Beet Box Cafe-A Review

When you eat Mostly Vegan it's not all that easy to find an all vegan place to eat. And what is wonderful about when you do is that they have a whole selection of food for you. Not just one or two items on the menu (I love you hummus, I do, but there are other options for sandwiches people!) Beet Box in Denver is an all vegan Bakery and Sandwich Shop. It was so good I went twice so that I could sample more and give a more complete review.

First time around I went with the The ABC. Warm rustic bread, crunchy and soft,  mustardy, pickled beets, cashew cream cheese and roasted almonds all melding into a very satisfying sandwich, It was a revelation actually. Finally, a sandwich that delights and doesn't bore you!

Second time around I brought my friend Kerry along. Like me, she perused the menu online before hand and was eager to try it out. We got two different sandwiches and some donuts to share. The space is brick walls, sunlight, booths and tables. Casual, order at the counter, they give you a number, you sit, they bring. I like that for lunch. Not as fast as fast food, not as slow as a typical sit down joint.

Chickpea of the Sea wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought a more Tuna-fish like salad would occur. Although the name is misleading the sandwich transcended my expectations. Curry chickpeas had a nice spice, crunch and sweetness of sliced apples added texture and flavor, and all on a tender whole grain bread. Damm straight! (All their offerings come with a side of chips....I do love a chip.)

Tofu Bánh Mì was a bit of a worry at first. The lovely baguette was hard to bite into, but when you let the sandwich sit for a bit it starts to soften from the melange of elements inside. Baked tofu, vegan garlic mayonnaise (which to both of us was the stand out, star and all around most wonderful element of the sandwich) and pickled vegetable mix, match and sing!

The shop carries plenty of baked goods, pastries, cupcakes, bread etc. But I went straight for the Baked Donuts. On my first trip I tried the Chocolate Coconut and it was stellar! Perfect crumb, not too sweet, and lovely.

Second time out I went for the Vanilla Coconut, there are other kinds to try, but dammit I like coconut! Don't judge me!

Kerry grabbed an Almond Gluten Free Donut as well. This was the only meh of the whole trip. Taste was good, but texture was gummy.

Over all we both felt that this was a solid Hell Yeah! Oh and we saw a guy at another table with what appeared to be the Grilled Avocado sandwich...that's on the list for next time.

Arabesque-A Review!

Decided to celebrate Persian New Year a day late by lunching at Arabesque in Boulder. They have indoor and outdoor seating available and the menu is inside on the wall. You check it over, then sit at your table and let the waitperson know what you want. Sweet family atmosphere, the servers were all friendly, and happy. It was empty when I arrived, then filled up as I dined. I started with the lentil soup. If you're not a fan of spice and heat ask them to ease up on the pepper. (I'm looking at at you krosenberg!) Smooth, almost creamy texture, and yet it was vegan.

For my main I went with the Mediterranean Vegetable Platter. It's a little expensive for lunch, but the flavors were amazing. Let's break it down.

Warm dolmas! First to go into my gob. Quick two bites and all good! Salad lightly dressed with balsamic dressing, not an afterthought but an accompaniment. Tabbouleh is well done, parsley and lemon filled. Baba ghanouj is a very happy marriage of lemon, tahini, garlic and eggplant. Poufs of pita were warm and yeasty, with the perfect amount of chew. (I ordered another so I could mop all the greatness into my mouth,) Hummus is lovingly dressed with sexy pools of olive oil and garbanzos. It's one of the best I've had, and believe me, I've had a lot of hummus. I finished with a fruit filled ice tea. Blueberries, strawberries, blood oranges and lemons top a light, unsweetened cinnamon flavored iced tea.

I'm going to go with a solid Hell Yeah! for Arabesque. Lovely place to dine.

Diggin In

I have been posting every day since I took up the blog again about two months ago. Now that I've decided upon this major life change (Round the World!!) I have to start really digging into planning, researching and making it happen.

Which means I won't be able to post as much as I have been. There will be recipes and food posted as often as I can, and once I'm on the road every single day again.
I hope you'll join me.

Planning a Walkabout

Recent changes have made me seriously consider attempting what I have dreamed of for years. Traveling the world. Now I am making it happen!

In the next few months I am going to be selling my condo and 99% of the contents so that I can finance this crazy dream of mine. My book and cookbook collection and most of the kitchen tools/pots and pans included.

I am also getting in touch with anyone I know who can be of assistance, like...

• Folks who live in the places I'm thinking of visiting, for couch surfing and guidance.
• Friends who know folks who live in these places, for couch surfing and guidance.
• And travel and ex pat professionals/genius' who can give me advice for this crazy venture of mine.

No plans are set in stone yet. If I am within traveling distance to your home turf, and you'd like some company, let me know! Right now I am thinking of driving to:

• Boise ID (Friends here)
• Bend OR (Friends and cute baby boy here)
• Portland OR (Real Nutter of a friend here)
• Vancouver BC (Hopefully)
• San Francisco CA (Have family here)
• Santa Cruz CA (Great friends who are very much like family)
• Los Angeles CA (Friends here as well.)

Then fly out to:

• Perth (Where I have some wonderful friends who have offered up some accommodations.)
• Kuala Lumpur 
• Goa
• Tanzania (Where I have some more wonderful friends who have offered up some accommodations.)
• Istanbul
• Palermo (Where I have some friends I hope will be able to accommodate me.)
• Paris
• Dublin
• New York City

Please contact me if you know anyone/anything that will help me along my way. And/or you're interested in some of my "stuff".

“May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Sumac to Do!

The sumac I bought a few weeks ago was starting to intrigue me. Where to use it? And then I saw a note about using it on potatoes. Perhaps I have mentioned my undying love for potatoes?

So I cut them up into fries. Tossed them with olive oil, sumac and salt, and roasted them in the cast iron pan at 375 until crispy and perfect.

The sumac lends a tart sweetness, not all overpowering, very mild and quite right for a potato. But what to serve them with? I was turned onto Toum, a middle eastern garlic paste, when I first started to travel to Detroit. But the store that sometimes has it here was out. So I faked it. Mixed Just Mayo with a ton of minced garlic and dug in. That's the stuff!

3.14.15-Pi Squared!

Pie are not squared, pie are round! That my friends is the favorite joke of my math loving brother Justin...sigh...dork...

Went with Mrs. Jones, looking for a pie to celebrate Pi Day, found these instead at the Bavarian Bakery in Longmont. (A favorite place of brother Aaron.)

They will have to do, I'll suffer through.

Cacio e Allepo...Maybe?

I understand this goes against all that is good and holy in Italian food. Several of my ancestors are turning over in their graves as we speak....

but I found this pasta,

I just happened to have Aleppo pepper in the spice cabinet,

and butter and cheese will make my heart explode...so here it is.

Vegan Cacio e Allepo!

Cook the pasta according to the package directions and drain. Mix with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, season with salt, nutritional yeast and the Aleppo pepper. Served with a side of steamed broccolini. The Aleppo, my first time using it, has a nice heat, slow building, not harsh like crushed red pepper flakes. 

Pretty sure leftovers will be eaten at dinner.