Vegan food nutritious for body and soul

Dish of the week

neatplaces.co.nz

Anew vegan cafe has opened at Victoria University’s Kelburn campus. Krishna Food serves fresh, wholesome meals available to students and the public. Offerings include ku¯ mara fries, salads, samosas, lasagne, and the cafe’s famous Krishna Plate (rice, curry, salad, dressing, and dessert). There’s also an array of tempting sweet treats – all vegan as well.

‘‘The mango cheesecake and ‘sausage’ roll have been very popular since our opening, but our classic Krishna Plate will always be a winner,’’ says manager Madhava Mohini.

‘‘It’s such a wholesome combination of good food that fills your belly – and it’s only $6!’’

Krishna Food’s philosophy is all about being aware about what goes into its food, not just ingredients but the consciousness with which the food is cooked. The chefs are trained yogis, combining meditation with food preparation. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Victoria University, Kelburn Campus, Level 3.

Eat and drink at CubaDupa

CubaDupa returns to Wellington this weekend, and partygoers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to staying nourished. Cuba St’s favourite eateries will join the feast with festival food.

Make sure you keep an eye out for the limited-edition eats offered by eateries such as Rams Restaurant, Kaffee Eis, Aunty Mena, and El Matador. Bars and breweries such as Hanging Ditch, Parrotdog and Heyday Beer Co will serve beers, specialty cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages.

It’s a celebration of the incredible hospitality establishments available within this Cuba Precinct,’’ says CubaDupa festival manager Amanda Wright.

Saturday and Sunday

Hop along to Hopstock

Craft beer lovers unite. Hopstock, the capital’s annual celebration of the hop harvest, is back.

‘‘We will be matching about 30 of Wellington’s best craft beer venues with breweries from around the country,’’ says organiser Genevieve Jenson.

Participating bars include perennial favourites Husk, Moon, Rogue & Vagabond, Heyday Beer Co, and Fortune Favours. You’ll be able to sample fresh-hopped beers from breweries such as Tuatara, Choice Bros, Garage Project, and Panhead Custom Ales. May 1-6 Le Samourai’s Peter Lowry says the secret to the best croque monsieur is a liberal application of cheese.

A croque monsieur is basically a cheese toastie – French style.

At Le Samourai, it’s a combination of Randwick Meats ham, Pandoro’s Italian loaf, and La Fromagerie’s emmental cheese.

Add mustard and cornichons to finish it off. Recent pressure from regulars means you can also get it with an egg.

For the full experience, pair with a cold glass of cider.

Midnight Espresso turns 30

Cuba St’s Midnight Espresso turned 30 on March 14, and while celebrations were low-key, owner Hamish McIntyre is proud of the impact the cafe has had on local cafe culture.

‘‘Having been in business since the late 80s, I’d like to think of Midnight Espresso as the grand-daddy of the modern cafes here – we were basically the first late-night coffee shop,’’ he says.

‘‘Midnight Espresso was the first in Wellington to open until 3am. We’ll just continue doing what we’ve always been doing.’’