What's the best vegan or vegetarian food you've ever had?

[yewberry]

I once knew a chef who made spicy seitan ravioli with a coconut cream sauce. Pretty low on the heart-healthy scale, but unbelievably good.

Wild Ginger in Seattle makes an amazing kabocha squash & sweet potato stew.

Cashew nut loaf at Cafe Ambrosia (also Seattle, now closed) was so good.

<sigh>

Boring food in the house right now. Can you tell?

[LeftyMom]

1. Everything I've ever had at Portobello in PDX. The vegan nutburger at Sunflower Drive-In in Sac.

The pho at Noble Vegetarian, also in Sac. The tacos, taquitos and spicy avocado salsa at Flacos in Berkeley. My own homemade seitan patties, and holiday loaf and gravy. The chocolate rum vegan cheesecake at someplace in Tampa whose name I forget, but whatshisface will know.

Can you tell I tend to plan my trips out of town around the food?

edit: OMFG I almost forgot the meatball sub at the Bye and Bye in Portland. Which is probably understandable considering that I've killed many a brain cell there.

[yewberry]

4. You make me want to travel!

I love pho, but we do have some pretty good stuff here in Seattle. Portland isn't that far...

What's the story on the meatball sub?

[LeftyMom]

7. It's amazing. House-made balls and red sauce on a good roll with a dusting of nooch.

The Bye and Bye is a totally vegan bar, and all the bar food is great. Also, they make sneaky strong specialty drinks.

[mike_c]

2. stuffed green peppers and fried okra at the Grit, Athens GA....

I have been trying to duplicate those peppers for years. Unsuccessfully. They're not in the Grit cookbook, dammit.

[yewberry]

5. Stuffed with what?

My mom loves stuffed green peppers but I've never really been on board. Convince me!

[mike_c]

9. as I recall...

It was a cornbread, rice, and bean stuffing, with some chopped veggies-- pine nuts, maybe?-- and a tomato based sauce over top. They served it with batter fried okra pieces.

[flvegan]

3. There's this hot young chick in CA

Totally independent, no storefront. Makes TDF (to die for) stuff. Her seitan has damn near a following.

You all know her here, already. Just saying.

[yewberry]

6. Aw. I can't buy LM foods.

Who can I blame for this problem?

[LeftyMom]

8. Me not getting my crap together and going into business for myself?

Everybody keeps telling me I should.

[WillParkinson]

15. I'm still waiting for my gift box...

I think the postman absconded with it. Bastard.

[flvegan]

16. So am I, Will. So am I.

*looks at you-know-who*

[Codeine]

11. A hole-in-the-wall Ethiopian place in Tempe, AZ

has the most amazing vegan dishes I've ever eaten. All sorts of unpronounceable thick stew-like globs of numminess served on tangy injera bread.

A long-closed Mediterranean place in Riverside, CA served hummus that was absolutely TO DIE FOR. I will never taste hummus prepared so perfectly ever again, I'm sure.

And this Scotch Broth recipe.

[kwassa]

12. the potluck last week

a dozen very good vegan cooks.

what stood out was very simple: green cabbage braised in soy, hoisin, and a little thai chili paste. Sublime.

Some of my own dishes have been fabulous, but I can never repeat them! It's all whats in front of me at the time. Or in the fridge.

[Beaverhausen]

13. Had several to die for meals at Madeline's Bistro near Los Angeles

http://www.madeleinebistro.com/

bonus- the first time we went, Paul Watson and some of the crew from the Sea Shepherd were at the next table. Really.

Madeline's had catered a fund-raiser they had the night before so they were checking out the restaurant the next morning.

Food is incredible but pricy- I do hope to go back soon.

[flvegan]

14. Nice. On many levels.

Hit that link.

[freshwest]

17. Pancake breakfast personally served by Dennis Kucinich. Sliced fruit on the side with vegan links.

I took pictures of him with his apron and when he talked to my fellow Democrats later. The best people I have ever known and one of my best days. The sweet pototo stew sounds great.