Garnet Station

Garnet Station is a delightful cafe and restaurant in Westmere were I enjoyed a very delicious and very big pizza made with vegan cheese, with a group of friends last night. While not a vegan or even a vegetarian cafe, the five of us managed to enjoy three courses. The tapas was adapted for us and was great, mainly broad beans, olives and artichokes with turkish style bread. For dessert we enjoyed the divine Nice Cream made with coconut cream and, I think, nicer than other dairy free ice creams I've tried. I wish this cafe was walking distance for me because there is wine available and the atmosphere is so convivial. I also wish more restaurants would have vegan cheese available as an option

A vegan at the Gluten Free Food and Allergy Show

I've attended this show twice before but never have there been so many products labelled vegan. The first stall Nidya, Immy and I went to was Alpro, they were selling their super tasty yoghurt desserts for half price! They also thought their curry mixes were vegan, but upon checking they contained fish. Our next stop was the popcorn stand and a sample of their delicious product. I asked if it was vegan and the stallholder told me she and her colleagues are all vegan! They sell giant tins of their popcorn, New Zealand Kettle Korn, and refill them at most of the markets around town. Next up was Cherub and a chance to stock up on dairy free cream cheese and parmesan. We sampled two types of vegan ice cream, one with soy and one, a newer product, with coconut cream. They were very delicious but not exactly cheap. Moana wines was there. The Ceres stall had smoothies made with rice protein powder and fruit and they also sell pea protein powder. There were vegan muffin mixes in several tasty flavours made by Pastry Kitchen. Lots more too! We easily made back our $10 entry fee each in free samples, and children under 10 years old are free. It was packed and hard to move by the time we left, lunchtime. Highly recommended if you feel you can handle the crowds.

Hens' Night

I loved Hens' Night, a documentary directed by Debbie Matthews about a recent protest at a New Zealand poultry farm . I remember first seeing Deidre on a the TV News a couple of years ago following the protest, and being impressed by how articulate she is and how well she came across. The movie includes her equally entertaining and compassionate team members as they prepare for their protest vigil. They are both aware of their media appeal and showing true commitment to their concern for the plight of factory farmed hens. Debbie put the film together beautifully, it's well paced and full of drama and honesty. It's impossible to doubt the good intentions of this likeable bunch of law-breaking protestors. The film deserves a wider audience. I'd like my children to see this film, not least because, to my surprise on the day of viewing, their cousin Caitlin appears in a few scenes. Five stars from me, it's one I'd like to see again

Eggplant Pie for two

I've been working on my menu planning today. It's a bit complicated when different household members like such different things. I've been making lists and cross referencing so I'm prepared for when things get hectic when school starts. Today I went to the vege shop and picked up some cheap and perfect eggplants. This is for the two of us who are home tonight, there is a slight variation in our tastes, therefore, two separate pies - easy. How do you shop and prepare for the different tastes in your family?

Review of Little Bird Cafe in Kingsland

Little Bird Organics 385 New North Rd Kingsland Open Tuesday – Saturday 8am – 2.30pm On the last day of Term 3 I had lunch at the new Little Bird Organics bakery and café in Kingsland. The meal was so satisfying and delicious: all their food is vegan, gluten free, sugar free and totally tasty. My friends all ate the mushroom quiche and I had the garden lasagne, layers of vegetables in a delicious nut cheese sauce with salad. As vegans, none of us could resist dessert. Mine was the raspberry tart and it was perfect. We all thought the serving sizes were just right and everyone was satisfied. Little Bird doesn’t sell coffee but we enjoyed a lovely pot of tea. Little Bird is very popular already with people queuing for seats and even eating standing. This goes to show we could do with more gluten free vegan eateries around town!

Interview with Flip Grater

My interview with musician Flip Grater, published in V Mag Autumn 2012 as Ethical Reasons and Healthy Choices: an interview with vegan foodie musician and author Flip Grater for V Mag at Raw Power on 12/12/11 I was lucky to meet up with Flip in town as she is about to begin a brief wind down from a busy year of touring. We met at Raw Power on Vulcan Lane on a busy rainy summer afternoon in December. Flip has written two cookbooks which also record her touring firstly in NZ and then in Europe. I have reviewed the recent book in this issue of V Mag (Autumn 2012) also. I asked Flip about her experience of being vegan in Europe. She’s travelled in Italy, France and Portugal on and off for three years now. In that time she’s noticed an increase in the number of vegetarian restaurants, particularly in Italy. Flip says the Italians love their food and can speak at length about their tomatoes. Flip finds it easy to be vegan in Italy. Flip also found plenty of vegan food in Portugal. She found the Portuguese food to be more complex than the Italian. In Portugal they serve lots of small dishes, like tapas. She found the French vegetarians to be keen on their seitan: French vegetarian food is quite heavy, like their meat meals. Flip still eats the odd egg, eggs that have been produced ethically. She explains the need to constantly assess the boundaries of what we eat. Things change as to what we feel is appropriate, and we need to respond to this change. Although Flip would never actively promote dairy, while on tour in Italy she ate a piece of cheese for the first time in fifteen years. The cheese was produced by a person who looks after his own animals. Flip says she couldn’t come up with an ethical reason for not eating this particular piece of dairy. She explains she is a foodie and loves the experience of food. Flip is spending most of next year in Europe. In January she’s staying in Auckland, in March she goes on tour in Italy and Portugal. In April she’s moving to Paris where she plans to record her new album, funds permitting. The album should be released in September 2012 and then she’ll return to NZ for the summer. I asked Flip about her plans for Christmas. Her father owns an organic vegetable farm in Canterbury and she is planning a relaxing two weeks there, meditating and writing songs. Flips dad and his wife are both vegan. In a previous issue of V Mag, Flip explained her veganism and how she was influenced by her dad who had become vegetarian. Her dad became vegan shortly after she did, and his wife is vegan too. Flip is having three different meals for Christmas lunch this year. The most fun one for her will be on her dads’ farm: his vegan wife is a great cook. They have eleven children and ten grandchildren combined. The meal Flip most looks forward to will be 100% vegan, on her dads farm with her siblings. They’ll have vegan walnut roast with vegan gravy, and vegan chicken with cranberry sauce. After that it’s off to her mums for a more traditional meal which will include meat for the other guests. Flip prepares the salads and wants to purchase some vegan chicken to take along too. The third Christmas dinner will be on Boxing Day with friends. This will be all vegetarian, mainly kebabs and mushroom dishes. Flip is currently passionate, and writing a book, about mushrooms. Flips been touring all year promoting and selling her books and CD’s. I asked her where she is based and she replied “nowhere”. She relies on house-sitting and being a house-guest as she fundraises to produce her next album. Next year she’ll be staying with her French manager in France. Her manager is moving to the USA so Flip might have to find an apartment in France. Before she goes she’ll be house-sitting in Auckland in the New Year and playing in Matakana with Fly my Pretties at the end of January. Over Christmas she looks forward to selling her books and CD’s at farmers markets in Canterbury. Flip finds being vegan is getting easier in NZ. Being on the road a lot means eating in restaurants or as a house-guest almost all the time. Flip looks after her health and makes sure she doesn’t go too long between meals, to avoid making unhealthy food choices. For a 30 something muso with a heavy tour schedule she certainly looks a picture of good health.

Cosset

Cosset is a vegan café paradise. All the food is vegan, nothing on the menu is out of bounds. There is a good selection of healthy meals and sinful treats to choose from. I particularly like how there is a choice between small snack sized meals and larger meals.

On a recent visit I ordered a small mushroom filo for only a few dollars. It arrived with a mini salad and separate sauce, and tasted delicious. The soup with multi grained bread I can also personally recommend. My young daughter loves the treats: melting moments and various tempting fancy biscuits. We found the pancakes with maple syrup big enough to fill us both. And of course there are cakes. Beverages include smoothies and coffees. The water is free.

Whenever I’ve visited Cosset at lunchtime it’s been full but I managed to finds a seat. The staff are always pleasant, including to children. There’s not a lot of pram room, but enough for one or two. The atmosphere is cosy and relaxed. I love the ladylike mismatched china and the effort put into the presentation of the food and the décor.

Cosset support local artists, displaying their work. The café alone is a visual feast. Recently they held a poetry evening. Some vegans are critical of Cosset for having cows milk on the premises for those who prefer it in their coffee. Cosset is at 1087 New North Road and is open every day except Tuesday. From the 1st of November the are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7am – 5pm and Sunday 8am – 6pm. The food is fresh and the staff are friendly so do go and check them out!