Stumptown Vegans

Date: September 21, 2007
Times Visited: 1

Greenleaf is a vegetarian-friendly cafe in downtown Ashland, OR. The cafe is cute with booths and wonderful riverside tables outside in the back. The wait-staff was knowledgeable about the vegan options and items which could be made vegan.

First up was Satay, which consisted of veggies with a slightly sweet and spicy peanut sauce. I was given the option of adding tofu but opted against it. This meal was more than enough to fill me up. All the vegetables, which once seemed frozen, with a side of brown rice was nice for a healthy lunch. The meal wasn’t anything spectacular, just pleasant.

The Tofu burger was a step above a slab of tofu on a burger bun. The Italian bread crumb coating was very flavorful, but the tofu itself was plain and there wasn’t enough spice to carry though to the rest of the burger since the slice of tofu was so thick. This is one of those meals where you really appreciate the effort, but they just missed it in the flavor department.

If it wasn’t for Grilla Bites next door, I just might visit Greenleaf next time I am in Ashland, if not for the food, then for the environment.
Veggies with Peanut Sauce:

Tofu Sandwich:

Rating: 3 out of 5
Location: 49 N. Main Street - Ashland, Oregon 541-482-2808

UPDATE: Veggielicious is closed for the winter.

Date: September 22, 2007
Times Visited: 2

Dear Portlanders, the Veggielicious food cart on Hawthorne is back and as adorable as ever.

Although it is under new ownership, the menu is currently similar to the old one, but they will be updating with new additions in the next few weeks. The menu still includes plenty of faux meat, soy cheese and tofu filled sandwiches, and there is talk of vegan pancakes!

On sale 2 for $8 (as opposed to $4.50 each), my partner and I each had an Egg Mock Muffin. This vegan take on the classic breakfast sandwich consists of a toasted English muffin, grilled vegan ham tube, lightly seasoned tofu, Tofutti American cheese and house made Hollandaise sauce. The Hollandaise sauce was creamy and I only wish there was a bit more of it, and hope that it’s in constant rotation at the cart. The combination of flavors, textures and the sauce really did make my sandwich almost ‘eggy’. I really dig that every part of the sandwich was warm and cooked – grill lines on the ham and all. Though they weren’t available yet on the day I went, a daily smoothie will be on the menu ASAP, and the thought of one plus the Egg Mock seems perfect, since I felt like I could comfortably eat one and a half of of them alone.

My partner also ordered the Big Mock – another favorite from previous ownership. This featured a juicy soy burger, soy cheese and a toasted bun. This was also raved about, and although he liked both sandwiches he tried, preference went to the burger: offering a delicious, veganized, bite of burger nostalgia. That’s Veggielicious for ya, offering fast food with a conscious. Sure, I could buy these ingredients and make it at home, but it just wouldn’t taste the same.

Yes, you do have to wait for your food being cooked by one person, but even with three sandwiches, we walked away from the cart within 15 minutes and a dose of friendly conversation. There are two stools available while you wait, but no tables as of yet for dining – although you can walk and eat the wrapped sandwiches it can become annoying with an open drink. However, this may change, as Veggielicious is contemplating a move in front of People’s Coop on SE 21st Avenue where there is some seating.

Egg Mock Muffin – see you next weekend.

Sorry McGonnigle, but it has you beat.

Egg Mock Muffin

The Big Mock

Exterior

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Address: SE 32nd and SE Hawthorne Blvd, in front of House Vintage
Sun 11:00am-4:00pm, Mon closed, Tue-Fri 11:00am-6:00pm, Sat 11:00am-4:00pm

Date: September 17, 2007
Times Visited: 17

Visiting Eugene is always a pleasant experience because it reminds me of more simple times, of a slower life that I’ve never lived. A town full of college kids finding their independence and creating art out of anything and everything. Morning Glory adds perfectly to that life-style. A small and cute vegetarian café next to the train station filled with art and hippies. If you just got off the train and this is your first experience with Eugene, it’s right on. The café is casual with customers of all life stages enjoying the local art and music. The food is local and organic with vegan options abound.

Morning Glory serves great breakfast comfort food with many vegan options. My top picks are generally off the sweet menu with the French Toast or Waffles with real maple syrup. However, I do fancy The Fusion for a more savory meal.

The French Toast and waffles aren’t anything too special, if vegan options are available. They are presented beautifully with your choice of fruit compote or maple syrup with soy butter. A kiss of powdered sugar and I could eat these for every meal.

The Fusion is a unique creation, similar to an omelet. A pan fried shredded potato cake, like a hash brown, is filled with sauted onions, mushrooms, firm marinated tofu cubes and spices. The potatoes are folded over to make a shell and is then topped with a dollop of homemade tofu sour cream. The meal makes you feel wholesome - a bit like a hippie.

The biscuits and gravy are large and filling. A full order comes with 4 biscuits and mushroom gravy. The gravy is thick with mushroom bits in it to add to the texture. If 4 biscuits is too big, try the half size to get your fill of great biscuits and gravy.

I suggest bringing a pre-breakfast snack if you have a hard time waiting for food on an empty stomach. The Morning Glory staff are very relaxed and seem like they are willing to do as little as possible, beyond making your wonderful food. Orders are taken at the counter, all water, utensils and condiments are self serve. If you wait around long enough your order will be served to your table. You will eat it and it will all be worth the wait.

Biscuits and Gravy:

French Toast:

The Fusion:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Location: 450 Willamette Street Eugene, OR
Hours: 7:30am-3pm

Times Visited: 5

How far are you willing to travel for a damn good vegan eggroll? Is it worth a trip to 82nd Ave?
If you said, yes, then make the trip to Van Hanh Vegetarian Restaurant. Located around the corner from Fubonn marketplace, where you can also score some super cheap agar, tofu, bubble tea and coconut milk, the establishment is a non-profit and volunteer run restaurant.

I have to admit, after an incident there a couple months ago, I didn’t see myself returning soon, but I kept an open mind and honest opinion about my previous visits. I had gone a couple times and found it worth the trek, but most recently I had picked up a take out order and found pre-packaged chili sauce packets that included ‘fish extract’ in the ingredients. When I was talked into returning last weekend, I must admit to inquiring into what was vegan more than once.

First up was a steamed dumpling: at $1.25, it was BIG and devoured by my dining companions. This was followed by the obligatory eggrolls. Sticking with the hot chili sauce and bottled soy sauce, the rolls were grabbed for with good reason. Sure, you look at them and think ‘fried springroll’, but they’re labeled vegan eggrolls because they’re more than just cabbage. Heck, there’s even more protein in there, and not from eggs. These things are hot, salty, cheap and could be worth the drive, but not alone – they’re doing what an eggroll should do, work as an appetizer to a deliciously, albeit sometimes greasy, Asian meal.

I was looking for something soothing but not too heavy as a main course, and my veggie pho totally hit the spot. It contained veggie ham, roasted gluten, green onions and two mysterious yet not unappetizing firm white dumpling-type treats in a tasty broth. A side of fresh bean sprouts, chili peppers, cabbage and basil was on the table to add what you wanted. The lemongrass chicken, though the most intriguing looking, with their sugar cane drumsticks, didn’t win much praise at the table. One companion seemed to really like their spicy pho, but didn’t find it spicy enough and utilized the Srichi. Another diner’s all meat with broccoli seemed to be a new favorite, being called “awesome” and a definite must get again. This particular diner asked if I wanted to go to Van Hanh again two days later!

What’s with the lack of buzz about this place? It’s vegetarian and their extensive menu is very well priced, the spring rolls are under 3 dollars and my medium sized pho was $5.95. Sure, Portland also has Vege Thai, Bay Leaf and Vegetarian House all offering vegetarian Asian closer into the city, but what the hey….

Steamed bun

Bird’s Nest Noodles

Broccoli “All Meat”

Lemongrass Tofu Sticks

Vegan Eggrolls

Pho fixings

Pho

Spicy pho

Thai Iced Tea

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

Address: 8446 SE Division St. Portland, OR 97266
Tuesday-Sunday 11am-9pm