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The Kitchen Recessionista

So, here we are, in a recession. Let's eat!

Vegetarian Travel Guide: Vegenation, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Vegenation
616 E. Carson Ave., Suite 120, Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Menu: https://vegenationlv.com/lunch-dinner-menu/
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, lovers of great food

It’s no secret in this day and age of social media and Instagrammed everything that Las Vegas has become a bastion of wonderfully diverse plant-based cuisine. From brunches to lunches to dinners to snacks to, oh, wonderfully decadent desserts, there’s a menu for every hungry traveler in Sin City. But if you’re going to choose just one eatery to visit while you’re in town, there’s simply no question: You need to make it Vegenation.

I don’t say this lightly. As you’ll see in the coming weeks (spoiler alert!), during my recent travels to Vegas I stumbled upon a wealth of wonderful options for every meal. But Vegenation makes it to the top of the heap, hands down. No matter the time of day, you’ll find a great meal – and friendly service, to boot.

As it happened, LeeLee and I found ourselves there in the dinner hour, having planned to spend the evening in the nearby Fremont Experience, several downtown blocks of Fremont Street that offer entertainment every few feet and, yes, a dizzying array of lights overhead along the covered path. Before night fell, we scooted over to Vegenation, rolled up our sleeves, and were instantly awash in options the likes of which we hadn’t seen in a long time.

Vegenation does a masterful job of blending the comforting with the obscure. Where else can you find spaghetti and meatballs alongside an African yam stew? And where, pray tell, can you find it all plant-based, without a shred of meat, dairy or eggs anywhere on the menu?

I thought not. ;)

If you find yourself wandering aimlessly through the menu, unsure of where to go next or what to choose, rest assured you can rely on your friendly waitstaff to point you in the right direction. Our server, Gabriella, was incredibly helpful in helping us narrow down our selections, and she was right on the money every time.

For instance: Bao buns or cheese plate for appetizer? Gabriella encouraged us to go with the cheese plate, which is made locally by Virgin Cheese, and she was certainly not wrong. The gouda, pepperjack and port-wine cheeses were popping with all the appropriate flavors without being cheap imitations of dairy varieties, and they each held their weight when plopped on wasa crackers or apple slices. The strawberries and blueberries were a nice touch, too.

LeeLee and I diverged when it came to our entrees, but we both came out on top. He ordered the Holy Mole, a chik’n dish drowning in mole sauce, with a kale slaw and bean and rice alongside, finished out with corn tortillas to make the whole thing into a taco if you felt so inclined. (LeeLee did a little bit of both, eating some piecemeal while compiling other bites into that taco.) The mole sauce was the perfect balance of piquant and sweet, the beans and rice were teeming with Cuban flavor, and the kale slaw! I could have eaten an entire plate of it alone. (As it stood, I made light work of a good bit of poor LeeLee’s.)

Meanwhile, I went the comfort-fusion route with a chik’n pot pie gnocchi, which is exactly what it sounds like. Wonderfully pillowy gnocchi bites are nestled in a rich, creamy gravy, pockmarked with peas, carrots and, of course, chik’n, all topped off with a pie-crust crumble. I admit I did worry that the whole thing would be much too heavy as a finished product, and while this wouldn’t be considered a “light bite,” it wasn’t overly rich or difficult to work my way through. By the time I cried uncle, only a smattering of gravy was left; the pasta, chik’n and veggies were a thing of the past.

We decided to forgo dessert, since it was practically going to take the jaws of life to extract us from our table anyway after the damage we’d done to our meal, but there wasn’t a sweet option I would have removed from consideration if we’d decided to go on with a third course. What especially intrigued my eyes was the mango sticky rice egg roll – so many of my favorites, in one neat and tidy dessert! Next time, we’ll be sure to dive in.

We walked off part of our meal – a small part – on Fremont Street after bidding goodbye to our wonderful hosts at Vegenation, safe in the knowledge that we would go to bed with full stomachs and full hearts. And the next time we’re in Vegas, we know just where we’ll be enjoying more meals! You should, too. Make it a priority.

:)

Vegetarian Travel Guide: Midtown Public House, Port Angeles, Wash.

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MIDTOWN PUBLIC HOUSE
633 E. 1st St., Port Angeles, Wash.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; closed Sunday-Monday.
Menu: https://www.midtownpa.com
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, omnivores

On the outskirts of Port Angeles’ downtown area, along a busy part of First Street, it’s easy to miss a rather plain-looking, brown building as you zip by. But tap those brakes a minute and you’ll happen upon one of the very best restaurants in town: the Midtown Public House.

Operated from an erstwhile location for the longtime China First, the Public House is actually run by the next generation of family members who owned the original restaurant. And the menu is a clear homage to the founding family, with plenty of twists to keep things lively. From bahn mi sandwiches to rice bowls, Midtown’s Asian roots shine through with aplomb. But another theme shines through, as well – a craft-beer bar, blended with plenty of good old down-home craft-beer-bar food.

Think tots, slathered with an array of house sauces. Or fries. Or, yes, burgers – not vegetarian – topped with all manner of items, both Asian and not-so-much. But where Midtown Public House really shines is in that Asian cuisine, most of which is oh so veg-friendly. And totally worth the wait.

And there could very well be a wait – to be seated, anyway. My father and I, stopping in for an early dinner during our annual father-daughter trip to someplace new, were surprised and a little bewildered to see that we were only the second table seated for the evening at 5:45 or so. But by 6, the restaurant was filling up; by 6:30, there was a wait spilling out into the portico. Tables are fairly sparse at Midtown Public House, but nobody seems to mind – not the waitstaff, and not the patrons.

The soon-to-be-full dining room.

 

A quick skim of the menu shows off a good many food offerings just waiting to be devoured. Take the tofu bahn mi, for example; a sturdy, solid sandwich worthy of any lunch or dinner. Or the tofu rice bowl, which sounds much more paltry than it ends up being. Midtown certainly does NOT skimp on the fillings, both protein and vegetable. I was amazed at how much tofu was loitering about in my bowl – I almost couldn’t eat it all, which would’ve been a first! – as well as Asian greens and pickled everything, from daikon to carrot to red onions.

“It’s good for gut health, you know,” I said knowingly to my father, who nodded sagely.

One option that I didn’t take the servers up on is Midtown’s willingness to vegetarianize other menu items as well. The tacos, salads, and such could all stand for a protein sub to make them veg-friendly! And Midtown’s menu offers to do it. But I didn’t need to; the rice bowl was out of this world, a dish I still crave several weeks later on the opposite coast.

My dad and I toyed with the idea of popping into the cocktail lounge adjacent to the dining room. Simply dubbed “China,” it looked like a lot of fun. But we had an early-morning hike planned, and had topped ourselves off on beer, and thus we bade farewell to Midtown Public House, knowing that we’d be back just as soon as we found ourselves in Port Angeles again.

:)

Vegetarian Travel Guide: Mother’s Cantina, Ocean City, Maryland

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MOTHER’S CANTINA
2810 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, Md.
Hours: Noon-2 a.m. daily
Menu: https://motherscantina.com/menu/
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, omnivores

A key indicator of how much we love a restaurant is how often we visit it while we’re on vacation. We found ourselves over at Mother’s Cantina not once but twice for dinner during this summer’s visit to Ocean City – a ringing endorsement, indeed!

Now, let’s get one thing clear right away: When faced with the choice, Mexican food is probably going to win with LeeLee and me every single time, or at least put up a good fight along the way. So it’s no surprise we’d gravitate toward Mother’s, which has some of the very best Mexican food in Ocean City. If the story ended there, that would be enough.

But it doesn’t. Instead, it stretches out to what becomes a vegetarian and vegan paradise, offering lard-free beans, plenty of veggie-based dishes and – wait for it – vegan cheese to go atop any dish!

There are a plethora of dishes to choose from, too. But before you sit down, fork and knife in hand … you must wait. We’re not the only ones in town who know the glory that is Mother’s, y’all. On the weekends, it feels like every beachgoer in Ocean City turns up for dinner. And don’t try to beat the crowd by going the early-bird-special route – there are plenty of other early birds flocking around, too. Bring your patience, order a margarita from the bar, and wait. It won’t be so bad.

And you’ll be rewarded for your patience. Sit, order some chips and salsa (or guac – get the guac!), and get down to the business of making your selection. With tacos, enchiladas, burritos, nachos, chiles rellenos and more, all for the taking, it’s bound to be a tough call. Good news: You can’t make a bad choice.

The veggie fillings for all of the above are plentiful, as well. On Night 1, I ordered the spinach enchiladas and veganized them (warning: There’s a $3 surcharge for vegan cheese, but all will be forgiven when you take a bite). The enchiladas were pleasingly plump, the rice light and airy, the beans hearty and rich with flavor. Oh, my heart. I mowed everything down with aplomb, I must say.

On Night 2 – which was actually a couple of nights later – we ventured back in and ordered up some tacos. Do yourself a favor and order Portobello mushroom strips as your taco filling, close your eyes, and envision how good the world can be when the fixins don’t center on meat! The juicy mushrooms were packed with Mexican flavors and nestled perfectly within the tacos (I went with a mix of crispy and soft shells, just to keep things lively).

When venturing out to Ocean City, it’s best to remember to check in on your Mother every so often. As long as the cantina keeps slinging up great food, we’ll keep coming back.

:)

Vegetarian Travel Guide: Pablo’s Bowls, Ocean City, Maryland

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PABLO’S BOWLS
1607 Philadelphia Ave. OR 12109 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; 8 a.m.-8 p.m., respectively
Menu: http://www.pablosbowls.com
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, omnivores

Let’s face it: Summertime at the beach can get hot. The sun’s rays reflecting off the sand, the asphalt causing your feet to bake, even the wooden boardwalk emanating radiating heat across your body, pointing out every last missed spot of sunscreen application … it can all be a bit heated at the end of the day.

Sometimes in the throes of such heat, a cooling respite is needed. Enter: Pablo’s Bowls, just a couple blocks from the beach.

Pablo’s specializes in acai bowls, those berry-based meals that have become all the rage over the past few years. Choose from a vast array of options to select just the right bowl for your mood. LeeLee and I came rolling up (literally – we were touring around on our beach cruisers) to enjoy the Nosara and Trestles, respectively. The former comes loaded down with an acai-almond milk blend, plus coconut, pineapple, banana, strawberries, and blueberries; the latter, with chocolate almond milk, PB Lite peanut-butter powder, granola, banana, and strawberries.

The bowls look small, but don’t be deceived – they’re incredibly filling. And while they’re filling, they’re also light in all the right ways. In a town teeming with junk food, Pablo’s offers up a more healthy option. And judging by the line crowding the cash register minutes after the store opened, we weren’t alone in our desire to chow down on something good for us.

Pablo’s also offers a plethora of smoothies and juices to meet any dietary needs or desires. And, at least in the Philadelphia Avenue location, it shares floor space with an outpost of the town’s beloved OC Wasabi – this “Express” version offers up ready-to-eat sushi beginning around lunchtime. Sushi AND smoothies in the same location? You can sign me right on up.

Be sure to aim your beach cruiser for Pablo’s next time you’re in Ocean City for a fresh, healthy take on your morning (or afternoon, or evening) meal. The bowls will cool you off and refresh you before your next foray onto the beach!

:)

Vegetarian Travel Guide: The Moose’s Tooth, Anchorage, Alaska

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THE MOOSE’S TOOTH
3300 Old Seward Highway, Anchorage, Alaska
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday-Sunday
Menu: http://moosestooth.net/menu/
Suitable for: Vegetarians, omnivores

Stay in Anchorage for even just a little while and you’re sure to hear about the Moose’s Tooth, located in “Midtown” (which, to the uninitiated, doesn’t seem like the middle of town in practice). And for good reason: The Moose’s Tooth is one of the most popular restaurants in town, serving up pizzas of all stripes and a bucketful of great craft-brewed beer to boot.

Expect a wait when you arrive, no matter the time of day. It’s popular for a reason: The pizzas are worth the wait – which, incidentally, can range from a few minutes to well more than an hour depending on the day and your party size! But stick it out – maybe enjoy a beer in the interim, or just enjoy the weather outside (provided it’s not the dead of winter!) – and your buzzer will go off in no time.

One of the best parts of the Moose’s Tooth’s menu is that all the meatless pizzas are aggregated together in the Vegetable section, making it easy to parse the different selections. But don’t expect your decision to be simple: There are a plethora of great veggie choices!

The Wild Mushroom is one I go back to again and again. Loaded with portabellas and criminis, plus sundried tomatoes, provolone, mozzarella, goat cheese, and the restaurant’s famous Denali Sauce, it’s a hearty pizza that appeals to mushroom lovers far and wide.

If mushrooms aren’t your thing and you’re looking for some bling (see what I did there?), you could do much worse than The Backpacker, which combines spinach, roasted garlic cloves (which turn just a little bit sweet after roasting), artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, and Kalamata olives with mozzarella, provolone, and feta cheese. Topped with just a hint of garlic oil, it’s a wonderfully fresh pizza that combines the tang of olives and artichokes with the smooth garlic cloves and zesty spinach.

It would be a crime to leave the Moose’s Tooth without sampling some of the beers brewed by the restaurant’s sister brewery, Broken Tooth Brewing. Along with a rotating cast of characters – try the Midtown Brown if you can catch it – there’s also a wonderful group of Old Faithfuls that are hallmarks of the brewery. One such choice is the Moonflower ESB, a smooth, barely-bitter selection that has a citrus undertone. Or go with the Fairweather IPA for a bolder, hoppier option – the gold-colored drink offers up a bit of spice to go along with what you’d expect in a good IPA.

Far-flung though it is, if you’re venturing up to Anchorage, you’d be remiss not to visit the Moose’s Tooth while you’re in town. There’s always room for pizza and beer, during sunny summers or dark winters!

:)

Recessionista on the Road: The Café, Key West.

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cafe4

THE CAFÉ
509 Southard St., Key West, FL
Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; weekend brunch 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; weekend dinner 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Like clockwork, LeeLee and I visit Key West each and every spring – partly as a reward for enduring another chilly winter in the Mid-Atlantic (which, this past year aside, generally brings all of the wind and not much of the snow), and partly because we just plain ol’ love Key West. And one of the very first stops we make (after the hotel’s rooftop pool, of course) is to The Café, located just a half-block off of the main artery of Duval Street in the heart of the city.

Let’s get one thing straight, though: The Café isn’t just a tourist stop. It’s a local hangout, as well, a meeting place for family celebrations, book clubs, and girls’ nights out. And each year, for a week, it becomes home to LeeLee and me, too, for several meals. (The first year, we tried limiting ourselves to one visit in the interest of restaurant diversity. We pined for the place for a full year before breaking down and coming back multiple times on our next visit!)

A quick scan of the menu will tell you all you need to know – the kitchen is working. And there are so many veg options available that it can admittedly be a bit stymieing at first. But never fear: I’m here to help you navigate the great choices to pick out some of the very best. Though you really can’t go wrong, so relax.

I’ll give you a rundown of LeeLee’s and my general habit on Visit 1:

Sit down, order a local Florida beer (may I suggest Cigar City?). Peruse the menu for about 25 seconds before deciding, as usual, that we’d like to share the un-Wing-Dings (either hot or BBQ style), wonderfully piping-hot rectangles of tofu that are unlike any tofu you’ve ever put in your mouth. Devour each one, swear we’re too full for dinner, and then dive in anyway.

cafe1

The main course is where things get a little more interesting. After a big plate of un-Wing-Dings, sometimes we’re known to split a stir fry bowl (fair warning: They are enormous). Peanut tofu over soba noodles is a fan favorite of the Recessionista Traveling Band, and it’s more than enough for us to share. Other times, we decide to go split-skies on two different sandwiches – the curried “chicken” salad is LeeLee’s far-and-away go-to, and the housemade seitan peppersteak is mine – and are equally thrilled by the results. Either way, try to plan ahead and ensure your lodging has a fridge you can use – you’ll eat like royalty for several days!

By this point, LeeLee and I are usually ready to cry uncle. But then our server comes round and points us toward the desserts, some of which are perched enticingly atop the bar, and we order another beer and a slice of vegan coconut cake to share (because to each order a slice would be Much Too Much, you know?). And though we are stuffed to the gills, we are satisfied, fat and happy, happy to be in Key West, at The Café, at that very moment, with those very people. And before our feet even cross the threshold back out onto Southard Street, we’re planning our next visit, be it in a day’s or a year’s time.

:)

On the Road Again: Peanut-Butter and Banana Sandwiches.

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pb-banana-sandwich

As I mentioned on Tuesday, my dad and I are traveling around Alaska this week to enjoy some national parks (and some time together). And as soon as we pulled the car into Anchorage to start our adventure, we set our sights on the nearest Fred Meyer – our old friend every time we visit the West! – and picked up provisions for the week. At the top of our list: A loaf of bread, a container of peanut butter, and a bunch of bananas.

PB&B sandwiches are a mainstay of our travel diet each and every year we travel together, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Think of it: Protein, fruit, carbs, and just a hit of sweetness in every bite. Everything’s shelf-stable, so there’s no need to carry around a cooler. A little bit goes an awfully long way. And it can be prepared in the car (the dashboard makes an excellent buffet), atop a picnic table, or on the trail (just look out for bears!), in little to no time. Also, as we discovered this week, the handle of a plastic fork makes an excellent knife when Fred Meyer is sold out of real plastic knives.

Served with some chips, it’s a lunch we can return to time and again. And believe me, we will! Time may pass, our trip locations may change from year to year, but PB&B sandwiches stay the course. I can’t think of a better traveling companion for us both.

:)