It's been a while since I've posted here, and a lot has happened! Well, two major things, really. For one, I got a job!
Miscellaneous Updates
Sunday, March 28, 2010Posted by Sharon at 9:09 PM 0 comments
Customer Service Fail at Wholefoods House
Wednesday, March 3, 2010I've been having a hard time figuring out where to buy, among other things, bulk foods in Sydney at a reasonable cost. So I thought I'd struck gold when I happened upon organic suppliers, Wholefoods House. After my experience there today, however, I will not be returning. Here's why.
So last week I signed up on-line for a Wholefoods House membership. Handy. When the form asked me which of the two locations I'd be shopping at, figuring I live equidistant to both, I checked both. After my form had been submitted, the screen said that my member card would be available in a few days for me at the store I signed up for. Hmm... in theory that's helpful, but now who knows which shop will have my card.
So I pressed my luck, and yesterday I walked to the Waterloo location and explained the situation. The clerk was confused but went to see if my card was in the office. She returned and told me that cards are now being mailed out. Now, given the fact that this was their screw up, any store with good customer service would have offered to give me my member points anyway if I shopped there today. But I was refused.
Figuring I'd already made the half-hour trek over there I figured I'll do some shopping anyway. So I asked the clerk if she could weigh the containers I've brought with me so I can load them up with bulk foods. She then informed that she could not do that, and rather that I'd have to pay for the extra weight.
So here's the deal. I've got five plastic containers with lids. Let's say they weigh 50 grams each, and I buy five items that average out to $12/kg (the cost of quinoa, an item I buy often). That's an extra $3 I pay per visit. And I go through a lot of bulk foods. So let's say I come in fortnightly to re-fill my containers. That's $78 I pay Wholefoods a year for bringing my own containers - a practice that's not only better for the environment but saves them money on supplying packaging.
Needless to say I walked out empty-handed today and do not plan to return unless this ludicrous policy is revoked.
Posted by Sharon at 5:37 PM 4 comments
Labels: bulk foods, sydney, wholefoods house
Home Is Where the Beetroot Is
Tuesday, March 2, 2010There are a lot of "growing pains" that come with living in a new city. Basically, quadruple that when it's in a new country. All these different stores and brands to get used to. Having limited internet access hasn't helped matters. Even food differences are a little overwhelming.
I've yet to find kale in any of the markets here. This is a major dietary staple of mine, so if you have insight, please let me know. The closest I've found is chard, which they call "silverbeet" here. Here are some other crazy names Aussies use for foods:
peppers = capsicum (I think this goes for red and green bell peppers.)
zucchini/eggplant = courgette/aubergine (this seems to vary, but I believe this is the UK version sometimes seen here)
cookies = biscuits (which leads me to wonder what they call biscuits... dear god, they do have biscuits here, right??)
arugula = rocket (very common in salads and sandwiches here)
bacon strips = rashers (obvs I'm eating the soy kind)
beets = beetroot
Beetroot is also extremely common here on sandwiches. I've only ever cooked with it once, myself and that was in a chocolate cake of all places. It turned my whole kitchen pink, so I decided when working with it yesterday I'd used the canned variety.
I tried to make a hummus out of it, but without a food processor, it came out extra chunky style. So here's my non-recipe: One can beetroot, one can chickpeas, both rinsed and drained. Mash them up with a fork in a bowl with lemon juice (I used about 1/3 of a lemon), garlic, just a teaspoon or so of olive oil, salt, and lots of black pepper.
I served it with some baked wholemeal pita chips alongside some lemon-grilled asparagus and broccolini. There was a lot left over today so I took a pita, covered half of it with my beetroot spread, the other half with this yummy carrot dip I bought, and spread a bunch of cucumber slices on top, folded and i half, and boom: lunch.
Amazing how a simple home-cooked meal can make you feel less like you're house-sitting a stranger's apartment, and more like you're actually, well, home.
Posted by Sharon at 6:30 PM 6 comments
My Vegan Valentine
Thursday, February 11, 2010
One year ago today, a few nights before Valentine's Day my husband was in Sydney on business, and I was back in San Francisco lamenting a job I hated that was keeping me from joining him on the trip. After moping over a few glasses of Chardonnay I decided, you know what, screw that job. It wasn't worth being held back from experiencing life, so I booked a flight for the following night.
Posted by Sharon at 4:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: baked goods, bakesale, sydney, valentine's day
Week One
Sunday, February 7, 2010Yes, we've made it to Sydney. Apologies for the delay in updating, but we've discovered that fast, free wifi connections are something we've left behind in San Francisco.
Posted by Sharon at 3:03 PM 3 comments
Labels: restaurants, sydney, yulli's
One Last Taste of the Bay Area
Thursday, January 28, 2010Looking on the bright side of having our travels delayed by a week, it gave me a chance to check out some Bay Area vegan (or vegan-friendly) restaurants I'd not yet been to. Well, ok I confess, most of these I did not visit in the last week, I just haven't gotten around to writing them up. So here goes...
Posted by Sharon at 7:21 PM 0 comments
Labels: oakland, restaurants, san francisco, wine
Sydney, Here We Come!
Posted by Sharon at 11:13 AM 3 comments
Labels: australia, restaurants, san francisco, sydney