Birthday Lunch: First Meal of My Thirties. Or, LOVIN' LOVING HUT!

The day I turned 30, not only was I hungover, I was hungry. Knowing that my sister is a picky eater, I wanted to go somewhere we both would enjoy. My first thought was Pork Store Cafe, as it is down the street from my house, but you know what? I'm a vegan who is sick of tofu scramble. And if the sis is going to be buying me lunch/brunch, I want it to be memorable. So I chose Loving Hut. (My favorite date to take my perpetual single self on -- Loving Hut grub from the Food Court at the mall and a movie. Yes, I sneak food into the theater. SCANDALOUS.)

I told my sister that I would pay for half of the meal because I planned on ordering the entire menu. All I can say is, that is what I do when every single item on the menu is vegan. How am I supposed to choose what I want? I need to try everything -- that way I can narrow it down in the future.

The Appetizers:

Ocean Basket! Deep fried everything, so of course it was delicious. There was yam 'shrimp', seaweed fish textured things, green beans and mushrooms. I've seen so-so reviews of this before, but omg, so ordering it again. My favorite were the seaweed fish rounds. At first I wasn't sure about the orange-dill-mayo sauce, but by dunk #3 I was in love.

Fried Wontons. Can't go wrong with these anywhere, right? This was my sister's pick. I am a fan of anything that comes with sweet and sour sauce.

The Entrees:

My sister got Chow Mein with an egg roll. She liked it, couldn't tell it was vegan, but I'm like, Chow Mein? Boring.

I ordered Orange Chicken. We both liked it. My sister exclaimed, "I can't even tell it's vegan!". Yeah, sis, I told you.

I also ordered Assorted Vegetables with Tofu. I felt I needed some oil laden nutrients. 

So, this what happens every time I go out for Chinese/Sushi/Asian food in general: I order A LOT. Whether alone or with others. The waiter/ess is always saying, with wide eyes "Are you sure you need that much?!" Yes, I do. Plus, I'm a Bradley. I was born into a family of eaters. I saw in a movie once, that in Chinese restaurants, a group is supposed to order one less entree than the number of people at the table. Not in my family. We take the number seated and add 3. Maybe more. Obviously this happened at Loving Hut. I even warned the waitress we were going to be ordering a lot. Sometimes, this is why I get delivery. Then the six fortune cookies come and I'm only slightly embarrassed.

Lunch ended with my sister paying for all of it and me leaving the tip. She said "It came to less than I thought it would for ordering half the menu!" Or something like that. Thanks sis!

She also got into an ultra cute convo with the waitress about how everything was so tasty, she couldn't even tell it was vegan! So the waitress gave us recipe books, in which the recipes were way too intricate for even me to follow.

In other news, I totally want to see Horrible Bosses, Crazy Stupid Love, Bad Teacher or Friends With Benefits this upcoming week. Me being a psychic and all, I see more Loving Hut in my very near future.

Birthday Week!

Okay, so I turned 30! Not a big deal. Not. At. All. Just kidding. People still think I'm a teenager, plus my debt is only about $500, so what do I have to be/look old about? Nothing! (I felt way old at 27 paying off credit card debt, so I can party now!)
I have about 4 posts worth of birthday meals, cause in my family, we unintentionally celebrate birthday week.

Here is my appetizer for you. While looking for a poolside book to read amongst my mom's pile of soon-to-be made romcoms, I finally decided upon Something Borrowed. It seemed familiar. I few pages in, I knew why-- it was the written version of that shitty looking Kate Hudson/Ginnifer Goodwin vehicle! DAMMIT. The whole first three chapters were about a mousy looking, unhappy with life, lawyer who JUST TURNED THIRTY, who FELL INTO BED WITH HER 'EVIL' BESTIE'S FIANCE. Like, really? Yeah, we all have dreams of what we would have been, and if you are thirty, yet hate your friend enough to sleep with their man...enough of this tangent.

Why do all the new chick lit books have to do with women being lawyers, with SUCH HIGH STRESS LIVES and Gucci suits, needing to get away from it all/meeting the man who sweeps them off their feet at some vacay or firm meeting? So over it. Those bitches never know how to cook for themselves. Maybe they should read my blog.

My sister says I write like a certain novelist, whose veganesque review leaves me confused/ totally rubbed the wrong way.  "A light-as-Tofutti novel..." WTF? Tofutti is full of heavy ethical and deliberate choices, not some bullshit-chick-lit, where-is-my-next-man, am-I-a-size-two, is-my-hair-highlighted-enough, did-I go-to the-dry-cleaner, are-all-my-food-choices-fat-free shitty shit shit. My mom is the best elementary school teacher you could ever put your kids in a classroom with, but I prefer Bret Easton Ellis as a poolside read. I'm sick. I know. And I was a shitty babysitter. BUT I READ SO MANY BSC BOOKS! I SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREPPED!

To set the record straight, I do go to the dry cleaners and I highlight my hair. My life is a chick lit novel waiting to be made into a romcom. I think Drew Barrymore (circa 1995 playing her character from Going the Distance) would play me. Or, the girl that played Alex Mack, Larisa Oleynik.
I know I'm no Margaret Atwood, but seriously? Do I hold a future in writing chick lit novels? And why am I being such a hater? A whole series in shopping?!?! I mean, it makes sense if it's between the supermarket aisles....Coconut Oil is the Chanel of Safeway.

Making Expensive Pre-Made Vegan Food Last For Days!

I like Top Ramen, especially when I'm feeling financially challenged (or hungover). SO GOOD. SO SALTY. Then I look in the mirror the next day and I do not appreciate the bloat. Yes, being broke is the worst! But, we do not have to sacrifice our good looks for the sake of a dollar. I am going to show you how to make a meal feed three. Or you! For three days! (Okay, dinner and a snack, if you have an appetite like mine). This came in really handy when I had an impromtu party of five at my house. It was just enough food for everyone to feel satisfied and left enough room for all the Charles Shaw consumption.

You will need a pack of your favorite 'Taste of India'-esque packet/box of food. I like Trader Joe's brand. Typical.

.

First, I saute 1/2 to 1 whole red onion. Add some indian/mexican spices, like cumin, curry, garam marsala, tumeric hot sauce, chili powder, even cinnamon!

 Caramelized onions + spices

I like spinach and garbanzo beans in my indian food, so I'll add those two things (fresh spinach - a whole bag, seriously- and a can or two of beans) to my onion, plus some chopped garlic. You know, like 10 cloves (maybe 3 - 5 for you?). If I have it on hand, I'll had some tomato paste or sauce (more spices in that case). Once everything is cooked together, I'll add my packet of prepared Indian fare. Let it all simmer together for 5 - 10 minutes, depending on how patient/hungry you are. Garnish with green onions or cilantro.

 Does it look appetizing? My shots didn't turn out very well for this little feast, but sometimes presentation ISN'T everything. (That probably doesn't apply to a food blog. ) Now your super expensive $4 half  meal turns into dinner for two! Or possibly five! Break out the Charles Shaw!

In Case You Are In The Midst Of A Quarter-Life Crisis...

Never fear. Mickey's is vegan. 

(I love that Mickey's tastes like High School. So much so I want to kiss it. EVEN THOUGH HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE WORST 4 YEARS OF MY LIFE. Except the last six months when I discovered Mickey's. And had a boyfriend, FINALLY. Not that a bf is the end all be all - trust me I know, I've been single for like, an eternity. But for me, back then, it made the whole experience more tolerable. Swim Team was fun too...)

No one has to know you are drinking it-unless you post it all over the internet, like me. (If you happen to be over the age of 17, you probably shouldn't be drinking Mickey's or 40's in general, def not playing Edward 40 hands - but underage drinking is illegal, don't do it!) Obviously I'm going through a quarter life crisis. And, why yes, I did highlight my hair! Thanks for noticing. In college I wanted to turn my bathroom into a salon called "At Your Own Risk". Did I say wanted to? Silly me, I totally had clients back then. I worked pro bono. I got a 22 of Seirra Nevada once for my services. I'm definitely thinking about reopening a new location...in the Upper Haight. Any takers?

Jerome's Sushi Rice

Suit on top, Chacos on the bottom.

You want to make this. You will need:

     *3 cups cooked white rice (If you don't know how to make rice, what are you doing reading a cooking blog?! Just kidding, but you'll have to find that info somewhere else. Super easy. If you fuck it up though, you just might be one of those people whose job it is in the kitchen, is to keep the cook company.)
Let it cool slightly.


Bring to a light boil:
     *1/3 cup white rice vinegar
     *1 and 3/4 TBSP sugar
     *1 tsp salt


Mix it all together and then...sticky sushi rice!

 The beautiful Seanessy, patting the rice down.

One of Jerome or Seanessy's rolls.

My roll.....

What Happens At Sushi Night Goes Straight Onto The Internet

My friends Jerome and Seanessy hosted a 'Sushi, Sake, Manga' party at their house in the Outer Sunset, which is lovingly dubbed, 'The Space Station'. And it's not so much their house as my friends Nick and Vita's. Actually, it's no one's house, as the place got foreclosed while they were renting it, so technically they are all squatters. (Being a homeowner is a responsibility I really only know of two people - my sister and brother in law in "lovely" Temecula) Seven people live/squat at the Space Station! It's like a house full of Real World rejects (only rejected cause they are all TOO OLD. That was a sad day for me, realizing the time had come that I was too old to apply for the Real World.)

Back to Sushi Night. I brought Sake and Sapporo. And this is what went down.

How to heat up Sake WITHOUT using the enemy.

 The Spread. No fish in sight! 

Jerome making the sushi rice

Making the tofu...

This is what happens when I roll sushi. I wanted to add EVERYTHING. So I did.

 

 It's also quite possible I'd had half a bottle of Sake and 5 Sapporos at this point.

The definition of beautiful disaster.

  Delicious!

"I've Learned Love is Like A Brick You Can, Build A House or Sink A Dead Body"

Right now I'm thinking it's the former, as today I have reached 36 followers and about 5,700 hits (only about half of which are my own)! Thank guys and grrls! This is very exciting news to me. You know what else is exciting? I worked my last shift in Oakland. THIS IS THE LAST NIGHT I WILL HAVE WORKED THERE AND COMMUTED AND HATED MY LIFE. That being said, I'm in pretty good spirits. I'll be able to see my friends, go to movies, go out to eat and go to happy hour! Not to mention the fact that at my new job, I will be home at a much more reasonable hour, therefore stoked to make myself dinner from scratch! And then BLOG about it! Plus, working at a veg restaurant again, I'm sure I will be hit with all kinds of new inspiration for my vegan creations.

Thanks for reading! xoxo.

This song has kept me thoroughly entertained on my commute.

Vegan Fourth of July!

I spent the fourth with my fam this year, even though my roommates were hosting a bbq. It's very uncharacteristic of me to NOT ATTEND a party at my own apartment, but I missed my Grandma. My parents and aunt are okay too.
The fam bbq'ed ribs and had potato salad. I've been vegan for long enough now that whoever picks me up at the Redwood City Cal Train station also takes me to Whole Foods for vegan fare (thanks fam!). My Grandma also puts aside a bowlful potato salad for me, pre-eggs and mayo, so I can add Veganaise and whatever else I fancy. They may not always be interested in eating my food (more for me!), but when it comes down to it, everyone is pretty supportive of my veganism.

Citrus spare-rib cutlets, fruit salad, corn on the cob (with Earth Balance!), potato salad, green salad and GREAT WHITE! So fancy. Let me tell you, if I had been bbq'ing at my apt, with  friends and roommates, I would not have eaten such a nice meal. It would have looked more like 14 pbrs and some tofu dogs. You know, if I had to guess.

Isn't Beyonce amazing? I can't get enough of this song. I am way too into top 40 right now. Sometimes I just don't even know who I am.

In other news, I dyed my platinum hair BROWN. More like DARK BROWN ALMOST BLACK. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I feel like I've made a huge mistake. I feel so mousy with brown hair - I should really get over that. Project 'Lightening it up' is starting tomorrow. Since I'm not cooking so much anymore, I have to find other means of being creative. It's like it's anywhere between 1999 and 2006 - therefore my hair color is going to change every month, perhaps every week. Maybe the whole tone of this blog will change. No more cooking, just all the crazy shit I do to my hair and the slow process in which it all falls out/breaks off and I have to start from scratch. I really don't want that to happen. I've been there before and it's not pretty.

This is what I look like when I'm working on my computer, but am really just taking pictures of myself pretending to work on the computer.

I will be cooking again soon enough. I quit my Oakland job, as I got hired as a baker at a vegetarian restaurant in the city. I will not be spending half of my life on BART for much longer! Thank gawd. Everyday, a little part of me died on that commute. There is not much left.

Indie Rock and Veganism. Two Things That Make My World Go 'Round.

Soko is one of my favorites. I don't know if she has an album available to buy, I just know of her cause I'm THAT hip. Actually one of my old co-workers from the Chicago Diner (circa 2007) introduced me to this song cause he was super hip. The song sounds like THE STORY OF MY LIFE. I'm not kidding (but man, I really wish I were).
SXSW 2010 I got to see her play! And then I heard this song....

How does she read my mind? Like every thought I've ever had (about boys, not 'ever' in my life)?
THEN TONIGHT, while stalking celebrities on twitter, I found her VEGAN BLOG! Seriously? I had no idea she was vegan. I love her even more. Some of the posts include eating at vegan restaurants with Kate Nash and Nick Zinner in New York.
I think my life is complete.
(Can someone photoshop me in the pictures? I'd like to then frame them and stick them in my living room for the next vegan potluck. Up my wanna be hipster points and everything.)

And here is the post I just wrote for Vegansaurus, which I actually like a little better than what I just wrote here....

 If you don’t know about Soko, well my friends, get acquainted. Not only is she the cutest Parisian turned Californian, actress/lo-fi indie folkster, but she’s a vegan blogger! our so-called vegan life is a collaborative effort between “2 vegan musician friends, Aska & Soko, based in LA (vegan heaven) sharing vegan tips and insights from all over the world!”
With posts featuring things like recipes, what to eat while vegan in Paris and New York dinners with Kate Nash and Nick Zinner, I challenge you to not spend the rest of your night alone, in front of the computer, reading the entire site and listening to Soko’s complete catalog on youtube. (Please don’t let it just be me who does that kind of thing).