Bon Viveur

Some eat to live while others live to eat and I have both feet firmly planted in the latter.

Which, when you think about it, is quite a miracle considering that I was a picky brat to feed as a child. Despite the best efforts of my parents and grandma to introduce a well balanced, healthy diet, my personal menu was strictly vegetarian free with the occasional foray into fish. Anything with shells on it would cause a reaction with my tongue swelling up and turning into an itchy reddish mess. The only exceptions was anything cooked with sambal or in a curry.

So it was with much relief to the parentals that I started taking interest in things other than animal flesh. The change was gradual, one that I will attributte to “maturing” (I use the term loosely) palette and the valiant efforts of mum, dad and grandma. I still love meat. I still love anything cooked sambal or curry.

Along with encouraging an open palette and supplying me with many lovingly made meals, I also have to credit my grandma for teaching me to cook. From simply assisting with topping and tailing bean sprouts and peeling potatoes to helping stir the cake batter. Granny’s love of food and her fantastic ability to recreate a restaurant or hawker dish has been a major influence on my path to self sufficiency in the kitchen.

It sounds a little contrived, but having been fortunate enough to have lived in 3 different continents and traveled a small fraction of it, there is a lot of world to see and eat. This blog is my little record of culinary adventures and samplings of the diverse gastronomic world of scents, tastes and textures.

Perth, Western Australia may be considered by many to be dulls-ville, but I believe the recent explosion of specialty coffee brewers, small bars and regional cuisine will be more than enough the tempt the taste buds of the most jaded of diners.