If you’re planning a day in the heart of the Perth City and is looking for an unusual place to dine, this may be the place for you. Well, I managed to crawl out of bed one morning and grabbed brunch at Greenhouse with sweethearts working in Perth’s CBD area. I know how it is to wake up in time for breakfast especially when you’re on an overseas vacation. I just never knew slumber nights with girlfriends could be such taxing affairs.
OK so as the name suggests, Greenhouse is an eco-friendly bar/restaurant and I like this concept. The exterior of Greenhouse is clad with galvanized planter frame and holds about 4000 terracotta pots. You can’t missed this attractive architecture. Looks like an installation art doesn’t it?
Inside, warm lighting sets the interior mood into a cosy and friendly informal dining space. It’s interesting how fixtures of appropriate design further emphasize the character of the restaurant.
It is really splendid how this entire place was built from recycled or recyclable materials. There are straw bales for insulation, raw plywood and recycled plastics all around me. Check out Greenhouse’s unusual furnitures.
Designed by Joost Bakker, Greenhouse features tables made from the plywood, chairs made from old road signs, bar stools/tables made from wafer board recycled from old wooden palettes, and light shades made from reclaimed fencing wire. How interesting?
I’m a fan of the bird-nest-looking light shades.
Before we could breathe in the unique set up, the distinct look and smell of wood fired pizza drew us in. So we ordered a pizza ($14) to share.
It’s amazing how Winn, my charming girlfriend with killer-large eyes loves pizzas so much she can eat them everyday for every meals. When it arrived, I was secretly pleased that Greenhouse’s pizza was so small!!! Yay my lovely friends shall have the lion’s share. I’ve had enough of pizzas after 3 days in Perth. Boo boo.
Oh the pizza was alright. Well you can’t go too wrong with gourmet crisp crust pizza. But after stealing a small tiny bite, I think it was just average. The base was decent and ingredients were very fresh but all in all, I think the pizza just lacked depth in flavour. Definitely not as good as Ciao Italia’s (will talk about this awesome restaurant soon).
Our dear friend Gabby, a lovable IT consultant with a lame sense of humour was feeling porkish so he got a cameralised porky dish which I thought was the best order of the day.
Sticky pork, green papaya, roasted rice & fragrant herb salad ($23). A pretty and sophisticated dish with well-contrasted flavours. The papaya infused this dish with a little Thai zest. Oh I loved the pork. It has a fabulous crunch with slight crisp on the outside. Tasty.
Dangz. Lousy picture but that’s all I have of this dish. Trust me. It tasted way better than how it looks here. And nope this wasn’t Pete’s fault. He was sleeping in the bag. We took this in a hurry with a point-and-shoot. Were all too hungry to bother about the pictures at that point. Yikes.
Apparently Perth’s CBD area is so small, everyone’s office is walking distance away from Greenhouse. EJ, a macho accountant with might arms popped by and joined us for an afternoon coffee fix. Heard that Greenhouse has raving reviews for coffee and drinks. Not a coffee connoisseur, I opted for hot chocolate instead. And as a hot chocolate expert, I shall say I’ve tasted better.
But there’s this dish that was pretty special. Another girlfriend of mine, sexy-siren JS who is also an accountant recommended “Bits and Pieces” ($25). It was a share plate served on a wooden bock consisting of caramelised sausages which looked alot like Chinese sausages but were much more saltier, cashew nuts, bread, cold meats, cheese and small salad side.
Great presentation.
Too bad the smoked ham was a tad salty and not too smoky! I still remember the ham I had at Esmirada’s 15th Anniversary Party. No fight at all.
Winn and I popped by the bar upstairs to take a peek and we were amused by the fine woody-looking little rooftop bar with simple furniture made from packing cases.
I felt like a farm girl in this organic surrounding. Too bad we had no time to come back later in the evening because this roof-top bar looked great for after-work cocktails.
In general, I love the venue. As for the food, it failed to live up to my expectations. Although the food are essentially simple meals with quality ingredients and prepared fresh just the way I like my meals, the price tag simply does not justify the average musings of my taste buds. Obviously, this place was designed for style, not comfort.
(:
Nevertheless, it was lovely to see how environmentalism has created such a unique atmosphere for Greenhouse. Wouldn’t it be great if we have similar dining concept in Singapore/Malaysia? It’s a pity that the eco-friendly wave was not caught on in Asia. Perhaps in the next decade?
Perhaps.
Greenhouse
100 St Georges Terrace,
Perth WA 6000
Tel : +61 8 9481 8333
Mon & Tues 7am -late
Wed to Sat 7am -12am
Eevon flew over the Indian Ocean, cycled half an island, frolicked in cool waters, patted a small kangaroo-like marsupial and lazed on a crispy lawn.
Sounds like fun?
YES IT WAS. I did all that at Rottnest Island, a nature reserve characterised by dark green Rottnest tea trees and lofty cypresses.
I love this island.
I think Rotto is one of the most picturesque hideaways unspoilt with natural beauty. Perfect place to wind down and cycle like there’s no tomorrow. Ok kidding.
A little background on the cycling; I think that conquering Rotto with Winn, my pretty sista and CW, our tough guide on these bikes is a courageous act. Why?
Those rented bikes were super lousy and literally a PITA!!! We suffered from an irritable butt ache the next 2 days after conquering Rotto. All you delicate girls who are thinking to try what we did, be prepared!
(:
I have a confession to make. We only managed to cover half of Rottnest Island. YES, not the entire island. Unfortunately, we woke up late and were only just in time for the 12pm ferry. Hey I’m on a vacation. How could you expect me to wake up earlier than an average day? That’s ridiculous. Heh.
Though it is a tiresome task, cycling around the island is really the best way to enjoy its beauty and everything it has to offer. I appreciate the fresh air, tranquility and a total lack of traffic. What a perfect getaway from an over-crowding city-life.
Felt so at home cycling carelessly on this charming island once inhabited by Aboriginal people for approximately 23,000 years when rising sea levels separated it from the mainland of Western Australia. It’s just so awesome to just keep peddling without ideas or serious thougts messing up my mind.
Then suddenly, a teeny-weeny crazy feeling came over me.
I got distracted by an enticing secluded beach!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Couldn’t hide my excitement. Skipped along the shoreline while both of them shared a smoke. I just had to soak up this awesome scenery. Look at the marvelous blue background.
I can’t believe that this lovely island was once a prison for Aboriginal people between 1838-1931? Rottnest was also an internment camp during both world wars. Goodness. What a dark history for a place so beautiful.
Fascinating isn’t it?
Dark stories aside, the island is refreshingly uncrowded with 63 sheltered beaches and 20 bays to choose from and that’s bad because I have a strong tendency to stop by every now and then to touch the crystal blue water and soft golden sand.
I know. I have such naughty fingers.
We would have gone for a quick swim if it wasn’t so chilly. The weather was spectacular and the cool sea breeze was never that comforting but the waters were still too cold. Argh should have stayed overnight to star-gaze.
Am so regretful for not having that planned out.
Good thing we scored at Quokka spotting. Oh hello little kangaroo-rat babies. I was so delighted to see these chubby rat-looking creatures!
Look at his beady eyes! SO CUTEE! I shall name him Koka. Lol. Ah Koka is almost about the size of a domestic cat. Missed Yuniko so much that I had to pat Koka a couple more times before my cravings to touch furry animals were satisfied. Koka’s thick shaggy fur was course and odd.
I felt like pulling his tail but he hopped away before I could try. Bad Boy. Pfff.
Native to Rottnest Island, he looks like a pint-sized kangaroo doesn’t he? Yeah he is not a rat! He’s actually a small marsupial like the forest wallabies and tree kangaroo. Lovely little creatures. Was playing with the thought of smuggling it to Jindi’s backyard. Nah.
Oh guess what. I’m sure you won’t like this too.
My worst ever experience at Rotto was this deceiving looking uphill ride! It was a horrifying route to the lighthouse. OMG. It looked OK right? But it was so tough to cycle up this cunning, sly, steep hill! We were like so gonna kill ourselves when CW said that’s the only way to reach Little Salmon Bay.
Blahhh we made it in the end. But it was tough. By the way, it is compulsory for a helmet to be worn at all times while riding. Urghh. Uncomfy. Thank goodness we made it over the salt lakes and got to one of the stunning cliffs.
After all that strenuous peddling, I needed a breather and this is the perfect spot to let my hair down.
Staring blankly over the horizon, I listened to the waves crash and died upon the rocks wishing that time could come to a standstill. Then I realised that it would be a huge mistake. I wouldn’t want that because I was alone. Felt like an aboriginal prisoner awaiting for some sort of emancipation. Yeah it was a rather grave feeling. Maybe the death of waves sneaked some grieve into my heart. Since that’s the case, I guess I rather be stuck in this imaginative vision with a soul mate. Makes more sense now. I’m so selfish. I know. But that’s just too bad.
I remember a story my girlfriend once told me. She lamented telling her ex everything he needed to know about her which include her desire to visit Rottnest but yet no action was taken. Years passed and he gradually forgot. A classic case of humans taking things/people for granted. In turn, she seemed to have forgotten how she fell in love with him too. Sad right?
Anyway a moment of peace and isolation up high on a cliff is such an enjoyable escape, however temporary, from the pangs of life. You should try it too. Someday.
Hehe. I wore Vibrams for this adventure and it was a good decision. Was compelled to strike a pose with it. For that moment, I pretended I was a Vibram spokesperson.
(:
We had too little time to do more stuff at Rotto! Well there are actually lots of stuff going on here. Other attractions include guided walking tours, scenic flights, a family fun park, the Rottnest Museum, as well as tennis, lawn bowls and golf. If you are a tough and adventurous person just like me, have a go at kayaking, diving, surfing, boogie boarding or fishing.
Otherwise, simply plop yourself on any lush, rolling green lawns with a cup of hot chocolate and a good read. I love doing lazy stuff like that too.
After the exciting adventure. I was seriously in need of a cuppa hot chocolate to kick back and relax. Can always count on such simple things to make me happy. Life’s been good to me. Thank you.
Before heading back to the jetty for the late afternoon ferry back to Freemantle, I had a strong feeling that I’ll definitely come visit again. I must share this beautiful haunt with Ken. We shall catch the sunset over a glass of wine and enjoy one of the best beach-side views in the world. Shall we, dearie?
(:
If you wanna Conquer Rotto too, here are some useful links and suggestions:
Rottnest Island: Visit their official webbie to find out more.
How to get there: Getting to Rotto is no sweat at all. We bought tickets on the spot, took the Rottnest Express and it ferried us to the island from Freemantle in less than 45 minutes.
If you have time, do stay over for a night or 2 so you can catch the sun rise and not over-strain on the bike tour.
Be a smart traveller. Do your homework before hopping on the ferry. Check the weather forecast and remember to bring a good book along.
My girlfriends and I was up to no good a month before 19 Jan. We were busy making sure one of our babes was kept in the dark of a wonderful surprise! Her sweet boyfriend of 5 years roped us in to prepare a surprise proposal for her!
Well well seems like Eujin now set a very high standard for upcoming boyfriends of besties to match. After much gossip with girlfriends, I shall share a little on what the girls think of as a sweet wedding proposal!
Surprise! Surprise!
Guys! A marriage proposal MUST be a surprise. Take time and devise a way of proposing that she won’t suspect. Jindi dear is the most unsuspecting person ever! So, Eujin had it EASY. LOLX. Anyway, if your girlfriend is slightly paranoid ie. Winnz/Elaine, you need lots of back-up plans. It always help if you are on friendly terms with her close girlfriends because they are good at diverting attention.
hahahaa. Look at Jindi’s face. She’s the pretty babe in the middle. Hahaha. After kidnapping her for the entire afternoon, we whisked her into MNG to grab this sleek black sequin dress. She took in all our nonsense and bought this highly recommended dress in less than 10 minutes! Walked out of MNG in the dress, still a daze before we made her took this pic for keepsake! Obviously Elaine and I had the ‘oh-my-goodness she got punked-to-dress-up’ face.
She was totally oblivious to what’s going to happen! The look on her face when Eujin proposed was priceless.
Write your own proposal
Saying, “Will you marry me?” should be original! Say something meaningful and sweet! Eujin’s mathematical proposal is perfect for accountants. LOLX. Yup both of them are accountants. Well, how about writing a poem or sing a song you wrote yourself? Basically,tell her why you want to marry her and write your own proposal! Then make sure you memorise the script and don’t ever read from a paper! The key is sincerity.
Getting the right engagement ring
Since wearing an engagement ring is a lifetime commitment. Thus, you got to do it right. Though personally I’m not a jewelry person, I’m quite sure that most brides want their proposal to include an engagement ring. Well if your bride-to-be is very particular about her jewelry, you may want to consider including her in the buying/designing process. In-line with the surprise element, I suggest proposing with a faux ring before going to the jewelers together after the proposal so she can pick and choose something she likes.
Can’t see the ring right? Too bling. He spent close to RM40k for that baby.
Be creative
Make the proposal memorable by incorporating significant things, foods etc. into the proposal but keep the focus on what’s important: the proposal itself. Thank goodness Eujin did not hid the engagement ring in food. It’s too cliche so no brownie points for creativity. Gotta give the guys credit for planning Eujin’s entrance with a special song he shares with Jindi. It was quite hilarious when the bride-to-be was busy eating to notice the boys had problems with the music. There were a few failed attempts to play the song. Yikes. Good thing there was a back-up CD. It pays to be prepared. Well done Kenji and Gavin.
(:
MUST drop to one knee
We insist. This is probably going to be the most charming and romantic moment for any guys! No wedding proposal is a proposal without the man going on one knee asking the love of his life to marry him! And with that, you passed with flying colours. We trust you, Eujin, to take good care of our bestie.
Points taken?
We are so proud of you, Eujin! Haha. Congrats to you and Jindi! We love you, Mrs.Lim!
When an ex-girlfriend pulled the plug on our much treasured group of 7, I fled to the Great Wall in my dreams. This trip came unexpectedly and was not meant to be. I needed a dose of serenity and prayed that the strong winds would blow her far away from us. Thankfully everything still looked the same up here. Changes could be so excruciating.
Grand. Arresting. Towering.
Scaling the wall’s steep, crumbling steps now brings new meaning after I withstood the pangs of adversity with my girlfriends. That was nothing we’ve ever encountered throughout our years of friendship.
It was shocking how much similarity our decade-old friendship share with the Great Wall’s history of more than 2000 years. Though some of the wall’s sections are now in ruins or have disappeared, it is still so appealing and attractive. It all boils down to its historical significance. Much the same, our history is priceless.
I was at Badaling. Thrown with an option of going either left or right, I took the route on my left which offers a more challenging hike up the wall and kept walking until it was not possible to walk any further. I thought that the steep mountain slope and torturous roads were awesome because it was these features that made it a stronghold. Yeah we are flawed and that made our journey steep and torturous as well. But what’s our weakness when our strengths could easily support and protected each other from harm.
Win was right. We’ve gone through obstacles together, not in person, but in our hearts. Our love proved bigger than any obstacle and dearest, I am so honoured and proud of this too!
(:
Building this great wall is not an easy feat nor it was done in a day. Though it is easy to take pleasure of each other’s company, we never had any difficulty seeing the point of considering friendship in terms of common moral commitments. Ling reminded me that though we are far away in distance, yet we commit ourselves to be always be close at heart. Friends are VERY HARD to come by. Good ones, even harder. Best friends for more than 10 years, fucking miracle!
I think best friends comes with an eager readiness, and an absence of hesitation. We shall have the courage to give advice with candour. With that common understanding, we can conquer any walls together.
Aristotle told me.
“such friendships are rare is natural, because men of this kind are few. And in addition they need time and intimacy; for as the saying goes, you cannot get to know each other until you have eaten the proverbial quantity of salt together. Nor can one man accept another, or the two become friends, until each has proved to the other that he is worthy of love, and so won his trust. Those who are quick to make friendly advances to each other have the desire to be friends, but they are not unless they are worthy of love and know it. The wish for friendship develops rapidly, but friendship does not.”
Point taken. Her unworthy reasons for departure has brought to mind a memory. Someone once told me that in friendship and relationship, those who possess any superiority must put themselves on an equal footing with those who are less fortunate, so these latter must not be annoyed at being surpassed in genius, fortune, or rank. As women, we were held to be more articulate and emotionally accomplished. Clearly, we must had been too overwhelming.
My hazy romantic visions has turned into a vivid reality just as the chilling winds wailed alarmingly. The Great Wall transformed into a red dragon, winding its way along the mountain ranges. The blustery sky cleared. I now have great better visibility and that’s going to make the climbing, even the steep parts, easier. I’m no longer dreaming.
We all are happy once again. Without her, things still won’t change. We are who we are and that’s what we love about each other.
I quote from Win “we will stand together, even more, even stronger than before. we’ve done it for over a decade. we can do it for another decade, and the next, and the next…. and so on.” and yes Elaine, you are my life too. I will make sure all your kids laugh over our silly escapades.
My ladies, cheers to infinity and beyond!
Many thanks to Amanda, Daniel, Sidney, Nicole, Marcky, Nic, David, Lina, Dom, Mel and Chiang Wey for the support. Y0u peeps are angels.
Stank is gonna love this post because I cried on MY birthday! Was cheated by Cablenazi as usual. Oh he does that very well. Whisked me away to Kim Choo Kitchen, a pretty peranakan restaurant right in the Peranakan enclave of Joo Chiat and kept me wondering what is he up to.
At Kim Choo Kitchen, the colourful patterned tiles and attractive floral porcelain dining ware caught my eye. Beautiful. Totally embodies the distinctive Asian culture of Peranakan culture. This place really gave me the vibe of a humble Peranakan home.
Just when I was admiring the decor, he almost gaveaway his act when the waitress mentioned ‘table for 5 right?’ and when I was about to tweet about his suspicious behavious, Winnie popped into the seat next to him without a sound. The next second when I lifted up my head, I was extremely shocked! But what comes after made my nose turned red. Never expected Stank and Elaine to appear from the stairs! Shockers!
Of course will cry la . Never expect Cablenazi to surprise me with these three unexpected guests during dinner! Stank, Winnz and Elaine! Oh my goodness. They actually came all the way from JB for me? Such sweeties! After all the drama, We enjoyed peranakan food at a restaurant and mm the Kueh Chang was very very good. Yum yum. Must eat while its still warm!
Here’s some pictures of the peranakan fare we had that evening. Well, food was passable probably because I’ve tasted better peranakan food. Remember Restoran Nyonya Suan? Anyway what you must-try here is definately the Kueh Chang, beef/chicken rendang and probably the cendol.
Anyway good food is just secondary. The company is what that matters and this year was perfect! Don’t you love surprises! I do! Especially when it happens on 8 Jan. Definately a birthday I will never forget.
Thanks loves. xoxo, C
Where Am I?
You are currently browsing entries tagged with girlfriends at
eevon.sg.
