Pizza Party!

So my friend Chris is leaving tomorrow on one of his usual adventures, a trip sailing and backpacking around California for around 4 months. Lucky us we'll be in California over the summer as well and will probably see him (possibly at Burningman as well). Still, we'll miss him & so we all said goodbye last night at a party at his house.

I was told he makes the best pizza around, infamous in fact... I was not disappointed. He was kind enough to make me my own vegan pizza and it was delicious! He pre-made crispy flatbreads, covered it with tomato sauce and then we went crazy (see below):

Flatbread pizza topped w/ sundried tomatoes, spinach, caramelized onions, & Daiya mozzarella cheese

The best part? I was finally able to use my new Daiya Cheese! This great vegan cheese just went on sale at Whole Foods everywhere and I could not wait to buy it: all the best vegan restaurants use it, especially pizza places. Plus, it's quite healthy (not an ingredient I didn't know on the label for one) & does not use soy or nuts in case of allergies.

Ohyeah, and it is sooo much better than other vegan cheese: it tastes amazing, it looks amazing, its gooey and stretchy perfection... All in all, it was a good night with friends, pizza, & yummy sides (salad & perfect strawberries!)

Why I'm Looking Forward to Summer

Sun. Beaches. More time for Yoga (with my mum!). COOKING. More time for Meditation. Flip-flops. Comfy clothes. Friends. Burningman. Wanderlust (hopefully!). EDT Pop. EDC. Mammoth hiking trips. Mammoth skiing trips. Farmer's Markets. Catching up on movies. More time for blogging. Brunch in Pasadena. Cooking classes. Trips to Mexico. Many, many trips to the Bay area. Outdoor concerts. The California Strawberry Festival. Community clean-up. Continued Harvard & thesis research work. Burningman Psych Research. Fresh squeeze orange juice. Drives up PCC. Camping!

L'Espalier Powerlunch Goes Vegan

Last Friday that Harvard Culinary Society organized a trip to one of Boston's finest restaurants L'Espalier for a mid-day power lunch. At only $24 a person, it was a deal that could not be beaten (want to take a girl on an impressive date? Try a fine dining restaurant for a weekday lunch; the deals are great and the service and food is still amazing).

The best part about going to a restaurant like L'Espalier, even with a meat-heavy prix fixe menu, is that they are usually always accommodating to special diets (you should call ahead of time to be sure).

The food was amazing, the service very fantastic, and all in a beautiful setting. I've attach some of the photos before of the special vegan lunch they prepared for me:

Curly endives with roasted red onions and a mustard vinaigrette dressing

Kale, red peppers, grated carrots stir-fried in spicy soy sauce topped with a grapefruit slice

Caramelized banana slices, fresh apple & tangerine slices, and blackberry sorbet with grapefruit and blood orange sauce

Tex-Mex Dinner Party

So we threw a Tex-Mex Dinner Party with some friends this last weekend. It went great; so great in fact that the food was gone before I could take a picture of it all (I was busy cooking :x). I did snag a quick picture between it all of our dessert though:

Mexican Chocolate Cake Topped w/ Bananas Flambe

So I adapted the recipe from here. It's vegan & delicious (don't know about health). I made it for our anniversary a month ago and I thought I'd switch it up this time. The whole cake soaked up some of the rum flavor... yum!

Falafel Dinner

Homemade Dinner: Falafel, Hummus, Tabouli, and store-bought whole-wheat pita (with flax seed, rich in Omega-3)

Why I Love Kale

Packed with nutrients and and vitamins, the wonder vegetable Kale has experience a recent surge of enthusiasm among the health community. After noticing this leafy cousin of Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts at various vegan cafes, I decided to add it to the shopping list.

My first attempt with Kale was a simple saute with olive oil & balsamic vinegar until soft and wilted. Let me tell you, it was absolutely fantastic; my boyfriend (who tends to shy from vegetables in favor of anything sweet, particularly fruit) loved it! Thus, it was a sure item for our next shopping trip.

As a friend of mine pointed out however, the dish may have been more a love of balsamic vinegar than of the kale itself (I do love me some balsamic). So second attempt, braise it with a light no-chicken chicken broth & a little olive oil. Sure enough, this delicious green was just as amazing and offers all the benefits of leafy greens without the bitter taste in say, Brussels Sprouts. It reminds me a lot of cabbage (another favorite) but with a bit more flavor, close to that of spinach. If you've yet to try it, I highly recommend for your next grocery trip.

Restaurant Week: Where to go if you're a Vegan

Regarding the lack of update, Spring Break combined with Midterms was a crazy time. But now it's Restaurant Week in Boston & if you're still looking for a place to go if you're a vegan or vegetarian, here are some of my suggestions:

1. Toro
617-536-4300 South End
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Description: This is where I choose to go for Restaurant Week this year because they have such a wide variety of options. As a tapas bar, they offer everything from hummus to fried potatoes in tomato sauce; for only $15 you get three tapas from their lunch selection!

2. T.W. Food
617-864-4745 Cambridge
Serving: Dinner
Description: Not only are there plenty of vegetarian options (which can be made vegan if you ask for it without the cheese), but you can feel better about giving money to this place because of the restaurants emphasis on "finding people who raise animals correctly and humanely, who forage our woods for mushrooms and who grow herbs, flowers and vegetables for local consumption using old-fashioned methods." Still, don't feel shy to tell them your opinion of the Foie Gras they serve (as they put it, the liver is "enlarged by a process you don't want to read about if you're going to eat this dish").

3. Fireplace
617-975-1900 Brookline
Serving: lunch & dinner
Description: While their options are not completely vegan, there are tons of vegetarian options. If you are a vegan, just opt for the salad without blue cheese and the veggie sandwich without cheese & mayo.

4. Masa
617-338-8884 South End
Serving: Dinner
Description: One of the few dinner only places serving a vegan dessert (selection of ice cream or *sorbet*), Masa also offers vegetarian options which can easily be made vegan (sans the cheese). Call ahead of time to ask about dietary restrictions. There's also a location in Woburn.

5. OM
617-576-2800 Cambridge
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Description: Craving some Japanese fine-dining and looking for a vegan option? OM's lunch & dinner offers vegan options including parsnip soup and tofu entree.

6. Miel Brasserie
617-217-5151 Waterfront
Serving: Lunch & Dinner
Description: While your options may be limited, the vegan gnocchi sounds to die for. Located on the beautiful waterfront, this is the perfection location for a Restaurant Week date.