Scrumptious Sandwiches at Sugar Plum Vegan

I like to consider myself an unofficial sandwich savant, one skilled in the art of of gluing foodstuffs of varying textures and flavors and into a cozy blanket of carb-y gluten. Yet when the (not so) laborious effort of baking tofu surpasses my midday meal motivation, Sugar Plum Vegan Cafe thankfully offers a disparate menu of plant-based sandwiches in an idyllic atmosphere.

While PeTA may possess an audacious talent to pique the sane vegan community, you have to hope they wouldn’t bequeath a “Top 5 Vegan Sandwiches” award willy nilly.

Although I have no desire to defame the oft-revered Tempeh Reuben, I myself do not count this sandwich as a culinary paramour. While countless North American vegans extol the combination of rye bread, sauerkraut, pickles, choice of protein (overwhelmingly tempeh), and thousand island dressing as the paradigm of the perfect sandwich, I cautiously rank it high on the scale of mediocrity. The above version was characteristically pungent in caraway, fennel, and other spices with tellingly full jars in my spice rack. The marinated tempeh was pleasingly moist, complementing the ever-tangy fermented onions and standard ketchup-based spread. For the sake of succinctness: if you brand yourself a Reuben minion, you are in luck with this sammie.

I would have gleefully abnegated my Tempeh Reuben for my mother’s tantalizing Midtown Club, detailed per online menu as “Homemade Gluten-Free Tempeh Bacon, Romaine, Tomato, Avocado, Clover Sprouts and Vegenaise on Multi-Grain Bread.” Despite my Yank-ish, punctilious nature to correct the lack of Oxford comma and profusion of German-inspired capitalization, the description is sound. Each component meshed effortlessly to produce a sum greater than its oh-so-great parts. When my mother offered me the leftover half in a gesture of motherly amity, I accepted with grateful alacrity.

After a failed attempt to order a fresh young coconut, I hastily switched my request to a house-made kombucha. With empathetic face held low the contrite cashier bemoaned the depletion of their stock of kombucha and graciously offered the remaining amount gratis. Serendipitous outcome? A near 16 ounces of free berry-flavored fermented tea speckled with lilliputian morsels of unknown matter. These possible berries were forthwith rapidly straw-vacuumed while my mother looked on in parental amusement.

Yesterday I venerated Sugar Plum’s front patio while today’s lionized locus is the back patio. There is very little to prevent at least an ambivalent attachment towards the place. Purring felines supinely stretch hind legs across couch cushions, modern art peeks behind corners, and stretching cords of twinkle lights adorned with Chinese latterns purvey all. The acoustics discourage a cacophony of conversational echo while diffusing the atypical noises of Midtown bustle. Alternatively, those prone to introspection can take advantage of the tranquility to wallow in the ebb and flow of vivacious rumination.

Conclusion: next time I sandwich at Sugar Plum’s back patio, I’m committed to an order of the award-winning Jackfruit Tuna Melt. That is, unless a nice homemade tempeh, cuke, and hummus doesn’t call my name from the wondrous depths of the icebox.

Sugar Plum Vegan *Check out their page for a “Free Sweet with $20 purchase” coupon*

2315 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816

Sugar Plum Vegan: Bottomless Brunch

The last MuffinTopped mention of Sacramento’s vegan brunch scene (at Fox & Goose) evoked emotions metaphorically lacking in highfalutin cartwheels or cries of vehement exclamation. Yet there are no such critical misgivings slash statements of noncommittal in today’s writing vicinity. This forthcoming tale of heavenly Bottomless Brunch takes place at Sacramento’s only all-vegan restaurant, Sugar Plum Vegan Cafe.

Any vegan lumberjack* would declare herself one grossly satiated customer after such a mountainous feasting. As I shuffled past the arrangement of chafing-dishes, I loaded up on “hempy blueberry pancakes,” seasonal tofu frittata, halves of creme-filled cookie sandwiches, roasted potatoes, salad, and a few tumescent strawberries. I sang conversational praises to all of my plate’s contents except for the tofu frittata, which I diagnosed as bland goop, and the all-too-austere salad (waving its leafy tendril back left). In this traditionalist’s belief, no salad has the right to intrude on the sacredness of brunch. All other fractions of the pie plate could be described utilizing every obsolete word comprising the “delicious” thesaurus entry.

* Is such a hopeful writer’s creation equivalent to belief in Bigfoot?

What the lauded Arrested Development series is to television aficionados, biscuits and gravy are (is?) to brunch devotees. In plain speak: conquering legend.

Since I count no blood links of any kind to this dish I can only reflect, without hyperarticulate comparison or description, that I immensely enjoyed Sugar Plum’s version. I would have preferred a more circular biscuit bedecked with flaky layers, but this doughy, amorphous butter pastry was no slouch t’all. The gravy was thankfully smooth and saporous whilst immaculately compensating for the biscuit’s semi-dryness. I’m coming off a bit Negative Nancy, but with critique’s hat clamped on I cannot help but overanalyze the faults of a dish that I admittedly devoured with gusto.

The brother ponders lens cap in poetic stillness as the tree branches speckle his form in shadow.

Sugar Plum’s verdant front patio is a serene locale to indulge in the classic brunch pleasures: relaxed mid-morning conversation, thoughtful solace, and gluttonous consumption of comfort food.

If I were a tourist to Sacramento (although I am most unequivocally the opposite), I would spend my Sunday morning browsing through the rampant local delights of Midtown’s boutiques, used bookstores, and art galleries, concluding at Sugar Plum (after 11 a.m.) for a lazy, lingering brunch. “Krispy Kreme-like” doughnuts are served at 10 if hungry bellies bellow their impatience.

Trust my infallible culinary acumen: make the trek, become about ten bucks poorer, and revel in a vegan brunch available nowhere else in town.

Sugar Plum Vegan *Check Facebook page for daily menu updates.*

2315 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816

Japanese Delights at Osaka-Ya

“Hidden gem” is a term as cliché as they come, but Sacramento’s Osaka-Ya cannot help but assimilate into that very category. Known amongst local shoppers for its exquisite mochi and (weekend-only) bento boxes, this Japanese bakery and grocery store is what one might call a below-the-radar tradition. Hipster hoopla or no, I can only attest that this place is well worth a multitude of visits.

From their storefront service window owners peddle Gunther’s Freeze, a Sacramento-famous fruit slushie, as well as made-to-order shaved ice. I have honestly sampled neither, but in a city where the temps are wont to climb to a devilish 105 Fahrenheit, syrup-covered frozen water is almost too easy a sell.

Although the trays of mochi/manju are not labeled, the Osaka-Ya staff are more than happy to explain each unique variety in articulate detail. With the prodigious aid of the strapping young gentleman on counter duty, I chose four varieties of mochi for sampling: two with smooth an (sweet red bean paste), one plum-flavored with chunky an, and a 4-pack of smooth peanut butter-filled mochi. The exorbitant use of plastic-wrap and Styrofoam did little to assuage my ever-rising consumer guilt; in a deep state of mens rea, I offered up a “Forgive me Earth Spirit, for I have sinned” as the overhead exit bell echoed its soft jangle behind me.

Although cursed by a beyond-dismal photo shoot, the mochi exceeded all expectations. Mochi is one of those magical foods that rigidly interlocks with my natural taste preferences; if unbridled, I could have effortlessly effected a permanent disappearance of the three an-filled mochi in a matter of minutes. Instead, I summoned my last iota of restraint and endeavored a reasonable prolonging of each morsel’s mastication. What pure indulgence in bean-filled sweeties I savored! What gluttony I withheld to allow a few hours between each tasting!

In stark contrast, the peanut butter mochi were an unfortunate combination of East meets West, resulting in what I like to dub “con-fusion” cuisine. The smooth peanut butter innards evoked a suspiciously close resemblance to the Jiff-sweet, hydrogenated oil variety; t’was vastly unsuitable to this “natural only please” pb enthusiast. In blunt fairness, the mochi acted as a copacetic shell, albeit a bit homely in pop of flavor. I finished the unfortunate foursome only by by peeling off the mochi gold and donating the peanut butter facsimile to my all-too-obliging pooch.

These purchased soba noodles will soon act as my main accomplice in the creation of ze’ all-time favorite comfort food: Kabocha Noodles with Peanut Sauce.

Japanese snacks and kitchen foodstuffs galore!

Is Osaka-Ya comparable to the Japanese Wall-Mart that is Mitsuwa? Egregiously no, but what it lacks in size it makes up for with foul peanut butter mochi. Oh, I kid! I endorse this place all the more for its modest yet high-quality grocery selection, hand-beaten mochi, and superlative customer service.

If you require more persuadin’, Osaka-Ya is approximately 4 hops, 3 skips, and one road-length jump from the fabulous gourmet doughnut shop that is Doughbot Doughnuts. If that doesn’t hold some level of sway, I haven’t the foggiest what will.

Osaka-Ya

2215 10th St
Sacramento, CA 95818

Sunflower Drive-In Restaurant, Fair Oaks

I still have cinnamon mouth wisps lingering from one of my last homemade pumpkin cinnamon rolls and writing is cruelly spoiling its last remaining essence. How about laconic photo captions this languid morn’, what say you?

Sun Flower Drive In: boasts a vegan-adaptable vegetarian menu with such wares as nutty tacos, millet burger, falafel, non-dairy burrito, carob milk, vegan potato salad, and other miscellany.

The locally lauded Nutburger, verily Emily-approved. Specify that you execrate animal bits for vegan bun and mayo.

Real-life Angry Bird that road-runnered to our table at the sight of a skimpy lettuce strip dangling from human hand.

Poised and determined to hog any and all food scraps from adjacent, nonchalant rooster. Fair Oaks, home to over 200 wild chickens, oozes the cutesy quaintness.

Hen-tomato union successful!

A top-notch casual fast food drive-in, but lamentably lacking on the “fast” bit.

This laggard blogger is off to finish I Am Legend and cuddle with the resident ball of fur. Toodles!

Sunflower Drive-In Restaurant

10344 Fair Oaks Boulevard
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Fox & Goose Pub

The past decade has witnessed the term “gastropub” morph into a synonym for “pretentious ultra-spendy bar,” but Fox & Goose Pub rebelliously breaks off from the bourgeois trend. Their brunch is a bona fide Sacramento institution with diners barely forming a gawped mouth upon the news of a wretched 45 minute to hour wait; this is the hellish price one swallows for premium, unique British pub food with an (admittedly heavy-handed) American twist.

It’s practically the only place in town to procure a decent vegan brunch outside Sugar Plum Vegan (review to come). Plus, any menu graced by tempeh strips has my undivided culinary attention.

The Create-Your-Own Tofu scramble has all the potential of a well-stocked grocery store as long as the picker can form some chef-worthy gastronomic combo from the dizzying list of ingredient choices. My highlighted nosh: broccoli (ambrosial & salubrious), sun-dried tomatoes (expensive for a reason), avocado (vegan duh), and tempeh strips (a protein rarity whilst dining out). The scramble, mediocre compared to my PPK recipe homemade, was cursed by a chef prone to skimping on the spice shaking. However, the ingredients gracefully danced together on the tongue, with the avocado adding some much-desired flavor and the smoky strips stealing my tempeh-loving heart.

The English country potatoes, while compensating for all the spice my scramble lacked, suffered from 3rd-degree mush. The fruit cup swimming with farm-fresh berries, cantaloupe, and watermelon is a decidedly better side.

I’m often nonplussed by restaurant bread, but Fox & Goose’s walnut wheat sourdough is a bakery-inspired treat: nutty and hearty with that time-honored sourdough tang. That toast is begging to be schmeared full knife by the soft pulpy delight of the house raspberry jam (not pictured). This nectarous spread does America proud; still, no comparisons to French confitures because that’s jumping outside of its international weight class.

The fresh-squeezed OJ is thick and Vitamin-C-licious, showcasing this gastropub’s dedication to the simple brunch sundries that together combine to form feasting greatness.

Fox & Goose’s breakfast menu (PDF available on their site) has major vegan potential: a Vegetarian Black Bean Chili create-your-own scramble; a Curry & green onion scramble served with Branston pickle; and an intriguing Harvest Grains cereal with soy milk option. Personally, I have my vegan radar set on the latter.

Fox & Goose Pub

1001 R Street
Sacramento, CA

Doughbot Donuts

Just a quick word-vomit today as I’m soon off to fluff a few chickens’ feathers and rub lazy, cantankerous pigs’ hairy bellies; that’s right, I am one enthusiastic ticket holder to Animal Place’s Music in the Meadows and you best believe I’m as agog to attend this fine festivity as I was to… hasty segue please… Doughbot Donuts‘ Grand Opening! This new Sacramentan gourmet doughnut shop (akin to Voodoo Doughnuts) is heading off local restaurant buzz with recent (compliment-laden) articles appearing in Midtown Monthly and The Sacramento Bee among others.

[Update: I didn't finish this post in time, but we have triumphantly returned!  Animals mooed! I cooed. Exclamatory prating and melt-ya-vegan-heart goat pics for an inevitably put-off post.]

Tragically our first attempt to visit said establishment was met with a cold trickle of dread as we drove past Doughbot’s “SOLD OUT” sign in Voldemort’s own scrawl; I shed free-flowing doughnut tears that unfortuitous morn’. However, the re-do Grand Opening (a.k.a the next butt-crack of dawn) proved far more efficacious as we procured an entire boxful of vegan maple and apple fritter doughnuts as well as doughnut hole samples: exultant sugar-coma victory.

How can one resist such a sexy killing (< technical term) of pastries? The obvious response being NO, NEVER, OPTION IS INVALID.

The contemptuous monster in me wants to innocently place a box of these affixed with a sign “For Vegans Only” in a random office break room and heartily engage in vicious schadenfreude. Let omnivores suffer that deep psychological/gustatory torture of inhaling the sweet smell of fried pastry without release by doughnut mastication. Just let them.

I clearly harbor some unhealthy spite towards years of uneatable (and tantalizingly gratis) “normal” donuts teasing me to utter madness. You hit me with the smell of deliciousness embodied and then I’m not allowed to sever the smell’s source with my molars? Be warned that the Emily claws are a’comin’.

These animal-friendly doughnuts had that same infatuating smell and allowed for some orgasmic doughnut catharsis. While the apple fritter was not exactly how I remembered those of my early days, I’d eat two or three more if you put them within chomping distance. The maple doughnut duly deserved a sonnet written in its honor.

Doughbot wants you to check them out Wednesdays-Mondays 5 am- noon! But only in the non-sexist, ogling-free form.

Join me as I stalk their Facebook page for the day’s flavors offerings and other alerts. Recent vegan offerings have included Chai, Glazed, Vanilla Bean, Maple “Bacon,” Coconut Maple, Pink Lemonade, The Dude (modeled after El Duderino’s famous White Russian!),  PB&J, and countless more. As I contemplate that list I’m struck with the inevitable realization that I am an inestimable dodo head for visiting this magical place no more than once. Don’t repeat my cheapskate mistake!

Doughbot Donuts

2226 10th Street
Sacramento CA 95818

Thai Recipes, Davis

Let’s put the exclamation points and cacophonous enthusiasm away as I’m not in the most jocund of moods this wet Wednesday. The promise of Thai food normally makes me piddle in my pantaloons with excitement, but today’s droning headache has forthwith ban all such sprightly cheer. Sacramentans woke up this morn’ to the first rain of the season and every goddamn crappy thing brings along with it. If you want (obnoxious) love letters to fall, you can ploop on over to the myriad of other vegan blogs authored by confused, cold-weather-loving shouters. My opinion? Summer’s end is more akin to a well-aimed kick in the pants.

Anyway: the review. I lunched this azure sun-filled afternoon (if only those rays could have lasted longer) with my father at Thai Recipes, a quaint family-owned Thai establishment in downtown Davis. Upon arrival to the empty dining room laden with trig wooden table sets and copious art—both Thai and miscellaneous—upon the walls, we pored over the menu in search of tummy-satisfying choices. In such situations of endless options I’m wont to “menu anxiety,” a dining epidemic infecting vegans worldwide. Meekly submitting to the menu’s power, I ordered Pad Thai (tofu, no egg) and an appetizer of spring rolls at my dad’s request. I know: I am a wuss.

Although surprised by its arrival, I was no less pleased as our waitress set this mystery Thai soup upon the table. A saline broth swimming with tofu and veggies, this decidedly-simple soup deliciously whet my appetite in its perfect cup portion.

These deep-fried vegetable rolls are a staple of many Asian cuisines and if you haven’t tried them, you are assuredly a wet-blanket-foodie. As with the two other elements of the meal, nothing on this (jealousy-inducing!) lettuce plate could be considered ostentatious in its flavor profile. These are the type of humble spring rolls born to inspire a “love yourself as you are” campaign. And love them I did so very much as I aggressively teeth-cleaved my two rolls, frequently smearing exposed ends in syrupy sweet and sour sauce. Deep frying is a dually beautiful and dangerous cooking method, dear readers.

At last! the famous Pad Thai. I generally avoid number scales as they tend to induce inarticulate black and white deductions, but I’m posting a solid 7 out of 10 for this one. I appreciate that its artful presentation eases my photographic duties and my gluttonous side growls in approval of the (two meal) hefty portion. I happily munched away, but Iamented over its humdrum flavors; perhaps a liberal dousing of Siracha or a quick squeeze of lime would have upped the dish’s success. Simply put: I’ve definitely had better Pad Thai, but I’m not endowed with enough culinary know-how to put my finger on that lacking je-ne-sais-quoi.

If one is vegan* and one is in Davis and one likes tedious sentence constructions, try a meal or two at Thai Recipes. As long as you harbor nary a grudge against Thai food, no postprandial regrets are in any danger of being made.

*Actually this is only a hope as meat options are obviously available.

Thai Recipes

132 East St # 1H
Davis, CA 95616-4649

Thanksgiving Quickie

Dirty implications? Or possibly my mind goes irreversabily to the perverse all willy nilly.

T-minus I hit “publish” on this post, I shall begin Thanksgiving cooking like practically every other person in the vegan blogosphere. I’ve never planned to make so much for any one family gathering and I hope I don’t crap out. Here’s the goods: chickpea cutlets (already made chyah!), post-punk chickpea gravy, roasted broccoli, roasted garlic brussels sprout, (the oblig) mashed taters, and a gingerbread apple pie for extra caloric yumz. Mmmm I like feasting.

Last night I dined at OneSpeed in East Sac with my dad, brother, and (just-arrived-from-SLO) sister. I’m (wo)man enough to admit I was Mr. Krabs the whole night and the 30+ minute wait for a table plus the menu with sparse vegan options did little to improve my glorious mood. I must have asked at least 3 different people about the v-word before they gave me any real entree choices. To their credit,  they all seemed to recognize the word vegan (it’s a start!), disregarding the annoying “do you eat fish?” question from our waitress.

I decided upon the Napoletana pizza–creamy eggplant, marinated olives, capers, and tomato sauce on an artisan crispy crust– minus anchovies and mozz. It was quite delectable, albeit liberally doused with oil, and I nearly finished the whole thing. That’s saying something because it’s one of those annoying “single serving” entrees that you just know is meant to be shared. Don’t these people understand my inherent glutttony? My pizza, MINE.

A note on the picture: moody lighting does no favors for food photography. Nor does three other diners sneering at you food porn endeavors while you try not to convince yourself you are not a complete vegan weirdo. The half-eaten piece adds a nice (gross) does of honesty to the pictorial.

Anway, Happy Thanksgiving to all you Yanks and best wishes as you try to enjoy a hearty helping of *beloved* family time. I love this holiday muchly, but one more crack about tofurkey/protein/veganism and I might have to choke a bitch. Toodles.

Product Review: Silk Pumpkin Spice Soymilk

Praise seitan, I’m officially home for Thanksgiving and I’m officially freezing my patootie off. Whilst I will always be a complainer a heart, I can’t help but admit it’s simply magical this time of year. A rainbow of burgundy and mustard on tree leaves a’changin’, plush cotton scarves to nuzzle into, snuggle time with my furry ragamuffin, the sweet crisp NorCal air in my lungs. Yah, it ain’t bad.

So first thing’s first, I went grocery shopping. Yes, fulfilling my vegan priori-teees! Whilst dodging throngs of last-minute shoppers playing bumper carts at the co-op (and in my mind’s eye wondering what the fuks I would post for MoFo), I happened upon Pumpkin Spice soymilk and you can guess the rest. Without even a momentary twinge of monetary regret into the cart it went. A chocolate chip cookie might have somehow mangled its way in there too.

I don’t think this flavor deserves a whole lot of wordage because my taste buds were screaming “NOG NOG NOG! This tastes like Nog!” I do have a sneaky suspicion the crazy Silk soymilk scientists are pulling a fast one on the vegan community in an effort to  duke us out of our holiday soymilks. The bastards.

With undertones of nutmeg and strong kick of pumpkin pie spice, this isn’t your garden variety soymilk. Scrumpdidilumptious to say the least and probably even butter in something baking-related. Not that it’s going to last long enough to get in some muffins, let’s be real. Oooh this would taste good as a muffin accompaniment though, my oh my yes.

It’s Silk-y too, if the pictures don’t speak to ya. Maybe not 1000 words, but at least 999?  Beware: lame joke territory entered with reckless abandon.

It may taste like Nog, but cha know what? I like me some Nog. My next mission: side-by-side taste comparasion all up in yo’ soymilk biznaz. Oh yah the shit’s gonna go down.

Tower Cafe

Tower Cafe is one of those restaurants that holds a special place in my heart, no matter how disgustingly cliche that may sound. As I head down I80, the tall white tower of this Sacramento landmark beckons me home.

Stolen from the Googlez

Starting out as a humble drugs store, Tower is now home to my favorite independant theatre and one of the best outdoor cafes in the city. You may know it for the original Tower Records across the street that spawned the (sadly, out of business) nationwide chain of music retailers. It’s a popular date destination, the epitome of the classic dinner-and-a-movie routine.

The place symbolizes the peak of my competitive soccer days, the chaos of constant practice while juggling AP classes Monday thru Friday. In those days my dad and I were dinner regulars after my 7-9 soccer practices in Davis fifteen minutes away. I would smell of grass and mud after an intense goalie work-out and he would be bored silly after reading Dwell and Car & Driver for two hours. Tired, sweaty, and in need of food, I would sip on my piping hot cup of orange lemon tea with two In the Raw sugars mixed in (coffee as my dad’s caffeine of choice) as we fervently gossiped about the soccer world. Those days I would usually order the Asian noodle salad with tofu*, still one of my favorite meals to this day. The best part was the ending dessert that concluded every meal. In my pregan days, how I loved slowly licking my fork after every rich mouthful of decadent chocolate cream pie. We would sit back and talk easily, allowing ourselves to give in to the quiet ambiance and funky vibe the restaurant’s known for. As we finally arose to leave, I would rub the rotund stomach of the large wooden Buddha (“for luck”) beside our usual table, my own belly full to the brim with delicious food. It’s hard to admit, but I miss those dinners more than anything.

Even the Tower parking lot was (and still is) home to many a late-night convo with friends over our most recent boy troubles, the latest indie movie we just saw, or discussions of our travels abroad. After a while we might get bored and head over to near-by Marie’s donuts (opening at 1 am) or conclude that our town simply has no late-night happenin’s to speak of and call it a night.

Needless to say, Tower feels like home.

So, for my mother’s birthday we decided on an outdoor luncheon at the patio of Tower Cafe. It doesn’t have the greatest vegan food in Sacramento, but it’s still damn good.

Long descriptions aren’t necessary here so I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking. If you’re feeling frisky, you’re welcome to visit my flickr set.

Full disclosure: may not be vegan

Brothers love to sabotage food photography

My sister Melissa and mom Silvia

Unfortunately none of the desserts are vegan (that I know of), so I let my mom and sister share the free birthday cake our waitress kindly brought (not pictured). There was no sign of the usual awkward rendition of “Happy Birthday” that I personally loathe. Big plus in my book!

All in all, an excellent lunch at one of my favorite Sacramento destinations. While the vegan options are pretty good, the place pulls me in mostly for the memories it symbolizes. I even have a local canvas painting  of Tower Cafe currently hanging in my room, if you don’t believe me by now that I love this place.

*which is tragically no longer offered due to the cafe’s decision to quit stocking tofu (!!!)