I absolutely love this place in Fitzroy! It has a very nice atmosphere and it's a peaceful place to…read moretake some relax in the city. The food is awesom and you can also buy something to take home. Imprescidible for veggie lovers!! ;)

Yes, Friends of the Earth sounds hippie and alternative. It is but it's great!…read more It's a cafe/organic food store where they focus on helping the environment and educating people on organic produce. Locally grown, seasonal produce, organic meals and fair trade teas are what Friends of the Earth are all about. This is a growing mentality that I support and feel like after visiting a place like this you understand why people are so passionate about it. There really is nothing better than the really fresh, organically grown foods they have on offer where it's guilt free and makes you feel fuzzy that you've helped the "little guys" and the environment. It's fantastic to wander through and look at the fresh products where the cafe idea is great and their coffee is amazing so it's definitely worth stopping by!

This event was huge. I never realised there was such a…read morerange of gluten free products available. If you need to cater for those who require a gluten free diet this is an event worth attending. Also the coupons from Coles as part of the entry pack cover the admission costs and then some.

Note: Only one weekend per year, check the website for details…read more Oh coeliacs, here is your helping hand. The Irresistible Gluten Free Show is an expo dedicated entirely to us coeliacs and our inconsiderate stomachs. It really is only when you go that you can appreciate how many gluten free people there are out there. Admittedly, it's not half as exciting as the first year the show was on. Back then the queue stretched over the road and past crown - just to get in - and every single stall offered some new and impressive offering to satisfy our sweet and savoury tastes. Now that gluten free has become more of a buzzword in supermarkets and restaurants alike, much of the food on display has been seen before and there are even non-specialty health suppliers marketing simply because they can (for instance, a chiropractic group). My best tips: take cash, lots of it, green bags, and go on an empty stomach. There are so many things to sample, so many pieces of bread with gluten-like bendiness to marvel at, it's a guarantee that you'll walk out empty pocketed, laden and stuffed.

TOFWD is one of the places I keep going back to in hopes that I'll finally eat something good, but…read moreevery time I go, I'm disappointed. Every. Single. Time. If you live or work in the CBD and you're vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or have other allergies like dairy or egg allergies, you would think TOFWD would be a god-send. It's a tiny hole-in-the-wall cafe on popular Degraves St laneway with health-conscious offerings for everyone in the categories I just mentioned. Only one small problem: the food is not good. I've tried the pumpkin & tofu pie, the vegetable and dahl pie, the vegan kashmir pie, the vegan samosa, the lentil burger with tomato chutney and salad, the vegan pesto pasta, the tofu and carrot nori roll, and a variety of their baked goods (muffins, cookies, and their "genderless gingerbread cookies," a concept I find mildly hilarious). You would think after ALL those attempts, something would have stuck out at me as being above-average. But no, every thing has been either solidly average or sadly below-average. The pies are rubbery and gross (probably because they're gluten-free or wheat-free), the burger was strange, the pasta was super-bland, and the nori roll was drenched in so much soy sauce that it was like a salt mine exploded in my mouth. The baked goods were alright but nothing special. In terms of the other stuff: service is also pretty crap. The ladies who work there always seem to have a frown on their faces and don't go out of their way to help you when you're looking at what's in the food display case. Atmosphere-wise, the place is tiny but they do have some seating outside in the laneway, which is nice when the weather is pleasant, and Degraves is always fun for people-watching. They also carry a range of health food and vegan groceries stacked against the wall. Price-wise, TOFWD is also pretty reasonable. I'm sad because I love the concept of TOFWD, and in principle I love any place with so many vegan-friendly lunch options on the menu, especially here in the CBD where it's very much needed, but the food has just been sub-par so many times that I don't think I'll be going back.

This is a great place that has the ability to make you feel good about yourself. It's the type of…read morecafé where you feel as though you are making a difference, and doing the right thing by buying organic produce. There's a huge range packed into this little store, and it's all delicious. I can't go past the banana smoothie, chai tea with honey, or the Mexican pie (kidney beans, cheese, onion and tomato on rye pastry). I like to buy a few of the pies and take them home; they make for hearty meals, and are also surprisingly healthy. I have yet to try the chocolate brownies but I hear they are pretty spectacular. Unless you are dining alone I would recommend searching for a seat elsewhere. The makeshift tables that pop out of the walls are a little pokey, and you'll feel very uncomfortable should the store get busy. Service is friendly and charming. The staff are always up for a chat about the produce and won't judge you if you admit to not knowing a great deal about organic food (guilty). There are also some interesting flyers taped along the wall with reasons to buy organic food.

This is the newly-opened sister cafe to the Seedling Cafe on Flinders Lane. Everything here is 100%…read moregluten-free and "paleo inspired" which generally means no grains, no legumes, no dairy, and a focus on fresh, unprocessed vegetables and proteins. As a vegan, usually when I go to a paleo place, I shudder at the amount of meat and eggs on offer -- but Seedling Cafe's not like that. Their menu dovetails nicely with a plant-based diet, offering plenty of vegan options. For breakfast, vegans can choose from smashed avo, blueberry porridge, and four different kinds of smoothie bowls made from coconut milk. They also have a variety of fancy-pants lattes (turmeric, matcha, etc.) and coffee with almond, coconut, or soy milk. For lunch, there's not much on the menu for vegans per se, but check the display case where they have their fresh salads and there are usually a few vegan salads, which you can mix and match to make a nice healthy lunch (that's what I did -- I had a pea thing, a cauliflower thing, and a vegan coleslaw thing. Yes. Thing.) And of course they have some healthy treats by way of raw vegan bars and energy balls and stuff like that. These vary so just check the display case. I had the peanut bar and while it wasn't decadent like peanut butter, I wasn't really wanting or expecting it to be -- it tasted mostly like ground up peanuts and a bit of sweetness and a bit of chocolate. In other words, it tasted healthy, which is what you're after anyway if you're going to this place. Their menu and the food in their display case is clearly marked with vegan, paleo, dairy-free, and nut-free options. V* means vegan, and staff knows what exactly "vegan" entails. (They even know that honey is not vegan, which is impressive because a lot of non-veg restaurants/cafes don't know that one.) In terms of atmosphere, this Seedling Cafe is lighter and brighter and feels roomier than their Flinders Lane location. It's in the Equitable Place laneway, on the corner with Little Collins Street. Not much seating so this place is mostly take-away, but there are a few small tables and chairs.

Found this little cafe 3 days before leaving the city and the food was simply delicious! I ordered…read morethe açai bowl which comes with granola, bananas, coconut and berries. I asked them not to put the granola as I'm allergic to nuts and they offered to replace t with more berries and extra coconut for no extra charge. Also got their lemongrass ginger tea and it was divine. If you're looking for a great meal not too expensive and healthy this is definitely the place to go!

We recently spent a few weeks in Melbourne, and I was here every few days for coffee, groceries,…read morework, or all three. Hidden away down a downtown alley, this place is awesome! Such a great vibe with all you could really want from a grocery store and a great coffee spot. There were plenty of tables inside and out, and the staff were all really friendly. Prices were as high as expected but worth it for the quality of groceries and household items. The coffee was also excellent! I think the only downside is no wifi; it is listed but does not work. Not a huge deal, I just tethered my phone.

Here is an organic grocer that still has that new car smell. The guys have only been open 4 days…read morebut quickly established themselves as a valuable addition to the Southbank community. Southbank has been a bit of a grocery wasteland with ample convenience stores but no real alternatives for healthy and fresh food. In steps Broad Bean with their selection of fresh food and groceries. As expected organic supplies are pricier than the average store but given the lack of alternatives and the very high prices charged around Southbank they are a very welcome and appreciated. With a beautiful looking store, friendly staff and good selection I'll be ducking in occasionally to check out their wares.

So, everyone has seen or visited the self serve nuts and dried fruit section at their local…read moresupermarket. Well, times the size & variety by 20! The Source bulk foods has everything you can think of. From Corn flakes to Kapai Puku to Organic Olive oil to Coffee to Chocolate Freckles. There is around 400 products to buy from. The concept is really cool as you can buy as much or as little as you would like. All you need to do is grab a few brown paper bags scoop up your goodies and remember to write down your items code on the bag so it is easier at the checkout. They also stock jars and bottles for you to buy so you can empty out your bags and put whatever you bought in there. I found the staff really smiley, chatty and helpful and will definitely be back for more whole food goodness.

Want nuts?.... This place has plenty. It also has almost anything else you can imagine from Olive…read moreOils to cleaning products and everything in between including seeds, grains, cereals, flour, rice, paleo products, superfoods, honey, oils, confectionary, yummy snacks, personal care and more. They have over 400 bulk products you can browse. They have helpful staff and to be honest the only issue i have is that i always leave with more than i intended to because of the selection of yummy goodness. I find myself returning ever couple of days to top up and try new things. I suggest you get yourself down there and start "scooping"

Lanah the employee was very kind and sweet helped me an I will have to come back!the food was very…read moregood all of the things I got were delicious and amazing

OMG the vegan pesto, avo, cheese, spinach toastie is to die for. Staff are great too.read more

God this place is good. You'd don't need to be a spiritual yogi to enjoy the benefits of health…read morefood. These days everyone who's anyone is going organic. Passionfoods stocks an amazing array or healthy (and naughty) snacks. For those who aren't into lentils, you can always look to such delicacies as gluten free chocolate and raspberry brownies. Healthy doesn't have to equal fun-free. If you're short on time, there is an extensive range of take home meals from pies and lasagnas to curries. However, it does help if you have rather healthy bank balance too...

Eh Gad! Yet another dangerous venue…read more Dangerous in the fact that there is so much good stuff to buy, and the costs add up fast. Granted, it's no so bad as Thomas Dux, which is purely evil, as one walks in and has the "I want that, this, and the other, and come out with the wallet $300 lighter, when you originally only wanted a snack. Anyway, an array of organic and non commercial Olives, fruit juices, sauces, spices, condiments, cheeses, pre prepared meals, dairy and meat products and an array of other health foods and various treats. There is even a fruit and vegetable section here, and they stock, some of the best commercial food stocks available- IE chicken, beef, vege, and fish, and no, we're defiantly not talking about "Campbell's" here. It's at the higher priced end of the market, but one will always find great take home meals including salads, pasta's and other dishes. A great place to get some great quality produce, but just remember to take out a second mortgage on the house if you want to shop here.