Tag Archives: Cafes

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Food & Wine in Swan Valley

Swan Valley Vineyard

Less than a thirty-minute drive from Perth’s city center lies Swan Valley, not only one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Australia but also one of the premier food destinations in the country. The Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail stretches for 32 scenic kilometers and is where you will find some of the best wineries, restaurants and cafés in the state.

Wine
A large number of the wineries in Swan Valley were among the first to be established in Western Australia, with the region producing wine for over 180 years now. One of the main charms when it comes to the wineries here is the focus on small boutique wineries, and while there are still some big names to be found, it is the smaller, family-owned vineyards that really shine. Since Swan Valley experiences quite a warm and dry climate, it is perfect for producing some of the best shiraz, cabernet and verdhelo varieties that Australia has to offer, and this, combined with advanced wine making technology and equipment, has given the wines that come from this region a level of perfection that cannot be beaten.

Wineries
Carilley Estate is a family-run vineyard in Swan Valley and has been producing wine for over fifty years. With picturesque gardens featuring majestic greenery, this is definitely one of the more scenic of Swan Valley vineyards, and the lush surroundings add a whole new dimension to the wine tasting. Sandalford Wines is one of the oldest and largest family-run wineries in the state, and is also one of the most sustainable in the country, making their techniques well worth viewing. Talijancich Wines was established in 1932, and has quite the reputation for their award-winning wines, with gourmet cheeseboards available to accompany tastings.

Restaurants and Cafés
With over 90 different restaurants and cafés on the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail to choose from, each of them making use of regional produce and fresh ingredients in their own way, it can be extremely difficult deciding which to visit! Broads Café, which can be found at the Upper Reach Winery, puts their own twist on their fresh, gourmet food by serving it up tapas style, and focussing on a selection of tasting plates that beautifully accompany the wines from their vineyard. Another fantastic restaurant is situated in the historic Valencia Vineyard, with the owner cooking up fresh and delicious homemade food. The Cheese Barrel is another popular spot on the trail, because, as can be guessed from their name, they focus on specialized wine and cheese pairings, making use of both local and international cheeses.

Australia has a number of different regions that are known for their outstanding food and wine, and Swan Valley is at the top of that list. While it is possible to take a day tour of the region and visit a select number of wineries and restaurants, it really is worthwhile to spend a few days here, taking in the unique aspects of each vineyard, as well as the rich natural beauty all around.

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Loma Linda Vegetarian Eateries

Vegetarian food

Situated in California’s San Bernardino county, Loma Linda is considered to be one of the healthiest communities in the United States. One of the reasons for this is because a large portion of the city’s residents are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which advocates healthy lifestyle choices – something that almost all of its members follow. When it comes to diet, the church recommends that this be plant-based, as this is much healthier, meaning that the city is packed with delicious vegetarian eateries.

Happy Family
While Happy Family may be quite a basic eatery, it serves up delicious and authentic-tasting vegan and vegetarian Chinese cuisine. The menu is filled with hundreds of traditional Chinese dishes, with the meat-free alternatives looking so much like the real thing that the restaurant is constantly assuring customers that they are indeed meat-free. While the faux meat dishes are tasty, the vegetarian dishes are the true standouts. From the spicy Szechuan Style Tofu to the Crispy Oyster Mushrooms to the Crispy Shitake Mushrooms with Beansprouts, Happy Family serves up such tasty vegetarian dishes that even the meat lovers won’t miss the meat.

Patio Pantry
Situated on the Loma Linda University campus, Patio Pantry is attached to the Loma Linda Market, and makes good use of its easy access to fresh and healthy vegetables. This cute café serves up mainly lacto-ovo vegetarian dishes, along with a good selection of vegan options. Their made-to-order sandwiches are popular with those seeking a quick and healthy lunch, while they also enjoy a steady crowd during breakfast hours for their pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and their one-of-a-kind Spanish Potato. Patio Pantry also puts together some of the tastiest fresh juices, ensuring that you have a healthy way to stay refreshed and hydrated. While Patio Pantry can often get rather busy, especially at lunch times, all of their meals have a take-out option, and, thanks to the cafe’s central location, can easily be enjoyed in one of the nearby parks.

Tess’ Place
Tess’ Place is run by a Loma Linda doctor, who wanted to provide the city’s residents with fresh gourmet soups, sandwiches and salads. The restaurant puts a strong emphasis on ensuring that everything that they serve up is fresh, from their pastries to their soups. The in-house bakers create fresh bread each and every day, and the menu features a great range of vegetarian options, from the vegetarian speciality sandwiches to the fresh vegetarian and vegan soups to the speciality salads that make us of some unique ingredients. Their daily specials are always highly anticipated by their regulars each morning, and they are also posted on the restaurant’s social media accounts, so that you can be sure not to miss out if they are cooking up one of your favorite dishes.

Plant-based diets have been proven, time and time again, to be beneficial to a person’s health, and this is why the residents of Loma Linda not only enjoy a longer lifespan than the average American, but also live their lives feeling much healthier and happier.