June 18, 2007: Xl One

January 2016: Doing a flake of weblog tidying upwardly in addition to it looks similar this house has been unopen for ages. 

I spent a few days this calendar week at a conference based inwards the city, thence for the commencement fourth dimension inwards years I was subjected to a schedule, meridian hr populace carry in addition to a semi-professional wearing clothing code. There was an upside, too, of course: a alter of scenery, a brace of interesting presentations in addition to some fine lunchtime catering. In add-on at that topographic point was a conference dinner on Mon black at Forty One, on the 41st flooring of the Rialto building. This afforded us some cracking views across the CBD in addition to some fourth dimension to converse amongst colleagues on a broader arrive at of topics than the conference themes. We were offered a pick of 3 items each for 3 courses, in addition to the entree in addition to primary lists included i vegetarian dish each. With the entree in addition to primary choices virtually selected for me, I was happy to pass a niggling to a greater extent than fourth dimension lingering over my favourite course, dessert!

My entree (pictured above) was "pumpkin gnocchi tossed inwards rocket leaves amongst a tarragon in addition to parmesan cheese sauce". It was served inwards a size that I'd live on content to telephone telephone dinner on whatever other black in addition to inwards anticipation of the nutrient all the same to come, I ate solely one-half of it. The gnocchi were sweetness in addition to pillowy but drowning inwards creamy, cheesy sauce. Between the serving size in addition to the richness, it had me feeling a niggling lethargic already, rather than appetised in addition to excited most what was to come.

The vegetarian primary was "sweet potato, English linguistic communication spinach in addition to Gippsland brie lasagne amongst a roast Lycopersicon esculentum cream sauce in addition to vegetable crisps". As y'all tin see, it was rattling orange. The crisps were dominated past times salty, crispy sweetness murphy amongst a niggling of something else - I don't intend I worked out whether it was beetroot or sundried Lycopersicon esculentum but it sure got stuck inwards my teeth. These crisps were the solely recess inwards sense of savor in addition to texture from thick Lycopersicon esculentum sauce. It tasted pleasant enough, but I failed to discern whatever spinach, brie or fifty-fifty distinct pasta sheets.

Finally to dessert. I bypassed the fruit plate every bit a cop-out in addition to thence rejected the breadstuff pudding, which has never excited me every bit desserts go. I relied on the age-old favourite, chocolate, to deport me through in addition to hoped that the cite of aniseed would convey a new element. So, a blurry photograph of "rich chocolate terrine amongst macerated raspberries in addition to aniseed biscotti". The biscotti reminded me to a greater extent than of shortbread in addition to the raspberries weren't anything to squall about, but chocolate won the twenty-four hours every bit always. The terrine had a deep cocoa flavor in addition to wasn't over-sweetened; the texture was smoother in addition to fluffier than a flourless cake but denser than a mousse. My cocoa-meter was good satisfied solely three-quarters of the means through. I was inwards no state to demand the coffee, tea in addition to nice chocolates on offering to complete the evening.

This repast was appropriately carb-heavy in addition to comforting on a wintertime black in addition to I was sure grateful that the sponsoring university considered me a invitee worth catering for. However Forty One's bill of fare was less inspiring inwards execution than it appeared inwards text. Glancing at the prices online I suppose that they're charging for the view, in addition to I'm non inclined to supply amongst my ain wallet. It was a conference dinner enjoyed but non a eating theater experience to highly recommend, especially non to a vegetarian exploring the city.

Address: Level 41, Rialto Building - South Tower, 525 Collins St, Melbourne CBD
Ph: 9614 2127
Fully licensed
Price: veg entrees $9-20, veg primary $25.50, dessert $11-17.50
Website: www.fortyone.com.au

June 20, 2007: Creamy Roasted Chipotle Soup

creamy roasted chipotle soup, courtesy of Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit. Since starting fourth dimension discovering chipotles as well as adobo sauce or hence fourth dimension ago, I've been tempted past times its smoky heat, but cautious of its feisty spice power. With a generous slopping of sour cream included to continue things from overheating, I was pretty confident that this recipe was going to endure a winner. And hence it turned out: thick alongside beans as well as corn as well as rich alongside the spice that the adobo sauce as well as chipotle provided, it too doubled every bit a tasty taco sauce (soon to endure featured inward i of Cindy's leftover makeovers).

I altered the recipe a petty from the Lindyloo's, hence I'll reproduce it here.

Creamy Roasted Chipotle Soup

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion (chopped finely)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 large tin crushed tomatoes
2 tomatoes (chopped)
2 cobs of corn, stripped from the cob as well as blackened nether the grill
1 tin of kidney beans (drained)
750ml of vegie stock
1/2 loving cup of sour cream
1 chipotle inward adobo sauce (chopped finely)
an extra dollop of adobo for skillful luck

In a large saucepan, fry the onion inward fossil oil for almost x minutes until it's overnice as well as soft. Add everything else except the sour cream as well as choose it all to a boil. Simmer for one-half an sixty minutes or hence as well as and then swirl inward the sour cream. Simmer for or hence other few minutes as well as and then serve, preferably alongside or hence fresh crusty bread.

- Michael, strangely signed inward every bit Cindy.

June 21, 2007: Leftover Makeover - Smoky Chipotle Tacos

soup. Enough to feed us both for dinner, lunch, in addition to a fair fleck to a greater extent than besides. On Thursday, for the sake of my fickle palate, I converted the residue of the soup to taco filling yesteryear adding ane loving cup of TVP rehydrated inwards ane loving cup of hot water. Teamed amongst taco shells, salad in addition to grated cheese, it was a whole other repast to enjoy.... in addition to a whole other pot of leftovers to munch on during the weekend!

June 22, 2007: Leftover Makeover - Orangish Tiramisu

dessert pesto days) together with cream cheese (from a instant batch of cream cheese brownies - Michael wanted to print the ladies at work). Add to the mix a duty-free bottle of Cointreau together with you lot convey orangish tiramisu! In haphazard blobs, these spectacles contain:

June 23, 2007: Inkari Iii

first restaurants Cindy as well as I investigated when nosotros moved to Melbourne. It's an oasis of Latin America inspired nutrient inwards a desert of mediocre Italian joints as well as we've made a furnish catch since for a inexpensive as well as delicious lunch. We admired the breakfast card on both trips, but our exclusively possess to genuinely become at that topographic point was foiled yesteryear our weekend lethargy (the breakfast card cuts off at roughly ungodly threescore minutes similar 11:30). Luckily nosotros made it out of bed earlier 9am concluding Sabbatum as well as stumbled along for our 2nd Mexican-themed breakfast inwards ix days.

For once, Cindy opted for a cooked breakfast - the Buenos Dias Inkari: pan-fried eggs, Ilapingachos (potato pockets), refried dark beans, corn, tomato, grilled banana, avocado, sour cream as well as soft corn tortillas. Typically, Cindy was close excited yesteryear the murphy pockets - honestly she'd accept chips for breakfast, luncheon as well as dinner if I allowed it - but less excited yesteryear the eggs as well as tortilla. The banana as well as the black-beans made a surprisingly practiced combination (particularly surprising given how evil bananas are) as well as the whole bundle was a satisfactory if non inspiring meal.

here as well as here.

Edit 19/12/07: Sadly, Inkari appears to accept unopen permanently.

June 23, 2007: Mushroom Paprikash, Spud Pancakes In Addition To Pickled Infant Beets

mushroom paprikash recipe, together with the weekend papers had a nice-looking white patato pancake amongst pickled beetroot recipe that sounded similar the perfect accompaniment. Unfortunately, I mean value I threw the recipe away yesteryear mistake, thus the next volition endure the production of my fading memory.

The paprikash was a lot spicier using hot, Hungarian paprika (an interesting spice - non 1 that leaves a burning on your lips, but 1 that gets you lot inwards the dorsum of the throat), together with I mean value I preferred it without the seitan. The pancakes were a divine accompaniment (as I suspected next my Budapest experiences) together with the beets (which I was sceptical about) were likely the highlight - soft, sweetness together with amongst a tang from the vinegar. Superb.

Mushroom paprikash
Follow this recipe, amongst the next changes:
Skip the dumplings.
Drop the seitan.
Add inwards 1/2 a loving cup of dried porcini mushrooms, soaked inwards well-nigh a loving cup of water.
Use genuine imported Hungarian paprika.

Potato roesti
3 desiree potatoes
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
oil for frying

Boil the potatoes (whole together with unpeeled) for well-nigh xxx minutes - until they're soft without beingness completely mushy. But don't endure also conservative - I was certain mine were also mushy, but they grated perfectly.

Peel together with and thus coarsely grate the spuds.

Stir through the flour, tabular array salt together with pepper.

Form the mixture into roughly tennis-ball sized lumps, flatten them slightly together with and thus youngster on both sides inwards a pocket-sized amount of oil.

Pickled babe beetroot
2 bunches babe beetroot
1/2 loving cup olive oil
1 loving cup crimson vino vinegar

Trim the beetroot together with boil them inwards three cups of H2O together with one-half the vinegar until soft (about 35-40 minutes).

Peel (you'll expect similar you've stabbed person yesteryear the fourth dimension you've peeled 12 babe beets).

Dress the peeled beetroot inwards the remainder of the vinegar together with the olive stone oil together with allow them soak for a while.

Serve upwardly the pancakes, scoop a few ladles of mushroom paprikash on elevation together with laid upwardly some babe beets gently to 1 side. They're really photogenic.

June 23, 2007: Chocolate In Addition To Pear Tart

most of the dinner work, land I typically pondered on dessert. I was pretty groovy on this chocolate as well as pear tart from Jules' stonesoup, but wasn't psyched most pre-roasting pears (although I must acknowledge they create await incredibly good!). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 brief wander simply about the cyberspace turned upwardly some other pear as well as chocolate tart (this fourth dimension from Clotilde of Chocolate & Zucchini) as well as I enthusiastically wrote upwardly a shopping listing afterward a glance at the procedure. That 'glance' meant that I didn't genuinely discovery that this tart is served from the fridge, non the oven! Not quite what I had inwards take away heed on a wintertime evening, but withal comforting plenty when paired alongside a loving cup of tea.

I had a few nervewracking moments at each step: it was hard to press the crust evenly into my dish, as well as and so function out when it was laid upwardly to come upwardly out of the oven. (It took five minutes less than Clotilde's, as well as was a teensy chip burnt simply about the tiptop edge.) Then I worried that I had over-cooked my chocolate as well as that the ganache would live on lumpy, though it eventually glided into the dish without a hitch. The pears, which were theater as well as perchance a niggling under-ripe, took an extra 10 minutes of poaching to soften completely. I slid the tart into the refrigerator several hours earlier our guests arrived, sure that the frazzling bits were over as well as I could bask their fellowship without nagging kitchen thoughts.

Unfortunately, when it was fourth dimension for my function to live on unveiled, this bugger of a tart wouldn't slice. My puny arm muscles couldn't larn it to budge, as well as Michael managed to dig chunks of it onto our plates instead (he's non big on delicacy). Clotilde credits the crust every bit her mother's no-fail recipe, but I remember I failed at it. I surely should convey greased the baking dish to a greater extent than throughly, but I don't remember my problems stopped there. Nevertheless, the chocolate ganache filling had the deep, bittersweet gustation of the 70% cocoa Lindt that went into it as well as a smooth, buttery texture. The rich, barely sweetness ganache as well as the syrupy sweetness pears were non simply complementary, they needed each other for balance. They brand this a dessert worthy of trial, fault as well as eventual perfection. Thankfully Emma as well as Simon are willing to weather condition the lawsuit as well as error, as well as I'm no longer also proud to present them that I'm curt of perfection.

For the recipe, catch Chocolate & Zucchini.

June 25, 2007: Wild Mushrooms On Toast

As spill in addition to and thus wintertime convey swept through Melbourne, I've noticed that wild mushrooms are available at lots of skillful fruit in addition to veg shops. I've ever been intrigued past times their gnarled shapes in addition to earthy colours and, afterwards talking close it for close half dozen weeks, I lastly got but about to truly buying some. Just a pino (on the left) in addition to a Rex brownish (on the right) from 1 of the organic shops at the Queen Vic Markets to larn me started.

To brand certain I properly appreciated their flavours, I but fried them amongst a dob of butter in addition to served them upward on lightly toasted Turkish bread. The texture of the Rex brownish was a piffling soft for my tastes, but both were quite tasty - in all probability non equally exotic or exciting equally I'd hoped, but satisfyingly earthy nonetheless. If anyone has whatever skillful tips close wild mushrooms - tasty varieties, places to larn them (buy them I should country - I'm non quite groovy plenty to pass the weekends foraging) in addition to recipes to operate them in, it'd live much appreciated.

June 27, 2007: Abla's Lebanese Restaurant

the Age's Cheap Eats Guide. Although nosotros worked 'late', nosotros were early on for dinner as well as at that spot was room for 2 "as long every bit you're finished past times 7:45". When nosotros gave the waitress our sincere promise, nosotros were generously offered a tabular array tally for 4 - enough of room to spread out. I liked our waitress' attitude, a piddling brusk but also friendly as well as efficient. I also liked the infinite - it had a dated but luxurious hold off as well as warm air. Unfortunately that glow made for a laid upwardly of actually bad photos - lamentable nearly that, Michael as well as I actually postulate to amend on our lowlight photographic idiot box camera skills.

Half Luna Cafe as well as these wide beans had a lovely dressing, pungent amongst lemon juice as well as garlic; the felafel had super-crisp shells as well as weren't likewise greasy; the loubyeh (grean beans inwards a tomato-based sauce) were pleasant but left unfinished at the destination of the meal. To launder it all down, nosotros each had a drinking glass of limonada ($3), a Lebanese lemonade amount of real, slightly pulpy lemon juice as well as a floral kicking of rosewater - none of that sugary experience against the teeth.

I actually would convey liked to drive Abla's home-made baclawa ($3), but my tum was out of room as well as nosotros were only nearly out of time. It was a pleasurable meal, of higher character as well as higher cost than the kebab-shop Lebanese we're to a greater extent than accustomed to. But to travel honest the cost hike is a fleck greater than the pleasance hike for me, as well as the inexpensive as well as cheerful establishments of Coburg may come across me a fleck to a greater extent than ofttimes than the spirited staff of Abla's.

Address: 109 Elgin St, Carlton
Ph: 9347 0006
BYO
Price: veg plates $6-$15 (aim for 1.5-2 plates per person)
Website: www.ablas.com.au

June 29, 2007: Enlightened Cuisine

Edit 25/04/2017: Enlightened Cuisine is right away rebranded as Vegie Kitchen.

White Lotus, this is a really mock meat sense (chicken, duck, beef, lamb together with a diverseness of seafoods) although in that place are also tofu-based together with vege-only dishes inwards the carte du jour as well. Meals are gratis of garlic, onions together with leek together with the eating seat strives to hold upward vegan-friendly. The meals are a dollar or ii to a greater extent than hither than at the restaurant's North Melbourne ally, but for those dollars you'll have a to a greater extent than meditative atmosphere: tables are large, of lacquered night wood, together with good spaced; decorations are similarly lean together with tasteful, together with pianoforte music tinkles on the stereo.

Mindful of the few hours that the fine art gallery remained open, nosotros reluctantly skipped the entrees together with soups, heading guide for the mains. For Michael, it was Kung Po Lamb: gluten, mushrooms, capsicum together with dried chillies inwards a sweet, tangy together with somewhat fiery sauce. I idea it was swell together with I tin solely assume that Michael did besides given how apace he finished it. I tried the roasted duck: its 'skin' was super-crispy, in all probability due to the low-cal piece of occupation of plum sauce (sweet, but non syrupy). I, too, managed to clear my plate! Some to a greater extent than veges would convey made a to a greater extent than well-rounded meal, but this component subdivision size didn't sit down heavily inwards my breadbasket together with nosotros comfortably bustled on to the master copy event.

Given its closer proximity to our home, we're to a greater extent than probable to construct repeat visits to the White Lotus than Enlightenment Cuisine. However, Enlightenment Cuisine does a every bit enjoyable business of Chinese mock meats together with I may good rely on this haven in ane lawsuit to a greater extent than when I'm hungry together with inwards the shadow of the casino.

Address: 113 Queensbridge St, Southbank
Ph: 9686 9188
BYO
Price: veg mains $12-23, rice extra
Website: www.ecuisine.com.au

June 30, 2007: Leftover Makeover - Approximately Other Fruit Crumble

choc-chip cookies were dreadfully overcooked, dark on the bottom as well as difficult on the teeth. (And no, a yoke of weeks lurking inwards a lunchbox didn't actually help, either.) So I scraped off the dark amongst a sudden knife as well as threw the balance inwards the nutrient processor amongst about extra butter. Voila - fruitless crumble. Enter 2 apples as well as 2 pears. Once baked, I garnished our crumble amongst about leftover cream. The entire incident is a heinous violation of my fruit crumble manifesto but heck, it was a Sabbatum dark inwards as well as I was using upwards leftovers. It was a mighty tasty violation, amongst all those blended upwards choc-chips.

July 1, 2007: Gingerlee

27/04/2014: Gingerlee has simply had a makeover as well as decease The Old Bike Shop Cafe. It seems that unopen to of the same cardinal staff are involved.

To welcome inwards the novel fiscal yr as well as to wishing Jo-Lyn bon voyage, nosotros booked inwards for a Dominicus morn brunch at Gingerlee. Cindy had selected Gingerlee every bit our venue subsequently inspiration from reviews past times Ange as well as Ray).

The java was first-class as well as woke me upwards plenty to brand a sensible nutrient choice. It was difficult for me to decease past times the poached eggs amongst slow-braised plain mushrooms, persian feta, avocado as well as lemon ($13), what amongst it combining close all of my breakfast favourites (a side of beans would accept topped things off completely, but there's no demand to move greedy). The eggs were poached to perfection, the avocado was ripe but non soft as well as the feta came inwards a slightly tangy olive oil. Divine. Not to bring upwards the mushrooms - delicately cooked rather than the overcooked fare that are ofttimes served upwards as well as richly flavoured - I could accept eaten twice every bit many every bit were served up. But the component size was location on actually - it's rare that I walk away from a cooked breakfast without a slightly guilty, stuffed, feeling.


Cindy was e'er going to guide the French toast - Syrian style, amongst orangish bloom syrup, dear labne, stewed rhubarb as well as pistachios ($11). Again, it sounded every bit though it had been expressly designed amongst her tastes inwards mind. And it didn't disappoint either - the sweetness toast as well as the tangy labne combining deliciously. The pistachios as well as rhubarb looked pretty dandy also (I've simply asked Cindy for comment as well as she said, "YYUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM!" - as well as thence translate that how you lot will). Jo bravely ordered upwards the Gingerlee breakfast, which came amongst a virgin mary as well as unopen to fantastic chilli jam (which I 'borrowed' liberally). Second coffees were ordered as well as nosotros all tucked inwards as well as enjoyed our tremendous breakfasts. The infinite is pleasant as well as filled amongst natural light, the staff were helpful as well as friendly as well as the prices are pretty reasonable. Another fine add-on to the Brunswick breakfast strip.

Address: 117 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Ph: 9380 4430
Price: Vegie breakasts $4.50 - $13
Website: They accept www.gingerlee.com.au listed on their trouble organization cards, but it doesn't appear to move working.

July 2, 2007: Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

recipe as well as nosotros had most of the ingredients on hand, as well as then all I had to create was throw it all together. I've never eaten equally much soup equally I bring since wintertime arrived inwards Melbourne - I'm buying it for tiffin whenever we're curt of leftovers as well as we're making it nearly ane time a week. It genuinely is ideal nutrient for a drizzly Melbourne July. And, equally a bonus, it tends to last pretty straightforward. This was no exception: ane time the cauliflower as well as onion are chopped it's equally slowly equally pie. Soup pie.

The goal number is rich as well as creamy - cheers inwards no modest purpose to the loving cup of cheese that's stirred through. The cauliflower provides most of the flavour, merely the mustard seeds were a dainty touching on - making upwards for the pepper that I forgot to sprinkle through. It's likely non the healthiest soup going around, merely on a mutual frigidness rainy night, creamy comfort is far to a greater extent than of import than whatever nutritional concerns.

The recipe is from Food Lover's Journey, here.