New England "Lobster" Rolls

 I'm pretty obsessed with Best Medicine right now (the American remake of one of my favourite British shows Doc Martin) and they are always talking about New England Lobster Rolls. I've never had a real one but my BFF tells my this recipe hits all the points taste wise. From Purple Carrot meals.

Even though I've been eating GF for over 20 years, I've recently discovered that European flour is different and I can stomach breads made in Spain, Italy and France. Pictured is Cristal Bread from Spain (Fresh Market).

New England "Lobster" Rolls

Ingredients

14oz Heart of Palm, drained and roughly chopped

1 Tbls Old Bay Seasoning

1 shallot, chopped very fine (I used a 1/2 sweet onion)

1 celery stalk thinly sliced

2-4 Tbls chipped fresh dill

Juice of 1/2 lemon (keep other half for wedges to serve)

1/4 vegan mayo

1 Tbls capers

2 vegan buns

Salt & Pepper

1 tsp Olive oil

Method

Preheat oven to 450F. I used my air fryer on bake mode.

Combine the Heart of Palm, olive oil and pinch of salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.

Add to a lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 mins.

Meanwhile in a mixing bowl combine onion, celery, dill, lemon juice, mayo, capers and salt & pepper to taste.

Once Heart of Palm is done, add to mayo mixture and combine.

Toast your buns so they have a crunchy coating, using brushed oil or not.

Divide the mixture between both buns and serve with a lemon wedge.

King Oyster Mushroom “Scallops”

Original recipe from Veggie Society. These were so delicious. I served them with some GF fettuccini.

King Oyster Mushroom “Scallops”

Ingredients

1 lb King Oyster Mushrooms

4 Tbsp vegan butter (or olive oil) I used Miyoko’s European

1 tsp olive oil

3-4 cloves garlic grated

1 pinch sweet paprika

1/4 cup Italian parsley chopped

1/2 lemon + extra wedges for serving

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 tsp olive oil

Method

Preheat a seasoned cast iron skillet over medium low heat. 

Coat it with a thin layer of olive oil.

Slice the king oyster mushroom stems into 1 inch thick rounds and pat dry. 

Brush or spray one side of the oyster mushroom rounds with olive oil then season with a pinch of sea salt, black pepper and sweet paprika. 

Use your hand to spread the spices all over the top.

Add the mushrooms to the hot skillet seasoned side down. 

Cook for approximately 2 minutes per side until golden brown. 

Meanwhile season the other side with salt, pepper and a tiny pinch of paprika. 

Flip and cook another 2 minutes or so, then transfer to a bowl and keep warm.

Add the vegan butter (or a mix of vegan butter ad olive oil) to the skillet you cooked the mushrooms in. 

Mix in the grated garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 

Squeeze in the lemon and add the parsley then transfer the "vegan scallops” back into the sauce. 

Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve hot over mashed potatoes or pasta.

Dirty Dry Pickle Martini

 So I know this sounds disgusting (and if you’re not a fan of pickles then it probably is to you). I felt like a dry martini one day and I didn’t have any olives in the fridge so I experimented with pickle juice instead it was amazing! Agin probably only if you like dill pickles flavored stuff but YUM! (Yes I know this is wine goblet but I broke my martini glasses in my move recently and they were also blue glass which would an interesting picture)

Dirty Dry Pickle Martini

(Makes two)

Ingredients 

80mls vodka (or gin if you prefer)

30mls dry vermouth 

1/2 -1 cup pickle juice (I prefer Vlasic brand)

Method

Add to a cocktail shaker with ice and pour, straining out the ice and serve.

Australia Trip 2025!

 I got to go home and visit friends and family in December and wanted to share the vegan products, foods and restaurants I visited! So unfortunately I didn't get to venture out to the actual vegan restaurants which tend to be a little further away from where I was staying but I did find some great options places (mostly on the North Shore).

I was very blessed with the spot I was staying where I could go on lovely walks every morning.

Sushi Train - Neutral Bay (really in Cremorne)

Just near where we were staying was a Sushi Train which my 9-year old who loves sushi had never experiences so we ate there around 10 times during our stay LOL! Luckily the vegan options were plenty - you can order from the menu any plates that aren't coming around and they have an entirely vegan sushi tray for order!

The Oaks Hotel

The Oaks Hotel, Neutral Bay is a pub with a large beer garden with a stunning oak tree in the middle providing much needed shade. They had two very delicious vegan/gluten free items on the menu at Alala's Bar.

Roasted pumpkin pizza, mushroom, eggplant & coconut feta (gluten free base was vegan too)

-sorry no pic!!-

Dukkah spiced Cauliflower steak pistachio, chilli, dried currant & cauliflower purée.

I Love Pho at Crows Nest had a couple of vegan choices, I got the Vegan Hotpot

Squires Landing Brewhouse - Circular Quay

Upstairs in the restaurant they kindly make me vegan gluten free options! Friend Zucchini Flowers and Vegetable Pasta :)

Gorgeous views!

Green Gourmet

Although the St Leonard's location has moved to Lane Cove and is only doing catering and grocery pick up I was so happy to still be able to find their homemade vegan vegan sauce. It's better than anything else I've tried and perfect for so many Asian dishes! If you're in Newtown, Sydney they have a vegan yum cha (dim sum) restaurant!

The Belrose Hotel

They had a great vegan and gluten free mushroom, roast pumpkin and feta pizza. They also had an excellent indoor kid's play area so the kids were well occupied! 

Mona Vale Hotel

Sorry I forgot a pic but they have a vegan GF pizza that was great!!

The Zest's Garden

I met one of my close friends up on the Northern Beaches, I got on the B1 bus and walked from the Narrabeen stop about 10mins along Narrabeen Lagoon to a Thai place called The Zest's Garden. It was so cute and although not specifically on the menu they were able to make most menu items vegan and gluten free. I had the salt and pepper tofu and chilli basil stir fry with tofu. 

Tarboosh Lebanese Kitchen

My dad took me to a Lebanese place in Crows Nest called Tarboosh and they had some vegan/GF men items. I had the Maghmour Tagine (Eggplant, chickpea, cooked in garlic, onion & capsicum spiced tomato sauce served with basmati rice).

Went to Manly Beach on my birthday and we had takeout avocado sushi rolls, then vegan ice-cream from Ben & Jerry's.

Groceries

The first place I have to point out is the Vegan Grocery Store located under Town Hall, Sydney. Even though I didn't get there myself (ironically I was right in the area an didn't know it existed) my amazing brother and sister-in-law got me all manner of delicious goodies from there! They got the cheeses, rocky road chocolate and fruit mince pies from there. I brought the Maggie Beer quince paste from IGA.

Gorgeous starters with vegan cheese from Delectio Brie, Artisa Freycinet (both from the Vegan Grocery Store) and The Vegan Dairy Red Bell Pepper, Maggie Beer Quice Paste and some great vegan GF crackers (all from IGA)

Damona vegan bocconcini bought from the Vegan Grocery Store!!

Vegan GF Rocky Road from the Vegan Grocery Store

GF Vegan Fruit Mince Pies by Foods of Athenry bought from the Vegan Grocery Store

This AMAZING GF vegan Black Forest Trifle was purchased from The Green Bakery!

I was a short walk from where I was staying was an IGA, Woolworths and Coles supermarket. All of them have upped their vegan game since my last stay!

I was a bit in love with this Meliora vegan ham and salami found at Woolworths!

I love Fry's vegan nuggets and these Rice Protein & Chia ones are the only gluten free offering - luckily I found them in Coles!

Unreal Co vegan sausages from Woolworths

These Wallaby original bites were vegan & GF and so good! From Woolworths. Some of the brands items were not vegan or GF but this one was both!

A friend bought me these Gingerbread Folk vegan GF chocolate gingerbread mini bunnies! Yes the packet is empty lol

These vegan Lindt & Bennetto chocolate bars were a gift and were divine!

Woolworths is a must for their own branded vegan gluten free Mint Slice Biscuits and 

Vegan Wine - of course super important subject. Every time I go back I discover something new and amazing and this time my favorites were the Chapel Hill Verdelho and Pikes Clare Valley Riesling. Other vegan wine brand I totally forgot about were Temple Breuer and Annie's Lane!

Pikes which runs AUS$31.99 in Australia I found on a couple of different websites in the US that ship to me in Florida. The best deal was Saratoga Wine which had it on sale for US$16/bottle and had free shipping with 12 bottles :)

Gary's Wine also carried it.