vegansaurus!

Posts tagged "mission"

08/05/2010

Just-opened B3 on Valencia is already courting vegans

B3, or B-cubed, or “bottles/bites/burgers” just had their grand opening this past Wednesday, and while we don’t usually cover the upscale Mission wine bar scene/racket, my ears perk up whenever anyone says our name. Their pre-opening event promised “vegetarian options” (usually read: cheese/unnecessary butter in otherwise completely vegetable-based soups) but it looks like they’re planning to go a few steps further. This tip came in via text, transcribed directly from their menu:

Vegan options prepared on surfaces and/or with items which do not violate vegan practices! We are with you.

I’m not a fundamentalist about public cooking surfaces, so if a restaurant is more crazy about vegan purity than I am, then I think we have a love connection on our hands. And beyond the purity thing, it shows an actual commitment to keeping vegan food on the menu.

B3 is open on Valencia between 22nd and 23rd, on the same block as Beretta. (And if you’ve never been, Beretta has some of the best thin-crust pizza in this city, with Follow Your Heart vegan cheese available. Which is better than Daiya. No, really. Let’s fight.) Bring a date, or a date’s family you plan to impress by faking extensive knowledge of not-from-a-box local wine, or a business deal you’re trying to close because life is a mid-80s stockbroker-sploitation flick starring you. Either way, add it to your “somewhere you can go with a group when the omnivores are sick of Asian food/Herbivore” list.

Posted at 14:01 by stevesimitzis

08/04/2010

Pica Pica is a fairly new Venezuelan restaurant in the mission. Not being super-familiar with Venezuelan cuisine, I decided to go where no white women (except many white women) have gone before. The things I do for you people!  At Pica Pica, they serve up a really basic menu consisting of various sandwiches and um, that’s about it. Oh, there are a few soups, empanadas, and salads too. Not sure about the veganity of the empanadas, I went with a sandwich. You get to choose your “bread”, which are all made from corn (this whole place is gluten-free and wheat-free!). There are three choices, two savory and one sweet, and the lovely gentleman at the counter informed me that they’re all vegan. HOORAY! I went with the Arepa, which is basically a thick savory corn pancake. Delicious. I chose “La Vegetariana” for my filling (which is what you see above*), which consists of tofu, avocado, black beans, and plantains. YES PLEASE. They also have several vegan spreads to choose from if you want to give your sandwich a kick! And you do, all of the ingredients are great but none of them pack a flavor punch (wow, my descriptions are kinda violent today. This is because I am depressed and upset, it has nothing to do with you guys, you’re great). Everything was fantastic, if really basic. For $8, the sandwich is large and in charge and will fill you up, unless nothing does, and that’s more for therapy than a sandwich. Oh! I also got some Yuca Fries (the same stuff that’s used to make Daiya! Amazing!), which were absolutely delicious when dipped in the housemade spicy ketchup. All in all, this is a great place to stop off for a quick lunch or dinner. The seating is limited so I wouldn’t hog it all afternoon unless you don’t care what other people think and if that’s the case, what’s your secret? FINAL THOUGHTS: I originally thought my meal was good but nothing to write home about but when I craved it the next day, I knew there was a lil’ something special about Pica Pica. Or maybe it’s that huge empty well inside of me that I’m trying to fill. Who knows! *Gentle readers, I hope you do not find my photo offensive. I think it looks like a perfectly appetizing sandwich, whereas my gross-ass pervert friend thinks it looks like a vagina coming to eat you. To that I say, “Uh, if your vagina looks like that, get thee to the OBGYN on the double. They could build the next Alien sequel around what you’ve got going on down there.” In other news: PUKE. and: I’M SORRY.

Pica Pica is a fairly new Venezuelan restaurant in the mission. Not being super-familiar with Venezuelan cuisine, I decided to go where no white women (except many white women) have gone before. The things I do for you people! 

At Pica Pica, they serve up a really basic menu consisting of various sandwiches and um, that’s about it. Oh, there are a few soups, empanadas, and salads too. Not sure about the veganity of the empanadas, I went with a sandwich. You get to choose your “bread”, which are all made from corn (this whole place is gluten-free and wheat-free!). There are three choices, two savory and one sweet, and the lovely gentleman at the counter informed me that they’re all vegan. HOORAY! I went with the Arepa, which is basically a thick savory corn pancake. Delicious. I chose “La Vegetariana” for my filling (which is what you see above*), which consists of tofu, avocado, black beans, and plantains. YES PLEASE. They also have several vegan spreads to choose from if you want to give your sandwich a kick! And you do, all of the ingredients are great but none of them pack a flavor punch (wow, my descriptions are kinda violent today. This is because I am depressed and upset, it has nothing to do with you guys, you’re great).

Everything was fantastic, if really basic. For $8, the sandwich is large and in charge and will fill you up, unless nothing does, and that’s more for therapy than a sandwich. Oh! I also got some Yuca Fries (the same stuff that’s used to make Daiya! Amazing!), which were absolutely delicious when dipped in the housemade spicy ketchup.

All in all, this is a great place to stop off for a quick lunch or dinner. The seating is limited so I wouldn’t hog it all afternoon unless you don’t care what other people think and if that’s the case, what’s your secret?

FINAL THOUGHTS: I originally thought my meal was good but nothing to write home about but when I craved it the next day, I knew there was a lil’ something special about Pica Pica. Or maybe it’s that huge empty well inside of me that I’m trying to fill. Who knows!

*Gentle readers, I hope you do not find my photo offensive. I think it looks like a perfectly appetizing sandwich, whereas my gross-ass pervert friend thinks it looks like a vagina coming to eat you. To that I say, “Uh, if your vagina looks like that, get thee to the OBGYN on the double. They could build the next Alien sequel around what you’ve got going on down there.” In other news: PUKE. and: I’M SORRY.

Photo posted at 15:11 by mrpenguino

07/21/2010

One more activity to add to your Thursday calendar!

I know, I know, you’re already booked. Except maybe there are some of you who don’t care about any Mission Community Market or free movie night at the library—you want to have fun fun fun instead! Well guess what: you can enjoy any or ALL THREE of these super-duper-fun-time events tomorrow evening! It’s true!

This last event, called Battles Yet to Be Won, is a benefit for Marie Mason, a political prisoner; former prisoners Jeff Luers and Linda Evans, and Earth Firster Karen Pickett will speak. It’ll be DJed by Carolyn Keddy of KUSF, and catered by Violet Sweet Shoppe and her posse of indy vegan bakers. As of now your Vegansaurus does not know the identity of these renegades; suffice to say they’re vegan and they will have baked goods for you. The whole event happens at Submission Gallery at 2183 Mission St. (at 18th Street) and begins at 7:30 p.m. This gives you just time to leave the library, take BART to 16th Street, walk two little blocks, and there you are, maybe 15 minutes late at most. And this is an event organized by activists—you know it won’t get a prompt start. They are asking for a $5-to-$20 sliding scale entry fee/donation (you know), but say that no one will be turned away. Visit the Indybay information page for details.

There you go! Your Thursday is planned from 4 p.m. to ? (the best time to end). Thanks, Vegansaurus, you’re saying, I was so bored, and now I have so many fun, educational and exciting things to do! Your Vegansaurus is always happy to help, friends. Do please help us any time you like by sending tips along.

Posted at 16:25 by meaverly

07/20/2010

Non-weekend summertime super-fun activities!

It’s summer! Time to play while it’s still light at 8 p.m.! Or so the kids who live next door and have no school think, as they are up and at ‘em 12 hours a day, running in the sprinkler, riding bikes, playing “let’s wash the car” (not my car, not my game, I am honest with children about work)—they make the most of every second of their summer. And even though statistically (one of us pays attention to these things) you are a boring adult who gets no extra time off for longer days or warmer weather, and maybe are even the person responsible for those giggling children who have to be occupied all those hours they’re not in school, in which case I extend my sympathies to you. But you’re still alive! You can still eat summer produce, and wear summer clothes, and drink summer drinks, oh yes you can.

You can also go to the movies. Specifically, movies about produce, which is almost pertinent, but who cares that is not the point. First, tonight at 7 at Hayes Valley Farm catch a free!! showing of The Botany of Desire, based on Michael Pollan’s eponymous book. This was the pre-food-evangelist Michael Pollan, so there’ll be no rapturous tales of hunting boar in the Berkeley hills or wherever. Rainbow Grocery will provide hot chocolate, Jugtown Pirates will play (if you are into bluegrass you are excited right now.), and there will also be a bake sale and raffle. Right, and they have a $5 suggested donation, so if you are nice you will pay, but if you’re broke, it’s all right not to. Thanks to Haighteration for the info; did you know Haighteration is a good blog? You should read it.

Hey check it out, there’s a free movie on Thursday, too! And this one is a preview AND it’s at the LIBRARY. YOU GUYS. You know your Vegansaurus loves the library like whoa, right? We love the library so much. Particularly the SFPL, it is a really lovely library system. So lovely, in fact, that they’re showing a documentary called Fresh three months before its official San Francisco debut, and because it’s the library it will cost you zero dollars—all you have to do is show up at the Koret Auditorium inside the Main Library, at 100 Larkin St. at Hyde and Market Streets. The movie will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Hang on, you’re saying, what is this Fresh about, why should I go anywhere on a damn Thursday when I’m exhausted anyway? Oh man, OK. From what I understand, it is “like Food, Inc. but inspirational, not so depressing”; plus, it costs no money; plus, you’ll just have time to get dinner at Ananda Fuara afterward. Hang on: Here is a review from reader vera! Now, no more arguments!

EXCEPT! you might say, except what about the inaugural Mission Community Market, which is also scheduled for Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m.? Well that is a good point. You might could do both, really; two hours for the market, on Bartlett Street between 21st and 22nd Streets, and then, what, not even 10 minutes on BART to Civic Center and you get your free movie at the library, too! See, your Vegansaurus has your week all set for you already. We haven’t heard—nor can we find—any solid information on the food vendors at the MCM, but they say there will be a farmer’s market, which means more summer produce! Regardless, if you’re in the Mission (which like 30 percent of you are, we know), get over there and support your community. Be a good vegan citizen. Also leave the house, get some vitamin D, talk to humans with your voice, et cetera.

We are helpful because we love you! Go out, vegans; eat hay while the sun shines.

[images courtesy PBS and freshthemovie.com, respectively]

Posted at 08:00 by meaverly

05/21/2010

» Weird Fish brings back Buffalo Girls and other vegan old favorites

Looks like Weird Fish was missing the vegan love, and decided to court us back. Their new menu brings back the old favorites: deep fried dill pickles, tacos with mango salsa and classic fish & chips (sub seitan for both), their internet-famous buffalo girls, and more. Brunch is still gone, for vegans and meat eaters alike.

Anyone been by lately? Let us know how their new/old vegan options stand up.

Link posted at 15:52 by stevesimitzis

05/20/2010

BBQ Seitan is back at Benders and it’s apparently better than ever. AND OMG TATER TOTS YES. They’re serving it up Tuesday through Saturday nights, so get on it! [Thanks, KevMo!]

BBQ Seitan is back at Benders and it’s apparently better than ever. AND OMG TATER TOTS YES. They’re serving it up Tuesday through Saturday nights, so get on it!

[Thanks, KevMo!]

Photo posted at 12:30 by mrpenguino

05/18/2010

I’ve been not totally head-over-heels for Gracias Madre in the past but three things redeem it for me: 1) This cauliflower and cheese dish with the breadcrumbs on the top. sometimes they have it with Brussels sprouts too. either way, it’s cheesy, spicy, and amazing. order it. 2) GET THE FLAN. It’s FLAN. But without eggs. IT’S EGGLESS FLAN. It’s perfect and delicious and I want to bathe in a pool of it with you OMG this just got hot all of a sudden. 3) Sweet happy hour deals with cheap beer, mojitos, and sangria. I think it goes from 5 to 7 p.m. and they’re all $3. This helps make up for the fact that you’re about to pay $13 for some rice and beans. I KNOW, I KNOW, it’s all organic and fair trade and that shit is important and I’m willing to pay for it (I’m lucky I can afford to do that and so are you!) but yeah, it’s expensive for Mexican food in the Mission. You can hate all you want but I said what I said and I never go back on what I say 50 percent of the time, OK!? Definitely worth a visit, and you’d be wise to heed my recommendations. NAMASTE, BITCHES!

I’ve been not totally head-over-heels for Gracias Madre in the past but three things redeem it for me:

1) This cauliflower and cheese dish with the breadcrumbs on the top. sometimes they have it with Brussels sprouts too. either way, it’s cheesy, spicy, and amazing. order it.

2) GET THE FLAN. It’s FLAN. But without eggs. IT’S EGGLESS FLAN. It’s perfect and delicious and I want to bathe in a pool of it with you OMG this just got hot all of a sudden.

3) Sweet happy hour deals with cheap beer, mojitos, and sangria. I think it goes from 5 to 7 p.m. and they’re all $3. This helps make up for the fact that you’re about to pay $13 for some rice and beans. I KNOW, I KNOW, it’s all organic and fair trade and that shit is important and I’m willing to pay for it (I’m lucky I can afford to do that and so are you!) but yeah, it’s expensive for Mexican food in the Mission. You can hate all you want but I said what I said and I never go back on what I say 50 percent of the time, OK!?

Definitely worth a visit, and you’d be wise to heed my recommendations. NAMASTE, BITCHES!

Photo posted at 10:33 by mrpenguino

05/17/2010

Los Jarritos!

In San Diego there is this phenomenon known as the “Potato Rolled Taco” [Ed. Generally, a “rolled taco” is a taquito if it’s made from a corn tortilla, and a flauta if it’s made from a wheat tortilla]. Jonas is from SD and practically never shuts up about the magicallity of the PRT at Pokez. Having never been to Pokez I can neither confirm nor deny that they are magical but I can say that my boyfriend knows what’s up when it comes to food. He is skinny but he is fierce. In a related note, god bless a skinny person who can throw down when it comes to food. I am bigoted to assume that skinnies can’t bring it when it comes to the dinner table but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by a few in my day. In fact, I know a girl in NYC who is built like a brick house but regularly eats five sandwiches for first dinner. FIRST DINNER. I don’t even want to tell you about second dinner because that shit is not fit for prime time. Needless to say, I curtsy to you, madam.  

ANYWAY, the point is, if Jonas said the PRT is the bomb, it probably is. AND I WANT IT. But also, when the hell am I in San Diego? I’m not Republican, I don’t surf, and I can get all the (LEGAL PRESCRIPTION) drugs I need without hopping over the border so really, there is no need. That’s where Los Jarritos comes in. Los Jarritos is a family-owned sit down Mexican food joint at South Van Ness Avenue and 20th Street in the Mission. You walk in, sit down at a table with menus, order potato flautas and a Jamaica and eat chips and salsa for five minutes until your meal arrives. SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD NOTE:

1) The agua frescas are the size of toddlers. Delicious hibiscus-flavored toddlers. LOOK AT IT NEXT TO THAT CHIP, it’s 50 times its size! Amazing!

2) POTATO ROLLED TACOS ARE THE POTATO ROLLED BOMB. Eat them always. Also, the lovely waitress knew what vegan meant and that just put me at ease. Jonas got the sopes and I can report that they were also the bomb. The veg ones are made with nopales (that’s cactus, gringo) and they are deeeelicious!

3) This place is EL CHEAPO. All you can eat chips, a giant agua fresca, and two HUGE meals set us back 20 bucks! Cha-ching!

Over all, 50 million stars, will be back for more, more, more, more, more I LOVE YOU, LOS JARRITOS.

Posted at 08:03 by mrpenguino

04/29/2010

THE FACTS: Beats ‘n’ Brunch is a vegan brunch that happens outside of Bollyhood Cafe on 19th Street between Mission and Capp Streets every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s tasty, you should totally go. THE SASS: This place is run by a bunch of hipster hippies who don’t brush their hair and wear cropped Hello Kitty t-shirts. Wait, no, I’m talking about a rave. Um, they just dress “different” and wear shit like vests without shirts and  bandanas tied around their heads and have definitely participated in drum circles at some point in their lives. What I’m trying to say is: I totally blended. They’re also hella nice and the food is straight delicious. They’ve got sweet bread pudding, Korean pancakes (pictured above), flat bread sandwiches, pulled bbq seitain, massive salads, mimosas, sangria, and MORE. Seriously, it’s some of the best brunch game in town (please take this with a grain of salt because San Francisco fucking blows at vegan brunch. Seriously, in Portland, brunch goes on brunch pail trees. FOR REALSIES. Also, their mayor is a vegan croissanwich.). It’s definitely worth a visit and if the steampunk-cum-Birkenstock vibe doesn’t turn you off, you’ll be back for more. I went two days in a row and that scene normally repulses me so that food ain’t no joke. Plus, I was introduced to this place by VegNews and chef Jesse Miner, and those people don’t mess.  PLEASE TO NOTE: Your food might come in 5 minutes or it might take an hour, bring an attractive date or a crossword puzzle. 

THE FACTS: Beats ‘n’ Brunch is a vegan brunch that happens outside of Bollyhood Cafe on 19th Street between Mission and Capp Streets every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s tasty, you should totally go.

THE SASS: This place is run by a bunch of hipster hippies who don’t brush their hair and wear cropped Hello Kitty t-shirts. Wait, no, I’m talking about a rave. Um, they just dress “different” and wear shit like vests without shirts and  bandanas tied around their heads and have definitely participated in drum circles at some point in their lives. What I’m trying to say is: I totally blended.

They’re also hella nice and the food is straight delicious. They’ve got sweet bread pudding, Korean pancakes (pictured above), flat bread sandwiches, pulled bbq seitain, massive salads, mimosas, sangria, and MORE. Seriously, it’s some of the best brunch game in town (please take this with a grain of salt because San Francisco fucking blows at vegan brunch. Seriously, in Portland, brunch goes on brunch pail trees. FOR REALSIES. Also, their mayor is a vegan croissanwich.). It’s definitely worth a visit and if the steampunk-cum-Birkenstock vibe doesn’t turn you off, you’ll be back for more. I went two days in a row and that scene normally repulses me so that food ain’t no joke. Plus, I was introduced to this place by VegNews and chef Jesse Miner, and those people don’t mess. 

PLEASE TO NOTE: Your food might come in 5 minutes or it might take an hour, bring an attractive date or a crossword puzzle. 

Photo posted at 08:03 by mrpenguino

04/28/2010

Sticky Toffee Sandwich Cookies with cream filling at Wholesome Bakery. Now you owe me your firstborn. I’ll name it Borg if it’s a girl, or Sheryl if it’s a boy. The primary rearing will be done by my dog, Hazel. No, it’s for the best.

Sticky Toffee Sandwich Cookies with cream filling at Wholesome Bakery.

Now you owe me your firstborn. I’ll name it Borg if it’s a girl, or Sheryl if it’s a boy. The primary rearing will be done by my dog, Hazel. No, it’s for the best.

Photo posted at 13:37 by mumblingmynah

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