December 15, 2007: Interlude

Michael mentioned inwards his previous post that I got my ears pierced on Saturday, as well as that tin sack only hateful 1 thing...

It's my birthday! And I'm 10 years old!

Well, it's one-half true. What my birthday actually agency is that it's fourth dimension to line out the credit card as well as swallow something fancy. This twelvemonth I chose Interlude at the venue. What initially attracted me to Interlude was their 5-course dessert degustation carte - I similar a eating theatre that values the sweeter side every bit much every bit I do. Then, piece browsing here), creating company piddling spheres amongst a liquid centre. Served amongst champagne, it was the gustation of a genteel British summertime served amongst only novel temperatures as well as textures.

3, 1, 2.) Funnily enough, I convey textural problems amongst eggs as well as onions, as well as this dish overcame 75% of them. The egg even as well as thence had me a fleck squeamish.

in the Grampians! As at 3, 1, 2, these guys convey perfected the technique of coating the silkiest cube of tofu inwards a crisp but featherlight crumb coating. Eucalyptus as well as fennel were a surprisingly skilful but bitter pair, amongst the marmalade training of the fennel offering a counteracting sweetness.

Menu for Hope Interlude voucher.

Full disclosure: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 piddling over one-half way through the meal, 1 of the flooring staff gave me a big grin as well as asked, "So, are you lot a blogger?" It's truthful that I wasn't beingness peculiarly secretive inwards my note- as well as picture-taking, but it was even as well as thence a surprise. Turns out she's a friend of Ed's. As Ed has already noted, the folks at Interlude are real blog-friendly as well as they were all happy for our interest, 2 of the staff yell for the yell of our blog. But the service was naught curt of fantastic as well as friendly beforehand as well as nosotros (Michael) paid for our repast inwards full, as well as thence nosotros convey no argue to believe that whatever other client wouldn't have the same service that nosotros did. If anything, it affected our behaviour, ramping upwardly the self-consciousness a notch. So read into this concern human relationship what you lot will.

Edit 13/11/08: Interlude unopen its doors on Oct 25 this year. Apparently these folks are planning something novel to opened upwardly inwards the city; depository fiscal establishment check their website for to a greater extent than tidings as well as information.

Address: 211 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Ph: 9415 7300
Licensed
Price: intermediate degustation $125 per person, matching wines $75
Website: www.interlude.com.au

December 16, 2007: Interlude Postscript

On leaving Interlude, nosotros received a small-scale gift to get got domicile together with taste subsequently - patently #7 inward their instant pudding series. We had Interlude's interpretation of Xmas mince pie for 2 prepared inward a thing of minutes, using alone a saucepan together with around water.

The 'mince' is a slightly gelatinous concoction, dotted amongst raisins together with wafting amongst traditional Christmas spices. On pinnacle are soft buttery pastry crumbs. How prissy to linger over our exceptional repast a niggling longer!

December 16, 2007: Bluish Corn

Cindy as well as I had skillful intentions for dinner on Lord's Day nighttime next our gluttonous Saturday, but they were thrown out the window past times a spur of the instant invitation to bring together Mike as well as Jo at Blue Corn inwards St Kilda. Jo had told us previously of her fondness for Blue Corn, as well as the bill of fare seemed to cater fairly good for vegos, then nosotros were neat to rate it a try. We wandered inwards at well-nigh 7:00 as well as had no problems getting a tabular array - at that topographic point was fifty-fifty a spare house for us inwards their lovely courtyard, which was the perfect house to dine on i of Melbourne's pleasant summertime evenings.

Los Amates.

Address: 205 Barkly Street, St Kilda
Ph: 9534 5996
Licensed
Price: vego platters as well as mains - $19.50 - $21.50

December 16, 2007: Raspberry Ripple Icecream`

recipe to celebrate on Blue Corn, receiving repeated oohs in addition to aahs.

I'll endure making this again, if non to win to a greater extent than friends in addition to influence people, in addition to thence sure as shooting to perfect my swirling technique!

Raspberry Ripple Icecream

250mL milk
3 eggs
160g castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
500mL unmarried cream
125mL water
juice of one-half a lemon
250g raspberries

In a saucepan over depression to medium heat, convey the milk non quite to the boil in addition to and thence ready aside. Whisk together the eggs, 120g of the saccharide in addition to vanilla, in addition to thence add together the hot milk, yet whisking.

Put the mixture dorsum on depression heat, whisking, until it thickens a little. Turn off the oestrus in addition to add together the cream, yet whisking continually. Cool the mixture in addition to and thence shop it inwards the refrigerator until completely cold, at to the lowest degree an hour.

In a small-scale saucepan over depression heat, combine the water, remaining saccharide in addition to lemon juice in addition to convey to the boil. Simmer until it has reduced past times half, in addition to thence plough off the heat. Blitz it inwards a nutrient processor amongst the raspberries until smooth. Strain the syrup in addition to refrigerate.

Retrieve the vanilla custard from the refrigerator in addition to strain it - at that spot may endure a few solidified egg bits if you're a lazy custard-stirrer similar me. Churn the custard inwards an icecream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer the vanilla icecream to a container a quarter at a time, swirling through around raspberry puree inwards between. Freeze for several hours until firm.

December 18, 2007: Muhammara

Johanna, I lately bought a bottle of pomegranate molasses for the commencement time. Pomegranate molasses has orbitted my culinary consciousness for quite roughly time, but for the nigh business office I was content non to ain this specialty ingredient. I wasn't convinced that I'd purpose it much or specially similar the taste. Then I saw this recipe as well as tried swirling the pomegranate molasses through. It sunk to the bottom instead of remaining suspended, but the flavours actually worked! So pour it on roughly proficient vanilla icecream as well as fruits - nosotros chose blueberries, strawberries as well as blackberries.

The muhammara recipe is available here.

December 24, 2007: Christmas Flush (And Its Eve)

pomegranate syrup.

Christmas Eve was spent amongst my dad, his married adult woman Anne, in addition to Anne's family. In the habitation of Anne's sis Sue, nosotros exchanged gifts in addition to shared an enormous meal. I baked to a greater extent than or less other circular of Haalo's chocolate orangish butter biscuits in addition to gift boxed them for Sue. If Anne in addition to Sue's dad is anything similar my ain grandparents, I thought, the cocoa nibs would endure hard for his teeth; in addition to thence for Max I made the same basic biscuit dough in addition to sandwiched the baked biscuits amongst lemon curd.

non-sausage rolls amongst Chinese agency barbeque sauce on the side. I was proud to win a few to a greater extent than fans from unexpected corners of the table.

It was a black of blended families in addition to mixed traditions; non seamless, but amongst a feel of sharing in addition to humor nosotros should convey many to a greater extent than pleasant Christmas meals to aspect forrad to.

December 25, 2007: Christmas Day

Christmas traditions cause got mostly faded as my grandparents cause got passed on together with the grandkids cause got grown up, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. If anything we're amend able to appreciate the nutrient together with fellowship that does come upwardly together without whatsoever preconceptions. Three years ago, Michael together with I turned upwardly inward Melbourne belatedly on discounted flights, thus spent the afternoon eating chips together with avocado spell watching DVDs amongst my brother, Mum together with Mum's sis Carol. I don't intend in that place were fifty-fifty whatsoever gifts or a decorated tree but the feel of togetherness was much to a greater extent than existent than the photograph stories Coles Myer would cause got us purchase into all November.

This yr nosotros shared Christmas tiffin amongst to a greater extent than or less of my Mum's household unit of measurement on the due north side of Melbourne. It was a real Aussie barbie amongst breadstuff together with salads - for the hot plate, Michael together with I brought along a lunchbox amount of caramelised onions, together with 4 enormous mushrooms brushed amongst balsamic vinegar together with crushed garlic.

These reindeer cupcakes, also my doing, were dessert. I owe their await solely to Melbourne's other nutrient blogging Cindy, together with their constituent listing almost solely to Nigella Lawson. They're based on her burnt-butter brown-sugar cupcakes. The cake batter has a convenient throw-everything-into-the-food-processor method, but getting the burnt butter for both the cake together with the icing is a fleck strange. It involves heating together with clarifying the butter, together with Nigella promises that it'll survive enterprise (albeit soft) inward less fourth dimension than it takes to preheat the oven. Even inward 20 score conditions it took an hr inward the refrigerator to create that. I reckon it would cause got taken all twenty-four hr menses sitting on the bench as directed! These were a tad greasy against the newspaper cases but otherwise nifty - light, moist cakes amongst buttery sweetness icing together with a hint of dark-brown sugar. I'd purpose it over again as a base of operations for decorative cupcakes. However I ended upwardly amongst well-nigh twice as much icing as I needed for this smoothen finish, thus reckon reducing it yesteryear a 3rd to a half. If you lot but desire to thickly pipage or slather on the sweetness materials you lot mightiness desire the amount quantity below.

And what made this Christmas actually Christmas? Making upwardly a fleck of lost fourth dimension amongst my cousins Seona together with Trudy; getting to know Seona's almost-husband Phil together with viewing Trudy's foray into film-making. Then watching Mum together with 3 of her sisters muddle their agency through a exercise pitching of their novel tent on the front end lawn.

The twenty-four hr menses wasn't completely gratis of gifts either - inward the postal service came a World inward your Kitchen calendar from Michael's mum via Oxfam. Each novel calendar month volition convey a novel vegetarian recipe from Africa, Asia or Latin America, thus we've a novel subject to characteristic on our weblog for 2008. Watch out for a Caribbean Area rice dessert inward January!


Reindeer cupcakes

cake:

150g unsalted butter
125g evidently flour, sieved
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, sieved
60g castor sugar
65g dark-brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons milk

icing: (reduce yesteryear a 3rd to a one-half for smoothen reindeer faces)
150g unsalted butter
1-2 tablespoons cocoa
250-300g pure icing saccharide (I mightiness endeavor reducing this to 200g adjacent time)
2-3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

plain salted pretzels together with assorted lollies for decorating (I used 12 jaffas, 24 nighttime choc chips, together with to a greater extent than or less blood-red sour jubes trimmed amongst scissors)

For the cake: Put the butter inward a pocket-sized saucepan over medium heat, stirring until it becomes nighttime golden. The milk solids should split quite easily together with ascent to the top. Strain the butter to take those solids - lacking a decent strainer, I also used a spoon to gently skim off to a greater extent than solids. Rest the butter until it's enterprise but nonetheless soft - I nonetheless reckon this requires a stint inward the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C together with trouble a muffin pan amongst 12 newspaper cases. In a nutrient processor, pulse together all the cake ingredients except for the milk - flow it downwards the funnel. Drop the batter every bit into the 12 newspaper cases, thus bake for 15-20 minutes until a wooden skewer comes out clean.

For the icing: Repeat the butter clarification method above, mayhap earlier or spell the cakes are baking. When the butter is cool, sieve inward a tablespoon of the cocoa together with well-nigh one-half of the icing saccharide together with musical rhythm out together the buttercream. Beat inward to a greater extent than sugar, cocoa together with milk inward plough until you lot make the coloring together with texture you lot want, thus musical rhythm out inward the vanilla at the end.

For evidently cupcakes, slather or pipage the icing on generously. To brand reindeer faces, spread the buttercream thinly together with smoothly over the cakes amongst a knife, ideally forming a seal amongst the newspaper cases over the cake. Arrange a appear upwardly yesteryear pressing the lollies gently into the icing, starting amongst a blood-red olfactory organ inward the centre. Cut pretzels into the antler shapes pictured to a higher house together with press them into the side of the cake. If your reindeer cause got to move at all, you lot mightiness similar to store the decorating lollies (particularly the pretzel antlers) inward a pocket-sized container together with decorate but earlier serving.

December 26, 2007: Boxing Day

super sandwiches for all. I was astounded to honor that the MCG straightaway houses a falafel stand, together with thus a lazy vego tin rank the sack nevertheless last guaranteed a feed without their ain personal sandwich stack!

As a modest I alone ate the fruit to earn myself an icecream, but straightaway I genuinely crave it inwards the heat. I ate 2 nectarines together with my breadbasket thanked me for it.

Here come upward the obligatory leftovers, all of them sugary.

A beer together with chips are nevertheless business office of the experience. Just don't superlative likewise early! You'll immature adult woman the streaker when he somersaults onto the plain at 5:00.

I promise none of us necessitate a lecture close beingness sun-smart: hats, sunglasses together with sunscreen should last the uniform. But here's fleck I didn't take away heed - fifty-fifty when it's xx degrees together with breezy inwards the shade, the low-cal reflection volition larn you. It's the alone agency I tin rank the sack explicate my sunburnt eyelids together with forehead.

December 27, 2007: Minute Lokal

this review of Wild Flour bakery on The Breakfast Blog in addition to decided it was worth a see (particularly since The Commoner doesn't opened upward until 10a.m. in addition to nosotros were hungry at 8). When nosotros got to 422 George Street nosotros were a picayune confused yesteryear what nosotros saw: it was clearly the same basic house equally Jamie had visited, amongst a twain of big communal tables in addition to or then tiny outdoor seats, but it didn't seem to live on the Wild Flour bakery anymore. Certainly in that place was a big sign maxim 'Wild Flour breadstuff available here', but the mention on the door appeared to live on Min Lokal (which is Swedish for My Local according to my research). I didn't enquire the guy working in that place what the floor was, then I'm withal non solely certain that I've got the mention correct (after all, google turns upward exactly no references to a Min Lokal on George Street inwards Fitzroy), but inwards the destination it barely matters: the card looked impressive in addition to the house was opened upward in addition to welcoming.

First, the limitations: they convey no freezer, then Cindy had to forgo her desired iced coffee, no existent sugariness brekkie options (e.g. pancakes, french toast) in addition to their breakfast card is pretty heavy on the eggs (although in that place was a haloumi alternative that was unfortunately unavailable). That aside (and, to live on honest, I wanted a proper coffee, similar savoury breakfast in addition to honey eggs, then I wasn't peculiarly bothered), the card looked great: in that place were a expert publish of delicious sounding vego egg-based dishes, toast amongst a diversity of intriguing sounding spreads in addition to a smattering of other options. The stars of the demo were the claypot egg dishes - basically they're baked eggs, but they're non made inwards the pans that people complain locomote out a metallic taste - instead they're baked inwards claypots, which leaves a slightly mushier texture in addition to no metallic element aftertaste.

Three of the iv claypot options were vego and, afterward much agonising, I opted for the napoli eggs amongst fetta, pesto in addition to pinenuts. It would live on difficult to overstate how expert this dish was - the pesto was amazing, but the minor swirl didn't overwhelm the other flavours. The fetta added a salty tang in addition to the pino nuts gave or then compaction to the soft tomato-y egg-mush. It was superb. It left me fifty-fifty to a greater extent than keen to larn dorsum in addition to endeavour or then of the other claypot varieties (one amongst artichokes in addition to caper glue inwards it sounded stupendous).

Cindy, hamstrung yesteryear the unavailable haloumi dish in addition to lack of other non-egg based choices, settled for the fruit toast. After weighing upward her options (fancy jams, or then classify of quince paste, a labna-y creation), she settled on maple hazlenut butter. The picayune dish of nutty butter was little - merely plenty to encompass the 2 pieces of fruit toast - but delicious. Cindy would convey happily smeared twice equally much on if she had the option, but was well-satisfied amongst the delicious toast (I'm non certain if it was Wild Flour breadstuff - a few people came inwards to purchase their loaves in addition to were sent away unsatisfied equally the bakery wasn't baking over the Christmas/New Year break) in addition to interesting topping. Now if I tin merely convince her to supply to endeavour or then of the other toast toppings I tin dig into the residuum of their egg varieties.


Address: 422 George Street, Fitzroy
Ph: 9419 1391 (although this is the former Wild Flour number, I can't confirm that it's withal accurate)
Price: $7 - $13

December 30, 2007: Coco Loco

Update 31/12/2014: Coco Loco has changed its cite to Papasito and its emphasis to Mexican food. It's however run yesteryear the same possessor as well as however has a decent attain of vegan options.

After a wander along High St on a hot day, I in conclusion managed to steer Michael into Coco Loco for a proper look. I've been peachy to watch this chocolate store for to a greater extent than or less fourth dimension - it's vegan-friendly, organic as well as uses exclusively Fair Trade cocoa as well as coffee. The carte du jour is long as well as impressive: at that spot are hot as well as iced chocolates, mochas as well as cocktails every bit good every bit a display cabinet of house-made truffles. Chocolate promenades amongst diverse fruit, nut as well as spice combinations; gulp orders are made amongst your preference inward temperature (hot or iced), milk (dairy, soy or Kashew Mylk) as well as chocolate concentration (light, medium, deep).

We both needed a deep chocolate laid upwardly on ice, as well as gave the household unit of measurement Kashew Mylk recipe a go. They were frothy, icy mutual depression temperature as well as non also rich - simply what was needed inward the prevailing weather. However at that spot was a fleck of a powdery texture (whether from the chocolate or the cashew I'm non sure) which wasn't ideal. The orangish inward my Kleopatra's brew ($10) was barely apparent, sentiment the lemon myrtle inward Michael's D'Amore (also $10) was stronger.

I intend I similar Coco Loco to a greater extent than inward theory than inward practice. I dig the ethically-sourced ingredients but intend the prices are a smidge steep. The carte du jour looks incredible, but the production (while good) didn't quite tally up. The vibe is modern as well as real clean, but also a fleck pretentious. I gauge I'll simply bring to purchase a few to a greater extent than chocolates to assistance me elevate one's take away heed my truthful feelings for Coco Loco!

Address: 219 High St, Northcote
Ph: 9482 7033
Price: iced chocolates $10
Website: www.cocoloco.net.au

December 30, 2007: Fetta Stuffed Zucchini Amongst Sweetness Tater Chips

A few days later Christmas I visited a household unit of measurement friend together with returned domicile alongside zucchinis together with eggs. Maybe the zucchinis don't await all that intimidating at commencement glance, but compare them to the biro posed at the tiptop of the movie - these are big zucchinis. Over the next calendar week I managed to knock 'em downward alongside i dish per zucchini.

For my commencement trick, I tried stuffing one. I intend the mild, watery flavor of zucchini industrial plant good alongside line of piece of job solid salty cheese similar haloumi or fetta together with hence I decided that fetta would survive the characteristic ingredient. Add or together with hence garlic, capsicum together with parsley together with it's genuinely a rather flavoursome together with rattling summery dish.

On the side I had a shot at sweetness Irish Gaelic patato chips. They didn't move spectacularly, but I didn't convey high hopes - it's hard to larn them crispy! I only sliced the Irish Gaelic patato thinly together with baked it inwards a fleck of oil. The chips may convey fared amend if I'd been able to spread them out together with hence they weren't overlapping - the few leftover ones worked nicely nether the grill this way.

There was no leftover zucchini #1 to consume alongside the chips, but at that topographic point was a fleck of filling. It was only the matter for a toasted sandwich.


Fetta stuffed zucchini

1 massive zucchini (or 2-3 normal ones)
1 capsicum, chopped
3 cloves garlic
pepper
80g fetta
1-2 tablespoons parsley, chopped roughly
1/4 loving cup breadcrumbs (optional)
oil

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Slice the zucchini(s) inwards one-half lengthways together with scoop out a hollow inwards each piece. I institute it easiest to gently draw the borders of the hollow I wanted alongside a knife earlier earthworks inwards alongside a spoon. Set the zucchinis hollow-side-up on a apartment oven tray. (Lightly grease the tray if you lot wish, but I don't intend it's necessary.)

Roughly chop the zucchini innards. Heat a small-scale amount of crude oil inwards a frypan together with get the zucchini innards together with capsicum over medium heat. Add the garlic later a pair of minutes. When the capsicum has softened, transfer the veges to a bowl. Add pepper to taste, crumble inwards the fetta together with stir inwards the parsley.

Gently pile the filling into the zucchini hollows. Sprinkle on the breadcrumbs if you lot desire them, together with drizzle on a teensy fleck of olive crude oil if you lot experience similar Jamie Oliver. Bake until the tiptop has browned slightly together with the zucchini is tender but withal firm. (About xv minutes, from memory.)

January 1, 2008: Zucchini #2

Ceviz's lemon zucchini inwards olive oil, a skilful side for spanakopita (which included almost of the eggs received amongst the zucchinis). It's a bugger using the oven inwards this atmospheric condition but the large batches create good at room temperature, stretched over a few days.

January 3, 2008: Chocolate Together With Zucchini Pasta

Zucchini #3 was devoted to a recipe from Ms Chocolate & Zucchini herself, Clotilde Dusoulier. She miraculously managed to prepare a savoury recipe featuring the championship ingredients of her weblog - pasta alongside zucchini slices in addition to a sprinkling of unsweetened cocoa nibs. This isn't all that's odd almost the dish. Clotilde too introduced me to the absorption method of cooking pasta. Similar to risotto, the pasta is thinly coated alongside olive stone oil inward the pan earlier absorbing H2O or stock until done. Rather than gradually adding the stock in addition to stirring continuously, most of the stock goes inward instantly in addition to the pasta needs exclusively an occasional, relaxed stir.

The utilisation of stock brings extra flavor to the pasta in addition to I liked adding the veges inward to laid upwardly alongside it, making it a one-pot meal. But the existent flavor revelation is the cocoa garnish! It adds a depth in addition to darkness to an otherwise mildly flavoured dish, playing the purpose I'd unremarkably paw to mushrooms. As much equally I dearest parmesan, it's best to add together it hither alongside a lite paw - its combination alongside cocoa nibs is surprisingly rich.

Clotilde posted this equally a meal-for-one on her weblog roughly fourth dimension ago, in addition to it's too printed inward her offset cookbook to serve iv (this is the version I referred to).


Chocolate in addition to zucchini pasta

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, finely chopped
400-500g dried brusque pasta
6 cups stock (I exclusively truly used almost iv cups)
1 enormous zucchini (or iv small, or 2-3 medium), slicely finely into rounds
salt in addition to pepper
2 tablespoons cocoa nibs, coarsely crushed
grated parmesan

Heat the stone oil inward a large pan. Add the garlic in addition to onion, cooking for a yoke of minutes over medium heat. Next add together the pasta in addition to stir thoroughly in addition to thence that the pasta is evenly coated inward the oil. Pour inward stock to encompass the pasta in addition to laid aside the rest. Turn the oestrus downwards in addition to simmer the pasta alongside the lid on, giving it the occasional stir for fifty-fifty cooking. After almost v minutes add together the zucchini.

Continue simmering the pasta alongside occasional stirring. The pasta volition start absorbing the stock in addition to the stirring becomes to a greater extent than of import to ensure fifty-fifty absorption equally the liquid degree decreases. After almost v to a greater extent than minutes, exam the pasta for texture. Add to a greater extent than stock or H2O if the pasta is dry out but non finished, in addition to repeat the covered simmering in addition to stirring until it is al dente.

Season to gustatory modality in addition to serve sprinkled alongside cocoa nibs in addition to parmesan.

January 4, 2008: White Lotus Iii

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

White Lotus leads the means next our preliminary explorations of the fake-meat scene inwards Melbourne, in addition to has the added wages of beingness on our side of town. We continued our exploration of their menu: curry 'chicken'($13.50) for me, sweetness in addition to sour 'pork' ($13.50) for Cindy in addition to about steamed vegies (pictured above, $12) for the duo of us to alternative at.

The chicken was groovy - tender in addition to melty the means skillful curried chicken should be. The curry was fine, alongside a skillful sum of spice in addition to about overnice fresh vegies, but I couldn't attention imagining how groovy it would last to detect an Indian eating seat that made faux meat curries alongside pseudo-chicken this good. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed a skillful chicken korma.

Luckily for me I resisted tasting Cindy's sweetness in addition to sour pork until she was eating the leftovers for dejeuner the adjacent day. Otherwise I could easily accept flora myself volunteering to knock the leftovers off on the night, which could exclusively accept ended inwards about assort of terrible over-eating related accident. Suffice to say: it was pretty damn good.

The prices accept gone upward slightly, but the service is yet friendly in addition to the nutrient remains worth the trip. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 authorities notation for adjacent time: it's BYO, scream back to BYO!

Read virtually our previous trips to White Lotus here in addition to here.

January 5, 2008: Shanghai Noodle House

Update 27/1/2019: Shanghai Noodle House is permanently closed.

a couple of times, nosotros were due to direct keep Jen as well as Buttons' advice as well as watch Shanghai Noodle House side past times side door. It's somewhat smaller as well as every bit a result the service does experience to a greater extent than personable. Lining the walls are coloured pieces of newspaper listing many of the dishes available, inwards English linguistic communication as well as Chinese. Promises of eel as well as pork liver mightiness seat a vego off, but there's genuinely a dedicated vegetarian department inwards the pinkish laminated carte alongside 36 items to direct from. I notice it hard to house my outset lodge at a eatery similar this - the prices are depression as well as it's hard to imagine beingness satisfied alongside simply a $5 plate per person. Besides, there's besides many appetising names to direct between!

Michael left the decisions upwards to me as well as I tried non to dilly-dally. First cab off the order were the spicy vegetable stir fried rice cakes ($8). I suppose nosotros were expecting 3 or iv fritter-like things consisting by as well as large of rice - instead nosotros were surprised past times this mountainous plate of viscid things that looked similar H2O chestnuts. (Once they did plow upwards I began to retrieve a post I'd ane time seen on Kitchen Wench...) I tin imagine the rice cakes bulking upwards a well-dressed salad or stir-fry nicely, but nosotros barely made a dent inwards this plateful. They're listed on the carte every bit standard, spicy or Sichuan (with a alert chilli side past times side to it) as well as I hoped the intermediate version would arrange our tastes. Alas, it was besides hot for me (though OK for Michael). But that's the fun of trying something novel - you lot win some, you lot lose unopen to as well as you lot tin ever acquire something along the way!

It was inevitable that I'd lodge a plate of the vegetable fried dumplings ($7). They arrived fresh out of the frypan, alongside the requisite texture of ane side chewy, the other side crispy alongside oil. The filling was pretty expert too.

My end lodge was for 3 vegetable buns ($4). Again they arrived super-fresh, all soft as well as sweetness on the outside, alongside salty-bitter mushrooms as well as spinach within.

Needless to say, Michael as well as I were stuffed to the gills, alongside nutrient (and money) to spare. It's in all probability to a greater extent than fun to swallow hither inwards a larger group, allowing you lot to lodge a larger make of dishes as well as gustatory modality them all. Even so, the Shanghai Noodle House yet makes for a fast, inexpensive as well as tasty dinner for 2 as well as is a worthy option to Camy.

Address: 2/242 Little Bourke St, Melbourne CBD (enter via Tattersalls Lane)
Ph: 9662 9380
Unlicensed
Price: veg plates $4-9
Website: http://cltmel.com/eng/

January 6, 2008: Picnic Inward The Park

After a few ridiculously hot days, Lord's Day was a mild as well as pleasant Melbourne summer's twenty-four hr menstruum (an aside: I nevertheless can't larn my caput to a greater extent than or less Melbourne summertime - when the temperature tin flame driblet 10 degrees inwards 10 minutes, aught makes feel anymore) as well as Cindy as well as I were inspired to position together some assort of picnic as well as caput off to savour the slow eve sunshine.

We decided to continue things reasonably good for yous (at to the lowest degree pre-dessert): a duet of dips as well as lots of fresh vegies. I took on dip responsibilities as well as raided Cindy's bookmarks to abide by sun-dried Lycopersicon esculentum hummus as well as agresto.

sun-dried Lycopersicon esculentum hummus as well as cosmopolitan. Fantastic.

It should survive noted, non exclusively are the Trin Warren Tam-Boore wetlands a fine house for a picnic, there's some pretty skillful bird-watching to survive had every bit good - I saw my offset Australasian Grebe!


Sun-dried Lycopersicon esculentum hummus
(a recipe from Pinch My Salt)

6-8 sun-dried tomatoes
1 x 400g tin flame chickpeas, drained as well as rinsed
1 tablespoon tahini
juice of i lemon
4 tablespoons olive oil
salt as well as pepper, to taste
shake of cayenne pepper

Puree everything together inwards a nutrient processor. Taste, as well as adapt the season residue to your liking.

January 6, 2008: Lazy Solar Daytime Peach As Well As Apple Tree Pie

picnic, in addition to I took my inspiration from the Age newspaper that was delivered to our apartment that really morning. Inside the vacuous sun Life periodical was Karen Martini's free-form apple tree in addition to peach tart. I was peachy on enjoying some rock fruits in addition to the conditions was mercifully cool plenty to crank upward the oven inwards the early on afternoon. But I didn't desire the temptation of a pie inwards our refrigerator all calendar week hence I decided to halve the recipe.

January 7, 2008: Kamel

Bowl of Soul together with therefore she could larn her fix. Unfortunately, they appear to receive got taken a summertime holiday, together with nosotros were met alongside a firmly unopen door. We opted for instant best: a quick walk over to Albert Park together with vegie burgers from Andrew's hamburgers. Alas, they also were enjoying a well-earned Jan break. With our hunger levels increasing together with our Cheap Eats guide at home, nosotros had a quick wander around Albert Park hoping to stumble onto something appealing. And that's when nosotros constitute Kamel. There were no hot dogs on their menu, but a broad array of vaguely Middle-Eastern tapas plates, at to the lowest degree one-half of which were meat-free. Score!

We had a quick consultation alongside our waitress, together with decided that iii of the plates would hold out almost correct for 2 fairly hungry people. After much agonising (it's difficult to believe that a carte du jour would receive got 'broccolini alongside peri peri butter together with roasted almonds' together with 'field mushrooms alongside feta together with herb oil' together with that we'd lodge neither dish), nosotros started alongside pistachio-crumbed goats cheese alongside fig glue & Turkish bread. The crumbed cheese was crispy exterior together with creamy inside, the quince glue added some fruity flavor together with the well-dressed rocket helped us pretend it was healthy.

Next upward was fried cauliflower inwards mint, coriander together with chickpea batter alongside a balsamic reduction. The herb flavours weren't overly noticeable, but the crispy batter together with the balsamic flavours were the perfect complement to the perfectly cooked cauliflower.

Cindy started to tedious downwards a picayune at this point, but the nutrient kept coming: zucchini together with mint fritters alongside yoghurt to complete off. These were some substantial fritters: huge patties of herbed zucchini together with a giant dollop of creamy yoghurt. To hold out honest, these were a picayune blander than I expected - I intend because I imagined them every bit haloumi together with zucchini patties together with they lacked the salty punch I was expecting. They benefited hugely from a pinch or 2 of common salt - later on I'd sussed that out, they were deliciously flavoursome.

We didn't quite larn through it all, but that was actually no critique of the nutrient - it was a fantastic honor alongside a reasonably affordable, varied together with really veg-friendly menu. There's a adept handful of carte du jour items I'm nevertheless slap-up to try, together with therefore remain tuned for a Kamel update inwards the coming months.

Address: 19 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park
Ph: 9696 1386
Licensed
Price: Vegie plates: $6-$12

January 9, 2008: Bimbo Deluxe

Although Michael lunched at Bimbo Deluxe inwards his start calendar week of living inwards Melbourne, it's taken me 17 months to larn my oral fissure roughly ane of Bimbo's famous $4 pizzas. There stimulate got been a few opportunities, but the trounce of hipsters at elevation times has set me off. And Bimbo Deluxe is relentlessly as well as grungily hip: a dimly lit bar amongst big sometime couches as well as retro fittings, such every bit vinyl records decorating the wall. The kids amongst nonsensical hats as well as haircuts as well as the just-too-loud music reminded me that piece all the same inwards my 20s, I'm sometime as well as cranky. Apparently the roof-garden upstairs is brighter as well as breezier, but it's super-popular as well as at that spot are rarely spare seats. At 7:00 on a weeknight, the entry marking seating is pleasant as well as roomy plenty anyway.

Dinner is all nigh pizza: of the nineteen types on the menu, an impressive xi are vegetarian. (Check out the bill of fare for yourself at their website, if you lot tin navigate roughly the trendy pictures.) The prices are e'er skillful (none of the pizzas top $8), but inwards elevation times they're a bewildering $4. Apparently Bimbo makes a loss on every ane of them as well as then makes it upward on drinks, every bit evident from the $4.50 half-pints nosotros drank. The pizzas are the size of the dinner plate as well as stimulate got a sparse base, alternately crispy as well as chewy. I mean value the size is bang-on to serve ane comfortably.

We tried the El Greco (in the background of the photo): it's topped amongst haloumi cheese, light-green olives as well as a wedge of lemon. It's a guilty-delicious oil-fest as well as so, thus salty. (That' second how they larn you lot buyin' upward on the beer, I guess.) The Funghi was a lilliputian to a greater extent than nourishing, amongst lots of fleshy black mushrooms, a restrained sprinkle of cheese as well as smattering of herbs. H5N1 smarter daughter than I would also lodge a salad on the side.

There are also a few sweetness pizzas on offer, but nosotros were inwards no country to sample them. Haloumi takes all.

Address: 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Ph: 9419 8600
Licensed
Price: veg pizzas $4.90-$7.90, all $4 each during elevation times
Website: www.bimbodeluxe.com.au

January 12, 2008: Fandango

Mike in addition to Jo-Lyn differ inwards many matters of taste. Jo knows all the cool hang-outs in addition to likes things a combat artsy. Mike, however, doesn't hesitate to claim "wanker!" at the starting fourth dimension whiff of pretension. So in that location could hardly last a higher recommendation for breakfast at Fandango than that they both love it. And right away nosotros love it too.

We contributed to the real brownish decor past times kicking off alongside a java each - iced for me, in addition to a habitual apartment white for Michael. I'm no connoisseur but mine was pretty good; Michael deemed his 'exceptional'.

I took a jeopardy on the pancakes ($8), served inwards a stack of 3 alongside banana, strawberries, homemade honeyed cream cheese in addition to maple syrup. Our waiter fifty-fifty left a bottle of existent maple syrup on the tabular array inwards illustration I wanted a meridian up. I didn't, this was perfectly sugariness equally it was. It looked gorgeous, it had a reasonable serve of fruit, in addition to the cream cheese was lovely (even though I'm non unremarkably a fan of honey). At $12 it would last splendid value, in addition to at $8 it's a steal! The serving size mightiness expect small-scale but it was truly to a greater extent than than I could get got - I barely fifty-fifty began the terminal pancake (though Michael had a expert shot at it).

Michael's top dog repast was poached eggs alongside beetroot in addition to fetta relish, spinach, sourdough in addition to mushrooms ($14.50). He had no problem polishing off this large plateful either. The mushrooms were peculiarly expert in addition to the egg good poached.

So, about other peachy niggling breakfast location discovered inwards our local area. (Will nosotros always run out of them, or volition the inner northward cafe scene boot the bucket on to proliferate until every kitsch shop-front in addition to terrace menage has an espresso machine in addition to a twee cakestand?) In Fandango's favour is its proximity to the Queen Victoria Markets - a recipe for many to a greater extent than where's the beef? breakfasts to come.

Address: 97 Errol St, North Melbourne
Ph: 9329 0693
Price: veg breakfasts $4-$14.50

January 11, 2008: Leftover Makeover - Pastry Squares

sundried love apple tree hummus alongside veges together with crackers, but the real nutty agresto was a niggling to a greater extent than hard to shift. The virtually successful role of it has been on these savoury pastry squares - topped alongside love apple tree for me, together with alongside olives together with cheese for Michael. They solely ask xv minutes inwards the oven together with a handful of spinach leaves on the side for a quick together with tasty weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. Subsequent squares convey likewise featured caramelised onion (leftover from an upcoming recipe): it's incredibly proficient but doesn't stand upward for the same quick-and-easy bill.

January 12, 2008: Nirankar

Cindy as well as I are nevertheless hunting unopen to Melbourne for a standout Indian eatery - nosotros liked Bala da Dhaba, but it's also far away for regular visits, piece local options similar Fitz Curry Cafe as well as Kake di Hatti direct maintain been satisfactory without blowing our minds. On Sabbatum night, afterwards a fleck of meshing research, nosotros decided to give Nirankar a go.

Nirankar is on a tranquillity stretch of Queen Street inwards the CBD, as well as at that topographic point was no danger of us beingness turned away despite beingness bookingless at 7ish on a Sabbatum night. The carte du jour had abut the park position out of vegetarian options, but at that topographic point were a few non-standard choices, similar Khatta Meetha Bangain (eggplant as well as capsicum amongst tangy herbs). There was also a diverseness of kulfi on the menu, then nosotros decided to skip the appetiser department as well as relieve room for dessert.

We ordered our park mix: 2 curries, ane staff of life as well as ane serve of rice. The garlic naan was slightly crispy as well as slathered inwards buttery garlic, but the agency I similar it. Four our curries, nosotros opted for the Shahi Matar Paneer (cottage cheese cooked amongst light-green peas as well as almonds inwards a creamy love apple tree sauce) as well as the Makkiwali Mushrooms (fresh mushrooms as well as babe corn tossed together inwards an onion-based sauce) as well as were non disappointed. The paneer inwards detail was wondeful, a well-spiced tomato-y as well as nutty sauce, generous chunks of paneer as well as a smattering of peas. The mushrooms were pretty proficient equally good - slightly also spicy for Cindy's tastes, as well as possibly a niggling fleck also oniony. Still, nosotros polished off nearly everything, which is odd for us - commonly at that topographic point are leftovers to last had (Nirankar's explicit refusal to give doggy bags may direct maintain contributed to our voraciousness).

Cindy's efforts - I intend she's pretty heavy-handed amongst the cardamom.
On the whole, Nirankar was pretty impressive - a proficient selection of vego curries that were deliciously cooked, proficient service, interesting (if slightly underwhelming) desserts. On the other hand, the prices are a niggling high for Indian food, as well as they're non good placed for takeaway, then I'm non certain we'll last dorsum at that topographic point ane time to a greater extent than peculiarly soon. If anyone out at that topographic point tin advise worthwhile Indian alternatives (particularly unopen to Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick etc, but anywhere volition do), we're all ears.

Address: 174 Queen Street, Melbourne
Ph: 9642 1995
Licensed
Prices: Vegie curries: $13.50 - $14.90
Website: http://www.nirankar.com.au/

January 13, 2008: Morsels For The Moonlight Cinema

Between Cindy's network of expat-Brisbanites too my stash of $10 tickets, nosotros rounded upward quite a gang for a Lord's Day eve at the previous dip-focussed picnic food, I decided to repeat the performance. This fourth dimension I flicked through our cookbooks rather than Cindy's bookmarks, too came across a dyad of relatively slow too tasty-looking choices.

agresto)
2 chopped bound onions
salt too pepper

Stick everything inwards the nutrient processor too whiz until combined. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 splash of olive crude oil in all likelihood wouldn't hurt, if the texture is a picayune dry, but is otherwise unnecessary. And that's it, you've got your get-go dip.


Beetroot hummus

500g beetroot
1/3 loving cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon solid soil cumin
410g tin of chickpeas, drained
1 tablespoon tahini
1/3 loving cup plainly yoghurt
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 loving cup lemon juice
1/2 loving cup vegie stock

Scrub the beetroot too boil inwards a large pot of H2O for most xl minutes, until they're overnice too soft. Drain them too allow them cool for piece too and then peel (the peel should come upward off actually easily).

Meanwhile, estrus 1 tablespoon of the crude oil inwards a tiddler pan too ready the onions for most 5 minutes. Add inwards the cumin too stir it through, cooking for unopen to other infinitesimal or so.

Chop the peeled beetroot into manageable chunks too house it inwards the nutrient processor alongside all of your ingredients except for the oil. Whiz everything together until it's a smoothen paste. Pour the olive crude oil inwards alongside the processor nevertheless whizzing and, in i lawsuit everything is combined, you've got yourself a giant, pinkish mush ready for dipping.

January 13, 2008: To A Greater Extent Than Morsels For The Moonlight Cinema

Michael's dips were a fine contribution to the picnic rug, in addition to I couldn't resist making a few contributions of my own. After Michael's first-class cosmo-in-the-thermos come about the previous weekend, I ad-libbed my ain cocktail to share: a bottle of limoncello in addition to bottle of lemonade garnished amongst mint in addition to sliced ginger. Simple, refreshing, in addition to deceptively alcoholic.

Johanna inspired me to brand closed to savoury muffins, in addition to her recipe came from Yeah, That "Vegan" Shit. When I spent a semester studying inwards the the U.S.A. inwards 2004, I got seriously addicted to his dip), sauteed inwards the stone oil that the sundried tomatoes were packed in.

January 15, 2008: Brunetti Ix

Update 27/1/2019: Brunetti is nevertheless trading, but has moved from Faraday Street into a huge custom-built infinite within Lygon Court.

After spending ii weeks inwards regional Victoria alongside her sisters, my Mum had i final gratis nighttime inwards Melbourne earlier flight dorsum domicile to Brisbane. It was virtually fourth dimension nosotros introduced her to Brunetti, right? Two of her sisters, Lynne in addition to Carol, every bit good joined us. They are an indecisive bunch when gathered together in addition to the diversity available at Brunetti was the catalyst for a expert twenty minutes of umm-ing in addition to aah-ing. But everyone got their coffee, cake in addition to spot inwards expert time.

I picked a cake that I haven't seen displayed before. The Domino ($5.90) is a sizable while of chocolate cake, layered alongside strawberry cream in addition to kirsch, thence iced alongside chocolate. It far exceeded my expectations - I was anticipating a dense brick of a cake alongside impenetrably difficult icing, but instead encountered a yielding ganache in addition to almost sponge-light cake that retained enough of flavour. The cream in addition to kirsch were sparing, adding solely a smidge of extra richness. It's fortunate that I arranged to part it alongside Michael - I would otherwise bring consumed all of its deceptive lightness in addition to been rather deplorable afterwards. It's nevertheless a triple-layered chocolate cake, after all.

Want to read virtually our previous viii visits to Brunetti? They're all here.

January 16, 2008: Fruit, Nut Together With Tahini Slice

peanut butter bliss balls there, an ice-cream somewhere inwards the middle, amongst a scattering of jelly lollies on summit from a generous colleague. Time for some premeditated baking. The recipe of pick is a no-added-sugar piece amongst many incarnations, but the cardinal ingredients are all fruit, nuts together with seeds. It all started amongst Cassie from rave review of her ain together with it was obvious I had to laissez passer on these a shot.

I detect that tahini tin endure a fleck of a love/hate factor - it tends towards pasty messy bitterness on its own, but it tin lend a fabulous rich nuttiness when used judiciously. In my piece the tahini was borderline - inwards a pair of mouthfuls it was likewise pronounced, spell inwards most others it was a real pleasing undertone. Obviously I involve to stir things a fleck to a greater extent than vigorously inwards the future, but I mightiness endeavor reducing the tahini a petty at good (upping the dates simply slightly to retain the wet quotient). I scream upward it'd endure fun to endeavor replacing it amongst other nut butters too. (Mmmm, cashew butter... thence proficient but soooo expensive.) Dried apricots together with almonds are my fruit together with nut combination of choice, together with I also added some leftover citrus peel. It was OK, but I shouldn't bring messed amongst my favourite couple.

The surprise number is that Michael has enjoyed this piece at to the lowest degree every bit much every bit I have, pregnant that stocks bring disappeared exclusively a calendar week later. At to the lowest degree it's quick together with slow to bake upward some other tray...

Fruit, nut together with tahini slice

1/2 loving cup dried dates, diced
1/2 loving cup water
1/2 loving cup tahini (or endeavor a nut butter)
3/4 loving cup rolled oats
1/4 loving cup spelt flour (or endeavor some other flour of your choice)
about a teaspoon of spice: I went for a mix of seat down cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg together with star anise
1/3 loving cup almonds, chopped (or whatever other nut you lot like)
1/3 loving cup pepitas (or some other seed you're into)
2/3 loving cup dried apricots, diced
1/3 loving cup dried citrus peel, diced (replace these amongst a loving cup of whatever dried fruit)

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. Lightly grease a pocket-sized baking tray.

Put the dates together with H2O inwards a saucepan together with simmer them for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. It'll all mush into a thick mixture together. Take it off the oestrus together with cool it a bit, together with thence stir inwards the tahini.

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Pour inwards the date/tahini mixture together with stir to combine. Press the mixture into the baking tray together with bake for close fifteen minutes, until golden on summit together with simply browning around the edges. Allow it to cool earlier slicing.

January 18, 2008: Friday Featre Nutrient - Lord Of The Fries Ii

here.)

Edit 25/09/08: Drat! After all these months I was lastly able to firm into the metropolis on a weekday morning, entirely to detect that the LoTF breakfast burgers are no more. They've scaled dorsum to opening entirely at 10:30am amongst their measure menu.