Natalie Portman's Pajama Party

Mr. Vedge and I joined up with Lauren and Eric from Goodbye Texas, Hello Pa for Vegan Cocktails on Wednesday night at Cantina Dos Segundos. Check out their recap to find out what a Natalie Portman's Pajama Party is.

Thoreau, Indian-Style

It's clear that there have been changes at Thoreau. The service is smooth. The ambiance seems more relaxed. Flatware is replenished. Water is refilled with a Vetri-like consistency. The dining room even feels more spacious.

The rosemary garnishes remain. The portions still triumph over any appetite.

We accepted it this time and skipped an app. Both entrees were packed up to go in the end, but what we did taste proved memorable and creative enough to go with us as well.

My Khorma was mild, but the flavors were so unique and developed that my initial crack about needing hot sauce? I take it back. He aimed for the Green Curry Shepherd's Pie, a large bowl of deep, serious green-sauced couscous with islands of golden beets and a volcano of piped yams. It was my lunch the next day, and I fished out all of the broccolini trees and pretended that I was wearing strappy wedges with a Reiss two-piece in St. Lucia already.

Our more sensible meal let us move on to the Hazelnut Toffee Basket. The vegan buttercream mousse lacked a richness (think Whole Foods evil vegan mousse that stands in its own state of goodness), bruleed bananas are always a sweet thing, and a giant cookie on top of anything served in a martini glass is a bit of a tired concept. It wasn't earth-shattering like the Butterscotch Pudding Parfait.

We had a leisurely walk home in the near-balmy weather. There are few final courses that top a nice post-dinner stroll.

Served with a Proper Lemon Twist

I have a March obsession with lemon.  It began with a display at Lululemon.

Lemon Poppyseed Cake with Tofu Lemon Raspberry Cream from Essene

You should ingest any citron-tinged dessert with black clothing only.

I plan on making some lemon curd so that I can bake up a batch of these lemon thumbprints.

I've been loving on the Lemon Larabar.

Then it started happening with cocktails.

The Agave 75 has plenty of pucker - gin, agave, and fresh squeezed lemon stirred and topped with Cava served in a flute with a proper lemon twist.

And most recently, the Blogger's Breeze. Ask me for the recipe and you will get it in a whisper.

Vegan Networking Over Spinach and Huitlacoche Enchiladas

Vegan Cocktails Philly and Vegan Drinks Philly are joining forces on Wednesday at Cantina Dos Segundos for Cruelty-Free Cocktails with a Cause, the ultimate evening for vegan mixing. A portion of the proceeds goes to an animal sanctuary called Chenoa Manor.  See how empty Dos looks above? Well, it won't be anywhere near this deserted on Wednesday.

Update: The menu was just posted at Vegan Drinks Philly.

Veg Out: Paesanos

Paesano's is like a Girard Avenue man cave.

Needless to say, the staff was very attentive when I invaded the construction-worker-deep lunch counter.

I was here for the chickpea panelle, a $4 wrap that would command $8 elsewhere.

The Jaeatyet t-shirts and trays of drying eggplant entertained me during my wait, as well as male chatter about women who are small in front, which is always a treat.

I made the two-minute trek back to the apartment. My wrap was intensively moisturized with godzuki sauce and ribbons of roasted tomato. I took in the spicy-creamy material on its thin, charred flatbread with pleasure. For $4, this tops most options in my lunch zip by far.

Paesano's
152 W. Girard Avenue