The Silver LiningDarlings Supper Club
Posted on December 5, 2014
Now it’s no secret that Darlings Supper Club received some rather scathing reviews when they first opened earlier this year, particularly regarding the food. But rather than run and cry in the corner, they took this feedback as constructive criticism, hired some brand new muscle in the kitchen, and have recently jumped back up with a revamped menu. The theme is still Asian fusion and the 6pm to 3am opening times mean you can get your dumplings and sake cocktails way into the night.
The fit-out is undeniably dark and sexy, and has quite a cosy but cool small bar feel. It looks so good that I can’t even remember what used to be here on this Lake Street stretch before, and I kinda don’t even care! There are lists upon lists of sakes, spirits, wines, beers and cocktails and they even do a mean teh tarik for those looking for a non-alcoholic beverage.
So let’s be honest here. It’s very difficult to please an Asian person with fusion Asian food. Aaaaand…I think they do it pretty well. There is certainly immense attention to detail paid to every dish that we saw come out and, rather than trying to copy well-known Asian dishes, new flavours are explored and fresh, local ingredients are utilised, helping the dishes taste fresh and interesting to the palate. Personal favourites? The Rottnest scallops with coriander pistou and most definitely the beef cheek with red cabbage marmalade, braised to sticky, fall-aparty perfection.
I didn’t manage to try any dumplings at this visit, and I major in dumplings, just ask my mum. That, my dears, will be a punishingly difficult test to pass. But with completely untraditional fillings offered such as triple peppered kangaroo or sticky pork with tamarind, I think I just might be returning to this cool and rejuvenated corner of Northbridge for a midnight snack and tipple.
Darlings Supper Club / 47 Lake St Northbridge / Wednesday to Saturday 6pm-3am / Sunday 12pm-10pm / Facebook / info@darlingssupperclub.com
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Meet Claire – Ruck Rover General Store
Posted on April 7, 2014
Ruck Rover General Store has always been one of my places to go to find that perfect vintage-inspired sundress, or a unique present for your friend’s new bub (a bib with a Peter Pan collar – so hot right now!), or a great dude-gift amongst their ever-changing supply of funky t-shirts and socks. They moved from their premises in Mount Lawley two years ago and things just keep getting bigger and better! Now so perfectly situated on the corner of William and Francis Streets in Northbridge, it’s neighbours with a few of our favourites such as Outre Gallery and Little Willys.
We had the chance to be a little bit nosy and chat to Claire, the brain and big friendly smile behind Ruck Rover.
Hey hey hey! Thanks for having us! I’ve been a big fan of you guys ever since your Mount Lawley days! I’d love to start off by listening to your “where-it-all-began” story…
Ruck Rover is the brainchild of mine and my sister, Isabelle. I’d describe our decision to start up the store as a part brave and part self-indulgent! I was in my mid-20s when we decided we’d seize the day and follow our hearts. We managed to make what started off as, “Wouldn’t it be cool if…” conversations into something real. Goodness me, our little shop is now seven and a half years old!
It’s good fun running Ruck Rover with Isabelle. She’s got a couple of kids now so she’s not in the shop as much anymore but she’s still so important in all the decision-making and choosing stock for the store. You can often find her here on a Saturday, though. We mostly have very similar taste and vision, which works well when we need to bounce ideas off somebody else.
What are your favourite things in store at the moment?
We always aim to stock items from small, independent designers from around Australia and abroad too. At the moment, I can’t resist our dresses from Totem and Emily & Fin. We also have a huge place in our hearts for our pretty beaded necklaces by I Wish I Had A Little Shop. (See Sarah wear hers here!) These always sell out quick when we get them in store.
For the guys, we always have a massive selection of exclusive t-shirts and we’re looking to collaborate with more local artists in the near future for new designs! We still have a few left of this amazing t-shirt by Creepy aka the incredibly talented Kyle Hughes-Odgers
What do you do with yourself when you’re not running the store? Do you have other hidden superpowers?
In the early years of running the store, I also completed a double degree in Law and English at UWA. (Multitalented much? Sarah turns green…)
As you may know, I also run We Love Perth, an independent website that uncovers and highlights the best-ofs of our lovely city, Perth. It’s completely not for profit, heaps of work, but so so rewarding.
I also do a bit of freelance writing on the side for in-flight magazines. That’s always a real buzz.
We had heaps of fun chatting to Claire, learning about Ruck Rover’s beginnings and how little dreams can become roaring successes. Afterwards, I had a bit of spare time to nip around the store to ogle the range of vintage-inspired dresses and pick up some Lazy Oafs birthday cards (the kind that say, “Even though you’re old I still care”). Be sure to visit Ruck Rover! Make a special trip to Northbridge or walk on by after buying your special roast pork from Good Fortune Duck (I know I do!).
Thanks, Claire, for having us!
Ruck Rover General Store / 242 William St (corner Francis St), Northbridge / Open 7 days a week / Online shop / Facebook
***There’s an exclusive online discount code for our readers! Hop over to Ruck Rover’s online store and shop your little hearts out! Enter code “SILVERLINING” at the checkout for a sweet 20% off through 30th April 2014.
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Illuminites
Posted on December 16, 2013
We decided to make the trek back into Northbridge on Friday night for that amazing Christmas gift shopping bonanza that is Illuminites! This year, there was a gigantic manmade beach in the Perth Cultural Centre, complete with deckchairs and places for kids to play, as well as a giant inflatable snow dome and a frozen ice slide inside a truck! Talk about climate confusion!
There were heaps of different stores, hand-made crafty items, arty pieces as well as the usual amazing vintage shops. We were able to meet the amazing Kelly aka Mekel from Mekel Illustration, and purchase an original artwork from her store! We also said hi to Ann from the Whiteman Park Print Shop and took a squiz at their letterpressed goods. Other most honourable mentions must go to Rachel from Freckle & Co and Eemay of Glass Gardens terrarium fame. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a good photo of their exceedingly popular stall mostly because they were overwhelmed by customers most of the time! It was a busy busy night filled with lots of people happily ticking off their Christmas lists. We almost swooned in the heat of the afternoon sun and at the dizzying heights of retail mecca but were rescued once again by the always refreshing La Paleta icypoles!
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Loco Locals
Posted on October 21, 2013
Last Friday we went down to William St for the opening of Outre Gallery’s new exhibition Loco Locals, featuring a number of local Perth artists showing off their mad skillz and wares. It was a busy evening! The already cosy Outre Gallery was jam packed full of art fans eager to see new works from their favourite artists. As usual, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kyle Hughes-Odgers’ pieces and had to remind myself about our hefty mortgage and Jinn’s looming 30th birthday to prevent myself from puchasing (another) one! However, all the pieces of art were top notch and I’m sure they won’t stay unpurchased for long.
The exhibition finishes on 1st November so hurry on down and check it out before it’s too late!
Featuring:
Kyle Hughes-Odgers
Sean Morris
Martin E Wills
Amok Island
Pari Corbitt
Anya Brock
Liam Dee
Celene Bridge
Chris Rigoni
Loco Locals exhibition / Outré Gallery / 260 William St Northbridge / Saturday 19th October to Friday 1st November
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Aisuru Sushi
Posted on April 8, 2013
I had a serious hankering for sushi over Easter and decided to revisit the awesome Aisuru Sushi and their wicked modern take on the humble but always irresistible sushi roll. I love the bustling yet efficient atmosphere this corner restaurant exudes and always wonder how those sushi chefs resist taking a sneaky bite or two out of their beautiful and tasty creations. I’m pretty sure if I was a sushi chef I’d have a pretty bad case of one-for-you-and-one-for-me!
To kick us off we ordered the tempura Wagyu beef and my absolute must, agedashi tofu. I swear I could live off agedashi tofu alone, but sadly this one was not quite as good as the equivalent dishes found at Kiri or Satsuki restaurant. The main event was our medley of sushi rolls, the Black Velvet, Plumfower, Spider and Kirika. They all came out beautifully presented, and Jinn had to be very quick-smart taking those photos as those pieces of sushi disappeared pretty quickly! The absolute standout was the Plumflower roll, with its delicately flavoured plum sauce and oh-so-scrumptious omelette wrapped around some yummy chicken, perfectly cooked rice and fragrant nori. I could devour one right now!
All up, Aisuru Sushi is a great addition to the growing population of William St restaurants, and offers something very different, in both vibe and cuisine – I certainly will be coming back (particularly for that Plumflower roll!).
Aisuru Sushi / 208 William St, Northbridge
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Loving the Laneway Night Markets
Posted on January 30, 2013
Just when we thought there couldn’t be anymore markets or festivals, On William and Fringe World decide to outdo everyone! I was meant to be packing for Broome (which still hasn’t yet been done) but once again I abandoned common sense and gave in to the irresistible draw of the Laneway Night Markets. The On William team have done it again, transforming Hook and Lock Lanes in Northbridge into an amazing hub of activity, food, art and general market-y goodness. We ended up doing a couple of laps of the stalls as we kept bumping into people we knew and chatting. It’s kind of only lately dawned on me that I won’t be seeing a lot of these people for a while so I think I’m subconsciously squeezing in all the future missed conversations and catch-ups into this one tiny concentrated week. I of course did not leave empty-handed, one of my favourite purchases being this awesome handmade oversized felt badge delicately stitched by oh, hello. Check out her Etsy store, it’s pretty amaze!
***For those interested…
1. Fringe World on the big screen!
2. Hand painting prints that are fresh off the press – Shiritori Press
3. Brenton See finishing off a work that will be finding its home at Captain of the Ship on William St
4. Cute goodness from Enid Twiglet
7. Retro chic from Pixel Closet
8. My new badge from Oh Hello
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Night markets at Illuminites!
Posted on December 17, 2012
Tis the season for street festivals it seems! We decided to ditch the usual fine dining dinner for our anniversary (plus we’d already blown a fair bit of money on some Michelin stars in NYC so we’ve been good to our wallets and gallbladders lately) to check out Illuminites Night Market at the Perth Cultural Centre. There were over 50 stalls – only three of them appeared to be food so I did impatiently have to wait about 45 minutes for some takoyaki (Japanese octopus balls – taste better than they sound). But I was finally let loose amongst the stalls, blood sugar and happy mood restored, and they did not disappoint. I have to say my favourites were The Bunny Shoppe and The White Square. There are a couple of pictures of my swag below – can’t wait to bust them out! Go here to find out more details about Illuminites and the stalls!
The swag – 1. neon yellow spike necklace from The Bunny, 2. wee black dinosaur brooch from The White Square, 3. cat ears ring also from The Bunny
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Roll over Ruck Rover…(+ Little Willy’s)
Posted on November 21, 2012
Perth City has undergone somewhat of an overhaul over the past two years, and in no place is it more evident than William Street, Northbridge. It once used to be a road lined with strip joints and bad restaurants, and I would certainly never have wandered down it alone after 8pm or so (and even if accompanied, at a very brisk pace!). Now the gorgeous old buildings have been restored to reveal their gorgeous late 1800s faces and are attracting more and more lovely new occupants! Tiny shops filled with racks of pretty vintage clothing, hole-in-the-wall coffee bars, and hip new restaurants are now filling up the spaces.
A more than welcome newcomer, Ruck Rover, has moved from its old home in Mount Lawley to join the now trendy crowd along this street. They stock a cute collection of clothing for guys, girls and children, as well as a wide range of gifts that would have nearly everyone on your Christmas list covered. Funky and brightly coloured beaded necklaces for your sister or BFF (I caved and bought one for myself!), polaroid cameras and film for any hipster in your life, sweet diaries that would impress any obsessive compulsive mum, and even homewares for the newly moved out.
I personally left with the aforementioned necklace, some earrings, a bunch of gorgeous greeting cards and the 50th issue of Frankie (yay for Frankie!). The place is dangerous I tells ya. Wandering further north up William Street we somehow also managed to acquire a new print from Outre Gallery by Matte Stephens, and an old Nina Simone record (an original pressing!) from Noise Pollution.
We may have travelled onwards but I hadn’t worn sensible shoes (now there’s a money-saving tactic!) so we stopped by Little Willy’s to enjoy their fine coffee and homemade pink lemonade. Now there’s a perfect ending to a perfect afternoon.
***What I’m wearing – ivory scallop lace top by Madewell, fuchsia petal skirt by Leifsdottir, black and tan wedges by Country Road (similar here and here), earrings by Kate Spade (similar), lip tint by Tarte in Spirited
***What he’s wearing – chambray shirt with dog embroidery by Pigeonhole (they don’t have the dog one anymore but they do have the duck one – here!
The Silver Lining 
