The Cheeky Vegan

I have been going to the Stirling Farmers Markets on and off again for a while now. Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies to be had there, and some of them organic.Just  lately, though there has been a new stall that has become a firm favourite of mine. It is called “The Cheeky Vegan”. 

Unfortunately, the first time they set up a stall there, it PELTED down with rain and it looked like they were packing up early. I did manage to get some of their wares and have gone back there every Sunday since, and have tried more of their range.

What is on offer is mostly raw vegan dessert type fare, including gluten free items.

 So far, I have tried out their Muesli Bliss balls, the O-raw-eos, the Choc Pie, the Apple C-raw-mble, Choco Cookies, and the Lime and Coconut Tarts. All were delish but my faves would have to be the Apple C-raw-mble and the Lime and Coconut tarts!

Apart from the sweets, there were also raw kale chips on offer, which I tried and liked. These featured sweet potato, tahini and lemon dressing. I do hope there will be more savoury items on offer in the future.

The Stirling Markets are on every Sunday from 7.30am to 11.30am and are situated on Cedric Street, next to the Stirling Council Chambers.

Cheeky Vegan also do catering for functions. Check out their Facebook page for more info.

Event Recap: Festival for the Earth

I had the pleasure of being able to attend this event on Sunday the 3rd of November. It was held at the Earthwise Community area on Bagot Road, Subiaco.

The event was organized by the group Animal Amnesty and held to raise awareness on how to live a cruelty free life and being environmentally aware. 

There were activities for children, including story telling and face painting, plus live musical entertainment, a raffle and cooking demonstrations.

Roaming the grounds were several greyhounds up for adoption,  plus the cutest rescue rabbit who had his own little space in the shade.

Naturally, all the food stalls present offered vegan food. 

There was the Yumeeme Persian food stall that offered delicious sweet and savoury vegan food, with gluten free options.

 We tried the Potato Curry Puffs. They were delicious! We really liked that they clearly labeled the ingredients of their foods.

Down the other end, we visited Awesome Rawsome stall, which had all sorts of raw vegan foods and drinks on offer. After seeing one of our friends eating a raw vegan falafel with hummus on top, we thought we better try one for ourselves. They were very tasty and quite substantial. Loved the hummus on top!

After that, we just HAD to have dessert, which was a veganized Cherry Ripe ball, which we picked up at the Animal Amnesty stall. 

Wow! So delicious and yes, it really does taste like a Cherry Ripe - minus the cruelty of course!

Aside from the food stalls, there were other stalls selling clothing, giftwares, and natural body care. There was also a stall by Sea Shepherd, Animal Rights Advocates, Australian Justice Party and a few others.



I was particularly pleased to see that there was a stall by Greener Pastures Sanctuary, where they were selling some of their brand new promotional items. My partner and I bought a t-shirt each and we have both already worn ours. A lovely design with prints both front and back, in women's fitted styles, men's styles and children's sizes.

Thank you, Animal Amnesty, for organizing this event. There was such a lovely, relaxed vibe to it and it was great to see some familiar faces and to chat and hang out with like minded people.

Event: Swan Animal Haven annual fete, 2013

Swan Animal Haven's Annual Fete and Garage Sale helps raise much needed funds to support the many 100's of abandoned, abused and unwanted dogs that comes through its doors each year and cares for them until forever homes are found. It is a no-kill shelter.

At this event, you can pick up bargains in regards to clothing, bric-a-brac, books, toys, plants - you name it! There will also be a cake stall and a 100% vegan sausage sizzle. Yes, you read that right. This year, the sausage sizzle will be offering Geoff's famous vegan sausages which you may have tasted at various other animal friendly related events, such as the Cruelty Free Festival.

These have always sold out fast, so aim to come in early to avoid disappointment!

When: 14th April, 10am to 2pm
Where: Kalamunda Road, South Guildford

Please come down and show support for an animal charity that sees the hypocrisy of serving up animals in order to help other animals, and has made moves to do the right thing.

Cafe: Salad Bar at Loving Hut, Victoria Park

I have blogged about Loving Hut before. Since then, I have had the pleasure of visiting that establishment several times over. They are always coming up with new additions to their menu, so revisiting them is a real treat. When we heard that they had opened up a self serve salad bar at their Victoria Park store, my partner and I made a bee line for it.

The bar is situated at the front window of the cafe, and we noticed that it was catching people's attention as they wandered past. On offer were various fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, etc. plus various salads such as cous cous and roast vegetable, spicy potato and bean mix, and quinoa with pumpkin and spinach. Also on offer were various sauces,  lemongrass tofu and tempeh, lentil polenta, tandori bites, and cubes of vegan cheese.

The takeaway bowls come in two sizes and we noticed that they are made of biodegradable materials, which was great.

Whilst I was at it, I also ordered some hot food to have with my salad.

My partner and I tried a little bit of almost everything from the salad bar, and all of it was delicious!

We topped off our lunch with some soft serve icecream in a waffle cone. My partner opted for the vanilla which is super creamy. I had the mango, which was not quite as creamy. It had a soft sorbet kind of feel to it, instead. Still, it tasted REAL, if you get my meaning - real mango and not just flavouring. And it was perfect for a hot day.

The best news of all is that Loving Hut in Victoria Park, is now open 7 days a week:

Mon-Fri: 10am to 2.30pm
Weekends: 10am to 4.30pm

You can keep up with what's new and see lots of mouth watering pictures of their dishes on their Facebook page. Check it out!

Event: Christmas Day Lunch at PAWS

Great news! PAWS are offering a FREE Christmas lunch for those who choose to have a truly peaceful celebration. 

This event is on Christmas day itself, and runs from 11am to 2pm.

As the kind people at PAWS put it: 

Christmas is a time for Peace on Earth, a time for Christians to reflect on a message of kindness and compassion so hear at PAWS we would like to demonstrate just how easy it is to leave animals off our plate.

Enjoy a nut Roast covered in Vegan gravy with all those steamed veggies a nice cup of punch followed by a xmas trifle, there will be games all in an air-conditioned environment and just a great place to meet people.

I'll be there with my partner and hope you will join us!

If you are in Facebook, you can rsvp to the event's page there.

Cafe: Loving Hut, Victoria Park

Loving Hut is an international chain of cafes and restaurants that are completely vegan. The eastern states have had Loving Hut for some time now, and I had been hearing good things about them. This year was Perth's turn, with a Loving Hut cafe opening in Victoria Park.

My partner and I scooted down there soon after they opened, and had lunch. The cafe is small, but there are tables inside and out. The decor is bright, light and welcoming. There is also a 'mini-mart' at the cafe, selling vegan food products - a lot which we have never seen before. The staff are friendly and courteous. We definitely good a good vibe from this establishment.

As for the food...there was a lot to choose from. Infact, I could not choose, so I opted for a plate with a little bit of four different dishes on offer!
There was a coconut friend rice, a spaghetti dish, a tofu and veggie stur fry and a ginger and pumpkin curry. All were delicious!

My partner opted for a plate of spaghetti and a sausage roll, plus a 'meat' pie. Not a bit of greenery in sight! Tee hee. 

I was too full to have dessert but I did have a taste of his soft serve chocolate icecream in a waffle cone. It was so delicious! Smooth, creamy and the cone itself was yummy, too. There was also a berry variety on offer and I have heard that there is now  'cookies 'n' cream' , apricot, and raspberry flavours available. These may be for a limited time, however, so get in quick for them!

Loving Hut cafe is situated on 366 Albany Highway, in Victoria Park. Their opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm.

There are gluten free, organic and raw vegan options available and they also do beverages. 

My only complaint about this cafe is that it is not situated closer to where I live! 

Event: Wet Nose Day, Cat Haven & Dogs' Refuge Home - 28th October 2012

It's back! Wet Nose Day is on a little earlier than last year. At the Cat Haven, there will be fun activities for the kids, raffles, plant and clothing stalls, bric-a-brac for sale, items up for auction, and more.

I will yet again be running the book/dvd/cd stall. Last year, this stall raised the most funds out of all the stalls on the day. There were THOUSANDS of items for sale and I dare say it will be the same this year! I am actually taking a week off work, so I can dedicate some time to sorting and organizing donations for the stall, so expect so method to the madness when you come down and have a look. (ie books, cd's and dvds will be organized into genres, fiction/non-fiction, kids, etc. ) 

This year there will be a sausage sizzle, I am told. Ideally, I would like to see an end to the offering of meat products to raise funds at animal charities. It makes no sense to me to exploit animals to help others. Perhaps that is something Cat Haven can embrace in the near future. In the meantime, I am told there will be food on offer for vegans and vegetarians, which will involve the use of a separate BBQ and equipment. What exactly will be on offer, I don't know, but I will be keen to see.

Event: Seminar on animal welfare, 16th October at UWA

A little late notice, but I hope to be able to attend and maybe see you there!

VENUE: FOX LECTURE THEATRE (G.59 - in Arts Building), University of Western Australia

WHEN: Tuesday October 16th, 5pm sharp - 6.30pm (including informal Q&A session)

WHAT: "Does Animal Protection Law Protect Animals?" - a seminar on animal welfare.

Just because we are at the top of the food chain does not mean animals belong on the bottom.

Interested in the cruelty and treatment of animals? UWA cordially invites you to a talk about how law treats animals, its history, and possibilities for future developments in this area.

This lecture is open to the public, so you don't need to be a law student or even a university student in order to attend. But you DO need to have a passion for animals and an interest in their welfare.

Seminar begins at 5:00pm sharp, intended to run for 1-1.5 hours. Questions are welcome (speakers will gladly answer related questions, so bring yours along!)

Event: Art for the Ocean, 17 November, 2012

Note this one down in your diaries if you live in Fremantle, Perth, or thereabouts.

See below for details, plus the event's webpage for more information.
(Pardon the clumsy look of this post - the image will not show the details clearly if made smaller to fit on page.)

Event: Human Chain, 18 November 2012

I attended this event last year and hope to attend this year's. Let's keep up the pressure. Let's stay visible to show our federal government and all other politicians that we abhor this disgusting 'trade' and that we will not  stop until a ban is put into place, once and for all.

If you live in Perth, Fremantle, and surrounds, I hope to see you there!

See below for details.

Event recap: International Vegetarian Food Fair 2012, Perth

I must admit that when I first heard about this event, I was put off by the 'vegetarian' tag, as I thought either there would not be any or very much vegan food available. And then fellow Perth vegan blogger Vegan Sparkles posted on Facebook that she found out from the organizers that the majority of the food would be vegan suitable. Well, that tipped the scales and I decided to go with a friend who is newly vegan.

When we arrived, the place was busy. We decided to do a circuit of the stalls and then decide what we wanted to order. It quickly became apparent that the food was Asian in theme with Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese (I think!) being represented - along with some others, I am sure. I am not all that familiar with some of these cuisines, especially Thai, so it was a bit of a learning curve for me, and that was perfectly fine.

To my delight, I saw that not only were the goods on offer clearly labelled 'vegan' but they also listed the ingredients. This was great, as sometimes people label things as 'vegan' without fully understanding what it means. As we progressed around the stalls, I saw that most of the food on off was actually vegan, which made me wonder why they did not call this the 'Vegetarian and Vegan Food Fair'?  Hopefully, the organizers will consider this for next year, as I know there is a considerable vegan community in Perth and some who might have skipped this event, thinking as I had, initially, that there was going to be slim pickings for vegans.

We came across a Thai sweets stall first and tried a few samples. I ended up buying some balls that were covered in coconut shavings and inside was a sweet, gooey concoction. I can't tell you exactly what was in them (though I did check it was vegan, of course) but I can tell you they were delicious. You can see them on the left in this photo ----->

Wandering on, we found a rather brilliant looking dessert. I had to take a photo of it. (I might add that the people running the stalls were quite happy with having their creations photographed, which was nice.)

Onwards we wandered....When I saw the bags of fried seaweed, I HAD to get a bag for my partner (who could not make it to the event) who loves dulse and seaweed stuff, in general. They met with his approval when I brought them home later. I had a nibble too, and they get a thumbs up from me too.

I was sorely tempted by the Thai pancakes  and the pan fried dumplings.

But in the end, I got me some deep fried wickedness. I never deep fry at home when cooking, and rarely eat it when I go out, so this was a treat for me. Between the two of us, we had the Cheesy Balls (which were rice based), spring rolls, samosas, and a sweet little number titled 'Taro and Sweet Potato Rolls'. I know what taro is but have never eaten it before. These rolls were delicious. Sweet, but not overly. I made sure I saved some for my partner to have later and he ended up enjoying them too.

Just a note: payment for the food was via a coupon system, which you purchase at a table at the entrance. I was not aware of this, and only found out once I tried to pay a stall holder with a bank note. I didn't see any signage that explained the coupon system. Perhaps I just missed it? I wonder if anyone else there got mixed up or confused by the system? Don't get me wrong, it is a good system (food handlers do not have to deal with notes and coins), it perhaps should be more clearly advertised before and during the event.

All, up I was happy to attend this event and pleased to see so many people there with their children, too.  I look forward to next year's food fair!

Event: International Vegetarian Food Fair, Perth 2012

Don't let the 'vegetarian' part put you off. The organizers have assured that there will also be vegan food available. Yay!

It is on THIS SUNDAY - 23rd Septmember at the rather nice venue that is the South Perth Community Centre.

Starts at 10am and goes until 3pm.

Some of the foods on sale:
Thai papya salad, sushi, Indonesian yellow rice, curry puffs, spring rolls, pad thai, fresh fruit juices, etc.

Be there and bring your appetite!

Event: Cruelty Free Festival, 3rd November 2012

I am so excited that this festival will be back for 2012!

I volunteered last year and will be attending this year, for sure.  It felt good to be surrounded by like minded people, watching cooking demonstrations, finding out about vegan products and services, tasting cruelty free food, attending talks, and just soaking up the positive vibe from other attendees.

 Entry is FREE and animal companions are welcome.For more info on the event, check out the website.

See you there in November!!

Event - A special presentation by Philip Wollen, 3rd August

I am a little late with this, so apologies for the short notice. This event will be taking place THIS FRIDAY, 3rd August, at Fremantle Town Hall. Check the image below for details. 

Also, have a watch of this video clip below in which Philip Wollen debates For "Animals Should be Taken off the Menu".  Simply put, his presentation and argument  is informative, logical and clear.

Cafe: CNR

This cafe is situated on Lake Street in Northbridge, under the big screen in the plaza. My partner and I went to check it out after we heard good things about it by vegans and raw food vegans.
The interior is spacious with tables, chairs, and a sofa or two. There is also an outdoor dining area. The service was prompt and friendly. And the food? Oh the food!

Firstly, let me just say that although this is not a vegan or even vegetarian cafe, I do like the fact that their menus are organized in a way that if you are a vegan or vegetarian, you only need to look down one side of the menu instead of having to scroll through the whole thing.

I was in the mood for a vegan breakfast so went with that. This consisted of roasted field mushrooms, tomatoes, fries, macadamia cheese, gluten free toast, house baked beans, and onion jam. Let me just say that those baked beans were the best I have ever tasted! The macadamia cheese was a real treat but be warned - it is very rich!
The portion size was just right and I felt I got value for money.

My partner ordered the Sunlover smoothie which we shared. It was sooooo smooth, having just the right consistency. We had to pace ourselves with it, so not to down it all at once. There is quite a range of drinks available with most suitable for vegans.

To go with the drink, my partner ordered the Major Mushroom Burger which is a tempeh based burger with vegetables and a side of fries. He enjoyed it immensely, finding it to be delicious and filling.


A special mention of the fries : they appeared to be roughly handcut and were so delicious! Next time I go to CNR, no matter what we order, we are also having a side order of these.

We will definitely be going back to CNR as there are so many other vegan options to try out, including the raw food.

Their opening hours are:
Mon-Fri: 7.30am to 3.30pm
Sat-Sun: 8am to 4.30pm

Eden's Vegi Cafe - Subiaco

My partner and I were meandering through Subiaco a few days ago, when we stumbled across this cafe. We had never noticed it before and as we were in the mood for some lunch and the sign had 'Vegi' in it, we thought we would enter and investigate.

The cafe is mostly a salad bar, where you can choose to dine in or takeaway, and choose the amount of salad you want and what exactly goes into it.  We grabbed a large bowl each and proceeded to fill it up with various ingredients - all which looked fresh. Not all the ingredients were vegan - there was some dairy based sauces and cheeses available. I got the impression that the cafe was at the very least, vegetarian but to my dismay, at the end of the salad bar, I came across some cold deli meats. What a surprise and shame.



 Still, we continued on and also ordered some patties, all which were vegan. I had the Lentil & Vegi patty which turned out to be tasty and rather spicy. The sides to it were so fresh looking that I made sure those went down the hatch too!

As we ate, we studied the menu and were pleased to see it was clearly marked as to what was Vegan and what had a Vegan Option. Also, for those with allergies or intolerances, Gluten Free was another label used on the menu.

Along with the salad bar and a la carte items, there were also a range of drinks on offer, including organic teas and coffees, soy smoothies and juices.

We shall definitely be returning to this cafe.

Address: 151 Rokeby Road, Subiaco
Open: 8am - 3pm Mon-Fri

Event: Tree Planting Day with Perth Advocates for the Earth

Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre and Perth Advocates for the Earth invite YOU to be involved in a day of Tree Planting.
This will be a  hands-on community project to help regenerate the habitat for the endangered Black Cockatoos.

When: Sunday 27th May, 9am – 2 pm

Where: Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre , 322 Mills Road East, Martin

Come and join Perth Advocates for the Earth at Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre for a fun day of tree planting.
You will be involved in a major reforestation program helping to restore a regional park of Jarrah and Marri trees.
Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation Centre relies on volunteers and tax deductable donations from the community and local businesses.

What you’ll need:
• Warm clothes or wet weather gear
• Boots for the muddy conditions
• Hat
• Byo lunch (tea and coffee provided)

Event: Kanyana Open Day - May 6th

Late notice, I know, but better than never!
Kanyana is a not for profit organization that provides care for sick, injured, and orphaned native animals - including reptiles, mammals and birds.

When: Sunday May 6th. 10am to 4pm
Where: Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, 120 Gilchrist Road, Lesmurdie
Cost: I believe entry is by gold coin donation
What: Live entertainment, stalls (white elephant, 2nd hand books, etc), food, drink, tour of the hospital, and children's activities.

There is no public parking on site, so people are encouraged to get themselves to Lesmurdie Senior High School at 21 Reid Road, Lesmurdie, and catch the shuttle bus which will be running every 15 minutes up until 4:15pm.

Event: Cruelty Free Money Speaking Tour, Perth - 14th May

Where: PAWS, 120 Beaufort Street, Perth
When: 14th May, 6.30pm
Cost: Donations are encouraged. Funds raised will be shared equally between PAWS and Animal Actionist.
What: Cruelty Free Super is Australia's only animal friendly Superfund.
Their mission is to bring animal welfare issues to the areas of retirement planning, savings and investment.
Cruelty Free Super will not invest in companies which are involved in animal testing, intensive farming, polluting, armaments, deforestation, climate change, live exports, tobacco, human rights abuse, gambling or genetic modification.

Cruelty Free Super offers a choice for those with certain beliefs, such as Christians, Muslims, vegetarians and vegans, who might be in a default industry fund that invested in shares that did not match their belief systems. No other super fund exists to truly cater for people who want to avoid investing in companies whose activities exploit animals. Now Australians have a choice, and they can put their money where their principles are.
People are exploited by companies, as is the environment, and Cruelty Free Super will make sure that no investments are made in any company whose activities could be considered cruel or exploitative in three main areas – animals, people and planet.

Lee Coates, OBE owns and runs one of the largest specialist, ethical investment financial planning firms in the UK, as well as a separate ethical research company. Lee has come to Australia for the months of April and May this year to deliver a speaking tour all about money.

To be honest, I had never before thought of what my super may be used for on my behalf. I just always went with the flow, mostly out of ignorance. This talk should be prove to be very informative.

Event: An Evening with Black Cockatoos and Humpback Whales - 13th July

Perth Advocates for the Earth present this fundraising event:
When: 13 July (Friday)
When: 7pm
Where: Perth Irish Club, Townshend Rd, Subiaco
Cost: $25pp, $45 per couple, or $200 per group of 10.
Bank details:
BSB: 016 318
Acc: 530453381
Please use your surname as reference.
Tickets will be deemed as booked once all funds are received.

For further information, or to book your tickets please contact:
Lizzy MacCasker on 0434 822 559
Raewyn Plackson on 0433 472 602

or email: perthadvocatesfortheearth@hotmail.com

Beneficiaries: Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rehabilitation and 
Centre for Whale Research Fremantle


What: Spend your evening with Leighton DeBarros, Rick Dawson, Chris Phillips and Curt Jenner.

You will view an edited version of "A Wing and a Prayer".

View NEVER BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE

From ‘Birthplace of the Giants’

A film being made by Producer, Director, Cinematographer Leighton De Barros. This film is documenting the work of Curt and Mich Jenner from the Centre for Whale Research in Fremantle as they attempt to document the first 48 hours of a humpback whale calf's life

Leighton De Barros will present footage of the expedition in the Kimberley taken over the last two years. See some incredible footage before the film is broadcast.


Curt Jenner will provide a fascinating presentation about their satellite tagging work, which will give an amazing insight into the migration of Humpback whales along the Western Australian coast.


You will receive information on what to plant to provide food and shelter for the Black Cockatoos