Ok Brasa Ok

Well, I have learned my lesson. I sat here just days ago ranting about Brasa's vegetarian menu and yesterday the universe countered. The lesson I learned is to complain more. Cause if the universe wants to correct me, let 'em do it, shit... I got free Brasa brought to me last night, catered for a 12 hour shift at work.

On the menu: Remember this is stick to your ribs comfort food here, for serious stomachs and brave souls. I was glad to try the Black Bean Fritter sandwich, but holy pepper! A kick that made the second half of this sandwich hard to consider. Indeed a black bean fritter, fried and large enough patty to fill a bun that required double-fisting. Peppery, smokey and hardy, covered in chipotle with the smooth of avocado and mozzarella to take an edge off. Worthy enough to warrant a trip to Brasa, but definitely a challenge to stomach the whole thing. Can we go half-sies?

Next up, your standard rice, nothing to squawk about, and black beans that were plain and cold (remembering it was catered and time is never on beans'* side). An apple coleslaw that was a refreshing bite amidst all the other musky fare. Sweet and tart, clean and fresh, no slime or goop to spoil this one (and this is coming from a girl that doesn't like coleslaw). The mini corn muffins tasted like a pat of butter and I'm still not sure if I mean that in the best possible or worst possible way.

My only wish was that I was more hungry when I filled my plate, I've been eating like a bird lately without the stomach for much, and Brasa is no place for birds. Verdict, I would head there if a friend wanted to and I wouldn't be nervous about whether or not I would enjoy it.

What I'd go back for seconds of: The apple-slaw actually. Surprisingly enough, and truly I don't even like that coleslaw stuff.


written September 28, 2012 - Mary

[*]I like the idea of beans being possessive

The Walnut Burger

Have you had this thing? No, really, have you had this thing?

I'm honestly surprised that I don't remember the first time I've had this thing. I can't even remember whether I found it in a grocery aisle or on a menu somewhere... All I know is it's damn good and harder to find than it should be.

The Walnut Burger hails from Wisconsin, Trempealeau to be exact, nearing La Crosse and sitting right on Mississippi River bluffs. More exactly, it originated in the kitchen of the Trempealeau Hotel over 20 years ago when they wanted to come up with a hearty vegetarian option. I've actually had the pleasure of eating a walnut burger at it's birthplace. I have also had the pleasure of forcing my meat-loving father to try a bite (he calls everything I eat "weirdo-shit") and gotten the response, "oh that's... edible, I suppose". That's winning when it comes to my father.

The walnut burger is really walnuts. Yep, and Wisconsin cheese, of course, cheddar and mozzarella, a little egg for binding and some spices to boot. It's a savory, somewhat musky flavor but smooth, always smooth.

Years ago I must have found the burger at one of these places, because they are the only places to this day around town that I know have them:

As for restaurants, I know of two: Sea Salt in Minnehaha Park has the walnut burger on the menu. A tasty veggie alternative to fish at that place. The other spot, surprisingly enough, is Merlin's Rest on Lake Street amid their Irish pub fare. Both serve it up standard hamburger style, with lettuce, tomato et al.

Grocery - most Twin Cities co-ops carry a frozen 4pack. Don't be nervous about the price (at almost $9!), it's always worth it. I've seen them at Seward, Mississippi Market, and the Wedge, as well as most Kowalski's around town. The perks of making your own is finding new ways to enjoy this savory patty - broken up into 'meat-balls' for spaghetti or atop buttered noodles, for example. I think of it as a spicy sausage replacement when I'm cooking, even though I don't have the slightest idea what spicy sausage tastes like or what it'd be good in...

So put that boca burger down and go find yourself a walnut burger!


written September 21, 2011 - Mary

the 'Vegetarian' menu

Can I rant for a minute? .... Where's my soap box?... is this thing on??

For the most part, vegetarianism in the Twin Cities is easy to do. A good number of great restaurants cater to us weirdos exceptionally well, but every so often a GREAT restaurant (the one everyone is talking about) forgets about us. Can't win them all, right? Some of the GREAT ones I often hear about are 112 Eatery, Butcher & the Boar, Brasa, Fogo de Chao to name a few... And after I hear all these lovely words and rave reviews, the reviewer  (realizing they are talking to me) says, "Oh, but they don't have a whole lot of vegetarian".

Because I have heard this so many times, I've never bothered to take a close look at the menus of the aforementioned. Today I did. And today I got REALLY excited and then got REALLY disappointed within the span of a few minutes.

I checked out Brasa's homepage. I hit 'Food' in the upper right hand corner. 'Food' populated a list of MENUS in the lower right hand corner. Holy shit!!! 'Minneapolis Vegetarian'. Could it be?! A whole special menu dedicated to my diet?

Turns out, it can't be true. Well, it can in name, but not in content. The vegetarian menu simply listed the meat-free items from the standard menu... but in a vegetarian font with lots of extra vegetarian spacing. As if we don't realize the candied yams are probably a safe bet. Sigh. I thought I won. Perhaps, this attempt at a  Vegetarian Menu was just a chance to spare us all the reading (which maybe I appreciate a little...).

I probably wouldn't be ranting about this if it wasn't for one thing - the thing that pushed me over the edge, even to the point of being somewhat (and totally stupidly) offended. Listed under Lunch Specials, that one thing was the item listed as Side Plate Special. Oh thank you for this very special option made just for us vegetarians!! Thanks for telling me to combine all the extras and sides to make something unique and satisfying for my entire meal!! I'm so excited to eat all the things that meat-eaters generally ignore on your menu!! Yay, what a great day to be a vegetarian! Yeah, the sarcasm is thick and the offence is snarky.

For the record, I will outright say... I will go to Brasa, I will order the side plate special and I will probably love every bite of it. This is not a critique on their food in the least bit. But what bugs me about the Vegetarian Menu approach is this: It's a poor attempt to cater to us outcast eaters. You call out to us directly using words like Vegetarian and Vegan, and then fall short on delivery. Presenting us with nothing but the things that happen to be meat-free. I don't mind if you are a restaurant that doesn't cater to me, but please don't pretend that you do. Please stop getting me all excited with claims of vegetarianism! I'd much rather keep showing up expecting to be disappointed and then discover that you have several sides that I can patch together a whole meal out of and feeling rather proud and crafty about it...

 because, really, you don't speak vegetarian very well at all.


written September 16, 2011 - Mary

Hello, Banh Mi

As a vegetarian, the sandwich on-the-go grows lack luster. Any way you layer it, the standard cheese, lettuce and tomato can only stimulate your taste buds for so long, not to mention your stomach still aches for some substance. Why it is taking so long for sandwich shops to get on the 'meat substitute' bang wagon is beyond me!

Hello, Bahn Mi.

I fell in love with Banh Mi at Eat Street's own Jasmine Deli. The name might be unfamiliar, but to most the description rings a bell, the Vietnamese sandwich always served on crispy french bread, pickled veggies (usually cucumbers, carrots, sometimes jalapenos), fresh cilantro, and your choice of protein in a mayo based dressing. My go-to at Jasmine's is the Curry Mock Duck, but there is a close second choice of tofu to satisfy the gluten-shy.

Perhaps because it was my first love, or perhaps because it's the best in the Twin Cities, but Jasmine will always be my number one for Banh Mi (not to mention, I just plain LOVE the family that owns it).

But what happens when a young vegetarian moves over the river and through the woods to Saint Paul?

Jasmine's becomes a 'trip', not a 'quick-bite'. That $4 sandwich, though worth the drive, becomes A thing to 'GET' instead of THE thing 'NEARBY'.

So begins my quest. I've done it soooo MANY times. I have literally driven around for hours at a time trying to find readily available Banh Mi in Saint Paul. When I tell people this, they don't believe me since there are plenty of Vietnamese shops on University Avenue, should be easy, no?

Wrong.
People tell me to go to Trieu Chau. Trieu Chau makes one batch of Banh Mi in the morning and when they are gone, they are gone for good. Sitting down there for dinner, you can't get the cooks to make you one no matter how many eyelashes you bat. And I got a lot of eyelashes worth batting.

Another joint that the internet brings me to is Trung Nam French Bakery, but I can never seem to find this place open. Ever. Supposedly, it's open for a few hours each morning (morning sandwich?), but I kinda don't believe them. It is quite possible that these establishments carry a decent sandwich, and really I just have rotten luck. Wouldn't be the first time... Still, I circle and circle without Vietnamese satisfaction.

There was one spot (I can't remember which, so I won't make claims) that I did find a Banh Mi bar (think salad bar) but their tofu was bland, undesirable and completely forgettable (hey, maybe that's why I forgot!).

A recent find is the former Brewberry's turned Espresso Royale off of Fairview Avenue that offers a surprising Banh Mi sandwich. They have a bit of a spin on it, instead of the traditional pickled veggies, it's more a spicy coleslaw mix. You know, it actually was a pretty decent rendition. I liked their added kick.

I will add one more that's worth noting, sometimes my failed circles will lead me to Bun Mi on Washington Avenue (a shorter journey to the other city for me). What I like about Bun Mi is they give a weighty protein helping, be it tofu or mock duck. It's a filling sandwich, and one that also carries that same spicy kick. But there is something about that place that feels too generic for me to enjoy... like ordering Vietnamese at a McDonald's... It might entirely be because of their decor (is that a weird thing to make a judgement based on?). Or maybe it's because I'd rather give my money to a mom & pop shop over a store that feels like a chain (I don't even think it's a chain, so again, admittedly a weird judgement)...

That's my quest. The best, worst and unfound Vegetarian Banh Mi near me. Hell, maybe I just need your help, where in the hell can I find a decent Banh Mi in St. Paul anyway????


written September 9, 2012 - Mary