By Madeline Woolway, Hospitality magazine
A new pub has opened in Carlton on the corner of Lygon and Elgin Streets. The Green Man’s Arms is the latest from hospitality veterans Alison Whyte and Fred Whitlock, who previously ran The Terminus in Abbotsford and Yarra Glen’s Yarra Valley Grand.
While Whyte and Whitlock have approached their latest venture with the sense generosity associated with pubs, the Green Man’s Arm offers a different take on traditional fare, creating a meat-free menu.
“While we loved the YV Grand, we had to give the local people what they wanted because it was one pub town. And while we offered lots of really beautiful, healthy, well-cooked meals, what most people wanted was a parma. That doesn’t reflect what we as a family eat,” says Whitlock.
“We have one vegan child, one vegetarian and one omnivore. As a family, we hardly ever eat animal meat protein anymore. We just want to create a friendly little place that has food that is fast, fun, fresh, affordable, delicious and healthy. A place that is full of our crowd, our crew. With a small, beautiful menu full of ethical, seasonal produce cooked with love.”
The menu is also influenced by the Israeli heritage of head chef David Raziel, with pub snacks including the Yemeni lahuh bread, a pan-baked soft, fluffy tortilla-like bread made to order with a choice of falafel, tahini, pickles and parsley; fried eggplant, soft egg, Israeli salad and tahini; or green beans, mushroom argue and fresh creamed corn.
Mains include a grilled vegetable salad of beets, red cabbage, onions, almonds on labne and pomegranate dressing with pita bread and house-made cous cous with rich vegetable stock and roasted veggies.
Desserts such as home-made halva ice cream, and fresh ricotta wrapped in crunchy knafeh pastry with pistachios, pickled grapes and syrup also feature on the menu.
Green Man’s Arms owns all of its beer taps — another departure from the traditional pub model — which means more room for local craft brews like Hawkers Pilsner, Stomping Ground Saison and Holgate Mt Macedon Pale Ale.
Kombucha also makes an appearance on tap and in the kombucha spritz cocktail, while the wine list is completely vegan too.
