Thursday, June 19, 2008

Virtual Trip to PDX via Everyday Dish TV

It's been over a year since my last trip to Portland, and with the Try Vegan Week and Let Live Conference going on in the month of June; I've found myself wishing for a free plane ticket to this vegan friendly city! Instead, I think I found the next best thing.... a gastronomical tour of Portland's cuisine from right here in Houston, courtesy of Everyday Dish TV.

I started my virtual trip with a simple, yet fancy-sounding dish served at the vegan restaurant Nutshell (where there has been some recent controversy), sauteed chard with cherry ginger gastrique. This is a great way to eat more greens! The sweet yet sour sauce really helps mask the bitterness of the chard. I served this over sauteed polenta, with a side of grilled tempeh.
This next dish I was super-psyched to see, since it is the exact dish I got for dinner at the Farm Cafe.... herb crusted tofu with mushroom marsala. Although it took a bit of time to put together, this was a perfect Friday night meal to celebrate the end of the week. I think this is a tofu dish that would really impress for dinner parties, it's so crisp and flavorful! Plus you can have fun with the presentation. (and oops! I forgot to cut my tofu into pretty triangles!)
Next I tackled a recipe that has made the rounds already on pretty much every blog I've seen (and for good reason!), Julie's spicy Italian sausages. Where have these been all my life? I made a few sausages as well as some cutlets. The cutlets I sauteed in the leftover breading from the herb crusted tofu and served over pasta.... parmigiana-style. Soooo good. And I thought it was so cute to see Julie's dog roam into the kitchen during the demonstration! And to complete my tour, I had to make dessert! Chocolate mocha cake seemed like the natural choice. This is a rich, deep chocolatey cake that gets a kick from fresh-brewed coffee and a splash of alcohol (I used Kahlua versus the suggested rum). Finished with a chocolate ganache... what could be better?
I was sad to miss the vegan prom in Portland last weekend, so I took a trip down memory lane instead and dug out my high school prom pictures! Don't you just love the cheesy backdrop? Even though I did have the sparkly dress on, at least I didn't have big Texas hair! Isn't my date cute :-) Too bad he only exists in photoshop.
Thanks so much to Julie for bringing us such wonderful vegan cooking shows on Everyday Dish TV. Now hurry and go take a virtual trip of your own! Plane tickets aren't getting any cheaper....

And on another note, tune into Go Vegan Texas this coming Monday at 10am CST. I'll be cohosting with Kristen and Stacey for the show themed "Walking the Walk" where we interview Mark Hawthorne, author of Striking at the Roots. You can listen online or download the show from the archives. Should be a good show!

38 comments:

Animal-Friendly said...

All of these dishes look sooo yummy! I have been wanting to try the Herb-Crusted Tofu ever since I saw that Julie put the recipe up. Even though I don't like mushrooms, your photo of the dish is making me want to eat them off the screen!

I tried the Italian Sausages a few weeks ago, but unfortunately I used the wrong measuring cup for some of the ingredients, so mine were way too under-seasoned and soft :( But now I really must try then again!

And I am very jealous of your (Photoshop) prom date!

Anonymous said...

Those photos all look restaurant-worthy! And I love the prom dress (I think I'd have picked him as my date, too) ;)

Anonymous said...

Cute date. ;-) Wait till you see mine! Haha!

Anonymous said...

You have such a talent for food presentation! I especially like the herb-crusted tofu photo. It looks as if it came from a 5-star vegan restaurant!

I really wish I had enough frequent flier miles to bring you here to Portland for the Let Live Conference (I could probably get you halfway!). My boyfriend is going to be helping with the audio/video stuff, so I'll be strolling solo... Can you be tempted by the fact that Hannah of My Sweet Vegan fame will be here that Sunday doing a book signing at Herbivore?!

I didn't get to meet Isa, she was very busy making all the wonderful food. I had only a quick moment to say thank you! I'm too shy anyways!

Anonymous said...

You always have the best looking food woman! Damn! You also have the best looking date! :)

Jess said...

I would like to come to your house & sample each & every dish. YUM! My mouth is quite literally watering.

I LOL'd at your prom date. Hahaha! And what is this vegan prom I read of? What a fabulous idea!

Lauren said...

My mouth is watering looking at your food pictures! YUM YUM YUM!!!!

That prom picture is great.. what a cute date you had! :) And I love your prom dress! Mine was sparkly pink! Mabye I will post mine in the future. I don't have to photoshop a hottie into my pic because I went with my HUSBAND! But Joaquin Phoenix might fit just right... LOL!

Congrats on the VegNews award I just read my yesterday and saw the article!

jessy said...

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! your presentation of these dishes is gorgeous! it all looks so gourmet and wonderful! i should try some of those recipes myself - you make them look so amazing!

thanks for sharing your prom picture, too! it's great! and your date's super cute! tee hee! :)

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

The chocolate mocha cake is amazing; and OH MY GOODNESS BEST-LOOKING PROM DATE EVER (hahahaha, too funny).

Unknown said...

I have been eyeballing the herb crusted tofu w/ mushroom marsala recipe...seeing it again must be a sign that I need to make it!

I love chard, I think I could eat it every day!! The cherry ginger sauce sounds lovely.

Oh, and that chocolate mocha cake...WOW.

Andréa said...

Goodness, those dishes ALL look delicious! And your date is VERY cute, hehe. :)

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

LOL I got so excited and was going to tell you that your date looked *exactly like Johnny Depp*

Then I realized it WAS Johnny Depp! Your dress is beautiful-- one of my favorite colors.

I'm looking forward to listening to your show!

A.M. said...

Everything looks wonderful!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Damn, you made all the dishes I've been meaning to make! I had that chard / kale dish at Nutshell & it was yummy. I'll be back in PDX in July & need to go to the Farm.
Hot prom date! hehe.

Anonymous said...

Man that food looks GOOD. That cake (swoons)!! That photo is awesome :)

aTxVegn said...

You and Johnny look nice together!

I agree you plated everything just perfectly. Aren't the sausages super? And so many possibilities...

I'm looking forward to your next show.

Alicia said...

I would order every single one of your meals in a restaurant, they look so professional!
Nice date :-)

J said...

Yum, yum, yum! So, when are you hosting a dinner party for all of us? :)

Lori- the Pleasantly Plump Vegan said...

tofu marsala is one of my fave things (i give all my mushrooms to Jared though).
i didn't go to my HS prom, but if i did, it would have been only under the condition that Johnny Depp be my date.

Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said...

A lovely tour! The herb crusted tofu looks so tempting.

Anonymous said...

I think it's a great idea to bring Portland to you instead- It's just as delicious, but a heck of a lot cheaper than a plane ticket, at least!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, that chocolate mocha cake looks incredible... I want it in my mouth. NOW.

Yes, the magnifying glass was gumpaste and poured sugar, painted with silver luster dust mixed with vodka. It was fun to make!

Anonymous said...

I also LOVE the Everyday Dish "show." Wayyy better than Food Network.

You've gotta get the DVD, if you haven't already-it has Dreena and Bryanna on it too! Plus, the best salsa recipe ever.

Anonymous said...

I forgot to say-awesome prom pic! I like that dress :)

Cakespy said...

Your prom pic is adorable. How dare he ditch you for Vanessa Paradis!? On second thought--it was undoubtedly Johnny's rebound after you dumped HIM. And hello, delicious food! It all looks and sounds amazing!

julie hasson said...

I loved seeing how you cooked your way through Portland! Everything looks amazing! I'm really glad you enjoyed the recipes.

Your Photoshop skills are excellent. I had to show your prom pic to my daughter, who thought that was a fantastic idea. You two make a gorgeous couple!

Congrats on the Veg News award!

Julie

MeloMeals said...

Yum! everything looks great...

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of the sausage cutlets. I'm curious if the texture held up and how you cooked them.

Your prom pic is too funny (although I shouldn't laugh too hard because mine is even worse).

Theresa said...

That cake is just beautiful! And I love the podium wrapped in meshy fabric behind you in the prom pic. So classic.

Carrie™ said...

Your prom date is HOT! :o)
What a great food trip. I still haven't made Julie's sausages. I should get on that. I really like the cutlett idea.
I saw the tofu marsala showcased on the Everyday Dish and it looks so tasty. Yours looks great even if it's not in triangles.

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

The Williams Farm salsa is sold exclusively at Whole Foods. If you can find it, DEFINITELY you must buy it!!!

I think I owe you an email ;o)

Anonymous said...

Haha love the prom pic! And also that chocolate cake made my heart stop. Mmmm

Bianca said...

What a great idea!!! You're so creative! And aren't the Julie sausages the bestest?! I had one for breakfast with my pancakes this morning.

Hot prom date, by the way!

jess (of Get Sconed!) said...

Julie rules, and so do you for the fun prom photo! That Farm dish is one of the best in Portland..

Amey said...

Hi Vegan Noodle!
What a great post! The prom picture with Johnny D. is awesome. I don't even think I have a copy of my prom picture any more.

By the way, regarding co-ed baby showers... we had some fun activities. We wanted the party to feel casual so that people could come and go... not super structured like some showers. We had an activity where people wrote out their favorite childhood book, favorite childhood food, and best piece of parenting advice on slips of paper and dropped each into a bucket. Then we drew one from each bucket and that person got a prize. We read out a few others for extra effect.

We also had quilt squares and fabric pens so that people could draw on a square, and I will sew them into a quilt for the little one. You could do onesies instead. Or baby tees.

Those activities all seemed to be successful, and people seemed to appreciate that they were optional and gender neutral.

Good luck with the shower you're doing!
:) Amey

TB said...

wow, everything looks so yummy and totally profesh! i'm impressed--and jealous! and oh, i love the prom picture; that's hilarious. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh these dishes look amazing! Insoires me to keep trying new dishes. Thanks!

bazu said...

Hey- your prom date was MY prom date! I love, love that picture. You look better than 90% of people in their prom photos! And the rest of the post, mouth-watering as usual!