Where to eat vegan in Melbourne with Alex from @veganfoodmelbourne

So Alex, what is your favourite eatery in the world?

That’s a tough one. I’ll be more broad and say that I love the UK for vegan options. Some of my fav places have been What The Pitta and Young Vegans. There’s also amazing vegan food at The Flying Duck in Glasgow, heaps in Liverpool like Egg Cafe. Just using an app like Happy Cow and taking suggestions as well from other vegan folk usually finds you some gems.

How long have you been vegan and why did you go vegan?

I have been vegan for 7 years, but started the transition from Pescatarian to Vegetarian to Vegan before that. It started out from conversations with a friend around the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, and after her being really open, non judgemental and completely transparent on a number of follow up questions I had- she made me feel super ready to explore it. So I took it in steps and kept researching as I went. Since then, I’ve definitely also aligned with a lot more like the health benefits of veganism and also the harm it causes to animals etc.

Favourite vegan product?

Favourite vegan product is a tie between some good old Nooch, and Beyond Meat. It has been a game changer for my partner and I in our cooking at home and making some of those incredible non vegan recipes we missed into something delicious for ourselves.

Book or documentary you would recommend to someone starting out?

In terms of books or documentaries, there’s a few that I watched. Earthlings I believe is the natural one everyone recommends- and one I started out with. One that is also interesting was Okja, which isn’t directly vegan related but does have some great parallels. Books wise, I actually would recommend vegan cookbooks from chefs like Gary Oaks, Hot For Food or Shannon Martinez. The first two also have great YouTube channels to find some of your favourite non vegan recipes veganised. Honestly YouTube was such a great base for a lot of my learning.

Your signature dish?

I don’t know if I have a signature dish! I love to cook and I love to take traditional family recipes that I grew up on and veganise them. Things like Spanakopita, Borëk, and Pastitsio are my favourite special meals. I make a mean vegan roast and love a good curry night too.

Thanks, Alex, now let’s hear about your favourite Melbourne Vegan Eats:

Alex Recommends:

Good Love – St Kilda

https://www.instagram.com/gojeyarraville/

Smith and Daughters / Smith and Deli

Once you mention Melbourne vegan hubs, the Smith and Daughters / Smith and Deli combo is one that will always come up (and for good reason). Whether you’re looking for a nice, fancy sit down meal or a quick bite to grab on the go- these venues are some of the best when it comes to Melbourne vegan food. The flavours of the restaurant food are well thought out, with a seasonal menu that allows you to have different experiences each time you dine. In terms of the Deli, that’s where the magic happens. With baked goods, loaded sandwiches and heaps of your favourite antipasto, vegan deli meats and cheese available to take out, it’s honestly such a great spot. My all time favourite is the Home Alone toasted sandwich, which I get nearly every time.
https://www.instagram.com/smithanddaughters/

Gong De Lin – Melbourne CBD

This is my go to city spot. Hidden up a little elevator trip, whenever you walk in it is absolutely bustling (and for good reason). The food here is so tasty no matter what you order, and there is something for everyone under the Chinese Vegetarian/Vegan umbrella. My go-to is usually a serve of steamed dumplings and a bowl of their sweet corn soup, but my recent menu favourite is their rich and creamy chick’n curry.