quarrygirl

HUGE THANKS to the volunteers who helped out at LA Vegan Beer...

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:49:00 -0700

HUGE THANKS to the volunteers who helped out at LA Vegan Beer and Food Fest this year. we seriously couldn’t have done it without you. thanks for being such a fun and hardworking group of peeps. also massive props to m cafe for donating amazing food for the volunteer after party: sandwiches, wraps, salads, and sushi (not to mention tote bags for everyone)! we were all stuffed and super grateful.

all photos above are from LAVBF volunteer twitter accounts. much love to all volunteers and m cafe! <33333

Photo

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:57:26 -0700

the LA vegan beer & food fest hosted by the...

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:33:00 -0700

the LA vegan beer & food fest hosted by the roxy, tony’s darts away, and yours truly is tomorrow! get your tickets now before they sell out: http://roxy.la/LAVBFtix

seriously, this is the funnest day of the year: unlimited beer, more vegan food than you could possibly try, and live music! the video above is from last year’s fest, and this one is going to be even bigger and better.

this year’s food vendors include: doomie’s, seabirds truck, the frankenstand, fresh fries truck, mandoline grill, corazon de jah truck, mama’s tamales, plant food for people, southern fried vegan, amanda’s bakery, mohawk bend, tony’s darts away and golden road pub! plus madeleine bistro is making the ice creme for the motherfucking BEER FLOAT stand. it’s gonna rule.

SO EXCITED! LA is finally getting its very own all vegan bar...

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:26:49 -0700

SO EXCITED! LA is finally getting its very own all vegan bar called shift! they’ve brought on sara from the vegan spot (remember that place? best sandwiches EVER) as the chef and they’ll be opening soon in venice.

for more info and some insane food pictures hit them up on FB: http://facebook.com/shiftla

photo via thetreekisser (one of shift’s owners!) on instagram

thank you, M Cafe!!

Tue, 08 May 2012 19:13:00 -0700

i am so excited for the LA Vegan Beer and Food Fest on saturday…especially since M Cafe, one the best vegan-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles, is making a generous donation of grub for the volunteer after party!!

photo credit: cindy choi

seriously, if you haven’t been to m cafe, get over there now!! the menu is macrobiotic and entirely vegan with the exception of clearly labeled fish items, and has something for everyone—-breakfast, healthy salads, sushi, burgers, and plenty of desserts.

my favorite must try items at m cafe are the vegan benedict (it’s my favorite brunch meal in town!):

the vegan benedict: grilled whole-grain baguette, steamed kale, tomato, tempeh bacon and soy hollandaise. $10.25

and also the big macro, which a serious vegan burger with all the fixins:

the big macro: whole grain brown rice and vegetable burger, special sauce, lettuce, soy mozzarella, tomato, pickles, onion, and sprouts on a house-baked whole wheat bun. $10.45 (photo credit: cindy choi)

in addition to the hearty stuff, m cafe can keep it light and healthy as well. their new spring menu is full appetizing items such as raw almond sushi, kale and shiitake ohitashi, and a barley and green garbanzo bean salad.

photo credit: cindy choi

M Cafe has two locations—-one in Beverly Hills and one on Melrose, so go get your grub on ASAP!

mcafedechaya.com

this weekend marked the re-opening of tom bergin’s, and of...

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:23:25 -0700

welcome back, tom bergin's!

vegetarian combo at rosalind's ethiopian

this weekend marked the re-opening of tom bergin’s, and of course we were there to celebrate. established in 1936, the fairfax bar is the oldest irish pub in los angeles, and it has been a staple haunt for me since before i was legally allowed to drink. i’m happy to report that after “renovations” not much has changed - it’s a bit brighter inside, the bathrooms are nicer, the beer selection is better (hello stone ipa!), and it’s all around cleaner. the shamrocks and NYC irish pub vibe are still intact.

just steps aways from tom bergin’s is LA’s little ethiopian district, so we decided to hit up rosalind’s for a vegetarian combination after our drinking session. big enough for 2 to share, the combo is a mixture of assorted vegan stews served on a giant piece of spongy bread for around $13. collard greens, lentils, carrots, potatoes, cabbage…all wonderful!

i’m telling you guys, fairfax date night. bergin’s and ethiopian. do it.

fuck yeah! shojin, one of the best vegan restaurants in LA, has...

Thu, 03 May 2012 19:09:00 -0700

baked "crab" roll

mother's day bento

yellow magic orchestra

fuck yeah! shojin, one of the best vegan restaurants in LA, has just added new stuff to their menu and announced their mother’s day specials!

i am most stoked about the new “baked crab roll” pictured at the top - a green vegetable roll smothered in baked savory creamy sauce topped with asparagus and edamame. sign me up. shojin makes the best vegan sushi i’ve ever eaten, and i swear every time they add something new to the menu they raise the bar for rolls all around the world.

to check out the new menu click here

for the mother’s day course click here

great news! the new expanded native foods location opens today...

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:44:00 -0700

native nachos

double delight brownie

peanut butter parfait

carrot cake cupcake

sesame kale macro bowl

classic deli rebuen

maryland tempeh cakes

new upstairs seating

oklahoma bacon cheeseburger

great news! the new expanded native foods location opens today in westwood! if you’ve ever been to the old location, you probably remember the awkward seating arrangement and ordering process due to limited space. i attended the soft opening of the new space with some friends over the weekend, and i’m happy to report they’ve fixed all the old problems. they’ve completely taken over the restaurant next door, so there is now tons of comfy seating, you order at the counter, and food is brought to your table.

as usual, the food was incredible. we feasted on entrees such the reuben, the oklahoma bacon cheeseburger, and the kale macro bowl as well as appetizers like the maryland tempeh cakes and nachos, plus a slew of desserts. everything was top notch. my only complaint about native foods is that they garnish EVERY dish with bell peppers, which i fucking hate (and this isn’t even disclosed on the menu!). plus, they’re chopped so small that they’re impossible to pick out. so if you hate bell peppers, specify no garnish. sometimes i forget, and then my food is totally ruined.

i’ve heard that chef tanya is no longer involved with native foods, which makes me sad. i hope the new owners continue to fulfill her vision of creative compassionate cuisine that vegans and meat-eaters can enjoy together. so far they’re doing a great job.

go check out the new location when you have a chance!

nativefoods.com

LA Vegan Beer & Food Fest!

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:34:47 -0700

TICKETS ON SALE NOW (click here)!

here’s the vital info:

LA Vegan Beer Fest 2012 presented by Tony’s Darts Away, The Roxy and Quarrygirl

Saturday May 12th at The Roxy on Sunset
1pm – 5pm
Admission includes unlimited craft beer, vegan bands, food for sale from local vegan businesses and vegan food trucks!
Advance tickets on sale now! (all ticket prices will increase by $5 in May and by $10 on the day of the event)
General Admission $45
VIP Admission $55 (includes VIP lounge access and early entry at noon)
Non-Drinking $20
Proceeds from the event will be donated to CA Wildlife Center
sorry, this event is 21 and over.

while the last 2 vegan beer fests have been pretty epic, this is sure to be the best one yet. we’re adding beer from more craft breweries and greatly expanding the food options—-this year vendors will include doomie’s, fresh fries, mandoline grill, seabirds truck, the frankenstand, plant food for people, amanda’s bakery, chastellis truck, corazan de jah truck, tony’s darts away, mohawk bend, golden road brewery and more…!

buy your ticket today (remember, we sold out last year!) and get ready for a day of unlimited brews and awesome food!

i had been looking forward to the sexy vegan cookbook for ages....

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:49:00 -0700

chopped vegetables!

noodz for the sexy vegan recipe!

cookin' the soup

vegan minestrone from the sexy vegan!

i had been looking forward to the sexy vegan cookbook for ages. brian (the author) used to write incredible guest posts for my old blog, and i knew from personal experience that his home delivery service was delicious. naturally when the highly anticipated cookbook arrived in the mail, i had no idea what to make first.

luckily, brian helped me with the decision. his book is littered with witty side notes, and in the soup section, he mentions that soup is his favorite food. it was decided: i’d first make a soup recipe. while thumbing through the several appetizing options, i noticed that brian called out minestrone as his favorite soup. the favorite of the favorite! i bought all the ingredients that day and set out to make the minestrone that night.

i’m happy to report that it lived up to the double favorite bar in every way. it was simple to make, healthy, flavorful and hearty. it coved all the necessary bases: beans for protein, noodles for carbs, and loads of fresh vegetables.

can’t wait to work my way through the rest of the sexy vegan cookbook!

for more sexy vegan, check out his site here. buy the cookbook here. and attend the LA vegan beer and food fest, where he’ll be cheffin’!

LA VEGAN BEER AND FOOD FEST is almost here! the glassware is in....

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:10:00 -0700

LA VEGAN BEER AND FOOD FEST is almost here! the glassware is in. GET YOUR TIX HERE.

nicadler:

15 Days until @LAVeganBeerFest at @TheRoxy! Everyone who comes gets one of these…

pink french vanilla vegan gluten-free scones that taste like the...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:43:36 -0700

pink french vanilla vegan gluten-free scones that taste like the real thing by charmed scones. holy wow, delicious. how have i not heard of this local (and mother/daughter owned, awww!) bakery before?!

my kick ass co-worker spotted these treats at a bridal shower and scored me a bag. she’s neither vegan nor gluten-free, and she was raving about them. seriously so good.

charmed scones, you are now on my radar. can’t wait to try more flavors!

fat falafel sandwich from taim in NYC. spicy green falafel,...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:58:25 -0700

fat falafel sandwich from taim in NYC. spicy green falafel, hummus, israeli salad, pickled cabbage and tahini. $6.25

doin’ the damn thang. thanks for the rec, mourningnoir and carlycutsmyhair.

LA vegan pretzel wars

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:06:00 -0700

let’s break it down: there are 2 bars in los angeles that i know of where you can get gigantic soft salty pretzels to soak up your beer binge—-pretzels that also happen to be vegan. i’m talking about golden road brewing in atwater village (or is it glendale?) and bruhaus on wilshire. both of these places do amazing pretzels, but i love competition…so let’s pit them against each other! fight fight!

first up, the bruhaus pretz:

super tasty, baked to a crisp, yet cracked because the inside doughiness just wants to explode out. (i’ve eaten this pretzel several times, and it’s always busted!) bruhaus’ bavarian treat clocks in at 9 bucks, and comes with cheese sauce and garden-variety store bought mustard. obviously hold the cheese to make it vegan. i like to opt for an extra side of their homemade “beetchup” (ketchup made with beets!). the salt is a bit skimpy, and i’m a sodium addict—-but still i’d never say no to this pretzel.

next up, golden road:

massive and expertly cooked every time (crispy with its soft and fluffy innards intact!), this dude clocks in at 7 bucks. it’s covered in crunchy salt crystals and served with the HOTTEST MUSTARD i’ve ever tasted (even hotter than my beloved colman’s!!) and for an extra dollar you can add spicy vegan cheese dip. this pretzel is perfect.

while i will continue to eat both pretzels on the regular, golden road brewery is the clear winner. it’s 2 bucks cheaper, the mustard is better, there’s a vegan cheese option, it’s doesn’t look like it has exploded, it’s saltier…AND, the condiments come in silver dishes instead of plastic ones! the little things count.

don’t take my word for it though, go try both pretzels:

golden road brewing website

bruhaus website

fuck yeah. non-fat vegan scallion spread on a fresh crispy...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:47:00 -0700

fuck yeah. non-fat vegan scallion spread on a fresh crispy bagel. bagel and bean in NYC. broadway & 54th.

vegusto vegan cheese. america needs this. seriously, i’ve...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:17:25 -0700

vegusto = best vegan cheese

vegusto cruzer pizza

vegusto cruzer pizza

vegusto vegan cheese. america needs this. seriously, i’ve tried it twice now and it completely obliterates the other vegan cheese brands available here in LA. while it doesn’t ship to america at the moment, i was able to obtain some in paris and convince the fine people at cruzer to put it on a pizza for me.

let’s just say the meeting of the world’s best vegan cheese and california’s only vegan pizzeria was a match made in heaven. this outcome was incredible. cruzer always does it right, but the addition of vegusto took their already stellar pizza to the next level.

vegusto doesn’t have stretch factor of other brands, but the flavor is eerily cheese-like. it tastes like funk rather than science.

vegusto, if you’re reading this, please come to LA. and to everyone else: hit up cruzer pizza!! that place rules. the food is good, the staff is friendly, and they have a pizza named after yours truly.

http://cruzerpizza.com/

http://www.vegusto.co.uk/shop/

seed bistro to close :(

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:12:37 -0700

bummer!! one of my favorite restaurants in LA, seed bistro, is closing its doors on april 28th. hurry up and eat there before it’s too late.

to read about my epic multi-course meal at seed bistro last year, click here.

here’s the official word on why seed is shutting. SUCH A SHAME!!!i hope i have a chance to sneak in one last meal at the wilshire location.

Chef Eric Lechasseur would like to THANK the friends, family, diners and supporters that have arrived at Seed Bistro over the previous months for your love, generosity, and support. It has been a true labor of love for us to pursue our dreams. However, we have received surprising notice from our former business partners in Japan that this location will be closed, effective April 28, 2012. After great thought and consideration, we have elected to abide by their decision and cease operations at this location. We have already begun the process of scouting a new location, a location that will include the restaurant as an integral piece of a lager health and wellness center, as per our original vision for Seed Bistro. As details arrive, we hope to share them with you as soon as possible. Again, we thank you sincerely for your very generous support of Seed Bistro.

PLEASE NOTE: Seed Kitchen (1604 Pacific, Venice CA) REMAINS OPEN DAILY - Please stop by SOON and say HELLO. (www.seedkitchen.com | 1604 Pacific Ave Venice, CA | 310.396.1604).

pokez. all other mexican food, bow down! if you’re ever in...

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:06:17 -0700

tofu potato and mushroom burrito

yep.

pokez. all other mexican food, bow down! if you’re ever in san diego, this place is a must.

dessert at seed bistro, one of the finest vegan restaurants in...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:33:57 -0700

dessert at seed bistro, one of the finest vegan restaurants in los angeles. chocolate mousse terrine with pistachio nougatine. exquisite!

jackfruit tacos for days

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:39:44 -0700

listen angelenos: this weekend you have not one, but two opportunities to be rollin’ in jackfruit tacos. plant food for people, one of this year’s LAVBF vendors and soon to be LA’s only vegan drive-thru restaurant, is serving up mexican eats in highland park on both saturday and sunday! on top of insane tacos that i can vouch for, plant food for people also rocks the homemade hot sauce like you wouldn’t believe. they’re a family owned business that cooks up their recipes from scratch with tons of flavor and no processed ingredients. here are the flyers: