Monday, September 26, 2011

It's The Final Countdown: R.I.P. Evergreen

Kung-Pow Wow Soybean
AKA The Number 14
    I always decided that having theme music at work would make the day more awesome. While I haven't figured out an arrival song, I decided that Europe's "Final Countdown" would make for a perfect departure, complete with a fog machine and a disappearing stage. I'm still waiting to hear back from my boss, maybe it's the fog machine that's holding it up. But cross your fingers for me! It's also the song that should be playing at  Evergreen House Cafe. After 13 years, Evergreen House will be closing its doors THIS Friday, September 30th. (It's also the last week of Union Street so put that apron down and get eating!). I know first Horizons closed, now this!
          Fresh For You Hoo Spring Wraps
Hands Down The Best Spring Rolls In This Town.
       Maybe I have a predilection for restaurants named Evergeen. South Jersey's Evergreen, which closed many years ago, beckoned me to cut class once or twice to devour the best scallion pancake I ever had, filled with lettuce, tomato, plum sauce and vegan ham. Oh, the memories! I still carried these when I found out Salt Lake had their own Evergreen. The first time I visited Salt Lake it was closed the entire time I was here, such a disappointment. When I moved here, it was the first restaurant I visited and it's been a staple ever since, especially in between my college classes. It's the place I went to eat after a dump truck barreled down an off ramp into the bus I was riding in. That should say it all pure comfort food.          
Open Sesame Mushroom Stem
AKA The Number 14
     Evergeen house serves pretty standard asian inspired cuisine, but the best part is that everything, from the fortune cookies to the entrees, is vegan! The only thing that wasn't vegan was the mushroom stem, but the recipe was recently veganized! It's also the one place when I can order with just a single number. It's pretty rad and makes me feel like I'm on "Cheers" even if they don't know my name.
Red Bean Bao

     So if you're looking to feed your belly or perhaps buy an entire restaurant (It's for sale along with the entrees), come down to State Street, where the sign in the window beckons vegetarian and vegan food to Salt Lakers pretending like they're not cruising State Street for a date, which is prohibited anyway. I;ll try and snag a photo of the sign next time. Anyway, if you have never been before might I recommend the #7 Curry Potato Soybean or the #12 Black Pepper Soybean. It's what I ate for years (and just had today), but never got any pictures. On  my last visit, the special one and I decided to tackle something new with Kung-Pow Wow and Sesame Mushroom Stem, which were awesome, but left me longing for the comfort of number 12. Or just another reason to go back, I can't decide. Oh, and just a tip order the Red Bean Bao for a dessert, not an appetizer it's the perfect compliment to a meal. Just forget the dipping sauce. No matter what you try, be sure to visit to show the Tu's, who will be moving to California, how grateful we are for opening the first all vegetarian restaurant in the city. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Tu for helping to tame my stomach's growl time and time again!

Ever Green House on Urbanspoon

Monday, September 12, 2011

Show Me Your "O" Face.

Mighty O's Comes to Salt Lake
Do-nut Pass Go! Collect All Five Donuts Before Proceeding
     Well, I was all proud of myself for not only walking down the potato chip aisle at Whole Foods while hungry, but not even buying a single bag. I've written before of my addiction to Kettle Chips Jalapeno Potato Chips so I felt like I was making progress. But then after leaving the kombucha bar (my other got infected so it's been store bought from me until I get another mother so if anyone is reading and has one, let me know!), I spied these out of the corner of my eyes. Vegan Donuts from Mighty Os!!!
Time To Make The Donuts
Donuts As Far As The Eye Can See!
    Since I'm being honest with my addictions, I'm quite the donut connoisseur so much so that I've debated about buying a deep fryer just to make these dreamy confections. Admitting you have a problem is the first step right? Luckily, I can postpone the purchase of another kitchen gadget, at least for now. Seriously, I can tell you almost every time I've had a vegan donut. When I first moved here I got a delivery of a dozen of Ronald's Donuts from kind Vegas bound folks. My ears still perk up anytime someone mentions that they're headed to Vegas. During sojourns back to the City of Brotherly Love, I was lucky enough to track down the ever elusive Vegan Treats Boston Creme donuts at Govindas and now at my favorite coffee shop Grindcore House. Oh, and have I mentioned that I mail ordered donuts from veganessentials and pangea? I even had a friend on vacation try to send me some Voodoo Donuts. I told you I wasn't lying.
Death by Chocolate: Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Donut
Just Need A Glass Of Soy Milk!
      I already wrote about my obsession with three Aberdeen troubadours, but my love affair with the city lives on with Mighty Os Donuts. This Seattle based bakery has been winning accolades from being rated by Bon Appetit Magazine as the one of the best donut shops in the country to their top prize on the Food Network's Challenge: Donut Champions. (The third vegan baker to beat out traditional bakers. See Chef Chloe and Sticky Fingers). These aren't just donuts, but award winning donuts! So I needed to break out the scientific research and try one of each flavor, right? I'm doing this for you, my readers, not to quiet my sweet tooth. I swear. In the interest of full disclosure, I was lucky enough to sample two donuts a year ago that Larayn from Union Street (Check out their new location!) shared with me. Thanks, Larayn!
Freedom Donut: French Toast
It Tasted Like Freedom Via La French!
      The results were outstanding! It's hard to decide my favorite either the French Toast or the Raspberry Glazed. Maybe some more research is needed. Perhaps one day, they'll branch out from the holed donuts to stuffed donuts like Jelly and Boston Creme. If you're reading Mighty-O, I'm willing to taste these.  I do have a bone to pick with you though, although you use organic ingredients and are vegan, you top the donuts with "sprinkles" and say so on your website. Please note sprinkles come from fairies and stars, instead it should be renamed Donut with JIMMIES. There is no debate on this. I'll move on.
 Berry Berry Happy: Raspberry Glazed
Tied For Best In Show With The French Toast
        As far as I know, these donuts are available throughout the Valley, but I purchased mine at the Trolley Square Whole Foods. I'm waiting to hear back from Whole Foods, if they're offered nationwide. I'll keep you posted. And a big thanks to Kelly/Cakewalk for the hot tip on the donuts! Otherwise, I might have never of known and kept bugging for Cakewalk to make donuts, not that I'm stopping, but at least I'm distracted.         
Plain Ole Glazed
Like A Bear Claw, But Round With A Hole In The Middle
Chocolate Glazed Donut
          I'm Going Down In A Glaze Of  (Chocolate) Glory! 


Check Out These Older Posts:

Happy Brett Day! Help Brett Raise Money For WoodStock Animal Sanctuary In His First Marathon Run!

Read It HERE





                                                                                                                                                                                                        Cooking With Bell Organic: 
 Baked Tofu Smothered in Peanut Sauce with Steamed Vegetables Along with Spicy Peanut Rice and Citrus Collards with Raisins Redux 

Read It HERE

                                                
Rocking The Shamrock Shake:

  Read It And Find The Recipe HERE










                                                          
Cooking With Compassion Over Killing:

Pine Nut And Basil Seared Gardein "Chicken" Over A Bed Of Brown Basmati Rice And Gingered Kale

Read It HERE 


Mighty-O Donuts on Urbanspoon

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Doing The Horizontal with Vertical Diner

Buffalo Tigers
One Of The Best Vegan Buffalo Wings In The Country.
    I have a love/hate relationship with Vertical Diner. They have so much unrealized potential that they could be great like Chicago Diner or Spiral Dinner, but they fall short. It's not that they aren't good, but they could be great. The things they do well are the hand cut freedom fries, the tender and buffalo tigers (and the ranch),  biscuits and the best vegan gravy, sausage patties and awesome jerk and chicken flavored seitan.      
     For a real treat, try the American Diner, which is a plate of freedom fries (or hash browns as if you would choose them) topped with two deep fried tender tigers (like chicken fingers) smothered in an amazing gravy. Just don't eat anything before or after, I can only imagine how many calories this has. Things started to pick up when one of the chefs started to get creative with specials such as stuffed french toast, but he was fired, just as we started to get on the right track. Oh wells.
Jerk Chicken Sub
Tip: Sub The Sour Cream For Ranch AND Add Fries!
      Unfortunately, they're still stuck in the 90's with the nutritional yeast cheese for things like cheese fries and quesadillas. And the tofu scramble is one of the weakest, I've ever eaten. Oh, and instead of a homemade veggie burger they use Sunshine and Boca burgers. Yawn.
Jamaican Me Dream
Basically D.I.Y. Burritos: Jerk Seitan, Rice & Beans, Peppers & Onions
     Vertical Diner is the sister restaurant of Sage's Cafe (and part of Ian Brandt's vegan empire). It's a lower cost alternative with generally speedier service, but the menu is fairly identical to Sage's and hasn't changed much since opening in 2006. If you're headed to brunch on the weekend, Sage's food is much fresher since Vertical's sits in the line until your order, which if you get to there mid day or evening the food could be there for hours. I've had many old food experiences there. Regardless, it used to be my favorite restaurant in town, until Isa's Vegan Brunch came my way and showed me how good breakfast could be. Waffles. Tofu Benedicts. Omelets. Frittatas. Banana Rabanada. Tempeh Sausage Pastry Puffs. Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes. Crepes. Quiche. Seriously, brunch could be awesome. Still, it's cool to sleep in and order the Avalanche, two giant pancakes, tofu scramble, sausage patty and hash browns. It would take me until dinner to make all that. Oh, and skip dessert and head to Cakewalk instead, that's where the real desserts in this town are.
Shoo Fly Cake
Not Too Sweet, But No Sage's Tiramisu


Check Out These Older Posts:

Happy Brett Day! Help Brett Raise Money For WoodStock Animal Sanctuary In His First Marathon Run!

Read It HERE





Cooking With Bell Organic: 
 Baked Tofu Smothered in Peanut Sauce with Steamed Vegetables Along with Spicy Peanut Rice and Citrus Collards with Raisins Redux 

Read It HERE


 Rocking The Shamrock Shake:

  Read It And Recipe HERE














 


Cooking With Compassion Over Killing:

Pine Nut And Basil Seared Gardein "Chicken" Over A Bed Of Brown Basmati Rice And Gingered Kale

Read It HERE 



Vertical Diner on Urbanspoon