city news...
Dec 29,2008
A Vege Thai for Vegans
by Veritable Vegan
Vegans and Thai food are a union made in heaven since so much Thai food is easily vegan. And the Vege Thai restaurant on Hawthorne makes it just that much easier for vegans because they understand that vegan doesn't mean just substituting tofu for the meat, but also omitting fish sauce, oyster sauce and shrimp paste. From stir frys to curries, rice to noodles, it's all healthy and delicious - and inexpensive. So imagine how happy I was when I read over at Portland on the Cheap that Vege Thai was one of the many restaurants in town that offer a free birthday entrée (with the purchase of another entrée of equal or greater value)! True enough they do - and did. All I had to do was show them my I.D. with my birth date. At the risk of appearing ungrateful, I will admit our spring roll appetizers seemed a little out-of-the-freezer and, based on a previous visit, I recommend skipping
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posted at 07:41 PM
2 comments 
Dec 13,2008
Eastside Vegan
by Veritable Vegan
Eating vegan in Portland is easy when there are places like Ya Hala . The menu abounds with clearly marked options, each more flavorful than the last. Although the place always seems full (a good sign), service is quick and efficient, so you're never left waiting. And the prices are affordable, even in this economy. Last night we dropped in after work for an early dinner and immediately sat down to fresh steaming pocket bread, a comfy way to shift gears from work to weekend. One of the great things about Lebanese food is Mezza - where you make a meal out of a variety of appetizers. I chose the smoky Baba Ghanouj, a creamy blend of fire-roasted eggplant, garlic, tahini and lemon juice - the only way I really like eggplant. I wanted to lick the bowl after it was all gone. To that we added a hearty order of Fatayer, or savory little pastry pies filled with spinach, onions, sumac and lemon juice; a bigger-than-life Foul Mudamas, which are cooked fava beans; and a hefty order o
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posted at 04:42 PM
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Dec 8,2008
The vegan Paradox
by Veritable Vegan
With a hankering for french fries and a Chinook Book coupon burning a hole in my pocket (15% off!), my partner and I decided to swing by Paradox Cafe for a quick bite to eat before heading home from work.Since most of my memories of Paradox were of waiting for a table, I was really pleased to see that the restaurant had completed its recent expansion into the adjacent storefront. Despite all the organic this and alternative that, Paradox continues to simply be down-home comfy -- great food without the 'tude.
Although not exclusively vegetarian, most of Paradox 's made-from-scratch menu is already or can be made vegan. What's even better is that those options are all clearly spelled out on the menu, which features all-day breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers. Don't expect any frilly dress-ups here, though; the vegan options are mostly hardworking substitutions of tofu or tempeh. Not that there's anything wrong with that, because Paradox does thi
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posted at 07:29 PM
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Nov 19,2008
A Mexican Vegan
by Veritable Vegan
After the recent closing of several vegan/vegetarian restaurants, I am really excited about the opening a month or so ago of Los Gorditos II, an all vegan taqueria truck that is muy delicioso ! From tacos to burritos, tostadas to tortas ... it's all great -- and a great value, too. Today a friend and I tried the "regular burrito" -- a flour tortilla with beans, rice, tomato, avocado onion and cilantro ($4.50, or $5 with vegan cheese and sour cream) that was enough for two meals. We also sampled the regular tacos (2 for only $1.75 and enough for lunch) and, best of all, was the rolled tacos: four fried rolled tortillas filled with potatoes and Soyrizo topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and cilantro ($4.50). Maybe because I added the vegan cheese and sour cream, but mine came with rice and beans, too, making for a huge dinner for only $5. If you don't care of the distinctive taste of Soyrizo, you can also choose from tofu, grilled veggies or soy curls for any of the item
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posted at 01:55 PM
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Nov 13,2008
Pita the Vegan
by Veritable Vegan
Usually the need for a quick mid-day bite downtown would lead me to one of the lunch carts, but with the brisk fall weather, I opted today to eat indoors, stopping at Karam Lebanese Cuisine . Although the pumpkin kibbee sounded really intriguing, as did baba ghannouj, today I opted for a simple falafel sandwich. This was a great choice, with a nice balance of savory fried falafel, creamy hummus and tahini, and crunchy tomato, onions and lettuce. Lunchtime service was swift and the price was about $7. The dinner menu has a veggie section, but watch for dishes with dairy. Karam Restaurant is located at 316 SW Stark St., (503) 223-0830.
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posted at 10:12 PM
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Nov 7,2008
A Vegan Library
by Veritable Vegan
So when I don't have time (or money) to go out to eat, I love to go to my local library (in this case, the Midland branch of the Multnomah County Library ) to peruse the cookbooks, including a whole section devoted to vegetarian/vegan cookbooks. It's a great way to browse recipes for new ideas without shelling out $30 bucks or so for a book in which you only really like one or two dishes. Once you give it a go and know you like a title, it's easy to head over to Powell's or another local bookstore to pick up a copy of your own, one where you can splatter a little puttanesca sauce without incrimination. Two of my favorites include: Robin Robertson's Some Like it Hot and Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's The Joy of Vegan Baking . Check out your local branch today!
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posted at 06:26 PM
2 comments
Nov 4,2008
Vegan in a Nutshell
by Veritable Vegan
When Nutshell first opened last year as an upscale vegan restaurant, I was thrilled. The menu was a culinary exploration that led the diner to imagine limitless vegan cuisine beyond tofu, seitan and salads. Meat analogues were nowhere to be seen, and the flavor combinations were intriguing - definitely things I wouldn't think to make at home. I couldn't wait to return in order to try another dish. Then this summer Nutshell decided to mix up its menu to include some vegetarian items that incorporate dairy or eggs. Blame it on the economy and the need to draw a wider clientele or chalk it up to a non-vegan chef's wandering palate - either way, vegans may consider this a step backward for animal rights. Yet on the whole, Nutshell still has enormous potential to introduce omnivores - especially those who would never set foot in one of our beloved earthy-crunchy tofu-wrap joints - to not only a more eco-friendly plant-based diet, but the existence of true vegan cuisine. So when Nutshel
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posted at 12:09 PM
2 comments
Oct 25,2008
Vegan Del Mar
by Veritable Vegan
Even though I'm not a huge fan of national fast-food chains, a recent 80-hour workweek led me twice to my local franchise of Taco del Mar on Southeast Martin Luther King Boulevard. Service was friendly and efficient, dinner was only about $5, and best of all: My vegan self could choose from a variety of items that were more than just a salad. Even the company's Web site has a page (among a slew of nutrition- and diet-related pages) dedicated to clearly explaining which menu items are vegetarian and which are vegan — and even a clear definition of the two definitions. Although I probably will never understand the appeal of a fish taco, at least I know that a vegan is welcome at the Taco del Mar table. There are some 15 Taco del Mar franchises in neighborhoods all around Portland; the MLK store is located at 438 SE MLK Blvd., (503) 232-7695.
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posted at 12:27 PM
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Oct 18,2008
Vegan in the Far East
by Veritable Vegan
Asian cuisine always has easy vegan options, and if you like to cook, there's no better place to explore your options than Fubonn Supermarket. Imagine Beaverton's Uwajimaya but seemingly even bigger. The store is filled with inexpensive produce, a whole aisle of meat alternatives, and many exotic items you've never heard of. On top of that, there are gazillions of unusual candies and sweets, including some vegan items that you won't find anywhere else in town. The supermarket is located in the old SE Portland campus of PCC, which is now a mini-mall featuring a variety of other Asian-related stores, restaurants and services along with plentiful parking.Fubonn Supermarket is located at 2850 SE 82nd Ave.; 503-517-8877.
posted at 02:23 PM
2 comments
Oct 11,2008
Yes, Kettleman Bagels are Vegan (except one)
by Veritable Vegan
After a vegan shopping trip out to Bob's Red Mill store in Milwaukie (a great source of very low-cost vegan chocolate chips, vegan evaporated cane juice sugar and, of course, the largest assortment of organic flours around) and Penzey's Spices (a great opportunity to give your nose a taste test of a great variety of familiar and unique spices, including Dundicut Peppers from Pakistan), our shopping companion wanted to stop by Kettleman Bagels in Southeast Portland for lunch. While Kettleman's sandwich selection did have a vegetarian option, cheese seemed preprogrammed. Fortunately for me, all but one of the bagel selections were vegan (my toasted onion was tasty without being overwhelming) as were the bialys (which could have actually benefited from a little more flavor). The bagels, which are kosher, are New York style (boiled and baked), and the coffee is Stumptown without an extra charge for the soy milk. The service was friendly and the joint offered a generous portion of T
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posted at 06:04 PM
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