My first Vegetarian Restaurant Experience, Seitan & FUDGE.

I thought I’d use today’s post to talk about my first vegetarian restaurant experience. Vegetarian restaurants have been on my mind since…

• I’ve been working on the other blog
• Corresponding with my friend Maria in Boston about my plans there
• Compiling my folder chock full of info, directions, bus trips and menu for Seattle this weekend (our hotel seems to be within walking distance of Bamboo Garden, which I'm up for conveniently trying again - any recommendations?)
  

My first vegetarian restaurant experience:

I started going vegetarian when I was 10, and was a full fledged veghead by the time I went to college at 17. It was during my freshman year of college that I went to my first vegetarian restaurant. Our RA Peter at our Emerson College dorm had sponsored a vegetarian dinner at Buddha’s Delight in Boston's Chinatown that my friend Maria and I went to. It was free, we didn’t know many people and Chinatown sounded exciting, so off we went. I think we ate family style and there a lot of noodle dishes, and although it said ‘vegetarian’, I didn’t fully get the concept. I know that’s sad to hear about a then 18 year old, but it’s true. I didn’t believe that I didn’t have to worry and pick through everything on the table. I thought the term was just being tossed out there or something. On top of that, I was ridiculously picky back then, eating mac and cheez for half of my meals. I wouldn’t say I disliked it, but took me at least a year to go back. And go back I did, I remember a point I was eating there once a week when working/going to school nearby.

When I studied abroad in Europe at 20, I learned about Vegdining.com and Happycow.net. I hit up veg*n restaurants in foreign cities, and have been utilizing the web on my search for vegan food ever since. Now I’m at the point where I can critique a veg restaurant meal as I would one anywhere else, and don’t get as excited over a stir fry – live & learn. In Boston, Buddha’s is actually my favorite asian restaurant, nostalgia wise, but taste wise it was Grasshopper. I’m planning on going there again next month for the first time in 3+ years, and 2 roach experiences later…wish me luck! And feel free to email me if you’d like to join me at Grasshopper on December 8th~

Onto recent food creations...

Sundried Tomato and Italian Herb grilled Seitan O Greatness - Recipe.

Ugh the lighting!
Roasted Mini Russet Potatoes

Nomicon cornbread with jalapeno topping, esme sauce over moose pasta (yes, Ikea), panfried Nomicon Smoky Tempeh and yellow bell pepper

Homemade chocolate & white chocolate fudge from Evan, of Bjoked Off!

I didn't even remember really liking fudge until I tried them, swoon.