city news...
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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Oct 2,2008
Vegan at the Vegetarian House
by Veritable Vegan
OK, it's a bit ironic that the Vegetarian House -- Portland's vegetarian Chinese restaurant -- is located between butcher shops, but then again .... How cool is it that we have such an establishment has taken root in the heart of Chinatown? What I love about this place is that the Orange Chik'n makes my mouth water just writing about it and the all-you-can-eat weekday lunch buffet is a steal at only about $6.50 or so. One note: Some vegans aren't crazy about meat analogs. If you're among that camp, you might best try one of the other excellent vegan establishments in town because the Vegetarian House leans heavily on protein sources of tofu and seitan. For the rest of us .... did I mention the Orange Chik'n? Vegetarian House is located at 22 NW 4th Ave.; 503-274-0160.
posted at 04:42 PM
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Sep 26,2008
How to Live More Green
by TeachStreet
Going green has been all the rave the last couple years. Even mentioned in the Oregonian yesterday, Governor Ted Kulongoski has made a push in getting more green jobs, specifically with the electric car industry, in the state of Oregon. It seems like huge corporations are moving to greener office environments, families are turning last night's dinner into tomorrow's compost—everyone is going green. Feeling blue that you are left out of the green? Fear not, TeachStreet is here to educate. " A lot of tree to hug " | Courtesy of: meaduva Skip the meat:
Try going vegetarian one day a week. If you factor in the energy to raise the cattle and transport the meat It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. That is 40 times more water than is used to produce one pound of potatoes. Check out The Vegetarian Grill or Pairing Wine & Vegetarian Food Class for some tasty vegetarian recipes. Don’t let i
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Try going vegetarian one day a week. If you factor in the energy to raise the cattle and transport the meat It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. That is 40 times more water than is used to produce one pound of potatoes. Check out The Vegetarian Grill or Pairing Wine & Vegetarian Food Class for some tasty vegetarian recipes. Don’t let i
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posted at 03:25 PM
2 comments
Sep 25,2008
Vegan Noshing at Backspace
by Veritable Vegan
I had known of Backspace as a cool coffeeshop, but I’d totally spaced on its veggie/vegan menu until a few weeks ago when a friend reintroduced me to this Oldtown/Chinatown nirvana. In addition to nighttime entertainment (I’ll leave the younger set to tell you about all that), the free Wi-Fi (equally useful for gaming as for working), the artwork and a vibe as expansive as the high ceilings -- there's also a rockin’ vegetarian menu -- most of which can be made vegan. Like the sandwich I had today: “The Smokey.” A great mix of smoked field roast with avocado, veggies and such on a crusty baguette with a small but tasty side salad. A great antidote to the cool grey skies that have overtaken our fall days this week. Yup, you got it -- I’ll be back to Backspace. Backspace is located at 115 NW Fifth Ave. ; 503-248-2900.
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posted at 05:41 PM
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