Wearing – Sessun jumper (different colourway here), Gorman jeans (on sale here!), Donelli shoes, vintage tooled leather handbag from Bluebird Vintage

For my return back to mothership Perth, Jinn had planned an elaborate morning that was to include eating at some of the latest cool-kid hangouts, the kind that serve up dishes featuring super trendy ingredients like quinoa, kale and chia seeds. It wasn’t to be, as all I’d been craving during my six months in Broome was a huge whopping big bowl of steaming beef and beef ball pho from our regular Vietnamese joint! Craving satisfied, we wandered through our beloved city, looking at the things that had changed (oh hai new Pigeonhole store!) and the things that hadn’t, simply happy being home…

Not to be completely thwarted, Jinn managed to drag me to his next favourite hipster haunt, the awesomely named Toastface Grillah, after famed Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ghostface Killah. Not only were we treated to a scrummy Apple & Gouda toastie and a pretty decent flat white, but we had also accidentally stumbled upon a live poetry and music open mic afternoon hosted in the tiny courtyard. It was a completely new experience for me! We enjoyed the mostly contemporary poetry recital (I don’t remember T. S. Eliot or Blake ever using so many expletives!) whilst I gnawed away at my sweet and crispy package of ham, apple and grilled onions, relishing the gooey stretchiness of the toasted cheese that held it all together.

It made a perfect Perth arvo that bit more interesting – I even had a small heart attack when the MC of the recital turned to the two of us and asked if we had anything contribute! Thankfully we weren’t pressed any further after politely declining, but I was so intrigued by the little gathering that I think I may return another time, perhaps with something in my repertoire to add to this interesting bunch of folk.

Come take a wander down Grand Lane and find this hole-in-the-wall eatery that does “simple” food amazingly well. If you’re up for something a little different, go on a Saturday afternoon to listen in on or even take part in this very welcoming group of poetry lovers.

P.S. What’s your Wu-Tang name? Mine’s Mad Dreamer, not bad ‘ey? Find out your alter ego here.

Toastface Grillah / Grand Lane, Perth / Monday to Friday 7am – 4pm / Saturday 9am – 4pm