Hello everyone,
I hope you’re all enjoying the weather, getting together with friends, and eating yummy food! In preparation for several holiday get togethers this weekend, I went to the West Side Market to pick up some fresh produce. I was so please to find one of my favorite summer vegetable/fruits – rhubarb! Continue reading “Recipe: Vegan Rhubarb Crisp”
Hello everyone!
Did you hear that Trader Joe’s recently released vegan marshmallows for a fraction of the cost of the previously available Dandies? A 10 oz. bag is just $2.99!
I simply could not wait, so I trekked to Trader Joe’s to pick up all the necessary ingredients to make vegan rice krispie treats. They were so easy to make and delicious, too! Give this simple recipe which will have you reminiscing about childhood today!
Happy snacking!
Jocelyn Continue reading “Recipe: Vegan Rice Krispie Treats!”
Hello everyone,
Imagine, it’s a Sunday morning. You’re hungry. You don’t want to get ready and stumble around your kitchen to prepare a meal. So what do you do? You put some pants on and goto brunch! If you’re in Cleveland, there is no shortage of amazing places to eat brunch — even if you’re vegan!
I recently went to brunch at Townhall on W. 25th St.for the first time. Townhall is a popular bar and restaurant in a ‘hip and up and coming’ area of town, on the same block as the historic West Side Market. Their menu is full of designated vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and includes a variety of local ingredients. As an added bonus, the restaurant is in an old renovated warehouse space and is warm and welcoming with open brick walls and a cozy patio! Continue reading “Restaurant Review: Townhall, Vegan Brunch!”
Hello everyone,
There is a saying in my kitchen – Good food plus good food equals good food. We say this when trying to decide if we want to make a one skillet meal or keep all the ingredients separate. We generally opt for one skillet so there is a less clean up, and heck, it tastes the same anyway! This means we make a lot of ragouts, skillet means, and scrambles.
This week we made a super satisfying southwest inspired tofu scramble. We considered keeping the potatoes separate as their own hash brown segment, but then we decided to lump them into the scramble. Because, why not?! It tasted great. The tofu had a spicy, smokey flavor, and the vegetables were reminiscent of fajitas. Think of this as a meal every bit as tasty as tacos, but more socially accepted before noon.
Give the recipe a try and let me know what you think!
Cheers!
Jocelyn
Hello everyone!
I recently went to Pittsburgh to visit my family, eat some good food, and play pinball! While I was there, we decided to get dinner at a brand new restaurant from Pierogi Night founders, Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski. Last year, they launched a Kickstarter campaign for a brick and mortar restaurant named Apteka. The restaurant recently had its “soft open” and is located between Bloomfield and Lawrenceville. Apteka serves up polish delicacies which are common in certain neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, but the difference is, their menu is 100% vegan. And boy, is it good!
Upon walking into Apteka, the first thing I noticed was the casual atmosphere, with low lighting, open brick walls, and tall ceilings. I also couldn’t ignore the music. It was a little odd—a cross between ambient sounds and animal noises that you might expect to hear at a meditation center or spa.
A large handwritten menu hangs on the wall as soon as you walk through the door. While I found this aesthetically pleasing, it was dinner time, and there were three other dinner parties standing in the small doorway trying to view the menu. Having a few small loose menus to pick up from the counter would be ideal. Then again. This place is pretty casual.
Once you are ready to order, you simply walk up to the counter and place your order. The server will give you a numbered card for your table, silverware, your glasses and water carafes to take back to your table.
While I went to Apteka to try the Pierogi, I knew as soon as I saw the Kanapki, I had to try that, too! The Kanapki is basically a set of three tartines. One with carrot pate + radish pickle; another with a leek + apple + mint puree; and the third with celeriac + pickle + apple + dill. The third tartine was the stand out for me. The “polish” salad mix was acidic and fresh, and kept me wanting more! I must admit, it was hard to choose. I liked all three! I sincerely hope this item becomes a menu staple!
The Pierogi was a beautiful dish. The vibrant colors of sauerkraut and greens, coupled with the yogurt and mustard sauce over lightly browned peirogies made for a simply stunning plate of food. There were two types of pierogies included with the order—one with sauerkraut and mushrooms and the other with smoked potato and parsnip. The smoked potato pierogi was my favorite. It had a powerful flavor, but was also close enough to a traditional pierogi to taste comforting and familiar.
Every single bite of food was better than the last! The sauces and herbs elevated the natural flavors in each dish. This food tasted like it had been perfected by true pros. Everyone at my table was highly satisfied with their meals, and nothing on the menu was more than $11. This restaurant has hit the mark on affordable food with fine dining flavor and plating!
Don’t hesitate to head to Pittsburgh and give Apteka a try. You won’t regret it, and your wallet and your tastebuds will thank you!
Cheers!
Jocelyn
