Mamasita

February 11, 2012

Mamasita has directly been running for 2 years in addition to it seems every bit pop every bit ever. Their no-bookings policy (for groups of less than eight) has had most of Melbourne at some phase lining upward along their staircase, spilling out onto Collins St, retreating to a nearby bar for a few drinks or only giving upward in addition to eating elsewhere. We did our best to circumvent the hold off past times arriving correct on their 5pm opening final Sabbatum in addition to were dealt xx minutes of queuing in addition to i of their final tables for 2 - lucky.

Mamasita's menu, every bit you lot likely already know, has a modern Mexican theme. It's totally gluten gratis alongside plentiful vegetarian in addition to vegan options marked throughout the carte - what you lot come across hither likely constitutes less than one-half of the meat-free dishes on offer. 

Michael tried their potent in addition to sour Mamasita margarita (El Jimador reposado, Cointreau in addition to fresh lime on the rocks; $17). My Pina Ahumada (Reposado mezcal, Damiana in addition to pineapple on the rocks alongside a vanilla tabular array salt rim; $18) was sweeter in addition to slow to fault for a soft drink. The vanilla tabular array salt rim is pleasantly addling.

Our repast commenced alongside the near-mandatory Elotes callejeros ($4.90 each), char-grilled street-style corn topped alongside queso, chipotle mayo in addition to lime. There's cipher similar tasty, inelegant nutrient on sticks to laid an upbeat casual tone. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 piddling jounce of toothpicks on the tabular array save some dignity.

The quesadilla de frijoles ($14) is i of the plainer looking dishes, but non lacking for flavour - toasty tortillas sandwich refried dark beans in addition to cheese, topped alongside fresh salsa in addition to served alongside a spicy condiment for smearing all over.

To operate along things fresh nosotros elected to percentage the ensalada de jicama y betabel ($8), a salad of jicama, beetroot, cherry pepper, pepitas, sesame, orangish in addition to chipotle dressing. The white jicama cubes reminded Michael of apple tree inwards their crisp sweetness in addition to I specially appreciated the crunchy pepitas.

The surprise savoury highlight was the Bunuelos de garbanzos ($19): chickpea fritters alongside land mushrooms, sugariness tater in addition to a jalapeno herb sauce. While I'd pictured whole chickpeas deep-fried inwards batter, this was a seasoned chickpea flour batter, set, sliced in addition to lightly crusted. I loved the lite fluffy texture, Michael loved the mushrooms in addition to sugariness potato, nosotros both loved mopping upward the greenish sauce. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lovely dish all round.

While nosotros could get got happily finished upward at that spot (and I suspect our waitress would get got preferred nosotros did), I persuaded Michael that dessert was inwards order. I was quite desperate for a Helado de maiz ($6), sweetcorn icecream inwards a cone, topped alongside caramel popcorn. This was lite in addition to sugariness in addition to fun, in addition to though I could come across the corn I couldn't actually sense of savor it. I'm non certain whether that's Mamasita's fault; I may get got been inwards that post-cocktail zone where the tastebuds are dulled but everything is awesome.

Michael's choice (Pastel de chocolate, $11) was nearly twice the cost but looking pretty small. Once sampled, the portioning made much feel - the flourless chocolate cake was incredibly dense in addition to rich, sitting inwards a puddle of tequila white chocolate sauce. Michael liked the contrasting fruitiness of the PX jelly dabbled some the plate, in addition to only barely finished the dish.

With that nosotros sorted out the nib in addition to made infinite for the evening's 2nd sitting. I left real impressed! On a previous (unblogged) see I didn't shout out back the character of the vegetarian dishes warranted the cost hike over Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Trippy Taco but I shout out back Mamasita get got upped the ante alongside their multifariousness of ingredients, every bit good every bit some killer cocktails in addition to desserts. Many bloggers get got complained most the noise levels but nosotros enjoyed the atmosphere in addition to conversed comfortably. The kitchen clearly has a slick organisation for dealing alongside their near-constant amount family - nosotros weren't left waiting likewise long for nutrient in addition to received only plenty attending from the flooring staff.

Given the high take away for a spot at Mamasita it'll likely last a piece earlier we're back, but whatsoever hereafter visits volition last eagerly anticipated.

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Mamasita gets the thumbs upward from swain veg*ns on Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are In The Mood For Noodles, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Confessions of an Eco-Food Dude in addition to Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Nouveau Potato.

The restaurant's been reviewed almost continuously since it opened. Most are positive (see Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are melbourne gastronome, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are I'm thus hungree [Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are twice], Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Melbourne Dining Experiences, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Food Fable, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are EAT AND BE MERRY, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE(T), Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Gluttony Gluttony, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Niche, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are two fatty buns, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are What's For Tea?, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are a melburnian holiday, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are My Food Odyssey, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Gastronomy Gal, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are spicy icecream, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Melbourne Culinary Journal, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are porktheory, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are juganaut's foodie thoughts, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Charles Whyte, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Dollymic, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Finely Chopped, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are doublecooked, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Out of my kitchen, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Fill My Belly inwards Melbourne, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are The Burnt Fig, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Life is 2 Mu(n)ch, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Sweet in addition to Sour Fork, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Ray is ever Hungry, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are the hungry duck, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Foodprints,Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are We Dare Food, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Empty Fridge, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Poppet's Window, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Alphie inwards the Kitchen, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Barley Blog, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Dying4desserts, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Friday Night, Date Night, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are extra-ordinary ordinaries, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Let Me Feed You, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Bear Head Soup, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Sarah Cooks, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Chyn Eats, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Dave Plus Food, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Petit-Miamx, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are The Food Complex, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Absolutely Famished, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are uh-oh, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Totally Addicted To Taste, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Cooking With Goths, Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Dangerous Duplicity).

Mamasita's street-style corn has inspired some abode cooking! There's a recipe at Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Blithely Unaware, in addition to some other at Veg Food Diaries Melbourne; less impressed are Palace Foods that includes making your ain queso. Meanwhile The misadventures of MissC include a recipe for spice rubbed pork, walnut sauce alongside corn in addition to quinoa salad.

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Mamasita
1/11 Collins St, Melbourne
9650 3821
veg items $3-21
http://www.mamasita.com.au/

Accessibility: Mamasita is located upward a flying of stairs alongside no visible alternatives; the no-bookings policy agency you're probable to last waiting inwards that staircase for some time. Tables are moderately spaced but the eating spot is oft real crowded; there's a mixture of tall bar-style seating in addition to lower tables. If you lot tin comfortably negotiate the entry in addition to eating spot infinite thus nosotros imagine the toilets volition last fine. There is amount tabular array service.

Crepas De Huitlacoche Con Salsa De Chiles Poblanos

March 4, 2012

The offset I always knew of huitlacoche (or cuitlacoche) was seeing it a break of years agone inward the Steve, Don't Eat It! weblog series. The series' hollo should live the hint that it was non a positive get upwardly - huitlacoche is a smut affliction on corn in addition to Steve was happy to play upwardly this aspect, equally good equally its nighttime sludgy looks, for maximum disgust in addition to entertainment.

More lately I noticed tacos de huitlacoche on the bill of fare at Mamasita. While nosotros didn't guild them, it sure opened my heed to huitlacoche's potential for deliciousness - everything else at Mamasita was great, after all! Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 calendar week or 2 subsequently I institute myself discussing huitlacoche with a visiting Mexican colleague in addition to others at the dejeuner table. He's a large fan it in addition to pointed out that it's simply a fungus, similar mushrooms, right? And it's sometimes known equally the Mexican truffle, such is its delicacy. The conversation concluded with an understanding alongside 3 of us to run into at the markets the next Lord's Day to store in addition to subsequently develop i of Pedro's favourite huitlacoche recipes.

Huitlacoche is non equally accessible inward Commonwealth of Australia equally it is inward United Mexican States or the States Pedro has used it fresh in addition to is accustomed to paying a few dollars for it inward cans; hither those cans terms $15 apiece at Casa Iberica. Thankfully that i tin stretched to dejeuner for six. Its contents don't hold off specially appetising, for sure, but few things produce instantly from the tin. There was onion in addition to spices mixed inward there, too, much similar a tin of refried beans (... which has to live the grossest matter instantly from the can, right? It reminds me of pet food).

In Pedro's recipe, the huitlacoche is sautéed with dark-green onions, fresh corn in addition to ezapote in addition to serves equally a crepe stuffing. The crepes are smothered with a creamy poblano chile sauce in addition to grated mild cheese in addition to baked. We tentatively tasted them with a uncomplicated side salad.

They were non a pretty picture, but they were pretty damn good. Though withal deeply dark in addition to sludgy, the huitlacoche had a gentle earthy season boosted past times the onions in addition to complemented past times the sweetness corn kernels. I had to cordon off a serve inward a plastic container for an absent friend earlier those acquaint went ahead in addition to finished off the whole dish.

By hence nosotros were all avowed fans of the 'hibernating excrement'! I'll definitely motility using it i time to a greater extent than on my own. Working inward the land of biosecurity equally nosotros do, nosotros wondered whether this corn affliction is acquaint inward Australia. Co-cook Yung tracked downwards a few interesting documents revealing that corn smut outbreaks convey been recorded inward Commonwealth of Australia equally early on equally 1911. There doesn't seem to live whatever promise for eradication in addition to instead the corn "industry has learnt to alive with the disease". Perhaps if to a greater extent than Aussies tasted Pedro's crepes they'd live fifty-fifty happier to co-exist with corn smut in addition to it could back upwardly a modest manufacture of its own.


Crepas de huitlacoche con salsa de chiles poblanos
(as shared past times my colleague Pedro,
based on a recipe inward A Taste of Mexico past times Kippy Nigh)

crepes
1 loving cup plainly flour 
2 eggs
1 loving cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
butter for frying the crepes

filling
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 loving cup dark-green onions, finely chopped
2/3 loving cup corn kernels
2 teaspoons dried epazote
1 x 420g tin huitlacoche
tabular array salt to taste

sauce
2 poblano chiles, seeded in addition to deveined
1 1/3 cups milk
1/4 loving cup butter
2 tablespoons plainly flour
1 loving cup sour cream
tabular array salt to taste

topping
1 loving cup grated cheese, theatre but mild in addition to able to melt
(Yung picked out a lovely goat's milk cheddar)

Start with the crepes. Place the flour inward a medium mixing bowl. Whisk inward the eggs, milk in addition to vegetable crude oil to brand equally smoothen a batter equally yous can. Melt a teaspoon of butter inward a modest non-stick frypan on medium heat. Pour a quarter-cup of the batter into the pan, swirling it or hence to brand a large, thin, round out crepe. Let it ready until the edges are dried out in addition to it's simply barely close to brown, hence flip it over. Don't worry it they're non perfect, but motility your best to proceed them intact. When the crepe's done, laid it aside on a dinner plate. Repeat with the remaining mixture in addition to stack the crepes upwardly on the plate - hopefully you'll brand close nine crepes all up.

When the crepes are done, acquire busy on the filling. Heat the crude oil inward a large frypan over medium heat. Sauté the dark-green onions until tender, add together the corn in addition to epazote, in addition to sauté until the corn is tender but withal firm. Add the huitlacoche in addition to ready the filling, stirring occasionally, for close 10 minutes. Season to taste.

Set the filling aside in addition to develop the sauce. Blend the chiles in addition to 1/3 loving cup milk, until smooth. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter in addition to stir inward the flour to brand a paste. Gradually stir inward the sour cream in addition to hence the remaining milk. Add some salt, hence ready in addition to stir the sauce until it thickens. Add the blended chiles in addition to ready the sauce gently for a farther v minutes. Set the sauce aside.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Lightly butter a large baking dish.

Spoon a tablespoon or 2 of filling inward a business along the diameter of a crepe, ringlet it upwardly in addition to house it inward the baking dish. Repeat with all the crepes, lining them upwardly snugly inward the baking dish. Pour the sauce over the crepes in addition to sprinkle over the grated cheese. Bake the crepes until the cheese is melted in addition to the sauce is bubbly, close 25 minutes.

Serve hot with a side salad.

Baked Mexican Street Corn

March 3, 2012

our Mamasita meal, though it owes at to the lowest degree every bit much to our vege box too everything, really, to Viva Vegan. Terry Hope Romero offers a twain of variations on street-style corn too it was close convenient for me to larn for baking my corn too slathering it amongst vegan mayonnaise.

While this doesn't postulate the charred edges too cheesiness of Mamasita's street-style corn, it has its ain charm - the kernels are juicy too sweetness too the mayonnaise carries the nooch, Mexican oregano too dried chilli across the whole surface area. It's besides pretty fun to roast corn yet inwards its husk.

Baked Mexican street corn
(one of several variations appearing inwards Viva Vegan!
past times Terry Hope Romero)

a whole cob of corn, husk intact
vegan mayonnaise
coarse salt
nutritional yeast flakes
dried crumbled Mexican oregano
lay down dried Mexican chilli
lime, quartered

Preheat an oven to 180°C.

Place the corn cob, yet tightly wrapped inwards its husk, on a rack inwards the oven too roast it for thirty minutes.

Carefully disclose the husk from the corn too clear away the corn silk. Chop the cob inwards one-half to shape 2 to a greater extent than manageable pieces too house them on a plate.

Slather over the mayonnaise, too hence sprinkle over the salt, yeast flakes, oregano too chilli. Serve amongst a wedge of lime on the side for squeezing over the top.

Cumulus Inc Ii

January 14, 2013

My sis hitting town inwards mid-Jan to hang out at the lawn tennis in addition to explore the urban centre a bit. We alone had a twosome of nights earlier jetting off to Tassie (posts to follow!) in addition to wanted to accept her somewhere exciting in addition to quintessentially Melbourne. We tried to hitting upward Mamasita, but fifty-fifty at 8:45 on a Mon black you're looking at a hold off of to a greater extent than than an hour. Thankfully Melbourne has a few other hip walk-up places inwards the CBD. Our side past times side exertion was Cumulus Inc where, shockingly, nosotros were seated immediately.

I'm non certain much needs to hold out said most Cumulus, it's been reviewed past times to a greater extent than than a hundred bloggers in addition to is i of Melbourne's most famous restaurants. The understated entry takes you lot into a fashionable venue - it's got a pretty casual experience most it, alongside a twosome of bars in addition to enough of communal tables. We've ever establish Andrew McConnell's nutrient pretty veg-friendly, in addition to some fourth dimension dorsum Cumulus featured on Louise past times Degrees had no vegan luck at brekkie). However, on an unblogged run see a twosome of years ago, nosotros establish the prepare veg bill of fare a flake disappointing, in addition to then it wasn't clear what nosotros should expect.

The 'salads in addition to comestibles' department of the bill of fare has half dozen dishes (two of which human face vegan past times default, most of which could hold out veganised if they were feeling helpful) - at that spot are a twosome of starters equally well, but nosotros decided to focus on the larger dishes.

First upward was the grilled zucchini, dill, oregano, egg in addition to lemon sauce ($16). We've been having a flake of success alongside zucchini inwards the terminal petty while, in addition to this took things to a novel score - the flowers in addition to slivers of vegetable swam inwards a tangy lemon sauce in addition to were prepare off past times the distinct but non domineering dill.

At almost the same time, the spuds came out - roast kipfler potatoes alongside reddish vino vinegar in addition to mustard ($11). No surprise that this our favourite dish of the black - magically cooked in addition to somehow alongside the vinegar in addition to mustard seeping all the agency through. Not slow to share.

Our tertiary dish got lost somewhere betwixt the companionship in addition to the kitchen, but eventually came out later an inquiry: saffron spiced cauliflower, golden raisins, pino nuts in addition to curd ($16).

It was a shame this came out late, equally it would receive got worked best inwards combination alongside the zucchini. It however packed a pretty proficient punch, quite reminiscent of the lunch dish at Mankoushe. The earthy cauliflower is offset alongside sweetness raisins in addition to a flake of salty cheese. It's a proficient side dish, but it would receive got been ideal to receive got another bits in addition to pieces to interruption it up. 

Anyway, nosotros made upward for our slight disappointment past times perusing the dessert menu. I randomly settled on the Rum Baba ($17), despite having no existent thought what it would be. Turns out it's a classic dessert, which has been served at fancy dinners for hundreds of years.

The Cumulus version is gigantic - a huge ringlet of sponge cake served on a thick custardy sauce alongside a bottle of aged rum plonked side past times side to it for dousing. The waiter warned me non to douse likewise heavily, equally the rum would overpower everything else and, equally tempting equally it was to disobey, I restrained myself.

This is a corking dessert - the cake only soaks upward the other flavours. It's sweetness in addition to boozy in addition to ridiculously indulgent.

Cindy was a petty to a greater extent than restrained, ordering the choc mint sorbet alongside soft chocolate in addition to chocolate sponge ($16).

The paired blobs were a polish rich chocolate ganache in addition to a lighter mint sorbet, which were perched on some torn upward cake in addition to a bed of crunchy choc puffs. I'm non a huge fan of the choc-mint combo generally, but this was nicely done.

Cumulus worked out perfectly for us inwards the goal - it's effortlessly cool in addition to however really example of a slightly fancy Melbourne black out (minus the hours of waiting this fourth dimension amazingly). The staff were helpful in addition to pretty friendly (although the missing cauliflower was a flake of a shame) in addition to the nutrient was travel past times notch. Much similar Movida Next Door, at that spot aren't actually whatever substantial veggie dishes on the menu, but you lot tin brand a pretty splendid repast out of the bits in addition to pieces available.

____________

Since nosotros visited for breakfast inwards 2009, Cumulus Inc has been reviewed past times everyone on the network ever, although alone Nouveau Potato has given a vegetarian perspective - they weren't equally impressed equally nosotros were. 

From a meaty perspective,Petit Miamx (twice), Pooh inwards the Kitchen, The Epicurean of Southbank,  N & due north Eating Out, Queen of Bad Timing, The Hungry Excavator, Eesh, A Sheepish Flog, Melbourne Culinary Journal, Munch & Muse, Let Me Feed You Melbourne, e*ting the world, Ichigo Shortcake, Sweet in addition to Sour Fork, food, glorious food, Expat Gourmand, All hail your Huiness, the sydney tarts, T in addition to T, EAT AND BE MERRY, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE(T), Taste Buds Galore, Gluttony Gluttony, melbourne gastronome, I Eat Therefore I Am, bri eats, Fat Pom Pom, The Food Complex, The Gourmet Challenge, nik-nak castle, Dave Plus Food, I'm in addition to then hungree, The Frenchman's Food in addition to Wine Blog, The Belly Rules Blog, Eat, Cook, Drink, Big Food, Small World, 1001 Dinners, 1001 Nights, Saucy Onion, slicing almonds in addition to zesting lemons, wok you lot talking about?, Temasek, The Ortolan's Last Meal, Reservation inwards the elevate of Jones, daily musings, ramblings, Missy Ness' Food Train of Thought, Barley Blog (twice), Where Adles Eats, Poppet's Window, half-eaten in addition to Melbourne Culinary Journal receive got all loved it, spell food.loves.my.mouth, The Razzies in addition to angelkhong were underwhelmed (so many reviews - I didn't fifty-fifty include the dozens in addition to dozens of brekkie spider web log posts!).

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Cumulus Inc

45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

9650 1445

savoury veg dishes: $11-$16, desserts: $16-$17

http://cumulusinc.com.au/

Accessibility: There are a twosome of shallow steps off the street. There are a mix of seating arrangements: high tables, a twosome of bars in addition to some lower options. It's fairly spacious in addition to there's total tabular array service. We didn't larn inwards to the toilets.

The Spotted Mallard

October 23, 2012

Michael got current of air of the newly opened Spotted Mallard on Mess+Noise in addition to straightaway scheduled it inwards for pub club. The carte du jour looked alright (solid vegetarian options, though zippo vegan or gluten-free was clearly marked) in addition to I suspect Michael wanted to compass the venue for trivia.

The interior is quite striking in addition to hints at the premises' previous lives every bit a French eatery and, earlier that, a Greek marriage ceremony venue. The stained skylights, antique chairs, wall mirrors in addition to lampshade clusters had a few of us questioning whether this actually counted every bit a pub. The musical note of the menu, the bar service in addition to the downstairs bandroom settled it for me. The original vegetarian offerings are a burger in addition to an eggplant parma, in addition to the meat-free snacks currently include marinated olives, spiced nuts, chips, hoummus in addition to fetta on Turkish breadstuff in addition to chickpea fritters.

I checked out those chickpea fritters ($12). They're eerily similar to the ones I enjoyed at Mamasita, though hither they're served alongside a superbly smoky chiptole mayo. The rocket, fennel in addition to pino nut salad rounded out this dish nicely, though I wishing it had been served on something to a greater extent than dish-like - apartment boards simply hateful spills for all but the around dextrous diner.

Michael ordered the Spotted Mallard Vurger ($19), which was a messy but tasty sense - the brioche bun was stacked alongside a grilled portabello mushroom, pickled onion, beetroot, goats cheese, tomato plant relish in addition to rocket. The thick Jenga-stacked chips were amend still, though the coleslaw didn't excite.

The Spotted Mallard has been opened upwards lilliputian to a greater extent than than a fortnight, hence it's hardly surprising that the dining expanse was relatively placidity on a Tuesday night.  Our grouping of to a greater extent than than a dozen pub clubbers had their pick of the tables in addition to in all likelihood constituted one-half of their evening's customers. However, inwards fifty-fifty this not-even-quarter-full circumstance, the kitchen couldn't expire along up. Some of our friends waited upwards to an hr in addition to xx minutes of their nutrient to move served. We wouldn't similar that at a busy restaurant, in addition to it's fifty-fifty to a greater extent than irritating to sense at a placidity one.

Once fed, everyone spoke good of the nutrient at the Spotted Mallard. It's a actually pleasant infinite in addition to the staff are friendly too. Let's promise they move out how to streamline upwards their kitchen operations.

____________

The Spotted Mallard
314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
9380 8818
veg dishes $8-19
http://spottedmallard.com/

Accessibility: The Spotted Mallard's dining expanse is located upwards a broad flying of stairs, in addition to about tables are accessed via farther stairs; nosotros didn't encounter whatsoever alternative way of entry. Tables are good spaced. All nutrient in addition to drinks are ordered in addition to paid for at a high bar, hence nutrient is delivered to the table. We didn't catch the toilets.

Mucho Mas

June 29, 2012

On our kickoff eve inwards Oslo, nosotros sought out Spisestedet. It's a decades-old vegetarian eating theatre inside a squat too nosotros were alone a petty surprised when it didn't aspect opened upwardly - why hold off a bunch of anarchists to choke along capitalist habits similar predictable opening hours? Thankfully during our wander we'd noticed Mucho Mas - Michael had their Grünerløkka branch on his listing but forthwith this ane inwards Majorstuen looked worth a shot instead.

The eating theatre was busy but the staff were happy for us to perch at the bar until a tabular array freed up, chatting equally they mixed drinks too recognising our accent. Later to a greater extent than or less other waiter offered to interpret the card for us verbally, but we'd pieced together around everything nosotros needed from Mexican menus by too the Norwegian we'd been navigating all week.

The ane mystery give-and-take nosotros needed translated was 'aromasopp' - mushrooms! Sautéed, they're an optional extra (35NOK AU$5.50) on the mains. I ordered them atop my nachos (115NOK AU$18.20 without) too though they were tasty, at that topographic point was to a greater extent than than plenty chips, cheese, beans, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole too sour cream to materials me airheaded equally it was. Michael's burrito (115NOK AU$18.20) was filled alongside the same basics too rice besides. Both had a welcome hint of chilli heat.

The Mucho Mas card harks dorsum to the Mexican nutrient nosotros Aussies expected pre-Mamasita - your alternative of chicken, beef or beans served equally nachos, quesadillas or a burrito (though their specials card mightiness accept something to a greater extent than new for omnivores). Servings are big, flavours are dependable, staff are cheerful - it's all satisfying if non stimulating.

____________

The ii Mucho Mas branches are also recommended on blogs Mine glutenfrie oppdagelsar (in Norwegian too gluten-free), En svensk tiger i Oslo (in Swedish), Bakgård.

____________

Mucho Mas
Bogstadveien 8, Oslo
+47 23 twenty 10 20
veg mains from 115NOK AU$18.20
http://www.muchomas.no/

Accessibility: Mucho Mas has a duet of outdoor tables (see film upwardly top), a unmarried measurement upwardly to to a greater extent than medium-spaced interior tables too a half-flight of stairs upwardly to to a greater extent than or less other expanse alongside medium-spaced tables addition a few stools at the bar. We received total tabular array service inwards fantabulous English. We didn't catch the toilets.

____________

I walked by Mucho Mas ane time again a duet of days afterwards on my means to Vigeland Sculpture Park - it's real pop alongside tourists too definitely worth a catch inwards adept weather.

Bluecorn Iii

November 4, 2011

We took payoff of Mike as well as Jo's wheels to caput across the river as well as revisit an erstwhile favourite, St Kilda's Bluecorn. Since nosotros concluding visited either our standards accept risen or Bluecorn's accept dropped - this was amidst our almost disappointing recent outings.

They're equally pop equally ever, as well as our booking was for 7, amongst the agreement that we'd clear the decks past times 8:30. Stuck inward traffic on the agency over, nosotros rang ahead as well as were given the nod to plough upwards a flake late. When nosotros arrived, the waitress made a worried confront before seating us as well as proceeding to render an eventide of unfriendly, uninformed as well as vaguely hostile treatment. We knew nosotros had to endure fast, but nosotros didn't postulate to endure made to experience similar nosotros were imposing on them the whole night.

I'd accept been willing to forgive mediocre service if the nutrient measured up, but unfortunately our whole experience roughshod good curt of expectations. My vegetarian burrito (spinach, rice, peppers, corn, dark beans, iceberg lettuce, guacamole as well as salsa on corn tortillas, $22.50) was real disappointing - the tortilla was a flake burnt, the guacamole had big brownish patches as well as the filling tasted similar cheese as well as mush. There was none of the freshness or season that nosotros remembered from our before trips. At to a greater extent than than twice the cost of a Trippytaco burrito this roughshod a long agency curt of my expectations.

Cindy ordered the bluish masa goats cheese quesadilla (with dark beans, sesame eggplant, pumpkin seed rojo, chipotle crema as well as guacamole, $21.50). Again the guacamole was a flake on the brownish side and, acre about of the flavours were okay, the dish was generally mushy, lacking whatever crispness or freshness.

Our meat-eating companions didn't accept anything to a greater extent than positive to offering upwards either. The nighttime was capped off past times our waitress slapping the neb on the tabular array amongst Cindy notwithstanding eating as well as vaguely threatening us, "you've got 10 minutes."

This is belike the almost negative review I've written on hither as well as it's driven generally past times disappointment - nosotros had such fond memories of sitting out inward the courtyard at Bluecorn as well as existence wowed past times their fresh, wonderful food. Our expectations were raised fifty-fifty higher past times recent raves past times other Melbourne veg bloggers. Maybe nosotros hitting them on an off nighttime (in their defense forcefulness they were clearly pretty busy as well as nosotros were xv minutes late), but it'll endure a long fourth dimension before nosotros laissez passer on Bluecorn about other chance. Ah well, I estimate it's dorsum to Trippytaco (and eventually Mamasita) for us.

____________

Read our 2 previous (positive) reviews here as well as here. There's a broad make of opinions out there, from scathing (KC's Food Affairs), through mixed (Mr Smith's Food Journeys, Eat as well as Be Merry, For Tomorrow nosotros Diet, Please Sir, Can I Have Some More, Eaterati)

From a veg perspective, Eat More Vegies, Pocket Carnival as well as easy equally vegan pie accept loved Bluecorn, acre Hayley at Ballroom Blintz was a flake disappointed past times her experience.

____________

Bluecorn
205 Barkly Street, St Kilda
9534 5996
Veg shared plates: $19-$27, veg mains: $21.50-$22.50

Accessibility: At almost there's a pocket-size pace on entry (we forgot to actually pay attention!). Inside things are relatively tight, but non impossibly so. Ordering as well as payment happens at the tables. We didn't see the toilets.

Besan Fritters

February 28, 2012

we late ate at Mamasita. I didn't accept to await far for a conduct - I've had leftover coleslaw on the side - a piecemeal but tasty meal.

Besan fritters
(adapted slightly from a recipe on Manifest Vegan)

ane 1/4 cups besan (chickpea flour)
1/2 teaspoon dark pepper
ane teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
ii cups H2O + 1/4 loving cup extra water
a few tablespoons vegetable oil

Line a 22cm foursquare cake flame alongside paper.

In a medium-large saucepan, stir together the besan, pepper, garlic, chilli together with salt. Whisk inward 1/2 loving cup of the H2O to brand a smoothen paste, together with then closed to other one-half loving cup of H2O until the batter is smoothen again. Whisk inward the side yesteryear side loving cup of H2O together with when it's smooth, prepare the saucepan over steady well-diffused medium heat. Stir the mixture continuously alongside a whisk or wooden spoon every bit it thickens. Allyson suggests cooking the batter for most fifteen minutes, but I institute that mine was thick together with sticky yesteryear the x infinitesimal score - I added a farther 1/4 loving cup of H2O together with couldn't force it much farther for fearfulness of the mixture completely drying out.

Pour the batter into the cake flame together with allow it spread out into an fifty-fifty layer; mine needed a fighting of coaxing. Chill the besan while for at to the lowest degree three hours (I stored mine overnight).

Pour crude oil inward a frypan to encompass the base of operations together with prepare it over medium-high heat. Retrieve the besan mixture from the refrigerator together with while it into wedges. Fry the wedges inward the crude oil for most three minutes on each side, until they prepare a golden crust. You may require to produce this inward batches and/or peak upwards the crude oil every bit yous go.

Serve the wedges warm alongside your favourite condiment.

Where's The Best, These Sixteen Months?

It's been to a greater extent than than a twelvemonth since nosotros updated our Cutler & Co dessert menu.

Cooking-wise, it was approximately other twelvemonth of black pepper tofu was in all probability my favourite - together with held an Ottolenghi-themed feast alongside friends. Otherwise we've been heavily motivated past times the contents of our fortnightly veggie box. When nosotros instruct a cabbage we've been turning to okonomiyaki or white beans together with cabbage, together with when a pumpkin arrives nosotros plow to miso curry pumpkin, piquant pumpkin pie or herb-crumbed pumpkin wedges. 

Melbourne bloggers proceed to inspire us likewise - Steph at Nonya chicken, dan dan mian, chocolate cheezecake together with caramel slice (with a picayune aid from cauliflower together with caramelised onion tart, black glutinous rice together with tempeh bacon, piece palm saccharide fried tempeh has us shallow-frying regularly together with the surprise mint choc-chip icecream from coconut bacon past times local veg cafe Johanna GGG for the recipe.

Spicy Peruvian 'cheese' sauce, crepas de huitlacoche con salsa de chiles poblanos together with eggy quesadillas were our contribution to the Hispanic fever that's swept Melbourne's nutrient scene, piece nosotros branched out a picayune farther alongside these Brazilian carrot cakes. Cindy also tweaked a few onetime favourites to brand them vegan friendly, inventing her ain hugger-mugger blend of herbs together with spices for Kentucky fried tofu together with taking the eggs together with dairy out of French toast. The H2O ice cream maker didn't instruct quite equally much of a work-out equally inward years gone past times but this date, rum together with pecan H2O ice cream was a dessert highlight. 

We've continued to explore Melbourne's cafes, adding Cafe Lua, Wide Open Road, New Day Rising, L'atelier Monsieur Truffe, Milkwood, Grace, Elceed, Small Victories together with Brother Alec to our favourites. Two places we've loved for years wowed us alongside expanded options to a greater extent than of late - Mankoushe alongside their fantastic cafe together with Monk Bodhi Dharma alongside their Fri dinner menu. 

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 distich of classic mock-meat places disappeared (the EBC together with the Mercy Seat) but were to a greater extent than than adequately replaced past times South, Ren Dao together with Madame K. For pubby variety of food, we've dived into Brother Burger & the Marvellous Brew together with The Beaufort, piece Shanghai Street Dumpling was in all probability the best value house nosotros discovered this year. Middle Fish, Mad Raven Pizza Deluxe, Market Lane mushroom burgers together with Kaprica all practise okay on a dollar:deliciousness ratio equally well. At the other goal of the scale, nosotros had tremendous fancy meals at Movida Next Door together with Attica together with loved the mid-priced wonders beingness served upwards past times The Moor's Head, Mamasita, Chin Chin together with Easy Tiger.

Along alongside the distich mentioned above, nosotros lost Indya Bistro together with Robbies Stein from our favourites list, piece Circa, the Prince has been transformed completely since nosotros visited.

Somewhat surprisingly 2012 has been our to the lowest degree productive blogging twelvemonth - we'll goal upwards ane curt of 200 posts for the year. Twitter has taken upwards approximately of the slack, together with we're continually amazed past times the wonderful people we've met together with overstep friends alongside via the web. Here's to a big 2013!

Moroccan Soup Bar Ii

The Moroccan Soup Bar is 1 of those Melbourne institutions that seems to receive got existed forever. And been insanely busy the whole time. In unopen to ways it's a precursor to trendy no-booking places similar Mamasita: if you've got a grouping of less than half-dozen you lot can't brand a booking too fifty-fifty now, to a greater extent than than a decade afterward it opened, in that location are queues waiting for the doors to opened upward at 6pm.

We've been a few times too ever loved it, but it's ever difficult to muster upward the issue energy to become somewhere when you lot know you're going to receive got to pass an hr or then waiting for a table, then it's fallen off our radar a fleck inwards recent years. At to the lowest degree it had, until nosotros read Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Nouveau Potato's post recommending the combination of takeaway MSB too a picnic inwards Edinburgh Gardens. What a revelation!

You involve to choose your ain containers for takeaway at the Moroccan Soup Bar but it's good worth the essay - for $25 nosotros got iii containers total of typically delicious nutrient (the chickpea too yoghurt dish the standout equally always). Pack a picnic rug, a cocktail inwards a thermos, a span of plates too unopen to cutlery and, provided the weather's decent, you've got yourself the best damn picnic inwards Melbourne. The exclusively disappointing matter virtually our repast on Dominicus was that it made us realise how many fantastic summertime nights we've wasted.

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The Moroccan Soup Bar is well-loved - read all the raves at: Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Nouveau Potato, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Green Gourmet Giraffe, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, I Eat Therefore I Am, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Melbourne Boozehag, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Melbourne Dining Experiences, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, i works life you lot inwards melbourne, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, juganaut's foodie thoughts, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Urban Muslim, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Iron Chef Shellie, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, i similar your... flavours, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, little lady (Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, twice), Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, my garden feast, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Miss T: Princess Vegan too Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, vegan virtually town bear witness to its vegan-friendliness equally well!

There are a few dissenting voices, mostly finding the whole sense a fleck yoghurt heavy: Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, gila makan, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Melbourne Culinary Journal, Ruby Bean too The Hungry Peas, Let's Get Fat Together too because I cant cook.

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Moroccan Soup Bar
183 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North
9482 4240
We paid $12.5 a caput for our food, but I intend it varies based on how much they tin gibe inwards your containers.

Accessibility: We didn't actually pay attending since nosotros were eating inwards the green - there's at most a pocket-sized pace on entry, too the house is to a greater extent than oft than non pretty crowded.