Vegan Dining in the Philly 'Burbs (Jersey spots!)

Guys, check out Vance's V for Veg column today in the Philadelphia Daily News, "Vegan Dining in the Philly 'Burbs," it's packed with great veg options for dining out in the 'burbs (Jersey 'burb advice provided by yours truly :-)!

Here's some more info on the places I recommended in the article:

This is a veggie platter from K-Town BBQ in Cherry Hill!

 Clockwise from the center: Crispy Veggie Dumplings, Tofu Steak (YUM), "Vegetarian" Jap Chae (sweet potato noodles with veggies and shiitakes) and homemade pickles over rice!  

They also have vegan Bibimbop, but I haven't tried it yet (it's on my list!).

I love that place and they know what "vegan" means. Their menu is clearly marked as well! 

Here's another great looking veg platter from Kuzina, the very nice Greek restaurant in the same plaza as K-Town!

Clockwise from the bottom center: White bean salad, Greek potatoes, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Patzaria (Beet Salad) (dairy tzatziki on the side), and freshly made pitas!   

They also have several nice veggie options on their menu.  

I forgot to mention Kuzina to Vance, oops! They are a great Greek restaurant in the same plaza as K-Town (Sawmill Shopping Center, 404 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034).

Another favorite of mine for take out or dine-in is Sang Kee Noodle House (there's one in Cherry Hill, now!).  They have an awesome "tofu in crunchy lettuce wraps" as well as some nice 

tofu dishes, like a Sauteed Five Spice Tofu with Chive Blossoms!

I get a great cold veggie hoagie from The Bread Board in Haddonfield.  Just get it without cheese (or mayo) and add oil and vinegar or dress it up at home (like I do).  Their bread is amazing and the veggies are awesome, fresh and crispy! I get it without onions.  It comes with lettuce, carrots, green peppers, sliced radishes and cucumbers if I remember correctly :-)

Also, there's the Cherry Hill Wegmans, of course, but I usually eat there without my camera, so I don't have any pics! Their hot and cold veggie bars are amazing and have LOTS of vegan options, including (usually) a vegan soup and (also usually) the MOST amazing spicy tofu dish in a delicious spicy sauce (in the Asian hot-bar section).  It's one of the best hot tofu dishes in the area in my opinion and my son loves it, too!

The Marlton Whole Foods is another GREAT spot for prepared vegan options if you are out that way.  My husband and I have gone there for "dates" because the food is so good :-)

Anyhoo, pick up a copy of the Philadelphia Daily News today or go online to read about all the rest of the great places to dog veg food in our region!  

Research and Development: Thanksgiving 2012

I've been doing my research for The Big Day, guys!

These are both wonderful books.  I love Holly Garrison's The Thanksgiving Cookbook, which I took out from my library in August (early R&D!) then purchased (used, for a penny on Amazon!) because I love it so much.  I love her storying, her tone, the early 1990's vibe, I could go on and on.  I WON Meatless Celebrations, which I just got today in the mail!  I can already tell it's amazing.  Apple Rosemary Walnut Pie, anyone?

Because I live in New Jersey (though I work in Philly) I only photographed South Jersey restaurants due to logistics. I came in a very respectable third place in the Philadelphia Inquirer's Vegetarian Awareness Month Photo Contest 

and I won two cookbooks...

Kim O'Donnel's Meatless Celebrations and Bryant Terry's The Inspired Vegan.  

OH YEAH.  They work for me, now!

And work they shall...

CSA Week #24 (11/7/12): 

Rutabaga (does anyone especially dig this?), Carrots, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, TONS of Sweets, Beets, Turnips, Spinach, Arugula and Spicy Mix

Pa came down this past weekend for a practice T-day visit :-)

OH YEAH.  The Vegan Cowboys in their element.

And I made a practice round of Soft and Hard Gruyere from the hottest new vegan cookbook on the market, Artisan Vegan Cheese!

With a little help from my old friend, Sandor.  

He has a new book out (an updated version of mine) you guys should check it out!

 Quinoa Rejuvelac. SO FUN.

 Soft Gruyere (above and below).

 Soft Gruyere is damn delicious!

Let's not talk about the Hard Gruyere yet, OK? :-)

And, I picked up my very last CSA box of the season tonight :-(

CSA Week #25 (11/14/12):

Cabbage (beautiful!), Cauliflower, Fennel, Parsley, Beets (in sink), Arugula (in the bowl in the sink), Carrots (oh yeah!), Spinach, Sweets, Daikon (behind the carrots).

Farewell, Honey Brook Farm! See you next season!

Only Sweet Potato Man can absorb the sadness of the next six months with no CSA:

Sweet Potato Man.  
He's restin' up for The Big Day, so don't wake him!

What am I making for The Big Day this year?  I don't know yet, I need to do more R&D. (Please tell my husband that cookbooks all over the house, fermented grains in jars and three different kinds of sugar on the counter=R&D).

I do know what I did last year, and it went something like this:

Vegan Thanksgiving Planning and Resources

The Gobbler (she's amazing!)

Isa's Seitan Roast (she's amazing, too!)

Vegan Fazool's Thanksgiving Feast 2011 

What are you guys making this year?  

*Update: OMG, guys!! After getting like three hours of sleep last night after I wrote this, when I was woken up this morning by the highly inefficient and super loud town leaf vacuum truck (that was on my small street for at least an hour from 6-7 a.m.) I thought, THANKSGIVING PIZZA. Homemade Organic Yeast Dough, Sweet Potato Puree Sauce (I'll make it with garlic, olive oil, onions, rosemary), Slices of Seitan "Turkey," like, perchance, Gobbler Slices or Isa's Roast?! Dollops of Homemade Vegan Gruyere Cheese, Sage Cornbread Dressing. Mushroom Gravy drizzled over everything!  Dollops of cranberry sauce? Some sauteed greens? Any and all feast elements can top this thing.  

Tasteful amounts of everything, of course.   
R&D BABY, R&D.   


I'm thinking of doing the T-day Pizza with The Big Day leftovers instead of the traditional T-day sandwich.  I am also thinking I may do it with the tester items I'm making now...


Sweet Potato Man must have visited me in my dreams last night!  Thank you, Sweet Potato Man!

Sheriff's Pick: The Pop Shop, Collingswood, NJ

When I stopped by to photograph The Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ, I got a surprise!

Two wonderful vegan meals, courtesy of Assistant Manager Kevin Sperlunto:

Vegan Philly Cheesesteak (seitan, mushrooms, onions, soy cheese) & Vegan Bettys, both to die for!

Kevin was excited about my blog posts covering veg friendly restaurants in South Jersey and the Philadelphia Daily News Vegetarian Awareness Month Photo Contest.  He made his appreciation clear. Thanks, Kevin!  

The photos of the storefront of The Pop Shop now appear in both the "Vegetarian" Photo Gallery of Philly.com and the "Vegan" Photo Gallery of Philly.com since both words are indicated clearly.  

Congrats, Pop Shop!

The Pop Shop is no stranger to vegan food and is well-known for it's vegan offerings.

The Pop Shop 729 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108

 See that sign in the far right window?

The Pop Shop is beyond vegan friendly. This is only a partial menu of their vegetarian & vegan selections.

There are other vegan items on the menu, and you can make many of the other vegetarian items vegan by adding soy cheese (you can just ask for it). They also have soy milk, which you can add to things like the Pop's Groovy Granola to make it (almost!) vegan.  Kevin explained that the granola does contain honey.  They also have a vegan tofu scramble with shoestring hash browns and garlicky spinach!

Gorgeous Vegan Bettys.  BEST pancakes ever.  

Huge, fluffy, sweet and nutty--I don't know what they do to them!  Add bananas, strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chips, or what have you, but I like mine plain :-)

Vegan Philly Cheesesteak, SO tasty!  

Seitan, sauteed mushrooms, soy cheese, awesome baguette, and BEST fries.  YUM.  You can ask for other veggies on it, too!

 I didn't get to eat many of the pancakes. Why?

 That's a 10/10.  Perfect score!

What does this all mean?

Yup.

Do yourself a favor and stop by The Pop Shop for some Vegan Bettys or anything else on their menu.

 Tell 'em The Sheriff sent ya'!

Homesteadin' it October 1st through October 31st, 2012

We're gonna get back to that big ol' CSA box in just a minute, folks, but visitin' these here veg friendly restaurants is just more fun than a huskin' bee*!

huskin' bee=gettin' together to husk corn and drink that joy juice*!

joy juice=whisky :-)

The Ol' Black & White

What's black and white and read all over?

Today's V for Veg column in the Philadelphia Daily News!

Indeed!

 

 There's The Sheriff!  Yeeeehah!

And, my neighbor? Or, hopefully...me in 50 years?

Get your wagon wheels online!

Homesteadin' it, October 1st through October 31st, 2012