Perth Voice Interactive

AFTER 15 years burying and cremating people, Mareena Purslowe-Sear now loves feeding them.

Two years ago the woman behind Perth’s ground-breaking all-woman funeral service traded in her trademark white Akubra for a chef’s cap, setting up The Ladder in Mt Hawthorn with long-time friend Rucky Griffiths.

The pair and their hard-working team are enjoying their well-deserved popularity.

“I can not only bury people—I can cook,” Mareena smiles. “It’s my passion.”

Every day Mareena and Rucky create a cornucopia of delights, including a great range of cakes and slices.

Photos of ladders line the walls of their funky little cafe.

“Rucky’s 15-year-old son came up with the name while we were brainstorming in the kitchen,” Mareena says.

“He saw a stepladder in the pantry and said ‘what about ladder?’.”

As the Voice pulled up chairs on the pavement the Fremantle Doctor wafted in.

The cooling breeze was assisted by a couple of icy cold juices ($6.50). The bloody beetroot was one of the best of its kind I’ve had, a refreshingly sharp and tangy mix of orange, ginger, apple and lemon. The other half was impressed by his apple, lemon and ginger but characteristically less effusive.

The menu has plenty to choose from with a selection of sandwiches and vegetarian burger and all you’d expect. A freshly made classic beef burger with bacon, onion and cheese and chips on the side sets you back $24.

And then there’s the Goliath ($23) on the brekky menu—a huge serve of eggs, bacon, chorizo, mushrooms, slow-roasted tomato, house-made baked beans and toast. Phew.

I could have been tempted by the breakfast quesadilla ($18), a soft tortilla stuffed with bacon, spring onion, cheesy scrambled eggs, and beans, expect for the bacon.

The panko-crusted squid, with lime aioli and Asian slaw ($12) sounded pretty good, but I opted for something I’ve never had before, a carrot and coriander fritter stack ($14).

Three huge fritters, each sandwiched by a generous slice of haloumi, made for a filling lunch and the simplicity of flavours was spot on.

D’Angerous Dave ordered from the breakfast menu, with a serve of deliciously spicy Indian potatoes ($15), topped by a couple of runny fried eggs and katsu chutney. He did think a bit of salad would have rounded the dish out nicely.

The Ladder serves a jolly good coffee, and the fruit and nut slice ($4) was Christmas pudding on steroids. The caramel slice, however, was to die for … perfect.

by JENNY D’ANGER

The Ladder
167 Scarborough Beach Road, Mt Hawthorn
9242 1688
open Mon to Sun 7.30am–3.30pm,
open for dinner Friday. Closed Wednesday