Archive for January, 2006NB: VEGAL KITCHEN CLOSED IN 2006. V Rating: VVVVV For the past 17 years, Vegal Kitchen has been quietly serving vegan goodness to the locals of Randwick. Tucked away in a small corner shop, its most noticeable feature is a large neon sign blaring ‘vegetarian’. As Andy (my partner) said, a restaurant which considers this to be its best selling point has got a lot going for it. Inside the decor has a homely, slightly kitsch appeal. There are only seven tables, all staffed by the kind owner / hostess. She is happy to give information about any of the dishes, and was very friendly and attentive. Vegal Kitchen is an Asian vegan / vegetarian restaurant with an extensive menu. There is a choice of four entrees, plus eight smaller soups. For mains, there are about around 56 dishes to choose from including tofu, vegetable dishes, ‘big’ soups, tempeh, noodles and a whole menu section devoted to fried nori rolls (did I mention yum?). There is also a range of gluten dishes which refreshingly are not dressed up as fake meat. Each day there is a specials list of about ten items, which included sang choy bow the night we were there. Vegal Kitchen also offers set menus for 2-3 and 4-6 people. These range in price from $25 - $30 per head. Andy and I went for the first set menu option which offered a plate of mixed fried entrees, ginger steamed vegetables in soy sauce, crispy sweet and sour gluten with sesame seeds, fried nori roll with satay sauce, and steamed rice (a choice of brown or white). We topped up the mixed entree with a soy drumstick each (sheets of tofu wrapped around a small stick.) To round off the night we indulged in a yummy sweet boysenberry tofu (soy) ice cream. This is 100% vegan and made specially for Vegal Kitchen. It also comes in vanilla and chocolate. It costs $4.80, or $6 on top of an apple or banana fritter or fresh fruit. The best dish from the set menu was the Chinese vegetables. Lightly steamed and carefully flavoured with soy sauce and ginger, the dish was refreshing. The mixed entrees were also good. The spring rolls were crunchy and only mildly fried, allowing the vegetable filling to give off a fresh flavour. We also had tofu balls, which tasted like scrambled eggs fried in a ball with corn and peas. I was less enamoured with the satay nori rolls (but then I’m not a big fan of sweeter sauces). The satay was quite dark and heavy, and overpowered the nori rolls. The thin sheets of crispy gluten speckled with sesame seeds were tasty, although the strong sweet and sour sauce meant it was better to savour a few pieces, rather than eat a whole dish. Afterwards we agreed that it was unfortunate we’d chosen this particular set menu as it’s not indicative of the vast majority of Vegal Kitchen dishes(all I can say is that our better judgement was obscured by our extraordinary hunger). We’ve eaten at Vegal Kitchen before and were delighted with all the dishes we tried, which were very tasty and well prepared with fresh ingredients. I can particularly recommend the nori roll in miso sauce and the eggplant dishes. Serving vegetarian food is part of a wider spiritual belief for Vegal Kitchen, who sees vegetarianism as the way to a peaceful and healthy life. It is a non-alcoholic restaurant. However, there is a lovely range of drinks including four different freshly squeezed juices (from a relaxant to a revitaliser)and different types of Asian teas. Overall, Vegal Kitchen is an excellent vegetarian option, particularly if you’re after a tasty and affordable dinner in a low key setting. It can easily cater for a small dinner for two, or a large group of vegans or vegetarians. If you are planning a group you should book as there is only limited room. Two thumbs up!
V Rating: VVV Oh Calcutta! is that wonderful rarity - a fine dining restaurant with a decent selection of vegetarian food.
We ate at Oh Calcutta! on a Friday evening. While we walked in off the street, the restaurant quickly filled up and bookings seemed essential. The atmosphere is sophisticated, with white tablecloths, a modern interior and almost intimidatingly professional wait staff clad in black. The very charming owner (Basil Daniell) rushes from table to table, greeting every guest and often stopping briefly to share a quick joke or tidbit of gossip, along with useful information on the food. As the evening wore on, various local celebrities and even a Commonwealth runner stopped by for dinner. Like most Indian restaurants, Oh Calcutta! had a great range of both vegetarian and vegan food. Of the eight entrees, three were vegetarian and two were vegan. Half of the 12 mains were vegetarian, and five were vegan (although two mains were dahl and kuchumber which are more large sides than full main dishes). There was also a vegetarian entree and main special(saag paneer - very reluctantly declined). Even better, the yummy list of dessert puddings were made from all-vegetarian ingredients. While the menu changes regularly, it seems to consistently include a good veggie and vegan range. The food is a modern take on traditional Indian cooking. For entree, we had baby eggplants with roasted poppy seeds, tamarind and chilli, served with puris (flat Indian bread cakes)and raita. The eggplant melted in our mouths, and the dish was spicy. For mains, we had baby beetroot with baby spinach and buffalo paneer. Unlike most Indian cooking, the spinach leaves were whole, giving the dish an almost winter salad flavour. The fresh taste of the spinach and beetroot each came through, without being overpowered by spices. We also tried the nicolene potatoes and cauliflower seasoned with mustard seeds and garam masala which I enjoyed. The main meals were a good size, and left us sated without being too full. The highlight was the dahl - rich, smoky green lentils dressed with dried chilli. To complement the main meal, there is a tasty range of all vegetarian side dishes, including an ever changing selection of pickles and chutneys (we tried jackfruit and mango), raita, naan and chapati. For dessert, we couldn’t resist the jaggery “brulee”. This is actually a traditional Pakistani rice flour milk pudding called firni, but apparently no-one ordered it until they called it brulee. Go figure. The strong palm sugar sauce (jaggery) is helpfully served on the side, letting you moderate the dressing. Oh Calcutta! is definitely a special occasion / somebody else is paying kind of restaurant. Entrees range between $11 - $14.60 and vegetarian mains range from $6.90 (dahl and kuchumber) to $20.90. Meat mains are more pricey, ranging up to $27.90 or $47.90 for a tasting menu. The wine list is good and extensive, albeit exxxy. All up, our meal came to around $100, including one entree, a set of four pickles and chutneys, two mains plus dahl, a dessert, and two glasses of wine. Oh Calcutta! gets a VVV rating. While it is expensive, the food is of a high quality and the veggie dishes are considerably less expensive than the meat equivalents, which made me feel that I was paying for the cost of my meal and not subsiding carnivore diners. Oh Calcutta! has a good range of vegan and vegetarian food (especially for a fine dining restaurant) that could happily accommodate a mid-sized table of vegetarians. And a bonus point for the vegetarian dessert. Welcome to the Veg Mouth! The idea behind my restaurant reviews is to rate different Sydney eateries for vegetarian friendliness. I hope this helps you choose a great veggie friendly restaurant – for yourself or for vegetarian friends or family. My master plan is to raise more awareness amongst restaurants about catering for vegetarians (mweh ha ha). There is one caveat. I am not a food expert. I eat as a hobby. I’ll tell you what I think of the food but these here are just amateur tastebuds. I rate restaurants according to the following factors: *The ratio of vegetarian (i.e. no meat or seafood) menu items to non-veg items What the rating system means: Vware = Not a veggie friendly place. Beware! Happy eating!!! |
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