Tempeh Reubens and Pies at McFoster's

Just a quick post today. Tempeh reubens, gluten free pumpkin pie and apple-pear pie from Mcfoster's.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

One of my favorite ways to spend a lazy Sunday morning is at McFoster's, enjoying brunch. Though I usually opt for the tempeh, lettuce and tomato sandwich, with a garden salad with cucumber garlic ranch as my side, this particular brunch had me ordering a plain tofu scramble with hash browns. Yes, I fancied it up with a bit of the aforementioned ranch and a few splashes of hot sauce, but it was a perfect start to a lovely Sunday.

For dessert, my mom and I shared the Celestial Bananas. Yes, I am aware the name is kind of awkward, but so is describing it: a sautéed banana, lined with fresh sliced strawberries and topped off with three slices of tofu mousse. It sounds like it skews a little too much towards health food, but it delicious. The banana is cooked perfectly to bring out the natural sweetness and the tofu mousse lacks any soy aftertaste, while the strawberries are just delicious on their own. The flavors shown are chocolate and lemon, but it varies from day to day.

Nebraska Vegans May be Spoiled: Part One

Nebraska. The word conjures up a vegan wasteland, often prompting questions along the lines of "can you even eat there?" However, Nebraskan vegans have a lot going on, from our $6 Vegetarian Platter at Omaha Ethiopian Restaurant (25th and Leavenworth) to Taj Mahal's two page vegan menu (located in Lincoln) to the aforementioned TLTs from McFoster's, we have quite a bit to choose from.

In fact, I thought it was pretty darn good.

But it got better. Much better. Mind-blowingly better.

I found out about Clean Plate brunch. Clean Plate is the brainchild of Elle Lien, who creates some of the best food I have ever eaten. Each Sunday, she is kind enough to invite people into her home for a $5 all you can eat, mostly raw, vegan brunch. I wasn't sure what to expect the first time I went there, but after inhaling about a billion pieces of onion bread with asparagus pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, I knew my culinary life in Omaha would never be the same.

Each week, Elle outdoes herself with amazing creations that have me thinking about brunch all week long. Here are some photos from this week's raw crepe feast:
























Highlights included raw sweet crepes, to be topped with peanut butter sauce or chocolate sauce, raw savory crepes to be topped with lemon hollandaise or a concoction of basil, tomatoes and mushrooms, asparagus pesto scrambled tofu (best I've ever had), ONION BREAD (totally obsessed with this), delicious croquettes made with sunflower seeds, waffles, leeks, a walnut and (I'm guessing) nectarine salad and fresh berries. To drink, there was a strawberry-type smoothie (delish), coffee and water. All for $5. All I could eat. Seriously. This is what my dreams are made of.

In short, I already knew that Nebraska was secretly awesome. Elle really hits this point home with her amazing brunches where she consistently outdoes herself by creating absolutely incredible food. I am most definitely looking forward to when she opens her Clean Plate restaurant in August during the Empty Room series. That's right, a raw, vegan restaurant in Nebraska. Nebraska Vegans may be spoiled.

Food I Love: McFoster's TLT and Kind Salad

Omaha's long standing McFoster's Natural Kind Cafe is a Midwestern vegetarian landmark of sorts. While I do have my qualms with it (um, serving meat at a vegetarian restaurant? not vegetarian!), I cannot deny the tastiness of the vegan food I can obtain there. From their Celestial Strawberries to their superb guacamole, I always know I will receive great food and a warm, relaxing atmosphere when I eat there. I have several favorites there, including the date shake (so good) and the tofu scramble and hash browns, but nothing can beat the tempeh, lettuce and tomato sandwich with a kind salad covered in their garlic cucumber ranch. Check this out:

Do you see these beautiful creations? The edible flowers? The uber tasty tempeh bacon? The deliciously oozy Veganaise? I don't know how I ever order anything else.

Anyways, while Mcfoster's does have some meat on the menu, I still think it's worthwhile to go and order the vegan foods you love. Showing an establishment that the demand is for quality vegan food, not for the meat, is always a worthwhile endeavor. And with food like this, it is definitely an enjoyable job. My love for this salad/sammie combo is undying. Love you sandwich!