Vegan On The Road: TC: Jasmine 26

Where: Jasmine 26
http://jasmine26.net/

What We Ordered:  
Appetizers: Sea Salt and Pepper Tofu Cubes (below left), Spring Rolls with Mock Duck (below right)
Entree: Lemongrass Noodle Salad with Mock Duck (above & second below)

Notes: Our meal at Jasmine 26 was my personal favorite dinner we enjoyed in Minneapolis. This was no doubt fueled by the day spent dehydrated and hungry in a dive of a pinball/pool hall where I easily lost $20 on the Twilight Zone pinball game. Being able to wash our hands in the clean restrooms at Jasmine 26 seemed like the height of luxury! Despite the look of my atrocious low-light stealth attempt at i-phone photos; the food was bright, fresh and delicious with many vegan options. Yet again, we gorged ourselves on mock duck and it was succulent!

Below - pre-dinner pinball photos: African-American Santa Yeti??? and "Gorbie" (clearly NOT based on Mikhail Gorbachev - allegedly) are two of your fares in the pinball game "Taxi". Look at that shining neon beacon of a pinball sign! Glorious!
 

Vegan On The Road: TC: Hard Times Cafe

Where: Hard Times Cafe


What We Ordered: Sadly, I can't recall the name of what we ordered and Hard Times has no website (champagne problems!) for me to reference. I know I got a burrito, and it was a big fattie that I slapped contentedly. Weird habit: I like to smack my burritos before I eat them to test the ingredients packing level, distribution and fullness. This burrito passed the test. (below)

  

Big D, my vegan mentor, ordered a falafel plate and some monstrosity of a soda called Jolt. Jolt's original slogan from 1985 was "All the sugar and twice the caffeine". In my eyes it is a man-made abomination, but I guess it is something of a legend among cola drinkers. Admittedly, I hate all cola drinks - I am an anti-colite. Fun fact: on an episode of "30 Rock" Tracy Jordan demands a can of Jolt Cola, which he explains "will be hard because it no longer exists". (below)

Tacos, y'all with the softie shells! You really can't go astray with good ole tacos, amiright? Served with a side of chips and salsa. (below)

Notes: Hard Times interior is reminiscent of a punk rock dive bar from the early 80's once the lights go up after a hard drinking night and maybe a small fire and a few fist fights. We were there in late afternoon for lunch and the food was cheap and filling, the music was quiet and there weren't many other patrons present. The diners were varied and all very quiet ranging from a guy in a suit to some punks rock guys bumming cigarettes to a schoolgirl chic middle aged lady in a gyno short plaid skirt. I did think our cook was wearing an oxygen mask but it turned out to be my own fanciful interpretation of a side view of a tribal face tattoo. I have to say, it would be a fun place to eat after a concert (when I was in my twenties and could still handle mosh pits, loud music, and wore my knee high lace-up Docs). Try not to use the restroom - or just go to look at the graffiti and wash your hands. CASH ONLY!

B.A. Baracus pities the fool who doesn't recycle!

Vegan On The Road: TC: The Bad Waitress

Where: The Bad Waitress
http://thebadwaitress.com/

What I Ordered: The Amsterdam Hash - red potatoes, broccoli, red onions, mushrooms, and tofu with a side of Monster Plate O’ Potatoes hash brown style. My beverage of choice was the cold-press iced coffee. (I kept wanting to call my entree The Hamsterdam Rash in homage to The Wire.)

Notes: Every single food photo I took of this feast was blurry - I must have been all a tremble with hunger. The cold-press iced coffee was my favorite coffee of our entire trip. Another solid eatery - it was a real treat to have so many vegan options for breakfast. The decor here was very funky-retro, colorful and fun. To my recollection the hash browns were cooked to crispy-on-the-outside perfection and the hash was a fortified way to start the day. Each table has a super hero mascot - we were The Human Torch. I wanted to be Apache Chief, however, I didn't see him as an option in my brief scan. Next time!

Vegan On The Road: TC: Seward Cafe

Where: Seward Cafe
http://www.sewardcafe.com/

What I Ordered: Biscuits & Gravy (above top) - "housemade vegan biscuit topped with vegan cashew-mushroom gravy, tomatoes and scallions"; Hashbrowns; Vegan GMO-Free "sausage" patties (above bottom).


Notes: This was my personal favorite breakfast meal which I devoured like a Duran Duran wolf lady. I seriously licked up that mushroom gravy - I was lucky to get this photo without biting my own hand off. Another recipe I wanted to steal - the "sausage" patties had me all atwitter in the taste buds.

The atmosphere is ultra hippie-granola, look past that if it bothers you, as the food is worth it. There was a really nice outdoor patio space we wanted to sit at but it was too rainy and cold. The name announcing system sounded like an old Speak-And-Spell so I'd give a very distinct multi word name so you don't miss the call to kibble. 

Warning: The unisex bathrooms were covered in graffiti that read like a Jane Seymour for Jared commercial script, and they smelled like an unwashed hot yoga mat topped off with soaking bean farts.

Vegan On the Road: TC: Cafe Luce

Where: Pizza Luce

http://pizzaluce.com/

What We Ordered: Appetizer Sampler - VR (above) Rinotta, bruschetta, sun-dried tomato and Greek olive tapenade, red sauce, with toasted focaccia.

Entree: Mock Muffeletta - VR (below) Their website says it best: Not to be mocked or ducked, this vegan version of our Muffuletta comes toasted with tangy BBQ sauce and seasoned mock duck, our Muffeletta olive mixture and Rinotta*—our homemade 'uncheese' made from tofu and cashews. Served with 'the fixings'."

 

Entree: Specialty Pizzas! 

Lil’ Gracie - VR (below right): vegan veggie ball crumbles, house Muffuletta olive mixture, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and Notcotta on red sauce.

The Rustler - VR (side left) Again, defer to the brilliant menu description: "The vegetarian version of the chop-lickin’, chap-wearin’ little doggie. She’s a silent little smoker on the side, without the chirp-chirp. Topped with mock duck, pineapple, banana peppers, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella on our barbecue/red sauce. Cowgirl approved!" (The "VR" vegan version topped with Notcotta in place of mozzarella)

 

Notes: Among our intrepid travelers Cafe Luce was consistently mentioned with drooling mouths and misty-watercolor-memories and longing. This place was a gold mine for a vegan wanting pizza! The choices! The "cheese"! We went full on Piggy a la "Lord of the Flies" on the appetizer sampler. NEXT! The pizza was charmed and only served to fuel our obsession with mock duck. The Muffeletta sandwich was otherworldly in its deliciousness. (PS I have been plotting and planning a deal with the Devil to make my own version their Notcotta - it was so decadent!) Also, our tatted, punk rockin', 9 months preggers waitress went out in the rain to jump a customer's car for them. That is some impressive service.

Vegan On The Road: TC: Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant

Where: Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant
http://www.fasika.com/


What I Ordered: Veg Sampler - Atkilt (curried vegetable stew with carrots, potatoes, cabbage, pepper, onion); Gomen (greens cooked in the Ethiopian style); Kik Alicha Wat (curry spiced split peas); Misir Key Wot (lentils cooked in Berbere sauce); Misir Alicha (lentils cooked in curry + spices); Shiro Wat (spiced chickpea flour cooked in berbere), Fosolia (green beans & carrots cooked in curry + spices). Served with Injera (a flat, spongy bread that resembles a crepe or a pancake. Injera is made of Tef, Ethiopian staple grain or wheat and barley.)


Notes: This was my first time eating authentic Ethiopian food (my one previous experience involved a shady restaurant that may or may not have been a front for drug dealings. Allegedly.) At the suggestion of friends, I ordered the veg sampler to get a taste of all the amazing vegan options - everything was mouth wateringly good. As you can see from my pathetic photo - I was so busy shoving food in my bean hole I didn't even bother to get a "before" food pron image of the plate. My favorite was the Atkilt - Irish girls and their root veggies, amiright? My Southern friends raved about the Gomen (greens) which I have never developed a taste for (totally regional - Midwesterners as a general rule don't make greens) however, I did enjoy a few bites and felt very sophisticated. By all accounts - n00bs and seasoned pros the meal was top notch!


Since I pulled a boner on the food photo op, here are some cute animal photos from the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory (http://www.comozooconservatory.org/)! After reviewing the images, "cute" may be the wrong word - odd and amputated looking is more apt. Enjoy!: