Shop7, North Lake shopping Centre, 67 North Lake Road Myaree WA

Seoul Mart Southlands

Shop76, Southlands Shopping Centre Willetton WA