MELBOURNE

​SMITH & DELI
111 Moor Street
Fitzroy, VIC
Instagram: @smithanddeli

Smith & Deli a small deli off Brunswick Street is the holy grail for vegan cuisine. They take meaty classics and adding a vegan stamp, that even meat eaters struggle to tell the difference.

I head to the busy Melbourne vegan icon whenever I'm craving a "Ruben" or "Chicken" Schnitzel Sandwich, "Meat" Pie, Kimchi "Cheese" Croissant (my favourite) or sweet treats like laminations, doughnuts or brownies. Of course with being a deli they also have a selection of vegan meats as well as imported vegan goodies from America and the UK. 

A vegan must if your're in Melbourne!

​12th June 2018

​MATCHA MYLKBAR
72A Acland Street
St Kilda, VIC
Website: matchamylkbar.com
Instagram: @matcha_mylkbar

A family favourite eatery in Melbourne is Matcha Mylkbar. Not only is the food inventive plant based heaven, but the cafe has the most welcoming moral making every experience most enjoyable. 

As the name suggests Matcha green tea powder has a strong appearance in  their menu with all dishes someway or another spiked or dusted with the cherished superfood powder. This creates incredible and unique flavours making you want more then just one mouthful. 
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One this occasion (pictured) Emerson went for the Big Breakfast With Eggs- two poached vegan eggs, two slices sourdough toast, konjac bacon, potato & leek rosti, truffle roasted mushrooms, wilted kale and tomato relish as well as an Apple Pie Latté.

I chose my typical choice Green Matcha Porridge-  matcha + Australian oat porridge, nashi pear, quince, incan berries, raw coconut yogurt, coconut crisps cacao nibs, almond mylk and a Purple Peanut Butter Latté.

​We also enjoyed a side of sweet potato fries with aioli, standard for us as Matcha Mylkbar has the best sweet potato fries in Melbourne. Period!

For Matcha Mylkbar's entire current menu head to their website. 

​​30th June 2018

​UBUNTU
460 Burwood Road
Hawthorn, VIC
Website: ubuntuvegancafe.com
​Instagram: @ubuntuvegancafe

In Melbourne we're really spoilt for choice with incredible vegan options and 100% plant-based vegan cafés. I follow quite a handful of eateries on Instagram and have a long list of where I want to eat.
One of these being Ubuntu.

Ubuntu. Wow. What an amazing menu including brioche, "fish" and chips, "eggs" and many other usually non-vegan items veganised. 

​On this occasion I chose their Wholesome French Toast -thick cut brioche pan fried and topped with whipped mascarpone, berry compote, crushed pistachios and maple syrup. Um.. Yum! This dish was melt in your month wow and the sweet buttery brioche paired with the tangy mascarpone was seriously out of this word.

​10th August 2018

​​MACCARONI OSTERIA ITALIANA
201 Queens Parade
Clifton Hill VIC
Website: www.maccaroniosteria.com.au
​Instagram: @maccaroniosteriaitaliana

Even I can admit that sometimes vegan food can be too clever, with many overpowering flavours and not so delicious mock substitutes. 
​Sometimes you just want "real'' food with familiar, simple flavours.
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Macaroni Osteria Italiana sure does deliver with traditional Italian food made vegan!  Their menu includes Italian favourites, carbonara and lasagne, as well as a long list of classic decadent desserts.

Now, I've eaten at Macaroni a few times and can say their food is the best food I've ever eaten, before and after I decided to go plant-based.

Some of my menu favourites include 'gnocchi with bolognese sauce', soft pillows that literally melt in your month and a dessert that's served with 2 scoops of vanilla ice-cream, a shot of kahula (coffee flavoured liqueur) and Italian rich hot chocolate, an incredible flavour explosion in your month. 

​21st October 2018

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Chin Chin
125 Flinders Lane
Melbourne, VIC 3350
Website: www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au
Instagram: @chinchin

The reviews and media around Chin Chin were pretty insane as soon as their doors opened in 2011. They showcased a new way of eating for Melbourne, capturing the cities unique core with intimate causal dining, modern urban decor and an upbeat vibe you can't miss.
Chin Chin is described as an ​Australian restaurant with a South East Asian injection, cool!
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We arrived at 4:45 in the afternoon, as my family and I were seeing Evita at the state theatre (arts centre) that night. We thought it would be empty, being so early, but did we get a shock, as the place was packed.... and bopping!
Goes to show how good it is. 

We promptly scanned the menu and the friendly staff were also very helpful pointing out the vegan options, there where plenty. 

For entree we shared salt & pepper tofu with greens coated in a pungent smooth dressing.
For main I had the Yellow Curry of Sweet Potato, Grilled Tofu & Eggplant with a Ard Jard Relish. 
This curry was packed full of rich flavour and sat on the sweeter side. Yes, sweet, but still one of the best curries I've eaten with many taste sensations.
​My drink for the night was a Coconut Crush with the flavour of day being Apple Cinnamon. The fancy slushy was wonderfully refreshing and balanced the strong flavours of the curry nicely.
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29th December 2018