this is ... Sunday lunch

This is a tricky "this is" for me because lunch is very much a do-it-yourself deal in our house, and usually ends up being leftovers or a series of snacks. This week, though, we managed to get to La Panella Hot Bread shop on High street in Preston, where they have a good range of cheap and delicious vegan hot foods and sweet snacks. So today's lunch is fake meat pies. Mmmmm.


While I'm on the topic, I may as well mention some of our other favourite vegan suppliers. Not that I'm out to convert anyone - it's just in case you're curious or having trouble feeding your veggo friends.

A great fake meat supplier is Vincent's Vegetarian Supermarket in Footscray. They have a huge range of frozen, foil-packed, canned and dehydrated mock meats - even vegetarian intestines!

We are blessed with lots of Buddhist vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne - perfect for vegans who on't eat garlic and onion. A few of our faves are:
* Vegie Mum at 27 Village avenue in Doncaster. The complete package.
* Bo De Trai at 94 Hopkins street in Footscray. A unique dining experience - not exactly lavish but great value and always delicious, even on those days that they bring you the wrong dish. But be warned - they close early (about 8pm).
* Enlightened Cuisine in Southbank. The closest we get to a fine dining experience.
* White Lotus at 185 Victoria street North Melbourne. The tamarind fish is my favourite dish ever!! and the owner is extra friendly.

And for dairy-free sweet snacks and desserts, you can't go past the kosher grocers like Alex's at 831 Glenhuntly Road in Caulfield South or Kraus foods at 62 Glen Eira Road in Elsternwick.