Talking fresh produce and vegan institutions with newly minted cookbook author Chloe Wheatland.

Chloe Wheatland is a Victorian content creator, model and developer of plant-based recipes, and a big believer in living a lifestyle that fulfils her both physically and mentally. Wheatland became a vegan in her mid-teens and says her whole life has changed as a result. If you’re one of the million-plus people who follow her exploits on Instagram, you’ll know her as an enthusiastic sharer of easy and healthy recipes and mindfulness insights. Her first cookbook, Chloe’s Vegan Kitchen, is a collection of 90 such recipes, and it’s out now – here’s how she does Melbourne. 

My defining food moment in Melbourne was getting the most delicious and authentic pizza and pasta from a small, humble-looking Italian restaurant around the corner from home every Friday night with Mum when I was a kid.

My local is Coffee and Soul in Malvern East. They make the best, and I mean the best, coffee in Melbourne. I’m there bright and early every morning for the smoothest and creamiest soy latte.

I know I’m in Melbourne when I go to buy açaí because it’s a beautiful, sunny day, but by the time my açaí order is ready, the weather has done a 360, and it’s hailing with gale-force winds. People aren’t lying when they say that the weather in Melbourne is unpredictable.

In the mornings you’ll find me sitting at my kitchen island with the morning sun streaming through my windows while I sip a hot cacao, gobble down creamy peanut butter and raspberry protein oatmeal, and journal. I love journaling three things I am grateful for, three things I want to manifest, and a daily affirmation each morning to start the day with an open and abundant mindset.

My favourite place to stock up on supplies is Toscano’s in Toorak. They have the coolest range of fresh and exotic fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices, and condiments. My recent favourite discovery there is black sapote, also known as chocolate-pudding fruit. It’s a species of persimmon native to Mexico with a soft, custard-like texture and creamy chocolate and caramel flavours.

The best new thing I’ve found is squeezy peanut butter! What an invention. Instead of cracking open a jar of peanut butter and nearly breaking your spoon while attempting to mix in the natural oils (which end up more on the benchtop than in the peanut butter), squeezy peanut butter comes in a soft pack that allows you to squeeze it directly onto your food. It’s easy, quick, and mess-free.

When I want to go all out on a meal, I head straight to Masti in Fitzroy. It’s hands down my favourite Indian restaurant in Melbourne. The menu is massive, the vibe is cool and has an air of elegance, and the flavours of every dish are spot on. I highly recommend trying their samosas; bhindi do pyaza, which is stir-fried okra and onion; aloo gobhi, a potato and cauliflower curry; and, of course, you can’t go past their vegan naan.

When I want to dazzle friends from out of town, I like to head to Vegie Bar, one of Melbourne’s greatest vegan institutions. Their meals are honest, hearty, and full of flavour. No matter what cuisine you and your friends are after or how hungry you all are, everyone always walks out feeling full and satisfied. My go-to is the original stir-fry with tahini if I’m craving a veggie-heavy meal, and their laksa if I’m in the mood for something a bit extra.

When I want to drink something Victorian, my first choice is a deep and rich shiraz from Hanging Rock Winery. I grew up in the Macedon Ranges, so anything from that region feels very sentimental. The shiraz from Hanging Rock Winery is sourced from Heathcote and just so happens to be vegan-friendly.

There’s no better value in Melbourne than the Queen Victoria Market. I don’t get down there nearly enough, but when I do, you can bet that I walk out with boxes of avocados, punnets of berries, and the juiciest mangoes you’ve ever seen – all at half the cost of regular grocers.

If I could change one thing about eating and drinking here it would be to have a few more health-focused cafés and restaurants. Melbourne excels in providing salty, sweet, and flavourful dishes. But sometimes, I just want to devour a big bowl of veggies that I don’t have to make myself. Give me all the colours and all the tofu with minimal oils and refined sugars. Please, Melbourne, help me treat my body like a temple, not a tip.

But the one thing I hope never changes is the abundance of vegan options available. Not only do we have a plethora of vegan restaurants such as Vegie Bar, Mukka, Smith and Daughters, Lona Misa, and Funghi e Tartufo, but almost every restaurant or café you walk into has several decent vegan options on the menu. Gone are the days of just hot chips and garden salads.

Chloe’s Vegan Kitchen (Penguin, RRP $39.99) is out now at great independent Victorian bookstores such as Readings and Hill of Content.