Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Vegan Mofo Post #18: Exceptional Side Dishes at El Vez

Surviving on sides.
El Vez is a popular Mexican fusion restaurant located in the hopping happening part of Center City Philadelphia. There are plenty of vegan items to eat when your friends decide to eat at a non-vegan spot.  I was skeptical, a little hesitant. It's not my usual haunt, but for the girls I would. After all, I'm sort of like the Lynn Searcy. In fact, I'm the Lynn Searcy in every group of my girlfriends (only the vegan, bohemian spirited, "strange" dresser aspect).

Speaking of Lynn Searcy, happy birthday to Persia White who portrayed the vegan character on Girlfriends.
Although El Vez has a kale salad with creamy cashew ranch dressing, I was pleased by the side menu items, especially Plantains con Queso that I could order without the con Queso. They even let me have grilled corn straight off the cob sans the butter and queso. Together, with the amazing black beans and rice with generous slices of beautiful green avocado, the lovely presented meal was delicious. I would definitely go again for the plantains alone. They had an addictive crispy exterior with a soft, tender texture that made it a little hard to share with my meat taco loving friends.

Grilled corn scraped from the cob and black beans and rice with pickled red onion on top.

Black beans and rice, plantains, corn, and avocado together-- so good.

Afterwards, we hung out at a gelato place for dessert. Good times. PAFA alums and current PAFA students from undergraduate and graduate programs.

3 comments:

  1. It's a little annoying having to scrape side dishes together to make a dinner in non-vegan places, but at least it looks like you did well here. The plantain looks amazing!

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    1. I agree. I was so scared to come here lol. I'm glad that the plantains came out well and that some of my friends scooped up a few. I'd return just for those.

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  2. That looks super delicious! I've been looking for different chickpea recipes because my mom loves them and I'm bored of what she makes all the time haha.

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