Monday Melbourne Roundup (Wednesday and Brisbane addition)

Crazy busy, I'm still 'off my food' so I'm really sorry about the no food posts lately, the handful of things I've actually forced myself to cook recently have been all old favourites that I've already posted. Thankfully I got a copy of Veganomicon in the post today so that and my membership to Moreland organic food co-op is going to get me off my arse and back in the kitchen!


Out

The Fantastic Mr Fox



I have a love/hate relationship with Wes Anderson, the hate list: Steve Zisou/Royal Tennenbaums
The love list: Darjeeling/Rushmore. I thought this was going to be too 'twee' for me, but I was happy to find out it wasn’t. It was super cute but also kept a cracking speed, the animation was cute, the story was very modern, overall I really loved it!!

Lady Grey by Will Eno - MTC

This was a freebie through Fringe Festival (not part of my usual MTC subscription) and it was jaw droppingly brilliant. A one woman show about negative space essentially. What we say when we don’t say something, what we imply when we do, why don’t we say what we mean? Or is all meaning abstruse to us through the filter of the ego? Talking from a very subconscious space, the play left a smear on my mind I am still thinking about and Will Eno has become someone of utter fascination to me. This play is not for everyone, its not 'enjoyable' in the more mainstream sense of the word, its highly uncomfortable with long silences and questions thrown out to the audience (that never expects a response, or maybe expects the response of no response), the lead actress is incredible and utterly spell binding. Blisteringly intelligent play that doesn’t say much about its subject, which says it all.

GOMA - Brisbane

I went to Brisbane for the weekend to visit some mates and I can say hands down that GOMA is the best museum of modern art I've been to in the world. Galleries and museums (which lets face it the large ones available to the public are funded by public money) should be welcoming, accessible spaces for anyone to enjoy. I think we can safely say that there are few galleries that a bogan or an old person or a small boy can feel 100% comfortable walking around. GOMA is completely successful in this regard. The building itself is stunning, a wonderful achievement in architecture and gallery space design. Tonnes of natural light without being too wanky (think Fed Square - I love it, but its REALLY pretentious). When we were checking in our bags, two 9 year old boys were checking in their bags too. It totally dumbfounded me that two nine year olds would even think of spending their Saturday at a Museum of Modern Art, comfortably. That they wont be looked at weird or overly observed by security staff. This is the ultimate success of GOMA for me but it is so much more.

Each art piece has a 'for kids' plaque underneath explaining in plain english what the art work is about. Not dumbed down, just plain english explanation. The main exhibition, the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art was completely freaking mind blowing. Speechlessness. The whole thing is free (fuck you MCA) and all the staff are wonderfully friendly and not overly tetchy. I implore you to not only go when you are in Brisbane next but to go to this exhibition as a point of interest if you love art, especially modern art.














Brisbane

Brisbane was a revelation. The public space is amazing. A free man made beach down on south bank with a lot of kiddies pools, a rain forest walk, good bike paths, lots of nature. This is how Melbourne should be (Melbourne is getting better). Brisbane has changed a lot in the ten years since I had been there. The food was incredibly average though so you're not going to see some food posts from me for a while.

The Tenth Muse - Fitzroy - CLOSED

A sign that said 'gluten free and vegan options available' is like bees/honey to me. I popped into the Tenth Muse whilst waiting for my bike on Sunday and I have to say I was super disappointed.

I got a double short black and the rice pudding made with soy milk as an afternoon sweet treat. The coffee was terrible, to the point of being undrinkable and the rice pudding was basmati rice cooked in a bit of soy milk and sugar with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. That was it. It was like rice porridge but not as impressive. Really disappointing, I really want to support queer venues.

Deets: 365 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Phone (03) 9417 7477
$$: coffee was standard price maybe $3.50 and the rice pudding was $6.50 (I cant remember exactly)

Trippy Taco - Collingwood

I was disappointed with my trip to Trippy Taco this time. Everyone banged on about the Tofu Asada taco/burritos which I tried but didn’t like it as much as the usual fare I eat there. The tofu was lovely and smoky but my meal was also cold by the time it came out. I think I prefer the usual mix of beans or perhaps I just cant tell because it was cold. It was still delicious but I would have liked it hot! It was nice to snuggle in there on a such a rainy night though. The staff are super lovely though.

deets: 48 Smith St (03) 9415 7711
$$: I think my taco was $6.50? ridoink cheap!

Trippy Taco One

Monday Melbourne Roundup

I fear that I am becoming a shut in. I've been through a lot in the past couple of weeks, a couple of key relationships in my life had completely blown apart and I am slowly having less and less friends. Very sad and disappointing, but what can you do. I'm sick of compromising myself so people can feel better about their neuroses. These days I'm a one on one type, no pubs, no gigs, just me and you a bottle of wine and some good food.


Eats/Drinks

Trippy Taco (link to Joyces HOT review)

I was disappointed with my trip to Trippy Taco this time. Everyone banged on about the Tofu Asada taco/burritos which I tried but didn’t like it as much as the usual fare I eat there. My meal was also cold by the time it came out. It was still delicious but I would have liked it hot! It was nice to snuggle in there on a such a rainy night though. Review with pictures to come.

Other vegerati reviews - Wheres the Beef? and Vegan about Town

The Grace Darling

I love this pub and generally end up there whenever I'm in Collingwood. Had a few quick ciders post Trippy Taco, I love the staff, my mate Russ is co owner so I like to support my friends whenever I can.

The Vegie Bar

I found myself in Fitzroy not once but TWICE this weekend. I had planned to go to Yongs Green food, but somehow both times I ended up at the Vegie Bar! The first time I didn’t have my camera with me but I got the Gado Gado which was much nicer than I remembered and the second time I got my usual house salad with rice balls. I also took home the most massive piece of gf vegan chocky cake which was SERIOUSLY delicious with some sort of crunchy toffee in the chocolate frosting middle layer. Woot woot!

Von Haus

Waiting, with it pouring rain, to go to my eyebrow appointment, I grabbed a packet of mochi and headed to Von Haus for a coffee. I love you Von Haus. Marry me.



The Tenth Muse

Review with pictures to come.

Bopha Devi

Review here.

Bopha Devi - Yarraville

Western suburbs adventures midweek? you must be mad?! It was awesome though and I love Yarraville its like this weird little village in the middle of nowhere! The restaurant is TINY so we opted to sit outside as I was feeling claustraphobic inside. Down to the food, the rice paper rolls were extremely bland and boring, the dipping sauce that came with it was not great. Wouldnt recommend. The rice cakes were *delicious* perfectly fried, not too greasy filled with spinach and served with hot sauce. YUM. The main course was a coconut cream curry, delicately spiced with many vegies and tofu served over rice. This was too much food for us (barely) we both left stuffed and I was impressed with the food. Definitely recommend if you're in the area!

Service: 9/10
Space: better off getting takeaway or a table outside 5/10
Food: 8/10

Overall: 15/20

Deets: 7 Ballarat Street Yarraville
$$: Rice paper rolls with tofu $8.90, Garlic chive rice cakes $11.90, Saramann $20.90
3 beers around $7.50 each (EXPENSIVE for bottled asian beer) I think the total bill was $65 not cheap but delicious.

Maha Bar and Grill - Melbourne

This evening was an unmitigated disaster on a personal level so lets just talk about the food. Firstly, when I asked whether the 'sofra' (chefs special 4 course degustation) was $70 for two people they said yes. When I got the bill it was $70 per person, something I would NEVER pay for a vegan meal! There was no price difference between us and an Omni ordering the Sofra which I found that very poor form (there was also no price option for a vegetarian sofra). Secondly, the dessert doughnuts came out glazed in honey, I thought this was a poor oversight on their behalf. I do eat honey but I would have been very annoyed if I didn’t. The service was very good, especially in spite of my incredibly drunk, rowdy dining partner. I ordered a bottle of the grenache which was like vinegar. The space is very sterile, but not as sterile as Ezards. The crowd, very upmarket. Shane Delia owns this with George Colombaris and the Press Club so its very much that type of crowd/space.

Would I go back? Tentatively yes, but I would customise my menu. I'm hard work to dine out with right now, I'm trying my hardest to do gluten free and also with the braces I cant eat anything too crunchy/too hard work and I cant bite into things.

Lets talk about the food. The first course was a tasting plate of various tapas/antipasto. Saffron infused cauliflower (didn’t like it - almost very sour) some sort of pumpkin dip (was very nice) the olives were average if not below average, there was some other sort of dip which was nice, some sort of cucumber juice tea I hate cucumber so I didn’t drink it and the marinaded mushrooms were lovely. Over all, too many misses to make up for the hits.

Main course - stuffed zucchini flowers served with capers. This was delicious and the best course of the night. The perfectly fried flowers, stuffed with I cant remember and the saltiness of the capers were just matches made in heaven. The carrots were raw and too crunchy for me to eat, though I recall the flavours weren't great. The chickpeas were delicious, braised in olive oil, lemon juice and herbs, they were delicately flavoured and just lovely. The stuffed asian eggplant was also good, though lacked something. The braised lentils were *delicious* but really, do I want lentils when I'm paying $70 a head? The hommous was also lovely and fried pita bread salad on the side which was unimaginative.

Dessert - The watermelon salad was amazing. So well balanced and lush. The doughnuts filled with turkish delight had too much batter and were glazed in honey. I cant eat strawberries (they give me super hardcore heartburn) so I cant tell you what they tasted like and the stewed plums (I think) were too tart but were a good accompaniment for the doughnuts.

What can I say? If this had been $50 a head I would have thought it was decent value, considering most of the meals were made out of chickpeas, lentils and pita bread. It was also too much food for us to get through but I've never had a degustation where the food wasn’t too much. Would I recommend going there? The meal certainly had more imagination than the Press Club degustation I saw the other vegan bloggers post but I would suggest just ordering a few plates and forgoing the sofra. If I ever get sick of Movida I will definitely go back there.

Food: 7/10
Service: 9/10
Space: 7/10

15/20

Deets: 21 Bond St, Melbourne (03) 9629 5900
$$: Sofra $70 per person, cheapest bottle of grenache $50, 2 espressos $3.50 and a liqueur all up $220

Monday Melbourne Roundup

A busy busy week.

Eats.drinks

Maha

I cant realistically give a proper account of this meal as it was an unmitigated disaster from a personal level. I will do a post with the photos and at least show you what I ate and what was good. To come later.

Out.

The Drowsy Chaperone

I think we're all aware of my dissatisfaction with MTC in last years subscription. This year we did things differently and only did a mini. This was one of our 'filler' plays (we only wanted to see 4 plays but a mini sub is 7 plays) and boy was I glad I went. I had to have a little faith in Geoffrey Rush too really. The play was in the Art Centre theatre so there was already a 50% chance it was going to be good! The staging was wonderful and an amazing cast including Robyn Nevin and the ever beautiful Rhonda Birchmore. A musical, it was incredibly wry and hilarious, 2 hours with no intermission. I would highly recommend seeing this. I haven't laughed that hard at a musical since The Producers. Geoffrey Rush was completely wonderful in it and the costumes were stunning. All round success for me. Nice work MTC. Here's to hoping it’s a good year!

A Prophet



2 3/4 hours. Too long. Could have been really amazing. Worlds. Longest. Movie.

The xx - Instore at Polyester

Sublime. I weaseled my way to the front and stared at the scarily whilst being completely blissed out. The are freaking amazing and I'm so glad I got to see them at the instore. Thanks Dave.

bowl of soul - port melbourne - CLOSED

More Bowl of Soul! I had their Chicken Satay burger (no bun). Their chicken patty is so SO delicious. I have to say this is my least favourite item on their menu, but I will get it again! In fact I might be getting it again today as it seems all my co workers want to go there for lunch. Chicken patty, tonnes of salad, home made satay sauce and sweet chilli sauce. The sweet chilli sauce is weird to me, so I think I will take that off next time. Sprinkly some cheezly and I'm drooling right now. Someone posted 'best vegie burgers in Melbourne' in the comments yesterday, I would have to agree.

Deets: 118 Bridge St Port Melbourne 9645 2470
$$: 11

other visits: One Two Three
other voices, other times: Heres The Veg, One Two
Melbourne Veganesque

Bowl of Soul - Port Melbourne - CLOSED

Polenta, sweet potato and rosemary pie with smoke tofu and broccolini quinoa salad

I've been uninspired with my cooking over the past couple of weeks so I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to posts, so you will only see restaurants I think for a while (I seriously have been living on frozen veg stir frys for the past fortnight). Anyway I had this a month ago and its been waiting to go up.

The pie didn’t look like much, but I've been trying to expand what I'm eating (and also do gluten free whenever it is an option!) but the polenta pies looks were deceiving. This was totally delicious, served with sweet and spicy home made tomato relish. I chose to have the salad of the day as opposed to the generic 'soul salad' as I just cant go past that quinoa salad! So tasty with sun dried tomatoes, smoked tofu, lentils, quinoa, broccolini and a mystery dressing that is tangy and subtle but oh so yummy. Working on a factory with only hospital food available to me in the canteen (the only vegan option is steamed vegies or hot chips every lunch) to be able to get a ride into Port Melbourne and eat at Bowl of Soul really makes working in Port worth it.

Deets: 118 Bridge St Port Melbourne 9645 2470
$$: It was extra for the salad of the day but I ended up taking half of it home and eating it for dinner (too much food!) $16

For previous Bowl of Soul antics: One Two
For other opinions: Heres The Veg One Two, Melbourne Veganesque

Monday Melbourne Roundup

I had a bad week of not taking photos!! And the one meal I took photos of I didn’t get the details of the place ha! I'm pretty sure its At Home Thai, but that’s the beauty of Sydney, you can walk into almost any hole in the wall Thai place and eat the most delicious asian food you've eaten in a long ass time. Thanks Sydney.

Out

Williamstown Beach

Straya day at the beach, Clare and I rode the 20kms from Brunswick down to Williamstown, its quite a pretty ride. Although its desolate shipping crates, the colours are really beautiful and the bike path is awesome. We stopped for hot chips before peddaling down to the water. It was really windy so the water visibility wasn’t great, and Williamstown is full of rocks so I couldn’t stay long in the water. There were also TONNES of jellyfish, they are so gross. It was such a great day and we caught the train home with our bikes, perfect crime.

Book club @ The Union

My pick this month, I chose Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, my favourite book EVER. I'm so glad the girls liked it. I ate the spring rolls and as with all of their food it was quite bland and the dipping sauce was meh. Why is their food so bad? Anyway great pub, not so great food.

Museum of Contemporary Art - Sydney

I snuck in a trip before I went to see Precious. I'd heard amazing things about the main exhibition there but it was $15 and I really resent having to pay for art, especially at the MCA where there is SO MUCH corporate sponsorship and government subsidies. Its wrong. Art should be available for everyone. If I go back to Sydney and its still on I will pay to go, I just didn’t have time, but yeah that’s how I feel about that. The bottom gallery show was pretty boring, there was some interesting Aboriginal pieces, the MCA has really gone downhill over the past 5 years. It used to be my favourite place to go in Sydney and the last few times have been really disappointing.

Precious



Precious is 16, illiterate, pregnant with her second child to her father and living with her abusive mother. I guess that tells you all you need to know whether you want to see it or not. On a technical side, I (I'm siding with David Stratton on this totally) cant STAND THIS WHOLE documentary style camera work these days, it makes me nauseous and guess what YOU ARE NOT SHOOTING A DOCUMENTARY ON HIGH 8!! The film (as is with my gripe most days) too long, whatever happened to 1 hour and a half precision? The story telling was kind of clunky but the film was amazing. Really touching and the performances were jaw dropping. Seriously, Mariah Carey, I have totally TOTALLY misjudged you. Although the story is totally depressing there is really hope that comes out of this film, inspiration. That through it all, you can maintain your dignity through any adversity. Tear jerker.

Paddys Markets

Man I havent been to Paddys since I lived in Sydney and yes its still chocka block of stripper outfits and mobile phones. I visited the second hand book stall and got To Kill a Mockingbird and a Ben Elton for $12. Very happy. I'll have to go on a raid again the next time I'm in Sydney.

Eats/drinks

Badde Manors

I did my chai at Badde Manors. The service is still unbelievably rude but that’s Sydney for you. I actually bumped into someone walking out of the door and said 'oh I'm sorry' and they just glared at me and barged past me. That’s Sydney for you too. I've been living in Melbourne too long, I get really upset with people are rude to me haha!

East Brunswick Club

Review here.