VegFest fooooood

As I mentioned on my last post, this past Saturday was the NW VegFest here in Portland. I'm a member of NW Veg and a volunteer, and yesterday morning from 8am-11am I found myself frying tempeh bacon, helping randomly in the kitchen and running soups to and fro for the Moosewood soup lady (a woman who wrote many of the soups in the cookbooks/restaurant!) A lovely and productive morning, indeed. After my volunteering shift was over, I walked around the fair many times talking to vendors and volunteers and trying samples (the best = Field Roast celebration roast). I went to Chef's Al demo at noon, he's a vegan Culinary Institute of America trained chef who runs the Institute for Culinary Awakening. I wish I had more time and money to attend his workshops.. Chef Al talked of the wonder of coconut oil and knowing who produces your food, among many other things. He made a bbq tempeh and quinoa wrap (I have the recipe for the bbq sauce and intend to make it) as well a chunky peanut sauce and rice wrap in a collard green. I also met Howard Lyman! an incredibly important and forward thinking human (who I fried tempeh next too in the morning as well) who also signed a copy of his new book for me.
Soy Delicious reps were there giving out coupons and free mini soy creams! I took home a couple for Tommy & I, and cherry nirvana is my new fa-vor-ite.



VEGAN donut from Rise-Up Donuts in PDX. (free for NW Veg volunteers!)
Good icing, but there's (naturally since it's egg-free) something disturbingly off about the texture and taste. It's good, but there's a wierd mellow fluff. Obviously I can't explain it..so support them and try it and let me know what you think~



I had a nice chat with Dave of Dave's Killer Bread..I was next door to his booth talking to volunteers and they mentioned his bread and I said I had a loaf at home and he called me over to talk, thanking me for my business.