“We’ve got to check out the Vegetarian Butchers down the road” Reem said to me while we were having lunch.
“The …what?” I answered. It’s not every day that there is a vegetarian butcher’s. But then when the neighbourhood is vegan friendly Enmore, then your local butcher might very well be a vegan…
The “Happy Cow” on the left
Open for just two months, there’s a take away area on the left where people can try the items that are hand made on the premises in a burger or sandwich form. Everything is vegan and the wrapped products under the glass counter are the sausages, patties, schnitzels and bolognese sauces. There are also hot vegan pies under the heat lamp.
Some are made of gluten and TVP (texture vegetable protein) while other sausages are made out of polenta. There are usually a couple of varieties to try at the store and sure enough, they’re mid frying up a sample of the polenta, tomato and basil sausage and the traditional sausage which comes with a little spiciness to it. Owner Suzy Spoon started off selling her items at the Addison Road Markets and they developed a following there that the next step was to open up a Vegetarian Butchers.
I buy a couple to serve to the in laws over Christmas and these are the schnitzel and the Christmas sausages which are said to resemble the taste of a chicken or turkey stuffing. The schnitzel texture is a touch hard to cut in parts, especially when it is thinner (perhaps I cooked them for too long) but served with tomato sauce and the thicker bits are very much like a schnitzel.
Later that evening, we give the burger and the deep fried mushrooms a try. You can choose to have either a schnitzel or the butcher burger patty and we choose the latter since I had already bought some schnitzels. For an extra dollar you can have your order with the Vegusto vegan “No-muh” cheese from Switzerland which is so popular that they find it difficult to keep this in stock. At $9.25 it isn’t inexpensive, but I try a little of it by itself and it’s actually really quite good and has a flavour of a strong cheddar with a slightly different texture. They tell me that it doesn’t melt as cheese would but is good finely grated on top of pasta.
Vegan Butcher Burger $8.50 + $1 cheese
The burger has a soft patty and is made up with the classic Australian burger fillings of lettuce, tomato and a slice of beetroot. It’s an enjoyable burger and whilst it may not pass as a beef burger, I don’t think that’s a bad thing or the point of it.
Crumbed mushrooms $5.50 (large)
I have to admit that I really liked these crumbed mushrooms. Served with a vegan mayonnaise type of sauce, they were full of flavour, with a thin crunchy breadcrumb coat on the outside while being tender and juicy on the inside.
And of course vegan cakes for dessert!
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever tried vegan food and if so, what did you think of it?
Spoon’s Vegetarian Butcher
Monday-Wednesday 11am-7pm
Thursday-Sunday 11am-9pm
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50 Comments | Add your own
i ve never tried vegan food like this but I’d like to try it. i have some vegan cake recipes which i enjoy though
Yuk!
This food sounds great – I have never really tried vegan, but I am sure I’d like it.
No I havent tried any of the vegan products around. I understand and respect vegetarians/vegans but dont quite get the concept of mimicking meat products,I cant see the reasoning,if you want a burger just make it with lentils etc plenty of other options out there.
That burger looks sensational!I have tried vegan and veggie food in the past but often it has been bland and missing texture. Looks like they have some good products, a real niche. Must remember for vegetarian guests. If vegans and vegetarians are opposed to eating meet why make so many products mimic meat? Perhaps it’s familiarity or maybe to win a few converts.
I’m sure this shop will be very popular. So funny how it looks like a regular butcher’s shop. I wonder why they only open at 11am. I’d like to try those Christmas sausages xx
Vegan food is like anything else, if it’s done well it’s fantastic if it’s not- look out! I love creativity and fun in cooking so this looks great, but I’m most definitely a confirmed carnivore
I am not, repeat, I am not a vegan. Having said that, my son and I ate fabulous food at Leaf Organics, a completely vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, and it was fabulous. Fabulous. The Bedouin wrap and the Mango Medley Cheesecake made me want to weep, they were so good. So…I am open, but not a convert.
Most vegan food is deliciously tasty, but I’m not sure I could ever enjoy a meat substitute. However, I think crumbs improve most things and the crumbed mushrooms look very tempting.
I would feel like I’m on a merry-go-round in here….trying to find that flavour but on…and on…and on….without success. Feed the man, meat!
However what a great idea and good for vegans out there to have such variety available.
OMG! Thank you so much for reviewing Spoons. Suzy Spoon is my wonderful, awesome niece. I hope your in-laws enjoyed it too.
I am not opposed to vegan or vegetarian food. But my food ethic is to try and not eat processed foods or keep processed foods consciously to a minimum. This vegetarian butcher is wall to wall processed food. If I can’t make it for myself, in my kitchen, then I will probably try it but I am not really excited by it. I think if you are strictly vegan, which a few of my friends are, a place like this is a godsend. We need one in Brisbane for my poor pallid vegan friends.
I was at Spoon’s yesterday stocking up! Their range is growing which is fantastic. Newtown is excellent for vego grocery shopping.
Having an adult daughter who has gone through long periods of eating vegan food, it meant I got to try lots of different foods that I would probably have never thought of eating. Vegan food is so varied and tasty compared to years ago.
What Carol said.
A vegan butcher! How unheard of yet so exciting! I would definitely love to try everything there
I fully agree with Theresa. I love to have quite a few vegetarian meals every week, but prefer to make my own vegetable and lentil/chickpea patties, sausages and sauces MY way, ie unprocessed. I don’t like a shop like this being called a ‘butcher’ – and why have the head of a cow there in the first place? Shows only too clearly it is ‘pretend’ stuff, and yet vegetarian can be so very good, as Victoria has said. Yes, I have tried the commercial offerings made from TVP: pretty awful to get down! Am certain that what is sold here would taste heaps better: but with so many interesting recipes available, why not take the time an make your own
!
Wow Sydney is becoming so interesting. Very exciting indeed what a great find
I was vegetarian for a few years for ethical reasons and I ate meat substitutes on occasion. I missed meat.
I also found that sometimes, just sometimes, I didn’t WANT to mess around with lentils and meal balancing and whatnot. Sorting out complete vego meals is fine most of the time, but on those nights when you get home late, and omnivores would just grill and piece of meat and throw together a salad? I wanted to be able to do something equivalent, that was still quite high protein (a grilled shroom just doesn’t cut it sometimes). Some meat substitutes are just gagworthy, but I certainly found some TVP-based things that I liked.
Vegan and butcher? How unique!
Sorry, but my curiosity did peak!
I have tried numerous products, nothing really took my fancy on the day,
I think it is also a mind set thing as I LOVE my meat…and that’s what I have to say!
Don’t eat a lot of crumbed and fried,
But with vegan foods, I can say, “At least I tried!”
I love good vegan food, but find it too challenging to make from scratch myself. So a vegan butcher would be awesome!
Well, Lorraine, I had the same reaction as you did when I read an e-mail. What butcher?!
As a former vegetarian yes I did tried all vegan and vegetarian foods, which still remains a main part of my diet. However, some things are better in their original form, and that’s why I stopped being vegetarian, because good burger is just can’t be made out of plant food… 
I’d consider the crumbed mushrooms but I’ll stick to my meats thank you very much
Wow! How interesting, a vegan butcher, I was a vegetarian for ten years but never went all the way to vegan. I would love to try some vegan cakes.
Looks like a great place, and I love that it’s providing some great non-meat options for vegos & omnivores alike. I love vegan & vegetarian food but I think I would struggle to cook vegan meals day in day out…it’s a tough but admirable road that’s for sure.
How ironic! I’m definitely open to trying vegan food, especially since I’m already so found of vegetarian dishes.
Just showed my younger vegan brother this post and he was very excited to say the least! He took note of Spoon’s address and plans to visit very soon.
As for myself, I have tried vegan products and for the occasional meal it’s ok but couldn’t eat it all the time. I like a juicy steak or beautiful piece of fillet cooked just right!
Ok this is great! About time! I love this!
This is also such a healthier option instead of animal fat and all the cruelty that goes along with that.
A plant based diet is the way to go; for ourselves, the environment and general state of being; we left the caves a long time ago!
I am an avid vegetarian and would not go back to eating meat at all. The whole concept is disgusting and cruel, not to mention foul smelling. Eating cooked flesh is not ‘tasty’ at all.
Having a vegetarian butcher is a milestone and a bit cheeky too. The only meat concept here is that we are able to obtain just the same amount, if not more, of essential vitamins, minerals, protein etc etc through a plant based diet. There is really no need to eat meat! Simple!
Again, fantastic and I am definitely going!
Vegetarian Butcher — at first I thought, “What!? The ultimate oxymoron?” LOL It’s true, though, that wheat gluten products have gotten much better. I was never a fan before. But a new Veggie Grill place opened up in our parts and the faux chicken is quite good. I was pleasantly surprised.
what a cool concept, i havent had much vegetarian but this definitely has me hankering for more!
That looks like such a cool place! I’m very much a carnivore but have a soft spot for mock meats (especially Chinese style ones!)
TBH I find the list of ingredients on many meat/dairy/egg substitutes a bit spooky and would prefer to eat milk or egg from a happily-raised chicken/cow than a strange substitute…
However, I did try a vegan chilli dog from South (Melbourne-based vegan soulfood) recently, and really loved it!
This place sounds fantastic! What a wonderful idea!
OMG why haven’t I thought of crumbing mushrooms?
NEEEEEEEED!
To be honest Lorraine, I’m really not a fan of pretend food like this, but I’m happy that their business is doing well.
what a great idea! Not vegan or vegetarian but some of the great cuisines of the world are vegetarian and any addition to the repertoire is to be celebrated!
I tried the burger at Lord of the Fries in Melbourne and if you hadn’t told me it was TVP I would have assumed it was meat. Good to see they’re importing some decent vegan cheese, the soy cheese in Australian supermarkets is revolting.
Hi Tim! I agree, some of the soy cheese is awful isn’t it? This was a really pleasant surprise!
Ooh the cakes look beautiful. The only vegan thing I’ve bought is a chocolate cup cake and it was surprisingly tasty.
What a clever idea!
I also went “what”, when I saw vegetarian butcher. It’s like an oxymoron… just like in KL, we have “vegetarian char siew” and “vegetarian goose” during CNY.
Vegan food?? What is that?
VEGETARIAN BUTCHER!!That is the most awesome thing EVER!!
Thanks for sharing 
Oooh I’ve heard great things about this place and would love to give it a try!
I have never really eaten much vegan food but my recent diagnosis w severe lactose intolerance means I am about to embrace vegan ism ESP baking to fill the large gap left by the departure of dairy.
I’ve visited these guys a few times to stock up – service is fantastic and awesome meat alternatives!
A lot of people don’t seem to understand that there is a market for “vegan fast food”. I don’t always like to be cooking up bowls of lentils and vegies – I like a good bbq!!
The polenta sausages are my favourite from this place
In The Netherlands, there is also a vegetarian butcher & I went these on Holiday & couldn’t believe my eyes what they had & everything was so tasty too!
This veget. butcher place looks amazing, special & very alternative too! Thanks for this tasty review! MMMMM!
I loved their mushrooms but found the burger fell apart on impact so was really disappointed with it unfortunately
Hi Nic! Aren’t they great? Oh did you get the same burger as we did (there are two types)? I don’t mind soft vege patties as long as the flavour is good. Some really good ones are quite soft. But yes it makes things messy! :S
Hehe vegetarian butcher. The thought of poor vegetables being butchered back of shop is quite amusing. Love the look of the mushies!
Please open one in Brisbane!
i love the taste and texture of meat but not enough to cause the death or suffering of another creature.
i may be vegan but that doesn’t mean i’m a rabbit OR a hippy.
salads and lentils are fine some of the time but my reasons for avoiding animal products are based on their well being – not my own.
a little prepared food here and there isn’t gonna kill me. and if i buy it from “Spoon’s” it won’t kill anybody else either.
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