I have always wanted to visit Manuka Woodfired Kitchen after several recommendations from fellow foodies. After trying out some of Manuka’s dishes offered at the recent Taste of Perth festival, I was determined to give Manuka a try. As the name of the restaurant implies, the food at Manuka is cooked by a woodfire oven to create simple and honest food.

On a very windy and wintry Saturday afternoon, we decided to head to Manuka for lunch. We started off with some flat bread with cooladerra farm olive oil  to share. Freshly baked to order, the flat bread was fluffy and flavourful with hints of spices complementing well with the light textures of the olive oil.

Next up was the official winning dish of the Taste of Perth 2016 which was the wood roasted chicken pieces with miso sauce and red cabbage. This dish was a big hit at the recent Taste of Perth festival and I always recalled how juicy the chicken was. During my visit at Manuka, the chicken was consistent to what I had at the Taste of Perth. It was moist, tender and so juicy.  A definite tick in all the boxes and a must order!

Woodfired pizzas are my favourite and you can’t leave Manuka without trying their woodfired pizzas. We had the honey glazed ham, tomato, roasted onion and baby basil pizza. My dad’s verdict? Best pizza he’s ever had in Perth. The base was perfectly fluffy. Neither thick nor thin. Taste? As good as it looks.

We decided to add on another dish to share which was the roasted pork belly, pomegranate pomelo and radish. The pork belly was delicious with a thin crispy crackling on the top followed by a thin layer of fat. The pomegranate, pomelo and radish added a subtle sweet and fresh flavour which balanced well with the texture of the pork belly.

For desserts, we shared a vanilla pannacotta, passionfruit curd and chocolate brownie. I loved how texturally well balanced this dessert is. The vanilla pannacotta had the perfect consistency and was silky smooth. If you love brownies, you will definitely love the chocolate brownie. It’s crisp in texture with a strong chocolate-y flavour.

Last but not least, was the roasted quince and apples, hazelnut crumble and vanilla bean custard. A heartwarming dessert perfect for the cold, stormy weather.

After our coffees and desserts, mum and I decided to have a look around at Manuka. Kenny McHardy, the head chef and owner of Manuka saw our curiosity and showed us his little kitchen area which included the hero of the kitchen, the woodfired oven.

The menu at Manuka changes based on seasonal ingredients and their supply from local WA growers and farmers. With a warm space along with friendly service and great food, Manuka is definitely one place that I would love to be back again.