During a tour with his band Blink-182 in Australia. drummer Travis Barker and his wife, Kourtney Kardashian Baker, and the kids, including newborn Rocky, have been exploring all that Australia has to offer, including its plant-based food scene.
Barker went vegan in 2008 after surviving a tragic plane crash, while Kardashian Barker follows a mostly vegan diet.
In 2022, the couple shared their favorite vegan places to eat in Los Angeles. Now, their travels across Australia are giving fans a glimpse into the vegan options down under. Where is the famous family eating?
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1A Melbourne must-visit
Nestled in the artsy neighborhood of Collingwood is Smith & Deli, a café that is renowned for its range of vegan deli fare.
Barker and Kardashian Barker journeyed to the staple in Melbourne’s vegan scene, which they documented with a photo of the deli counter, captioning the Instagram story with “Today’s vegan adventure.”
The duo ordered pasta with green sauce dolloped with cream and more. Smith & Deli’s deli case holds wonders such as sweet and sour chicken, beef and black bean stir-fry, chicken souvlaki meat, and a variety of housemade vegan cheeses such as bocconcini (small mozzarella balls); sliced cheddar; and marinated feta.
Smith & Deli
The sandwich selection is vast, with options such as the Velvet Elvis (a simple breakfast toast with melted cheddar); The Godfather (a toast made with hot salami, olives, roast peppers, feta, pesto, and arugula on Turkish bread); and the Piggy Bundy (a fresh sandwich made on sourdough with bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato aioli).
There’s also a pastry case filled with croissants, doughnuts, brownies, and Basque cheesecake, plus a rotating assortment of cookies, macarons, blondies, and scrolls.
2Sydney’s vegan Thai cuisine
In the heart of Sydney, Peace Harmony offers a wide selection of plant-based Thai vegetarian and vegan fare. The couple’s dining experience highlights the restaurant’s ability to blend authentic Thai flavors with plant-based ingredients, creating dishes that are both delicious and sustainable.
Travis Barker/Instagram
Barker shared a photo of their meal, which featured flat noodles with veggies such as green beans, carrots, and broccoli, along with tofu for a protein hit.
Peace Harmony also serves barbecue soy chicken, massaman curry, fried rice, and other Thai classics.
3Brisbane’s plant-based innovations
In Brisbane, the couple treated themselves to exciting options at Dicki’s, a café that stands out for its creative approach to vegan cuisine. The owner told a local morning show that they opted for Chick’n Burgers, which are served on a vegan brioche bun with coleslaw, pickles, jalapeños, and shoestring fries.
Dicki’s
At Dicki’s, they also ordered the Sticky “Duck” Toastie, which comes on garlic Turkish bread with cucumber, slaw, and chili jam. The duo also ordered a pair of matcha and turmeric lattes to complete the meal.
While the couple is known for their love of lattes, Kardashian Barker is trying to abstain from excessive caffeine during the trip—except for maybe one matcha, chai, or green tea. Why? Kardashian Barker is listening to her body as she is breastfeeding baby Rocky.
“I didn’t drink it most of my pregnancy either,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “I have a strong connection to my motherly instinct and always try to listen to it.”
Other unique menu items that the couple considered at Dicki’s were a build-your-own bao option; decadent mushroom risotto; and a selection of cakes for dessert.
4Indulgence in Bondi Beach
The Kardashian Barker clan knows that Gelato Messina at Bondi Beach is a must-visit. Although not exclusively vegan, its selection of dairy-free sorbet flavors offers a delightful treat for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Lemme
The chain offers classic vegan sorbet flavors such as lemon, strawberry, passionfruit, raspberry, chocolate, mango, and blood orange. Two stand-out flavors here are Pandan & Coconut and Salted Coconut & Mango.
5Surry Hills: a vegan paradise
Surry Hills is a neighborhood often celebrated for its array of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, making it a prime destination for plant-based dining in Sydney.
We know that the couple stayed at a stunning Airbnb rental in Bellevue Hill while in Sydney, and spent time exploring Surry Hills, however, they did not share the details of what they sampled here.
Perhaps they stumbled into Bad Hombres, a restaurant that serves Mexican-inspired food that turned vegan in 2017. The menu features tuna made from cured watermelon and served inside a tostada; quesadillas stuffed with vegan Oaxaca cheese; and tacos filled with chipotle potatoes, miso eggplant, pastor mushrooms, and jackfruit tinga.
Shift Eatery/Instagram
Surry Hills is also home to Shift Eatery, Sydney’s first vegan deli where sandwiches and bowls reign supreme; and Asian fusion eatery Yulli’s which offers Vietnamese pancakes, Korean Fried Broccoli, and Kanafe (a classic Arabic dessert).
Australia officially embraces plant-based
Barker and Kardashian Barker’s culinary adventures across Australia come at a time when Australia is updating its Dietary Guidelines to focus on plant-based foods.
The updated guidelines are expected to highlight the benefits of plant-based diets, both for individual health and the planet. By encouraging Australians to consume more plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, the guidelines aim to reduce meat consumption, which is associated with higher water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use.
Shift Eatery/Instagram
This shift is about reducing the environmental impact and addressing public health concerns, as plant-based diets are linked to lower risks of chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Moreover, the guidelines are set to embrace the principles of the “One Health” approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Backed by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia’s update is also in line with global initiatives, such as the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, emphasizing the critical role of less environmentally damaging food systems in combating climate change.
And its plethora of vegan options—as highlighted by the famous family’s trip—makes it easier for Australians to adhere to the new guidelines, slated to be implemented by 2026.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
