My first three days in Melbourne were wonderful, filled as they were with friends, food, singing, new shoes, and much laughter.
But none of that was why I booked the trip to Melbourne. The real reason was that, last year, a certain Canadian blogger announced that she’d be visiting Australia during her world trip. I suggested meeting up, but didn’t really think it would happen. After all, this blogger was – and is – amazing, inspiring, vibrant, and beloved-by-so-many that I honestly didn’t think she’d even know who I was, let alone want to go gallivanting with me.
Except she did, and she did, and that’s how I ended up spending two perfect, perfect days with Lisa. Lisa, my (to borrow words from her post about our adventures, because I can’t think of better) long-lost soulmate.
Lisa and I were to to start our double-day-date at Vegie Bar, which Dan assured me was an easy walk away: “Leave the house, cross the road, turn left, find [a particular] road, then walk straight until you hit Brunswick Street”. However, because I am very clever, I left the house, crossed the road, turned right, got lost, and was late to Vegie Bar.
Luckily, though, Lisa was also running late (see? long-lost soulmates). After an excited hug, we settled down in Vegie Bar’s sun-lit courtyard. We knew we’d be ordering from the daily Raw Food Specials menu, for while I’m an excited novice in the world of raw vegan delights, Lisa is one of its queens. (She’s taught raw vegan classes across Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, not to mention in her native Toronto, and I’m certain that no one could leave a class of hers without feeling enthusiastic about raw food. She’s that effervescent and inspiring.)
You’ll have to forgive the lack of detailed food notes; I was too caught up in the incredible, exhilarating, wonderful feeling that is connecting with someone at a level that lifts your heart and soul, yet also feels like comfort, to focus on tasting notes.
We shared two dishes, the first of which was the Raw Pizza. The flax and seed base was more delicate in texture and flavour than I expected, but worked really nicely with the rich sweet raw tomato sauce, creamy avocado, brine-y olives, and fresh basil.
Vegie Bar’s Raw Falafel Salad, however, was the clear winner. Of the day, of the week, of my life. (Hyperbole? Me?) The crunchy-but-not-dry crumbled falafel made of nuts, seeds and spices, combined with the coconut sour cream, nut-based “parmesan cheese”, fresh salad mix, and surely not a little bit of pixie dust, tasted exactly like I remember falafel feasts at Middle Eastern restaurants tasting, except better: more zingy, more vibrant, richer, more energising.
After lunch, Lisa and I decided to do exactly what we both love to do whilst travelling, which is walk for hours, exploring. (And, in this case, talkingtalkingtalking.) We poked around Books for Cooks, Trippy Taco, shoe stores (in the hopes of finding vegan shoes), and every health or grocery store we wandered past.
We found a Secret Room, but I can’t tell you what was in there.
It’s a secret.
After a good hour or so of wandering in the summer heat, I started dreaming of something refreshing. Lisa and I ducked into a little organic store, and oh! Oh! Oh!
Kombucha! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw bottles of this adored-by-American-and-Canadian-health-bloggers’ drink in the store’s fridge, because I was under the impression it wasn’t available in Australia. I bought it for a bit of a laugh, as I’ve read of people “forcing” themselves to drink Kombucha. I didn’t really expect to like it.
With my first sip, I fell utterly, utterly in love. Hand over heart, Kombucha is one of the best drinks I’ve ever tasted (along with coffee and water; I’m a simple girl). It’s fizzy, tangy, sweet-yet-sour, amazing. I understand why people mightn’t like its vinegar-y flavour, but I used to drink white vinegar straight as a kid so this is pretty much the drink of my heart.
I even drank the scoby. Lisa, weren’t you proud of me?
Suitably refreshed by our magical Ginger Kombucha elixir, Lisa and I continued traversing the Collingwood area. At a certain point, though, I listened to my soulmate intuition and quietly asked Lisa, who was staying somewhere without Internet, whether she might like to relax at my brother’s place and check her emails.
It’s always good to trust your intuition. It was Lisa’s idea to buy a plethora of Aussie-grown fruit on the way to my brother’s place and make ourselves fruit platters fit for royalty, which just goes to show that it’s good to trust another’s intuition, too.
The Fruit Gods were clearly on our side that day, because everything here – mango, pineapple, cherries, white nectarines, red plums, passionfruit – was the epitome of sweet, tangy, crisp, fruit deliciousness.
It was a fittingly sweet end to a wonderful day, and the only reason I let Lisa get on the tram afterwards was knowing we were meeting again the next day. But that’s a story for another post.
How nice to meet someone through your blog and then really click with them.
Lisa sounds awesome! I hope she liked Australia
Of course she would with such beautiful company. And amazing eats!!! Man, veggie bar, must get there stat!! I’m still coming around to kombucha…had it in the states. let’s just say that is wasn’t love at first sip for me….
Heidi xo
I think I can safely say she loved it here! Now I just have to figure out how to get her here permanently, or at least once a year
Teehee, it’s funny how some people have to “come around” to Kombucha, whereas the second it touched my lips I was all OHMYGODIWANTTODRINKTHISFOREVER.
Ahem.
Sounds like another fabulous day! That fruit platter looks delicious, I haven’t seen a passion fruit that full for a long time. Please, please, please share where you found that Kombucha …
I would if I could, but we walked so much and for so long that I really can’t say.
Is there a Smith Street in that area? If there is, then it was a store somewhere near there… I’m sorry I can’t help more!
You already know how I feel about this meetup – so, so happy for you both, yet so, so envious! Lisa is a absolute doll, and one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met – and I know that when I meet YOU, I’ll feel the same way.
I’m not at all surprised you liked the kombucha! I was wary of the vinegariness (?) at first, but I grew to love it. If you ever see kvass or water kefir, you must try some – I like them even better than kombucha!
And that day is getting closer, closer, closer, TALISMAN! Though I can’t book until you plan things for sure, m’dear! *hint hint*
Teehee, see? This is two out of two people so far who’ve admitted to needing to grow to like Kombucha. Love at first sip for me
But you’re mean for taunting me with those other drinks when I can’t even get this Kombucha in Canberra!
September 8th, 2012. Just booked it last week.
OMG OMG! *flippity-flap dances around in excitement* Okay. Okay! Serious thoughts now!
Lady, we need to skype!
I think the most wonderful friends are those with who you have sufficient things in common to be connected, but are different enough to still inspire each other.
Yay for the kombucha! It looks very yellow, I’m used to rather reddish one. At least the one I like is the rather reddish one, whereas the yellow one I found over here was … not something I would need to have a second time. Your faces tell that Melbourne also has good *yellow* kombucha, though.
But YUCK you drank the scoby?!?!!?!?! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Happened to me once, accidentally. Still makes me shudder when I think of it. (I know, I’m a sensitive little animal, lalala.)
That’s a lovely way of putting it
Oh, my kingdom for enough varieties of kombucha to be able to discriminate based on colour! 
(Okay, okay, I know you truly mean flavour…) I can’t get it at all in Canberra though 
Teehee, oh my heavens, you are such a princess!
Give me your scoby, I’ll drink it!
What a fantastic day you two had! And who doesn’t love Lisa?? So glad you like the kombucha, too–I had the same experience the first time I tried it (instant love).
Ricki, you might like to know that Lisa told me exactly that! She said she was the one who introduced you to Kombucha for the first time, and that you loved it, and in that moment I felt we three were truly and wonderfully connected
xo
Oh how wonderful… I LOVE Lisa’s blog, she comes across via the internet exactly how you describe her in person. Mojo Kombucha is GOOD, no? Perhaps if I do a drive down to Sydney at some stage, I will make a detour and come + visit YOU and bring you your own little culture so you can make you own kombucha glory… it’s so ridiculously easy and you can make so many amazing flavours. I’ve got a cranberry+ elderflower brewing, and a fejoya+ apricot.
What a lovely time you had in Melbourne… oh I love Smith Street, I used to go to that grocery store where you found the kombucha all the time, sigh I miss Melbourne.
Oh yes please, yes please, I think you should definitely do that RIGHT THIS INSTANT. You really make it yourself? Zomg! I’m too scared to even sprout quinoa, but I love kombucha so much I might just find the courage
That grocery store also had the So Delicious Coconut Milk; I was squealing all over the shop!
Dude, it’s SO easy…. like it’s so silly it’s so easy. You just need the scoby (culture) then just brew some super sugary tea, chuck the weird flying alien stingray culture thingy in, and leave it for 1-2 weeks. BOOM… kombucha joy. If you know any hippies in Canberra, there will be someone brewing kombucha with little culture babies that you could steal… otherwise you’ll have to wait for me to do a mission your way (maybe August?).
Dam, I have a massive jar with a million little brew-babies and no one that wants any!
I tried the Chocolate So Delicious in Sydney, and it was just that, So Delicious! I think I squeaked when I saw it
AAAAAAH!!! Why do people keep saying they’ll come to Canberra in August?! I may not be here then! Please, please come earlier? *pouts/wheedles/smiles/entice/begs*
I want, I want, I want little weird flying alien stingray culture thingy brew-babies!
Hi just wondering where you tried the so delicious in Sydney? Been looking for it everywhere! Would be a big help! Thank you
Hi! Yip I found it round the Northern Beaches…. there’s a small health food store in Avalon that stocks it
At last a report of your day. We are a patient lot, your readers. Sounds a wonderful day.
One more to come
Though if I remember correctly, you weren’t at all interested in being in contact with me while I was actually in Melbourne. Harrumph.
oooh how very delicious indeed!
I like everything about this post. So happy you have found kombucha! I’ve been drinking it soo often lately. Yay for going to Vegie Bar. I miss that place so much! Pretty much anything you get there is good. Hopefully you got some nice strolling and window shopping done along Brunswick
Aw, squish!
In some ways it’s actually a terrible thing that I found kombucha, because now I have to live without it while knowing how amazing it is. Sadface!
P.S. I still feel cranky that I never got to Melbourne while you were there!
How I wish you were here with me in Honolulu. We would be strolling and sipping our way around this beautiful city. I will never forget our double-date in Melbourne but I hope we will add many more memories very soon.
Thank you for coming to Melbourne for our meet-up, finding my lost-long soul mate made all the long flights, bus trips and train miles worth it.
xoxo
Oh darling, being in Honolulu with you would be the most wonderful, wonderful thing! (I’m sure it’s happening on some sort of magical dream-plane of existence, too.) I cannot wait to create more joyful memories with you, and I know in my heart that it’s not a matter of hoping, but simply of planning.
After all, I have to pledge devotion at the Anne shrine to get my hands on the best maple syrup, and I only want to do that with you. xo
What a heart warming story. I’m so pleased you had an amazing day.
You used to drink white vinegar when you were a child??!! Yep, you are certainly unique! :p
Yep, I drank white vinegar straight and ate capers by the spoonful too
My party trick in high school was eating whole chillies. To be fair, though, that last didn’t always end with me looking impressive. 
Oh, I’m so happy you were finally able to try Kombucha! Isn’t it just a life-changing experience? That first sip–head over heels in love, I sure know the feeling. All that raw food sure does look delicious, too!
-Ali.
I’ve fallen in love and now I can’t have it anymore! Boo!
What a super awesome day! That food sounds amazing, this raw food thing is inspiring. Plus that drink – I’m a vinegar drinker too, let me know if you find it in the ‘Berra.
But what I really want to know is what was in the secret room?!
If I told you, I’d have to kill you.
(I’m kidding, any federal police reading this blog. I’m a kidder.)
I want all of it – ALL OF IT, I tell you!
…..and that ‘secret room’ reminds me so much of the Social Roasting Company’s little courtyard in Flemington…. *sniffle*…
*hands over tissue* There there, dear one! Just think: Social Roasting Company was much further from Paris than you are now.
I want some of that fruit and to spend hours in books for cooks and the vegie bar – all sounds like an excellent day – am also interested to know what Lisa thought of the vegie bar’s raw food given her raw food pedigree! that falafel sound amazing to me!
Lisa posted about Vegie Bar herself, I’ll make sure to link to it in my next post about our adventures
It would be so easy to lose hours in Books for Cooks!
Ahh so this is the reason for your visit! Aha! The plot thickens
Looks like you had a great time! 
I have very, very thick plots.
Man, that made no sense.
That falafel salad looks friggin’ amazing!
It was one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth.
All sounds incredibly wonderful! This Melbourne trip is becoming more fairytale-esque every update and I’m becoming almost concerned that in the conclusion you’ll announce you’ve been adopted into an overseas, fully-stocked-with-exotic-chocolates-all-the-time family, and never returning. Sob.
Oh, how I wish! But alas, no, the fairytale ends in a distinctly non-fairytale manner. No overseas adoption, no white knight, just me in me office with ever-strengthening wanderlust… sob.
I’ve never had kombucha from the store, but I used to have a nice li’l culture of my own. I KILLED MY MOTHER wahhhhhhh!! My mushroom mother, not my mummy mother.
Knowing nothing of this raw food trend business thingamajig, I am impressed by the piles of shenanigans on the plates that look and sound somewhat tasty. In that first picture the amount of food looks huge! Nearly as big as a mountain !
It would be very strange if you had killed your mummy mother, because then you would currently be conducting an elaborate ruse in which you log into a fake account and have conversations on your own blog with yourself as both your own mother and your own daughter.
Oh my gosh, it totally was a mountain! And so incredibly tasty and rich, seeing as so many of the components were made with various nuts and seeds in crazydelicious forms. Hurrah!
What a fun day! I’m not vegetarian but all that greenery looks a-mazing! The kombucha, the fruit, the greens….. my you guys are healthy!!!! (Never mind the chocolate addiction right!?)
Or the fact that I ate half a jar of PB&Co White Chocolate Peanut Butter with a spoon at 11pm last night
great that you were able to connect with a blogger friend and could become such good friends. sounds like an amazing day! i love kombucha too, its quite expensive though!! but every once i a while i like to splurge on a yummy coconut water or kombucha! mhmm
Thank you; it was such a lovely day! And kombucha is definitely worth splurging on. I only wish we had it here in Canberra!
I wanna go to a secret room! Glad you were able to try kombucha. I’m not a big fan but I’ve only tried it once so I might give it another shot
It was love at first sip for me! Maybe I could just drink all of the kombucha in your city on your behalf?
Oh this looks so good!
I really wish winter was over and we’d have more fresh veggies and fruit available…
I really like Kombucha, and even more the Kombucha fresh version (Kombucha with added water), one of the most refreshing drinks I know.
It’ll be your turn for summer fruit before long, and then I’ll be the one complaining about lack of plums and nectarines
But still, we won’t be able to call ananas a local fruit
Ah, you continue to amaze me. You love chocolate. I love chocolate. You love vinegar. I love vinegar!
So glad you were able to have a wonderful time with Lisa. And that food at Vegie Bar! WOW! I want some. 
Yep, we’re pretty much the same person.
I think veggie bar must be a bit schizophrenic… maybe it is one of those places that really depends on what you order, or who did the cooking. I went once and it was meh, I have heard of some people having yuck experiences, but other people rave about it! Maybe it also matters the company you’re with?
I’ve got that impression about Vegie Bar too. Also, I have the most BATGUANO crazy story from my first time at Vegie Bar. It was pre-blog, but I’ve always meant to blog it. I think I have photos, so I really should…
Bat guano! Lolz!
Well, one mustn’t swear on one’s blog.
I’m actually surprised I love kombucha so much because it tastes like vinegar- one of the foods I hate the most! I would buy it more often but it’s SO flippin’ expensive. The only time I’ve bought it has been on sale!
I’ll drink all your vinegar, you eat all my orange chocolate?
Mojo kombucha eh! It must have magical charms and qualities. A bit like your relationship with your new soulmate. Next time you and Lisa are toasting each other (with a heel click on your kombuchas) across the oceans, you might like to think of the magical qualities of your new mojo friendship – not that WOULD be worth bottling. Can’t wait to hear how the next day went in Melbourne. And I hope you can encourage Lisa to come to Canberra sometime to hear you sing.
*now* that would be worth bottling (sorry)
Thanks Mike; I’d love her to come visit! I wouldn’t make her listen to me sing though
Awww, what a heart warming story to hear you can find your soul mate who lives on the other side of the world! Sounds you had an amazing, fun and friend filled Melbourne holiday.
Thank you April!
Each time I go to Melbourne, it gets better and better and the need to move there grows and grows…
Wow, how awesome! Meeting bloggers from the other side of the world?! How wonderful this connected world we live in is! I love wandering around Brunswick and Smith St…!
Teehee! One of the first bloggers I met was Camille in Paris, so yes, I am most certainly grateful for this interconnected [blogging] world of ours
Next time you’re in that area, please have a Kombucha for me!
Hoorah x 3 for blogger friends! So intrigued by Kombucha, will keep a sharp eye out for it from now on.
I rather love the secret door, it reminds me of Enid Blyton books – now I know you didn’t read those as a young ‘un but know there were lots of secret doors!
Laura-laura-laura, I love you for so many reasons, but remembering and highlighting that I didn’t read Enid Blyton is definitely one of them.
I think secret doors existed in many wonderful works of children’s literature, though! Or secret places in the forest, or in a haystack, or…
Rather envious of your city food/friend day. What gorgeous platter, I’m am starved!!! And all those warm bare shoulders, here so seriously cold.
Warm bare burnt shoulders, mind you. Somehow you and I need to find a happy medium
Still not connected in Melbourne! Looks like such a grand day. How wonderful to meet up with so many blogger friends.
Those meals look amazing
I have one more post about Melbourne/Lisa, but I keep putting it off because then it really feels over!
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