vegansaurus!

Vegan waffle party in the mission on Sunday! Let’s EAT!  »

Word on the street is as follows:

Just heard that the newly opened The Way Out Cafe at 3188 Mission at Valencia is doing a Vegan Waffle Party this Sunday. 

They opened a few weeks ago and want to have lots of vegan options. Maybe Vegansaurus wants to write about the Waffle Party? I’m guessing there’s a few non vegan toppings, but I’m not sure. The waffles are vegan though! I’ll be checking it out.

Anyone know what time it starts? I don’t have my phone to call today and I’m no journalist so if someone does my job for me, let us know and FINALLY: Let’s all go!!

Sneak preview: The Vegg!!!  »

I don’t even know where to start with this, but I need it. I miss fried eggs, for real—the way I could mop up the still-liquid part of the yolk with my toast and cover the whites with pepper. Sorry for grossing you out.

For the past six years I’ve been hurting for a fried egg substitute. I’m gonna give you more info as soon as I get it, but the world needs to know about this sooner rather than later. You should sign up and like that shit on Facebook and donate (at press time, they had only raised $2,080 of an $8,000 goal toward the Vegg’s patent) in order to convince the Vegg people to move it along now.

I will serve this shit up with the vegan waffles I made today and some freakin’ smoky tempeh strips, or perhaps make Veggs-in-a-frame and start a vegan brunch cafe and have the most friends ever. What do you think?

[Photo credit: Vegg’s Facebook page]

Menu for this weekend’s B12: Bomb Vegan Brunch! Oh, hell yes.  »

Just heard from one of the ladies behind B12: Bomb Vegan Brunch and it’s NOT the Beats ‘n’ Brunch crew! But they are hoping to recreate the magic of B ‘n’ B with a very delightful menu! Smart and generous ladies; I am in love with them and how smart and generous they are. Check it out below and we’ll see you this weekend, because whatever time you’re there this weekend, we will also be there. #FATVEGAN4LYFE
xoxo,
Gossip Girl

Tempeh Rueben
Grilled and marinated tempeh, rye bread, sauerkraut, thousand-island dressing
Portobello Mushroom
Grilled and marinated, sprouted roll, cilantro almond pesto, grilled onions
Spicy Chili
Black and white beans, red and green peppers, coconut corn bread
Waffle
Whole grain, real maple syrup, cashew cream
Açai Bowl
Açai, coconut milk, homemade granola, fruit salad, hemp seeds Break Fast Cereal
Mixed multi-grains, coconut milk, cashew cream, fruit salad, cacao nibs, hemp seeds

Sides
Cole slaw: Cabbage, carrots, ginger, cilantro
Kale salad: Kale, red onions, pumpkin seeds, lemon-soy dressing
Potatoes: Roasted, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil
Winter fruit salad: Apple, pomegranate, persimmon, lime, mint
Coconut cornbread: ‘Nuff said
Toast: Choice of local jam, local honey, or homemade vegan nutella, sprouted bread

Dessert
Apple crisp, $5
Apples, oats and brown sugar, topped with cashew cream
Vanilla coconut milkshake, $6
Coconut milkshake blended with almond butter, dates, and agave
Toasted nutella and banana sandwich
Simple as that

Drinks
Hibiscus tea, $3
Chai, $3
French press coffee, $6
Bottomless mimosa, $10

Entree a la carte, $9
Sides, $4
All items plus choice of side, $12

B12: Bomb Vegan Brunch happening this weekend! Don’t miss San Francisco’s best vegan brunch since Beats ‘n’ Brunch  »

It looks like the same crew as our beloved Beats ‘n’ Brunch (maybe? Someone say shit if we’re wrong!) and it’s at Little Baobab in the Mission and so yeah, I’m calling it: Beats ‘n’ Brunch is back Update: Awesome people who loved Beats ‘n’ Brunch are putting this on, though they aren’t associated with B ‘n’ B.

They’re calling it B12: Bomb Vegan Brunch, and it appears to be one weekend only, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4! You should get up on it! The menu is TK but it’ll most likely be delicious, and here are the details from their Facebook event:

Somebody set us up the bomb!

We are extra-excited about this go-round of weekend brunch at Little Baobab with an all-vegan extravaganza by guest chefs Katherine Rae and Julia Russotti and delicious beats from DJs Manitous and Matt Haze. 

Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring an appetite for this one - this menu is hearty, satisfying and diverse as brunch should be!

Consider yourself warned! Be there or be sad at home eating some kind of oatmeal that you’ve convinced yourself tastes like delicious dessert—it does not.

Now, let us stare at some delicious Korean pancakes from a previous Beats ‘n’ Brunch:

Eat these: Gluten-free, soy-free, vegan pancakes at Source!  »

That’s right, this delicious platter is a new brunch item at Source in San Francisco. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. I know the baker and she really likes it when you come say hi and tell her how much you like the desserts and pancakes.

See you there!

Souley Vegan canceling brunch, starting 6 a.m. breakfast!  »

So, bummer news! Souley Vegan has a sign in their window that reads:

Souley Vegan will no longer be open for brunch on Sundays starting August 28, 2011. We will be offering Breakfast from 6 to 9 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays… BEGIN date to be announced soon. Thank you!

And that’s almost 100 percent verbatim because the fantastic Rick went to check it out for us. So—6 a.m. breakfast on Friday and Saturday and no brunch FOR NOW. They’re supposed to move the brunch to weekdays, but I’m not sure when that’ll happen. I don’t know what kind of business plan this is! I am a little worried! I don’t think I’ve ever been up at 6 a.m.! Like, not once in my life! However, for all you earlier birds and club kids, have at that breakfast and let me know how it is. If it’s amazing, which I’m guessing it might be, I need you to bring some elephant-grade No-Doz and come at me. 

Now, let’s all stare at the Toasty Crispy and relax.

Megan Rascal & Erin Red take on Pine Box Rock Shop!  »

Do you know what happens when two kickass vegan broads meet up at a vegan bar in Brooklyn?

WAFFLES HAPPEN, THAT’S WHAT!

And awesome conversation over vegan Bloody Marys too! Your favorite East Coast badasses, Megan Rascal and Erin Red, stopped into Pine Box Rock Shop recently after hearing about their weekly Waffle Brunch (every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.). First on the agenda were some beverages to whet our appetites—Megan enjoyed some pretty all right mimosas while Erin Red sampled PBRS’ much-hyped Bloody Marys. Good thing our voracious vegan appetites were on duty because these drinks were NOT small! The Bloody Marys were practically meals in themselves, with pickled veggies and celery and rich, layered flavors resulting in quite a kick in the pants. The mimosas were decent. The waffles were fluffy and scrumptious, and in true form we managed to sample three amazing toppings: peach compote, whiskey chocolate walnut (if I’m remembering correctly), and traditional maple syrup with Earth Balance. Holy YUM; they practically had to roll us out of there! 

The venue was open and airy, and the crowd was surprisingly big and diverse for a Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed the live music and the scenery, and DEFINITELY took note of the extensive and creative cocktail menu! Pine Box Rock Shop looks like a perfect venue for vegans to bring their omni pals—fill them with waffles and convince them to go vegan over a few vegan White Russians. PERF!

New Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe location in Oakland!  »

Say it’s one of those days where not only is your stomach hungry, but so are your eyes. Maybe you are hanging out with omnis who don’t want vegan food, I mean, what are they supposed to eat at a VEGAN restaurant?! Enter Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe: options for everyone! Incredibly attractive punk rock clientele and employees (it’s co-owned by Green Day’s Mike Dirnt, after all)! BEER SPECIALS! As a car-less San Franciscan, I would probably eat more meals at Rudy’s, but getting to Emeryville is a pain, especially on public transit and an empty stomach?

Fortunately, Rudy’s just opened a new location in Uptown Oakland! At its new addy, 1805 Telegraph Ave., Rudy’s is next to the Fox Theatre and within walking distance from the 19th Street BART station. Perfect! Tofu Rancheros, I’m coming back for you!
Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe is open at its new location from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., and boasts $1 Bud, Bud Light and Miller High Life beers from 9 p.m. to midnight. I’m so there!

Interview with Susan from The Breakroom Cafe! Plus, they’re serving VEGAN BRUNCH!!  »

Have you ever wondered how one of your favorite vegetarian restaurants got their start? Here’s the story of The Breakroom Cafe in downtown Oakland! Susan, a 10-year veteran of working in bars and restaurants (and a kick-ass, awesome girl), and her partner Jason, a former department store manager (and all-around really cool guy), dreamed about opening a vegetarian restaurant and went for it! Coming up on the fourth anniversary of The Breakroom, Susan and Jason reflect on starting their veg business.

Vegansaurus: What was your opening date?
Susan: July 14, 2007. You were there, Anne! I think you just happened to be walking by or something, and you saw we were finally open. I remember us forcing all these free pastries on you.

What made you want to start a vegetarian restaurant?
While living in Cleveland, I always fantasized about moving to another state and running a vegetarian restaurant. After moving to Oakland, I served at a vegan restaurant for a few years, where I learned that there was definitely a market for vegetarian food out here. While browsing Craigslist, Jason found a space available, and voila! To be honest though, I thought this place would be more of a coffee shop that sells veg sandwiches. It turned out to be a sandwich shop that sells coffee.


Where do you draw inspiration for your menu items?
I guess it’s different for each menu item. I remember loving Sloppy Joes as a kid. Remember that Manwich stuff? Loved it! And since becoming vegetarian at 16, I had a craving for it, so I knew we had to have a vegan Sloppy Joe on the menu.M ost of the menu items are veg versions of familiar standard American sandwiches that people may miss eating since becoming vegan/vegetarian.

What’s your most popular dish?
It’s a toss-up between the Meatball, Club and Turkey/Bacon.

If your Sloppy Joe sandwich was a song, what song would it be?
Maybe “Cool It Now,” that New Edition song—for those that think it’s too spicy!

Tell us a funny story about an unwitting omnivore who ordered one of your veg sandwiches.
None specifically comes to mind, but there are those that just don’t understand the imitation meat concept. We’ve had people say, “So when it says bacon, it’s not really bacon?” We say “nope,” and the next question is, “But what about the Ham & Swiss sandwich? That’s real ham, right? We answer “No,” and then they move on to questioning the “turkey.”

I noticed that there’s a cock on the front of your building, what’s up with that?
I guess the owner of the previous business Zodiac Desserts put it there. I didn’t even notice it until a few months after we bought the business, a friend and I were walking by the shop and we both noticed it at the same time. I was like “Where the hell did that rooster come from?”

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to start a vegan business, what would it be?
Make food that NON-vegan/-vegetarians will like, and make them believe they could survive not eating meat.

This is Laura here and I just want to chime in because Breakroom just started doing Sunday brunch! It’s from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and it’s the BOMB! A huge plate of potatoes, veggie ham, tofu scramble, fruit, AND french toast for like 10 bucks! You’ll be full for days! MORE VEGAN BRUNCH IN THE EAST BAY, Y’ALL!!! Oh, and here’s a shitty camera phone picture because I love you:

Uh, and you can check out their Facebook page for more updates and better photos!

Breakroom Cafe: 300 13th Street, Oakland. (510) 836-3864. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Anne Martin is an eater of free pastries and a lover of veg restaurants. She is a Ph.D. Candidate at UC Berkeley’s City & Regional Planning department, and is a member of the Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy. When Anne is not researching or eating vegan Hearty Bagel sandwiches at The Breakroom, you will find her volunteering with Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary.