EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS: VEGAN VIBE - MEKONG BABY

It’s about that time of the year when work is suddenly catching up, the colder seasons are approaching, and we’re all having to stop procrastinating and truly get ourselves out of summer vacation mode.

Equally however, we still have to take the time to treat and look after ourselves.

This month, my friends and I took a free night opportunity to get out of the house and our studying frenzies to relax and have a night for ourselves. Each of us craving something along the lines of Asian cuisine, we landed on Mekong Baby.

Over the past month, I’ve switched to becoming more gluten free - partly through listening to my body and how it’s affecting me, and partly because one of my best friends is celiac and it makes us a better pair to go out for food if we both don’t eat gluten. Therefore, I was particularly excited to see that the entirety of the vegan menu at Mekong Baby was also gluten free. In retrospect, this was something that I used to be annoyed by - seeing menus constantly making every vegan dish gluten free as well - but maybe I’m becoming a true Ponsonby chick so it’s more appealing nowadays.

As much as the menu is important in a restaurant, what often sells me is the atmosphere, energy and service. As I waited for my friends to arrive - being the early bird I am, as well as the ever frustrating bus timetable clashes and cancelling holding my friends up - the service I received was attentive and welcoming.

Once they arrived, we naturally split up into two groups when ordering - the two meat lovers together and the two pescatarians joining me, the pesky vegan. After much deliberation, we ordered the roasted cauliflower curry with steamed jasmine rice and the vegan Pad See Ew. As much as I enjoyed the Pad See Ew, it was the curry that really stood out for me. Another friend had told me about how good Mekong Baby’s curries were, but I had clearly underestimated just HOW good they really are. It was a sweet, salty, spicy, creamy, aromatic explosion all in one. The cauliflower melts in your mouth, and the flavours of the kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil shine through and tie the whole dish together. I could not recommend this more.

After feeling slightly at a loss at what I missed from not being able to go through the whole vegan menu, I came back two nights later with my mother to share the last three dishes on my list - the Vietnamese veggie rolls, smashed green papaya salad and the salt and pepper tofu.

The veggie rolls were paired with an addictive spicy peanut sauce - classic, refreshing and enjoyable. We paired the salt and pepper tofu with steamed jasmine rice and fell in love with the pickled turmeric and striking flavours throughout. However again, there was one dish that stood out from the rest; I’ve had many respectable papaya salads over my time, but this one was exceptional. It was the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, crunchy and fresh and it paired wonderfully with the salt and pepper tofu.

Mekong Baby is a stalwart on Ponsonby Road sitting proudly on a prominent corner with significant amounts of outdoor seating - something important to many of us in the current red light system. It’s family friendly, a great place to meet and share food with friends and offers plenty of options for all. (SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS)  PN

NEW AUTUMN MENU AT DIDA’S

As we head into the cooler months the chimney is swept, the fire wood ordered, and our new autumn menu just perfect.

Come on in, enjoy a glass of quality wine and a plate to share.

PLATES TO SHARE

Prawn tacos, tomato salsa, tamari (3) $16 Chicken liver parfait, cherry, walnut, toasted sourdough $16 Chargrilled chicken slider, chorizo, tomato, baby cos $12 Didas fried chicken, ten spices w/ chipotle aioli $14 Fried calamari with lemon aioli $16 Crispy fried potatoes, w/smoked paprika, aioli ~ * $12 Stuffed eggplant, provolone, goat cheese, pinenut ~ * $16 Cauliflower bites, w/almond parsley and lemon aioli V $16 Glazed baby beetroot, ricotta, w almond parsley V * $16 Tigelle, San Daniele prosciutto, tomatoes, bocconcini $23 Australian Prawns, garlic & chilli butter, parsley, lemon * $24 Lamb rump skewers, beet glaze, popped quinoa * $20 Pork belly, burnt honey & soy glaze, apple salad * $24

We’ve got all the safety measures in place and are looking forward to looking after you at Didas. More than ever, it’s definitely time to support local! We are open Tuesday – Saturday from 4pm.

DIDA’S, 60 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 2813, www.didaswinelounge.co.nz