Flavour Report with Derek Goforth: Reflecting on my 2023 culinary reviews and picking out the favourites

I have learnt two things from my Flavour Reports. Firstly, people are incredibly passionate about their food, and secondly, the Mid West boasts some truly awesome food producers and servers. I consider myself very fortunate to travel around the region, sampling all the great cafes, restaurants, takeaways and bakeries in our gorgeous Mid West. I’ve tasted some incredible food, experienced fantastic service and had some memorable moments. And I do have my favourites, so as 2023 comes to a close I thought I would hand out my own end-of-year awards. Some were easy choices, others came down to the smallest details. BEST COFFEE Geraldton is spoiled for choice with so many great cafes and restaurants serving excellent java. I’ve had great cappuccinos and lattes at Quiet Life (smooth and mellow), Laian (rich and robust), but my second placed choice has to be the well-rounded Joe from Beached Barrel, it’s always been consistently good. My winner and all-time favourite is the offering from Salt Dish. During my multiple visits, it has never failed to hit the spot — smooth, rich and with just the right amount of foam, it’s truly the nectar of the gods. BEST BREAKFAST Another area where we are blessed with quality establishments is brekkie. From waffles and pancakes to eggs Benedict and smashed avo, we have it all in our lovely city. I’ve had awesome experiences at Quiet Life, Flowvitality, Piper Lane, Fleur and many more. But my runner-up is Salt Dish, which was my go-to brekkie spot until last week. That was when a little cafe on the platform markets blew our socks off. Do yourself a favour and get yourself down to Soul Food Cafe for breakfast (or lunch, for that matter). The range of dishes, quality and quantity of food will leave you satisfied and I am counting down the days until I can review their lunch options just to have an excuse to go back! The cafe has truly been transformed, and I tip my hat to Pia and the team. BEST BAKERY For this category, the choice for me was obvious, although I’ve had some wonderful experiences at a few places in the region. My second choice must be Aussie Pastries; their range and quality are phenomenal, and their service takes some beating. But the clear winner for me is the Shearing Shed in Northampton. Every kilometre of the drive up there is worth it. The brownie, the meat pies, the divine sausage rolls, and the king of all desserts — the wonderous vanilla slice. Creamy, rich, sweet and delectable — just perfect. BEST SERVICE I don’t think service is subjective; it’s either good or bad, polite or not, swift and simple, or slow and complex. Every cafe and restaurant falls somewhere on this scale. Second spot for me goes to AJ’s on the Beach, with AJ himself being a big part of the cafe’s appeal. The best service I have come across is for a cafe that has already won one of my categories. It has to go to Soul Food once again. Their service was simply perfect, and I don’t say that lightly. The two young ladies serving me, guided by their manager, were the epitome of professional, helpful and efficient. They dealt with every deliberate curveball with a smile, and, most importantly, my food and coffee were out within 10 minutes. That’s some great service right there. BEST SWEET TREATS This was my hardest winner to pick. I have a few go-to places for a sugary pick-me-up. Beached Barrell is a mainstay, and despite being under new ownership they are still delivering the great doughnuts and other baked goods they have become famous for. Liquid/ Cafe Mojo, newly expanded into Stirling’s Central, produces the best cheesecake I have ever had the pleasure of tasting! But the winner for me not only has great food, serving delectable waffles and other American-inspired diner fare, but it also has a unique atmosphere, great servers and it doesn’t break the bank to take the family for an afternoon treat. Taking out this category is Syrup Trap on Penny Lane Arcade. Their waffles, freak shakes, milkshakes, fried Oreos and coffee has never failed to hit the spot and their servers are always willing to help with a smile. BEST TAKEAWAY There was only one winner for me though I’ve had great experiences at Noodle King, Smokin’ Grill and Burger and a few others. My second place has to go to the newly opened Geraldton Kebabs up in Bluff Point; their meat boxes and kebabs are to die for. But it’s Amenah’s Satay House that simply blew my socks off. The array of home-cooked Cocos Malay dishes coupled with some Western fare is phenomenal eating. Their satay sticks can be eaten by the dozen, and the satay sauce — oh my, please bottle it and sell it by the litre! BEST EXPERIENCE These are places that cover a lot of bases, serve throughout the day, and cater to a wide audience. So I can’t in good conscience name a clear winner, but I have a few very close places and one that took it by a nose. My joint second-placed choices are the Foreshore and Laian. Both are very different places catering to different audiences but each restaurant has made a real impact on our city. The Foreshore offers American-style food that is second to none. Burgers, onion rings, hot chips and a vast selection of brews —it has a great atmosphere and has been the go-to place for work gatherings and parties for many locals this year. Laian, however, is something quite different. Chef Nadeem has brought Middle Eastern culture to the Mid West with style. His exotic offerings paired with local ingredients, coupled with his extroverted charm and charisma, has made Laian a stand-out in our little city. His passion for local produce and fine cooking is something to be saluted. My top choice ticks so many boxes — it’s family-friendly, reasonably priced, combines Aussie classics with awesome local seafood and has ample seating, parking and places to sit. Another recently visited establishment, the Wintersun (Hotel), is also a winner for me. I could list their best dishes until the cows come home — steak sandwich, Parmis, wings, Nasi Goreng — the list goes on. What sells Margy’s Bistro and the Wintersun to me is their ever-changing specials board. Each week, there is another local seafood item celebrated — occy, crayfish, snapper, prawns. It serves the lot and does it all from our local region. I am sure you could get a different dish every week of the year and still not run out of options. I know I have missed many places, there are so many great places to eat and drink — Fleur, Jaffle Shack, Bahn Mi Up, Lunchbox, Liquid Mojo and many more. But 2024 is just around the corner and I am looking forward to this Flavour Report ride taking a few more twists and turns.