Tag: review

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

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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The Hole Story About Austin Bagels

Bagels are such a unique, distinctive class of bread that they deserve their own category. Visually, texturally, and fundamentally, they barely even resemble other yeasted staples. Every element is critical to the overall experience, from the glossy, chewy crust to the dense crumb inside. Few have successfully mastered the art of bagelry, and not just for lack of the alkaline water found in New York City.

Where can you get the best bagels?

Aside from making your own from scratch, access to quality options remains limited, especially outside of major cities. Sad to say, nothing found in the bread aisle of your local grocery store will ever measure up. Fortunately, it’s not a dying art- Quite the contrary. Out of nostalgia, cravings, and blind ambition, more and more young bakers across the country are throwing down the dough to make genuine bagels, and not some glorified ring-shaped dinner rolls.

NYC has the street cred, but not the monopoly on raw talent. Austin lays claim to five independent, local bagel makers. Plenty of restaurants and cafes are doing great things with sandwiched and schmeared creations, but I wanted to go straight to the source for this gustatory investigation. I’m talking about hunting down the very best bagel in town.

How can you judge the best bagel?

While every cafe worth their coffee beans offers a basic bagel, I went straight to the source, examining only those who bake their own bagels. For the sake of consistency, I compared only everything bagels, being the most popular variety across the board, without any toppings. Prices ranged from $1 – 4.50 apiece, making the very best of the batch an affordable luxury. Each is filling enough to make a solid breakfast, even without adornment, so I’d call that a bargain for a full meal. Here’s where your dollars are best spent.

Who bakes the best bagels from scratch in Austin?

  • Rosen’s Bagels is a relative newcomer to the world of commercial baking, beginning life a mere five years ago, but has quickly taken hold as the front runner in local cafes and grocery stores. If it wasn’t enough to get a dozen delivered straight to your door, they now have two shiny new brick-and-mortar locations that are perpetually buzzing with hungry carbivores. Founder Tom Rosen has a simple formula for success, and is simply doing it right. The dough goes through a 48 hour fermenting and rising process to develop complex flavors, enhanced by the traditional addition of subtly sweet malt powder. Best of all, the everything bagels are double-seeded, tossed in the signature seasoning mixture on both sides to ensure no bald spots. Top and bottom halves are full coated for a serious flavor punch.

  • Rockstar Bagels has been rising to the occasion since 2009 with their malt-boiled bagels that positively shine in the early morning light. They’re the first local bagel to grace my table since they’re available at Wheatsville a la carte for mere pocket change. These plump rings sport an elegantly lacquered finish with a topping that tends to skew heavier on sesame seeds, enhancing the nutty, toasted flavor. Maybe that’s why I find them more compelling once split and toasted than simply warmed. Bulk bin grocery store bagels have questionable quality, even if they’re locally made, so always go to their walk-up window for the best, freshest batches.

  • Wholy Bagel stands apart from the pack by proudly touting their New Jersey-style bagel, boasting a notably fluffier crumb with a cracklingly crisp exterior. The combination of textures is unique, coming together as an a fully satisfying experience in a slightly unconventional format. Don’t forget that everything is bigger in Texas; when you order a dozen, it’s not a Baker’s Dozen but a Wholy Texas Dozen; 14 bagels for the price of 12.

  • Nervous Charlie’s can certainly be anxiety-provoking if you’re not prepared to wait on line. Perpetually swamped with hungry carbivores, it’s nigh impossible to beat the crowds. Most people are drawn to the loaded bagel sandwiches for a hearty breakfast, brunch, or lunch, but the ungarnished bread base itself is quite a prize. Plump, thick, and dense, each substantial ring demonstrates mastery of the dough.

  • Casper Fermentables adds more nuance to the local bagel conversation with their sourdough Montreal-style offerings. A passion for probiotics defines their offerings that run the gamut from kombucha to kimchi. Once a humble farmers market stand, Casper is the latest homegrown success to set up a permanent outpost in the Sunset Valley neighborhood. Now you can enjoy an expanded menu of ready to eat sandwiches and pastries, but the bagels remain the top seller. Even my New York-born father was impressed by the golden brown and mildly tangy, thoroughly chewy rings.

Honorable Mentions

Anyone baking their own bagels deserves props for doing it the right way, rather than the easy way. Not all of them rank at the top of my list, but they’re still far and away better than anything else you’d find on store shelves.

  • Big City Bagels and Subs tends to fly below the radar, putting more emphasis on the sandwiches than the bread, but the main issue is just getting there in time. Bagels are liable to sell out early, the shop sometimes closes early, and I can never seem to hit the road early enough.
  • Swedish Hill offers deluxe (albeit not vegan) fixings for dine-in guests, but the solo bagels are fairly forgettable. Not enough toppings to be considered everything; more like a few things. It doesn’t feel worth the price of entry to me.

New York may have perfected the art of the bagel, but it no longer has the monopoly. There are plenty of great bagels down south in the Greater Austin Area and beyond.

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments