The end to 2016 is only a cornerstone away. I’m finding myself in deep thought about the celebrations that have occurred this year, along with the celebrations to come as Christmas inches closer by the day. When we celebrate an occasion, food is almost always a major part of it, just like the friends and relatives we invite to help us celebrate our best moments in life. The centrepiece for a birthday is always a birthday cake, a Christmas celebration is always surrounded by copious amounts of food and desserts including a Christmas pudding. Wedding anniversaries may involve getting dressed up to hit the town and enjoy a gourmet meal with a beloved, life-long partner.
In October this year, my husband and I celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary. Reflecting over these last ten years, I realised we have both celebrated our days together with countless meals cooked at so many restaurants both here in Melbourne, interstate and abroad overseas. Part of our journey together has also involved deciding to go vegan. Going vegan, in itself, has been a ground-breaking trip for both of us. On an individual level we have each achieved some tremendous personal goals in health and wellbeing. To celebrate our ten years of marriage, and celebrate the vegan road travelled thus far, my husband booked in a surprise high tea at Street Organics in Malvern, here in our hometown Melbourne.
I love taking high tea at Street Organics, ‘passionate advocates for toxin-free living and organic food’, for a few reasons. High tea is served as organic, vegan and gluten free, I can enjoy gorgeously fragrant teas along with vegan goodies served on a tiered stand, the upstairs dining room is reserved only for high tea diners among pretty surrounds, and Street Organics has a way of marrying organic food with a healthy lifestyle.
We settle in on this drizzly, overcast day (just as our wedding day started off) over a red clover and lemon tea, served in a dainty cup and saucer, before the first tower of food arrives. It’s when the tower arrives that I continue reminiscing over our special day ten years ago. We had chosen to serve our first meal as husband and wife, and to our guests, in three tiered towers over three courses just like this. It’s uncanny how history repeats somewhat, only this time it’s all vegan and gluten free. Raw zucchini rolls stuffed with fresh, raw veggies and spouts, raw blueberry and passionfruit plant-based cheesecake, and decadent squares of creamy raw caramel slice; all tasty and bursting with fresh flavours. To toast this delicious first course, and our celebration, we’re served kombucha and lime mocktails. Our little celebration for two is relaxing and intimate with vegan food being the crown to our milestone day.
By second course, we’re treated to a plant-based cheese board of nut cheeses – red capsicum and spring onion and dill. To slice and smear it on we’re supplied with dehydrated vegie crackers and vegan-friendly, gluten-free seeded raw bread. A handful of dried figs complement the experience of pecking over the board while combining cheeses on these little platforms of tastiness. The trick is to balance the cheese to bread/cracker ratio; at times it’s easy to over-serve on one or the other!
As we approach fullness, we still have one more course with which to seal our celebration – just like our wedding, it’s the anticipated dessert course. And again, sweet favourites are served on two tiers: generous slices of chocolate and peppermint plant-based cheesecake, rich chocolate tart and mini jars of smooth avocado cacao mousse garnished with fresh strawberry and crushed nuts. A soy chai latte scattered with cinnamon is a warming finish to this celebration for two.
While our ten-year wedding celebration reaches its end, I realise that there are still many long and exciting roads, filled with many yummy vegan experiences, yet to be travelled together. Sharing the journey with my beloved partner is a big part of that fun.
Consider celebrating your next milestone over vegan high tea at Street Organics, 1430 High Street Malvern 3144, Victoria Australia. Phone: 03 9972 8329.
Look out for the next round of vegan high tea events in early 2017 at the Street Organics website.
High Teas are served at 10.00am and 1.00pm. Prices are as marked for each High Tea event and bookings are essential. Menus are subject to change at the discretion of Street Organics.
Street Organics also has a location in Takapuna in Auckland New Zealand.
Our Street Organics’ High Tea was paid in full by me and my husband.
