Monday, April 11, 2016

Sunday Shenanigans

Well, I went to the Ballard Farmer's Market yesterday. This is how crowded it was at around 10:45 A.M. and they opened at 10:00 A.M.! It was pretty hard for me to actually enter the throng. I remember years ago, like I'm talking eight or more years ago, I remember going to the Farmer's Market in Lake City, and it was a small affair where you could get some excellent deals, and I learned about a lot of new veggies that I had never heard of. Since it wasn't such huge crowds it was a very enjoyable time, and I looked forward to going every week. Unfortunately, they've now become much more of a scene than a market. People were socializing and taking group selfies way more than shopping. And unfortunately the people manning the stalls are pretty harried so there isn't a lot of interaction. I also noticed yesterday that the prices I saw weren't really any cheaper than a regular grocery. Anyway, I think I have to accept that Farmer's Markets are not my scene.

Almost all vegan! 
This is a pretty new restaurant that opened in Ballard . It looks like it is almost all vegan. It's right on Market Street in beautiful Ballard if you ever visit Seattle.  I guess I should have used the zoom so you could really see the menu. Sorry still learning! But trust me when I say that this is almost a vegan restaurant!

I'm so excited! I've been wanting to get a picture of this restaurant for the longest, and it's always either my bus is coming, or I don't have my camera or phone, or there are too many people around and I feel weird, it's always something. But yesterday the stars aligned and I got it! This is the restaurant where I had my first ever tofu banh mi, or as they call it a Fried Tofu sandwich. It was love at first bite, and I dreamed of this place and this sandwich when I lived in dreary Erie. And it's still the same price as it was like four or so years ago!  This restaurant is also on Market Street if you ever visit. They also have amazing pho, and lemongrass tofu.
Sweet onion chives, purple sprouted broccoli, and some kind of potato

It's so purple!

Here's my tiny Farmer's Market haul. Unfortunately I didn't see any inspiring or unusual veggies besides this sprouted purple broccoli. Apparently they plant it in July, and it doesn't grow iontil now, or something like that. It thrives in the winter, and according to this website, it is a cousin of the broccoli. I'm not sure how I'm going to prepare it, but it's so pretty, and people were buying it by the armful, so I had to be part of the movement.
For a nice simple dinner to soothe my frazzled nerves, I made some curried lentils over rice. I sprinkled some of the sweet onion chives on top for color and flavor. I also added a little dollop of garlic tahini sauce, and of course sriracha. It really hit the spot. I've been eating so many potatoes that my little lentils feel left out!
Happy Monday!


10 comments:

  1. I posted a Lentil Dish today as well :) Yours looks great! Sorry the Farmers Market prices weren't much better than the grocery store! Bummer! I found some good deals today! I thought about posting them but might wait until Wednesday for MWM!!!!

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    1. I know, I saw on your blog today. Great minds think alike! Yay MWM!

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  2. I love discovering new vegetables and I love a hearty vegan sandwich I can sink my teeth into. Great presentation on the Lentils.

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    1. The broccoli was pretty tasty. I love discovering new veggies too! I'm slowly working on my plating, drizzling and angle skills! Thanks!

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  3. Did the broccoli stay purple? I know my CSA had purple beans (er... purple green beans really) and once I cooked them they turned green. But it does look pretty.

    Those restaurants look great. I love almost vegan asian restaurants- well even better would be totally vegan ^__~

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    1. I ate it raw. I have gotten a few purple veggies in the past that lose that purple color when cooked.
      I was so surprised when I looked at that restaurants menu, I wondered why they even bother with any animal products since they are so vegan friendly. But I guess it does appeal to a wider customer base.

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    2. My guess is probably the owner isn't vegan and doesn't see the problem in eggs. Maybe one day someone will reach out to them about the horrors of the egg industry or why you can't have balanced happy chickens and still get their eggs.

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    3. I might have to go eat there sometime, and maybe I can ask the owner about that. It would be interesting to see what they say.

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  4. I know what you mean, the farmers market here is crazy crowded! At the end of the day at the farmers market they often have great deals, i've found lots of $2 bags of like 4lbs of apples or potatoes or whatever they want to sell instead of taking home.

    I love tofu bahn mi! And that restaurant menu looks amazing- i could zoom the photo on my computer;)
    Have you ever made mujadarra? It's a middle eastern lentil and rice dish that is really delicious and easy
    Ttrockwood

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    1. I can't even imagine a Farmer's Market in NYC! That is a great deal, maybe I'll try sometime closer to closing. I try to go early to avoid crowds, but going later and coming home with some sweet deals might make up for the mental exhaustion!
      Ever since that first bite of banh mi, I've been in love.
      I have made mujadarra, I love it so much. The first time I made it, I couldn't get over how delicious such a simple dish was. That is one recipe where i love having lots of leftovers!

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