Believe it or not, I do occasionally have meat free days. Although, you wouldn’t know it after reading my post on The Steak Battles! Since moving out of home seven years ago at age twenty one (damn mortgage..hehe), my eating habits had changed for the better- fortunately discarding my appetite for KFC and instead, growing my appreciation for fresh produce and cooking.
100% Brown Rice Balls
My detox plan had begun and so did my weekly trips to the beloved South Melbourne Market. Not only did I eventually shake off those pesky love handles, but I felt like a new person. Seriously. My facial acne had disappeared, my skin was glowing a like a pregnant woman (so I was told) and I somehow picked up some new found Super Mario like energy.
Thankfully, one thing I didn’t manage to lose was my sweet tooth. Phew! Breathe Adrian…breathe…
Eating my greens at The Vegie Bar
Details: 380 Brunswick St Fitzroy Melbourne, Victoria 3065 Ph: (03) 9417 6935 Website: www.vegiebar.com.au
Surroundings: What’s great about stepping inside The Vegie Bar, you immediately feel as though you’re part of the neighborhood. From floor to ceiling, the walls are lined up with posters promoting local musical gigs and community events creating a casual yet comfortable space where locals can feed and gather.
Entrées: Being my first visit and not knowing what to try on an all veggie menu, I suggested we just try out as many items as possible. I’m usually not one to commit to just one main meal.
Particularly good was the Roti Channai which came with nicely warm pieces of Malaysian flat bread and a flurry of non-dressed leaves. The dipping bowl of potato and lentil curry was well formed and surprisingly light with its distinctively potatoey flavours.
The Rice Balls (100% brown rice) were perfectly fried giving you that opportunity to take a big bite of its thinly crisp shell as you lick the tangy sauce from your fingers. Think of arancini balls.
Of course I had to try the Dim Sims. Small in size, they should perhaps be called Won Tons, as opposed to Dim Sims. Nonetheless, they were well seasoned and crunchy from the deep fryer.
Mains: Also noteworthy for its abundance of juicy mushrooms was the Risotto. In the dish were three mushroom varieties (Portobello, Swiss Brown, and Field) all finely chopped spreading their unique flavours throughout and balanced nicely with the white wine, fresh shaved parmesan and fragrant truffle oil. I’d come back again just for this.
Dessert: Who would’ve thought I’d have no room after a vegetarian meal! The cake display is tempting.
Bring a date here? Would make a great first date
Night out with friends here? Yes, but book.
Service: Courteous and friendly. Fast.
$$$: 40
Food Rehab Verdict: Sent me to food rehab (book this place now! Wowzer) – Greenlight
Speaking of being green, Creamy the Cat or should I say Envirocat supports the use of reusable bags.
So um, where do you get your dose of greens?
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Omg… Creamy the cat is sooooo cuuuuute!
I love Vegie Bar too – my fave thing to eat there is the big salad, so many veggies with either avocado or tahini sauce. Delish.
xox Sarah
Hey Sarah- hehe, I know, she’s way too adorable for her own good. OOh, that big salad sound good. I’ll def be back.
Hey Cindy- Yeah, the desserts did look huge which is why I thought I couldn’t fit them in! Will pace myself on the meals next time.
Hey Rilsta- Yeah, I know what you mean which is why it took me ages to order something LOL Dim Sims were all veg.
Hey Nicole- hehe, yeah, Creamy likes to go in any bags…strange huh!
Hey Michele- I should put a cape on her but am also tempted to dress her up for xmas hehe poo kitty. Oh yes, the bug move outta home- you’ll likley start with 2 min noodles and baked beans for dinner so you will end up being meat free! LOL
Hey Leona- whoa, you’re a certified vegan converter!I need my meat but the vegie bar is so tasty, you forget about being so meatless. I need to eat more beggies anyways, considering the amount of pig and xmas ham I’m about to devour this week.
Hey Conor- hehe, thanks! I like that word too.
Hey Lorraine- Yeah, I could never go meat free for longer than 2 days. I’m def a babarian… LOL
Hey Agnes- I know…portions were big. Creamy the cat *blushes*
Hey Forager- hehe, I totally feel ya. The food at vegie bar is tasty indeed but I needed meat for dinner. I def recommend a veggie week, but no longer than that as you may turn to more sweets as compensation…haha
It took me a long time to get to the Vegie Bar’s desserts (the main meals are so big!) but trust me, it is worth it. Enormous, magnificent slabs of cake here. Actually, think about skipping the savouries altogether. 😀
I couldn’t imagine eating a meal just with veg so I would probably be the last person you would see here! 😛
Were the dim sims all veg?
.-= Rilsta @ My Food Trail´s last blog ..The Cookbook Challenge: Week 5 Greek theme round up =-.
My friend’s cat (the one that eats anything) has this thing for reusable bags too. Must be the fabric. 😛
The risotto looks good though. 🙂
.-= CruxieFaye´s last blog ..Jalan Kayu =-.
lol, envirocat… sounds like he/she needs a cape to fight global warming.
I should have more meat free days…. and I should move outta home! that’s the plan for next year =D
.-= Iron Chef Shellie´s last blog ..Week 5: The Cookbook Challenge =-.
OMG for a second I thought you turned into a VEGETABLE. Lol My work mate used to be vegetarian and I successfully converted her meat *go me!*.
Funny I do have times where I eat vegetables only.. I go through weeks every now and then where I have a “vegetarian week” it really does work wonders and the pounds do go.
FOod looks great! im always up for vegetarian food although i do miss my meat 😛
.-= Leona´s last blog ..14 girls.. 1 host and a lot of food! =-.
I love the idea of a “flurry of leaves”, it’s so dynamic 🙂
.-= Conor @ HoldtheBeef´s last blog ..Gingerbread you can catch =-.
I do like to eat vegetarian occasionally but I don’t think I could give up meat full time! 😀 Although this selection does look pretty convincing!
.-= Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella´s last blog ..Interview with Lyndey Milan and Win a Signed Copy of The Best Collection =-.
Awwww, look at Envirocat! Very cute.
What a shame you couldn’t fit in dessert, but everything does look very filling.
.-= Agnes´s last blog ..Cookbook Challenge: Week 5, Greek =-.
Every now and then I consider the option of just eating vegetarian for the day. Then the thought scares the plan out of me! Although, I do need to go on detox too so perhaps I should be brave like you and take the veggie plunge for a while..
.-= Forager´s last blog ..South American eating tour – Crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile =-.
Well done for ditching the love handles! 🙂
.-= 3hungrytummies´s last blog ..Lemongrass and chili chicken, Ga xao xa ot =-.
Hey 3hungrytummies- hehe…thanks! 🙂
Having the occasional meat-free day makes you feel so virtuous (though not so much if it’s deep-fired!). Nice that you found a good veggie cafe.
PS: Are they cat-friendly? You could sneak Creamy in with the green bag – she would draw a crowd, she’s so gorgeous.
.-= Belle@OohLook´s last blog ..Just a couple of Adriano Zumbo’s Tarts =-.
Hey Belle- I know, I should sneak Creamy in- esp in the enviro bag! I’m so tired having played hide and seek with her all day long… Don’t know where she gets her energy from…
my dietitian friend told me that I eat well-balanced selection of food – both veggies and meat. She says the problem is that I eat too much, and I don’t understand what she says. ;p
.-= Yas @ hungry.digital.elf´s last blog ..Christmas Feast 2009 =-.
Hey Yas- haha, yeah. To us, the words ” you eat too much” just doesn’t make any sense. What you talkin bout Willis?