House of Dosas - Vegan Options

These days we are doing more and more revisiting of the places that we have enjoyed the most. I've made no secret here of our love for south Indian food and especially dosa and that is what brought us back to House of Dosas in White Rock.

Located on 152nd at 17th, parking is shit here. We ended up on 17a in what is signed as Johnson Plaza parking (which this is). Other than that, our legs aren't broken so we can walk a bit.

We first noticed a change of menu in that Rasam Vadai was no longer on the menu. Mharie had talked about this dish since the last time we were here and so was a little disappointed. We ordered the Medu Vada which in reality is similar but with less soup! A couple of deep fried lentil flour donuts complete with sambar and coconut and tomatoe chutneys. Loved this almost as much as the Rasam Vadai.

We're big fans of Uthappam as well, dosas' pizza like cousin. This pancake is made with fermented rice and lentil flour, came topped with veggies (because that was the one we ordered) and accompanied by the usual sambar and chutneys. Again, we loved it!

I'm pretty sure we ordered the Onion Rava Masala Dosa this time. To be honest, this was just a tiny bit on the greasy side (no more than fried potatoes anywhere else) but that was not troubling. Stuffed with Masala potatoes, there are too many options to mention when it comes to variations on  dosa so we will never tire of it. If I could only eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would be dosa and south Indian food in general.

I am not sure what the distinction is between south Indian and Sri Lankan food but look at a map and you will see why they could both be offered in one restaurant. We found it a bit chilly in the dining room but it could be that they had just gotten things opened up and not yet warmed up. For the second time, we found the service to be friendly and efficient. 

Make sure you try this place!

Folke - Vegan Brunch

We are big fans of Folke. They are a completely vegan restaurant that operates with a no tipping policy but still pays a living wage. They also have a creative powerhouse kitchen that does not use (at least not to my knowledge) processed products such as faux meats. Not that I have anything against faux meats or even processed foods for that matter but anyone can cook that stuff at home if they have a craving. Folke is creative on a more impressive level transforming good old fruits and vegetables (not to mention grains, legumes , etc.) into delicious and beautiful dishes. Read about our experience with their tasting menu here... Yes! We're Eating Vegan Again!: Search results for folke. Now we are back to try their brunch menu.

Still located at 2585 West Broadway and now serving brunch from 10 to 2 on Saturday and Sunday. Make a reservation.

We met my brother and his wife a certain Sunday morning. It meant that we could all try something different and get a good cross section of the brunch menu. We started with the Potato Rostii. Crisp potato cakes served with creamed leeks, vegan sour cream and dill. Not your typical brunch hash browns but something a few notches up. Loved it!

My brother tried the consummate brunch dish, Chicken and Waffles. The chicken of course was neither chicken nor 'chick'n' but deep fried oyster mushrooms. To me eye there could have been a few more mushrooms but it was certainly delicious. It was a sourdough waffle (bonus) and served with cinnamon maple butter. Nice!

I had the Filet O Fysh and this was served as a burger, to my surprise. Again, not a processed product but celeriac and amazing. I was convinced it tasted like fish but I obviously have no idea and everyone else agreed that it did not but tasted more like root vegetable (duh). Aright, well the texture was definitely like fish. Served on a bun with melty cheese, tartar sauce, and maybe the best fries I have ever had.

My sister-in-law,  had the Shakshuka. This dish is made with chick pea tofu which I can't help thinking is made in house (otherwise, I don't know where you'd get it). Served with a spectacular focaccia and everything else you'd expect from a good shakshuka.

For a change, I remembered to ask about flax seeds (as my wife is allergic to them) and we discovered that quite a few things on the menu had them (possibly frying in flax seed oil?). One thing that she could have was the Carbonara Risotto. This was not a hardship as the risotto was excellent. The carbonara part featured ruta-bacon which is what exactly? Google results turned up nothing except vague references to rutabaga but really? So I ended up phoning the restaurant which they are clearly not keen on (being phoned that is) and learned that it is indeed, dehydrated and cured rutabaga. I still don't know how that works other than to spare a pig but still taste like bacon and contribute to a very good risotto.

You can get a cake plate for your table, which we did. There are many choices and you select them yourself! Don't get too greedy!

Obviously we tried a few things and shared around. It made an impressive conclusion to an impressive meal.

Pleasant surrounding and pleasant staff (and good conversation) made this a wonderful meal and a credit to Folke that continues to shine.

Hellcrust Pizza - Vegan Options

Sure, we've gotten pizza from Hellcrust before and blogged about it, but its pretty good pizza and they have a fairly extensive menu of vegan options and there are locations all over. Vegans should be aware and omnivores also. 

Genius that I am, I wanted to order from downtown Langley but accidentally ordered from Walnut Grove. It wasn't a huge deal. Located on 202nd just a block north of 88th, we just enjoyed the scenic tour (would not have been the case if we were in a hurry) and took a different route home.

Can't really tell one from the other in the photos but we ordered one, Vegan Maize Mania and one Vegan Hell's Crunch. They were both tasty and interesting. I did not realize that corn on a pizza was such a thing. The Hell's Crunch boasted potato chips but that was a little weak. To get a real crunch, they should use kettle chips of some kind and more of them.

The crust was nicely done. They don't have anything fancy like coal-fired ovens (does anyone?) but still both had nice leoparding. The prices are reasonable and the decent choice of vegan options, kind of make this place one of our favourites for everyday pizza takeout.

You may find out there is a Hellcrust Pizza close to you if you search.

Nukkad Indian Street Eats - Vegan Options

I messaged these guys as their Instagram and web site menus confused me. They assured me that they had vegan items on their menu. It seems like a lot of people don't understand the difference between vegan and vegetarian, but these folks understood it.

We found Nukkad Indian Street Eats at McArthurGlen on Sunday afternoon. I think this is their regular haunt but you should probably check before trudging out there. Their clientele showed some enthusiasm so that reassured us.

The Chole Kuche was amazing. The kulcha was an tasty soft bread, nicely grilled, that we dipped in a flavourful chickpea curry. The gentlemen who gave us our food made sure that we knew to squeeze the lime into the curry. So good!  

The Mr. Potato Burger was also amazing. If you think you need meat for a burger (even faux meat) you are sadly mistaken. The potato patty was crispy and fragrant with Indian spices.  Hold the cheese to make it vegan but it is all about the condiments. I can't remember if they had to hold the mayo as well as it is house made. Once you add in the pickled jalapenos and fresh veggies, you are good to go. This was served with fryums which texture wise are a little like shrimp chips (not the flavour) and are  made basically from starch and deep fried. This was new to us and interesting.

Finally, we had the Veg Fried Momos. We are big fans of momos and you can order them steamed if you plan to eat them every day but for us...nah. We love them deep fried and served with some heat.

There are a few other vegan options at McArthurGlen but other than that, don't come for the shopping. It is a wasteland of overpriced and overhyped brand names. Does a brand name on your clothes make you an important person? Come for the food especially at Nukkad.

Richmond Night Market - Vegan Options

So we've been to the Richmond Night Market several times over the years. I'm not a huge fan, as the crowds can be overwhelming, the merchandise for sale is mostly junk, and the entrance fee has crept up year by year (we paid $8 each this year).

There have been a couple of times that I have been here and sort of enjoyed myself. One time my brother flew into YVR on a Saturday night and wanted to do the night market. It was near closing time so the crowd had thinned and the stalls were clearing out their food at reduced prices. Fun! And its a sin to let food go to waste! This visit also, the second to last night of the year, it was on the chilly side so that led to small crowds also. I guess that is what makes the biggest difference for me.

So I went looking for something that a vegan can eat. I didn't expect to see it, but there was the "vegan" Label at Aroy Go!

I'm always down for Mango Sticky Rice (starting with dessert first)! South East Asian desserts kind of lean towards sweetened and condensed milk but at this stall they use coconut milk which is equally sweet but much less cruel!

The reason there was a big line up here (actually a small line compared to past market visits) at Big Beard Super BBQ  is that they had a $2 coupon out there and everyone loves to save $2! At the far right of the menu you can see that they had BBQ Seitan but I did not notice it at the time as there was a bigger sign for BBQ Tofu sheets.

The BBQ Tofu was actually very good even if my photo is not. In my omnivorous days, I used to love cumin lamb ( how could I eat those cute little guys?) and this had the same spice taste (obviously cumin). At $10 for 10 it was even a pretty decent deal!

For hydration purposes, it was not hard to find non dairy beverages, like the coconut-mango thing that we got at One Coconut.

And of course, the Hurricane Potato has been available at every market that we have ever been to. How can you go wrong with a big spiral French fry (be careful what spice mis that you choose).

Conspicuous by their absence was Burma Betty, the food stall where I have gotten very good vegan eats in the past. I'm not sure if they were just done early for the year or if they weren't here this season. I thought they had a brick and mortar place in Burnaby but their website doesn't seem to work and their social media posts are over a year old so I guess...

Still, the vegan didn't starve. Not my favourite thing but a lot of people enjoy the Richmond Night Market so sometimes, you just have to go.

Din Tai Fung - Vegan Options

We finally got to Din Tai Fung in Vancouver. We were excited that it had arrived, as we had been to DTF (an unfortunate abbreviation that I will not use again) in Seattle and were very impressed. As I refuse to cross the border for anything optional during the next 3 1/2 years, it is good to have them here. 

Located on Alberni Street near Thurlow, we a reservation but arriving when they first opened at 10:30 am on Sunday, it was not necessary. It is a large place but I have no doubt that they get very busy and so reservations would usually be a good idea. We were able to order 5 dishes that we did not try on our previous visit and I think there is enough left to try for a third visit!

The Soy Noodle Salad was a great place to start. Although they are known for their in house made wheat noodles, these noodles are actually cut from soy sheets. In addition there are julienned carrots and celery and a refreshing vinegary dressing. Excellent!

More noodles but this time the wheat kind and made with JUST Egg. This was Vegan Noodles with Sesame Sauce and it was amazing! The noodles being fresh are an exquisite experience compared the the dried ones we eat at home. A sesame sauce, peanuts, chili oil and green onions complete the picture.

A couple of Vegan Buns provided a small bit of contrast. The filling of tofu, glass noodles, greens, mushrooms and jicama was tasty enough and the steamed buns themselves were pillowy and pleasant. 

Next the cross between the buns and the noodles and this is what people come for, Vegan Dumplings. The greenish hue is spinach water by the way. The filling is the same as the buns and the noodle wrapper was delicate and the same as the noodles. You can watch these being hand crafted in the kitchen if you like. 

The triangle inside the circle made me think of recovery, unity and service which is an inside joke for anyone who is a friend of Bill. We had the Sesame & Mochi Xiao Long Boa for dessert and these were pleasant but not overly sweet or heavy. It's not everywhere that we can get a vegan dessert. I read somewhere that the XLB are made with the golden ratio of 18 folds but the ones we counted didn't quite add up to that. We did not send them back! 

Although some of the dishes seem simple and almost plain, you can spice them up as you like with the excellent chili oil, soy sauce and vinegar at your table.

This is a beautiful space and the service is very attentive. Although it is not a vegan restaurant, they have made it accessible for all kinds of people. We are always impressed with that. This is a place you could bring people from out of town but remember that there may be a Din Tai Fung near where they live also.

We'll be back anyway.

Tina Vietnamese Cuisine -Mostly Vegan ?

Formerly known as V-Cafe (which explains why I could not find my previous blog post), we have enjoyed this Vietnamese, almost vegan restaurant.

I am not sure if it is still true, but in the past, there was an egg or something somewhere on the menu, but the servers would steer you away from it if you were vegan. Located at the corner of 8th and Carnarvon, it is right at New Westminster Station.

We started with a couple of Salad Rolls. This was vegan Barbeque Pork and Citrus Spare Rib. They were both excellent and came with a delightful peanut sauce. 

I meant to order the Vegan Beef Stew Noodle Soup but my brain had other ideas and I ended up with the Vegan Curry Noodle Soup. This was not a mistake. It was tasty and rich and solved my protein needs for the day. I would mistakenly order this again gladly.

Mharie decided on the Vegan Seafood Noodle Soup. It was also very flavourful and oceany. I'm not sure what all the seafood was but probably commercially available vegan seafood. Lots of veggies that were perfectly cooked (i.e. not too soft). Very good!

I didn't take a dinning room photo which was odd but there is probably seating for 2 dozen here. The Buddhist vibe is not overwhelming here but it reminds us that ahimsa can be a central principle of life. We'll be back.