March 22, 2008: Tom Phat

On Sat Michael as well as I had a few errands to run on Sydney Rd as well as to brand the trip a picayune less arduous, nosotros planned to swallow tiffin later at Tom Phat. Once on the route nosotros also spontaneously invited Mike as well as Jo-Lyn to bring together us.

While nosotros waited for them to arrive, nosotros stashed our bags nether the depression java tabular array at the front end of the restaurant, sprawled on the cushions as well as soaked upwards the atmosphere. This is the sort of styled, trendy house that you'll either dear or hate. The murals, textures, article of furniture as well as plants accept all been chosen carefully as well as I surprised myself past times failing to turn down it every bit 'too pretentious' as well as settling speedily into the 'love' camp. Maybe it was the capably relaxed as well as nonjudgmental mental attitude of our waitress that eased me in. Or but that I'm a sucker for odd pot-plants.

Michael ordered a java as well as I took a await at the menu. This is modern Asian fusion kinda materials - breakfast eggs come upwards alongside boundary onions as well as roti, as well as a tiffin of lamb meatballs is covered alongside tamarind sauce. As the minutes ticked by, I decided to lodge a juice. The kickstarter ($5) consists of pineapple, apple, orangish as well as ginger. So tangy as well as fresh, Tom Phat past times straightaway had won my loyalty for making pineapple juice awesome.

Our waitress was completely unfazed that we'd straightaway been hanging unopen to for xx or as well as then minutes as well as hadn't ordered our food. Between the breakfast, tiffin as well as specials menus in that place were quite a few attractive options as well as I selfishly broke downward as well as ordered a viscid soy twine ($9.50) but every bit Mike as well as Jo-Lyn arrived.

It's described every bit "tofu & tempeh, salad leaves as well as roti". That's an understatement. Try "two fatty skewers of sweet, viscid marinated tofu as well as tempeh, as well as a bedsheet-sized roti stuffed alongside a garden-full of herbs, sprouts, carrots as well as peppery rocket". It was huge as well as I wondered if I'd teach through one-half of it. Leaning over my depression plate, I unashamedly ripped at the roti alongside my hands as well as inelegantly stuffed forkfuls of greens into my mouth. So good. I ate as well as ate as well as ate, as well as fifty-fifty the final seize alongside teeth was a pleasure. Michael couldn't believe I finished it, as well as I didn't quite believe it myself. I gauge greens aren't that filling. My solely criticism would hold upwards that there's non a lot of chilli - it didn't bother me at all but I intend it goes counter to the Vietnamese vibe of this filling.

Michael had grilled champaign mushrooms alongside rocket, fetta as well as caramelised onions ($8.90). Although it's a to a greater extent than conventional mix it was a large as well as tasty serve, fantabulous value at this price.

Also worth a cite is the lemon meringue pie that Mike as well as Jo-Lyn shared after their mains. I'm no groovy fan of meringue but this 1 impressed me - the surface had received a existent firing, alongside crunchy, deeply caramelised edges. By this stage, 1 seize alongside teeth was all I needed for consummate as well as verbalize satisfaction.

Address: 184 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Ph: 9381 2374
Licensed & BYO
Price: veg breakfast or tiffin $4.50-10.90

March 22, 2008: Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Ii

Tom Phat, Mike, Jo, Cindy as well as I made role of a borrowed machine to caput out for some assort of route trip. By the fourth dimension nosotros got our acts together as well as picked upwardly Tracy it was already getting on for 4 inwards the afternoon, pregnant that our initial plans of driving to the Dandenongs as well as going on a 7km lyre plane walk were looking a tad optimistic. Instead, nosotros decided to caput towards Healesville as well as become for a quick stroll simply about 1 of the nearby nature reserves earlier finding something delicious for dinner.

Our previous trip to Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander had been fairly successful, as well as therefore nosotros decided on a follow-up visit. Both Cindy as well as I ordered pizzas this fourth dimension simply about - pumpkin, marinated caprine animal feta, pomegranate as well as roasted garlic for me ($22) as well as dark-green zucchini, capers, fennel & lemon for Cindy ($17). These were some fine pizzas - perfectly cooked sparse bases, thoughtful combinations of toppings as well as an appropriate score of cheesiness. Mine (see the pic above) was a fairly straightforward pumpkin pizza, amongst the improver of a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds, which added a overnice variation inwards texture as well as petty bursts of tart sweetness.

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March 24, 2008: Harira

Back inward Oct 2006, nosotros sampled harira for the outset fourth dimension together with savage for its complex flavours together with nourishing beans. We've non been peculiarly inspired to practice novel together with nutritious dinners for a few weeks, hence our bodies needed this equally much equally our sense of savor buds did.

The calendar's recipe is quite like to our previous rendition, but I'll include it anyway. If you've an appetite for to a greater extent than spicy soups, conduct maintain a await at the around recent round-up of the No Croutons Required weblog event, where every entry is a bowl total of punchy vegetarian goodness.

Harira (bean soup)

400g tin terminate chickpeas, drained
400g tin terminate haricot or other beans, drained
800g tin terminate crushed tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
a pinch of saffron threads soaked inward a lilliputian warm water
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon reason coriander
2 tablespoons fresh coriander, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
500-1000mL H2O or stock
juice of a lemon
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon harissa or chilli powder
1 tablespoon flour
salt together with pepper

In a large saucepan, combine the beans, tomatoes, onion, saffron amongst water, turmeric, cinnamon, reason coriander together with or hence pepper. Add one-half of the fresh coriander together with parsley. Add plenty H2O or stock to completely encompass the mixture. Bring it to the boil, together with and hence simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Remove a lilliputian of the liquid from the saucepan together with mix the flour into it, together with hence stir the flour dorsum into the soup. Cook the soup for a farther v minutes.

Just earlier serving, stir through the harissa/chilli powder, lemon juice together with flavor to taste. Ladle into bowls together with garnish amongst the remaining herbs.

March 26-30, 2008: Queensland Cuisine

Tom Phat. I was revived, though entirely merely plenty to propel me to an inflight nap.

Melbourne certain feels similar home, but Queensland's got a lot to a greater extent than than nostalgia to recommend it. I knew how many people were worth going dorsum for but the nutrient took me past times surprise!

March 30, 2008: De Orchid Ii

Spicy Junction) had been a chip of a letdown, therefore it was wonderful to teach dorsum to De Orchid together with discovery 3 to a greater extent than delicious takeaway vego curries for our delectation. We decided to essay out totally dissimilar carte items to final time, going for: a serve of samosas ($3), daal maharani ($8), pumpkin masala ($8.90), navaratan korma ($8.90) together with a roti breadstuff ($2).

The samosas were a fairly measure smoothen vegie mush, amongst a generous scattering of coriander seeds throughout together with a lemon-minted raita. Very tasty. The daal was thick amongst chunky lentils, had a mild flavor together with to a greater extent than or less easily dodgable chunks of fresh tomato. It was in all probability a lilliputian on the stodgy side, but that's what yous desire from a daal really.

The 2 vegie dishes were the stars: the korma had the finely chopped vegies that equally good easily remind me of frozen mixed vegies, but were much to a greater extent than plainly freshly chopped than Spicy Junction's efforts. The flavor was also to a greater extent than impressive - well-spiced together with creamy. The description inward the carte promises dried fruit, but Cindy together with I only noticed i sultana betwixt us. Which wasn't actually a occupation - sultanas inward curry remind me equally good much of here.

Another affair nosotros discovered on their takeaway menu: De Orchid's website.

Update 4/9/09: After beingness 'temporarily' shut for close on a year, De Orchid has of late reopened. My offset impression: things direct keep gone downwards loma - but we'll in all probability rank them to a greater extent than or less other direct chances together with write a proper review.

Update 10/2/10: It appears that De Orchid is no to a greater extent than at this address. There's an Indian eating seat amongst a dissimilar cite inward its place, together with we've non notwithstanding tried it. It's unclear whether the De Orchid has changed names, changed locations or disappeared entirely.

March 31, 2008: Tempeh Amongst A Lil' Less Buffalo

Buffalo tempeh "wings" in addition to nosotros were keen to plough over them a go. However, getting to a greater extent than or less fly sauce going hither inwards Commonwealth of Australia proved to hold upwards a chip of a challenge. It's composed of exclusively 3 ingredients - Louisana-style hot sauce, ketchup in addition to butter - in addition to hence it seemed of import to instruct all the components right. However, I've never seen such hot sauce on sale in addition to a chip of meshing question indicated that it wouldn't hold upwards realistic to endeavour to arrive myself. Instead I decided to brand our favourite Chinese manner barbeque sauce - it looked similar having the necessary consistency in addition to zing, if non the correct ingredients or origin.

Tempeh is a funny one. It has a substantial, nearly meaty, density to it but it's a chip dry. I had high hopes hither but fifty-fifty the sauce didn't furnish sufficient wet for me. We were rather taken yesteryear the crumbing though, in addition to Michael suggested that nosotros could endeavour it amongst tofu - afterward all, it plant corking for the 'fish' fingers. I'm foreseeing a sauce squabble too, amongst Michael voting Chinese-style in addition to me on Team Tartare.

If you'd straightaway at these wings (no buffalo or birds require hold upwards harmed!), caput over to 28 Cooks.

April 1, 2008: Spicy Cauliflower Soup In Addition To Braised Mushrooms

spicy cauliflower soup too braised lobster mushrooms, provided past times the here.

April 2, 2008: Stuffed White Nut Roast

last year alongside i of Johanna's recipes hence it seemed most sensible to bring together inwards her electrical current spider web log event, A Neb at Nutroast, as well as attempt a novel recipe. Or, fifty-fifty to a greater extent than daringly, an former recipe.

As I mentioned inwards passing last time, my root nut roast sense a twosome of years agone was non a rattling pleasant one. I had flora the recipe on the website of the Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland as well as decided to laid upwardly it for dinner piece Michael was off playing sport. Grinding the breadcrumbs as well as nuts, zesting as well as chopping as well as frying took an awfully long fourth dimension inwards our poky trivial kitchen, as well as hence the roast had to bake for an hour! I barely had the unloosen energy to describe together about side veges as well as I was only virtually laid upwardly to yell when the golden, aromatic loaf came out of the oven as well as hence would non form from the baking paper. I knew, equally I chewed as well as picked newspaper fragments out of my mouth, that the roast tasted great, but much fourth dimension would induce got to overstep earlier I attempted that again.

By straight off I felt virtually laid upwardly to conquer the stuffed white nut roast, as well as it proved much easier alongside Michael at domicile to assist. He chopped as well as sauteed piece I operated the nutrient processor, as well as nosotros both mixed as well as layered as well as patted it all down. I took extra attention to grease the baking newspaper well, as well as the roast slid out of it beautifully. It's a rattling nutty roast indeed, non also stodgy when sliced thinly, brightened alongside flavours of parsley as well as lemon. The golden, chewy crust is delicious when it's fresh from the oven but it softens later. Although it doesn't resemble meat at all, the crust as well as stuffing both reminded me of long distant roast chickens.

We ate this roast on that root nighttime alongside fresh spinach, sauteed mushrooms as well as capsicum, as well as a generous splash of gravy. Since hence I've been enjoying it on sandwiches alongside to a greater extent than spinach leaves as well as a dab of mayonnaise.

Stuffed white nut roast
(taken from the Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland website, attributed at that spot to Vegan Feasts past times Rose Elliot)

3 onions, finely chopped
6 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons manifestly flour
300mL water
450g of cashews, blanched almonds and/or macadamias, Earth coarsely inwards a nutrient processor
400g breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons lemon juice
grated zest of the lemon
salt as well as pepper
freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon mixed dried herbs
a handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C. You volition involve a huge breadstuff loaf tin or 2 smallish loaf tins. Line alongside baking newspaper as well as grease thoroughly.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive petroleum inwards a large saucepan as well as nipper 2 of the onions, covered, over depression rut for virtually 10 minutes. Stir them occasionally. The recipe emphasises non allowing the onions to brownish at all, but I can't run across the harm! I intend it's virtually keeping the roast white. Stir inwards the flour as well as then, in i lawsuit it's evenly distributed, the water. Keep cooking as well as stirring until the mixture thickens.

Take the mixture off the heat. Add the nuts, 225g of the breadcrumbs, lemon juice, salt, pepper as well as nutmeg.

In a form bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients: oil, onion, breadcrumbs, lemon zest, dried herbs as well as fresh parsley.

Pat virtually one-half of the nut mixture into the loaf tin(s) as well as shine over the surface. Next, spoon over all of the stuffing mixture from the bowl. Finally, layer on the remaining nut mixture as well as flatten the elevation gently alongside the dorsum of a spoon.

Bake the nut roast for virtually an hour, until lightly browned on the exterior as well as theatre inwards the middle.

April 4, 2008: Friday Featre Nutrient - 10 Ren's Tea Fourth Dimension Ii

01/12/2012: Ten Ren has been permanently shut now.

She's a Screaming Suffragette had filled Cindy alongside enthusiasm for a furnish to Ten Ren's Tea Time. I'd got over the scary beefiness of their faux-beef rendang curry as well as decided that it worth trying their highly recommended vego fish dish. Cindy concurred and, for once, nosotros both ordered the same top dog - the vegetarian lemon fish alongside rice ($8.80). I had visions of something saucy similar the 2007 vego dish of the twelvemonth at She's a Screaming Suffragette had filled Cindy alongside enthusiasm for a furnish to White Lotus. Instead, nosotros got a bowl of patently rice, iii pocket-size vegie accompaniment plates (some form of cubed potato, cucumber as well as a cabbagey mush) as well as a serve of dry out 'fish' slices. The 'fish' had a hint of lemon as well as simply about vaguely seafoody saltiness, but it was as well as then dry out that it actually didn't instruct good alongside the rice - I had to spread the accompanying dishes pretty thinly to flavor upwards the rice plenty for my tastes. To endure honest, I can't actually come across the appeal of this fish-dish - it's dry, solely lightly flavoured as well as non peculiarly fishy. Ah well, it was worth a shot.

Of assort nosotros couldn't take in Ten Ren's Tea Time without sampling simply about of their 80 meg varieties of tea. We both went for H2O ice teas - the lychee dark-green tea for Cindy ($5.50, on the left) as well as the watermelon dark-green tea ($5, on the right) for me. Mine was lightly sweetened alongside a hint of watermelon-y flavour, which didn't overwhelm the essential tea-ness of the drink. Cindy's lychee tea on the other mitt was as well as then strongly lychee flavoured that a brace of sugary sips were all I could handle. Cindy didn't appear to postulate heed it every bit good much though.

I intend we've belike done our dash alongside Ten Ren similar a shot - at that topographic point are every bit good many other She's a Screaming Suffragette had filled Cindy alongside enthusiasm for a furnish to cheap She's a Screaming Suffragette had filled Cindy alongside enthusiasm for a furnish to CBD She's a Screaming Suffragette had filled Cindy alongside enthusiasm for a furnish to food options.

Read nigh our previous take in to Ten Ren's Tea Time She's a Screaming Suffragette had filled Cindy alongside enthusiasm for a furnish to here.

April 3-5, 2008: Java Walnut Splodges

second Bloggers' Banquet was nigh, too nosotros needed to snuff it cooking. We brought a few tried too truthful recipes to the table, but I too wanted to accept a piddling something particular for our chauffeur, Claire the Melbourne Gastronome. It had to hold upwards cute too sweet, but too hardy plenty to weather condition a duet of days at habitation earlier beingness dragged around inward a purse through variable temperatures. Enter Nigella's java walnut splodges.

They were indeed suitably robust, amongst a slightly cakey texture too those softly crunching walnuts. And they were a doddle to position together. But equally I tried a still-warm ane on Th night, I said something I never idea I'd nation virtually a Nigella recipe: "I wishing these were sweeter". So, early Sabbatum morning, I melted some leftover black cooking chocolate too spread it generously on the splodges' apartment surfaces. That did the trick.

The chocolate wasn't sufficient to mocha upwards the entire batch too I'm yet eating some of the leftovers equally Nigella intended them. They're genuinely growing on me, actually. The bitterness of the java too walnuts is a corking pick-me-up on a workday afternoon.

Coffee walnut splodge biscuits

250g evidently flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
200g unsalted butter, softened
75g castor sugar
60g brownish sugar
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
2 large eggs, beaten
200g walnuts, roughly chopped
200g black cooking chocolate (optional)

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking pulverization too salt.

In a larger bowl, cream together the butter too sugars. Gradually mix inward the java pulverization too thence the eggs. Stir inward the flour mixture too the walnuts yesteryear mitt until simply combined.

Line a baking tray (or two, if yous direct maintain them) amongst newspaper too driblet generous teaspoons of the dough onto them.

Bake for virtually 12 minutes, until they've simply developed a theatre crust. Let them cool on the tray for five minutes earlier transferring them to a rack.

Optional chocolate layer: Gently melt the chocolate yesteryear your preferred method too spread it on the apartment side of the cooled biscuits. Allow thirty minutes for the chocolate to ready (or chuck 'em inward the refrigerator for 10!) earlier storing the biscuits.

April 5, 2008: Bloggers' Banquet Ii

we congregated to a greater extent than or less Vegout's hearth, nosotros made the pilgrimage to soy bombs inwards together with out of the oven inside minutes, together with had Chinese trend barbeque sauce at the gear upward for dipping.

Jon has since admitted that when the "Cindy's bringing tofu balls" floor circulated before inwards the day, at that spot was some skepticism. And worse, they were messy - crumbling over hands, shirts, together with repeatedly into the sauce dish - but I'm confident the "mmm"s they elicited were the production of to a greater extent than than practiced manners, maybe fifty-fifty to a greater extent than than the relief they provided to empty stomachs. The saucy, salty, succulent reality of the SOY BOMB won out.

With this appetiser out of the agency (as if anyone needed one!), nosotros ventured inwards to the tabular array heaving alongside food...

Michael contributed his now-signature cream cheese brownies. I must live on getting complacent well-nigh their chocolatey charms because I failed to photograph them! However, y'all tin drool over them (and mayhap fifty-fifty brand them yourself) past times going here.

caramelised onion tartlets were a delicious introduction to Agnes from our root gustation of them at the eatery concluding month. Head over to his nutrient blog, fig, blueish cheese together with caramelised onion tart. This was the dish Michael wished for to a greater extent than of later we'd returned dwelling to an empty fridge.

free-form cheesecake that had us running then shamefully late. It was impossible to live on annoyed at it or its creator chocolate tartlette from Jon, the Melbourne Foodie. I genuinely couldn't stand upward for this inwards at luncheon fourth dimension together with took it dwelling alongside me. With a ganache made from milk together with night chocolate, a hint of orangish zest, together with a bittersweet raspberry on top, I'm glad I gave myself room to savour its rich together with fragile flavours.

It may live on hard to imagine, but the fellowship was fifty-fifty equally practiced equally the food! I would never select expected to experience this at ease alongside a grouping of people I've met entirely in ane trial before. Though we're an eclectic mix of ages, backgrounds together with experiences, a shared dearest of cooking together with eating is to a greater extent than than plenty to fuel an afternoon of fun.

The 2008 Circus Pie Classic Is Coming!

2008 Good Shepherd Circus Pie Classic is coming to the Corner Hotel at 4pm on Sunday, May 4. RocKwiz collides alongside Iron Chef equally Australian rockers railroad train to the clock inward an endeavour to print guess John Lethlean. All dishes volition last served alongside a side of alive music. The best flake of all? Proceeds larn to we had terminal year, y'all tin bet Michael in addition to I volition last there.

April 6, 2008: Leftover Makeover - Mocha Cupcakes

chocolate raspberry sandwich cookies was every bit a thank-you gift to Tracy in addition to Lee for lending us camping ground gear for Golden Plains. But a lot of the cookies were only also difficult in addition to crunchy, in addition to I left the gift-giving a niggling also late. Thankfully I did intend fast plenty to freeze the leftover cookies in addition to icing to recycle them into mocha cupcakes.

The java cake is from Nigella's recipe for cappuccino cupcakes, topped amongst the leftover chocolate icing in addition to sprinkled amongst cookie crumbs, which were soil upwards inwards the nutrient processor. Up early on in addition to unadjusted to a Blue Planet without daylight saving, I had plenty of fourth dimension to bake in addition to decorate these earlier coming together upwards amongst Tracy in addition to Lee for a 9:30 breakfast!

A quick pre-breakfast gustation test.

April 6, 2008: The Commoner

Edit 22/02/2016: article on modern Melbourne breakfasts. But I've been rather tardy inward writing upwards my sense in addition to anyway, the Commoner received mid-2007 reviews inward the Age, the breakfast blog in addition to Fitzroyalty. I approximate I'm most equally cutting border equally a boy band reunion.

April 6, 2008: Edible Bean Together With Cheese Love Apple Tree Quesadillas

burrito fillings, alongside capsicum in addition to Lycopersicon esculentum adding to a greater extent than or less freshness to the full general beaniness. I've decided I'm non a huge fan of the baked quesadilla agency Mexican - I'd rather accept had these tortillas soft in addition to folded than rolled in addition to covered inwards cheese, but this was all the same a relatively slow in addition to satisfying weekend feast.

Bean in addition to cheese Lycopersicon esculentum quesadillas

Tortillas (the recipe says half dozen - nosotros used upwardly most of the mix inwards 4)
1 400g tin crimson kidney beans, drained
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 dark-green capsicum, chopped
1 onion, finely sliced
1/2 teaspoon chilli pulverisation (be conservative hither if necessary!)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
oil
salt
pepper
two cups grated cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to most 190 degrees.

Cook the onion inwards the stone oil for most v minutes. Add inwards the tomatoes in addition to capsicum, the spices, in addition to seasonings in addition to educate for to a greater extent than or less other v minutes, stirring frequently.

Add inwards the beans in addition to stir them through. Mash them upwardly a flake alongside a fork or masher.

Plop the mixture onto each tortilla, curlicue them up, encompass alongside cheese in addition to bake for most fifteen minutes.

April 7, 2008: Tofu Inwards Lemongrass Broth

Pad Thai coming out of our kitchen. Luckily, every minute presently every minute I mentioned this to Cindy, she pointed me inwards the administration this recipe from Nourish Me.

April 7, 2008: Figs

A dessert of figs, a few drops of agave syrup, in addition to a generous spoonful of strangely granular mascarpone.

April 8, 2008: Tokyo Treats - Meiji

Though I'd never heard of it, Matt picked this block of chocolate out for us since it is Japan's close pop as well as well-known. It looks to me similar the form of bar that could conceal a golden ticket to Willa Wonka's Chocolate Factory!

I was impressed alongside this - it seems to convey a higher cocoa content than the milk chocolates sold here. It was no endeavor for Michael as well as I to devour the entire 70g block inwards ane delicious sitting!

April 9, 2008: Creamy Cerise Lentil Chowder

I'm actually pushing the soup agenda lately - I guess I've missed it during the warmer months. This lentil chowder was a rich too filling mush, alongside actually potent flavours - a picayune spiciness, approximately tangy vinegar too the earthy lentils. I loved it on the black nosotros made it, but past times the fourth dimension we'd gotten through the leftovers the vinegary-lemon flavours had larn a fighting tiresome. I'm certain the whole parcel would lead maintain been improved if we'd used a delicious homemade stock every bit the recipe recommended, instead of store-bought salty stock. In futurity it mightiness hold out best to snuff it far inwards smaller batches (or for larger crowds).

Creamy blood-red lentil chowder

1 tblsp olive oil
1 pocket-size onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried basil
1 cinnamon stalk
1 large tomato, diced
1.5 cups blood-red lentils
5 cups of vegetable stock
1 loving cup dry out white wine
170g silken tofu
1 tblsp miso
2 tblsp lemon juice
1 tblsp cider vinegar
Splash of hot sauce
Salt too pepper to taste

In a large pot, rut the stone oil too hence throw inwards the onion, cooking for iii or iv minutes. Add inwards the carrot too celery too laid upward for approximately other few minutes. Once the vegies lead maintain softened, add together the bay leaf, garlic, basil, oregano too cinnamon stick. Saute for approximately other pair of minutes.

Add the tomato plant too laid upward for approximately other infinitesimal or so, stir inwards the lentils, stock too wine. Cover too convey to the boil, hence simmer for xx minutes or so, until the lentils are soft. If you lot tin notice them, lead maintain out the cinnamon stick too the bay leaf.

Put the tofu, miso too two cups of the soup mix inwards a nutrient processor too whiz until good blended. Pour the mush dorsum into the soup pot too stir it all through. Add the lemon juice, vinegar too hot sauce. Season alongside tabular array salt too pepper.

April 9, 2008: Leftover Makeover - Messy Cheesecake

More chocolate biscuit crumbs, this fourth dimension natural springtime together amongst butter to bird a crust.

Cream cheese in addition to mascarpone, whipped together amongst a piddling dark-brown sugar.

Frozen blueberries, exclusively partially defrosted.

April 10, 2008: Dark-Green Pepper

Update 27/1/2019: Green Pepper is unopen (Red Pepper is all the same worth a view though)

Red, spell everyone else was simply happy to swallow curry.

Green Pepper has been fitted out amongst noticeably to a greater extent than assist together with expense, amongst coloured walls, tasteful decorations together with wooden slice of furniture sparkling amongst varnish. However the counter service, bill of fare together with prices seem identical to those at Red Pepper. For the sake of comparison, I ordered the same malai kofta amongst ii naans ($9). It appeared without the raw onion together with salty lassi sides (and I didn't missy them). These kofta for sure didn't come upwards out of the same kitchen - although I liked these dumplings more, the gravy was oilier together with less impressive. Michael's mystery paneer curry (they were all out of greens together with then he didn't larn the palak paneer he initially ordered) was similarly oily. But the naans were simply equally fresh together with delightful equally at Red Pepper!

Although the service was quite prompt, nosotros took our fourth dimension over nutrient together with conversation together with decided non to throw $15 each at ACMI for alone an hour's entertainment. Maybe adjacent calendar week we'll prioritise the exhibition together with provender afterwards.

Address: xviii Bourke St, Melbourne CBD
Ph: 9662 2693
Licensed together with BYO wine
Price: veg mains $5-10
Website: www.greenpepper.com.au

April 11, 2008: Houndstooth Ii

our final view to Houndstooth, as well as inward the meantime the three variety repast seems to induce got increased from an insanely inexpensive $15 to a still-reasonable $20. It's evident that virtually of Fitzroy is indeed happy to absorb the cost hike, alongside a well for you lot crowd making it a piffling hard to bespeak heed the words of Mike, Marty as well as Alana across the table. Dim mood lighting prevented this grouping of maths geeks from resorting to communicating via hand-drawn diagrams.

I started alongside the white nectarine, ricotta, almond biscotti as well as watercress salad. All the private elements were of first-class character as well as if you lot had removed the watercress this would induce got made a delicious piffling dessert. I was a piffling weirded out past times the salad version, however.

Michael instead had figs alongside gorgonzola as well as mayhap balsamic vinegar - he can't cry upwards as well as I didn't write it down. Whatever it was, he happily demolished it inward a thing of seconds.

The vegetarian primary of the level was capsicum stuffed alongside rice, almond as well as parsley; mushrooms stuffed alongside ricotta as well as herbs; as well as beetroot lentil spinach salad. I must confess to non getting the firm, nutty lentil thing. The capsicum was homely, filling materials but those herby, creamy, earthy mushrooms were the star of the plate.

Unusually Michael as well as I were agreed on our dessert preference, but nosotros didn't accept wages of this past times sharing. Instead nosotros each polished off a thoroughly enjoyable spell of lemon tart.

Houndstooth changes its carte weekly then you're unlikely to meet these detail dishes should you lot caput over yourself. But they gear upwards the mood for what you're inward for - something equal parts trendy as well as homely, it's what I'd endure served past times my imaginary hipster friend who lives inward a artsy shared Fitzroy terrace menage as well as harbours a hole-and-corner rhythm on Jamie Oliver.

April 12, 2008: Mr Tulk Iii

local favourites. For about reason, however, it the carte didn't quite produce it for me - none of the egg dishes caught my eye, as well as therefore I settled for a uncomplicated avocado on toast. The avo was fresh as well as generously slathered on about patently toast - a modest sliver of lime as well as a dash of tabular array salt as well as pepper completed the dish. It was excellent, as well as reasonably expert value at $9.50.

here as well as here.

April 13, 2008: Petty Pumpkin

I-can't-believe-it's-not-meat pies topped alongside Chinese mode barbeque sauce.

April 19, 2008: Ying Thai 2

I've visited Ying Thai two on several occasions, silent this is the commencement fourth dimension it has appeared on this blog. The meals I've had at that spot possess got been spontaneous outings amongst friends but non a camera, or on lazy nights amongst Michael when fifty-fifty photographing the nutrient feels similar likewise much work.

This occasion was instead a lazy Sat luncheon with a camera. I picked Ying Thai because I similar their reduced-portion, reduced-cost luncheon specials.

Although at that spot are noodles as well as soups as well as stir-fries available, it's all near the curry really. Michael had the vegetable Kao Gang Dang (red curry, $8.90), amongst rice. He lapped it upward equally happily equally he does most curries, remarking on the generous provide of tofu.

I ordered the vegetable Kao Gang Panang ($9.90), copping the extra $1 inwards toll for the luxury of roti instead of rice. I honey dipping it inwards the spicy kokosnoot milk broth, though it does larn a fleck oily as well as it's hard to larn through all the sauce inwards this way. It's best undertaken when you've convinced your eating companion to club rice as well as become halves! (See above.)

Ying Thai two is loud as well as a footling obnoxious, all fluorescent colours as well as yelling over the vibrations as well as busy, somewhat inattentive staff. But it has reinvigorated my gustatory modality for Thai manner curries, as well as I require heed that it's genuinely quite authentic. We're lucky to possess got it inwards our neighbourhood.

Edit 16/06/08: We were dorsum to possess got payoff of the luncheon particular concluding Sat as well as discovered subsequently ordering that the vegetable curries genuinely incorporate fish sauce. Damn! No to a greater extent than Kao Gang Panang for me.

Address: 110 Lygon St, Carlton
Phone: 9639 1697
Licensed as well as BYO wine
Price: veg luncheon specials $7.90-9.90

April 19, 2008: Friday Featre Nutrient - Enlightenment Cuisine

Edit 25/04/2017: Enlightened Cuisine is at nowadays rebranded as Vegie Kitchen.

our previous trip to the incongruously located (across the street from Crown) Enlightenment Cuisine had been relatively successful. It all added upwards to adept excuse to build our theatre-related dinner a slightly to a greater extent than expensive sense (although it turns out they're at nowadays offering a serial of $9 'food on the run' repast combos at 1 time from the luncheon menu, then it needn't accept been quite then expensive).

Cindy, bafflingly, is rarely able to expand her faux-meat enthusiasms from the sickly sweetness Chinese treats she remembers from her childhood: normally dear chicken, sweetness as well as sour pork or lemon chicken. This calendar week it was lemon chicken - I ever relish stealing 1 picayune chunk off her plate, but to a greater extent than than that would live on likewise much for me - Cindy enjoyed it though, happily chowing downward the sweet, batter-y goodness.

Ten Ren's, but this fourth dimension it was appropriately smothered inwards sauce - a vinegary, beany dark edible bean syrup. It also came amongst a decent release of vegies stirred through, something lacking from the lemon chicken. I'm non equally enamoured of the Chinese faux-meat sense equally Cindy is, as well as at to a greater extent than than $15 a pop, this isn't the great-value metropolis nutrient that nosotros tin marker from places similar Nila or Lord of the Fries. Maybe side past times side fourth dimension we'll endeavour the $9 specials as well as run across how they mensurate up.

Read virtually our previous catch to Enlightened Cuisine here.

T Seat The Component Of Cinema In Addition To Literature Classification

Sarah as well as Mellie as well as so kindly stepped inwards to bestow us amongst an eastward for Excellent. It's peculiarly gratifying to have this from a twosome of cool cookin' Melbourne gals who've been blogging a spell longer than Michael as well as I - I've been reading their edible exploits since nosotros cause moved to the nutrient majuscule of Australia.

In turn, I desire to exceed on the spider web log honey to Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit as well as Hezbollah Tofu. These folks are rebellious as well as funny, proof for all the interwebs that veganism is 1 business office compassion, vi parts delicious swashbuckling conduct chances as well as naught parts self denial.

If you've got fifty-fifty to a greater extent than blog-browsing fourth dimension at your disposal, accept a stroll through all the Melbourne-based nutrient blogs I've linked inwards the sidebar. They are brimming amongst enthusiasm for everything edible this metropolis has to offer, as well as they're a treasure trove of eating seat recommendations as well as rave-worthy recipes.

April 20-23, 2008: Wilsons Promontory

spiced chickpeas, packaged roti, crimson vino in addition to and hence port served inwards plastic cups.

April 25, 2008: The Galleon Cafe Ii

the Prom, my high schoolhouse buddy from Brisbane, Katy, arrived inwards Melbourne for a holiday. Yes, nosotros were excited to pass unopen to fourth dimension together but y'all wouldn't accept known it from our demeanours. She was every bit exhausted every bit nosotros were, having spent the morn at run earlier making the interstate journey. I pulled together a repast together with nosotros all did our best to exercise a catch-up conversation earlier retiring to the slumber of the near-dead.

Bloggers' Banquet. Having but gear upwards her ain petty herb garden at home, Katy was amount of admiration for Vegout's efforts together with happily soaked upwards the calm earlier hitting Acland St.

my final visit; nosotros waited almost x minutes for a tabular array (outside, inwards the mutual frigidity together with the cigarette smoke) together with I crossed my fingers that the now-hungry Katy would ultimately approximate it to survive worth the delay.

previously pined for ($8.50, amongst strawberries together with lemon curd) together with they were gorgeous. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cheeky selection for lunch, but lite plenty to rejoice inwards together with non regret later.

sweet potato, basil together with feta hash browns, every bit I did final time. In spite of my few misgivings, it was a bright maiden of all to a grayness but lovely afternoon. Window shopping, human foot massages, chocolate (which deserves its ain post), together with a long walk along the pier together with shoreline inwards our candy-coloured coats (her ruddy to my pink); it was all accompanied past times much-needed utter of the of import together with the frivolous.

April 25, 2008: Guru Da Dhaba

Update 31/12/2014: Guru Da Dhaba has been unopen for ages, in addition to the venue has housed but about other Indian eatery or ii earlier existence taken over yesteryear the highly rated De Orchid equally nosotros were, pregnant that the hollo for for outstanding local Indian continues. The smells wafting from the corner of Johnston in addition to Gore streets conduct keep tempted me every fourth dimension I've walked past, but we'd somehow avoided making the trip until subsequently we'd sampled almost every other Indian restaurant in the neighbourhood.

The carte du jour is inspired yesteryear the dhaba street eateries of Bharat - vegos are good catered for amongst xvi curries to select from (aside: I've developed the theory - next our trip to Red Pepper - that Indian restaurants amongst beef-free menus are probable to survive higher quality. For the record: there's no beef at Guru da Dhaba). Cindy, typically, went for the malai kofta ($9.90). She was a footling disappointed amongst the kofta - it was a footling floury in addition to lacking texture. The sauce also was adequate without existence specially memorable. I went for a baingan bhartha - a roast eggplant curry that nosotros actually need to discovery a practiced recipe for. It was much to a greater extent than impressive than Cindy's kofta - richly spiced in addition to silky, perfect to mush onto the well-cooked garlic naan that accompanied it.

Mike has decided that the existent examination of an Indian eatery is its palak paneer in addition to declared Guru da Dhaba's the best he'd bought inward Melbourne. So it was a mixed performance: ordinary kofta, first-class eggplant in addition to phenomenal paneer. We powerfulness need a minute take in to come upwards up amongst a definitive opinion.

Update (29/6/09): Guru da Dhaba has unopen down, in addition to has all the same to survive replaced...

Address: 240 Johnston Street
Ph: 9486-9155
BYO
Price: Veg curries $10
Website: www.gurudadhaba.citysearch.com.au

April 26, 2008: Bread-Baking Bonanza

we enjoyed at the Prom. He's clearly a fine all-round arrive at but something he has spent quite or so fourth dimension perfecting is breadstuff baking together with all things yeast related. Over the past times months, niggling samples of what he's made accept turned upwards at travel for us to sense of savor - white bread, breadstuff alongside olives, fifty-fifty bagels! But Stu's generosity extends farther than sending inwards leftovers, farther fifty-fifty than cooking for our camping ground trip - he offered to host a breadstuff baking 24-hour interval inwards his abode to instruct a few folks the tricks he's learned inwards the past times twelvemonth or two.

April 26, 2008: Bluecorn Ii

Los Amates for delicious Melbourne Mexican.

Read most our previous trip to Blue Corn here.

*The dome pictured at the meridian is of bird business office of the Palais, in addition to non the adjustable roof of Blue Corn's courtyard.

April 25-27, 2008: Melbourne, The Field Of Chocolate

I knew that whenever Katy eventually made it to Melbourne, we'd accept to become on a chocolate-themed excursion. I initially planned to bring together an Friday take in to the southward side. I sampled three:

• Rose: milk chocolate ganache flavoured amongst rose water, crumbled roasted pistachios in addition to dipped inwards white chocolate.
• Ruby: blood orangish caramel filling in addition to nighttime chocolate.
• Safran: citrus caramel ganache, milk chocolate ganache amongst infused saffron, dipped inwards nighttime chocolate.

They were all beautiful to hold off at in addition to had a lovely creamy texture. However I institute the exceptional flavours also subtle in addition to the chocolate also sweet.

________

Guru Da Dhaba, Mike in addition to Jo-Lyn coaxed us to Camy's hitting the spot.

________

Cacao, San Churro, Koko Black in addition to Max Brenner.)

April 27, 2008: Shakahari Iv

recently wrote close tempeh, Sarah mentioned how much she liked the tempeh laksa at Shakahari. Even though we'd never seen it on the card ourselves, Michael had said before inward the even out how much he'd similar laksa as well as he got lucky - at that topographic point it was on the card tonight! This is the Green Laksa Siam ($18.50) - greenish tea soba noodles, spinach, mushroom as well as sprouts inward a kokosnoot broth of Thai herbs as well as spices; it is topped amongst seitan, tofu as well as tempeh strips. It was a large meal, fifty-fifty for Michael, as well as amongst quite a spicy kick.

our real origin visit to this restaurant. These are "deep fried skewers of edible bean curd, seitan, onion as well as capsicum dressed amongst an addictive mildly spiced peanut sauce. It comes amongst pickles as well as turmeric rice." The satay sticks sure lived upward to the description, as well as my best justice is that the pickles were reddish cabbage, ginger as well as radish. These earthy slices of ginger were something exclusively dissimilar to the slivers served amongst sushi!

Katy's top dog degree was the Croquette Madam Fang that I had last time - how could she lead anything else later I raved close the kumquat chilli sauce? Also on the card were Angel Jewels (a tagine of reddish quinoa, roasted vegetables as well as toasted almonds), the Bandit Queen (a plate of Indian delights), the Rustichella Linguini (the impressive pasta of Michael's previous meal) as well as Black Olive Passion (a most fusion-like paella incorporating dashi, olives, chickpeas, cashews as well as lemon).

first, second as well as third raves.)

April 30, 2008: Rosemary Too Cheese Bites

dip too crackers too flora fourth dimension left over to endeavour baking these rosemary too cheese biscuits anyway! The recipe is from Anna at Morsels & Musings.

May 2, 2008: Friday Featre Nutrient - Bismi Gilt An Fork

28/09/2015: As noted past times Natalie below, Bismi Gold An Fork is no more.

Ever since nosotros purchased our starting fourth dimension Melbourne Cheap Eats Guide together with read close the 29 dissimilar types of roti, we've been intending to attempt out Bismi. Somhow, fifty-fifty amongst the added convenience of a metropolis shop, we'd failed. Finally the involve for a speedy pre-theatre dinner gave us the motivation nosotros needed to brand our starting fourth dimension visit. It's ready inwards a fairly desolate department of Elizabeth Street, but is a pleasant, welcoming venue - lots of crowded tables, Bollywood cinema clips playing on a idiot box together with a long queue snaking away from the front end counter.

Cindy together with I stood off to i side together with gave the carte du jour our attention, speedily settling on 2 dissimilar types of thali. It was exclusively in i lawsuit we'd made it to the front end of the describe of piece of employment that nosotros realised that the thalis were a dejeuner exclusively phenomenon. So it was dorsum to the side to written report the carte du jour some more. We made our decisions together with rejoined the line, but my hopes were dashed in i lawsuit to a greater extent than when I was told that the palak paneer was unavailable. Curses. Rather than become through the whole cycle again, I speedily settled on a uncomplicated mixed vegie curry ($5.50) to become amongst my masala roti ($4). Cindy couldn't resist a vegi dosai ($5.50), then neither of us sampled their 'famous' pizza dosais. Maybe side past times side time. I had the touchstone mango lassi to drink, spell Cindy was to a greater extent than adventurous together with ordered the tea tarek (tea made amongst condensed milk - she wasn't adventurous plenty to attempt the traditional Horlicks or hot milo that were also on offer).

My masala roti came out on a silvery tray, amongst a pool of spicy sauce for dipping. I was glad I'd ordered the vegie curry to accompany it, every bit a unmarried roti would in all likelihood accept left my tummy growling inwards the theatre. The curry was pleasant - slightly creamy together with sufficiently spicy, amongst clearly identifiable vegies inwards the mix rather than the generic 'vegetables' that you lot sometimes brand it a mixed vegie curry. The masala sauce amongst the roti was a warmer flavour, together with nevertheless quite spicy. The roti itself (which was nicely cooked, together with non quite every bit oily every bit some of the other rotis we've had some town) had some survive to do, but close managing to soak upward all the saucy flavours.


Cindy's dosai was the touchstone packet - a large crispy pancakey affair stuffed amongst lightly spiced vegies, amongst some sambar together with a yoke of chutneys for flavouring. The filling was generally potato, which was but what Cindy was afterward and, although i of the chutneys was a fleck spicy for her, she polished off the balance happily. I'm ever a fleck disappointed when nosotros society a dosai somewhere together with it isn't a The 39 Steps began) to sample something from Bismi's fairly substantial dessert menu. She picked out the banana uttappam ($5) - a sweetness dosai cooked amongst butter together with served amongst caramel sauce. Cindy rejected the offering of chocolate sauce, but shortly regretted it - the dosai on its ain was a niggling on the bland together with floury side, together with the whole affair was dense together with filling. In the end, she picked out the caramelised bits together with enjoyed them, leaving large chunks of the pancake behind.

Realising that our fourth dimension was running out nosotros scurried out the door together with onto a tram, our stomachs filled amongst a fairly satisfying together with remarkably inexpensive Indian feast. Now if mortal tin dismiss but explicate what a Gold An Fork is...

Address: 380 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Ph: 9654 4060
Unlicensed
Price: Thalis (lunch) $10, pizza dosai $6-$6.50, curries $5-$6, dosai $4-$7, rotis $3-$4

May 3, 2008: Casa Iberica

a long time since I passed Hispanic grocer Casa Iberica during its opening hours, but on this Sabbatum I resolved to larn at that spot convincingly earlier its noon closing time. I was rewarded non entirely amongst cans of dark beans together with tomatillos, but amongst custard tarts. At $1.70 each or iii for $4.50, nosotros had to larn the triple treat.

They were polish together with sweet, together with the brownish spots were deliciously caramelised. The entirely negative was a lingering greasiness on the roof of the mouth.

May 3, 2008: Quinoa Alongside Dark Beans In Addition To Sweetness Potato

Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit. There it's credited to the Post Punk Kitchen forum, in addition to from PPK dorsum to Women's Health Magazine. It seems that everyone's been charmed past times it but me, in addition to thus don't permit my indifference deter you lot from making it. It's the Beirut of quinoa salads.

Coming Soon: Budda's Hateful Solar Daytime & Multicultural Festival

Mellie in addition to EG ate their agency through concluding year's festival in addition to man child was I jealous! So many vegetarian delights, peculiarly for fans of fake meat.

This yr the festival too features Vegi-licious: The Karma of Being Vegetarian. This attain of cooking demonstrations volition characteristic veg*n eats from the likes of Fifteen Melbourne , Tony Tan, Vue de Monde, Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden, Lentil every bit Anything, Vegie Mum, 18 Bridge Road in addition to the VIRWC.

You tin mail away banking firm stand upward for out the amount details of the festival here.

I am crushed that I'm going to missy out all the same in i lawsuit again this year. Make certain that y'all don't!

May 3, 2008: Kamel Ii

last time that I knew we'd non convey to repeat anything nosotros had ordered then. Yet I couldn't resist revisiting the pistachio crumbed goats cheese amongst fig glue in addition to Turkish breadstuff ($14.50). It's a rattling tasty opener.

Kamel here.)

May 4, 2008: Due North Cafeteria

North is belike the trendiest cafe on the Rathdowne Village strip inwards Carlton North, amongst fashionable piddling sketches roofing the walls in addition to a hip but laid-back vibe. We stumbled inwards at 9:30 on a Lord's Day morning time to run into Mike in addition to Jo in addition to had no problems getting ourselves a prime number table.

A Minor Place. These came amongst herbs in addition to silverbeet in addition to were served upward on some delicious sourdough toast. They were great, amongst some bits of leek thrown inwards in addition to some herbaceous flavours. Even so, I intend beans are belike best suited equally a side - it was all a flake much for me yesteryear the end.

Cindy maintained the vaguely salubrious subject (I'm considering my breakfast's lack of eggs 'healthy') amongst porridge ($7.90), filled amongst dates, apples, walnuts in addition to cinnamon. There were enough of walnuts in addition to apple tree pieces to aid forestall the green mid-porridge boredom, in addition to Cindy establish it all filling without existence overly stodgy.

North is some other venture local breakfast selection - the service was friendly in addition to efficient, the card was varied in addition to veg-friendly. It's belike non inwards the superlative tier, but its a comfortable, well-located in addition to tasty house good worth some other visit. We genuinely are blessed amongst breakfast options simply about these parts.

Address: 717 Rathdowne Street, North Carlton
Phone: 9348 1276
Price: Veg breakfasts $4.50-$13.50