Picture Pages: May 2012

Vegan On The Road: TC: Ecopolitan

Where: Ecopolitan
http://www.ecopolitan.com/healthyfood/the-restaurant

What We Ordered: 

Appetizer: Trio Sampler - pesto, hummus + olive tapenade served with flax crackers (first image below); Chilled Celery Soup (no image)

Entrees: Rawvioli (top image), Pesto Pasta (second image below, Pesto Pizza (not shown)

Desserts: Sadly, my memory failed and I don't recall exactly what the three desserts were. (third image below)

Notes: Ecopolitan is a 100% organic, vegan, raw food restaurant (exterior, fourth image below). This was my first time eating raw food and it was educational, and tasty too. It was fun trying all the menu offerings and learning more about the raw food diet. The Rawvioli was my main course and it was heavenly - I would eat that any day of the week. The appetizer sampler was amazing and I would love to serve it at a party - very filling and a flavorful explosion in the mouth! We sat on the charming porch and read about colon hydrotherapy. 

Apparently colon hydrotherapists love a pun, for example eCOLONogical - only they take it dead serious. These are some hardcore butt water practitioners - so do not make fun! Well, you may make fun later - it's called manners!

The Ecopolitan building does NOT have air conditioning - so be aware of that if you were planning to go in the high heat of Summer. 

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!