If you’ve never been on a foodie trip before…

Then it’s definitely time to write it on your bucket list!   All you need do is choose your destination, sketch out an itinerary, wear your stretchy pants and pack a large piece of ginger root to aid digestion (should you get carried away and partake in a little ‘over’ indulgence).

For a second time this year, Melbourne was my raw food shop eat-till-you-drop food destination with the fabulous: Monk Bodhi Dharma, Yong Green Food and Veggie Bar cafe/restaurants making up the main stops on our itinerary.

First up: Monk Bodhi Dharma – an uber-cool urban hangout which resides down the back of an unsuspecting alleyway.  Housed in a tiny brick building (looking more like a double car garage from the outside) Monk Bodhi Dharma seats a cosy 25 or so people and is a vegan and raw mecca boasting is’s very own ultra-serious tea sommelier!

While open every day, you’d better book ahead if you wish to experience Monk’s Friday night dinner.  Their food is super fresh and artful – showcasing a disgustingly good raw dessert menu with the pièce de résistance being their Raw Monk Snickers.  I can honestly say, I nearly fell off my chair after the first mouthful.  Crispy, dehydrated peanut praline, vanilla ice-cream, caramel mousse and chocolate sauce…Never again will I agree to share a dessert (in fact ANY dish) at Monk Bodhi Dharma!

Next on the itinerary was Yong Green Food, a place I have frequented before as it never fails to impress.  Yong’s offers predominantly cooked vegan food but has a lovely selection of raw alternatives too.  Their food is fresh, simple and delightfully moorish with the Kelp Pad Thai (with fresh kaffir lime leaf) taking centre stage and the Green Tea Ganache finishing off a near perfect meal. 

Much like it’s decor, Yong Green Food offers simple, clean, honest flavors at very reasonable prices.  I must say, I alway leave Yong’s with the intention of returning on my next trip – and sure enough, I always do!

Lastly our whirlwind tour saw us waddling across the road from Yong’s to the infamous Veggie Bar – a long term establishment that has catered for fellow plant based diners for over 20 years.  A never ending line up of patrons from the counter to the front door illustrated just how popular the Veggie Bar has become.  It is somewhat of an institution and their extensive menu for vegans and vegetarians explains exactly why…

Again predominantly cooked vegan, but with a good selection of raw dishes, Veggie Bar offers unpretentious meals to suit everyone (including the kids)  While the raw taco and quiche were indeed tasty mains, it was the dessert selection (again) that made our meal.  Mark, our host treated us to the cutest raspberry and coconut cheesecake and a selection of raw chocolate coated goodies that gave us more sweet-tooth-satisfaction than we knew what to do with!  All I can say is, ‘thank God for the ginger digestive juice’ that accompanied my meal and also for the taxi that collected us literally steps from the Veggie Bar’s front door… (being close to food coma, only a few steps seemed manageable 🙂

I once heard someone say that ‘raw vegans could never be overweight’.  Well, after this weekend I really do beg to differ!  Once home, I’ll be back into my everyday routine – sipping green smoothies, munching on salads and reminiscing over our 36 hours of mad, raw indulgence.  Once again a big thank you Melbourne, I promise you, we will return again soon.  Anyone dare accompany me on my next raw food adventure?

 

Laura Barnett

Nutritionist, Health Writer and Educator.