About Life supermarket launch (by invitation), Port Melbourne

Eating well is easy enough - as Aussies, we have it pretty good when it comes to choosing fresh produce and packaged foods that are healthy and locally-made. However, eating fresh, healthy and local doesn't always come cheap - it's often easier, and understandable when money is tight, to pick the mass produced option, which isn't the best option for us or the environment in the long-term.

A selection of About Life's private label range (photo credit: About Life)

That's why Ms G and I were excited to attend the launch of About Life - a new one-stop-shop for all your everyday groceries, with a cafe and ready-to-eat takeaway servery to boot! About Life started out as a humble juice bar in Sydney 20 years ago and has grown into six thriving supermarkets. Opening its first shop on Bay Street in Port Melbourne, Melbournians can now get to treat themselves to all sorts of tasty edibles and home products that are sourced from producers that have an ethical, eco or sustainable ethos.

Charcoal frittata with horseradish beetroot, smoked trout and turmeric mayo

More than anything, I was really impressed that the food actually tastes delicious (who would have thought that raw kale and almond pesto can be tasty!) and is also reasonably priced.  As the prices of the ready-to-eat range is similar to a main dish that you'd order at a cafe (or buying lunch in the city during the week), eating natural and sustainably is a real option now.

The Egg Nourishment - quinoa and free range egg scramble with raw pesto and flaxseeds - was absolutely yum!  As with the raw kale and almond pesto, you'd think quinoa plus scrambled egg wouldn't go together, but trust me, this was warming, savoury and just so tasty.

The self-service ready-to-eat range (photo credit: About Life)

In addition to the gorgeous superfood cocktails (made from fresh berries and acai), we also got to sample some organic wine from South Australia (Spring Seed's 2015 Forget-Me-Not Sauvignon Blanc Semillon) and also organic kombucha teas.

This was pretty cool - a churn-it-yourself peanut butter machine.  

L-R: Co-founder Tammie Phillips and Chief Operating Officer and Wellness Ambassador, Vladia Cobrdova

Ms Cobrdova is also the author of the Wholefoods for Wellness cookbook, and thanks to About Life we have two recipes to share - raw avocado and cacao mousse and a ginger and turmeric latte (scroll down for the recipes).

 

Another healthy and tasty canape - this time, Chia'zy Avocado, which is avocado with roasted cherry tomatoes, red onion, coriander and chia seeds.


Cacao avocado mousse shots

Thanks to About Life, we have a recipe for Cacao Avocado Mousse to share with our dear readers. It's creamy, vibrant and turns a wicked treat into a healthy superfood boost for your body.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado
• 4 tablespoon raw cacao powder
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2 tablespoon agave nectar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
• 6 raspberries

Method

• Combine the avocado, cacao powder, coconut milk, chia seeds, agave and water in a blender and blitz until smooth.
• Divide the mousse into two serving dishes.
• Top with the raspberries and sprinkle with coconut flakes.

Desserts included raw caramel slice, raw peppermint slice, cacao avocado mousse and these organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, fructose friendly, coconut ice cream.

Ginger Turmeric Latte (photo credit: About Life)

Here is the recipe for Ginger Turmeric Latte. Ginger and turmeric are botanically related to each other and are often used to treat nausea and colds, as well as being believed to protect the brain from damage caused by Alzheimer's disease.  It's a great drink, especially in this chilly autumnal weather.

Ingredients

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 small knob of ginger, grated
• 3/4 cup of hot water
• 1 cup coconut milk, hot and frothed

Method

• Steep grated ginger in hot water for three minutes.
• Strain water into a latte glass with turmeric powder and stir well.  Top up with hot coconut milk and enjoy!

We were also lucky to get given a goody bag of some of About Life's freshly made dips, beauty scrubs and powders.  The dips were absolutely delish and it was very good to see that they were all made from natural, whole ingredients - no nasties, no preservatives, artificial colours or flavourings.  In particular, we loved the raw raspberry chia jam which is great when smeared on a slice of flaxseed or banana bread (homemade, of course!), and the raw hummus is lovely on its own or tossed through some courgette noodles as an easy dressing.


Photo credit: About Life

Find it at

About Life
120 Bay Street
Port Melbourne Vic 3207
Opening hours: 7am–8pm every day (café hours: 7am-3pm)
Website: www.aboutlife.com.au