Vegan Shoe Shopping Afoot

I am always on the hunt for good (read: cute and comfortable) vegan shoes. (Foot Note) Here are the reasons I find it difficult:

1. Shoes kind of suck in general. They pinch, are stiff, cost a lot, and make your feet smell.
2. There are so many well designed, really adorable leather shoes taunting me from every window. Jerks.
   
3. Vegan shoes are often "cheap" version of leather shoes and not manufactured to last long, support lots of walking, or breath well.
4. Those vegan shoes that are designed to last, cost and arm and a leg. What good is a pair if you can only use one?
5. There are many choices online, but we all know how important trying on a pair of shoes can be. Some shoes are + or - a full size from style to style, and brand to brand.

Of course, in Seattle we have it pretty good compared to other cities. I find vegan options at every turn. Here are some places you should try if you haven't already:

The Sneakery: great shoes for girls and boys, including well-made, meant-to-last shoes by brand like Vegetarian Shoes and Macbeth. Last I was there they were exceptionally willing to point out every vegan brand that they carried. www.thesneakery.com



Nordstrom: They often have good canvas shoes, by the old standbys (Keds, etc.) but they also sell Steve Madden's line for teenagers, called Madden Girl, which are often non-leather. This is a brand to look for boots this fall. They also have the new vegan Pumas. http://shop.nordstrom.com

Payless ShoeSource: Of course, the upside is that there is a ton of selection (probably 80% of the shoes are not-leather), the downside is that everything is made overseas, packed with chemicals, and won't always last more than a season. BUT, they did just start carrying the eco-friendly vegan brand, Zoe & Zac. I bought this pair (below) last month. They also carry vegan workboots/safty boots that meet OSHA standards. www.payless.com



John Fluevog (Downtown): Yes, it is true, John has finally designed a line of vegan shoes, especially good for the gentleman looking to dress up. They are mostly microfiber, with rubber soles sans nasty chemicals. They're even biodegradable. www.fluevog.com



Market Street Shoes: I wish this store had even more vegan options, but they carry some of the best designed shoes in the city. They have great brands like Simple, No Sweat, and New Balance. www.marketstreetshoes.com

Thankfully for you athletes, almost every brand of athletic shoes has some non-leather options, mostly because they are finding the new synthetics actually hold up better, breath better, etc. I wonder how long until dress shoe designers make the same discovery?

I am sure I am missing some other great places around town. Please tell me where you shop in Seattle. I need some new vegan fashion haunts.

*Not vegan but wondering why you might want to avoid leather? Check out this very short article from the environmental perspective, or this one, from the animal cruelty-avoidance perspective (no pictures, don't worry).

Gimme Kimchi

Folks! Be honest, did someone know about the 52nd Tofu House and not tell me? Who among you was aware we could get cheap, delicious vegan Korean food in Seattle and didn't come forward? I'm on the look out for you. It is probably best that you don't 'fess up to this transgression, you don't know how I might react to being kept away from sweet and spicy potatoes my entire life.

As y'all know, I volunteer at Sidecar once a week, usually on Sundays, and for the past 5 weeks I've passed an apple-shaped sign on the corner of University Way and 52nd Street that says "Korean Tofu Soup." I kept telling myself to stop to find out what else was in the soup on the very slight chance that it was vegan/vegetarian.

Finally last week while running errands, KC and ended up parking near the afore mentioned sign, so took a few seconds to have a look. What did we find? More signs! Including one that says "Vegan Plate $6.95"!! What?? How did I miss this just 3 blocks from two vegan establishments that I frequent? Is my vegan-radar on the fritz?




Venturing inside we found 1 vegan co-owner, two separate menus (one for the carni folk and one for us vegan folk), and a note about how the vegan food is prepared using separate cookware.

Not only did we find these things, but we also found VERY good food. Good food that is affordable. I had the Vegan Plate, option B, for only $6.96. This feast came with a giant pile of rice, pajeon (Korean-style pancake packed with vegetables), a sweet pickled cabbage salad, and a generous portion of gamja jorim (sweet and spicy potatoes). Amazing! I think I'll have it for lunch again today.

KC ordered the Gyoza + Kimchi + Tofu soup, which was also only $6.95. It came out to him like a bubbling pool of lava, packed with soft tofu. He said it was savory, had a good kind of heat, and really interesting flavors - like the sour from the kimchi. It also came with rice, cabbage salad, and the gamja jorim. He liked it very much. If that wasn't enough, they served us free roasted corn tea, and when we were done with our meal, they brought us homemade sweet picked cucumber and some sort of pickled root vegetable. I was in complete heaven.

And the 52nd Tofu House has the most humble, craziest decor you can imagine. Albums tacked to the wall above the kitchen and dried corn husks in the dining area. Yep. Oh, and a giant poster of Gary "The Glove" Payton, scoring on a young Kobe Bryant and Horace Grant graced the south wall (which made KC really happy). I asked how long they had been open and the owner said that they had been a bar for 6 years and just started serving dinner. They still have mango soju slurpee-like drink flowing, although I wasn't adventurous enough to try it. Yet.

Yes, it is a Big Deal

I know that Plum Vegan Bistro isn't big news for most of you. I alone have been talking about it non-stop since it opened in late July. It is the newest in a grouping of restaurants by much-loved Hillside Quickie owner, Makini Howell. An entirely new vegan join in the city may not be big news, but it is a big deal, so I have taken my time in trying it a couple of times before sharing any suggestions. Oh, the sacrifices I make.


First off: let me say that no restaurant is perfect, and new restaurants have a lot of kinks to work out before getting in their groove. I am sure that Plum falls into this camp and will improve on service and consistency over the next few months.





These kinks are by no means a reason for avoiding this fine establishment. In fact, if you are looking for unique food, this should be your first stop. If you are looking for bold tastes, generous levels of salt and oil, and creative ingredients, you will be in absolute HEAVEN.

The best thing on the menu that I have tried is the Cajun Mac & Cheese (sorry 50% of my recent posts have this theme). But don't just order this rich slab of creaminess, try the Mama Africa salad which has: greens, tempe, millet and quinoa, pumpkin seeds, avocado, cranberries, apples, nectarines, and more drizzled with a creamy green aioli! No kidding.

The yam fries were also the best I have had - because they were not over cooked so still retained some texture and crispiness, instead of just being starchy oil sponges. The BBQ Po' Boy is also a very solid option - although we had different breads the two times we ordered it. It was definitely best when served with the thinner, crisper foccocia.

Don't just take my word for it, get more details and opinions here:
- Yelp Reviews
- Seattle Times Food & Wine
- Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
- Capitol Hill Seattle Blog
- Urban Spoon
- Veg News
- Happy Cow
- Daily Candy Seattle

I am still working on a list of the best vegan happy hour food in the city. Keep sending me your ideas and tips. I need more!

Bang a Gong!

The mac & cheese trend continues, thank God. I went without a vegan-version of this homey treat for way too long.

Now in addition to delicious instant vegan macaroni and cheese you can make at home (see below), you can order a hunk at the new vegan restaurant on Capitol Hill, Plum Bistro, or a bowl of it at the newly opened Bang Bang cafe in Belltown.



I've been to Plum twice and plan to hit up Bang Bang later today or tomorrow to do a little comparison chomping. In the mean time, check out the reviews on Yelp.

Whoda thunk you'd have more than one location to choose from for vegan mac and cheese? What is the world coming to? Wonderful things, that's what.

Take this Dandie Camping!

Attn: Campers, sweet tooths, rice krispies lovers, et al.: the heavens have parted and the sweet baby jesus has sent us an air-puffed treat from the back woods of Lombardi Illinois: Behold Dandies Vegan Marshmallows.

Fluffier than any brand that has ever existed (editor opinion), made up of simple, recognizable ingredients (mainly 3 kinds of sugar), and available at our near and dear Sidecar Vegan Shop, you can take these tasty white yum-yums home today!

They are about half the size of the marshmallows that I remember as a child (but I was also half the size, so I am not sure if my scale is appropriately calibrated). For $5.00 you get a very packed little bag that will last you an entire camp out. I still love the Sweet and Sara brand, but these are just more authentic. Both in taste and texture these are the slightly smaller, separated-at-birth twin to gelatin-filled marshmallows.

Now, go out and buy some of these before you go camping. Buy some for your pals. Tell your vegan and kosher friends that Chicago Soydairy has made magic.

Because sometimes we need a little country-ayurvedic-chic in our lives.

An example of how easy things some times take me a long time: About 6 months ago I stumbled upon a flier for a "vegan retreat" on Vashon Island at Squid & Ink in Georgetown Seattle. I kept the flier in my pocket for ~2 months and talked about going constantly. Then posted it near my desk for ~1 month, then tried to look at the web site (not live yet). Then I emailed the proprietor, but by the time she wrote back, I was squished under work. A couple of weeks later I put the flier in my pocket again and carried it around for ~2 months. In late March I emailed the proprietor again, and FINALLY booked a night for me and Kirby. 6 months for one night?

Turns out doing stuff is hard sometimes, but in this case, totally worth it. Heart of the Sound Retreat is a little slice of rural vegan heaven only 30 minutes from Seattle. Laurie Lyons, host, has created a one-bedroom cottage on her farm just two blocks from "downtown" Vashon, and offers up an array of vegan/ayurvedic/organic massage.

In summary: Cute little town + professional massage + a very comfy bed + Ground Hog's Day the movie + vegan breakfast goodies = perfect weekend get away.

More pictures here.

If you are craving to leave the city, just for a day, here are all the reasons you should go to Heart of the Sound:

1. Cute cotton grocery bag in the kitchen, (in case you forgot to bring yours and you want to walk to the farmers market only 4 blocks away).
2. Three places to sit in the garden that overlooks a field and a forest.
3. Indian + country decor (nice to escape hip, ironic, retro, urban, stuck-up style).
4. Breakfast includes: vegan muffins, tofutti spread, vegan yogurt, fruit, coffee, etc.
5. Three vases of fresh cut flowers - in every room!
6. Beauty without Cruelty shampoo and conditioner.
7. Vegan dishes, books, and bedding.
8. The room you get your massage in, is right off the cottage, so you don't have go anywhere once you are all relaxed.
   

Vashon is fun to visit too. We walked around the town for a couple of hours during the day, then also explored restaurants and cocktail venues at night. Vashon isn't really big enough to have major vegan fare, but it does have a vegetarian restaurant, an Indian restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, and a pub - all of which have at least one vegan (or vegan modifiable) dish. Not only that, but AMAZING vintage and second hand shopping. We also explored the rest of the island beaches, parks, and ports.

More pictures here.

Email Laurie, make reservation, get on the Ferry! Bike, bus, or drive a few miles to Vashon town, and the relax. When you see Laurie, tell her I said hi.

SALAD! Salad? I though this blog was about hard-to-find vegan food?

Work downtown? Bellevue? Forgot your lunch? Need food for a business meeting?

Diverging from the standard pattern, let me tell you about a little 'ol salad made by a sandwich chain. Specialty's Cafe & Bakery mostly caters to the 9-5 corporate crowd of the city and are a favorite spot for the standard suit (you know who you are).

The thing of it is, there are lost of people who work in business AND are vegan, and this is where Specialty's is looking out for us. They've created an amazing, freash, totally packed lunch box called "Dawn's Vegan Salad" (Dawn is one of the co-founders).





In one container you get:

• mixed greens
• grape tomatoes
• green peasgreen onions (yummy!)
• mushrooms
• grated carrot
• southwestern corn
• black beans
• kidney beans
• garbonzo beans
• artichoke heart
• sunflower seeds
• avocado
• balsamic Vinaigrette
• and a little square of foccacia bread

HOLY MACKEREL, right? It does cost $8 bucks, but totally beats out any other corporate lunch box on the market. Completely and utterly filling. (NOTE: I can't vouche for the veganess of the little square of bread.)

Friends, venture into the corporate world fearless of the un-vegan-friendly lunch meeting. Ask for Specialty's delivered, and relax. You can get this delivered all over Seattle and the Eastside.

Now I've just got to convince them to serve a vegan chocolate chip cookie!