Kilcunda

December 6-7, 2025

   

We had an overnight stay in Kilcunda this summer, motivated by a live music show at Archies Creek Hotel. The weather was pretty miserable (excepting a 20 minute period in which I took the above photo), but the eating was an unexpectedly bright spot.

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I looked past the name and booked us dinner at Udder & Hoe. It has a compact circular floor plan with an arc of floor-to-ceiling windows facing the (on our visit, very dreary) beach, and millennial-instagram vibes. We picked most of the vegetarian options across the menu - it doesn't explicitly mark dietary suitability but it's the kind of place that lists all the featured ingredients rather than naming dishes.

   

What we ate, we liked a lot. Sourdough came with sweet, fluffy Tenby Point honey butter ($8), and a flat little chickpea crumpet ($7) was topped with Prom Country feta and a tangle of pickled zucchini and fresh herbs. The same salad mix was teamed with radish and almonds, atop a burrata ($18) with a side of croutons. A third time, a pickled onion version garnished a deceptively small, very hearty mushroom and kale lasagne ($30). Lasagne isn't a summery food, but then this wasn't a particularly summery evening. It's probably for the best that we didn't order the side of organic salad leaf with pickled onion ($14). We skipped dessert but picked up a block of chocolate from their display of fancy groceries and trinkets.

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kgs' eclectic outdoor furniture looked abandoned on our evening walk, but the morning confirmed that it's a bright and very-much-in-business cafe. We started early and had our pick of the more carefully curated indoor furniture and booth seating. The menu covers off on the breakfast classics, and leans towards burgers and wraps for lunch. Again, we relied on ingredient lists and not markers for dietary interpretation. I chose a cosy plate of sourdough crumpets ($19) teamed with tangy strawberry-rhubarb compote and yoghurt plus a toasted oat crumb. Michael tried the on-trend hot honey toast ($17.50), which actually featured smashed avocado, Danish feta and a bit of chilli. 

   

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While we didn't get to enjoy Kilcunda's beach as we might have hoped, the catering far exceeded my expectations... all the more reason to come back when the forecast improves.

Miss Moses

November 29, 2025

   

We've visited Brunswick bar Miss Moses a few times over the years for live music, trivia and food, but this is its first appearance on the blog. It's had decent vegetarian options as long as I've been visiting, and it currently offers a full page vegan menu separate from its mainstream menu. Dairy-free and gluten-free options are also well-marked (although the kitchen is not guaranteed coeliac-compliant). There's a lot to choose from: little snacks like pickles and olives; classic fried sides like chips, onion rings and potato cakes; tortilla chips, the now-ubiquitous cauliflower 'wings'; a couple of tacos, seven burgers, and three counter meals. That they were out of mock-fish on this day was disappointing but hardly limiting.

   

Michael chose the Spicy Chook burger ($23); the chicken tenders were doused in a tasty gochujang hot sauce, though Michael could've taken it hotter. It's teamed with pretty classic pickles, aioli and lettuce, then a serve of very decent chips.

   

I was still eating more mindfully than usual, and figured the chicken burrito bowl ($25) was my safest option. I picked my way carefully, focusing on the bed of rice, slaw, corn, beans and salsa; nibbling at the juicy seitan and tortilla chips, spreading the guacamole around judiciously. This was a great plate, and in other circumstances I would have forked it up with great enthusiasm.

I'm not currently in my pub era, but should I ever get back there, Miss Moses will be highly ranked.

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Folks on The Chicken Scene were underwhelmed by the fried chicken burger.

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Miss Moses

581 Sydney Rd, Brunswick

8374 7825

standard menu, vegan menu 

https://www.missmoses.com.au/

Accessibility: Entry is flat and there's a clear corridor through the centre. Furniture is medium spaced; a mixture of low tables with backed seats and high tables with backless stools. We ordered and paid at a high bar. We didn't visit the toilets, but we noticed that they're located up a full flight of stairs.

Shaved ice summer

November 24 - December 8, 2025

   

So my little errand was to pick up a $10 ice shaver that was advertised on facebook marketplace. This idea had been churning in the back of my mind since before I encountered several excellent specimens in Taipei. You see, we'd arranged for a noodle-themed potluck with our vegan pals, and I was plotting cendol for dessert. I had the non-perishable ingredients purchased from KFL and stocked in our pantry at least a month in advance: the box of cendol, some sweet canned jackfruit, sweet red beans, toddy palm seeds, grass jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar.

   

The ice shaver took a couple of goes to get the hang of, was particular about the ice shapes I put in, and was loud. But it worked! I layered up my cendol ingredients and crowned them with feather-light ice shards shot through with palm sugar syrup. I had enough ingredients to last several weeks, and I experimented with different serving vessels - the plastic bowl in the second photo became a favourite. This was quick enough to arrange that I could whip one up for afternoon tea on a work-from-home day.

   

Once I'd exhausted my cendol supplies, I experimented with other fruits (while continuing to make palm sugar syrup - it's really good!). I made pandan-infused coconut jelly set with agar in my silicon cupcake trays, and teamed it with watermelon or mango. I've experimented a little with flavoured cordials, and have a can of lychees in the cupboard waiting for their moment - I just think they'd be great with lemon, lime and bitters! It's shaped up to be my shaved ice summer.

My Asian Neighbour

November 22, 2025

   

Back in Melbourne, we had a little errand to run in Reservoir, and it was a nice excuse to visit My Asian Neighbour for a sunny daylight-savings dinner. This venue is cheery and sprawling, with indoor seating, a courtyard bar, and astroturfed street-side outdoor seating - we picked the latter. The Indonesian menu is extensive, with lots of well-marked vegan and gluten-free options.

   

My digestive system was still a little delicate, and I decided that the Gado Gado ($25) might be safest option. 'Safe' couldn't get more joyful than this bright bowl of contrasting colour and textures - the classic hard-boiled egg, potatoes, green beans, bean sprouts and tofu were layered with satay sauce, a snowstorm of crushed garlic crackers, and a generous drizzle of sweet dark soy sauce.

   

Michael's no-holds-barred Nasi Campur Banquet ($35) was an even greater sight to behold, with a corn fritter, a tempe fritter, deep-fried eggplant, a trail of rich rendang curry, a medley of fresh veges, garlic crackers and a bowl of dark sweet soy sauce all clamouring around a hefty mound of rice. Only the sambal was really fiery, so it was possible to measure out the heat to taste.

   

The staff were a mixture of experienced and efficient with new and eager-to-learn. We weren't left wanting... unless you mean wanting the stomach space for dessert. I've got my eye on the pandan pancake for next time.

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My Asian Neighbour

760 Plenty Rd, Reservoir

9470 5481

entrees, sides & specialties; mains & desserts; drinks

https://myasianneighbour.com.au/

Accessibility: In short, a bit chaotic. There's a lip on the door and a crowded-looking interior (we didn't explore far). Outdoors there's a medium-density mixture of high tables with backless stools and regular-height, not-so-sturdy tables with those pinchy metal chairs (booo). We ordered at our table and paid at a regular-height counter inside. We didn't visit the toilets.

Taipei II

November 10-12, 2025

   

The second half of our time in Taiwan didn't go quite to plan. Our intended outdoorsy excursions were washed away, and then I had a health issue that limited my mobility and eating. (Happily, I received timely and affordable medical care!) Here are some fun foods that fit into our plan Bs and Cs.

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After our cycling tour was cancelled, we roamed the Songshan District for a late breakfast and found Miss Qin's Soy Milk. This breakfast restaurant had English menus available at the counter, a bustling takeaway service, and simple seating for those of us seeking to stay a while. I've never been an enthusiastic soymilk drinker, but in Taipei I felt ready to give it a proper try. We ordered a sesame and an almond soy milk (TW$50 ~ AU$2), which were a fun, sweet way in. Michael also grabbed a pancake with fried bread/doughnut and egg (TW$60 ~ AU$3), recalling the jianbing we were so fond of in China.

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Our accommodation was close to the Main train station, and often the easiest way to make our way out of it was via the QSquare shopping centre. The Happy Cow app helpfully brought to our attention that Minder Vegetarian sat within its food court. It's another pay-by-weight spot, more compact than Three To, while still managing to fit in numerous vegetables, mock meats and fried treats. We had a convenient and tasty lunch for two sorted for TW$300 (~ AU$14).

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Little Tree Food is another vegetarian food court option, worth making a purposeful trip to Diamond Towers for dinner. I was mostly drawn to them for the fresh vegetables, and they had a really nice way with them. We started with Mexican grilled corn (TW$240 ~ AU$11), lightly buttered and dusted with parmesan, chilli, Sichuan pepper and lemon. The avocado macro bowl (TW$420 ~ AU$19) provided exactly the greenery I needed, with delicate zucchini ribbons nestled among micro greens, edamame and avocado. Some quinoa, a really tasty green fried rice, and flavoured chickpeas formed a lower, more filling, layer. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese puttanesca pasta (TW$420 ~ AU$19) took Michael by surprise - here, the usual spaghetti and tomato were teamed with pickled melon, preserved plum, sour long beans and Thai basil.

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Fu Hang Soy Milk is a well-known spot for breakfast in Taipei, and our accommodation offered pre-orders for delivery to reception each morning - no need to queue! For TW$350 (~AU$16), we sampled a sweet soy milk, a savoury soy milk, a thick omelette with fried dough and a savoury rice ball. Our Miss Qin experience had us well-primed for the sweet soy milk, and the omelette/doughnut combo was puffier than the similar rolls we've eaten before, a much higher ratio of bread to egg. The firmly-packed savoury rice ball was a hearty and well-seasoned combination of rice and egg with pork floss in the centre (whoops). Most novel for us was the savoury soy milk. The use of vinegar causes slight curdling, and there were generous hunks of doughnut included. It's not pretty, but it is salty, savoury and comforting - a bit challenging for me at breakfast time though I reckon I'd enjoy it for lunch.

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I needed to rest for most of our last full day in Taipei, but in the afternoon I worked up the strength to revisit Dihua Street. I browsed Yong Le Fabric Market and picked myself a souvenir, then met Michael at MISS SHIBA Cafe, named after the darling dog that lives there. Lucky for me, they specialised in shaved ice desserts, something that felt safe for my digestion! The lightest option with a mandarin orange theme (TW$190 ~ AU$9) was a winner - a huge, carefully constructed mound of shaved ice soaked with black tea syrup and mandarin juice, topped with mandarin segments and a garnishing squirt of cream. Beneath was a heart of konjac jelly and mandarin. We gradually figured out how to angle our way into a food that ballooned out of its serving dish, and I didn't feel any envy over the richer dishes that others were ordering. The cafe was cute, cosy and quiet, an ideal spot to take it easy.

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Since our time in Taipei trailed off a bit, we're left with a sense of all the things we'd like to return and try in future. I hope there's a second chance to visit ahead for us, so that we can appreciate Taiwan more fully.