Brooklyn Bites!

{Want to be completely surprised by a totally unassuming place? 

 Then Zen Vegetarian House is the place for you!}

We walked over there from my apartment, a very nice walk through the park and came up to a very plain almost take-out driven looking place. (Think any restaurant named simple "chinese food" and you will get a solid picture of this place in your head.)

I almost turned around thinking "eh, maybe this isn't where we should eat." I literally stepped in the door and stepped out for a second, questioning that delightful vegan menu that we saw on yelp.

I was so happy, however, that I didn't first appearances get the best of me.

Zen had some really great food, and they deliver!

I had wonton soup for the first time! As a vegan, there just aren't many places that serve it so I hadn't had many opportunities to try it out.

These are all phone pictures, I hadn't expected to like it so much, but as soon as I tasted a bite of the wonton soup I knew I would have to write about Zen Vegetarian House.


Only complaint: not a nice place to dine, so if you want to eat good food in a good atmosphere, then get take out and go home or have it delivered.  Also, for some reason they have really cool plates but had plastic utensils? What is up with that? 

Wonton Soup

Plenty of wontons and delicious broth.

Sugar Cane Drumsticks

Smoked Teriyaki Seitan

Black Pepper Seitan

If you are in the Brooklyn area, I highly recommend this place.  And Foodswings, watch out: these chicken wings definitely rival yours. 

Happy dining Brooklyn!

xoh!

d

Brooklyn Bites!

I go to a Farmer's Market at least once a week to stock up on my supplies for the week. There are many reasons for using Farmer's Markets rather than grocery stores, but let me give you mine:

1. Farmer's Markets directly SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS.
2. Farmer's Markets stock only fruits and vegetables that are IN SEASON.
3. Most Farmer's Market produce is ORGANIC or meets ORGANIC standards.
4. I like to know where my food comes from, I like to know it's story.
5. Most Farmers Market produce is CHEAPER than buying from a grocery store.
(let's not forget that Farmer's Markets accept EBT cards, and some Markets even offer incentive or extra bang for your unemployed government buck if you qualify for EBT)

All in all, I think Farmer's Markets RULE!!! and I am blessed to live in an area with many farmer's markets for my choosing!

I usually go to the Sunday greenmarket in Park Slope, but this past Saturday morning when I woke up I saw a tweet about fresh strawberries and I just couldn't wait until Sunday!

To my surprise and delight, the Saturday Farmer's Market was AMAZING!

It is a beautiful walk to this Farmer's Market through Prospect Park, and when I arrived it was so bustling and big, and full of all different types of fresh produce, meats, milks, cheeses and plants! There are also composting efforts and a clothing recycling center set up.

{This week I bought}
leeks
strawberries(!)
pea shoots
apple cider
mixed salad greens
apples
shiitake mushrooms
kale
sweet potatoes
garlic
a lemon verbena plant

xoh!
d