Veg Out: Dragon Palace

Sometimes, what looks like a dirty Chinese takeaway is a simple matter of fact: Great tofu often involves great risk. Dragon Palace may be one of those Asian buffet-delis that serves food so American-friendly that it's hardly edible, but it's clean and there's an entire menu beyond the e.coli island in the back. Don't let the poor lighting and Crazy Man touching the egg rolls deter you.

There I am on Chestnut St., where vegetarian pride goes to die. There is Grocery, where real vegetables and tofu salads are extremely marked up in an adorable way. Other mini markets that have those fake chicken sandwiches that I fall back on in rough times. Should I walk on to Chinatown, where I will be spoiled with mock-everything? When all I really want to do is head home, where I have a post-holiday fridge with nothing in it except one bottle of Odwalla.

Oh, look, DRAGON PALACE. It's clean inside and the smell is tolerable. The vegetarian selection takes longer than 20 seconds to read. General Tso's Tofu. That's dinner.

Now, I recommend adding a vegetable option to this, because there are but few pieces of broccoli nestled with the load of tofu. While Dragon House is not on the Chinatown level, it is a decent stand-in if your time and bucks are limited.

Dragon Palace, 102 S. 13th St., 215-545-5063

There's Some Chocolate On Your Mouth. No, NO. Right There.

Essene muffins, this is why I love you.

Vegan Chocolate Cherry, a dense, cupcakey dream full of plump cherries and gooey chips.

Well Red

Red foods that are meat-free? You can't live on green alone.

Top 5 Red Foods

LaBan knocks the Belgian Cafe, but I solemnly swear by the seitan chicken wings.

Bloody Cookies & Bread Pudding

It was beginning to look a lot like a Fishtown Christmas. I show up with what my family refers to as my "weird designer food" and it's the usual "let's all argue about what Kelly eats" dinner. If ever you feel like your family doesn't pay you enough attention, show up with some dietary restrictions and you've got instant spotlight. This would've helped in my formative years, when I had to go to drastic measures to get the slightest recognition in a family of six children, but by now, I'd like for it to be a non-issue. We are nearing year 8 of my lifestyle that is accepted, shared, or encouraged by nearly everyone that I know, except for those who matter most to me. No, it's not funny to ask me if I want a piece of meat for the 907th time. It probably won't be the 908th. Next topic.



So, as you can tell, maturity levels in my household are never going to be high.



As I didn't have time or space to cook in my grandpa's teensy kitchen that hasn't been updated in nearly 40 years, I brought along a tomato bread pudding casserole from Whole Foods and Quorn Gruyere Stuffed Chik'n, plus a cheese plate with fruit and non-Cracker-Barrel cheeses (brie, blue, dill havarti). I didn't even bother with anything fancy because Family immediately hates on whatever I eat, without trying it beforehand. There's no sense making an elaborate dish that is going to be thrown away after I leave.

Case in point: Bread Pudding French Toast that I made for Christmas morning. Sounds like a basic twist on a brunch staple that most people love, right? Family wasn't having it. The word "organic" terrifies them, they think I'm a food snob, and bread pudding is somehow an exotic concept.

Looks terrifying, doesn't it?



Also, Family never reads anything that I blog or have published, so this whine is likely to stay between us. May the awkward holiday meals continue and my argument for mycoprotein grow more solid and unwavering each year.

The Weekend In Baked Goods

The Punk Rock Flea Market always has a few tables that sell vegan cookies. I had to try the Earl Grey kind. Tasted very much like tea, but I wish they were softer:



Coffee at Higher Grounds unveiled the latest from Lotus Cake Studio, purveyor of the creamiest vegan cheesecake known to man: Gingerbread Spice Cake, with a soft gingerman cookie.

Veg Out: Horizons, Yet Again

One of my first posts was a review of my favorite restaurant, Horizons. My feelings have not changed. The entrees, close enough to incredible, could quiet any carnivore. The desserts, good for what they are, but in need of a finer tuning.

I'm always surprised at how crowded it gets at Horizons, even on weekdays. It's not easy to drop in for dinner unannounced. Even when friends moan about this or how expensive it is, I encourage them to a) THINK AHEAD and b) MAKE MORE MONEY. I always find that the prices are reasonable, considering the quality of food that you are getting and the imaginative detail involved in each plate. It's art that ends up in your stomach. If you want to bitch about the bill, go to Gianna's.

I've always avoided beets for reasons unknown. To nip that in the bud and convince myself to appreciate the humble beet for what it is, I started with the beet salad. Alas, the Red Leaf salad, a seasonal favorite of mine, was not on the menu. The pistachio vinaigrette that absolutely MAKES it, however, was served on the beet salad. I enjoyed each component of the salad but could not bring myself to delve into the yellow beets. I was expecting them to be red and didn't identify them at first. After a few tastes, I could not get into it. That's just a personal thing and if you love beets, this would likely be a good choice for you, as it was fresh, colorful, and carefully composed.

The winter menu is in full swing at Horizons, and if you're looking for hearty with your healthy, they've got it in the form of a seitan-based shepherd's pie or the pan-roasted tofu with winter vegetables. I almost never order the tofu when I'm here. I zero straight in on the tempeh dish they are serving. I have never had better tempeh, as most chefs don't know what to do with it. My garbanzo-crusted tempeh with golden lentils and a smoked potato stuffed piquillo on top is crafted so that every forkful is a chapter of flavor. The crust was crisp and lended a firm, meaty texture. The lentil puree, while salty, was a satisfying accompaniment, drizzled with a tangy lemon aoli and bits of olive. The only complaint that I have here? The food is always too salty. Every time. I happen to crave saltiness and welcome it, as vegan food gets a rap for being bland and unseasoned. But a minor cutback on the sodium would fix that.

For dessert, the vegan choices span all tastes. Meyer lemon cheesecake would have been a sure thing, but the sticky toffee pudding with banana bourbon ice cream could go either way. I wanted something light and refreshing, however, so I went with the eggnog ice cream. Presented in a martini glass, the sweet, cinnamon-y scoops of soy cream didn't have the creamy mouth feel of regular ice cream and had an icy texture. The flavor was there, though, an intense ode to nog.

Horizons, 611 S. 7th St., 215-923-6117, www.horizonsphiladelphia.com

My Sweet Vegan: Stop It With The Cupcakes

Disavow the name of this vegan dessert book. Vegan cookbooks need to go beyond their current concept of "Oh, look, cute. I make cupcakes" and start making angry, passionate food. Another book with a cupcake on it and bright, happy colors is the last thing I need, but hello, Amazon.com. Granted, I've never written a cookbook, but I like the style of the recipe 'zines from '98 that I've been collecting. I thumbed through this thing trying to find something new that wasn't a wasabi, lychee, or root beer cupcake. Then I reach the back of the book, the Miscellaneous Morsels section, where I'm captured by Green Tea Tiramisu and Flaming Hot Peanut Brittle. Can dig. And there's always the Blondie recipe that I owe you on page 46.

Slutty Cakes & French Toast Sex

Can you pass up a place that serves Slutty Pancakes? Shopsin's General Store in NYC knows childlike indulgence and fantastical experimentation. What else would inspire Pumpkin-Pistachio-PeanutButter-Cinnamon (the Slutty) and the Mac & Cheese/Raspberry pancakes? Narrowing down the imaginative menu with countless options, I settled on the Bread Pudding French Toast, which comes in regular, cowboy (sausage & cheese), nowboy (vegan sausage & cheese), and ohboy (andouille & cheese) varieties. Veg options are all over the place here and lovingly named (Blisters On My Sisters) which could seem gimmicky if this place wasn't so in-your-face real.

In a new location tucked in the corner of an indoor market on Essex, a scant few blocks from an American Apparel where you should try on the sky blue slim slacks before your meal for extra sleaze, Shopsins appears to be a small, charming dive. The many ingredients used for the numerous concoctions are housed in shelves around the counter, and there are but few tables. It's cramped but organized in a way that you know the waitress is aware of every single item. The staff knows their customers, and as such, talk is comfortably exchanged between all. The busboy and waitress even have what I assume is a joke conversation about a Paris Hilton party and how nice Jessica Simpson is in person. They kept shooting me playful looks throughout the exchange, I'm dressed head to toe in black and buried in the New York Post, so it's hard to know for sure.

It felt intimate, like I was in somebody's home and the chef/owner was trying to adopt me by making me the most incredible french toast to exist. I tore into it with no reservations.

Shopsins, Essex Street Market, 120 Essex St., NYC, Shopsins

Excuse Me While I Interrupt This Vegan Program

With a big up to Flying Monkey. I have never seen anything vegan offered at the Reading Terminal patisserie, but I have discovered some deeply moving treats, such as the green tea pound cake. Here, I want to introduce you to the orange brownie.

It's not so much orange as it is a daughter of the blondie, but the orange flavor is dead-on perfect in this buttery citrus-glazed treat. I'm going to attempt a vegan version for the rest of you.

Flying Monkey Patisserie, Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Arch

In The Kitchen With Kelly: E-Z Pass Monte Cristo

So I know how to make more than a potato chip sandwich. I can grill a decent Monte Cristo/Croque Monsieur/Silly French Sandwich with one hand. I don't care how drunk you is, kid. You can do this. And think of the jokes.

E-Z Pass Monte Cristo

2 slices of bread (I used 9-grain)
1-2 slices of swiss (vegan works)
2-3 slices of veg ham (Lightlife)
2-3 slices of veg turkey (Lightlife)
1 egg or egg sub
2 tbsp of milk (soy)
1 tbsp of margarine
mayo or mustard, optional

Assemble deli slices and cheese on bread. Mix egg with milk in a deep plate. Drench sandwich in batter on both sides. Melt margarine in pan. Grill sandwich until golden brown.

Introducing...The Fried Tofu Pouch

Attn: Lazy vegans. They fried tofu, put it in a bag for you, and priced it at a dollar and change. All you have to do is stir fry some veg, add some sauce, and cook some noodles or rice. I found these packaged tofu cubes at the Vietnamese grocery store in a few different sizes. Not that frying tofu is all that hard or time-consuming, but this tastes exactly the same as tofu you order in a restaurant or takeout and you pay for that all the time, no? It's convenient and for some reason, each serving has 25 grams of protein. Most uncooked tofu clocks in at way less than that, so I'm thinking the label is ambitious.

Veg Out: Meju

After I heard a round of good things about Old City's new Korean BYOB, Meju, I was intrigued: No BBQ? Veg-possible? Grab a sixer of Korean beer and let's go.

I expected the small space to be packed on a weekend, but things didn't heat up until after our meal, when it got a little rowdier. The complimentary dishes of banchan set before us were a nice touch, and we quickly set out to taste and identify each one. There was the standard kimchee along with an assortment of different pickled vegetables. While we were playing around, giant stone bowls of sizzling Dolsot Bibimbap were set before us. Our server hastily removed the tiny plates and all attention turned to the smoking caverns of Meju's most popular offering. (My camera phone pictures were no good, but here is a similar pic)



The Bibimbap appeared to be overwhelming, but was really just a mound of never-ending white rice, and evenly divided sections of julienned vegetables (daikon, sprouts, cucumber, carrots) and a choice of protein. I chose tofu, as you may have guessed. They are meant to be mixed together and come with a small bowl of spicy sauce. The presentation here is paramount to the taste. It took awhile for the steaming dish to be at a comfortable enough temperature to dig into, and after a few bites I wasn't very impressed with the flavor. I found a few cubes of mushy tofu before I was caught in an under-seasoned rainbow of veggies that seemed to go on forever. I wasn't thrilled, but I did want to go purchase a big stone bowl immediately after.

I would have given the green tea or red bean ice creams a whirl, since I live for the prospect of exotic ice cream, but I was with a dessert critic who dissuaded me. We headed over to Doubleshots instead and split a brownie, a simple baked good that always delivers, even if it doesn't come in a sizzling stone bowl.

Meju, 213 Chestnut St., 215-238-9403

The Vegetarian Reaper

We've done a Philebrity post on this Trax Deli phenomenon in the past, but here I never thought I'd know the one night stand that is the trashy soft pretzel sandwich at 3am. Until I opened my mouth and asked if they sold them with cheese. I could have kissed the toothless countergirl, for she took me over to the heat lamp where Reapers live and pointed out the cheese variety. The Veg Reaper was cut in half horizontally and stuffed with deli slices of white American cheese, then melted underneath the heat so that it's warm and gooey waiting for you. Was it sliced with the same machine used to shred lunchmeat? They tell you whatever you want to hear.

Trax Deli, Front & Girard.

In The Kitchen With Kelly: French Scramble

Tofu Scramble is a very inconsistent dish. It can be chalky and flavorless, or it can be a satisfying anytime meal that gives your protein requirements the day off. Most of the time, it's more economical and less of a gamble to make it yourself. It's all about the spices, and if you get it right, the turmeric, garlic and nutritional yeast used in Skinny Bitch In the Kitch's French Scramble are like some kind of gold.

I've warned you about this book and how much I'll be feeding us with it. The veg cookbooks that I own contain recipes that are fine if I'm baking for a party or guests, but it's usually just me. I'd rather not spend hours and precious dollars preparing a fancy feast for my sole enjoyment every night. It's generally cheaper and easier for me to go have dinner at Horizons. That said, Skinny Kitch is more my style. While not quite exotic or particularly inventive, the options are solid.



The French Scramble was no trouble at all. I subbed red potatoes and sweet potatoes for the mushrooms and used goat's milk cheddar that I hand-shredded (getting so much use out of my new grater) instead of vegan cheese (the recipe does call for this). What was French about it? I'm not sure, but it's an alluring name.

Until you pick up the book, this is very similar:

Farm To Philly Tofu Scrambler

In The Kitchen With Kelly: Carrot Raisin Muffins

I've got half a bag of carrots and not enough hummus. One flip through Vegan with a Vengeance and I'm making muffins. The worst part of this is grating the carrots, which is messy and not blogger-wrist-friendly, but it does make you feel more involved in the process than tossing a bunch of ingredients in a bowl. The key is to soak the raisins in hot water for ten minutes to make them plump.

The smell of muffins? Absolutely worth your efforts. They're not too sweet, a bit spicy, and reminiscent of carrot cake. Start shredding now.

Skinny Bitches Cook

And they write about it.

I'll be the owner of Skinny Bitch in the Kitch: Kick-Ass Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Stop Cooking Crap (and Start Looking Hot!) tomorrow and I'll let you know if they're any good at it. Might as well, since I'm already watching The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and care not what anyone says, skinny bitches run things. Most of these recipes are veg, from the "Ham" & Cheese Puff Pockets to the French Scramble w/ tofu and nut. yeast.

This comes from the same diminutive divas who authored Skinny Bitch, the book that I refused to buy because people would make lame cracks asking if I wrote it or if it was my favorite book. I assumed that someone would get it for me eventually and think that they were being clever.

Veg Minds Think Alike

Or we all happen to live in the same city, so it's not that weird that I have a package of Christmas Crack waiting to be devoured and used in baking. Or that I had this the other day, although it doesn't hold a candle to my mom's Red Velvet Cake (she knocks up Betty Crocker with pudding mix to make it extra moist and you know, velvet-y, but it's like an artificial ingredient seminar).

If you haven't had dessert yet, this is how it's done.

Veg Out: The Abbaye

Truth: Every time you eat a seitan cheesesteak in public, you look like a huge pussy. The fix? Order one at a bar and drink beer with it. It'll boost your image by 35%.

If image gives you no sustenance at all, there's always the next truth: Seitan cheesesteaks at bars are miles better than the ones you wait hours for at Govinda's/Gianna's/Pizzerias With Fake Steak.

Sayin' fuck no, still? The Abbaye will make you a changed man. The Seitan Cheesesteak here is a special, but it's usually there, because everyone wants to be with it. Juicy pieces of seitan are smothered with cheese and grilled onions and folded into a roll, with crispy frites and a side of cheese sauce that insists on being used for both. Add beer. You, looking like a person that I want to know.

Also recommended: The Pope (1501 E. Passyunk Ave) does a version of this.

The Abbaye, 637 N. Third St., 215-627-6711

Blueberry With My Blackberry

There were two things that I reached for after rolling out of bed this morning: Monsieur Blackberry, who assists me on all goals, and a blueberry crumb bar from Vegan Treats. Whenever I get bored with the selection of sugar-y, insubstantial trash that VT offers, there's something new to try. If you've ever had the raspberry crumb bar, then this is a simple flavor extension of that. Being extremely fond of blueberry, I do prefer this kind.

Veg Library

I'm building one...

2 Vegetarian Cookbooks Worth A Look

City Paper BQ: Veganomicon

Scroll down and check out my Veganomicon review.

The only real troubles with this book is that I need to go out and buy 14,000 different ingredients to make dinner. Good thing the Italian Market is my backyard.

Do Not Fear The Flax

You either disapprove of flax because it was touted as one of those trendy miracle foods, or you can't get over the unappetizing name and your crippling fear of anything healthy-sounding. A very select few of you are in Flax Club, and we meet every Wednesday on my heated deck and sip flaxseed soyshakes until our insides beg us to stop posing as beacons of health.

I am so ready for tonight, gang, that I picked up a package of Voortman Flaxseed Cookies and booked guest DJ Omega-3. I already tested these suckers out and gave them the thumbs up. They're not mind-crushingly sweet and don't taste like air. These are very hearty and remind me of oatmeal cookies. Promises, promises.

If you're ambitious, try this recipe: Flaxseed Honey Cookies

Not to stray from the subject of pancakes, check out this find at Williams-Sonoma. This is a store that I accidentally fell into. I might be the youngest person who has ever shopped here willingly.



The Ebelskiver

Oh, wait, Amazon has it, too, for a sexier price.

It's an ebelskiver. For tiny pancakes that you fill with any number of things. Take your shit seriously and invest, it's only a matter of time before these pop up on brunch menus city-wide. They're Scandinavian, like my next boyfriend.

Veg Out: IHOP

Pancakes are my go-to comfort food. They're also my whatever's-in-the-fridge-goes-in backup meal. Finally, they are my travel-anywhere-in-the-world-and-order pleasure. While I appreciate a simple stack, the more stuff in 'em, on 'em, and floating around, the mo' better. I prefer to fork into my favorites at the usual haunts or to griddle my own, but on occasion I end up at Ihop, erasing any culinary progress I may have made.

What you get at the Hop is not the mammoth craters served at Honey's, the thin, light as a feather discs at Sulimay's, the pancakes topped with cake and year's worth of syrup at Sabrina's, the doughy flapjacks of Morning Glory, or the buttery plates proffered at Dutch Eating Place.(Everyone else gets it all wrong.) Ihop flips a consistently above-average pancake that will always get the job done. What makes them warrant visiting is their specials, always some crazy concoction for fat people. What they usually do is take a really unhealthy breakfast or dessert concept and make pancakes inspired by it. Brilliance.

This month we're looking at Carrot Cake Pancakes, Pumpkin Pancakes, and New York Cheesecake Pancakes. I could have ordered all three, but my arteries are so cute and empty. I said yes to the Carrot Cake proposal and received two oatmeal spice pancakes with apples, coconut, carrot, raisins, and walnuts. Instead of butter I opted for whipped cream. There was a drizzle of cream cheese frosting that did little to enhance the dish or contribute any flavor at all. What's up, motherfuckers? Could you please put actual pieces of carrot cake in this next time? You were trying to be subtle, but reality is, you're IHOP. Go all the way over-the-top. That requested, these were alright.

And because we're all veg and are not ordering breakfast meats with these, they will be a neat $5.

Veg Out: Dumpling House

A near-perfect lunch at Chinatown's Dumpling House turned into a pork & chive dumpling accident.

The tiny restaurant was mostly empty, with the usual Buddha statue. After a quick scan of the menu, I decided to eat in. It was clean and the service was quick. Now if only my order was correctly understood.

What came first was the Sesame Pancake With Vegetables, a crispy, golden pancake sandwich stuffed with tangy veggies. It was my first sesame pancake and I'm even going to call it my favorite food. Since it was only $1.50, I decided on an order of veggie dumplings to go with. I clearly said the word "veggie" and mentioned that I was a vegetarian when my waitress was making suggestions.

So when the gorgeous little dumpling platter was placed in front of me, steaming hot and ready to do battle for my attention with the Sesame Pancake, I was not worried. As far as I know, I have never been accidentally served meat in a restaurant. When I cut into one of the dumplings, I didn't notice at first that there were little chunks of pink meat inside. It was after the first bite had made it to my mouth that I saw.

I called the waitress over and explained, then canceled my order because I had completely lost my appetite. I didn't make a big deal out of it, and I'll be careful next time. I even tipped her 100% because the meal was so cheap and offered to give her English lessons. Part of that is true.

If you're a sesame pancake fan, be annoyed with me that I did not remove the foil for the picture, masking the secrets of sesame that were beneath.

Dumpling House
9th & Race

Kashi Lovers: When Love Isn't Enough

Kashi has rolled out two new Crunchy! bar flavors: Cinnamon Coffee Cake and Chocolate Pretzel. I will gladly accept their cereal and other products as good eats, but these taste like every other Clif bar variation already out there. Do not buy them; make yourself a real breakfast of self-love. Or if you must:

Maple Carob Granola Bars

Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars