Green Vegetarian Restaurant: Vegan Phoenix’s Pride and Joy

Phoenix’s Green New American Vegetarian restaurant is our pride and joy – it’s the kind of place where you can bring omnivores to help them to understand that vegan food isn’t just about steamed veggies, tofu and rice. The menu claims to feature “new American style comfort food,” offering a good blend of mock meat sandwiches, pizzas, fried food and bowls. However, I believe Green pushes the boundaries of “comfort food” by bringing exciting new flavors to well-known dishes, redefining what vegan cuisine can be.

Green is located in a humble strip mall just close enough to ASU to draw in young people on a college budget, but also near enough to “Old Town Scottsdale” to attract older people with an interest in healthy eating. Any restaurant with a quote from Daniel Johnston on the wall has the potential to be “too hip for you” and intimidate the “regular folks,” but instead, Green is friendly and welcoming. You’ll always find a diverse crowd there.

Since we go to Green often enough to have explored most of the menu, I’ll only highlight two of our favorites in this post – the Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad and the Secret BBQ Chicken Sandwich.

I like the Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad so much that I have a hard time ordering anything else.

I had never tried a “chicken salad” before eating at Green – neither mock chicken nor actual dead bird. I’m the quintessential fussy eater who grew up using different pieces of silverware for each item on my plate and getting upset if the peas touched the mashed potatoes (aka nightmare child at a restaurant). The idea of a mayonnaise-based chicken-like mystery concoction makes me want to retch, and the modern chicken salad – pieces of grilled chicken on a bed of lettuce – befuddled me. A salad is a salad, chicken is chicken, and the two should never be mixed. I have even stronger anti-taco salad feelings, which I have yet to overcome. But, during one of many visits to Green I glanced at another table’s food and asked a server what they were eating. Upon learning it was the Spicy Peanut Chicken Salad I thought, “That’s a chicken salad?” It contradicted all of my preconceived notions of what a chicken salad is meant to be. The next time I went to Green I got bold and gave it a try. I now wonder what I’ve been missing.

The first thing I appreciate about the salad is the lettuce – it’s a basic, non-ambitious mixed organic baby greens. It gets a little wilty under the weight of the dressing and chicken, but its foundational flavor doesn’t contradict the variety of tastes in the salad by being overly bitter or sweet. I’m also not interested in having a bunch of wasted “stuff” in my salad (except when it comes to the salad at The Breadfruit, but we’ll save that for another post). Anything in the salad should be designed to either provide a texture contrast and/or soak up the dressing. Period. The crisp julienned carrots and thin, crunchy potato sticks do their jobs well.

The dressing knocks down my second preconceived notion – that salads, in general, are boring. The miso vinaigrette dressing is tremendously tangy – a perfect complement to the spicy chicken. The (mock) chicken is sliced thin, grilled and coated with the same peanut sauce that is used in the Thai peanut bowl. They aren’t kidding with the “spicy” part either – I usually have to grab an extra napkin or two for my runny nose. You would think the miso vinaigrette and the peanut sauce would create a noxious, mis-matched blend of flavors, but they actually remain distinct tastes that don’t create a conflict in your mouth.

My second favorite menu item is the Secret BBQ Chicken Sandwich, served with thyme fries.

The sandwich is pretty straightforward – a standard hamburger bun loaded with thinly sliced grilled mock chicken, caramelized onions, red and green bell peppers and vegan mayo (which I leave off, due to the previously mentioned retching sensation I get at the thought of mayo – vegan or not). The “secret” of the sandwich is in the barbeque sauce – it’s an “espresso” sauce. I don’t know exactly what that involves, given it’s a secret, but it is tangy, mildly spicy, slightly sweet and very messy!  I’ve never had a barbeque sauce like it. I’d buy it for home use if I could (along with that miso vinaigrette and Thai peanut sauce).

Both of these menu items require that you are down with the idea of mock chicken, which I think Green does better than any other place I’ve eaten at. It has the same texture and stringiness as chicken, without the death part, so I’m all for it. The flavor comes from whatever sauce they put on it and it’s been so long since I’ve had chicken I’m not sure what “tastes like chicken” tastes like anymore anyway. Just wash it all down with a glass of fresh-brewed iced green tea with a dash of fresh lemonade and you have a fine, fast and flavorful vegan meal!

Green is on Facebook and Twitter, and is open Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

I Might Be Addicted: Sprinkles Vegan Cupcakes

We had a nice lunch at Green today (I’ll post on that in detail soon) but instead of getting a soynami, we fed my addiction for Sprinkles’ vegan red velvet cupcakes. In case you haven’t run out to try one yet, here’s a picture of two to tempt you:

I don’t ever want to know how many calories they have in them. Sugar OD!

Have (an) a Vegan Cuban Dinner in Phoenix!

When most people think of Cuban food, “vegan-friendly dining” doesn’t usually come to mind. Cuban cuisine is typically rich in flavored meats such as picadillo and classic sandwiches like the medianoche. But in reality, it’s a dining experience full of vegan/vegetarian options that tantalize the taste buds!

I was raised in Orlando, Florida, which was full of great Cuban and Puerto Rican restaurants. I lived near a significant Seventh-day Adventist community, which adheres to a strict vegetarian diet. As a result, my favorite local family-style Cuban restaurant, Don Pepe’s Cuban Café (renamed Habana Grill since I moved), has a wide assortment of vegetarian and vegan items to cater to this community. We love their food so much we had them cater our wedding 10 years ago.

The lack of authentic Cuban food in Phoenix was a bit of a shock to my system when I moved here. The only Cuban restaurant I could find was Havana Café on Camelback.

At the time I first tried it, the memory of my favorite Florida restaurant was too fresh in my mind. It’s thirteen years later now, and the memories have faded. I’ve grown to value the unique offerings at Havana Café, and appreciate the amount of vegan items on the menu.

Cuban restaurants are a great place for vegetarians, vegans and omnivores alike to experience food that is full of flavor, but isn’t “too spicy” like other ethnic cuisines that are vegan-friendly such as Thai or India food. Our meal this weekend consisted of a variety of sides and appetizers, namely:

Vegetable empanaditas (stuffed with lentils, corn and carrots, served with a salsa)

Black beans and rice (a Cuban staple done with an interesting flavor at Havana Cafe)

Tostones (fried green plantains served with a delicious garlic/lime sauce) and Maduros Fritos (ripe plantains sweetened and caramelized)

We also had some fun Caribbean sodas – Iron Beer and Jamaican Ginger Beer.

Our waiter was very good at pointing out what was vegan, but we could only eat so much in one meal. Other appetizers and tapas items that are vegan include gazpacho soup, interesting salads and yuca fries. I still need try more vegetarian items (but I don’t know yet if they are vegan) with interesting names such as “Sun Spots” (sweet potato fries) and “Frituras de Frijoles Negros” (black bean fritters).

If you want a full entrée, Paella de Legumbres and Cho Cho (without the cream sauce) are probably your best options. However the paella takes awhile to make and I haven’t tried it yet, so make sure you ask if they use any butter/meat/fish/poultry stock before ordering!

They also have a gluten-free menu which includes many vegan/vegetarian items.

Havana Café will never supplant my favorite Cuban restaurants in Florida, but it’s a nice, friendly restaurant with a style all its own, and is close to where I work on Camelback. There is another location in North Scottsdale as well, called “Havana Patio Café”. Both are open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, dinner only on Sunday.

Update: see expanded list of vegan options in the comments!

Thai food for vegans in Phoenix: Malee’s Thai Bistro

When in doubt, there are two fairly “safe bets” for dining out if you’re a vegan: Middle Eastern and Thai food. I plan to review my Phoenix favorites for both cuisines in this blog over time. 

We recently visited Malee’s Thai Bistro on Main St. in Scottsdale prior to seeing David Sedaris at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The meal was so I good thought it deserved a quick shout out. 

There are some darn fine Thai restaurants in Phoenix, most of which are small, family-owned casual dining restaurants. Malee’s stands out from the crowd because while the prices are still reasonable, it is an “upscale restaurant” – aka the type I can take business associates to for lunch or dinner. It also does a great job of catering to vegetarians/vegans. 

Not only do they have a vegetarian section on the menu, but I’ve also been able to order non-vegetarian items with tofu (and the required verbal verification that the sauce doesn’t have beef/chicken broth or fish oil). We also like that you can get many dishes as a small plate or full size (which is enough for two) which allows us to each order an entrée and share, or share a large dish and get an appetizer! 

Our favorites are:

• Arizona Heatwave with tofu – a nice red curry with veggies that is on the hotter side
• Fresh Veggie Rolls – the dipping sauce is lick-your-fingers good (add the hot sauce to it!)
• Fried Tofu – I haven’t had this in awhile, but I remember it being of high quality (unlike the over-cooked greasy stuff I’ve gotten elsewhere)

I wouldn’t swear that Malee’s is the most authentic Thai/SE Asian restaurant in Phoenix, but it’s close. When I was in Singapore I had a red curry at Villa Bali that still blows my mind when I think about it. Malee’s Arizona Heatwave is the only dish that has come close to replicating the flavor that I remember from Singapore. 

It’s a great place to go with omnivores when you’re looking to have a nice dining experience that makes everyone happy.

Malee’s blog: http://maleesthaibistro.wordpress.com/

What a concept: vegan food, brought to your front door!

 

Life can be full of little inconveniences if you’re a vegan in Phoenix (or anywhere except LA I think). The day my eye caught the word “delivery” on the zpizza online menu, I did a happy dance knowing that at some level, I could rejoin the world of convenience dining. 

Having pizza delivered to your door is one of the greatest conveniences ever conceived. It ranks up there on the “OMG I am so lazy” scale with TV remote controls, self-scooping litter boxes and emailing your husband when he’s sitting on the couch right next to you. 

I heard of zpizza awhile ago, but at the time their soy cheese wasn’t vegan (aka “why bother?”). Our good friend Neil Hamburger, who is a gluten-free vegan, was in Phoenix on tour last fall with Puscifer and discovered zpizza when he wandered around downtown looking for food. When we met up with him for dinner he was raving about it, because finding gluten-free vegan food when you’re touring across the country as an opening act (aka not in control of your schedule or catering) can be highly inconvenient. 

The Berkeley Vegan is the obvious go-to, but they can make many other pies, pasta, sandwiches, salads and calzones vegan as well. Although the website doesn’t provide a listing of food ingredients/allergens (note: see update below), the manager at our local shop knows the ingredients well and is happy to guide us toward the vegan options. They of course use Daiya cheese, and I believe they use Gardein sausage-like meat. The marinara sauce is vegan, but I’m not sure about the pestos or roasted garlic sauce. The dough is vegan and can be ordered gluten free too. The balsamic vinaigrette is vegan (other dressings may be too). 

So if you live within a zpizza delivery zone, want a great vegan pizza and just don’t feel like leaving the house, go for it! Indulge yourself in the luxury of home delivery! You can even order online, eliminating the need to talk to anyone except the delivery person! Just don’t forget to put it in your own oven for a bit to give the Daiya cheese a chance to cook up well. 

Follow zpizza on Facebook and Twitter for frequent coupons/deals. 

Update: zpizza does have a list online of vegan ingredients. Silly me didn’t know it was under the FAQs instead of under “ingredients”: http://zpizza.com/about/faq#vegan-options

The Berkeley Vegan

Vegan vacation: Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, Calif.

Stanford Inn by the Sea

Two things compelled me to write about a non-Phoenix vegan destination. 1. I really need a vacation, and 2. We just learned that the beautiful cat that stayed with us at the Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, Calif. passed away.

If you are like us, “Where are we going to eat?” always factors into our vacation planning. Especially after we traveled to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore a few summers ago. I sure hope Pepto-Bismol is vegan because my husband downed at least two quarts of it during our misadventures in dining there.

Last fall, we decided to visit the redwoods in California. I’ll admit that I was motivated because my favorite National Geographic explorer J. Michael Fay conducted a “redwoods transect” of the area and I really like to say the word “megatransect” (the name for his trek across the Congo and Gabon). But mostly we went because we found what I believe is probably the best vegan resort on the planet – the Stanford Inn by the Sea.

You can read about the features of the hotel for yourself on their website or Trip Advisor, but what we liked the most was:

• The on-site restaurant that is vegan/vegetarian
• The green/eco-friendly nature of the hotel/grounds
• The uber-gorgeousness and remoteness of the region
• Free bike rentals
• Vegan chocolate-chip cookies left for us in our room every day
• And most important: the kitties that live at the inn.

I think we have some type of cat-magnet vibe about us, because all three nights we stayed there, a lovely calico kitty named “Callie” invited herself into our room and slept with us. We were very sad to hear of her passing. She was precious.

Callie, resident kitty at the Stanford Inn by the Sea

But now to the food…

The vegetarian/vegan Raven’s Restaurant is attached to the inn. Breakfast is included with the room, and they serve both vegetarian and vegan options. Be hungry, because it’s a full meal. The “Vegetarian Garden Scramble” was good, but I think I liked the “Stanford Ranchero” the best. The fresh vegan muffins were great too.

Also included with the hotel room (I think) is afternoon tea. They served amazing homemade vegan treats – all you can eat (but I tried to not entirely pig out). The website is currently saying they offer “afternoon hors d’oeuvres” so I hope they didn’t change it from tea/baked goods to bar food. (Ed note – see comment below. Delightful afternoon treats are still happening!)

We ate dinner at the Raven’s Restaurant two of our three nights there. It looks like they recently brought in a new chef and have almost completely changed the menu. That’s probably a plus, because the dinners were just “good” (not exceptional) and they were somewhat expensive. We also could have been spoiled because we stayed in San Francisco during the first night of our vacation and had a glorious meal at Millennium. Given the location and ability to just roll out the restaurant to our hotel room, we were pleased with what we got. I remember the soup and the pasta being particularly excellent, as were the deserts. The new menu looks great, so I hope we are able to make a second visit. It would be sad to not see Callie though.

Don’t forget to try the local wines as well – which was another plus of the restaurant being attached to the hotel!  No need to have a designated driver to navigate the twisty coastal roads after dinner!

We’re always looking for other great places to stay that are vegan-friendly, so please pass along recommendations. There was plenty to do (and other places to eat at) in the area, but since I’m trying (and failing) to take my husband’s advice and “keep the posts short” – I’ll save that for another day.

Related content:

My husband’s photos from the region: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bostworld/sets/72157622593743686/

The Stanford Inn by the Sea on Facebook, including more cat pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mendocino/The-Stanford-Inn-by-the-Sea/195261080053?v=wall

Daiya Vegan Cheese Retail Packs Now at Whole Foods in Phoenix

When Daiya (pronounced day-a) vegan cheese first arrived in the non-dairy section of our local Whole Foods it seemed a bit odd because it was sold in the containers usually reserved for Whole Foods’ own prepared foods – hand packed and sold by individual weight. This didn’t seem like an ideal retail distribution strategy to me. Last week, Daiya started appearing in actual retail packaging, signaling a broader distribution of the product, which can only mean good things for vegans who still want a little melty cheesy goodness in their lives.

(Photo borrowed from Vegansaurus)

I first heard about Daiya from the Quarry Girl blog and was intrigued.

Not only was it vegan, but it was also:

*  Cholesterol free

* Trans Fat free

* Dairy free

* Free of all animal products (Vegan)

* Free of common allergens including: Soy, Casein, Lactose, Gluten, Egg, Wheat, Barley, Whey, Rice, and Nuts

* Free of Artificial Ingredients

* Free of Preservatives

* Free of Hormones & Antibiotics

It seemed like the miracle vegan cheese. Kicking cheese was the hardest part of going vegan for me. I’ve tried other vegan cheese but they either had the texture of plastic, or wouldn’t melt. My palate may have changed enough that I wouldn’t like real cheese now at all, but Daiya fills a major gap in my diet.

First we tried the mozzarella style white cheese, which was perfect for pizza and my Italian noodle casserole (which my family calls goulash but couldn’t be farther from it – it’s more like hamburger helper). After one of my husband’s homemade pizza pies I was sold. It melted so well, and even browned on the edges and bubbled up appropriately.

Then the cheddar style started showing up. Our immediate thought of where to put Daiya cheddar was tacos. Taco night is a big thing in my house. We had tried other vegan cheddars but we were very “meh” about them. With Daiya, our tacos had an added dimension of yum. All of the sudden my mind started opening up to all the things I used to make with cheddar cheese. Cheese crisps, grilled cheeses, quesadillas, enchiladas, chili, bagels with cheese, nachos… and made them all in like, one week. Daiya overload!

Yes, it really melts:

Grilled cheese made with Daiya, courtesy of tamatrading.com

Then came the true test for Daiya cheddar: mac and cheese. Daiya not only passed, it was exceptionally good. Okay, maybe not quite as good as Velveeta (my family’s cheese of choice when I was growing up), but for a person who lived on mac and cheese throughout the majority of her life, it was revolutionary.

I’m hoping that with Daiya’s new retail distribution, more grocery stores and local restaurants will start carrying it. I think Green offers it as an option for their food. zpizza makes its Berkeley Vegan pies with it, but we think they need to refine the prep a bit. They tend to put too much on and not cook it enough, so we usually bring the pie home and cook it a little more in our oven to get it to the right texture. Amy’s Kitchen frozen foods makes a (not exactly healthy) mac and cheese with Daiya that I got from a Whole Foods in Texas but I haven’t found in Phoenix yet. It was so good I scraped the burnt-on cheese off the side of the carton (even after reading that it had 520 calories and 22 grams of fat, which is more than their standard cheese version).

The new Daiya retail packs are a bit more expensive than the hand-packed containers at Whole Foods, but the shelf life is longer so it should help it to gain broader distribution. I believe Whole Foods wills still carry block (not shredded) hand-packed Daiya cheddar too, for those who want to shred it or slice it themselves.

If you’re happy eating dairy, Daiya may not be for you. But if you’re looking for an alternative to dairy-based cheese that can be used in a variety of recipes, give it a try.  Daiya is on Facebook if you want to learn more or become a “fan.”

For a shot at trying it for free, PETA is running a contest. Winners receive two 5-pound bags of Daiya that they are supposed to use to host a party. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do for my husband’s 50^th. A Daiya cheese party sounds like a great idea!