Splashing out

I'm in a foul mood this week.

Maybe it's the heat. Maybe it's because my dad is visiting an staying with my father-in-law, which is always trying. Maybe it's because Mini Me is out of whack due to starting daycare, teething, or because she's a baby. Maybe it's just one of those weeks.

So when it was Mini Me's nine-month birthday (nine in, nine out) I needed something and thankfully my yummy mummies group had the perfect solution.

All Fired Up!

Since every day seems to be about dads, Father's Day should mean they have to change every nappy, attend to every cry and get her down for every nap.

You see, kids are excited when daddy comes home. 'Da' is generally their first word. Dad is the 'fun one'. Dad is head of the household (well not in this house). 

That cynicism aside, Hubby is a pretty good and hands on dad. So we had to celebrate him a little bit for his first Father's Day.

Boy did he get spoilt. I made him a cherry ripe slice, breakfast, he got to open a new date envelope, received a West Coast Eagles  membership and drank coffee from his new mug, created at Fired Up in Joondalup.

1: My attempt at a hand print card (fail) 2: The rich cherry ripe slice (thanks Taste.com.au)
3: Hubby and Mini Me with the spoils.

 

Creating the personalised mug was a brilliant suggestion from one of my Yummy Mummy Group mums.

With a range including plates, coasters, mugs, cookie jars and ornaments, and most around $20 with a $5 per 'painter', Fired Up helps create a great DIY gift with none of the mess or effort.

Given the area is not big and probably holds 20 people, we booked a table, and I suggest it's the same for even small groups on weekends.

At home I had tired to capture Mini Me's hand and foot prints with little reward for all the smudging and hot pink paint that got everywhere. But Fired Up made it easy.

The finished product and Hubby's present wrapped in a brown paper package (one of my favourite things).

The staff are super friendly and helpful. They actually did the print for us, cleaned up any smudges and we just had to decorate the rest. And given they do this a lot, crying bubs is no worry for them and they can calm them down, or still manage to capture the print from a fussy bub.

You then leave your piece with them to 'fire up' and seven days later you can pick up your dishwasher, microwave proof ceramic.

Given it was a week before Fathers Day they were super busy we didn't expect to get our pieces in time, but I think they moved mountains to make sure as many dads had their own personalised hand and foot print mug, plate of piece of art.

I loved the outcome and think my Christmas presents are all sorted this year!

To top it all off, Fired Up makes a good little coffee and has a few snacks on offer as well.

To other Yummy Mummy Groups out there, Fired Up should be on your list of places to meet up to capture those little hands and feet before they start running around.

Fired Up!
29 Winton Road, Joondalup
P: 9300 1811
E: info@firedcafe.com.au
W: www.firedcafe.com.au

Viva Duende

Bruce the pram is once again satisfied.

Yes I've named our pram. He's a big green machine (ie the Hulk's timid alter ego Bruce Banner), Mini Me's bouncer, carrier and pack horse. 

So why is this whole lot of pram-man sated? We've found another place to park his huge ass while my belly satisfies itself.

Sunday morning breakfast's destination was Leederville. 

We made a beeline for the staple brekkie at Sayers, only to be turned away like Joseph at Christmas. Admittedly they are small inside to accommodate a pram, and they did offer us a seat outside under a heater. But it was one of those rare cold Perth mornings and Mini Me does not tolerate the cold.

Where to? Mrs Picnic suggested Duende. I scoffed... Tapas for breakfast? Lady you're loco!

But eat my words I did. They made room for pram (tick) and breakfast they served (tick). There is a range of options from healthy avocado, tomato, feta on toast to bacon and eggs and even the standard big or veggie breakfast. There's even a few Spanish inspired options, like mushrooms on polenta and my choice for the day - chorizo, beans and poached eggs.

My breakfast was saucy and hearty. The eggs were poached perfectly and the chorizo spicy. Hubby ordered a good serve of eggs & bacon, while Mrs Picnic and Mrs S ordered the avocado on toast with a side of poached eggs. Everyone was very pleased with their meals, including Mini Me who guzzled her milk.

I didn't like my coffee, but the fresh orange juice, especially it's presentation, made up for it.

How cute is this serving of fresh of orange juice?

For the reasonable prices and no rush but attentive service at Duende, I'd say we could learn from the Spanish way of life and start there got brekkie and stay all day for their evening tapas (which I can vouch for).

Once again another successful Sunday outing.

Mrs S has a little cuddle with  Mini Me

Duende

662 Newcastle Street, Leederville

P: 9228 0123

E: duende@duende.com.au

W: www.duende.com.au

Mmmm... Metrio & Co

One of the bonuses Mini Me brings is you're up early on a Sunday morning without a raging hangover.

Why is this good? Because I can indulge in my favourite meal of the day. Breakfast!

'Eat like a King at breakfast' is a diet mantra I love to live by and so enthusiastically we bundled up Mini Me and went hunting. Though it was before the Sunday morning rush, we couldn't find a spot for us and pram at our first pick. Off to Angove Street in North Perth it was.

There was room at each of cafes on offer, but it was the wafting scents and tasty treats in the food cabinet that made us choose Metrio & Co.

Once again the pram was happy to be nestled between us and another table and we were ready to order.

The breakfast menu is on a blackboard inside, which does you make you feel slightly like a creep as you hover around to read it. And it takes ages to decide with everything sounding so tasty. All the staples are there - eggs, muesli, pancakes - Hubby chose the big breakfast ($20) and I opted for the mushroom bruschetta ($15).

I couldn't wait to dig in!

When my piled high mixed mushroom and goats cheese dish arrived, I couldn't wait for the photo before I dug in. When ordering mushrooms I expect there to be more than the standard button mushrooms I buy, and this did not disappoint. The goats cheese was silky and the toast crunchy. There was a little bowl of homemade tomato relish on the side, which was odd, but delicious.

Hubby was impressed by his full plate of eggs, bacon, tomato, mushrooms, hash brown and homemade tomato relish. He also downed his $3.50 coffee with such enjoyment he ordered another.

The service was smiling, quick and above and beyond, topping up my tea with more hot water.

We were suitably stuffed enough that we needed to go for a stroll and dream of buying in the area.

Another win for my grumbling belly and large pram.

Metrio & Co

36/38 Angove St, North Perth
P: 9227 0077

West End Deli from my pram's viewpoint

There's a lot written about West End Deli and its amazing food. So rather than look at it from my stomach's point of view, I thought I'd take a look from the pram's viewpoint.

Since being encumbered with this new accessory my thought process for every lunch and coffee date no longer starts with 'what new hipster place haven't I tried, whose food porn photos are all over Instagram', but now begins with 'is it pram friendly?'.