A northern foodie catch up at Gipsy Boy, Joondalup

I don't think I'm alone when I say I love a long weekend - I mean who doesn't adore the idea of being paid not to attend work? But I often find my long weekends can be quite busy trying to jam pack lots of catch ups that I end up more exhausted than a standard Saturday and Sunday rest. That's why whenever a long weekend rolls around, I try to take a couple of extra days either side if my crazy work life can allow it. 

Thankfully for the ANZAC Day long weekend I managed to get my ducks in a row and took the Friday before and Tuesday after off for some much needed R&R. Now while most people would use such time to lounge around the house, I couldn't help but sneak it some catch ups over food - after all it was still relaxing since these were normal weekdays I wouldn't have to battle the crowds or stand around waiting for ever. In and out, with good company = the ideal situation. 

On the Friday I caught up with Bryony from the Instagram account Perth Eats who also blogs under the name Bryony Eats. She's one of my food soul sisters, so I was excited to not just see her, but for an eating adventure. Not wanting to battle the traffic, we decided to go for a change of pace and head north to Joondalup to try out the eclectic little space known as Gipsy Boy which doubles as a boutique as well as cafe.

Neither of us had been there before and though we were disappointed to hear they didn't do cooked breakfasts on weekdays, we were quickly pacified by the distraction of homewares, jewellery and clothes to look at.

The mornings lately have been so cold, so I was happy to deviate from my standard juice with breakfast and opt for a hot chocolate instead, while Bryony chose a latte.

While I like the look of hot drinks in stemless glasses, practically they're not the best idea as if the milk is piping hot, you're bound to burn the pads of your fingers. I waited for the drink to cool a bit before venturing into a sip. It was chocolatey and well balanced, with not much sweetness. The marshmallow on the side is always a must with hot chocolate.

With limited dishes on the menu since it's a weekday, I choose the avocado, red onion, tomato and feta on bread with balsamic (I think this was around $12.00). I liked the look of this dish, particularly the cute plate it came out on.

The dish was missing the red onion stated on the menu, which would have offered a nice cut through the other ingredients. The avocado was fresh and creamy, the tomato zingy. I really liked the feta which was salty and slightly sharp, countering the sprouts on top. For me though, the downfall was the balsamic drizzled over the top - it tasted nice but there was just way too much of it which detracted from the fresh ingredients. It became a bit too sweet for my preference.

The bread was two fresh mini slices with a nice thickness. I think this would have been better served as toast, and as I continued to eat I did find it hard to cut into. In the end I abandoned it and focussed on what was piled on top instead.

Bryony's roast beef sandwich with lettuce, cheese, pickles and mustard ($9.00) was on the pricey side for a sandwich but by all reports it was enjoyed. There is definitely something classic about those flavours, especially the mustard and pickle - I could party with them any day. 

She also ordered a slice of banana and coconut bread ($3.00) which I forgot to snap a pic of, but was a delicious choice with the tropical fruit flavours working hand in hand. 

Though we probably didn't need the extra calories, we decided after finishing up at Gipsy Boy to check out the recently opened Max Brenner. I've visited this chocolate chain in Melbourne and really enjoyed their hot chocolate in the bitterly cold air, but I was yet to try any of their desserts. Having just burst onto the scene in Perth, they seem to be all anyone is talking about right now. 

My dining companion decided to pass on food and opts for a peanut butter iced chockie ($8.60). I love the vessel it comes out to the table in, and we both agree they've nailed the peanut butter flavour. It's a really tasty "choctail" to enjoy, though I do find myself questioning the associated price tag. I really feel like these days venues are escalating their prices - when you're talking about the same cost for a drink as a bowl of noodles in Chinatown, it definitely makes me think twice. 

I decide to be greedy and order the single tutti-frutti waffle ($15.00) which comes with vanilla ice-cream, banana and strawberry. I wished they'd explained to me that there was a river of chocolate already on the plate when they asked if I'd like to add dipping chocolate on the side for an extra couple of dollars - I definitely didn't need it!

After we've both snapped a couple photos of the waffle we decide to replate it - purely for our own entertainment. Between the two of us we must have looked slightly insane but we were having fun and pleased with our effort...

After all that fanfare I have to say I can see the allure of that tasty silky chocolate, but I did find the waffle a little disappointing. It's clear it wasn't freshly made but rather reheated, resulting in a slightly chewy waffle. The flavour itself is nice, but the texture lacked that wonderful crisp edge that I find the most attractive about these battered goods. 

The strawberries were a little on the sad side in looks, but they were sweet in flavour which is where it really counts. Both fruits are the ideal match in heaven with chocolate and had me coming back for bite after bite. I was also rather entertained by the fact that if you dip the ice-cream in the chocolate it becomes set like a more delicious ice magic. Yes, I am a child more often than not. And yes, I was very proud of myself for not spilling chocolate all over me (though my fingers were rather sticky which usually leads to me saying to myself, this is why I can't have nice things). 

All up, not a bad sweet treat and overall trip out to Joondalup. I think for Max Brenner, the prices are a little steep but they obviously have a market for it. And for Gipsy Boy, I'll reserve my judgement for a hot meal - what I experienced was nice enough, but so much so that I'll go back to order it again and again. I'm much more of a hot breakfast kind of girl when dining out!