BEING a man, I love the ‘Feed Me’ option.
You don’t have to think – people just bring you food, and you nod, and eat it.
It’s like being on a long-distance flight, minus the chair in front of you digging into your soul, the annoying person beside you, and the thought of using a plastic whistle if the whole thing goes belly up.
I’ve had some cracking Feed Mes, and I’ve had some cheap filler-ones, but I’ve never tried Bib and Tucker’s.
So my wife “Special K” and I jumped in the Chook jalopy and drove over the Fremantle Traffic Bridge to investigate.
Situated on Leighton Beach Boulevard in North Freo, Bib and Tucker is in a fantastic beachside-location with amazing vistas of the Indian Ocean.
We booked an outside table for lunch and it was a great spot with fantastic views of the water and the grassy foreshore.
There were two Feed Mes – one leaned more on chicken and fish, and the other was red meat-based. We went for the ooga-booga meaty one ($79 per person).
The stand-out dish was the charred kangaroo.
It’s the best roo I’ve every tasted – cooked medium with tender juicy meat and lovely gnarled edges, it had a smoky reprise and the meat literally melted in the mouth.
Adding some texture and spice was the sunflower seed satay and the coriander sambal. Keeping the palate fresh were some tubes of pickled beetroot. A fantastic dish and one of the best I’ve had in many a year.
My wife’s favourite was the pumpkin gnocchi.
“What a fantastic dish – the goats curd adds a lovely richness and the walnuts provide some texture,” she said.
“The gnocchi is an inventive take on the humble pumpkin and I can taste some sage and kale in there. A very moreish, but slightly refined dish.”
Coming a close second for me was the crispy southwest lamb ribs. Tender, smoky lamb that literally fell off the bone, complemented by a gorgeous garlic yoghurt and pomegranate molasses. Divine.
We also got some slow fermented potato focaccia, and woodfired broccoli, which my wife loved.
The Feed Me finished with two beautiful desserts – a refreshing frangipane tart and an indulgent chocolate mandarin brownie.
The service was attentive and prompt throughout, and the young waiting staff were bubbly and helpful.
Although one waitress keep leaning directly over the plate when she was telling us the ingredients. Perhaps my hangover from covid, but maybe keep a bit more distance.
Bib and Tucker has a rustic approach to cooking and use an open fire where possible, so all the dishes had a smoky bent, but it was subtle and not Red Adair levels. Their Feed Me menu is amazing value considering the charred kangaroo and the pumpkin gnocchi are $38 each.
If you’re going for lunch, maybe go for the lighter chicken/fish version, as we had to be rolled out the venue and nearly collapsed outside like beached whales.
I can see why Bib and Tucker has a great reputation – the food, venue and value-for-money was excellent.
Bib and Tucker
18 Leighton Beach Blvd, North Fremantle
bibandtucker.net.au
by STEPHEN POLLOCK