New York magazine asked me to host this vegan dinner party on May 23rd, and gave me the free range to come up with a creative menu that fit with their theme. I can't give you all the details but think Asian Bat Mitvah!

We are having our event at a yet to be disclosed location, and if you buy a ticket, you'll be getting an e-mail from me 24 hours in advance with the location, the menu, and some fun places to hit up before the dinner party.  Before this event gets too public, I wanted to give you, my loyal friends, cooking partners, and readers, the chance to buy a ticket!  Its $35 bucks, and you get a multi-course meal, open bar, dance floor and the delicious tunes of Man Man!

Buy your tickets today between 3 and 6 to make sure you get a seat!

Here are the details again:
 
Who: Post Punk Kitchen
What: A dinner party
When: May 23rd, 2007 from 7:30 to 11:00
Where: We're not telling
Why: Because you want yummy food
How: Go to nymag.com/nyxny to buy a ticket for $35

The charitable partmer for this event is NY Cares.

I can't tell you the exact details yet but this is going to be awesome.  NY Magazine and NY Cares are hosting a vegan dinner with awesome music and an open bar and a dance floor. Tickets will be 30 bucks. I wish I could tell you all the details now because it's just insanely ridiculously awesome, like the vegan bat mitvah I never had. But I can't tell you the details. Yet.  But save the date! And save up 30 dollars!

http://nymag.com/nyxny/kitchen.php

This link will take you to the event page, if you try to buy tickets right now it will say it's sold out, but it's not. I'll give more details sometime this week. Seriously - save the date like crazy.

The last brunch went so well that we're making it a regular thing. So show up this Sunday May 6th between 11am and 1pm  to get your vegan waffle on.

The menu is the same - Breakfast burrito with scrambled tofu, homefries, tempeh bacon, salsa fresca (that's fresh salsa to you, bub) and guacamole

or

Pumpkin waffles with apple butter, vanilla soy yogurt and the freshest fruit that Brooklyn has to offer

We're raising the price to 8 bucks, but it's a benefit for Eastern Shore Chicken Sanctuary, so I won't be lining my own pockets with your hard earned cash.

I hope to see you there!

Vox Pop website for directions and what have you.

Happy brunchers from last time

Even I am skeptical of creamy dressings made with tofu, but Terry has won me over completely with this Caesar Salad. Capers are the star here, and almonds give it a creamy but slightly grainy texture, similar to hard cheese. And of course there's garlic, too, and a little lemon to brighten things up.  I haven't even mentioned the roasted garlic croutons. What I am trying to say is that I love Terry, and you should, too.

And did you know that Caesar Salad isn't named after the Roman guy, but by some other guy named Caesar working at a restaurant in Mexico in the 20s?

Seitan O Greatness, from Let's Get Sconed

Not since Jennifer Schmoo invented Vegan Twinkies have I seen a recipe make the blog rounds like this. Starting from one little post on the PPK forums, Lachesis' seitan has captivated our hearts (and farts) and minds.

Driven by some peculiar obsessive desire that must stem from having no toys as a child and instead resorting to collecting twigs*, I decided to document every instance of this seitan on the internet. But then I got lazy. But here is what I have so far.

Jess of Let's Get Sconed mentions it a lot. In this instance she uses it in a recipe for Asparagus, Almond and Basil Fried Rice.

Vivacious Vegan makes an Indian flavored version for a Tikka Masala recipe.

Okra Mary at Picked Treats takes only one bite! But she plans on using it for taco filling. Stay tuned.

Vegetation veganizes her mum's Beef Stroganoff recipe, and cuts down on the spiciness a bit.

Squirrel's Vegan Kitchen tweaks the spices a bit. Also check out that Kahlua pie!

Utopian Kitchen pays homage to the double threat; Lachesis' recipe in LoLo's Crispy Sweet And Sour Seitan.

A lil mention from Frytopia.

Susan of Fat Free Vegan Kitchen bakes hers in the toaster oven, plus tweaks the recipe Susan style.

Have Cake Will Travel tries the log method out with the PPK recipe and in the same post pays homage to the Soy Not Oi! Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookie.

First lindyloo sings the seitan's praises and ends things with a very important public service announcement of the flatulated nature on Yeah That Vegan Shit.

Try to check out as many of the links as you can, since discovering new vegan blogs is like striking gold.


*I really did this. And then I wrapped them in lanyard and taped a piece of paper onto them detailing where and when I found the twig. The fork is wrong with me?

I can't believe this. For the first time in ever I 1) Read an email that my mom sent me and 2) Am actually going to post it. The reason being that a vegan Haggadah is mentioned at a little after 3 minutes. It's a cover of Margarittaville, as the title implies.

Manischewitzville

And mom, this does not a set a precedent for you to send me more emails! I don't WANT the Bergdoff's cookie recipe!

Because, like, what does non-dairy really mean, man? I'm just so sick of these labels. Why can't we all just be juice?

From consumerist.com:
“Jamba Juice says it won't tell you upfront the ingredients in its 'non-dairy blend' because of 'trade secrets,' but perhaps the real secret is that it contains milk products and an ingredient known to give some people explosive diarrhea.”

Passover is upon us, and Monday I'll be on Leonard Lopate for a brief segment discussing vegan matzoh ball soup. Listen on WNYC sometime after noon. I'm not sure exactly when I'll be on.

In the meantime, brush up on your matzoh ball skills by watching the PPK Passover episode.

And check out Heeb'n Vegan, I sent Michael some Passover recipes that haven't been posted yet but should be up shortly.

 This email has been going around. I don't know what “shelf space” means but it sounds like losing it would be a bad thing.

“EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.

TEMPTATION WILL BE GONE FROM THE MIDWEST IF YOU DON'T HELP US THIS WEEK.

We are going to lose our shelfspace in the midwest region of Whole Foods
UNLESS:

#1. GO BUY SOME ASAP, because this might be the last time you can. Pints are going for only $2.37 because it is being discontinued. Vote for us with your pocketbook.

#2: Call the Midwest Regional Whole Foods Market office at 773.755.1500: Be nice and let them know you love Temptation and want to buy it all summer long! Vote for us with your Voice!

#3: Find your LOCAL Whole Foods store and tell the manager you want us on the shelf! (Find your local store here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/index.html)

#4: TELL SOMEONE ABOUT US. Have them contact Whole Foods. We are a special vegan company… a)ONLY one made on vegan equipment. b)ONLY ones using Fair Trade Certified ingredients c)ONLY ones supporting the local grassroots animal rights activists d)WAY FREAKING MORE VEGAN THAN OTHER BRANDS!!!

Whole Foods Market has been a great friend in our efforts to bring a unique 100% vegan ice cream to customers in the Midwest. Lower sales in the entire category have forced all brands into a smaller amount of freezer space, and we are going to suffer. It's not easy to run a company ethically and entirely vegan. The other products are all made at dairies and we don't think that's too cool.

If we, somehow, manage to maintain our shelf space, you can trust we'll have the MOST INSANE SUMMER PARTY YET… WITH PLENTY OF FREE ICE CREAM! BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! THIS WEEK! TODAY! (VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN.. TRUE CHICAGO STYLE)

Otherwise, keep fighting the good fight… but it's not over. We can get this shelf space back, but it's in your hands. Please, please… make a call, buy a pint… or we're gone in the Midwest (Our home).

(Product is still available at independent health food stores and Whole Foods Market in OTHER regions, and soon WHOLE FOODS MID-ATLANTIC)

From the bottom of our hearts… Thanks for your help.
-Ryan and Dan

Chicago Soydairy / Temptation VEGAN ice cream.”

I'll be cooking brunch in the belly of Brooklyn for the bellies of Brooklyn, this Sunday 4/1 at Vox Pop Cafe on Cortelyou Road. Please show up and meet other vegans and listen to my Ipod. It should be lots of fun or at least less miserable than where ever else you might have brunch.

You'll have a choice of Lemon Corn Waffles with Blueberry Sauce, fresh fruit and soy (or rice) yogurt or a Breakfast Burrito filled with Scrambled Tofu, Homefries, Tempeh Bacon with Guac and Salsa on the side. All for a measly 8 bucks. Get there between 11 am and 1 pm, stay as long as you like. And take a walk through Prospect Park afterwards to do some bird watching. It's migration season!

Maybe you'll see a Bufflehead Duck in the park, bufflehead.