Category: Reviews

Joining The Plant-Based Egg Hunt

Few foods are quite as loaded with cultural significance as the humble egg. Whether we’re talking about philosophy (did the chicken or the egg come first?) or superstition (get a double yolk and get ready to have twins), the unfertilized chicken ovum is as meaningful as any random object can be. They take on a different sort of implication for vegans, of course, skewing largely negative.

Are Vegan Eggs Possible?

Plant-based eggs have evolved alongside the massive wave of alternatives to conventional animal products. For decades, creative bakers have sought substitutes using just about anything you could pull out of the pantry, such as:

  • Ground flaxseeds or chia seeds
  • Mashed bananas
  • Applesauce
  • Blended tofu
  • Aquafaba

While that works for muffins and cakes, you’d never mistake these mixtures for eggs on the breakfast table. For that, we turn to:

Vegan Egg Brands Are Keeping Pace

With increased demand comes more ready-made solutions that become even better with every fresh formulation.

  • JUST Egg has held the lion’s share of the market with their pioneering liquid egg, followed by folded patties, and sous vide egg bites.

  • Competition is finally growing with Simply Eggless‘ liquid scramble made from lupin protein.
  • Spero Foods plant-based pepita eggs add diversity to the category.

Still, a large swath of egg-based foods remained untouched… Until now.

Vegan Hard Boiled Eggs Are Here

A new era of plant-based eggs has dawned. Sorry to bury the lede on this stunning breakthrough in food technology, but it’s impossible to emphasize just how far we’ve come to reach this point without a bit of history. WunderEggs, sold exclusively in Whole Foods Markets, right alongside cartons of conventional, free range, and organic chicken eggs offer a truly better alternative.

What Are WunderEggs Made of?

Almonds, cashews, and coconuts sound like a dubious combination on paper. Somehow, once sprinkled with the sachet of sulfurous black salt included in each package, this unlikely trio is transformed into the eggiest experience you can get outside of a hatchery. Rich, creamy yolks add decadence to smooth, bouncy whites, working together and separately to play a pitch-perfect role in the act.

What’s The Best Way To Serve Plant-Based Hard Boiled Eggs?

Given their current scarcity and expense, WunderEggs are a bit too precious to sacrifice for a mundane egg salad sandwich. Hopefully those factors will improve with increased production and distribution, but to maximize your investment, they’re best featured as toppers for:

  • Salads (especially a Cobb or Niçoise salad)
  • Avocado toast
  • Savory oats
  • Congee
  • Breakfast pizza

There’s Always Deviled Eggs

Conserve your supply using this simple shortcut for making a single serving of vegan deviled eggs, or scale up to throw a lavish Easter brunch that will impress all your friends and family. We’ve arrived at the final frontier of eggless alternatives, and it’s a truly delicious place to be.

Continue reading “Joining The Plant-Based Egg Hunt” →

Hannah (BitterSweet)4 Comments

Axe Me Anything

Bestsellers on Black Friday are typically high-end electronics, kid’s toys, luxury fragrances, and jewelry. Of course, blissfully oblivious to conventional door busters, this past holiday season, I ended up walking away with a kitchen axe.

Kitchen axe with an open acorn squash and seeds

What does one do with a kitchen axe?

Did I need a kitchen axe? Absolutely not. The most important function of a kitchen axe is that it could scare off potential intruders and makes you look like a badass. Practically though, I had no idea what I would use it for.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that this is a blade meant for heavy-duty butchery, like a cleaver on steroids, but that’s a misconception. It’s actually an entirely unique and very useful tool*

  • The long handle is designed for an arcing swing to channel a lot of power into a single strike, which is ideal for cracking open whole coconuts.
  • The gently curved blade is ideal for rocking over fresh herbs for a consistent, fine mince.
  • The wide metal head is excellent for slicing through large, hard vegetables, like winter squash, jicama, or celery root.
  • The small size is compact and great for travel. It fits easily into any purse so you’ll always be properly equipped on the go.
  • The razor-sharp edge will do the job in case of emergency dismemberment, decapitation, or disembowelment needs.

Kitchen Axe in a log outside

Important Note

*A kitchen axe is in fact, poorly suited for all culinary tasks compared to comparable butcher’s knives or simply blunt objects, such as bricks or rocks. It’s only a good gift for someone you think would look better with fewer fingers. Proceed with extreme caution and many bandages on hand, literally.

April Fool’s!

Hannah (BitterSweet)3 Comments

Sustainable Sushi Grows In Austin

Someday, I hope the nebulous “vegetable roll” can be eradicated from sushi menus everywhere. It’s not that I have anything against such a humble staple, usually filled with pedestrian raw crudites, but I want to imagine a world when the concept is simply redundant.

Of course, we have vegetable rolls, the server would laugh gently, They’re ALL vegetable rolls. There’s nothing that would give it away from the menu, or the taste, but every last utterance of “tuna” and “salmon” will actually be plant-based.

Places like Nori give me hope that such a vision of the future may one day come to fruition. That’s already the reality inside this sleek new establishment. New to the scene in Austin, they’ve brought truly sustainable sushi to Texas right when we need it most. Fulfilling an unmet need for elegant, high-end yet affordable dining, with vegetable-forward dishes that don’t lean on processed substitutes as a crutch, it’s the place for special occasions and everyday affairs alike. Healthy enough to feel good about while still satisfying the need for indulgence, everything on the menu is equally well balanced.

The Tatume Squash perfectly exemplifies this approach. Each bite-sized morsel is coated in an immaculately crisp tempura batter that gives way to a creamy interior, not unlike buttery mashed potatoes, punctuated by peppery chili flakes. Lemon-corn aioli cuts through the richness with a zesty citrus kick. It’s a perfect appetizer to set the mood for an innovative culinary experience.

On to the main event, sushi takes center stage as you might expect. The Volcano Roll, a fully deep-fried behemoth stuffed with sweet potato, avocado, and spinach, is the current bestseller for obvious reasons. Spicy mayo and sweet chili sauce bring the heat without drowning out the other flavors, providing a more gentle warmth than the fiery name would suggest. A touch of briny Cavi-art finishes each sizeable round with eye-catching elegance.

If breakfast sandwiches are your jam, the Manhattan Roll was made for you. JUST Egg, avocado, smoked carrot, and vegan cream cheese come together in a harmonious homage to everyone’s favorite morning meal. It’s an incredibly creative take that has no common equivalent. Though it’s a close call, this might have been my favorite maki of the night.

The Hearts of Palm Roll features one of my very favorite vegetables, paired with avocado and crisp bibb lettuce, but it’s the spicy marinated tomato fillets draped on top that steal the show. Emphasizing the natural umami in the tomatoes to approximate tuna sashimi, while still remaining true to the underlying fruit, I’d jump at the chance to have a much larger serving in a poke bowl instead.

This is only the beginning. Hot entrees include katsu curry made from either tofu or eggplant, yaki soba stir-fried with local mushrooms, and two different, distinctive takes on ramen. Saving room for dessert sounds like an impossible task, but I’ve heard downright rapturous reviews for the chocolate lava cake as a suitably grand finale.

Fish are so passé; plants are here to stay. Nori is living proof that a new day is dawning for sustainable sushi that can satisfy any appetite.

Nori
3208 Guadalupe Street St B
Austin, TX, USA

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments

Great GATSBY

Dark chocolate is indisputably in the running for the single most perfect food. When done right, it’s sweet but not sugary, bitter but not harsh, snappy yet creamy, intense but not overwhelming. Simply put, it’s everything good and nothing bad. How could anyone possibly improve on perfection? Try slashing the calories by over 50% so you can eat even more of it.

How Is Low Calorie Dark Chocolate Made?

Dark chocolate is already the healthiest version of this indulgent treat, containing the highest percentage of antioxidant and flavonoid-filled cacao beans.

Sugar is the primary culprit that turns this virtuous food into a diet destroyer, spiking blood sugar and wreaking havoc on your heart, nerves, mood, and more. In GATSBY chocolate, allulose replaces the bulk of the granulated sweetener for an experience that provides the same balance and body, without all the downsides to the indulgence.

Fat is the other source of contention. This one is more troubling to replace; cocoa butter is arguably the core component that makes chocolate, chocolate. Somehow, through magic and science, a combination of plant-based oil, palm oil, and corn fiber coalesce into a convincing dupe. Bringing the rich cocoa powder flavor to the fore, you get the added benefit of a considerable serving of fiber, too.

What Does GATSBY Chocolate Taste Like?

Impressive nutritional stats are one thing, but tasting is believing. GATSBY offers two dark chocolate bars: Sea Salt Extra Dark and Almond Dark. Also available for vegans and dairy-free eaters, you can choose from Oat Milk Salted Almond and Oat Milk Crunch Bars, in case your cravings skew a bit lighter and more milky. After one bite of the Almond Dark chocolate, I knew I’d have to hunt down the rest.

Imagine a thick slab of chocolate bark, riddled with tiny chopped almond pieces all the way through. Crisp, toasted nuts fill every mouthful with a comforting sort of warmth, as the cloak of cacao enshrouding them melts away. The initial bite is softer than conventional chocolate, a bit fudgy rather than snappy, but I wouldn’t call that a flaw. Rather, it’s primed to liquefy almost on impact with your tongue. If you’ve ever stolen a spoonful of solidified ganache from the cooled double boiler, this is it in bar format.

Dark chocolate of all forms will forever be an essential staple of my diet. It’s certainly nice to have an innovative option that allows for healthier hedonism.

This post was made possible as a collaboration with Moms Meet and GATSBY Chocolate. My opinions can not be bought and all content is original. This page may contain affiliate links; thank you for supporting my blog!

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments

Groundbakers, Movers and Shakers

Most cookbooks exist to fulfill a very simple mission: To provide the inspiration and instructions to create food. The best cookbooks go further, using food as the vehicle to tell stories. It’s a subject that touches every facet of life, so to address it in a vacuum without those establishing details creates an unmet hunger. For anyone else that sees beyond the ingredients to how they were grown and who grew them, the treatment of animals, issues of food justice and equality, I’ve got a book for you.

Groundbakers by mother and daughter team Kathy and Mackenzie Feldman addresses our food system as a whole while providing the tools to start fixing it, piece by piece. It starts with education from esteemed experts in the field, also known as groundbakers.

 
 
Hemp Granola

What is a “groundbaker” and who are they?

GROUNDBAKER (ground-bay-ker) – Noun: An individual who is an originator, innovator, or pioneer in the transformation toward a just and regenerative food system.

Chickpea “Crab” Cakes

The list of contributors reads like a who’s who of culinary visionaries:

  • Alieen Suzara
  • Alice Waters
  • Anna Lappé
  • Bob Moore
  • Bryant Terry
  • Daphne Miller
  • Dean Wilhelm
  • Gail Myers
  • José Andrés
  • Leah Penniman
  • Liz Carlisle
  • Malia Smith
  • Maricela Vega
  • Michel Nischan
  • Sean Sherman
  • Steven Lawenda

Matt’s Loco Moco

With those insights come over 60 recipes to make some tough messages more palatable. There really is something in here for everyone- Vegan, gluten-free, and everything in between. I know firsthand that these dishes are every bit as compelling as the writing because I was lucky enough to create the photos.

Southwestern Salad

Over the course of five years, I got to capture the culmination of those stories, which always end in a good meal. You’ll find all your favorite classic comfort foods here, like sloppy Joe’s, mac and cheese, bagels with “lox,” hearty chili, and so much more. These are everyday staples that will quickly become indispensable for anyone that likes to cook, host, or eat.

Salted Tahini Banana Bread

Groundbakers Giveaway!

Another commonality between the best cookbooks is they’re even better when shared. That’s why I’m excited to share this giveaway for a copy of Groundbakers with you! To enter, let me know in the comment section below who you think qualifies as a groundbaker in your life, or which one of the groundbakers in this book is most inspirational. Don’t forget to come back and register your entry in the giveaway widget, along with additional opportunities to win.

Groundbakers by Kathy and Mackenzie Feldman

Hannah (BitterSweet)10 Comments

Get Your Game On, Go Play

The loss of play in the average adult’s life is downright tragic. It’s not like we ever outgrow the desire to have fun. We don’t sit down one day, make a spread sheet of all the extraneous things we can stand to lose (like guilt, shame, and misplaced emotions) and decide that the things bringing us joy, for no other purpose than to be happier in that moment, should be crossed off the list. What gives? Why do you have to be a “child at heart” to do something outside of work, just because you want to?

Forget that nonsense. I’ve spent too many years without any play, and now I’m taking it back. I’ve found my happy place at Cidercade, open to all ages and levels of maturity. Take your family, take your friends, take your dates, or just take your damn self; I’m tired of needing an excuse to get out and make merry.

What Games Can You Play At Cidercade?

For one flat fee of $10, you get all-day access to hundreds of arcade games. We’re talking new and retro, including pinball, fighters and shooters, sports like air hockey and skee-ball, racing, music like guitar hero and dancing; pretty much everything else you, your parents, or your kids ever loved. If you play your cards right, you can stay active and treat this as a cheaper alternative to a gym membership too.

What’s There to Drink and Eat At Cidercade?

Of course, the abundant options for hard beverages on tap might negate all those gains. All the drinks are Austin East Ciders exclusives, with lots of limited edition flavors you won’t find in cans. I’m forever craving the cream soda hard cider that popped up well over a year ago, but have never been disappointed by the classics, categorized by sweetness. For the non-drinkers, there’s unlimited Maine Root Soda option for just $4. They’re all made with cane sugar too, no corn syrup, presenting a distinct upgrade over the sticky fountain beverages of yore.

The real crowning glory of this establishment is the pizza. Honestly, these handmade pizzas have no right being so good. It’s an arcade, after all; shouldn’t the food be an afterthought? That’s certainly not the case here, where the pies come out fast and hot. Crispy, thin, and beautifully blistered crusts support a wide range of topping options, including perfectly gooey, fully melted vegan cheese. Caramelized onions and mushrooms are a must for me, which always comes out perfectly cooked and richly umami. I hear there are even gluten-free options, but haven’t been tempted to venture a taste.

There are five Cidercade locations across Texas, in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and Arlington. Set aside time for your next play date today.

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