Melbourne gets a vegetarian pub
A new pub has opened in Melbourne on the corner of Lygon and Elgin streets in Carlton.
The Green Man’s Arms is Israeli influenced.
It is the creation of hospitality experts and actors Alison Whyte and Fred Whitlock, who are well known for running The Terminus in Abbotsford and Yarra Glen’s Yarra Valley.
The Green Man’s Arms has one other distinctive feature: it’s completely vegetarian.
Israeli head chef David Raziel has the influence here, serving up a seasonal selection of dishes that’s totally ethical.
The Israeli influence on the vegetarian food is right there with the falafel.
It is served with fluffy, crumpet-like lahuh bread.
The bread can also be used with fried eggplant, or green beans and mushroom, tahini, pickles and parsley.
There’s also soft egg, Israeli salad, mushroom and fresh creamed corn.
For those wanting something more in the way of pub food, the venue serves roasted veggie couscous. Or they can get grilled vegetable salad complete with beets, almonds, pita bread and silky labne.
Mains also include grilled salad of beets, red cabbage, onions, almonds on labne and pomegranate dressing. The roasted veggies come with rich vegetable stock.
Then there the desserts. These include home-made halva ice cream and there’s also fresh ricotta prepared and wrapped in a crunchy knafeh pastry, along with pistachios, pickled grapes and syrup.
So the menu is totally meat free, very unusual for any pub.
Being a pub, there’s plenty to drink.
But again, The Green Man’s Arms isn’t just any pub – it owns all its beer taps. And that means it has more room for local craft brews.
These include Hawkers Pilsner, Stomping Ground Saison and Holgate Mr Macedon Pale Ale.
Needless to say, all the pub’s wines are also vegan and of course, they are primarily local.
The Green Man’s Arms is open every day. Hours are from 4pm till late.
by Leon Gettler, October 31st 2017
