FRINGE BENEFITS

On clear, sun-soaked days, herds of Angelenos grab their most revealing beachwear and greasiest tanning lotion and beeline to the nearest body of water. A fine bit of revelry to be sure, but why follow the crowds when you throw on a classic fedora, grab your camera and prance throughout downtown LA with one of your best friends in stride?

And, let me tell ya, traipsing through the beautiful, gritty streets is all the more delicious when sporting your fave vegan footwear and an over-sized handbag. Fact.

A few snapshots from the day. Admittedly, I got a little graffiti-happy, but I was rendered helpless by the colorful splendor.

Fedora from Etsy, Gap button down, Madewell jeans, Falling Whistles pendant, Rocket Dog booties, Cri De Coeur handbag

We stumbled upon this ancient contraption: ye ol' payphone.

xx Here's to aimless city wandering. In a fabulous hat. 

Photos by Meghan Wilson

CHILDREN OF THE RAWVOLUTION - Matthew Kenney's Restaurant M.A.K.E.

For the last few years, a clan of highly innovative chefs have been reinventing the vegan culinary wheel with a vengeance, churning out daring flavors and boldly imaginative presentations of what used to be seen as a bland and limited spectrum of food options. More recently, that gastronomic venture has gallivanted into the realm of the raw.

Chef Matthew Kenney (see: two-time James Beard Award nominee) is on my shortlist of the most influential and inventive pioneers of the raw movement.  At his restaurant M.A.K.E. Chef Kenney has masterfully architected a triple-threat of a menu: vegan, health-conscious and raw. Oh, and lest I fail to mention his food is also a visual carnival and explosively delicious. In short, the man is a raw vegan foodie GOLDEN GOD. Enough of my gushing; let's get to the food porn, shall we?

Kimchi Dumplings

Black Pepper Kelp Noodles

Market Tomato Lasagna

Wild Mushroom Tacos

Melon Sorbet with Passion Fruit (sans the honey)

And a highly pixelated pic of the gang, for your viewing pleasure:

There you have it, kids. The proof is in the pics; the food at M.A.K.E. is stellar - scrumptious, gorgeous and, dare I say it, GOOD for you. Damn. The chefs approach each plate like a blank canvas, filling them with a sophisticated balance of vivacious colors and dynamic arrangements. The flavors match the vibrancy of the plating; each bite is both aggressive and delicate. The only caveat is that a few of their items (namely the seductive desserts) contain honey. Honey-averse vegans be wary. Other than that, the fare is impeccably seasonal, local and utterly vegan.

The setting, though in the food court of a (granted, rather swanky) mall, manages to exude an elegance and sensuality. It also offers versatility;  diners are given the options of a communal omakase-style bar, the spacious dining room, or the full service outdoor patio.

Bear in mind, dinner won't break the bank, but is not the cheapest evening out. Oh so worth it, though. Reserve this one for a special evening - it definitely has a wow factor.


xx Love all your faces

DIM SUM IT UP - CHINESE NEW YEAR BRUNCH AT STREET

I firmly subscribe to the idea that brunch isn't as much a time as it is a state of mind. Unless, of course, brunch is being laid out in honor of the Chinese New Year at Susan Feniger's restaurant Street. And, when Chef Feniger and Chef Kajsa present us with a Vegan Dim Sum brunch, we set our alarms, chug some joe, and get our booties to brunch at a reasonable hour.

Feast your eyes on this beauty of a menu:

The place was packed tight - and rightly so. As usual, the Street chefs did not disappoint and made every dish worth the early Sunday morning rising. All elevated interpretations of classic dim sum fare, the dishes were elegantly plated and complex in taste. Even what appeared, at first glance, to be the more pedestrian of dishes, had unexpected kick and depth of flavor. Behold, the glory:

Cantonese-Style Radish Cakes (that chili sauce - mmmm)

Sesame Fritters (I'm such a sucker for bean paste, so this was happiness in the shape of a ball)

Mushroom Shu Mai (earthy mushroom filling and tangy souce)

Vegetable Potstickers (spicy goodness)

Jackfruit Bao (I was so into this; though, there is rarely a jackfruit dish that I don't like)

Mung Bean Crepes (seriously considering begging for the crepe recipe - perfection)

Fried Rice (had some unexpected and pleasing heat at the end)

Youtaio Donuts (churro-like with extra sugar and soymilk for dipping - yes, please)

Coconut Tapioca Pearls with Shanghai Fruit (as a coconut and lychee fanatic, this may have been my runaway fave)

Rice Batter Pancakes (the black sesame syrup and cream was to die for!)

Both Chef Feniger and Chef Kajsa were in the house and were adorably hospitable, making their way around the tables and chatting with the customers.

From left to right: me, Jackie, Jules, Jessica and her little munchkin :)

Lovely friends + spectacular food = amazing Sunday. Here's to the Year of the Snake - it's off to a delightfully tasty start.

Now, please pardon me while I lapse back into my blissful food coma.

xx Love to all! 

DINNER WITH FRIENDS - WILL TRAVEL FOR VEGAN FOOD

This is the first in the Dinner with Friends series, in which I meet up with another vegan blogger or influencer for some bantering and binging at a local vegan (or v-friendly) restaurant.

The other week, I had dinner with Kristin, the illustrious author of the blog Will Travel For Vegan Food and my dear friend Jessica, creator of The Vedge brand.

Kristin and I first met a couple of years ago when she was a key organizer at the Vegan Expo in Albany, NY. She's now a bonafide vegan trailblazer, eating and blogging her way through all 50 states. Basically, my fantasy life incarnate. Like her blog, she's bomb and a total delight.

We met up at SunCafe - a personal fave - in Studio City, CA. SunCafe is a charming little spot up in the valley, boasting the holy triad: Organic. Vegan. AND a hybrid raw/cooked menu. Jess and I eagerly indulged Kristin's mission by tackling multiple cooked and raw items on the menu. Many delicious bites were had, but my top picks from the night were:

Sweet Kale Shake

This green monster of a drink was an intoxicating blend of kale, bananas, cashews and agave. Divine. I'd go back solely for the shake.

Sun Nachos

The platter of nachos was a beast - and I couldn't stop devouring it. It's a masterful concoction of SunChorizo, nacho cheese, cashew cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, olives, jalapeños, and green onions. You can either get the standard version with baked blue corn chips, or raw with thinly sliced jicama chips. We opted for half and half; who ever said you can't have everything?

From the left: Kristin, me and Jess

It was an evening of scrumptious food and excellent conversation. The three of us joyously cleaned the plates and rambled on for hours till we closed down the joint (they politely asked us to leave).

For more yummy food porn be sure to follow Kristin, Jessica (and me!) on the ol' Instagram.

Here's to many more evenings filled with exceptional food and even better friends.

xx E

SNEAK PEEK: Holiday Sample Plate at Hugo's Restaurant!

I can't seem to get enough of all the festive grub of the past month and, fortunately, I don't have to shelf my cravings just yet. Several restaurants in the Los Angeles area have added a special holiday-themed plate to their menus for the month of December, and I'm more than happy to partake. 

The other day, I continued my indulgence in the season's merriment with the Happy Happy Holiday Platter at Hugo's Restaurant. With both omnivore and vegan variations (make sure to specify), the plate delivers up all the classic fixins. 

DISCLAIMER: The amount of food seen in the photo above is only about half of the actual serving. I didn't have the restrain to snap a picture before diving into the delectableness. 

The star of the show is the sliced veggie patty covered with mushroom herb gravy. The plentiful trimmings include harvest vegetable cornbread stuffing (made with GMO-free corn), mashed maple yams, sautéed leafy greens, corn cakes (so, SO good) and cranberry sauce. Not too shabby for this girl, I'll tell you what.

Hit that platter up before it's too late!

xx Happy vegan eats

SNEAK PEEK: Thanksgiving Sample Plate at M Cafe!

Suffice it to say, I couldn't hold off on delicious Thanksgiving vegan fare until the actual Day O'Tofurkey.

Too many delectable temptations! I was outnumbered and, joyfully, caved. Behold, the vegan Thanksgiving sampler plate from M Cafe de Chaya:

*drool*

It was a splendorous feast of seitan turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, broccolini, stuffing - all drenched in a mouth-watering gravy. Get on it, LA peeps! This is (obviously) a limited time platter.

Everyday should be Save-A-Turkey Day :)

xx Peace and love to turkeys everywhere.

THANKSGIVING VEGAN RESTAURANT GUIDE 2012 - Los Angeles Edition

I’ll be joining some friends for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. The day will be filled laughter and mayhem (and, if history is any indicator, some champagne cocktails) circling around the kitchen, as we try our hands at mastering some vegan dishes for the ultimate holiday spread. 

But, for those of us who are eager to bypass the mania and inevitable chaos of cooking a T-day meal, here’s a quick guide to where you can find a scrumptious, prepared-for-you vegan holiday meal in and near Los Angeles:

M CAFÉ DE CHAYA  

SHOJIN 

REAL FOOD DAILY 

MADELEINE BISTRO  

NATIVE FOODS 

On second thought, maybe homemade dinners are overrated... *stomach-rumble*

xx