FAREWELL LAURIE’S VEGETARIAN
Laurie’s Vegetarian in Bondi Road recently closed. Wade, the owner, has been serving up fabulous, tasty food for 20+ years. Transition Bondi has loved his food as takeaway for our meetings for years and this is Kit’s poem of gratitude.
How many meals has this man made,
the one we know and love, called Wade?
he’s leaving soon, it’s time to stop
we’ll miss his food, we’ll miss his shop
he’s worked so hard, those lovely dishes
no meat, just veggies, and no fishes
of veggies baked and lentil stew
I’ve had some hundreds! not a few
a tasty lasagne in a bake
and lately vegan cheesy cake
those pastry rolls and mushroom pies
a feast for stomach and the eyes
that berry tapioca pood
so tart, and creamy, oh so good
and coconutty balls so sweet
a lovely place to come and eat
we’d come to eat or take away
and often for a while we’d stay
for some, a daily watering hole
eat in, a tasty, hearty bowl
kind words, a smile, a friendly man
the food hand made, not from a can
on bondi road a welcome warm
rain, hail or shine and even storm
he fed us in that COVID time
with company, comfort (but not wine)
people came for twenty years
and now tis time for grateful tears
we’ll miss you Wade, here’s our good wishes
may you enjoy new dainty dishes!
Poem by KIT
August 28, 2023
A lovely poem, Kit! I, too, have enjoyed with you many meals that he prepared. He’ll be missed!!
When I used to drive taxis in Sydney I always stopped for dinner or a snack at Lauries Vegetarian and got to know Wade quite well
recently returned to Australia and was looking forward to a meal at Lauries in Bondi sad to see that it is closed it was the last one left open I have enjoyed there vego food since the 90s the one in Burton st near St Vincents hospital was great also for a mid shift meal ☹️
I used to buy the delicious tempeh burgers from the Darlinghurst store, I’m drinking coffee in the cafe that replaced it.😢
So nice to hear a little of the history from happy customers. I heard recently that Wade is working with OzHarvest. Good to know 🙂 Lucky them!
I was a regular at Laurie’s on Bondi Road. Always had a great exchange with the lovely Wade. He made delicious food and I was very sorry when he told me he was closing. So many veggo places in the east have vanished over the last few decades. Even my other regular haunt, the various Iku cafes, are no more. All online ordering now. Not happy, Jan!
So sad I used to love my burgers and my food relationship goes back to the late 1990’s! Best wishes for Wade!