June 10, 2009: Cumulus Inc

I had a quick jaunt overseas inwards the by calendar week (for the record: Copenhagen's best vego repast is the buffet at breakfast-specific Min Lokal's baked eggs showtime sucked me in, together with these finished the job. For the record, I consider Min Lokal's are all the same slightly better, but there's no shame coming minute to my favourite breakfast inwards Melbourne.

A quick banking concern complaint on the coffee: it's outstanding. But don't but accept my give-and-take for it, Melbourne's most prolific coffee blogger agrees.

Hellenic Republic, which she idea was marginally to a greater extent than enjoyable.

raved about elsewhere. They're good worth the xv infinitesimal wait.

It's taken us a long fourth dimension to larn to Cumulus Inc - we're clearly non at the cutting border of Melbourne food-bloggery - but it was worth the wait. Great food, fantabulous friendly service together with non unreasonable prices. If I worked inwards the metropolis I'd endure in that place for java every day, but Cindy together with I are to a greater extent than probable to revisit Min Lokal or Greece if we're later on something a flake fancy for a weekend brekkie.

Address: 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Ph: 9650 1445
Price: $6-$16
Licensed
Website: http://cumulusinc.com.au

June 10, 2009: Broccoli Soup Amongst Lemon-Chive Cream

this, from Orangette. It's all relatively uncomplicated - a chip of chopping, a chip of frying, a chip of simmering too an awesome few moments of devastation amongst the stick blender. Good times. Luckily, it's likewise damn tasty. Between the stalks of the broccoli too the faux-chicken stock, it had a variety of meatiness to it, commencement past times the delicious herbed sour-cream too the parmesan hints left past times the rind. H5N1 few pieces of breadstuff on the side too we'd establish the antidote to Melbourne's flare-up of winter.

Broccoli soup amongst lemon-chive cream

The soup
1 tbsp butter
2 leeks, washed too sliced (just the white parts)
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1kg broccoli, chopped (include everything - stems too all)
1l faux-chicken of vegetable stock
1 parmesan rind
salt

The cream
1 loving cup sour cream
2 shallots (the long, light-green kind), sliced thinly
1/4 loving cup finely chopped chives
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 loving cup grated Parmesan
salt
1/2 tsp powdered garlic

In a saucepan, melt the butter too and then add together the leeks too onion, cooking over medium rut for most 10 minutes. Everything should instruct overnice too transparent.

Add the garlic too stir through, cooking briefly, earlier throwing inward the stock, broccoli, parmesan rind too salt. Stir everything together, convey to the boil too and then simmer.

While things are simmering, brand the cream. Basically merely stir all the ingredients together too modification the amounts of salt/garlic/lemon juice to your tastes.

Once the soup has simmered for most 20 minutes, take the parmesan rind too assail the soup amongst your powerful stick blender (or instruct through the whole rigmarole of batches inward the nutrient processor).

Add most one-half of your sour-cream mix to the soup too stir it through, using the residuum of it equally a garnish to dollop on top.

June 13, 2009: Juanita's

Babka, Ici, Julio in addition to Min Lokal?

this one excepted), but it had a lovely vanilla flavor in addition to was offset nicely past times the tangy, juicy fruit. I would convey liked to convey fifty-fifty a fiddling to a greater extent than fruit, but I happily polished off this bowlfull in addition to was satisfied for hours afterwards.

The breakfast bill of fare isn't long but it offers something dissimilar to nearly of the local cafes in addition to is rattling reasonably priced. All 7 items are either vegetarian or veg-adaptable; fifty-fifty the empanadas listed on the blackboard include 2 vegetarian fillings. The preponderance of eggs volition constrain vegans, though I've heard a rumour that the churros are safe! And the churros are simply the outset of the tempting sweets on offering at Juanita's. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 closer expect at the display cabinet had me resolving to a greater extent than firmly than e'er that I'd endure dorsum for dessert.

Update 22/11/10 - Juanita's has closed in addition to volition before long leave of absence however roughly other chocolate cafe

Address: 370 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Ph: 9415 9396
Price: veg breakfasts $6-$12.50

June 13, 2009: Crimson Spice Road

the kickoff time together with decided to get a novel eatery amongst him on his minute visit. I suggested Red Spice Road on the dry soil of Adski's recent rave review, though I was aware that experiences convey been mixed. While Claire enjoyed the luncheon special, JamesBluntKnife loved the service, Melbies/Foodies were less impressed together with Gingerboy.

Gingerboy, simply about other Asia-inspired urban meat eatery amongst $30 mains, than provide here; Ed compares it instead to Longrain, which nosotros haven't visited. Either means there's a feel that at this price, nosotros tin flame expression a piffling better.

Address: 27 McKillop St, Melbourne
Ph: 9603 1601
Fully licensed
Price: mocktails $8, veg mains $22-$28, desserts $12-$14
Website: www.redspiceroad.com

June 14, 2009: Butterscotch Biscuits

posted on Orangette a few months ago, a spider web log that had already supplied us amongst one winning dinner that week. I was (gasp!) a footling weary of chocolate. And then, instead of chocolate, these were studded amongst pecans, which I already had sitting happily inward the pantry.

The biscuit dough comes together quite easily but needs careful surveillance 1 time inward the oven. The full general consensus over at Orangette seems to survive that the duo tablespoons of milk pulverization increase its browning too crisping properties, too there's non a long interval betwixt pleasantly chocolate-brown too burnt. It's worth striving for that perfect hue, though, 'cause the biscuits I undercooked didn't prepare quite the same complexity. Molly is right, though - they all amend amongst age, hence relieve around for later. The biggest challenge on that front end is that the uncooked dough is 1 of the loveliest I've sampled.

Butterscotch biscuits
(seen at Orangette, who credits them to The Tenth Muse past times Judith Jones)

1 3/4 cups evidently flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
200g butter, softened
1 1/4 cups chocolate-brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 loving cup pecans, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 190°C. Line 1 or ii baking trays amongst newspaper too lightly spray them amongst oil.

In a modest bowl, stir together the flour, bicarb soda too salt.

In a larger bowl, cream together the butter too carbohydrate using an electrical mixer. Beat inward the egg, milk pulverization too vanilla. Gradually shell inward the flour mixture, too then flexure inward the pecans past times hand.

Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking tray, leaving enough of infinite betwixt dollops. Molly suggests pressing the dough drops into circles - I didn't create this but you lot powerfulness similar to if you lot desire crisp biscuits. Bake the biscuits for 8-10 minutes, until they're lightly chocolate-brown all over (watch them carefully to ensure they don't burn).

June 14, 2009: Baked Beans As Well As Hushpuppies

home-made vegan sausages, retrieved from the freezer, cooked inward alongside the beans towards the terminate of the oven time, together with so sliced into small-scale chunks in ane lawsuit tender. Highly recommended.

Hushpuppies. I'd never heard of hushpuppies before, but I got caught upward inward Lindyloo's nostalgia together with enthusiasm together with gave them a go. By contrast, Michael was distraught at having to swallow anything with 'puppies' inward the name. These piffling balls of crunchy corn eventually won his reluctant approval, beingness perfect for dipping into those saucy baked beans. Though they went downwards a treat, I'll in all probability revert to my commons cornbread recipe side past times side fourth dimension I'm inward the mood for such a thing.

Sauteed mushrooms. I simply finished these fungi off with a twain of teaspoons of vegetarian oyster sauce together with loved the salty-sweet effect.

Sauteed spinach. Much-needed greens.

Multi-grain toast spread with Nuttelex. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cook-up staple, bright with the mushrooms.


It's rare that I gear upward a repast with so many variety components, but they were all good appreciated. The quantity of beans together with hushpuppies made for a twain of envy-inducing workday lunches too.




Baked beans
(based on the Cheater Baked Beans inward Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit, where it's credited to VegCooking)

800Th Post, Sec Giveaway

Today this spider web log reaches some other piffling milestone - 800 posts! It's a practiced fourth dimension to update our where's the best? guide. New abode cooking highlights include:

• caramelised onion dip
• broccoli soup amongst lemon-chive cream
• heaven-sent haloumi
  
• eggplant lasagne rolls
  
• tempeh lasagne
• believe-it-or-not broccoli burgers
• the cheesy tuna bake that isn't
  
• mushroom paprikash (this is erstwhile tidings but we've exclusively actually grown to appreciate it recently)
• raw lime pie
• red velvet cupcakes

Out together with about, we've loved:

• Babka, Mitte, Mixed Business together with Juanita's for breakfast,
• La Panella together with the Vegie Hut for their inexpensive vegan imitation meats,
  
• Peko Peko together with Idea Fine Food together with Wine for a mid-priced meal, and
• Ezard together with Circa, the Prince when we're actually splashing out.
  

Sadly, we've had to take away Filter, Vina Bar together with Three One Two from our favourites every bit they're no longer opened upwards for business.

Las Vegan's Lia Vandersant together with Liam Davies, together with a canister of Monsieur Truffe Hot Dark Chocolate Mix.

To run inwards the draw, tell us close your favourite veg-friendly recipe for winter inwards the comments department below. Give us plenty data that nosotros could crusade making it ourselves, or only link to the recipe if it's already available online. We'll brand together with spider web log the winning entry, together with whatever others that peculiarly make got our fancy!

If y'all don't wishing to add together a contact electronic mail address publicly to our comments, therefore electronic mail us at wheresthebeef_blog@yahoo.com.au as shortly every bit you've posted your entry therefore that, if y'all win, nosotros tin suit delivery of your prize. We won't part your electronic mail address amongst anyone else or hassle y'all ourselves in ane lawsuit this giveaway's been given away. Entries unopen at midnight on Tuesday June 30.

March 3, 2009: Leftover Makeover - Eggplant Curry

spiced eggplant salad was quite successful, past times the fourth dimension we'd eaten leftovers for luncheon both of us were a chip sick of it. Unfortunately nosotros nonetheless had one-half a saucepan total of the eggplant mix to bargain with. Cindy suggested turning it into or thence form out of curry, as well as nosotros combined it alongside the sauce from this recipe to smoothen it off. We too threw inward a handful of Nutrella soy chunks to endeavor to mix upward the texture a bit.

It wasn't quite equally successful equally I'd hoped - the spice mix was a chip overwhelming as well as the soy chunks had a slightly weird flavour. Still, nosotros managed to swallow the residue of the eggplant, which nosotros belike wouldn't accept if it had stayed inward salad form.

June 15, 2009: Pandan 'Chicken'

blogging as well as telling anyone who volition brain nigh the vegan pandan 'chicken' she discovered at a local supermarket a few months ago. So, when I noticed them at my ain nearby supermarket I was compelled to alternative upwardly a packet, fifty-fifty though my freezer was already bursting amongst mock meats.

I'm glad I did. These Veaty Bites direct maintain rattling petty fourth dimension to bake from their frozen state, as well as they gustation delicious. Having never sampled the existent deal, I've no sentiment whether they're a convincing imitation. But these mock meat parcels are incredibly fragrant, amongst a abrupt lemongrassy earthiness as well as heating outburst of chilli. They'd brand a fun petty finger nutrient at a party, though I used them to altitude a salad. It was a whatever's-in-the-fridge mix of babe spinach leaves, grated zucchini as well as corn kernels, dressed amongst chives, ginger oil, vegetarian oyster sauce as well as apple tree cider vinegar.

March 4, 2009: Forest Spoon Kitchen

10/01/2015: a deluge reviews as well as no-bookings policy meant that nosotros had no hope of obtaining a tabular array for 5 at 7:20 on a Th night. I wasn't also fazed; nosotros know enough of other great restaurants on Smith St, as well as at that spot was fifty-fifty closed to other i we'd been pregnant to try. Wood Spoon Kitchen is a cute niggling Japanese cafe merely a few shopfronts downwards from Gigibaba as well as its highly informative website had alerted me to its veg-friendly menu. With the vegetarian, vegan as well as gluten-free items clearly labelled, it begins amongst a diversity of flavoured onigiri, earlier listing an extensive ready of soups, a few don buri (rice bowls) as well as curries, earlier winding upward amongst sides, salads as well as desserts.

Having never eaten an onigiri before, I idea I'd hand the cheese curry i ($3.20) a try. The 'crumpled vintage cheese as well as basil inwards curry' melded beautifully into the rice, though I flora the cheese/nori combination a niggling incongruous.

Otsumami as well as Peko Peko.

Michael went for the vegetarian pumpkin curry ($12.90), closed to other mild as well as pleasant offering that wasn't quite memorable.

For my primary repast I ordered the pumpkin gnocchi inwards Lycopersicon esculentum kokosnoot soup ($10.90). This was a steaming bowl of thick broth, concealing a multitude of tender vegetables every bit good every bit the promised balls of pumpkin dough. It was the perfect comfort on this unseasonably cool evening.

Wood Spoon Kitchen's flavours aren't quite every bit fragile every bit those at the nearby Peko Peko, but it has enough else going for it. The setting as well as staff are charming, the nutrient is cheaper, as well as the bill of fare offers a make of veg-friendly snacks as well as meals dissimilar whatever other Japanese eating seat I've visited.

Address: 88 Smith St, Collingwood
Ph: 9416 0588
Licensed
Price: veg snacks as well as meals $3.20-$12.90
Website: www.woodspoonkitchen.com

June 15-16, 2009: Blonde Choc-Nut Cookies

Hungry Hamster posted quite but about fourth dimension ago. I suspect I initially bookmarked the recipe for its vegan potential but I ended upward stirring dairy-riddled white chocolate chips into the dough.

Cookie doughs that role fossil oil instead of butter convey quite a distinctive greasy texture when raw - this ane reminded me of the chocolate-raspberry in addition to cryptic cookies I've previously baked. Unlike the butterscotch biscuits I baked a twenty-four hours earlier, this dough isn't peculiarly tasty before it's cooked - the baking pulverisation in addition to soda are rather strong. Unfortunately they're yet a chip likewise prominent inward the lastly product, though it's non all that hard to concentrate on the sweetness of the white chocolate chips in addition to accomplish for a 2d cookie.

There are 2 to a greater extent than quirks worth mentioning. First, Hungry Hamster's master quantity is relatively small, in addition to thankfully I noticed this inward fourth dimension in addition to doubled the recipe for the sizable grouping I was catering for. I didn't convey plenty macadamias, though, in addition to thus I topped them upward alongside raw cashews. The 2d quirk is that Hungry Hamster isn't clear whether she used canola or macadamia fossil oil inward the dough. Having macadamia fossil oil on hand, I gave it a become but couldn't actually abide by it inward the finished cookies.

All up, these were tardily to brand in addition to enjoyed past times many. But I likely won't role this dough recipe every bit a base of operations for futurity vegan-friendly baking.

Blonde choc-nut cookies
(adapted from Hungry Hamster's Food Adventure, where it's credited to Baking Bites)

250g manifestly flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
100g sugar
120g macadamia oil
160g maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 loving cup macadamia nuts
1/3 loving cup raw cashews
2/3 loving cup white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 170°C in addition to work a baking tray alongside paper.

In a large bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, carb soda, tabular array salt in addition to saccharide together.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the macadamia oil, maple syrup in addition to vanilla. Pour it into the flour mixture in addition to stir everything together until but combined. Fold inward the nuts in addition to chocolate chips.

Scoop spoonfuls of the dough in addition to house them on the baking tray, allowing plenty of room for the cookies to spread. Bake them for 10-14 minutes, until lightly dark-brown in addition to but developing a crust.

March 5, 2009: Golden Bars For Golden Plains

last year's too for the nearly purpose nosotros happily gulped downward roti wraps, vegie burgers smothered inwards hot sauce, mango juice, too nutella-berry crepes. But come upward breakfast time, whether it occurred at 8am or 1pm, a chunky habitation made muesli bar was worth its weight inwards gold.

The muesli bars that nosotros ate were concocted a duo of days early, too based on Heidi Swanson's recipe for bubble slice I've eaten (and adapted) thus many times, they're genuinely quite a dissimilar proposition. The rolled oats brand them to a greater extent than chewy too filling, too though I would never accept recognised the java inwards a blind sense of savor test, it adds a terrific too unique depth of flavour. What this recipe does accept inwards mutual alongside my bubble spell is flexibility of ingredients: there's a whole host of sweeteners, cereals, nuts too seeds that you lot could attempt substituting. My ain selection of ingredients meant that I could ready these solely from ingredients already inwards our pantry!

As I stirred together the mixture I worried that it mightiness non gibe together (tip: press it into the baking tray using a fork, non a spoon!) too I stuffed it into the refrigerator overnight. This proved to live unnecessary, too genuinely made cutting it into squares much to a greater extent than difficult. Unless you're inwards a really warm place, you lot tin strength out in all probability continue this away from the refrigerator altogether.

Golden bars for Golden Plains
(based on the Big Sur ability bars at 101 Cookbooks)

1/2 loving cup pecans, chopped
3/4 loving cup almonds, chopped
3/4 loving cup macadamias, chopped
2/3 loving cup dessicated coconut
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups rice bubbles
1 loving cup rice malt syrup
1/4 loving cup brownish sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
two tablespoons soil java beans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 180°C. While you're waiting, chop upward the nuts, too then bake them for 5-10 minutes, stirring 1 time or twice. When they only start to colour, add together the kokosnoot too bake for a farther five minutes, stirring 1 time again along the way. Take it out to cool when everything's golden. Transfer the toasted nuts to a bowl too stir inwards the rolled oats too rice bubbles.

In a pocket-size saucepan over medium heat, stir together the rice malt syrup, sugar, salt, java too vanilla. Bring the mixture to the boil, all the same stirring, too permit it to thicken a lilliputian earlier taking it off the heat. Pour it over the cereal/nut mixture too combine everything thoroughly.

Lightly grease a baking tray too pour the mixture into it; I constitute the dorsum of a fork nearly useful for smoothing over the top. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature (don't refrigerate it!) earlier slicing it into chunks.

June 16, 2009: Sauerkraut Chowder

a previous calendar recipe). It's definitely a filling in addition to rich brew. It'll endure a acre earlier I'm brave plenty to plonk an entire block of cream cheese into soup again, but I'd similar to transfer the evaporated milk sentiment to other recipes.

Sauerkraut chowder

3-4 large potatoes
water
1 medium onion
400g tin forcefulness out or jounce of sauerkraut
300mL evaporated milk
250g cream cheese
2 teaspoons horseradish cream, or to taste
salt in addition to pepper

Chop the potatoes into bite-size pieces, leaving the peel on. Place the potatoes inward a large saucepan in addition to comprehend them amongst water. Chop the onion in addition to add together it to the pot. Bring the soup to the boil in addition to develop the vegetables until the potatoes are tender.

Stir inward the sauerkraut, evaporated milk in addition to cream cheese, continuing to stir until the cream cheese has melted in addition to blended in. Season amongst horseradish, tabular array salt in addition to pepper to taste.

Cover the soup in addition to simmer it on depression oestrus for thirty minutes earlier serving.

March 9, 2009: Lime Mayonnaise

a weekend of (over)indulgence, nosotros needed to scale dorsum a flake in addition to I decided to squad this lime mayonnaise amongst oven-baked tofu 'fish' bites. The freshest one-half of the plate features mixed greenish leaves in addition to a coleslaw recipe from Veganomicon amongst bonus radishes.

As if lime juice in addition to zest aren't plenty pep, this condiment also includes horseradish in addition to mustard. Fresh horseradish root isn't quite inward flavour in addition to thence nosotros took the minute alternative listed in addition to bought horseradish cream from the supermarket. I've non tried horseradish earlier but it's inward the same found identify unit of measurement every bit mustard in addition to wasabi - it has that same acidic oestrus that punches y'all inward the nose. The alone other modification I made to this recipe was downsizing - the master copy part listing added upward to over a litre of mayo!


Lime mayonnaise

1/2 loving cup mayonnaise
1/2 loving cup calorie-free sour cream
juice in addition to zest of 1 lime
1 teaspoon horseradish cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Whisk all the ingredients together in addition to refrigerate until serving.

June 18, 2009: Smoked Tofu Stew

this recipe a try.

It's a pretty unproblematic recipe - lots of chopping as well as lots of simmering - zip real complicated. And it all ends upwards alongside a rich, warming as well as hearty meal. If anything, it was a petty curt on flavor - nosotros pepped it upwards alongside a generous splash of veg Worcestershire sauce, which was the perfect addition. It's a proficient agency to brand purpose of the smoked tofu, which was a suitably bulky stew centrepiece.

Smoked tofu stew
1 dark-brown onion
2 sticks celery
2 small-scale carrots
250g swiss dark-brown mushrooms
500g potatoes
300g smoked tofu
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups vegetable stock
2 tablespoons vegemite
2 bay leaves
Salt as well as pepper to taste
1/2 loving cup water
2 tablespoons manifestly flour

Chop all your vegies as well as the tofu into hearty chunks, as well as tiddler them inward a large pot alongside the olive oil. After things bring started to soften, add together the stock, vegemite as well as bay leaves as well as and then simmer for 45 minutes or so, until things are near falling apart.

Combine the the flour as well as H2O inward a form loving cup to brand a thick paste, as well as add together it to the stew to thicken it all together. Season alongside common salt as well as pepper, as well as serve alongside rice or cous-cous as well as a splash of Worcestershire sauce as well as and then experience the warmth spread through you.

March 14, 2009: Babble

APTE or Porgie together with Mr Jones but our goal was shifted to Prahran (in a completely non-food related aside - Cindy together with I both experience equally though one-half the folks on Chapel Street are eyeing us upward together with wondering whether nosotros ask their spare change) thank y'all to other shopping needs (in or together with so other completely non-food-related aside, Cathy at Everything Goes With Cream, who gave it a rave review a few weeks back. We stumbled inward the door but equally the heavens opened together with dumped or together with so much welcome rain. Luckily, we'd timed things perfectly together with at that spot was a tabular array for ii waiting invitingly for us.

The carte isn't especially exciting - lots of fairly basic egg varieties (benedict, florentine, the ane amongst salmon), a handful of omelettes together with the commons toast/cereal/pancake options. The couplet of exceptions were the ii dishes that Cathy talked upward on her blog: a vegetarian polenta-based breakfast together with a luscious sounding French fruit toast. Despite Cathy's enthusiasm (and Cindy's pressure), I didn't experience upward to polenta for breakfast, instead opting for the Baroness omelette, which promised spinach, fetta, sun-dried tomatoes, chilli together with olives equally fillings ($16).

comments elsewhere), the infinite was pleasant together with the nutrient was decent if perchance a tad overpriced.

Address: 4 Izzet Street, Prahran
Ph: 9510 6464
Price: veg breakfasts $7-$16

June 19, 2009: The Press Lodge Ii

George Colambaris fan, though his electrical flow stint on peppered fig served at Hellenic Republic). Though the flavours were for sure pleasant, I intend it was the novelty of the organization that impressed us too had us excitedly wondering what powerfulness come upwardly next.

here.