Home cooking this week.

Dragon bowls! A summer standard on the weekly rotation. Base of quinoa, mixed lettuce leaves and baby spinach, fresh grated beetroot and carrot, chilli and soy fried tofu cubes, crunchy combo and alfalfa sprouts topped with an orange, ginger and miso dressing! This recipe is an old housemates and I thank her every day :)

My house mate Tess is an ice cream master. This was dark chocolate and fresh banana made on almond milk with agave. Basically a frozen smoothie of delicious. Next she made bounty! Dark chocolate with toasted coconut and it did not last long.

My life changed a few weeks ago when I saw the most GENIUS thing ever on Instagram. I love the flavour of hard tacos but am normally outvoted because they're hard to eat. We end up doing burritos instead. THEN, genius. A guy glued a hard taco shell inside a soft taco shell with refried beans! So you have the flavour of hard taco inside a tidy soft taco and oh my god. I made a TPV spiced taco filling (first time cooking with TVP, will stick to black beans next time...) Served with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, fresh made guac, jalapenos and tomatillo sauce (Mission brand from grocery store). You guys, do this.

Summer nights after work = quick felafel bowls. Mixed lettuce, diced tomatoes, Spanish onion, kalamata olives, cucumber, crunchy combo and alfalfa sprouts topped with fried Yumi's sesame felafel balls, hummus, fresh squeezed lemon and chilli flakes.

Made an old favourite - black pepper tofu! Served with brown rice and sesame fried greens. I was on the phone to my mum while cooking this which resulted in me forgetting the black pepper! I realised just after this picture was taken and ground up copious amounts onto the dish. So tasty, so moreish.

Bangkok Rain.

I saw Bankgkok Rain pop up on Instagram and was immediately planning a visit. The caption under the photo said "best Thai since Thailand and a special vegan menu". A week later I was there. How had I not heard of this earlier? Anyway it was time to get down to business.

I got the Crispy Tofu - tempura style tofu, carrots, beans and snow peas in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce with kaffir lime leaves, spring onions and coriander - $13.90. This was SO DELICIOUS. I would never normally get sweet and sour but the deep fried aspect won me over (seeing as we didn't have entrees!) This meal was 10/10. Nia got the Crispy Tofu Salad - tofu with roasted cashew nuts, apple, lemongrass, galanga, ginger, onions,garlic, chili, kaffir lime leaves, lemon juice, coriander, and mint - $14.90. This dish was also delicious and we were very excited about our new favourite Thai place. We got the most expensive meals which is great, because they weren't expensive and were totally worth every cent. We weren't really hungry for dessert but couldn't help ourselves. Got the black bean and coconut sago (I think it was about $6?) Sadly this wasn't really what we were expecting. It was very milky, like a soup and served hot. I had more of a chilled pudding idea in my head so we wouldn't get this one again. The flavour was nice but the heat and consistency wasn't for us. We will visit again soon and no doubt order the same mains, win.

Indian pot luck.

After years of talking about doing a pot luck we finally made it happen. VEGAN INDIAN POT LUCK. It was a raging success with so many delicious noms. I made my new favourite - toor dal. I also put on a lot of basmati rice and papadums. Jeff cashed in at the Indian grocer and got three types of delicious roti - chilli, spinach and garlic. He also grabbed some lentil and potato stuffed pani puri which we baked instead of deep fried. Ellen and Chris brought the tastiest channa masala, spiced potato patties and salad. Finished the meal with a very non-Indian Tofutti neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. We spent a lot of the night talking about the next pot luck, I'm thinking Thai!

Laksa King.

I love working near Laksa King. $9.80 for a huge, fresh, satisfying bowl of soup, noodles and veggies. Never misses a beat. It's rare that I can finish a bowl which is awesome as then it becomes two meals. This visit I got the laksa (have tried the other vego dishes but nothing compares) and Kathleen got the vego gado gado - $8.50 lunch special. My laksa was perfection but the gado gado was apparently a bit too sweet, with pineapple and tomato everywhere. The sauce was quite sweet too, not that rich peanut flavour that she was searching for.

This just cements the fact that Laksa King is for laksa. Delicious, cheap and all satisfying laksa.

Spring Street Grocer.

We finally tried Spring Street Grocer after hearing so many good things about it. Had the tempeh burger with chips. I was actually brought this on a lunch break so no idea how much it cost. The burger was tasty but TINY. Even with a small handful of crisps I went back to the office a bit hungry. The burger was kind of a stir-fry on a bun. Soy seasoned tempeh with bok choy and chilli sauce. I have to admit, it wasn't my thing. I'd give it another go and try something different. 2014 - I'm coming at you Spring Street!

Sichuan House.

I was going to a friend's birthday dinner (a fiercely meat-loving omni) and was afraid. Got told it was 7pm at Sichuan House and looked at the website - even more afraid. Only two vego options and $24 a serve... I was already planning my "quick bathroom break" to the dumpling place down the road the second I got a chance. It was confusing too because some vegan friends had booked the venue...

THEN THINGS GOT AMAZING. Upon arrival I noticed there were actually heaps of vegan options and they were around $10 cheaper per dish than the website stated. Win and win. There were four of us down the vegan end of the table and we ordered a spicy sichuan tofu dish for around $9.95. These spicy, smokey and AMAZING tofu shreds were like nothing I'd ever tasted before. A new world of coriander-topped delicious. So good that we ate the whole thing and ordered another plate even before the other dishes had arrived (the second dish wasn't even touched after we devoured everything else - leftover lunch WIN).

Chinese broccoli (I think around $10) only came with oyster sauce on the menu but we asked for garlic sauce and after a few moments of serious communication failure - we got there. And it was amazing.

Now the menu and website both mention the Yu Xiang eggplant as being a favourite. The fact that the title involved "fish fragrant" worried me. Again, a few moments with the wait staff and they assured it was fully vegetarian. This dish was $14.90 or so and must have involved about 7 eggplants - the serve was HUGE. By the time I snapped a pic the pile was already cut in half and still enormous. I'm not normally an eggplant fan but wow - this was something special. Eggplant logs that were deep-fried and crisp then coated in a sweet chilli and sour garlic sauce. Kind of made you go silent for a moment then immediately fall into a state of bliss.

Before the meal was over (and food coma had begun) we were already planning a visit for the following weekend with EVERY vegan we know on the guest list.

Go there, now.

Thai Lantern.

I was in the Alphington area last night and desperately needed Thai to finish off the weekend. A quick Google let me to Thai Lantern.

My go to lately is pad see ew. This was the first time I've ever seen it done with vermicelli noodles. Where were my big thick flat rice noodles!? The smokey taste was there which was good but still, tiny noodles are a no. No tofu either which is always a bit of a let down. Standard floret or two of broccoli and cabbage with carrots. $11.90 and it just managed to hit the spot.

We also tried the deep fried mushrooms for $7. These were button mushrooms in batter with no additional seasoning/marinade. They taste exactly how you image - battery. Wouldn't get these again.

Thai Lantern was okay, and affordable. That's as good as it gets from me though.

A Caterpiller's Dream.

I didn't actually get to nom these but my friend Tess visited A Caterpiller's Dream in Kew and I DEMANDED she photographed/reviewed food for me :)

She got the chicken satay wrap for $7.50 and said it was "HUGE and YUM!". Sounds good to me. Also enjoyed was a yoyo biscuit for $3.50 which was also "HUGE and YUM!"

The menu link on the website doesn't work which is pretty devastating but Tess said there was a huge amount of amazing food there and all super well-priced. The thought of having to travel all the way to Kew just for a meal kind of scares me but if anything can tempt me, it's cheap and delicious vegan noms. Watch this space.

Trippy Taco.

It's pretty rare that I feel like Mexican but when I do, naturally I visit Trippy Taco. I always get the Mixed Taco Meal for $13.50 (plus $1 extra for vegan cheese). This way I get my beans AND my smokey asada tofu. The salad has changed a little, now including shredded carrot and beetroot... Not sure if I'm fully down but oh well, it's smothered in three types of chilli sauce anyway. I especially enjoy the lime juice, sunflower seeds and avo on top.

Impossible to not get Trippy fries $6.50 - TOO DELICIOUS FOR REAL LIFE.

Bathroom bits.

I am in love with Aunt Maggies organic grocery store. I actually can't go to Fitzroy without stopping by. I usually don't even buy anything, I just love looking at all the amazing goods! More teas than I've ever seen in my life, an amazing range of soy cheeses/yoghurts/ice creams etc. and so many great beauty and cleaning products.

I've been searching for a cruelty-free deodorant FOREVER and have finally found my winner. I got this Body Crystal spray (vanilla scented) for $5.95 and it works a treat! Also got around to getting cruelty-free toothpaste that isn't White Glo. White Glo is good that it's not tested on animals BUT in the meantime I am killing the environment with 345 spare toothbrushes (that you can't buy the toothpaste without!) Grants it is, and about $3.95 from memory with a fabulous legit vintage design.

I'm always excited by affordable cruelty-free body products, we all win.

Another week of rabbit food.

I'm going to start actually posting my dining out food separately to eating in food. This is an attempt to make post navigation easier (for myself!)

Things I made all by myself this week.

Sausage hot pot - onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, tinned tomato, tomato paste, veggie stock, grilled veggie sausages, salt and pepper. Served with mash and greens. AKA comfort in a bowl.

Nachos - the cure of all hangovers. Corn chips, guac (avo, paprika, fresh squeezed lemon, salt, pepper and chilli), Tofutti soy sour cream, fresh diced tomatoes, sweet chilli sauce and shallots.

 Bangers and mash with steamed greens and onion gravy.

 

Breakfast of champions - rice cakes with avo, lemon, salt and pepper. Rice cakes with Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese, tomato, lemon, salt and pepper. Chai tea.

Picnic times. Crunchy bread, crunchy chips, pumpkin and basil dip, hummus, Sicilian olives (my FAVE), fancy native olives, cherry tomatoes and plums.

This week.

Another week, another pile of documented noms.

I discovered Vegan Richa and all of the recipes look amazing! I am particularly in love with dal of almost any kind so got involved with her Toor dal recipe. SO GOOD. Served on basmati with steamed greens, poppadum and lemon.

 

 

There was a pretty serious build up for leftovers going at one point so we had home-made Lentil as Anything :) Rice paper roll, toor dal, garlic greens with duck and a few fried dumplings (Asian grocer frozen section style) served with basmati and lemon.

 

Made my weekly batch of THE WINNER OF ALL SOUPS - white bean and roasted mushroom. I've had this almost every week for a year... it's too good! Lately I've been substituting one of the tins of beans for a few potatoes and also throwing a carrot in. This recipe is an epic winner with omnis too FYI :)

Pesto and garlic roast shrooms with sunflower, pepita and pumpkin seeds. Garlic and onion fried greens and cous cous. So simple - SO TASTY.

Made possibly the best batch of scrambled tofu ever. Managed to not completely drown it in soy like usual and actually tasted the ingredients. I always thoroughly caramelise an onion (20mins cooking time minimum) before adding the rest - it's key! Threw in chopped mushies, minced garlic, crumbled firm tofu, bag of baby spinach, chopped tomato, cumin, paprika, tumeric, dried oregano, sweet soy, light soy and a huge amount of fresh lemon juice. Top with sesame seeds and you're good to go.

Seeing as how it was a day, that exists, I went to Las Vegan. That is all the reason I need. Didn't photograph my tempbacon, chicken nugget and avo wrap with chips as it looked exactly the same as the other week but I did snap the sour cherry pancakes and cherry ripe brownie. Win, win and win. I hope that wrap never leaves the specials board.

FINALLY checked out Little Deer Tracks after being a huge slacker the last two years! Man it was good. Sunday brunch, easy to get a park, walked straight into a table, great menu options, cheap prices, good coffee. Love.

Jeff got house beans on house-made sourdough $9.50 and added avo and shrooms (a few dollars each). The serve of beans was mammoth, he never had a chance. Beans were smokey and rich and amazing but maybe get them as a side unless you have two stomachs.

I got avo on house-made sourdough $8.50 and added a hash and shrooms (a few dollars). Shrooms were AMAZING and so was bread. You will find me here every weekend (unless I am at Las Vegan... the dilemma!)

Tried Oh She Glows' raw pad Thai salad tonight (35 degrees and all). It was okay. I may have gone overboard with the dressing and WOW this was rich. I'm thinking of cooking the leftovers and serving on rice to break up the madness.

All of the food.

Theme of the week has been Eating Your Pain. Let the food begin.

Made felafel salad, it's a weekly feature over here. Yumi's sesame felafel balls fried up and served with mixed lettuce leaves, tomato, Spanish onion, kalamata olives, hommus, lemon and sesame seeds.

Came home for my lunch break and made epic noodles with stuff from fridge! Flat rice noodles, Chinese broccoli, tofu, bean sprouts, soy sauce, chilli garlic paste and sesame seeds! So delicious.

 

Cornish was needed. Jeff went mental and got the Double Down meal. Two chicken patties deep fried and filled with bacon, mayo and cheese. Lettuce also. Served with wedges and slaw, I think his heart stopped half way through. $20 investment, worth it.

I had the usual, can't go past the chicken, bacon and cheese burger on crunchy roll with chunky chips. $17 is more than I'd like to pay but we all know I'll keep going back for more because it is THE BEST. Especially downed with a few ciders.

Laksa King provided it's usual perfection. After years of $9.80 things got crazy, laksa has gone up. Pretty sure I paid $10.05 which seems very weird now but I swear we paid $20.10 for two... anyway, broke the bank. Seriously the best laksa in the world.

Actually tried something new from my To Visit list and went to United Arab Eatery (which everyone seems to love!). Sadly, I felt let down. We got the salad plate for $10 and the serving was just tiny. The cauliflower was awesome but there were only three small florets. $11 falafel plate was even more disappointing. The serve was SO SMALL, it only came with half a piece of bread. Half. Maybe I'm too used to the huge serves at Tibas, Middle Eastern and Mankoushe but this was seriously annoying because we left hungry and th felafel was average.

Moving on from my most disappointing meal in a while is THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER EATEN! I have been meaning to visit Tofu Shop for nearly two years but you know, Richmond. SO FAR from Brunswick. It's easy to get stuck and lazy and eat what you always do. Anyway I was in the area on Saturday and finally got to Tofu Shop. Got the $16 medium-sized bowl which was massive, took half of it home. There was seasoned rice, curry tofu, tempeh with broccoli, crunchy fritter things, grilled corn salad, tabbouleh, tofu cream, satay cream, salad things... it was fantastic. BUT it got better. I had a slice of raw cake (macadamia, banana and date) with pandan and coconut ice cream afterwards! Cake was good (and only $2!) but oh my god the ice cream ($4.50 for three scoops)... life changing. Best vegan ice cream I've ever had. I would consider moving east for this.

Yeah we were in the city, so... Camy Shanghai. Because it's physically impossible for me to not, even though I wasn't hungry. 20 fried and crispy veggie dumplings for $7.80 = correct. We went crazy and tried the veggie duck ($3.80), this was a mistake. The duck flavour was good, but it was served cold. So cold. That's not okay. Garlic greens of my dreams were PERFECT as always ($12ish). I really just wanted a whole plate to myself. Luckily we brought some home along with ALL of the duck and plan on frying it and serving with rice. Hot duck FTW.

Made rice paper rolls tonight because it's one month 'til Christmas and I have to rapidly lose 5kg... turns out ALL OF THE NOMS comes with a price, an uncomfortable one. So prepare for boring salad and rice paper rolls and soups 'til the new year! (or if I crash, prepare for all of the burgers ever).