Stumptown Vegans

Miho Izakaya

February 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Miho Izakaya, Brief Review
Overall	Service	Food Quality	Atmosphere	Vegan Options
8.25	7	8	9	9
Location:v4027 N Interstate Ave Portland, OR 97227 (503) 719-6152
Hours: Wed-Sun 4pm – 12am			Times Visited: 3

Situated across the street from the Alibi, Portland’s finest tiki bar, Miho Izakaya is a nice place to sit back, relax, and order real food, as opposed to bar food. The lower Overlook neighborhood has seen slower growth than Portlanders expected being right on the Yellow Line, so it’s great to see a new restaurant. Miho is located in an older house which has held many short-lived restaurants. Let’s hope this one sticks because it has many things going for it: first, it is very vegan friendly, second it’s cheap, and third it’s comfortable and relaxed.

The interior is fairly compartmentalized, since it was a house, with separate rooms which makes ordering at the counter at the center of the house a little confusing. The one menu is written on the large chalk board. located next to the counter. The low light levels take some adjusting but once you do you’ll notice the “v” s all over the menu indicating all the vegan options.

The most refreshing element of the expansive menu is the lack of sushi. I love sushi, don’t get me wrong, but the small entrée options encourages experimenting with Japanese food other than the beloved rolled bites.

The cheap ($2-10) plates make ordering multiple plates fun. You have the option of small ($2) appetizers like boiled peanuts, pickled vegetables, and edamame. Larger $4-6 plates include Roasted Squash, Garlic Eggplant, and Veggie Spam. Then, there are one-person meals, such as Donburi, which is simply sushi rice, and various vegetables. Once you order at the order at the counter, keep your tab open to hang out and order plates or sake as desired. The sake menu is extensive and friends inform me that they have one of the best selections of saké in Portland.

Within the Donburi the sushi rice is very sticky and the various vegetables are splendidly spiced, depending on your donburi bowl. I especially enjoy the Curry Donburi had a thick vegetable gravy over the rice. The Lotus Root Donburi reminded me that I am not a fan of this alien-looking root vegetables, but I appreciate it’s water chestnut-like crunch and the holey appearance. And since it is seasonal, I can say that I look forward to the replacement.

The smaller items are best shared to enjoy as many menu items as possible. The vegan options are simple AND clean dishes that are lightly dressed to allow the flavour of the vegetable to shine.

The pickled vegetables vary depending on seasonal produce available. Each vegetable was crisp and crunchy with an odor of unfresh vegetables, but I believe this may have been the intent of this type of pickling. The Greens and Tofu is a small plate of just that, with a light soy sauce allowing the flavor of the smooth bok choy to shine. The Fried Rice is simply sticky rice, peas, and soy sauce. No need to hold the egg in this dish.

The Kabocha Squash plate is a quarter of a squash, with the skin on, sliced to ¼ inch thick and baked until browned on the outside and dry inside. This is served with soy ginger dipping sauce. I prefered the dish without the sauce so I could taste the sweetness of the squash, but I found it too dry on its own. Because of how dry it was I was left wondering if it was fresh, or cut two weeks ago. This dryness made a dipping sauce important, just not such a bold tasting option.

Of the vegetable dishes tried, the Garlic Eggplant plate is hands down the best. Two Japanese eggplants are cut in half, length-wise, baked or broiled, and served with a layer of a garlic spread, almost like garlic butter on a baguette. The stem and cap of the eggplants are served while attached to the vegetable, so be careful eating around the stem in the low-light. My next meal here will be two orders of Garlic Eggplant and an oder of Fried Rice to give it more substance.

It seems rare to find a restaurant that knows how to cook vegetables and let the natural qualities become the dish, but that’s what Miho does. (Minus the question of freshness, but they still had good flavor.) All the vegetables I have had at Miho have been cooked and prepared as they should be – not under cooked and not over cooked. Even the lotus root, which I did not enjoy, but that’s personal preference. Miho does not allow substitutions and there’s no need to ask about veganizing other dishes with the abundance of vegan options.

While the sake menu is extensive, the tea options are dismal. Two flavors of Stash Tea are available. I’d like to see Miho expand their tea options, even a few high quality teas would be a nice addition if they are afraid of becoming a tea house.

If you’re in the neighborhood make sure to check out this new restaurant. Or, if you’re passing through on your bike, stop by and enjoy yourself after making the climb up Interstate hill. In the summer, enjoy the large front, partially covered deck. And in the winter, take your shoes off and try the more private tatami mat room. Once you’re done with your relaxing meal, walk across the street (well, around the max tracks, not over) to the Alibi to enjoy some fun karaoke.

While I am still debating if Miho is a neighborhood restaurant or a destination restaurant, I am just glad it’s in my neighborhood and offers a great variety of vegan options.

Exterior:

Curry Donburi:

Fried Rice:

Tofu and Greens:

Garlic Eggplant:

Squash:

Small Plates: Squash, pickled veggies, eggplant:

Lotus Root:

Inside:

→ Leave a CommentCategories: N · cheap · date · dinner · family · favorites · japanese · patio · quick · snack · webly

Whiffies Fried Pie Cart

January 29, 2010 · 3 Comments

Whiffie’s cart Brief Review
Overall	Service	Food Quality	Atmosphere	Vegan Options
9.25	10	9	9	9
Location: SE 12th and Hawthorne
Hours: Tues-Thurs 6pm-12am, Weekends 8pm-3am or until the pies run out			Times Visited: Countless

The story.

There was a time before the Whiffies fried pie cart opened, and then there’s everything after. The summer of the food cart explosion, if you will.

The rectangular white cart residing in the Cartopia at SE 12^thand Hawthorne rose to instant popularity in late Spring 2009 through a word of mouth, interactive, Twitter-based campaign. The marketing, particularly prior to opening, was revolutionary in Portland. The rest is…recent history.

Maybe you’ve heard talk of the legend – Whiffies proprietor, Gregg Abbott, is the poster boy for taking your future into your own hands, ala cart. He was inspired by his chef father’s classic pie recipe and the popularity of fried foods, as well as his desire to have an independent business and come up with classic and creative pie fillings.

Visit the eclectic, vegan-friendly cart pod at SE 12^th and Hawthorne and see what everyone is raving about–from food cart enthusiasts, to families driving in from the ‘burbs, to foursquare mayors, to drunken hipsters stumbling out of dive bars, tourists, and everyone else you know. I’m sure guilty of raving excessively about it. I am still in shock that such a novel cart exists and that it’s equally vegan friendly!

The cart.

From Tuesday to Sunday night, Whiffies is open from early evening until late late night, or literally, when the pies run out. There always seem to be at least a few people outside the Whiffies cart, waiting for their pies, mingling beneath the canopy at the picnic tables or scoping out the rest of the lot. The cart itself has the larger-than-life masked, fried pie mascot painted on its white front wall. To its left is the open window where some of the nicest cart employees in Portland take your order. Propped against the window is a large whiteboard showcasing the pies of the day. They’re handwritten and narrowed into two columns, savory and sweet, and vegan options are labeled. Both above and below the window are bold, state fair-style signs advertising refreshing iced tea and lemonade. Whiffies also sells homemade kombucha and warmer drinks during the colder weather. Simply ask if they’re vegan if you’re unsure. The staff knows all.

The pies.

All pies are individually fried per order, and cooked in light and clean rice bran oil. After a dip into the vegan deep fryer (specify vegan) into this special oil, the golden, thick yet flaky, wheat crust has an almost buttery quality.

I’ve tried many pies, and my most recent experience was an instant favorite – the cherry chocolate chip. The hot, jellied, cherry pie filling contains whole cherries and small bursts of melted chocolate chips inside the delicious, fried crust. How amazing is that to get within minutes at a food cart!?! Every time I’ve had a pie at Whiffies, my reaction is the same: awe and delight.

The menu is constantly evolving and new additions are advertised on Twitter. Regular sweet pies ($3) have included wonderfully goopy blueberry, classic apple, luscious peanut butter (sometimes dotted with chocolate chips), sweet chocolate cream that’s like a pillow of pudding (yes, vegan!), and Oregon’s pride, the marionberry. Savory pies ($4) get a little wilder: spaghetti and vegan meatballs, breakfast pie with potatoes, BBQ tofu, and apricot BBQ with soy curls.

Part of the awesomeness of Whiffies are these ongoing experiments and the attention to feedback. They’ve offered a seasonal pumpkin crème I’d write fan mail to, homemade hazelnut not-tella with banana, the infamous durian cream, and chefs from local restaurants have made signature pies. Sometimes the first run of a new pie has a few kinks, like a runny filling, but it’s usually hot stuff right from the beginning. BBQ tofu, I’m talking to you.

Eating a pie

There are many who’d argue a savory pie is an acceptable dinner, and I’ve done it, but it means kale for dinner tomorrow to keep some balance and fresh vegetables in your diet. Not saying that’s a horrible arrangement, but I lean towards the indulgent, late night pie camp. My dining style of choice is splitting with a friend and carefully breaking it in half, as to not lose any filling. When faced with my own pie, I break off a small part of the shell and use that piece to dip into the filling for a bit, before biting in and letting the wonder set in. So, what’s your pie-dining method of choice?

You have little excuse not to try this delightful, superstar food cart. Whiffies is a new Portland institution, and a shining, inexpensive example of the Taqueria Los Gorditos school of welcome, vegan consideration from an omni-cart!

Cherry Chocolate Chip Pie

Whiffies Menu

Napkin Dispenser

All Photos by Lucas DeShazer

→ 3 CommentsCategories: Cartopia · SE · cart · dessert · favorites · jess · late night · quick · snack · to go

Aalto Lounge

January 27, 2010 · 5 Comments

Update: The Meatball sub has left the menu! Wipe your tears and try the Cassoulet that we hear is vegan-izable. Be sure to report back if you see new options!

Aalto Lounge Brief Review
Overall	Service	Food Quality	Atmosphere	Vegan Options
6.5	6	8	8	4
Location: 3356 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
Hours: Opens daily at 5pm-2:30am Happy Hour 5pm-7pm			Times Visited: 4

When I was informed that the Aalto Lounge on SE Belmont had a vegan meatball sandwich, I did a double take. A few years ago I can recall browsing the posted menu and scoffing at a couple of possibly vegan finger foods listed, like a fruit, nut and cheese plate minus the cheese. The cocktail peanut mix is still there, but vegan friendliness is joining in. When you walk into Aalto, the setting whistles ‘hipster‘ – it shares a front entrance with Stumptown Coffee, for starters. The tables and setting are slightly IKEA and overall quite clean, there’s a turntable station built into the bar, it’s dimly lit, and most of the people are somewhat disheveled and beautiful. The walls are wood paneled with rotating vertical wide strips of blue and red and average sized framed black and white photos showcased. Don’t look up when sitting at the front row tables. There’s a deer head mantle up front, but there’s a more amusing and colorful large painting of a deer and a newborn to distract you.

Home to another cool back patio to add to the favorite list, Aalto has both the meatball sandwich and a vegan panini on their food menu. As usual, there’s a list of classic, refreshing cocktails. During happy hour, the meatball sub is $5 and the cocktail nut mix is $2. As a hungry vegan, you’re faced with no good reason not to order the vegan meatball sandwich. Unlike the altogether awesome Bye & Bye, the meatballs at the Aalto Lounge are housemade. They’re a bean-based, herbed firm mass with a hint of spicy heat. Studded with a decent amount of fennel, they’re certifiably delightful. For the record, I’m only so-so with the taste of fennel, and still found it that delightful.

The sandwich comes with five or more of the hearty bean balls in a zesty, fresh tomato sauce served on fresh baguette. When ordered at happy hour, this sandwich comes with crunchy potato chips and as a dinner item ($7), with a side salad tossed with almonds. While you will likely find yourself using a fork and breaking apart the bread so it doesn’t fall apart on your lap, it’s truly an oversight when the meal itself is that good. But, if it weren’t for the comical mess factor of this sandwich, the Aalto Lounge would just scream date location.

Now, don’t get too excited – on my second visit, a vegan friend tried to order the vegan panini listed on the late night menu and it was a no go. The server delicately warned us that it was just a ‘late night menu’ sandwich with white bean spread, salad greens and tomato. She suggested we opt for the vegan meatball sandwich, and that she’d talk to the management about increasing their legitimate vegan options. However, on a third visit, the vegan meatballs ran out and same vegan panini was first reluctantly, then graciously, dished out. It was grilled and served with salad. The staff’s nice concern overlooks that fact that the sandwich described could easily pass as at least a mediocre vegan option around town, and according to my friend, it was even better – “gooey and delicious!” The bottom line? Hopefully a vegan panini will make its way permanently onto their regular food menu as a second valid option, so more vegans can give it a try. Add some olives or fresh basil and call it definitely better than mediocre, I bet.

Seating in the Aalto Lounge has a corner for each of your bar-going personalities. There’s the basic outdoor patio, with strings of red lights, prime for sitting and relaxing during a warm, early evening. There are a couple of tables located directly in front amongst heavy foot traffic, large row and small tables for two in the main room, standard bar seating and a dark, cornered back room that you can escape into on your way to the XX or XY bathrooms. Whichever you go for, order your snazzy cocktail or soda and eat a delicious meatball sandwich, to hammer in the point of this post.

Vegan Meatball Sub:

Cocktail Nuts and beer:

→ 5 CommentsCategories: SE · bar food · date · dinner · jess · updated

Pho Green Papaya

January 26, 2010 · 7 Comments

Update: This restaurant is under new management as of 2008. The original owners opened Pho PDX, downtown. There is speculation this restaurant is no longer as vegan friendly – please be sure to inquire!

Date: September 2, 2007
Times visited:5

The first time we visited Pho Green Papaya it was closed – Sunday. The second visit ending up being a bad choice of time- busy weekend evening 1 hour before closing. Who knew this little shack pushed to the back of a bumpy parking lot along SE MLK Avenue was such a hit? Well, apparently a lot of people know – that’s why it’s so busy. The third time was during lunch and it was a perfect atmosphere. I was able to see the bright greens walls, enjoy the bench seating, and cute green pendent lights at each two person table inside. The outside patio is beautiful and comfortable with the umbrella covered tables and seems like a perfect people watching spot, if only people walked the neighborhood.

Before I mention the taste of the food I should say that I’ve heard rumors that this is not traditional Vietnamese food. Never having been a connoisseur of traditional Vietnamese food, I can only comment on how it felt to my American taste buds as food and not history.

The word “vegan” appears on the menu above 7 dining options: Pho Veggie, Lemongrass Tofu, Tofu Udon Curry Noodle Soup, Curry Tofu, Buddha Delight, and Vietnamese Jade Noodles – with spinach noodles. The summer rolls can be made vegan, but it’s best to check on the sauce because we thought it was only vegetarian. When selecting your spice 1-5, understand that it’s not an American scale of spice – 1 is pretty spicy because it’s 1 teaspoon of spice, no matter the dish size.

The summer rolls are good, but nothing special – rice noodles, fried tofu, lettuce and mint wrapped in a rice paper wrapper.

The Buddha Delight was delightful with a light, savory sauce over many veggies and tofu. The tofu was fried and absorbed the sauce nicely. Minus the rice, the dish seemed small for the price so I probably wouldn’t order it again.

The Veggie Pho is what people visit Pho Green Papaya for. It’s a traditional Vietnamese soup with a rich broth, rice noddles, vegetables and a side of quick cooking vegetables served at the same time as the soup, to be added at your desire. The Pho Veggie had a light broth with hint of Chinese five spice flavored with a lot of herbs: onions, scallions, green onions, basil, and cilantro, if you lean that way. My soup also included firm tofu, mushrooms, green beans and red peppers. The addition of bean sprouts, fresh basil and lime topped off the meal. Since the rice noodles keep absorbing the broth it’s best to eat this soup slowly so you don’t feel like you’ve over eaten. This pho is simple and filling and tastes great the next day, although it’s no longer a soup at that point.

I look forward to returning to Green Papaya to try their many other vegan options.

Summer Rolls: