Addis Ababa Cafe

Addis has long been a favourite of mine. I was originally introduced to it by Jean, who lives just around the corner but i suspect would travel miles for this food if she had to! it was my ex-partner's favourite, and one of the few places where he could eat meat and i could eat decent vegetarian. Decent is an understatement, this food is really really good. It has spice, without the burning heat of some indian or thai food. Vego choices: Misir Wett (red split lentils cooked in spicy berbere sauce - this one does have a kick to it!), Yekik Alicha (yellow split peas cooked with onion turmeric and herbs - my personal favourite), and Fosolia (beans with carrots, garlic, ginger and onion). All of these are served with injera - Ethiopian bread made with fermented rice flour that has the texture of a crumpet but big and flat for scooping up the lentils and veg with a delicious tang to it - but this can be an acquired taste, particularly as it's unexpected and not a taste often found in western diets; it reminds me of sourdough bread.

The restaurant is expanding it's catering for vegos and vegans with a monthly vego/vegan banquet. I went last month with kirrilly, jean and carol for a feast of seven exclusively vegan dishes with injeras for $25 each. You don't have to worry that it might not be vego - everything is. The restaurant was packed - this place has great word of mouth. You can get emails on upcoming banquets by joining the Addis Ababa group on Facebook. At the banquet, there were the three standard vego offerings, a spinach dish, another spicy berbere dish this time with veg, a cabbage and potato dish, and a green lentil dish with hints of cardamom spice. We got a huge take home bag - take your loosest pants with you, there's no shortage of food! No desserts, i don't think these are part of the ethiopian food culture, but ethiopian coffee or tea for afters is delicious.

Sign up for the banquet notices, or call the number below for info, and take your friends, this is truly a vego delight!

462 Port Road, West Hindmarsh, 8241 5185

Viva Sustainable Foods

Viva Sustainable Foods has recently opened on Magill Road, located within a growing cluster of organic and alternative coffee, hair and food shops. I came away so inspired. The shop has a selection of organic products, including unusual ones like organic Asian noodles, and all it's packaging is biodegradable, but it's the food that I'll go back for again and again. If I'd had a trolley with me to carry it all home, i would have bought even more, but as it was i almost put my shoulder out carrying what i did buy, i just couldn't stop! They have artisan and Beach Organics bread - i first came across Beach Organics at Willunga Markets, given that's a long way from where i live, i'm delighted they are branching out, i also saw their stall at the Rundle Street Markets a couple of weeks ago - the sourdough bread is hearty and thick and deliciously sour and wheaty. To have with it, i bought goats labne, which is made by the owner's father. This was undoubtedly the best thing i've ever eaten - little soft rounds of yoghourty cheese, rolled in herbs (with just a touch of mint, genius) and garlic olive oil - slathered on the beach organic bread was divine. I drizzled the oil over pasta the next day, so not a single drop of this fantastic flavour was lost. i also bought pumpkin and almond soup with caramelised onions to take home for lunch - lovely combo. The shop has a host of take home food - vegan and vegetarian as well as meat. The day i was there i was incredibly tempted by the vegan shepherds pie in individual roast capsicums - but weight and space issues prevailed! The shop has a long shared table in a room behind for eating in lunch and dinner. i haven't eaten in yet, but on the basis of what i've had so far, i would certainly recommend it. Or take plenty of carrying bags and strong arms and stock up!

Viva Sustainable Food store on 349 Magill Rd, St Morris SA 5068, opening Hours are 9am-5.30pm, Tues-Sat