Gaya, Roving

Have you witnessed the Mad Hatters Markets in Freo? They pop up at King’s Square, Wednesday – Sunday. Not quite as extensive as neighbouring markets, there are a few snack lunch options including an organic hot donut truck, Thai street snacks and Pho, among folk selling fresh produce.

I love any meal where you get to mix and play, and so my top pick from Mad Hatters, is Gaya – dishing out the Bibimbap, a Korean meal staple with a modern twist. Gaya is run by a guy whose passion for the Bibimbap is evident in his thoughtful assembly of this multi-faceted bowl of goodness. Every ingredient, as Gaya guy will explain, has a nutritional benefit. A wonderfully varietal and colourful lunch! 

Each day Mr. Gaya will vary the toppings slightly. My Bibimbap was a kaleidoscope of mixed fresh and home-pickled veggies - purple cabbage, lightly tendered zucchini, fresh broad beans, crunchy walnuts, bee pollen, bean shoots, pickled radish, wilted spinach, sesame seeds, cooked carrots and a squirt of Korean hot sauce, all atop wholesome brown rice.

Nothing originates from a jar at Gaya, all components are made lovingly from scratch at the Gaya's home. Even his Miso is the real deal.

Catch Gaya now at the City Twilight Hawkers Markets, every Friday from 5 through Summer.

Raw Food Café at Fern Community Centre - 6160

Happy World Vegan Day! 

This a new raw food and vegan café that has sprouted inside the jungle that is the Fern Community Centre in Freo. You’ll walk through a curious overgrown garden, strewn with odd bits and bobs, including a Tweety Bird cut out and an unexplained collection of bicycles – adult bikes, toddler tricycles and most of them missing parts. It makes for an amusing excursion. 

Pick from a list of raw and vegan meals that use nut ‘cheeses’ and dehydrated nut and seeds, in place of wheat bases, like bread and pastries.

Daily menu

Feeling in the mood for a bit of chili, we went for the ‘Mexican wrap’ and ‘enchilada’, each $12. The dishes were made as we ordered, in the makeshift sort of kitchen. The capsicum nut cheese in my wrap was scrumptious but the salad could have been fresher. The meals were a bit thrown together, but in a simple homemade sort of way.

Raw Enchilada $12

Raw mexican wrap $12

If I'm honest, the food is not on par with The Raw Kitchen, but definitely good for you and not to mention, more wallet friendly. 

Fern Café, in a nutshell - come for the healthful food and linger in the wilderness.

Yays: Reasonable price, the relaxing and curious surroundings, friendly people
Nays: Avocado was less than fresh

Raw Food Cafe at Fern Community Centre

Corner of High Street & Montreal Street, Fremantle

Tues- Sun for lunch

0418 742 917

Canvas, 6160

Canvas is housed inside the beautiful and historic Fremantle Art Centre. Its a truly tranquil spot to bring a group of friends, some BYO bubbles and have a long table birthday brunch...with a Middle Eastern bent.

 The stars of the menu are the Shak-shukas. You probably know the traditional form - eggs poached in a rich tomato sauce with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, served in a small skillet. Well Canvas have taken this traditional berbers breakfast and made it their signature, offering versions that include fancy things like barrumundi, prawns and pork chipolatas...even lamb brains.

Sea shak-shuka with whiting

I tried the "Sea" version with my pick of whiting. The plentiful dish came with buttered spinach and herbs, labneh, harissa and a side of Moorish (extremely satisfying) bread, olives and herbed butter. The serving was enough for two, but too delicious to be shared :D.

Soup of the day - bean, ham hock

It's still a bit of a Freo kept secret but its in an easy running for one of the best brunches in Perth in my books. 

Ups: inspired breakfast menu, generous serves, house made bread and luxurious herbed butter, peaceful setting

Downs: Coffee was just ok, courtyard cold in Winter. 

Subsequent visit worthy? Yep

The Juicy Beetroot Cafe, 6160

Tricky to spot, The Juicy Beetroot Cafe is buried down Tum Tum Tree Lane (can you get a more adorable street name?!) that runs off High Street.

It's vegetarian, vegan, healthy and well priced! 

The Juicy Beetroot display a confetti of salads that get snapped up for take-away lunches by nearby workers (myself included). It's $7 for small and Juicy put no limit to how many different kinds you want to stuff into that plastic container.

beetroot, lentils, broccoli, carrot!

If you want something a but more filling and warm  - go for one of the hot dishes that rotate from the bain-marie. Last week I eyed off some Dahl and a Cauliflower curry.

Theres dine in seating provided - set to the backdrop of some cross-cultural decorations.

If you're tempted for something sweet - pick up one of the Chocolate Brazil nut slices. They're crumbly, chocolately and delicious and only $2.50.

Ootong & Lincoln, 6162

Ootong & Lincoln is what I’d call your quintessential ‘Freo’ haunt. Flooded with natural light and decorated with an eclectic mix of old-world bits and bobs, Ootong & Lincoln has a warm and quirky character devoid of pretention.

Once a colonial teahouse, the airy space invites drawn out catch-ups between locals and relaxed afternoons spent flicking through a good book. 

Assembled above the front windows is a whimsical and wide collection of vintage children bicycles. Uneven hanging lamps with exposed electrical cord and a set of worn white roller skates deck the white walls. 

On the question of the edibles, its all seasonal and fresh, with the vegetarian types well catered for (it's Fremantle after all). I’m yet to try the breakfast menu but I can vouch for lunch. On last visit, we tried the lentil pattie with a trio of the salads of the day. The pattie was full of flavour; I couldn’t get enough of the crunchy mix-seed crust. A 
chicken burger, baguettes, prawn pasta and a curry of the day also feature. 

Veggie pattie, tomate & quinoa salad,  raita

Pesto risoni salad, potato salad, Waldorf salad

yum !



Perched high on the counter is Ootong’s own array of homespun cakes, beckoning you with the promise of deliciousness. The nut and fruit-heavy Carrot cake is awesome and the Chocolate-Beetroot is what I must try next time!



homemade jams for sale

Lumberjack Cake (coconut, apple, date)

Acoustic guitar in background

The first time I wandered into Ootong Lincoln, it was a lazy Sunday afternoon and there was an acoustic duo playing. Now I know you might be rolling your eyes right about now, but it was not contrived at all and the hippie music fit seamlessly with the setting. Because of the sprawled out seating, the music was soothing and not overbearing to the enjoyment of our food, nor the conversation.

 

Food: 4/5

Coffee: 3/5

Service: 3/5

Ambience: 4/5

Missy Moos, 6162

Cheery service and décor dotted with childhood nostalgia; Missy Moos is a happy-go-lucky burger bar.  Kids texta drawings, pinned with alphabet magnets decorate the counter. Kitschy plastic watering cans and tomatoes are used for table numbers, colourful oragami dangle from the ceiling, and menu items are named from various children's nursery rhymes.

One missy moo chicken burger plus extras

I first tried the 'missy moo chicken burger'; the chicken tenderloins were cooked perfectly and there was a generous smash of fresh avocado inside. I must say I've had a better chicken burger elsewhere however.  The accompanying onion chutney was overly sweet, even to a sugar fiend like me. I would have liked the option of a brown bun over a white one too.

Chicken burger, dissected

If you like your veggie burgers, Missy Moos does the best version. Order the 'peter, peter pumpkin eater': a pattie of spicy pumpkin, spinach, cous cous and butter bean; its full of flavour!

'Peter Peter, Pumpkin Eater'

If you're more of a sandwich person, they do a whopping club sandwich too but be warned; I’ve seen it leave a grown man defeated.

Burger: 3.5/5

Chips: 2.5/5

Service: 5/5

Ambience: 4/5