Archive for the ‘Vegetarian’ Category
V-Rating: VVVVV Not so long ago I was bemoaning the lack of good brunch venues in Canberra. Sure, cafes abound. But try finding a place that uses fresh, quality ingredients, has an interesting and tasty menu, and doesn’t have a price range in the double figures. After listening to my diatribe, a good friend recommended that I try Satis - a reasonably new cafe in the Watson shops.
One visit later I breathed a sigh of relief - Satis has all (or at least most of) the things I look for in a brunch spot: good coffee, a great, cheap menu, friendly staff, and a slightly alternative vibe. The fact it’s vegetarian is the icing on the cake. Satis clearly defines itself as a brunch spot - it doesn’t open before 8.30am and is closed by mid afternoon. The menu isn’t extensive or finicky, but everything on it is delicious and well-presented. The decor is friendly but funky - paintings and stencil art by local artists on the wall mixed with chunky, dark wood fittings. The breakfast menu has sweet and savoury options including banana bread with berries and baked ricotta, free range eggs on toast, and home made granola. Most of the standard items on the menu are not vegan but can easily be adapted - for example, Satis has one choice of vegan bread and can substitute scrambled tofu for eggs. The food is great value - of the nine choices, only one costs over $10.
One of my favourite choices is the big brekkie. It comes with an egg or scrambled tofu, toast, zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach (basically, all the veggies I love in the morning). Yesterday ours came with mashed potato and feta as well. Yum!
Tempted as I was by the big brekkie, in the interests of this review I tried the wild rice porridge with compote and coconut milk.
I’ve never tried wild rice in porridge before, but it worked well. Andy said it reminded him of an Indonesian breakfast porridge of green beans and black rice porridge. I liked the slight crunchiness and savoury taste of the rice, and the coconut milk base was a nice, light accompaniement. The berry compote was the highlight of the dish - rich, a little sour and a little sweet and topped with toasted coconut. Satis also has a small menu of light meals and lunch foods, a very tasty looking selection of baked goods, and a good range of fair trade coffees and teas. The only real problem with Satis is its success. The cafe is squeezed into a narrow space better suited to a greasy fry takeaway joint. The tables jostle for space out the front and along the interior before spilliing out into a small, sunny courtyard. On my last visit at around 10am there were frequent lines to get in, although the wait was only 5 - 10 minutes. While the staff are very friendly and the service is quick when the cafe is not too busy, the service was slower and more haphazard on my last trip. We waited about twenty minutes for our coffees to come, and in the meantime watched bemused while people who arrived after us were served coffee and breakfast before any of our order arrived. Still, I’m always happy to see a vegetarian place thriving, and the occasional wait for service is a small price to pay for finally having a good brunch spot in Canberra.
V-Rating: VVVVV Whenever you return to an old stomping ground, there’s always some nervous anticipation as you find out which of your favourite places have survived your absence. Last time I lived in Canberra there were three vegetarian restaurants I went to regularly: Bernadette’s, Au Lac and Kingsland Vegetarian. Now just two remain. Funnily enough, the two that have survived are only metres from each other in Dickson, aka Canberra’s Chinatown. Kingsland Vegetarian is the elder of the two, a vegetarian old-timer that’s watched rivals come and go. Set in a quiet corner of the Dickson shops, the small shop front is modest although it has received a bright paint job and a touch of flair since my last visit.
Kingsland is not an “impress the pants off your date” type of restaurant, but it does have a lot of nice touches. For example, the menu offers a potted history of vegetarianism in China (tofu was invented during the Han Dynasty circa 206 BC to 220 AD, in case you were wondering) which is a little anti-social if you are in a couple, but still interesting nonetheless. You also realise immediately that this is a family restaurant, with all of the comfortable atmosphere that implies. Although Kingsland is best known for its fake meat dishes, we were in the mood for vegetables on the night we went.
Normally I’m not a noodle nest fan, but this version won me over because it used fried potatoes for the nest rather than crispy noodles. It made the nest slightly sweeter than usual, reminding me of delicate French Fries (but without the guilt because it’s not like I actually ordered hot chips).
I don’t think I’ve ever seen salt and pepper tofu on a menu and passed it up. It’s one of my all time favourite foods, and I like using it as a yardstick of a restaurant’s quality. The Kinglsland version definitely gets points for originality. It comes with freshly sliced chilli on top, and a savoury dipping sauce. I was disappointed to see that they make it in the hard outer coating style, rather than the gently fried and softly coated version ala Longrain and the dearly departed Purple Lotus, but that’s just a personal preference. Certainly, I couldn’t fault the flavour or the spiciness. I enjoyed the meal without having my socks knocked off - but that’s kind of how I’ve always thought of Kingsland. It doesn’t try to present gourmet meals, instead coming up with creative vegan food and an ever-changing line-up of faux meat specialities that never puts style ahead of comfort. While it’s not a first date restaurant, it is the kind of place you could happily eat at for the rest of your life.
V Rating: VVVVV Norway is famous for fishing, fjords and vikings. Local delicacies include reindeer and elk. Cheese is sold in a tube in three flavours: bacon, prawn and ham. As vegetarians, we prepared for the worst.
Against this backdrop, we were surprised to hear about a vegetarian restaurant called the Vegeta Vertshaus in the University district of Oslo, about a five minute walk from the central square. Vegeta Versthaus has the impressive distinction of surviving in carnivorous Norway since 1938, making it one of Europe’s oldest vegetarian restaurants.
Vegeta is an unassuming, relaxed restaurant with friendly staff and pretty stained glass lights.There is a large buffet with a selection of salads, hot foods, pizza, fruit and fried patties. If you’re hungry, the small or large plate is a good option because you can help yourself to all of the buffet food, plus come back for fresh fruit. We had the large plate (just Kr10 more) and were very full at the end.
The salad buffet included beetroot and apple salad, potato salad, a cold lentil and tomato salad, hummus and avocado mousse. I kept up my daily potato quota by munching on potato patties and potato bake, but there were also mini samosas, noodle bake, a lentil curry, and ratatouille. Our local guide (Andy’s brother Tim) assured us that Kr130 (A$26) was very good value for a restaurant meal in Norway, where the average price is about A$60 per person. I’m still struggling with the concept. If you’re on a budget, Vegeta offers a good sized bowl of soup for Kr48 (A$9) or with bread for Kr54 (A$11), or a plate of mixed salads for between Kr50 - Kr80 (A$10 - $16). They also offer discounts for pensioners and students (10%) on part of the menu. All in all, a great refuge for hungry vegetarians in Norway.
V Rating: Super V Iku is a successful chain of healthy vegetarian takeaway restaurants. It’s like the Sydney vegetarian equivalent of McDonald’s. Only better.
I recently hopped in the buzzing queue in the food court in the MLC Centre at Martin Place. Laid out in front of me in all of its macrobiotic, organic, gluten-free options glory, were salads, rice balls, wraps, soup, hot casseroles, pasta dishes, and dessert. I felt healthy and virtuous just looking at the food. Despite the myriad temptations, I couldn’t go past the takeaway mixed salad for $8.50. There were ginger noodles, steamed vegetables, white beans with mixed seeds, beetroot and cabbage in a vinegar dressing, and sesame brown rice, topped off with the house specialty creamy tahini dressing. The salad looked and tasted spectacular, and although it was a filling meal it didn’t leave me with a sleepy carbohydrate low come 3pm. The Iku menu changes weekly, though you’re always guaranteed of finding favourites like black rice pudding. Most stores open from lunch until dinner, but the central city outlets servicing the white collar crowd shut by 4pm. The size of the resturants (and opportuniy for eating in) varies. The Darlinghurst store is very big, Glebe has a peaceful courtyard, while the MLC Centre is just a counter operation within a busy food court. Iku also has a catering business, and distributes a range of food (including the aforementioned creamy tahini dressing) throughout health food shops. Iku doesn’t flaunt its vegetarian credentials, selling itself on the health benefits of its food, rather than its meatless menu. It’s a godsend for vegos and vegans who want a quick, tasty and stress-free lunch, and proves once and for all that vegetarian food can be sexy. V Rating: VVVVV Looking for somewhere to eat in central Perth, I stumbled onto this little lunch spot. The sign out front said “Vegetarian”. That was good enough for me. Maoz is a simple operation with the feel of a budding international franchise. The menu gave the impression that there were sister stores in Amsterdam, London, Barcelona and Perth. (I wonder if the stores in Amsterdam, London, Barcelona also mention that they have a store in Perth?) Essentially, the USP was a simple one. Maoz meals essentially revolve around felafel. Once you order your felafel, which comes in a freshly-baked pita bread pocket, you fill the rest of your pocket up with a selection of vegetable and salad items and top it off with sauce of your choice. I liked the look of the fried cauliflower pieces so it was those, together with some tahini sauce, a spoonful of tomato salsa and a bit of cous cous which completed my pocket. The meal also came with a side serve of “Belgian” chips and a bottle of water (upgradeable to another drink of my choice) for $10. For that price, I thought it was reasonable value. The core offering, the felafel, certainly made the grade, deliciously green on the inside and not overcooked. An unpretentious VVVVV. - Gary R.
V Rating: VVVVV Veggie Friendly’s intrepid foreign correspondent, Anth from Temporary Dwellings, recently came across a vegetarian haven in Iran. Ananda Veggie Restaurant and Coffee Shop is run by the Society of Iran’s Vegetarians and is a lovely and peaceful place to escape the traffic and din off Tehran. Tucked away down a small road in the north of Tehran the restaurant has a small outdoor terrace and a comfortable air-conditioned dining room indoors. The restaurant provides a range of pizzas, pasta and lasagna and also has a small offering of Iranian food. As tourists we decided to stick with the Iranian food and ordered a plate of soy kebabs and vegetable curry with rice. The food arrived promptly and looked delicious. The kebabs were chargrilled and had a great bbq “lamb” flavour. The dish looked great with the kebabs served on sesame and herb flat bread with pickle and rich, roasted tomatoes on the side.
Our other dish was a lovely tomato curry with vegatables and tasty cubes of panir cheese served on some of the best rice I have ever tasted - white grain rice cooked with chopped dill (this is a traditional Iranian dish called “pulau”) and to complete it a slice of deep fried panir on the side.
As an accompaniment we had some green olives (9,000IRR) which were served with grated lemon rind and sweet sultana chutney. Other side dishes include yoghurt. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of a rush and so we couldn’t sit back and enjoy any of the fresh smoothies, juices or deserts that are on the menu. - Anth, from Temporary Dwellings.
V Rating: Super V Badde Manors is a much-loved vegetarian cafe at the Sydney University end of Glebe Point Road. Arranged on an acute corner, it’s hard to miss with windows and walls flying out in all directions, and a shop sign featuring a large bronze sculpture of two cherubs proudly flanking a coffee machine. Inside, there are deep red walls, old fashioned wooden chairs, and tables with peeling paint. The cafe is brimming with nooks and crannies to lose yourself in. Combined with the art deco light fittings, mirrors and hexagonal tables, grainy black and white and sepia photos, and precarious stacks of second hand books, you almost feel like you’ve stepped into the parlour of an eccentric aunt or an artlessly bohemian university pad. The patrons are equally eclectic. On Saturdays it’s over-flowing with people, perhaps because it’s just over the road from the fabulous and busy Glebe markets. There are students, academics, goths, artists and Glebe locals. It’s the kind of place that provokes right-wing columnists to sneer about green-voting, latte-sipping inner west types, which is just another reason to love it. Badde Manors is a cafe rather than restaurant. The house specialities are European cakes, home made gelati and sorbet, and some unusual hot drinks (I have it on good authority that the sahlep is highly memorable). I like the fact that it doesn’t make a big deal about being vegetarian, or rely on this as it’s only selling point. There are also unpretentious light snacks and more substantial dishes, for example foccacia and Turkish bread sandwiches, ‘authentic’ bagels, daily soup, pasta and mains specials. It is vegetarian, but makes an effort to include some vegan choices. Although I liked the sound of the bagel with mushroom pate, grilled haloumi, fresh tomatoes and spinach, but chose to have the chef’s special salad of the day. It came with iceberg lettuce, corn, cucumber, tempeh and tomato. It wasn’t an exciting dish, but it made a healthy, satisfying lunch. Badde Manors has been a Glebe fixture for over twenty years. It has a strong sense of community, and is famous as the birthplace of the Cafe of the Gate of Salvation, Sydney’s popular non-denominational gospel choir. A great place to savour cakes, coffee, and conversation, any visit to Badde Manors is usually memorable. |
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