vegetarian discovering dallas

Lavendou

2010-07-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

It's been far too long, friends! Apologies.
Let's get back on track with one of my family's favorite places, Lavendou. This is a pretty fancy-pants French restaurant, perfect for special occasions and serious dates. Lovely atmosphere—cozy Provencal.

Great but pricey wine list, with a French focus (lots of Bordeaux) and I will say, not too many vegetarian options. But what they do have truly is *exquisite.*

I immediately put in my order for dessert, as it takes the length of the meal to prepare: the Grand Marnie Souflée. This is hands down one of the most delicious desserts I have had in my entire life, y'all. Lavendou serves it with a decadent rich Grand Marnier cream sauce and homemade whip cream. When it finally came out, I was so damn eager to devour it I completely forgot to take a picture of it!

I skipped an appetizer although there were some tempting options, and went straight for the entrée: a rustic and simple Vegetable Pasta (it had some fancy French name though). Loved loved loved this. The sauce on it was almost non-existent so I, being the Fatty McAmerican I am I guess, drizzled some of their herbed tapenade olive oil mixture (that comes with the bread) over it. Voila! Magnifique!

Another great thing about this place is that if your date goes well enough, there's a Condom Sense next door! =)

• • •

Lavendou
19009 Preston Road, Suite 200, 1/2 mile North of Frankford
Dallas, TX 75252
972.248.1911

Hattie's

2010-04-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

The description on their website sums this spot up quite well...couldn't say it better myself: "Located in Oak Cliff's Bishop Arts District, Hattie's is an American Bistro with a southern low-country influence. Here, traditional ingredients are transformed into sophisticated yet simple dishes that surprise and satisfy the palette. Hattie's offers an imaginative menu that changes seasonally to take advantage of the freshest available produce."

This wonderful little restaurant in OC has a great balance: white linens on the table and tshirts on their patrons; comfort food cooked exquisitely; pretty reasonable prices for a fabulous dining experience.

The service was the best I've had in a long while—very attentive and friendly, without being remotely obnoxious or fake. You're simply taken care of. I rarely drink coffee, but because it was so yummy and they were so on top of refills, I think I drank about 6 cups of it!

I started out with the Tomato Bisque with Mini Grilled Cheese, but forgot to ensure that the soup was vegetarian...I just assumed it would be. When I tasted it, I knew there was some sort of pork in there. I've had "smoky" tomato soups before, but this tasted different. They do, in fact, blend bacon into the bisque. Fail! =(

I got their Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, minus the bacon. It was damn good! The tomatoes were fresh and lovely, with a crispy cornmeal crust. The iceberg was cold and crisp, and there was a nice shmear of spicy homemade pimento cheese that was melted ever-so slightly from the warmth of the fried tomatoes. The sourdough it was served on was toasted perfectly, and the sweet potato fries were delicious, as sweet potato fries should be. I was given ketchup for them, but requested an aoli instead—what I got was really good...a velvety concoction that tasted of mustard and jalapeno.

If I weren't so stuffed at this point, I totally would've gotten some dessert—their options were very tempting. A key lime tart with fresh whip cream, bread pudding with bourbon sauce, pecan chocolate pie with vanilla bean ice cream, fried fruit pie with coconut ice cream, and more.
*drooool*

• • •

Hattie's
418 Bishop Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75208
214.942.7400

Jimmy's Food Store

2010-04-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

This shop is a Dallas culinary landmark, operating for almost half a century now. It's basically a little grocery store, specializing in all things authentically Italian—"Fine Italian Food & Wine." The selection is impressive, offering everything from fresh produce to a wide array of goods jarred in-store, and handmade pasta to tasty sweets. I also loved that they sold Henry's Homemade Ice Cream, a childhood favorite of mine...I took home some Butter Pecan, it was heavenly.

At the back of the store is their deli, where they sell homemade meats and such...be prepared to put on your blinders! Here, you can order from their menu, I got a 12" Cheese Sub: a giant loaf of bread stuffed with three yummy Italian cheeses, mashed avocado, lettuce, tomato, shredded cherry peppers, mayo and mustard. It was wonderful, filling and cheap ($5.99)! Matt got the Italian Stallion for $7.99 and said it was totally delicious. We could only finish half...next time we'll just get the 6"!

I look forward to making Jimmy's more of a frequent destination, it's just such a humble local gem. They host free in-store Wine Tastings every Saturday, 11-1:30 and 1:30-4. Count me in!

• • •

Jimmy's Food Store

214.823.6180

4901Bryan Street at Fitzhugh

Dallas, TX 75206

Open Mon-Sat, 9am-7:30pm

The Pearl Cup

2010-03-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

On sunny days when sitting on a patio with your dog is the only option, on tired mornings when only the best espresso will do, on any day when a steamy cup of chai is the only simple pleasure you seek...swing by The Pearl Cup.

The positives:
This sexy little café offers some basic fare, done right. I stopped in and enjoyed a latté and their grilled cheese. The panini was indeed a yummy treat, and the latté was perfect and beautiful. I LOVED that they served it in a real mug—didn't know anyone did that anymore! So thank you, PC, for that. I also appreciated the filtered water jug and cups, very convenient for everyone. And of course, the location is fantastic: right on Henderson, and next to one of my favorite shops, WE ARE 1976.

A couple negatives:
When I ordered my latté, they asked my name. As I waited for my drink, I heard names being called out. But when I heard "Pearl Latté" shouted, I got up and got the drink and proceeded to pour in a bit of honey. Then I heard, "Julie!" ... I was unaware that there was a Latté and a Peeeaaaarrrl Latté. Geez. Sawree. Sometimes you will have first timers that don't know this. If your system is to ask for peoples' names—which I think is a pleasant way to do things—stick to it! Not a big deal, but it made me feel like a guilty dumbass for wasting that drink.
I also thought the grilled cheese was a little bit pricey—$7. Even $6 would've seemed more appropriate.
I then sat at the only available table, which was cluttered with the dishes, coffee rings and crumbs from the previous idlers. These customers should have noted that you are to bring your dishes to the bus cart at the end of the espresso bar...however, I sat at my table for over half an hour without anyone coming by to clean it up. Working in the food biz makes you a patient, understanding customer...but with that also comes the expectation of capable service.

All in all, this is a wonderful place that I am thrilled to live near. In fact, I think I'm going to pop in there now, before work!

•••

The Pearl Cup Espresso Bar & Coffee Shop
and on Twitter
1900 Henderson Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
214.824.9500

Pizza Lounge

2010-03-15T11:20:00.001-07:00

Pizza Lounge is tops! This new pizza joint on Exposition is delicious, addictive, respectable, exciting, generally worth appreciating and frequenting. They are very friendly and accommodating, even when you show up with an ever-expanding party of vegans! Their vegan offerings include: Mozzarella (FYH), Chipotle Monterey Jack Blend, Mexican Chipotle Sausage, pepperoni, canadian bacon, Soyrizo, Tofurky and more to come, including Daiya. They also have a very good selection of veggies, like roasted Hatch chilies, rapini, sun-dried tomatoes...

Their crust is perfection, their sauce is superb...well worth the fairly high prices, I promise.
I ordered a large Hawaiian Pizza for takeout. IT WAS THE BEST DAMN PIZZA, y'all! Delicious crust with a hint of honey, wonderful sauce and cheese, veggie canadian bacon, pineapple, MACADAMIA NUTS, and a lovely sprinkling of KONA COFFEE! The nuts gave it an amazing crunch, and the coffee offered a little bitterness that paired perfectly with the sweet pineapple. I dream of enjoying it again.

Their menu is great, and the space is pretty swanky, without being snooty at all. A wonderful place to chill with a glass of wine or two.
Okay, wanna know the best part? They have this deal that I couldn't pass up—it's pretty funny, and a good value too. For $6, you get:

• A large slice of cheese pizza (yummy, and 1/4 of a pizza!)
• An ice-cold can of Schlitz
• A shot of tequila

Pretty awesome, huh?! Check it out.

• • •

Pizza Lounge
841 Exposition (across from the Fair Park DART rail)
Dallas, TX 75226214.887.6900

UPDATE:

To address the question below, I snapped a pic off their menu:

TruFire

2010-01-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon an exciting, local and independent restaurant in Frisco, Texas! I only ordered one drink, but could tell from the quality of it, and the enticing options I saw on the menu (see below), that this is a place worth revisiting.

Their hand-crafted cocktails/martinis list proudly proclaims "Like it should be, we use FRESH fruit & make our own sour & syrups." Much appreciated.

I drank their "Black Splash"—Hudson Ferus Vodka, Freshly Sweetened Strawberries, Lemon, Balsamic Vinegar
It was garnished with a touch of freshly cracked black pepper and a sweet strawberry. A SUPER SUPER tasty, fresh and brilliant cocktail. The BV takes it to the next level.

Here are some food items that caught my eye:
• Sweet Fries (Sweet potatoes, parmesan, fresh lemon zest & spice blend, lemon aioli & house ketchup)
• Falafel Platter (House falafel, hummus, roasted bell pepper yogurt sauce, salad, lemon oregano, flatbreads)
• Texas Pecan & Fig Salad (Organic greens, peppered sweet Texas pecans, bleu cheese, pears, house Black Mission fig dressing)
• Organic Spinach Salad (Whole grain quinoa, cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, carrots, cranberries, balsamic honey vinaigrette)
• White Pizza (Roasted garlic ricotta cheese, mozzarella, provolone, thyme, caramelized onion)

I mean...damn! Not too bad, Frisk.

•••

TruFire Kitchen & Bar
6959 Lebanon Rd (in the Shops of Starwood, on the SW corner of Lebanon and the Tollway)
Frisco, TX 75034
214.872.3830

Pho Pasteur

2010-01-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Matt is obsessed with Pho. We have been to so many places in search of 1. great pho for him. and 2. yummy vegetarian options for me. After reading some great reviews on the place, we tried out Pho Pasteur; it fared pretty well in our test, especially on point 2.

I started out with the spring rolls, but had to request them without meat, as there was not a veg version on the menu. It was great that they agreed to make them fresh per request, instead of just saying "sorry, they're pre-rolled." This is one of the many differences between an authentic Vietnamese restaurant (usually run by people from the same country as the food they make and serve), and some chain fusion crap where it's "safe" and "easy" or whatever. I digress; the spring rolls were indeed tasty, as was the accompanying peanut sauce. I was also happy to see that they came 4 to and order. So often, there are 3...even sometimes just 2!

For my entrée, I got the Vermicelli Bowl with Tofu and Eggrolls...but as I presumed, the eggrolls had pork in them. The noodles, veggies, tofu and sauce (fish sauce free!) were all super fresh and delicious. What really set this bowl apart from ones I've had at other places was the grilled red onion throughout, adding that tasty touch of sweetness and flavor. There was a perfect balance between textures; soft noodles and crisp vegetables, tender tofu and crunchy peanuts, etc. Some extra cilantro and sriracha made everything just that much better!

•••

Pho Pasteur
1342 E Belt Line Rd (at S Plano Rd)
Richardson, TX 75081
972.680.0001

Parks Place

2010-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

I know this is silly, but here it is...a post about bar food:

Parks Place in far East Dallas has some damn good stuffed jalapeños (in addition to their extremely sweet staff who take care to learn and remember your name). Now, I am somewhat of a Stuffed/Fried Jalapeño fanatic. Most Texans are...especially when plunged into some Ranch dressing! Unfortunately, most places serve up some processed packed frozen shit, but on occasion you'll stumble upon some decent poppers.

Parks Place offers hand-stuffed fresh jalapeños, hand-battered and fried up to-order. They're stuffed with an oozey mixture of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and some spices. The batter becomes more crisp than oily, and the jalapeño was more al denté than squishy. To top it off, the Ranch wasn't Hidden Valley crap...it was a lovely and frothy homemade dressing. Not too shabby for a smokey dive bar!

•••

Parks Place

2121 Northwest Hwy, Suite 110

Garland, TX 75041

214.227.5552

Vegan Soundboard

2009-12-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a very tongue-in-cheek funny iPhone app I just downloaded (for free!): the Vegan Soundboard from one of my favorite vegan bloggers, quarrygirl.com. The voiceover work was done by Britt from sickoflettuce.com.

It's a simple 2-page soundboard that blurts out typical vegan phrases. My friends and I were shocked at how on-the-money it was. I mean...Portland, atheist, Morrisey, tattoos......are veg-heads that predictable?! Seems so.

Here's a little teaser:

For those without an iPhone, enjoy the online version!

Pei Wei

2009-11-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

As y'all may know, I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants. There are so many reasons to eat further down the size spectrum. That being said, there are some places that I do enjoy...one of which is Pei Wei, the little sister of P.F. Chang's (also delicious—I'll have to do a post about them soon).

Pei Wei offers some decent Asian food, spanning the flavors across the continent, if you will. My favorite dish is the Pei Wei Spicy Chicken Salad...but with tofu instead of chicken of course. Pretty damn good. I had gotten that the last few times, so this time I got one of the Dan Dan Noodles with vegetables and tofu.

I think that's what I really appreciate about this place...is that you can get tofu + veggies as your protein for almost any dish (just be sure you're not getting it in a beefy sauce or anything). Their tofu is pretty tasty; it's very firm and the edges are all toasty dark, as you can see in the pic. I also love that they have sambal and spicy mustard readily available to you. OH! And they also don't mind when you ask them for lotsa cilantro! ;D

•••

Pei Wei Asian Diner
Located nation-wide...oooh-aaahhh!
I go to this one:
Preston Center
8305 Westchester Drive
Dallas, TX 75225
214.765.9911

Organic Cilantro Tattoo

2009-11-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share some fun news with y'all. I got a tattoo!
It's a sprig of cilantro with some ladybugs—nature's pesticide.

It has just been featured on one of my favorite photo blogs, FuckYeahCilantro! Funny stuff.

•••

Hold Fast Tattoos
Adam Walsh
2919 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
214.887.1471

The Garden (movie)

2009-11-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

I recently rented The Garden from Premier Video on Mockingbird—I strongly urge you to do the same. It is a fascinating and inspiring documentary. Here's an overview:

Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s film, “THE GARDEN,” is an engaging and powerful look at the famous political and social battle over the largest urban farm in the U.S (located in south central Los Angeles). The film shows how the politics of power and greed (backroom deals, land developing, green politics, money) tragically intersect with working class families who rely on this communal garden for their livelihood. The film explores and exposes the fault lines in American society and raises crucial and challenging questions about equality, liberty and justice.

The film is an intimate look into the lives of hardworking people simply trying to put food on their family's table. It is so inspiring what these humble people did. I would love to see our cities place more value on such initiatives and communities. I do believe that Urban Farming has a significant role in our future, as the population grows and we continue to creatively assess how to best deal with our impact on our environment and our community.

I was thrilled to see some of my favorite famous folks helping out the South Central Farmers: Darryl Hannah (I met her at Spiral Diner!), Willie Nelson, Zack de la Rocha, awesome vegan Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and a handful of other generous celebs gave to the movement.

So see the movie! Invite some friends over and make tamales. But make sure you have some tissues...it's quite touching.

You can find out more about these farmers and current events on the South Central Farmers website. For example, here's some great recent news: To further cement the economic viability of the South Central Farmers’ Cooperative, Whole Foods Market on Arroyo Parkway will become the first grocery store to offer the farm’s organic, local produce everyday of the week. You can also follow the South Central Farmers on Twitter!

White Rock Local Market

2009-11-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

I will make this a quick post, since my time spent here was quite brief—I was running on a tight schedule this morning...but I have been wanting to go here for a bit now, and the weather was beckoning me to enjoy it at a market. That, and a Twitter friend and fellow MICA alumn was there selling his I (BIKE) DALLAS shirts—had to have one!

Immediately, we came to the horrible realization that there was no way we were going to get tacos without waiting a rather long time, and we were in a rush...so no tacos. I almost cried. I thought about at least checking what they had (since their combinations are often inspiring), but I chose not to be so sadistic. Decided instead to just run in and get some primal strips, cookies and such.

As for the market. It was great! I can't wait to spend more time there next time around. Seriously, it's the closest we've come here in Dallas to a market comparable to those I've had the pleasure of enjoying in other cities. There was a good vibe there. Live music, a wide variety of vendors, lots of friendly folks, bike parking, dog friendly, etc. One thing I thought was missing here that are at the really great markets I've been to (Baltimore, Seattle, Portland, Rotterdam) were more one-the-spot food tents. However, I can't help but think that won't change since the market's host probably wouldn't want competition with its taco stand.

All in all, a super exciting thing to have started here. Go check it out! The next one is December 12, so stay tuned with their website (linked below). "Think Local. Shop the Rock."

•••

White Rock Local Market
in the Green Spot parking lot
702 N. Buckner Blvd at Northcliff

Urbino Pizza e Pasta

2009-11-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

YES! Yes. This is a great restaurant. If you're interested, here is the Observer review that made me decide I must go here. It does have some competition in the area, but owner/delivery driver David Pedack has my thumbs up!

The atmosphere is fabulous...it is a delight for designers. The space is filled with bold graphics with a strong Italian sensibility, a modern-yet-warm design. There is a contemporary elegance in the focused simplicity. "A timeless mid-century modern design with the overall feel of a rustic modern farmhouse" with long community tables to conjure the jovial Italian in all of us.
I couldn't help myself; below are some shots of the lovely space.

As for the food, I was torn between the "wild mushroom ricotta ravioli: brown butter, mushroom broth, sage, seasonal fresh wild mushrooms" and the "vegetable pizza: roasted tomato, grilled portobello, cured black olives, roasted onions, roasted peppers, truffle, fennel, parmigiano, herbs"—I ended up getting the latter, with a requested addition of arugula on the side.

For the pizza, you choose between the 16" round (a thin but chewy crust), or the square (a very thin and crunchy crust), both of which subtly feature my friend the flaxseed. I tried the square, which actually came out quite circular...but the crust consistency was clearly different than the round option. It was authentic and delicious, albeit the less filling option. The sauce was sweet and tangy, and the perfect amount...not dry, not goopy. The vegetables were very very lovely. The cured black olives were the star. And the arugula was a nice accompaniment to each piece; a sparse amount was given, but it was worth it. Every morning, Pedack eagerly gets his herbs and greens from Tom Spicer before they sell out to other restaurants; apparently the arugula is quick to disappear.

We also enjoyed some Italian beer and a very tasty red wine, a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, I believe. I couldn't resist the tirimisu, it was calling my name. Best. Decision. Ever. It was delicious. Fantastico. Bellissimo! The meal was so pleasing, it's a good thing there wasn't an Italian Fountain around, or you might as well have called me Sylvia.

Here's what makes this pizzeria truly special (from their website):
• Built into the Urbino concept is sensitivity to our current economic times, manifested through an affordable and approachable menu and respect for the community and environment.
• We are the first restaurant in Texas to deliver our product via 100% electric “Zap” cars.
• Our kitchen will be open from 11am to 11pm seven days a week.
• Inspired by the simplicity and 100% natural approach of a 1960’s Italian table setting, we add a local twist. Urbino employs local farmers, co-ops and vendors to ensure that we always use the freshest ingredients and organic products whenever available. We then top things off by importing the highest quality artesian meats and cheeses.

Indeed, la dolce vita can be found at Urbino!

•••

Urbino Pizza e Pasta
2323 N. Henderson Ave. #102
Dallas, TX 75206
214.821.0044

Potbelly Sandwich Works

2009-11-02T17:19:00.001-08:00

If you're not in the know yet, Potbelly is effin' delicious. Forget about Subway, vegetarian comrades. This is where it's at.

Here's what I get:
Vegetarian on wheat (actually, it's now multigrain). Original size; they also have Skinnys (um, nah) and Bigs (too much, man...too much).
And what comes with that? Mushrooms, Swiss, Provolone, & American cheeses, mayo, mustard, hot peppers, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickles (I ask for it without the onion, though).
Ohmygawdy'all...so tasty. The hot peppers are on point, and the oil in which they're marinated mixes with the quality mustard and mayo to make this crazy good secret sauce of sorts that keeps the sandwich moist. And I actually like the pickles...they add a nice acid to the richness, and aren't neon green but actually quite subtle and good.

And for those interested, my non-veg boyfriend Matt is also a very happy customer here. He's real excited to try "The Clubby"—Turkey, Ham, Bacon, Provolone, and Ranch—a meaty monstrosity in my mind, of course.

And although it's reasonable enough to assume that their namesake comes from what the sandwiches do to you, Potbelly is actually named after an antique stove! All locations have one as decoration, along with other cool vintage shit like signage, wallpaper, trinkets and such. I especially love that they support local music: "All year long a musician performs live at a Potbelly store somewhere in America. Over the course of a year, over 653 different musicians perform at our stores. Music has been a part of Potbelly Sandwich Works since we first opened in 1977. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Oh, and they also have chips, soup, salads, shakes, malts, cookies, etc. So yeah...don't wear your skinny jeans.

•••

Potbelly Sandwich Works
There are lots of locations, so here's their Store Locator!

Zuzu's Handmade Mexican Food

2009-10-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

There aren't many restaurants in town that I went to as a child, and still love today. Zuzu's is one such rarity. The one I went to in Plano has long since closed, but there are still two locations for us to enjoy. One is in Addison, and it's pretty decent; the other is in Lakewood and it is delcioso!

If you're looking for handmade, authentic Mexican food, this is a good spot to check out. It is comparable in price & time to places like Chipotle and Qdoba, and offers a wider variety of flavorful dishes, including tamales, flautas, burritos, fajitas, gorditas and more. I get the Veggie Combo platter thing. It comes with vegetable quesadillas, a potato-filled flauta, a black bean gordita, and your choice of side (I get the potatoes). I also request some of their enchilada sauce for various dipping purposes, because I did so as a kid and it is still delicious.

Some plusses: Everything is lard-free! They use fresh ingredients! The tortillas are made in-house! Authentic sides, like corn salad and roasted potatoes! Fresh homemade salsa bar! With all-you-can-eat cilantro (have I mentioned how much I love cilantro?)! Tasty limeade, margaritas and beer!

So if you want a break from Chipotle (even the best of us do every now and then), go to Zuzu's—the one in Lakewood, preferably—for some tasty Mexican cuisine.

•••

Zuzu's Handmade Mexican Food

East Dallas/Lakewood
4140 Abrams Rd
Dallas, TX 75214
214.828.2231

Addison
4866 Belt Line Rd
Dallas, TX 75254
972.960.6900

Sushi Zushi

2009-10-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

I am always searching for better, different, more authentic, more vegetarian restaurants, and it seems new sushi spots are always a large part of that quest.
So...we decided to try out Sushi Zushi.

It was a bit on the upscale side, and although I was seriously stoked that they offered a lychee martini (my absolute favorite drink on earth), it sucked. A bit too sweet, and served with a grotey glowing HFCS-soaked maraschino cherry. Where's the damn lychee?! Fail. My life partner (haha) tried their green tea something-or-other, and it was way overly sweet. They used a whole lot of that ZEN green tea liquer. Drinks are a very person-to-person thing, so I'll leave it up to you. But for me, I will never spend that amount on drinks there again.

Now then, as for the food, they certainly had a vast menu, and a few things were vegetarian. I decided to go with their Miso (YUM) Vegetarian Yakisoba noodles (FAIL!) and their Tropical Roll (WIN!), which isn't listed under the Vegetarian rolls, mind you...it's under their House Specials. The noodles were cold and bland, but the Tropical Roll was crazy delicious with nicely contrasting flavors and textures.

Conclusion: I'd say go for their miso and sushi. Seems like a snazzy date place.

•••

Sushi Zushi
Turtle Creek Shopping Center
3858 Oak Lawn at Blackburn
Dallas, TX

Buli Café

2009-10-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

I went to Dallas' gayborhood to get myself a snazzy haircut—which turned out fabulous by the way, thanks for asking. Afterwards, I had some time to kill so I stumbled into the neighboring coffee house. I'm happy I did because it was quite the pleasant surprise. Buli Café has more than justa buncha coffee drinks; they have a full menu, including desserts and such!

I got myself their garden burger panini, which was quite delicious—I think the panini bread made it. I do believe it was like an herby roasted red pepper soft foccacia bread. Delish. And it came with yummy kettle chips, a cucumber soaked in evil, and some okay syrupy peaches (which I'm sure you'll like if that's your thing...I prefer fresh). What really made it for me was the brilliant "packaging"—the meal was served in a precious little lunch box!

All in all, a nice treat that I would recommend. Friendly little place, patrons seem to like to do homework/work there. And I, of course, love the absolute gayness of the place. Queer cheer is pervasive here. I totally diva'd it up and enjoyed reading their copy of "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" while enjoying my very filling and yummy lunch.

•••

Buli Café
3908 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, TX 75219
214.528.5410

Good 2 Go Taco

2009-10-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

I've been going to Green Spot for a while now, mainly just to pick up some O.N.E Coconut Water. Now, it's "a gas station where you fill up on biofuel, pick up a dozen farm eggs and some local peaches—then tuck into organic/locavore tacos."

Green Spot has opened the Good 2 Go Taco taqueria within the convenience store. They change up their flavors/recipes daily, always cooking creatively with locally-sourced produce at its prime. So you don't know what you're gonna get when you go in...but rest assured, they always have 3 or 4 options, 1 of which is always veg-friendly. If it's vegetarian and you want it vegan, ask to 86 the cheese and you're set; if it's vegan and you want it just vegetarian, ask for some of that queso fresca, hombre! HOORAH! You can also choose between flour or wheat tortillas; I recommend the wheat because with all the flavor going on within the taco, you can't taste the tortilla too much anyway, so you might as well go healthier with it! Occasionally, they'll also have corn, sprouted wheat, and hemp.

The first time I went in, I scarfed down my tacos before even thinking about taking photos to share. Trust me though, they were killer. I had two "Joyrizo" tacos (spicy Soyrizo, potatos, and some other yummz), and washed it down with the coconut water. Hydration was certainly needed after my mission to try many of the hot sauces provided. An impressive row of hot sauces, you say? Yes, great touch. I loved the Pickapeppa Brown Hot Sauce; It was a bit like A1, with strong hints of raisin and clove. Melinda's Habanero hot sauce was also super delicious.

The next time I went, I remembered to pause before devouring my highly-anticipated brunch. What you see here is their "Macho Pichu" taco, of which I got three! Potatos, red quinoa, asparagus, cilantro, etc. They were surprisingly light and moist, and certainly kept me full for a while. That didn't stop me, though, from getting some other goodies while I was there—a chocolate bar, a few Primal Strips, and (you guessed it) coconut water.

It's a cozy little spot, filled with friendly folk. It's amazing what eating healthy does to peoples' spirits! Fellow customers are courteous, perhaps also lifted by the aromas of delicious tacos being made. There are big thick poles in front of the store—presumably to indicate parking and stop renegade cars from busting into the glass—but we use it to slip our dog's leash over. It's the perfect place for your pup to chill while you nibble. And if she's real good, there are some peanut-butter filled pretzels inside that I'm sure she would appreciate sharing with you! Especially if she's on her way to the White Rock Lake Dog Park, just around the corner. By then, you'll both be grinning ear to ear.

•••

Good 2 Go Taco at Green Spot Market & Fuels
702 N. Buckner Blvd.
214.668.0831 or 214.319.7768
Open Tuesday-Sunday 7am-3pm

Chang Jing, Korean BBQ & Cuisine

2009-09-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to have found a place for amazing Korean food! Chang Jing in Richardson serves up the tastes of Korea for which I wax nostalgic.

While at MICA in Baltimore, I worked at a restaurant that stayed open pretty late. On occasion, when the staff got off, we would head over to a spot that stayed open even later—a Korean restaurant. We all shared the banchan—tasty little side dishes, including kimchee, pickled cucumber, egg, whatzit, etc. Everyone got the barbecue; I stole some of their garlic and grilled it, wrapped it in some lettuce, just got creative. I would get bibimbap (meaning "mixed meal"). We would all partake in drinking an absurd amount of bokbunjajoo (Korean Raspberry Wine). Later in college, I traveled abroad to Korea and was smitten with the delicious options I had as a vegetarian in an Asian country (didn't have as much luck in Japan).

Years later, here I am in Dallas, and have enjoyed these memorable flavors again. As a vegetarian, a good bet for a yummmmmy meal is the bibimbap! It usually comes with beef and egg, but just ask to exclude what you don't want. You will get the most amazing bowl of perfectly steamed rice and fresh veggies, served with a spicy chili sauce. Before the rice is placed in the bowl, the bottom of the bowl is coated with oil (traditionally sesame), making the layer of the rice touching the bowl golden brown and crispy—this is the best part, y'all! And of course, we enjoyed the banchan and some bokbunjajoo.

I found a slew of informative reviews of Chang Jing on YELP. They all seemed, not surprisingly, quite positive. Enjoy!!!

•••

Chang Jing
400 N Greenville Ave, Ste 11B
Richardson, TX 75081
972.231.3888

Mister Shabu Shabu

2009-09-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

I ventured to Mister Shabu Shabu in Plano for a unique Taiwanese "hot pot" experience. If you request it, they do offer a vegetarian version of the shabu shabu. Instead of bringing you a pot of fish-based broth, they will bring you water with a bit of kombu (seaweed). Once you get the water boiling, you can dump in all the veggies they bring you: cabbage, lettuce, taro, bok choy, tomato, shitake and enoki mushrooms, rice noodles and anything else you request (I like to stir in an egg).
They'll also bring you a yummy dipping sauce, which you're supposed to use to simply dip your cooked goodies in, but I found it more useful just tossed in the pot as a broth booster.
The result was indeed delicious, and insanely bountiful. The soup never ends! I had two meals' worth of leftovers.

There is also an Asian grocery store right next door; I encourage you to venture in and peruse all the exotic products they offer. I got some durian chips, lychee coconut jelly cups (gelatin free), and some gorgeous—albeit random and enigmatic—Chinese paper products!
So if you haven't experienced shabu shabu, or wandered down the aisles of an Asian grocer...I emplore you to do so. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how delicious, intriguing and inexpensive it can be!

•••

Mister Shabu Shabu
2220 Coit Rd (NW corner at Park)
Plano, TX 75075
469.229.9168
*NOTE* Cash or Check only!!!

Bliss Raw Café and Elixer Bar

2009-09-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am oh so happy that I am able to say that there is a raw vegan restaurant in this city...and it's delicious! I had heard about it a bit, but when I started following Miranda Martinez on Twitter, I knew it would be a place I would dig.

And dig, I did. Many other people have as well; the spot has been getting some well-deserved press lately! I would love to visit more, but I've been trying to cook at home more lately to align with my more responsible budget. And when you're served such fresh, high quality food—and when it's so delicious that you want to order many many items—and when you understand the importance of tipping well for good service—it can end up a bit too pricey (for me, at least) to make it a frequent ritual.

We started off with some invigorating beverages: I had the Chocolate Bliss (Raw cacao superfood power blend, vanilla agave, tocotrienols, cacao butter, orange oil), and Matt tried the Rooibus Berry Tea (refreshing, energizing and hydrating organic Rooibus with goji berries – the ultimate in antioxidants), which was "brewed" by the pH level in their natural spring water.

We then throughly enjoyed the Rawko-Taco Plate (sunflower seeds, sun dried tomatoes, olive oil & spices; Tortilla – corn, red peppers, flax, onion & spices) and the Thai Noodle Bowl (kelp boodles and marinated veggies; ginger, almond butter, garlic & nama shoyu). We understood why these were "popular dishes"—they were just perfect. The tacos were extremely flavorful and fresh, and were served with a little side of their Chocolate Salad (Cabbage slaw, avocado, tomato concentrate, cacao powder, probiotics, nutritional flakes, EFA oil & spices), which I savored in tiny nibbles. And the Thai Noodle Bowl was a dish I have since daydreamed about! Seriously...the kelp noodles were fantastic, similar to "glass noodles" but don't need to be cooked/blanched. And the colors of all the veggies made for a beautiful presentation.

For dessert, we oooohhhed and aahhhhheedd over the yumminess in Miranda's Pineapple Cobbler, paired with a scoop of butter pecan ice cream. The pineapple cobbler was surprisingly creamy, with the flavors almond and sweet pineapple rockin' it in my mouth. The ice cream was a perfect parner for the dish; it's obviously not your typical ice cream...it was far more textural and didn't leave you feeling all grotey. A perfect ending to a great meal.

If you're on Twitter and would like to stay updated about this restaurant (new dishes, what's for dessert, tidbits about healthy living, etc), you'll enjoy following Miranda (@MirandaMartinez) and Bliss (@blissrawcafe). I learned recently that they will be opening ANOTHER LOCATION, right down the street from me!!! The new spot will be in Preston Center, probably at the corner of Douglas and Berkshire. I'm super stoked, and can't wait to go there for some raw juices (somewhat fashioned after Daily Juice in Austin)...I'm hoping for a young coconut opened with a machete.

I most certainly recommend Bliss for a unique experience, a tasty meal and healthy boost. It's wonderful to have such a progressive restaurant in the BigD.

•••

Bliss Raw Café
6855 Greenville Ave—just North of Park Ave, across from the hilarious drive-thru beer shop with the bootylicious girls and boys holding signs
Dallas, TX 75231-6403
214.987.0204

Spiral Diner, my new "home"

2009-09-02T02:56:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to write a quick post, letting y'all know that I am now the new face at Spiral Diner Dallas! Thanks to Sara Tomerlin for taking me in, I look forward to seeing her again once she gives birth to her 2nd daughter in the next few days!

I'll be there from time to time, while trying to occasionally swing some more freelance design work. I'm super excited about it, and already feel welcomed by the very unique folks there. Learning more about this great restaurant has been really fascinating, and I am thrilled and proud to be a part of a place founded and run by people who remain true to themselves and their world views.

Did you know that Spiral Diner got its name from the lyrics of Tool's song Lateralus—"spiral out...keep going..."—in hopes to advance the "spiraling out" of compassion and awareness. As a giant Tool fan, that makes me super happy!

The woman who started it all, Amy McNutt, has quite the story. Spiral Diner started as a pipe-dream by a girl with some strong convictions and limitless determination. With the generosity of her mother and the support of the community, Amy opened Spiral Diner as a stand within the Fort Worth Rail Market. The fact that the vegan spot in "cow-town" blossomed to two successful restaurants is a true testament to the loyalty and shared vision of the customers, and the company makes it a point to always maintain an appreciation for and responsibility to our communities.

So...I certainly encourage you to come in and visit. If you've been before, drop by and say howdy to me! If you haven't, then come "spiral out" and eat some super yummy food at this very rad establishment.

Peace (without the chicken grease),
Julie

•••

Spiral Diner

1101 N Beckley Ave
Dallas, TX 75203
214.948.4747

1314 W Magnolia Ave

Fort Worth, TX 76104

817.332.8834

Sloppy Jane

2009-08-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

I loved Sloppy Joes as a kid...my mom would make them when I had pool parties, in one of those retro electrical skillets. After many years of living meat-free, having since forgotten about them, I found Fantastic's Vegetarian Sloppy Joe mix—it was a great fix for my resurfaced childhood comfort food craving. Turned out to be a CHEAP and EASY meal...enough to share and have leftovers!

I had this meal in mind the other night, so I made a trip to my neighborhood Whole Foods, and then my nearby Central Market...in search for this mix. It's not carried anymore! So I conjured up some culinary courage, and thought, "Surely, I can make my own!" I, along with all other creative types, find myself saying this often about everything from food to fashion, with varying degrees of success.

Well...this time it WAS a SUCCESS, and a SIMPLE one at that! I just thought it through and achieved a great re-vamped version of an American classic...what I like to call the Sloppy Jane! This ain't your Manwich knock-off...it's delicious and healthy, and perfect for this back-to-school, summer-to-fall kinda time.

• Olive oil
• 1/2 white onion or more if you like, chopped (from your local Farmers Market, of course)
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped (they're in season, get 'em local!)
• 2 cups beef-flavored TVP (this is available at some specialty grocery stores, I get mine from Roy's Natural Market)
• Water
• 1 6oz. can tomato paste (I get Muir Glen Organic)
• 1-2 jalapenos, diced; de-seed if you're a wimp...and wash your paws after chopping!
• Seasoning, to taste (whatever you like—just salt& pepper, garlic salt, cayenne, BRAGG, some BBQ spices, whatevz)
• Buns—I picked up some amazing Hatch Chile buns from Central Market
• Toppings, if you'd like; I used shredded cheddar cheese and french-fried onions

Sautée the onion and bell pepper in some olive oil (about 3 tbsp.) until tender. Add TVP and an equal amount of water, stir. Continue to add a little water at a time until TVP is nice and soft. Add tomato paste and jalapenos. Let simmer for about 10 minutes on medium heat. Toast the buns (drizzle some olive oil on first to help get some color and flavor), slop on some "meat" and add your toppings. Enjoy!

Locavore

2009-08-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

One of the few paid applications on my iPhone is Locavore. It makes locating local, in season food simple. It shows what is currently in season, how much longer it will be in season, and what will be in season soon; very cool to know. So when I see something screaming "I'm totally in season!"...that's what I'm gonna be looking for at the Farmers Market.

With the help of Localharvest.org, this app points you to the closest markets. While I think there could be some markets added, this is a great start. It automatically determines your location, but you can also manually set it by zip code...a nice feature if your GPS is acting lame, or if you're planning on traveling and want to plan for a trip to the market.

You can browse by fruit/vegetable and find out where in the U.S. it is growing. There are also links to Wikipedia articles Epicurious recipes. One super cool feature is that you can browse by state. Amazing what the west coast has to offer!

Another feature is the "I ate Local" facebook plugin, seems like a great idea...I like the community aspect of it (only problem is that facebook scares me a little, so I haven't given that part a test-drive yet).

At $2.99, it’s not cheap (in app terms, at least), but it's nice to have that information at hand. I mean, I can spend $3 on fresh local jalapenos...and having this app makes that even easier.

Celebration Market: Farmers Market

2009-08-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

We went this weekend to a quaint little Farmer's Market right here in the Park Cities area, in the parking lot of one of my most favoritest restaurants, Celebration (I'll blog about it soon, promise)! It was so nice just to ride my *new* bike down the street and fill up the back pack with fresh local produce and goodies.

Here's what I believe: it's really important that we support small local start-ups like this, it would be such a shame to lose a resource like this. If the farmers, ranchers and artisans show up, we should too!

The farmer's market already had a good foot in the door, featuring the people who already supply the restaurant. They've also pulled from some of the folks who make an appearance at the Dallas Farmers Market. One such company is Lucido's Produce & Herbs...I picked up some of their spicy salsas and ranch dressing. The young man working their table reinforced to me the value of people coming there instead of more established spots like the Dallas Farmers Market (and of course instead of the grocery store). I also bought some okra—which is happily in season now—and a gorgeous single portabella mushroom.

It's great to meet the people you're supporting, and taking part in a shift towards fresh, delicious and local food. Check it out for yourself (and bring some cash): Saturdays 8am to noon.

•••

Celebration Market: Farmers Market
4503 W Lovers Ln
Dallas, TX 75209
214.352.0031

Spiral Diner

2009-08-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

OK, like whoa. There's so much I could say about this spot, and I'm just shocked I haven't blogged about it until now. Basically, it's the bomb-diggety. It's a vegan diner, and it should just become your go-to place for delicious, healthy, animal/planet/self-friendly food. It truly is a second kitchen (you know, like second home?), especially because of the lovely little bookshelf stocked with interesting reads, including Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food."

I always get the fresh limeade sweetened with agave nectar and coconut oil. So damn refreshing and flavorful. Their entire menu is rockin', and they always have Blue Plate Specials. I got the special, and boy was it just that. Pictured above: penne pasta tossed with a creamy lemon sauce, pine nuts, broccoli, asparagus and more.

The icing on the cake is the Spiral Diner crew...all extremely friendly and funky folks. I also appreciate that they use those great eco-friendly craft-papery to-go boxes. Overall, just the perfect casual place to visit when you're craving something deliciously vegan.

•••

Spiral Diner
1101 N Beckley Ave
Dallas, TX 75203
214.948.4747

Thai Orchid Restaurant

2009-08-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

I love me some Thai food. And this is a good spot for it. They offer some yummy vegetarian options, and are mindful to ask if egg is ok or not (so the dish can be vegan)!

Great drinks, including a wonderful green tea lychee martini which was oh-so-nice because they actually used some japanese tea powder instead of that disgusting/fake-tasting/overly-sweet (IMHO) Zen green tea liqueur. Wonderful Thai appetizers, like corn patties with a sweet & sour dipping sauce (free of fish sauce) and tofu satay skewers with crave-worthy peanut sauce.

I ordered my current Thai obsession, Pad Kee Mow—thick flat noodles tossed in a yummy brown sauce with lots of veggies, tofu and egg. Thai Orchid's version was quite pleasing.

Quiet little place with reasonable prices. Good for a date or family dinner, with impressive service—sweet little Thai women know what hospitality means!

•••

Thai Orchid Restaurant
4930 Belt Line Rd
Dallas, TX 75254
972.720.8424

Pizza by Marco

2009-08-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, y'all...I know I've been MIA! It's been quite the roller coaster lately; I became a casualty of our bad economy and was let go from my job. While priorities (and budgets) have adjusted a bit, you know as well as I do FOOD still has a big place in my life...so I'm more or less back!

Now then, let's talk about this great pizza place that I heard about from the fabulous Dallas Vegan, Eddie G. It's Pizza by Marco, there are several locations in the area and they just opened up a new location in Addison!

They have a pretty great menu, mainly because it includes VEGAN OPTIONS for the pizza toppings!!! Hallelujah. Vegan Soy Toppings: Cheese, Pepperoni, Sausage & Hamburger. I got a 10" pizza with THIN WHOLE WHEAT CRUST (yay!), pineapple, jalapenos, vegan sausage and cilantro. Everything was delicious, but there was a significant minus—the small amount of cilantro used was dried flaky crap...I assumed it was a bit of oregano, that they had just forgotten the cilantro. But no, the cilantro was on my check but not my palate. I also didn't like the little plate-tray it came on...it was super bumpy and thus difficult to cut the pizza (a must when the pizza comes out all hot and ooey-gooey).

A tad on the expensive side if you get a personal pizza with several toppings, so go with friends. I certainly recommend it and encourage all to support a local business that caters to us veg-heads!

•••

Pizza by Marco
5000 Belt Line Rd, #430
Dallas, TX 75254
972.661.5075

Whole Foods Market Recipes

2009-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just downloaded the new FREE app from the people at WFM, can't wait to try it out!

You can straight up search for recipes using a keyword field, or you can navigate by these 3 options:

1. Course
everything from dinner entrées to drinks

2. Category
including budget, entertaining, no-cook, etc.

3. Special Diets
• dairy free
• fat fre
• high fiber
• low fat
• low sodium
• sugar conscious
• vegan
• vegetarian
• wheat free

A cool feature that will really come in handy (no pun intended) is the On-Hand Search Feature, which easily lets you search recipes based on ingredients you already have. So no more extra jars of crushed red pepper, yay!

And of course, no app would be complete without the ability to mark favorites. I most often use the Favorites function as a way to bookmark stuff to try later.

The app also wisely shows you where the nearest WFM is, as if we don't already know! Geez. Perhaps I will use it when traveling. Each store page includes links to the store's website and weekly specials.

And shhhh...don't tell, but I think I'll use it regardless of where I'm shopping. Power to the people, y'all!

Crú – A Wine Bar

2009-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

WhooWee it's been a while. Tough month, y'all. But I'm back!

I went to Crú a bit ago at Watters Creek in Allen, it's a great outdoor shopping center with a nifty euro feel too it, and it's right off 75! They have other locations, but this one was so nice; Crú had a lovely patio looking out over "The Green" an area where every Thursday night during the summer, they have free movies playing—I was there to sip on syrah and see Superman. We saw the CUTEST little boy there dressed in his Superman PJs, his hunky dad brought him to just the right spot that night!

I ordered one of their wine flights (all were delish) along with their Pear and Gorgonzola pizza which was heavenly. OH lord...I'm not a big onion fan to say the least...but these were the best damn carmelized onions ever! Maybe it had to do with the fact that the pizza had a little drizzle of honey over top, which always makes my heart go a flutter.

I most certainly recommend this spot for a light meal and wine...it's a great place to watch a classic on the lawn, AND to listen to a band play—there's live music every Friday and Saturday on The Green!

And who knows, maybe you'll see more Hot Dads there, with precious kids who look JUST FREAKING LIKE Le Petit Prince!!!

•••

Crú – A Wine Bar

Allen: Watters Creek
842 Market Street, Suite 100
972.908.2532

Dallas: West Village
3699 McKinney Ave, Suite 107
214.526.9463

Plano: The Shops at Legacy
7201 Bishop Road, Suite E2
972.312.9463

Food Glorious Food

2009-05-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

I went to a silent-auction event at F.I.G. last night benefitting the Leadership Arts Alumni Association and the scholarship they give out. It was catered by Food Glorious Food, and I was thrilled to see that not only would I not starve, I would enjoy! I can't help but think, with what I saw last night, that they are more than capable of catering a specifically veg-friendly affair.

They had a big tower of little snackies that included fresh fruit, a great kalamata olive tapenade, fabulous grilled veggies (red and green pepper, asparagus, mushrooms, squash and zucchini, and the best carrots), various dips, dried fruit (pineapple, cranberries, dates...) and a very impressive selection of cheese. I kept coming back for the buffalo mozzarella with yellow and red grape tomatoes, dressed in a light and bright pesto.

They also, according to my plus one, had delicious served dishes, like scallops on scallop-potatoes (I was unfortunately told the potatoes were safe, nuh uh...super fishified) and pork on a black bean patty. There were also servers walking around with little bites of this and that...like tiny ratatouille boats, lobster thingies, etc. And for dessert, my FAVORITE...they had little cupcakes!!! Chocolate, Strawberry, and Lemon. The chocolate was divine, the lemon pretty good, and damn it am I pissed that I didn't get to try the strawberry! Some b*tch came up and made some snide remark implying that I was eating far too much at the cupcake station. Wow. An attempted shared sampling of three mini cupcakes, tisk tisk.

On a brighter note, if anyone is interested...the reason I was there was because I was fortunate enough to have my logo design chosen to represent this organization, and it was spattered all over the space last night! Here's the design, along with a shot of one place that it was projected on a wall and as it inspired a 3-D award given to the scholarship recipient. Puh-ritty snazzy!

•••

Food Glorious Food
They're also here on Blogspot: Food For Thought
6522 E. Northwest Highway
Dallas, TX 75231
214.461.7190 (tell Beth that Julie, i.e. Matt's girlfriend sent you!)

Orange Juliustini

2009-05-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

I guess I've been on an orange kick lately...decided to make a martini based on the Orange Julius. Here's the super simple recipe:

• 1 jigger quality vodka—I use Dripping Springs. It's from Texas, yeehaw!
• 2 jiggers yummy orange juice—use your fave, but I wouldn't recommend Hi-C, m'kay
• 1/2 jigger half and half—Horizon has a great organic half and half
• 1 tsp lemon juice—fresh is nice, but Santa Cruz has a very decent bottled juice that works just fine, a good thing to have on hand

Pour ingredients over ice in a shaker and shake vigorously. The cocktail should have a lovely froth on top, along with a thin sheet of ice from the shaking (a martini must).
Enjoy!

Note: I liked this drink because it was oh-so smooth, subtle and simple. If you prefer a sweeter drink, you could pour in some agave nectar or honey. You could also add another layer of flavor, like vanilla or ginger, whatever tickles your fancy.

Spicy Orange Tofu (vegan!)

2009-04-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs, Tofu and Cupcakes featured a recipe for Fiery Tofu with Red Chiles , Orange and Ginger from the Feb '09 issue of Vegetarian Times that I just had to try. As I do with most recipes, this one was loosely followed; I added in stuff I liked and ignored a lot of lengthy instructions and just cooked how I know how to cook. So, here's my wam-bam-thank-you-ma'am version...Spicy Orange Tofu!

Ingredients:

FRIED TOFU:
2 packages extra firm tofu, drained and chopped into happy tofubes
canola oil
4 small dried chiles (8 total, see below)

SAUCE:
1/3 cup fresh orange juice (1 large navel orange)
1/3 cup fresh lime juice (1 large lime—roll the lime on your countertop to get it soft and juicy)
1/3 cup pure maple syrup (f'real)
4 of your 8 small dried chiles
4 large garlic cloves, minced (and not with that horrid contraption that mutilates garlic, just roughly run your knife through them)
2 tsp. (or to taste) fresh minced ginger
2 tsp. orange zest
1 tbsp. corn starch to help thicken the sauce

ADDT'L VEG:
1/2 onion (or 1 if you dig onion) chopped
2 green bell peppers chopped
bunch of green onion chopped
about a cup of chopped cilantro (i looooove cilantro, so does this dude)
splash of soy sauce
splash of sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Drain the tofu by pressing between two plates lined with paper towels. Just put a can, book or feline apparatus on the top plate for like 15 min. Then cut it lovingly.
2. Mix sauce ingredients together. Let the awesome asian smells rock your nostrils.
3. Sautée the additional veggies until tender and tempting. You can let this sit while you work on steps 4-6.
4. Cover the bottom of a pan about 1/2" with the oil and add the dried peppers. Turn on high heat and remove the peppers when they brown and begin to smoke.
5. Fry up that tofu, yo. Just a few minutes on each side.
6. Simmer the sauce and tofu together until sauce begins to bubble and thicken a bit.
7. Add the veggies and plate. Be sure to remove the chiles or at least advise your fellow eaters of their presence. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro and enjoy!

The Idle Rich Pub

2009-04-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Quick post about a great new discovery: The Idle Rich Pub in Uptown.
I usually head north to The Flying Saucer for my frosty hops, but last night headed south instead. This pub has a decent beer list, with a focus on Belgian beers. They also have a nice wine list and a great whiskey selection, including over a dozen scotches. I'm always tickled to see places serve port, and TIRP has a couple. They also do yummy beer mixes, such as the Black Widow: Hoegaarden with Pear Cider with a splash of Black Currant. So...good place to grab a drink or four!

We started off with the Killer Mushrooms to accompany our first beers. They were indeed tasty, although the batter was a little heavy and oily (as you can see). The "spicy cilantro sour cream sauce" was quite the hit, we had to ask for extra. I liked that the spice came from some squirts of cock sauce (sriracha), so you could kind of control your heat intake.

But what brought me here was their Vegetarian Burger: "made here in the pub with lentils, bulgar wheat, leeks, mushrooms, corn and spices. with lettuce, tomato, red onion and herb mayo." I bet it's vegan without the mayo. You can "add swiss, american, or cheddar," "add whiskey cheddar and soy bacon," or "add curry mayonnaise and feta cheese." I went for the whiskey cheddar and soy bacon and it was totally delish, I highly recommend it. The veg-patty is impressive with lovely herby flavors, moist and yummy with the quality cheddar and smokey with the soy bacon (though that was a bit undercooked...not crispy). Their burgers can come with several side options, including french fries, side salad, lentil salad with roasted corn, or vegetarian split pea soup!

•••

The Idle Rich Pub
214.965.9926
2614 McKinney Avenue (at Boll)
Dallas TX 75204

Neighborhood Services

2009-04-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, my apologies for not posting in so long. Budgetary restrictions and vacations (Coachella '09, baby) really take a toll on my blogging adventures.

Now then, onto one of my fave spots in Dallas: Neighborhood Services. The interior design is impeccable and it's literally at the end of my street, but it's truly their drinks that keep me coming back. I insist on sharing with you just some of their concoctions (the ones I've savored):

• Pop's Martini "Salad" (new twist on the classic dirty martini): Ketel One / house pickled asparagus & green beans / green tomato / blue stuffed olive
• The Bee's Knees (pictured here—my new drink of choice, y'all): Junipero Gin / house-infused lavender honey / to order lemon juice
• Sage Advice (also a supreme drink): Corzo Silver / Cointreu / sage & lime granita / red clay sea salt
• Cock of the Walk, Baby (a delicious caipirinha): Leblon Cachaca / muddled lime / raw sugar simple / Cock n Bull Ginger Beer

The new restaurant, the brainchild of chef Nick Badovinus, is deservedly riding the wave of a lot of good press: (Pegasus) (Observer) (Guide Live) (D)
I'll be honest, there is not a lot of vegetarian fare here. What's the deal with me and "not many options for me here" places?! I'm like the lesbian who keeps going after the straight chicks. Oh well...It works out because I try and find places that are just GOOD. Smart and adventurous flavors, talented chefs and skilled cooks, etc. And once you find that, you're usually in for a good meal, even if it's the only choice on the menu. So it is at NHS.

I get the four cheese flatbread with fresh little yellow tomato halves. T'is divine, friends.
And their sides are quite note-worthy, a gluttonous meal when you get an order of each! My pick: the roasted brussel sprouts and shallots. Badovinus also serves up the biggest and best onion rings this onion-hating girl has had. Date night?...Who cares! Get yer oni-on. After all, your non-veg companion will probably go for the fresh and perfectly prepared meat and seafood—indeed, mine got the Steak Frites plate and said it was the BEST damn steak, worthy of some closed-eyes action. Whatevah...

Other bits: my mother would often tell me that a good indication of a great restaurant is their bathroom. With that in mind, be sure to check out the loo at NHS; I can only vouch for the little girl's room, but it's just so nice! The blue jeans hanging on a rack is such a funny touch and they put ice in the sinks (anyone have any idea why? I don't but I like it). And be sure to look up when you walk in/out...their entry way lighting is made from well-lit stainless steel pots, pans, collanders and such.

•••

Neighborhood Services
214.350.5027
West Lovers Lane
Dallas TX 75209

Buzzbrews

2009-04-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

Buzzbrews is fantastic. I prefer it much more over Café Brazil. Their vegetarian options are much wider, and yummier I think. Like Café Brazil, they're open 24 HOURS...sweeeet! The place is chill, cozy, bright, and fun. Their walls are covered with art (which I think is for sale); currently there are large paintings of rock n' roll greats like Jimi and Janis, which just adds to the rock vibe the place has. But all walks of life can be seen here: the hipster coffee junkies, the studious roommates, the affectionate couples, the fams with babez, and lots of gay folks (it is on Lemmon, c'mon). I dig it.

Even though they offer a "Drink 'til you Buzz" self-serve bottomless coffee bar, I'm a bit more high-maintenance. I always start off with a hazelnut latté. Funny story: I used to just get lattés (with honey), always thinking that the MONIN syrup stuff was most likely high-fructose corn syrup based. I asked a server at BB if that was the case, she didn't know, I asked her to find out, she comes back and says it's OIL. Ok, guys...OIL....REALLY?! I mean, oil and water, y'all! If the syrup was oil, it would lay in a gross puddle atop my confused latté. And it probably wouldn't be too sweet.
So I didn't chance it, I waited 'til I got home and did my own investigation. MONIN is all-natural made with Pure Cane Sugar, Water and Natural Flavor. Rockin'. So, thus began my love for hazelnut lattés.

Their menu is pretty flexible, offering veg-friendliness in many items. I often go the route of Build Your Own Crepe, getting veggie sausage, nopales (tender strips of cactus), and whatever other veggies I'm in the mood for. They top it off with a killer Poblano Cream Sauce. The last time I went, however I had a serious sweet tooth to satiate. So I went with the French Toast combo thing...2 slices of AMAZING thick French Toast topped with cinnamon, powdered sugar, nuts and butter and a side of eggs and meat (I get the fail-proof veggie sausage). My boo got the Migas, also tasty mctastingtons! They come with black beans that I very highly recommend.

•••

Buzzbrews Kitchen
4344 Lemmon Avenue (at Wycliff)
Dallas, TX
214.521.4334

Another location to which I haven't been, it's the original:
4154 N Central Expy (at Fitzhugh)
Dallas, TX
214.826.7100

Newflower Farmers Market

2009-04-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

I went here for the first time yesterday, and I am stoked. Famous for their "Serious Food...Silly Prices," Newflower is a welcome addition to the Henderson area. At a time when many businesses are closing their doors, NFM is growing; each new store brings about 100 new jobs to the area, giving the local economy a friendly boost. The store was filled with people of many different ethnicities, ages, etc. The vibe was nice, though a bit unusual. I think it was a charming caution of sorts—I find that when discovering something new, people are much more leisurly with their time...roaming down each aisle, actually answering the person asking "how are you doing?"

The store's layout is a bit different, perhaps takes some getting used to. It's not at all sectioned off, like Central Market, and you can see over almost every display, unlike any other grocery store. They offer many all-natural and organic products at totally reasonable prices. Their giant produce section offers prices comparable to side-of-the-road vendors. They have a lot of really fun ideas: guacamole kits (avocados, shallot, jalapeno, lime, tomato); a Sip n' Shop cart with fresh-brewed coffee for the takin'; alongside the bulk honey dispenser, they have light and amber agave nectar (YAY!); ethnically-categorized kiosks (Asian, South of the Border, Italian, etc); a big refridgerated section of vitamins, supplements and such; the list goes on...

And yes, their inventory is right up my alley. Many vegetarian and vegan options, lovely wine selection, hemp bread, all-natural coconut water...I even found a FANTASTIC shimmery black eyeshadow by Larenim in their beauty section (all mineral, without bismuth oxychloride).

NFM also seems to be very community-oriented, offering a lot of fun classes and events such as TONIGHT'S "Nights on the Patio" from 4-6. It's Open Mic Night, and they're gonna choose a winner to play a later date (paid gig). It's great to see a grocery store get back to its roots as a source of nourishment — of the body as well as the heart and mind! I think the best part of my visit, a close second to the cashier who shared with me her idea of putting a beta in a bowl filled with giant bamboo, was the police officer watching the parking lot who helped me put my bags in my trunk...thanks Officer SweetiePants!

•••

Newflower Farmers Market

1800 North Henderson Avenue
Dallas, TX 75206
214.826.2937

3312 Preston Road, Suite 100
Plano, TX 75093
972.599.2942

La Madeleine

2009-04-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok...let me be clear: La Madeleine is by no means by fave spot; I'm not big into giant chains. That being said, I think it's worth mentioning that they do offer a decent VEGETARIAN soup and salad! Amen. Their Caeser Salad is made without anchovies, and their Tomato Basil Soup is simply tomato-based, not chicken stock. Thanks LM for thinking about us!

•••

La Madeleine
Everywhere, USA

Bottled Water

2009-03-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just read a quick little Observer article, Oh, Dallas, What a Waste.
Apparently, and not surprisingly, Dallas didn't do so hot on the list of America's Least Wasteful Cities (San Fran was #1!! And of course, my peeps in PDX scored the bronze). We were #24 out of the 25 cities—only Atlanta is worse.

Here's what killed me: "Dallas was worst in the nation in using reusable bottles in place of single-serve plastic water bottles." I am a huge proponent of reusable water bottles, for obvious reasons. First is the production of the bottle, which uses finite fossil fuels and is a direct source of global warming. Second is the waste; water bottles are often not recycled (since they are used on-the-go, where trash is the only option) and are a large source of global litter.

As body-conscious globally-minded people, we must remain thoughtful and choose to hydrate ourselves responsibly, and SAVE MONEY doing so! I carry around my shimmery-red handy dandy SIGG bottle, a well-designed and eco-friendly accessory. C'mon Dallas, don't be so trashy.

Kalachandji's

2009-03-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

What a fun night! Anxiously awaiting Dallas' vote against global warming, we were headed towards dinner on I-35...and we were just in time to see the Reunion Tower (the ball), the Renaissance Tower (with the large X light-pattern), and Bank of America Plaza (with the green outlines) all go dark, along with many other office buildings. I couldn't help but think that this moment was much more dramatic in other cities (I read on Twitter about the Eiffel Tower shutting off!) but I was proud of Dallas.

We got to Kalachandji's, walked in and saw a pile of shoes. Now, I have taken my shoes off to eat at Japanese restaurants before so I thought this was the same drill. Uh-uh. Shoes off for the temple, shoes ON for the restaurant. Oops! Good thing too because the only seating left was out in their beautiful atrium and it was a pretty chilly night. Of course, I sat at the one table at which the heater was not plugged in.

The food was good, nothing to rave about though! I thought the potatoes and beans were pretty perfect, but everything else was average. The buffet is super casual, and a bit sparse in my opinion. And sadly, since it is a buffet and not special-ordered, nothing was up to the level of spice I want in my Indian food. However, their tamarind cooler was delicious and peculiar, just the right amount of sweet balanced with a tasty tanginess...a nice highlight.

The vibe of the place is great, certainly a spot worth supporting. They even have a cute little gift shop of sorts, offering cook books, skirts, incense, etc. I will most definitely give it another go sometime.

•••

Kalachandji's
5430 Gurley Ave.
Dallas, TX 75223
214.821.1048

EARTH HOUR

2009-03-27T09:26:00.001-07:00

Hey there, eco-minded veg-head friends!
Unless you've been living under a rock, you are aware that EARTH HOUR is TOMORROW (Saturday, March 28) at 8:30 PM local time (wherever you may live).

All around the world, people will be switching their lights off for one hour (or more, why not). Many skylines will be dim (safety lights such as street lamps and traffic lights will not be affected) in an effort to CAST A VOTE AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING.
Such efforts do not go unnoticed. We are moving towards a greener future. Our president gets it, congress is starting to get it, we all get it...so do your part.

We have become so dependent on electricity, we've forgotten how lovely an hour in the dark can be. You can take a bubble bath and read that romance novel by candlelight, you can gaze at stars in your backyard, or gather with friends and tell ghost stories!

Dallasites...there are a lot of fun events going on tomorrow night! Check out these Dallas Earth Hour Events.

What am I doing? I'll be at Kalachandji's, Dallas' longest-serving vegetarian restaurant! I've been meaning to go there, and after reading Veggie Girl's recent blog about it, and then discovering that they are going to participate in Earth Hour, I knew I had to make it a date. They will be hosting a candle light dinner in observance, how fantastic is that?! Their all-vegetarian (mostly vegan) buffet is $10.95, but in keeping with ancient tradition, all prices are suggested donations only.

Be sure to check back to see my blog about my Earth Hour dinner at Kalachandji's!

•••

EARTH HOUR
"THIS SATURDAY 28 MARCH AT 8.30PM YOU CAN VOTE EARTH BY SWITCHING OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR - EARTH HOUR."

Veggie Girl

2009-03-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Oh what a joyous find! Thanks to my fellow foodie co-worker for tipping me off to the Observer's newest City of Ate (food blog) addition: Veggie Girl!

I am so tickled by the swell of vegetarian/vegan interest in this steaky city. It's like an underground army, slowly but surely becoming unearthed (reminds me of the 17-year Baltimore cicadas)!

With City of Ate's substantial reader base, I look forward to the comment exchange.

So my comrades in Dallas and beyond, let us read, talk and eat in meat-free delight!

•••

Alexa Schirtzinger in Veggie Girl

Zymology

2009-03-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

We went to see Tricky at the Granada on Greenville, so we wanted to eat somewhere nearby. Always in a try-something-new mood, I decided to check out a restaraunt I stumbled upon via google. I am sooo glad that I did!
Zymology is on lower Greenville, past Belmont. It is a fan-freaking-tastic gastropub with "beer. wine. bites." Don't let the name scare you away, it's a harmless little word meaning the science of fermentation. Pretty cool, right?

The spot has the potential to be a tad snooty, given that it's on Greenville (I am so often left with a bad taste in my mouth after a night on that ave) and that the menu is ROCKIN', but everyone was so curtious and conversational. Perhaps it's because the place is a newborn, but I have high hopes.
The space itself is industrial but warm...they have that Northwest Portland vibe going on. The patio is small but a tad tucked away, so have no fear being jabbed by passing-by frat boys.

They have an impressive wine and beer list, with a reasonable price point range. Many beers are on tap, YAY! Not only does draft beer taste better, it doesn't create nearly as much trash. Have you seen the trash bins of places that only serve bottles?! Zymology doesn't just help save the environment, they also help save your skrilla! Their awesome specials include:
"Pint Night Monday": Draft beers $3 all night (with just a couple exceptions, this is a fantastic deal...basically half-price on many brews)
"Wino Wednesday": selected bottles of wine for $15 (can't beat than, man)
"Industry Night Sunday": Happy hour for all you servers and such
And their 5-7 weekday Happy Hour: 1/2 price pizzas and $1 off bottled beer and by-the-glass wine

Some gastropubs don't stack up with their menu, but Zymology carries through. We started out with the fried green tomatoes with avocado salsa. What southern girl can resist that, I ask?! Not me. Yum. Yum. Yum. For me, the star of the dish was the firm and perfectly seasoned cherry tomatoes. Bursting with flavor, it was hard not to eat these little orbs of love alone. The fry batter was not at all greasy, and had a nice texture (perhaps some corn meal incorporated?).
I paired it with a tasty glass of malbec, my beau went straight for the Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

For his entrée, he ordered the Grilled Salmon with roasted jalapeno goat cheese sauce, which sounded effin great if that's your thing. Sadly, they returned a few minutes later to tell us that they had to toss the fish. A sad moment for him, but one should always be super thankful when a chef chooses quality over customer appeasment! His alternative was the sandwich bites (choice of 3), of which I got to try the Spinach and Asparagus with sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese. Served on a light ciabatta bread, it was very nice.
I got a red Wood Fired Pie (you can choose between red tomato, white olive oil & garlic or green pesto), which by default includes 4 lovely cheeses: Fontina, Mozzarella, Parmesan and Asiago. I selected the spinach, roasted peppers and roasted garlic to rest atop. OH!!! Ok, ATTENTION: This shit was good. The perfect match of crunchy crust with rich gooshy cheese. The roasted garlic was divine. DIVINE, I tell you. I don't use that word often, y'all.

So, if you're headed that way, be sure to say howdy to my new friends at Zymology.

•••

Zymology
2010 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX
214.954.7171

Veggie Garden

2009-03-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

After hearing a handful of good recs from several vegetarians and vegans, we decided to check out Veggie Garden last night...St. Patty's day. We opened the door to find a completely empty dining room but we heard sounds in the back. We sheepishly shouted "hello?" but when that didn't work we just called them (iPhone to the rescue!) and a super nice Chinese woman came to seat us. She was precious in her Kelly green t-shirt, and presented us a GIANT menu.

Page after page of entirely veg-friendly dishes (no MSG, preservatives, food coloring, or egg products [a couple indicated items have dairy]) , we were hard-pressed to make any decisions. This chinese restaurant offers a wide variety of traditional chinese-american dishes, all made with meat substitutes (ham, beef, shrimp, chicken, fish, they have a solution for everything)!

We started off with the fried mushrooms. OH SO GOOD. I will admit that when it comes to fried food, we're pretty partial to some good ol' fashioned ranch dressin', so when it came with tangy ketchup, we had to adjust. But they were fried perfectly, with just the right amount of moisture (some fried mushrooms are sadly soggy).

We landed on some pretty yummy dishes: Flat rice noodles with bok choy and "beef" as well as "Beef" in a black bean sauce with bell peppers (we requested tomatoes too) served with fluffy brown rice, which was a definite highlight. There was more than enough to take home for leftovers—and what's better than Chinese leftovers?!

All in all, a very enjoyable meal, and most certainly a spot worth supporting. The humble restaurant has art for sale on the walls, surprisingly decent music and the sweetest Chinese woman you will ever meet! As we were leaving, my S.O. stretched with a big grin on his face, to which she commented "Happy??....when I hungry, I...how you say.....PSYCHO! Crazy. But when I full...Happy!" I understand completely.

•••

Veggie Garden
516 W. Arapaho Road, #112
Richardson, TX
972.479.0888

bolsa

2009-03-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

YAAAAY! Get excited, here is a great addition to the DFW foodie scene.
Bolsa in Oak Cliff is a wonderful little gem that feels like it belongs in Austin instead (but we're tickled that it's not). Termed market, café and wine bar, this joint offers up creative flavor combinations in their widely local and organic ingredients. A fantastic date destination (but they don't take reservations).

Bolsa is part eclectic and bohemian, part sophisticated and posh. By maintaining a lot of it's original industrial charm with concrete floors and large garage doors, the space feels rustic yet refined, just like the food.
"Fresh, Local, Thoughtful." The kitchen has no freezer or fryer by design and many ingredients used in the kitchen are available for purchase in the market section. You'll find items "from newspapers to fresh roses and cactus to Graham and Amy’s home raised honey and beeswax candles. Virgin olive oil, organic pasta and artisan chocolates..."

The bar is a big focus here, serving up hand selected wines, signature sangrias and craft brews to those in the dining room and out on the patio.
Bolsa also recognizes the importance of art and music, featuring "original screen prints from Texas artist Dirk Fowler while the sounds of Austin musicians fill out the play list along with vintage greats."

Now then, onto our meal. We started off with their bruschetta, 4 tastings for $12. Their are four options, so most people just get one of each, but we got the Salmon with creme fraiche (in which I did not parake, but heard was delish) and the butternut squash with goat cheese and red onions. Y'all, this was so fantastic. The bread planks were crispy, the cheese was creamy and the squash was crunchy. Drizzled on top was their awesome home-sourced honey...what a treat.

After that I savored the "Twigs and Branches" flatbread. This is the absolute closest I have come to finding a pizza that compares to Ken's Artisan Pizza in Portland. It was wood-fired, crispy, sweet and salty, oh lord. It had a light and simple brush of tomato sauce, local Dallas goat cheese, fresh cool arugula (my fave!) and warm bursing grapes. Crazy idea, crazy delicious. Paired with a spicy Chilean cab, the meal was divine. We left feeling satisfied, not stuffed. This spot definitely has a balanced hum going on.

•••

bolsa
614 W. Davis St.
Dallas, TX
214.367.9367

Food Junkie

2009-03-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

This iPhone app ($1.99) is pretty sweet...it serves up recent foodie news. From a silly news flashes like the Late Night "pickle passing" (it's not nearly as raunchy as it sounds) to enlightening recipe ideas like "54 Miso Soup Variations," this app offers a wide range of all things food.
It pulls these articles from FatFree Vegan Kitchen, as well as sites like Food TV, Serious Eats, Orangetter, Smitten Kitchen and more!
You can sort the articles by Recent, Most Popular, Images, Search and Favorites...very useful.

•••

Food Junkie

NANA

2009-02-24T07:52:00.000-08:00

As expensive as it is exciting...check this out, yo:

"Meat-shunners rejoice!
Executive Chef Anthony Bombaci at Nana has created a vegan tasting menu and lacto-ovo vegetarian tasting menu. Available nightly, both menus feature a seven-course and 10-course sampling, professional wine pairings and à la carte options. Dishes specific to the vegan menu include the carrot marmalade served with passion fruit granité and peanuts and the cucumber spaghetti, with pistachio gravel, scallions, premium pistachios and sesame seeds. Desserts include vinegar-marinated strawberries and a caramel banana laced in cocoa nibs, pecans, Valrhona Araguani chocolate and mango granité. The lacto-ovo vegetarian menu uses fresh vegetables as well as dairy products and eggs, and includes a selection of Manchego and Idiazabal cheese served with a carrot-mandarin marmalade and arugula selvetta, and cucumber spaghetti with yogurt, pistachio oil pebbles, scallions and sesame tuiles. The seven-course menu is $85 per person, $121 with wine selections (2-ounce servings). The 10-course menu is $100 per person, $145 with wine selections. Reservations are suggested."

If I ever happen to go, you know I'll kiss and tell on this one.

•••

Nana at the Hilton Anatole
2201 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207
214.761.7470

What's wrong with what we eat

2009-02-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

In case you're unfamiliar with TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), it is a conference that brings "the world's leading thinkers and doers" together from those three worlds and beyond. The goal is to share "Ideas Worth Spreading." You can view the archived guest lectures online at TED.com or on your iPhone with their fabulous and free "TED" app (shown below).

I've watched a talk about security vs. insecurity by Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues, a lecture by a baker about the deep metaphors in bread-making, a talk about the enigmatic and very serious disappearance of bees, and so many others. People like Al Gore and Bill Gates have taken the stage, as well as lesser known powerhouses within niche communities.

I bring it up here because being a vegetarian is all about being informed, being a free thinker, within a minority niche community (especially here in Dallas!) and appreciating the world around us. TED promotes this. Check out this pro-veg talk:

What's wrong with what we eat
"In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what's wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it's putting the entire planet at risk."
(You can also launch TED on your iPhone and search for this lecture: What's wrong with what we eat)

The Mint

2009-02-09T11:59:00.001-08:00

I love Thai food. One thing that I miss a-whole-super-a-lot about Portland is the abundance of restaurants seeping with coconut milk curries and customized levels of spice. So I bite at the opportunity to try Thai here in Dallas.
I had driven past the MINT sign on 75, then read about it on Daily Candy's Sweetest Things 2008; it won BEST BITE.
I had to try it, and boy am I PISSED that I did. It was just great. I will need to adjust my budget for this find.

I went to the location in Highland Park. Mint had a lot of options, and you can specify tofu and vegetables, or just vegetables. Love love.
The Pad Kee Mow is killer, beautiful flat noodles full of fresh veg (red and green bell pepper, baby corn, cabbage, etc), perfectly cooked tofu and egg (optional) on top of a bed of crisp lettuce; the temp/texture combo was grin-worthy.
Their Red Curry was also insanely delicious, not for the faint of heart...there's a whole lotta flava goin' on here. The side of Jasmine rice is oh so nice.

I do have a tendency to feel that dinner is not really dinner unless it is accompanied by a drink (or three). Mint knocked my heels off with their drink menu. Hot Sake, YES. Lychee martini, YES, YES. Passion Fruit with Chili Pepper, YES YES YES.
Creative drinks made with real fruit and quality booze...imagine that. I was also tickled to see that they had a great selection of organic/sustainable wines and liquors.

Definitely a fantastic date spot...initimate tables, ambient blue-hued lighting, uber-mod décor.

•••

The Mint, Asian Fusion Café
4246 Oak Lawn Ave
Dallas, TX 75219
NE corner of Oak Lawn and Wycliff
214.219.MINT(6468)

Asian Mint, Asian Fusion Café & Dessert Bar
11617 N Central Expwy
Dallas, TX 75243
SW corner of 75 and Forest Lane
214.363.6655

Blue Mesa Grill

2009-01-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

I LOVE THIS PLACE. It's a great destination for Sunday Brunch—no better way to cure that hangover than to drink more! For $17, you get all you can eat and drink: mimosas (keep 'em coming, por favor), blue corn cheese enchiladas, sweet corn cake, salad, belgian waffles, wonderful sweet potato chips and homemade roasted salsas, guacamole and so on. There's definitely enough to make you waddle to your car.

Besides brunch, the menu is impressive, featuring a respecatable amount of local goods.

I got the chile relleno and requested that the chicken enchilada be subbed with the goat cheese one I saw elsewhere on the menu. The goat cheese that they use in their blue corn enchiladas is made right here in Deep Ellum! Very cool. The sides of rice and black beans are vegetarian, hoorah!!!

If you go you must get a margarita, they are made right. I sampled the "melon avocado" version and wasn't really a fan, though I thought I would be. I rarely say this, but I don't think it was sweet enough...but the tequila buzz was lovely.

•••

Blue Mesa Grill

5 locations in DFW

Snack Attack!

2009-01-14T08:39:00.001-08:00

QUICK TIP!

I die for this simple, healthy and satisfying snack.

1. Get yo'self some bread (french baguettes are lovely, super seed & grain type breads are choice, just use what you like).
2. Put Earth Balance on that bread you got.
3. Sprinkle Nutritional Yeast on top.
4. Toss it in the oven till crispy and golden.
5. Eat, friend. Eat.

Here's why you'll love this too:

Bread is eternally divine...Atkins who?! I do encourage you to look at the ingredients. Bread that goes stale quickly is good (for you). Sorry, Mrs. Bairds.

Earth Balance products are 100% natural, non-GMO, free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils and artificial ingredients, and rich in Omega 3's. They're available in many organic, vegan and dairy blend varieties. Ditch the margarine—gram for gram, the trans fats found in margarine are more hazardous to the heart than the saturated fats that are found in butter. Most margarines are processed using a method called hydrogenation, which results in unhealthy trans fats. Earth Balance takes a different scientific approach: it allows the right kind of saturated fatty acid to sustain or raise good cholesterol while balancing it with polyunsaturated fatty acid to help lower the bad.

Nutritional Yeast is a deactivated yeast used as an ingredient and condiment. It's a great source of protein and vitamins, especially those B ones. Aside from being very nutritional (hence the creative name), the flavor ROCKS. It's nutty, cheesy, creamy, and just de-lish. Put it on everything! Pizza, popcorn, use it with milk or water to create a way healthier mac-and cheese, the possibilities are plentiful.

I have also read that nutritional yeast is a great thing to feed your meow-meow to control fleas and give them a healthier coat...they love the taste! I will take this moment to say though that kitties NEED meat, they are carnivores...so don't share your diet with your feline companion.

So while Felix tears into some tuna, be smart when the munchies strike!

•••

Shop here to get what you need:

Central Market

Natural Grocers

Garden Quiche

2009-01-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

I don't always go out to eat...partly because along with most everyone I know, my budget just doesn't allow for it! But the main reason is that I truly enjoy cooking.

My sister and I grew up cooking in the kitchen and drawing/painting at the art table with our mother. She passed away over a decade ago, but those memories of arting and fooding have formed into the careers and hobbies of my sister and I.

She is the bar manager at a fantastic vegan restaraunt in San Francisco, Millenium (I highly encourage you to visit if you're in the Bay Area...especially if you are a meatetarian—you'll have a whole new perspective of vay-gahn fewd) and in her spare time she rocks out with eclectic and joyously disturbing collagey-paintyness on canvas, wood, whatever.

I am an art director/graphic designer/visual thinker...and I love to whip up some tasty dishes, cocktails, and nibbly things.

When we get together, good times are had...our mom would be tickled, I'm sure.

I don't really go by recipes when I cook...I love recipe books, I have an impressive collection, but I use them more for inspiration. I usually just get stuff from the grocery store and come up with an idea, or sometimes the other way around.

The other night, I was craving QUICHE. So I got the goods to make one (my first, I'll have you know). A good rule of thumb when preparing a recipe: put in stuff you like. With that in mind, I got just a ton of yummy veggies: a bunch of fresh spinach, cremini mushrooms, roasted red peppers, jalapeno, chives, shallots and of course garlic. I also tossed in a heap of smoked gouda, my current guilty pleasure.

I sautéed the mushrooms and garlic, then the spinach separately...and mixed everything together, then spooned it into two pie crusts (just because there was enough for two). Then I filled in the pie shells with an egg mixture I whisked up (for each pie: 6 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, dashes of tabasco, sea salt and cracked black pepper).
I baked both pies, covered with foil, at 300 degrees for about an hour (at first I had it higher but the crust was browning while the egg was still liquid, so it's best to cover them and bake them low and slow. Ahh...the mysterious world of quichery!

Try making your own quiche, throwing in the veggies and such you adore. Do you have a quiche-like VEGAN recipe? I'd LOVE to know about it, y'all.

VeganYumYum

2009-01-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite iPhone apps is VeganYumYum. It's a very well-designed vegan recipe catalogue, with great photos of the finished dishes shown when selected.

The highlights: gorgeous step-by-step photography and an interactive ingredient checklist—great for grocery shopping!

The recipes are sorted alphabetically but you can also search using keywords. You can also store (and remove) favorites, which is a useful feature for this 70+ delicious recipe database.

If you don't have a fancy schmancy iPhone, don't despair...the recipes come from their website, so just check them out there (link below).

And the best part is, it's FREE! So get to it, invite your carnivorous comrades over for a guilt-free feast.

•••

vegan yum•yum

Drip Coffee / Yummy Donuts

2009-01-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

I love this little coffee shop, the perfect rest stop amidst shopping on Lovers Lane.

It's swanky (ignore the FOX News inside and grab a little table to do some people watching or check out the latest PaperCity), and their coffee is superb.

DRIP gets their beans from independent growers around the world and then roast them on site in small batches. Their lattes are divine, I prefer to sweeten mine with honey, which is LOCAL here—great to conquer those Dallas pollen allergies.

My favorite part about this place (besides the humble S, M, L size distinctions) is the art. It looks like coffee mixing with cream...mmmmmmm, probably done with burnt sienna with stand oil and meticulous applications of zinc white and gesso; very impressive.

If you're still not sold, maybe this will make you ditch your jeans-busting Caramel Crappaccino:

a couple doors down is Yummy Donuts. And yes, they ARE yummy!!! Closest thing to rival Voodoo Doughnuts in PDX. Very rich, just go for one. My fave? The chocolate cake donut dipped in chocolate icing and rice krispies with a peanut butter icing drizzle. I think they rotate their sinful creations, so no guarantees except that you will inhale whatever you get. For the person born without a sweet tooth, or one who just wants the best of both worlds (I feel ya!), they also have some killer breakfast sandwiches.

Both spots have free wi-fi...how nice.

•••

Drip Coffee

4343 Lovers Lane

Dallas, TX 75225

214.599.7800

Yummy Donuts

4355 Lovers Lane

Dallas, TX 75225

214.520.7680

The Flying Saucer

2009-01-09T06:50:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I was in need of a drink, so I thought to head over to The Flying Saucer in Addison, a much more appealing thought than snuggling up to a bottle of vodka at home. They have a plethora of beer options, including like 80 on tap. I often get the Blanche du Bruxelles, a light smooth Belgian Wheat Beer.

To eat? Not a ton of veg options here, it's a German inspired menu (brats and such). But what they have is good, and remember...it's about the BEEEEEER here! But here's my must-get-every-time item: the Rocket Tots!!! They're "bite-sized cheese & pepper potato tots with habanero sour cream dip." Super yummy, I crave them. Anything fried and spicy is a hit with me, so the fact that it's potato-based is a home run. I ripped into them when they arrived, completely forgetting to photograph them in all their golden glamour...my bad.

I also often get the "Build Your Own Plate" with three different cheeses. Smoked Gouda is always great, as is Chevre. The Cotswold is also tasty if you dig chives. Food pairings aren't just for wine; order different beers to try with the cheeses—a good excuse to drink more! The plate is nice, with a delectable olive tapenade, roasted almonds, quality mustard, toasted rounds & water crackers, and occasionally a sliced green apple half.

All in all, a good place to go after work. A bit on the yuppie end of the spectrum, especially with the naughty school girl waitresses prancing around...but just enjoy your brew and chuckle. Cheers!

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The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

14999 Montfort Dr

Addison, TX 75254

972.934.ALES

Kobe Steaks

2009-01-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

I know what you're thinking. Why on earth would a vegetarian ever venture to a place with "Steaks" in the name? But I've been coming here for years now. It's a beautiful Japanese restaurant, nice architecture and classy minimal design—aesthetics mean a lot to me, remember. I'm the kind of girl that often chooses a wine bottle based on the label's design, so if the walls of a restaurant have a delightful harlequin pattern of matte vs. glossy antique gold, I'm in. It's also great to eat barefoot, so that's another plus here at Kobe Steaks (if you're taken to the special tables). You share a "table" with other diners, which I like...talking to strangers is FUN now that I'm old enough (and Irish enough) to do some serious damage were it necessary.

Anyway! They do hibachi style cooking here, so you've got a front row seat to all that sizzling action. Now THIS is where the minus comes in, I'll discuss in a bit.

The chefs here are always impressive, some more entertaining than others but all very quick and precise. Anyone that plays with their food for a living is okay in my book, so go ahead and let loose...laugh when they say "choo choo!!!" while pushing a stack of flaming onions past you. If you're too cool for school, just down a couple of their top-notch Lychee Martinis (my fave) and you'll be a giggling geisha in no time.

So...your one option, the "Vegetable Dinner ($11, you'll be considered a cheap date here) is GREAT. I wouldn't come back if it wasn't. The ginger dressing on the salad is super yum and the fried rice is the BEST FRIED RICE EVER. Seriously, y'all. Maybe because it's served piping hot, maybe because you can pour on some deliciously tangy Japanese Ketchup (trust me on this, try it), Ginger Sauce, or some spicy chili paste, maybe it's the touch of Garlic Butter the chef adds in, but it is damn good.

Then on to the veggies: squash, zucchini, onions and broccoli as well as mushrooms and bean sprouts later.

This is where things got a little scary. I swear that at times past, they kept veg and meat pretty well separated. But last night, the shrimp cooked for other customers got a bit close to the veggies, and being allergic to shellfish, this made me uneasy. After dishing out the little creatures, the chef scootched the broccoli over to where the shrimp was cooked! And he did the same with the bean sprouts on top of steak juice. Ew...tisk tisk Kobe Steaks, I expect better from you. I don't like declining veggie offerings, sad panda. I guess it's important to remember that this is what goes on behind the scenes in other restaurants, so it's silly for someone who dines out so often to get their panties in a wad over it...but still.

I'm such a sucker, though. All was made better by the badass green tea ice cream, some of the best I've had. Mmmmmmmmm...nom nom nom.

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Kobe Steaks

5000 Belt Line Rd #600 (on the West side of the Tollway)

Dallas, TX 75254

972.755.1030

They do not take reservations

Urban Taco

2009-01-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

My crew went to see Frost v. Nixon last night at the Angelika on Mockingbird, fanfreakingtastic movie! Politics, democracy, and justice...my cup of tea.

While at Mockingbird Station, we headed over to Urban Taco to grab some grub before the flick. Two thumbs up!

To my delight, they were fairly quick...a must when wanting to miss only the previews and not the premise.

And yes, friends...a vegetarian can order straight-up there. No substitutions or special requests necessary; they give you options here!

I started out with a margarita on the rocks and was delighted to see that it did not arrive in the usual repulsive shade of neon—a sure indication of a shitty high-fructose corn syrupy with a drop of diesel-fuel tasting tequila "margarita." This was a pretty decent drink, I could actually taste lime! I recommend it, a "double" if you dare.

We also ordered the chips and salsa trio, with habanero peanut, avocado lime crema, and roja. The chips were fresh, hot, and thick (just like me!) and the salsas were also very fresh and oh-so tasty. The roja was a nice medium-heat red salsa, with a definite chili taste. I believe the avocado lime crema was a smooth blend of avocado, lime, sour cream, and a bit of cilantro...a nice cool down from the habanero peanut dip which was a spicy delight! If you like Thai flavors (like Pad Thai), you'll dig this; basically non-sweet chunky peanut butter with one heck of a kick.

For my entrée, I ordered the "Any 3 Tacos" and got the two vegetarian options: Poblano Potato Squash and Roasted Corn (and yes, I went ahead and ordered them "gringo style," with flour tortillas instead of corn and topped with queso fresca). It comes with two sides that you can actually choose from—no default lardy-beans and chicken stock rice here—so I chose the grilled green onions and the mango jicama slaw.

Oooooohhhhhmmmmmmmmmyesss! All of it was so delectable and fresh, with different temperatures and textures dancing on my palate! All the veggies were held together by what I think was this great sour-cream, lime, and cilantro pesto; I prefered the Roasted Corn taco (shouldv'e gotten two of those, but the Mick in me said "more of the potato one").

For me, the sides were the stars...super fresh and seasoned just right.

All in all, a great vegetarian find.

•••

Urban Taco

Located in Mockingbird Station, a couple doors down from American Apparel

5331 E Mockingbird Ln

Dallas TX 75206

214.823.4723

Howdy!

2009-01-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all!

My name is Jules and I decided to start a blog.

I am an artist, designer, thinker, vegetarian, foodie, explorer, drifter, and I guess now...writer!

I was born and raised just outside of Dallas, but never really got out much (not many young teenagers do, especially those with a strict Air Force general as a single parent).

But I had a bad case of wanderlust...my mother was a flight attendant, my father a pilot—I grew up traveling and KNEW that I needed to get out of Dallas ASAP, especially as a vegetarian tiring of the same song and dance ordering at restaurants. Side salad please? You're still going to charge for the chicken? Excuse me, sorry, I ordered this without bacon. Navigating through the omnivorous jungle of dining out can be depressing for the hopeful vegetarian. Optimism dwindles as Chili's multiply.

SO! I went to school in Baltimore, at the Maryland Institute College of Art. I befriended many vegetarians and vegans during my time there, and grew accustomed to the friendly pot-lucks filled with quinoa and baba ghanoush.

I started hearing tid-bits about this vegetarian-hipster-treehugger-artist-utopia known as Portland, Oregon, so I headed west to check it out, scoring an internship my senior year. The company ended up hiring me after graduation, so Portland became my new home...and the tales of happy hippie goodness were true!

It was easy to be a vegetarian in PDX. Farmer's Markets, independent vegan diners, sustainable food co-ops, and fellow herbivores abound. I got SPOILED.

Unfortunately (and somewhat fortunately), my life went a bit topsy-turvy and I thought it best to head back to the Big-D for a bit. I was determined to discover the deliciousness in Dallas; from love to dinner, I would not starve down south.

This is about that ever-evolving journey. I've found that there aren't many resources (at least not well-designed ones) for the veg-friendly side of my city. I thought "man, I wish someone would write about rad places to nosh in D-F-Dub"...and then, just like Isa Chandra (of Vegan with a Vengeance), I thought...shouldn't I be that someone?!

Be the change you want to see in the world, says Ghandi...he was one smart cookie. With that in mind, I am determined to find the gastromic gems in this city, and share them with you. And of course, rant about the disappointments.

Enjoy! Nom nom nom...

Jules