Bianca Phillips's Blog, page 92
October 4, 2018
Stuff I Ate from the Crosstown Arts Cafe
As I mentioned a few weeks ago in this post, Crosstown Arts, the nonprofit arts org where I work, now has a plant-based cafe. And that means gourmet vegan food is available right outside my office door.
I've tried to limit myself to eating in the cafe just once a week because a) I have a budget for eating out and 2) I like to cook at home too! Since I also manage the cafe's Facebook page and photograph the daily specials as they're plated, this is a challenge. But so far, I'm making that self-inflicted limit work.
Here are a few meals I've eaten in our Crosstown Arts Cafe lately. We had our monthly Vegan Drinks meet-up there a few weeks ago, and I got the daily special of Vegan Chili Cheese Fries with seitan beef and cashew cheese. YUM!! Washed down with a Crosstown Brewing Co. Traffic IPA (brewed just a few doors down at our on-site brewery).
Here's the Curry Tofu Salad. This has grapes, chickpeas, and chunks of firm tofu in a curry mayo. I ordered a slice of baked-in-house rosemary bread to scoop this up with.
Last night, I met some friends for dinner and ordered the Seitan Bourgignon, which is sadly going off-menu. It's being replaced with something else, but man, it was so good! Mashed potatoes, seitan beef stew, and asparagus. Chef Raymond said he may make it again one day as a special though!
Here's a savory Cashew Ricotta & Chive Scone baked by our baker, Ali. She makes fresh vegan pastries, scones, croissants, and other sweet treats daily. I have an especially hard time resisting those.
The next pic isn't something from the cafe, per se. But this plate of deliciousness was prepared by our cafe staff for our last staff meeting. We served ourselves buffet-style from a spread of baked tofu, hoisin eggplant, sauteed green beans, spicy cauliflower, sauteed peppers and mushrooms, brown rice, sesame noodles, and sauteed bok choy.
We also have vegan cupcakes (from Muddy's Bake Shop) for every staff meeting (they're monthly) to celebrate staff birthdays. I grabbed a Mint Chocolate Grasshopper Cake to eat later in the afternoon with a cup of Maple Walnut Green Tea that I purchased from our cafe.
By the way, Crosstown Arts Cafe has a Facebook page now! Follow us!
I've tried to limit myself to eating in the cafe just once a week because a) I have a budget for eating out and 2) I like to cook at home too! Since I also manage the cafe's Facebook page and photograph the daily specials as they're plated, this is a challenge. But so far, I'm making that self-inflicted limit work.
Here are a few meals I've eaten in our Crosstown Arts Cafe lately. We had our monthly Vegan Drinks meet-up there a few weeks ago, and I got the daily special of Vegan Chili Cheese Fries with seitan beef and cashew cheese. YUM!! Washed down with a Crosstown Brewing Co. Traffic IPA (brewed just a few doors down at our on-site brewery).
Here's the Curry Tofu Salad. This has grapes, chickpeas, and chunks of firm tofu in a curry mayo. I ordered a slice of baked-in-house rosemary bread to scoop this up with.
Last night, I met some friends for dinner and ordered the Seitan Bourgignon, which is sadly going off-menu. It's being replaced with something else, but man, it was so good! Mashed potatoes, seitan beef stew, and asparagus. Chef Raymond said he may make it again one day as a special though!
Here's a savory Cashew Ricotta & Chive Scone baked by our baker, Ali. She makes fresh vegan pastries, scones, croissants, and other sweet treats daily. I have an especially hard time resisting those.
The next pic isn't something from the cafe, per se. But this plate of deliciousness was prepared by our cafe staff for our last staff meeting. We served ourselves buffet-style from a spread of baked tofu, hoisin eggplant, sauteed green beans, spicy cauliflower, sauteed peppers and mushrooms, brown rice, sesame noodles, and sauteed bok choy.
We also have vegan cupcakes (from Muddy's Bake Shop) for every staff meeting (they're monthly) to celebrate staff birthdays. I grabbed a Mint Chocolate Grasshopper Cake to eat later in the afternoon with a cup of Maple Walnut Green Tea that I purchased from our cafe.
By the way, Crosstown Arts Cafe has a Facebook page now! Follow us!
October 3, 2018
Bagels & Oats & Soup!
Since I'm about to start eating lots of No Meat Athlete Health Made Simple meals on a 4-week meal plan (starting week after next), I'm posting all my random meal pics from the past few weeks. Here's a yummy Dave's Whole Wheat Bagel with Miyoko's Creamery Cream Cheese & Hot Pepper Peach Jam. I usually eat my bagels toasted in two halves, but I was inspired by Sarah at Long Island Vegan to try this sandwich-style. It was fun to eat this way!
Another locally made Dave's Whole Wheat Bagel but this one is a Breakfast Sandwich with Tofu Egg and Earth Balance European Style Spread. For my tofu eggs, I fry tofu slabs and coat them in Vegg yolk (made with Vegg powder). Also, I've been loving the new Earth Balance European-style margarine!
One night recently, after having some dental work done, the only thing I could manage to eat was mushy food, like soup and guac. My parents were in town and we wanted takeout, so I got the Carrot-Coconut Soup with Baguette and an order of Chips & Guacamole from Next Door in Crosstown Concourse. The chips and bread were a little hard to eat with a numb mouth, but I did okay.
Another fun breakfast — Tofu Egg & Avocado Toast with lots of sriracha!
When I went to Nashville a couple weekends ago, I brought my breakfasts with me. Oatmeal cups! Here's one (poured into a bowl) with nut butter and berries. This was the Trader Joe's Strawberry Raspberry Oatmeal.
And finally, here's a big ole salad with cashew ranch (from the No Meat Athlete Cookbook) enjoyed on the balcony of Crosstown Concourse for lunch one day. I'm currently reading Let Your Mind Run by elite runner Deena Kastor.
Another locally made Dave's Whole Wheat Bagel but this one is a Breakfast Sandwich with Tofu Egg and Earth Balance European Style Spread. For my tofu eggs, I fry tofu slabs and coat them in Vegg yolk (made with Vegg powder). Also, I've been loving the new Earth Balance European-style margarine!
One night recently, after having some dental work done, the only thing I could manage to eat was mushy food, like soup and guac. My parents were in town and we wanted takeout, so I got the Carrot-Coconut Soup with Baguette and an order of Chips & Guacamole from Next Door in Crosstown Concourse. The chips and bread were a little hard to eat with a numb mouth, but I did okay.
Another fun breakfast — Tofu Egg & Avocado Toast with lots of sriracha!
When I went to Nashville a couple weekends ago, I brought my breakfasts with me. Oatmeal cups! Here's one (poured into a bowl) with nut butter and berries. This was the Trader Joe's Strawberry Raspberry Oatmeal.
And finally, here's a big ole salad with cashew ranch (from the No Meat Athlete Cookbook) enjoyed on the balcony of Crosstown Concourse for lunch one day. I'm currently reading Let Your Mind Run by elite runner Deena Kastor.
October 2, 2018
Some Things I Ate Today, Some Things I Didn't
It's Day 2 of the Health Made Simple challenge from No Meat Athlete. It's an 8-week reset with a focus on small steps. And this first week, the only change in what we're eating is to our breakfasts. It's smoothies every week day and a heartier (but whole foods-based) breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.
This morning, I started with my pre-workout snack — an ABC (almond butter cocoa) Bar from Trader Joe's. I'm trying to eat all my sugary, not-as-whole foods-based snack bars before the real meal plan launches in two weeks. Then I went to Les Mills Body Pump at the YMCA in Crosstown Concourse.
After my workout, I had this Blueberry Peach Smoothie with blueberries, peaches, banana, spinach, and walnuts. For now, I'm following the recipes, so this doesn't have protein powder, but the program offers an "ask a nutritionist" feature, and I emailed them about how to handle these smoothies when they're enjoyed post-workout. I might be adding protein powder in the future! We'll see what they say!
My morning snack was Vegan Dream Cowgirl Jerky — a wheat gluten/soy-based jerky. Again, trying to eat up my processed stuff before the meal plan starts! And I knew I needed something high-protein to satisfy me through mid-morning yoga class at the Y (it's in my office building so I like to take my lunch break and do yoga!).
Lunch was Veggie Gumbo with Brown Rice. My friend Susan made a batch of gumbo this weekend and left me a serving on my porch! So I cooked up some brown rice and brought that for lunch today. Wholesome and delicious!
Since the meal plan hasn't started yet, I'm really hoping to get my fill of stuff I don't want to eat on the plan. Like this Vegan Caramel Sticky Bun baked by our Crosstown Arts Cafe baker Ali. She made these this morning, and I COULD NOT RESIST. But I was a good girl and split it with a few co-workers.
Dinner was Pumpkin Pasta with homemade seitan sausage. But I'm saving that picture and recipe for another Explore Cuisine post next week! So I'll share that soon!
Okay, now for some stuff that I didn't eat today. Here's a Veggie Sausage & Roasted Veggie Bowl I LOVED last week. It has sauteed Beyond Sausage with air-fried broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower over quinoa with a hummus-nooch sauce (I just mixed hummus and nooch together and drizzled!).
On Saturday, before heading to Mid-South Pride on Beale Street, I scarfed down some Field Roast Mini Corn Dogs. Not a proper lunch, but I pretty much grazed all day Saturday. Made a maple-Dijon for dipping.
And finally, I'll leave you with this thing of beauty. This past Sunday was Don & Kenzie's third Lulu's Baked pop-up brunch at Fuel. And this time, Don was serving Breakfast Torta with scrambled tofu, fermented tomatillo, oyster mushrooms, rancho gordo beans, and avo aioli. All on his handcrafted sourdough. AMAZING.
This morning, I started with my pre-workout snack — an ABC (almond butter cocoa) Bar from Trader Joe's. I'm trying to eat all my sugary, not-as-whole foods-based snack bars before the real meal plan launches in two weeks. Then I went to Les Mills Body Pump at the YMCA in Crosstown Concourse.
After my workout, I had this Blueberry Peach Smoothie with blueberries, peaches, banana, spinach, and walnuts. For now, I'm following the recipes, so this doesn't have protein powder, but the program offers an "ask a nutritionist" feature, and I emailed them about how to handle these smoothies when they're enjoyed post-workout. I might be adding protein powder in the future! We'll see what they say!
My morning snack was Vegan Dream Cowgirl Jerky — a wheat gluten/soy-based jerky. Again, trying to eat up my processed stuff before the meal plan starts! And I knew I needed something high-protein to satisfy me through mid-morning yoga class at the Y (it's in my office building so I like to take my lunch break and do yoga!).
Lunch was Veggie Gumbo with Brown Rice. My friend Susan made a batch of gumbo this weekend and left me a serving on my porch! So I cooked up some brown rice and brought that for lunch today. Wholesome and delicious!
Since the meal plan hasn't started yet, I'm really hoping to get my fill of stuff I don't want to eat on the plan. Like this Vegan Caramel Sticky Bun baked by our Crosstown Arts Cafe baker Ali. She made these this morning, and I COULD NOT RESIST. But I was a good girl and split it with a few co-workers.
Dinner was Pumpkin Pasta with homemade seitan sausage. But I'm saving that picture and recipe for another Explore Cuisine post next week! So I'll share that soon!
Okay, now for some stuff that I didn't eat today. Here's a Veggie Sausage & Roasted Veggie Bowl I LOVED last week. It has sauteed Beyond Sausage with air-fried broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower over quinoa with a hummus-nooch sauce (I just mixed hummus and nooch together and drizzled!).
On Saturday, before heading to Mid-South Pride on Beale Street, I scarfed down some Field Roast Mini Corn Dogs. Not a proper lunch, but I pretty much grazed all day Saturday. Made a maple-Dijon for dipping.
And finally, I'll leave you with this thing of beauty. This past Sunday was Don & Kenzie's third Lulu's Baked pop-up brunch at Fuel. And this time, Don was serving Breakfast Torta with scrambled tofu, fermented tomatillo, oyster mushrooms, rancho gordo beans, and avo aioli. All on his handcrafted sourdough. AMAZING.
October 1, 2018
Health Made Simple Challenge!
I've been feeling the need for a reset for awhile. After fracturing my foot (for the second time this year) in August, I had to take a break from running, which makes me sad. So to make me feel better, I just kept eating like I was training. I've been taking in the same amount of calories as I was in 50K training without nearly the same level of athletic output.
And that's left me feeling a little blah. Too much processed foods and sugar will do that after awhile. When No Meat Athlete (NMA) posted a new Health Made Simple 2.0 meal plan challenge last week, I was immediately interested! But it was a little cost-prohibitive for me, so I just decided that I'd have to skip it. And then, yesterday afternoon, I got the "last call" for Health Made Simple sign-up email from NMA, and I had FOMO so bad that I just bit the bullet and signed up! It's currently closed to new members, but I'd imagine they'll open it up again at some point.
The sign-on fee paid for FIVE meal plans and a customizable online meal planner that I can use forever. So in that sense, it was a pretty good deal. It also comes with access to a nutritionist during the challenge dates — Oct. 1-Thanksgiving — plus videos and tips and a private Facebook community.
Anyway, this is an 8-week challenge so expect lots of Health Made Simple posts between now and Thanksgiving! The first two weeks are ramp-ups to the full 4-week meal plan, and then there's a 2-week ramp-down to normal life. In the first week, we're only focusing on breakfasts, which are smoothies during the week and hearty, healthy breakfasts like tofu scramble and avo toast on the weekend.
But before my breakfast today, I had my pre-workout snack of two Fig Newman's before going on a walk outside (my walking boot is off but I can't run just yet, so walks have to do) and some ab work. No, Fig Newman's probably aren't on the Health Made Simple plan, but we're only switching up breakfasts this week, so I'll work on improving my pre-workout nutrition later in the month!
Today's breakfast on the Health Made Simple plan was a Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie with frozen strawberries, raspberries, banana, spinach, and walnuts. Very good! And I didn't even miss the protein powder.
Since we're only changing breakfasts this week, I get to eat whatever I want the rest of the day. So I'm deliberately not worrying about processed foods and sweets just yet. And good thing! Because when I got to work today, my co-worker Madelyn had made Vegan Chocolate-Dipped Orange Apricot Biscotti!
I had that with some coffee (very good!), but I was still hungry for my morning snack of Violife Smoked Provolone on Stoned Wheat Thins. This Violife cheese is SO GOOD. Definitely the best one on the market.
I'm trying to use up my processed stuff before the meal plan starts in two weeks, so my lunch was the rest of my Nasoya Tofu-Vegetable Dumplings stir-fried (without oil) with broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. Drizzled with Thai peanut coconut sauce and sriracha.
For dinner, I had plans to meet up with a couple of awesome ladies from Atlanta who are traveling the country and making a documentary on vegan restaurants. Sally and Sunshyne (fellow Libras!!) met me at Imagine Vegan Cafe, and we had such a blast talking about veganism and Imagine's awesome food.
We had such a blast, in fact, that I FORGOT to photograph my plate! That almost never happens, but every once in awhile, if I'm in some great conversation, I'll forget. But luckily, I've got photos of pretty much every dish from Imagine since I've sampled the whole menu many times. Here's an archive photo of the Grilled Chicken Salad with Ranch. It looked about the same tonight!
I wanted something a tad on the healthy side but still decadent, so Imagine's creamy ranch and grilled Gardein chicken hit the spot. And hey, at least I got some greens in. Since I'll be eating so well in a couple weeks, I'm really trying to sow my wild oats while I can.
My posts over the next two weeks may mention Health Made Simple a bit, but since I'm mostly eating normally aside from breakfasts (and next week, we work on snacks), I'll be posting my usual reviews and random meal round-ups. When the full meal plan starts, I'll probably be featuring what I ate each day.
And that's left me feeling a little blah. Too much processed foods and sugar will do that after awhile. When No Meat Athlete (NMA) posted a new Health Made Simple 2.0 meal plan challenge last week, I was immediately interested! But it was a little cost-prohibitive for me, so I just decided that I'd have to skip it. And then, yesterday afternoon, I got the "last call" for Health Made Simple sign-up email from NMA, and I had FOMO so bad that I just bit the bullet and signed up! It's currently closed to new members, but I'd imagine they'll open it up again at some point.
The sign-on fee paid for FIVE meal plans and a customizable online meal planner that I can use forever. So in that sense, it was a pretty good deal. It also comes with access to a nutritionist during the challenge dates — Oct. 1-Thanksgiving — plus videos and tips and a private Facebook community.
Anyway, this is an 8-week challenge so expect lots of Health Made Simple posts between now and Thanksgiving! The first two weeks are ramp-ups to the full 4-week meal plan, and then there's a 2-week ramp-down to normal life. In the first week, we're only focusing on breakfasts, which are smoothies during the week and hearty, healthy breakfasts like tofu scramble and avo toast on the weekend.
But before my breakfast today, I had my pre-workout snack of two Fig Newman's before going on a walk outside (my walking boot is off but I can't run just yet, so walks have to do) and some ab work. No, Fig Newman's probably aren't on the Health Made Simple plan, but we're only switching up breakfasts this week, so I'll work on improving my pre-workout nutrition later in the month!
Today's breakfast on the Health Made Simple plan was a Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie with frozen strawberries, raspberries, banana, spinach, and walnuts. Very good! And I didn't even miss the protein powder.
Since we're only changing breakfasts this week, I get to eat whatever I want the rest of the day. So I'm deliberately not worrying about processed foods and sweets just yet. And good thing! Because when I got to work today, my co-worker Madelyn had made Vegan Chocolate-Dipped Orange Apricot Biscotti!
I had that with some coffee (very good!), but I was still hungry for my morning snack of Violife Smoked Provolone on Stoned Wheat Thins. This Violife cheese is SO GOOD. Definitely the best one on the market.
I'm trying to use up my processed stuff before the meal plan starts in two weeks, so my lunch was the rest of my Nasoya Tofu-Vegetable Dumplings stir-fried (without oil) with broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. Drizzled with Thai peanut coconut sauce and sriracha.
For dinner, I had plans to meet up with a couple of awesome ladies from Atlanta who are traveling the country and making a documentary on vegan restaurants. Sally and Sunshyne (fellow Libras!!) met me at Imagine Vegan Cafe, and we had such a blast talking about veganism and Imagine's awesome food.
We had such a blast, in fact, that I FORGOT to photograph my plate! That almost never happens, but every once in awhile, if I'm in some great conversation, I'll forget. But luckily, I've got photos of pretty much every dish from Imagine since I've sampled the whole menu many times. Here's an archive photo of the Grilled Chicken Salad with Ranch. It looked about the same tonight!
I wanted something a tad on the healthy side but still decadent, so Imagine's creamy ranch and grilled Gardein chicken hit the spot. And hey, at least I got some greens in. Since I'll be eating so well in a couple weeks, I'm really trying to sow my wild oats while I can.
My posts over the next two weeks may mention Health Made Simple a bit, but since I'm mostly eating normally aside from breakfasts (and next week, we work on snacks), I'll be posting my usual reviews and random meal round-ups. When the full meal plan starts, I'll probably be featuring what I ate each day.
September 27, 2018
Vegan Dude Foods Potato Chips
I'm on the Vegan Essentials newsletter list, so every month, I get emails highlighting hot new vegan products that I'd previously never heard of (but suddenly can't live without). My dad also gets these emails since he's the best dad ever and often places just-because gift orders for vegan care packages for me!
A few weeks ago, Vegan Essentials showcased some new chips in their email by Vegan Dude Foods. They come in Cheddar & Sour Cream, Cheese Pizza, and Pyro Hot. Now I've LONG been saying somebody needed to come up with a vegan sour cream and cheddar chip. A few years ago, Earth Balance released their Sour Cream & Onion chips (filling a very large chip-sized hole in my heart). But cheddar and sour cream was still missing from my life.
Well no more! My awesome dad took a hint from me when I forwarded him the email newsletter with the note "man, those chips sound good!" A chip lover himself, my dad understood my longing and immediately placed an order for me. Isn't he the best?!
Turns out, those chips were GOOD. So good that I'd say they're the best chips I've ever had. Each chip is bursting with flavor, and they taste just like the classic junk food chips of childhood (not some healthy chip purporting to be junky — as so often happens with vegan chips).
The seasonings vary depending on the flavor, but all contain nooch. I'm pretty sure that's what makes them extra delicious. My fave was, of course, the Cheddar & Sour Cream flavor, but Cheese Pizza (it really did taste like cheese pizza!) was a close second. Pyro Hot were awesome too, but they were only mildly spicy (which is good because too many spicy chips make my nose run — not a good look when eating lunch at the office).
Vegan Dude Foods also makes Damn Good Ham and Premium Pepperoni vegan meat products. I haven't tried them yet, but I'd like to soon! You can find the chips online at Vegan Essentials or in-store at Food Fight, Rabbit Food, and Vegan Haven (if you're lucky enough to live in Portland, Austin, or Seattle!).
A few weeks ago, Vegan Essentials showcased some new chips in their email by Vegan Dude Foods. They come in Cheddar & Sour Cream, Cheese Pizza, and Pyro Hot. Now I've LONG been saying somebody needed to come up with a vegan sour cream and cheddar chip. A few years ago, Earth Balance released their Sour Cream & Onion chips (filling a very large chip-sized hole in my heart). But cheddar and sour cream was still missing from my life.
Well no more! My awesome dad took a hint from me when I forwarded him the email newsletter with the note "man, those chips sound good!" A chip lover himself, my dad understood my longing and immediately placed an order for me. Isn't he the best?!
Turns out, those chips were GOOD. So good that I'd say they're the best chips I've ever had. Each chip is bursting with flavor, and they taste just like the classic junk food chips of childhood (not some healthy chip purporting to be junky — as so often happens with vegan chips).
The seasonings vary depending on the flavor, but all contain nooch. I'm pretty sure that's what makes them extra delicious. My fave was, of course, the Cheddar & Sour Cream flavor, but Cheese Pizza (it really did taste like cheese pizza!) was a close second. Pyro Hot were awesome too, but they were only mildly spicy (which is good because too many spicy chips make my nose run — not a good look when eating lunch at the office).
Vegan Dude Foods also makes Damn Good Ham and Premium Pepperoni vegan meat products. I haven't tried them yet, but I'd like to soon! You can find the chips online at Vegan Essentials or in-store at Food Fight, Rabbit Food, and Vegan Haven (if you're lucky enough to live in Portland, Austin, or Seattle!).
September 26, 2018
Vegan Meal at Kayne Prime
On Saturday night, Paul and I had a date night in Nashville at a — gasp! — steakhouse. Now I know what you're thinking. But Paul still eats meat, and he ran a half-marathon that morning so it was his day to celebrate. Plus, he had a gift card to pay for the meal.
The place was Kayne Prime, which happens to be one of the most acclaimed steakhouses in Nashville, and it's is SUPER fancy. Like so fancy that we felt a little out of place, even though we were all dressed up.
Paul won the gift card at work, and he had a selection of several steakhouses to choose from. But he picked Kayne Prime specifically because he'd read they had vegan options for me. After perusing their menu, I gave my approval, and he made a reservation.
We arrived a little too early though, so we had a beers at the bar while we waited. After we were seated, I opted for a cocktail since the place made me feel fancy. I find most cocktails are too sweet for me, so I typically opt for beer or wine. But when in a fancy restaurant ...
I ordered a Ginger Spice Cocktail with Ketel One Vodka, St-Germaine, grapefruit, lemon, and ginger because it didn't sound too sweet. But when it arrived, it was pretty darn sweet. Tasty but no way I could drink more than one. Probably should have gone with a dirty martini. Oh well.
We ordered some Kennebec Fries with truffle oil to share as an app. OMG. This was seriously my favorite part of the meal. These just look like ordinary fries, but they were saturated with truffle oil. I find truffle fries are usually lacking in truffle flavor (probably because it's pricy and people tend to use it sparingly). But I love that truffle flavor, and I like it to be strong. We devoured every last one of these.
Somehow, I still had a little room for my entree — Cauliflower Steak!!
Yes, even a vegan can get a steak at a steakhouse! This grilled cauliflower steak was slightly caramelized and filled with flavor. I'm not sure what all the sauces were, but I asked about the white one to make sure it was vegan. They said it was almond cream. I'm guessing the others were cilantro chutney, curry sauce, and maybe a beet ketchup? Regardless, they all tasted delicious.
We had a great experience at Kayne Prime, and I'm so grateful for amazing vegan options!
The place was Kayne Prime, which happens to be one of the most acclaimed steakhouses in Nashville, and it's is SUPER fancy. Like so fancy that we felt a little out of place, even though we were all dressed up.
Paul won the gift card at work, and he had a selection of several steakhouses to choose from. But he picked Kayne Prime specifically because he'd read they had vegan options for me. After perusing their menu, I gave my approval, and he made a reservation.
We arrived a little too early though, so we had a beers at the bar while we waited. After we were seated, I opted for a cocktail since the place made me feel fancy. I find most cocktails are too sweet for me, so I typically opt for beer or wine. But when in a fancy restaurant ...
I ordered a Ginger Spice Cocktail with Ketel One Vodka, St-Germaine, grapefruit, lemon, and ginger because it didn't sound too sweet. But when it arrived, it was pretty darn sweet. Tasty but no way I could drink more than one. Probably should have gone with a dirty martini. Oh well.
We ordered some Kennebec Fries with truffle oil to share as an app. OMG. This was seriously my favorite part of the meal. These just look like ordinary fries, but they were saturated with truffle oil. I find truffle fries are usually lacking in truffle flavor (probably because it's pricy and people tend to use it sparingly). But I love that truffle flavor, and I like it to be strong. We devoured every last one of these.
Somehow, I still had a little room for my entree — Cauliflower Steak!!
Yes, even a vegan can get a steak at a steakhouse! This grilled cauliflower steak was slightly caramelized and filled with flavor. I'm not sure what all the sauces were, but I asked about the white one to make sure it was vegan. They said it was almond cream. I'm guessing the others were cilantro chutney, curry sauce, and maybe a beet ketchup? Regardless, they all tasted delicious.
We had a great experience at Kayne Prime, and I'm so grateful for amazing vegan options!
September 25, 2018
Vegan Eats in Nashville!
I spent the weekend in Nashville, where my partner Paul works (and lives part-time). He was running the Hendersonville Half Marathon (his first half!), so I wanted to be there to support him. Also, my friend Cassi needed a ride to Nashville because she was performing in a burlesque show there. She hitched a ride over with me on Friday afternoon.
While we were on the road, Cassi mentioned that she'd like to try White Castle's new Impossible Slider. We don't have White Castle in Memphis (it's a Krystal town), but Nashville has a few. So we looked up the one closest to where she was staying, and I put it in my GPS. This was our first stop off the interstate! Bianca and Cassi go to White Castle!!!
I ordered a couple sliders (no cheese) to save for lunch the next day! I heated these up in a skillet at Paul's parents' house and enjoyed with a salad from the Kroger salad bar. Loved them so much that we stopped back at White Castle on the way out of town Monday morning for brunch. Memphis REALLY needs a White Castle. How cool to get a vegan burger at a fast food joint!
After I dropped Cassi off in East Nashville, I headed to Hendersonville to meet up with Paul. Then we grabbed his friend Collin and headed to The Southern V for dinner. This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville! Vegan soul food, yes please. I got the Chicken Fried Chick'n with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans. Mmmmmm.
The next morning, Paul ran his half (and KILLED IT!). So proud of him.
My lunch was those leftover White Castle sliders, enjoyed while Paul got cleaned up from his run. Then we headed downtown to check into our hotel. We had dinner reservations for a fancy place that I'll dedicate a whole post to tomorrow night. So check back for that!
Let's skip ahead to Sunday. We went to the all-vegan Graze for brunch — our usual spot. They have $5 Bloody Marys on Sundays, so we'll never miss that when I'm in town.
I ordered the Loaded Potatoes — roasted taters with cashew cheese, sour cream, seitan chorizo (locally made from The BE-Hive in Nashville), and guacamole. These were super good and so filling.
I was stuffed from brunch, but there was no way I was leaving East Nashville without a vegan doughnut from Five Daughters Bakery (conveniently located around the corner from Graze). I opted for a Maple Glazed Doughnut. Yeasted perfection. Tasted like pancakes.
Dinner on Sunday was Paul's leftovers from The Southern V. He was being a picky eater Friday night since he had the pre-race jitters, so he didn't finish his chicken fried chick'n. I gladly finished it off later in the weekend!
I'll be back tomorrow with a recap of Saturday's date night dinner.
While we were on the road, Cassi mentioned that she'd like to try White Castle's new Impossible Slider. We don't have White Castle in Memphis (it's a Krystal town), but Nashville has a few. So we looked up the one closest to where she was staying, and I put it in my GPS. This was our first stop off the interstate! Bianca and Cassi go to White Castle!!!
I ordered a couple sliders (no cheese) to save for lunch the next day! I heated these up in a skillet at Paul's parents' house and enjoyed with a salad from the Kroger salad bar. Loved them so much that we stopped back at White Castle on the way out of town Monday morning for brunch. Memphis REALLY needs a White Castle. How cool to get a vegan burger at a fast food joint!
After I dropped Cassi off in East Nashville, I headed to Hendersonville to meet up with Paul. Then we grabbed his friend Collin and headed to The Southern V for dinner. This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville! Vegan soul food, yes please. I got the Chicken Fried Chick'n with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans. Mmmmmm.
The next morning, Paul ran his half (and KILLED IT!). So proud of him.
My lunch was those leftover White Castle sliders, enjoyed while Paul got cleaned up from his run. Then we headed downtown to check into our hotel. We had dinner reservations for a fancy place that I'll dedicate a whole post to tomorrow night. So check back for that!
Let's skip ahead to Sunday. We went to the all-vegan Graze for brunch — our usual spot. They have $5 Bloody Marys on Sundays, so we'll never miss that when I'm in town.
I ordered the Loaded Potatoes — roasted taters with cashew cheese, sour cream, seitan chorizo (locally made from The BE-Hive in Nashville), and guacamole. These were super good and so filling.
I was stuffed from brunch, but there was no way I was leaving East Nashville without a vegan doughnut from Five Daughters Bakery (conveniently located around the corner from Graze). I opted for a Maple Glazed Doughnut. Yeasted perfection. Tasted like pancakes.
Dinner on Sunday was Paul's leftovers from The Southern V. He was being a picky eater Friday night since he had the pre-race jitters, so he didn't finish his chicken fried chick'n. I gladly finished it off later in the weekend!
I'll be back tomorrow with a recap of Saturday's date night dinner.
September 24, 2018
Explore Cuisine: Pasta Primavera Marinara
Quick note: This is a sponsored post, thanks to my friends at Explore Cuisine — makers of organic protein-packed pastas made from beans, lentils, rice and peas. I don’t do a lot of sponsored posts, generally opting instead for more objective review posts where I can say whatever I want. But when I do agree to work with a company on a sponsored post, you can trust that it’s a company I REALLY believe and support. #UseYourNoodle
Time is precious, especially these days when I’m running from work to yoga and then trying to scarf down dinner and be in bed by 9:30 pm. Since I’m still recovering from a stress fracture in my left foot, I’ve traded in my morning runs for spinning classes at the gym. And they all start at 5:30 am! So I’m getting up at 4:30 these days.
All that is to say, I like a quick meal. And sure, I could just heat up a frozen veggie burger and throw some potatoes in the air fryer and have dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Sometimes, that’s exactly what I do. But lately, I’ve been trying to focus on getting more veggies into my diet, so a quick meal that’s also filled with nutrition is a bonus.
So that’s the focus with today’s Explore Cuisine recipe post. I used their Edamame Spaghetti to create a fast and easy Pasta Primavera Marinara. And I didn’t even have to include any traditional protein source, like beans or tempeh, because the protein is IN THE PASTA! Explore Cuisine’s Edamame Spaghetti is packed with 24 grams of protein per serving. And there’s just one ingredient: edamame. This is definitely the smarter way to pasta!
As for texture, the pasta is just a little softer than a whole wheat noodle, but it still has a firm al dente bite. And I actually prefer its texture over traditional pastas. Topped with sauteed veggies and jarred marinara, this made a perfect, simple dinner.
One quick tip: I pre-chopped my veggies the night before and placed them in the fridge. That meant my dinner came together in minutes! You can also save time by purchasing a frozen Italian vegetable mix. I’d recommend using about 4-5 cups of frozen, mixed veggies for this meal if you’re going that route.
Without further ado, here’s the recipe!
Pasta Primavera Marinara Yields 3-4 servings
1 box Explore Cuisine Edamame Spaghetti1/2 red onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, minced1 cup baby carrots, cut in half horizontally1 red bell pepper, chopped1 zucchini, sliced and quartered1 cup broccoli florets1 tsp. dried oregano1 tsp. dried basil1 tsp. salt1 tsp. garlic powder1 cup cherry tomatoes2 cups jarred marinara (any flavor)Vegan parmesan, to taste (optional)
Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Set aside.
Simmer the marinara in a saucepan, until heated through, while the veggies cook (instructions follow).
Add the onion, garlic, and carrot to a large skillet. Add just enough water to coat the pan. Heat on medium heat for 5 minutes or until onion becomes tender. Add a few splashes of water if it begins to dry up.
Add the remaining veggies (except tomatoes), herbs, and spices. Saute for 10 more minutes or until all veggies are tender. Add the tomatoes, and saute another 3 minutes or until they begin to blister. You may need to check periodically for water and add more as needed. In the end, the veggies should be soft and the water absorbed. You don’t need much water, just a few tablespoons to keep the pan wet.
Once the veggies are done, create your pasta bowl by layering noodles, the desired amount of marinara, and as many sauteed veggies as you want. Top with vegan parm if desired.
Time is precious, especially these days when I’m running from work to yoga and then trying to scarf down dinner and be in bed by 9:30 pm. Since I’m still recovering from a stress fracture in my left foot, I’ve traded in my morning runs for spinning classes at the gym. And they all start at 5:30 am! So I’m getting up at 4:30 these days.
All that is to say, I like a quick meal. And sure, I could just heat up a frozen veggie burger and throw some potatoes in the air fryer and have dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Sometimes, that’s exactly what I do. But lately, I’ve been trying to focus on getting more veggies into my diet, so a quick meal that’s also filled with nutrition is a bonus.
So that’s the focus with today’s Explore Cuisine recipe post. I used their Edamame Spaghetti to create a fast and easy Pasta Primavera Marinara. And I didn’t even have to include any traditional protein source, like beans or tempeh, because the protein is IN THE PASTA! Explore Cuisine’s Edamame Spaghetti is packed with 24 grams of protein per serving. And there’s just one ingredient: edamame. This is definitely the smarter way to pasta!
As for texture, the pasta is just a little softer than a whole wheat noodle, but it still has a firm al dente bite. And I actually prefer its texture over traditional pastas. Topped with sauteed veggies and jarred marinara, this made a perfect, simple dinner.
One quick tip: I pre-chopped my veggies the night before and placed them in the fridge. That meant my dinner came together in minutes! You can also save time by purchasing a frozen Italian vegetable mix. I’d recommend using about 4-5 cups of frozen, mixed veggies for this meal if you’re going that route.
Without further ado, here’s the recipe!
Pasta Primavera Marinara Yields 3-4 servings
1 box Explore Cuisine Edamame Spaghetti1/2 red onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, minced1 cup baby carrots, cut in half horizontally1 red bell pepper, chopped1 zucchini, sliced and quartered1 cup broccoli florets1 tsp. dried oregano1 tsp. dried basil1 tsp. salt1 tsp. garlic powder1 cup cherry tomatoes2 cups jarred marinara (any flavor)Vegan parmesan, to taste (optional)
Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Set aside.
Simmer the marinara in a saucepan, until heated through, while the veggies cook (instructions follow).
Add the onion, garlic, and carrot to a large skillet. Add just enough water to coat the pan. Heat on medium heat for 5 minutes or until onion becomes tender. Add a few splashes of water if it begins to dry up.
Add the remaining veggies (except tomatoes), herbs, and spices. Saute for 10 more minutes or until all veggies are tender. Add the tomatoes, and saute another 3 minutes or until they begin to blister. You may need to check periodically for water and add more as needed. In the end, the veggies should be soft and the water absorbed. You don’t need much water, just a few tablespoons to keep the pan wet.
Once the veggies are done, create your pasta bowl by layering noodles, the desired amount of marinara, and as many sauteed veggies as you want. Top with vegan parm if desired.
September 20, 2018
Nasoya Vegan Dumplings
Nasoysa — makers of my favorite tofu! — sent me a few free packages of their vegan dumplings to review. Few things make me happier than tofu and veggies stuffed into tender dumpling dough, so I was more than happy to oblige.
There are two varieties — Tofu Vegetable Dumplings and Thai Basil Dumplings. Each package contains about two and half servings (one serving is five dumplings).
If you've ever made fresh dumplings, you know what a pain it is to stuff and fold and cinch the ends OVER and OVER and OVER. I'd much rather have that process done for me, so Nasoya makes it easy. These are ready to fry or boil — your preference.
I tried these several ways. My favorite method, used on these Thai Basil Dumplings, was frying, of course. I used non-stick cooking spray instead of oil though because I didn't want them to be super-fatty. Since I've cut back on oil, I've found I can be pretty sensitive to too much.
These soft pillows are stuffed with tofu, peas, carrots, onion, bell pepper, and Thai basil. I'm not a huge fan of large amounts of Thai basil, but there's just a little in these so it's not at all overpowering. I served these with a bottled peanut-coconut satay sauce, and it was just perfect.
I boiled the Tofu Vegetable Dumplings, which are stuffed with tofu, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, onion, and carrot. The taste is pretty similar in both, but the mushrooms give this a little different boost of flavor. I served these with a teriyaki soy dipping sauce made with soy, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, water, and garlic powder. I had a green bean and tofu stir-fry on the side for a well-rounded, delicious meal.
One day, when I had to bring my lunch to work, I tried microwaving these and the texture, while a little chewier, wasn't that bad! I wouldn't recommend preparing them that way, but in a pinch, it works.
You definitely need these Nasoya dumplings in your life.
There are two varieties — Tofu Vegetable Dumplings and Thai Basil Dumplings. Each package contains about two and half servings (one serving is five dumplings).
If you've ever made fresh dumplings, you know what a pain it is to stuff and fold and cinch the ends OVER and OVER and OVER. I'd much rather have that process done for me, so Nasoya makes it easy. These are ready to fry or boil — your preference.
I tried these several ways. My favorite method, used on these Thai Basil Dumplings, was frying, of course. I used non-stick cooking spray instead of oil though because I didn't want them to be super-fatty. Since I've cut back on oil, I've found I can be pretty sensitive to too much.
These soft pillows are stuffed with tofu, peas, carrots, onion, bell pepper, and Thai basil. I'm not a huge fan of large amounts of Thai basil, but there's just a little in these so it's not at all overpowering. I served these with a bottled peanut-coconut satay sauce, and it was just perfect.
I boiled the Tofu Vegetable Dumplings, which are stuffed with tofu, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, onion, and carrot. The taste is pretty similar in both, but the mushrooms give this a little different boost of flavor. I served these with a teriyaki soy dipping sauce made with soy, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, water, and garlic powder. I had a green bean and tofu stir-fry on the side for a well-rounded, delicious meal.
One day, when I had to bring my lunch to work, I tried microwaving these and the texture, while a little chewier, wasn't that bad! I wouldn't recommend preparing them that way, but in a pinch, it works.
You definitely need these Nasoya dumplings in your life.
September 19, 2018
My First Trader Joe's Haul
Okay, that title is deceptive. I've been to Trader Joe's plenty of times and have had many a haul. But always from a Trader Joe's in another city. Now, after YEARS of stops and starts, our Trader Joe's store in Memphis is FINALLY OPEN. It's an autumn miracle!
Technically, Trader Joe's is located in Germantown, Tennessee, which is a small suburban town on the outskirts of Memphis. But it's close enough that Memphis is claiming it. Now, I can get to TJ's in 30 minutes versus the 3.5 hours that it took to drive to the store in Nashville.
Cassi and I went on opening night — last Friday, September 14 — and it was INSANE. Parking was a challenge, and maneuvering through the crowded store was even more challenging. People and carts were bumping into each other. Items were selling out. Registers were breaking down. It was a madhouse, but it was so worth the hassle.
I plan to start posting my TJ's hauls (inspired by my favorite posts from Long Island Vegan). Unfortunately, I didn't think of that until I'd already eaten a few things — TJ's Baked Tofu and TJ's Firm Tofu. So those are missing from my pics. But here is everything else — Daily Bread Sprouted Whole Grain Bread, Organic Charles Shaw Pinot Noir (!!!! $5 buck chuck!!!!!!), Soy Creamer, Sriracha, Soy Sauce, ABC (almond butter cocoa) Bars, Tempeh, and Mouth Wash.
Some of this was stuff I needed anyway (like the tempeh and mouth wash), and other products are among my TJ's faves — the wine and sriracha. The ABC Bars are new this month, and they're awesome. Even better than Clif Nut Butter-Filled Bars!
I did not get my Vitamix at TJ's, but it made a cameo in the above pic. :-)
I also got this stuff — Strawberry Raspberry Oats, Tart Cherry Chia & Pumpkin Seed Oats, Coconut Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, and Apple Cider hand soap.
I'm traveling this weekend, so the oat cups and coffee are going with me. And that hand soap smells like fall!
I am soooooo excited to have TJ's in the area! What are your fave TJ's products? I need some ideas for what to buy next time!
Technically, Trader Joe's is located in Germantown, Tennessee, which is a small suburban town on the outskirts of Memphis. But it's close enough that Memphis is claiming it. Now, I can get to TJ's in 30 minutes versus the 3.5 hours that it took to drive to the store in Nashville.
Cassi and I went on opening night — last Friday, September 14 — and it was INSANE. Parking was a challenge, and maneuvering through the crowded store was even more challenging. People and carts were bumping into each other. Items were selling out. Registers were breaking down. It was a madhouse, but it was so worth the hassle.
I plan to start posting my TJ's hauls (inspired by my favorite posts from Long Island Vegan). Unfortunately, I didn't think of that until I'd already eaten a few things — TJ's Baked Tofu and TJ's Firm Tofu. So those are missing from my pics. But here is everything else — Daily Bread Sprouted Whole Grain Bread, Organic Charles Shaw Pinot Noir (!!!! $5 buck chuck!!!!!!), Soy Creamer, Sriracha, Soy Sauce, ABC (almond butter cocoa) Bars, Tempeh, and Mouth Wash.
Some of this was stuff I needed anyway (like the tempeh and mouth wash), and other products are among my TJ's faves — the wine and sriracha. The ABC Bars are new this month, and they're awesome. Even better than Clif Nut Butter-Filled Bars!
I did not get my Vitamix at TJ's, but it made a cameo in the above pic. :-)
I also got this stuff — Strawberry Raspberry Oats, Tart Cherry Chia & Pumpkin Seed Oats, Coconut Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, and Apple Cider hand soap.
I'm traveling this weekend, so the oat cups and coffee are going with me. And that hand soap smells like fall!
I am soooooo excited to have TJ's in the area! What are your fave TJ's products? I need some ideas for what to buy next time!
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