Conference Food: Science Week (bonus Eating Out: Kuan Yin)

The second conference I went to was for Science Week, a three to four day vet conference held down at the Gold Coast. I attended two days, a feline masterclass day on the Wednesday and the feline stream on Thursday, the first day of the conference proper. Despite being near so much amazing vegan food, breaks weren't long enough so I had to rely on the conference.

I should mention that any time I go to a conference, I am fully stocked with noodle cups, bananas, and snack bars. I take no risks in going hungry.

Morning tea came around on the Wednesday and there was nothing marked vegan. Sigh. I found a catering person to ask, and was directed to something amazing. A strawberry danish! That was vegan! For some reason, instead of putting a vegan sign on them, they just put them on a black slate tray. Surrrrrre... Anyway, no complaints.



Morning and afternoon tea were catered just to our small feline masterclass, but for lunch they sent us down to the main restaurant. Two years ago, at the same masterclass and the same venue, the vegan option was literally salad and fruit. This day, I was directed to a designated area that had pad thai, fried rice, roasted vegetables, and the ubiquitous salad. Plus little vegan strawberry and chocolate tarts! I filled my plate, and went back for seconds on the pad thai and vegetables, plus a few more sneaky tarts.



Afternoon tea was a couple of gorgeous apple muffins. I was so full from lunch, I only ate one. But took the other one home with me to freeze for a future work snack.



On Thursday, the full conference had started, so morning and afternoon tea were on the main conference floor with a lot of people milling around. I was hopeful after Wednesday, and I was not disappointed. Apricot danishes! So great to see a venue realise that vegans love pastry, and that you can buy vegan pastry really easily, and make delicious morning teas for vegans! I 100% ate four of these.



Lunch down at the restaurant was a little more disappointing this time, though still filling. Vegan options were ratatouille (which was oddly spicy, and I had to carefully scoop around giant chunks of capsicum when serving myself), and some bland polenta. And salad, of course. Thankfully, they still had the chocolate strawberry tarts, as well as a lovely fruit plate, so I sugared up! Those chocolate strawberry tarts were soooooo good.



Afternoon tea was a little confusing, as they had some things labelled and other things not labelled. There were some savoury things that may have been vegan, but I contented myself with a little bliss ball. I didn't want to fill up too much, for reasons that will soon be apparent.



Afterwards, on my drive home, I took advantage of being on the Gold Coast and stopped into Kuan Yin at Southport. Kuan Yin used to have a restaurant in Fortitude Valley, which was one of my favourite places. But they closed and switched to a home delivery service, which was nice but not as good. But the Southport version continues to operate, with the same menu. Which meant it was time to order my favourites. I had a standard order there - Taro Soy Milk Bubble Tea, Fried Dumplings, and Sweet & Sour Pork Bento. Normally I am not a sweet and sour fan, but theirs is so good. A proper, thick, sweet and sour sauce smeared on it, rather that the super sweet red sauce you see so often.





Kuan Yin Southport - 2/152 Scarborough St, Southport QLD 4215 - (07) 5511 5121

Cute Kitty Photo of the Post



Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Conference Food: Palliative Care Conference

Sometimes, I go to conferences. And as you know, vegan food at a conference can be pretty hit and miss... always take snacks! I have been to two conferences this year, with surprisingly reasonable vegan food!

The first one I attended this year was a one day conference on veterinary palliative care. A cheery topic, but such an important one. Palliative and geriatric care, helping make end of life decisions, and helping animals on their way are not the most glamorous parts of veterinary medicine. But they are so crucial. As someone who has not only helped many cats cross that rainbow bridge, but as someone who has said goodbye to my own cats, it is an area that really needs attention and care given to it.

So anyway, FOOD. Right? That's what we are here for. It was a one day conference, with morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Remarkably, a few of the conference organisers themselves were vegan (it is so rare that I find any other vegans within the veterinary community!), so they made sure we would be catered to.

Morning tea for vegans was some nice little salad finger sandwiches. The bread had been lightly toasted, so they were nice and solid and hadn't gone soggy.



At lunch, everything was vegan except for one flavour of wrap and the aioli. So I of course took some of everything... and then went back for some seconds. Bruschetta, cous cous salad, veggie wrap, and hot chips. Always give me hot potatoes!



Afternoon tea had some non-vegan cakes, and some fruit platters. Yes, fruit is not the most inventive. Though I had eaten so much at lunch that I was glad for a lighter, fruitier snack!

After the conference I went to my friend Amy's house and she made us some delicious vegan pho. Also this amazing dessert that was called chocolate crack and was something involving salty crackers and melted chocolate and it was aptly named. I know I will always have great food and good company (plus cute cats) at Amy's.



Cute Kitty Photo of the Post



Gumdrop and Layla were another two of our recent adoption kittens. They both got a home together!