Nut Meat

There is tiny vegetarian Thai place on King St in Newtown (it's actually just called Vegetarian Thai) that sells really tasty vegetarian rice paper rolls for $5 - possibly the cheapest healthy feed on King St. The most amazing thing about the rolls is this ingredient they have inside which tastes like chicken. Curious as to what it was, Claire asked the people behind the counter and turns out it's something called nut meat, sold in cans at supermarkets.

I happened to be at Woolies later that night, and decided to get one to try. Wasn't easy - I walked the floor of the entire Woolies with no luck, the guy I asked had no idea what it even was and had to ask his supervisor who pointed me to the health food aisle. After scouring the entire aisle back and forth for a good 10 minutes I found it hiding in a corner on the top shelf. It's that same feeling of extreme accomplishment as when you finally find all the characters in a particularly difficult Where's Wally.



As you can see, when I tipped it out it was more like brown spam than the tasty chicken-y thing in the rice paper rolls. I tried a little bit of it raw straight out of the can, and it tasted like peanuts. Figures, right?

The instructions on the can said to grate the glob and mix it with some garlic and what not to make patties, but I'm quite lazy when it comes to cooking, and so I decided to just cut some up into patty shapes and fry them with chopped garlic and onion. You can never go wrong with garlic, onion and salt when you're frying things, I've learnt.



Turns out though, just because you can never go wrong with those three doesn't mean it will always taste good. Unfortunately because I just cut them up into thick slices, the patties still tasted heavily of peanuts in the middle where the garlic, onion and salt couldn't reach. It wasn't horrible, but it just makes for a really strange combination of tastes - initially you get the familiar crispy, salty taste of fried food on the outside, but then you bite in and BAM! PEANUT BUTTER! Takes a lot of getting used to.

This first attempt at cooking nut meat wasn't quite a success, but I guess it was my fault for being lazy and not preparing it properly. There is still some in the fridge right now (although not sure how long these things can keep once opened) which I will try to make again, properly.

Nourishing Quarter

So with the organic and vegetarian obsessions happening in our house, how could we not try this out?

Even from the street, this warmly lit cozy little eatery immediately looks like it's in a world of its own, standing out from the grubby pubs, dark doorways and relentless traffic of Cleveland Street. Inside is a mish mash of mismatched (try that for a tongue twister!) furniture, bearing more resemblance to an old granny's living room than a restaurant, and definitely cottoning on to the retro trend.




Ordering was surprisingly difficult, firstly because we wanted to try everything on the menu (the fact that nearly every second item contained quinoa was enough to send Claire into ecstasy), and secondly because the Italian waiter, who was trying to be helpful, made us aware of how customisable the menu was when it came to sizes and combinations. After a very confusing 10 minutes during which Claire nearly set the menu on fire, the feat was finally managed. And in contrast to the time it took to order, the dishes came pretty quickly, which is always a plus in my books.

First were the rice paper rolls, two of each type which we split between the four of us. The filling was completely different to what you would find elsewhere, but somehow still retained their familiar tastes. From what I remember, the pointy rolls were more flavoursome than the cylindrical ones which were slightly bland, but luckily, the sauce more than makes up for any lack of flavour. Actually, I would say the sauce was the best part of the dish, and we kept it on our table even after we finished the rolls.



Next were the dumplings; and again, the filling was quite unique, but slightly bland and heavily relied on the sauce. There could also have been a little more filling, and a few more dumplings on the plate too. Maybe it's just what I grew up with, but for me dumplings are supposed to be more like a complete dish in a mouthful - properly seasoned, a variety of textures, and more importantly, hearty and satisfying - rather than a delicacy. Just like you wouldn't serve four raviolis or four perogies on a plate in a delicate puddle of sauce. Actually, I think this was supposed to be an entree; if so, an odd choice to include in the entree menu.


Third dish was these tarlets, which I don't really remember the details of - although I do remember they were again a little under-seasoned, but not too bad.


Lastly was this noodle salad which in my opinion was the best, and something I would consider coming back for. Although at over $20 (if my memory serves), it's on the pricey side for noodles. Again, the dressing/sauce made the dish. Vinegar and sesame are always a winning combination for me when it comes to cold Asian dishes. There was also a really familiar taste in the seasoning that I couldn't quite pinpoint, but was really perfect with the noodles.



So that was the four dishes we picked. We deliberated for a while whether to get a slice of their everything-free cheesecakes, but in the end the hefty price convinced us to go home to our chocolate instead.



All in all, it was a good meal. For me, it's an admirable concept that is well embodied in the ambience, but unfortunately the dishes - which for me, are more important - did not meet expectations. Nourishing Quarter, the name gave me the impression of healthy, hearty, satisfying, home cooked meals, but apart from the noodle salad, they were all a bit lacking when it came to flavours and portions. (Although I guess I can't blame them for the portions because the first three were probably entrees. Correct me if I'm wrong Nina?) It wasn't a terrible meal or anything, on the contrary, it was very interesting to see all these new ingredients and new combinations. But for all the uniqueness of the elements, the finished products just seemed a bit... boring. However, I can't say the same for Claire, Nina and Sarah who all seemed to really enjoy it - maybe I just have queer taste in foods.

Nourishing Quarter

Just thought I'd give you a quick taster of this amazing vegetarian restaurant on Cleveland St...

And my favourite, scribed upon the blackboard, "Desserts for models and athletes"... what's not to love about that?!

Our review of Nourishing Quarter is on it's way...

Coconut is king!

 
This awkward and ugly looking fruit is the secret ruler of the fruit kingdom (or ‘drupe’ kingdom if you want to get technical). I started including more in my diet a few months back when it was suggested it would help with my fatigue and immune system. 

I have been a convert ever since. While it was once derided by respected healthies as ‘bad fat’ it is now being lauded for its abundant health properties. The fat from the coconut is lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that is easily absorbed by the body and used instantly as energy. It’s the same stuff that is found in breast milk, so you can be as healthy as a new born bubba. In addition to boosting the metabolism and serving as a great post-workout recovery drink (Nina, the hockey-dynamo-fitness-freak can attest to this!), it also has potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to help you fight off infection. And - as Jenny’s ever-wise Mother has confirmed - coconut oil is actually a great skin care product!

                                       Nina's coconut love

There are lots of ways to incorporate this superfood into your diet.

• Coconut on its own - cut off the top (perhaps with a hammer, or maybe chuck an anvil on it. They are impossible to open) and sip on its sweet nutritious innards. Or alternatively buy it from a shop where it already has a hole drilled into it. Drinking with a straw is very hip.
• Coconut oil - great for almost any cooking which involves frying (dw it's healthy! and when its heating it has the alluring smell of a sweet and buttery lipsmacker). You can buy it at most health food/organic store. I usually fry it with chopped carrots, spinach and nuts, with a little sea salt and tumeric to have it with pasta or rice. Also try deep-frying with cut-up potatoes for amazing coconut potato chips! 
• Coconut milk - not just for curries! Put it in smoothies, porridge, in baking, anything! 
• Coconut ice-cream - this stuff is AMAZING. It has become a favourite of our household. You can make it yourself, or you can buy it from most organic stores - we normally get it from Dr Earth in Newtown. We found CoYo is the best brand. Though it's a tad pricey so you may want to try make it last longer than a day (or ignore the poor frugal student in you and eat it in a couple of hours as Sarah and I do)

Ooooo Mummaa!!!

I just can’t keep this a secret anymore. The cities of Perth (and Melbourne from what I’ve been told) are hiding what I believe to be the ‘not so guilty yet so immensely satisfying’ pleasure of the future! Tutti Frutti can be described as a frozen yoghurt experience; you face the choice of an ever-changing array of flavours, ranging from plain old vanilla and dark chocolate to green apple and lychee. But this isn’t any normal frozen yoghurt; somehow (the process being too technical for me) the yoghurt magically transpires into a soft serve like texture, which you can then top with fresh fruits, any and every type of chocolate, lollies (including my favourite, freckles) and even some brownie. As seen below, I am a firm believer that fruits are best suited to breakfast and not dessert.





You are in charge of the concoction you create and maybe it’s this hands on experience of feeling as if you are still ‘cooking’ that I truly love. When facing 10 amazing soft serve flavours, toppings for every day of the week and a choice of a large or medium sized tub, the only problem remains the scales! But as this is frozen yoghurt and NOT icecream, the increasing scale numbers only hurt your bank account because at Tutti you pay by how much your treat weighs!

P.s I’ve thought about franchising Tutti to Sydney but until I finish being a poor uni student trying to find the cheapest dinner on King St, I’ll venture down to Glebe Point Road. Rumour has it there’s a place like it. I’ll keep you posted!

Bread & Circus

After careful consideration I decided my first blog post had to be on what is sure to be, my favourite cafe/canteen in Sydney so far! Hidden inside a warehouse in Alexandria is Bread & Circus, a wholesome, organic 'canteen' where you dine on menu's that vary from day to day. Sitting at inviting long wooden tables, you face an array of bright colours, fresh plants and flowers, lovely yet quirky decor (a pumpkin or two) and a few beach chairs and stools that face the sun. As you wait for your food to arrive (which is rather quick), you can either read the latest Frankie, Russh or Vogue that awaits you on your table, or watch the owners prepare the next course of food from scratch. A family and homely vibe can be sensed as the owners and staff peel the organic vegetables, sitting on a colourful mix of milk cartons, whom chat as if you weren't even there. And that is what I love; the slight European vibe which invites you to relax. 

Although I am a coffee fiend, surprisingly Bread & Circus does not serve coffee, but the fresh juices, smoothies (although quite pricey for a smoothie) & fresh young organic coconuts are a lovely substitute for my caffeine hit! As a breakfast lover who could happily eat breakfast for each meal of the day, I have repeatedly ordered the Granola Muesli tasting plate! I have been known to be quite the 'muesli snob' as the muesli I dine on at home is normally better than any cafe's. Except for this place!

I have also tried the 'Foxy Porridge' which is delightful! A hint of rose mixed through an extremely satisfying porridge filled with blueberries and hazelnuts! But as I said earlier, a breakfast tasting plate with fresh honeyed blueberry yoghurt is all i'll ever need! As a breakfast lover, I have still not ordered what looks to be a wholesome and vibrant array of lunch foods (even though I intentionally went at 3 o'clock to force myself to not order muesli - but I couldn't resist)! The picture below depicts the fresh array of vegetables and legumes, which you can look at before you make your decision. This is extremely helpful for all of us indesisive eaters who get severe cases of food envy!

All up, Bread & Circus is the kind of place where you want to be a regular. The staff are welcoming and have begun to recognise me as the girl who loves coconuts and taking photos of her amazing food - just to make her friends jealous. The food is reasonably priced; breakfast under $15 and lunch ranges upto $22. Don't be worried when you see Campos Coffee and not this adorable little set up, walk around to the back and you will soon realise why I have fallen in love with this place! (Situated on Fountain st, Alexandria - opposite Dan Murphys).

Quinoa and Tabouli Salad

For our first post, we would like to introduce a quite tasty invention of ours - the quinoa and tabouli salad.

There is currently an obsession with quinoa going on in our house, due to its nutritional value I'm guessing. At first I liked it because of its unusual texture - sort of bubbly, fluffy, soft. Quite different from the white rice that I was so used to. But a quick wiki reveals its health benefits, so that's a plus!

For this, we boiled it with some salt, mixed it with the tabouli that we bought from the chicken shop, and served it with mushrooms and kanga steak (which I unfortunately overcooked, sorry guys - still trying to get the hang of kanga meat. The fact that it tends to ooze red even when it's cooked is really confusing to me.)