A 2fer!

Are you guys totes pumped right now?! I'm about to update the shit out of this blog. It's been a while, you guys. And I've put so many tasty things in my mouth lately, I just have to gush about it for a sec. Mmk? MMK.

So Dancing Ganesha is bomb. They have this stuff:

Gobi Machurian! It has the consistency of fried chik'n, but sans the chik'n, y'all. In a tasty, tangy tomato-y sauce that, in my mind, embodies umami. Don't know what that is? Clicky! Anyhoo. it's damn tasty. Get some now! If you're visiting them soon, make sure to ask what's vegan on the menu.




















Also, I re-visited my favesy Buddhist Chinese restaurant in STP, Bravo! Cafe and Bakery. Hot damn, you guys. Check this shit out:

That there is their Kung Pao "Chicken" and their Sesame "Chicken" with Broccoli. This stuff is heavy on the sauce, but the sauces have so much flavor. I have been cheating on many other Chinese food places in the Twin Cities (*cough* Evergreen *cough*) for the simplicity of the dishes, the price and, what can I say? I know the owner. She's a sweetheart.

There's your eats, y'all. Get some!!! Or else...I'll, uh...explode. And you wouldn't want that because that's gross.

I'm outty!

MN Vegan

Delicious deliciousness.

Is one post a week enough? I have no clue, but I realize that this is what I'm doing. Meh.

SO. Yes. Here we are. *awkward silence*

*crickets chirping*

*Bella...snoring*

Ok I swear I'm done foolin'. I'm going to give you all the best, most tasty update EVER in the history of this blog. *rolls up sleeves* Aaaannnd SHAZAM!

FIRST THING'S FIRST. I made cupcakes tonight for Cupcakes for Their Sake happening at Ethique Nouveau in south Minneapolis tomorrow at noon. On the menu: vegan peanut butter cup cupcakes and vegan strawberry cheesecake cupcakes. Have a looksee:

Mmmm. I also felt generous and made Manfriend a vegan chocolate peanut butter cheesecake! What what.

Manfriend and I have been going a little nuts lately, as in we have cabin fever. We lived it up though this last week and as a result, spent waaaay too much money. First! We went to Evergreen Chinese which has by far the BEST vegan Chinese food in Minneapolis. It's family owned and really popular for its deliciousness. I really need to stop using that word.

Anyway, I strayed from my usual this time (kung pao vegan chicken) and went straight for the mock fried peppered pork!

I can see why this is one of my friend's (Ryan) favorites. It's not saucy by any means, but it has a spicy kick that'll knock your socks off and a savory flavor that can't be beat. The breading is extra tender too, if you like breaded mock meats. WHICH I DO. Though I still prefer my kung pao to this (sorry delicious mock pork), this gave that longstanding favorite run for its money, and that's saying something I think.

We then went to the Chinese grocer across the way for some mochi and stocked up on cans of mock meat. If you do not know what mochi is (also can be called diafuku), google it, buy it and thank me. You're welcome, my friend. Hint: it's a sweet treat.

Aaand, look what I found at the uptown the Wedge, on Vegan Pizza Day no less!

Alas, I did not buy it but it's good to know what is new and vegan. The St Paul Whole Foods has vegan take-home pizza with Daiya on it. Sweeet.

I also found (new) vegan mini cookies at the uptown Whole Foods! They had vegan snickerdoodle and vegan chocolate chip. I, of course, got two of the snickerdoodle cookies. YUM.

They were dense and delicious! The perfect little treat.

HEY MINNESOTA VEGANS: You guys really should hit up Hard Times Cafe in Minneapolis. They've been stepping up their vegan baked goods and I saw VEGAN BISMARKS there the other night. What!? YEP. Do as I say. Just a little shout-out to a personal favorite, ya know. ;) Hell yes for increasing the availability of delicious vegan food in Minnesota. I'm personally really proud of how far veganism has come here.

Ok guys, that's my post. Have a fantastic weekend and I'll see you on the (delicious) flipside.

MN Vegan

Interview with a Vegan #2: Ryan

Ryan is a wonderfully informative and very passionate vegan I met through Animal Rights Coalition. She is someone I have already learned so much from in the short time I have known her and she also shares the same love for Daiya vegan cheese that I do! I am very happy to know her and very fortunate to have her as an interviewee in my blog.

Without further delay, here's the interview, coming atcha:

1. How many years have you been vegan?
I have been Vegan almost two years

2. What made you choose veganism and why?
I'm not proud to admit this but I was trying to lose a little vanity weight and bought Skinny Bitch having no idea that this unassuming diet book punches you in the face halfway thru by detailing what gruesomely happens to animals for our palates and how bad animal products are for our bodies. The reason I don't talk about that much is because in hindsight, that book is full of speciesist language that ultimately enforces our notions that animals are less than us (like saying if you eat too much you're a "fat pig"). I hadn't even finished the book before I decided to be Vegan and I didn't even have a "last meal". I've been Vegan since. And I lost THIRTY pounds. I was aiming for ten.

3. What keeps you vegan every day?
My morals and ethics keep me Vegan every day. I can't live out of line with my values of compassion for non-human animals. This is made markedly easier because I like to get active about things I'm passionate about. I got involved by volunteering immediately and have made a lot of great friends. The first few months are definitely the hardest if you don't have any support, thankfully I did but I had to seek it out.

4. What's your favorite vegan item from the grocery store and why?
I'm a little bit of a junk food nut. I like Veganaise (mayo) and Daiya (Cheese) and I put them on almost everything. I'd say the biggest must have would probably be "nutch" (nutritional yeast). It's got a great cheesy, nutty flavor and is perfect to sprinkle on pastas and salads and just about anything. I like spinach a lot too. Oooh, and avocados. And cilantro. Oh yeah, Tofu (after I freeze it, of course). Thanks, now I'm starving.

5. If you wanted to eat good vegan food, where in the world would you want to be and what would you get?
I would love to be Vegan in Oregon or New York or California. Minneapolis is really veg friendly though, it's hard to say what I'd seek out elsewhere. I guess I'd like to try something from Loving Hut but I don't know where the closest one is, definitely not in MN. I'd also love to go to a really swanky restaurant that's all Vegan. The closest thing here is Ecopolitan, not swanky, raw, but at least you can eat everything there.

6. If you were in Minneapolis and you wanted to go out for vegan food, where would you go and what would you get?
There may be no better place on earth for Vegan food besides Evergreen on Nicolette near "Eat Street". The greatest thing in the world is their Pepper Fried Mock Pork. I just die every time I have it.

7. What's your favorite vegan meal consist of in full detail and where can we find this meal?
Same as number 6. It's pepper fried battered mock pork. There's peppers and it's fried. What more do you need to know!?

8. What's your favorite place ever to get vegan desserts?
I love that Minneapolis is now blessed with Vegan Donuts thanks to the Donut Cooperative. :) Those are delivered though... I really like Namaste in Uptown on Hennepin. The have a Vegan coconut carrot creme brulee that will blow your mind.

9. Do you think that you'll stay vegan for the rest of your life?
I have no choice. I have a tattoo on my wrist that says Vegan and there's few things I dislike more than contradicting myself. Even if I didn't have it, yes, I would always be Vegan. I don't think there is any other way to live. And it's too easy. Veganism is becoming so mainstream that anyone could do it.

10. What would would you yell (if you had to yell something) if you were at the top of Mount Everest alone?
Probably something unbelievably stupid like "Riiiicooollllaaa!"

Thank you again Ryan! You never fail to make me laugh until I freaking piss myself. Ryan can be seen volunteering with the best of the bunch at Animal Rights Coalition (Ethique Nouveau in Minneapolis). You all should get to know her and I believe her blog is featured in my blog role as Vegan Minneapolis on the side of my page so make sure you follow that shit, people.

MN Vegan