Soul Tree Organic Cafe

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As Kermit penetrating remarked 'It's not easy being green'. It used to be worse. I can readily recall a time when the vegetarian option was the chicken salad with the bits of chicken picked out.

And when you said you were a vegetarian (no vegans in those days) people either patted your arm in a patronising manner or crossed themselves and stepped back hurriedly in case they caught it.



Life has improved, of course, for those seeking a rather healthier lifestyle and diet, but not a whole hell of a lot. There are still very few cafes and restaurants where the food on offer is predominantly meat-free, gluten-free, lactose-free or raw.

There's the Swan Valley Café in Millendon, of course, but nothing in the Perth Hills. Until now. The Soul Tree Café has always offered an alternative diet, but of varying quality.

About a year and a half ago the Soul Tree was taken over by new owners, devoted to nutritious, ethical, low-impact, organic food growing and preparation.

The Soul Tree is not just a café, although it is an excellent one and I'll come back to that. But it is also a venue - a venue for musicians, a venue for story tellers, bush poets, support groups and a place for community needs. There are games and a separate table for the smalls.



The place has been completely renovated, cleaned and re-organised making it appear twice the size and the interior has a spaciousness and air of tranquility that is truly welcoming. So spacious, in fact, that a section has been partitioned off for use as a small yoga studio.

But, its the food that matters, right? Soul Tree is one of the few restaurants that serves All-day Breakfasts - traditional and alternative. All the eggs are free-range and organic, and we know this to be true because they mostly come from Marilyn and Charl's model farm in Gidgigannup, where they use best farming practice and provide a good deal of the raw materials for the café.

Some fresh, organic, produce is on sale, depending on what's available.



Against the eggs, omelette, toast, pancakes and Tofu I chose the wonderfully named 'Hobbits Hotpot' ($16.50 - not so much Breakfast, as Second Breakfast, the hotpot is a mélange of vegetables - one can make a little game of identifying the ingredients - kidney and Cannellini beans, kale, sweet potato, tomato and more. It's topped with a perfect poached egg - and I mean 'perfect'. Best I've ever eaten I think. (If you're vegan, there's a tofu topping instead).



This comes with wood-fired sourdough toast, which is good, but pales against Marilyn's pumpkin bread offered as a side dish ($4.50). I have to tell you that the pumpkin bread on its own is a excellent reason to dine at the Soul Tree.

As well as breakfast there's a range of (ahem) Tree-mendous Burgers, Love and Light - Meals and Sweet Tree-ts and an excellent range of drinks - I had the coffee - very superior, but there's tea, milk, red drinks, juices (vegetable and fruit) and smoothies.

There is a great deal to learn about the Soul Tree, but I think the first thing to appreciate is what their stated purpose is: 'To create an awesome space to feed your body, mind and soul.' I think they have succeeded beyond expectations.

Very Highly Recommended Indeed.



#australian_restaurants
#cafes
#glen_forrest
#gluten_free
#perth_hills
#restaurants
#vegan
#vegetarian
%wnperth