A Truly Vegan Restaurant
Many so-called vegan and/or vegetarian restaurants in Los Angeles can hardly tout that they are in fact, “a truly vegan restaurant.” But in fact, there is one restaurant, located on the fringes of Hollywood, that actually goes by, and lives up to its name: A Truly Vegan Restaurant.
This quaint little place is charming, and perhaps even a bit out of place amongst the shiftiness of the outskirts of Hollywood. Just a couple of blocks down, are some loud, obnoxious Hollywood clubs, and if you go a little more East, it gets even rougher. As in transients and hookers rougher. Not that I have anything against transients and hookers and Hollywood clubs, because hey, we’re all human, but I’m just saying that typically, vegan and vegetarian restaurants tend to be located in areas of “health conscious” folks. But again, I digress.
In actuality, A Truly Vegan Restaurant offers a welcome respite, an oasis of vegan glory, if you will, on this side of Hollywood. It may be on the small size, but they definitely have all their bases covered, in terms of Thai-inspired vegan dining goes. I must say, that although So Delicious is devoted only to thee most delicious vegan and vegetarian foods, this place is just okay…okay as in mediocre. I can’t be saying that EVERYTHING is wonderfully delicious and amazing, can I? Especially in terms of restaurant reviews. I’m not saying this place is awful by any means. I’m just saying that I’ve had better.
Flax seed whole wheat pasta!
So I have a new fling: Flax seed whole wheat pasta. It’s fantastic. I love it!! Not that pastas generally have much flavoring at all, but this one really stands out to me. I think because the texture is much thicker and heartier than most pastas, and so it really hits the spot. And also for that same reason, it is really easy to have whatever pasta you make, al dente. Al dente every time! If you don’t like your pasta al dente, all you have to do is cook it longer. Easy as pie.
So needless to say, that’s what I’ve been brewin up in my kitchen. Thank god vegan pasta recipes are so easy huh? So I’ve just been experimenting with a variety of sauces and ingredients to spice things up.
So actually, this dressing pictured above is effin’ amazing. Not only is it au naturel, it’s vegan as well! Hard to believe with dressings these days. But low and behold, it hails from none other than Northern California, another place I’d consider quite the hippyville. I love NorCal!! Why do they have the best ishhhh?! Anyway, Wilson’s sister brought this down from her last trip up north. And apparently you can’t get it NO WHERE but there. It is deeeeeelish. She brought back about 10 bottles. Oh yeah. It’s some good shit right there. So what I did was added a little bit of this dressing to my mish mash of sauce for the pasta…and it was gorgeous. Just a little bit, and it gives it a really creamy and almost nutty hint of flavor.
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Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant :: Highland Park
So a few weeks ago, Wilson and I decided to venture out to a new vegan/vegetarian restaurant, which is always awesome since there aren’t a million vegan/veggie places. Don’t get me wrong, LA has a plethora of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and it’s often times a shitload more than most places. But hey, we’ve been around the block a few times in regards to the restaurants in our vicinity. So again, needless to say, it was a cause for excitement. I took a lot of pictures this time, so got loads of food porno pics for ya’ll.
So we checked out this restaurant called Cinnamon, which is located in Highland Park, a little north of downtown LA. This restaurant was completely phenomenal. Really. All of the cuisine is vegetarian and vegan Mexican food, and from the look of the restaurant, which had a bit of a Mom-n-Pop type feel, and from the taste of the food, you could tell you were eating some truly authentic and delicious vegan Mexican food! We aren’t the only ones to think so either! Ahhhh!!! I was in heaven…Mexican food was/still is one of my favorites. It’s just so damn tasty, how can you not like it? Oh, and the owners and workers were all super sweet and very accommodating. They can also make things specially tailored for you and your palate. Awww.
So we started off with this lovely and creamy soy horchata…yummmmmm. Why are horchatas so BOMBeeezy? And they complement the spiciness of the food so well too.
We also started off with…you guessed it…quesadillas!! Well we ordered the faux carne asada quesadillas, but out came the spinach and mushroom ones, and we were way too famished to even notice or care. They were superb by the way. Really, the best I’ve had, better than any other ones I said I’ve liked. AND, our waitress felt so bad that she mixed up our order, she brought us a plate of the faux carne asada!! DUDE. You HAVE to try their faux carne asada…holy crap…I thought it was real meat there for a second. It was soooo good.
Stocking the vegan pantry + fridge
Hello friends. Yes, today I will be talking about what sorts of staples need to be on hand for vegans [and vegetarians!], so that you’ll never run into the problem of having “nothing to eat.” This seems pretty elementary perhaps, but I’ve found that I myself have been going through this sort of trial and error of things that should be stocked at mi casa. It’s like, if I have some vegan sprouted bread, they’re ain’t no jelly…I got some baked tofu, but I ain’t got no spices or rice…I got some ham, but no burger…
You get the picture. What a freakin’ nightmare!! I was kidding about the ham part in case you didn’t get my horrible joke. Anyway. I’m the worst when it comes to this kind of thing. I never make lists of the things I need when I go to the market, or even if I do, 9 times out of 10, I lose the damn thing. Yeah, yeah, I know. At least it’s only myself I need to worry about though…imagine if I had to cook vegan for 2! We’d starve.
Anyway, luckily and thankfully, my dear friend Monica also sent me another vegan cookbook!! Wooo! It’s called “Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook.”
This one is actually co-authored by the same amazing woman as the other vegan cookbook I received; Isa Chandra Moskowitz. This particular vegan cookbook is actually a lot less intimidating for nouveau/non-cooks/bakers like myself. It’s a lot more gentle and practical, and its premise is to let people know that it ain’t hard out here for a vegan. And thus, at the beginning of this lovely cookbook, they provide a thorough section of absolute must-haves in a vegan household—specifically, what canned goods and what fridge staples one should arm themselves with.
So bless their hearts, THANK YOU vegan cookbook masters, Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, where ever you guys are. THANKS for saving people like moi from ourselves!!! Nuff respect!!
Vegan strip club // No meat in the champagne room..
So I know this is a bit off topic, away from my usual vegan and vegetarian restaurant reviews and recipes…but this was just too hilarious not to mention. Oh, and please don’t let your kids read this one! Unless you don’t care. Because in that case, if you don’t care, neither do I!
So apparently this joint is “the first vegan strip club in the entire world.” Which, when you think about it, it probably is. And where oh where does this place reside in the world? None other than hippie-ville, Portland, Oregon. I say that with much tenderness by the way. I think Oregon is a great state, and Portland in particular is one of the most progressive cities in the U.S. in terms of having so many vegetarian, vegan and just overall environmental causes and of course, dining options, going on up there. So it’s actually no surprise that they are home to the world’s first vegan strip club.
“(It’s) vixens, not veal, and sizzle, not steak,” Diablo said. “We put the meat on the pole, not on the plate.”
Hmmm…I’m not in a position to make any sort of judgement calls, but I’m having mixed feelings about this place? It’s hilarious, yes. It’s great, in terms of a new vegan venture. I just feel that maybe it’s a little paradoxical in a way…maybe because I’m a female, and a feminist. [OOoooooO…uhhh…did I say the “F” word?] Overall though, I guess it’s no harm, no foul, since it’s not like he’s making these girls dance against their will. So whatevas yo! Any thoughts or comments???
NGOMA :: Veggie-friendly African food!
Yup, that’s riiiiight, African food! I know that sounds pretty vague and all encompassing [i.e. like which part of Africa??], but from the experience that I had the other night, it was pretty remarkable. In fact, it actually does serve various African dishes from all over the continent; they split up the menu by region. It was sooooo delicious [pardon my usage]…just really, really tasty stuff. And Ngoma is located right smack dab in the heart of the city…or rather, the Mid-Wilshire area, super close to the El Rey theater! So all you concert goers, you know where to hit up afterwards.
Wilson and I went, and neither of us had ever tried “African” food before. I didn’t even really know what to expect. For instance, I couldn’t even name a traditional African dish at all…how uncultured am I?! And more than that, I was totally perplexed as to how W even found out about this place. The front of the restaurant was so unassuming, making it almost imperceptible in this relatively bougie part of town.
Well, our waitress was pretty forgiving. We told her it was our first time there and had no idea what we should order. She was really nice and helpful, and also was pretty decisive in terms of what she thought was the best things on the menu, which is effin’ great for some indecisive folks like us. Ngoma also has a plethora of vegetarian and vegan friendly dishes! Cha-ching…score!!
Iza-yoi, Little Tokyo :: Vegan sushi!
So Vinh and I went to eat at a place called Izayoi the other day, which is located in the heart of Little Tokyo in Downtown LA. I’ve heard a few good things here and there from various people…but for some reason, I had my reservations about the place. First of all, the name is “Iza-yoi” and I thought it was trying to ride on the coattails of the frenzied outbreak of Izakaya-madness that has swept over Los Angeles. I had also passed it on numerous occasions, as it is situated in the same plaza as Starbucks and Office Depot…the very same plaza that has one of the only FREE parking lots in Lil Tokyo. I’ve peered inside and thought, “Eh, ain’t nuthin special.” How very very, regretfully wrong I was!!
Luckily Vinh persuaded me enough to try some of the “best sushi in LA.” Again, hesitation overwhelmed me. How many sushi places are there in LA, and how many of them claim to be “the best sushi in LA”?! Yeah, way too many to fucking count. But surprise, surprise. A very, happy, excited surprise I might add! The benefits of lowered expectations…glorious!
First off, I ordered the Lotus Root Kimpira, which is very vegan friendly. In case ya haven’t heard, the lotus root is a very delicious, versatile, and very nutritious Asian vegetable. It can be pan sauteed, fried, deep fried [tempura] or basically just serve as a hearty snack. You can pretty much find it at any Asian supermarket. It’s kind of like daikon [radish] except it has a bunch of holes in it. Anyway, at Iza-yoi, they served it cool in a glazed soy/teriyaki-type sauce…both refreshing and yummy! And keeping with Japanese tradition/style, the portions are on the smaller side…just a little side note in case you come with a bunch of people and/or you’re feeling ravenous.
So that was that, but let me just tell you how effin’ amazed I was that they actually had UMEBOSHI sushi!!! Now for all ya’ll who not knowin…Umeboshi is a traditional pickled plum that is typically placed in the center of rice balls. They are red in color and are known for their strong, almost sour, flavor. It’s soooo good. Mos def an acquired taste though. But once you break on through, you’re a fan forever. Okay but back to the crazy fact that this joint actually had this type of sushi as an option!! I’ve really never, ever ever seen that before. And it’s like, DUH…why haven’t places done this??! Umeboshi is practically a staple to Japanese food. They make plum wines with real umeboshis in the bottles for crissakes.
Vegan birfday dinner // The Green Temple
Oh, so I forgot to post a bunch of pictures from my vegan birfday dinner. Get ready to salivate hard core! Unless you’re my parents…who unfortunately have not yet developed their vegan taste buds/palates. And when I say unfortunate, I mean it’s unfortunate for them! According to the parental unit, the meal was deemed, “an acquired taste.” Wilson and I, as seasoned vegan eaters, for the record, and in defense of this wonderful little restaurant, 100% hands down do not agree with them. The Green Temple in Redondo Beach is completely divine!
And we’re not the only ones who think so. Peep the reviews! Anywho, everything was so fresh and QUALITY. Pictured above is the vegan quesadilla that Wilson ordered. It was filled with fresh avocados, tomatoes, lettuce and soy cheese, and the salsa was handmade. YUUMMM. Ya’ll know how I feel about vegan quesadillas! Oh and next to the plate is the “Dragon shot” that I ordered. Apparently it’s made from a blend of various Chinese herbs that are supposed to promote an overall sense of well being. Chchcheck it!
A mighty tall list of things to open eh? I did notice that I felt a little more pleasant afterwards though…and I do realize it could have been do to the placebo effect, but hey, whatevazzz. I was a happy camper. Here’s my pops before he ate [er..rather, did not eat] his delicious meal:
Vegan Cupcake recipe
Heyyyyy there everybody! How’s it goin? I feel like I haven’t posted for awhile so now I feel…pensive. Well, not really. Guess what?!! My friend Monica just gave me the cooolest gift:
Vegan With A Vengeance!! Oh yeah baby. Time for me to put the apron and chef’s hat on ya’ll. Woooooo!!! Is that not awesome or what?? I’m pretty excited to get my cook on. This book looks pretty amazing too. So many freakin’ recipes! From brunches, muffins, snacks, and entrees, to of course, desserts…this vegan cook book’s got it covered. So actually, all the recipes are based off of Isa Chandra Moskowitz, who also happens to be the cohost of The Post Punk Kitchen. Naiiiice. You know where most of the recipes will be coming from from here on out!
Anyway, at the request of a dear reader, I will post one of the fabulous vegan cupcake recipes that happens to be in this here bible shown above. Today we’re talking about Fauxstess Cupcakes. In the words of Moskowitz, “if I could only eat one [vegan] cupcake for the rest of my life, well, first I would wonder what I did to deserve such punishment, and then I would choose these. And I think I know someone that would agree with me — the entire country of America.”
Lark vegan cupcakes :: Silverlake
As usual, I’ve been having mad sweet tooth cravings. Unfortunately I think this is much influenced by Wilson. Ahhh well what can you do? Now I’m of the thought that sweets make life much more pleasant…and this is somewhat adopted from a quote by Nietzsche, that “life without [dessert] would be a mistake.” But vegans need some vegan sweet tooth loving though! So today I’ll be blogging about a wonderful cupcake shop in Silverlake called Lark.
Lark is actually not a completely vegan cupcake shop; in fact, they actually supposedly only have a couple of vegan flavors. But hell, that’s already way more than a bunch of other cake places! I found out about this beautiful gem from none other than [and not surprisingly] by my love,Wilson. How ecstatic was I though?! It was a great effin’ surprise.
Scoops :: Vegan ice cream haven!
The other day, my friend Remi and I made a trip down to Scoops in the ambiguous part of town…Melrose + Heliotrope, a.k.a “Silverlake adjacent.” That place is like an oasis of vegan-friendly, cute, youngish, hip[ster?]-friendly shops, restaurants and stores in the midst of run down, shady looking stretches of city blocks. It’s actually really fantastic. It’s right where PURE LUCK is located! In fact, Scoops is right across the street from Pure Luck. Talk about convenience! AND also, that’s just what most people do! A super fresh vegan meal at PL, then to Scoops for something sweet for all you vegans with sweet tooths!
Scoops is a adorable and quaint family-owned ice cream shop. It just so happens to be one of the few ice cream parlors on the Eastside of LA that has vegan-friendly flavors! Needless to say, I think most vegans on this side of town think Scoops is an oasis of sorts as well. The owner, Tai Kim, a.k.a “The Emperor of Ice Cream,” allegedly wakes up early every morning just to make the freshest, creamiest and most exotic ice cream flavors in LA. I don’t know if that’s just word on tha streetz or what, but I’ll tell you what, SCOOPS’ [vegan] ice cream is off tha chain!!! Scoops really has all the local customers/fans/business on lock because of the incredible quality of the ice cream.
It’s such a nice treat to be able to go out and get ice cream whenever the mood strikes, instead of buying cartons at a time. Also, like I said before, the flavors are all so unique!! The day Remi and I went, we got a super satin-y Dark Chocolate and hazelnut vegan ice cream. But lots of times they have flavors like Balsamic Vinegar and Strawberry, Ginger and Black Sesame, Cinnamon Pumpkin…and these are just his vegan flavors!! He has tons of sorbets like Jackfruit and lychee, Mango, etc. And I hear his non-vegan flavors are mind-blowing as well!
Coconuts!
Does that look nuts or what?! Pardon the pun. So the other day Wilson’s pops gave me a coconut, because he knew that I was totally in love with the coconut juice from that Vietnamese restaurant that I blogged about earlier. They’re fantastic!! Such an awesome vegan treat/snack. And really, this is coming from someone who used to hate all things coconut. Plus, a fresh coconut completely blows that canned stuff out of the water.
Anyway, coconuts look so weird without the brown hairy stuff you’re used to imagining! Let me just tell you though…anything with coconuts [or a whole coconut itself] is paradise!! [I’m so cheesy today]. In fact, not only does this delicacy taste totally amazing, but it’s also really nutritious! It has plenty of potassium and the juice is very mineral-rich.
Green Leaves Vegan…got it goin’ on!
So the other day, me and my boo went to Green Leaves Vegan in Los Feliz. Also, the weather has been so beautiful, we ate outside and it was really pleasant. Man, that place is so good! It has so many options to choose from, and a ton of dishes that are really hearty and that really hit the spot. I was craving me some faux-egg [tofu scrambled] breakfast burrito…and Green Leaves does the damn thang! I think it’s my favorite place in LA to get a vegan breakfast burrito.
Ooo..the kind that I ordered was a scra