wheat free Archives - A Vegan Obsession

Healthy Vegan Fast Food In San Francisco.

Where to Eat Now

I was on a road trip recently with my new husband. Yes, for those of you that follow my blog.I got married in July to a wonderful American man!! We had a blissful wedding day in Ojai, California. Magical!

We were road tripping up to Oregon to my first nerve wracking meeting with some of his siblings and their children, and for my husband to enter a 13 mile uphill race. (Swoon). We stopped off in my much loved city, San Francisco in order to track down some healthy vegan fast food in San Francisco. Time pushed and road weary (7 hours driving…just to here) I was pulling him around the Mission excitedly showing him cafes where I had spent many hours writing..dragging him up Bernal Heights for a night view of the city and picking up morsels of vegan food along the way.

Project Juice has been raved about by me in the past. Situated midway up Valencia Street it is a filling and stop for healthy fast food and the antithesis of our unregulated in car crunchy snacking! We ordered the Macro Bowl, with ginger, sesame kale and roasted butternut squash, and the Spiced Lentil Wrap with a cashew-turmeric aioli which honestly was so incredible I could have eaten a bowl of the stuff with a spoon! Our food was incredible. Happy making. I like it when my intense love of food is shared! We washed it all down (so incredibly full now) with an Espresso smoothie, with super foods and fresh young coconut. It was good. Husband enjoyed it. But not being a coffee girl I must say my heart is still true to the Chocoholic smoothie! Project juice are in several Northern and SoCal locations. Recommended.

790 Valencia Street

San Francisco, CA 94110

Though I’ve spent many months of my life in San Francisco in recent years..I felt like a tourist with my husband by my side! We had to take photo’s with murals..it just wouldn’t be right not to!

It was not easy to pick only two vegan restaurants to feast in San Francisco. We only had a few hours and I had to narrow it down. My second pick was Seed & Salt. A personal favourite. I had attended their opening in winter 2014. Their menu is original, organic, vegan and totally gluten free and even processed sugar free. A dream!

We deliberated a while then settled for the chopped cobb salad with chickpea frittata and the beet burger. ONE of the wonderful benefits to having a husband is that you do not have to decide on one item from the menu. You can order two and SHARE. I know. Such a bonus. So we also plumped for the beet burger, made with beets, walnuts and mushrooms. Both came with a cashew ranch dressing. Both were good and filling.

2240 Chestnut Street

San Francisco, 94123

Despite our stomachs feeling fit to burst after our eating spree, and to sort of balance out all the healthy (though very delicious) food. We also devoured a bag of Wholesome Bakery spiced oat, cream filled whoopee pies. They are soft, chewy, cinnamony, creamy and jump and and down good. I once walked past their little catering kitchen in the Mission and stood at the closed door just inhaling. Yes, I did that.

Sorry. No pics!

I am hoping another trip up to San Francisco will not be too far away. I have many, many more restaurants for my new (and oh so lovely) husband to try with me.

Which is your favourite vegan place to eat in San Francisco?

Chewy bread with oh so satisfying pullapartedness and a oily, crunchy outer layer…I’ve salivated over the memory of it, enjoyed on a Friday night after work, alongside a pizza, way, way back in my butter and wheat eating days. When the after effects of ‘pizza night’ made it loose it’s appeal, I surrendered myself to the reality that I’d just have to go without. Of course, I could have made it myself but, to be honest, back then, I didn’t believe it would come up to scratch so I didn’t bother. Also, back then, I didn’t cook. I was a microwave queen.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Free From food show, and spotted one of the stands handing out small round pizzas to a very excited crowd. The fragrance of caramelised garlic and dough was blowing my mind. I grabbed a slice. I encountered that familiar tug of war between teeth and bread. It was chewy, with a gorgeously flaky crust, infused with garlic and sweet tomato sauce. I was in HEAVEN!

Just who were making this product…and how?! Please take a bow - Venice Bakery UK

The folks from this bakery have recently partnered with the, family owned, original bakery, founded in California back in the 50’s. They made the outstanding decision to share their Coeliac (celiac) UK approved flatbreads and pizzas over here in Blighty. And I am mighty pleased about that.

Gluten free

Wheat free

Soy free

Dairy free

Egg free

Corn free

VEGETARIAN & VEGAN friendly

Their products are also trans fats free, non-GMO, and are free from culinary gums and E numbers. Are you falling in love yet? I am!

They have a long shelf life. If you travel a whole bunch and, like me, pack a little pantry of food in your suitcase to tide you over until you track down the whole foods store, then these are perfect, too. They are vacuum packed and last for 2 months. And longer, if chilled or frozen.

I smothered my pizza base in tomato concentrate, a grinding of black pepper and a few basil leaves. Nothing else. The base is so nicely seasoned and flavoured, it is gorgeous as is, or with minimal adornment. The flatbread I just drizzled in extra virgin olive oil, scrubbed over with a garlic clove, and topped with fresh rosemary.

Ingredients: Rice flour, tapioca flour, potato flakes, potato start, water, evaporated cane sugar, olive oil, fresh yeast & salt.

My only gripe is that the products contain sugar (for those of you who have not yet quit sugar then no need to worry) but according to Rachel of Freshly Baked sugar is not necessary to make bread, it just makes it prove more quickly but she thinks the flavour develops the longer the yeast gets to hang out. I rarely eat sugar. It can knock me off balance. The way I see it is this, on occasion (keep it special) it is ok. The fact that I have found a pizza base that is gluten free, trans fat free and vegan, is a bloody dream come true! Also, now I know it can be done. I will try and replicate it when I get time. But right now I don’t have to as someone has done it for me. This isn’t your typical, ‘make allowances because it’s gluten free’ product. It is top notch.

It is sold to the UK online from Venice Bakery 3 x 5inch bases are £3.39. They have an offer for a sampler pack for £10, saving of just under £5. If you are in the US then you can order it from their Venice Bakery USA store online.

Have you come across any vegan and gluten free products lately, you want to tell us about? Please let us know and click on the post a comment tab below.

Healthy Vegan Fast Food In San Francisco

Where to Eat Now

Gluten Free Pizza Bases & Flatbreads - Allergy Friendly

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