Catching Up

Things are happening, but I've been really uninterested in blogging.

A round-up:

• Molly got second-place at the Lonestar Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off. Way to go, friend!!!!
• Celeste's Best is now selling ready-made cookie dough! You can pick it up at Wheatsville and Whole Foods. Celeste bakes treats for many locations around town and I LOVE her treats, so this is very good news.
• Sue from Counter Culture is hoping to host a screening of Simply Raw, a documentary about diabetes sufferers who spend 30 days in Arizona on a 100% raw diet and come away virtually cured. We're thinking the 1st of December, but I'll post more when we know for sure.
• My beloved Goodseed Organic is relocating and has closed for at least a month while they re-group. They plan to start selling their salsas, pestos, etc. at farmer's markets and events around town and re-open with dinner and more menu options. I miss them tons but am very happy for the excitement and energy surrounding their new endeavours.
• Thanksgiving is next week, ya'll!!!!! Foodie's favorite holiday!!!!! I am not going home this year, because it's more work than it's worth. I love the family, but I want to eat MY food in peace. Wheatsville had their tasting menu this weekend and OMG. I am definitely buying their stuffing and maybe the Coconut Cream Pie. And maybe the Rosemary Biscuits. It's a very exciting time, figuring out what to make!!!
• Yoga is pressing on. Teach and I had a meeting last week, talked for about an hour about the direction my practice is going, how to stay pain free and how to better communicate with him. We do this every six months or so. A check-up because I'm not the sort to chatter his ear off endlessly during class.

So that's that.

Where Has my Mind (fulness) Gone?

Enough about food and back to the yogas!

I'm glad I had a reprieve from blogging about my life and yoga. Both have been a real mess. Still taking the peaceful, quiet, calm early classes and loving the open afternoon/evenings. Still the favorite part of my day. Still occupies an inordinate amount of space in my thoughts and energy.

But I'm in a serious rut. It all started about 3 weeks ago when my lower back started aching. I couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly, but over a few days it showed itself to be tightness. I wasn't lengthening in any forward bends, I felt so constricted and yearned to streeeeeetch the area. A practice or so after I realized where the issue was, my hips exploded again. As you'll recall, my hips killed me in June. My teacher is a genius who resurrected me and everything was fine by August. To have a flare up was most discouraging. I thought I was using the correct hand/foot alignment, I thought I was engaging my core to interiorly rotate my quads, I was sure I was activating my feet strongly pulling both corners evenly.

Turns out...I wasn't. I'd gotten lazy, bored, complacent and was going through the motions. Because of my semi-natural flexibility, I don't really have to engage my core to get my chin to shin or keep my back straight. It's so much easier to tense the hip and grip the shoulders than use the bandhas. Fake yoga > real yoga.

My teacher helped me reel it in, you won't believe how close my feet are in down dog now. Weird! I'm trying to jump my feet close together into chatarunga, but what I think is "close" is roughly the width of my mat. Tricking my mind into changing something as familiar and rote as vinyasa has been a real challenge.

Until I'm "better", Teach has me stopping after Ustrasana. I only have one other pose, Laghu V., so this seems odd to me. I am nowhere near coming up on my own and it doesn't seem to aggravate my hips, but Teach knows best. It's so funny how his slight adjustment, an index finger *flick* below my rear, lifts me right up. When I'm on my own, my head is concrete sealed to the mat with industrial strength adhesive. There is also no chance of the arms staying straight or holding onto the achilles. I usually just put my hands alongside my knees before slinking into vajrasana and lurching up. I think this will be my first experience with being at a pose for a very long time. In a year and a half of Mysore practice, I've moved fairly quickly. Laghu V will be my nemesis until....Spring I bet.

The moral of this story is I lost my focus and attention. It's impossible to stay fully engaged at all times, every day on the mat. I imagine even advanced practitioners and senior teachers go through the motions from time to time. But I was doing it at length. Thinking of the day ahead of me, the person next to me putting their sweaty towel too close (seriously people, if you must have a towel put it to the front or back of your mat, NOT next to you (me)), or more often than not, thinking nothing at all.

I have become quite the space cadet. I am so incredibly out of it, scattered, forgettful, unsure, bored..... It's been about two months of that, and I'm pretty over it. The mistakes I've made at work have been intense. We're talking tens of thousands of dollars in errors, luckily they've been both in and against our favour so they balance out. If you have to be a moron on the job, spread it around so it all comes back.

I'm definitely not grounded, or engaged in the day-to-day events of my life. I've made sure to put my bills on auto-pilot so I won't be without a phone or lights. Numerous reminders set-up, impossible to ignore. Though I have found that moments after the reminder....what were we talking about?

UGH I went to the Dr. two weeks ago and am returning in two weeks, hopefully I can get some answers there.

I'd like to get my mind back, my focus and discipline. Being a flaky ditz does not suit me, or my practice, well.

Austin Top Ten: #1.....Veggie Wrap from Goodseed Organic!

Woo-hoo! We made it the #1 vegan meal in all of Austin, Texas, USA, North America, Earth! On this final day of Vegan Month of Food, it's fitting we wrap it up with a truly spectacular meal.



Behold: The Sun-Dried Pesto Wrap from Goodseed Organic........



That picture is from the very first time I went to Goodseed way back on the 2nd of May. It's weird that that wasn't really that long ago, but Goodseed has already become a big part of my life. I instantly fell in love with this wrap.



It's simple enough. Greens, tomato, onion, cucumbers, carrots, sprouts tucked into a warm whole wheat tortilla that's been slathered in sun-dried tomato pesto.

Sounds pretty....unspectacular?

Yeah, well shut up. It's amazing.



The veggies and greens are fresh as can be, all organic and represent the best nature offers. The tortilla is locally made by hand, all pure sourced (no preservatives or additives) and warmed up on the griddle. It literally melts in your mouth. I know that's thrown around a lot "oh, it melts in your mouth!" but this literally disolves upon impact. Once you get through that pillow of flour, the sun dried pesto ignites the taste buds with an enormous ZING of flavour.



If you think any of that is boring, then you're just a jet-setting wild child, aren't you!?

While the wrap itself sings lullabies in my dreams, the sides aren't to be dismissed. I typically go with the Yam Rounds, thinly sliced sweet potatoes baked to a very slight crisp then drizzled with an incredible agave mustard.



Sometimes I just get a whole plate of them, for a snack.



You can also have the cucumber ensalada, which is light and compliments the salad-in-a-tortilla wrap very well.



Or choose the hummus on a brown rice chip.



No matter how you choose to accompany the wrap, you will be satisfied and pleased.

I never thought a wrap could be so good, never thought it would be the one meal I would choose over all others. But this wrap is so amazing it wasn't even a contest when I was putting my Top Ten together. Number one was the easiest choice.



That's it for MoFo, you guys. Phew. Seeya next year!!!!

Cookies! Cookies for Everyone!!!!

The newest Isa/Terry book has arrived! Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar is the latest creation from the authors of Veganomicon (The Bible) and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. It isn't actually set for release until November, but my beloved Bookpeople already has it in. Just like they did for Isa's last book, Vegan Brunch, I'm sure you recall.



I'm desperately trying (and failing) to lose a few pounds so the timing of this release worried me. I cannot control myself, if I make Brownies and Lemon Bars and Peanut Butter Cookies I will eat them. And not just one. Or two.

BUT! There is a "wholesome" section of the book for sugar-free, more earthy items. Phew.

Whilst the Yankees sucked it up big time, I toiled in the kitchen making the Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies:



and Applesauce Softies:



The Banana cookie called for milk, I used hemp, and nuts, I used pecans. They were sweetened with brown rice syrup and agave nectar. The dried cranberries made these cookies special. My favorite dried fruit, for sure. These are more like a muffin than a cookie, very hearty and filling.

The Softies called for sucanat which I haven't used before. It's a dry sweetener that smells like brown sugar. These were wonderfully moist and cakey, exactly how I like my cookies. Cinnamon and nutmeg round out the appley flavours. A very autumn kind of cookie.

Now I tuck the book away and look forward to trying more recipes.....at next year's Worldwide Vegan Bakesale. Of course, I'm lying.

Austin Top Ten: #2 Lulu B's Tofu Vermicelli Bowl

All the way up to number two, it's very exciting!

Oh Lulu B's. Sweet, wonderful, spectacular, Lulu B's (Lamar and Oltorf). I've mentioned it here a thousand times, and all my friends/coworkers/family know where to find me Friday at lunch time. I've been going as long as I've lived in Austin, they opened right around when I moved here. We are customer/restaurant soulmates.

It might be a tiny trailer shared with pork, chicken and other animal products but I don't care. If I found out this wasn't vegan, I wouldn't be vegan anymore. I'd be an "almost vegan except for lunch on Fridays". (kidding! I'd ask them to make me a special one, and I'd pay triple)

What's so amazing about this bowl? Well...I love vermicelli for starters. It's my ideal noodle. I used to be a sucker for a thick, slightly undercooked spaghetti noodle but in high school I went bonkers for vermicelli and I've never looked back. Lulu's vermicelli is exactly how I like it: slightly sticky and well-cooked. It's never dry and old, always recently made.

Second, I love tofu. And this is the best tofu in Austin. The best I've ever had. Is it frozen then thawed to achieve that perfect chewy, yet moist texture? Is it marinated overnight in the lemongrass-garlic-soy concoction to make it so wonderfully seasoned and flavourful? Do they dry fry it or use oil?

I don't know. I don't care. I let them work their magic.

Third, a noodle bowl with fresh, raw veggies and herbs is the BEST way to eat vermicelli. I don't like the slimy, stir-fried wilted veggie bowls other Vietnamese/Thai places offer (I'm talking to you Hai Ky!). I love the street food aspect of this bowl. Cook those tofu and noodles, then heap on the freshness! Lulu adds cucumber, carrot, daikon radish, cilantro, basil and sometimes mint. The noodles are on a base of red leaf lettuce and romaine. Hmm, weird. My two favorite lettuces! So delightfully refreshing.

Finally, it's an ideal siracha delivery vessel. As you can see, I love to drown it in the world's best condiment. I've had companions dare tell me "oh, that's too much!" as if I don't know what I'm doing. It's like telling Oprah how to run a talk show, or Tiger how to nail a par 4 at Pebble Beach. I got this.

Once I've completed distributing the veggies and herbs and dousing in siracha, it's time to pour on the veggie sauce. It's some sort of soy, brown sauce mixture with fresh ginger and chilies. It's perfection. Not overpowering or heavy, adds a good amount of flavour and moisture. Be sure to order it with the veggie sauce! I think they usually ask if you want veggie or fish sauce, but they know me too well. So be careful or you'll get a mouthful of the gross stuff.

Then it's stir up time. Ahhh yeah.....

Then it's all gone and I have to wait a whole 'nother week to have it again. :(

Why do I only have it on Fridays? Because otherwise I would eat it every single day. I have to put limits on myself or I'll burn out on things. This love affair is too important to me, I can't smother it and be too needy!

Another reason to love Lulu: consistency. In the two plus years I've been going, nothing has changed. They haven't tried to get cute and "revamp" the menu or get cheap with portion sizes or ingredients. They realize what a good thing they've got going and respect their customers' loyalty. This cannot be overstated! How many times has a restaurant tinkered with a dish you loved and just ruined it all to hell?

Yeah, it sucks. But not at Lulu's!

I've eaten this over a hundred times (really), and I can only think of two times I didn't like it. Something was just "off". We're looking at a 98% success rate here, people. That's quality you can count on!

Also, it's $6. Yeah, a big ass bowl of perfect for six American dollars.

If you're not in the mood for a noodle bowl (weirdo) have a go at their tofu Banh Mi and spring rolls. Hold the mayo on the sandwich, yo.

Best spring rolls in town, by the way. Noone else comes close.

Here is where I get defensive and address criticism I've heard of Lulu B's (too slow, sub-par accomodations). SHUT UP, IDIOTS!

Guess what, places that make wonderful, fresh food take a bit of time. Lulu (not a real person, two sisters-Laura and Christina-run it and have a crew that helps out) is very popular and makes food to order. If you are in a hurry and need your food rightthissecond, there's a Burger King down the street. And it's a food trailer, dumb-dumbs. You have to sit outside and commune with nature. If this bothers you, please check out the Sonic down the street. You never have to leave your car, lazy ass!

I might be biased-as a longtime customer that rarely has to wait-but I call first. I know the hours and crowd patterns, I know the people who work there and they know me. If you're new to Lulu, do not fear long lines and busy tables! It is worth it, I promise. But please don't go there if you're in a rush and then get all huffy and whiny other people dared order food before you. You don't deserve Lulu and we don't need you!

There you have it. The second best vegan meal in Austin, and one very close to my heart.

A Weekend in Dallas

I flew up to Dallas this weekend to spend time with my best friend who recently had a baby. She has not taken to motherhood and really needed a girls time out. We certainly ate well!

Thursday night we wanted to try out Bliss Raw Cafe, but it was barely 50 degrees and it's all outdoor seating. They put that plastic stuff around, but please. It's still cold. So we went to the first Thai restaurant we saw, Royal Thai.

I loved the plate!

The spring rolls were decent, but the dipping sauce was of indeterminate ingredients. I went with siracha, the best fall-back condiment ever.

I ordered the red curry with tofu and veggies.

The tofu was bizarre. It's just air. Nothing in the middle, nothing to chew on. Weird!

The next day, I had lunch with my dad at Spiral Diner. We started off with the chips and dips platter.

Salsa, guacamole and an excellent queso. It was borderline too runny, but tasted wonderfully of cashews and nooch.

Pops went with the spaghetti and meatballs, which I've always been dying to try. I wish it had come in a bowl and there's a bit too many pine nuts. But the drizzle of pesto is inspired! The meatballs are Nate's, which you can buy anywhere. I have some in my freezer even.

I had the BBQ seitan sandwich with a side of pasta salad.

With a heaping glob of veganaise and raw pickle, this was a rich lunch!

Dad didn't understand the concept of vegan ice cream, so I had to prove we're just as spoiled as the rest of the world! A scoop of chocolate on the bottom and strawberry up top.

For dinner that night, Brooke and I hit up the 'ol Cosmic Cafe, an old-school all vegetarian place in Oak Lawn.

We started off with the hummus, the pic came out very badly. My entree was the Indian plate which included a bowl of dahl, samosa, curried potatoes, chutnies, rice, roti and papadum. Very good, but lacked the depth of Clay Pit. I'm a nerd for The Pit.

We followed up our dinner with strawberry cake. Oh yum!

Next up for lunch, Best Thai over in Preston Hollow. I was turned onto this by Dallas Vegan via Lazy Smurf. Thanks, blogger dudes!

Started off with the spring rolls, the peanut dipping sauce was amazing. And I don't like peanut sauce!

They weren't called drunken noodles on the menu, but that's what they were. Decadent wide noodles with tons of veggies, tofu and a light brown sauce.

For our final dinner in town we ventured back to Cosmic Cafe. We really liked it!

Again started with the hummus, again with the bad pics. I mixed it up and went with falafel. Pretty standard, but they add pickle. Ahhh, pickle on falafel! I love it!

For dessert we had chocolate cake.

With whipped cream! OMG I had no idea I missed whipped cream. Amazing.

The real winner of the weekend was Sunday brunch at Spiral Diner! All-you-can-eat-pancakes, yo!!!!

Plain

Blueberry

I also had a plate of plain and blueberry. Yeah, I know how to get my money's worth. And you can't have pancakes without sausage to dip in the syrup.

As if that weren't enough......biscuits and gravy.

Hell yeah.

I returned home stuffed, heavy and very happy.

Austin Top Ten: #3 Wheatsville's Eggless Salad Sandwich

I'm so glad this is the last week of MoFo, you guys. I'm sick of blogging, sick of trying to think up what to blog, sick of reading blogs and just bored with all of it. AND I'm trying to lose weight. So thinking about food all the time is super fun.



Fortunately I have the Top 10 to fall back on. I'm a MoFo genius is what I am.



My beloved Wheatsville has the best sandwich in town. Whole wheat bread, tofu salad, tomatoes, pickles, onion, jalapenos and spicy mustard.




Boom.

Done.

Austin Top Ten: #4 Clay Pit's Vegetable Ayam

Similar to my Thai frustrations, leaving London's incredible Indian food was difficult for me. On every street corner, every block , unavoidably London has the most amazing Indian food options. I fell hard and fast for my near-daily curries. I didn't realize how lucky I had it until it was gone.

DC is lacking in the good Indian restaurant department. Heritage and Polo are completely overrated and while I hear Rasika is excellent, it opened right before I moved and I only tried it once. White Tiger was right by my office but I never really cared for it too much.

The transition to no-good-Indian-food was tough and I didn't really think Austin would offer me anything better.

But!

Yes. Yes it did, in the form of Clay Pit.

I have issues with their service and (lack of) management style, but it doesn't change the fact their food is outstanding. Is it traditional Indian? Oh, hell no. But I'll take what I can get, thankyouverymuch.

It's hard to pick which one I like more, the channa masala or the Ayam.

I usually have a friend order one, then I have the other.

When I get take-out I usually go for the channa. It's much more forgiving on the waistline! The Ayam is sooooooooo decadent!

Full fat and flavour coconut milk makes for a creamy, oh-so-rich curry base. Spiced to perfection (mama likes it hot) and tossed with fresh veggies, this is an absolute treat of a meal. It really is fantastic. I can't reitterate this enough.

I particularly enjoy rolling it up in some roti and dipping it into tamarind chutney for a little Indian taco.

Austin's Indian options aren't great, but who cares when we have Clay Pit!

Take Two: Casa de Luz

I meant to do this more during MoFo, but it's hard working up the courage to try a restaurant where you've had bad experiences. With all the sure thing meals in town, who wants to risk wasting a meal at a sketchy place? In the spirit of MoFo, I ventured on.

Casa de Luz is probably the first and oldest vegan restaurant in Austin. I don't know that for sure, about being the first. But it's definitely the oldest.

And "old" is a good theme for Casa. With the all macrobiotic and soy-free meals, this is some old-school vegan shit. Casa makes Mother's look hip and happening, for cryin' out loud.

I don't recall when Casa and I got sideways. I went a few times, then suddenly was repulsed by the idea of returning. I remember at ACL in 2008, some band said "You guys are so lucky to have the best restaurant in America....Casa de Luz!!!". I walked away from that stage.

"Best resturant in America", seriously? That's weird. That band's opinion was just wrong. Wrong, I say!

Also, I dated a guy who always wanted to go there.

"Where should we eat tonight?"

"Casa?"

"No. Never."

Two days later, "Wanna have dinner at Casa?".

DUDE. Look, it doesn't always have to be my choice, but if there is one place in town your sig other doesn't want to eat at, then let. it. go.

While I can't remember a horrendously awful meal at Casa, these stories stick out in my mind. I recently went back a few times with MoFo in mind and walked away with less-negative thoughts.

Casa is not just a restaurant, it's "a gathering place for people seeking wholeness and integration in diet, exercise, and experience." It's a center for integral studies, dudes. Get your Tai Chi on, attend a lecture about the law of attraction, practice some non-dualism, meditate in the Zen fashion, then have a vegan macrobiotic meal! All your new-age, metaphysical, spiritual needs can be met on the Casa de Luz campus.

I stick to the cafeteria, myself.

Oh yeah, it's cafeteria style serving and seating. You will be chatted up about your thoughts on satyananda and receive unsolicited chakra readings. Ugh, it's like people want to make friends or something. So be ready for that. There are a few two-seater tables but they get snapped up quick.

On Sundays brunch is served buffet style and it's all-you-can-eat. The rest of lunches and dinners are served more traditionally. You get your own salad, condiments and soup, refilling as you wish. The entrees and sides are brought around when they feel like you're ready. Since the server knows everyone in the room and loves to chat, good luck getting your food when you want it. I've walked up and gotten it myself. I mean come on! I get the community aspect of this, but I can only take so much. Gimme my food!

Even better, you can get take-out! For the same $12, you get all the soup and salad you want, plus a plate and a half of food. Take your own containers though, peeps! Casa treads lightly and wants you to do the same.

Those are the gritty specifics. On to the food.....

It's...food. Rotating options of soup, side salad, an entree plate with grains, greens, veggies, beans, and pickled vegetables. Nothing exciting, interesting or worth mentioning really. Most meals are gluten-free, when an item contains wheat, it's clearly noted. It's 100% macrobiotic which in this case means bland. There's a distinct lack of seasoning going on here. And the flavors are really shallow and one dimensional.

Cauliflower soup tastes like cauliflower. And is the same color as the bowl.

The beans are...beany.

The greens...green.

You get the idea. What you see is what you get, no surprises.

Butternut Sweet Potato Coconut Soup

Black beans with sunflower cheese, greens with walnut tahini, gordita, rice.

Salad with parsley pepita dressing.

Salad with....some kind of dressing.

Black eyed peas, greens with tahini, sauteed carrot and burdock, pickled radishes, brown rice.

While it isn't something to get amped up about, the food is healthy and you can feel good about yourself afterwards. Healthy food need not be so dull, but there are people who don't like spices and seasonings. People who've been vegan for 30+ years and don't really know about Isa Chandra Moskowitz and VegNews. This is food for non-foodies.

I personally like it when I'm not feeling well or have over-indulged in sweets or alcohol. It resets my diet while not starving myself.

While I'll never understand people who OMG LOVE CASA!!!, I'm glad it exists. I love knowing it's there when I need it, and that it's there for my fellow vegans and Austinites, out-of-town bands and ex-boyfriends.

Austin Top Ten: #5 Green Curry with Veggies and Tofu from Thai Kitchen

Living in London and DC, I had no shortage of amazing ethnic food experiences. Both cities have every cuisine under the sun, all manner of obscure ingredients and wide array of rare delicacies.

While Austin has plentiful sunshine, amazing Tex-Mex/Mexican and the best yoga teacher in the world, it's lacking in culinary diversity. While you can generally find the tastes you crave, you're stuck with a single choice, the options are limited. It's a small price to pay for living in a wonderful city, but as a person who LOVES food, I do occasionally miss the wider variety a larger metropolis provides.

When I first moved here, I missed really good Thai food SO much. Especially after living in Dupont Circle, surrounded by 6 very good places. I ate more Thai the two years I lived in DC then ever in my life. I came to love the flavours, spices and HEAT. Not just love it, but need it. My attitude towards Thai is similar to pizza and yoga. Even bad, it's still good. So trying out Austin's lackluster options-Thai Passion, Thai Tara, Madam Mam's-satisfied my cravings but didn't really do it for me. Titaya's got close, that place is great.

Thai Kitchen was actually the first Thai I had in town, but it was a bad day for them and the food was horrible. It took me about a year to try again, but when I did Eureka!!!

The Green Curry with Veggies and Tofu is spectacular (#8 on their Vegetarian menu). Their tofu is that perfectly chewy texture we all wish we could make at home, the veggies crisp and vibrant. The curry itself is well spiced with lemongrass, galangal and chilies. It's spicy as a default. I imagine the spice level has taken many by surprise, but hey, it's THAI.

Their white rice is that perfectly sticky, fluffy sort I can never manage at home. They also offer brown rice for an extra dollar. Thai Kitchen is BYOB so head next door to Wheatsville (I always go to the Guadalupe location), pick up an $8 bottle of wine and enjoy the best Thai meal in town! For an added dollop of pleasure, pour on their phenomenal dipping sauce that comes with the Spring Rolls. Oh, you'll be thanking me for that tip!

Why Wheatsville is the Best Co-Op in America: In Pictures

I'm a total nerd for my Co-Op, you guys. Sometimes I go even when I don't need anything. Just...to be there. To feel the good vibes and soak in the ambiance.

Wheatsville underwent a massive reconstruction this past year, which is finally completed. FINALLY. It is magnificent and worth all the previous headaches, annoyances and frustration. I tried to remember what it used to be, with the 3 tiny check-outs, minuscule bulk items, sparse produce and teensy deli-I cannot believe how far we've come.

Yeah, WE. It's MY Co-Op.

The famous popcorn tofu in PoBoy form. The trick is to be there between 2:30 and 3:30 when it comes out piping hot and fresh, mindblowing. It gets soggy when reheated.

Thai Cucumber Salad, one of their rotating deli salad options.

Southern Fried Tofu Sandwich. They have a "Tofu of the Day", Mongolian BBQ, Lemon Pepper, some kind of baked sesame tamari.....

Queso. Never liked queso, not a cheese lover. But when I'm feeling like having some gross, nasty sauce this is the best vegan queso in town!

Potatoes Nicoise. On loan from some other city's Co-Op, I would KILL to make this a regular option. Amazing.

Simple black bean salad situation.

With the new salad bar and hot bar, there's also an Antipasto selection! I love pickled okra, pepperoncinis and cornichons. Tiny pickles, ya'll! With Broccoli and Cashew Tamari Dressing, Tornado Potato Salad (with okra, genius!).

The best thing to happen to vegans in Austin in a long time: Mac n' Cheese on the hot bar! When it's bad it's oily and weird, but when it's good....whoa mama!!!!

I love grabbing some salads, a sandwich, a frosty cold TopoChico and having a little picnic on the expanded patio.

Ginger Tempeh Pasta Salad. The first thing I ever tried at Wheatsville and my first time with tempeh. Now I can't get enough of either!

Gazpacho, my summer favorite!

This! Oh....this. Another loaner from some other Co-Op, it's roasted edamame with green olives and tons of garlic. Simply incredible.

Cornbread. For when you don't feel like whipping up a whole pan, grab a slice.

That right there is a Frito Chili Pie with their insanely perfect tempeh chili. Available everyday, whenever you like.

I mush it up real good and top with ketchup. Yep, yep.

You can also make a delightful chili-mac with the linguine from the hot bar.

Or have it alone with some sauteed veggies. Mmm, piping hot bowl of chili!

Taco! I like the tempeh and the black bean, no rice or lettuce. This is the tempeh, obvs.

They have pico, a chipotle and casera salsas on the regular, plus a Salsa of the Month. All are good.

Sweets! Oh my the sweets. I try to just walk on by.....but it's hard! This is a rice krispie treat.

Chocolate cookie sandwich. Absurd.

Carrot cake! The BEST vegan dessert in town.

Almond cake with coconut frosting. Or maybe the other way around. I don't know, but it's awesome.

There is also new vegan sushi that I've yet to try. Wheatsville carries all manner of tempehs, seitans, tofus and meat analogues. Not to mention Teese, dandies marshmallows and tons of frozen dessert options.

We might not be Food Fight, but Wheatsville is Austin's very own vegan deli and grocer!

Austin Top Ten: #6 Depth Charge from The Daily Juice

Ahh The Juice. My beloved, wretched Juice. We've battled it out and have settled into quite the love/loathe relationship. How did things get so contentious? That's not for public consumption, suffice to say I no longer patronize the Cafe. But I still hit up the stand by my house 5-7 times a week.

While it might not be a traditional meal, the nutrition packed into this 16 oz. of joy carries me easily through the morning. Yep, nearly every day of the week I have a Depth Charge for breakfast. Coconut water with cucumber, celery, parsley, spinach, cabbage, kale and romaine provide all the sustenance I need to re-energize after two hours of yoga and power through until lunch.

People expect coconut water to be sweet, and while it does have a hint of saccharine, it's quite earthy and much more sour than one would think. Artificial coconut flavours have ruined people's taste buds. And what is up with the pre-packaged coconut waters in a can? It really seems to be a treat that should be enjoyed fresh or not at all. Like carrot juice or sushi.

The juice from a freshly tapped young coconut offers a perfect base for the green veggies. It's a genius combination of tastes and leaves me one very happy, healthy girl.

Reviewing Vegan Cheeses

I've never liked cheese. I ate it, sure, but I never yearned for it or hadtohaveit! I never had cheese on burgers or sandwiches and usually picked it off my pizza. So rich and filling, like too much frosting on a cupcake, I can't handle it. So transitioning to vegan wasn't all that difficult for me. I avoid fake meats and cheeses because....I don't like meat or cheese. But the vegan cheese market is expanding rapidly and I thought I should weigh in what I think about it.

But.....I don't like cheese. So keep that in mind.


The best way to review cheeses? Pizza of course! This isn't about the best pizza (Homeslice) it's about the best cheese. So there. We only have three fake cheese options in Austin (well, Mother's carries Veganrella but I think every vegan under the age of 60 can agree it's repulsive and inedible): Teese, Follow Your Heart and Daiya. But these are excellent representations of what the market has to offer. FYH is the old, old guard while Teese and Daiya are the promising upstarts.


#3 FYH (Pizza from The Parlour)


I've had FYH mozzarella probably more than any other fake cheese, it's been around a long time and is readily available at most mainstream grocery stores even. I think the makers are so profitable and popular they don't care to tweak or improve their recipe. That's all I can think of for why it tastes so bad.

It's very reminiscent of cardboard. It has an "IM FAKE CHEESE" taste and texture. It melts fine, but the mouthfeel is too heavy to be enjoyable. And the aftertaste! Ew. No thank you, FYH. I'm done with you now.

#2 Teese (Pizza from Hoboken)

Now we're getting into some serious business fakery. I've had this pizza about 5 times and while it requires a "setting" period to firm up, it's quite creamy and mimics the real thing well.

I think if you have too much marinara sauce it becomes very runny, so watch that. I like Teese so much I even have the cheddar version at home for chili and baked potatoes. I've never once gotten it to melt though.

#1 Daiya (Pizza from zPizza)

The newest vegan cheese on the market, the response has been largely favourable. Surprisingly favourable really.

Well, it's as good as they say. Wow. I went into it with low hopes and was totally blown away. It's melty, creamy, rich and the best tasting cheese I've had since being vegan. I can't imagine I'll go back to others. I'll definitely try out new brands, but for now it's all about the Daiya.

I can't end this without mentioning that I'd rather have Homeslice's cheeseless pizza than any fake cheese version in the world.

I don't need or want cheese, really. Something about the novelty of it, and vegan peer pressure!, means I indulge every now and then, but I'll take Homeslice please.

Every Now and Then I Cook

I don't just eat out, as this blog and my Flickr might lead you to believe. I cook sometimes. But I live alone and have yoga and like my nails to look fresh (seriously) so it's just more fun and easier to go out. When I do cook, I remember how much I love it and want to do it more often. Then life carries me away.....

Here's some stuff I cooked over the last few months:

Hot-Sauce Glazed Tempeh from Veganomicon, Green-wa from Yellow Rose Recipes and a baked sweet potato.

I like to accompany all my meals with a big 'ol bowl of steamed greens. Lacinto kale in this case.

Tofu scramble with broccoli, red bell pepper, onion, garlic and zucchini.

Tamarind Lentils from Veganomicon.

Steamed bok choy and red chard with a bit of garlic on top.

Buckwheat crispies with figs, bananas, blueberries and homemade almond milk sprinkled with hemp seeds, from Ani's Raw Kitchen.

I ate this everyday for about two weeks.

Black beans with adobo sauce mixed up with quinoa, from Veganomicon.

Sweet-potato pear tzimmes with pecans and sun-dried cherries (a sub for the raisins which I don't care for), from Veganomicon.

Rustic White Beans with Mushrooms from Veganomicon.

When life gets hard and your mom lives far away so you can't get a healing hug, there's always a PB&J to make everything better.