Rice Bowl with Peanut Sauce

It's official...I have discovered a new bowl which I am just a little bit obsessed with and is definitely going to become a staple meal.  First of all, who doesn't like eating dinner out of a bowl?  It's just that little bit naughty...like eating breakfast for dinner...and there's only one dish to clean.  Second of all, this has to be one of the yummiest peanut sauces I have ever had.  Whenever I see peanut sauce on a menu, I always get suckered in because peanuts are just so tasty...but by the fifth or sixth bite, I become peanuted out and the sauce starts to become overwhelming.  The addition of the curry to this sauce is brilliant and resulted in the peanut flavour that I love still being dominant but instead of becoming overwhelming, it had me coming back for more! 

This bowl is a vegan recipe but would work just as well with meat-friendly options, so feel free to mix it up.  And no, I haven't made the switch to vegan...my love of cheese will never allow for that!  This recipe was introduced to me by a vegan friend as a part of our vegan cooking lessons.  More than a few years ago, when my friend made the switch to a vegan lifestyle I instantly became petrified of ever cooking for her again.  What if I forget and put butter in, or use honey, or gasp...I make a cream sauce?!  In order to help alleviate my stress and allow us to continue having fun food adventures, we've started vegan cooking lessons and I'm sure glad we have!

Ingredients

• 1 package extra firm tofu, cut into cubes
• Rice noodles, cooked
• Minimum of 3 veggies (I used a red pepper, orange pepper, yellow pepper, bunch of kale and bunch of shitake mushrooms, all chopped)
• Olive oil
• 1 tbsp. ginger, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic chopped
• 1 cup of water
• 0.5 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 tsp curry powder (I used medium)
• 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp. soya sauce
• 2 tbsp. agave nectar (honey for a non-vegan option)
• 1 tsp hot sauce (I used Frank's Red Hot)
• Half bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped

Place a glug of olive oil into a large sauce pan and heat to medium heat.  Add the tofu and cook until browned.  Remove the tofu and add the vegetables.  Cook until done.  While the vegetables are cooking, place the ginger, garlic, water, peanut butter, curry powder, rice vinegar, soya sauce, agave nectar and hot sauce into a blender.  Blend until smooth and combined.  Place the sauce into a sauce pan and warm through.  In a bowl, assemble the noodles, veggies, tofu and then scoop on the peanut sauce and sprinkle on the fresh cilantro.  Serves 4 and is delicious!! 

SMAK

A couple of months ago when I was walking down Burrard Street, I was offered a free SMAK sample.  At first I was so confused...what is a SMAK?  But, seeing as though I could never rationalize turning down free food, I took the sample.  I can't remember what it was, but I remember it was very yummy and actually enticed me to check them out online.  What I discovered intrigued me.  A healthy fast-food restaurant right around the corner from my office.  I figured it was definitely worth a try for lunch...which led to the yummy pictures below!

My Mango SMAK box: a mango nori wrap (red cabbage, rice vermicelli, almond, edamame, herbs, spinach and carrot), mango, half an avocado, spinach, seeds mix, kelp noodle and pickle mix, beansprout salad and Thai dressing.  This meal was full of variety in terms of flavour, colour and texture.  I loved it!  The only thing I wish is that there was a bit more of it.  I was not hungry at the end of the meal, but I wasn't fully satisfied either.  Granted, I eat more than the average person.  So, I'd say this is a great option for a light lunch, but if you're hungry maybe opt for a large hot bowl and small salad (that seemed to be what the majority of people were ordering).  I was also very impressed by the fact that every ounce of packaging that you see above was fully compostable.  ($11.85)

My view during lunch.  Sitting at a picnic table underneath a tree...nice touch SMAK!

The X that marks the spot.

http://smakfastfood.com/

@smakfood

The Edge Café

I went to an absolutely lovely café for lunch the other day with a fabulous lady.  The food was yummy, very fresh and homemade, the service was good, there was plenty of natural sunlight, and the prices were great!  Plus they had something for everyone: gluten-free, vegan, meat-eaters, you name it.  Definitely a great place to add to your lunch repertoire.  Personally, I'm looking forward to trying their brunch now!

The Spinach salad with Chicken: a full chicken breast, spinach, red onion, walnuts, mandarin oranges and goat cheese.  ($15)  This looked delicious and the lovely lady I dined with thoroughly enjoyed it.   

 My Wild Sockeye Salmon sandwich: wild sockeye salmon, asian slaw, pea shoots, lettuce, tomato and wasabi mayo on a warm ciabatta bun with carrot ginger soup.  ($13)  Delicious!  Solid chunk of salmon, great flavours, a super fresh bun and very filling.  Full warning, though, this is a messy sandwich...which, in my opinion, made it taste even better!

http://edgecatering.ca/the-edge-cafe/

Twitter: @EdgeCatererCafe 

Second time's a charm...

It was my fabulous vegan friend's 30th birthday recently, so guess where I had the pleasure of eating?  Nuba!!!  However, this time it was at their Kits location for dinner.  I didn't think it could get any better than the lunch I had at Gastown...but it did!

The food selection was completely different but every ounce as delicious, and the restaurant was amazing.  It had a fabulous mediterranean feel to it.  White walls, bright blue tiles, different rooms and levels...I loved it!  Definitely the sort of place that would be great to book for a group.  Speaking of which...they do take reservations and I'd recommend making one.

So, in summary, Nuba is officially batting 100% in the scrumptious stats.

Najib's Special: crispy cauliflower tossed with lemon and sea salt, served with tahini. ($7.50)  Who can resist this yummy goodness?  I can whole heartedly vouch that this dish is a must order.

Mjadra: organic green lentils and rice with onions and jalapeño, served with avocado and caramelized onions.  ($7.50)  These lentil were really nice.  They had a good kick to them, but only enough spice to add flavour.  They were lovely...and so was the tahini sauce drizzled all over top.

Stuffed Eggplant: roasted eggplant stuffed with chickpeas, red pepper, zucchini, red onion, and tomato. Served with labneh yogurt sauce and zaatar.  ($17)  AMAZING!!  This dish blew my mind.  If you're a fellow eggplant lover, this is a must.  Note: if you're vegan, make sure to order the yogurt sauce on the side.

 

The three dishes above were just about right for two people.

 

http://www.nuba.ca/

It's a marshmallow, it's an igloo building block, it's....

...my homemade baked tofu!  I can't remember who I got this recipe from, but whoever you were, thank you!  Until this recipe came along, I felt completely lost when it came to tofu.  This recipe, however, is flavourful, quick and easy.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
 
Ingredients

• Firm tofu (I find 1 package is normally good for 3-4 servings)
• 1-2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1-2 tbsp soy sauce
• freshly ground pepper

Pre-heat oven to 400F.  Mix all ingredients, except for the tofu, together.  Cut the tofu into cubes (big or small, your choice).  Lightly coat the tofu in the sauce...I roll each individual piece in it, and place the tofu on a baking sheet.  Place in oven and cook until the tofu is starting to crisp up on the outside (10-20 minutes).  Enjoy!

My homemade baked tofu.

Bandidas Taquiera

So, I'm not going to lie.  I debated whether to include my trip to Bandidas Taquiera on my food blog or not.  If you haven't noticed, my posts are honest but not harsh.  This is because I only post about places I thoroughly enjoyed, would go back to myself and would take friends to.  If I wouldn't go back, I simply don't post about it and feel that that is punishment enough.  Who knows, my bad experience could be a one in a million experience and peoples' livelihoods depend on these restaurants.

 

Which brings me to Bandidas Taquiera.  The food was sublime, the portions out of control, the atmosphere unreal, and the prices very reasonable.  So, it was a fabulous experience except the fact that they veganized the wrong order.  I was really looking forward to the meal I ordered, so I was disappointed.  However, I chose not to say anything and eat it anyways.  It was still a yummy meal, I have no doubt that they would have re-made my order without a problem if I had said something at the time, and they were apologetic when we explained what had happened when it came time to pay.

 

So, Coles Notes version of what I'm trying to say is that I think this restaurant is fabulous.  I did not have the greatest experience my first time, but that was as much my fault as anyone's and I don't feel they deserve the punishment of not getting a post.  I would go back in a heart beat, plan on doing so soon and I hope you consider doing the same.

 

Buck Enchiladas: three handmade corn tortillas filled with steamed spinach & pinto beans, covered with salsa verde sauce and cheese.  Served with rice and beans.  ($11.25)  

 

Dani's Enchiladas: three handmade corn tortillas stuffed with melted cheese, kale and roasted butternut squash, covered with enchilada sauce and daiya cheese.  Served with salad.  ($11.25, plus $1.50 for kale, plus $1.50 for daiya cheese)   

 

I don't know what it is, but I love it when a restaurant serves you water and beverages in mason jars.  On the left, my water.  On the right, my hibiscus lemonade...out of this world yumminess!  ($3)

The view from our table.  Such a great atmosphere!

 http://bandidastaqueria.com/

Conquering my vegan fear...

A dear friend of mine is vegan.  I admire her greatly for her commitment to her vegan lifestyle but, I'm not going to lie, it scares me a bit.  I'm always paranoid that if I were to have her over for dinner I would accidentally serve her something non-vegan, or if we were to go out for dinner to a restaurant that I picked and that says it's vegan online, we'll show up and it won't serve a single vegan dish.  Needless to say, I'm always thrilled when she invites me over for dinner.  Not only is her cooking delicious, but I figure if I eat her cooking enough and get enough ideas, that I may be able to one day conquer my fear of cooking a vegan meal.  The photos below outline my most recent scrumptious meal at her house.

French baguette (this was my contribution to dinner...it freaked me out a bit that the bag said "may contain dairy, eggs, nuts, etc." but turns out that's okay in the land of vegan cooking because it's just a cover your bum for allergies), vegan pesto made of parsley, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil, and a baked tofu spread.  My vegan friend had pressed the firm tofu for a day then mixed it with either soya sauce or hoisin sauce (my memory's failing me!) and baked it.  Both of the spreads were very yummy.  It took every ounce of will power I have not to eat all of the pesto myself!

Baked broccoli and cauliflower.  She'd mixed up a light dijon-based dressing, drizzled it over the veggies and then baked them in the oven.  If there's one thing I love, it's baked broccoli!

White bean houmous.  I love houmous.  People who have to smell my breath afterwards don't necessarily love it...but it's worth it!

Kale salad with sliced apples, raisin and a poppyseed vinaigrette.  I've never made a salad just with kale because I always thought it would be so tough and bitter.  Turns out that when you massage the leaves with the dressing they're as soft as lettuce and have a similar flavouring.  I'm definitely going to start adding this to my repertoire more often.

Rice.

Vegan baking!  Short-bread cookies with a cinnamon swirl, gingersnap cookies dipped in chocolate, chocolate cookies, and shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate.  Delicious!  And, random fact of the day, did you know that butter is made from dairy fat?  I didn't until tonight.

 

Thanks for the delicious dinner my lovely vegan friend!

Tera V

I was so excited a couple of weeks ago when I saw a LivingSocial deal for Tera V.  A good friend of mine is vegan, and for once I had found a new vegetarian/vegan place that I could suggest we go try out!  Alas, the excitement did not last for long.

I hadn't done my research that well and it turns out that it's a vegetarian/vegan fast food place rather than a restaurant.  Second of all, the food wasn't that great.  It was decent, but my fabulous vegan friend could have made a better salad at home.  My burger was good but nothing special, and the majority of the yam fries were burnt.

However, the visit and conversation made up for what the food was lacking!

Barbeque tempeh burger

Smoked tofu salad

Yam fries

http://www.teravburger.com/

Creperie La Boheme

Today started off with a lazy morning and a scrumptious breakfast at home (bacon, fried eggs...in the bacon fat of course, hashbrowns and strawberries...such a treat!) followed up by the watching of "I am Legend."  I'm not going to lie, those monsters are creepy!

So, needless to say, by the time lunch rolled around, it was time to get out and take advantage of some of that fabulous sunshine!  I got on my handy dandy laptop to see where the foodcarts were hanging out.  The conclusion was to check out the Kitsilano Farmers' Market. 

Now, let me warn you, going to a farmers market when you're famished is dangerous.  I literally wanted to eat everything from ever stand...food cart or not!  However, we narrowed it down to crepes from Creperie La Boheme.  I was so excited when I saw the crepe truck.  With all of the hubub of trying out the new trucks, I'm embarrassed to say that I had forgotten about one of the originals.  So, there were no if's and's or but's to it, I was going to eat lunch from one of the original food carts.  The only difficulty was picking a crepe!!

I was torn between the Ham and Cheese or the Ali Baba.  Every time we moved up a step in line, I'd flip flop back and forth.  I thought the Ham and Cheese would be more filling, but the Ali Baba sounded so good!  I eventually left it up to the crepe masters.  When I asked her which she would recommend she said Ali Baba hands down without an ounce of hesitation, and boy was she right.  Red pepper spread, roasted garlicky eggplant spread, goat feta, a variety of greens and vinaigrette on a buckwheat crepe.  An out of this world flavour melding explosion!  I was in heaven.

My handsome man friend opted for the Savoie: bechamel, cheese, potato, sage, smoked beef, greens and vinaigrette.  Also scrumptious.  I took one bite and instantly thought "this is 100% a manly man's meal."  If it could have talked, it would have said "If you are a man, I am the crepe for you" in a deep husky voice.  My handsome man friend agreed.  So, for all of you out there with man friends who feel that they're too manly for a crepe...you tell them that you have a crepe for them!

Things to note: (1) Cash only.  (2) I have never not seen a line-up at this cart, but it is well worth the wait.  (3) The crepes are filling and enough for lunch.  (4) Their buckwheat crepes are super light and don't overpower the fillings at all.  My one beef with wrap-like meals is that I normally feel like I'm eating a whole bunch of wrap...but not with these crepes.

Highly recommended!

 

Savoie

Ali Baba

http://rcfm.ca/about-2/vendors/creperie-la-boheme/

http://www.eatlocal.org/markets.html