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

Bagelier Bagels

It’s been more than one year since Bagelier started its business.  Actually it wasn’t easy for the first few months…  I was surprised to know that people here don’t really like hard, dense, crusty bagels.  They prefer it soft and light. In my opinion it’s not a bagel though…  

Because of that, I had to change my recipe to match their needs.  The bagels at Bagelier were first very dense and heavy, but now they are lighter.  It’s almost impossible to make all the people love my bagels because everyone has different taste!  Ummm..  I’m happy to receive any comments or feedback of Bagelier’s bagels so that I can know the current recipe is good or bad.

Oh by the way, Wasabi & Green Tea in Victoria Park started to sell Bagelier bagels in store  If someone just wants to try out few bagels, you can buy from this shop.  I think they sell bagels frozen though… but there is no problem as bagels can be kept frozen for 3 months.  You just need to defrost, and either heat up in the microwave or toast.

Well, anyway I think I’m going to start promoting Bagelier products here on this blog.  So, please don’t feel annoyed :p

Wondering Around Northbridge

The other day I was wondering around Northbridge after visiting one of my friend from TAFE. It was a fine day, and I thought “hmm maybe I feel like Vietnamese”. I go to Tra Vinh often, but the restaurant was full of people waiting outside, so I just went to Vinh Hong which in on William St. I come here sometimes too, love eating fresh bean shoots with some kind of sweet miso-like paste.

I had rice noodle with braised beef, and my husband had pork chop rice (as usual :p) The rice noodle was delicious. It came with sour chili sauce, and I didn’t know how to eat … so I dipped the noodle in the sauce to eat. It was fine, but in the end I just poured over the sauce on noodle and enjoyed it all :p

After lunch we started walking around the area. I had nothing I wanted to buy, but all the fruits market (?.. small shop), Asian butcher and grocery shops were fun to look around.

On Brisbane St, I found a cute cake shop and a stylish zakka shop.

The cake shop sells pretty small cakes and bakes sweets with its own brand. There is a wide table and chairs inside too, I’m guessing customers can also enjoy cakes in store. When I was browsing around, some customers were talking with staff about cakes or something. Maybe the shop can make custom-made cake? They have an up-coming website, so better check it out.

http://rochelleadonis.com/ …. 193 Brisbane St, Northbridge

Next door is a zakka shop which sells unique/antique tick homeware and stationary. I love the atmosphere !

“Life Edition” is a brand from WA, and note books and albums are so pretty and stylish. You may find a perfect gift here for Christmas!