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

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

OMFG SAMMICHES

I love burgerz, like forreal. I can't live without them. Shoutout to Bulldog NE again, which makes the best vegan burger to date (I holler).

Sheesh, you guys, I been so busy. This final year of grad school has been kicking my ass, but you know I always gots time to eat new things...especially when said "new things" are right done the road from me. Please join me in welcoming Mojo Coffee Gallery to the NE Mpls (represent, cough). Check out their vegan burger!:

Check out their website/decor! And their FB. They post tons of stuff on FB about their artist demos. So you can like, literally sit and eat and watch some dude make a fish out of garbage. They also have some pretty bomb coffee. 

Ok, Herbivorous Butcher, freakin open already. I went to their pop-up shop last week and got some of their (very very vegan) sausage and pepper jack cheeze and did this with it:

God I love my life. Try these places NOW-YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. I LOVE WRITING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M YELLING. 

MN Vegan

YOU GUYS DID IT!

I mean...we did it, cuz I totally donated (like, $40).

Woop!

Check it here you guys, cuz Minneapolis is going to be ON THE FRIGGIN MAP FOR VEGAN STUFF. Like very very soon:

Herbivorous Butcher Kickstarter!

And that is how you do it. <3 Herbivorous Butcher! *holds hand up for high five from HB staff*

MN Vegan

Let's get this party started right...

WITH A PHOTO OMFG:



So who has tried this? What did you think? Did you like it? I MUST KNOW. IT IS IMPERATIVE.

Also, this is sold at Good Earth Food Co Op in St Cloud, MN. I holler, Cloud...town.

 

Holy crap Herbivorous Butcher. I went to your Kickstarter event just recently (DONATE TO THEM NOW IF YOU WANT VEGAN BUTCHERS EVERWHERE FOR EVERYONE PLZ) and ate the best vegan meats/calzones EVER. Help support them so they can build a shop here and everywhere in the United States. Or just move to Mpls already and meet me there once it happens.

 

In other (delicious) news, Seward Café has been stepping it up a notch. Holy vegan nachos, am I right? And get this-my omni bruh (read: "brother) ate most of this even though he "wasn't hungry". Pfft.

 

Also, World Street Kitchen, where have you been all my life? Your Bangkok Burrito (vegan-style) is so damn good. Dare I say, I prefer it over a Chipotle burrito any day of the week?? WHAT AM I SAYING I MUST BE GOING CRAZY.

No. I'm not. I'm really not.

Man, I was hungry lately. Delicious updating....it's the bees knees, am I right?

GET TO ALL THESE PLACES... NOW!!!! Or I'll come after you. DON'T MAKE ME DO IT.

MN Vegan

 

Bring it around towwwwn...brriiing it around towwwwwn.....

Ya so if you're not cool enough (pfft, you're following my blog, yer probs cool enough), that post subject line is taken from SpongeBob Squarepants. Which is one of the best shows on TV for children right now, albeit it sometimes is wildly inappropriate. Which means, clearly, I love it.

Anyways! You know me, eating delicious food all the time because, goshdarnit MN, you gots the best food around.

Hey are you all going to Twin Cities Veg Fest this Sunday 9/28? I'll be there and I'm totally going to Mistress Ginger's cooking demo because derr, why would you not?

Hey are you all going to Chicago Vegan Mania on October 11th? I'll be there!

Come find me, babes. And we'll...talk. And eat. Maybe.

Ok! Here's what I've eaten lately:

 Ok so if you've been living under a rock (I know I've done this once or twice. Don't feel bad), you've not heard of Herbivorous Butcher at the Minneapolis Farmers Market probs. Let me tell you-everything I have had (mock meats) from these guys has been the best mock meat I've ever EVER had. That's why I had to post about it again. Amazing. Check out the jerky, in its tangy, delicious sauce here:

 

 

They're apparently opening a storefront in the future. JOY.

 

Also, it's time, yet again, for me to give some love to Pizza Luce. Below is their tofu hash and some tofu benedict (I think...). Both amazing. I shame you for not being there now, eating these tasty morsels. SHAME ON YOU. SHAAAAAME.

 

 

 

SHAAAAAAAAAME!!!

*swiftly exits*

I'm OUT!!

 

MN Vegan

 

Let me tell you a story...

...a story of...DELICIOUSNESS.

So there was this one time I went to The Triple Rock Social Club when I ate their vegan "big ass burrito" with home fries, jalapenos and nacho cheeze (on the side, naturally-I'm lady, whatever that means). I ate all of it btw so you get none. NONE. It was full of tofu hashy goodness. You bet your sweet ass that thing is gone now.

And then there was this time I went to Hola Arepa...um, hello Hola Arepa. Where have you been all my life and wtf is an arepa. I don't even know, but it comes with a delicious vegan green sauce, sweet potatoes in the arepa and yuka fries on the side. By George, I think they've done me in!!! And I don't even know George. Kudos, H. Arepa. You guys rock.




And then. THEN there was this time I made a dish with the Vegan Jerky from Herbivorous Butcher...AND IT WAS AWESOME AND THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. GET TO THE MINNEAPOLIS WEEKEND FARMERS MARKET AND GET SOME FAKE VEGAN MEATS FROM THESE GUYS AND ALLOW YOUR TASTE BUDS TO BE OVERTAKEN WITH...TASTE. AND STUFF.

What is my life and who am I. TELL ME NOW.

MN Vegan