Tuesday, November 06, 2007

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.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love Bamboo Garden, but if you make it up to Cap Hill you should eat at In the Bowl. They have vegan cream cheese wontons to die for. They're on the pricy side, but so worth it, even if all you get is appetizers.

Some of my favorite dishes in Seattle are actually vegetarian dishes and non-vegetarian restaurants.

Have fun while you're here!

Taylor said...

Ah, the memories! Happy revisiting your old haunts...even if they're not as good as you remember.

Sarah P said...

gasp! I live a short walk away from grasshopper! we should eat there together... or get amazing greasy vegan pizza or calzones at the vegan pizza place (TJ Scallywaggles) next door...

Kayla said...

I should write about my first restaurant experience. When I left I felt so good I thought I was tripping. Haha.
Your Sundried tomato seitan looks sooo good. No need to buy tofurkey sausage ever again.
Oh, cute moose pasta! I love Ikea.

Webly said...

That fudge looks like mine! YUM! I like how it's so sweet you can't eat too much. Brian on the other hand...

Judy said...

You didn't like fudge?!?!? Please tell me that was a typo!!!!!!

Unknown said...

i hope you have fun in seattle & boston. cant wait to hear about the trips.

and your food always looks good. love the potatoes. i have never really liked fudge. dont know why.

bjorkedoff said...

i'm so glad you like the fudge!and i'm so excited to be on yr blog,jeeze,i feel famous.

Ashasarala said...

White... chocolate... fudge... ::drooling:: I LOVE white chocolate. There just simply aren't enough white chocolate recipes in the vegan world.

I like Buddhas, but Grasshopper has won me over. I try not to visit more than twice a year because the sodium in the food is astronomical. I always feel like a big balloon when I leave there. But yes, it is addictively tasty.

bazu said...

That fudge looks incredible- wow- the texture really comes through in the photography.
And I'm scratching my head, trying to remember my first veg. restaurant experience!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

oooh good luck on your journey to Boston, visiting the vegetarian restaurants! :0)

that moose pasta is too cute!! and all the food (especially the fudge! yum!) looks delicious.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness--you went to Emerson College?! So did I! I love your blog but I don't think I have ever commented before...but when I read that I had to say something. I used to love Buddha's Delight!

BTW, your blog is great and thanks for all of your wonderful posts!

Courtney

jess (of Get Sconed!) said...

vegetalion - I am so impressed that TJ's went all vegan. I remember when my boyfriend and I first noticed the "vegan menu" in the window and thought it was a joke, haha. I'd be honored if you came to dinner on the 8th!

Courtney - thank you for jumping in! I don't know if we attended at the same time, obviously - but I was class of 2004 (though I finished in winter 2004). <3 Buddha's.

Anonymous said...

Jess--we probably were there at the same time! I only completed 2 years there before transferring to a different school to finish up (I changed my major and as much as I loved Emerson, they didn't have much to offer once I decided to switch majors). I was there for 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Small world!

Courtney