Here are the vegan eats and treats I found during my stay...
Places to Eat
The Australian Hotel - I usually like this place for two reason; they always have GF vegan options and they have a "Ladies Lounge" which is perfect when you have a toddler and don't want to disturb other patrons! I went twice this trip and they had two gluten free beers on offer, this Wilde one was pretty good and I had never seen it before.
They don't have a vegan pizza on the menu but you can ask them to make it for you, they might resist at first but they will make it ;)
Their fries/chips and garden salad are also delicious, my toddler definitely got a taste for pub chips while we were away!
I went into Chippendale (just near Central Station) to a friends gallery opening and had dinner afterwards at this charming little secret gem...Spice Alley! It's on Kensington St, off Broadway next to Central Park Towers which are pretty good in themselves with all their greenery!
Basically it's like a replica of Asian street food, so cute!!! There were a few different places with vegan options and you can bring you're own alcohol which you can get from Central Park Mall.
IKU is always a great go to eatery when you're out and about. Dotted around Sydney in food courts it's 100% plant based and mostly GF as well. I love the Balls!
My dad took me to Last Train to Bombay and they are great with showing you what's vegan/GF on the menu and making things especially for you.
That impressive looking chickpea pancake is called Dosa.
Japanese is one of my favourites and HaNa Ju-Rin in Crows Nest was on the nicer end of the Japanese restaurant spectrum, quite a few vegan options though!
I had the avocado rolls, plum & cucumber rolls, edamame, spinach salad, Nasuden (eggplant) and maybe some sneaky sake ;)
The Sunflower Lounge on Spofforth St, Cremorne was a place we went to a couple of times because it was in walking distance of our house, was close to a fenced in kid's park, had a good selection of vegan/GF options and had a box of toys for the kids! I had the breakfast plate one morning and just asked them for all the sides and GF bread and the next time had the Falafel Plate that has quinoa falafel.
Oh Newtown, oh Newtown, you have my vegan heart! This is the vegan hub of Sydney and I'd been dying to visit Bliss & Chips and all vegan seafood take away. Almost everything on their menu was GF too, and really wasn't pricey.
I had (wait for it); Seafood Basket (2 fish cocktails, 2 calamaris, 1 crabstick), 2 garlic prawn skewers (AMAZING), 2 potato scallops, chips, tartare sauce and a vegan gozleme for later.
Gelato Blue in Newtown is now a completely vegan gelato place! It was seriously amazing! I can't remember the flavours I got and they don't have a website but from memory it was coconut, choc mint and the last one was a an amazing mix that had caramel in it.
Saw this sign outside a store - even though I didn't get any Coco Whip I was very excited LOL
I love Vegan's Choice grocery in Newtown, their vegan yum cha (dim sum) place next door called Green Gourmet is amazing too and does lots of GF options.
They have vegan baked goods, their own vegan meats (the ham is still the best I've tasted) and a few pantry items. I got the vegan Jelly packets for my son's upcoming second birthday. I've been wanting to try the mushroom
THIS is the reason I trek to Newtown every time I'm in Sydney. The Vegan's Choice Vegan Fish Sauce is AMAZEBALLS! I just wish I could carry more of it home. It's so essential for making all your Thai favourites like Red/Yellow Curry and Pad Thai!
Was very impressed to see these posters on almost every bus I got on! Nice work Animal Liberation Australia!
Grocery Items
Very importantly, wine!
I tried these three wines while in OZ and I have to say I miss Aussie/NZ wine so much. The stuff they send to the States is miserable and I miss being able to just read the back of the label to know if it's vegan!!
My favourite was the Catalina Sounds (NZ) SB, but the No Evil (AUS) Organic SB & La Boheme (AUS) Pinot Gris were gorgeous too. I also had a lovely vegan SB at a wedding at Ripples, Chowder Bay while I was in Oz called Aramis Pinot Gris.
I love, and toddler loved these Fry's vegan GF chicken nuggets. I've had them before and begged the company to sell in the States were there aren't many GF vegan foods but to no avail :(
Taste Organic in Crows Nest have been carrying these Addiction Food GF vegan brownies for as long as I can remember (at least 8 years) and there's a reason. And it tells you why in the company name, they are SO addictive!
Got this Lo Bros Organic Kombucha on sale from IGA and it was really good, tasted like ginger beer so went down a treat!
My brother and sister-in-law always have me over for dinner while I'm visiting and are so sweet to get me a plethora of vegan items for my enjoyment.
Dessert is of course a staple LOL
These Weiss Dairy Free Dark Chocolare & Coconut bars were heavenly!!!
They also got me these Smooze Coconut Milk based ice blocks too because I had loved them last time I was there. At least these are available in the States...in theory.
I got this Paw Paw Ointment from Aldi and it tasted horrible so probably fine for cuts/nappy rash etc but not nice for lips which is what I like Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment for. I know a lot of people don't like Lucas' because of the petroleum but I like the way it works.
This Organic Suvana Paw Paw & Coconut Balm was recommended to me when I went into the pharmacy to get Lucas' well loved version. I didn't love it honestly, it was much thinner and oilier than Lucas' and tasted sweet and I didn't like it on my lips at all. Back to old faithful!
Got these Syndian Curried Pumpkin Bites from either Coles or Woolworths. They felt a bit dry but other than that were fairly tasty. Toddler didn't like them though.
I've always loved this Japense style tofu by Soyco. It's just perfect for stir fries and my favourite Japanese Tofu & Carrot dish
Had a hard time finding something suitable for my toddler to drink but I did really like these Nutty Bruce organic nut milks, especially the almond/coconut blend which is what we normally like to drink by Califia Farms.
I found these Tasti Smooshed Wholefood Balls (from NZ) in Aldi or IGA (sorry I can't remember!!)
The Berry, Cashew & Cacao were my favourite - tasted like Cherry Ripe bars, definitely going to try to replicate!
Found these Moser Roth dark chocolates in Aldi - LOVED orange almond - so creamy! I loved that inside it wasn't a block but individually wrapped portions. Not very environmental of me, I know but it made it easier for travel!
Found these Blackstone Gourmet Snack Co. Rosemary & Garlic kettle chips at Aldi - SO GOOD!!!!
Choceur Mint Thins from Aldi - these do contain a small amount of gluten but I decided to take the risk and they were so amazing!
These Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips, Nacho Flavour were from Woolworths. So delicious. Can't remember when I last had cheesy corn chips!
Vege Deli Crisps - Chia tasted like prawn crackers to me. Really addictive! From Woolworths also.
These are the vegan cheeses I go while in Australia from IGA, Coles and Woolworths.
Bio Cheese is always good, a nice block/sliced cheese for sandwiches or crackers.
Sprout & Kernel tree nut cheese - Herb Nut Cheese was a nice spreadable cheese from Thomas Dux.
I don't remember where I got the Follow Your Heart Parmesan but I prefer the shredded version they have in the States.
With cheese must go a fruit paste of course! This Tuckers Fruit Paste from IGA was even marked vegan and had two separate serves which was great.
Toddler/Baby Items
The Baby Puffs went down fairly well but he wasn't loving the Rice cakes, not sure why. They were overly sweet which maybe he didn't like as much as savoury.
I always eat my body weight in vegan chocolate biscuits when I'm back in my homeland because the States really doesn't offer anything like these in terms of gluten free & vegan. The Woolworths brand is now doing a Tim Tam, Mint Slice & Oreo version and of course the go to is always Leda's version of Tim Tams and Mint Slice (IGA) which I prefer but only slightly ;)
I ALWAYS get Suzy Spoons vegan meats when I'm in Sydney. They are now available in a few health stores which is where I got mine but honestly at the prices they were charging it would have been cheaper to buy them directly from Suzy and pay the postage costs! Live and Learn! And eat lots of delicious vegan food ;)
A friend bought me these Blooming Beautiful bath bombs by Lush which was very sweet and were marked "vegan" :)
I saw someone post about these Alternative Meat Co. faux meats from Woolworths so I thought I'd give them a try. They are already pre-flavoured. I didn't love any of them because of the texture but the seasonings they used were nice. I think my preference would be the chicken, followed by the beef. I think the shredded pork should be left to mushroom or jackfruit!
Hand luggage full of snacks!!
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