TN | Veggin' Out And About

LA CUCINA Italian Kitchen, Milano’s Finest In The Most Unlikely Place

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 16, 2015 in Doe Valley/Mountain City, TN, Italian, Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly | 2 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Fourteen years ago Rich and I moved to Butler, Tennessee, a small burg tucked away in the mountains of Appalachia with a population of less than 800. The best place to eat closed down years ago. It was a gas station/restaurant where, from a row of booths sandwiched between the gas pumps in the front and the garage in the rear of the store, one could enjoy a chili dog and at the same time shop for spark plugs or tampons while breathing in oil and gas fumes. A lot has changed since we first arrived. Now vegans, we would not longer consider eating a chili dog and the restaurants that served them are long gone. There is neither a grocery store nor a gas station in the area.

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Angkor Bistro Shares Recipe For Cambodian Vegan Stir Fry

Posted by Danielle on Nov 16, 2013 in Asian, Cambodian, Fusion, Johnson City, TN, Thai | 0 comments

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup green onions

1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables

3/4 cups fried tofu

1 teaspoon minced garlic

chili pepper to taste

Method:

Blanch vegetables in boiling water for 10-15 seconds.

In a hot wok or skillet add oil. When the oil is hot add garlic and stir. Add vegetables and tofu. Stir. Add the the sauce, green onions and chili peppers. Continue to stir until heated through. The vegetables will deepen in color. Transfer to a bowl and serve with brown or white rice.

Tomy Thai Serving Up Asian In East Tennessee!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Nov 13, 2013 in Asian, I-26, Japanese, Johnson City, TN, Thai | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Tommy Thai, situated on State of Franklin across from EarthFare in Johnson City has an distinctively Asian air with a Bhudda in the corner entrance, several stools supported by wooden elephants and feminine deities interspersed throughout. Tommy’s seats 60, not counting 16 in the outdoor patio area. At 1:30pm we had no problem finding a table.

Exterior

The restaurant sports and extensive menu of fresh entrees which includes a variety of vegan options and a full bar for those wishing a cocktail with their meal. Most everything on the menu from noodle dishes to curries to stir fries can be made vegan upon request. The prices are reasonable and the food is quite good. Most items come with a choice of tofu (fried or steamed) or extra vegetables or some kind of meat for your carnivorous companions. You will also be given a choice of white and brown rice, except for the noodle dishes.

Interior

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Angkor Bistro’s Thai Yellow Curry With Mixed Vegetables

Posted by Danielle on Oct 30, 2013 in Asian, Cambodian, Fusion, I-81, Johnson City, TN | 1 comment

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon yellow curry paste

1/2 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons vegetarian fish sauce

2 cups mixed vegetables (in this demo she is using broccoli, carrots, boiled potato and onion)

1/2 cup fried tofu

Method:

Add oil to hot wok or skillet. Add yellow curry paste. Stir to combine.

Add coconut milk. Lower heat and stir to combine. Add vegetarian fish sauce and the sugar. Mix together until creamy.

Add fresh vegetables and tofu. Cook unit vegetables deepen in color. They should still have a little crunch when you bite into them.

Serve with brown or white rice.

Ming’s Asian Cuisine, Johnson City, TN

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jul 21, 2013 in Asian, I-26, Japanese, Johnson City, TN, Thai | 2 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Correction! Originally I posted that this is the only Chinese restaurant we’ve discovered to date which uses organic ingredients, no genetically modified ingredients and no MSG in the preparation of their food. However, I visited Ming’s again this week and discovered that some of their commercial soy sauces, which are available on individual dining tables, are not organic and are likely to contain sodium benzoate and GMO soy. After speaking with a member of the restaurant staff, I learned that this same soy sauce is used in the preparation of the food. Unless this is changed, we can no longer tout this as a non-GMO restaurant. Sorry, readers. We work on the honor system and unless we discover something to the contrary, we have to trust our restauranteurs to give us the facts. We do believe in this case it was an honest mistake of the ownership, which is the only reason Ming’s is remaining on Veggin’ Out and About’s list of recommended restaurants. We take these claims very seriously. While Ming’s is not entirely GMO-free, it still stands above its competitors in freshness and no MSG.

Ming’s Asian Cuisine had been opened five days when Rich and I happened by. It is located off of State of Franklin on Hamilton Place.We thought it must be a new chain restaurant but we were certainly mistaken about that. Ming is the owner. Ming’s Asian Cuisine prides itself on using seasonal fresh vegetables from local sources. They use no canola oil, which is a highly genetically modified product. Instead, they use sesame oil and olive oil. (more…)

Jade’s Market Has Changed Hands!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on May 28, 2013 in Cambodian, I-26, Johnson City, TN, Thai | 0 comments

Jade’s Market (see post under Thai Cuisine) has changed owners. For now the menu will continue to be Thai and will carry the identical menu items as when owned by Tara. In time, the name will be changed to Angkor Food and will serve Cambodian and Thai Cuisine with a significant vegan and vegetarian menu as well as their non-vegetarian fare.

The new owner is Phally (pronounced Pauly) Mein and her brother, Phalla (Paul) Nop is her manager. This lovely Cambodian team promises to bring something new and exciting to the experience of Johnson City diners. They also have agreed to allow us to video them preparing one of their Cambodian dishes as soon as their new menu is solidified.

Angkor Food will no longer carry market items for sale like sushi or summer roll wrappers or any of the Asian items Jade’s had for sale. It will be strictly a restaurant. Sorry folks. You can still find your Asian supplies at The Stock Pot in Johnson City near Sam’s Club.

We wish all the best to Tara, former owner of Jade’s Market. Her twins are keeping her busy. She and her husband still own and operate Lola’s in Johnson City.

Stay tuned!