So the best thing ever happened the other night: a vegan meetup at LH Northcote <3
I have been waiting for a meetup to happen for AGES: every time some awesome vegan event/potluck/picnic is on, I’m either working-training-working-sick-busy-ugh, I ALWAYS miss out! I’m still seething over the fact I missed World Vegan Day last year… the f--?
If you haven’t heard of Loving Hut, they’re everywhere all over the world. Menus differ from restaurant to restaurant, but all of the LH restaurants are #fullyvegan and serve an entire plant based asian-y kind of spread. It was one of the first vegan places I discovered and my mum who isn’t vegan worships at their door. Lot’s of great options! I didn’t get a photo with the girls (next time!) but I met up with a group of people from the La Trobe University Animal Rights society who have monthly gatherings and work on different projects or organise to attend rallys or vegan events. And no, I don’t study at La Trobe Uni, though I DO work there… shhhhh.
This was my little something for the evening :) It had actually been so long since I’d been to Loving Hut Northcote that I had no clue what to order, especially when trying to look for the lowest oil options AND I arrived late so I tried to order something quickly. I ended up with the
>>Steamed Rice Rolls with Mushroom Mince $8.00<<
>>Turnip Kale Salad $10.00<<
The rice rolls were popular across the table, most people ordered them and pretty shortly our table was filled with curries, fried ‘chickn’, laksas, soups and me being the little greenie ordered the only salad haha. So awesome to meet up with like minded people, and so enlightening to know that there are so many vegans around!
>>Turnip Kale Salad with Agave Dressing<<
This salad is so so so damn good. I am really not a salad eater and I struggle to encourage myself to chew on bits of lettuce and raw veggies (unless they’re cucumbers!) but this is my exception. If I had a personal chef this would be on the menu every night so that I get my greens in! Its pretty much just finely chopped curly green kale, shredded celery, shredded green and red cabbage, shredded turnip (?), and an agave-sweet chili dressing that just soaks into the veggies and makes them taste awesome. I finish this entire salad easily on my own, no complaints. Just be careful, sometimes clingy kale can make your smile a bit scary… do the quick “ooh I’m checking my phone” reflection-tooth-mirror-check.
Though $10 is a little pricey for a salad if you’re ordering a main as well but it’s super tasty if you’re just after something light. I usually order the Loving Hut sushi with the salad and that makes a meal for me.
>>Steamed Rice Rolls with Mushroom Mince<<
Now when I ordered these, I had no idea what they were going to be, and though they were pretty delicious, for me personally they were probably a mistake. I used to love these rolled vietnamese rice noodles as a kid. It was my favourite summer treat when my mum would bring some home and we’d eat them cold with some sort of sauce and shredded raw veggies. I think the ones I used to eat had dried prawns in them, which would gross me out now, but these were filled with TVP (textured vegetable protein) I think, definitely wasn’t fresh mushrooms. I’m not a fan of mushrooms, so these were fine, but they were a bit oily (as I now remember they are oiled so they don’t stick together) and they were topped with fried onions which are definitely OFF the menu for someone like me. I did finish them, a bit more oil than usual isn’t going to KILL you, but I don’t think I’d order them again. I have a feeling my mum would like them, I’d order them for her. SHE doesn’t have acne :(
What an awesome night. I love meeting new people, especially if they’re vegan like me! It’s so easy to feel super alone when you first go vegan-- and even still many years later! I’m not one of the lucky ones who are surrounded by like minded friends and family and it can definitely be a bit isolating sometimes. Vegan meetups are a great way to make some new friends and also just to show yourself that the world is definitely seeing some change happen within the animal rights movement. Remind yourself that you are doing a good thing: not only for your own health but for the planet, the animals, and the way humanity sees the world. We can do this :) #bethechange
That was also a quick little visit to LH, I’ll definitely be back to explore more of their menu!
Loving Hut 377-379 High St Northcote, VIC Ph: 03 9427 8916 Completely Vegan, Gluten free options, authentic chinese/asian