San Francisco Archives - Page 2 of 3

Sheba - Eritrean Queen of the injera

February 3, 2012 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

Don’t you love it when you go into a store and they are handing out free morsels of food..AND IT’S VEGAN! Right now, as I gather ideas for recipes in my beloved San Francisco, I have so much ‘incoming’ that I’m having difficulty stringing a meal together myself. My ‘at home’ meals have been bowls of spicy dahl with chunky ginger and ‘vampire slaying’ amounts of garlic, or just simple kale and tomato salads with avocado and lime. Honestly, the organic food here is so good, it’s fabulous in it’s birthday suit. But yesterday, as I wandered up and down ailes in Rainbow Grocery (with a stupid happy grin on my face…I’ve got to stop that..but it just makes me so happy!) an exotic woman handed me some fresh injera bread with hummus at its core. It was creamy and complimented the fermented ‘tang’ of the bread well. I must say, I am rather partial to my homemade batches of chickpea pate and her Eritrean version of making it from chickpea flour instead of the whole little yella fella, failed to turn me. BUT, when she slathered some bright yellow WAT (split pea sauce) on some more GLUTEN FREE teff injera I practically begged her to come and be my chef. She refused but told me I can get tubs of the stuff and big beautiful Frisbees of the injera bread at any time in Rainbow in San Francisco. In March 2012, she’s going to be serving up the stuff in Oakland for all you Bay beauties (JEALOUS!).

The website is still waiting to be kick started but it will be functioning soon. Sheba I hear that Oakland is a bit of an Eritrean Mecca (which I’m yet to investigate) but she is fully vegan, gluten free and lovely so that, in my book, is a winning combo.

I probably will have left San Francisco before she opens (boo!) so, if you go, I’d love to know how you enjoy it.

Sandwich Nirvana? Ikes Place San Francisco

January 31, 2012 by India Leigh 2 Comments

The vegan options in San Francisco are never ending (hurrah) and I’m being kept busy (and full) peddling up and down crazy hills to extend my vegan knowledge, and to bring you pictures of food. One recurring name on the lips of many Yelpers, Happy Cows and vegan bloggers alike is Ike’s Place. A sandwich shop on 16th and Sanchez. All spoke of ‘out of this world’ flavour. All spoke of lengthy queues. None seemed to complain, once they’d bitten into a densely packed bap. I took note of some helpful Yelp advice and called at opening hour - 10am - and made my needs known to the server. He was so patient and gave me all the time in the world to make up my mind (which I took) what I was going to order. Word was ‘go for the Meatless Mike - vegan ‘meat’ balls with marina sauce’. The website is a great (and so fun!) source to acquaint yourself with their menu and 100’s of options (not all vegan). You punch in your desires, and voila, a nice list of suggestions. The meatless balls are not gluten free, but they offer gluten free bread so I thought 1 out of 2 isn’t bad. Usually, I veer passed anything with gluten in, but when so many people say something is AMAZING I start to think I’ll throw a tantrum if I can’t have it too. My curiosity won. So I ate at noon and got ready to cycle my butt off and hack it down to the ocean to minimise the gluten grip. I was ready to pay for my gluten dalliances. For you. I do it ALL for you (mostly).

The Meatless Mike in Dolores Park

Behold…no queue wormed its way down the street. I walked in, picked up my sandwich, free lolly and huge bag of Dirty’s crisps/chips. It wasn’t even worth locking my bike. 2 mins and a two-block freewheel later, I’m down the hill and hitting the grass in Dolores Park. I unwrapped the brown paper in giddy anticipation. Bit through the crusty, chewy bread and waited for the flavour to hit my taste buds, the smell to reach my nose, and for it all to tell my brain how it tasted…… And…. It was OK. I will confess I’m more of a soup girl. A poppadom thrills me and kale chips are a divine treat, so perhaps I’m not the best judge. It needed something else…strong Daiya cheese (I don’t think mine had any…not visible to the eye anyhow) or something to give it punch ….I tore open the packet of chips and they were quite something. Cooked in peanut oil, interestingly flavoured with BBQ and vinegar. A noteworthy combo….I stuck a few under the lid of my sandwich and squashed them down so I could fit it all in my mouth…success. Much better. A junk food hit.

Will I go back to Ike’s?…. The bread was a winner as far as I’m concerned. The staff could teach many a food server in the UK a thing or two…. Hmmn. If, one day, Ike makes a Reuben with tempeh, I will be sure to be pushing those bike peddles all the way to his door. But, hey, if you are a sandwich lover…Go….all those people on Yelp can’t be wrong.

I AM FILLED WITH GRATITUDE in San Francisco

January 29, 2012 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

Another day in San Francisco and another Vegan Meetup. This time with Vegans and Vegetarians. I nearly didn’t go. The event changed at the last minute from Gracias Madre (excellent vegan Mexican restaurant in the Mission) to it’s sibling Cafe Gratitude. My last visit to this place a year ago I’d vowed never again. I had thought it over priced and the portion sizes mean. Thank God I had a wake up call yesterday and remembered it was about the people and not just the food! I AM SO GLAD that I showed up.

Over 40 of us had gathered from the Vegan and Vegitarian Meetup group. The atmosphere in the cafe was transformed from the last time. The staff were exceptionally friendly and knowledgable. The whole evening was perfect. Things change I guess. Off days are allowed (sometimes), and realistic.

For those of you who don’t know, Cafe Gratitude is an organic, vegan, part raw cafe located on 20th & Harrison. It’s the cafe Jason Moraz sang about in one of his tunes. It was the first place I ever had raw food and the first time I went it was pretty fantastic too, and so fun. The dishes on the menu are all carry a positive adjective - I AM WONDROUS, I AM DAZZLING etc. Grab a looksee at the menu here

Sorry for the poor quality pics but the lighting is not set up for bloggers. Luckily the food is.

raw pzza - I was told it was good

one of their hearty bowls. I think it was I AM WHOLE

I AM EXTRAORDINARY - my entree, and the BEST meal I’ve had so far, on this trip to SF. Coconut ‘bacon’, and avocado with chipotle aioli wrapped with raw apple curry bread - nearly had me tearing up it was so good. Messy, creamy, kicking and salty/savory….oh Lordy! I’d eat this again in a heartbeat. It is my new BFF (Best Forever Food)

Rahul - the events organiser. A fellow snapper.

A good gathering

Raw chocolate coconut cream pie. My neighbour was not only great company but generous too - he let me have a taste. Honestly, It wasn’t the best raw pie I’d had, but it was nice. Perhaps everything was paling into insignificance after my PERFECT entree

I met with such fun people. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I wish I had found www.meetup.com years ago and I am so thankful for it now. It must of been a good night for me to sit down for that long! I left late and made my way back to my apartment a very contented girl. I AM GRATEFUL indeed!

Soul Food and Good People

January 24, 2012 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

I cannot believe I am posting this crappy picture (it hardly gives kudos to how it tasted…or my photography skills), but I wanted to tell you about the San Francisco Vegetarian MeetUp Group. What an awesome bunch. I signed up to meet them in Oakland (in the US of A) at www.souleyvegan.com. I took a friend along but I was still a bit nervous about meeting up with 10 strangers..why? I don’t know, they were hardly going to bite me - I’m made of meat! I need not of worried. They were all so nice. A real mix of characters. I’d been to Souley before, a year ago (read about it here) and had enjoyed the food. Last time the restuarant had long been in business, and only a few people were sitting around getting busy with their monster slabs of deep fried tofu. This time the place was totally packed. Fun atmosphere, though the volume of the music made it hard for me to hear what people were saying. I totally recommend you looking up the group if you are in town. Lovely, lovely people.

I chose 4 items from the menu - collard greens (healthy greens with a kick), lentils (earthy and comforting), sweet yams (ooh, so good) and two MASSIVE mounds of tofu (definitely not for the faint hearted). I was beaten into submission and even I couldn’t manage dessert!

I didn’t snap the group. The room was so dark and it felt a bit weird asking strangers if I could photograph them. I hope I get to meet up with them again. Check out Meet Up and see if they have a group in your area. Such a good way to get insider knowledge and meet with other people who also get the warm and fuzzies when looking back over pics of food they’ve eaten!

Bay Area Vegan Meet Ups - Cha-Ya

January 24, 2012 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

When you are in a new town, one of the best ways to get to meet new people and try new places to eat has to be Meet Up groups. On my previous visits to San Francisco I relied on the tried and trusted method of talking to strangers to make new friends. In the past this has unearthed some treasured friends. This time though, after spending the summer flitting from one Meet Up groups to another in the UK (all kinds of people meet for all sorts of activities - wearing just your pants/underwear on the tube being the strangest…no, I didn’t partake), I thought I’d make life simple and sign up for some vegan events.

The Bay Area Vegans and Vegetarians were meeting at Cha -Ya. Located in the hip Mission District @ 726 Valencia, I’d walked past it many times before but never went in. I was always lured by the promise of more rambunctious flavours of Latin America or hearty American fayre. The time had come.

I stuffed my feet into plastic shopping bags before zipping them into my boots to help ‘waterproof’ my vegan boots and headed off into the rain. It was early lunch time so the place was empty apart from, whom I gathered was the group, seated around a long table. The waitress was already taking orders so I quickly chose two dishes that looked the most interesting.

Shira Ae - veggies with tofu, tahini dressing. I enjoyed the flavours and the texture of the lotus root. But the tofu was not floating my boat, it had the texture of tough skin (??!!).

Deep fried Portabello mushrooms with Atsuage Tofu and a kiwi sauce. The sauce had just the right amount of acidity to cut through the oily mushrooms.

Such a hurry was I to eat and with the happy knowledge that the menu was 100% vegan, I didn’t even think (duh!) that the batter would not be gluten free. I think my brain was temporarily sodden by the linking days of rain!
I didn’t think the dishes I chose were earth shatteringly good but my Meet Up friends all were excitedly rating at the top of their own personal VEGAN charts.

I would go there again. Order something different next time. The staff were quick and courteous but their English is not the best and my Japanese stops at Konnichiwa, and some sort of easy way to remember #1-10 (something about itchy knees? obviously it didn’t stick) and that’s on a good day! It was nice to meet up with some Bay Area vegans.

You can view the menu here. They only accept cash.

happy Bay Area vegans

Moya A taste of Ethiopia in SOMA

April 20, 2011 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

The sight of stony grey, spongy, aerated, injera bread rolled on a plate is motivation to plot a course on GOOGLE maps and head outside. If it’s a few blocks away, I’ll just do a YELPY and see what the vibe is….I know, not exactly road less traveled, throw caution to the wind, stuff that adventures are made of but..when I am salivating over menus on the web and my tummy needs filling…I don’t like to take too many risks. I know, got to live on the ‘food’ edge more.

VEGANSAURUS rated MOYA as ^swear word^ delicious, ‘Moya rules’ . Enough said. My coat was flying behind me as I attempted to get dressed and walk down the street at the same time. Skill.

I walked down Folsom to 7th, past some rather ‘interesting’ bars. I’d railroaded my foodie pal into eating an early dinner (for Glen it was a late lunch/early dinner…a linner? Well..we accepted the word brunch didn’t we?!) The restaurant only had one couple tucking in when we arrived. More arrived whilst we scoffed.

We ordered the vegetarian combo (yes, ’tis vegan), a buffet/taster plate. Five dishes spooned on Teff - a nutritious Ethiopian grain..Wiki tells it. gluten-free, injera bread. The salad was simply chopped toms and lettuce but dusted with white pepper - usually pet hate of mine, but..it worked, I was converted; a stew of carrots kale; slow cooked collard greens; yellow split peas in garlic & spices and split red lentils in Berbere sauce. I also called ahead (obsessive planning!..but they ask for 30mins notice) to get them whipping up some Shuro (ground garbanzos cooked in garlic & Berbere sauce). Vegansaurus said to order it and slather it on everything as it was like liquid butter…

The injera was good..perfect in fact. A texture like nothing else. The palate of dishes in the veggie combo? I enjoyed the salad..actually I enjoyed EVERYTHING. The red split lentils were worthy of a trumpeted fanfare and mini indoor sparklers..yey! The other dishes were good but my socks were not blown off, tic-a-tape did not rain from the sky and I did not take to the floor to perform three somersaults, air straddle splits and a triple salto in celebration. Hmm, I’d go again.. but I’d gorge (and you do gorge..they are GENEROUS portions) on the spicy misir and an injera or two. I’d save my dosh for spending on a sweet vegan goodie from Rainbow Grocery on the way home and give the Shuro a miss too ..it didn’t rock my boat..more of a gentle nudge from the wake of a passing ship., ok, ok, you knew what I meant.

Plus points; the food was brought out in minutes, the cooks seemed (quietly) proud of their food.
Minus; they currently only take cash BUT they do have an ATM

Source San Francisco

April 15, 2011 by India Leigh 2 Comments

Much hype and excitement was posted on the Internet in the run up to the opening of SOURCE, the newest vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the Bay. VEGANSAURUS had been there..rated it. Skirted by the swanky design district on Division St, it’s a bit out of the way from my place in the Mission, but the walk there was interesting, as SF’s streets always are..

Arrhh…!

too much choice on the menu! I performed my usual ‘menu traumatics’, asking three members of staff what I should order (‘pizza’s amazing…’lurve the green goddess salad….’) and then I completely ignored their suggestions and opted for the Jamaican Jerk Cluck. I did however order the rosemarie (their spelling) salted fries with Gilroy sauce (a favourite of the cashier..he practically swooned…do men swoon? well, best word I could come up with right now).

Source is owned by two brothers from New York. One greets everyone with a warm smile and a free nibbly (french bread and truffle oil). The other, Mitch, is getting busy meanwhile with the long armed pizza spade and the dragon shaped (?) pizza oven.

Andrew gave me lots of attention, which of course I lapped up, and told me all about his journey from the East coast to find home for Source. He wants Source to be a fun place for people to come and eat great food. It was early when I arrived, not quite dinner but way past lunch, so Andrew could have the time to share a little of his story. I’m sure he’ll not get time to hang with the diners when the place is buzzing. The atmosphere at Source is upbeat, the bros chose their staff well. The decor is simple clean and minimal.

My order came super quick. Nice and generous portions. Tick!

The fries - salty, stick-thin and perfectly oily, were the best I’ve ever had. The Gilroy sauce (at a guess so called because of the Gilroy Garlic Festival) was VERY garlicky, creamy and INCREDIBLE. I squirted some, agarve sweetened, tom sauce on the side too, to give it a try…yum. Tick. Tick. Tick!!

The jerk cluk and veggies filled the plate, the pickle (they call it chutney but I think its closer to its ‘heavy on the vinegar’ cousin Mr Pickle) was really good… I would have liked some more. The jerky was not really ‘jerky’ as I had imagined it, I thought it would be hot with spices but I likened it as more of a stew. The texture of the imported Taiwan soya ‘chicken’ would defy a carnies belief that it wasn’t ‘real’. Personally I’d prefer Tempeh as the texture was a little too reminiscent for me but the flavours of the stew were, flavoursome, rich and lovable.

DESSERT.. I was full and hardly any room existed in my stomach but I HAD to try a dessert…just so I could blog about it! Andrew removed my angst, of another five minutes spent faffing about, deciding what to order, and conjured up a ‘live’ chocolate, caramel moussey thing which had me sighing with UTTER desire and pleasure. It was thick and sweet, the cacao nibs brittle and bitter. My eyes had spied the creme filled cookies up at the counter (supplied by WHOLESOME BAKERY) and usually I’d have ordered one of those too. I was glad I didn’t. Twas not needed. Satisfaction was reached.

I wanna go back. I want to live in San Francisco so I can make Source one of my regular haunts. It will be interesting to see how Source goes down with the spoilt for choice residents of SF..I wish them EVERY success. I walked home very happy, and in slight pain, from eating too much.

Plant Organic Cafe in Cow Hollow

April 9, 2011 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

Wasabi Plant Burger with sourdough bread and NOT ENOUGH of the cauliflower in the salad!

I walked my bloody legs off to get from the Mission to Chestnut & Steiner to try out Plant. VEGANSAURUS and BAY AREA BITES were digging it so I HAD to get in on the act. It was early..only 5pm so the place had an atmosphere bypass. The staff were friendly enough. Ms ‘Funky Hair Big ‘ole Bangs’ behind the counter suggested the Wasabi Plant burger because I confessed I’d not crossed their threshold before. I went with it. What can I say? It was fresh, the sauerkraut had a lovely vinegary crunch and woke up the lentil, beet burger. There was a generous helping of buttery (though not cooked in butter they’d caramelized perfectly) fried onions. The Wasabi? wasnotfoundi..subtle the operative word here. In all, it was a good burger..I’d revisit this experience again.

Plant Cafe Organic THE PLANT CAFE…find them in Cow Hollow and at the Embarcadero

Raw vegan cheesecake with blackberry black pepper sauce and a cheeky little peanut butter cookie on the side

The cheesecake was ready sliced, packaged in a plastic tub in the cooler…Hmm, naughty, naughty Plant..listen up..word to the wise..when paying $7 for a dessert I’d expect it to be served to me on a nice white plate with shiny cutlery. Come on. So, to make up for their downfall I HAD to add a cookie and ask for a plate and put my own dessert together. Tut! It was their fault a peanut butter cookie got killed in the making of this third course! The berry cheesecake was dense, tart/sweet and good but the sauce was not really packing in the flavour. The cookie not peanut buttery enough for me and I’d prefer the crunch taken up a notch..or two. But I was happy enough.

I’d go back there again but I probably wouldn’t lie awake at night reminiscing about my first date with Plant. 3 out of 5 stars

April 9, 2011 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

Mama Mango salad with macadamias and quesco fresco on ACME bread…no I don’t know what ACME bread is…

Potato masa cakes

Ok, so the pictures aren’t great…they don’t exactly inspire or cause you to salivate…or do they? Anyhoo, it was dark inside, I was HUNGRY and my friend Veronica was slipping away…I didn’t have time to get out the lighting metre, photographers big white disc thingy or wait until the sun rose again..So I snapped a couple of pics and tucked in. FORGIVE ME FOR MY HEINOUS UNPROFESSIONALISM!

But, what I CAN bring to the table (pardonez moi the pun)..is news of the greatest meal in the land. Sought out, scouted, from the four winds..well on 18th & Mission in San Francisco anyway. Gracias Madre is, IMHO, the best vegan eatery I’ve gorged in yet..

Picture borrowed (stolen) from Google Images…bizzarely when trawling through the food shots, nestled among the plates of food was a picute of a stack of naked and not very buff men running down the street?! This isn’t what we ordered but it’s close.

Two friends..both hungry..both taught to share by their ma and pa..both with highly developed taste receptors and legends in their respective fields.. ok, kitchens..alright, minds…their own minds. God! We ordered way too much and a LOT more than we would have if we had been on a first date with a dashing young man.

Potato masa cakes & mango, macadamia salad with kick ass chipotle dressing got the show on the road. The masa cakes somehow seemed to carry off being delecate whilst filling at the same time. The crisp lettuce offset the ‘mash’ nicely and the avocados were so creamy. The salad was a taste extravaganza! The dressing was sooo good and the spinach lent a wonderful background to the slightly sweet mango. I LOVED the crunch of the oil dense maca d nuts.

Entree for me was butternut squash tamal with escabeche and beans. My friend, Veronica, ordered the mix plate with frigoles, sauteed kale with roasted pepitas, brown rice & fresh, blue corn tortillas. After a little swapsies (and… there is a God…Veronica insisted on diving it up 2 thirds one third..in my favour) we attacked the entrees. My tamal was so fluffy if almost fell apart. Perfectly seasoned. Delish. Garlic, sauteed kale.. ‘got it going on!’ woo! kale ROCKS. The beans were ultimate comfort food, I’d say slop but it doesn’t sound appetizing. The escabeche - carrots and onions, the perfect accompaniment, cut through the creamy beans like a dream. It was ALL extremely tasty. The service was great, the mariachi’s irritatingly loud, the atmosphere buzzing. The tortillas were too much for even me so they got popped into a bag and taken home to get acquainted with my fridge.

Put Gracias Madre on your bucket list….if you know what’s good for you.

http://aveganobsession.com/2011/04/mama-mango-salad-with-macadamias-and/

Indian Feast: Dhaba Walla Pop-Up with Roger Feely

April 3, 2011 by India Leigh Leave a Comment

First day back in San Francisco. First stop Rainbow Grocery to stock up on vegan snacks and ZUZU mascara (THE best vegan eye wand in the World…probably). First meal…Roger Feely’s Last Supper…Confusing I know..first/last..middle? Well the middle was me, pigging out all day. Wandering around mindlessly popping WHOLESOME BAKERY, peanut butter cookies,

raw superfood granola, raw chocolate dipped organic fruit and nuts…ahhh! I was STUFFED! But..still excited to walk down to Thrill of the Grill, the pizza restaurant Roger was ‘popping up’, in.

No fancy dancy chic surroundings here…no. We shared the space with large families muncHing on pizza and chicken wings. No matter. I was ready to ‘work’.

The hand scribbled menu was mostly vegan, with the exception of the chicken curry…(bleh).. and the gulab jamon dessert (eh..what?!). I opted for the crispy fried green..GREEN?!! GREEN garbs..a little more info, sil vous plait.. garbanzos with tamarind corn paha and the pessaratu veggie sambar.

The poha..did I hear you say what the hell is POHA? no? perhaps I’m the last to know. This is what I discovered anyhoo…Poha 101

Poha..indian flattened rice.. and perhaps are more bride and groom friendly confetti. Pic by Jim Scherer

My first taste of poha and I was a happy camper, it was INSANELY good. The flavours were multi-layered, and it was a textural circus. Chewy from the fried poha, crisp from strips of ginger, carrot and finely chopped fresh onion and the green garbanzos..oooh wee.. spicy and CRUNCHY. Roger had even finely sliced vivid beets and given them a artistic jagged edge. It was a good, good dish.

By now I was so full it was silly. But, in the name of aveganobsession…I bravely struggled on. Pessaratu veggie sambar. Pessaratu? I HAD to launch this in the Google bank too, didn’t I? or am I the only curious kitten here?..so I found out it is the type of DOSA? who knew?? A garbanzo (green again) dosa. I even found a recipe..Easy pessy..ratu recipe just a click away the sambar was delicious, full of flavour, with those fried green chickpeas making an entrance again, adding a happy crunch, split peas, soft eggplant, shards of a green asian cucumber like veggie the waiter couldn’t recall what it was called..despite it, apparently, being on the ‘tip of his tongue’. The dosa had a pleasing texture, but perhaps a little teensy bit charred, not a bad thing just interesting combined with the fermented tang. Maybe just a flavour too far..or, more likely, just my brain overloading. I was nearly in pain from over consumption! THANK GOD, I didn’t have to eat a dessert too.

My fellow diner..Glen, had the behl puri which, despite only having met me 14.5 mins before and agreeing to sccooch over to let me sit down, he let me try his. OOh, the best I’ve EVER had, and I’m a bit of a behl puri tart..I’ve tried a few! The dessert was good (apparently) but he didn’t rave like a loon about it. Then again he looked pretty stuffed too, so was probably displaying that ‘glutton glaze-over’ our eyes get when our bodies are full power digest alert, or maybe he’s just not as verbally reverential about food as moi.

All in all a rollicking good meal, only tainted by the plastic cuttlery and paper bowls.

A million thank you’s Mr Feely. I’m happy I got to sample his culinary creations before he moves to the other side of the country (boo!). Bon Voyage. APPLAUSE.

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