Asado. A social get-together around a BBQ where no animal is safe. Before visiting, I already loved the description, the decor, and the delectable sounding Argentinian based menu at this new Claremont eatery.
Opening recently with quite a bit of fanfare from excited customers, I had the chance to visit the venue for it's nighttime launch party and for a catch up breakfast with other bloggers a few days later. Both outings were organised by the ever delightful Laura Mosley, and it was great to experience the venue in an official and a relaxed revisit capacity.
The launch party was a great affair, a lovely chance to catchup with familiar foodie faces (some old, some new) and of course, to dine on their wares. The kitchen was in full swing, with bottles of champagne popping, icy cold beers having their lids flipped off and sample dishes being pumped out with impressive speed and finesse.
Throughout the night we sampled:
- Guacamole with tortilla chips
- Jerk chicken wings with cabbage slaw
- Spiced calamari with chilli lime mayo
- Lamb short ribs with mint yoghurt
- Asado beef short ribs with chimmichurri and salsa criolla
- Burnt banana dessert with butter biscuit, dulche de leche mascarpone and PX
For me, the red meat was the standout for the evening which was great to see considering this is definitely the point of difference for Asado from other Perth restaurants. I loved seeing their deft use of spices and sauces to enhance flavours, and ultimately the way they respected the produce used.
I did think the serving style for some of the dishes was a bit tricky (ie. trying to eat coleslaw with a toothpick) but hopefully this was just an issue from a canapé launch night perspective rather than the standard - where cutlery is readily available. I would have loved to see a bit more of a creamier coleslaw, but not sure if this is the Argentinian style.
When we first arrived I saw an open grill with slabs of beef resting above the coals. My mouth was already watering, and I couldn't help but stare at the meat until it was cut up and served to us! I'm so easily obsessed when it comes to food!
One of my favourite dishes was the lamb ribs with their yoghurt sauce - where the bone just pulled out with no resistance at all. But even better were the beef short ribs with chimmichurri. As the meat was cut up and piled on the serving boards we all stared, fixated, the tender pink meat glistening with juice.
One bite and I was nodding with happiness. The meat was so flavoursome, melting in my mouth. All of us dig in with gusto, demolishing a few boards, dunking the meat in the chimmichurri which is zesty, fresh and the perfect accompaniment. The wait was worth it for this dish!
One of my favourite dishes was the lamb ribs with their yoghurt sauce - where the bone just pulled out with no resistance at all. But even better were the beef short ribs with chimmichurri. As the meat was cut up and piled on the serving boards we all stared, fixated, the tender pink meat glistening with juice.
One bite and I was nodding with happiness. The meat was so flavoursome, melting in my mouth. All of us dig in with gusto, demolishing a few boards, dunking the meat in the chimmichurri which is zesty, fresh and the perfect accompaniment. The wait was worth it for this dish!
While the launch party was a fun night, I always like to go back to restaurants in a non-official capacity to try their food out to see how it compares. The opportunity came the following weekend when a group of us caught up for brunch on the Saturday.
Relaxing at a long table in the outside dining area, we all sat around talking for forever before finally we decided to get up and order. By then it was 11am so we had our pick of the breakfast and the lunch menus. Thankfully the food came out quite quickly which was reassuring to our rumbly tummies!
My order choice of the tomato adobo with slow egg, beans, labne, guacamole and tortilla chips ($18.00) was bright and fresh, jam-packed full of flavour. I love a good slow egg and have to admit it gives me a shiver of delight when I see all that yolk spill out onto the dish.
The tomato adobo has a really lovely layered depth of flavour which is elevated by the zingy guacamole and the creamy labne - there's also a bit of heat from the spices used. Pops of coriander round out the dish for some fresh elements - and I am pretty quick to dig in with my salty tortilla chips to scoop up the mixture. I really liked the use of the tortilla chips though I'm not sure if I would prefer this or a crunchy slice of grilled sourdough. This was a nice variation on the standard and offered some perfectly crisp texture into the mix.
- Jamon y queso toast with relish ($12.50)
- Chilli eggs with rocket, feta, avocado and sourdough ($18.00)
- Brekky board; bircher, fruit, sourdough, boiled egg, jamon, relish ($21.00)
- House-cured salmon with kipflers, tartare and herb verde ($21.00)
- Lamb short ribs with mint yogurt and grilled garden greens ($22.00)
So far from what I've experienced, I think Asado is a lovely addition to the dining scene in our beautiful city. I definitely need to go back and try the dinner menu properly instead of via canapés to see how it compared to the first night! A big thank you to the Asado team, Laura Mosley and the fellow blogger dining companions for two fun and delicious visits.
Hehe the brunch looks really fresh and vibrant. But I don't know why I feel like many places succumb to being the "norm" rather than setting a standard. In saying that, Harvest Espresso is a major stand out for me due to their seasonal innovations ! Must give Asado a try if I can :)!
ReplyDeleteIt was very fresh! I love a good seasonal menu, I guess time will tell if all the new places popping up will change with the seasons ;)
DeleteYum! I can't wait to try this place. Like you, I love that description!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear what you think about it :) hopefully you love it!
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