and Bistro Guillaume - Crown Perth

Bistro Guillaume - Crown Perth

The 14th of December was a very special day for my plus one and I. it was our 5th anniversary. But our friends wedding was that night, so we put off our dinner for Sunday the 15th. Since I have been studying French all year we wanted to go to a French restaurant, but most are closed Sunday nights. After speaking to a few friends, Bistro Guillaume was recommended to us. After checking out the menu online, we decided it would be a fantastic spot of our anniversary dinner.

Our first stop, however, was not at the restaurant, but at a champagne bar which is also located in the lobby of the Crown Perth, La Vie. We turned up early especially for the cocktails while we waited for our booking.

We sat out in the lobby relaxing with our cocktails. I would have preferred to be inside, but I am not very good at insisting on things like that. They put me on that table and I regretted not asking to go inside. I don't particularly like watching people walk past in thongs and swim suits while I am dressed up nicely at a fancy Champagne Bar. So that was a major downside of the place. From what I saw, the rest of the bar looked very nice. I will have to be a little braver next time and ask to be seated inside.

I has a St Lubiano for $22. It's made from St Germain Elderflower, Laird’s Applejack, whisky bitters finished with sparkling wine. My plus one had a Lait Night for $20. It's Laird’s Applejack, Massenez Crème de Pomme Verte, milk, cream, vanilla and nutmeg.

After our drink we headed into Bistro Guillaume and were sat at the window over looking the pool.

It was a gorgeous view as the sunset in front of us. As we looked over our menus bread was placed in front of us with salt and butter. The food menus were our place mats. While we made up our mind about what to eat, we ordered a cocktail each. 

Our cocktails.

For the life of me I can not remember what they were nor can I find any cocktail menu on the internet for the restaurant. Mine at least was a fruity martini of sorts. It was very sweet and lolly-ish. I have no idea what his was but it was just as great.

We ordered our entrees and mains as we sat there sipping our cocktails.

Mine: Onion soup $18.

His: Char-grilled Shark Bay Prawns with eggplant caviar and chermoula $33.

More cocktails. This time an appletini and a pink Cadillac.

His main: Barramundi fillet on a bed of carrot and ginger purée,

coriander butter and pommes allumettes $38.

My main: Berkshire Pork belly with pickled

cabbage and apple salad $37.

Sides: Paris Mash $9.

Sides: Crispy confit of potatoes with bacon, garlic and parsley $12.

More cocktails. My drink was a whiskey based cocktail that I didn't

 really like called a 'Spice it up' and his was a mocktail.

My onion soup was fantastic. It was pure heaven. It was deliciously rich and perfectly sweet. I have always wanted to try a proper onion soup and I am glad I ordered it. Since I don't eat seafood I can't really comment on the prawns or the fish, and since we don't eat seafood at home, my plus one loves to order it when we are out. But from my plus ones face and comments, he adored both his main and entree. I tried a little bit of the sauce from both of them and liked what I tried. My pork belly was fantastic as well. It was a boiled pork belly, so the skin wasn't really crispy but wasn't soft and slimy either. It was easy to eat and I loved every bite.

The Paris mash was the creamiest and smoothest potato mash I have ever had. I can just imagine how much butter and cream was added to it. The roast potatoes were also divine and a great contrast to the other potato dish.

Now it was on to dessert.

Mine: Chocolate soufflé with cherry ripple ice cream $22.

His: Apple tarte Tatin with cinnamon ice cream $22

The waiter placed my souffle in front of me with the ice cream sitting on a spoon. Then he picked it up and dropped it in to the center of my dish and I watched as it slowly sunk downwards as the heat of the souffle melted it though. This was the first souffle that I have had at a restaurant and I highly recommended it. It was soft and luxurious and heaven at every bite. The tarte Tatin was also spectacular. It had a wonderful syrupy texture and was perfectly caramelised. The ice cream was also a perfect match for it. 

My plus one felt a little bad about me not liking my last cocktail, since he kinda talked me into it. He didn't want my last cocktail to be one I didn't like so encouraged me again, this time for a new cocktail and one more dessert to share to leave on a better note.

Toblerone cocktail.

Fresh strawberry and rose macaron to share.

I was delighted with the macaron. It was bigger than my palm and a perfect sweet treat to finish the night.

Christmas decoration in the lobby.

Well the night wasn't quite finished. We were both so full that we went for a little wander around the casino to look at the finished renovations. The Crown has definitely lifted it's game since it took over the hotel complex. It is becoming a far nicer place to visit than ever before and the Bistro was a fantastic place to celebrate our special occasion. It is a little out of my price range to go to for anything other the an anniversary sized event but that makes it that little bit more special for us.

Until next time.

Love, love Elle. 

and would you like 336 with that?

Days 323-336

Well Christmas is on it's way. Everyone is getting excited about the holidays and about all of the festivities which are on there way. I won't be having much of a break this year, but that's because I am saving my days off for my overseas holiday in February.  But I think it will be worth it in the end.

Day 323:

A quick wander by the river on a Tuesday evening.

Day 324:

I took some work home with me in an attempt to keep on top of it.

Day 325:

Poor Dallas had to stop walking after only 7 minutes. Her arthritis

has become quite bad. We waited beneath a tree for a lift home.

Day 326:

My first Christmas presents wrapped.

Day 327:

We were out and about Christmas shopping and I brought

 a chocolate frappé to keep me going.

Day 328:

I went for High Tea for my friends birthday at the Hyatt.

Day 329:

Another evening walk, this time with a view of the city.

Day 330:

I am just terrible when it comes to baking. 

The kitchen was just cleaned that day.

Day 331:

A giant Christmas tree in the park.

Day 332:

I was taken out for dinner and a show to celebrate some work achievements. 

We went to a Japanese restaurant and I had banana fritters for dessert.

Day 333:

Getting into the Christmas spirit with new festive tea and candles.

Day 334:

I spent the day with family and showed my nephew the joys 

of drawing on the concrete with chalk. 

Day 335:

I went to a animal sanctuary open day with my sister and

 her family. The horses were all stunning.

Day 336:

My Christmas tree. It looks bigger than it actually is.

 I have it sitting on a small table.

Although I won't be having much of a holiday, I still can't wait for Christmas. I am getting more and more into it every year. I have started decorating the house more than I ever have with plans for bigger and better things next year.

Until next time.

Love, love Elle.

and all there is, is 322

Days 309-322

Busy. That is how my life has been lately. That and crazy. I have been doing a lot of overtime, simply trying to keep up with the work load, but everyone want's there job before Christmas, so the work just keeps coming in. This doesn't make for a relaxing run up to the holiday season, but it will make it more relaxing and wonderful when it finally gets here.

Day 309:

My winnings from the Melbourne Cup Lunch at work.

Day 310:

I decided to aim for an even more perfect cup of tea with mini hour glasses.

Day 311:

It was an absolutely perfect evening for a walk with the dog.

Day 312:

My work social club went ice skating. It was only my second

 time ever doing it and still no falls.

Day 313:

I decided to learn to hula hoop. I still have a lot to learn.

Day 314:

To add a little extra green to the house, we planted some mini 

succulents and cacti in a few pots for different rooms of the house.

Day 315:

I had a mini win at work, so I brought myself some gourmet 

chocolates and a new tea flavour to celebrate.

Day 316:

I was a little early for French class, so I checked 

out their library while I waited.

Day 317:

Another day, another walk. To make it even better, the 

Jacaranda trees were in full bloom.

Day 318:

Another work function, this time we went to a driving range to

 hit a few balls around. I had varied success.

Day 319:

Some of my family joined a group of friends to take a late night historical 

walk, where we learned about some of the pioneers to the

 area from actors dressed in period costume.

Day 320:

My plus one and I went to the movies to watch Thor

 and escape the heat of the day.

Day 321:

I let the dog out and I saw this little guy hope behind the worm farm.

 There are a few frogs that live on the other side of the fence.

Day 322:

My poor dog Dallas had been sick for a few days, so I 

took her to the vet. After several tests they found 

that she was a perfectly healthy dog and it was 

more than likely just a stomach bug.

So another fortnight down. A busy fortnight full of a bit too much worrying about my dog and a lot of activities checking out a few different places around Perth.

Until next time.

Love, love Elle.

and if all I had left was 308

Days 295-308

I can't believe it's now November and I have passed the 300 day mark. Christmas is on its way, as well as the holidays and new years. I keep reflecting how far I have come this year. Quite a few things have happened and oh so much more is planned before the year is out!

Day 295:

Nothing can beat old fashioned roses for sent. 

I picked this one on the way back to my car after French class.

Day 296:

I stumbled across an old mixed CD I made. I couldn't get it to play unfortunately.

Day 297:

My dream is to one day have a cute cottage garden with an arbour.

Day 298:

Half way through making a Chocolate Strawberry silk pie.

Day 299:

Isabella at her birthday party. 

Day 300:

My bike dressed up for a Pink charity ride.

Day 301:

I had to buy shin pads for my kick boxing grading. 

I thought I try them out around the house first.

Day 302:

I love my garden when they late sun hits it and I love 

seeing bees on my flowers.

Day 303:

We were given a few tasty drink from my plus ones family.

Day 304:

It was Halloween and I made a small bowl of treat for trick or treaters.

I only had one visit from three girls.

Day 305:

Enjoying left over candy.

Day 306:

My first attempt at sewing a dress for one of my 30 before 30's.

Day 307:

I visited Parliament House for Open House Perth.

Day 308:

After over a year of kick boxing I have finally made blue belt. I am so ecstatic!

So there it is, another fortnight gone. Work is now busier than ever has we head towards Christmas so I am currently doing a lot of overtime. This is wearing me down about but it is definitely helping the Christmas present budget a fair bit.

Until next time.

Love, love Elle.