Like Minded Projects

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41 Smith Street, Collingwood, 8459 7561

My score: 3/5

Like Minded Projects is a small food court with three complementary outlets and all the neon signage, raw food and nut milk necessary to denote a hip, modern hangout. The three businesses are Coffee Supreme (coffee to have here or away, brew gear to take home), Fred Gets (healthy vegetarian food, some raw, all gluten free) and Ace (raw, gluten-free, sugar-free cookies). It’s all very bright and cheery. Just looking at the profusion of pot plants makes me feel oxygenated and energetic.

Even if you’re not on a #cleaneating hashtag jag, there’s plenty to like. ‘Health food’ often comprises winning ingredients plonked on a plate. Fred Gets succeeds because the dishes are integrated meals, not just edible items bursting with vitamins and free from allergens or culinary bogeymen. Best in breed are the raw zucchini noodles, twirled on a turning slicer, and tossed with an intense red sauce of sun-dried tomatoes and capsicum. Avocado, spinach, basil and dukkah spices (think sesame, coriander and cumin) give the dish body and depth. It’s so cool, curly and tasty that you needn’t even know you’re swallowing dietary dogma. There are counter displays of appealing vegetable dishes too, maybe spiced cauliflower, roasted pumpkin and ginger greens, simple seasonal stuff that tastes good and is served with open-faced joy. Ace cookies are made by Like Minded Project founder Elaine So. They actually are ace. The triple chocolate raw cookie is a fabulous flat disc and the ginger and orange sandwich cookie is a zesty winner.

Like any food court, you order and pay at each counter. The focus is on take-away though there are some seats for stay-awhiles. There’s no toilet, which seems a slightly odd disconnect in a place that’s all about healthy bodies. Eat well and smile loud but hold on.

See their website.

More gluten free:

Serotonin Dealer, 52 Madden Grove, Burnley, 9428 8256.
The good vibes are laid on with a trowel at this happy, shiny back-street hangout.

Mastic, 26A Cotham Road, Kew, 9207 7477.
George Calombaris’s upbeat cafe has a focus on clean eating with a few treats thrown in to keep it real.

Heal.Thy Self Co, 26 Ballarat Street, Yarraville, 9687 3330.
Dietary restrictions are no problem at this mostly organic cafe and foodstore. Try the nourish bowl with roasted pumpkin, black quinoa and house-made sauerkraut.

First published in The Age, October 4th, 2015.