The PDX Vegan Hundred!

The PDX Vegan Hundred: 100 Great Foodz in Portland, OR

1) Copy this list into your own blog, facebook or website, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Italicize any items that you would never consider eating (I changed that from crossing out because I'm a noob and don't know how to do that!).
4) Post a comment here once you’ve finished and link your post back to this one.
5) Pass it on!

1. Fries with spicy tofu sauce at Dots - oh yeah!
2. $1 Corndog from Hungry Tiger Too - I tried a corndog when I was 4 and it was disgusting. Never again!
3. Chick-o-Stick doughnut from Voodoo Doughnuts - but I prefer the yeasted variety.
4. Tiramisu from Portobello -I tried to order this the one time I went, and they were out of it!
5. Vegan Mulita from Gorditos or Gorditos II - I have got to fix this one! I live in NW, so I get my taco/chimichanga fix at Cha Cha Cha.
6. Nanotear Ham and Cheeze sandwich from Tube - just took a bite of one about a month ago, so proud of myself! That thing looks so gross to me!
7. Milkshake from Sip
8. Gnocchi from Portobello
9. Caramel Nut Bar from Sweetpea Baking Co. - I think I've tried everything but this!
10. Soft serve from Blossoming Lotus - I don't even like ice cream, but this is good stuff!
11. Local cherry tomatoes from a farmers market - those purple-y green-y ones are my fave!
12. Dong Po Tofu from Bay Leaf - I've never been to Bay Leaf! What kind of vegan am I???
13. Jerked chickun from Assase Ital - it doesn't look appetizing to me, but people in line always tell me I have to try it!
14. A Big Big Lunch Special from an Indian cart - like over 100 times. By a lot.
15. Soy latte made with Stumptown espresso - does a mocha count? Mmmmm moooccchhhhaaaaa.
16. A crappy tofu scramble - the places that serve them in NW come to mind...
17. Cornmeal pizza from Dovi Vive. - I have got to try this stuff! I'm just never in the neighborhood.
18. Weeping Tiger sandwich from Bye & Bye - I love it! Almost as much as the bbq tofu plate!
19. Bye & Bye or Floor Punch from Bye & Bye - boozy, gigantic, and delicious.
20. A Bowl meal from a cart - nope! I have a few beloved carts I stick to...
21. vegan nutella from freddy's hazelnuts - holy crap, why have I not heard of this???
22. soy curls in bulk from food fight or proper eats - it's silly, but soy curls weird me out. Like Tofurkey brats used to, but now I love those, so I need to try soy curls!
23. buffalo wings from Vita - we went there for Valentine's Day this year, and I finally understand why people like buffalo wings! It's all about the sauce. Jesse thinks all his meat-loving friends would love these wings.
24. the weekday vegan pancakes from Laurelthirst - I've made a point to go there when I have a day off a few times!
25. Maple vegan sausage waffle from flavourspot - my mom got this and I tried it. I liked my strawberry and faux whipped cream one better!
26. Drunken noodles with pepper steak from Thai Food Cafe - need to go there!
27. Macnocheeto from Homegrown Smoker - I still haven't been there :( Bad vegan!
28. Veggie platter from an Ethiopian restaurant - only once. I don't like injera!
29. Blackberries picked from a public place - only my whole life!
30. Baba Ganouj from Ya Hala - I love their hummus...
31. Coconut Mashed Yams from Papa G’s - that sounds tasty!!!
32. Butternut Squash Wontons from Hungry Tiger Too - these are amazing. Heaven in your mouth!!!
33. Vegan slice from Bella Faccia - yum yum!
34. Apple pie from Whiffies - I went to the carts once and didn't even see Whiffies! Too much to drink at that point... I did find vegan poutine, though!
35. Chili dog from Zach’s Shack - that does not sound appetizing.
36. Vegan poutine from Potato Champion - oh yes! See above!
37. Missionary Chocolate Truffle - Jesse got me a box for Vday this year, so good!!!
38. Apron Activists 4-Course Dinner - I'm too poor! Wah wah wah!
39. Hot Wok at New Seasons - There are so many NS in this city, and I don't live near one!
40. Che Guevara Burrito from Laughing Planet - well, in bowl form. I don't like flour tortillas.
41. Bryan’s Bowl from Por Que No? - actually never been there. Like 12 years ago it was a corner store right by my best friend's duplex, and you could buy cigarettes if you flirted with the old guy that owned it.
42. Pad Thai from Pad Thai Kitchen - I like it! Not the best curries, but the noodles are where it's at! I think the Pad Kee Maow is even better.
43. Cupcake from a stand at Last Thursday - I am always distracted by the firedancers?
44. The Giant Pancake at Hungry Tiger Too - I've never ordered breakfast food there!
45. TLP from Red & Black Cafe - yum!
46. Cornmeal tempeh plate from Proper Eats - I've only been there once... I hope to live closer soon!
47. Tofu Po Boy at Palm State Gumbo - Didn't even know about it!
48. Maple Walnut Scone from Back to Eden - they're famous already!
49. Vegan Mezza platter from a Lebanese restaurant - I have eaten so many of these....
50. Crispy eggplant from Fujin
51. Lemongrass Tofu Sticks from Van Hanh
52. Tofu Salad Bun at Pho PDX
53. Cocktail made with local liquor - I am drinking one right now! haha Hot toddy with Clear Creek Distillery apple brandy and agave.
54. Biscuits and Gravy from Paradox - HOG style for life!
55. Smoky soy curls from Homegrown Smoker - I need to hang out on Alberta more!
56. Field Roast sausage - I always eat the Celebration Roast for Tday, but it's all good all year really.
57. Secret Aardvark Hot Sauce - I like it a lot, but still prefer the versatility of Sriracha.
58. Toddbot's Triangles - I want to! They aren't at my farmers market :(
59. Local microbrew - I'm so not a beer person, but I have sampled many. Ruby from McMenamin's being my favorite. Yes, I'm a girl!
60. Hot Lips soda - good stuff. You can fill up your growler with it, too!
61. Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushroom Marsala from The Farm Cafe - It is perfect.
62. had a picnic in Laurelhurst Park - a PPK potluck picnic! And many summer picnics with the kids in my class after playing and feeding the ducks :)
63. burrito from Shelley's Honkin Huge Burritos - I had one when I was vegetarian, wasn't that impressed. I got a free coupon for some new student thing at PSU.
64. Eggplant tibs from Bete Lukas - Sounds tasty.
65. Tator Tots before noon or after midnight - after midnight for sure!
66. Lone Ranger from Chaos Cafe - Never been there. Weird.
67. Sunday brunch at Sweetpea! - Love this so much!!! I need to go more often.
68. Tofu at a BBQ place (for example Derby Mustard Sauce Tofu at Russel Street BBQ) - no, but I need to! I didn't know there were vegan options at RS!
69. Mint Fava Falafel at Nightlight Lounge - I want!
70. An unexciting hummus plate at a bar. - like every time I go to McMenamin's! It's so cheap on the happy hour menu, though...
71. Vegan meatball sub from Aalto Lounge - never even been there, I don't think?
72. Koi Fusion spicy tofu tacos - good, but not great. Not enough cilantro!
73. Veggie dog from the Vegi dog stand - my good friend works there, but I've never had one and don't plan on it!
74. Sesame chicken from a vegetarian chinese restaurant - sampled from someone Else's plate, but I prefer tofu!
75. Bagel with bacun scallion cream cheese at Sweetpea. I get this every time I go to Sweetpea...
76. Vegan savoury crepe
77. Veggie kibbeh - good, but I regretted not getting a mezza.
78. Club Vegan at Backspace - had a few other sandwiches there, though...
79. ice cream sundae from Back to Eden - I haven't been there yet at all!
80. Raw fudge from Blossoming Lotus - I've never tried it! Should I? I got awful stale carrot cake there once and I've never gotten dessert again!
81. Tempeh Reuben - yum yum! I love sauerkraut!
82. Pause vegan burger
83. vegan ribs
84. something baked with local marionberries
85. Veggie bento box - Chef Naoko makes a tasty one, and it's right by my work!
86. Dave's Killer Bread - Dave got me to like sandwiches! The only sandwich bread that has ever tasted good to me!
87. Higher Taste Buzzitos - I don't like them (my flour tortilla issue). Higher Taste TLC burger, what what!?!
88. Thai food that the server swears is vegan, but you taste fish sauce. Sad but true.
89. Elephant ear from the Saturday Market - which ones are vegan? I keep forgetting about this!
90. Dovetail sticky bun - omg, these are so amazing.
91. savoury pie from Nicholas restaurant - I love the spinach and pine nut one!
92. Salad rolls from the Just Thai cart - I hear such good things about this cart!
93. Vegan torta from Gorditos II - Tortas don't sound too good to me, but I'd try one.
94. Nutritional yeast on your popcorn at a movie theater - popcorn is Devil food! Yuck yuck yuck!!!
95. Vegan grilled cheese from The Grilled Cheese Grill
96. Pasilla burrito from El Nutri
97. Something from the vegetarian menu at Andina
98. Vegan Steak and Cheese from D.C. Vegetarian
99. Dragon Noodles at Red and Black - this is yummy!
100. Falafel from Wolf & Bears -too many new places to keep up with!

Score: 50/100! I need to eat out more!!! And only 4 things I wouldn't eat - pretty good for a picky eater such as myself!

Much love to JessSconed for this awesome Portland-centric Vegan Hundred!!!

A VeganMoFo survey!

I saw this fun survey on VeganShizzle, and couldn't help but take it myself! I added a question to the bottom, and you should do the same!

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
Hazelnut! Chocolate almond is a close second!

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?
A good soup now that the weather is cooling down, an apple/pear crisp or cobbler, and whatever is next to test for Vegan Crunk!

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
Popcorn is gross!

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?
Every pancake I ever made until I tried Isa's basic recipe in VWAV.

5. Favorite pickled item?
Hot peppers!

6. How do you organize your recipes?
I stick loose recipes under the spoon and fork sorter thingy in a kitchen drawer. There are so many I can barely open the drawer... maybe I should organize that someday! Put 'em in a binder or something.

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?
I live on the 3rd floor of a 100 year old apartment building with no outdoor space or modern things like a garbage disposal, so trash by default.

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods...what would they be (don't worry about how you'll cook them)?
guacamole, dark chocolate, and mussaman curry!

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?
A few doors down lived Besta and Papa, the sweetest old couple in the whole world. Their grandkids were my age and visited often, so I spent a lot of time at their house. When I spent the night, Besta would make us Norwegian pancakes in the morning :) RIP Besta and Papa!

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?
I really like the Tempt Hemp stuff, in whatever chocolate flavor, as well as Coconut Bliss. My teeth are very sensitive to cold, so I don't eat icecream very much.

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?
Japanese rice cooker that Phanny gave me!

12. Spice/herb you would die without?
Cilantro

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?
The Higher Taste, a Hare Krishna gave it to me when I was a teenager.

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?
Strawberry freezer jam! Nothing compares to its deliciousness!

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?
Desserts seem to be the way to go, so brownies, cupcakes, cookies.

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?
Tofu!

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?
Breakfast because then it's the weekend!

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?
Jar of walnuts, jar of brown rice, jar of lentils, jar of quinoa, VWAV, french press, coffee bean grinder, Tapatio, red wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce (we have very little storage space in our kitchen!).

19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.
Corn, black bean Gardenburgers, blueberries.

20. What's on your grocery list?
We don't have a car, so I do frequent visits to many grocery stores. Tortilla chips, bagels, veggies, almond milk, nooch, tofu, and I need to get over to Food Fight and try some Daiya cheese!

21. Favorite grocery store?
Trader Joe's. I love a good deal!

22. Name a recipe you'd love to veganize, but haven't yet.
This is not really my area...

23. Food blog you read the most (besides Isa's because I know you check it everyday). Vegan Crunk probably! Though I have about 30 that I read regularly.

24. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?
Vegan truffles from Missionary Chocolates.

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately?
Does a $20 bottle of Rose marked down to $9 count? I'm really a penny pincher, so I can't think of anything else!

26. Ingredients you are scared to work with?

Yeast! It's weird!

27. Favorite food cart?

I love Saigon Kitchen at PSU and eat there at least once a week, but Asaasse Ital is a new favorite as well.

28. Top 3 favorite cuisines!
Thai, Mexican, Lebanese.

Have a great weekend!!! xoxo Chelsea

Romanesco - the coolest vegetable ever?

Romanesco is a hybrid of broccoli and cauliflower, with a fractal pattern that almost makes it too pretty to eat! I bought it at the farmers market last week, and a few nights ago cooked it up in a panang curry. I'm crazy about the Thai and True curry pastes - they are easy to prepare and there's no need to try to replace stupid fish sauce! In Portland, they're available at the farmers market, Food Fight, and many of the local food co-ops, or you can order them online! I use half the jar with a can of coconut milk for a good sized pot of curry.

Panang curry with tofu, romanesco, green beans, carrots, and red pepper

The romanesco was actually the best part of the curry, and I'm usually all about the tofu! Jesse snuck back in the kitchen to pick out all the leftover romansesco from the pot and add it to his dish!

But that's not all!

I've been tagged by the fabulous VeganView!

1. Link person who tagged you and post rules on your blog

2. Share 7 random/weird facts about yourself

3. Tag 7 people at the end and include links

4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving comments on their blogs

All righty, let's give it a go:

1. I can't smell most things. I remember losing the sense when I was in 3rd grade and shared a room with a persian cat that my grandma was always powdering, but now I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it. I can sometimes smell really potent things.

2. I grew up living with my grandma, who I loved, but she was crazy. By the time she stopped drinking she was pretty senile, so there wasn't much difference. We always had around 10 cats, and she insisted that her favorite cats had their own bedrooms (hence me rooming with Esmeralda).

3. I hate bathing. I must have been French in a past life, right?!? I don't like swimming pools or hot tubs much, either.

4. I don't know how to swim!

5. I have a phobia that bothers me so much I can't even type it.

6. I don't have a dad.

7. I play World of Warcraft, but I'm not a nerd, I swear! It's my husband's fault!

Now I get to tag 7 of you:

Agnes of Agnes' World of Vegan Pleasures
Bianca of Vegan Crunk
Jen of That Pain in the Ass Vegan
Jess of The Domestic Vegan
Jessy of HappyVeganFace
Melynda of Veganic Adventures
Shelby of La Belle Vegan

Cookie says "hello vegan friends!"