September 19, 2010: Bodhi Inwards The Green Iii

visited Bodhi inward the Park the previous day, Toby agitated for a yum cha watch on Sunday. (We didn't protestation likewise hard.) In spite of the sizable breakfast nether his belt, Toby demonstrated a near-insatiable appetite at Bodhi. In fact, all 6 of us seemed to uncovering an extra tum for circular afterward circular of chopstick-challenging morsels.

With plates costing $5.50-$8.50 each it's non cheap, but it is a fabulous indulgence. I'll allow the pics create the remainder of the talking here; K has a lilliputian to a greater extent than to tell at In The Mood For Noodles.

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You tin read nearly our really starting fourth dimension watch to Bodhi inward the Park here.

September 25-26, 2010: Mankoushe Ii

ate our agency through Sydney, the Sun saw represent to smoothen on Melbourne equally nosotros did approximately strange jobs inwards the northern suburbs.  This was all the excuse nosotros needed to supply to Mankoushe for lunch.  On Sabbatum nosotros picked upwardly 2 zatar breads (just $1.50 each!) too were thoroughly satisfied amongst their chew too oily-salty spices.

On Dominicus nosotros helped approximately friends deed menage too were recompensed amongst a slowly lunchtime feast of Tiba's falafel too Mankoushe staff of life inwards their new, tentatively sunny backyard.  The freshly baked breads stuffed amongst haloumi cheese ($3.30) were tremendous - it seems the exclusively agency to brand a Mankoushe luncheon sense of savor whatsoever improve is to earn it.

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You tin read nigh our start out take in to Mankoushe here.

September 27-30, 2010: Around Weeknight Dinners

this recipe.  Though we'd intended to consume it all, nosotros had leftovers that carried on to to a greater extent than weeknight meals.

this one); Michael fried them.  I managed to repurpose these 2 crumbing elements for the gravy, thickening the liquid amongst the flour as well as adding a piddling love apple tree sauce to the mix.  We added a handful of spinach leaves to our plates as well as called it a meal.  The tofu/sauce combination made me really happy - I'll definitely utilisation this approach 1 time to a greater extent than (... though I mightiness teach DIY on the seasoned flour).

Two nights later, it was the polenta's plow for repackaging.  By as well as thus it had firmed into a solid slab, thus Michael sliced it into chunks as well as gently reheated it inward the frypan.  For the brain consequence he cooked onions, a tin of beans as well as a tin of tomatoes, flavoured amongst soy sauce, balsamic vinegar as well as a about dried herbs.  We went for the side-salad stand-by again.  This was Michael's favourite repast of the week; it's been a land since we've cooked polenta at dwelling identify as well as I'll recall he'll live on bringing it into our regular rotation.

Our dwelling identify cooking is frequently quite recipe-driven but I enjoyed these to a greater extent than casual combinations.  While none of these meals was especially grand in that place was lots of variety, by as well as large pantry ingredients as well as small, usuable portions of leftovers.  Simple sautés, legumes as well as handfuls of greens experience only correct for Spring.

September 30, 2010: Annual Lab Culinary Competition

Spring brings the birthday of my colleague Jane, as well as our tradition of a culinary contest inwards her honour.  I was most relieved to run across fewer entries than inwards 2009!  (That was a tough cookbook to compile.)  But of course of study the measure of these dishes matched anything we've previously seen.  Last year's Lifetime Achievement Award Winner joined the judging panel as well as ii other talented cooks dominated the honours list, claiming 3 prizes each.

My commons disclaimer - this is the ane occasion each twelvemonth that I include non-vegetarian photos on this blog.  Everyone puts inwards a lot of effort, a hit of dietary requirements are catered to, as well as I intend every dish deserves a mention.  Here's what nosotros shared...

Mojitos!  These won the Bryan Brown/Tom Cruise bar-tending accolade for the ii makers as well as shakers. 

Vege sandwiches

Dolmades

Tofu-tempeh skewers alongside satay sauce.

Winner for the best disguising of tofu.

Chorizo skewers

Cheese as well as vegemite damper

Pulled pork tacos.

This was awarded the Best Overall Savoury Dish.

Rice!  Winner of the Crispy Prize.

this recipe)

Macropus sausage rolls

Kohlrabi salad, crowned Classiest Dish of the day.

Pollo con cuarenta dientes de ajo (forty clove garlic chicken).

Prize winner for the Best Chilean Dish Not Made By Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Chilean.

Savoury sweetness Irish Gaelic patato squares.

Gin & Tonic Nibblies, Winner of the Judges' Award.

Mango lassi

Pink Gin & Tonic Lollipops for Grown-ups.

Prize winner every bit the Best Way To Cause Alcoholism inwards Kids.

Homemade marshmallows

Geelong Cake (because they were nonetheless the reigning premiers).
Award winner for the Best Losing Cake.

Traditional pumpkin pie

Passionfruit semifreddo.

Co-winner of the "One Good Icecream Deserves Another" prize.

raspberry kokosnoot icecream (photographed later).

Second co-winner of the "One Good Icecream Deserves Another" prize.

Baklava, prize winner every bit the Best Lebanese Dish Not Made By Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Lebanese Person.

Peanut butter as well as honeycomb chocolate cups.

Awarded the America's Choice prize.

Explosión de naranja frío - con frutas y chocolate 

(cold orangish soufflé alongside berries as well as chocolate).
Prize winner for Best Presentation.

The Chocolate Trojan - tea-soaked prunes inwards bitter chocolate cream.
Winner of the Jane's Choice Award.

And finally, the Grand Prize Winner!

A wattleseed meringue torte.

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You tin dismiss every bit good run across my reports on lab competitions inwards 2006, 2008 as well as 2009.

September 30, 2010: Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Our dinners for the calendar week turned out to hold upwards a hodge-podge of delicious improvisation, which fitted inwards amongst having salad dressing equally our calendar recipe for the month. We made a basic greens too carrot salad to bring amongst our beany polenta dinner too I knocked this dressing together to accompany it.

It's all real quick too tardily too it added a overnice citrus tang to our fairly manifestly salad. I'm non actually a massive grapefruit fan too I may bring enjoyed this a footling to a greater extent than amongst a slightly sweeter citrus base, but I'd notwithstanding tell this was a success.

Grapefruit Vinaigrette

2/3 loving cup olive oil
1/2 loving cup grapefruit juice
ii tablespoons chopped chives
ii teaspoons Dijon mustard
one teaspoon balsamic vinegar
one teaspoon agave nectar
a few pinches of tabular array salt too pepper

Combine all ingredients inwards a drinking glass jolt amongst a proper chapeau too milk shiver to combine.

October 1, 2010: White Lotus Iv

Edit 11/11/2017: Sadly White Lotus is no longer inwards business, but there's a Loving Hut here now.

White Lotus has e'er been a family-run draw of piece of occupation concern as well as thence when they had personal household unit of measurement draw of piece of occupation concern to attend to, the eating theatre unopen for several months.  But we're real happy to written report that they've reopened!  They're dorsum serving upwards Chinese-style mock meats on Thursday, Fri as well as Sabbatum nights.  Given their express hours, I'd highly recommend that y'all majority a tabular array inwards advance.  We saw quite a few people regretfully turned away on the Fri black that nosotros visited.

Though nosotros were visiting primarily for the mock meats, it was a skilful affair that our wok tossed greens ($15) arrived first.  We hungrily lined our stomachs with bok choy before embarking on the richer stuff.

The restaurant's signature vegetarian fish inwards tamarind sauce ($19) was a must.  The 'flesh' was a piffling mushier as well as homogeneous that I recalled on past visits but the nori-and-bean-curd peel was frail as well as crisp as well as the tamarind sauce every bit zesty every bit ever.

We likewise tried out i of the specials, sugariness as well as sour spare ribs ($16).  I suppose nosotros imagined something similar the seitan ribs I made before inwards the twelvemonth as well as received a starchy stupor on outset seize with teeth - within were layers of vegetarian ham, pumpkin as well as taro!  They were tasty as well as new i time nosotros got going, but pretty stodgy every bit nosotros neared the cease of the plate.  Like most things at White Lotus, the ribs are best shared with several people.

Although the eating theatre was busy, the i waitress on duty provided us with reliable as well as unwaveringly friendly service.  Prices are a piffling steep but I don't hear paying them inwards back upwards of a local vegetarian draw of piece of occupation concern on the strange black out.  And until Peace Harmony or Mei Lin run across represent to opened upwards a eating theatre here, they boast the best vegetarian fish inwards Melbourne.

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You tin terminate likewise read close our previous visits to White Lotus: one, two, three.

October 2, 2010: One-Half Luna Cafe Ii

A calendar week long thread almost falafel on Mess as well as Noise had me craving a trip to Half Luna Cafe to resample their outstanding wraps. Cindy as well as I rustled upwards Toby to accompany us as well as striking the wheel path. Things haven't changed much since nosotros visited to a greater extent than than iii years agone - lots of dissimilar falafel wind options, a make of other delicious treats, insanely friendly staff as well as cheap, inexpensive prices.

Cindy kicked things off amongst a fresh fruit cocktail, a carrot as well as mixed fruit juice that rejuvenated her from the wheel ride.

This fourth dimension unopen to she decided to bring a amount serve of the foul medames (we'd had a tantalising complimentary sample on our concluding visit). At $6 for a expert size bowl of creamy, beany flavor this is a expert value lunch. And it's so, so, tasty - Cindy had to endure constantly vigilant to ensure that Toby as well as I were restricted to sneaking alone a twosome of spoonfuls each.

I had to larn my falafel fix, as well as settled on i of the wraps from the specials board: lettuce, rocket, eggplant, cauliflower, babaganoush as well as yoghurt dips ($6).

They actually deserve their falafel reputation - the piffling balls of fried goodness are crispy on the outside, soft on the within as well as filled amongst delicious herby flavours. The accompaniments were pretty neat too - smoky babaganoush, soft roasted cauliflower as well as plenty of greens. I could bring used a few to a greater extent than pickles, but I intend that was basically my ordering at fault.

Half Luna remains i of Melbourne's best luncheon places - incredibly cheap, vaguely salubrious as well as completely delicious food, served upwards past times super-friendly staff. Now that Mankoushe is offering a like laid of attractions a piffling closer to us it may endure harder to lure us all the agency to Coburg, but if you're inwards the neighbourhood I can't recommend it enough.

Read almost our get-go take in of Half Luna here.