May 10, 2008: Tokyo Treats - Collon

Pocky earlier them, a stroll unopen to the network indicates that they almost probable comprise animal-based shortening. So no to a greater extent than Collons for my gustation buds, my breadbasket or my colon.

May 10, 2008: Cafe Italia

Update 27/1/2019: Cafe Italy is permanently closed.

Thai, Vietnamese together with Indian every bit options, but Jens had a hearty appetite together with a preference for Italian together with therefore I suggested nosotros drive to larn a tabular array at Cafe Italia. Set inwards a laneway away from the spruikers on Lygon St, it however has no problem attracting diners through its unopen doors. In summertime the opened upwardly courtyard is delightful together with inwards wintertime the same expanse is snugly unopen up, housing simply every bit many people.

Cafe Italia's card is adequate for vegetarians if non inspiring. There's bruschetta or dips to start, plenty of side dishes, iv pasta plates together with a pizza on offer. Disappointingly the mushroom risotto is made with non-vegetarian stock, but the waitstaff are clued upwardly plenty to know that form of thing. (On a previous take in a waiter offered, without whatsoever provocation from me, to respect out what form of stock was inwards the soup of the day. I was impressed.)

We concentrated on the primary courses but it took real footling coaxing from our waiter to accept us get-go with a pizza aglio (sliced garlic, body of body of water salt, rosemary together with olive oil, $6.50). It was the perfect portion to portion alongside the iv of us; together with therefore hot together with fresh together with salty, leaving me appetised together with corking for the side past times side round.

Michael ordered the agnolotti (jumbo spinach ricotta pasta with napoli sauce together with shaved parmesan, $19.50). While he enjoyed it, he was disappointed that it didn't quite fill upwardly him (and at that price). Before I was one-half agency through Michael was already casting scheming eyes over my plate!

It was total of fettucine pesto (fresh basil, pino nuts, a deport upon of cream together with cheese, $17.50). While it was a fleck oily, I couldn't larn over the soft tenderness of the pasta - ane of the best I've e'er eaten. (Between my meals hither together with at the Corner, I may accept to rethink my skepticism of restaurant-prepared pasta.) Even so, I didn't heed sharing a fleck with Michael since it left opened upwardly the possibility of dessert.

In detail I'd heard proficient things well-nigh Cafe Italia's tiramisu ($10.50) together with bullied Carol into sharing a acre with me. It was the existent deal, together with the ideal pick-me-up earlier embarking on our belatedly motion painting session.

I wouldn't strongly recommend Cafe Italy to an adventurous vegetarian, specially given that Shakahari is solely a curt walk away. The card doesn't offering whatsoever surprises together with the prices are a footling steep. Yet the nutrient together with surrounds are a footing of lineament away from the Lygon St hussle. It's a pleasance to portion it with carnivorous company.

Address: 56-66 University St, Carlton
Ph: 9347 0638
Fully licensed
Prices: veg mains $16.90-19.50
Website: www.cafeitalia.com.au

May 11, 2008: Greenish Refectory

missed opportunities, we'd booked inwards a post-breakfast ACMI trip, together with Green Refectory was equally expert a mustering quest equally any. There was a shortage of tables within nosotros trusted that the weather condition would hold, made our means to the dorsum alley, together with pulled together an impromptu grouping table. It's all counter-service so, later downing or hence really impressive coffee, nosotros wandered dorsum inwards together with browsed our options. There were enough of veg meals, or hence sugariness together with or hence savoury - I decided to brave the rather hefty sounding breakfast stack ($9): a murphy cake, slabs of haloumi, Lycopersicon esculentum chunks together with spinach, all topped alongside a poached egg. The egg was merely slightly over-poached together with the murphy cake was a fleck soggy, but otherwise the stack was pretty expert - basically whatsoever excuse to convey haloumi at breakfast volition create me.

Cindy couldn't resist the muffins, going for a 2 form out muffin-meal: a pumpkin, feta together with pino nut (with added zucchini, cheesiness together with sundried tomatoes - $3.50) for her savoury first-course together with and then a raspberry, choc chip together with pear muffin ($2.80) for breakfast dessert. They were non the nearly photogenic treats - all lumpy alongside fillings. Both were a fiddling less nutritious than Cindy prefers, but they were expert value together with rich alongside flavoursome bits together with pieces.

The staff were helpful together with friendly, curious equally to how we'd all managed to sneak out on Mother's Day without getting inwards trouble. That's merely 1 upside of developing a gang of ex-pat Brisbanites*.

Address: 115 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Ph: 9387 1150
Price: veg breakfasts $2.50 - $14

*This review is dedicated to our wonderful Mums!

May 11, 2008: Leftover Makeover - Colcannon

knishes too bangers too crush yielded extra shredded cabbage too mashed potato. I figured that they could easily travel transformed into some variety of patty, too a wander some the network produced mushroom paprikash, it was a fine, warming wintertime meal.

May 15-16, 2008: Chocolate Beetroot Brownies

started new-old mixmaster made the beating stages effortless, though I didn't pass quite long plenty incorporating the eggs (make sure yous do!). Deciding to brand i together with a one-half times the original quantity to part some (these are the measurements given below), I in conclusion constitute something to fill upwards up a convincing one-half of the mixer's gigantic bowl. The solely nuisance was grating the beetroot, merely that for certain won't halt me from making these again.


Chocolate beetroot brownies

150g butter, softened
150g brownish sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon dry reason nutmeg
165g evidently flour
6 eggs
135g nighttime chocolate, melted
150g dry reason almonds
170g raw beetroot, finely grated
75g extra chocolate, melted

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Line a baking dish alongside newspaper together with grease it well.

Cream together the butter together with sugar. Mix inward the vanilla, nutmeg together with flour. Beat inward the eggs i at a fourth dimension until good combined (I failed to practise this!).

Once the melted chocolate is at room temperature, add together it to the batter. Fold inward the dry reason almonds together with beetroot.

Spread the brownie mixture inward the baking dish together with bake it for 25-30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Once the brownie has cooled, drizzle over the melted chocolate earlier slicing together with serving.

May 20, 2008: Broccoli In Addition To Bluish Vein Soup

effort, where the cheese flavour was a fleck also subtle). The downside of the cheesy flavour was the removal of whatever pretence that this is a especially salubrious soup, inwards fact it sat a piffling heavily inwards my tummy past times the halt of the meal, as well as mightiness function meliorate inwards smaller bowls to outset a multi-course repast off.

Broccoli as well as Blue Vein Soup

Oil
1 Onion
2 large potatoes, chopped
1.1 litres vegetable stock
350g broccoli, chopped roughly
80g blueish cheese, crumbled
150mL milk
Salt, pepper as well as juice of one-half a lemon (opt.)
90mL (6 tablespoons) cream, to serve

1. Soften the onion inwards a saucepan. Add potatoes as well as stock as well as convey to the boil. Simmer 10 minutes.

2. Add broccoli as well as produce for 10min. Puree or crush the soup.

3. Add the cheese as well as milk as well as flavor to sense of savor alongside salt, pepper, as well as lemon juice. Heat through without boiling.

4. Serve alongside swirl of cream inwards each bowl.

Yummy Weblog Award

passed on the Yummy Blog Award to where's the beef?. The Yummy weblog accolade is an accolade given to blogs amongst yummy recipes/photos. Even though our beingness vegetarian is closely linked our personal ethics, the top dog piece of job of this weblog is to present that vegetarian nutrient is only plainly yummy! So we're mighty pleased that Pam reckons we've succeeded.

Winners of the accolade are likewise asked to nominate their favourite desserts. Michael doesn't convey a long history of dessert training or consumption, though he does appear to convey a soft topographic point for fruit pies as well as pastries, equally good equally baked cheesecakes. I, on the other hand, was born amongst a dessert spoon inwards my mouth. I bookmark as well as endeavour novel dessert recipes ofttimes as well as entirely occasionally repeat them. However I convey an abiding dearest of night chocolate as well as domicile made H2O ice cream - the peanut butter chocolate balls as well as raspberry ripple H2O ice cream I made final summertime are skillful examples. Now equally wintertime rolls to a greater extent than or less I'm getting into gear for pudding: choc nutella, rhubarb & ginger, as well as banana butterscotch convey proved winners inwards the past, as well as I've got some other ane to present y'all inwards only a few days!

The blogs that convey been making me larn mmmm for sweets lately would convey to be:

• choc chip cookie, as well as cheque out her gorgeous strawberry mousse cake! and
  
• kaffee und kuchen, equally good equally baking some of her own).
  

So I, inwards turn, live on past times the Yummy Blog Award on to these 2 capable cooks.

May 22, 2008: Baked Tomatillo Salsa

our recent catch to Casa Iberica I picked upward a large tin of tomatillos. My i previous brush amongst tomatillos, where they constituted a broth, didn't break much close the fruit's flavour. black edible bean tofu tacos, spell I decided to accommodate Kurma's easy-bake salsa recipe to my dark-green alternative. Mashing the tomatillos roughly; combining them amongst a chopped dark-green chilli, a glug of olive crude too a few spoonfuls of chocolate-brown sugar; baking the lot inwards a hot oven for one-half an hour; this was all it took to make the sweetness too sour condiment you lot run into above.

May 24, 2008: Lord Of The Fries

the other week, I noticed the master copy Lord of the Fries (on the corner of Flinders together with Elizabeth Streets) selling novel nuggets! However, subsequently getting our game on, nosotros retired to the newer LOTF stand upwards across from Federation foursquare at Flinders St station - at that topographic point were no nuggets to live on constitute here.

here together with here.)

May 24, 2008: Attica

With my birthday fast approaching, Cindy in addition to I sat downwards for our at nowadays bi-annual hunt for a fancyish house amongst an interesting vego carte to splash out on. Cindy recalled dmargster's recommendation, which had been followed upwards yesteryear raves inwards The Age, Melbourne Foodie in addition to Eating With Jack in addition to rumours of a vegetarian degustation menu, all of which meant that Attica was the venue of selection this May.

While nosotros were forced to cross the river for our fancy feast this time, Attica is conveniently located almost 100m from Ripponlea prepare station, which made getting in that place relatively easy. The room itself is dark, inviting in addition to sleekly designed. Thankfully, the pattern isn't only almost aesthetics - there's enough of infinite in addition to around strategically hung heavy curtains that assistance the eating theatre from beingness swamped yesteryear noise. We had a overnice dorsum corner table, in addition to settled at 1 time into our pre-pre-meal breadstuff amongst exotic accompaniments: smoked almonds, fried brussel sprout pieces in addition to a fromage blanc spread amongst olive fossil oil in addition to chives. And butter of course.

Thai broth efforts, but superior inwards every way. The crunchy corn in addition to garlic provided the texture (and proved quite hard to scrape out of the bottom of the stylish, but slightly awkward bowls). Outside of the desserts, this was the star of the show.

I wonder where they larn their ideas), sorrel, pepper in addition to around cute picayune regal flowers. It was total of complex flavours, amongst the tangy lime jelly distracting us piece the other ingredients snuck upwards on our palates. I want I could cry back to a greater extent than almost what was inwards this - it was genuinely outstanding.

gold standard but it's even in addition to then highly, highly recommended.

Address: 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea
Ph: 9530 0111
Price: Degustation carte $110, $185 amongst matching wines
Licensed
Website: www.attica.com.au

May 25, 2008: Wwwash Ii

It's been a long fourth dimension betwixt wwwashes, but I tin plough over notice confirm that they're notwithstanding making mighty fine crepes. Vegetarian? Into poached eggs? You're inward luck - in that place are 5 such crepes on the menu, at $10-12 each, amongst adornments such every bit spinach, roasted capsicum, dukkah and/or lemon aioli. Not into eggs? The mushroom, spinach, ricotta as well as lemon filling is notwithstanding a winner. And as well as then there's the sweetness ones - I wishing I had room.

here.

Edit 13/11/08: Wwwash is straightaway the Wick - it's neither a laundromat nor an network cafe, but it notwithstanding does crepes! Read to a greater extent than at fitzroyalty as well as unwakeable.

May 25, 2008: Nutty Carrot'n'cumin Roast

cumin, carrot together with cashew nut roast from Wendy of A Wee Bit of Cooking. I starting fourth dimension caught sight of it when Johanna presented her Neb at Nut Roast spider web log effect final month. Since I soil my ain cashews together with breadcrumbs they took a loooong fourth dimension from pantry to plate, the 4 serves actually are a fleck on the pocket-size side, together with I seriously overestimated the sum of cumin I was supposed to add. Nevertheless they were tasty together with substantial, earning high praise from Michael.

We topped them with a trivial mayonnaise together with ate them amongst mixed greenish leaves together with baked fennel. The baked fennel was a trivial experiment on my business office - though the segments ended upwards looking a fleck dry, they were tender with chewy caramelised edges. This has operate past times away my favourite means to larn to know unfamiliar vegetables - a fleck of olive oil, tabular array salt together with pepper together with xx minutes inwards the oven seems to select out their best.

If you'd similar to attempt this cute together with comforting carrot'n'cumin roast for yourself, caput on over for A Wee Bit of Cooking.

May 25, 2008: Standard Mandarin Maple Pudding

complete disaster. (You know what they enjoin almost men together with baking recipes - don't endeavour to alter them.) Dishes were thrown, things were said - nosotros clearly needed approximately other interruption from each other.

With wintertime returning in i lawsuit again I wanted to discovery out if this pudding together with I could perish 'just expert friends'. I develop almost recreating the comfortable surround of our starting fourth dimension meeting. Grind, grate, beat, fold: everything seemed to survive running smoothly together with I started to relax. Then I'd simply seat the pudding into the oven when I realised I'd forgotten to add together the baking powder. Crap. So it was a hasty trip dorsum out in i lawsuit again for a highly unconventional stirring of the pulverisation into the batter, spell trying my best non to disturb the underlayer of maple syrup.

You know what? Everything turned out fine. Crisp peak (all cratered from the belated baking powder), moist together with slightly coarse interior alongside hints of Mandarin together with almond, together with a sugariness together with glutinous maple base. We've been coming together cheerfully over cups of tea for a total week!

Mandarin maple pudding
(credited to Matthew Evans, together with most probable taken from the Good Living department of the SMH inwards 2005 or 2006)

200g butter, softened
150g castor sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
3 eggs
1 tablespoon Mandarin zest
150g self-raising flour, sifted
50g almond meal
125mL maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Use an electrical mixer to cream together the butter, saccharide together with golden syrup. Beat inwards the eggs, i at a time, until good mixed. Fold inwards the zest, flour together with almond meal.

Grease a 2L casserole or pudding dish, together with thence spread the pudding batter evenly over it. Pour the maple syrup over the batter equally evenly equally you lot can. Cover the dish alongside foil.

Fill a baking tray alongside hot water, 2cm deep. Place the pudding dish into it, together with thence seat the lot inwards the oven to bake for an hour.

Take off the foil, plough the oven downward to 180 degrees C together with bake for 20-30 to a greater extent than minutes - until the peak is golden together with firm, together with a skewer comes out cleanly.

Serve warm alongside cream.

May 26, 2008: Classic Curry Company

De Orchid takeaway, then I gave them a telephone telephone every bit Michael walked home. Unfortunately their telephone went unanswered, eventually returning a message that they were closed due to unforeseen circumstances for a calendar week or two. Darn. It seems that individual else was having the really same conundrum, finding our spider web log via a google search for indian delivery carlton melbourne but 8 minutes afterward they searched for "de orchid" carlton! I wonder if they tried the Balti Indian Cafe every bit google recommended? Instead I took a facial expression at our fridge, papered alongside takeaway leaflets every bit it is, too chose the Classic Curry Company.

Michael too I showtime sampled the Classic's curries fifty-fifty earlier nosotros moved to Melbourne. We were lodging nearby acre assist a conference too had somehow heard of it every bit a local purveyor of inexpensive too cheerful Indian food. Like Red Pepper, it was an unadorned fit-out filled alongside members of the local Indian community, too big pots of curry going at really inexpensive rates. If retention serves, I intend nosotros paid entirely $6-6.50 for a vegetarian curry too rice! The prices are higher now, though $7.50 all the same seems a reasonable bespeak price.

With orders over $25 scoring costless delivery, nosotros were virtually obliged to purchase upwardly big - a serve of pakora (2 for $2), vegetable kofta, palak paneer, vegetable korma too 2 garlic naans ($1.50 each). The pakoras, rather than existence the battered whole chunks of vegetable that I expected, were deep-fried balls of vege mush. They didn't print me much, though the tamarind dipping sauce brought out the best inwards them. The naans looked pretty apartment too lifeless, but did truly bring out unopen to flakiness ane time I started trigger-happy in. The palak paneer had a mild, salty season alongside the spinach served nigh its natural texture rater than pureed. The kofta were quite expert too the tangy sauce had a petty kick. I expected petty of the korma, but its sweetness sauce won me over at showtime bite.

This is non nuanced cooking, too I had wondered if the Classic Curry Company's meals would alive upwardly to the slightly higher prices they're straight off charging. These curries definitely did, good exceeding my (fairly low) expectations too making our Mon nighttime inwards a cozy one.

Address: 597 Elizabeth St, Melbourne CBD
Ph: 93294040
Unlicensed
Price: vege curries alongside rice $7.50

May 28, 2008: Chickpea Cutlets

baked tomatillo salsa. Their powers combined degree a burger that non exclusively tastes fantastic, but tastes similar you're doing your trunk a favour.

Chickpea cutlets
(the recipe is everywhere, but appears to bring been posted to Chow.com yesteryear the authors themselves)

1 loving cup cooked chickpeas (I used a 400g can, drained)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 loving cup wheat gluten (I used Lotus 'gluten flour' from Allergy Block)
1/2 loving cup breadcrumbs
1/4 loving cup vege stock or water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced (I truly used the dry out powdered stuff)
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
extra stone oil for frying or greasing

Mash the chickpeas too stone oil together inwards a bowl until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients too combine to degree a dough. Knead the dough for nigh three minutes, until gluten strings form. Divide the dough into iv pieces too degree them into patties, no to a greater extent than than 1.5 cm thick.

Now y'all tin bake or shaver them. I did a combination of both: frying inwards a petty stone oil until golden on both sides, too therefore baking for a farther xv minutes to produce through.

May 30, 2008: Hot Dawg

White bun.

Sanitarium hot dog.

Cheddar cheese spread together with love apple tree sauce.

Please don't inquire me to justify it. I haven't eaten this 'food' inwards x years.

(It tasted every bit un-nourishingly proficient every bit I remembered. Uh-oh.)

June 1, 2008: Tokyo Treats - Meiji 86% Cacao

Even though this Tokyo process wasn't completely novel to me, I expected it to hold upward an intense experience. Chocolate amongst 86% cocoa is bitter. But skillful bitter. These miniature, individually wrapped portions are simply the correct size for a cocoa jolt.

However, I had a detail chore inwards hear for virtually of these. Their assignment volition hold upward revealed inwards my side yesteryear side post.

June 1, 2008: Pumpkin Spelt Muffins Ii

pumpkin in addition to spelt muffins. And I made roughly changes:

• I had a bottle of pear juice concentrate at the induce to substitute for the deadening hr in addition to a one-half taken to trim back a litre of apple tree juice to syrup;
• Since the pear juice immediately lacked an chance to travel infused amongst peppercorns, cinnamon sticks in addition to coriander seeds, I blended inwards 1/4 teaspoon of each of these spices, ground;
• I folded inwards chopped 86% cocoa chocolate.

Adding minimally-sweetened chocolate to these soft, gluey muffins had simply the upshot I had hoped for. These muffins experience completely indulgent, pause upward my workday afternoon, in addition to are a superior pick to the overpriced chocolate bars inwards the neighbouring nutrient court.

June 3, 2008: Caramelised Onion As Well As Fennel Tart

I'm non certain that the motion painting inwards a higher house does jurist to this savoury tart, though caramelised onions are rarely pretty things. However, I've learned what a mellow delicacy they are as well as am no longer repelled past times their appearance. Nor should you lot hold upwardly - this tart is a perfect lite tumble repast alongside a curt listing of ingredients as well as straight-forward preparation. Just toss together a salad of light-green leaves piece it's inwards the oven as well as you're done!

The recipe belongs to Dayna, alongside her perpetual Vegan Visitors, as well as you lot tin banking concern stand upwardly for it out on her blog. Though she recommends that it tin hold upwardly served warm or chilled, I'd urge you lot to to bask it fresh. Puff pastry is never quite the same at whatever other time, though I must acknowledge that the onions took on the near intriguing bluish tinge a twenty-four hours later!

June 11, 2008: Spaghetti Together With Bombballs

soy bombs - we've made together with enjoyed the repeatedly. Each time, Cindy has made some muttered comment almost using the soy bombs equally meatballs inwards a spaghetti 'n' meatball agency dish. We decided it was worth giving the reckon a crack, together with Cindy drummed upward this bolognese recipe from here. Basically I followed all the steps upward until the frying, together with baked them inwards a preheated (180 degree) oven instead of plopping them inwards the frypan. They likely had almost one-half an hr all up, amongst numerous stops to rotate them about. Baking them likely leaves yous amongst slightly drier bombs than frying does, but you're too saving yourself a decent sum of oil. It's your selection really.

Then it was fourth dimension for the bolognese - I followed Buttons' directions to the missive of the alphabet - solely substituting some chilli flakes for the fresh chillies she'd used (and dropping the tempeh of shape - its house existence taken hither past times the soy bombs). It's a pretty neat sauce recipe - the sun-dried tomato, chilli together with artichokes struggle it out for flavor dominance, but they destination upward sharing themselves around inwards a delicious gustatory modality compromise. All that was left to produce was some speedily-boiled spaghetti together with nosotros were practiced to go. Pour the bolognese over the soy bombs (or delicately submerge them inwards the sauce, depending on how many pots yous desire to use), together with scoop them upward onto a pile of spaghetti. Gold!

June 12, 2008: Hotel Lincoln Ii

our final catch to the Hotel Lincoln in addition to this fourth dimension it proved to live a cosy in addition to convenient environs for dinner amongst Marty in addition to Mike. The bar is pop in addition to the adjoining dining expanse every bit good fills up, though the tables are generously spaced. H5N1 peek downward the corridor reveals to a greater extent than tables, these covered amongst white linen.

The card changes seasonally, though the proportion of vegetarian options remains fairly constant - dahl in addition to naan ($13) appears on the bar menu, piece the eatery offers 1 meat-free entree in addition to 1 main.

last time, but I relished every mouthful of the rich sauce in addition to strong mushrooms. Though this would bring been filling plenty on its own, the lightly dressed dark-green salad was a expert selection for balance.

This is Michael's main, the vegetarian plate ($23.50): cummin spiced carrots, dark-green leeks in addition to sauce gribiche, mushroom in addition to chestnut pithivier. Though it was all real tasty, the fancy advert in addition to serving size didn't quite seem worth it - for sure non $8.50 to a greater extent than than my delectable pasta.

One matter does seem to bring changed since final twelvemonth - Hotel Lincoln right away has its ain website!

June 13, 2008: Cafe Vue - Friday Cocktail Night

Update 27/1/2019: Cafe Vue has closed down.

I'm non the superstitious type at all, but my Fri the 13th was looking pretty unlucky. I was sent to Canberra for the twenty-four hr current past times my boss, to introduce a projection I knew naught virtually to a grouping of suits I'd never met. My flying dwelling identify should get got been just early on plenty for me to accept a taxi straightaway from the aerodrome to a much-anticipated reservation for Cafe Vue's Fri cocktail night.

I showtime read virtually Cafe Vue's cocktail nights on Melbourne Gastronome. Five cocktails too 5 modest plates for $75, too at i of Melbourne's most prestigious eating empires! It was mystifyingly practiced value for (admittedly a lot of) coin too equally I perused their website, I was a petty disappointed that "vegetarian selection available" wasn't discreetly printed anywhere. H5N1 twosome of days afterward mentioning it on Claire's blog, she sent me a individual message assuring me that they did indeed offering a vegetarian selection - hooray! We eagerly laid a engagement amongst Jo-Lyn too Mike for cocktail craziness, long earlier my boss fifty-fifty mentioned our nation's capital.

And hence on Fri afternoon I arrived at Canberra airport, ready for my homeward journey, to a greater extent than than an hr early. My notes were written upward chop-chop plenty too I had plenty of fourth dimension to picket the calorie-free alter exterior equally planes to too from Sydney were delayed too cancelled. Eventually these delays flowed on to other flights, amongst mine shifting dorsum 20 minutes. By the fourth dimension it boarded, 20 minutes had stretched to twoscore minutes. The unhappy inner monologue began: I'd gotten upward at 5am, taken on a task no-one wanted, fifty-fifty spell nether unusually high describe per unit of measurement area to consummate my ain work, too my vantage was missing out on this particular dinner I'd been hence looking forwards to. By the fourth dimension my bird navigated its agency through Melbourne's fog I was lxxx minutes belatedly too resolving to become dwelling identify instead. I would certainly get got missed 2 or 3 dishes past times the fourth dimension I made it to the metropolis too what was the point? I was tired too cranky. I called Michael too he insisted that I should come upward for whatever dishes were left - nosotros would get got to human foot the neb regardless of whether or non I showed.

Thank goodness I did. The staff had shifted our service to the halt of their rounds to conform me. My 3 dining companions had ordered closed to extra early on drinks too were lingering over their showtime cocktail when I arrived. Before I'd finished my 2nd potty-mouthed judgement virtually my day, a DIY martini was laid earlier me. In the drinking glass - chilled rye vodka. On the side - pipettes of mutual frigidity H2O too French dry out vermouth for the experimental evolution of one's ain ideal ratio. H5N1 dark-green olive or lemon rind to finish. "You get got no sentiment how much I demand this," I said gratefully to the waiter. He looked me upward too downwardly too replied, "I intend I do".

And vegos, yous wanna know something actually cool? At Fri cocktail night, nosotros larn our nutrient direct from the Vue de Monde kitchen. Omnivores don't.

The showtime such plate was this King Brown risotto, amongst cep air too tarragon emulsion. This double-barrelled mushroom hitting - hence intense too earthy, amongst the forcefulness to fit the strong martini. Tasted separately, the tarragon emulsion had a complementary flavour but I otherwise lost it inwards the mix.

Boy, that martini hitting the spot! By the fourth dimension my 2nd plate arrived, my tension had melted too my grudges vanished. Vue de Monde was clearly making the most of mushroom season, serving us cep mushroom broth amongst horseradish air too a cep tuille. The broth was incredibly viscid too rich, certainly containing closed to variety of thickening agent. In comparing the tuille was crisp too newspaper thin, similar a sliver of golden filo pastry, though it was composed primarily of mushroom! The perfect counterbalance of textures. The horseradish didn't construct much of an impression.

Providing an acidity to cutting through the rich broth was the "About Thyme" cocktail. Terrible name, incredible cocktail! Cytrus vodka, honey, thyme saccharide syrup, orangish too lemon juice, soda too ice. The thyme wasn't apparent to start, but bruising the sprigs a petty added a whole novel dimension to this drink.

my guiltiest pleasance of finally week.

The accompanying cocktail was the Rye Flip, or "Sultana Bran inwards a glass", equally the bartender joked. Rye vodka, whiskey, sherry, muscat too a whole egg whipped to a froth, amongst an ornamental java edible bean floating inwards the centre. It was a sweetness too creamy concoction that I enjoyed to a greater extent than on its ain rather than inwards combination amongst the tomato-and-cheese plate.

Interlude too Attica, Vue de Monde had something novel to offer, amongst the charcoal beingness completely edible.

With our smoky veges nosotros slurped Belebu-Rharb Sours. I could sense of savour the bitter orangish too orangish flower H2O separately too distinctly, too in that location was equally good lemon too lime juice too a frothed egg white inwards the mix. Though they're non scrawled inwards my notes, I'm certain that rhubarb too pomegranate were equally good somehow involved.

Dessert arrived without a beverage, too nor did it demand one. This warm dear macaroon amongst white chocolate parfait, exclaimed Jo-Lyn, volition "change your life". The textures were but dreamy - the macaroon was soft too tender too chewy too but a petty crisp inwards all the correct places, spell the parfait was silky smooth. It was shockingly sweet.

Like a 2nd dessert, the finally cocktail was a Caraway Shrub - port steeped inwards berries too and then refortified amongst vodka. It was to live on sipped inwards turns amongst a meringue-like caraway foam. Lovely.

It became fairly clear equally the nighttime went on that a detail construct of vodka was sponsoring proceedings inwards closed to way. The bargain was sealed amongst a take-home miniature bottle of said vodka too glossy flip-book of vodka-based cocktail recipes for each of us. This scheme mightiness become closed to agency to explaining why we're requested to pay hence petty for hence much.

Though my twenty-four hr current could get got finished amongst bad luck too a mighty bad mood on my part, Cafe Vue compensated several times over - I've non felt quite hence jubilant too grateful (and yes, quite hence nether the influence) inwards closed to time. I made a indicate to give cheers the staff for accommodating my shameful lateness too left a sizable tip. Maybe they've a practiced motivation for offering all that vodka afterward all!

Address: 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD
Ph: 9691 3899
Fully licensed
Price: Fri nighttime cocktails $75 per person
Website: http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/cafe-vue.aspx

Coming Soon: Meatless Weblog Meet

The next bloggers' meet-up, develop for July 26, introduces a few novel elements that choke inwards peculiarly appealing to me:

it adjoins a I'm told that Abbotsford is the best of the Lentils, thus can't aspect to plough over it a shot.) The stayers tin as well as thus retire to checked 'em out myself - twice.

So come upwards bring together us! I'll last the nondescript gal amongst the mushroom brooch. Michael volition last tall, ginger-haired as well as affable. He e'er is.

June 14, 2008: Markov House Iii

Edit 23/01/2018: Markov Place has closed, the premises is instantly occupied by The Moor's Head.

the restorative ability of cocktails, I kicked off the eve with a vodka, pear together with cardamom concoction together with was duly rewarded with a cool but comfortingly spicy beverage.

Markov is currently offering plates of vegetarian paella to share. Studded with wide beans, babe greenish beans, grape tomatoes together with goats curd, it's a nourishing meal. You involve a minimum of 2 people to order, together with you'll last charged $25 per person. Lovely equally it was, this seems a petty expensive for what's offered: spell Michael together with I were good fed, 3 girls farther downwards the tabular array received the same constituent to portion betwixt them together with were charged, yes, $75.

If naught else that ensured room for dessert, a starting fourth dimension for me at Markov! I chose the honeycomb parfait ($11), an incredibly buttery iced dessert with an intense season of honey, from both inside the parfait together with from the adornments. The twirly wafer offered a welcome chip of crunch, though no refuge from the sweetness.

For the other desserters 4 plates of the chocolate pudding were brought out ($11 each), each i shared with at to the lowest degree 2 people. Though it looked similar a fairly touchstone dessert, these elicited multiple petty moans some the table. The molten chocolate pudding had that adult, bittersweet seize with teeth together with the icecream was besides of high quality. Perhaps the pocket-sized paella proportions were a approbation inwards disguise!

(You tin read nigh our previous visits to Markov Place here together with here.)

June 15, 2008: Due North Isle Cafe

Our ongoing dynasty of inner-North breakfasts took inward about other halt concluding weekend. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 reasonably novel house tucked away on Scotchmer Street most Dench Bakery (which, shamefully, we've nevertheless to blog). Our Fitzroy informants Mike as well as Jo seat us on to the house as well as the joined us, along alongside Kerrie as well as Daniel for a Lord's Day morning time sampling. Things starting fourth dimension pretty piece of cake on the North Island - nosotros got at that spot at 9:30 as well as at that spot was solely 1 other soul there. It was pumping past times the fourth dimension nosotros left though, then it'd hold upwards wise to plough upwards earlier 10:30 when North Fitzroy wakes up.

The carte du jour is chock amount of vegie options - from $4 bagel 'n' jam to $9.50 slow-roasted tomatoes. Cindy (along alongside Jo as well as Daniel) couldn't resist the bombay toast, served alongside huckleberry compote, pear as well as orangish bloom cream. Just expect at it upwards at that spot - all slathered inward orange-blossom cream as well as soaked inward berries as well as sauce. The toast was thick as well as rich without existence equally greasy equally French toast tin be. The pear was simply the icing on the cake. The toasty, creamy cake.


I typically opted for a savoury meal: lemon as well as herb roasted plain mushrooms alongside rocket, pesto as well as fetta served on about toasted Turkish bread. The mushrooms were cooked to perfection, the pesto was amount of flavor without existence overpowering as well as contrasted perfectly alongside the fetta. This was a fine, fine breakfast - fifty-fifty without eggs! Who'd convey thought?

I should cite the java too: rich as well as potent without existence harsh - 1 of the meliorate ones I've had.

The solely negative of the whole morning time was the timing of the meals - the 3 of us who ordered savouries got ours long earlier the Mumbai toast arrived. In fact, I intend I'd basically finished my mushies past times the fourth dimension Cindy was starting on her sweets. It's a ridiculously modest kitchen, then it's understandable - peradventure it's meliorate to plough upwards inward smaller groups.

Address: 111 Scotchmer St, North Fitzroy 3068
Ph: 9486 8864
Price: $4 - $9.50

June 15, 2008: Satay Burger Sauce

those chickpea cutlets again, here's a satay burger sauce recipe. It's ultra-thick for minimum drippage, sugariness as well as crunchy. However, ours came upwards brusque on the oestrus degree - I simply didn't add together plenty ruby-red chilli flakes. I intend a 'lil fresh ruby-red chilli would actually liven this upwards side yesteryear side time.

The recipe comes from a listing of Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit). That's a recipe listing we'd create good to operate our means through, isn't it? Maybe it'll educate into a serial of themed posts. It'll move hard to tear myself away from those chickpea cutlets, though - this fourth dimension I tried 1 of Lisa's adaptations, using crushed Vita Brits instead of breadcrumbs. I didn't honor whatever divergence inwards the patties as well as this is the to a greater extent than convenient approach inwards this solid - when Michael's non sampling Melbourne's cafe-poached eggs he's inhaling a bucketful of Vita Brits as well as muesli, therefore they're always, e'er on hand.

Satay Burger Sauce

Finely dice/mince 1 pocket-size onion, 1 clove of garlic as well as 1 ruby-red chilli. Heat 2 teaspoons of sesame oil inwards a saucepan as well as saute the onion, garlic as well as chilli until the onion is translucent. Stir inwards 1 loving cup of natural crunchy peanut butter until it has melted. Add 1/4 loving cup teriyaki sauce (we simply used soy sauce as well as a splash of rice vino vinegar), 2 teaspoons chocolate-brown sugar, 1/4 loving cup water, 1 teaspoon love apple tree paste, 1 teaspoon tahini as well as salt as well as pepper, to taste. Simmer for x minutes, as well as then serve over your favourite burger recipe.

June 17, 2008: Mushroom Too Eggplant Stew

Our Oxfam 'World inward Your Kitchen' calendar has been relatively successful hence far. The focus is actually on uncomplicated recipes, alongside relatively few ingredients that accept less than one-half an hr to throw together, which is ideal for a lazy workday dinner. June's process was from Ghana: mushroom in addition to eggplant stew. I was a chip skeptical of this recipe - it seemed to survive relying solely on onion in addition to a pinch of chili to flavor upwards the vegies. I ended upwards adding inward a few teaspoons of garam masala towards the terminate of the cooking to boost the gustatory modality a bit.

It turned out to survive a hearty, warming mush for a winter's evening. The extra spices were likely necessary - I recollect it would stimulate got been also bland for me otherwise. I'm non certain I'll rush dorsum to larn inward again, but it was uncomplicated in addition to reasonably tasty - total of chunky mushroom bits swimming inward a mashed upwards eggplant sauce, alongside crispy onion bits providing the only textural interest. We opted to serve it on meridian of to a greater extent than or less quinoa, which worked pretty good - yous actually necessitate something to soak upwards the liquid.

Mushroom in addition to Eggplant Stew

1 eggplant, diced
225g mushrooms, sliced
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
150ml vegie stock (you tin purpose the liquid yous boil the eggplant inward if yous desire to)
oil
salt
2 teaspoons garam masala

Boil the eggplant pieces for 10 minutes or hence until they soften upwards in addition to and hence drain them (keeping the boiling H2O if you're using it for stock). Mash it upwards into a coarse mush.

In the meantime, saute the onion inward stone oil for 5 minutes in addition to and hence add together the mushrooms, tomatoes, chili in addition to salt. Fry the mix for 10 minutes or hence until the mushrooms in addition to tomato plant stimulate got softened.

Now stir inward the mashed eggplant in addition to stock in addition to simmer for at to the lowest degree 10 minutes patch your quinoa/rice is cooking. Stir inward the garam masala nearly a infinitesimal earlier yous desire to serve it all up.

June 20, 2008: Friday Featre Nutrient - Laksa Me

January 2016: Doing a fleck of weblog tidying upwards in addition to it looks similar this house has been shut for ages.

been plenty of good press for it in addition to the affordable, speedy Asian nutrient it promised seemed perfect for a pre-theatre bite. It's tucked away on trendy Liverpool Street inwards the city, in addition to would endure pretty slow to walk conduct past. There's zero also slick most the within either - it's all clearly aimed at beingness low-key in addition to minimalist, alongside lots of concrete in addition to bare tables. We had no problems wandering inwards in addition to getting a tabular array at 6:45 on a Fri and, despite a duad of decent-sized groups turning up, it didn't expect similar bookings would endure worth worrying about.

The card is pretty substantial, but the vego options aren't super abundant: there's a few starters, a curry, a laksa in addition to a pad thai - non a bad list, but non a huge hit either. We started alongside ane of the starters each: a vegetarian triangle (Wok tossed shredded daikon, crunchy yam edible bean in addition to Asian chives, folded inwards Chinese white pastry, pan fried in addition to served alongside caramelised nighttime sugariness soy sauce) in addition to a crisp tofu packet (Bean thread noodles wok tossed alongside Chinese mushroom, carrot in addition to gingko nut; in addition to and so carefully wrapped inwards paper-thin tofu "skin, deep-fried till crisp. Served alongside salted plum sauce). The tofu packet was the star - a beautiful combination of textures in addition to flavours, in addition to the get-go fourth dimension I've actually enjoyed the salty-plum sentiment (which, to my palate at least, works much meliorate equally a sauce than equally a drink). The vegie triangle was nice, but wasn't equally memorable.

This is Vegan Melbourne, she in all likelihood wouldn't accept ordered the laksa. As it was, nosotros both felt that nosotros had to endeavor the eponymous dish, in addition to ordered the Vegetarian 'skinny' laksa (A Laksa that is non only vegetarian, it is also depression inwards cholesterol too. Thin Rice Vermicelli pack alongside babe spinach, enoki in addition to oyster mushroom, crisp tofu puff in addition to deep fried eggplant inwards a lite tangy Laksa stock). It's worth restressing Harriet's point: this is ane hot laksa. The spiciness of the sauce proved also much for Cindy, in addition to she resorted to carefully angling out the noodles in addition to vegies in addition to trying to avoid also much of the spicy soup. I was happier alongside the spice levels (although whatsoever hotter in addition to it actually would accept been overpowering), in addition to actually enjoyed the altitude layer of the dish - beautifully crisp tofu, delicious chunks of eggplant in addition to some wonderful greens. Unfortunately, equally y'all dug below the surface, the fillings form of dried upwards in addition to it was all noodles in addition to soup. Which wasn't a huge work - the soup was rich in addition to spicy, in addition to the noodles were nicely cooked, but it was only a fleck lacking inwards interest. Not bad for $10 though.

I'm non certain we'll hurry dorsum to Laksa Me - the spice levels were also demanding for Cindy, in addition to the wages for me wasn't plenty to larn inwards worth the supply visit. Still, Harriet's recommendation of the pad thai powerfulness only revive Cindy's enthusiasm.

Address: 16 Liverpool Street, Melbourne
Ph: 9639 9985
Price: Starters $2.50-$4.00 a piece, noodles $10, mains $18
Licensed (and BYO, alongside $10 corkage)
Website: http://www.laksame.com/

June 24, 2008: London

Hello from surprisingly sunny England! We'll live on blogging irregularly from the northern hemisphere over the side past times side few weeks, on a trip that combines pocket-sized doses of operate on Cindy's purpose amongst sight-seeing in addition to plenty of vegetarian eating for the both of us.

Due to the vagaries of our ridiculous go plans (Cindy returns to Commonwealth of Australia from the U.K. via Chattanooga, spell I caput dorsum through Tokyo), it made feel (financial feel anyway) for the 2 of us to wing inward to London approximately 6 hours apart. This meant that I turned upward at Heathrow at nigh 7:30 inward the morning; tired, hungry in addition to alone. After finding a identify to stash my luggage for the solar daytime I headed off to Marylebone Lane for approximately breakfast, based on the Lonely Planet Guide’s recommendation. After fruitlessly strolling upward in addition to downward the lane in addition to failing to notice they served upward on our see 2 years ago, then I was hoping that the brekkies would overstep muster. Unfortunately they were pretty ordinary – plainly the U.K. lags a long agency behind Commonwealth of Australia when it comes to cooked breakfasts, it’s the stodgy total English linguistic communication or nothing. Mine at to the lowest degree came amongst approximately vego sausages (which were fine, but non much meliorate than those y'all tin purchase from Safeway). The beans tasted similar Heinz, the toast was a piddling mutual frigidity in addition to the poached eggs were poached beyond recognition, leaving only difficult piddling balls of yolk. Still, amongst a big splash of Lycopersicon esculentum sauce, this was all filling in addition to tolerable plenty to fuel me upward for approximately explorations of London.

Without the mental unloosen energy to guide maintain inward galleries or history, I spent most of my solar daytime wandering through Regent’s Park checking out the collection of exotic waterbirds (there was fifty-fifty a dark swan from Australia).

The commons led me upward to Primrose Hill – an pinnacle of nigh v metres that gives y'all a stance across all of London.

I staggered my agency dorsum to the subway in addition to establish my agency to Beatroot for tiffin (alas I forgot to guide maintain pictures – it’s a buffet agency vego identify where y'all produce total upward a tiffin box amongst a diversity of salads, stir-fries in addition to other treats – inexpensive in addition to delicious). This led me into the depths of West End hell – crowds of people, traffic in addition to dissonance – it was all also much for me inward my delicate state. Luckily, it was fourth dimension to consider Cindy, then I stumbled downward to Holborn station for our 3pm rendezvous. Thanks to slight delays at all stages of her trip, this turned into a 5:30pm rendezvous, pregnant that past times the fourth dimension we’d headed out to Kings Cross to alternative upward my luggage it was fourth dimension for us to brand our agency to our temporary dwelling household at Emily in addition to Sam’s place. This was a haven from the confusion outside: familiar faces, a comforting home-cooked repast of warmly spiced chickpea stew followed past times banana in addition to grapefruit upside-down cake in addition to in conclusion a soft mattress to telephone phone our own, at to the lowest degree for 3 nights.

June 25, 2008: London

Cindy was spending her rootage total 24-hour interval inward London with Emily at Imperial College, so I was on my ain sightseeing again. I’d hatched a vague innovation to pass the 24-hour interval wandering around the Thames, from the Tower Bridge downward to Battersea Park, with numerous stops inward between. For some argue Cindy together with I had failed to see the Tower of London in conclusion fourth dimension nosotros were inward London, so I was wowed past times the mighty span together with the ancient fortress.



A quick stroll along the Thames path together with across London Bridge had me wandering past times Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre together with into the Tate Modern, with its imposing turbine hall. Like Brisbane’s Powerhouse on steroids.


After spending a pair of hours going through the first-class Street together with Studio exhibition together with sitting for a few serenity minutes inward the stunning Rothko room, it was dorsum out into the crowds together with across the Millennium Bridge towards St Paul’s.


The entry fee together with queues discouraged me from genuinely going into the cathedral, instead wandering on towards my planned luncheon venue. The Time Out vegetarian guide to London had intrigued me with its hope of vegetarian Japanese nutrient at Saki. I started to wonder when I realised that the eating seat was located straight across from London’s meat markets, but it wasn’t until I sat downward with the bill of fare that I realised that ‘vegetarian’ genuinely meant ‘at to the lowest degree ane vegetarian dish on the menu’. And that the nutrient wasn’t cheap: fifteen pounds past times the fourth dimension I’d had a beer together with a laid upward lunch. Still, the laid upward luncheon was pretty good: miso soup, udon noodles, assorted vego sushi pieces together with some tempura. It was all fresh together with tasty, but I left slightly disappointed having had high expectations of a bill of fare filled with vegetarian Japanese delights.


A quick stroll along Fleet Street together with through the former inns of courtroom nigh Chancery Lane – all London barristers bring to bring their offices inward these court, which are run on arcane 14th century traditions. Still, they bring lovely gardens.


I continued downward along the banking concern of the Thames past times some of the ministry building edifice together with to the ridiculous splendour of Westminster together with Westminster Abbey.



Then it was fourth dimension for a interruption from the crowds together with a residuum on a common bench inward St James’ Park, filled with to a greater extent than exotic waterfowl. London genuinely does bring a rich array of wonderful parks dotted alongside all the crowds together with former buildings.



A fighting to a greater extent than walking (I was genuinely starting to run out of steam past times the belatedly afternoon) took me around through Chelsea towards Battersea Park together with past times the imposing (and derelict) Battersea Powerstation.

A serenity sit down inward the common together with a brief flurry of enthusiastic bird-watching (which meant I could instruct dorsum dwelling bragging nigh the cracking tits I’d seen) together with I was completely spent. After some confusing world carry wrangling it was dorsum to Em together with Sam’s identify together with so off to the local Eritrean together with Italian eating seat Red Sea for dinner. We opted for the vegetarian special, which the bill of fare suggested served 2 or 3. Perhaps because in that place were no other customers around, nosotros ended upward with plenty nutrient to feed a pocket-size regular army – a huge injera platter, artfully decorated with 4 unlike stews (the lemony-spinach ane together with the lentilly orangish ane were the clear stand upward outs) together with a side salad. Throw inward a seemingly endless render of piffling personal injera rolls for dipping together with the 4 of us were alarmingly total good earlier we’d got through it all. Our waiter briefly chastened us for leaving also much salad, earlier relenting together with serving us upward some traditional Eritrean coffee, which was at to the lowest degree 30% sugar. So good. We settled dorsum with our coffees together with watched the 2nd one-half of the Turkey v Deutschland Euro semi-final with the eating seat owners, all of us cheering on the gutsy Turks. Despite their last-minute defeat, nosotros left the eating seat happy, total together with exhausted – all of us falling straight into our beds when nosotros got dorsum home.

Photo credit to Sam together with his snazzy photographic tv set camera phone.