This Perth Life

Meat Online

I used to do quite a bit of food shopping online especially when I was working full time and really couldn't be bothered going to the supermarket on my way home from work. Particularly if it was a dark and wet Winter's night.

That was when we were living in the UK and supermarkets were open until 9pm every night of the week so what full time workers do here I have no clue. Oh yes, silly me! They must brave it with every other working mand a woman on either a Saturday or late night Thursday.

Actually if I carry on, it'll take me to the whole debate about extending shopping hours and whether our MP's can actually make a decision on their own or if they're too frightened to. But that's another post in itself...

Anyway, moving on. Here's a company where you can order lamb (and now beef) online and have it delivered to your door. In short, welcome to the Farm Fresh Lamb Company!

The Farm Fresh Lamb Co will deliver farm fresh meat to your door in metro Perth for approximately 20% less than retail prices!

You can also purchase farm direct products such as free-range eggs and honey online. All the fresh produce comes from Western Australian farmers and the meat is professionally butchered into cuts and vacuum packed for convenience. Which means it'll stay fresh in your fridge for longer which is a huge bonus plus you can order and take it away on camping trips etc!

There's FREE HOME DELIVERY to your home or workplace anywhere from Dawesville to Quinns Rock, east to Chidlow and everywhere in between. Plus the drivers offer a mobile EFTPOS facility for easy payment using Eftpos, Mastercard or Visacard and you only pay when your meat is delivered, not ordered!

The ordering is pretty easy and the choice and cuts of meat are fully explained so you know what you are getting when you order.

Give it a go and let me know how you get on!

Parties Galore!

Tupperware
Originally uploaded by Athenamama.

In the past few months I've had a plethora of party invitations. Not to birthday parties or anything exciting like that. No, to parties where I'm expected to spend money.

So far I've been invited to (and attended some but not all) Phoenix Cards, Tupperware, Enjo, Tupperware (again), Childrens Educational Books, Childrens Educational Toys (apparently slightly different to the book party), Tupperware (again), Phoenix Cards (again), Enjo (again) and Tupperware (again).

Now where's the party that I would love to go to and would probably spend loads of money? Method of course! I wonder if they have home sellers here in Australia?

Going Green

method
Originally uploaded by seizethedave.

You know that feeling when you find a product that you like?

It's a kind of warm glow feeling. I got that when I found the Method surface sprays. I tried cucumber first and really liked that and then tried the others but I found that, although French Lavendar and Pink Grapefruit were good, I still preferred the Cucumber version. 

Then I went to an Enjo party at the end of last year and found that they are now selling the Method foaming handwash (as pictured) which is really nice and as both my boys love washing their hands with it (it foams out of the bottle and they love squirting it into each others hands) and I've become a devoted fan of that too. And they also had a yummy scrummy Almond (I have to say that is one of my favourite smells) floor cleaner.

So imagine my disappointment when after weeks of fruitless searching on the shelves of various supermarkets, I have had to come to the conclusion that they no longer make/or the supermarkets no longer stock the Cucumber Surface Spray. The others are still there, just not my beloved Cucumber variety.

Why do companies not tell you that they're going to do this so you can bulk buy?

Is there a world shortage on cucumbers? If so, is it only temporary? And if it is temporary, can I except my green Method to arrive back on the shelves? 

Imagine my amazement when I went onto the Method website and saw all the different products that are not on the shelves here, they even do bubble bath for kids. I bet that would go down well in my household. Plus candles, shampoo, room deodorisers, I could go on and on.

Ah well I can only dream...and wait...

When is Chocolate not Chocolate?

Chocolate Bars
Originally uploaded by yum9me.

Mmmm, I have to admit it, I am a HUGE chocolate fan. Pretty much anything will do but a big bar of Galaxy was my particular favourite.

Now I appreciate that some things don't travel well. Beer, for instance. I have been reliably informed over the years by husband and friends that beer doesn't travel well. Even when made locally to the original recipe it changes taste due to the change in water.

Surely this can't be the same of chocolate? I mean it's not a drink so the water taste flucuations can't have an impact so why does chocolate taste different here than back in the UK? Chocolate is chocolate is chocolate surely?

Well no actually it isn't. Not when an extra ingredient is added. Don't ask me what the extra ingredient is called or how it works. But I know what it does, it slows down the melting process.

Because our temperatures are hotter, the chocolate in the cupboard will melt pretty easily in Summer so they add an extra ingredient that slows down the melt. Only it changes the taste and texture of the chocolate and not in a good way.

I've just had a thought, is that why Swiss Chocolate is meant to be the best in the world? Maybe you need cold for chocolate to work.

My solution? To buy Lindt chocolate and pop it in the fridge.

Mmmmm.

What Price Grapes?

groceryday-13.JPG
Originally uploaded by monkeyc.net.

In my local Woolies there are seedless red grapes for $13.99 per kilo.

About 3 km away in a fruit and veg wholesalers the same red seedless grapes are $4.99 per kilo.

Does anyone else think that Coles and Woolworths need some serious competition so that they at least start to think twice about what price they are selling at?

Veg Under Scrunity

farmers' market - vegetables
Originally uploaded by me*voila.

I was quite glad to see this report that says the supermarkets are going to be investigated by the Australian Consumer Watchdog as Australian prices are rising more quickly than the rest of the world.

I was only wondering recently if it was me but prices for nearly everything have been rising rather quickly and where my weekly shop would cost around $130 it's now nearer to $200 but I seem to be buying the same stuff. What's going on?

Food and Restaurants in Perth

By Bron 82.

What is it with many of the "fine food" restaurants in Perth? I'm finding more and more that either the food or the service just isn't up to scratch and some of the prices can be ridiculous for what you get.

Last week I had to go out with my husband to entertain some of his clients (I use the word "had" very loosly because, of course, I certainly wasn't kicking and screaming that I didn't want to go out. Quite the opposite! Not having to cook and having an excuse to get a little dressed up was quite exciting. You will need to remember at this point that we have a 5 month old so our social life has taken a small temporary nose dive) and we were going to one of "the top restaurants in the city".

The Food Lovers Guide to Perth

Book Review
Originally uploaded by thisperthlife.

This is a brand new book, by Julie Mews and Lisa Hummel-Robson. I haven't read it but I'd be interested to hear comments and views from anyone that has.

This new guide is meant as an insight to the best food in Perth, including butchers, bakers, cheesemongers, gourmet cafés, patisseries, greengrocers, chocolatiers, and more.

Maps, opening hours, parking information and all contact details are listed. Recommended retail price is $24.95 and is available in book stores or online.

Classic Aussie BBQ

BBQ Food
By eddequincey.

The weather yesterday and the amount of BBQ's going on reminded me of this classic Aussie BBQ joke (it's also very very true!!!);

We will soon enter the summer and the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity, as it's the only type of cooking that a 'real' man will do, probably because there is an element of danger involved..

Celebrate the Melbourne Cup In Style

Melbourne Cup Horses
By fishgirl7.

Celebrate the Melbourne Cup in style this year at Leeuwin Estate. You can watch the race on plasma screens with fantastic food and great music.

If you're in Perth Leeuwin have arranged special flights to their private airstrip to enjoy Brut and canapes, watch the race and dine on a superb 3 course meal.

To book you need to contact their functions department for details on email or telephone 9759 0000. Tables are limited so you need to book early to avoid disappointment. Prices are $95.00 per person or $900 for a table of 10