Vegetarian reviewed in Portland, ME (and beyond)

The fermented black bean and tofu noodle bowl at the A1 Diner.

Two years ago when I agreed to join a pool of writers contributing restaurant reviews to The Maine Switch magazine, I knew I had a unique task. Like the other writers, I'd need to tease out story after story in the ordinary act of eating a meal and convey these tales to a mainstream audience. But unlike my fellow scribes dining in service of Switch, I'd be eating (and writing) from the vegetarian part of the plate.

A take-out Greek pizza without cheese from Bonobo.

Since then I've written about a number of local restaurants where a vegan can get a decent meal and an omnivore has plenty of options. I (almost) never forget to sample from the bar.

During these past two years, plant-based foods and meals have continued to blossom here in Portland. In 2007, The Green Elephant opened, giving the city it's first upscale, all-vegetarian dinner spot. That same year a pair of former restaurant owners began making the vegan Blue Mango Veggie burgers (which show up on many of the pub menus around town) and Sarah Conroy started the Maine Vegan Meet-Up group. Last year the owner of The Kitchen closed up shop in order to produce his popular Papou's Kitchen falafels for local stores and restaurants.

From soup shops to white tablecloth establishments, more and more vegan items are showing up on Portland menus. At Thai and Pan-Asian eateries, I've noticed many menus listing vegan white sauce as an alternative to garlic sauce. And this July 18 the city's 5th annual Vegetarian Food Festival takes place at the East End Community School.

It's definitely been an exciting time to contribute a vegetarian voice to the lively food discourse that takes place in Portland. Along the way I've hooked readers up with date night ideas, disturbed others with my fondness for cheese-free pizza (see above), learned how to properly appreciate martinis (in moderation) and developed a deep attachment to the Castelvetrano olives served at Novare Res Bier Bar.

Here are those gorgeous olives from Novare.

A garden salad and hummus plate at White Heart.

So in honor of Switch's two-year anniversary, I give you a round-up of my vegetarian restaurant reviews. I hope to write many more.

Novare Res Bier Cafe, Portland, February 4, 2009
¡Burrito!, Westbrook, December 22, 2008
Hot Suppa!, Portland, November 12, 2008
Portland Pie Company, Portland, September 30, 2008
Emilitsa, Portland, September 2, 2008
Flatbread Company, Portland, August 5, 2008
A1 Diner, Gardiner, June 17, 2008
Mesa Verde, Portland, April 23, 2008
David's, Portland, March 26, 2008
Katahdin, Portland, February 27, 2008
Pom's Thai Taste, Portland, January 30, 2008
Silly's, Portland, January 9, 2008
Bintliff's, Portland, December 20, 2007
Blue Spoon, Portland, October 2, 2007
Caiola's, Portland, September 11, 2007
Bonobo, Portland, August 14, 2007
Cockeyed Gull, Peaks Island, July 24, 2007
The Good Egg Cafe, Portland, July 3, 2007
The White Heart, Portland, June 12, 2007
Artemisia, Portland, May 22, 2007

Portland dine around

Because the only photos I've remembered to snap in my own kitchen recently -- of a yummy vegetable curry -- were so horribly out of focus when I downloaded them, I couldn't possibly post them here. Instead I share a pic of a spicy and delicious vegetable curry I ate at Passage to India. The two chutneys (tamarind and red pepper) they serve with the naan are amazing too. Maybe I'll get a photo of them the next time I'm there.


This is the drunken noodle with tofu from Pom's Thai Taste. With a burst of basil, the sauce is like freshness itself, and because it's so sweet it passes for dessert!

But for an actual dessert ...
Here's a really decadent vegan cheesecake Adam and I shared at Green Elephant. My profuse apologies for the fuzzy photo quality. But it was so delicious, I had to share it. We also split a chocolate orange mousse. Why no photo you ask? Because that particular shot is so blurred just glancing at it causes eye strain. So I've saved you the pain.

The first rule of beer revolutionaries

There's a revolution going on at Portland's newest hot spot. For the past month, Novare Res has been serving up more than 200 bottled beers and an ever changing selection of 25 beers on tap. And the food is amazing.

If you're an olive fan, you've got to check out this olive and bread plate. The green Provence olives are so fresh and flavorful I can taste the Mediterranean sun.

The menu is tiny and intentionally rustic, which means delicious, unprocessed foods. There are only four composed plates on the menu and both the olives and the legume & fennel salad are vegan. With these whole, hearty foods, owner Eric Michaud aims to replicate the European tradition of enjoying small plates of food while drinking.

This sexy goblet holds a Trappist beer called Koningshoeven Quadruppel. In the background is the empty bottle and glass of a Piraat beer and a glimpse inside the walk-in refrigerator. The Koningshoeven had a sweet, pleasing taste which evaporates from the palate as soon as it's swallowed.

The bartenders and waitstaff know the product well. Not only do they navigate dozens of stemware choices to find the perfect pair for each beer, but they have lots of fascinating details about the breweries and regions where all this frothy goodness comes from.

I apologize for this fuzzy photo.

But I had to include it to give you a flavor of the Novare Res beer club. It's called the Uprising, and Adam is in training to become a full-fledged member. What does he have to do to be initiated, you ask? Just drink 200 beers. That's all.

And while I don't have the stamina (or the stomach) to join this elite group, it does look like I'll have plenty of chances to enjoy these delicious olives and taste finely crafted beers in the coming months.

Homemade crack corn

Here in Portland, I'm not the only one who's addicted to the popcorn from Little Lad's Bakery. This all vegan restaurant (with locations in Portland and NYC) sells its popcorn at Whole Foods, greatly increasing it's popcorn market share. Because the popcorn is so addictive, many of us affectionately call it crack corn. If you want to try this to-die for popcorn, but don't have a Little Lads or a Whole Foods nearby, no worries. You can still enjoy it by making it yourself (or at least get damn close). Here's how:

Ultimate Popcorn

1/4 cup organic popcorn kernels
Organic extra virgin olive oil
Organic dried dill
Organic coarse ground pepper
Nutritional yeast (this is the secret crack corn ingredient)
Maine Sea Salt Company garlic salt

In a popcorn popper or covered pan add olive oil and then corn. Heat popper stirring (or shaking) rapidly until all kernels have popped. Drizzle more olive oil over kernels. Then add seasonings. If you don't have garlic salt, just use regular salt and garlic powder.

Note: This is my favorite seasoning combo, but the possibilities are endless. Raid you spice rack and see what you come up with.

Note #2: If you don't have a hand-cranked popcorn popper, go out right now and buy one. My friend Lucy gave me this one from L.L. Bean as a wedding gift. I absolutely love it! It's right up there with my Wusthof knives when it comes to my most frequently used kitchen tools.

As Oprah goes ...

Yup, it's official. Veganism has hit the mainstream. As part of her quest to become more spiritually connected, cultural leader Oprah Winfrey is embarking on a 21-day vegan diet (which also steers clear of caffeine, sugar, alcohol and gluten). On her blog, she writes: "I never imagined meatless meals could be so satisfying."

If Oprah's feeling the vegan love, it's bound to start sweeping the nation. (Quick buy stock in tofu!)

With this tidbit in the news, what are the chances that we'll be able to score a table at Green Elephant tonight? I'm calling right now!

UPDATE: Just called Green Elephant. It's only 6:15 pm and they're already full. (And they have a waiting list.) They don't take reservations. Looks like Portland needs some more vegan joints ...

Thai one on

I'm a huge fan of Thai food, and in fact Adam and I chowed down at Pom's Thai Taste last night. So delicious. Tonight, with little time to spare for dinner, I still managed to whip up a Thai-inspired dish. Here's how you can too.

Thai peanut noodles

7 oz. rice noodles
boiling water

Sauce:
2 Tbsp. organic olive oil
1/4 cup finely diced organic onion
1/4 cup organic peanut butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup Thai chili sauce
1/4 cup organic soy sauce
1/2 cup crushed organic peanuts
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 organic lime

Stir fry:
2 Tbsp. organic olive oil
2 cloves organic garlic, finely diced
1 large organic onion sliced in strips (I used a Vidalia)
1 organic carrot, sliced diagonally
1 cup frozen, organic broccoli

In a sauce pan, add oil and saute onion until translucent. Add peanut butter, water, Thai chili sauce and soy sauce. Simmer for 1/2 hour (or longer) to thicken. (If you're pressed for time, like I was, add a tsp. of whole grain flour to thicken.) Add peanuts, sesame oil and the juice of the lime. (Word to the wise: If you're not an organic freak like me, do consider going organic when you eat peanuts and peanut butter. Peanuts are widely grown as a rotation crop with cotton, and cotton is one of the most chemical intensive crops in the US. Of course the peanuts pick up all those toxic nasties. And who wants to eat defoliants for dinner?)

In a wok or stir fry pan, heat the garlic in olive oil for 1-2 minutes. Then add onions and saute for 2-3 minutes and then add the carrots. Saute another minute or two and then add the broccoli.

Meanwhile, boil water. Place the rice noodles in a deep bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Steep a minute or two and then drain.

Once the broccoli is heated through, it's done. Add the noodles to a plate, top with veggies and then sauce. I sprinkled this with a few chopped onion greens from Sunshine Farm (aka the commune).

Bucket-O-Organic-Beer

This weekend's adventures included ordering a bucket of Peak Organic Pale Ale at The White Heart. Why we've never done this before, I have no idea. I think we may have been inspired by the impending arrival of summer. Or maybe we were just thirsty. (As I recall, there were some cocktails on the table too. But who's keeping track?)

And let me give a special shout out to my friend Emily. Without her tech-savvy, I wouldn't have a photo to share. Emily you rock!

Granny's is back (don't let the sign fool you)

We finally checked out the new home of Granny's Burritos last night. This Portland veg-friendly institution hopped from the Old Port to the West End after a brief hiatus (causing much heartache around town). The food was just as yummy as we remembered, and they continue to have daily vegan specials. They no longer do counter service for take-out, but the interior decor is much improved (a mix of Uncle Billy's and Granny's throw backs)

The new location is at 653 Congress St. (The old Uncle Billy's Rest-O-Bar spot.) A sign must be on its way, but right now it reads Neon Diner. Don't let it lead you astray.

5 spots for hummus in Portland, ME

Whenever I need a quick and inexpensive meal, I seek out a hummus sandwich. These puppies vary widely, depending on the quality of the hummus, the type of bread and the choice of toppings. Most often, I go for a whole wheat roll up. I tend to pair it with the standard toppings of the famous Maine Italian: pickles (without pickles, why bother?), olives, onions, green pepper, tomato, salt and pepper. Sometimes I add in lettuce too.

My absolute, all time favorite hummus remains the one from the Bagel Cafe in Camden. I've yet to find its thick, veggie filled match in Portland. But I keep looking. In the meantime, here are five solid choices for hummus fans:

Market Street Eats, 30 Market St.
Go for the Avo Cucumber (with pickles, of course).

Vaughn Street Variety, 235 Vaughn St.
They have a hummus wrap on the menu with sprouts and stuff, but I always go Italian style.

The Works Bakery & Cafe, 15 Temple St.
Go for the organic, whole grain bagel. They make their hummus in-house.

Back Cove Deli, 89 Ocean Ave.
They have yummy Greek olives.

West End Grocer, 133 Spring St.
Again, I modify to fit my pickle/olive needs.

Portland's pizza secret

After 4 pm at O'Naturals on Exchange Street in the Old Port, you can get pizzas on their signature flatbreads. They're definitely worth checking out. Tonight I ordered up one with sunflower seeds, rosemary onions, roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives and spinach. It was to die for. The flatbread was moist and chewy and the veggies were abundant and lightly roasted.

What to make when it's 7:50 pm

You may have noticed I have a tempeh obsession lately. I just can't help it. There's this whole wide world of tempeh out there and I'm just skimming the surface.

Last night I ordered the Tempehilla (totally made up word) at the Pepper Club. It was sauteed tempeh mixed with vegetables, wrapped in a Napa cabbage leaf and baked. It was seriously yummy. And while tofu and those freaky fake soy meats are ultra-processed with little of their nutritional integrity left, tempeh is a whole food. The fermenting that turns whole soy beans into tempeh also makes those beans more digestible.

So when I finally walked in the door at 7:50 this evening absolutely starving, I reached for the Fakin' Bacon smoked tempeh strips to help me get dinner on the table fast. This came together in a flash, and we sat down by 8:15. The verdict? Absolutely yummers.

Smoky Pepper Pizza

olive oil
sea salt
basil
1 pre-made pizza crust from the bakery (whole grain, if you can get it)
1 package smoky tempeh strips
1/2 cup organic marinara sauce
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 bunch scallions, diced

Preheat oven to 450. Saute tempeh strips until browned. Remove from pan and crumble. Brush crust with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and basil (fresh, if you have it). Add marinara sauce. Sprinkle on pumpkin seeds and then add diced bulb ends of the scallions. Add crumbled tempeh and diced pepper. Lower oven temperature to 425. Cook pizza for roughly 10 minutes, or until crust is golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with rest of scallions.

Caiola's plans brunch

I hear West End gem Caiola's plans to start serving brunch on Mother's Day.

Hot shots at the Fling

Check out the Vegan Chocolate Coconut Hot Shots created by the Pepper Club for this year's Chocolate Lovers' Fling. I think I OD'd on them. (But isn't that what happens every year?) My favorite Pepper Club entry remains the vegan chocolate cake. I like it so much we served it at our wedding.

New camera and Pom's for dinner

It's so awesome to live in downtown Portland.

Case in point: My camera broke over the weekend. (Obviously not awesome.) But yesterday my husband and I headed a couple blocks up Congress Street to Fotoshops to get a new one. The customer service was amazing.

The guy who helped us select our new point-and-shoot even programmed the time and date stamp and then set up the memory card. He stressed that the camera had a year warranty and that we should come back to the shop should anything go wrong. We were both super impressed.

Since we were in the neighborhood, it only made sense to stop at Pom's Thai Taste & Noodle House for dinner. (Twist my arm, why don't you.)

While I'm not a fan of fake meat, those of you who are will be happy to know Pom's is now offering soy chicken and other meat substitutes.

3 spots to find falafel in Portland, ME

I’m a huge fan of falafel and have been ever since I first discovered it in Syracuse. There was this awesome little Middle Eastern joint tucked away in an off-campus neighborhood. They sold six packs of falafel with a tahini dipping sauce. It became a major part of my diet, and has been ever since.

Here in Portland, these three restaurants keep me flush with falafel.

Silly’s falafel comes in a wrap with spinach, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and cucumber dill sauce. (The dill sauce has dairy, so I always sub it out for balsamic vinaigrette.) The falafel is crisp and chewy.

Greek Corner’s falafel comes in a puffy Syrian bread wrapped taco-like around shredded lettuce, tomato, onion and cinnamon-flavored tahini sauce. The falafel is crisp and formed in rolls rather than balls.

Spartan Grill’s falafel also comes in a warm flatbread with lettuce, tomato, onion and tahini sauce. The falafel is crisp on the outside and very moist inside. A signature wrapping technique keeps it all together while you chow.

Macro gossip

Green Elephant is planning to roll out a macrobiotic menu soon. Stayed tuned for details...

Where to eat vegetarian in Portland, Maine

As a vegan and a food writer who works for a weekly magazine in this foodie city, I get asked all the time about the best places for vegans and vegetarians to chow down. In general, I’ve found that Portland restaurants are really waking up to the growing number of people (vegetarian and not) who want to eat plant-based meals. So you won't be left with a bowl of white rice at most restaurants. But if you're looking for more than one veggie option, here are my top 10 picks:

1. Green Elephant-This is Portland's only all-vegetarian lunch and dinner spot and is located in the Arts District.
2. Silly’s - Casual spot in East End with diverse menu and robust selection of vegan fare.
3. Pom's Thai Taste Restaurant & Noodle House - Huge selection of Thai dishes, noodles and sushi, make sure to order the vegetarian white sauce. Located in Arts District.
4. White Heart - This hipster lounge in the Arts District serves up amazing food at reasonable prices. The drinks are killer too.
5. Pepper Club/Good Egg Cafe - Portland's oldest vegetarian/vegan friendly restaurant. Located in East End.
6. Flatbread - A Northeast pizza chain, this eatery (right on the waterfront in Old Port) offers organic and vegan options.
7. North Star Cafe -At the base of Munjoy Hill, this East End coffee house + live music spot has great veggie sandwiches and soups.
8. Fat Baxter’s - East End market and store with emphasis on local and organic. Sandwich counter offers yummy veggie food.
9. Artemisia - Studio District dinner spot with tasty vegetarian options.
10. Mesa Verde - Located at 618 Congress St. in the Arts District this Mexican restaurant offers organic food, vegetarian options and amazing smoothies. (Sorry, they don't have a website.)

Let vegans eat cake

With vegan chocolate cakes like this one sold at the bakery just down the street, I’m in vegan wonderland here in Portland, Maine. These organic Belgian chocolates from Divine Treasures (vegan of course) make the living easy too. Thanks Adam! Best birthday present ever.

It’s been a crazy week with parties every night. Thank you everyone for all the laughs and the birthday wishes! Can't wait for next year.

Tonight we’re off to dinner at Pom’s Thai Taste & Noodle House. The food is always fabulous. And the company is too.