Vegan MoFo 2012: Local Habit!

I'm back for Vegan MoFo!

I had plans to show you pictures of these awesome breakfast burritos I had for lunch, until I found these pictures from my birthday, err...back in july. My family took me to Local Habit (3827 5th Avenue San Diego, CA) and while I was quite nervous because my parents didn't seem to like anything they saw on the menu, I tried to enjoy my time there.

I had the Caramelized Onion and Garlic Oil, Basil, Fresh Tomato, and California Chevre (with almond ricotta instead of Cali chevre) and Sautéed Greens with Julienne Onion and Garlic on the side.

The pizza was good. The ricotta is nice, creamy and nutty, but I kind of missed the ooziness that Daiya lends. I guess they don't longer use it on their vegan pizzas : (

The greens are really garlicky and the onions are perfectly browned. I'm almost sure this side dish has a little vinegar or something acid to give it a boost. I like it because it goes well with the caramelized onions and the dinosaur kale.

The atmosphere was really warm and pride-y : p

We got back to my house in Tijuana to eat some cake!

My boyfriend and I went to Whole Foods before we headed to TJ and this it what they had. I was hoping they had vegan carrot cake, but they didn't, booo!

Anyway, I didn't mind much because it was good : )

I'll post the burrito pictures tomorrow : D

Happy MoFoing!

San Diego Part 2

My family wanted to go to an Italian place in Little Italy that looks SUPER vegan unfriendly and I had to pick up some stuff at Whole Foods. Why not pick up some food from their hot bar?

I always get curry or something similar. This time I chose channa masala, daal, saag, lemon rice and grabbed a yummy looking veggie samosa.

Inside shot!

Everything was nice and spicy, except for something that tasted weird and sweet, but I couldn't identify it since all the food got mixed up a little.

After eating in the car, we drove to La Jolla and I snapped a few pictures before my camera's battery died.

Pretty beach

Squirrel munchin' on a flower!

A few days later I went to Achiote with my mom and my brother.
There are two locations, one in San Ysidro and the other in Otay Ranch.

The first time I went there as a vegan with my family I got a little scared, but believe me, there is nothing to fear! These guys know which beans have lard and which ones are vegan/veggie friendly ; )
They served me some sad enchiladas filled with veggies with a side of frijolones.
This time was way way better!
The server suggested sopes : )

These tasty sopes were loaded with their frijolones (tasty, tasty beans), lettuce and tomato salsa.
They may sound a little boring, but they were seriously awesome and very filling.

I'm definitely coming back : )

Edited to add:

We went to Evolution again (because Pokez closed for Easter!) and I forgot to photograph everything except the dessert, raspberry almond cheescake! I'm certain the "cheesy" part had almond extract in it. Kinda like the raspberry lime rickey cheesecake from Vegan Pie in the Sky, but without the lime and with a nutty cookie-like crust.

San Diego!

Hello again : )!
While in Tijuana, we decided to pay San Diego a few visits.
This one was the best!
I got to hang out with my boyfriend at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park and we took lots of photos.

Duckies, chilling.

After the museum, we went to Evolution. Every time I go I want to try something different and always end up ordering the same thing...the bacon cheeseburger!
This burger has an Amy's pattie, pickles, lettuce, tomato, vegan mayo, ketchup, mustard, onions and some tempeh bacon slices.

JUST to accompany my lonely burger, I had to order a small side of buffalo chik'n tenders.

Hmm, spicy gardein tenders.

And finally for dessert, my boyfriend and I shared an apple berry crisp.
I'm not a big fan of shredded coconut, but the rest was delicious and made me forget about the coconutty bits.

Tijuana!

Hi there!

I visited Tijuana a few days ago and these are some of the things I ate there (not in specific order).

The spicy looking sorbet from the picture above is a diablito -little devil, ha-. It's lime sorbet, chamoy (sweet, spicy, tangy, fruity sauce), chili powder and a tamarind chili stick. Damn it was good!
My boyfriend and I got it before crossing to the US, and while the border crossing may not be the better place to get food, I don't regret doing so, haha.

The day after I arrived (well, just a few hours later actually), my mom, brother and I went to some sort of gathering were the purpose was to wear something blue and let many balloons float away because April 2 is Autism Awareness Day!
They had ugly blue peeps and non vegan cupcakes : ( I didn't know we were allowed to bring our own blue treats, hehe.


A friend of mine, her boyfriend and their crew filmed a movie in Tijuana and I went to her hotel to see her. We walked and talked and had a raspado. Tasty, tasty raspado.
Raspados are made with shaved-ish ice, syrup and sometimes fruit.

This one has chamoy, lime juice, chili powder, pineapple bits, mango chunks, chaca-chaca AKA rielito (mexican hawthorne and tamarind chewy candy) and maybe something else.

I know many people are afraid of the idea of mixing fruit with chili. Well, you shouldn't be!! This was so refreshing and even though this does not count as a meal it was filling, too xD

En fin!
My family and I went to a restaurant called La Querencia that I do not like because it has stuffed animals freaking everywhere (stags, ducks, boars, etc.) and I think it's creepy!

I ate before leaving the house, but this dish caught my eye:
Beet carpaccio with mint dressing and bleu cheese (minus the cheese, obviously)

This was really nice. I don't like mint in food, but I decided to risk it and fortunately, the mint flavor wasn't very strong.

I ate it with some little tostadas the waiter brought with my beety dish and I made a little beet smiley face before finishing.

No, I'm not 5. I swear!

The Green Corner

I have posted about this place in the past, but I went with my boyfriend a couple times when he came down to Mexico City to visit me, hee.

I started with a tomato-based wheat berry and vegetable soup.

This was so freaking good!
I thought it was going to be mehh, but it wasn't. Not at all!

More wheat berries!
I had a falafel sandwich with wheat berry tabbouleh (where's the parsley, dude?!). This did not taste like falafel at all, but it wasn't bad.
The dressing was slightly sweet and the pita bread nice and warm.

Then, we headed to Roxy!
It's across the street, so...the visit is kind of obligatory.

I had mandarin and tamarind sorbets.

Well and since I've been forgetting about my poor blog (again!), I'm going to post more pics of other things I've had here.

Orange juice!

Green chilaquiles, no dairy/with tofu.
(These were NOT good. The refried beans were awesome, but the tortilla chips were almost charred)

And...red enchiladas! Filled with seasoned cubes of tofu and topped with tofu cream and crumbled tofu (tofu, tofu, tofu, haha).

The staff is really nice and they're aware of the term DAIRY (lácteos) and that some people choose not to/can't eat them : p

Aanyway, you should really visit this place if you have a chance. Their store (at least in this location) is awesome.
They have local-ish stuff, spanish and american products.

100% Natural!

100% Natural is a chain of restaurants here in México. I believe the first one opened in Acapulco.
It's not vegetarian, but they have plenty of choices.
Now, if you're vegan like me it may be a little more complicated, but you will still have more than one option and it won't be a salad, pasta marinara or french fries : p

Anyway!
I ordered one of their tasty tasty juices; the California.
It's made with apples, lime, pineapple and orange juices. All blended with ice and a little sugar.
My uncle gave me his Oasis juice (pineapple, strawberry and orange) and it was good, too.

California

Then, I ordered the Cevichín.
This is a super fresh ceviche made with oyster mushrooms, tomatoes, cilantro, green chile and onion dressed with lime juice and seasoned with salt. Nice and simple!

I ate this with some fresh fried tortilla chips.

I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered an appetizer and then this giant entrée...
Oh well. This is the Arrozote with tofu. Gigantic plate of rice indeed.

This is just sauteed soy sprouts, spinach, broccoli, sqash and tofu with soy sauce.
It was a little too salty, but quite nice still.

I mean, look at those ginormous cubes of tofu!
I'm pretty sure it's the best tofu my palate has had the pleasure to taste, haha.

Really nice texture and mild flavor.

I'm definitely ordering just one thing next time!

Bonus picture of one of the pretty lamps:

Oreo mazapán!

Well, the mexican mazapán I'm familiar with is a kind of marzipan but it's made with peanuts instead of almonds.

Like this one: http://www.alegrofoods.com/images/products/detail/mazapan%20logo.jpg

About a week ago, I went out with a friend to a couple bars at la Condesa (girls night out, wooo) and the end of the night we had to wait for our taxi inside a 7-11 because it was kind of cold outside!

I didn't want to starve at my friend's apartment the next day, so while I was looking for some snacks I found this thing (or my friend did and told me? I don't remember).

I forgot about it until today!
I'm not a big fan of this type of snacks, but it was very sweet and tasty. Kind of like eating an oreo with crunchy peanut butter : )

If you like De la Rosa mazapán and oreo cookies, this treat is for you!