Caramelised White Chocolate Icecream

January 20-21, 2018

This icecream recipe isn't quite my commons style. Nope, it's non from home-grown vegan trick. It doesn't actually require an icecream maker. And it's flavoured amongst white chocolate, the to the lowest degree chocolatey of all chocolates. Yet Michael, who skips past times every white Lindt ball inwards the box, declared it the best icecream I've made inwards years!

So what is this icecream? It's from the blog Delicious Everyday. It's generally simply made from double cream in addition to sweetened condensed milk, which feels a fleck similar cheating, but is thus sweetness in addition to thick in addition to creamy that it actually doesn't involve to survive churned. And it's flavoured amongst caramelised white chocolate.

Caramelising white chocolate was pretty funny this kickoff fourth dimension some - unwrapping it, popping it whole onto a baking tray, in addition to roasting it inwards a depression oven for over an hour, until it browned. The chocolate alone kinda melts, in addition to it's surprisingly hard to operate a spatula through it in addition to brand certain the chocolate roasts evenly. I was cautious, turning my oven to only 100°C, in addition to every bit a lawsuit I spent an hr in addition to a one-half on this chore instead of the directed hr at 120°C. I'll know amend side past times side time.

The final result is rich, rich, rich, amongst a acquit upon of toasty caramel depth. I served small-scale sensible scoops, amongst a fruit salad of mango in addition to pineapple dressed inwards lime juice, when I had my international guest in addition to his married adult woman over for dinner. (The residue of the repast was much to a greater extent than predictable, with Michael in addition to I crushed lentil platter, coriander in addition to yoghurt-dressed pumpkin, in addition to a Spring salad.) 

Caramelised white chocolate icecream
(a recipe from Delicious Everyday)

150g white chocolate (make certain it's based on cocoa butter, non some other vegetable oil)
395g tin dismiss sweetened condensed milk
600mL double cream

Preheat an oven to 120°C.

Place the chocolate inwards a small-scale baking tray in addition to roast it for 60-90 minutes, stirring at 10 minutes intervals amongst a baking spatula, until the chocolate has developed a deep caramel colour. The texture is hopefully smooth, but unexpectedly thick! Here are some indicative photos from the source blog.

Transfer one-half of the caramelised chocolate to a medium bowl. Gradually whisk inwards the condensed milk until smooth, in addition to thus whisk inwards the cream until everything's good mixed.

At this indicate the master copy recipe suggests pouring one-half of the cream mixture into your freezer container, marbling through the extra chocolate, in addition to repeating amongst with remaining ingredients earlier freezing. I chose to refrigerate the cream mixture overnight, shop the remaining chocolate at room temperature, in addition to churn the cream mixture earlier assembling in addition to freezing. I works life the chocolate likewise thick to marble, in addition to side past times side fourth dimension I intend I'll refrigerate it in addition to chop it into chips that I tin dismiss stir through the icecream.

Freeze the icecream for at to the lowest degree four hours earlier serving. I works life that it was easiest to scoop afterwards xv minutes at room temperature.

A Fan's Notes Iv

January 22, 2018

A Fan's Notes is notwithstanding doing its fancy Friday nighttime degustations, but for the balance of the calendar week it's firmly a vegan-friendly dive bar. There are parmas, burgers, inexpensive tacos too and then forth, addition reasonably priced booze, pub trivia too the occasional gig. It's a perfect picayune local. We noticed their Mon nighttime specials - $5 vegan burgers - too couldn't resist heading along to depository fiscal establishment fit it out.

Of course, too then did almost everyone else inwards the greater Melbourne area. When nosotros got at that topographic point nigh 7, the staff were visibly shell-shocked from the early on rush too couldn't fifty-fifty country us whether there'd last nutrient available if nosotros stuck around. The kitchen was unopen temporarily too they suggested nosotros depository fiscal establishment fit dorsum inwards one-half an hr to run into where things stood. We kicked dorsum alongside drinks every bit things died downwardly too were lucky that at that topographic point turned out to last a few burgers left in i lawsuit the outset moving ridge of orders had been dealt with. Cindy requested the fish burger (a nori, tofu too lemon patty), spell I went for the chilli burger (quinoa too beetroot patty alongside chipotle coleslaw, tomato plant too avocado).

At $5 a popular I had pretty depression expectations, but these were both fantastic, means ahead of the to a greater extent than mutual mushroom or potato-based veggie patties too loaded alongside neat condiments. The $5 cost also brings out masses of people - besides many for the kitchen to realistically handle. We've only seen that inwards hereafter the Mon exceptional is going to last a $15 drink/chips/burger combo, which notwithstanding seems similar an outrageously skillful bargain - can't hold off to depository fiscal establishment fit it out.

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Nobody's blogged this house since we visited inwards December. You tin give the axe also run into our previous posts here too here.

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A Fan's Notes
787 Nicholson St, Carlton North
9943 8373
burger menu
facebook page

Accessibility: There's a apartment entry means to a slightly crowded interior. We ordered too paid at the high bar. There's a single, unisex lav cubicle, which is upward a pace off an uneven path. 

Apple Walnut Salad Alongside Rhubarb Dressing

January 28, 2018

My colleague Jane kindly gave me only about of her home-grown rhubarb afterwards seeing this recipe hither on the blog. We traded cake recipes, too, but fifty-fifty afterwards reflecting on those beauties I pulled out 2 novel recipes for this bunch! This cute lilliputian salad has been bookmarked over a decade, from the now-defunct nutrient weblog vanesscipes. (Thankfully the Wayback Machine tin all the same dredge it up.)

Here the rhubarb is only gently sauteed alongside crude oil too balsamic vinegar to cast the salad dressing. It's all the same quite theater too whole, a dissimilar texture to the collapsing puddles I'm accustomed to inwards many desserts. While I intend of rhubarb every bit a cool weather condition comfort food, this salad shows how vivid too refreshing it tin be! That's by too large cheers to the apple tree matchsticks too radish rounds that brand upwards the crisp, watery mass of the dish. 

I was worried the apple tree mightiness dark-brown quickly, but the dressing preserves it good too it was all the same inwards skilful shape for packed lunches the side yesteryear side day. We paired this juicy, tangy salad alongside the simplest chickpea salad and they made a relaxed, happy summertime coupling.

Apple walnut salad alongside rhubarb dressing
(a recipe from vanesscipes)

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 long stalks rhubarb
ane teaspoon dark-brown sugar
generous pinch of salt
ane 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 loving cup walnuts
2 Granny Smith apples
vi radishes
2 handfuls greenish salad leaves

Pour ane tablespoon of the crude oil into a medium saucepan too develop it over medium heat. Slice the rhubarb into inch-long segments too saute them inwards the crude oil for most five minutes - they should move softening a fleck but all the same asset their shape. Add the sugar, salt, vinegar too 2nd tablespoon of oil. Saute for a brace to a greater extent than minutes, thence plow off the heat.

Gently toast the walnuts until fragrant. Slice the apples into matchsticks, too the radishes into sparse rounds.

Time to get together the salad! I layered upwards greenish leaves, radishes, apples, rhubarb dressing, thence walnuts. We also tossed together the leftovers too the dressing helped foreclose the apple tree from browning.

Rhubarb & Kokosnoot Sago

January 28, 2018

The ease of Jane's rhubarb gift went into this unproblematic dessert - stewed rhubarb interspersed alongside a kokosnoot sago pudding. It's to a greater extent than or less other recipe I've held onto for to a greater extent than than a decade, this fourth dimension from Cook (almost) Anything, in addition to I'm glad it's endure having its moment.

Since it was a hot weekend, I made this a yoke of hours inwards advance in addition to popped it into the refrigerator to chill. That actually sets upwardly the sago! I'm going to relish remaking this dessert inwards cooler weather, when I tin serve it warm alongside a to a greater extent than custardy texture.

Both the rhubarb in addition to the sago are cooked alongside generous quantities of saccharide in addition to the overall resultant is really sweet. I'll consider reducing the saccharide inwards the sago element inwards time to come batches, to practise a stronger flavor contrast. The sweetness sago could likewise move good alongside tangy fresh fruit, similar pineapple. I've got a lot of leftover seed tapioca to figure out my favourite combinations!

Rhubarb & kokosnoot sago
(a recipe from Cook (almost) Anything)

stewed rhubarb
500g rhubarb
ane loving cup caster sugar
1/2 loving cup water

coconut sago
1/2 loving cup sago/seed tapioca
ane loving cup kokosnoot cream
ane 1/2 cups H2O (I used two cups)
1/2 loving cup caster sugar

Slice the rhubarb into 1-inch lengths. Place them inwards a medium-sized saucepan alongside the saccharide in addition to water. Set them over medium heat, stirring often, until the rhubarb collapses.

In a separate, medium-large saucepan, stir together all of the kokosnoot sago ingredients in addition to laid them over medium heat. Stir the pudding regularly every bit it cooks in addition to avoid letting it boil! The sago is laid upwardly when the sago pearls are clear, in addition to their starch has thickened the kokosnoot cream.

Spoon the rhubarb in addition to the sago into spectacles inwards layers. It tin live served warm or cold, though regime annotation that the sago tends to laid into a gel inwards the fridge.

Nostralis

January 31, 2018

I’ve been vaguely pregnant to see Nostralis since reading almost it inwards the Melbourne Veg Food Guide agency dorsum inwards 2008. It’s a long-running vegetarian pizza house inwards Caulfield that’s been inwards functioning since 1981, sure enough a challenger for Melbourne’s second-longest running vego house afterwards Shakahari. The décor betrays its historic menstruum – lots of woods panels in addition to one-time fashioned signage, but the vibe is welcoming in addition to relaxed.

The bill of fare has or so strange options – a vindaloo pizza that includes banana in addition to sultanas sounded rattling disturbing to me – but it too recreates or so classics. There’s a margherita, mushroom in addition to Mexicana pizzas in addition to a whole hit of other veg-heavy toppings. They’ve too added inwards a few mock meat pizzas for vegos who immature adult woman their pepperoni. Gluten gratis bases in addition to vegan cheese (Cheezly) are available alongside modest surcharges.

Cindy’s a sucker for ham in addition to pineapple, so she went for a modest Hawaiian pizza alongside dairy cheese ($11.50). I didn’t gustation it, because pineapple on pizza is an abomination, but she was impressed. There was heaps of mozzarella in addition to generous mock ham, but she would receive got added fifty-fifty to a greater extent than pineapple given the alternative (because she's a monster). H5N1 footstep upwards from Eat Pizza's version.

I had a medium sized pepperoni alongside vegan cheese ($15 + $2.50), intending to receive got or so leftovers domicile for tiffin the adjacent day. Instead, I smashed my agency through the whole thing. These aren’t the authentic Italian pizzas served upwards at Gigi or Kaprica, but Nostralis actually receive got the nostalgic '80s Pizza Hut vibe down. If nosotros lived nearby I’d locomote going dorsum a lot.

Nostralis is a steady success storey inwards Melbourne’s veg dining scene, surviving alongside seemingly few changes for nearly forty years. On a sunny Wed nighttime nosotros watched a steady flow of people grabbing takeaway or plonking downward to part or so pizzas – everyone seems to part an enthusiasm for this one-time schoolhouse eatery.

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There are a duad of Nostralis posts on vegan blogs Veganise This! and In the Mood for Noodles (twice), but nix for ages that I could find.

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Nostralis
55 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield North
9528 4961
menu
http://www.nostralis.com/

Accessibility: There's a modest footstep on entry into a fairly crowded interior. We ordered in addition to paid at a high counter in addition to didn't see the toilets. 

Ratio Cocoa Roasters

February 1, 2018

We roam Sydney Rd regularly, too keenly discovery which of its businesses are launching, re-configuring too closing upwardly for good. The Friends of Couture premises stood dormant a while, but when they came renovations were every bit good fast for us to speculate close what was to come upwardly - upwardly popped a bright, inviting chocolate store called Ratio!

Ratio is spacious, fifty-fifty allowing for the extensive glass-protected expanse where all the bean-to-bar concern happens. Up forepart y'all tin browse the chocolate blocks stimulate for taking away too gifting, a few steps farther inwards there's a cabinet of piddling treats to savor on the spot, too there's also a printed carte du jour for those who conduct maintain a seat.

Michael idea he'd larn the best bridge of the carte du jour yesteryear ordering the brownie tasting plate ($9.50, pictured top). Each has a dissimilar cocoa source too ratio, too though he enjoyed all of them, he had his Goldilocks instant amongst the 70% Peru-sourced cocoa slice.

He also tried out the Ratio hot chocolate ($5) - his study is positive, though he admits that he had every bit good much chocolate going on all circular to actually savor too seriously assess it.

I had my dessert inwards a unmarried glass, choosing the peanut butter too chocolate milk shiver ($8). I requested a vegan version made amongst milkadamia (+ $1), which mightiness fifty-fifty hold upwardly an improvement on the measure dairy-based version! Here the chocolate flavouring is existent but light, leaving enough of room for the macadamia too peanut flavours to shine through.

Of course of pedagogy nosotros took domicile a brace of bars to movement later. Both the milk too (vegan) nighttime varieties were real shine too quite sweet, amongst the flavourings pressed decoratively into 1 side of the bar. The salted caramel forms crushed glassy shards (not a soft centre, similar the truffles inwards store), too the macadamia makes modest nutty bubbles amongst alone a subtle lemon myrtle seasoning.

Ratio's arrival feels similar serendipity to us, though it's the culmination of years of difficult operate from founder Debb Makin. I'm looking frontward to farther familiarising myself amongst its wares this year.

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Ratio Cocoa Roasters
186 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
9388 8920
eats, drinks
https://ratiococoa.com.au/

Accessibility: There is a modest stride on entry to a spacious interior. Furniture is a mixture of depression tables too chairs amongst backs, addition higher tables amongst backless stools (see above). We ordered at our tabular array too paid at a depression counter. We didn't catch the toilets.

Small Axe Kitchen Ii

February 4, 2018

This summertime nosotros managed to schedule a Small Axe Kitchen brunch inward sunnier weather, together with nabbed a topographic point outdoors at their shared table. These guys e'er convey a twain of skilful sweetness options on the bill of fare together with on past visits, I've e'er picked the fruitier, to a greater extent than sensible looking ones. 

Not this time! I went all out amongst the miniature loaf of Sicilian orangish cake ($19.50), served on a swirl of burnt beloved mascarpone amongst a scoop of night chocolate custard, cubes of blood orangish jelly together with a sprinkling of milk crumbs. I can't actually convince yous at all that this is breakfast, but it is a lot of fun to swallow - the cake together with custard brand a excellent jaffa pairing, the mascarpone is firmer than it looks together with lightly bitter, the milk crumbs add together a salty pebbly texture together with the jelly to a greater extent than or less vivid sourness.

Michael's vegan zucchini fritters ($19.50) were less showy but (he reckons!) simply every bit enjoyable - salty amongst a crisp crust, served amongst tahini mayo, artichoke heart, wide beans, peas, mint together with lemon.

We noticed posters announcing that Small Axe is similar a shot opened upwards for dinner, too. Since together with then we've heard skilful reports from vegetarian friends who've tried it out. When nosotros transcend inward in ourselves, you'll endure the source to know.

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You tin hand notice read near our source twain of visits to Small Axe Kitchen here. Since together with then it's received unanimous back upwards from blogs A Chronicle of Gastronomy, Hungry Cookie, Melbourne Vita, Sweet together with Sour Fork, and Ferris Wheel Flights.

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Small Axe Kitchen
281 Victoria St, Brunswick
9939 6061
food, drinks
http://www.smallaxekitchen.com/

Accessibility: There's a pocket-size pace on entry (and perchance a flatter entry through the garden side). Tables are densely packed amongst a clear corridor through the middle. Tables exterior convey pocket-size backless stools, high benches inward the front end room convey tall backless stools, together with tables inward the dorsum room convey ordinary backed chairs. We ordered at our tabular array together with paid at a depression counter. We didn't view the toilets.

Shop 225

February 5, 2018

We were catching upwards with a couplet of sometime friends for dinner as well as decided it was live fourth dimension that nosotros tried out the vegan options at Shop 225. Tucked away on Melville Rd, 225 is a traditional Italian pizzeria that has for some argue decided to furnish a total vegan card with its regular offerings. We sat out inwards the courtyard at the dorsum as well as sampled widely from the menu.

We were somehow talked into ordering the vegan calzone ($20), stuffed with tomato plant sauce, mock ham, faux cheese as well as existent basil. I was sceptical, but this was an absolute please - dense as well as delicious. I'm coming roughly to Ben Wyatt's indicate of view.

We likewise ordered a cappricciosa ($19), topped with tomato plant sauce, faux cheese, mushroom, olives as well as mock ham. I loved this i - they purpose a multifariousness of mock meats, as well as thus when you lot teach 'ham' you lot teach something dissimilar to the salami or pancetta. It's a overnice touch.

Our other 2 pizzas were a zio pine (mushroom, parsley, multiple mock cheeses as well as truffle petroleum ($20, left) as well as the il dottore (mock sausage, mushrooms, tomato plant sauce as well as mock fior di latte, $25, right).

These were both pretty successful equally good - the toppings are generous without beingness overwhelming as well as there's a expert mix of mock products as well as veggies to become around. Obviously the cheeses don't accept quite the depth of flavours equally the non-vegan alternatives, but they're surprisingly expert as well as the residual of the toppings are various plenty to proceed things interesting.  

We had a actually neat repast at Shop 225 - there's as well as thus many vegan dishes to endeavour out as well as they hope expert gluten complimentary pizza bases as well as pasta equally well. The staff were super friendly (even talking us into buying some of their magnificent vegan nutella) as well as the courtyard was gorgeous on a sunny evening. Is it the best vegan pizza on offering inwards Melbourne? Red Sparrow is good, but our consensus was that 225 is better. Without travelling to Sydney you're non going to uncovering a amend vegan pizza selection - banking concern gibe it out.

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Lips Temptations as well as Fire & Tea).

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Shop 225
225 Melville Rd, Pascoe Vale South
9077 4094
pizza, everything else

http://www.shop225.com.au/

Accessibility: There's a apartment entry into a pretty crowded interior. We sat inwards the dorsum courtyard which is accessible alone via a crowded as well as narrow pathway. The toilets are unisex, but upwards a few steps.

Savanna African Restaurant

February 27, 2018

We've had Savanna on our to-eat listing since its Ethiopian as well as Eritrean cuisine was recommended on Gracious Expedition.

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Savanna African Restaurant
vii Johnston St, Collingwood
9416 1462
menu
http://melbourne123.wixsite.com/savannaafrican

Accessibility: There are a distich of steps on entry, as well as a distich to a greater extent than splitting 2 levels of seating inside. There's a reasonable corridor through the middle but the tables are quite crowded. We ordered at the tabular array as well as paid at a high counter. We didn't view the toilets.

Wombat Cafe

March 2 & 4, 2018

We of late spent a lovely weekend inwards a vacation household downwards at Safety Beach amongst the Moody Noodles in addition to unopen to other vegan mates. We went to the beach, explored the markets, watched glorious sunsets in addition to ate; boy, did nosotros eat. The primary agenda inwards damage of eating out was Wombat - an all-vegan cafe in addition to shop that's been opened upward inwards Dromana for the yesteryear yr or so.

We stopped inwards for dejeuner on the outset 24-hour interval of the weekend in addition to constitute a beautiful space, filled amongst lite in addition to amongst a relaxed atmosphere. The staff cheerfully in addition to patiently dealt amongst our slightly chaotic group.

I went direct for the Wombat big breakfast - scrambled tofu, avocado, hash browns, stuffed mushrooms, spinach in addition to tomatoes on a duo of slices of sourdough ($26). It's an expensive breakfast, but you lot actually teach your money's worth - this is plenty nutrient for 2 people (full disclosure: I ate it all). The eggplant bacon didn't actually survive for me - drying out sparse slices of eggplant in addition to giving them a expert smokey flavor sounds similar it should work, but they were a fleck stringy for my tastes. Everything else was phenomenal though, the scrambled tofu inwards detail actually hitting the heights. This is definitely worth ordering if you're hungry.

Cindy showed a fleck to a greater extent than restraint in addition to ordered the nachos ($16): beans, rice, lemony avo, salsa in addition to a creamy mock cheese on a big plate of corn chips. This didn't resemble a typical plate of nachos - it wasn't nearly messy plenty for starters in addition to was bulked upward to a greater extent than frequently than non amongst a big rice salad inwards the middle. The vegan cheese sauce in addition to avo toppings were a hitting in addition to Cindy was pretty happy amongst her dejeuner (aside from all the raw onion she picked out).

Everybody had such a expert fourth dimension at dejeuner on Fri that nosotros headed dorsum for brunch on Lord's Day earlier the receive dorsum to Melbourne - the smiley drinkable on the left is a delicious iced java ($6.50). My regular flat-white ($4.50) came amongst a unique Wombat-blend milk, that tasted to a greater extent than frequently than non similar kokosnoot milk to me.

I wanted unopen to other hitting of the scrambled tofu, then I ordered a side of it ($4) to teach amongst the avo boom ($16). The avo came amongst balsamic roasted tomatoes, mock feta in addition to basil in addition to was fantastic - specially inwards combo amongst the tofu, which reminds me a lot of the wonderful Smith in addition to Daughters version (which we've made a bunch of times but never blogged!).

Cindy took on something sweet: French toast amongst strawberries, maple syrup in addition to whipped cream ($15). The toast bits were coated inwards chia seeds, which was a fleck of an strange selection in addition to the toast itself was super-soft nether the seedy layer. It wasn't Cindy's favourite mode of French toast, but it got the labor done.

We had 2 fantastic meals at Wombat. The nutrient is great, amongst a expert mix of sugariness in addition to savoury dishes to direct from in addition to a whole heap of fancy drinks if you lot desire them (we didn't endeavor out the smoothie menu, but it was comprehensive). 

The staff were super friendly in addition to managed the busy infinite pretty efficiently. It's a must-visit for your side yesteryear side trip downwards to the Peninsula.

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Messy Veggies loved Wombat - hers is the solely other spider web log review nosotros could find.

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Wombat
230 Boundary Rd, Dromana
5987 1193
food, drinks

facebook page

Accessibility: There's a apartment entry agency in addition to a reasonably spacious interior. We ordered in addition to paid at a depression counter. 

Green Man's Arms Ii

March 19, 2018

New-ish vegetarian pub Green Man's Arms proved a bang-up location for a quick, early on dinner earlier nosotros striking the inexpensive movies at our terminal visit! It's to a greater extent than clearly divided into sharing dishes, meals for one, sides in addition to sweets... fifty-fifty amongst this guidance Michael couldn't assist over-ordering.

Importantly, the pommes frites ($8.50) are even thence acquaint in addition to even thence fantastic.

The falafel at in i lawsuit cast utilisation of a mezze plate ($19.50), along amongst 3 dips (hummus, beetroot, in addition to spicy capsicum), apartment staff of life in addition to pickles.

H5N1 novel offering is mac & cheese ($17.50) - it's plenty cheesy yet non too heavy, spliced amongst zucchini ribbons topped amongst lots of fresh dark-green herbs.

We didn't arrive through all of this food, but I've got my oculus on plenty to a greater extent than besides: Yemeni luhuh stuffed amongst tempura sugariness potato, pate, a mushroom burger amongst those killer pommes frites in addition to a watermelon 'tuna' salad. I promise this bill of fare sticks closed to long plenty to allow me the opportunity.

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You tin flaming read most our outset see to Green Man's Arms here. Since thence a positive review has also appeared on Olive Sundays.

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Green Man's Arms
418 Lygon St, Carlton
9347 7419
menu: 1, 2, 3, 4
https://greenmansarms.com.au/

Accessibility: The entry has a small-scale lip from the street in addition to there's a footstep upward betwixt the front end bar in addition to the dining room. We ordered in addition to paid at the high bar on this occasion (there's amount tabular array service inward the dining room). Toilets are gendered in addition to located a couplet steps upward nigh the dining area.

Ray Vi

March 22, 2018

We had such a non bad fourth dimension at the Ray vegan feast a brace of years ago that nosotros were super keen to larn dorsum when our friend suggested a dinner there. You plough up, sit down downwards in addition to they but convey yous nutrient - in that place are no choices to live made in addition to yous current of air upwardly tasting virtually xv dishes across v courses.

Cindy enjoyed her spritz enz - a mocktail based on mutual depression temperature pressed strawberry juice, soda H2O in addition to lemon ($6).

Foodwise, nosotros started out amongst a trio of entrees: smoked almonds, kale chips dusted amongst sumac in addition to steamed edamame amongst thyme salt. The kale was the pick of the bunch from my signal of view, but every dish had its fans.

Next upwardly was approximately other trio of dishes: raw in addition to pickled veggies amongst dark tahini in addition to beetroot, a plate of breadstuff in addition to lavosh amongst smoked pumpkin hummus in addition to smoked eggplant tahini in addition to 1 of the stand-outs of the night: corn chips, miso cheese, refried beans in addition to yard isle dressing. We talked virtually the miso-cheese all dark - spectacular.

Things got a flake heftier for the side past times side circular - corn jacks amongst romesco in addition to jalapeno, mushroom tagine amongst chickpea panisse in addition to cauliflower puree in addition to a grain salad amongst pepitas, pomegranate in addition to orangish dressing. Cindy loved the corn jacks, which were crispy fried petty parcels of corn, spell I was a big fan of the mushroom/chickpea dish. 

We were filling up, then the size of the concluding circular was a flake overwhelming. The banh mi toasts were the stand-out - petty crisp breads filled amongst pickled slaw, cucumber, dark lentil pate in addition to a chewy seitan mock. The veggie side-dishes were good, but nosotros were actually struggling to locomote along eating. I was peculiarly distressing non to swallow to a greater extent than of the kipfler potatoes amongst wild rocket pesto, but I had to exit room for dessert.

Dessert was mercifully pocket-size - a cute petty drinking glass filled amongst a mix of fresh figs, jaffa mousse, hazelnuts in addition to kokosnoot yoghurt. It's difficult to larn likewise far incorrect amongst fresh figs, but this combo inwards item actually worked. 

Things injure downwards amongst a bonus course of didactics of choc-chip cookies.

We were reeeally total past times the destination of this meal. It was a huge amount of food, amongst a fantastic multifariousness of dishes coming out across the v courses. The toll has gone upwardly to $45 (from $30 a brace of years ago), but it's withal exceptionally adept value. The fact that they exclusively produce the vegan feasts 1 time a calendar month agency that they actually deliver on the night. Keep an oculus on their facebook page for the side past times side 1 - yous definitely postulate to mass ahead.

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Read virtually our previous visits to Ray here, here, here, here in addition to here. Since lastly time, in that place accept been positive reviews on vego blogs Green Gourmet Giraffe in addition to Lips Temptations and Real Forking Diet.

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Ray
332 Victoria St, Brunswick
9380 8593
menu (from this visit), drinks
facebook page

Accessibility: There is a shallow in addition to slightly narrow ramp on entry. Tables are quite densely packed, but in that place is a clear corridor through the cafe. We ordered at our tabular array in addition to paid at a low-ish counter. Toilets are unisex, fully accessible private cubicles.

Sweet Filo Cigars

March 23-24, 2018

I've tentatively joined a novel cooking club! This i aims to pick out a unlike cookbook for each potluck gathering. Yet the start characteristic was Ottolenghi & Tamimi's Jerusalem. It's non a stretch from my other club's driving theme, in addition to I borrowed the volume from a generous Ottolenghi clubmate.

I also stuck to my well-worn dessert-making groove. Jerusalem has a distich of fabulous-looking orangish cakes that would probable move well, but I ultimately preferred to endeavor my manus at the sweetness filo cigars. They're stuffed amongst sweetened reason pistachios in addition to almonds, fried, in addition to and thus dipped inwards honey.

I got an first-class caput start the nighttime before, preparing the nut filling every bit my dinner baked in addition to wrapping it inwards filo inwards front end of Netflix. Things went awry in addition to I actually started swearing at fry-time afterward that evening: the cigars' stubborn, asymmetric centre of majority meant that they wouldn't plow over inwards the oil; i or 2 fifty-fifty outburst their filling. The adjacent morning, I felt a fleck calmer in addition to the chore at manus felt to a greater extent than feasible. All except the start 3 cigars were nicely browned, non likewise greasy, in addition to their weirder edges softened inwards their love dunking.

With an egg in addition to lots of love involved, this recipe is far from vegan. I regard conversion wouldn't live on likewise difficult, though - I'd endeavor skipping the egg entirely, maybe adding a point of margarine or olive crude to the filling in addition to sealing the cigars amongst water. Honey could live on replaced amongst diluted agave nectar, or a heavy carbohydrate syrup amongst a drib of orangish bloom water.

These cigars were the short, sweetness terminate that our sprawling tiffin needed. They're to a greater extent than filo than filling soundless the reason nuts, brightened amongst lemon zest, smoothen through. I used orangish bloom honey, in addition to nosotros could also discern its floral scent. The overall upshot is soft, layered in addition to very, rattling sugary.

Delightful every bit they were, this is in all probability only a one-off recipe for me. I alive thus only about Sydney Rd, where similar Lebanese pastries are cheap, abundant, in addition to fried past times mortal else. Instead I'll salve my filo folding for bougatsa me krema.

Sweet filo cigars
(very slightly adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi's Jerusalem,
where it's credited to Rafram Hadad)

80g flaked almonds
80g pistachios
80g caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon zest
180g filo pastry
peanut oil, for frying
180g honey

Blend together the flaked almonds in addition to 60g of the pistachios inwards a nutrient processor, to shape a coarse powder. Tip the reason nuts into a small-medium saucepan, add together the carbohydrate in addition to iv tablespoons of water. Set them over depression estrus in addition to produce for most iv minutes, until the carbohydrate is dissolved. Turn off the estrus in addition to allow the mixture to cool a little. Separate the egg. When the nut mixture is only lukewarm, whisk inwards the vanilla, egg yolk, in addition to lemon zest.

Unravel the filo pastry in addition to role only i sail at a time. Drop a generous tablespoon most 2 cm away from a curt side. Fold i long side upwardly to encompass it, in addition to thus the closest curt side, in addition to thus the other long side; ringlet upwardly the filling to shape a cigar shape, sealing the egg amongst a fiddling brush of egg white. Repeat amongst the residuum of the filling, making a dozen or thus cigars inwards total.

Pour the peanut crude inwards a medium saucepan to most 2cm depth.  Bring it to medium heat. Fry the cigars on 2 sides, inwards batches, until they're golden on both sides. (The master copy recipe thinks this volition get got 10 seconds per side, but it was double that for me.) Cool the cigars on absorbent paper.

Place the love inwards a minor saucepan amongst 1 tablespoon of water. Set it over medium heat, stirring together the love in addition to H2O until they're good mixed. Turn off the estrus in addition to drib 2-3 of the cigars into the saucepan, turning them to coat them inwards the love in addition to letting them sit down for only a infinitesimal each. Pull them out in addition to house them on a serving dish or inwards an airtight container. 

To serve, roughly chop the remaining pistachios in addition to sprinkle them over the cigars.

Sweet Soy Brussels Sprouts & Tofu

March 30, 2018

Easter brought amongst it to a greater extent than or less other coming together of our regular Ottolenghi club. It was typically indulgent, amongst a baked bluish cheesecake, pea together with mint croquettes, lentil together with asparagus salad together with a fancy tart that Cindy volition shipping service near shortly (photos of the whole shindig are on our facebook page). My contribution was this weird-sounding recipe from Plenty. It's rare that I'll conduct maintain on a dish that doesn't conduct maintain a photograph inwards a cookbook, but this seemed similar a rare uncomplicated dish from ol' Yotam together with thus I decided to give it a shot. 

Sweet chilli sauce is non the form of cistron I imagine Ottolenghi reaching for rattling often, but it industrial plant nicely inwards this dish amongst the soy together with sesame crude oil flavours. The existent stars are the sprouts though - you've actually gotta larn them to caramelise for the amount effect. The tofu together with shitakes added to a greater extent than or less squeamish diverseness and, despite the rather brownish visual aspect, this got the Ottolenghi-club tick of approval.

Sweet soy Brussels sprouts & tofu

(from Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty)

ii tablespoons sweetness chilli sauce

1.5 tablespoons tamari

iii tablespoons sesame oil

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

3/4 loving cup sunflower oil

150g theatre tofu

500g Brussels sprouts

Small bunch jump onions, sliced

1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes

100g shitake mushrooms, quartered

15g coriander leaves

sesame seeds (to garnish)

salt

Slice the tofu into apartment squares, near 4cm wide. Mix together the sweetness chilli sauce, tamari, ii tablespoons of the sesame oil, rice vinegar together with maple syrup inwards a apartment container together with marinate your squares for an hr or so, flipping them over halfway through.

Trim the bases off the sprouts together with cutting them inwards thirds longways together with thus you lot larn relatively apartment pieces.

Heat iv tablespoons of the sunflower crude oil inwards a frying pan over high heat. Throw inwards one-half the sprouts together with a few shakes of tabular array salt together with fix on high for a few minutes. You desire to larn them squeamish together with charred - almost to the signal of burning them - together with thus don't stir also much. Repeat amongst the other one-half of the sprouts together with laid them aside inwards a bowl.

Add to a greater extent than or less other brace of tablespoons of sunflower crude oil to the pan together with stir nipper the jump onions, mushrooms together with chilli flakes for a few minutes. Pop them inwards amongst the sprouts 1 time you're done.

Now nipper the tofu squares - popular them apartment inwards the pan for a brace of minutes on each side, until they're nicely caramelised (you mightiness ask to create a brace of batches together with last yesteryear upwardly the oil).

Once the tofu is cooked, kill the oestrus together with stir the sprouts, mushrooms etc inwards amongst all the tofu.. Pour inwards the leftover marinade together with stir through one-half the coriander leaves together with remaining sesame oil.

Serve warm, garnished amongst the remainder of the coriander together with the sesame seeds.

Mont Blanc Tart

March 30, 2018

Late terminal twelvemonth a friend of mine gave me a small-scale tin terminate of sweetened chestnut spread, afterward they'd been travelling inward France. I had fiddling sentiment what to produce amongst it, but I had a hunch that Ottolenghi would bring a suitable recipe or two. Sure enough, chestnut spread turns upwardly inward the index of Sweet as an component inward ii desserts.

The Mont Blanc tart is reinterpretation of an Italian dessert where chestnuts are sweetened together with whipped into cream. Goh together with Ottolenghi's version starts amongst a sweetness shortcrust; it's lined amongst a sparse layer of nighttime chocolate together with and thence filled amongst the chestnut spread. The advert together with thence comes inward amongst a tower of whipped cream, which is sprinkled amongst candied pecans.

The presentation of my version didn't fulfill that vision, though it was pretty enough. Instead of baking private tart shells I formed a unmarried large pie. The double cream I bought became thicker together with denser amongst whipping, lacking the airy texture needed to shape a white mountain.

On its own, the chestnut spread had the nuttiness together with velvety texture of hummus, though it was a lot sweeter. In the dessert, it acted equally an unassuming caramel filling - the cream was richer, the chocolate had to a greater extent than depth, the pecans were sweeter. Together they formed a fancy together with tasty dessert, fifty-fifty if the chestnut centre was overshadowed. For me it was a successful one-off projection that I was proud to part approximately Ottolenghi lodge - I don't foresee whatever to a greater extent than fiddling cans of chestnut spread coming my way, together with this projection hasn't inspired me to monastic tell them online.

Mont Blanc tart
(slightly adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi & Helen Goh's Sweet)

pastry
200g manifestly flour
120g mutual depression temperature butter
30g caster sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon white vino vinegar
3 tablespoons H2O ice water

candied pecans
1 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon glucose syrup
1 tablespoon caster sugar
120g pecan halves
pinch of salt

filling
60g nighttime chocolate
250g tin terminate sweetened chestnut spread

cream
300mL double cream
1 tablespoon icing sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla rum

Start amongst the pastry. Drop the flour into a large nutrient processor, die the butter together with drib it inward afterward the flour. Add the saccharide together with salt. Pulse the component together until they resemble coarse breadcrumbs. Add the vinegar together with water, together with pulse farther until the dough only starts coming together. Turn the dough onto plastic wrap, forming it into a ball the together with thence flattening it into a disc. Refrigerate the dough for at to the lowest degree 1 hour.

This is plenty of fourth dimension to candy the pecans. Preheat an oven to 190°C. Line a large baking tray amongst paper. Place the maple syrup, glucose together with saccharide inward a small-scale saucepan together with laid it over depression heat. Stir them together until they're combined together with smooth, together with thence add together the pecans together with salt. Turn off the oestrus together with stir the pecans until they're evenly coated inward the syrup, together with thence plough them into the baking tray, spacing them out thence that they're minimally touching. Bake the nuts for 8 minutes, until the syrup is bubbling together with they olfactory belongings toasty. Allow the nuts to cool to room temperature, together with thence roughly chop them.

When the dough is ready, curlicue it out betwixt ii sheets of plastic wind together with jibe it into a greased pie dish. The dough volition contract when baked, thence instruct out plenty of extra pastry on the edges. Refrigerate the pastry shell for xxx minutes. Preheat an oven to 180°C. Retrieve the pastry shell, prick its base of operations amongst a fork, draw it amongst paper, together with pour inward some pie weights (I bring some sometime dried chickpeas for this job). Bake the pastry shell for xviii minutes, until it is golden chocolate-brown approximately the edges. Remove the newspaper together with pie weights, together with thence bake for some other 8 minutes, until the pastry is cooked through. Allow the base of operations to cool.

Gently melt the chocolate using your preferred method, together with thence pour it into the base of operations of the pastry shell, spreading it evenly amongst the dorsum of a spoon. Refrigerate the pastry to laid the chocolate. When the chocolate is set, spoon inward the chestnut spread together with spread it out evenly. Return the tart to the fridge.

When you're close develop to serve the dessert, house the 3 cream ingredients inward a small-scale bowl together with whip them amongst an electrical beater until medium-soft peaks form. Serve slices of the tart topped amongst white mountains of cream together with sprinkle the candies pecans on top.

Small Axe Kitchen Iii

April 14, 2018

We snuck into Small Axe Kitchen early Fri night, peachy to detect out if their dinner menu's every bit lovely every bit their daytime offerings. The bill of fare runs a lot longer than I anticipated, inwards traditional Italian courses of antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, in addition to dolci. Vegetarian, vegan in addition to gluten-free dishes are good labelled; vegos are best catered to inwards the antipasti in addition to contorni, piece the gluten-free materials is concentrated inwards the meaty secondi in addition to the to a greater extent than veg-friendly contorni.

Once we'd ordered, they fix us upwards amongst roughly lite staff of life in addition to fruity olive oil. Potato croquettes ($4 each) arrived presently after, perfectly squidgy batons, amongst a dab of parmesan mousse in addition to merely plenty rocket to counteract the richness.

Battered zucchini flowers ($22) looked almost similar battered fish, stuffed amongst herbed ricotta - nosotros await they'll presently autumn out of season. The accompanying salad was brilliant in addition to slightly bitter, amongst radicchio, nectarine wedges in addition to pickled radish rounds. Our side of braised silverbeet, dark kale in addition to chickpeas ($12) was a much heartier entree to the mutual coldness weather condition ahead.

Our favourite was the plate of fresh, housemade fettucine ($20), served amongst peas, wide beans, artichoke hearts, mint, mascarpone in addition to ricotta. Splitting it was clumsy move but nosotros both fought for our fair share.

For dessert, nosotros shared a tart in addition to tangy medley of grapefruit slices, Mandarin jelly cubes in addition to Mandarin granita scattered amongst almond crumble ($16). It wasn't likewise outlandish to savour a hot chocolate ($4) on the side.

At dinner, Small Axe Kitchen offers almost everything we've loved at that topographic point at breakfast - clear in addition to appetising veg options that remainder fresh attain amongst fancy touches, served past times friendly in addition to helpful staff. The alone loss, for now, is that it's non in addition to thence much fun to sit down outside!

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You tin flame also read virtually one, two of our visits to Small Axe Kitchen for breakfast.

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Small Axe Kitchen
281 Victoria St, Brunswick
9939 6061
menu
http://www.smallaxekitchen.com/

Accessibility: There's a modest footstep on entry. Tables are densely packed amongst a clear corridor through the middle. Tables exterior convey modest backless stools, high benches inwards the front end room convey tall backless stools, in addition to tables inwards the dorsum room convey ordinary backed chairs. We ordered at our tabular array in addition to paid at a depression counter. We didn't view the toilets.