Amanda Eats SLC

Eat pancakes and support Ching Farm Sanctuary ALL DAMN SUMMER!!

2013-05-18T13:17:00.001-06:00

Enjoy all-you-can-eat vegan pancakes and support Ching Farm Sanctuary every last Sunday of the month all summer long! I cut and pasted this from the Facebook event page. For directions and more information email chingsanctuary@gmail.com.

Join us the last Sunday of the month all summer long for brunch!

This month we will have all-you-can-eat pancakes. Minimum donation is $8.

Add $2 for blueberry pancakes or another $2 for real maple syrup.

100% of the proceeds raised will go directly to the rescued animals at

Ching Farm Rescue and Sanctuary. Come hang out in good company, stuff yourself full with vegan pancakes, and help animals! This event will be held in Salt Lake City. For more information or the address of the event, email chingsanctuary@gmail.com.

Maybe for an additional donation they will let you put pancakes ON the animals!

Lotsa Veggie Options at Pho Que Huong!

2013-05-12T18:22:00.001-06:00

Vegetarian Chinese Curry with tofu ($7.00) is more food than anyone can reasonably eat in a sitting. Fresh veggies, tofu and a light curry sauce. Not bad at all. My mom's Sesame Chicken is in the back there.

West Valley City is full of nice surprises, mostly food kind of surprises. Pho Que Huong inhabits what once was a JB's Restaurant (are those even still around?). I was soo happy with a sizable array of classic dishes made with vegetarian mock-meat, a good handful of veggie appetizers and yummy tapioca drinks.

The best soup in the world!! Hyperbole!!

First of all, notice the super cute Chinese astrology placemat. Cute. My lunch started with the vegetarian wonton soup. This was my favorite thing I ate here! The wontons were filled with tofu, the broth was flavorful and brimming with toasted and freshly chopped scallions. Adding a bit of Sriracha was just perfect. Soup is always such a sore spot for me in Chinese restaurants. They NEVER EVER offer a vegan soup. Pho Que Huong had me at the soup.

This is probably the most overthetop girly drink I've ever had.

While not quite what I was expecting, the Avocado and Tapioca drink was impressive! The waitress (who was totally adorable!) told me that there wasn't dairy in this, but whatever. It came with a tiny umbrella!!

Look at all the veggie options!!

I suspect the vegetarian meats have egg or dairy although I didn't ask, but there are plenty of vegan options! Most vegetarian dishes are offered with tofu. And I'm sure I could have navigated the tapioca drink menu better. But I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to do that this summer!

Caputo's Market NEW VEGAN PESTO!!!

2013-05-11T15:32:00.000-06:00

My love of Caputo's Market is no secret. If I'm not in my office during a workday, everyone knows I'm at Caputos. They carry a lot of my favorite treats like blood orange juice (cocktails yo!) and walls of gorgeous dark chocolate.

A fresh sundried vegan pesto was recently added to their line of ready-to-go Italian goodness. It is tasty. Flavorful garlic and parsley combined with a smack of flavorful sundried tomatoes is the ideal accompaniment to angel hair pasta, leafy green salads and my summer staple - whole wheat pasta salad loaded with veggies from the farmers' market and freshly picked herbs.

It's time to BBQ!

2013-05-09T20:31:00.000-06:00

The first BBQ of the year is always worth documenting. Even if it's just pasta salad, veggie dogs with tons of mustard (notice the lovely grill marks!) and assorted snackies like olives and hummus. There's just something nice about cooking and eating outside.

my little dog.

2013-05-06T19:56:00.005-06:00

After weeks of not feeling quite right, gross medicine, biting me a few times and being nothing like his badass self, I said goodbye to my Darby Crash last night. Thirteen years of being the fucking best dog ever!!!

BEGging for change: An interview with Rory Freedman

2013-05-03T20:21:00.001-06:00

loved it.

read my review for SLUG.

forAnima - an online shop for you stylish, compassionate souls!

2013-04-16T20:21:00.006-06:00

Everything your gorgeous compassionate heart could want for is available at forAnima, an on-line vegan market. It's never been easier to support "animal-loving businesses and entrepreneurs". They offer everything you need from fancy vegan cheese to gorgeous animal-free handbags and shoes. Support compassionate companies, go shopping and be amazing!

Eat like a hero. Eat local.

2013-04-14T15:58:00.003-06:00

37 different local products to sample!

Utah's Own took center stage at the closing reception of the Goveror's Economic Summit. 'Eat like a Hero' was the theme and I zoomed from table to table sampling food like a vegetarian super hero. I skipped the meaty carving table and moved directly to Utah's Own Nacho Bar with delicious samples of Lauries Buffalo Gourmet Tortilla chips and Salsasito Mendoza Salsa.

tortilla chips like you've never tasted!

The moment you bite into a tortilla chip from Laurie's Buffalo Gourmet you can taste the difference. Instead of chemical flavor-dust, you can taste real food, like savory toasted corn and garlicy black beans. I also love their crisp texture. They taste great on their own, but paired with Salsita's Mendoza salsa, it was unforgettable. Salsita Mendoza is described as "summer in a jar" and it's filled with fresh tomatoes, peppers and other plentiful flavors of summer.

I'd have to say my favorite item were the spicy jellies from Pepperlane. Both spicy and sweet, this would be a brilliant addition to every sandwich ever and possibly even french toast. This is a taste I have needed in my life!

I tried this spicy jelly with a seeded baguette from Crumb Brothers. The smokiness of the seeds with the sweetness of the jelly was heavenly. Other people were pairing this with the assortment of cheese and meats offered, but I was day dreaming about a really good peanut butter jelly sandwich.

We totally have it going on in Utah. Why eat food from somewhere else? Keep tabs on Utah's Own to stay in the know about local food and events!

wakipaki is a food truck worth stalking.

2013-04-11T21:11:00.000-06:00

Thursday afternoons at the Gallivan Center is the food court of Salt Lake's food trucks. This is pretty much the only time I seem to be able to catch any of them!

It's never been difficult to find delicious vegan options, but I've never found a food truck worth stalking. Until today. Waki Paki Food Truck makes the vegan-friendliest, most crave-able and downright scrumptious food I'd ever had from a truck. Pakistani street food is what it's all about people; it's spicy, filling, portable and entirely satisfying.

Just mention the word "vegan" to they will happily let you know what options are available. The wrap below can be served in a bowl, since the tortilla has a trace of dairy/egg. The samosas come with a yogurt-based sauce but there are other dippy sauces available.

I can't wait for next Thursday!

Dal and Chowel Wrap
Mo’s Basmati rice and red lentils topped with crunchy fried aromatics, cilantro, tomato, and our tangy yogurt chutney, wrapped in a warm whole wheat tortilla. $6 (Ask for vegan, or gluten free option)

Veggie Samosa
Two vegetarian pastries stuffed with potato and cauliflower, seasoned with cumin, turmeric, and ginger, served with tangy yogurt chutney. $3

Taste of Red Iguana - the best vegan fast food in Salt Lake City!

2013-03-27T20:28:00.001-06:00

a sexy mole close up

Taste of Red Iguana, a food court version of Salt Lake's infamous Red Iguana, is the best vegan fast food there is. Located in City Creek,and on my way home from work, this place has become my take-out staple. I can jump off Trax at the City Center stop, run to Taste of Red Iguana, get my food and catch the next train. That is 15 minutes people! That is some fast fucking food.

I must be the worst writer because I can't explain how good this tastes.

And it's awesome. They use fresh ingredients and create complex tastes that are so magical I don't fully understand them. Mole is a beautiful, delicious mystery to me. A simple rice and bean burrito smothered with decadent mole has been my jam for the past few weeks. And I pretty much crave it every day. The combination of fluffy spanish rice and creamy, savory refried beans covered in the chocolatey/spicy/idon'tknowwhat is seriously delicious, cheap and FAST!

Ordering items without dairy is no problem here, unlike most Mexican places. The staff is well-versed on the menu and don't even look at you weird when you order something without cheese. Besides craving it every day, I like going here because they've made it sooo easy for vegans, or people with food allergies or weirdos with gluten issues.

One day I just ordered a side of beans and rice for breakfast. Not a bad breakfast at all. Although it was kind of weird to eat breakfast in a food court. That reminded me too much of my years working at the Gap and Nordstrom.

Anna reviews Vertical Diner

2013-03-22T19:55:00.001-06:00


This is Anna, my niece. She will be taking over once a month. We have big plans for this blog!

If you used to love meat and are tempted to eat more while you're vegan; DON'T! The Vertical Diner has a great selection of world's favorite meats veganized such as bacon, sausage, and chicken.

While I was there I had the vegan/vegetarian bacon and the chicken strips. The bacon was made of what appears to be barley, glazed in a delicious sauce with LOTS of flavor, and fried to become bacon! The chicken was a form of some kind of tofu (actually it was seitan!), breaded, and deep-fried. Also I got their hash browns and their rice with black beans. The hash browns weren't shredded like usual, but the potatos were PURPLE! They were diced, seasoned, and fried with some whole mushrooms. The rice was a Spanish rice with about a quarter of its portion of black beans.

This meal was very delicious and surprising to me of how far vegan food can go.


And this is what she ordered. Rice and beans, breaded chicken, hashbrowns and tempeh bacon.

I'm eatin' Frisch and writing for SLUG!

2013-03-22T08:43:00.002-06:00


My jam for Spring: The Three Salad Sampler ($8.00) with the Technicolor Tempeh Kale Salad (best thing ever!), The Barton (think egg salad, but more tofu and garbanzo beans) and The Broccoli Burst (hellooo bacon bits, sunflower seeds and a creamy dressing!)

I'm trying to be cool about this, but I'M WRITING FOR SLUG and it's kinda a big deal. My first assignment was writing about Frisch Compassionate Eatery, which was awesome because I could write a Young Adult book series about that place. I really like their food. And I've been really into YA books lately.

The review is in the March issue, available for the next week or so, or you can check it out here.

Pick up a copy SOON! :)

SPRING GIVEAWAY!!! ALBION FIT - WOMENS WORKOUT WEAR!!!!

2013-03-20T11:25:00.001-06:00

This spring and summer is going to be all about simple, comfy clothes that look great. When I saw the black tunic from Albion Fit, I knew I had found a wardrobe staple. When I found this local company doesn't use sweatshop labor, I was sold. Being vegan is about being nice, and that includes being compassionate to people!

I love this tunic because you can wear it a bunch of different ways. It's perfect for loafing around on a weekend, and even dresses up nicely for Casual Day at work. With leggings, jeans or a skirt, this tunic is all-around awesome.

Albion Fit will be opening in City Creek soon (watch out for another blog post!) but until then, check out their workout clothing on their website, albionfit.com.

And now for the best part. Albion Fit will give away one tunic to a random reader that both "likes" Albion Fit on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AlbionFitness) and pins their favorite item from onto one of your Pinterest boards. Leave a comment on this post with the link to that specific pin and let me know that you have liked them on Facebook!

Winners will be announced next week, Wednesday, March 27th. So, get LIKING and PINNING. And shopping!

Chabaar - Vegan Breakfast in Midvale!

2013-03-15T09:44:00.002-06:00

my beautiful vegan waffle. <3 covered with fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. $8.00 is a bit pricey for a waffle, but it was delicious! And all that ripe fruit was heavenly on top of the light, crisp waffle. I'm looking forward to trying the other fruit toppings, and of course, the crepe!

Chabaar, sister restaurant to my beloved Tea Rose Diner, has some serious vegan breakfast game (and the best Thai food in Salt Lake!) And it's in Midvale, which is pretty cool, not a lot of vegan stuff happens in Midvale, but now there is breakfast and killer Thai food! Midvale Vegans - your time has come! :)

This is the Garden Pile High. Hashbrowns topped with fresh veggies and vegan cheese probably shouldn't cost $12.00, but with the addition of their house hot sauce, it was tasty. And I'm always satisfied if there is broccoli and hot sauce on my plate. The addition of tofu or noodles (or at least toast!) could make this dish a little more hearty, and worth the price!

The vegan breakfast menu has a quite a few intriguing items, but I'm especially looking forward to trying the Vegan Thai Omelet. It's a reasonable $9.00 and sounds delectable. It's a crepe filled with sauteed tofu, veggies, sweet chili sauce and peanuts. YUM.

There is something eternally appealing to me about eating in diners. The booths were comfy and the waitresses were so nice; I could spend every Sunday morning here with breakfast and the newspaper. And just like a diner, the coffee was terrible.(Maybe order some OJ with your breakfast ... )

City Cakes & Cafe's wonderful new location!

2013-03-10T14:58:00.001-06:00

the perfect little lunch: half of a humungous black bean veggie burger with all the toppings between two slices of Dave's Killer Bread, their infamous Mac n Cheezah! (which is unbelievably delicious!) and a petite ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie for around $6.00. You really can't beat it.

I love introducing my friends to scrumptious vegan food! I wish it was my full-time job. (Note to self: check into that shit!) A great place to do this is one of Salt Lake's favorite vegan bakeries, City Cakes & Cafe. They have a variety of savory vegan and gluten-free lunch items, like decadent au gratin potatoes and the life-changing Mac n' Cheezah - the most luscious dairy-free mac and cheese I've tasted. And of course, a pastry case filled with mouthwatering sweets like raspberry lemon bars, cupcakes and my favorite, tirimasu.

Treats for Darby!

The new location of City Cakes (1000 S. Main Street) is just as adorable as their old location, but has a bright, spacious kitchen and plenty of parking (the old lady in me delights at ample parking!) It's great to see a vegan bakery growing so quickly!

I was a bit remiss when they moved from the comfortable spot near Liberty Park. My little dog and I enjoyed picking up many birthday cakes and other treats (and even doggie treats!) and taking a quick stroll through Salt Lake's most gorgeous park. One time we even lost the car. We are adventurers!

Treats to take home! Cookie Dough, Cream Cheeze, Magic Cheezah! and other delicious vegan foods!

While you're there for lunch, be sure to check out selections to take home. I really regret not stocking up, but no worries because I'm sure I'll be back this week. I still need to sample their waffles. Is waffles and macaroni and cheese a thing? Because it's gonna be one this week.

Easter Cometh

2013-03-03T22:11:00.001-07:00

Easter is pretty much my favorite. I love bunnies and lambs, pastel colors and spring and most of all the food. Like ordering the Easter Gift Box from Cakewalk Baking Company, Salt Lake City's favorite bakery. An assortment of Dillos (heavenly vegan Twinkies), cookies and sweets are delivered in a little brown box.

You don't even need to live in Salt Lake City to enjoy a sweet vegan Easter Box, for a few bucks more you can get it delivered.

If you could eat Spring in candy form, this is what it would look like. Order it here.

Smoothie in the Salt Lake City

2013-03-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

gorgeous fruit and veggie combinations delivered in a charming mason jar!

Nate Guggia delivers healthy, delicious smoothies to office-bound people in Salt Lake for a very reasonable price. I am poor, often stuck in the office and totally love smoothies - it was perfect that we ran into each other on Twitter.

Smoothe SLC (get it? like smoothie?) will bring you the smoothie of your dreams, be it fruit-filled or funky green. For $7.00 you can start your day with a yummy, Good For You treat!

A few weeks ago we had a Smoothie Day at the SLUG office* and enjoyed a sampling of different smoothies. My favorite was chocolate and coffee heaven! It's like me in a mason jar: 12-16oz cold pressed coffee, cinnamon, tiny bit of vanilla extract, 1tbs flax seed, raw cocoa powder, 2 bananas and ice. Just perfect.

Nate! Gavin! Mike!

Nate was gracious enough to answer some questions for me. So please read on and learn more about a truly different and delicious vegan business in Salt Lake City!

1. How did you decide to go vegan? Was it health or ethics that led you to this decision?

When I first started dating my wife, we took a trip to Central America. We were on a flight and I was reading a book called The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari. It's about a unhealthy, stressed out lawyer who gives it all up to live in the mountains with a group of monks. In the book he described living off of vegetables, rice and fruit basically. Since I had already given up dairy, and was eating very little meat at the time, I decided to just go for it. Right there in the middle of our trip. My wife was already vegetarian so it was easy. Shortly after I read The China Study which, to this day, is still the most influential health related book I've ever read. Half way through it, I set the book down, looked at my wife, and told her I was going vegan for good.

So, initially my choice was for health. Then I became educated in the ethical side of it. Then the environmental impact vegansim plays. so now, it is a complete lifestyle and philosophy for me. It has a deep purpose and passion for me. Much more than just a way of eating for me which makes it very special.

2. You have such an interesting business model! How did you decide to deliver smoothies?

I've been making smoothies for several years now. I think over 3,500 to date. I make them for friends, family and co-workers and they all love them. Some have mentioned here and there that I should start a business around it. Then I read an article in VegTimes about a guy in L.A who has a similar story around his homemade almond milk. He now has a thriving business doing what he loves, serving his community and even some celebrity clients. I've based my model off of what he does.

Check him out: http://mylkman.com/

My entire mission is to use my passion for health and plant based living to serve the on-the-go people of my local community with a fast, convenient and healthy product.

3. Where will your produce be coming from? Are you working with any local farms?

I will get my ingredients both locally and commercially. I will have a big local focus once the weather in SLC improves. This season I will also be growing a lot of my own produce. Commercially, I have relationships with a few, ethically conscious grocers where I buy cases of fruit at discounted prices. When you buy as much produce as I do, you get some cool perks :)

4. What is your favorite smoothie for winter?

My favorite smoothie overall right now is what I call my Power Smoothie. I've made this for many people and they all love it!

1 C Unsweetened Almond Milk

-Bananas (I use 6 myself. I recommend at least 3)

*use one frozen banana if you have it

-1/2 Red, Yellow or Orange Bell Pepper

-1/2 Large Cucumber

-2 Stalks Celery

-1 Nugget or Fresh Ginger

-Cinnamon

-1 tbs Coconut Oil

-1 tbs Ground Flax Seed

-Stevia to Sweeten (Agave or Maple Syrup if you prefer)

4 Ice Cubes

*a cool option is to add 1/3-1/2 avocado instead of coconut oil. Avocado provides a creamy texture to your smoothies that is just awesome.

This will make 36-40oz. For me, this is breakfast. But for some, this can be divided in to two smoothies and drank over two days as breakfast or anytime throughout the day.

Tip: Drink your smoothies out of a mason jar. They are the perfect size, inexpensive and made out of glass which is very clean. I prefer the 16oz wide mouth jars. And I also recommend ordering a pack of plastic lids. You can find them on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/11jJ366

5. Any tips for people making smoothies at home that don't have a fancy blender?

Now a days, most regular, commercial blenders are made very well. They are much more powerful than in the past, mainly because smoothies have become so popular. You can go with an option like this: http://ow.ly/hit19. This blender will easily make fruit based smoothies, but you may run in to some issues blending greens and veggies. I personally use a Blentec. And many others use a Vitmix. They are equivalent in quality and run about $350.00. I look at this is an investment in the thing we value most in life; our health. Yes, the upfront cost is a lot, but they will last forever, have great warranties and produce the quality that most people want. If you are going to make general smoothies, then a less expensive blender will serve you just fine.

_____

Did you notice this month's SLUG? Because I'm totally in it. I had the opportunity to write about one of my favorite new restaurants, Frish ! Pick up an issue right now!

Vegan Cuts Snack Box! You need it!

2013-02-23T16:48:00.002-07:00

If you love getting mail and eating delicious vegan food, you need to subscribe to Vegan Cuts Snack Box! For $19.95 per month you are gifted with a variety of animal-free snackies perfect for lunches, emergencies and sneaking into movie theaters!

It's time for chocolate! No really, you need to order these fine chocolates before Februay 9!!

2013-02-06T20:45:00.002-07:00

Valentines Day should be like this, but with more chocolate.

Alyssa and Danielle Frisk are selling their popular vegan chocolates to raise money for their animal friends at Ching Farm Sanctuary.ORDER RIGHT NOW! February 9th is the cut-off date. Visit their Facebook page for more information and how to order. There is shipping available for those of you outside Salt Lake City!

Hand-made animal-friendly chocolate is truly the perfect gift for Valentines Day, and it's the ideal indulgence for your own sweet self. There are three packages to chose from, but that is ridiculous because you can purchase all three for only $25.00. The white chocolate is hand-made and the dark chocolate comes from Belgium, and is 53% cocoa. Below you will find the different flavors and packages. I'm especially looking forward to the Fancy Package.

**Fancy Package**
-Cardamon Orange
-Lavender Lemon
-Pistachio Rose
-White Chocolate Amaretto
-Peach Habanero
-Red Velvet Cakeball
-White Cakeball

**Regular Package**
-Peanut Butter Cup
-Raspberry Cream
-Caramel Filled
-Cordial Cherries
-Maple Butter
-Marshmallow
-Peppermint Patty

**Truffle and Caramel Package**
-Cookies 'n Cream Truffle
-Toffee Crunch Truffle
-Creamy Almond Truffle
-Irish Cream Truffle
-Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffle
-Hand Rolled Caramel
-Toffee

Beehive Tea Room - tea and sandwiches!

2013-02-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

The moment the door opens you know The Beehive Tearoom is something special. The restaurant is filled with lush vintage furniture and really doesn't feel like a restaurant at all. It's more like your crazy aunt's house.
Everything about the Beehive Tea Room is just impeccable, and that makes it such a nice escape from a work day!

35 different varieties of tea are served and they do have soy milk available. I ordered the chocolate mint and it was delicious! You can also purchase tea pots, tea cups, tea and little voodoo dolls from a gumball machine for a reasonable $1.00. This is my kind of place.

I was grateful to find a few vegan items on the menu, and while they don't have animal-free pastries, they do offer a Hummus Sandwich that comes with salad, chips or soup for $8.95. For such a light sandwich, it was filling and the portions were bigger than I had hoped. A pot of tea is an additional $3.00 and there are plenty to choose from.

a nice little house salad. the creamy vinaigrette was surprisingly decadent for a vegan salad dressing.

gorgeous vegan marble rye bread with creamy hummus, lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes with mustard.

a simple, but delicious sandwich! perfect with a pot of tea.

Blueberry pancakes - the solution for SAD

2013-01-17T14:25:00.001-07:00

blueberry pancakes from Vertical Diner with real maple syrup!

I've made the case for a Pancake Course before. I'm still a little bothered that it hasn't caught on. But what I'm offering today is a solution! A solution for the crippling Seasonal Affective Disorder that is plaguing each and every one of us that live in Salt Lake City.

The air is thick and grey and it's fucking cold. I've been sleeping for ten hours a day, moping around the house and watching hours of television. But you know what? Pancakes.

Fluffy vegan pancakes filled with blueberries, topped with margarine and real Vermont maple syrup from Vertical Diner make everything okay.

The Community Co-op helps you be rich and healthy! And vegan!

2013-01-07T15:34:00.001-07:00

a sampling of the deliciousness that the Co-op has to offer!

The Community Co-op is the best place in Utah to score inexpensive and healthy food. Every Saturday I head over to Murray Park to pick up my produce box full of five different types of veggies and fruit for only $15.00. There is a new selection of fruit and vegetables each week and it's always fun to use everything up, experimenting with new recipes and weird new fruit like persimmons.

Persimmons are lovely orange orbs of sweetness! perfect with tea!

There are lots of other vegan things to eat from the Co-op like olive oil, hummus, bread and an organic produce box. Check out their website for information on how to order and where to pick up your goodies.

this is how I feel every Saturday when I pick up my produce box. except with more veggies on my head.

The year of the VEGAN in Salt Lake City!

2012-12-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

My newest obsession is the Salt Lake Cheesesteak from Buds. Using a tahini-based cheese sauce and soy meat, this vegan sandwich is as savory, chewy and loaded with tangy cheese as the traditional! Totally addictive!

2012 was an amazing year to be vegan in Salt Lake City. We were even named the "Next Great Vegan City" by VegNews magazine. No big surprise here; we all know about our little vegan treasures like Cakewalk Baking Company (I'm eating a Dillo as I write this!!) and Vertical Diner hidden around every corner. Besides our established favorites, there have been delicious vegan and veg-friendly restaurants popping up all over this year! And every where you go, it seems like more and more people understand what "vegan" means!!

my kind of menu! a few choices and everything looks good!

Buds opened this year and it's my new favorite place for lunch. Inexpensive, tasty and fast - it's pretty much your vegan fast-food fantasy come true. Buds serves simple food that is healthy, totally gratifying and just perfect for lunch.

Another of my favorite vegan places that have opened this year is Frisch. They just started serving brunch on Saturdays and biscuits and gravy are on the menu! I can't wait to tuck into some good vegan brunch and black coffee.

I love Frisch!

Among the veg-friendly restaurants there was Taqueria 27, who won my heart with jalapeno-flavored beer, and a delectable variety of guacamole and salsa!

You must eat the OAXACAN MOLE!
I ordered the grilled mushroom. It was smothered with the Oaxacan Mole with
Mulato Chiles, Mexican chocolate, and hint of cinnamon. So good.
I chose the slow-cooked pinto beans and white rice with bell peppers as my two sides and yes, they were delicious!


So many different delicious salsas to chose from! My husband and I loved the smokey hot T27 salsa the best although they were all pretty awesome.

Oh Mai Vietnamese Kitchen is my very favorite vegan-friendly spot that opened in Salt Lake City this year. There is something magical about those sandwiches. The carmelized onions, pickled veggies and slices of tofu surrounded with the crispy, yet fluffiest of bread taste are the best of everything!! Perfect with an ice-cold Coke and tons of Sriracha, it's my ideal meal! And I love that it's less than $5.00!

see?


The best vegan dish in Salt Lake City?

Vegan surprises at Hong Kong Tea House

2012-11-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

the delicious Eggplant & Tofu in Hot Pot ($7.99)

I visited Hong Kong Tea House in hopes of vegan dim sum. There wasn't any, except for a Fried Spring Roll ($2.95) and an interesting selection of tea: Jasmine, Wu Long, Po Lei, Sou Mei and Chrysanthemum ($1.00). I can't wait to try them all! My waiter informed me that all the dim sum contained pork or beef, or were contaminated (her words!) with them before swiftly snatching the dim sum menu from my hands. Next time I'll quickly order some tea and a spring roll with my entree.

I admit I was completely jealous of the other diners, spinning their spinny tabletops full of fried and steamed things. Everything smelled amazing and I was so hungry!

The lunch menu didn't offer much in the way of vegan fare. All dishes come with meaty soup, ham fried rice, an egg roll and a fried wonton. My waiter offered me the regular menu and I was so relieved to see a small selection of reasonably priced veggie and tofu dishes. She let me know what dishes contain oyster sauce before I even asked. I had to wonder if she was vegan herself because she knew so much about the dishes!

You won't miss Hong Kong Tea House in Salt Lake City! It's adorable!

There are a few things I'd like to try on the menu: Chinese Broccoli with Garlic ($7.99), Braised Tofu with Tender Green ($6.99) and one of my favorite dishes, Szechuan Tofu ($6.99). I decided on the Eggplant and Tofu in Hot Pot, and I was so happy I did! It's one of the best things I've eaten this year and I've been daydreaming about it all week.


a close up of the braised eggplant

The sizzling hot pot arrived at my table brimming with gorgeous purple eggplant and tofu swimming in brown sauce; I was already impressed. Digging in, the eggplant was perfectly braised and the tofu was perfectly pan fried. With a little soy sauce and steamed white rice, the Eggplant and Tofu in Hot Pot hit all the umami and carbohydrate spots in my brain.

I'm looking forward to making Hong Kong Tea House my new workday lunch escape. It's quiet and comfortable enough to read a book and unwind, inexpensive, and they really know how to cook veggies.

And ya. I totally forgot about being slighted by the meaty dim sum menu.

and a close up of the tofu!

RICO = HAPPY VEGAN

2012-10-30T18:51:00.001-06:00

This afternoon, two delicious vegan tamales saved me from being grouchy.
I swear that microwaves and tamales are meant for each other. No other food microwaves so well!
Topped with salsa, this was a perfect lunch.

Am I the only person who has freak-out vegan food emergencies? I hope not. For the past few years Rico's frozen burritos and tamales have always been a tasty and dependable staple in my diet, saving me from many food emergencies. Rico's vegan goods are never more than ten minutes away in Salt Lake City and they are ALL DELICIOUS.

Most food places in downtown Salt Lake City carry Rico's salsa, tortillas and frozen stuffs; the trick is to find the vegan options! So, when you see them, make sure to buy a few extras to let the store owner/manager/randompersonintheaisle/cashier know that locally-made vegan food is in very high demand. And make sure you thank them for carrying it!

All of Rico's food is handmade, super fresh and seriously addictive, and there is LOVE in there! I can taste it. Do yourself a favor, check out the many vegan and vegetarian options that Rico's has to offer, buy extras and eat them. Your future self will thank you!

the lovely insides!