Ok everyone...

I'm back and posting on fb/ig again because everyone just kept liking my shit while I was not posting so why the heck not come back. I'll post more often on both of those and do really big posts here again every once in while.
Here's the links, check it:
Facebook
Instagram

Peace, love, and fake chikn grease, (and OXFORD COMMAS)
Norine, MN Vegan

Au revoir for now!

Hey all! I'm posting this from Berlin, Germany. I have good news and bad news...
The good news is that: I love that you have supported me throughout the last however many years I've been posting as MN Vegan, on fb/instagram/the blog. I'm glad ppl thought my posts were worthwhile at all.
The bad news: I've got some big plans for myself in the next 1.5-2 years and really need to focus on them. This Europe trip has made it even more apparent than before. I will no longer be posting as MN Vegan from here on out. I'll take down the fb in the next couple of days and leave the blog up. I AM STILL VEGAN. Vegan for life, yo.

You all have been wonderful, seriously. Thank you for saying hi to me at the vegan festivals and sharing in my joy of vegan food. We have a ton of options now in Minnesota and it's so great (check out HappyCow Vegan Guide, they're the best!) Peace and love always,

S Norine, The MN Vegan, and Bella

MN Vegan's Best of 2016

Ok guys...I know that I've been more inactive than usual on this thing. That's because I'm mostly posting on the FB and IG these days (@themnvegan on both). Also I co-star on Feed Me Vegan and that's been keeping me busy too (@feedmeveganshow on IG and FB!). Check me out!

I felt it imperative, NAY-ABSOLUTELY 100% NECESSARY, to post about my favorite things that I ate this year, and lord knows I can't fit all of that in one FB/IG post (read: I eat a lot).

I wanted to make certain this was feasible for readers and so I made it very, very simple for you: Best Lunch/Dinner Meal, Best Breffest/Brunch Meal (bc it's my fave meal of the day. Luh you soooo very much, brunch, you the best), and Best Dessert (second favorite meal).

BEST LUNCH/DINNER MEAL: Gotta give it up to Señor Wongs in St Paul. If you're wanting a good lunch/Taco Tuesday/date dinner this place provides a damn good meal with lots of vegan options.

Honorary mention to anything that Herbivorous Butcher serves in their deli (sandwiches and soups mostly).

BEST BREFFEST/BRUNCH MEAL: The "Yes It's Vegan" donut sammy from Glam Doll Donuts. They use Herbivorous Butcher vegan meats and the vegan egg to make this awesome hangover killer. Check out the NE location of Glam Doll Donuts that just opened!

BEST DESSERT THING/MEAL: Any of the non-dairy ice creams from Milk Jam Creamery. Try the peanut butter Oreo one-it is bomb!

That's a wrap! And shout out to you guys (readers). You guys are the bestest. My page is almost at 50,000 hits and that warms my heart so much it might just burst. DO IT YOU GUYS. MAKE IT BURST. PLZ.

Ok enough of the tomfoolery. See you guys on the flip.

The MN Vegan

MN Vegan on Feed Me Vegan

Ok guys...here's the news. I'm now a co-host on Feed Me Vegan and my first episode "Cozy Comfort Food" with the lovely Chelsea Youngquist (hot/superstar/genius) who runs Animal Rights Coalition's programs is now up on youtube! 
Some shoutouts that made it into the episode (my first! Woo!): The Vegan Zombie (heyoo Chris ;) ), The Herbivorous Butcher (♥ Aubry and Kale), and Rachel Ray Show (who makes putting together a 30 min meal look EASY when it indeed is not, rock on R. Ray). 

Ok guyz, enjoy! Hope you likey. CLICKY HERE TO WATCH!

MN Vegan

IMPORTANT!!!!

Ok...I lied. This is really not that important. It's about food and stuff. Because this is a food blog. And today I'm feeling particularly bloggy.

However...I will say that in a couple of weeks I'm going be able to share some really exciting news with you all. But until then your curious minds will have to wait. I promise it's good. I PROMISE, OK????

Ok. 

Ok. 

I'm really just wasting time because I'm thinking about what I've eaten recently that I can show you. Ah yes!

I went on a hiking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth. I didn't make my goal (30 miles), but I did acquire a kickass injured ankle and knee. Win win? Don't answer that.

I did drown my sorrows in this though (the quinoa curry bowl from Duluth Grille), which was probably the best decision I made the entire trip. The cubes that look like tofu are actually fried garbanzo bean cubes (aka yummmm):

And then! I ate some schtuff at the beloved Herbivorous Butcher. This is their Italian Cold Cut sammy and the ghost pepper caramel they carry (made by Comfort Candy). Both were hella good and full of flavor. Beware of the spice of that caramel. It hit me right in the back of the throat while I was leaving and I'm pretty sure everyone in the shop thought I was gonna die because all of a sudden I sounded like Golem.

That caramel is the best/worst thing that ever happened to me. Jk I'm being dramatic, but it's pretty damn good.

Ok guys...until next time. Peace and luv.

And hey! Check me out on the Insta and the FBeezy!

Xoxoxoxo,

MN Vegan

Hellloooooo/stats/update

Copy/pasted from that fun little page that comes up when I log into blogger:


Pageviews 

United States 131 
Ukraine 121 
Singapore 9 
Germany 3 
Brazil 2 
Latvia 2 
Belgium 1 
Czech Republic 1 
United Kingdom 1
Indonesia 1 


 Apparently I'm big in Ukraine? You guys are great. Keep "like"ing and stuff on FB/insta-that's where all my posts are now basically bc I'm lazy. @mnvegan on FB and @snorine28 on insta.

Facebook link clicky

Instagram link clicky (beware I also post personal/artsy/music stuff on their too-you're gonna get unfiltered Norine 1000%)

Xoxoxoxoxox


MN Vegan

Have an FB?

Then like me and follow me on FB!!!

Click here for the good stuff.

I'm posting on there more now...but don't worry. I'm going to Chicago this weekend for Vegan Vortex and Pitchfork and I'm sure I'll have something to show for it. <3 you guyz.

MN Vegan

Holy cannoli!

Mmmm....cannolis.

Anyways, I tried the Follow Your Heart's vegan egg finally. It was legit, though I felt like I was preparing it wrong because it kept getting watery. Turns out, this lady doesn't know how to follow the damn directions that well!
Whatever. Shout out to The Herbivorous Butcher because:
1. They carry it on in store and
2. I will try to marry one of them (not really....ok I lied, yes really).:

Et voila!



Shown here: the vegan egg being prepared and the prepared product with some hot sauce. I mixed in some onion, cajun seasoning, and salt. It had the consistency of scrambled eggs and a really good flavor. I don't remember what eggs taste like (it's been 11 year...) but I dare say this tasted BETTER. THAT'S RIGHT-BETTER. *put up fists*

All right guys see you next time, I'm outty 5000.

MN Vegan

My V Day was the best V Day

I got so much to share with you so let's just get right down to it mmk?

Valentines Day I went and got me a pretty vanilla iced vegan cake donut from none other than Glam Doll Donuts. Such sweet hearts, them guys. Looky!

And then I ate another delicious maple cashew donuts from my girl Karrie at Totally Bake Donuts. <3

THEN I ATE THIS BC I CAN NOW:

AND THEN I ATE THESE BC I CAN NOW:

So...how was your guys' collective V Days?

*dozes off into sugar coma*

<3 MN Vegan <3

MN Vegan Heart's Herb Butch, mmk?

Life has been bananas. I'm realizing more and more that I'm not good at multitasking several different life changes at once but here's a run-down of my life to do list:

1. Finish grad school

2. Get licensed af

3. Find kickass job and rock it

4. Get back into music stuff

So here I am now...finally updating this thing in what feels like forever. Sorreh bout that. Imma bout to do it up now and I got soooo many things to share w you, I'm gonna stick to the most important of them:

Herbivorous Butcher finally opened omfg! Here's my kickstarter backer gift:

Here's me and some other pics I took at the grand opening on Jan 26th/with Aubry and Kale, the awesome owners:

And here's what I bought/ate and what I def recommend:

The maple bacon.

The BBQ ribs.

The Korean ribs.

The jerky. 

Any of the cheeses (pictures here with the bacon and some Triscuits). 

Let me just put it this way, if you don't go we're not friends anymore. Ok!? Get there!!

MN Vegan

Dessertz 2015

First of all I'M A DOT COM AND IT FEELS SO GOOD. *gets down*

Also...sorry about the ads I have to post on my website...but I know you guys will forgive me soon bc I'm about to change your damn life. With...desserts!!!

Ok y'all. I'm about to lay some knowledge on you. I ate a lot of places this last year and wanted to pull the best of the best out of the foods so you get the down and dirty version of where to eat. I'll post later about general dope meals I've eaten in the last year as well...but I wanted to center this entry around my favorite food group....DESSERT!!!

Ok. So here's what you do/where ya you go:

First go to Duluth Grille (in Duluth) for their chocolate avocado ice cream (comes w/a snicker doodle cookie):

Then get your booty over to Whole Foods (downtown Mpls) and try their sorbetto:

And then! If you're still hankering', give Suzie V Homemaker a ringading and order some dessert from her. This writer is knowledgeable that Suzie V has made things like vegan Cherpumple (google it), vegan unicorn poop cookies (again, google it), and creations like this here cookie dough cupcake:

That's a wrap on 2015 desserts, y'all. Make sure you get to these desserts in your collective mouths at some point in the very very near future. 

I'm out!

MN Vegan

Yooooooo...

Wanna soak up each other's awesomeness like this?:



Of course you do (minus the shooters...and add vegan pizza)!! Also you're going to come bc you know the above movie reference, right? Right.

So come join me at this vegan meet up at Pizza Rev in Edina, MN on December 16th at 6:30pm. Sign up with your FB or google account and come eat wif meeeee. It's gonna be real real fun, I swear. We got some characters in our little Mpls vegan community. I mean that in the best way possible, of course.

JOIN ME!!!! RSVP NOW!! Or I'll be really sad, ok?

MN Vegan

MN Vegan on the FBeezy

Hey all, I'm on FB if ya didn't hear and I totally rocked it out at TC Veg Fest today.

"Like" me on my FB page for more frequent updates about what I'm putting in my mouth these days (one of these may be Glam Doll Donuts' NEW vegan cake donut!! Aaaaahhhhhh)


Yaaaaaasss!!!

MN Vegan

Holy buckets.

Lookyyy what I made!!!:

You guys, vegan meringue is officially a thing. How exciting is that?! I used to bake vegan stuff for a living and tbh hadn't done much baking in a while. That there is a dark chocolate meringue pie and its total meringue-y goodness sent me into a blissful sugar coma (that eventually induced a nightmare but whatevs I can deal) and also, it's super effing pretty, am I right? Yum.

Ok ok...so I also ate places too. I lead a Minneapolis Vegan Meetup Dine Out recently at Sen Yai Sen Lek (NE rep'in! Whaaaat) and ate these delicious thingies:

Ok so here's the thing...I love this place. They have a separate vegan/vegetarian/gluten free menu if you ask them. I got the mango curry thing and for dessert the banana coconut rice dessert thing. Everything there is pretty much stellar tho so go and gives them yer monies, yo. I would highly recommend the above dishes but I tell you...I was drooling over every body else's dish, as per usual. 

Get therrrrrrrrrrrrre. Yas.

MN Vegan

WHITE CASTLE SLIDERS NOW VEGAN

THIS IS NOT A TEST-SHIT'S FREAL THIS TIME Y'ALL.

You bet your sweet booty I was there tonight and I got three of those suckers (with the sweet Thai sauce! This is the only vegan one I think...)

Sigh...I love being vegan.

MN Vegan

I call this entry "Noms, chapter 59,386":

Yooooooooo what's good.

You KNOW WHAT LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU. But first!

Sometimes I host a Minneapolis Vegan Meet-up Dine Out. And we go to delicious places around the Mpls/StP area. And we eat food and general merriment ensues. It's a good time and you should join meeeeeeeeeeeeeee. 

So. Food and stuff. I got you. Here's some great places to get some bomb India-inspired cuisine.

I recently went to Namaste Cafe and holy crap. Just...just look at the pics ok? Pretty sure I don't have to break this down much for you:

Ok so from top to bottom, let's do this! For the appetizer, me and mother dearest shared some spicy potatoes, which are a crowd favorite-slightly crunchy and perfectly spiced. Next we got the mango coconut curry with tofu-sweet and spicy! And then last but not least, the coconut carrot creme brûlée, which is always a great way to end a meal (i.e. very full). Namaste is good for many reasons, such as: romantic place to bring a first date (twinkly lights), vegan stuff is labeled on the menu, that there coconut creme brûlée, the chai tea, etc etc. Woop!

Ok, next. Bombay Bistro has a lunch buffet that is so freaking tasty and all-you-can-eat-y, I can't even. I told that to the guy running the joint after my meal and he was all like girl, 

and then all of sudden, I could. Magic/sorcery!

Ok! 

Here's is all the tasty-looking stuff that's vegan in the buffet. There's probably more there during the lunch buffet (for less than $15 all you can eat), but I barely survived this buffet because EVERYTHING. Literally everything was on point so hard I almost stabbed myself w it. It's also pretty central in downtown Mpls-get it! Also ask the ppl there what is vegan-they're super friendly and helpful. 

Ok Fasika. I don't know how I went so long without trying your cuisine, but a couple weeks ago, I gave up the fight to resist your charms. This here is the veggie sampler (all vegan, with my friends lovely finger in the shot):

This place is in ye old StP and it is totally worth the jaunt. Some of the stuff on this plate was totally waaay spicy, like I likes it. Get this, you will not be disappointed!!

Ok guys, I'm srsly stuffed. Jk *goes to Dancing Ganesha for the gobi manchurian and stuffs face more* (also, go there bc it is bomb food too)

I'm out!!! *waddles away*

MN Vegan

THE SWAG NEVER STOPS

First order of bidness: I has an FB now. Check it here! (Clicky and uhh...likey!!)

Eyyyyy get ready for the latest and greatest (read: my faves of what I put into my mouthhole recently):

There's this place near me called Mojo Coffee Gallery (art gallery and coffee bar) and it is the jam. I love this place and I know I said this last time but it amazed me so I have to mention is again: some dude was making a huge fish out of garbage while I sat there eating my vegan veggie burger. And I kid you not, this guy was methodical and hypnotizing to watch. Also I might have been kinda tipsy. SUCH IS LIFE.

Anyways I ate there again and watched another art thingy happen, check the pics!:

That's the inside of the place. Did I mention that I'm a coffee/tea cup collector and that this place is my effing kryptonite? Everything's on sale. I literally walk up in that place holding back all demons inside myself telling me to BUY ALL THE THINGS. Yap.

 

The outside deck on a beautiful rainy day. 

The bomb cup of half-caff joe I had. Pretty sure this was a half-caff Americano technically, but it tasted very good and I don't even like espresso typically so that prob means something. Take notes.

I can't remember what this dude was making...but they have a big screen that also shows you in case you don't want to sit there slowing eating your food and zombie-ing out right in front of the artist like a creep (totally going to do that sometime FYI).

 

So they have several vegan items (including a bombass vegan burger) but this is their vegan bahn mi. I swear to all that is good and holy in the world, there's effing magic in that vegan mayo.  It's spicy af!

I don't know why I took another pic of their patio but I did. Bc it's pretty maybe? Idk.

H'okay moving on. I hosted a vegan dining meetup (check out the Minneapolis Vegan Meetup on meetup.com to hang out with cool peeps) and we all went to Agra Culture, this newer place in Uptown (bane of my existence to drive through/*throws major shade*). They have a ton of really great vegan options there and this vegan orange currant scone, though it did have the texture of a muffin, was very good! 

Le piece de la resistance (bwaaah I never know what I'm typing anymore) tho was this guy here-the agra plate. You pick what goes into it so it ends up being different every time for me. I don't know what is with their thai sauce but it must have friggin magic in it too bc I swear I could fly after eating this stuff. 

 

Good thing I didn't fly away though because I really like donuts. That last sentence made no sense. Anyhoo, my friend Karrie makes gluten free vegan donuts and sells them every Wed at the Capella Tower in downtown Mpls. GET THE MAPLE (COCONUT) BACON ONE. OR THE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE ONE. OR THE LEMON ONE. OR ALL OF THEM JUST GET ALL OF THEM. They are so so so good. Follow her stuff to see where she will be selling next-Totally Baked Donuts on FB.

Okey dokey I think I'm gonna waddle my way outta here *starts taking a food nap at her desk*

Bouncin'!

MN Vegan

Food truckin'.

This is just how we do (in freakin 95 degree weather). Tim's ass couldn't take it, so we basically ate and left. Psssh. MOVE THEN, TIM, IF YOU DON'T LIKE SUMMER.

I went to the Minnesota Food Truck Association's event at Bauhaus Brewery this last weekend in an effort to try and pin down for you guys some vegan food truck options. And boy, did I find some!
Here goes nothing (read: everything):

Vegan dog from Cafe Racer (ask about their options-nothing on the menu is explicitly vegan but they have vegan hot dogs and stuff). This had potato chips, hot peppers and mustard. Yummmmm. They also have a store front! Bomb.

Foxy Falafel has a storefront over in St Paul  that I've reviewed before (check the tags, yo). Their falafels are friggin amazing. Get some!

Stanley's in NE has a food truck and a vegan hummus wrap on their menu. I love going to the actual bar for sports games and drinking their sangria. WIN WIN.

Moral Omnivore had a curry quinoa squash thingy that was  pretty damn good AND-it's labeled on their menu. Daaaaamn check it outtttt.

And of course, I gots to get me some Fro Yo Soul vegan frozen yogurt. I topped my coconut-based softserve with cinnamon toast crunch and strawberries (naturally). Always a hit with me, know what I'm sayin?

And I didn't forget to wash it all down with some Spruce Soda. Kickass, delicious ginger beer yummm.

Google these food trucks, visit Bauhaus sometime, EAT. DRINK. PROSPER, MY DEAR READERS.

I'M OUT!

MN Vegan