Snack Bar Austin - open for business

I am so excited to report that I finally got to try Snack Bar for brunch over the weekend. I have been watching the progress on the building for months and my friend Judy has been giving me updates on their progress and telling tales of a vegan friendly menu for so long that I was beginning to think it was all a big joke and that they would have a vegan entree like "mixed vegetables" . Kind of like when I read that the Black Sheep Lodge had the best veggie burger in town but it turned out that it was a garden burger. I am happy to say that Snack Bar is everything it was hyped to be. They must have a vegan in the kitchen, or at least know one that is into food! The owner, an artist names Bethany Andree, has been beset with structural problems with the building since acquiring the place last year but has done a great job, with help from her friends, turning it around. They have done such an amazing job with the place! The outdoor patio looks really nice, it is right on South Congress but nicely shielded from the traffic with plants and the inside is bigger than I would have thought it would be and really nice. I love the casual modern style. The concept is to have a place where guests at the hotel behind it can pick up things that they forgot and also get drinks, food, and coffee but the location is going to also get lots of foot traffic and vegan traffic as well.

I went with Alin and Molly, who are both vegan food lovers in Austin and we were all happy with the overall experience. In fact, we talked about coming back separately the next day! There are several places in Austin where a vegan can find some brunch, notably Bouldin Creek and Somnios but Snack Bar is the first place in Austin to really make an effort at vegan diner food rather than ovo-lacto vegetarian food minus the cheese or tacos. Don't get me wrong, I love tacos and scrambles but when I go to other towns I am always so excited to have things like biscuits and bacon-style tempeh. When I checked out the snack bar menu I was thrilled. We were spoiled for choice and had a hard time making decisions. The first thing I ordered was coffee, I was a first let down that they didn't have vegan creamer but then thrilled when they brought me a glass of steamed soy milk, there was enough for the multiple cups that the wait staff kept bringing which was a really nice treat. The coffee itself was surprisingly good.

Alin got the "Freedom Benny" which was griddled tofu, smoked tomatoes on petite waffles and topped with vegan Hollandaise. It looked really good and I can't wait to try it. Molly got the waffles with apple chutney and maple tempeh strips. I tried the latter and I thought that they were super, tempeh can be tricky to prepare correctly and they did it just right. I really wanted to get the seitan sausages or the tofu scramble that is made with leeks crimini mushrooms and carrots but I couldn't stop myself from ordering the biscuits with tempeh gravy because I was so excited that they were on the menu.

The biscuits were really good, the gravy needs a little work but I am confident that they will get it together, the place did just open. It was cold the first time they brought it out but the waitstaff rectified the situation very quickly and handled the incident very well. I thought it needed a little more spice and that is was under-seasoned but I was a still a happy smurf and ate every bit. Alin and I both got the potato hash cake and that was definitely my favorite thing that I tried. The potatoes in this baby are mixed with cabbage, leeks, and onions and then pan seared. It was just perfect and only a dollar fifty. In fact, my whole meal was less than ten dollars with tip which means that I can go back any time and I certainly will!

The lunch menu looks really good too, the have an avocado stuffed veggie burger and a seitan BBQ sandwich in addition to quite a few salads, including a raw offering. The only real problem is that pretty soon they are going to have a long waiting line. Snack Bar os definitely be worth the wait.

cross posted at Lazy Smurf's Guide to Life

Austin: Save-a-Turkey-Trot

Saturday, November 21
9:00am
Festival Beach
(North Lady Bird Lake Trail and I-35)



Every Thanksgiving across the United States, the local Turkey Trot race is an annual running tradition. Like these venerable races, we want to get people out and exercising and giving thanks for life. Giving thanks for life, we believe, is also having compassion for all living beings. So we say, "Save a Turkey!" Get out and run and walk with us as we spread the message of hope and compassion the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Preregistered entrants are guaranteed a 100% organic race t-shirt.

Overall male and female winners will have a turkey at Farm Sanctuary sponsored in their name.

Local, organic fruits from farmers at Austin Farmers Market will be available to refuel/refresh with. Entrants are encouraged to head over the market after the race to support our local producers!

Register or sign up to volunteer here.

RSVP with the VRA here here.

Cheater's Frito Pie

While we're thinking about chili...



Cheater's Frito Pie - "recipe" here.

Congratulations, Molly!

Our contributor mollyjade, along with her husband, won second place in the 21st Annual Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off!

I've got my Thanksgiving turkey! Have you?

I adopted a turkey at Farm Sanctuary. You can do the same here.

Turkey Myths

Is it true that turkeys are dumb?
There is a tendency for people who eat turkeys, or other animals, to perceive “food animals” as unworthy or undeserving of respect and compassion. One way for people to rationalize their choice to eat animals is to dismiss these beings as dumb. There is even a rumor that turkeys are so dumb that they will look up in the rain and drown. This claim is ridiculous and false. Farm Sanctuary has cared for turkeys for more than 20 years, and when it rains, the turkeys go inside their barn. No one who works at Farm Sanctuary has ever seen a turkey drown in the rain.

Do turkeys really suffer?
Every year, between 250 and 300 million turkeys are bred for slaughter in the U.S. Sadly, these turkeys are not protected under most state anti-cruelty laws, and they are specifically exempt from the federal Humane Slaughter Act. To meet consumer demand for white meat, commercial turkeys have been anatomically manipulated to have abnormally large breasts. As a result, the birds cannot mount and reproduce naturally, and the industry now relies on artificial insemination as the sole means of reproduction. In addition, most factory farmed turkeys, comprising the vast majority of turkeys raised for holiday dinners, endure painful beak and toe mutilations, because they are given only about three-square-feet of space on which to live. Through all of this physical manipulation, the industry has yet to grow an animal who does not feel pain and is not curious, social or friendly.

Thanksgiving Tradition

But Thanksgiving is a tradition – why do we need to change it?
Using a turkey as the centerpiece and symbol of Thanksgiving is a relatively new tradition invented and actively promoted by the poultry industry during the 20th century. Thankfully, humans are not bound by cruel traditions. Just because we’ve done something routinely in the past does not mean that it is automatically right. Traditions must evolve over time in order for our civilization to thrive. We must strive for better, more compassionate ways to interact with one another, and with other animals. Find more information on the history of Thanksgiving here.

What do vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving?
In addition to staple Thanksgiving foods like baked squash, savory stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and cornbread, there is also a growing variety of products that have been developed specifically to take the place of turkey at the Thanksgiving table. One popular product is called “Tofurky,” a meat-free, faux turkey roast made by Turtle Island Foods in Hood River, Oregon. If people want to make something themselves, they can just stuff a squash or pumpkin, instead of a turkey. After all, celebrating a compassionate Thanksgiving entails celebrating ALL life by giving up the broiled bird. Find vegetarian holiday recipes and more here.

Stella's Tex-Mex Hominy Bake

Though it involves a rather long list of ingredients, this recipe is so quick and easy! It's also hot with fire and warm with comforting Tex-Mex goodness. It's really good, if I may say so myself.

Stella's Tex-Mex Hominy Bake

16 oz pre-cooked white hominy
16 oz pre-cooked beans (pinto or kidney work well)
2 cups pre-cooked white or brown rice
1/3 cup white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/2 cup Sour Supreme
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1 small jalapeno, seeded and finely diced (use less if you prefer a milder flavor!)
1 Tbsp olive oil
juice of one lime
1/4 cup vegetable broth or water
2 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup vegan cheese, shredded (optional)
hot sauce to taste (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a small pan, saute the onion, garlic, and olive oil for a few minutes until fragrant. Stir in cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and lime juice. Reduce heat and simmer.

2. Combine all other ingredients, except tortilla strips and cheese, in a large casserole dish. Pour in onion and garlic, including all liquids, and stir thoroughly until well mixed.

3. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top of dish, if using. Then top with latticework of tortilla strips. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until nicely browned. Broil briefly at the end for extra crispy tortilla topping, but be careful not to burn them. Serve with hot sauce (I love Cholula brand!) or salsa and additional sour cream, if desired. A cilantro garnish would also be lovely, but alas, I do not have any.



Cross posted from stellatex.

Tostadas Perfectos

Tostadas Perfectos

2 fresh corn tortillas (small)
4 Tbsp refried beans
1/3 cup finely grated Follow Your Heart Monterey Jack Vegan Gourmet cheese
chopped raw onions, to taste
Stella's Famous Guacamole
2 tsp Sour Supreme
1 Tbsp of your favorite salsa
handful of mixed leaves
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp Earth Balance
vegetable oil

1. Over medium-high heat, fry tortillas in vegetable oil until crispy and nicely browned. Drain on paper towels.

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix Earth Balance and beans, then heat for approximately one minute (of course, you can use a saucepan, if you prefer). Then stir in chili powder and cumin and microwave until heated through (probably about another minute, depending on your microwave).

3. On a big plate, assemble tostadas: on each crisp tortilla, spread half the beans, then sprinkle with cheese. Using a toaster oven (or microwave), heat for a few seconds until cheese begins to melt (this usually doesn't take long at all with FYH cheeses). Then top with guacamole, onions, sour cream, lettuce, and salsa, to your taste. Enjoy!



Crossposted from stellatex.

21st Annual Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off

The 2009 Vegetarian (Vegan! ) Chili Cook-Off

Sunday, November 15^th 2009, from 11:30 a.m. til 4:00 p.m.

At the historic AUSTIN FARMER’S MARKET

6701 Burnet Road

Austin , Texas 78757

More info here.

Austin review: Terra Burger

I've been craving a good veggie burger for a few weeks, and I made a pretty tasty one the other day, but, in the confusion of getting Fluffster out the door and to the vet at 7:00am this morning, I forgot to pack a lunch. I needed to go to Eclectic Eyewear, anyway, to get my glasses adjusted (again), so I decided to hit up Terra Burger, having heard mostly great things about it.

I skipped the vegan milkshake (and, oh, how difficult that was), because not only is it $3.95 to begin with, but there is a $1.50 surcharge for vegan milk. What?! Haven't you had it up to here with vegan surcharges? I know I have. I mean, for heaven's sake, soy or rice milk are not even much more costly than cow's milk, and it won't go bad after a week in the fridge, either! Sheesh.

As others have complained, at $5.99, their fairly middle-of-the-road burger is a tad overpriced. It was serviceable, don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed it; the "meaty" middle was better than average. But it didn't knock me out. Props to Terra Burger for offering Vegenaise, though - it's so nice not to have to pack my own! That alone makes it worth a visit. I also tried the sweet potato fries, and found them pretty durn delicious. All in all, a satisfying lunch.



I might go back if I find myself in the northwest campus area around lunch time, as there aren't many other options around there, with the exception of Kerbey Lane (which is about a full mile from my office). I find their concept a fairly positive one, though I can't really get past all signs shouting "Sustainable!" hanging in a place that serves beef.

Terra Burger
2522 Guadalupe
Austin, TX 78705

Cross posted from stellatex.

Amy's + homemade

Amy's Black Bean Tamale Verde with Cholula hot sauce and a side of Amy's Spanish rice. Plus refried beans and homemade guacamole. Not a bad rainy day dinner!

Cross posted from stellatex.