tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78495729055945322702024-03-13T11:26:39.340-07:00Ebezilla's Food BlogEbezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-70428904268606106142015-04-20T16:46:00.000-07:002015-04-20T16:46:34.670-07:00Abbout Falafel House - Coburg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you live in Coburg or the surrounds, chances are you don't need me to tell you about this place. In fact, you've likely just yawned and said 'change the channel' to your nearest and dearest. But for the rest of you, don't go flicking over to Danoz Direct just yet, because I've got some love to share about this place! In case those of you from other corners of town hadn't guessed, Abbout Falafel House is somewhat of an institution round these parts to those craving a Lebanese lunchtime/dinner fix . With its house-made falafel, dips and pita served to excess, it's like taking a trip back to the Mid-East, only without the hours of invasive groping from customs officials.<br />
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'Big deal' I hear you say, you can get falafel anywhere, right? <b>WRONG! </b>All too often we accept dry, bland mediocrity. I've got tolerance for a lot of things, but not a bad falafel. And you won't get a bad one here. These falafels are perfectly moist, crunchy, and hold their form well. But above all, they burst with flavour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNYhhtw2n0k/VS9KxuSkL3I/AAAAAAAAASY/j5r_WDh4bdw/s1600/IMG_20150414_134246777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNYhhtw2n0k/VS9KxuSkL3I/AAAAAAAAASY/j5r_WDh4bdw/s1600/IMG_20150414_134246777.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falafel plate times </td></tr>
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For a measly $5, you can sate your hunger with a typical falafel sandwich - falafels, pickles, pickled turnip, chili, salad, and ample hummus - that seems about a foot long if it's an inch. Or, if you're feeling particularly ravenous, there's the falafel meal for $10. On a massive plate, you get all the fillings from the falafel sandwich, a few additional falafel balls, a couple of extra Lebanese salads, a healthy serve of hummus and labneh, and a basket of pita to boot. In reality, this is enough to feed a small family, but if you love your hummus and falafel as much as me, you'd be wary letting anyone get between you and your source of happiness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r2mfecUWxmc/VS9MzJboYGI/AAAAAAAAASk/R5hpCK7NTXA/s1600/IMG_20150325_142014882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r2mfecUWxmc/VS9MzJboYGI/AAAAAAAAASk/R5hpCK7NTXA/s1600/IMG_20150325_142014882.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Hummus? Or large pita? I'll give you a hint, it's the pita</td></tr>
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But it doesn't end there. Devotees of this blog will recall that on my trip to the Mid-East I wrote extensively in <a href="http://elrojter.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/blogging-on-road-part-1-reviews-from.html">my post</a>, not just about falafel, but also hummus. It's bugged me ever since that there is such a dearth in hummusias in Melbourne. Fortunately, at Abbout Falafel House they've got you covered. Aside from straight hummus, they offer foul, foul btahina, and a smattering of variations on the standard. On this visit I stuck to the basic: a bowl of tahina-heavy (in a good way) hummus with a basket of seemingly never-ending pita. It hit the spot and is <b>more</b> than on par with anywhere else in Melbourne - and that's no mean feat!<br />
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It really took me far too long to get around to paying this place a visit. It came highly recommended to me from a local mate, but I simply could not fathom being in the area for a falafel lunch and not going to <a href="http://elrojter.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/half-moon-cafe-coburg.html">Half Moon Cafe</a> around the corner. And that, in a sense, says it all about Coburg. There is just too much choice, and I haven't even mentioned the various pasticcerias, Mid-East bakeries and hip coffee specialists!<br />
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If I'm honest, the Half Moon falafels just nudge the ones at Abbout for me, but I'm particularly partial to the Egyptian style falafels - substituting fava beans in for chickpeas. However, these bad boys surpass any non-Egyptian falafel you're likely to find anywhere in Melbourne, not to mention all the home-made trimmings to boot! There have been a few whinging types online who have complained about the service here, and admittedly it's not exactly silver service. But that's not what you're going here for, and as long as you bear that in mind, this is one hidden gem you'll be glad you unearthed.<br />
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<b>5/5</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUYBtdWL2j4/VTWK03YWm6I/AAAAAAAAAS8/8KxUfwdxrLU/s1600/IMG_20150325_143916313_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUYBtdWL2j4/VTWK03YWm6I/AAAAAAAAAS8/8KxUfwdxrLU/s1600/IMG_20150325_143916313_HDR.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbout's Falafel House - Sydney Rd, Coburg</td></tr>
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-64732740083209300572014-11-06T15:53:00.001-08:002015-07-16T20:56:35.759-07:00Dojo Ramen Bar - Northcote<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #38761d;">Look, let's be frank. As a vegetarian, in many ways I really don't have a right to review ramen, p<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">hở or any other East Asian noodle dish. Tradition dictates that the broth for many such dishes is made from chicken/beef/pork/fish/some-other-deceased-animal stock, and who am I to demand a divergence from tradition just to sate my self-indulgent needs? </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Well, in answer to your rhetorical question, I'm a Melbournian, that's who. And I have the Greek fisherman's hat to prove it! In Melbourne, fortunately there are enough like-minded individuals to force years of culinary tradition to be cast aside and bend to our whims (ah, the joys of the market economy), and with the coolness of veganism taking hold and making even roller shoes seem old hat, there are few restaurants in Melbourne's inner north that would dare to not cater to our needs!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">But before I launch into a full-on manifesto and a call-to-arms to join my vegetarian militia (let's bring nightshades out of the dark!), allow me to talk to you about <i style="font-weight: bold;">Dojo Ramen Bar</i> in Northcote. Avid readers will note that this is not my first ramen write-up, previously waxing (somewhat, but not overly) lyrical about Collingwood's <i><a href="http://elrojter.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/shop-ramen-collingwood.html">Shop Ramen</a>. </i>Oddly enough, whilst I didn't <b>not</b> enjoy that establishment, I left feeling in no rush to jump on the ramen train again in the near future. Don't get me wrong, the buzz surrounding Dojo had me interested, but it was more by chance that I ended up here on Cup Day evening.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">First thing that struck me was that they offered three vegetarian ramen options - miso, shoyu, and a "secret" broth thickened with nut extract and soy milk - as well as one mazesoba option, and a host of starters including edamame, 'dojo pickles', and the enticingly sounding nukazuke - mixed vegetables soaked and fermented in rice bran. On this occasion we played it conservative and went for the veg gyoza option ($10 for 5). I was a little worried at first bite by excessive amounts of dark brown in the filling, but there was really no cause for concern. These heavily gingered - in a good way - parcels of minced mushroom, carrot, cabbage with a side of vinegar/soy sauce were quite tasty and not as gluggy as gyoza I have eaten elsewhere in the city. For the ramen, I opted for the Veggie miso. The murky, salty, sesame dotted broth concealed several slabs of marinated tofu, bamboo shoots, leeks. Oh, and the noodles! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVBAbJ99ACA/VFwAhs8ajnI/AAAAAAAAAQg/pAEx6ncFwNk/s1600/IMG_20141104_185057258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #38761d; color: black;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVBAbJ99ACA/VFwAhs8ajnI/AAAAAAAAAQg/pAEx6ncFwNk/s1600/IMG_20141104_185057258.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #38761d;">Veggie Ramen (back) , Veggie Miso (front), and Hand Model (upper right)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Let me tell you folks, this was one tasty bowl of soup! I do generally have a favourable disposition to anything made with miso, however it wasn't just that. I also had a taste of the secret veggie broth ramen - a thicker, almost creamier variation - and it too left me with a good impression. The portion size was perfect. Not too small to leave you still hungry, not too big as to leave you feeling bloated. And at $13-$13.50, pretty reasonable value to boot. Perhaps the only knock is that I wouldn't have minded a few more veggies crammed in, but that's just me nit-picking. One thing's for sure, Dojo Ramen Bar has once again put ramen back on the agenda for this guy, and I look forward to getting onto the nukazuke and the shoyu ramen on my next visit. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><b>4/5</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #38761d;">Right in the heart of hip happening High St, Northcote</span></td></tr>
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-77681608989502709342014-09-03T16:57:00.000-07:002014-09-21T14:19:38.749-07:00The B.East - Brunswick East<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HO_fJ8zhO0k/VAejyxa6A1I/AAAAAAAAAP0/vNUQ9Cz0FTg/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HO_fJ8zhO0k/VAejyxa6A1I/AAAAAAAAAP0/vNUQ9Cz0FTg/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The B.East on Lygon St, Brunswick East</td></tr>
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If you've failed to notice the proliferation of Americano themed menus around Melbourne over the past couple of years, then please, for God's sake, promise me you <b>won't</b> volunteer to take up the investigation should I ever become the subject of a missing persons case. I want to be found! Although the trend of new venues opening appears to be slowing, the faux dive bar/diner scene is still very much in vogue, and in this current world order, the burger is king.<br />
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Personally, whilst I have found myself getting caught up in this movement, I'm still not entirely sure what our obsession with it is. As someone who has spent an extended period in the US, I can't say I have too many...no, let me re-phrase that. I can't say I have <b>any</b> fond memories - purely from a culinary perspective - of any dive diners that I ate in. Even the thrill of sitting down for a meal at Tom's Restaurant - <i>Monk's</i> from Seinfeld - in NYC was tempered by the miserable ball of potato salad presented to me that looked as though it had been serving 25-life in its Westinghouse prison out the back. And then there was the inside knowledge I acquired from a waitress at another diner about how often most places she'd worked at changed the oil in the deep fryers. Put it this way, the owners may as well have been throwing a pool party in the vats of oil before turning up the heat and re-frying your curly fries. However, there is also the other side to the dining experience that is far more enjoyable: the old school rock n' roll playing through the stereo; the jukebox in the corner that may just volunteer a few free tracks if you give it a Fonzi-esque nudge; and, to quote Moe Szyslak, a whole bunch of crazy crap on the walls.<br />
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Fortunately in Melbourne, we're subject to much higher food-hygiene standards, not to mention the quality of the food itself. Given the sheer number of burger joints that have opened in recent memory, you best be doing something special if you want to survive. And at the B.East, they ain't just surviving. They are <b>thriving!</b> The menu offers a good variety without overawing, and there are some pretty seductive names given to the burgers and hero subs: 'Filthy', 'Sexy', 'Doctor J', and 'Mojo Cubano', to name but a few. You can also customise your meal with the addition of various extras (blue cheese, onion debris, pickles), and don't forget to add a side of fries with a serving of one of their home-made dipping sauces.<br />
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Okay, let's stick with what this blog is all about: the vegetarian perspective. There are two burger options: 'The Coburger' and 'The Morrisey' (both $13), as well as a roast beetroot and goats cheese slider ($7, or 2 for $13). The Morrisey is the vegan option, but given it is a mock chicken burger, I've ignored it on each visit. Personally, I just can't bring myself to eat mock meat, however I'd love to hear feedback from others about this burger. Instead I have opted for the Coburger: a sweet potato and white bean patty, served with crunchy cos lettuce, a sweet red onion relish, and kim chi sour cream. Ladies and Gentlemen, let me pause for a moment to tell you what happened the first time I tried this burger. Within the following 24 hours, I had messaged many of my nearests and dearests to tell them that I'd found quite possibly the best veggie burger - with the exception of my nonna's home-made patties - that I'd ever had in this city. Big call? You bet it was! But it seemed justified at the time. I must admit that following a return visit soon after, I've downgraded my assessment a touch, but I'd still say it is one of the better options in town. And in a city like Melbourne, that is no meant feat to achieve!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iw2vAUZSI3g/VAejPIyUZzI/AAAAAAAAAPs/JGtifR2JMZQ/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iw2vAUZSI3g/VAejPIyUZzI/AAAAAAAAAPs/JGtifR2JMZQ/s1600/photo%2B5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coburger</td></tr>
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The patty itself is very well constructed. A crusty exterior encasing the soft, freshly cooked interior. Although perhaps a touch sweet, it makes a nice change from the 'garden vegetable' or 'mushroom' patties we are normally lumped with. The sour cream off-sets the sweet potato perfectly, and the cos provides and little extra crunch to give every bite that really satisfying sound. What makes the meal complete? You <b>must</b> get a side of fries and a dipping sauce, and take your time picking the right one. The difference between my first visit and my second was all in the dipping sauce. The first time I went with the <i>dark beer hot sauce</i>. That rich flavour with a little extra kick alongside the burger complemented the meal beautifully. The second time I tried the <i>smoked jalapeno & lime aioli</i>. Nice subtle tangy flavour, but didn't give that same complementary effect.<br />
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It's not just that burgers that appeal here though. Elsewhere on the menu you'll find <i>Poutine</i> and <i>Death Star fries, Mac n' Cheese Bombs</i>, <i>Buttermilk Slaw,</i> and for the sweet of tooth, two shakes that'll send your salivary glands into overdrive. Then there's the charm of the venue itself. It has a real rock n' roll feel to it, and follows through by hosting regular live gigs of all sorts - I previously have seen <i>The Bennies </i>play here, whipping the crowd into a moshing, crowd-surfing frenzy! It's a venue that oozes cool, and has the menu to back it up. So chuck on that old rhinestone jacket, and get yo ass down to the B.East pronto!<br />
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<b>4.5/5</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9vhnZYdLq0/VAekDiRGqAI/AAAAAAAAAP8/Ml5wyNfThbk/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9vhnZYdLq0/VAekDiRGqAI/AAAAAAAAAP8/Ml5wyNfThbk/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun shining on the B.East</td></tr>
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-52402667341963209812014-07-18T02:55:00.004-07:002014-07-18T19:20:30.042-07:00All Day Donuts - Brunswick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ever wondered where Melbourne's food trucks disappear to at the end of the day? A modern day Bat-cave perhaps? Hidden under an inner-suburban Wayne Manor? Well wonder no more! 12 Edward Street, Brunswick: that is the location. And Melbourne's Bruce Wayne? He goes by the name of Raph Rashid, the man behind <i>Beatbox Kitchen </i>and the <i>Taco Truck</i>. The food trucks take up residence out the back, whilst the front section of the warehouse has been turned into a small cafe/eatery called <i>All Day Donuts.</i><br />
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Why do you care? Well, presumably you're reading this because you're heavily into Melbourne's culinary scene...either that, or you're one of my workmates who I've cajoled into reading my write-ups for my own egotistical purposes - apologies in advance to Caucasian Dr Dre, that's pretty much directed solely at you buddy. However, assuming you fit into the former category, you'll know that Melbournians - heck, Australians in general - have got a passion for donuts that puts even Homer Simpson to shame! Remember the lines around the city block when Krispy Kreme opened their first Melbourne store on Collins St nearly eight years ago? Or the lines of people camping out two days in advance for the opening of Adelaide's first Krispy Kreme just this week? No dig at South Australia intended...well, maybe a little. Krispy Kreme is sooo 2007!<br />
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Rashid was ahead of the game when his first Beatbox Kitchen truck pulled in at the top of Rathdowne Street, Carlton North, some five years ago. In my eyes, this is the guy pretty much responsible for the proliferation of food trucks in this city, and we should be thankful for that. Judging by the tremendous comings and goings at All Day Donuts last Saturday, he's backed another winner. The donut selection on the day I attended was limited to five options, but they posed more than enough challenges for the indecisive amongst us. My personal favourite was the Lime Brulee, packed with citrus custard and offset by the scorched glaze on top. I also sampled the Coffee Glaze, filled with passionfruit curd, and the Rose Cream. The options here are a little more flamboyant than at your local 7-11/Krispy Kreme, and tastier too. Care - as opposed to copious amounts have sugar - has been packed into these donuts to create an interesting array of flavours. That being said, I have one major gripe with this place. Yes, the donuts are great, and I haven't even mentioned yet the bubbly, sociable staff stationed at the counter. But here's the thing: when I order two donuts and hand over a hard-earned speckled hen, I expect either some change or a foot rub. On this occasion, I received neither. Maybe hipster chic means you can charge <b>$5 for a donut</b>, and truthfully, based on the business they were doing and the impending liquor license and expansion of business hours, I can't see All Day Donuts struggling for popularity any time soon. That being said, given the glut of quality cake and pastry shops in the area - Balha's, Trivelli, and Sugardough, to name a few - I feel it is a little too exorbitant for what it is. Perhaps more of a 'once in a while' place...actually, until I crack it in Hollywood and make the big bucks, better make that 'once in a loooong while'.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgfI-mVHkSc/U8jcib9fHDI/AAAAAAAAAO4/RW7O_QugyyM/s1600/all_day_donuts_melbourne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hgfI-mVHkSc/U8jcib9fHDI/AAAAAAAAAO4/RW7O_QugyyM/s1600/all_day_donuts_melbourne.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The selection at <i>All Day Donuts</i></td></tr>
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<b>3.5/5</b></div>
Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-53696662390141180842014-07-01T01:26:00.000-07:002014-07-01T03:37:32.178-07:00Roti Road - Footscray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You know what is outrageous? Suggesting to a friend/family member/unfortunate-soul-who-happens-to-be-sitting-next-to-you-on-the-tram that you should hit up some <b>roti canai</b> for breakfast together, and receiving a blank stare in reply as if you are some crazy loon who licks toes and hangs out in wheelie bins in your spare time. For the record, the wheelie bin thing only happened once, purely to prove that I could...unfortunately, when it came to cleaning my clothes later on, my washing machine proved that it couldn't.<br />
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But I digress! Devotees of this blog may recall a '<a href="http://elrojter.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/blogging-on-road-part-2-malaysia.html">Blogging on the Road</a>' entry I made about Penang in Malaysia; the birthplace of many of our favourite dishes from the orient. There, as in many other corners of Malaysia and South-East Asia, a healthy dose of roti canai is an acceptable meal morning, noon and night. And why not! Golden, crispy, flaky, buttery perfection. The flat bread is cooked to order in a heavily oiled up skillet and served with a selection of sambal, dhal, and curry...it's enough to give the editors of one of those fad diet magazines a conniption! Of course, for myself, it is more likely to cause more salivation than even a rabid bloodhound can muster. After a recent word-up about this Malaysian establishment on Barkly Street that serves a mean roti canai, all that suppressed yearning for my fresh morning flat-bread and dose of dhal came out of hibernation and a Saturday morning breakfast sesh in Melbourne's inner West side was well and truly on the cards.<br />
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A few things to note about <b>Roti Road.</b> Firstly, the word I'd heard is that the chef has a tendency to break free of the kitchen and whip the roti dough into shape amongst the diners, keeping in time to the pop tunes blasting out of the sound system. Unfortunately - but not unexpectedly - this display of flair did not transpire first thing Saturday morning to a near empty restaurant. Secondly, the restaurant has more than enough options to suit the dietary needs of us vegetarian types. My compadre also noted that the prawn dumplings were of a good sort, and word is they do a pretty decent curry laksa too. However, that seemed a little too heavy for this occasion, so I stuck with the tried and true option. At the suggestion of the waitress, I opted for a double serve of the roti. In truth, one serve would have sufficed, as it can be quite a gluggy dish. For the vego option, the sambal and curry - invariably chicken - have to go out the window, meaning the only option is a triple serve of dhal to dunk your dough into. The main issue here was that the dhal was just a little too thin for my liking. The messiness of it isn't an issue for me, but it makes it a little more difficult to get a decent scoop of it onto your bread. I also found the roti a little thicker and chewier than I had hoped for. It didn't quite have the same 'melt-in-your-mouth' texture of its ancestors back in Penang. That being said, it certainly was not lacking in taste, and went some way toward sating my roti yearning. I look forward to returning to give the laksa and some of their veg. dumplings a go down the track.<br />
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<b>3/5</b><br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-81193263725979837222014-01-12T20:33:00.000-08:002014-01-13T13:02:09.485-08:00Southpaw - Fitzroy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Early last year I jumped on a budget Tiger flight to Adelaide. 'Why on earth go to Adelaide?!' I hear a chorus of you exclaiming. Well slow down there Judgy McJudges, I discovered Adelaide isn't actually that bad. Particularly during festival season, and they do have some amazing festivals. Take, for instance, the aptly named <b>Adelaide Festival</b>. Unbelievable international performers, the likes of some of which I've rarely seen in the bigger cities, converging on this well-kept, over-sized town. Also, pints at the pub were a comfortable $6 (that was the real appeal). But I digress! On the flight, I staved off 45 mins of tactical arm-rest battles with the passenger next to me by reading the in-flight Tiger magazine. Being a Singaporean airline, I was interested to see what the 'zine had to say about holidaying in Melbourne. It listed Gertrude St, Fitzroy, as the pick of the shopping strips in Melbourne. Really? Gertrude St?! Now, I don't want to seem anti-Gertrude. Hell, I love Hamlet as much as the next Shakespearean actor, and am proud to say I have celebrated numerous of my past birthdays at Gertrude St establishments over the years, but it seemed a slightly odd selection. Since reading that article, I've taken a little more interest in this strip. I'll still dispute that it is some sort of shopping Mecca of Melbourne, but there is a pretty neat section of bars and eateries between Smith and Brunswick Streets. Thus it was, when my friend suggested we catch up for lunch at Southpaw on Gertrude, I jumped at the chance!<br />
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Southpaw oozes casual cool, from the staff to the decor. As I walked through to the courtyard out the back, the adjoining dining room/lounge looked, at a peripheral glance, almost like an old-fashioned tea room. At second glance, this view was corrected by the vacant set of decks tucked discreetly in the corner, alluding to a nightlife that I'd be very interested in checking out. The majority of the menu takes its inspiration from the deep south - not overly surprising, Yank cuisine has very much been in vogue the past couple of years.<br />
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There are a couple of veg options available. The <b>chargrilled tofu, capsicum, broadbean and radicchio salad</b> took my initial interest, but upon recommendation I went for the <b>quinoa and beetroot salad</b>. Now, before I go any further I want to outline my initial apprehension about this salad. Don't get me wrong, it looked DAMN appealing, and I get ALL over quinoa when I'm in the kitchen. That being said, I've found that whenever I've ordered a quinoa dish out and about, it inevitably is a disappointment. Often quite watery and bland, as if whoever designed the dish is purely interested in trading on the current popularity of the grain, as opposed to doing anything interesting with it. Fortunately, that is not the case at Southpaw. Mixed in along with the beetroot and quinoa are pomegranate, spinach and red cabbage, topped off with Danish feta and and orange dressing. The sweetness of the beetroot and pomegranate - a severely under-utilised ingredient, in my opinion - is balanced beautifully with the bitter crunchiness of the cabbage and the salty tones of the smooth Danish feta. There's a lot going on in this dish, and the quinoa forms the ideal base for soaking up all the colours and flavours involved. It isn't the largest serve in the world, but ideal for a light afternoon snack. My kudos to the chef, I look forward to my next visit!<br />
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<b>4.5/5</b><br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-3148365146390480042013-12-30T17:10:00.002-08:002013-12-30T17:10:52.742-08:00Clifton's Cafe - Fitzroy North<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy holidays loyal readers!<div>
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In the traditional wash-up of this festive period which inevitably culminates with an array of intoxicated "ooh"s and "ahh"s at an exorbitant - albeit impressive - pyrotechnics display, we often burst forth into the new year with those same old resolutions: to shake off those extra holiday kilos; to try new things; and...some third thing. Well, it is currently December 30th 2013 and I decided I couldn't wait an extra two days! No, I don't care for shaking off any more kilos - as a vegetarian, my aspirations in that department go more in the opposite direction. However, I <b>have</b> ventured into some fairly uncharted territory (the "new things" resolution). Yep, I have beaten seemingly all but Rod Quantock to reviewing a cafe! Now I know how guys like Christopher Columbus, Sir Edmund Hilary, and Neil Armstrong must have felt.</div>
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But enough about me, 'where/what is Clifton's Cafe?' I hear you ask. Firstly, as there is a little confusion on google searches, it is located at 310 Queens Pde, Fitzroy North, not in downtown Los Angeles. This isn't your big-noting trendy eatery, but nor is it a drab diner. It is very much in pace with the smart eateries and shops that litter this strip. Whilst the bain-marie lasagnas and and hot dishes up the back didn't look overly inspiring, the heavily Lebanese influenced salads, slices and pastries were certainly enough to catch my attention. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinach and Pinenut Omelette. A mouthful!</td></tr>
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Food here is not for those with eyes bigger than their stomachs. I was particularly taken with a large rectangular slice that dominated the salad bar. It appeared reminiscent of the spinach slices my Nonna used to regularly make. As it turned out, this was a spinach and pinenut omelette. As avid readers will already be aware, I am not particularly enamoured of eggs or omelettes, so perhaps this was not the ideal meal selection for myself, but it certainly had its own distinctive taste. The addition of some Middle Eastern spices gave it a richer, earthy flavour. My massive omelette/slice came with three salads and the obligatory dollop of hummus - the hummus was a definite necessity, as I feel the omelette would have been a bit dry without it. I only wish I had been giving a little more.</div>
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Probably my main interest here was in the lebanese salads. The pick of the bunch for me was the bulgur salad, mixed with tomato, spring onion and parsley. Light, tasty, perfect summer lunch food. For the other two sides, I opted for the rice, lentil and onion pilaf, and the arabic salad - red cabbage, tomato, cucumber, parsley and spring onion. The latter reminded me very much of my time in the Mid-East. The pilaf was probably a little hefty given the enormous amount of food on the plate, but simple and tasty none-the-less. There was also a a green cabbage salad/slaw with a more tangy taste, and a chickpea salad which I did not get to try on this occasion. I feel on my next visit, I'd go for a plate of just the salads to keep it a bit lighter. Don't get me wrong, I certainly got through all of the food - and a large portion of my companion's! - however, I did struggle to pull myself out of the chair a little afterwards.</div>
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A very unassuming little eatery, but the friendly staff and fresh salads and pastries make it one definitely worth stopping in at.</div>
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<b>3.5/5</b></div>
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-16537369636333254992013-11-28T04:09:00.001-08:002013-11-28T04:09:24.174-08:00Foxtrot Charlie - Brunswick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Breakfast: </b>my least-favoured meal of the day. All too often I avoid eating until after 11am purely so I can call the bowl of soggy cereal in - what is certainly by this stage - tepid milk "<b>brunch"</b>. Deep down in my heart I know what this bowl before me really is - a bowl of disintegrating dreams - but somehow it becomes more palatable with a different title. (A rose by any other name indeed!)<br />
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Apologies for appearing to get so morbid, I should confess that I rarely actually eat cereal, but I <b>DO</b> vastly prefer brunch to breakfast. Don't get me wrong, I love the crunch of my vegemite on sourdough toast in the morning, but whenever I go out for breakfast I regularly find the menu options to be particularly uninspiring. Essentially, they seem to be bacon and eggs made fifty different ways, invariably with the veg. twist being that the bacon has been removed from the dish with slightly more egg added. And the vegan option? Don't get me started! Fortunately, there are many breakfast spots that have decided they can't put up with my whinging any longer, and have decided to prove that there can be more to your morning meal than pig and eggs (Exhibit 'A': <a href="http://elrojter.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/grigons-orr-north-melbourne.html">Grigons & Orr</a>). Many such cafes can be found in the cultural mixing pot that is <b>Brunswick, </b>and one in particular is <b>Foxtrot Charlie</b> on <b>Sydney Road</b>. Boasting the use of organic produce, and a rotating range of interesting deli goodies, there is sure to be something to take your fancy. For instance, the <b>3 cheese Panini</b>: Meredith Goats Cheese, Schamorza, and assaggio, layered with salad-y goodness. One look at it and it screams out to you! Also, for the uninitiated, schamorza is a personal favourite of mine, and under-utilized far too often in my opinion.<br />
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But I came here to go for one of the breakfast specialties, so I opted for the <b>Saint Joseph's Day Fritter</b> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fritter!</td></tr>
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(Veg. Version - $16.50): a ricotta fritter served with sauteed mushrooms on a pea fondue. There is only one word that for me accurately captures this dish: juicy! This fritter is like a water bomb exploding in your mouth. You know, the kind you used to throw at your friends in those carefree youthful summer days. Or, alternatively, at your best friend's Winter bbq last June - hilarious at the time, but his girlfriend hasn't spoken to you since. Of course, when I say "water bomb", I don't mean to say that it is loaded with liquid. Nope, I'm referring to the taste explosion that goes off the moment you crunch through the crispy fritter exterior. The mushrooms, too, were unbelievable. I'm the first to admit that I am not the biggest fan of mushrooms, but in this dish I did not merely tolerate them, I gobbled them! Juicy, sweet, salty...they were a work in contradictions. The pea fondue was like the calming voice of the dish, keeping all the outrageous flavours in check, binding them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pistachio and Yoghurt Mousse Cake</td></tr>
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It's not all peaches and cream. Whilst I was served a very elegant looking hot chocolate, it was rather watery. However, there are only a few places in Melbourne where the hot chocolate is the decisive factor in me returning, and - fear not Foxtrotters - this is not one of them. Aside from my incredible breakfast, the other thing that stood out for me about this place was the service. The wait staff genuinely make you feel like they're happy to see you...more so than some of my close friends! As an added bonus, we were treated to a sample of some freshly made pistachio and yoghurt mousse cake, which is certainly worth a try.<br />
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There's plenty more on offer here for the meat-a-tarians amongst us and the veg. options are a little limited, but what they do have, they do exceedingly well. Watch out Green Refectory, you've got competition!<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-65722962122085708862013-11-17T15:09:00.000-08:002013-11-17T15:26:35.672-08:00Gazi - Melbourne<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know I know, yet <b>another</b> review about <b>Gazi</b> in Melbourne. Does George Calombaris really need more of a leg-up? Probably not, but his contribution to cuisine in Melbourne should be acknowledged. And no, I'm not referring to Masterchef. Honestly, I could not give two 'you-know-whats' about most reality TV shows, let alone one where all of our natural senses get repeatedly assaulted by Matt Preston's 'look-at-me' cravats. That being said, I suppose any show that re-engages people with food should be commended.<br />
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But allow me to backtrack from this tangent and get back on point. My real interest in Gazi comes from my often neglected Greek heritage. I owe much of my culinary education to my Nonna (I know, 'nonna' is Italian. It was a confusing childhood, roll with it) and her three sisters. I have many memories of Greek Easters and family gatherings where unbelievable amounts of home-made Greek fare mounted every surface in the house, none of which you could knock back. Not that you'd want to of course, but have you ever tried to knock back food offered to you by a Greek Grandma? You're taking your life in your hands if you do!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vE2ag_rvhjU/UolIGNp7pJI/AAAAAAAAAKU/ilglr79_XFM/s1600/2013-11-13+18.32.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vE2ag_rvhjU/UolIGNp7pJI/AAAAAAAAAKU/ilglr79_XFM/s200/2013-11-13+18.32.15.jpg" width="200" /></a>The problem for me with going out for Greek these days is that most restaurants are far less accommodating to my vegetarian needs than my nonna. Fortunately, Gazi has a wide array of <b style="font-style: italic;">meze </b>to cover most dietary preferences. No fuss Athens street food, that's the order of the day. Unlike its predecessor on this location <b>The Press Club</b>, there's a more chilled out vibe at Gazi, a Greek diner motif. There's a stack of backgammon boards near the entrance, presumably free to use for diners. That being said, I'm not sure how keen the wait staff would be on a backgammon tournament starting up during dinner hours. The ceiling is obscured by kitsch hanging terracotta pots, and the kitchen is open plan so that you can see the flair with which your dinner is being whipped up, presumably just like on the streets of Athens.<br />
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Oh yeah, that brings me to the food.<br />
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<b>DIPS: Served with lightly grilled house-made pita</b><br />
<b>Zucchini, Feta & Mint </b>- Lumpy and green, almost salsa-like. Offers almost lemony undertones, countered nicely with the sharp taste of the feta. In stark contrast to the smoother consistency of the more yoghurt based dips. My favourite.<br />
<b>Miso Melitzanosalata - </b>An interesting twist on a Greek classic, this version has a creamy texture, the bitterness of the eggplant countered by the saltiness of the miso, and finished with yoghurt and capers for extra tang.<br />
<b>Sweet Potato skordalia, pinenuts, orange - </b>Skordalia: another Greek staple I remember from my childhood. This was the dip I was looking forward to the most. As a result - perhaps unsurprisingly - it was the most underwhelming of the three. That says more about the quality of the other two than it does about this one. I <b>love </b>my garlic, however the strong garlic-y tones I recall from my youth were absent here, a little overpowered by the sweetness of the sweet potato (yep, sweet potatoes are sweet. Must remember that).<br />
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<b>ETHNIKA VROMIKA (HELLENIC DIRTY FOOD):</b><br />
<b>Vegetables - </b>I got the impression from our waiter that the vegetables in this dish are subject to variation. Today it consisted of various coloured heirloom carrots, radish, cucumber and celery, coated with a tomato and oil dressing, all sitting on a bed of tahini and garlic yoghurt. Very simple dish, prepare for things to get messy once the yoghurt and tahini climb all over the veg!<br />
<b>Cheese (Saganaki) -</b> Fried in a generous amount of oil to add extra crunch, the large slab of saganaki oozes richness. A tip, don't do it all by yourself, your body won't thank you! Goes great with some of the lighter salads/dips.<br />
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<b>WOOD FIRE GRILL:</b><br />
<b>Corn - </b>Only a small half-cob, another simple pleasure, but what a pleasure it is! Outrageously coated in various seeds, you could mistake the cobs for bird-feeders. Add to this a generous (and I mean generous!) smattering of the Aleppo pepper mayonnaise to coat the cob and, baby, you just bought yourself a one way ticket to Flavour Town!<br />
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<b>SALADS, VEGETABLES, PULSES & GRAINS:</b><br />
<b>Grean Peas Salad: </b>Neglected from the online menu, this option consisted of peas and crispy fried cauliflower, dressed with a herbed garnish and almond dressing. A much lighter, summery option that complements the Saganaki nicely.<br />
<b>Fasolia: </b>Fresh crunch of green and yellow beans, asparagus, shaved fennel, radish, and hazelnuts on a thick white bean skordalia. The bitterness of the bed of Skordalia is offset by the crispy greens. I was particularly drawn to this dish due to the fasolia I consumed in my youth. Doesn't stack up to my Nonna's version, but nothing ever does. Still worth a try.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjA-rJP1xiI/UolHwkqJ_hI/AAAAAAAAAKI/sS1K1azS5eA/s1600/2013-11-13+19.07.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjA-rJP1xiI/UolHwkqJ_hI/AAAAAAAAAKI/sS1K1azS5eA/s200/2013-11-13+19.07.59.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Chips: </b>I know what you're thinking. Why go to one of Melbourne's hottest restaurants just to order chips?! Well slow down there Judgy McJudge, let me explain. Much like with Castrol where "oils ain't oils", at Gazi chips ain't chips. The house-cut 'tiganites patates' are crispified (it's a word) in a healthy amount of garlic and olive oil, then crashed together in a bowl with oregano and feta. If you take up a seat near the open kitchen you can watch the magic of it all unfold before you.<br />
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To accompany this plethora of food, I elected to go for a fresh juice over the ludicrously priced beer selection. One option stuck out above the rest: cucumber juice. Well, I'd be stupid not to, right? It tasted, well, pretty much how you'd expect I guess; like cucumber flavoured water. However, it was exceedingly refreshing. I can see myself blending many a cucumber to help cool myself down during our coming climate change infused summer days.<br />
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As you can see, there are ample veg. options, and there are plenty of others I was simply too stuffed to try, and not outrageously priced either. With all the hype, you expect Gazi to be good. And whilst there were a few underwhelming dishes, it has to be said, it still lives up to the hype!<br />
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<b>4/5</b><br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-41397732319634797632013-11-07T16:11:00.000-08:002013-11-07T16:11:11.820-08:00Ministry of Curry - East Brunswick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lygon Street, East Brunswick, is fast becoming my favourite food and bar strip in Melbourne. Where once there was just the iconic Gelobar swimming amidst a sea of Indian curry houses, now there are countless wine bars, pizzerias, and other restaurants serving dishes from all corners of the globe...except for maybe Greenland. From Burger houses, to Mid-Eastern cuisine, and an array of Asian restaurants, Lygon Street has a little somethin' somethin' for all and sundry. <b>AND</b>, being in Melbourne's hipster inner North, you can bet your sweet bippy there'll be veg. options wherever you choose to chow down. <br />
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<i><b>Ministry of Curry</b></i> is one of the relative newcomers to the strip. I know I know, another curry restaurant in East Brunswick? I can hear John McEnroe's catch-cry "you cannot be serious!" ringing in my ears. But this place differentiates itself in that it is the only restaurant around these parts to serve up traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. Well, that was enough to prompt this curious cat to investigate.<br />
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First of all, I should say that there is quite a bit of range on the menu, so naturally I didn't even come close to getting an adequate sample size, but let's just work off what I did try. There is only one vegetarian option amongst the entrees - lentil croquettes (5pcs - $10.90) - so naturally these seemed like the logical way to begin. The croquettes are nice and crispy on the outside, with a lightly spiced, floury lentil and potato filling, drizzled with a mild, tangy dipping sauce.<br />
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For the mains, a couple of curries to share were the order of the day. On recommendation from the rather shy waitress, we went with the <b>green bean curry</b>($8.50) - served with onions and a little chilli, swimming in a lightly spiced coconut sauce - and the <b>parippu (lentil) curry</b>($7.50), with sides of rice and the <b>coconut roti </b>- thinner and firmer than the Indian equivalent. Both curries were fairly mild, but not lacking in taste by any stretch. The prevalence of coconut - milk and shavings - added that tropical fragrance to the dishes, really enlivening the flavours and combining perfectly with the rice, roti and the parippu curry.<br />
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I'm a little sick of going out to eat at establishments where blandness in cooking is accepted and celebrated. I want my taste buds to come alive with flavours, not have to conduct some sort of CSI experiment to determine whether any DNA traces of taste exist in my mouth. Thankfully, none of that was necessary at the Ministry.<br />
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It's not all flowers and chocolates. The service was a little awkward, and they managed to initially forget our order of rice. But that's just me nit-picking. Ministry of Curry is a place still finding its feet on what is now becoming a very congested restaurant strip, but I really hope they hang in there. I'll be returning, that's for sure.<br />
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<b>4/5</b><br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-80629589035022508642013-10-25T22:12:00.000-07:002013-10-26T20:48:21.837-07:00Shop Ramen - Collingwood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Shop Ramen</b> - 329 Smith Street, Collingwood - was a place I'd had my eye on for some time. East Asian noodle dishes - as most vegos will attest - are sort of a '<b>forbidden fruit</b>' in the vegetarian world. Whenever I see someone hoe into a bowl of noodles, my salivary glands immediately kick into action. However, if you believe that most "vegetarian" options on offer at your local noodle house are kosher - so to speak - you are simply kidding yourself. Think about the stock people, think about the stock! At Shop Ramen, the biggest draw card is that the vegetarian option is spruiked as being made from a vegan, cashew nut stock. Boom! There it is, food's 'Berlin Wall' just got torn down!<br />
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To say "I went to Shop Ramen <b>BEFORE</b> it was cool" would be inaccurate, as the massive line out the door for a table at 7:30pm attested - not to mention the countless zines to have already posted about it. Yep, this place is already quite a local favourite. The set-up is simple: a few intimate short tables line the wall, with a long communal table down the middle. All are well serviced with condiments such as sesame, finely ground pepper, hot sauce, and shichimi. The long counter houses a few extra seats, as well as a pasta-maker used by the uber-friendly staff to churn out fresh noodles in front of you as you await your order.<br />
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The menu is simple with minimal fuss. The vegetarian starter is a <b>smoked tofu bun</b>($4): a small, rectangular slab of smoked tofu covered with a drizzling of the tangy 'special sauce', sitting comfortably alongside some thinly sliced pickled carrot, coriander, and various seeds, all enveloped in a fluffy, warm bun. Very fresh-tasting, quite impressive. Not overly sizeable, but enough to whet the appetite. Next up is the main event: the <b>vegetarian cashew milk ramen</b>($13). The fresh noodles are served with a few of those rectangular slabs of tofu, shitake mushrooms, thinly chopped sticks of zucchini, and the odd arrowhead of an asparagus. I also went for the optional 'garlic bomb' - the addition of a roasted bulb of garlic for an extra $1. All of these ingredients are submerged amidst a healthy dosage of the milky broth.<br />
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So, the verdict? The best way I can think to describe it is inoffensive. The cashew milk stock adds an interesting creamy texture to the broth, but I found the dish to be lacking in liveliness. A bit of experimenting with the various condiments certainly helped matters - black sesame is a must for every kitchen table - however my feelings are that it should have had more of a stand-alone flavour to it. Given my lofty expectations, I was a bit underwhelmed.<br />
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To finish off, I treated myself to a dessert of the <b>salted caramel and coconut shake</b>($8). It comes served in a tall glass, the inside walls of which are coated generously with caramel syrup, and finished with a red and white candy-cane striped paper straw. Very kitschy/1950s diner-esque, cute. Quite tasty, very sweet. I actually got hints of cheesecake from it.<br />
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Shop Ramen has quickly established itself amongst the burgeoning group of popular eateries that have popped up on Smith Street in recent years, and it has done a lot right. An interesting, succinct menu; food made fresh to order in front of you; and helpful, friendly staff - yep, they even provided sympathy laughter to some apparently unfunny jokes delivered by yours truly - which creates an inviting atmosphere that draws you in. However, it needs to back up all these positives with what it delivers to the table. The highlight for me was the tofu bun. The shake is delicious, but pricey. And those straws are just impractical. They become soggy and useless within minutes. The ramen fails to reach the heights I'd hoped it would and, if you manage to finish the whole bowl, can be quite bloating. And, in spite of what they may say on Broadsheet or TimeOut, a bowl of ramen does <b>NOT</b> go well with a sweet, syrupy milkshake - personally, I found the mere suggestion that it would idiotic (take that bigger media!). Even with a healthy break in between the two, I was feeling the after-effects for the remainder of the evening.</div>
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<b>A place with a lot of promise and an already huge following. But, in my opinion, not quite there yet.</b><br />
<b>*2/5<br /><br />*Note: </b>Score deducted one mark due to lingering ill-effects from the shake two days later<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-50453410608549441362013-10-06T21:37:00.003-07:002013-10-06T21:37:52.058-07:00Grigons & Orr - North Melbourne<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are few cities around the world that rival Melbourne for sheer number of cafes, such is our obsession. With all this congestion, how do all these places survive? The quality of coffee is definitely a major factor...but I don't drink coffee, and this is a food review, so if you wanted to read about the coffee at Grigons and Orr, here's two words: JOG ON!<br />
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Yep, in my humble opinion, it's the food that sets all these places apart. However, it doesn't hurt when the place has a bit of fun with itself (cue immature giggles from some quarters). Grigons & Orr is a 'Corner Store' cafe - 445 Queensberry St North Melbourne - and it runs with the corner store milk bar/cafe motif. All sorts of creative sweet things decorate the menu - Tim Tam milkshakes?! - and the way it's decked out reminds you of those coffee houses your parents used to drive you to as a kid as you lay curled up in the back seat of the family lamborghini in blue suede shoes, wearing gold knuckle-dusters...okay, those last few things weren't real, but the cafes that doubled as a sweet-tooth's paradise were very much real, and only seem to exist in country towns nowadays. Cue Grigons & Orr, est. 2009. Downstairs you'll find the milk bar set up with a few small tables in the windows, but if you venture upstairs you'll find a couple of cute, cosy tea rooms in which to plant yourself.</div>
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The menu is fun, and very veg.-vegan friendly. Eggs done many ways with creative names, salads with which I would be MORE than happy to get a stew on, and the dish of choice for breakfast today: "The Gandhi" ($17.50), advertised as being a vegan avocado egg, potato rosti, bbq tofu, spinach - although they were out of spinach today - roasted tomato, and garnished with a sprinkling of chives. The first part of this perplexed me initially. The 'Vegan Avocado' is, in fact, a halved avocado, with a lightly herbed pumpkin puree forming the yolk. Very creative, and given my avocado obsession, very appreciated! The big question is, do all these various elements of this dish fit together? Or, to put it another way, are they at one with the others? In my opinion, they are very close, but not quite there. I'm the first to admit that breakfast is not my favourite meal of the day, but it kind of felt like there was a little bit too much happening on my plate. Perhaps the lack of an ingredient, the spinach, actually contributed to this, as the roast tomatoes felt a little surplus. The tofu was also quite a firm variety, and felt a bit stodgy going down. But let me stop myself right there, as this is me nit-picking and the truth is, I did enjoy this dish. The thing that held it together quite well was the delicious bbq marinade on the tofu, which complemented all of the other ingredients. And, naturally, I was quite taken with the avo-egg as well (ingenious!).<br />
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This place has a menu that MUST be explored. As such, I'll be leaving any numbered rating until after subsequent visits. But take it from me and Molly Meldrum: do yourself a favour and check it out!<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-83639688798086745592013-09-11T05:26:00.001-07:002013-09-11T17:49:48.447-07:00Union Club Hotel - Fitzroy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Union Club Hotel is an institution in Fitzroy, immortalised historically as 'that pub from Offspring', so I've been told. Secondarily, it is also a member of the collection of iconic pubs that litter the backstreets of Fitzroy which make up - in my opinion - some of the most interesting and enjoyable places to have a meal and a drink in Melbourne. A no fuss night out, where you won't be chastised for wearing torn trackies, a stained hoodie, and a moth-eaten beanie - fortunate for myself, and many others out there I'm sure.<br />
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The Union Club is an interesting case to me. I've been curious about eating here for a while, but given the seemingly perennial dearth of free tables, and its close proximity to one of my favourite joints - <a href="http://elrojter.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/the-napier-hotel-fitzroy.html">The Napier Hotel</a> - I have always given up on the wait and opted for the safe option. Not tonight! The menu, whilst not vast, does offer an interesting variety of dishes, as well as rotating specials. The stable veg. options are a corn fritter burger ($18, or $12 on Mon & Tue), and a spinach and ricotta cannelloni dish ($18) served with a broccoli and almond salad, with at least one rotating special as well. I won't lie, I was pretty keen to get all over that broccoli and almond salad, but if this place was to truly compete with The Napier, the strength of its home-made burger was key!<br />
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The pattie itself is nothing more than it claims to be: a corn fritter. I like corn, so not a bad start. Sandwiching the pattie is the standard tomato and cos lettuce, as well as some more southern-y stuff: jalapenos, coleslaw, sour cream and salsa. Basically, it's pretty jam packed. I'm someone who loves a little chili kick, so the jalapenos were welcome, and they complement the fritter quite well. For those not so keen on the hot stuff, fear not. Whatever mild heat is in the peppers is drowned out by the sour cream and 'slaw, so you'll feel no after effects...and even if you do, a sailor jerry and lime is only $7.50 from the bar. Win!<br />
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Where the burger falls apart is...well, everywhere, if we're being literal. The Burger is huge! Even with a Luna Park sized mouth you'll struggle to get it around the steering-wheel sized sesame bun. It's quite messy too. The kitchen is very liberal with its filling of the burger, so if you intended to look graceful whilst dining with some companions, this is perhaps not the meal for you. The other problem I found was that it was very gluggy. I felt as though the meal was sitting in my chest cavity for some time after I finished eating (FORCING me to have another Sailor Jerry).<br />
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There's no denying the food they're cooking up at the Union Club is far more interesting than your average pub grub, and my burger certainly satisfied my curiosity. Just make sure you've skipped lunch and are prepared to get your hands dirty for your next visit.<br />
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<b>3.5/5 </b>(Although extra points for the cheap, generous Sailor Jerry)<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-31154033448476765792013-07-09T20:37:00.002-07:002014-09-03T15:54:29.996-07:00Half Moon Cafe - Coburg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Half Moon Cafe! For years I have been insisting that people come here to try the falafels, waxing lyrical about how they are the best of the best in Melbourne. "How could I be sure?" the unfortunate souls I'd ambush exiting Falafel Kitchen would ask. My response was always along the lines of "well, I've heard...I mean, people say they're good and...hey, just eat the damn falafels, alright!"<br />
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No, I do not own shares in the business. And yes, shameful as it is for me to admit, I had never actually tried one of their falafels for myself and had just gone by hearsay. Reliable hearsay, but hearsay nonetheless. Well all that changes now!<br />
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After getting my Ottolenghi/Delia on in the Middle East earlier in the year, you can consider me a self-proclaimed connoisseur of the falafel ball. And if you have read my "blogging on the road: Israel" post, you'll know I have a particular soft spot for the original falafel - the Egyptian falafel. Conveniently, Half Moon Cafe are purveyors of exactly that, which I imagine goes some way to explaining their reputation as being one of the best in town. Where Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and...well, most of the Middle East make their falafel out of predominantly chickpeas, the Egyptian version has a fava bean base. At Half Moon, the falafel mix is part fava bean and part broad bean, with some coriander, garlic and various other herbs and spices thrown in for good measure. What is refreshing is that the falafels here <b>are made on the spot from a fresh falafel mix.</b> Not the re-heated, mass produced rubbish found at far too many late night outlets.<br />
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Yep, falafels are serious business here and there is a plethora of options on the menu to choose from. We settled on the signature Half Moon falafel, and the Colibaba (both a generous size at $7.50 each). Myself and my accomplice were keen to try both, and the guys behind the counter were only too happy to oblige and serve them up in halves for us. Our opinions were divided. For me, the signature Half Moon came out on top. The wrap is generously laced with lettuce, rocket, tabouli, chickpeas, hummus, yoghurt, tahini, black olives and pickles...oh, and let's not forget the falafels themselves. Yep, all that in one wrap! The saltiness of the olives mixing with the tang of the various pickles just gives the wrap an extra zing that...well, it just does it for me. The Colibaba has what I would define as a more mature taste. The wrap consists of freshly grilled cauliflower and eggplant, babaganoush, yoghurt, lettuce and rocket, and was top dog according to my amigo. I personally feel it's more of a formal, sit-down falafel wrap - mainly because I have never before had cauliflower in wrap form - whilst the Half Moon is more of an 'eat on the go' type of deal. I have to say though, both were pretty damn good. In fact, I will happily go as far as to say that <b>these are the number one falafels I have tasted in Melbourne.</b> For an extra few $$$, you can order your meal on a plate instead of in a wrap, take a seat out the front, and soak in the cultural stew that is Coburg life passing by whilst chowing down on some deliciously crispy falafel balls. Mark this one down on your bucket list chums. It's a Good'un!<br />
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<b>5/5</b><br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-62856458515318855582013-06-23T23:55:00.001-07:002013-06-23T23:57:24.776-07:00Los Hermanos Taqueria - Brunswick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Los Hermanos - Spanish for "brothers". I cannot hear the word "Hermano" without having a flash of Gob Bluth. Ever since the that episode of Arrested Development aired nearly a decade ago, that single Spanish word has become a mainstay in this guy's lexicon. So, if you were at Los Hermanos last Friday night and confused as to why someone kept obnoxiously repeating the word "Hermano" out loud, mystery solved and my apologies.<br />
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So, onto the place itself. Los Hermanos is a taqueria - meaning that tacos and imported Mexican beers are the order of the day here. Tucked away on the quiet side of the train tracks on Victoria Street, Brunswick, it wouldn't be difficult not to know of its existence. But for those who are aware, it appears to be an addiction, with table waits of up to an hour and not a spare seat in the house. It's a small space, but they make the most of it. There are no menus other than the vast blackboard behind the counter, with specials scribbled wherever space can be found - generally under the display of beers - and unless I completely missed where the cutlery is kept, you have to be prepared to eat with your hands - a preference of mine anyway.<br />
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The food is quite reasonably priced, with the majority of tacos fetching $5, gorditas slightly more. The vegetarian option across the board is a choice of either zuchini or mushroom. For my meal I decided to go for a selection: Zuchini taco, the fajitas special, a cactus salad, and a bottle of Bohemia.<br />
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The zuchini taco (right) came first, and in a way that was a slight problem. Why you ask? Because the zuchini taco was incredible! How would the fajitas match up to it? I did make one error with the taco of going a little overboard with green habanero hot sauce. Unfortunately I tend to be a tad gung-ho with condiments. The taco itself is relatively mild and does lend itself to a little extra heat...just not as much as I drenched the top of it in. Regardless, I can still tell you it not only hit the spot, but all sorts of spots I didn't know existed. A lively mix of crisp, shredded lettuce, sprinkling of grated cheese - rennet-free, of course - and drizzling of sour cream complimented the hot zuchini mixture in the middle beautifully. This is, without a doubt, <b>the best taco I have ever had in Melbourne</b>. In the end, I regretted not ordering a second.<br />
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Of course, the reason I ordered only one was because I also went for the evening special: a serving of three potato and poblano pepper fajitas ($12). In tightly bound tortillas, the fajitas were topped with tomato, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and a mild green pepper sauce. Beautiful constructions, but lacking the flavour explosion of the zuchini taco. I little red habanero helped bring it alive, but it was perhaps a little too subtle following the taco.<br />
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Complimenting both the fajitas and the taco was the cactus salad (below, $7.50). Soft, stewed strips of cacti are mixed in with peppers, cheese, fresh tomato, and some herbs. It almost tastes like a pickled salad, oozing with flavour. It provided a neat counterpoint to the heat of my habanero drenched taco, and had a very cleansing effect on the palate.<br />
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There are a few drawbacks of Los Hermanos, mainly due to its small size and huge popularity. On a busy night, the food takes a long time to arrive - even a drinks order took 20 minutes - and our table and seats were a little cramped and rickety. But that's nit-picking, and I prefer to focus on what's important: the tacos! This place is a taqueria. It does predominantly one thing, and boy does it do it well!<br />
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<b>4.5/5 </b>(And a hint for non-vegos: From all reports, the fish tacos are off the chain!)<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-30588322536117987782013-05-29T16:13:00.003-07:002013-05-29T16:13:48.691-07:00The Hungarian - Bridge Rd, Richmond<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hungary has always seemed a fairly unassuming country to me. On my first backpacking trip a few years ago, the extent of my knowledge of this land was borne predominantly out of their love for paprika, a substandard national football team (in my view), and my mid-90s Dos computer game 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' Yet, in spite of not knowing a whole lot about this country - other than that Carmen and her gang were once spotted by the riverfront by a talking parrot - I still found myself feeling a strong pull to visit it. I'm glad I did, it's an incredible place steeped in history.<br />
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More or less, the same can be said about The Hungarian in Richmond - give or take the "history" comment. Hungarian cuisine is not renown for its vegetarian fare, perhaps the big attraction of this place was that they offer a variety of vegetarian takes on Hungarian classics. That, and they have a very playfully written menu. Under the option <u>"Hokkien Noodles with Bok Choi and Soy Sauce"</u>, you'll find the description "<b>We don't serve this on any day. Sorry, this is a Hungarian restaurant".</b> Honestly, do yourself a favour and just look up the menu online. If that doesn't pique your interest in this place, then I can only assume you're a <i>Mad About You </i>fan.<br />
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So, what to eat? Well, don't expect extravagance. What you will get here is simple, hearty Hungarian fare. Think lots of paprika, sour cream, bread, cheese, dumplings, and pickled cabbage salads. If you're of Eastern bloc heritage, it'll be a nostalgic trip for your tastebuds back to your childhood in the Soviet Union. At least, it seemed to be for my Polish padre. To start out with, we opted for two appetisers: the Meatless Chevabs <br />
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with chive yoghurt, and Lángos - described as "unchallengedly Hungarian". The Chevabs are sausage-shaped concoctions, consisting of zuchini, carrot, potatoes, bread and various herbs, served with a chive yoghurt - although I suspect it was really sour cream, not yoghurt. As well as an appetiser, there is the option to have this dish as a main, and it would not be a bad option. A problem I often find with vegie burgers/patties etc. are that they can taste a little like a mush of whatever the maker could smash into them. The Chevab does not re-define cooking in any particular way, but nor does it aspire to. The 'sausages' are well-constructed - not mush - and complimented very well by the chive yoghurt/sour cream. Simple, <br />
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tasty. I could have eaten many more of these. However, that would've made for a fairly mundane review. The Lángos is another simple Hungarian classic. Snap-fried, dense flatbread covered in sour cream and shredded cheese. Warm hearty hand-food, perfect to keep you going on a cold winter morning.<br />
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For mains, there are plenty of veg. options amongst the more expected Hungarian fare. There's the Hungarian Vegasagna (Megazannya) - a Hungarian take on the lasagne; a Veganoff - a mushroom/green vegetable stroganoff; and several other dishes such as the Chevabs and various soups and large salads. However, what I elected for on this occasion was the V-Sztrapacska (try saying that 10 times quickly!), with a side of pickled apple-paprika stuffed with pickled sauerkraut. Sztrapacska - a central European dumpling dish - actually originates from Slovakia. The Hungarian take is to make noki-dumplings - egg-pasta dumplings. Put together with salted sheep cheese, sour cream and oil, it is a rich, filling carbohydrate-hit. Be warned however, the serving sizes are exceedingly generous, which makes finishing with an empty plate in front of you no mean feat! Such an effort is made doubly hard if you also take in the stuffed paprika as a side, which, in retrospect, was perhaps not the wisest decision. Whilst I love pickled foods, I tend to prefer more tart options - such as French cornichons - to the sweeter pickled salads. The peppers here are very densely filled and oozing with sweet pickle juice. Basically a meal in themselves. The peppers themselves may or may not have a real kick to them, it's a 50-50 shot and you'll only know by tasting. The ones with a bit of spice provide a nice counterpoint to the pickled sauerkraut, however, for me, they probably did not work all that well alongside the Sztrapacska.<br /><br />For the meat-eaters amongst us, the options are far more vast. In particular, the Goulash soup comes highly recommended - I seem to specifically remember the comments "it's delicious" and "I like soup" from one diner. Both good indicators. The wine list could probably do with some work - there is only one Red <br />
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offered, served out of a Green, White and Red painted barrel situated next to the door - however I'm more of a beer person anyway and the food is well-suited to pint of Soproni or Dreher. The daggy red and white chequered tablecloths and constant blare of Hungarian folk music add a nice touch of authenticity, and the pics of past and present Hungary adorning the walls allow your mind to transport itself out of Melbourne and into landlocked central Europe. An enjoyable place with bubbly European wait staff, the perfect winter retreat to load up against that Soviet Melbourne Winter we've become accustomed to.<br />4/5<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-79079811361613764482013-04-26T16:40:00.001-07:002013-04-26T16:40:32.943-07:00Veggie Kitchen (Intention of Love) - Northcote<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last time I heard the use of the phrase "intention of love" was as a kid when it was as an excuse by a dear one for rolling me up in a sleeping bag and stuffing me into a Salvation Army charity bin.<br />
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Okay, so that may have been a dream and never actually happened, but I'm sure we can all agree it was perfectly reasonable for me to be apprehensive about visiting a restaurant with said phrase in its title. Never-the-less, after months and months of hyped up recommendations from amigos, I was pleased to find my initial fears were unfounded. So, why the hype? Because at Veggie Kitchen, there really is a lot of care put into the dishes - indeed, the whole concept is to provide healthy "food therapy" according to traditional Chinese principles - and it really does come across. The interior of the restaurant is fairly stripped down and plain, but there is something comforting about the feel of the place.<br />
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Possibly the biggest issue is that, with a completely vegetarian Chinese menu, there is simply too much choice for someone not accustomed to so many options at a Chinese restaurant - if you're into your tofu, you'll be completely overwhelmed. The philosophy here is to share a few dishes, which works well to quell any such over-stimulation. On this occasion we elected to get a mix of the obvious, and the more innovative.<br />
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We'll start with the obvious, and one of the in-house proclaimed most popular items on the menu: the dumplings. No doubt about it, dumplings have been all the rage about town for many a year, and those at the Veggie Kitchen sit right up there with the best of them. Stuffed with raw cabbage, radish and bean curd, they seem to have less of a homogenised taste as opposed as to some of the 'fast food' dumplings at various places in the city, and didn't have that gluggy consistency or leave me with a touch of a feeling of self-loathing after eating them. Alongside the dumplings were a serving of the Cheese <br />
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balls: a filling of soft wasabi flavoured cheese that readily explodes out of its chewy konjak casing. I'm not sure that I am fan of the texture of konjak, but I am of wasabi, which makes these worth the effort - and not overly hot either, so don't let the wasabi terrify you. We also tried the seaweed roll. A nori roll where the rice is replaced with alfalfa, and with a filling of apple, carrot, cucumber, and soy ham - I was not aware of this last ingredient until they arrived, however it just tasted like tofu to me, albeit inexplicably pink tofu. Ah Gei - described on the menu as a famous Danshui local delight - is very much worth the effort. It is a stuffed tofu pocket. Who would've thought it possible! A silky skin encasing innards of bean noodles, slivers of black fungus and stewing in tofu paste, creates a delicate and slightly odd looking structure. First time I have come across this dish, and I have to say, I am a fan.<br /><br />For the larger dishes, the visit is not complete without an order of the Five Elements Veggie Pot. This is the signature dish, the name derived from the 5 elements of Chinese medicine and food therapy, with each element providing nutrition for different organs in the body. Served as a soup, it consists of various vegetables, crispy bean curd rolls, and goji berries - often termed as a "superfruit"due to their health properties. With a stewed cabbage-y base, take away the bean curd rolls and goji berries and it is almost reminiscent of an Eastern European stew. It's interesting having the Bean Curd rolls in the pot, an item clearly taken from another part of the menu, but the dish as a whole just makes you feel good about yourself. And in the end, isn't that all that mother ever wanted for us?<br />
<br />All in all, very satisfied with this place. The staff are very willing to cater to any extra dietary requirements should they be necessary, and with barely a table free despite its modest location on St Georges Road, it clearly has developed quite a neat little following. Hot tip: if you're a vinegar fiend like me, try one of the traditional Taiwanese vinegar drinks. Sweet and tangy and something you're unlikely to find in too many other places around town. All in all, I walked away from the Veggie Kitchen knowing that I would be returning, and not just because I left my hat behind.<br /><br />4.5/5<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-72144119689820925492013-04-15T22:09:00.001-07:002016-03-01T03:44:56.960-08:00Blogging On The Road part 2: Malaysia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Malaysia: "Truly Asia" according to an old tourism campaign, and a fact corroborated by its geographical location according to <i>The Times World Atlas</i>. It had been nearly three and a half years since my last jaunt into South-East Asia and, I must confess, over the past 3 years I have had some serious street food withdrawal symptoms. A stopover in Malaysia - <b>Pulau Penang</b> in particular - seemed the perfect antidote to this affliction. Penang is described as the "Food Paradise of Asia" according to the region's self-published tourism material, and given the multicultural stew that is Malyasia - with more than 20% of the population of Indian heritage - surely there would be some strong vegetarian influences on the Malaysian dishes!<br />
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Well, the reality is that there both is, and there isn't. My first experience when I touched down in KL - aside from being rooked by a cabbie - was to insist upon my mate whom I was staying with that we go out and get some street food for breakfast. We settled on an Indian-Muslim street cafe, ordering a double-serve of roti canai with <b>only</b> a vegetarian dhal...what we received was the roti canai with dhal, anchovy sambal, and a chicken curry. This pretty well sets the tone for what to expect when ordering vegetarian in Malaysia. There is an incredibly high proliferation of western chains - KFC and McDonald's seem to appear on every other street corner - throughout Malaysia and, unfortunately, with a dearth in veg. options in most places I visited - particularly across Borneo - I was restricted to eating mainly vegetable side dishes and wedges at chain restaurants, interspersed with the odd serving of <b>roti canai</b>. The <b>lowlight</b> being an infamous Cream of Asparagus soup at the Afghan cafe in <b>Kuching</b>, which tasted like someone had topped off an almost full salt shaker with an arrowhead of asparagus, a dash of milk, and set to simmer.<br />
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However! Any such negative impressions are blown out of the water when you get to the UNESCO heritage listed city of <b>Georgetown</b> in Penang - "Pearl of the Orient" to you. Famous for its hawker centres and food stands by the roadside, Penang is also the birthplace of many dishes you no doubt both know and love. It is not that most places here serve more vegetarian options than elsewhere, it is more that there is simply such a high concentration of hawker stands and restaurants in Georgetown that you cannot help but find places offering a vegetarian twist on local dishes, the majority of which I made sure I got around to sampling. One of the first dishes you should try is the aforementioned<br />
<b><u>ROTI CANAI</u></b><br />
This very simple delicious dish is a national favourite. The roti canai (pronounced "chen-eye") is a buttery, soft, fluffy flat bread that has undergone a hefty kneading process before being fried in a skillet with an impressive amount of oil and/or butter. The result? A crispy, golden flaky base, perfect for soaking up dhal and spicy curries, and great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. My tip: roti canai for breakfast is the way to go. A staple at many street cafes, you should not have to walk too much further than a block in Georgetown to find dough being tossed in the air as the hungry diners look on, salivating. And at generally RM1.00 ($0.30) per roti, it is insanely cheap! So, where is the best roti canai?<br />
The truth is, it is far too subjective for me to say. Every person I met recommended a different place as being the best, and time was too much of a factor to try them all. So here is my advice: As it is an Indian-Muslim dish, the best bet is to stick to the Indian quarter in Lebuh Chulia - <b>this applies to most vego dishes too</b>. <b>Kassim Mustafa</b> restaurant came as one of the most highly recommended. Given that they were consistently out of dough whenever I ordered, it clearly is a popular destination. Another highly regarded source is <b>Restoran Kapitan </b>on the corner of Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh King - one block from Kassim Mustafa. Kapitan was one place where I did manage to try their roti canai. It most definitely deserves the big wrap the guys at <b>Cocoa Mews</b> guesthouse gave it. The soft, flaky pastry virtually melts in your mouth. However it loses points for serving me dhal which had a massive chunk of what looked like beef floating in it. When I asked for a vegetarian dhal, the guy simply emptied the dhal back into the cooker, and refilled the bowl from the same cooker. Dude! Really? Oddly enough, it was from the much more *ahem* rustic looking Indian place across the road - <b>Ros Mutiara</b> - that catered a little more carefully to vegetarians. A discovery I made on my final morning when I ordered their<br />
<b><u>MEE GORENG</u></b><br />
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Absolutely nothing like the rubbish sold for $0.60 per pack at Woolies, these yellow noodles are fried in a thick spicy tomato gravy along with fried tofu cubes, potato, crispy flour, and garnished with lettuce, fried shallots, and a lime wedge to add a bit of tang to the heat. Despite being across the road from my guesthouse, I had avoided eating here until the final morning due to its grimy look. However, given most of their dishes are prepared on the street in front of you, there is little chance of them pulling a "Kapitan" and lumping a chunk of meat in your meal. And if their mee goreng is anything to go by, it is definitely worth a stop-in for lunch. Another dish - or, more accurately, array of dishes - worth trying for lunch is the<br />
<b><u>BANANA LEAF</u></b><br />
Available at many Indian-Muslim restaurants, the Banana Leaf special is a collection of curries, sauces, coconut milk, rice and papadams laid out out on a large banana leaf, and <b>Woodlands Vegetarian Restaurant</b> on Lebuh Penang is known to make one of the best. This was my highly anticipated final lunch in Penang, having been recommended to me on the first day by an English lass I met called Charlotte. Of course, what Charlotte neglected to mention was that when she ate there previously with her two friends, one Banana Leaf special was enough for the three of them. Yep, I was that chump at the restaurant who couldn't finish his lunch. Heck, even getting through 50% of it was a struggle! However, in no way is that a comment on the food itself - honestly, 400g of rice??? - which was suitably delicious. Three curry sauces - one dhal, the other two of differing heat levels - and three curry bowls providing a mixture of spicy, creamy, and the downright unknown. This meal gives you a sense of adventure, and perhaps a sense of self-loathing for not conquering all that is before you.<br />
<b><u>CENDOL & AIS KACANG</u></b><br />
These are the two local desserts, both offering a refreshing relief from the tropical heat. Cendol (pronounced "chen-daal") is the name given to the primary ingredient in the dessert, the Cendol noodle which is a chewy, green rice-flour noodle. It is served in a bowl which consists of a base of finely shaved ice, red beans, palm sugar syrup, and the noodles, before being drowned in fresh coconut milk. Very tasty and refreshing, although if, like me, you struggle with large doses of milk - dairy/non-dairy - then perhaps splitting a bowl is the best solution. Cendol is widely available, but the hot spot is at <b>Joo Hooi Cafe</b> on Jalan Panang. Teeming with locals and with a constant turnover of customers who spend all of 30 seconds in the cafe , make no mistake, these guys are doing something right!<br />
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From all reports, they also make a mean Ais Kacang. But loading their already over-flowing pockets wasn't what this trip was about, I wanted to hit one of the famous hawker centres! The hot tip from my man Arthur at Cocoa Mews was that <b>Gurney Drive Hawker Centre</b> is where it's at. I'd only just met Arthur, but so far he hadn't led me astray once, so Gurney Drive it was. The mild spanner in the works was that, being located in the tropics, the area is prone to tropical downpours. And boy was there a big one this day! The downside was that many of the stallholders chose not to open for the evening, but you can still tell this centre is the business. Being closer to the touristy locale of <b>Batu Ferringhi</b>, the food here is slightly pricier than you'd expect as it does cater more to visitors than locals, however proud banners proclaiming various national awards for various stall-holders suggest the requisite bonafides for consumption..."eat there" I guess is what I'm saying. I tried the Ais Kacang from a particularly chatty stall-holder. As with Cendol, it is served</div>
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in a bowl and has a base of shaved ice. Thrown into the mix are sweetened red beans, creamed sweet corn, palm fruit, and an array of jelly noodles and substances, all drenched in various syrups, condensed milk, and with a scoop of ice cream. Personally, not sure how I feel about this one. My main issue is that I feel conflicted about eating foods with a jelly-like texture. Also, there are a lot of contrasting tastes in the mix that I'm not sure are all in harmony. However, taste is subjective and it is a local favourite, so do give it a go if you visit!<br />
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The problem with only spending a few days in Penang is that, inevitably, there is much that will go untried. In particular, I am disappointed to say I did not get around to trying the region's signature dish: <b>Nasi Kandar -</b> basically a dish of rice with an array of local curries and side dishes accompanying it. However, there is another dish synonymous with Penang the is perhaps the most popular one in Australia. And for me, it was most definitely my <b><u>Top Pick</u> </b>of all dishes I tried in Malaysia. This dish, of course, is the<br />
<b><u>PENANG LAKSA</u></b><br />
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When I asked my man Howie at Cocoa Mews for a recommendation for vegetarian laksa, he suggested I try a Chinese place called <b>Ee Beng Restaurant</b>. That's nearly my name! Good omen? I think so! Located in a mainly Chinese part of Georgetown on Lebuh Dickens, just off Jalan Penang, Ee Beng is an all vegetarian/all "green" restaurant with both a self-serve buffet and dishes made to order. Although not on the main drag of Jalan Penang, it appears to be a haven to many, with people in their dozens churning through and leaving with servings from the buffet in the short time I was there. As enticing as those dishes were though, I was here for one thing, and one thing alone! Taking up residence on a table next to two elderly Chinese women who were methodically<br />
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chopping some obscure greens, a bowl appeared in front of me quite promptly. My Budda, the fragrance! Thick rice noodles were to be found lurking amidst a dark brown spiced curry broth, topped with various greens - endive lettuce, a plethora of mint leaves, and those aforementioned obscure, spinachy greens - and <br />
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with a bed of pink, chopped ginger flower buds sitting atop the greens. The flavours complemented one <br />
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another like nobody's business! Given it is a dish typically made with a fish broth, finding a purely vegetarian version made me feel like I had finally had the "No Ebens" policy at the food party revoked...and boy did I take full advantage. Before the first bowl was done, a second one was on the way. And with my Kiwi friend<br />
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struggling with hers, half of a third bowl just seemed the gentlemanly thing to do. At only RM3.50 ($1.10) a bowl, there are no bones about it. Visiting this place is a MUST for anyone taking a trip to Penang and after a break from meat.<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-36641125033529958742013-04-01T04:00:00.000-07:002016-03-01T04:06:41.904-08:00Blogging on the road part 1: Reviews from Israel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Apologies to my legions of readers, I'm afraid yours truly has been entirely selfish and indulged in a 6 week holiday, leaving all you vegos and vego sympathisers out there high and dry as to where to go and what to eat over summer. In my defence, it was not all lying on beaches and parleying with Bornean jungle creatures (although much of it was). No, a large portion of my travels were dedicated to unearthing some hidden -and some not-so hidden - gems for those of you with itchy feet - of the non-fungal variety - who may be planning an adventure in the near future.<br />
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The first part of my trip was a sponsored tour around Israel. I traversed much of this country, from North to South, East to West, and performed many a pirouette in between. There are several foods synonymous with Israel, chief amongst them being <b><u>T</u></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">he Street Falafel</u>, and <u style="font-weight: bold;">Hummus</u> (yes, Adam Sandler was telling no lies in <i>Zohan</i>. Except about Fizzy Bubblech, I'm afraid it is pure fiction). I made it my business to visit the more renowned purveyors of these essential Israeli food groups, as well as a few off the beaten path. So, without further ado, here are some of my thoughts on:<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">FALAFEL</span></u></b><br />
The staple street food of Israel. As a vegetarian, it is unavoidable that you will smash through ample pita pockets or lafa (flat-bread wrap) stuffed with "hummus, salad, pickle, chips and diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiips!" Yep, such is the catch-cry you'll hear often around markets. Surprisingly, it took me a whole 5 days to sample my first Israeli falafel, but boy was it a good'un at the:<br />
<b><u>HaCarmel Market - Tel Aviv</u></b><br />
In Tel Aviv's most famous produce market, amongst stalls selling genuine prada handbags for $5 a pop, is situated phone-box sized falafel stand. There is no chance of missing it. As with almost all falafel stalls worth their salt (or, chickpea flower), the falafel balls are made fresh to order, allowing you a couple of spare minutes to grab a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from a nearby stall. Straight out of the fryer, the balls here maintain their moisture, encapsulated in a soft crunchy shell, and maintain their integrity with each bite rather than crumbling. A plethora of self-serve spices and sauces allow you to put the finishing touches on your pita pocket to your liking, all for a mere 10 Shekels (AUD$2.60).<br />
<b><u>Falafel Hakosem - Tel Aviv</u></b><br />
When my Israeli friend Yaara told me she lived opposite the best falafel joint in TLV, I won't lie, I was a little sceptical. Everyone's local is the best, right? Boy was my face red - and tahini stained - when I tried it for myself. Falafels are serious business at Hakosem, with an assembly line of workers constantly whipping up a fresh batch and offering free samples to hungry customers waiting in line for their pita or lafa, or both. The falafels here are some of the most aromatic I have ever tasted, and a lot of care goes into each pita. Despite it being Israeli fast food, it is not merely about shoving all the ingredients into a pocket, rather each pita has carefully constructed layers of ingredients - freshly chopped tomato salad, pickled cabbage salad, schmug, pickles, hummus, tahini, chips - to provide each customer with the full compliment of tastes in each bite. <b>A favourite destination</b>!<br />
<b><u>Yahaloma's - Florentine, Tel Aviv</u></b><br />
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Hakosem may be my pick of the pita pocket places (try saying that quickly 10 times), but I'm afraid its falafels are pipped to the post by those at Yahaloma, a very vegetarian friendly cafe opened not so long ago by Egyptian proprietor Yahaloma Levy. The difference? Quite significant actually, as these are traditional Egyptian falafels, the way Mama used to make them...Yahaloma's mother, that is. These are not a regular feature on the menu - they are only served on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - and nor are they street-food. Yep, this is a sit-down falafel meal. The balls are arranged alongside several halved cherry tomatoes, each with a dollop of tahini and spicy sauce on top, served on a bed of lemon-juice enriched rocket, with a plate of fresh pita on the side. The texture of these falafels are perfect! A soft, crunchy exterior gives way to a centre that almost melts in your mouth, with not a hint of crumbling (yep, you can easily eat these falafels with cutlery like a sophisticated person...I still chose not to). The balls are alive with spices - hotter than your average falafel - and the mixture with the lemony greens just works, pure and simple. A nice change if you're seeking a brief fling away from the typical Israeli falafel.<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Levy Brothers - Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem</u><br />
While Tel Aviv has the Carmel Market, Jerusalem has Mahane Yehuda. Lesser market? I think not! There is no lack of places to eat here, but a favourite of many are the Levy Brothers' falafels. On first attempt, the line was too long to wait (remember, this is Israel, and things are done on "Israel time" here), so I made a return visit. A solid performer, however the problem with coming later in the day is that they had stopped topping up salads and condiments, so lost that fresh taste edge, making it a middle-of-the-pack falafel. Worth perhaps fighting passed all the American birthright kids to grab one at the peak of lunch methinks.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>HUMMUS</b></span></u><br />
Of course, a key ingredient of any pita pocket - and Israeli life in general - is hummus. On my very first morning in Israel, I passed, essentially, a residential kitchen in Jaffa open to the street, with dozens of locals seated out on the street scooping liberal amounts of hummus onto pita and lapping it up. So simple, so satisfying. Made me regret having just spent an exorbitant amount on a pickled veg. salad. These open kitchens are far from unique. Indeed, Hummus cafes are favourite haunts for many locals, and some have quite a reputation behind them.<br />
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<b><u>Hummus Ashkara - Tel Aviv</u></b><br />
Located in the Northern part of the city, near the thriving new port precinct, is Hummus Ashkara. I got given the hot tip - and by hot tip, I mean via online recommendations from the general public - about this traditional eatery, operating for over 30 years now, 24 hours a day. A little hidden away, this really is a locals' joint, and they were quite happy to have a foreign visitor show up for dinner - I got given a free coke! Nothing particularly fancy is done here, they stick with their time-tested methods. Minimal spice, classic ingredients. I ordered - as I did everywhere - hummus with fuul, a brown fava bean paste as seen in the image above. I found the taste of the hummus fuul itself a tad bland, the key here being how you apply the sides and condiments. Invariably, you will have raw onion, pickles, cilantro peppers, spiced dips, pita and, should you wish it, a boiled egg. With all these options, you should be able to season the hummus to your liking.<br />
<b><u>Humus Said - Akko</u></b><br />
Yep, it is specifically spelt "humus" here, and if you're keen to taste it at lunch time, you better have a spare 20 minutes to wait for a table! Located in the ancient port city of Akko (Acre) - itself a wonder - Humus Said is considered by many to be one of the best humus places in the whole Middle East - and, by extension, the world too! Not only that, there are no meat options here. Just hummus in its simplest form, and it is a slick operation. Our waiter dished out our bowls of hummus fuul like a ninja flicking out death stars. The policy is that if you're not satisfied with one bowl, you get a free refill. Not sure how often this actually happens, you need to be pretty hungry and quite the hummus hound to polish off more than one. The one issue I did have with this place was the amount of olive oil steeped in our bowl. It got to the point where we had to scoop several tablespoons into a side bowl - well, side ashtray - to stomach it. That being said, add it - and Akko - to your 'to do' list.<br />
<b><u>Abu Dhabi - Be'ersheba</u></b><br />
Beersheva, it has to be said, is not the most remarkable place to visit. Israel's 4th largest city, it is basically a University in the desert with a city constructed around it, and if you're pushed for time, may not need to figure on your itinerary. For myself, I had some lovely friends - new and old - studying at Ben Gurion University to visit. And the good news is, they let me in on this little gem of a student hangout! Located across the road from the University, a few doors down from a bar called 'Publo' - there's your landmark to find it. This vegan-friendly joint serves up freshly made hummus with a table full of sides and a free coffee at the end, to the backdrop of some chilled out hip hop and reggae beats. This really is a student favourite, and although it may not have the acclaim of Said or Karavan, I found the hummus absolutely delicious, and the whole vibe of the place made it one of the most enjoyable eating out experiences of the trip, so it gets my <b>top pick</b> for hummus.<br />
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<u style="font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;">THE MISC.</u><br />
Whilst the 3 listed above were the pick of the hummus cafes I visited, I can not carry on without mentioning a few institutions I neglected to visit. <b>Abu Hasan </b>(also known as <b>Ali Karavan</b>) in Jaffa is considered by many as one of the rivals for best hummus in the Middle East. Whilst I did not make it there, I was fortunate enough on my last night in TLV to have a fella in my hostel bring some back from his day's adventuring. My advice to you: don't make the same mistake I did! This was the most delicious hummus I have ever tasted, I can only imagine how it would have been fresh. Another place worth visiting is the Arab town of Abu Ghosh in the hills outside Jerusalem. Famous for its hummus restaurants, it is also one of the few places in Israel where Arab and Jewish Israelis mingle with one another at hummus and shisha bars.<br />
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Tzfat is one of the four holy cities, the birthplace of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, and, it is believed, where the Messiah will return one day. It is also home to a large artist colony and has many breathtaking views. Basically, what I'm getting at is this: visit it already! Ok, perhaps a touch aggressive. However, shouldyou decide to make the trip here, you'll want to visit the one Yemeni place in town and get a lahuhe. This place is quite well-known. The lahuhe is basically a spongy pita pizza, filled with onion, tomato, oil, herbs, cheese, and schmug. So simple, so tasty, and the guy who makes them is a joy to watch.<br />
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For Jerusalem, my biggest tip would be to hit the shouks as much as possible and try whatever looks good, particularly the pastries. The rugelach - a rolled filled pastry - was a favourite, the chocolate one in particular, and there are numerous good spots in <b>Mahane Yehuda</b> for these. The Muslim Quarter of the Old City is also a gold-mine for pastries. Under-ground, old family bakeries operate around the clock creating baked treats to ancient family recipes. No two bakeries sell pastries that taste the same, so there are plenty to sample. The other hot tip would be to hit up <b>Marakiya</b>; a self-proclaimed "hipster soup" restaurant in the city centre. With its motley table settings of unmatched cutlery and crockery, this place simply produces several vegetarian soups en masse, dishing out hefty servings. My spicy cous cous and veg soup completely hit the spot on a cold evening, and being located in the city centre, it is within spitting distance of some trendy night spots.<br />
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For TLV, one place not to miss is <b>Dr Shakshouka</b> in Jaffa. The "Doctor" brought his father's recipe for this dish of eggs, tomato, onions, your choice of meat/veg, and spices from Tripoli. All smashed together and served still bubbling in a frying pan, it invariably comes with a near half-loaf of bread as an accompaniment. This place is an absolute institution, and even for someone like myself who is not particularly fond of eggs, it was a treat and makes for a perfect brunch - particularly if you've imbibed a little the night before. Other gems I came across were through aimless wanderings through the Yemenite Quarter and Neve Tzedek, below the Carmel market - itself a must-see. In particular, <b>Anita's</b> ice creamery - an International Award winner - is definitely worth a stop. The Mille-feuille I got was heaven in a cone. Not overdosed with sugar, it really did achieve the flavour of the french pastry.<br />
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<u style="font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;">THE HIGHLIGHT/LOWLIGHT</u><br />
And the number 1 gong for top eatery on my trip goes to...(at this point, please imagine you're hearing a drum roll), <b>YAHAMLOMA'S! </b>I only discovered this cafe a couple of days before leaving, but boy what a find! The best falafel balls I tasted in Israel, hands down, but it was not just that. What initially got me hooked was an entirely vegetarian menu of innovative Middle Eastern dishes. Their take on dolmadas was simply sublime. Bulgar and spices replaces rice as the filling, wrapped in mango leaves instead of the traditional vine leaves, in a tomato and onion sauce with tahini and (rennet-free) parmesan bread on the side. The mango leaves are significantly more bitter than vine, and give off a hint of an eggplant taste, with the parmesan bread providing a good, sharp counterpoint to the bitterness for mopping up the flavours. Not overly substantial, but very lively.<br />
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And the lowlight from the trip? Well, for that I'm actually departing Israel and travelling into Wadi Musa - the town surrounding the ancient Nabatean city of Petra - and heading to <b>Al Wadi Restaurant</b>. Recommended by Lonely Planet, I must confess that the simple falafel was not all that bad - although not all that good either. However, what turned me off was the "vegetable soup", which consisted of hot water, a bit of parsley, and some decrepit chopped up french fries floating there within. Really? That's your vegetable soup?! There was, ahem, no return business from this guy.<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-91898458034392029132013-03-01T19:02:00.002-08:002013-03-01T19:02:24.161-08:00Mr Burger - Food Truck<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One thing you're very unlikely to ever read from this guy is a positive review of faux meat. Sure, some people become vegetarian for health reasons and may miss the taste of it, but personally, I just do not see the point of it. I'm vegetarian because I cannot fathom eating meat and see no appeal whatsoever in eating some sort of substitute. For those who have made the switch for health reasons, surely eating a soy alternative that tastes like bad meat (so I have been told) is just making that switch all the more difficult, and denying yourself a world of vegetarian creations, unknown to those with a less concentrated sphere of ingredients at their disposal.<br /><br />All that being said, allow me to be a tad hypocritical here. Growing up amongst a backdrop of American pop culture, the idea of hanging out at a burger joint with friends is ingrained in our psyche. As vegetarians, this is a world somewhat denied to us, and as a kid was something I yearned for. Sure, McDonald's and Burger King claim to have veg options (personally, I'm sceptical as to just how 'vegetarian' these burgers are, and would not touch them with a 20 foot barge pole whilst dressed in nuclear waste-disposal gear), and there are many gourmet burger restaurants and gastro pubs offering inspiring creations on a range of sourdough and wholegrain rolls and sandwiches...but I want my greasy fast food burger and fries dammit! Like in the movies!<br /><br />Enter 'Mr Burger'. With authentic American diner-styled burgers, it is yet another addition to the burgeoning food truck scene in Melbourne. With 5 trucks scattered across Melbourne, it shouldn't be too difficult to find one, and it seems there's a semi-permanent location at the Queen Vic Market. The menu is very simple here. There is the Mr Burger, the Mr Meat, and - of significance to our kind - the Mr Veg. First of all, let me address the cheese situation. Although I did not see the ingredients, it was read out to me and no mention was made of any rennet or enzymes. Cha-ching! Time to order then.<br /><br />The burger itself is served in a glazed, sesame seed bun. You know, like the kind you see on TV. The patty is of a falafel base - although I am pretty sure I noted a little veg compacted in amongst the chickpea flour - and surrounded by the classic burger staples: cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, tomato sauce, mayonnaise and yellow mustard. Those last 3 ingredients are key into creating the authentic burger 'feel'. Two condiments are just never enough! The ingredients combine well, with a good balance in the use of the sauces. I did find something a little grating about the texture of the falafel patty, it was almost as if there was a chalkiness to it. However, that had no bearing on the taste of it, which I thoroughly enjoyed.<br /><br />At $8, the price is reasonable. The burger is not huge, but just remember, we're effectively paying to see through the looking glass, so I was happy to wear it for the experience. Also, I dare say I have more faith in the freshness of the ingredients here than at the big fast food slop houses.<br />
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To add to the experience, the van pumps out some old-school rock tunes to set the vibe. As such, I really did feel like a genuine Arthur Fonzirelli whilst perched on an outdoor bar stool, munching on my burger. To Mr Burger, Fonzi says "Eyyyyyyy!"<br /><br />4/5</div>
Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-73089205299194115622012-12-18T02:41:00.002-08:002013-02-11T15:28:35.309-08:00Monk Bodhi Dharma - Balaclava<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At the risk of being accused of geographical prejudice, I decided to check out some of what the south side of town has to offer us Melbourne vegetarian types. After some brief consultations I got the word: Monk Bodhi Dharma is where it's at, so it's where I headed.<br />
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Firstly, the location is just COOL, plain and simple. Located in an old red-brick bakehouse nestled in at the rear of 202 Carlisle Street, it is one of a number of enticing foodie joints that has appeared in the fairly recent revolution of this strip, as more and more bohemian hole in the wall coffee shops, eateries and bars are popping up. And what's more - as hard as it is for a northerner to admit it - there is decidedly less of a feeling of pretension in Balaclava than at many of Fitzroy's Brunswick street establishments.<br />
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So, what to say about the Monk? Communal dining tables have been a motif of several of the nearby establishments I've been to, and the Monk holds up its end of the bargain on this front. A long, communal workbench-cum-dining table faces the counter, with several scattered private tables for those Green-conscious amongst us who wish to impress on a 1st, 2nd, or even 4th date (never the 3rd!). The all-day breakfast/lunch menu is entirely vegetarian, and majority vegan and gluten free - the Friday night dinner menu is <b>completely</b> vegan/gluten free, and most lunch meals can be adapted on request - and each meal is made from scratch. Sure, it means you may have to wait a few minutes more, but believe me, it's worth it!<br />
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The menu spoils you for choice. On this occasion I consulted the specials board and went for the warm vermicelli noodle salad, served with mushrooms, nuts, cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce and celery in a luxurious herb, chili and coconut milk dressing ($16.50). It was an absolutely mountainous dish, and was spot on. Not since dining out on street-food in Thailand have I tasted such a lively, invigorating noodle dish - the cherry tomatoes were literally bursting with flavour - and the plus being that, unlike in Thailand, there is NO doubt in my mind that the cook at Monk <b>did not</b> sneak a little fish sauce in under my nose. Whilst only open for breakfast and lunch - except for Friday dinners - this serve, complimented with a delicately flavoured cup of chai, was easily enough to be my meal of the day. </div>
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Oddly enough, perhaps what Monk Bodhi Dharma is most renowned for is its coffee - it's full title is Monk Bodhi Dharma Specialty Coffee and Roastery - which, as someone for whom coffee is an extreme rarity, I didn't try on this occasion. However, if they put as much care into it as they do their food, chai and customer service, it would not surprise me if it got some of you northerner coffee junkies hooked on a regular junket south of the river. I know I can't wait until my next visit on a 1st, 2nd or 4th date (never the 3rd!).<br />
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5/5<br />
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Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-78187772238362997202012-12-14T21:41:00.000-08:002013-10-13T19:41:49.702-07:00Trippy Taco - Fitzroy review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, if you have yet to hear about Trippy Taco, allow me to quote Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket: "What is your major malfunction?!"<br />
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But enough of that. Trippy Taco is, as the name suggests, a taco joint on Gertrude street, Fitzroy, offering a take on Mexican street food. And the best part? It is almost entirely vegetarian! I say 'almost', as there has never been any hiding the fact at TT (as those of us in the borough call it) that they use animal rennet cheese. However, on my most recent visit, I discovered that they now offer you the choice of rennet or rennet-free cheese. Or for the more timid vegos amongst us, you can avoid that whole minefield by coughing up an extra 50c for soy cheese instead.<br />
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So, to the food. There's the standard mix of Mexicana: burritos, tacos, quesadillas, taquitos, and nachos; as well as a range of mexican beers (sol, corona, dos equis, pacifico, negra modelo, modelo especial), sangria and margaritas in the drinks department.<br />
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On this occasion, myself and my companion endeavoured to take a cross-section of what was on offer, starting with the highly regarded Trippy Fries - a basket of shoestring fries served with house seasoning, and the option of sour cream on top. I think it's pretty difficult to wow anyone with shoestring fries, and the results were no different at TT, but the seasoning added a bit of tang and the fries were certainly tasty enough. The real story is in the main event. I ordered a single tofu asada taco, and a regular nachos (both with soy cheese), whilst my companion went for the tofu asada burrito - which I proceeded to eat half of due to its comparable mass to the the guy who ordered it.<br />
Now, I know it's not overly imaginative to both go for the tofu asada filling - not really the cross-section of the menu we had aspired to. Let me fill you in: the tofu asada consists of spicy grilled tofu, salsa, salad, avocado, and a fresh lime wedge to add as you go. Here's a little something you should know about me. I FROTH over fresh avocado and lime! So, really, there was no chance of me looking beyond the tofu asada, and it didn't disappoint. All the ingredients are freshly assembled and tasty enough, with no skimping on the avocado, which seems to be a thing at other taco joints, and the soy nachos proved a winning, cheesy counterpoint to the salady goodness of the taco and half-eaten burrito of my compadre. Possibly the only let-down is that the 'spicy grilled tofu' was lacking in spice. Also, if you have an allergy to hipsters, you best bring an epi-pen because this joint will send you into anaphylactic shock. Me personally, I don't mind the happy-go-lucky scamps. Nor do I mind Trippy Taco and its cheap, generous sized serves of cheesy, salady avocado and lime goodness.<br />
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<b>4.5/5</b></div>
Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-5670822904199366042012-11-29T14:48:00.002-08:002013-10-13T19:23:47.371-07:00The Napier Hotel - Fitzroy review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Righto, whilst the whole concept of someone having never eaten at the Napier is as incomprehensible to me as Tony Abbott winning Miss Universe, apparently it is the case - the former, not the latter. Although anything seems possible to me now. Good luck Tony!<br />
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Tucked on the corner of Napier and Moor streets, the Napier is a Fitzroy institution. Just one of the many backstreet Fitzroy pubs that make this suburb such an appealing location to sink some suds, the Napier is very much the bar-setter when it comes to imaginative pub food. The front bar is adorned with Fitzroy Lions paraphernalia, the bar is well-stocked with 10 beers on tap, and there are two large indoor dining spaces, to go with the tidy beer garden and street front seating. Basically, what you want, they've got.<br />
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The menu is constantly rotating, which adds a little excitement to each return visit as you never quite know what you're going to get. It seems the the cooks are perennially looking at ways to innovate with the menu, however there are some staples that always remain. Most notably, the infamous 'Bogan Burger'. Weighing in at 7000 kilojoules, the burger consists of a steak, chicken schnitzel, potato cake, bacon, egg, cheese, onion, pineapple and beetroot, with a generous serve of shoestring fries and coleslaw on the side. Not an ideal meal for a vego, but I'm still always in awe of this offering. From the vego perspective, there is always at least one burger on offer. Over the years these rotations have included the 'tofu sanga', the lentil and chickpea special, cous cous and haloumi, cannellini beans and haloumi...and various others for which my memory escapes me. Basically, every few months there is a new concoction on offer, always worth a go. At present, it is a spicy green lentil burger with pickled zuchini, avocado, and aioli, served with the standard fries and coleslaw. It is a burger that WILL NOT disappoint you. Other options are the black-eyed bean dhal served with house-made roti and salad (another winner, from previous experience), and at least one option from the specials board. Nothing will set you back more than $20, the serves are incredibly generous, and on a lazy summer evening you may find yourself sampling most - if not all - of the impressively diverse range of brews on tap. A favourite haunt, and comes with the highest recommendation.<br />
5/5</div>
Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-40189481280525864882012-11-29T13:55:00.002-08:002013-10-13T19:33:31.533-07:00Horn Please - Fitzroy North review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the very day that I finally made the trip to the Batman Park to sample the wares of the Gumbo Kitchen, I very nearly deviated from my carefully laid plans when I discovered the Dhaba Food Truck parked 20 metres up the road. I have always been enticed by Indian food; the spices, the aromas, and the fact that vegetarian options are more than a mere afterthought. After a little research, I learnt that the brains behind the Dhaba food truck are actually Kyneton's acclaimed Dhaba at the Mill team, and they were about to open Horn Please on St Georges Rd. That's just a few blocks away, WIN!<br />
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After hearing nothing but good things in its opening few weeks, it was with great anticipation that I finally made the 5 block stumble to see what all the fuss was about...and there was a lot of fuss. The place was absolutely buzzing with excited diners, perusing the ample drinks list - beers are either micro-brews or imported - and salivating over the seasonal menu. This is one of the cornerstones of Horn Please: traditional Indian street food - as the name suggests - made from quality, fresh ingredients. The menu has some recognisable dishes, but also many that are less familiar. The <i>papdi chaat</i> came particularly recommended. Described as the indian take on nachos, it is a fusion of fried flour crisps, chickpeas and pomegranate in a salsa. My dinner consisted of a combination of the papdi chaat, the samosas, and the Mumbai rolls: a take on spring rolls stuffed with pear, caggage, zuchini and carrot - although these have seemingly already been rotated from the menu - to start, followed by the dhal makhani with basmati rice and the sesame and onion seed naan.<br />
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My main gripe with the food is probably borne somewhat out of my own level of expectation, but valid none-the-less. Certainly, the array of authentic street cuisine on offer is impressive, and the freshness of the ingredients compared to that of the corner store, Polak-run Indian takeaway joint is obvious to even the 10-pack a-day smoker. However, just what is being done with the ingredients is the problem. Whilst the papdi chaat provided something a little different, on the whole the food was incredibly underwhelming. Much talk had been about the fragrant spicing, however all I could note was the distinct lack of spice in every dish we tried. It's all well and good to be creative with the ingredients, but it felt like there was a little something missing in each dish to bring out the flavour. I did enjoy the contrasting flavours in the mumbai rolls, but one starter - which is no longer on the menu - is not quite enough to be a saving grace. Perhaps this place is better suited to the carnivorous diner, but didn't quite do enough to entice repeat business from this herbivore.<br />
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2/5</div>
Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7849572905594532270.post-77202374969216078102012-11-09T17:21:00.001-08:002012-11-09T17:21:32.637-08:00The GUMBO KITCHEN - reviewMelbourne - the inner north in particular - is becoming food truck mad! Take a cruise down Park St, North Carlton, on any Friday summer night and you'll see the Beatbox burger van with a bigger clamouring of worshippers than even Charles and Camilla have managed to muster on their recent visit. Not too long ago, I finally fulfilled a long held ambition of hitting up the mobile Gumbo kitchen. After spending an indulgent few days in 'Nawlins, Looziana' last year, I missed the Southern cuisine, and was thrilled to learn that the Gumbo Kitchen also offered a vegetarian option, alongside the traditional Gumbos and iconic PoBoys. Score one for us planet-saving types!<br />
The premise of the food van is fantastic, particularly in summertime. Louisiana funk band music blaring, generally on location park-side, eating from recyclable food containers: there is a simplicity to it that is quite enjoyable, as the popularity would suggest. Unfortunately, the limitations of cooking in a van does affect the quality of the fare on offer. The deep-fried green tomatoes did manage to transport me back to those Southern days, but the sweet corn gumbo tasted quite bland - unless dressed handsomely in one of the various hot sauces - and the gluggy balls of sticky rice did nothing to save the situation. My non-vego companions were of a similar opinion, although the whisper is that the PoBoys are the real speciality here. It feels as though the food is a victim of its own popularity. Compensation for cooking quantities at pace, is a loss of taste. Worth a try for the experience, but unlikely to inspire repetitive business from this guy.<br />
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<b>2</b><b>/5</b>Ebezillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09450203319474332249noreply@blogger.com0