VeganFabulous

the lowdown: Grand Central | 839 SE Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214 | 503.236.BOWL | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $8.25 - $21.95 | ***

A little bit of grub and a lot of bowling!

Fresh off spring break I’ve been trying to kick back into my normal routine but am having difficulty focusing. I feel like I have been hibernating for six months and am wide awake and ready to start little projects around the house, fine tune wedding details, and shop for spring/summer clothes. It seems only appropriate I’d be taking a Marketing Management course this term as I am knee deep in consumerism.

Speaking of money, what better way to spend $42/hour than on a bowling lane for a group of amateurs! That’s right, close out your savings account because bowling these days is not cheap! The once dilapidated bowling alley is now a bridge and tunnel mecca! On weekends the restaurant is packed and expect a 2 hour wait for a lane! Don’t be afraid to join in the fun though, the Portobello Sandwich ($9.25) is easily vegan without the cheese, aioli, OR fries and it is pretty good. In addition, the bowling shoes were renewed with the building renovation so you won’t be trapped sticking your feet in 30 year old slogs. Phew! I think we did our part to stimulate the economy yesterday!

the lowdown: Blue Pig | 5026 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97206 | 503.231.2775 | Website | Entrees $4.95 - $10.95 | ***

Seriously large portions and the best build your own tofu scramble in town!

It seems every week I am updating a blog post to indicate the restaurant has closed. It saddens me each time because not only does it mean lost jobs and vacant storefronts; in most cases it is one less restaurant for us to enjoy. Even Great Harvest stopped baking vegan muffins and scones, apparently they aren’t recession proof. Last week I would I have told you the recession hadn’t affected me or anyone I was close to, but stark news a few days ago proved that the recession’s dark cloud was looming in my proximity and had captured someone I love. Despite the recently passed stimulus plan, I continue to feel a combination of helplessness, anger, and fear. How much more can we lose? I think it is only a matter of time until we find out.

A few weeks ago we broke our brunch dry spell by checking out Blue Pig on Division. A quaint diner with a subtle 50’s era feel, mostly due to the waiter’s t-shirt with rolled up sleeves and 501’s. Although your choices are limited to the tofu scramble, don’t be turned off because for $9.95 you can build your own scramble and include as much or as little of the items for the same price! With options includeing olives, peppers, vegan sausage, broccoli and onions to name a few, I was tempted to order the entire list! All portions are large, as is the soup mug sized latte! Blue Pig is a relative new-comber having only opened their doors last July. My hope is folks will return for the value if nothing else.

the lowdown: Soul Vegetarian | 879 Ralph David Abernathy SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 | 404.752.5194 | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $6 - $12 | *****

Unsuspected food in an unsuspecting place!

Despite taking a 2 week hiatus from this blog, I am still here and kicking with a backlog of things to write about! To recap, I got engaged, turned 30, went to Montreal for my birthday, set a wedding date, booked a wedding location and photographer, planned our honeymoon, started a new school term on the topic of Financial Management, and rejoiced at our new president! Who cares about all of that stuff anyway, we are here to talk about food! En route to Montreal we had a layover in Atlanta. No sooner did we find ourselves a seat at the gate than we realized our flight was canceled due to freezing rain and the next flight wasn’t until the morning. I immediately jumped on the internet to research vegan friendly restaurants and stumbled upon vegetarian African soul food!

Soul Vegetarian is a worldwide chain with two locations in Atlanta. When we asked the cab driver to drive us to Ralph David Abernathy he pause and asked us for the address again. We repeated it and he said “Are you sure that is where you want to go?” We were certain we needed some good food to lift our spirits from the debacle of being stuck in Atlanta with no baggage, so we asked him to press on. Apparently he was concerned for our safety. Nonetheless, we arrived to a dining room filled with vinyl booths and servers dressed head to toe in traditional African garb. The menu was entirely vegan and included burger and sandwich options with a choice of fries or onion rings and accompanied by a salad. They offer a full buffet and juice bar equipped with the makings for a mean banana split. Sadly I left without a trace of the menu and nothing of the sort is posted on their site. Although I am leaving you with no details, you better hope to god that wherever your travels take you Soul Vegetarian is nearby.

the lowdown: Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Grill | 4101 SE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98683 | 360.892.2484 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $8 - $14 | ***

Reasonably appetizing Vancouver option.

My 30th birthday is nearing and this year we decided to skip town and head to Montreal for the big celebration, however, I was torn at the thought of turning 30 in isolation from my friends and family. In previous years I have thrown parties where I ended up blistering drunk or hyper-stressed with party details. Either way I spent the next day fraught with regret. With hesitation, I threw myself a birthday party complete with Dove Vivi pizza and a Sweet Pea Baking Mocha Chocolate Cake. The party was a smashing success and I’ve never had so much fun at my own party! Not only have I learned to give myself second chances but I have begun to do the same for others, including restaurants.

Tommy O’s has now embarked on franchise status with a new location having recently debuted in one of the many tired strip malls blanketing Camas, Washington. This new restaurant turned out to be the perfect location for my grandmother and I to meet for our traditional birthday celebration. The decor of this classy brother establishment includes dim lighting, bamboo tables, and Asian inspired flatware. The menu is a step above but the service staff haven’t quite ironed out all the details. There are only two vegan options and I ordered them both, starting with the Tofu Wraps ($8) accompanied with sweet chili sauce and the Tofu Stir Fry ($12). The stir fry arrived very dry forcing me to ask for a serving of sweet chili sauce, but that completed the large dish of fresh vegetables and brown rice. Overall I was happy with the meal and experience and would recommend it to anyone looking for a vegan dish among the baron options in Vancouver.

the lowdown: Kabobi | 3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214 | 503.230.1120 | Lunch, Dinner (Closed Monday) | Items $4 - $14.95 | ****

One and only Afghan joint in PDX!

Despite struggling to find rides to work due to inclement weather, hearing disheartening news at work, and realizing my snow pants are too tight, a few great things happened recently! I attended two incredibly fun birthday parties, was elected to the Board of my company’s gym, and received my first blog award ever by Denny at a simple kind of life. However, my melodrama pales in comparison to war torn countries whose people struggle for simple freedoms and are expecting 30,000 US troops in the coming months.

Recently my friend and I traveled to the outskirts of Hawthorne (ok anything beyond 39th is far away to me) to experience Afghan cuisine. I had never heard of such a thing thereby didn’t question their proclamation of offering the only Afghan cuisine in Portland. Located in a mini strip mall next to No Fish! Go Fish!, Kabobi offers a sizable vegetarian selection mostly consisting of vegan options! We began with Samosas ($7) and shared the Veggie Combo ($11.95), a spread of spinach, green peas, dahl served with basmati rice and the cauliflower dish Gulpi Chalaw ($9.95). Additionally, we ordered a side of Naan ($1.50) to complete the meal. Despite one man cooking, serving, and busing tables, the food was great as was the experience. However, it seems unfair that I had the opportunity to feast on a plentiful Afghan spread when I am unsure if the Afghan people have the same luxury.

the lowdown: Higgins Restaurant and Bar | 1239 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205 | 503.222.9010 | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $19 -$33 | *****

local, seasonal, fantastic!

Last weekend my beloved friend and cat Rupert died suddenly and tragically right before our eyes. As I watched him take a few of his last silent breaths on the floor beside our bed I clutched our little dog Snap, hating myself for all the times I scurried him away when he walked across the keyboard as I tried to write blog posts such as this. I’d like to think he chose to be near us during his last few minutes, but all I can do is savor the 12 years we had together and learn lessons about his patience and forgiveness.

It’s been a long time coming but we finally had a special occasion suitable for dressing up and dinner at Higgins! Located in a classic building on SW Broadway, downtown Portland, Higgins is a traditional restaurant offering NW cuisine and professional service. Although the menu changes weekly, the chef often offers at least one vegan dish or will prepare one upon request. After polishing off artisan breads and olive oil we shared the beet soup ($7), followed by the squash samosas ($19.25). The samosa dish was an exquisite combination of presentation, taste, and portion. Unfortunately, my satiation precluded a dessert of sorbet ($8.50) but we vowed to return for dessert when we were not so damn full and it was not so damn cold outside! Nonetheless, Higgins is a wonderful place to enjoy food and the people and pets we love.

the lowdown: Berbati’s Pan | 231 SW Ankeny St., Portland, OR 97204 | 503.248.4579 | Website | Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour | Items $4.50 - $10 | **

Super cheap.

As the weather declines, the downtown Portland lunch options follows suit. Much of the vegan variety is offered through food carts; unless you are running back to the office, food cart dining isn’t nearly as pleasant as it is during the summer months. To complicate matters, I can no longer simply jump on my bike during my lunch hour without making a change of clothes, thus my options are further limited. Nonetheless, last week I borrowed a golf umbrella and foraged my way to Berbati’s, a gruesome 10 blocks in a downpour.

Berbati’s is a well known night spot sandwiched between the infamous Shanghi Tunnel and Bar XV. This threesome comprise a few of Portland’s most well known hot spots. Even I had a few crazy nights filled with heavy drinking and bar food at these places. Berbati’s is a much different scene during lunch. The daylight draws attention to all the imperfections that are typically hidden at night, the dining room is entirely empty, and the music is non-existent. The vegan options include gyros with hummus instead of tzatiki, veggie panini, and boca burgers. I ordered the gyro with falafel ($4.50), which included fries. It was decent and cheap, however, certainly not worth the trouble nor as good as I remembered it.

the lowdown: Andina Restaurant | 1314 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209 | 503.228.9535 | Website | Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour | Tapas/Entrees $7 - $24 | *****

You will never feel left out here!

It is difficult to articulate the feelings that I have about our new President-elect Obama. On Election day I left work early and scrambled to the 15th & Killingsworth Obama HQ’s to put in my last ditch effort at “Getting Out The Vote”. I walked through the streets of the Piedmont neighborhood dodging rain to find the stragglers who had not yet turned in their ballots. I was met with “I’ve already voted”, “I don’t have time”, “It is against my religion to vote”, or no answers to my knock. I have never volunteered for something I believed in with so much conviction. It is difficult work both physically and emotionally. Knowing that I was one of the legions of Obama foot soldiers believing in change and hoping for something great, Tuesday night was my realization that the words “Yes We Can” aren’t simply words, they are words to live by.

Last weekend we jammed the best of the Pearl district in one night. Shopping, Theater, and dinner at Andina. Andina is the type of place where advanced dinner reservations are required, otherwise you will be stuck with a very early or very late meal. Although it looks intimidating and vegan unfriendly, it is quite the opposite. The service is fantastic and well paced, the atmosphere is perfect for both special occasions and casual dining, and they have an amazing vegan menu including tapas and entrees. Regardless of your order things will kick off with unlimited bread and three sauces, of which the hibiscus and hot sauce are vegan. We started with the potato cake that I cannot remember the name of and I ordered the Porto Saltado ($17) for my main course. The yucca and mushrooms were earth shattering with a portion larger than I was capable of eating entirely (quite rare). The entire experience was outstanding. Clearly there are no limits to what this country is capable of and where vegans can eat in Portland.

the lowdown: Alexis | 215 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209 | 503.224.8577 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $8.95 - $19.95 | ***

More work lunch choices!

Although my weekend was productive teaming up with The Clumsy Kid to register voters in front of People’s Co-Op, attending a Pentecostal church service in Oregon City for a class assignment, and catching a showing of Guys and Dolls at the Armory, I didn’t manage to dine anywhere new. As a result, this post reaches far back into the past to a lunch date I had with an old co-worker. This is his favorite place and for me it is another spot to put on the list of work friendly lunch joints.

At night, Alexis is in the heart of crack deals, homeless shelters, hobos, and strip clubs and seems an unlikely place for fine Greek dining. The restaurant entrance is quite inconspicuous and unless you knew what it was, you would think it was another gritty space trafficking in maleficence. In actuality, it is quite opposite. The expansive space opens to carefully prepared dining tables, nicely dressed servers, and articulately crafted dishes. Much to my dismay there is only one vegan friendly dish, but that is typical for work outings. At least the Gyros Vegetarian ($8.95) is very fresh and healthy. You will need to have them hold the feta but they are happy to do so. Another thing to note, their homous has a much lighter consistency and color than I am accustomed to, so don’t be alarmed if you think it looks like yogurt sauce. My only concern is if you visit after dark, leave your bike at home. Opa!

the lowdown: Pambiche | 2811 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97232 | 503.233.0511 | Website | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $7 - $18.50 | ****

Super super good!

I’ve had a great weekend for movies and food! Friday night Netfix delivered 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 days, a riveting Romanian film about a college student receiving an illegal abortion during the Ceauşescu era. Saturday night we saw the earth shattering Religulous, a defiant documentary by Bill Mahr about the self fulling prophecy of the world’s religions.  Followed by dinner at Pambiche and finally vegan cupcakes purchased at the Obama Mama Bake Sale. In summary, get informed, vote, speak out, then head to Pambiche.

Pambiche is that multicolored building on 28th & Glisan that everyone has seen and wondered what the hell is it is and why there so many people out front. Authentic cuban cuisine, eyeball popping coffee, and fresh juice bevys under one roof! Don’t try to figure out the four page menu on your own as it is mostly filled with meat items. Just ask for the vegan items and you will find only two, but both incredible! As with everywhere else, take your pick of salads, the waitress swore by them but I wanted something hearty. As a result we went straight for the Tostones Viandas ($5.75), fried plantains (similar to french fries) with spicy sauce as the appetizer. Followed by the entree Plato Comunista ($11), a plate of beans & rice, beets, and yuca. Sure, you can thank god for the mouth watering food but you’re only kidding yourself and taking credit away from the chef!