December 9, 2006: Sos

Another Outspoken Female's review and the online menu gave us due alert that at that topographic point is a lot of seafood on offer: the entree listing is roughly 40% vegetarian, the mains listing 33% veg, too all the specials were distinctly fishy.

I institute the atmosphere of SOS to last a niggling disjointed. It's really open, making the most of the summertime daylight, too ultra-modern inward design. The communal tables too placemats give a casual feel, notwithstanding the service is to a greater extent than formal, amongst the staff pulling out chairs too setting napkins on the customers' laps. While I appreciate the constant topping upward of my water, I'd experience much to a greater extent than comfortable looking afterwards my ain jug (and my ain lap). While we're at it, I'd equally good experience a lot to a greater extent than comfortable inward unlike chairs.

While nosotros perused the bill of fare nosotros were treated to our alternative of breadstuff too a shallow dish of citrus-infused olive oil. I was going alcohol-free, too was disappointed that my 'lemon squash' was nearly sure enough a tin of Lift inward a crystal-glass-with-a-lemon-peel-garnish disguise. After we'd made our decisions too returned our menus, nosotros were presented amongst tiny bites of bruschetta on crunchy, oily mini-toast.

As an entree, I ordered "warm greenish too white asparagus served amongst 'pane croccante', parmigiano too bottarga" ($17). Having since dicovered that bottarga are fish roe, I'm pretty confident that they were omitted from my dish. The asparagus were fresh, flavoursome, too a niggling firmer than my preferred texture. The creamy sauce, sliver of cheese too salty-crunchy breadcrumbs were the perfect accompaniment, but a chip to a greater extent than leafage would bring been nice. Michael had zucchini flowers stuffed amongst ricotta, amongst crispy love apple tree skins on the side.

Michael's principal class was "hand made polenta pasta amongst borlotti ragu, babe silverbeet, Roman cauliflower too truffled Pecorino" ($27). H5N1 tasty mix of textures amongst silky-soft pasta. I had "hand filled triangles of pumpkin too ricotta served amongst pumpkin puree, butter too sage sauce" ($27). The mathematician inward me protested that these weren't actually triangles, but the gastronome was good satisfied: soft sweetness filling contrasted amongst garnishes of precipitous salty cornflakes too orangish rind, all made particularly indulgent amongst melted butter.

We had enough of room for dessert, too a sly await at portions served close us confirmed that nosotros had enough of room for a dessert each. On the left is my "traditional Italian trend Zucotto served amongst chocolate sorbet too vin santo sauce" ($14). The innocent ice-creamy centre amongst lollyish glace fruit pieces was wrapped inward an extremely alcoholic layer of pinkish sponge cake. The chocolate sorbet was a potent cocoa striking amongst a hint of coffee, too non a driblet of milk or cream to last tasted. H5N1 novel too really adult summertime dessert experience for me! Michael picked the daily special, a tart amongst grapes, custard too pistachio H2O ice cream on the side.

It was sure enough worth visiting SOS to sample the upper destination of Melbourne cuisine for the get-go time. But equally vegetarians rather than seafood-lovers, the increased character of ingredients too inventiveness inward the bill of fare doesn't quite agree the increment inward toll too decrease inward constituent size. For my side past times side birthday, I'll remind myself how many Melbourne restaurants offering fabulous meat-free feasts for nether $25.

Edit 21/07/07: SOS has since unopen but creator Paul Mathis has opened a novel restaurant, the 100 Mile Cafe, inward the same location.

Address:Level 3, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Ph: 9654 0808
Fully licensed
Price: entrees $17-21, veg mains $27-29, desserts $13-18
Website: http://sosmelbourne.com.au/

Menu For Hope

Helen over at Menu for Hope.

Last twelvemonth nutrient bloggers merely about the basis raised $17,000 for UNICEF. This year, the United Nations World Food Program volition have the proceeds of the campaign. The coin is basically raised through a serial of raffles amongst prizes donated past times generous bloggers, restaurants together with other food-related organisations. The listing of prizes is over at Grab Your Fork, along amongst to a greater extent than details nearly the whole campaign.

December 10, 2006: The Dark-Green Grocer

Update 27/2/2014: Walking past times the other day, I noticed that The Green Grocer has unopen downwardly in addition to been replaced past times Sixteen 83 Epicerie.

With Cindy heading off to Brisbane for a pre-Christmas grooming course, Dominicus was our final endangerment to grab upwards alongside Krusty and J-Files earlier they ditched Melbourne (and us) for exotic unusual pastures. To commemorate our brief Melbourne overlap, nosotros braved the stifling oestrus in addition to dense smoke for breakfast at The Green Grocer inwards North Fitzroy. The Green Grocer doubles every bit a pocket-size organic foodstore in addition to a cafe specialising inwards organic breakfasts in addition to lunches. Surprisingly, things were nevertheless fairly tranquillity when nosotros arrived - patently North Fitzroy doesn't teach going until a chip later 9am. Either that or the thick smoke had fooled everybody into sleeping in. Regardless, nosotros had the house well-nigh to ourselves in addition to the focus rapidly turned to ordering.

Aside from Cindy's baffling anti-egg agenda, the mix 'n' jibe egg options were the flavour of the day: I went for beans in addition to avocado to accompany, Krusty settled for only the beans in addition to J-Files opted for mushrooms in addition to hash-browns. All of us settled on poached eggs - alongside practiced reason. The eggs were perfectly cooked - fluffy whites gently encasing delicously gooey yolks. The beans are worthy of a cite also - spicy in addition to flavoursome, a long means from the globe of Heinz. The non-egg savoury options were pretty limited, in addition to thus Cindy went for the French toast alongside seasonal fruit. The seasonal fruit turned out to last a twain of stewed peaches, which was a tad disappointing, but her breakfast was otherwise a success.

It was, all inwards all, a delicious occasion tinged alongside sadness - Krusty in addition to J-Files convey introduced us to only about of our favourite Melbourne places in addition to been a beacon of familiar friendship inwards a unusual novel world. They volition last missed. Their legacy volition last carried on past times the treasure trove of cookbooks nosotros plundered from their pile of pre-intercontinental relocation cast-offs.

Address: 217 St. Georges Rd. Fitzroy North
Phone: 9489 1747
Price: Breakfast $10 - $15

Categories:

• Restaurants

Holiday Wrap-Up

Michael as well as I finished 2006 as well as began 2007 amongst a whirlwind tour of Queensland, amongst much eating as well as a piffling cooking to live had. I prepared ii trays of spanakopita, as well as my friend as well as host Justine as well as I gradually ate our agency through them, inwards minor microwaved episodes, every bit nosotros finished our final calendar week of work. I baked the really American butter pecan turtle bars for a really Australian Christmas party, a beery barbeque on the verandah of a Queenslander-style home. For our Cairns Christmas, nosotros passed circular eastern vegetarian burgers amongst raita, as well as I had a consummate home-made mayo failure. The spud salad survived, but was a pale faux of the Soulmama version. H5N1 few days after at Redcliffe, nosotros wowed my dad amongst our fried brownish rice as well as mightiness to give the recipe to him inwards seconds from my USB retentiveness stick.

Christmas arrived a piffling early on amongst a surprise bundle from Michael's mother, Robyn. Inside was a bunch of Oxfam goodies! Indian Chai, Za'atar, Hot Chilli Sauce, Swazi Fire Chilli Sauce, Hot Mango Chutney, as well as a box of v fragrant spices. I'm looking forwards to blogging near our uses of these inwards the coming months. Some of my solid unit of measurement members gave us an Oxfam goat, which nosotros promise volition render nutrient as well as income for a solid unit of measurement that needs it to a greater extent than than nosotros do. Michael's brother, Matt, presented us amongst a mass that got me to a greater extent than excited than Michael - tempted: 150 really wicked desserts. This saw me retreating from the grouping for at to the lowest degree one-half an hour, absorbing page after page of luscious, chocolately photos. Watch this infinite every bit I recreate them!

I visited roughly former favourite restaurants (most notably Punjabi Palace, my local Indian takeaway amongst the killer korma; as well as Babylon Restaurant, amongst the largest Turkish banquets you lot volition e'er encounter), discovered roughly novel eating (the Green Ant Cantina inwards Cairns) as well as adventuring (the incredible novel Gallery of Modern Art inwards Brisbane). Many of our favourite folks took us out on the town, prepared fabulous nutrient as well as society at home, or gave us a bed for the night. We're grateful that nosotros know then many generous people.

January 5, 2007: The Vegie Bar Iii

here together with here.)

January 5, 2007: Trampoline

dinner at the Vegie Bar together with a drinkable a fiddling farther along Brunswick St, close of our political party discovered their dessert stomaches together with joined the out-the-door queue for gelato at Trampoline. Michael together with I shared this loving cup of purplish rumble, java mash together with caramel pear sorbet. Both the sorbet together with gelato flavours were smoothen together with refreshing, non heavy or likewise rich. The java mash together with purplish rumble hitting the mark, but I constitute the caramel pear overly sweetness together with lacking fruity tang (guess I should accept ordered lemon or lychee & lime if that was what I was looking for). This is the perfect process for a summertime night: cool together with light, sweetness together with fruity or chocolatey every bit y'all please, together with simply a fiddling extravagant.

Categories:

• Takeaway
• Sweet

January 7, 2007: Pizza

another recipe. But fourth dimension was getting on together with it looked edible, thus I split upwards it into 4 together with rolled out some sparse bases.

The consequence was really sparse together with crisp, smaller together with lacking the breadiness that I was hoping for. I approximate the whole yeast affair didn't actually operate out for me this time. Nevertheless, sparse together with crispy is the best agency to approach a wholemeal base, I reckon, together with houseguests Emma together with Simon were really gratuitous of my homemade effort. Their ideas inward the morning time inspired some pretty especial topping combinations too.

This i has love apple tree paste, mozarella, mushrooms, zucchini, capsicum, marinated eggplant together with capers.

Satay sauce, fresh basil leaves, spinach, steamed pumpkin, pino nuts, fetta together with a petty mozarella.


Tomato paste, dried oregano, fresh basil leaves, mushrooms, mozarella together with parmesan.

Edit 11/01/07: Within hours of posting this, the lovely Ellie (a.k.a. Kitchen Wench) emailed me amongst some extra tips. Here are the of import bits, copied amongst her permission:

I’ve simply spoken amongst my colleague at operate (who is quite the experienced baker/cook together with my resources for data when I’m stumped!) together with he’s said wholemeal flour is a lot less refined than white flour, thus the destination consequence volition last something a lot heavier than what the consequence would last similar made amongst white flour. To scrap this you’d need to purpose to a greater extent than yeast to instruct it to ascent nicely. Also, though non 100% certain, he said he’s fairly sure as shooting that wholemeal is a lot ‘thirstier’ than white flour, thus y'all may need to add together to a greater extent than liquid to instruct the dough to the same consistency.

Since I’ve never baked amongst wholemeal before, I’m exclusively guessing here, but perchance y'all could add together some other 1g of the yeast for the initial blooming, together with purpose 150g white flour together with 100g wholemeal? I’m non sure as shooting almost adding to a greater extent than liquid – if y'all honour that the dough that comes together at kickoff isn’t mucilaginous at all, perchance add together some other 50grams (a petty less than approx ¼ cup) to run across if it helps? If you’re feeling upwards for experimentation, this could last a practiced starting request :) Also, if you’re upwards for something non quite *so* thin, what y'all tin also do is evidence together with curlicue it into the sum cast (about 4mm thick) the kickoff fourth dimension around, layer the toppings thus encompass it amongst a dishcloth together with instruct out it to proof for almost 10-15 minutes, that *should* instruct y'all something a fleck puffier/breadlier :)

Perhaps I'll make-over the kitchen every bit a surreptitious pizza laboratory on a weekend soon...

Categories:

• Cooking
• Recipes
• Savoury

January 10, 2007: Oskar

Our friends together with one-time house-guests Emma together with Simon spent Wed morn signing a lease on a apartment inward North Melbourne. Part of the pre-lease give-and-take had centred on the Cheap Eats Guide together with especially Burger Republic. What meliorate agency to celebrate their novel house than fatty burgers together with delicious chips? Unfortunately Burger Republic had other plans. We arrived at most 9:15pm to uncovering chairs stacked on tables together with staff inward clean-up mode. Following a brief tour of Errol Street, a glowing "Pizza" sign together with a reasonably crowded gear upward of outdoor tables atomic number 82 us to an alternative: Oskar.

It turns out Oskar is besides featured inward the Cheap Eats Guide, which describes it every bit a "slick pizzeria". I'm non sure I'd handgrip alongside slick - it all seemed pretty depression key: outdoor tables alongside newspaper tablecloths, a tinny jazz rails seemingly on repeat together with a charmingly amateurish waiter. But it was sure a pizzeria, together with 1 alongside a large together with various menu: pizzas featuring kangaroo, boar together with duck for the adventurous meat eaters, together with a proficient half-dozen options for us vegetarian types. Cindy had spent the whole level looking frontward to chips from Burger Republic and, inward an get to satisfy her flake urges, opted for the Kipfler white patato pizza, alongside rosemary, taleggio together with extra virgin olive oil. The white patato slivers were perfectly roasted together with Cindy enjoyed them every bit if they were chips - picked 1 at a fourth dimension off the base. Unfortunately this left a fairly tiresome cheesey base, together with thus I'm non sure she experienced all that Oskar had to offer.

I chose the seasonal mushroom pizza - a various mix of wild mushrooms spinkled over the tomato plant concasse together with taleggio base of operations together with drizzled alongside truffle oil. It was divine - the base of operations was low-cal together with crisp, the mushrooms were a mix of fresh flavours together with the tomato plant together with cheese made the whole affair moist together with delicious. Honesly, I could accept eaten 2 of them. Which isn't to tell the pizzas weren't generously sized - nosotros ordered a modest 1 each together with were all good satisfied yesteryear the fourth dimension we'd finished.

Despite the disappointment of our failed burger request (we've scheduled a farther endeavor to a greater extent than or less fourth dimension side yesteryear side week), the nighttime turned out real successfully, alongside easily the best pizza I've had inward Melbourne (although we're nevertheless to watch the much hyped I Carusi). Here's hoping that having friends living inward North Melbourne volition give us the excuse to supply repeatedly.

Address: 5 Errol Street, North Melbourne
Ph: 9329 1585
Licensed (with an impressive gain of beers together with a reasonably substantial vino list)
Price: Small pizzas $6 - $15

Categories:

• Restaurants

January 13, 2007: Cicalata

Inkari, arriving at the civilised lx minutes of 11:45. Alas, inwards South America it seems that breakfast finishes at 11:30, in addition to thence nosotros were forced to seek out our luck at Cicalata. We'd been in that place a twosome of times previously (although these trips remain, for around reason, unblogged), in addition to constitute it to convey a fairly interesting bill of fare (although zilch resembling huevos rancheros unfortunately) inwards the midst of Lygon Street's criterion fare.

Both Cindy in addition to I opted for items from the specials board: zuchinni in addition to corn fritters amongst poached eggs in addition to marjoram sauce for me in addition to French toast amongst caramelised peaches in addition to maple syrup for Cindy. The fritters were tasty but small, field the eggs were fairly flavourless in addition to the marjoram sauce lacked punch. It actually wasn't that bad, but the description was in addition to thence mouth-watering that I had high expectations. Cindy's French toast was besides a petty disappointing - the peaches were fresh, but hardly caramelised, field the syrup didn't gustatory modality similar genuine maple syrup. The java was swell in addition to the prices are quite reasonable, but I mean value inwards hereafter we'll brand the endeavour in addition to wander over to Fitzroy, where the breakfast choices are much more impressive.


Address: 323 Lygon Street, Carlton
Ph: 9482 1333
Fully licensed
Price: $4 - $14

January 14, 2007: Trotters

took accuse of dinner in addition to and then nosotros ate out for dessert: thus, I idea I'd plow the tables this fourth dimension yesteryear going out for luncheon in addition to preparing a dessert to savor afterwards at home. Once out on Lygon St, Mum swiftly picked out Trotters restaurant based on a glance at the menu. It was looking pretty crowded but a waitress said she'd opened upward up the minute level, where we'd accept enough of room in addition to a specials board all to ourselves.

The dish at the acme of this postal service is mum's "mushroom filled arancino crumbed & served on love apple tree amongst rocket & parmesan" ($13.50). This is similar an enormous risotto ball, amongst a centre of mushrooms:

It was rich, a fleck heavy, in addition to very, really tasty. Carol ordered "soft polenta amongst mushrooms in addition to pecorino cheese" ($14) from the specials board.

I didn't sense of savor it, but Carol idea this was cracking in addition to happily polished off the entire plate. This is high praise, given Carol's aversion to large helpings of anything: she's to a greater extent than of a grazer, equally Mum noted that day.

Michael's "spinach & ricotta filled agnolotti arrabbiata (spicy love apple tree sauce)" ($14.20) was the to the lowest degree exciting repast inwards the looks subdivision but, according to him, it easily made upward for it amongst a amount flavour.

While Mum in addition to Carol were starving, I was nonetheless feeling the effects of a heavy but tasty repast the nighttime before. Thus I took a peril on 1 of the smaller options, the bruschetta ($5):

This photographic television set camera angle doesn't emphasise the generous component subdivision I received: iii sizable pieces of sourdough toast, topped amongst upward to 2 tomatoes, diced. I oft respect sourdough a fleck tough, but the fleck of butter melted evenly into these slices ensured that wasn't the case. The parsley, garlic in addition to teensy fleck of cheese worked inwards subtle harmony, non overpowering the love apple tree at all. The tomatoes weren't of the finest quality, but I've struggled to respect whatsoever ameliorate than this for years. If anyone out at that topographic point tin recommend an outlet of red, flavoursome tomatoes inwards Melbourne, please, PLEASE endure out me a comment!

Ahem.

The iv of us entered Trotters amongst dissimilar appetites in addition to all walked out thoroughly satisfied in addition to non also out of steal (especially me, 'cause Michael paid for my meal). Although its offerings are omnivorous, our iv meat-free dishes demo merely how spoilt for choice a vegetarian tin be, amongst several of the specials also beingness meat-free. Highly recommended for a casual cafe-style meal.

Address: 400 Lygon St, Carlton
Ph: 9347 5657
Fully licensed
Price: veg mains $5-15
Website: http://www.trotters.com.au/

Menu For Promise 3 Raffle Drawn!

This calendar week the prizes donated for the Menu for Hope III raffle were drawn (check out full listing of winners.) Michael together with I were lucky plenty to rank a prize each! Somewhere betwixt hither together with Auckland, New Zealand travels my novel re-create of the Taste Favourites cookbook, which was donated past times Barbara, the writer of Winos together with Foodies. Michael's winnings involve solely brand their way around Melbourne, since he picked upwards a $50 voucher to consume at Chilli Padi. This was organised past times Cin of A Few of My Favourite Things.

Thanks to Pim together with the regional organisers of Menu for Hope; to Barbara, Cin together with all the other nutrient bloggers who donated prizes; together with finally a big thank you lot to everyone who bought a raffle ticket! Menu for Hope raised over $US threescore 000 for the UN World Food Programme, to a greater extent than than tripling the takings of lastly year's campaign. That agency a lot to a greater extent than nutrient getting to those who involve it most.

January 17, 2007: Hako

On Midweek nighttime nosotros had tickets to the Melbourne Theatre Company's latest rendition of Don's Party lined up. Faced alongside the business of getting a reasonably quick in addition to early on dinner, Michael took our typical approach of refering to Cheap Eats. Out of the CBD department came Hako, a tiny Japanese eating spot that scored the amount iii stars in addition to a veggie-friendly V.

We met Mike out the front end in addition to our reservation for iii belike took upward 20% of the seating! The listing of specials was written on butchers' newspaper in addition to taped to the wall, offering roughly every bit many dishes in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than every bit the primary menu. Only a modest proportion was truly vegetarian but these options looked appetising enough. Our Asahi beers arrived inside minutes of our order, in addition to nosotros easily passed the fourth dimension earlier the get-go repast arrived nutting out how the angle of the earth's rotation affects the seasons in addition to solar daytime lengths across dissimilar latitudes, alongside the aid of a pen in addition to a beer. (The topics occupying Mike's heed at whatsoever fourth dimension are varied in addition to unpredictable!)

The get-go film inwards a higher house is of Michael's agadashi tofu entree ($9.80), deep fried edible bean curd alongside lite soy. He happily gobbled it downwardly earlier our other nutrient arrived, the side past times side dish beingness his selection from the specials board: bok choy in addition to oyster mushrooms cooked alongside Dashi sauce ($10). Although he liked this too, Michael would convey preferred to uncovering a few to a greater extent than mushrooms involved.

Predictably, I ordered the vegetable tempura ($12.50). Arriving on a plate that dwarfed both my veges in addition to our petty table, I didn't human face to live on filled past times this serving. However it turned out to live on simply the correct size; the batter was crisp in addition to hot, the veges fresh in addition to tender. It would convey been a winner all round, if my rice had turned up.

Hako jibe the pecker for our pre-theatre dinner, but it didn't quite alive upward to the expectations that that big blood-red Cheap Eats V built up. While the lunch-time bento boxes mightiness live on a hitting alongside omnivorous Japanese nutrient fans, the options for a vegetarian novice such every bit me are pleasant but non worth crossing town for.

By contrast, Don's Party fulfilled in addition to exceeded my expectations! The ensemble variety of xi were abrupt in addition to funny without exception: David Williamson's tale of electoral, social in addition to sexual politics however resonates on ii out of iii levels in addition to is an interesting snapshot of unopen to other era on the third. And the 1969 laid upward pattern was a delight!

Address: Shop 7, 250 Flinders St (enter from Degraves St), Melbourne CBD
Edit 08/11/07: novel address 310 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Ph: 9650 0207
Edit 08/11/07: novel hollo upward 9620 1881
Licensed
Price: veg entrees in addition to mains $3.50-13.50

January 20, 2007: Burger Republic

Update 31/12/2014: Burger Republic has been taken over past times Urban Burger - we've visited their Richmond branch but haven't been dorsum to Errol Street to banking corporation jibe out this outlet.

the other week, at that spot was an undercurrent of chip cravings inwards our domicile for quite a few days. This manifested itself inwards a yoke of meals amongst olive fossil oil baked potatoes equally a featured side dish (my subconscious at work), which were received amongst murmurs of "Mmmm....chips" from Emma. The province of affairs was live on resolved on Sabbatum night. Emma in addition to Simon had spent the twenty-four hours moving their holding into their novel home, in addition to it was clear that beer in addition to a burger would live a hearty in addition to nearly deserved dinner for the pair.

Burger Republic has an also offers mini-sized burgers, but solely inwards beef in addition to chicken varieties.) Emma in addition to Simon relished their beefy counterparts afterwards a difficult days' work, in addition to Michael similarly polished off his amongst ease. I loved the pesto, but couldn't notice the gustation of tomato plant or capsicum inwards my patty, in addition to establish the coil to live a fleck likewise sugariness in addition to doughy. I decided to salvage the mo one-half for lunch, in addition to inwards the meantime focus on the psyche event:

This is a full-size dinner plate piled amongst 3 serves of chips ($3 each). These definitely met expectations: crunchy exterior in addition to soft within. We also sampled the aioli dipping sauce, which was silky smooth but a fleck bland. In the goal our Heinz tomato plant sauce proved a superior accompaniment.

Even though I wasn't wowed past times these burgers, I was clearly inwards the minority, in addition to the chips to a greater extent than than made upward for that. I sure as shooting won't live declining whatsoever futurity visits to Emma in addition to Simon's neighbourhood for seconds.

Address: 47 Errol St, North Melbourne
Ph: 9328 1781
Licensed
Price: enormous vege burgers $8.50, chips $3
Website: www.burgerrepublic.com.au

January 21, 2007: Greenie Pie

vegan H2O ice cream; in addition to second, I bought an oven thermometer on the weekend! asparagus in addition to mushroom tart earlier this. However I would consider giving it or hence other travel if vegan or gluten-free-eating guests always plow up!