A trip to Vegie Bar

 I met up with my friends from Uni before I head off to Singapore. I have been to Vegie Bar a few times now and it is always packed! We arrived at 1230 and the seats we had were inside at the outdoor courtyard.
 After a bit of a chat and wait for the waitresses to come around, we finally got to order. Service is a little slow during their peak periods.





 I ordered a Living Stack (raw) which consisted of a salad, avocado salad dressing, dehydrated kale chips, dehydrated tomatoes sitting on a stack of beetroot mash, carrots, zucchini slices and a huge mushroom at the bottom. It's one of the healthier options in the menu as it's like having a huge salad for a main. For drinks I had a Mango lassi which was normal - still prefer the smoothies at Yong Green Food. 

We shared a Moroccan Pizza, which had a thin crispy crust, pumpkin, mushrooms, sesame seeds and red bell pepper. The sesame seeds really brought out the flavor and I enjoyed it. The only thing I had to watch was that the crust was made from wheat and since I am intolerant I couldn't eat as much.

Overall - love Vegie Bar! It's well-known for good reasons...I feel hippy coming here

Everyday is Christmas

Edible Snowman at Gingerbread village by Epicure

Christmas comes once a year, however everyday can be Christmas for us to spread the joy and cheer around us. This quote by H Spencer Lewis sums it all up:

"If we would get the utmost out of the Christmas spirit this year, or any other year, and if we would live a life that would exemplify the Christ Consciousness within us, we will seek as the ideal Christ sought, and as the ideal of Christ within us would seek to find opportunity, occasion, ways, and means of bringing some happiness and joy, some relief, some bright light of hope and cheer into the lives of those who do not have these things either at Christmas time or any other time of the year. Therefore, make this Christmas a true holy day by sharing with others to some small degree at least that which you have an abundance of, even if it be but happiness and the smiles of joy with those who do not have them, and in this way make Christmas come true, independent of its religious significance, independent of its sectarian meaning, and uniquely and wholly in the spirit of the ideal that it exemplifies." 

 Christmas is not about excess food and enjoyment, it is about thinking of how to help others and bring a smile to their faces. I was touched with tears when I visited my partner's grandma - who lived alone at her house. My culture emphasized the need to take care and live with our parents. The idea of being isolated during most days of the year saddens me. What is happiness when we only share joy once a year? Let our actions throughout the year demonstrate the true meaning of giving.

Here is recipe of a Cranberry and Cherry waldorf salad that you can make throughout the year. Merry Christmas everyone.

Cranberry and Cherry Waldorf Salad

Serves 5

1 cup chopped dried cranberries

2 apples, chopped into cubes with skins on and soaked in salt water (to prevent browning)

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup green grapes, deseeded and chopped into halves

1 cup cherries, deseeded and chopped into halves

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 tsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 cup Jalna vanilla yoghurt

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, chill for 2 hours in the fridge and serve. 

BrimCC Organic Soup and Japanese cafe review

Chicken curry and rice with tofu salad set $9.50

 BrimCC is situated at Shop 2, 601 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000.

I have heard alot about this place from Urbanspoon and have decided to check it out with friends during lunchtime. The place was packed when we got there. We noticed alot of office people queuing for food in this small cafe.

Buckwheat pancake (gluten free) $8

Finally we got to the counter to order and I had  chicken curry with rice, which comes with a tofu salad. The chicken curry was nice - with generous chunks of chicken. The salad was freshly made with an asian style dressing. For drinks I ordered cold green tea.
For dessert, we ordered the buckwheat pancake which was delicious! It had blueberries, strawberries and bananas. It is a vegetarian option here so I am guessing the syrup is either maple/agave. It is moderately sweet - not too overwhelming for my taste buds.

Soup: Borscht, russian style beef soup with beetroot $8

For my second visit, I came with my partner for an early dinner. I wanted to avoid the lunch and dinner crowds. The cafe more peaceful and quiet at 530pm. I ordered the Borscht soup which was amazing - generous portions of beef in the soup. I highly recommend it.
It came with bread and I didn't eat much of it as I have wheat intolerance. My partner ordered a beef dinner set (rice with beef curry & beef patty) which came with borscht soup, raw vegetable sticks (carrots, cucumber and celery) with a dip that had a hint of wasabi. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the set, I'm sure it's easy to find on their dinner menu.

Tips: Avoid the lunch crowd, the cafe is small and it is hard to get a seat.
Overall rating: 8/10
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 3/5 cafe is too small, you feel claustrophobic during peak hours
Food: 4/5

Yong Green Food review

The best raw vegetarian place in Melbourne, Yong Green Food was created by Korean ladies. Go Korea~! Since trying their delicious dishes, I am addicted.
Location: 421 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC
Rating: 9/10

 Top things to try
Drinks: Blueberry smoothie, Cacao smoothie

Starters: Chilli bean nachos with melted soy cheese

Raw Mains: Rawsagna, Raw cashew bread sandwich

Cooked mains: Vietnamese pho, Grilled King Fish and Dragon Bowl.


Here are photos of the foods (raw/cooked)

Chilli Bean Nachos and Blueberry Smoothie

Dragon Bowl: Brown rice, vegetarian meat, chilli, salad

Comes with miso soup

Rawsagna: Cashew cheese, zucchini, tomatoes with everything nice!

Raw Cashew Bread Sandwich

Vietnamese Vegetarian Noodles

Raw Blueberry tofu cheesecake with Raw Green tea Ganache

Fruit & Veg Smoothies

Fruit and vegetable smoothies are a good way in increasing the amount of antioxidants and fibre in your diet. It reduces inflammation that is a precursor to many diseases, boosts your immunity due to the high level of antioxidants and prevents constipation. Fibre is made up of soluble and insoluble fibres that aid in helping you have a good bowel movement. It aids in detoxification and clearing of toxins from the digestive tract.

Blueberry Smoothie:

Freshly blended blueberries, soy milk and a sprinkle of grounded linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds.

Grape Smoothie: 

2 parts grapes, 1 part rice pudding, 1 part soy milk. Blend in blender and serve with a sprinkle of LSA (ground linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds) on top

 Green Smoothie: 
Green smoothies are full of vitamin K that aids in promotion of clotting in your blood. Green vegetables such as kale, spinach and silverbeet have rich sources of vitamin K.
Organic spinach, kiwi, bosc pear + water