Half Off Vegan Cooking Class!

This weekend only, you can purchase a vegan cooking class at Cowboys And Turbans for only $60 (normally it cost $120). Find the link below:

Half Off Cooking Class At Cowboys and Turbans!

I've been to this restaurant before and it is truly amazing and the food is so unique. Each dish combines elements from Indian and Mexican cuisine.  Personally, I would love to learn how to make their food and I'm sure this cooking class is different from any cooking class you've been to before!

A Lingering Sunday Brunch at Red Lentil Restaurant

In a previous post, I expressed my love for brunch, especially as a way to end the week on a pleasant note. After a busy week of visiting my folks, exploring the city, and indulging myself in delicious foods, I needed to spend the afternoon unwinding. Thus, I headed back to Red Lentil in Watertown, MA for a decadent brunch.

Unfortunately, there aren't too many choices for brunch in the Boston area, but from the few I've been to, Red Lentil has been my favorite. The brunch is not completely vegan, although any dish can be easily made vegan through substituting real cheese for daiya or eggs for tofu scramble. Feeling lazy, my dining partner and I decided to get two dishes that were by default vegan. My dining partner ordered the tofu scramble, while I went with my usual dish, the vegan french toast. Both were very inexpensive at $7.50 each.

When the dishes came out, they looked even more scrumptious than I remembered. Eager to see if it tasted as good as it looked, I dug into it and found my expectations were greatly exceeded. Somehow it was even better.

There were about four slices of thick "eggy" bread, soaked in a sweet, caramelized glaze. The french toast was coated in banana slices and chopped walnuts, which were drizzled in a luscious raspberry sauce.  The dish was so sweet and decadent and the piles of toppings gave it a richer texture and further enhanced the taste.

My dining partner gave me a large helping of her dish, which I also really enjoyed. It was great to have the savory food balance out my deliciously sweet meal.

The tofu scramble was one of the best that I've had. The tofu had an eggy consistency and was very crumbly.  It was so flavorful and the vegetables were well cooked, but not overdone. I also really loved the hash browns. They were soft and chewy and had a delicate coat of oil and seasonings. The accompanying bread was also very good and was lightly spread with a vegan butter.

Overall, I really love this brunch and sometimes I think about moving back to Boston just to have this brunch every Sunday. While the brunches in LA are just as amazing, this brunch is not only delicious but such a great price. In addition, we used a student discount again, thus scoring an extra 15% off our meal. The meal came out to less than $20 with tax and tip.  If you are in Boston and looking for an enjoyable Sunday brunch, but don't want to break the bank, Red Lentil is your place.

Bike Night At The Hammer Museum Tomorrow Night!!

One of my favorite nights, that I will unfortunately be missing since I'm out of town, is Bike Night at the Hammer Museum. It started two years ago as a way for UCLA students to encourage others to both appreciate art and lead a more environmentally lifestyle, even if just for a night.

All night, the galleries are open for viewing, while guests can enjoy delicious vegan food. I went last year and the food was delicious! There were vegan burgers and salads from Whole Foods to be washed down with various flavors of Natural sodas. The best part is that the event is completely free! To save money on parking, I recommend parking in either the residential community or riding your bike, as there will be free bike valets on hand all night. The event starts at 7 pm tomorrow, so be sure to come early for some great food! More details for the event can be found at: http://hammer.ucla.edu/programs/detail/program_id/155. If you go, be sure to let me know how it is!

A Rawmazing Meal at Rawbert's Organic Garden Cafe

On Saturday evening, I ventured to a quaint vegan raw food restaurant in Beverly, MA called Rawbert's. The inside was cute and small and the decorative plants gave it an earthy feel. It was early on a Saturday night, yet the cafe was packed. Luckily, a man was just finishing up his coffee and we only had to wait a few minutes for the table to be cleared. The menu was pretty large, featuring mostly raw items with a few cooked dishes interspersed. There was pretty much every cuisine represented, from Italian to Mediterranean to Thai, although each re-imagined as a raw dish.

We began the meal with the Hummus With Onion Rye Bread appetizer ($9).  When it came out, I have to admit I was a little frightened. There was a big glob surrounded by veggies that did not at all resemble the creamy hummus I am so used to.

Nevertheless, the hummus was delicious. It was very thick and had a rougher texture. The hummus tasted very beany and had a slight nutty flavor. The vegetables were sliced thin to resemble chips and were very crunchy and crisp. They went very well with the hummus. The onion rye bread also had a hard, grainy texture, but was softened when dipped into the hummus. I really enjoyed the appetizer and appreciated the twist on the traditional Mediterranean dish.

Next, our entrees came out. I ordered the Nut Butter 'Squash' ravioli which were red beet shells filled with squash in a cashew alfredo sauce and garnished with tomatoes and rosemary walnuts ($16).  My parents both ordered the special of the day a zucchini pasta in tomato sauce with 'meatballs' ($17).

As I dug into my ravioli I was so impressed with how something made completely from vegetables and nuts could taste so rich.

The beet shell was sweet and crisp to contrast the smooth and creamy squash. The squash had a slightly nutty flavor and was not overly sweet as squash can sometimes be. The alfredo sauce was my favorite part of the dish and was so decadent. I completely soaked the raviolis in this to get every last drop.

I tasted the spaghetti and "meatballs" dish and it was also very delicious.

I was surprised by how closely the zucchini resembled spaghetti and was just as slurpy. The tomato sauce was so sweet and chunky and complemented the zucchini pasta really well. My favorite part of the dish of course was the "meatballs". They had a savory taste, yet were very sweet from the sundried tomatoes. I also loved how they were very soft and easy to bite into, yet were cohesive enough so as not to fall apart.

Lastly, even though the food was filling (as raw food typically is), we managed to save room for dessert. Rawbert's has a changing selection of raw cakes and baked goods behind their glass case, so I went over for a peak. I was glad to see something chocolaty and ordered the chocolate mocha pie ($8).

The pie was very good and was creamy but not too rich. The chocolate flavor was very strong and further enhanced by the chocolate syrup drizzled on the pie. It was very heavenly and I would definitely recommend getting this pie if Rawbert's has it on hand.

I really enjoyed this meal and this has quickly become one of my favorite raw food restaurants. The dishes managed to be creative, tasty and very healthy. I love that I felt satisfied and energized after eating the meal and found myself craving the food not too long after (especially the alfredo sauce and chocolate pie). We used a $25 dollar restaurant gift certificate and ended up spending less than $60 for the three of us. This is a great deal considering it's raw food and very high quality. If you are looking for a healthy, delicious meal, this is your place. I can't wait to go back.

Great Deal at The Spot Natural Food Restaurant

Today only, groupon has a great deal for The Spot Natural Food Restaurant in Hermosa Beach. Click below for the deal:

50% off Food At The Spot Natural Food Restaurant


While I've never been, I did purchase the groupon the last time they had the deal and I'm excited to dine there. I've heard great things about it and their Mexican food is supposed to be amazing. This place was also the first vegetarian restaurant in LA, so for that alone, it's worth a trip.

Terrific Thai Food at My Thai

One of my favorite types of discounts are lunch specials, which are pretty common in Asian restaurants. It's a great way to have a three or four course meal at a fraction of the cost of ordering each dish separately. Yesterday, I ventured to Chinatown in Boston to dine at My Thai Vegan Cafe. The cafe seemed strangely out of place, surrounded by meat laden restaurants. Regardless, they seem to do good business as the cafe is usually almost at capacity during lunch hours. This is possibly due to their lunch special being so amazing and quite possibly one of the best deals around.

While Los Angeles is lined with many vegan Thai restaurants containing practically identical menus, the Boston area only has My Thai. Thus, the dishes at My Thai are original and even integrate elements of other Asian cuisines. Their menu is more vast than any other vegan Thai cuisine I have ever dined at.

As I scanned over the menu, I debated what to order. The choices on the lunch menu were fairly limited in comparison to the main menu, but the choices all sounded great, especially since many are typically not available vegan elsewhere. I settled on the Mango Curry with rice with vegan chicken, while my dining partner opted for the Lemongrass Specialty with vegan chicken. Both cost only $7.50 and came with soup, choice of a spring roll or fried dumplings and jasmine tea.

First, our soups came out. The bowl was a fairly large portion filled with a soup I did not recognize. I believe it was the Tom Yum Tow-Hoo soup.

The soup had a rich tomato broth with both sweet and sour undertones. The smooth, tangy broth was complemented by the assortment of soft vegetables and lightly seasoned tofu.  It was very delicious and flavorful and a great way to start a meal.

Next, our main dishes came.  The first was the Vietnamese Lemongrass Specialty with a spring roll.

My dining partner gave me a sample of this and it was delicious. The sauce coating the well cooked vegetables was slightly bitter and tangy, yet had a bit of sweetness to it.  It also contained a hint of pepper. The spring roll accompanying it was very flaky, but a little dry. I would have liked to have some dipping sauce to make up for the lack of oil. Nevertheless, it was still good and the vegetables and veggie chicken inside were nice and soft to contrast the crispy outer layer.

My dish was truly amazing. I'm a huge fan of sweet curry dishes and this dish managed to be mostly sweet, with spicy undertones.

The sauce was truly delicious and I love that the curry powder gave the succulent dish a little kick. The mango chunks were juicy and complemented the savory chicken and vegetables. The mock chicken here is some of the best I've had and as realistic as it gets. I believe they finely craft it by hand as that's just how amazing it is.  I also preferred the wontons over the spring rolls, as they were even crispier and evidently more deep-fried. They also had a more meaty flavor.  I like this dish the most and would definitely order it again.

The waiters at this place can be a little forgetful and often you have to remind them to bring you something. Even though the menu specifies the deal comes with jasmine tea, they only seem to bring it to you if you request it.  Realizing they hadn't brought it out, we kindly asked if we could have a cup, and they happily brought two cups out moments later.

I'm so glad we got this tea, because it was so tasty. It reminded me a lot of chai tea and had a nice spice to it with a subtle sweetness. It was very calming and soothing and a great way to unwind after a fabulous meal.

Overall, this place is terrific and really a great deal whether you decide to take advantage of the amazing lunch special or opt to try the items on their extensive menu. This place is such a gem for the Boston area, as it is one of the few, if only places to eat Thai food without worrying about the nasty fish sauce Thai restaurants typically use in their dishes.  I also really love how innovative the choices are. There are so many dishes on their menu that I have not found at any other restaurant. I will definitely be back on my next trip here!

A Ravenous Dinner at Red Lentil Restaurant

Last night, I ventured to one of my new favorite vegetarian restaurants, Red Lentil in Watertown, MA.  The small restaurant was super crowded and the wait was about thirty minutes, which is fairly long for a vegetarian/vegan restaurant.  My stomach growled impatiently as I scanned over the eclectic menu which had everything from Mexican to Italian to Indian offerings and ranged from a healthy Macrobiotic style to greasy comfort food. Most of the dishes are vegan but pretty much everything on the menu can be altered to be vegan, although usually with an extra charge. As we finally sat down at our table, we quickly placed our order and anxiously waited for our food to arrive. When it did come, I delved in, having one of the best culinary experiences I've had in a while.

We began with Red Lentil's specialty appetizer, the gobi manchurian ($8): Cauliflower tossed with Indian seasonings, breaded with chickpea flour, fried, and finished with sweet and spicy tomato sauce and fresh cilantro.

This appetizer dish was so delicious. The cauliflowers were deep fried and delicately glazed in a sweet and sour sauce alongside well-seasoned, sauteed bell peppers and onions. The vegetables were soft to contrast the crispy chickpea batter coating the cauliflowers. The sauce was so scrumptious I found myself trying to sop up any last bit with the remaining vegetables. 


We also got some chips and salsa as a starter ($3). 

These were pretty standard. The chips had a great crunch to them and were freshly made. The salsa also had a moderate spice and was very tasty.


Next, our entrees came. My dad ordered a sweet potato quesadilla that was vegetarian, but could easily be made vegan by substituting the real cheese for daiya. I ordered the Shepherd's Pie ($16): Layered mashed yukon gold potatos and sweet potato, soy sausage, corn kernel, onion, seasonal vegetables, spinach, baked and served with vegan cashew gravy and maple balsamic. Drizzled with cilantro sunflower pesto. My mom ordered the Nirvana Delight ($14): An Ayurveda inspired meal, balanced with nutrition, flavor, texture, color and variety- Grilled Tandoori marinated tofu served with cold quinoa salad and spinach, topped with beet relish and cucumber yoghurt sauce.  


The Shephard's Pie was so amazing, although never having had the real version, I'm not sure how it would compare. The chefs at Red Lentil are so innovative in the creation of their dishes and combine ingredients I would never think would go together. Nevertheless, everything worked so well and there were so many different flavors and textures happening in just one dish.

The pie contained many layers, from the slightly bitter yukon potatoes to the smooth, delectable sweet potatoes to the chewy, savory pieces of seitan.  Although mostly composed of vegetables, the pie had such a meaty flavor to it that was sharply contrasted by the creamy, luscious sauces and sweet maple drizzles. The dish was somewhere between a hearty, flavorful entree and a decadent dessert. 


My mom let me try some of her Nirvana Delight, which was also very tasty. 

The quinoa salad was very crisp and the beets added a light and natural sweetener. The tofu was fried and glossed with a thin, sweet marinade and the inside was soft and delicate.  The cucumber yogurt on top was creamy with a slight tanginess and notes of dill. The wilted spinach added an extra layer of texture and healthiness. 


Finally, we had to end the meal with something sweet and Red Lentil's desserts are all vegan and delicious. There were about six choices of cakes, and we settled on the chocolate mousse pie ($5).

The mousse was so rich and chocolatey and the inside was even more creamy. The raspberry syrup drizzles added an extra sweetness that further complimented the pie. The crust was also very crisp and decadent. This dessert was just so amazing. It reminds me of the heavily whipped chocolate mousse I used to love as a kid.


Furthermore, Red Lentil is fairly expensive, although well worth it. They do have discounts available, however. The discount we used last night was a student discount, in which I received 15% off by revealing my student ID.  They also have a discount at lunchtime of buy one entree, get another half off. I would recommend going to this restaurant, regardless, as the food is some of the most innovative vegan food I've ever had.  They also get extra points for the beautiful presentation of food on each plate. The chefs truly demonstrate a mastery of creating high quality food and displaying them as exquisite works of art.