Vegan Mofo Day #14: Charles De Gaulle Airport Vegan in Paris Edition

In continuing my Vegan Mofo catchup, highlighting overseas travels. I arrived in Paris, exuberantly eager about my quixotic plans for the Louvre (bought an advanced ticket), lunch at Brasserie Lola (a popular vegan hotspot), and a stroll through Eiffel Tower and Seine River (happy ending).  Of course, romantic fluffiness never transpired. It wasn't fated to be. I lost my earbuds between airplane and airport, took wrong transfer off RER B train, and with only two stops left got trapped in an abandoned subway car-- all while dreary rain poured from a downcast sky. When I escaped empty car, I jumped off and ran up rock filled railroad tracks along alarming sounds of howling dogs. Thankfully French speaking female driver said the wait was ten minutes. Unfortunately, the train sped backwards. So that two stops away became "this is definitely not the right train." A stranger told me to wait for another local. It led me somewhere that was not the Louvre. I then took a bus back to the airport, had Paypal trouble, and was sadly, stuck at the airport for six hours. Fate decided that I should have no more adventures in Paris-- especially considering I have no true sense of direction.

At Relay, a huge book/magazine store selling sandwiches, pop, and chips almost at every gate, a few foods were available to salvage vegan hunger like an olive tabouli salad, Tyrrell's chips (a favorite from my last trip to Paris), and Evian water.

I wished to have found fancy, upscale, gourmet carrying Mark & Spencer prior to Relay. M&S, a store located after going through customs and walking towards flight gate, had everything needed-- fruits, veggies, juices, sandwiches, cookies-- a bunch of vegan treasures in this charming supermarket with fabulous to cheap priced food.

M&S had vast amount of Halloween clearance goodies. At €1.00 each, their Zombie Jelly Brains were gummy candies derived from fruit pectin and contained fruit juices and spirulina. 

Falafel is one item that can't be beat! These tasty broad bean bite sized delights were flavored with coriander, cumin, parsley, and five other fresh herbs. Nothing wrong with eating them cold whilst walking on through the airport.  My only regret was wishing to have eaten them along with earlier tabouli salad. Exceptional Middle Eastern spices mirrored each other. Also broad beans are called fava, faba, filed, etc. So yes, they still retained authenticity.

Another clearance item, Fizzy Fangtastic Popcorn priced at €0.75, was an orange flavored treat that I gluttonously devoured at the airport. Citrus sweetness against crunchy bulbous popcorn bunches brightened my glum disposition.

M&S Gingersnaps became a crazy addiction. Crisp, thin cookies (biscuits) contained a sweet spice of life that had my heart on fire. It was best to have vegan milk or juice with these kicking desserts. I feel a little guilty for eating on white sheet beds, spilling brownish orange crumbs of evidence. I tried to be neat. Tried. At €1.32 each, I should have purchased three packs. I immensely loved them, especially during wicked South African soap opera time, disheartened when reaching end of rounded package.

Vegan Mofo Day #13: Notes From the Plane

Parisian morning skies reflecting on Air France's outstretched wings.

For Vegan Mofo #13, reliving memories of flying through various countries.
Last Sunday, I cut it close, choosing to leave Philadelphia on a late evening bus, having no idea that it was best to get to the airport an hour before plane takeoff. I took risky chances from moment foot stepped into NYC territory. With it being a little past nine-- the gambling decision was to pick paying $60 for an Uber (in rather chaotic traffic) or taking subway J and transfer to an air train. I chose the cheaper latter, which slowly chipped away at my sanity at each slow and tedious stop. After jumping off air train, I raced down to Air France section, happy that no long line awaited. My sole luggage, a hefty purple suitcase, weighed and tagged, would be waiting for me in Johannesburg.
At last, I made it through security and expensive gift shops, to reach en route to Paris gate.
The flight was a seven hour leisure. I didn't take drugs. I watched movies and slept peacefully.
Once I exited, I didn't feel fatigued or jet lagged. In fact, nothing of the sort happened for me on any of the planes I boarded off of. Excitement of trekking through various cities is such an adrenaline rush. Who needs rest when exploring is higher on the traveler's hierarchy?

Not the best fare, but better than the flight back home.

Now out of four individual plane routes only two had vegan meals. The first was a green pea and corn mix with little red tomato garnish, chewy, touch miniature bread loaf, tart Granny Smith applesauce, and water. It wasn't most savory dish to eat during "Dumbo" (a very, sad disturbing Disney classic by the way). Modest, simplistic food kept hunger at bay.

In Amsterdam, a sweet friend (she moved from Ohio to Amsterdam) baked fresh vegan muffins in honor of my short visit! Pictured are mixed berry and lemon poppyseed. Unseen: decadent chocolate raspberry.

Two latter flights back to the states were on KLM, an Air France subsidiary. They were dairy ladled meals-- loaded with butter and cheeses galore. Fortunately, one of the mystery boxes contained vegan certified butter. I also brought snacks on the plane, including yummy homemade muffins.

Flying straight into grey.

On the Paris flight towards Johannesburg, in middle of night, we were served dinner. Despite its unattractive appearance, the hot couscous and mixed vegetables was a delicious, satisfactory dish-- second out of four airline meals.

Flying into Johannesburg, excitement partying high in veins.

Beautiful clouds welcome travelers to destination. Anticipation killing me at this point.

Vegan Mofo Day #12: Thanksgiving Alone WIth Classic Mac & Cheese

The lone holiday dinner pack.

Greyhound sold out. Megabus had no trips. Plane costs crept up to a thousand.
I should have expected that. Still, surprise came anyway-- unleashing stark sadness over a still questionable holiday. Fresh from a week overseas, not the least bit tired or jetlagged, I didn't mind another adventure-- a thirteen hour ride to good ole Dayton to make the customary vegan dishes for Mom and siblings plus spend quality time with dearest friends. New tradition of walnut and mushroom couscous stuffing stays on my mind, but it's various versions of family approved mouthwatering macaroni & cheese making heart pound.

From Newsweek.

Then again, when it comes to celebrating fourth Thursday of every November, Americans need to face honest reality, go beyond thankfulness and focus on North Dakota. At this very moment, descendants of horrifically glossed over genocide are fighting to keep their land and water from a pipeline threatening their livelihood. Now it's not just the pipeline itself. Militant police forces are using extremely violent measures to stop peaceful protests. So yes, history is being repeated in modern contemporary age. We need this to end. Immediately.
This afternoon, over an isolated dinner, alone and unsupervised, I prayed for family, friends, North Dakota, the world. Times are toughening up. We need to be strong and protect each other during this challenging strife. I am thankful for what I have and need no Black Friday to say otherwise.

Classic Macaroni & Cheese Ingredients and Preparation

1 cup macaroni (or fusilli, grocery store sold out on macaroni)
3 slices Daiya Provolone
1/3 cup almond milk (or any dairy free milk)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon love, peace, and thankfulness (more if necessary)

Cook pasta according to package directions.
Melt Daiya into warmed almond milk. Stir in onion and garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Pour sauce over pasta and mix until evenly combined.

Holy angels gave blessing and light.

Simple no fuss recipe that can be made an hour or two before holiday supper.

Creamy close up.

Whole Foods Holiday Vegan Box consisted of roasted Brussels Sprouts, butternut squash with cranberries, cornbread stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Of course it was missing the best carb-- macaroni and cheese.

Eat, be merry, and think of those in need. There will always be people who need more than what they have been offered in this life. It's our duty to see that they receive our loving helping hands. 

Vegan Mofo Day #11: Return To New Harmony Pictopost

My friend and I ate lunch at New Harmony Restaurant-- featuring some of my favorite cuisine-- Asian yumminess. Here we had the amazing $6.95 lunch special starting off with hot wonton soup. The wontons were delicious yet the broth was exceptional.

I ordered the vegetable steamed buns.

She ordered "pork" steamed buns.

Bun feast appetizers with special sauce. I never had these before. They're quite amazing. At $2.95 for three sumptuous pint sized flattened balls of goodness, I could imagine ordering steamed buns alone to complete a meal experience.

The pork bun alone was just heavenly! A nice burst of flavor in the center of chewy soft dough.

Sesame "chicken" was light, crisp, and tasty atop brown rice.

The mock "beef" wasn't top of the line. In fact, after one bite of the chewy, awkward tasting faux meat, I could eat no more. Sadly, I couldn't exchange it for another dish either. That was a real waste. Plus our service certainly wasn't the best offered this afternoon. Still, the soup, the steamed buns, and my friend's dish made for a fulfilling prelude to Buy One Get One Free Gingerbread Soy Milk Lattes from Starbucks-- a much needed dessert and true end to an almost catastrophe. 

Vegan Mofo Day #10: Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pudding

Two opposing walks of life come together for pudding purposes.

Mesh. Mesh. Mesh.
The latest Vegan Mofo prompt encourages us creative vegans to celebrate joining cuisines together. Well, I'm combining two different ingredients with similar textures for a good fit today. My current obsessions certainly make for a deliciously thick dessert. Sweetened with Bee Free's sticky syrupy Honee (thank you to the apples), this scrumptious autumn treat meets jelly's old-time boo provides a unique flavor that one cannot expect. They seem to work well, bounce ideas off each other on the taste buds. Decadently rich pudding, sans spicy flare (though one can add cinnamon, ginger, or pumpkin pie spice), proves that the best of both worlds can build a wonderful future together.
I would have never of considering mixing peanut butter with pumpkin. Somehow this works beautifully.
Recipe below serves one ravenous person.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pudding Ingredients and Preparation

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoon crunchy peanut butter
1 tablespoon Bee Free Honee
1 cup almond milk

Whip ingredients up in a blender.
Scoop out and chill (or eat at room temperature like me).

Smooth and creamy, with a bit of peanuts underneath. Pretty tasty.

Luxurious, silky like a forbidden dream.

Vegan Mofo Day #9: Vietnamese Banh Mi

QT Vietnamese Sandwich restaurant in Chinatown.

I need to inhale a large bit of breath, fill my lungs with positive energy, and exhale out frustration that came with our endless grey clouds and teary raindrops.
It has been a most difficult, ill-suffering twenty-four hours-- a real painful end to a rather horrific chain of awful events. Words are impossible to speak aloud and write in a vegan blog post. Alas, I can only hope and pray for human decency in a country that has lost its moral compass some time ago. We're going to have to protect and hold dear women, the LBGTQ community, and minorities. The American world as we know it is doomed. Kindness, strength, and love are key.
Now moving onward, defiant fighting spirit within, Vegan Mofo of the day is to make something new. Well, I tried something new. I want to thank an awesome individual at school for giving me a fully stamped free sandwich card at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant called Banh Mi.
"Banh" means bread and "mi" means wheat. The Banh Mi was partly inspired by the French baguette-- which explains shape and style.

Always delighted to see a green "Vegan Options Inside" sign. Plus "Free Wifi" doesn't hurt either.

The sandwiches are not expensive-- $5.50 each, super long, and fulfilling. Better option than anything a vegan can score at Subway. They have a lemongrass tofu or a mushrooms & onions tofu. I chose the latter. The bread was a little tough to chew on (warming it in the microwave softens that problem) and a large amount of cilantro almost caused my mouth to fall off. Who knew that cilantro could get so spicy? I did love the tofu and the mushrooms alongside shredded carrots. Could have used double the amount-- it started to taste all bread for a while, especially at the end of the sandwich.Still, I appreciated the flavors. Delicious!

I would come back. I gotta try the lemongrass tofu sandwich (light on the cilantro), boba tea, and the rice/noodle dishes.

Vegan Mofo Day #8: Eating Out Vegan In Toronto Part II

Queen of Sheba, an Ethiopian restaurant that recently closed, was my exact feeling as I soared down the streets on a cloud covered March, sightseeing and eating my way through.

International Week continues onward.
Vegan Mofo's prompt today is Far Away. Toronto is far away. Far, far away sadly.
My memories have stayed a constant fluttering reminder. I can recall infinite pleasantries in the cold, frigid country above. I have enjoyed the subways, the streets, the art, the little messages that certain buildings seemed to speak to me, and the level of trust bestowed by a good friend.
Toronto has a spirit unlike any other place-- almost magical. Certain nooks and crannies have an independent, bohemian vibe. Hip, upbeat areas are ripened with vibrant, sleepless entertainment. Yet beneath city's fairy dust and glitter, is a cultural landmark where one can find truest self.

A famous children's book author took me to lunch at Fresh on the Spadina. They cater to both vegetarians and vegans with a full menu of plant based foods and eclectic pressed juices, smoothies, elixirs, and more.

Incredible quinoa breaded onion rings-- ultra crispy and the onions don't stay attached to the mouth as though it were spaghetti to slurp.

The Chipotle Bacon Burger with chipotle mayo, grilled tempeh bacon strips, mild vegan cheese sauce, tomato, lettuce, and jicama inside of a whole wheat bun.

One of the largest burgers I've ever consumed in one single sitting. It was magnificent!

It being March-- we both got the Shamrock Shake special (matcha green tea, peppermint, banana, agave and almond milk). Perfect end to a very satisfying meal.

From there, we caught a trolley car to Kensington Market. One of the best stops next to COurage My Love (found a cute red dress for $5 Canadian bucks) Blue Banana Market. I did buy the funky glamorous Diva Sponge for my mom. She loves it too much to use it as a dish washing tool.

Who needs a Polaroid when there's Polaroll for your tissue dispensing needs!

Next to octopus and celebration sprinkled mugs, you'll find Mr. Men.

The cat lady pillow for all your cat slumbering needs.

Lego "Frozen" pillow.

Lioness dressed rather masculine.

Various African drums including a head to beat on.

Lion and leopard head tops all over pillows.

Twosome became a trio as we met our friend (whose humble home I was staying over at) for Asian cuisine at King's Cafe. We pleaded a bit with staff due to coming in thirty minutes before closing time.  They kindly allowed us to stay and eat. Among our delicious buffet of deliciously savory food-- terrific soy drumsticks with sweet plum sauce!

Veggie fried rice with extra broccoli.

Delectable faux meat wrapped in nori wrappers.

For a taste of Far Away, my friends have a nice array of fancy vegan items and vegan cookbooks from all around the globe. So in this wonderful second home before I went outdoors to have grand adventures in merry chill, I cherished browsing their unique goods. Often it was difficult to pick what to create. Mestemacher's organic three grain oat sprinkled bread were beautiful squared shapes with textured crusts. For cheese, they use Daiya (a huge Canadian vegan staple) and keep plentiful supply of Sheese-- a Scottish vegan brand by Bute Island Foods. Sheese is good. It's creamy with the right amount of herbs and spices. They make an amazing cream cheese spread that would make burnt toast scream with happiness.

For a late breakfast (or lunch), I made grilled cheese sandwiches with Sheese's Cheddar Style with Chives and some olive tapenade (funny for someone who hates olives). The bread was toasted with olive oil and covered so cheese could melt in between.

Yummy grilled cheese that had a salted meet sweetened bite.

Future hair salon? Maybe. Roaring just in case.

In my walking around the block spotted several Africa related signs-- a foreboding premonition perhaps.

Ethiopian food-- which will be the highlight of the last part of the Toronto trilogy coming soon. We didn't dine here at African Palace, but our chosen establishment was well worth the delicious wait.

Gotta love a good neighborhood library. Bloor and Gladstone was a charming brick and mortar location with a lot of history. Perfect place to chill out, read literature, and surf the web. I spent a lot of quiet, solitary time among the stacks. 

I close this off with Hub Coffee. It is near my friend's place. During my stay, I often walked down to the small cafe, enjoying the hot chocolate and vegan raspberry lemon bar. Downright scrumptious, the bar is a sweet burst of tart raspberry and citric lemon. To end a day of adventure at Hub always felt special. After all, it was close to second home. And my friend and her sweet, bicycle bound housemates were there often, greeting with affable smiles and curiosity of the Philly vegan woman's dash around their fair city.