Chow Thai in Boca Raton, FL – A Favorite Among Vegan Diners!

So there we were, my running partner, Mark, and I, scrambling to find a restaurant to accommodate our specific tastes on a Friday night.  With no long run scheduled for the next morning, we were looking for something somewhat exotic and spicy.  We contemplated the trendy and overpriced Japanese place up the street and then decided on the all-you-can-eat Japanese place nearby for the same value.  Much to our dismay, it had closed so we were at a loss.  Then it suddenly occurred to me…a few blocks north of us, on S.R. 7 or 441, just south of Palmetto Park Rd. , in South Boca Raton, FL, there is a Thai restaurant that the local vegan Meet up group raves about.  I know, I know, Thai food isn’t typically vegan friendly, with either fish or oyster sauce present in most, if not all of their dishes, sauces and dressings, not to mention egg in the Pad Thai.  I had eaten at this very place a few years back and I did indeed enjoy it.  With my palate being even more refined, I thought, why not revisit this establishment, long hallowed by discerning vegan patrons.
Chow Thai Vegetable Soup

Chow Thai Vegetable Soup

Read more

CO, A Vietnamese Gem in the Middle of Charleston, SC, Offers a Vegan Menu!

By Danielle Bussone 

 

It is the second Sunday of the month, meaning King Street has been cordoned off for the day. Restaurants spill onto the curbs with tables and bright umbrellas in an air of camaraderie and joie de vivre. Waiters carry fragrant platters of myriad foodstuffs and drink to cheerful tourists. Dog walkers and young mothers pushing baby strollers maneuver around them and the city becomes alive with students, street musicians, Citadel cadets and sundry on-lookers, the young and wizened alike.

The first leg of our vegan trek through the historic city of Charleston, SC, takes us to CO, a charming Vietnamese restaurant located on King Street. It is nestled amid the lovely sunbathed pastel architecture indicative of Charleston, right in the heart of its busy shopping district near the intersection of George Street.

 

CO Exterior

CO Exterior

 

Upstairs

Upstairs

 

We order our usual water with no ice and I ask Sam, our waitress, to point out the vegan items on the menu. She exchanges the menu in my hand with a vegan and gluten-free menu and the issue is immediately resolved.  The name “CO” means “Feast” in Vietnamese, which certainly is appropriate for this restaurant which offers a wide range of choices.  We spoke at length with Josh, the general manager. He explains the produce used in preparing CO’s food is locally sourced, though no great attention has been paid to the presence of GMO’s. After suffering, with patience and grace, through my lecture on the subject perhaps in the future that will change. One restaurant at a time is my policy! (He’ll be quizzed on the subject on our next visit.) 🙂

(more…)

Read more

Angkor Bistro Shares Recipe For Cambodian Vegan Stir Fry

 
 
 

 
 
 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.

 

Read more

Tomy Thai Serving Up Asian In East Tennessee!

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.

 

Tommy Thai Exterior

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

Interior

(more…)

Read more

Angkor Bistro’s Thai Yellow Curry With Mixed Vegetables

 
 
 

 
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.

 

Read more

Cam Ranh Bay in Banner Elk

by Danielle Bussone

One of the most delightful eateries you’ll find in the High Country is a Vietnamese/Japanese restaurant in Banner Elk, NC.  Vietnamese native, Nancy Nguyen, moved to the mountains eleven years ago and now considers Banner Elk home.  Since immigrating to the US after the Vietnam War, Nancy has worked in both Vietnamese and Japanese restaurants and knows both cuisines well.

Until recently, Cam Ranh Bay was known as Tokyo Express. Nancy changed it’s name to reflect her origins, having grown up  in the town of Cam Ranh Bay, Viet Nam.

Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup

Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup

I first became acquainted with Cam Ranh Bay when I attended a dinner for Nancy created for our vegan group, VegBoone, of 49 attendees.  The food was amazing and the service flawless.  To illustrate how much the community embraces Nancy, several Banner Elk residents showed up to work as voluntary servers for the event!  We recently held another event at her restaurant and it was even better than the first, if that’s possible.

Vegan Sushi Rolls

Vegan Sushi Rolls

Nancy also has a great deal of experience working with plant-based clientele.  She worked at a Vietnamese restaurant in Boston where all employees were required to be vegan.  She is fully versed in the concerns of the plant-based diner. (more…)

Read more

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive weekly news and updates from VegginOutAndAbout.

You have Successfully Subscribed!