Alright, I don't actually have the kind of personality that would allow me to confidently order "The Usual" anywhere, even if it's a place I frequent weekly. But there are certain dishes that, despite my best efforts to diversify, exert a nearly unstoppable pull over me. In general, the restaurants on this list offer a wide selection of tempting choices, but I can't seem to stay away from these particular dishes. Seriously, I get them almost every time.
In no particular order:
1. Spicy African Peanut Soup, Austin Java Company
From the beginning of VegLove, I have sung the praises of Austin Java's Spicy African Peanut soup, and I continue to do so in real life at least once a month. No matter what I order, it must be accompanied by the Peanut Soup or else I leave unsatisfied.
2. Kashmiri Kofta Korma, The Clay Pit
It should be illegal for a meal to be this good. At best, I am certain the Kashmiri Kofta Korma makes Clay Pit's other dishes incredibly jealous.
3. Vegetarian Burrito Bol, Chipotle
If you know me at all, you should know that my devotion to Chipotle is eternal. And I always get the same thing - either because I am comforted by the predictability or because they put addictive substances in the guacamole.
4. Black Bean and Cheese Tamale Plate, Guero's Taco Bar
Tamales are among the foods that I love but are extremely difficult to find in vegetarian form. Guero's is one of the few places that offers vegetarian tamales - and they are delicious! They deliver the traditional cheesy, greasy Tex-Mex experience, minus the lard.
5. Avocado Smoothie with Pearls, Coco's Cafe
Okay, this isn't really a dish in the traditional sense, but it definitely fits the other criteria. After an initial period of adjustment, I grew to adore bubble tea - drinks with gummy tapioca balls at the bottom. Avocado bubble tea is particularly unusual and tasty. It's creamy and subtly sweet, but probably not ideal if you have a full stomach, because it's pretty filling.
6. Pad Thai, every Thai restaurant
I love Thai food, seriously, but somehow I end up ordering the most common, cliche Thai dish. And yet, I really don't mind. I love pad thai.
7. Eggplant with Fettuccine, Hyde Park Bar and Grill
This is a somewhat lighter, more inventive version of the classic eggplant parmesan. It includes breaded and fried eggplant patties topped with chipotle marinara, basil pesto, and thick shredded parmesan. My only qualm with this dish is the accompanying bed of almost completely unseasoned fettuccine. Once you run out of the eggplant's sauce, you're left with a useless pile of starch. But trust me, the eggplant compensates.
8. Kerbey Queso, Kerbey Lane
If you haven't deduced that I like the richest, unhealthiest food available to vegetarians, here's a clue: I love queso (or chili con queso to those of you outside of Texas). Kerbey's queso is among the best, whether plain or with guacamole and black beans.
9. The Shroom, Dry Creek (Houston)
I have described The Shroom sandwich in a previous post, so I won't bore you with the details again. The short version: portabellos, goat cheese, and basil mayo. Enough said.
10. Steam Bun, Veggie Heaven
In the past year or so, I managed to break free of Protein 2000's grip over me and have started ordering other main dishes off of Veggie Heaven's menu. However, I still have to get the steam bun as an appetizer every time. The steam bun is a doughy bun stuffed with mushrooms, tofu, and other veggies. I love to douse it with soy sauce and go to town.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
VegLove Special: Cooking with VegLove
With the prices of gas and food at record highs, going out to eat is becoming increasingly impractical. However, it's not the death knell for VegLove. Not only do I love eating other people's food, I love cooking my own, and this summer I have had the opportunity to experiment with a lot of different new foods. Here is a list of some of my favorites.
1. Quinoa
This grain is not only extremely versatile, it's a complete grain protein. Quinoa is similar to cous cous but has a firmer, chewier texture. Like cous cous, it can be used in savory dishes and tastes great with just a little olive oil and garlic salt. It can also be used in sweet dishes, like oatmeal, but I have yet to try it this way. Both the traditional white quinoa and the Inca red are delicious, and one package will last you a whole week.
2. Goya Sazon con Azafran
These tiny packages contain a saffron-based mixture of seasonings that make ordinary dishes remarkable. I especially like to add Sazon to black beans, which are a super cheap and satisfying staple of my diet. I recommend making black bean tacos flavored with Sazon and topped with queso fresco, avacados, and Hatch pepper salsa.
3. Nate's Crispy Taco with Artichokes and Cream Cheeses
You might be surprised to see frozen tacos on this list, and I was surprised to find a frozen product so tasty. The filling is immensely flavorful, and they make a yummy snack. They are microwavable, but if you actually want crispy tacos, use the oven. Nate's also makes really tasty vegetarian taquitos.
4. Falafel
Falafel in general is hardly new to me - it's one of my all-time favorites - but I have only recently dared to make it on my own. I have only used a package of falafel mix, so I won't claim to make it from scratch, but it has been a surprisingly successful experiment (although the first batch I fried up turned into mush). I can't get enough of the stuff, especially when paired with hummus, feta, and spinach.
5. Sabra Hummus
A package of hummus is always great to keep in the fridge as a quick snack with carrots or crackers. I was pretty satisfied with the different types of hummus I've found in the past - it's hard to go wrong here. However, I have recently found the holy grail of store-bought hummus: Sabra. I am particularly fond of their Greek Olive style hummus. Not only is Sabra hummus super creamy, all of the different flavors are topped with a generous helping of their featured ingredients (e.g., olives, pine nuts, jalapenos).
6. Woodchuck Cider
I hate beer. But there a lot of situations in which my beloved wine is simply not an option. Although I love Lindemans Framboise as a beer-alternative, it's usually quite a bit pricier. However, I recently discovered Woodchuck Cider, which looks like a beer, is sold at beer-selling establishments, but is actually something I enjoy drinking. It's perfect for summer - refreshing and light, and is my new fake beer of choice.
That's it for now. If you've been looking for ways to still have exciting, interesting food at home I recommend trying all of these products. You can still approximate a restaurant-quality meal without wasting gas.
1. Quinoa
This grain is not only extremely versatile, it's a complete grain protein. Quinoa is similar to cous cous but has a firmer, chewier texture. Like cous cous, it can be used in savory dishes and tastes great with just a little olive oil and garlic salt. It can also be used in sweet dishes, like oatmeal, but I have yet to try it this way. Both the traditional white quinoa and the Inca red are delicious, and one package will last you a whole week.
2. Goya Sazon con Azafran
These tiny packages contain a saffron-based mixture of seasonings that make ordinary dishes remarkable. I especially like to add Sazon to black beans, which are a super cheap and satisfying staple of my diet. I recommend making black bean tacos flavored with Sazon and topped with queso fresco, avacados, and Hatch pepper salsa.
3. Nate's Crispy Taco with Artichokes and Cream Cheeses
You might be surprised to see frozen tacos on this list, and I was surprised to find a frozen product so tasty. The filling is immensely flavorful, and they make a yummy snack. They are microwavable, but if you actually want crispy tacos, use the oven. Nate's also makes really tasty vegetarian taquitos.
4. Falafel
Falafel in general is hardly new to me - it's one of my all-time favorites - but I have only recently dared to make it on my own. I have only used a package of falafel mix, so I won't claim to make it from scratch, but it has been a surprisingly successful experiment (although the first batch I fried up turned into mush). I can't get enough of the stuff, especially when paired with hummus, feta, and spinach.
5. Sabra Hummus
A package of hummus is always great to keep in the fridge as a quick snack with carrots or crackers. I was pretty satisfied with the different types of hummus I've found in the past - it's hard to go wrong here. However, I have recently found the holy grail of store-bought hummus: Sabra. I am particularly fond of their Greek Olive style hummus. Not only is Sabra hummus super creamy, all of the different flavors are topped with a generous helping of their featured ingredients (e.g., olives, pine nuts, jalapenos).
6. Woodchuck Cider
I hate beer. But there a lot of situations in which my beloved wine is simply not an option. Although I love Lindemans Framboise as a beer-alternative, it's usually quite a bit pricier. However, I recently discovered Woodchuck Cider, which looks like a beer, is sold at beer-selling establishments, but is actually something I enjoy drinking. It's perfect for summer - refreshing and light, and is my new fake beer of choice.
That's it for now. If you've been looking for ways to still have exciting, interesting food at home I recommend trying all of these products. You can still approximate a restaurant-quality meal without wasting gas.
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