The Teese Challenge: Dang Quesadilla with Nacho Sauce March 18, 2010
Posted by jess sconed in Tea & Spice Exchange, Teese Challenge, Tina Marjorino, fake cheese, mexican, teese, vegan quesadilla.3 comments
Oh, it’s way past hip to quote from Napoleon Dynamite?
It’s not even far gone enough to be hip again?
Well, let’s continue enjoying vegan quesadillas, forget that reference, and commence talking about how much we love Tina Marjorino as Mac.
This is my first entry into the grand Teese Challenge. It had to be a soft, simple one because I’ve recently been attacked by new allergies and the worst sore throat of my life. My ultimate goal is for individual chick’n style seitan parm sticks with teese mozzarella - modeled after this post on my old site.
Whole Wheat Quesdilla with Teese Nacho Sauce, Black Bean & Roasted Red Pepper Spread, and Avocado.
I was pretty fascinated by the mildly spiced, calmly orange, Nacho Sauce. It was my first time using it. It comes out of its tube like squishy cheese curds and did that crazy teese-liquid-melt-congealing into the quesadilla. That is so cool! I know that may sound gross, but I’m a fan. Dang.
The Black Bean spread is based on this hummus recipe from Cooking Light. I swapped a whole roasted red pepper, dash of hot smoked paprika, and a couple tablespoons of water for the mere tablespoon for tahini, because I could. I bought the paprika from the new Spice & Tea Exchange location in downtown Portland – I’m mesmerized by this type of shopping on my lunch hour!
Teese ranks high with my favorite vegan cheeses. I was stoked to participate (and receive complimentary teese!) for this project! Can I make Nacho Libre nachos next?
Three Days in Seattle, Vegan Style March 14, 2010
Posted by jess sconed in Flowers in Seattle, Full Tilt, GLC, Herkimer, In the Bowl, Wayward Cafe, buffet, coconut, coffee, coffeeshops, farmer's market, ice cream, kale, seattle, soylatte, travel.12 comments
I had a string of poor luck with meal choices on my East Coast vacation, and I must say that 3 days of vegan meals in Seattle kinda kicked the butt of my week of vegan consumption in Boston and NYC. With some exceptions, of course. I really do believe that food tastes better in the Pacific Northwest.
For one thing, the coffee is fantastic.
Soy Latte from Herkimer, University District
I spent a lot of time working in a couple coffeeshops. Unlike Portland, I was stunned to easily find a seat at shops. This simply means Portland needs more coffeeshops, gosh.
Soy Latte from Trabant, University District (49th Parallel beans). Just….right.
Vanilla Vegan Chai from Trabant
If I had more time…I would have hit the Korean Tofu House for dinner. One day! They open at 7pm, and I simply didn’t have enough um, dinner openings.
Sorry Mike, Sorry Vijjy! I just peered, like a tofu stalker, during the day…
Oh, and look, another Tofu House! This one was pretty much beef with tofu, beef with tofu, beef with tofu on the menu, though. Tofu stalker will investigate further…
Angel Curry with Soft Tofu from In the Bowl Vegetarian Noodle Bistro. My first time there, my first meal of the trip, my favorite meal of the trip! Review coming to Stumptown Vegans.
Wayward Vegan Cafe. This popular cafe recently moved to a new location on University Street in Seattle’s slowly expanding V-District, and overall, bestowed the second of the top two meals of my visit. Thank you, vegan omelet!
Sham and Cheddar Vegan Omelet with roasted potatoes – hello, vegan diner food.
Giant side of Garlic Steamed Greens with a little visit from the nutritional yeast shaker and hot sauce.
The line to order. It was almost out the door at times!
More to come.
Flowers Restaurant for the Vegan Lunch Buffet
My dear friend Michelle has been recommended Flowers several times over the past three years, and I note it on my sporadic northern trips. I finally put aside the call of vegan chinese (I had my full on the East Coast) and hit up Flowers last week. Finally!
My plate from the Flowers buffet.
My favorite parts were the chilled roasted broccoli and creamy, tahini-like pasta salad. Personal preference – I wish some of the cold items were hot. I really dug the large variety and wish I had more room to try more! There were numerous stewed dishes, roasted vegetables, baba ganouj, fries, and more, that I would like to try another time. With my friend Michelle, ideally!
The large buffet lays beyond these windows. Every now and then I’m too shy to take all the photos I’d like.
Stumbling upon the University Farmers Market = heck, yeah!
Intriguing fruit vinegars and sauces and whatnot.
Just builds the anticipation for the Portland Farmers Market opening next weekend!
It wasn’t me.
Spotted downtown: kale
New experience: Vegan coconut based ice cream at Full Tilt Ice Cream Parlor, below the popular Cedars Restaurant.
Okay, there was a large piece of hair on top of the flavor I was leaning towards, Toasted Coconut, so I went with the enjoyably rich Almond Joy with bits of chocolate and almond. It happens.
My only disappointment was on a second visit to Georgetown Liquor Co. My first experience was superb. This time, I still enjoyed my microbrew and Nintendo, but apparently if you don’t state vegan!!!!!!!! at this vegetarian restaurant, even when your sandwich isn’t listed with cheese, it comes with cheese, as does your side salad. As the Vegan Shiz would say, sad face. It’s been so long since this has happened to me! There is a note on the menu stating vegan cheese can be subbed for any vegetarian cheese, and a few items are marked NV, but this wasn’t one, nor did this list cheese. Now I know.
Where to next?
Sawyer’s Southern Spaghetti and Smokey Greens March 10, 2010
Posted by jess sconed in LOST, Sawyer, Southern, Trader Joe's, dinner, fake meat, pasta, seitan.6 comments
Southern Spaghetti with Seitan and Smokey Greens
paired with an Australian merlot
We’ve yet to see this side of James Ford, but I know it’s there. There is one dish in this LOST character’s romancing-and-swindling-the-ladies repertoire, and this is it.
Smokey greens for three reasons: the name, of course, the Southern tradition, and because Sawyer knows greens help you look that good.
There’s really not much traditionally Southern about the spaghetti sauce itself – I simply discovered after a quick google search that a lot of ‘Southern spaghetti’ recipes called for ground beef or chicken and extra heat. Let’s just pretend that Sawyer’s parents used to eat this in Alabama, before you know who came along.
I browned diced, homemade seitan in a bit of olive oil, added minced garlic, crushed red pepper, dashes of sea salt and pepper, and tomato basil marinara I had made previously. I let it simmer for a bit, and served it over whole wheat spaghetti.
The greens were the ‘greens mix’ from Trader Joe’s (collards, mustard greens, kale, etc.); sauteed with garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, agave, pepper and liquid smoke.
Also a wonderful accompaniment to a good book.
Last night’s episode touched my heart, for the record! If you’ve seen my previous LOST related posts, you may know that I adore that you know who.
No spoilers, please.
back to portlandia, once again March 9, 2010
Posted by jess sconed in Brooklyn, dim sum, falafel, isa's new book, jenny, nyc, soup, test kitchen, travel.6 comments
Flowers Restaurant, Seattle
once again, I’m back after a bit out of town. this time, it was for a few days in Seattle. while I was there, I decided my next realistic dream job involves frequent travel and keeping Portland as my home base. I certainly can’t afford to travel recreationally as much as I’d like, and I’m fortunate that my current job lets me travel a bit. I’m getting the teeniest bit restless living here for 5+ years, but it’s Portland! It’s amazing! Quality of Life! etc. etc. etc.
that being said, I have three travels’ worth of photos and thoughts to unload soon via flickr, this site and stumptown vegans! I’m hoping to get back to normal life and do this sooner than later. rationally speaking, naming my flickr photos should not overwhelm me!
heading into overwhelmingly awesome plans, Portland’s Inaugural Vegan Iron Chef is officially happening on Sunday, June 6th, 2010 in the early evening.
It’s being presented by Try Vegan PDX, and I am beyond ecstatic about it. The official contestant invites went out yesterday! So many wonderful local vegans are already involved!
Stay tuned for more by becoming a fan on facebook and watching the ‘lil twitter.
a few recent photos to get back into the swing of things…
Smokey Split Pea Soup, from Isa’s Test Kitchen
Soy Latte from K&F Coffeehouse in Portland
Dr. Cow Nut Cheese with Hemp Seeds from Lifethyme in NYC - my first time trying this, call me a fan! It’s sitting on top of a raw apple cranberry treat from Lifethyme, too.
My sister, Jen, agreeing to visit Vegetarian Dim Sum House in NYC, yet again. She’s a hip little flexitarian, and enjoys the Roasted Pork Buns and main dishes here.
Of course, something like this, which Millie and I really enjoyed, horrifies her.
Oasis Falafel, Brooklyn, NY. This was GREAT at midnight after a long night, but made me incredibly sick. fun times!
so much more to come.
