Dining Out in Portland - Petunia's Pies & Pastries

Hummingbird Babycake - Petunia's Pies & Pastries

A gluten-free and vegan bakery that serves alcoholic beverages... it's a rare breed, but Portland has one! I stopped in here after another wonderful vegan meal a few blocks away. I was already stuffed, but couldn't resist. It's an adorable bakery with feminine, pastel colors and pretty decor, very much in line with my taste. Apparently the storefront is a new addition this year, previously they were selling their goods at a Farmer's Market. VegNews recognized the bakery a few months ago in their list of "8 Hot New Vegan Restaurants Across the Country" (a list that also included one of my new Boston faves, Root).

Double Chocolate Babycake

with GLITTER Sprinkles
Petunia's Pies & Pastries

I kept apologizing to the staff for how long it was taking me to decide - sensory overload! They sell pies, cakes, cookies, whoopie pies, and cupcakes, as well as savory items like pizza. There were even cupcakes with glitter sprinkled on top - I need to find that for my own baking! They had these enormous, mouthwatering cakes available by the slice that I had to try. The price was a little steep for one slice at $8, but I had to remind myself that gluten-free and vegan means more expensive ingredients. In my opinion it's worth it for a much healthier dessert. I wanted to try everything, though I had my heart set on cake and ordered a slice of Black & White Cake. I also ordered a Hummingbird cupcake or "babycake", as they were so cutely named after reading positive reviews on Yelp. My friend ordered a slice of pie that must have been a special item because I didn't see it on the regular menu. My cake was decadent and rich with a silky chocolate flavor. The frosting was sweet with a hint of vanilla, just as it should be. There was a layer of chocolate ganache spread across the top, that looked beautiful on the full cake and was yummy when I had a bite with it in it. My Hummingbird babycake, which I enjoyed the next day, was similar to a carrot cake cupcake, with cream cheese frosting. It was a tad too sweet, but still had good flavor. 

Coconut Dulce de Leche Cake
Petunia's Pies & Pastries

Black & White Cake - Petunia's Pies & Pastries

 

It's quite a challenge to create delicious and aesthetically pleasing baked goods that are both gluten-free and vegan, but Petunia's is successfully doing just that. I didn't get to try any cocktails with my desserts, but next time I'm in Portland I will be back. If you can't make it to the storefront in downtown Portland they also sell their products at local retailers or you can go place custom orders online, but unfortunately for delivery you would have to be fairly close-by, since there is a fee based on mileage. 

How cute is this to-go bag?!

Petunia's Pies & Pastries

610 SW 12th Avenue

Portland, OR 97205

Petunia's Pies & Pastries Website

Dining Out in Portland - Sizzle Pie

Spiral Tap & New Maps Out of Hell Vegan Pizza - Sizzle Pie

Spiral Tap Vegan Pizza - Sizzle Pie

Although New York City is known for its pizza I haven't had a delicious slice of vegan pie...yet. I admit it is for a lack of trying, so I will be on the hunt and hope to find one soon. While I was in Portland, Sizzle Pie came up in my restaurant research for having fantastic pizza both non-vegan and vegan. The option for vegan pizza wasn't just a plain pie with some Daiya cheese thrown on top as a substitute. They offered a well thought-out, creative and generous menu of vegan pizzas with amusing names. If that isn't enough they also have a "Create Your Own" menu with a full list of vegan toppings, including vegan pepperoni, seitan italian sausage, and something called "buffalo jackfruit."

My co-workers and I stopped in after going to a Trail Blazers game (and after we had had our first dinner at Veggie Grill earlier that night). They stay open late, 3am on weekdays. Somehow I found my appetite again when I smelled the heavenly pizza aroma from the street. I was even more excited to see they had two vegan pizzas available for slices, so 1) I didn't need to wait for an entire pizza to cook 2) I could try more than one variety. Even better, they didn't just offer the option of one massive slice, you could get what they called a "cut" for only a $1.75, depending on the pizza. That's a smart idea. All of their pizzas seem to be thin crust, which I prefer.


 I ordered a full slice of Spiral Tap, the more traditional though still very unique choice of the two vegan pizzas. It resembled a craft project with swirled purple and red sauces. Made with creamy caramelized onion spread, marinara sauce, and a sprinkling of nutritional yeast, I really enjoyed this one, however it was a little too sweet to have for a full meal. I immediately wished I had ordered a full slice of the second choice, New Maps Out of Hell; it was perfection! This one had a creamy basil cashew spread (more like pesto in this case), seasoned soy curls (a popular item in these parts), and your choice of three veggies, as presented on the menu. That night the additions were roasted garlic, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts. I am not a fan of olives, but I hardly minded them with this combination of flavors. No cheese substitute necessary, I wouldn't change a thing. 

 

I thought about going back to Sizzle Pie many times while in Portland, but there just wasn't enough time or room in my stomach to allow for it. I give this place two thumbs up and hope to find comparable pizza near me.

926 W. Burnside Street

Portland, OR 97205

Sizzle Pie Website

Dining Out in Portland - Veggie Grill

B-Wing Salad - Veggie Grill

Childishly, I wanted to dislike this place because it's such a great idea that I kick myself for not going out there and making it happen. Someone else had to and these guys are doing it well. In all of my dining while staying in Portland I have to admit this was one of the places I wish I had gone back to. I could have eaten here everyday! The service is quick, the menu is huge, and the one meal I had there was perfect. They are expanding rapidly with at least four more locations coming soon along the West Coast. 

My co-workers and I stopped into the downtown Portland location for a quick dinner before heading to a Trail Blazers basketball game. I had read about the B-Wing Salad in another blog post so I decided quickly that was what I'd try. The staff was very friendly and there is a higher level of service here than at your typical fast food joint. They bring your order to your table, check on you while you're eating, and clear your table when you're done. 

B-Wing Salad - Veggie Grill

My meal was fantastic. It was a huge serving so I couldn't finish it all, but I came pretty close! I haven't had a salad like this since before I was vegan. It is served with Gardein buffalo wings, chopped romaine lettuce, avocado, celery, roasted corn salsa and creamy ranch dressing. The colors even match their logo! The buffalo "chicken" wings were extremely close to the real thing (also noted by my non-vegan co-worker) and the creamy dressing was amazing. I'm not a fan of celery so I would ask for less next time, but it's to be expected with buffalo chicken; I can't knock them for it. My co-worker tried the Cauli-Mashed Potatoes and Gravy side dish. Another dish that is rarely served vegan, but still tasted good and fairly close to the real thing. It was prepared with cauliflower blended with mashed potatoes, porcini mushroom gravy, and fresh rosemary. It wouldn't have been my first pick, but that's because I also had my heart set on trying the Mac-n-Cheese. 

Cauli-Mashed Potatoes & Gravy - Veggie Grill

This is what I would consider vegan junk food based on the soy-heavy products, but they do offer soy-free and gluten-free options on their menu. I didn't have a chance to try any of their desserts, but just reading the description on the menu for the Grilled Cookie left me with a strong craving. 

I can't wait to go west again and try more of the menu!

Veggie Grill

508 SW Taylor Street

Portland, OR 97204

Check out their website for a full list of locations and others coming soon!

Dining Out in Portland - Voodoo Doughnuts

Vegan Toasted Coconut Cake Doughnut - Voodoo Doughnuts

Voodoo Doughnuts was recently named one of the "20 Most Iconic Food Destinations Across America" by Smithsonian Magazine. Pretty cool!

My first trip here was quite an adventure. It was late at night (yes, it's open 24/7!) after a full day of flying and driving into town for a business trip. I was lost trying to find the downtown Portland location and the friendly police politely notified me that while on my quest for doughnuts I had broken multiple traffic laws. As soon as they knew I was a tourist they took pity on me and pointed me in the right direction. We arrived to no line and an overwhelmingly large number of doughnuts to choose from, both vegan and non. You can see the list on their website, try not to drool on your keyboard. With playful and even naughty names, the flavors get very creative and nostalgic, like Captain My Captain, a yeast doughnut with vanilla frosting and Captain Crunch cereal. For vegan options they have a lot to choose from, both cake and yeast doughnuts like Oreo, maple, coconut, sprinkles, peanut, or triple chocolate penetration. 

 

Rotating Carousel of Delicious, Heavenly and Colorful Doughnuts!

We ordered a Voodoo dozen to bring to our coworkers and I ordered myself the appropriately named Cock-N-Balls doughnut, chocolate glazed, complete with cream filling in the balls. There are endless jokes to make with this one... The taste was exactly like a traditional yeast doughnut, though it had been many years since I tasted one, I bet that a non-vegan could not tell the difference. It's a large portion so I didn't eat it all at once and it was still just as good the next day.

Vegan Cock-N-Balls Doughnut - Voodoo Doughnuts

Vegan Apple Fritter - Voodoo Doughnuts

Of course, you can't visit only once when staying in Portland, so the morning we were flying back home we stopped by again. I changed it up a bit and went with the Apple Fritter doughnut - it was AMAZING, capitalization of text is required on this one. It was huge, but I felt the need to finish this over the course of a few hours while traveling. It's what you might expect - fried dough with chunks of apple and cinnamon with a sweet sugary glaze. I also tried a toasted coconut cake doughnut. The doughnut itself was perfectly spiced and the frosting plus coconut topping was sweet and decadent without being too heavy. 


I'm going to be dreaming about these doughnuts for a while. Luckily I have my Cinnamon Snail Crème Brûlée donut to turn to in NYC, but you can't beat the prices of Voodoo. I love that despite their fame, they are still so affordable! Tip: Cash Only.

Voodoo Doughnuts

22 SW 3rd Avenue

Portland, OR 97205

Voodoo Doughnuts Website

Other Locations:

1501 NE Davis Street

Portland, OR 97232

20 East Broadway

Eugene, OR 97401

Voodoo is also expanding to Denver, CO!

Dining Out in San Francisco - The Plant Cafe Organic

Plant Burger with Mixed Greens - The Plant Cafe Organic  

During my first trip to the West Coast I had a layover in San Francisco, a city I've always wanted to visit. While I only saw the airport this time around, I was excited when I stepped off the plane and saw a vegan-friendly restaurant in my terminal (hint: fly Virgin America to get access to this gem). 

I power-walked my way up to the counter at The Plant Cafe Organic and upon seeing "Awarded 1 of 10 Best Burgers in San Francisco" I decided I would give the Plant Burger a try. Though tempted by the vegan cupcakes and cookies, I started with a real meal. It is a house-made burger with lentils, mushrooms, beets, cashews, and bulgar wheat served on a sourdough bun with lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and aioli. It comes with a side of mixed greens and a citrus dressing. The burger was like comfort food, filling, tasty and a little bit of an indulgence. Any time there is a creamy dressing or sauce on my vegan food it's a treat. The burger patty even looked like a rare meat burger from the red beet coloring, which is gross in a way but also amusing :) 

After waiting around some more and fully digesting, I went back for a smoothie to take on the plane. I got the Blue Green smoothie. It interested me because of the spirulina. I often feel the need to overdose on vitamins and nutrients when traveling to avoid getting sick. Spirulina is a green superfood loaded with protein, amino acids, and iron and is found in tropical lakes (think algae). I had a smoothie that looked similar to this years ago from Whole Foods. This one contained bananas, blueberries, almond milk, coconut milk and spirulina. It was the right amount of sweetness and the combined fruits worked well together. 

They also offer a number of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, along with a longer list of vegan-friendly entrees and baked goods. With a growing number of locations throughout San Francisco, I would say this place is doing pretty well. I applaud them for offering travelers a healthy option - it was certainly my first encounter with truly delicious vegan options in an airport.

Blue Green Smoothie - The Plant Cafe Organic

Toasted Coconut Cupcakes - The Plant Cafe Organic

The Plant Cafe Organic

Terminal 2

San Francisco Airport (SFO), CA 94128

The Plant Cafe Website

Other Locations: 

Strawberry Village Shopping Center 

800 Redwood Hwy, Suite 810

Strawberry, CA 94941

3352 Steiner Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

101 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Suite 108, Pier 3, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111

1395 Burlingame Avenue

Burlingame, CA 94010

Dining In - Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams

Dark Chocolate Dreams - Peanut Butter & Co.

Ever have one of those chocolate cravings that just won't go away? I do. Sometimes all I need is just a small bite of dark chocolate or a spoonful of this wonderful creation. I only tried it for the first time last month, but I've seen in the grocery store for years. I had no idea this chocolate version was vegan! This company makes 10 different flavors of peanut butter, almost all of them vegan and gluten-free (and labeled as such!), with delicious-sounding flavors like Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, Mighty Maple, and White Chocolate Wonderful. 

I like to snack on this with pretzels for even more of that salty-sweet combo or on a piece of toast. Think of it as the vegan-friendly Nutella. Although it's dark chocolate flavored, the taste is creamier and sweeter than what you'd expect, closer to milk chocolate without the milk, of course. The nutrition facts are similar to regular peanut butter so watch the serving size (not that I do unfortunately...).

Dark Chocolate Dreams - Peanut Butter & Co. Nutrition Facts

Now that I'm in NYC I'm tempted to visit the Peanut Butter and Co. Sandwich Shop. I've always thought it was such a cute brand and the creative sandwiches on the menu sound so yummy! There might be a "Dining Out" post for this soon :)

You can visit their website here, appropriately named ilovepeanutbutter.com.

Dining In - Gardein Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n

Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n  - Gardein

Here's an example of a quick, affordable at-home meal. I got my first taste of Gardein last year at the Vegetarian Food Festival in Boston. My initial reaction was that this brand comes closer to the real thing than all the other mock meats I had tried at the time; although the long list of ingredients is a little unsettling (see photo at the end). It's the brand that a few restaurants have even started to carry, like Yard House, Veggie Grill, and Sublime. While I've mentioned before that I try to stay away from soy-heavy, processed mock meat products, sometimes I want a little "junk" food. I feel better knowing that my new junk food is far better for me than non-vegan junk food. 

                                

This entree packs a lot of protein, 17g for one serving, while still being low-calorie. If you happen to eat the whole package (without sauce, which is really the best part!) it's 450 calories. Usually I cook up the whole package and add brown rice and steamed mixed vegetables and create two meals out of it. The Gardein website even offers a couple of recipe ideas - check it out here. I've also had the Trader Joe's version (and blogged about it). It is slightly less expensive, but the texture is a little chewier and not quite as good. For a "quick & easy meal," like the package promises give this a try.