A vegans Melbourne tale

A vegans Melbourne tale

To say this week has been good would be a drastic understatement! I had the pleasure of staying in Melbourne for a week with my brother and satisfy my insane Lord of the Fries cravings. I will assume most of you know Lord of the Fries and it's deliciousness, but it is practically vegan heaven. Whether you're craving something unhealthy for lunch or a drunken feed at 3 am, LOTF have got you covered. I dined at four different LOTF restaurants on my stay, and it is safe to say the Parma burger and French Canadian fries cannot be topped! 

Alas, my trip wasn't all Lord of the Fries; there were a few other restaurants along the way ;)

The Vege Bar in Fitzroy had some great vegan options (Both raw and cooked). I went with a gourmet pizza (with extra cheese!) and thoroughly enjoyed it! My cousin and I followed our delicious meals with some heavily sugar coated jam doughnuts at Big Lous (worth the high blood pressure!!!) 

On the last full day in Melbourne, I had the pleasure of meeting up with a member of 'what fat vegans eat' on facebook for a trip to mister nice guys bakery. Suffice to say the muffins were amazing and perfectly sickening at the same time. Vegan sweets are a rare treat for me so I was thrilled! 

One thing truly apparent in Melbourne is the sheer number of vegan restaurants have created an almost competitive nature, making each restaurant have to present a point of difference to vegan/vegetarian consumers which in turn drives the quality of food up to a very, very good standard. Although I couldn't dine there this trip, A Caterpillars Dream is still my favourite restaurant in Melbourne. 

Along my travels in Melbourne, I made some great new friends. It is so apparent how friendly Melbourne folk are! I made a friend at starbucks, on facebook, at the Pokey Lafarge concert (Which featured me meeting the good man himself!!!) and rekindled old friendships from years back. 

The only sad part of Melbourne as usual is seeing the sick (mentally for the most part) living on the streets. I am a passionate vegan who protests and fights for what he believes in, but one thing I truly believe ALL vegans need to remember (and I'd almost hesitate to guess most of us lose touch at some point) is we're meant to care for ALL earthlings, humans and animals big and small. The government treat the mentally ill with no respect and people suffer immensely in our own country. I happily gave a delicious muffin to a homeless man who was thrilled at the treat, and can say if I had more money I would be using it to help people on the street. As easy as it is to judge them, remember that they're someones father, someones son, someones brother, someones mother. They are equals to you and I, and if you're reading this I'm sure you wouldn't want to see a stray dog let alone a stray human. 

I'd like to thank all the 'What fat vegans eat' community for many suggestions and kind messages along the way. It was a testament to the great people out there and I'm looking forward to sharing my birthday feast with you all tomorrow. I wonder how much weight I've gained lol. 

Until next time.

Stay lucky,

Jordan

Anybody

Anybody

Anybody can be happy, only the sad may choose a poets life.
Anybody can claim fashion isn't a statement, but the emotion of a mans wrist watch is a sentiment that can't be bought.
Anybody can claim looks can't kill, but a broken heart can end life as you know it.

Anybody can shake someone's hand in spite. No freedom is felt in shaking your worst enemy's hand.
But what is freedom? Anybody can guess but that's the point. We're  slaves to our thoughts our feelings our mind our body our soul... Anybody can see this if their master allows it.

Anybody can hear music... But who truly listens? Poetry is the art of the beholder not the writer. The sad life of a poet is often forgot,  but stories can stretch yonder.

Anybody can take life for granted. From Mr. Jones in his Wallstreet suit to a slave starving in Africa. We
forgot life lives until we die slaves to the man with the black cloak. No freedom, but as equals. To the dust we go. Anybody, together slaves singing the blues while we battle the master of death until he beats his final lash into our flesh. Anybody can see the truth when they look.

Fun fact of history

What do Albert Einstein, Pythagoras and Leonardo Da Vinci have in common?

All were great men who achieved fantastic and ground breaking things within their respective lifetimes. They inspired the greatest minds of our generation.

It's safe to say they are great people who can teach us many lessons that can inspire us and help us grow not only as people, but as humans...earthlings in this worldwide community.

" For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." 
- Pythagoras

"The time will come when men such as I will look up on the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men." 
- Leonardo Da Vinci

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
- Albert Einstein

Three great men; three powerful quotes.
Yes, in fact the one thing these men have in common is that there came a time where three of the greatest minds decided animal cruelty was not the way for humans to move forward and in fact a major step backwards. They took the steps to cease eating meat and bettered themselves. They saw the future at it's purest form- a world where humans don't murder and eat the corpses of animals.

Nothing inspires me more than knowing the best people of history have walked the very same path as I have- facing criticism for their choices, and being able to overcome judgement with pure logic and empathy.

So, take the words of wisdom from Da Vinci, Pythagoras and Einstein and use them to inspire you each and every day. Be proud of yourself and proud of the fact you don't support animal cruelty. :)

Regards,

Jordan Merrick

#vegan Eggs Benedict

Vegan eggs benedict

Before I became a Vegan, the one meal that I loved more than anything was eggs benedict, so when I scoured the net looking for a passable vegan version I was often left wanting. After numerous experiments came my version of the classic Eggs Benny!

Sauce ingredients

150g silkien tofu
Half tsp Himalayan salt
Half tsp cayanne pepper
Half tsp tumeric
Tbspn freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 heaped tbspn nutritional yeast

'Eggs' ingredients
300g firm tofu
2 and a half tsp tamari
2 tsp agave nectar
2 tsp flaxseed oil

Other ingredients
Spinach leaves
Bruchetta bread

Making the sauce
Making the sauce is quite easy; all it takes is a food processor and taste tests!

Add all the ingredients to a food processor and grind until smooth.
Always scoop excess sauce off the roof of the food processor and add back to the mixture to keep the sauce consistent.

It is important to taste the sauce and add more spices to suit your taste buds. The above measurements will give a pretty standard taste so be sure to taste and add extra spices when needed!

Place sauce in a small saucer and leave to the side.

Making the 'Eggs'

1. Preheat hotplate on high
2. Cut tofu into four even pieces
3. Add tamari and agave nectar to a bowl and soak tofu (keeping sauce even on all sides by flipping tofu)
4. Pour flaxseed oil into a saucepan and add tofu/remaining mixture and cook until golden brown

The final steps
1. Lightly toast bruchetta 4 pieces of bruchetta bread
2. Heat hollandaise sauce on low heat for two minutes to keep it slightly warm
3. Place desired amount of spinach on the bread, add 1 slice of tofu on each
4. Top with sauce and serve

I hope you all enjoy this delicious rendition of eggs benedict as much as I did and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!

Regards,

Jordan

National Bandanna Day

One thing vegans always harp on about is looking after fellow earthlings. Life is too short to be cruel to one another so why hurt animals when we simply don't need to?

The one thing people always seem to forget is looking after each other.  Fellow humans, fellow earthlings.

Canteen is a charity I feel very passionate about.  They help all kids and teens who have been effected by cancer.  Let's face it, in this day and age nearly everybody knows someone whose had cancer, and no doubt you would all agree it's hard enough for an adult, let alone a 12 or 13 year old kid.
Canteen give continuous support in the way of counseling, recreational days and fun camps to make the toughest time of their lives so much easier to handle.

It is important to reflect on the notion of helping each other and remembering it extends not only helping ALL fellow earthlings, not just animals or humans.

So today, head to your local shops and buy a bandanna so Canteen can keep helping kids, teens and adults through the toughest time of their lives. I'm sporting a pretty cool red one today :)

Regards,

Jordan Merrick

A Shoppers guide: Australia

The Vegan Shopping Cart

One of the hardest things when you first become a vegan is heading to your local Woolies and stocking up for the coming week. When I first became Vegan, my basket consisted of 3 packets of mushrooms, broccoli, bread, chocolate and some pasta. Thank God there is more to being vegan than that!! I recommend downloading 'Shop Ethical' from the app store for an amazing insight into companies that test on animals. The following is a list of what Vegan items you'll find in your local supermarket. 

Milk:

So good- Soy and Almond milks. Have delicious chocolate milk and Ice cream!!

Bonsoy- the best quality, healthiest Soy Milk your local supermarket will stock

Australia's Own' Natural- Very healthy almond and coconut milk. Currently sitting in my fridge. Delicious!

Butter/Margarine:

Nuttelex- Nut based butter. My spread of choice. There are olive based products available but recommend Nuttelex to all just starting off.

No Egg: A great Egg Substitute by Orgran (A company who do dairy and gluten free items)

Banana can have the same effect on sweet dishes, but don't take my word for it! 

Chocolate: 

Sweet Williams- Great chocolate brand with many options.

 My favorite chocolates are Dark Chocolates, and there are so many vegan friendly ones available! Lindt Dark Chocolates to name drop one. YUM!

Oreos- Original, strawberry and chocolate oreos are all vegan!!!!! This was quite possibly my favorite vegan discovery of all time!

Potato chips:

Original Pringles 

Kettle sea salt and chilli chips

Macro organics- Have some vegan options. Macro is a Woolworths brand and they have many vegan and vegetarian options. Worth looking into.  

Cereals: 

Cheerios

Nutri Grain

Coco pops

Fruit Loops

corn flakes

You'll find with allot of cereals, they're made of wheat's and oats, so check your labels and dig in!

Yogurt:

Yogurt is hard to come by, but Go Vita sells COYO which is is a coconut based yogurt. My partner lives by this yogurt!

Cheese:

Tofutti- Woolies stocks Tofutti cheese singles, which are vegan. Great for sandwiches! 

Notzorella- Hard cheese to come by, but great for melting on pizzas and toasted sandwiches. Go to your local Flanneries or Green Edge to get the best line of vegan cheeses.

Mock Meats:

 People look at 'Fake Meats' and laugh and often why people not wanting to eat meat seek so hard for fake meats. The answer is simple- nobody becomes vegan because meat tastes bad. We seek tasty and cruelty free alternatives to meat. That's where fantastic companies like Frys family foods, Linda Mccartneys and Quorn (Quorn is vegetarian only in Aus at the moment) come in and give us chicken burgers, sausage rolls, sausages, chicken strips, pies and more!!! Essential freezer foods!

No doubt I am missing shopping trolly essentials, but I am a male and should be forgiven for that! :P

 I truly hope this list is helpful for all my fellow aussies looking to avoid contributing to animal cruelty! If anybody has any questions or additions to this massive shopping trolly, feel free to leave a comment or tweet me at @jordanmerrick18

Warm regards,

Jordan Merrick

 

Chapter one: A New Beginning

Chapter one: A New Beginning

After dubious months of procrastination, excuses and League of Legends playing, it is finally time to  begin my blog 'A Vegans Tale'! Alas, no doubt the majority reading this will have no clue who I actually am and why some video gaming nerd is typing up a slew of pointless words about being vegan. Well, the answer is quite simple- Because I can! ;-) With this blog I hope to provide some delicious recipes, as well as a support network for vegans and vegetarians in Australia who may be struggling, as well as those who are interested in becoming vegan. This is my story.

My journey began in October last year, when I first watched Earthlings, a documentary covering all things cruel. Truth be told, I watched it and didn't think it would change my eating ways. In fact, I debated some points with my partner that I didn't believe could be true 'In Australia'. Typical attitude for someone who was a proud countryman and thought our grass was greener and shinier than our American neighbors. 

At this point in my life, I had been working at a steakhouse for over three years, I was eating minimum 3 steaks a week, and meat at least every other day. Hell, meat is the key to a healthy diet right? Well, that's what the overpaid government official on T.V told me when I was a heavily influenced child- so how was I to know? The Government never lie so naturally I trusted them! *wipes sarcastic tear away* 

I sat down at a table at the back of the restaurant after a long shift, put a steak in front of me, and started eating... Never, EVER did I feel so sick. I looked down at my plate, and flashes of the pain and suffering that lead to this "healthy" meal I was eating. I put my knife and fork down, paid and left. From then on I studied Vegetarianism and Veganism with my partner, and the rest was history. Bit by bit, day by day I slowly progressed from meat to dairy to no animal products. 

I want to make it clear to every person looking to become a vegetarian or vegan, it is not an easy transition. People will criticize and judge you, and no doubt laugh. Sadly, it is part of the modern society's mindset. Vegans are weirdos. Vegetarians are hippys!!! That is why the internet is a blessing- you can contact thousands of vegans who've gone through the same thing as you have, and can help you with many hints and tips to get you through any hard times you may face. I was very lucky to have my partner transitioning with me. It made life allot easier for me no doubt.

Working in the steak house while being vegan was a tough time. The majority of people did judge me in a poor light, and being surrounded by corpses certainly didn't ease the situation. This situation, like many in life had two options- be negative or be positive. I thankfully chose the latter and used the judgement and the surroundings as a vehicle to inspire myself and why I am making the biggest (and best) change of my life. 

Now a year later, I have officially been vegan for 10 months and am proud of everything it stands for.

I know how becoming a vegan can be daunting, so with this blog I will try my best to help all in need of purchasing advice, dietary tricks and help and delicious recipes to wine and dine the good lookin' gal' coming over for dinner! 

A Vegans Tale will be not only mine, but our tale, story and journey into making a better life for ourselves and highlighting all the challenges we have faced and will overcome! 

Warm regards,

Jordan Merrick