Bluff City Vegan Eats: Belly Acres

I feel like this Bluff City Vegan Eats post should come with an apology for how long it's taken me to get anything up about this awesome locally owned burger joint. Belly Acres opened over a year ago in Midtown's hip Overton Square entertainment district, but I didn't finally get around to trying it until last month when I had a lunch meet-up with a friend who works at Planned Parenthood.

Belly Acres (get it, belly ache-ers ... cause you ate too much!) is a casual, order-at-the-counter diner specializing in burgers made with farm-fresh ingredients. They're not all vegan, of course. Lots of grass-fed beef and "free-range" chicken. Of course, we all know free range is a farce that doesn't actually mean anything positive for the animals, but let's just be positive and thankful they have some vegan stuff.

There are three veggie burgers on the "Beef-less Burgers" menu, and on my first visit, I tried the Black-Eyed Pea Burger with roasted sweet potato and pickled collard greens. It comes with a sriracha aioli, but I asked to leave that off.

When they first opened, I sent Belly Acres a message asking if the veggie burgers were vegan, and I was told they were. So that's enough for me! This black-eyed pea burger was AMAZING. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, full of flavor. And it's Southern-ness was really set off with the soft steamed sweet potato and pickled greens. This burger officially makes my list of top four best veggie burgers in Memphis (others are at Fuel Cafe, Imagine Vegan Cafe, and Huey's).

I haven't had a chance to go back yet and try the others. But there's a Lentil & Onion Burger with caramelized onions, spinach, tomato, and sauteed mushrooms (ask to leave off the cheese and aioli). And there's a Magic Mushroom Burger made with a portabella mushroom, spinach, sauteed onions, and balsamic vinegar (ask to leave off the goat cheese, please).

Menu items are ordered a la carte, so burgers don't come with sides. But for a couple extra bucks, you can get house-made chips, regular or sweet potato fries, local collard greens, fruit salad, local veggies, or a side salad. Lots of options!

Belly Acres is in Overton Square, home to four live theaters and a movie house, plus lots of bars, restaurants, a candy shop, a hip clothing boutique, a yoga studio, and an olive oil shop. And if you drink too much in the Square, for $2, you can hop a ride on the Roo, a shuttle that has a giant kangaroo on top.

Belly Acres is located at 2102 Trimble Place. Call 901-529-7071.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: 4 Dumplings

I've made homemade dumplings a time or two, and let me tell ya, all that stuffing and folding is a lot of work. More work than I'm willing to do most of the time. But thankfully, I've just discovered 4 Dumplings, a restaurant specializing in my favorite little stuffed Asian treats!

It's called 4 Dumplings because they offer four different dumpling fillings, and one of those happens to be vegan! The Vegan Dumplings are stuffed with a mixture of tofu and veggies, and they're served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Every bite of these toasty dumplings is pure bliss.

Oh, and they're steamed, not fried. In fact, nothing is fried at 4 Dumplings. They specialize in low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber meals. And there's no MSG or butter either. That's because the restaurant is owned by doctors, and they're all about getting folks to eat healthier to prevent disease. You gotta love it when doctors care about nutrition!

Although dumplings are their specialty, they also offer Spring Rolls. And in keeping with the healthy thing, they're baked, not fried. I loved the crispy edges and the salsa dipping sauce. The filling is similar (or maybe the same?) as the filling in the dumplings.

They have Noodle Bowls too, and you can order those vegan-style with tofu and veggies and peanut sauce. My friend Mike ordered this bowl, and I really wanted to stick my fork in and steal some. But he probably would have stabbed my hand off.

They even have Vegan Asian Tacos!! Cassi ordered these tofu and veggie tacos with corn tortillas. Again, wanted to steal. But I'll just have to go back soon and try those myself!

4 Dumplings, which is in the suburb of Germantown, is a bit far from my Midtown house, but I can see myself making the trip out there much more often now that I know how delicious this place is. And the service is quite nice. We were waited on by the general manager Katie, and she immediately told us all about 4 Dumplings' healthy ethics. Plus, there's not as much for vegans in the 'burbs, so it's nice that they can have great healthy options too.

4 Dumplings is located at 6515 Poplar, Suite 103. Call 901-762-4184 or email 4Dumplings@gmail.com.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Kwik Check

Dear Bibimbap at Kwik Check, 

Where have you been all my life?

Oh, that's right. You've been on my "stuff I need to eat in Memphis" list for 12 freaking years!

I'm sorry it took so long. I've wasted so much of my life without you.

Love,

Bianca

Twelve years! Seriously, what is wrong with me? How can something so delicious, like Vegan Bibimbap, be on a stuff-to-eat list for over a decade? I first heard about the delicious vegan food at Kwik Check when I was still a vegetarian and a newbie to Memphis. The little convenience store eatery was just a block from my best friend Greg's apartment back then. He told me about it. Other vegetarians and vegans told me about it. I made a mental note.

Hell, I even included Kwik Check on my Memphis Vegan Dining Guide years ago, even though I'd never been. It was the only place on that list I hadn't tested out first. I just knew it needed to be there because it's a Midtown Memphis staple. Well, I FINALLY tried the legendary Bibimbap last week on a lunch outing with my co-workers Susan and Toby.

Truth be told, even though I'd heard great things about the Bibimbap, I didn't really know what it was until I ordered it. And at first glance, it just looks like a bowl of white rice with some veggies. But it is so much more than that.

That bowl isn't just any old bowl. It's basically a piece of cookware. It's so steamy hot that it actually continues to cook the rice, creating crispy, caramelized bits at the bottom of the bowl. And it's topped with tofu, cabbage, zucchini, carrots, bean sprouts, and a spicy Korean sauce. It's typically served with a fried egg on top, but when you order it vegan-style, they leave that off. 

Well, I certainly won't let another 12 years pass before I have this again! Also, Kwik Check is said to have great falafel, but I haven't had that there either. I did try once. I was on a desperate hunt for falafel one Sunday, and I stopped by three falafel places in Midtown, including Kwik Check, only to be told they were fresh out. I'll have to try again one day, but I'm not sure I'll be able to choose falafel when I can have the Bibimbap again.

Kwik Check is located at 2013 Madison. Call 901-274-9293.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Curry Bowl

There are few things I'll drive out east for. I'm a Midtowner with a fair amount of Midtown pretentiousness. If you're not from around here, that just means I live in a hip, kinda edgy neighborhood in the city core, and I avoid the suburbs like the plague. If it involves the interstate, it's probably not worth it. But sadly, the best Indian food in Memphis is way, way out in the 'burbs. Midtown has a few Indian restaurants, but they're all North Indian places. And I'm into the fried dosa goodness of South Indian cuisine.

So I'll drive 20 minutes or more to get decent South Indian food. And last week, I discovered perhaps the most authentic, most delicious South Indian restaurant in town. It's called Curry Bowl, and they offer a large number of vegetarian dishes on their dinner menu and a veg-heavy lunch buffet. I met my friend Leslie there on Friday for lunch, and we both polished off two plates from the buffet.

Here's my first plate - Masala Dosa (seasoned potatoes inside a crepe-like dosa), Mirchi Pakora (fried jalapeno), onion pakora (fried onions), Duros (crunchy pinwheels), Sambar (veggie soup), Lemon Pickle, and Mint and Ginger Chutneys.

And here's my second - Gobi Manchurian (cauliflower fritters), Lentil Dal, Basmati Rice, Vegetable Biryani (veggie rice), Eggplant Masala Curry, Tamarind Chutney, and Coconut Chutney. Also, I think those fried balls were Vada Doughnut Holes, but I could be wrong. And I also had one of those hamburger bun/chickpea half-sandwiches commonly eaten as chaat (street food snacks), but I don't know what that's called.

A note on my dining philosophy: I don't ask lots of questions when I eat out, especially in places where there's already a language barrier. So I use my eyes to try and determine what's vegan and what isn't. Sometimes, I'm wrong. I'm not sure if ghee (clarified butter) was used in any of the dishes I ate on Friday. I hope not, but you never can tell. Anyway, just putting that out there as a disclaimer. Should you choose to dine at Curry Bowl, keep that in mind.

By the way, I'm hosting a class at Vida Vegan Con 2015 in Austin on the ethics of vegan dining and drinking. And we'll be delving into these very issues!

Curry Bowl is located at 4141 Hacks Cross. Call 901-207-6051.

Rockin' the Casbah

I've already done an official Bluff City Vegan Eats post about Casablanca, a Moroccan/Middle Eastern restaurant. But that post was from 2011 when Casablanca only had one location on Poplar in East Memphis. Now there is a second location in Cordova on Germantown Parkway, and it recently changed its name to Casbah to distinguish itself from its sister restaurant. Same menu, same owners, different name. (Yes, I know The Clash are stuck in your head now. You're welcome.).

For those who don't live here, Cordova is way out in the 'burbs, so I don't get out there often. To a Midtowner like me, Cordova seems to be all strip malls and chain restaurants, and about the only thing that drags me out that way are the handful of friends I have who live there. One of those is my friend Cindy. We haven't seen one another in a bit, and Cindy eats meat (and she can be a bit of a picky eater). But the one thing we both love is Middle Eastern fare.

So we met for dinner at Casbah last night. It was my first time checking out the Cordova location. As most things in Cordova are, it's located in a strip mall. But inside, you're transported to another land. The decor is much fancier here than in the older East Memphis location.

As for the food, it's all the same! Cindy ordered their locally famous ginger-sage tea. It's supposed to be the bee's knees. But I'm just not a tea girl, so I opted for Turkish coffee. Few things in the world can top coffee with cardamom. Or anything with cardamom, really.

I typically order the falafel sandwich (called the Big Mac of the East) at the other place, so I decided to try something different — the Vegetarian Platter.

Now, this typically comes with spanakopita, but that contains cheese. So I asked to leave that off and sub with extra falafel. On the plate are lots of falafel, stuffed grape leaves with carrots and squash, and hummus. A basket of pita was served on the side.

They have AMAZING falafel! I won't say it's the best in town. That honor would go to Al-Rayan. But it's close. I'd put it in second place. Definitely the best falafel that side of East Parkway. My only complaint was there simply wasn't enough hummus. I like to dip my falafel and my pita in hummus, and there were only about two tablespoons here. Luckily, Cindy shared her Baba Ganoush. Casbah definitely wins the award for best baba ganoush in Memphis. Hands down.

Here's an old pic of Baba Ganoush from a visit to their other location. I forgot to take one last night.

Note to self: Next time I order the Vegetarian Platter, order a side of this!

I'm adding the address for Casbah to the Casablanca entry in my Memphis Vegan Dining Guide, but in case you wanna know now, it's 1890 N. Germantown Pkwy.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Chaat Corner

I've always had a special place in my heart for Indian food. It was my first taste of authentic Indian cuisine that helped me go vegetarian in the ninth grade. But it wasn't until a few years ago that I discovered Indian street food or chaat.

I've always been a snacky girl, so it makes sense that I'd be happier stuffing my face with small plates of dosa, vada, and samosa rather than heavy meals of curry and rice. A couple of South Indian restaurants in Memphis have special chaat menus, but recently, my friend Leslie (who wishes she was Indian) introduced me to a place that only sells snacks. Inside the India Bazaar grocery store is Chaat Corner. It's like a concession stand for Indian snack food!

We took a late afternoon lunch a few weeks back, and here's what ordered to share. We just had to get the obligatory Samosas — mashed potato- and pea-stuffed fried dumplings with chutney and tamarind sauce:

And even though I was certain we were ordering too much food and would leave stuffed (we did), Leslie insisted that we split this crispy Masala Dosa — a large crepe-like pancake stuffed with spiced potatoes and served with sambar soup and coconut chutney:

I've had plenty of samosas and dosas in my day, and these were both top-notch. In fact, the samosas were probably some of my favorite ever.

Leslie also introduced me to something new — Pani Puri (crispy round pillows stuffed with chickpeas, onions, and some other stuff that I did not recognize but tasted delicious). The pani puri is served with a tangy tamarind sauce that you pour in the little hole before you eat each bite. So much fun to eat!

Chaat Corner had quite a few more dishes that I'll be trying next time — Vada (spicy lentil dumplings), Bhelpuri (one of my fave snacks made with crispy sev noodles, veggies, puffed rice, and tamarind sauce), and Samosa Chaat (samosa broken into pieces and mixed with chutney).

Chaat Corner is located inside India Bazaar at 3810 Hacks Cross. Call 901-368-0068.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Chiwawa

I have a vegan hot dog named after me! I've always dreamed about seeing my name on a menu item, and now my dreams have come true. And a hot dog, no less. As the daughter of a hot dog addict, I know my mama couldn't be more proud.

Let me explain. A few weeks ago, Memphis restauranteur Taylor Berger messaged me for vegan hot dog suggestions to serve at Chiwawa, his new Midtown eatery with a focus on hot dogs, authentic Mexican fare (no cheddar and no sour cream), and fascinating ways to serve tequila and whiskey (more on that in a few). I gave him some ideas, and he asked "Can we call it the Bianca Dawg?" I thought he was kidding.

And then Chiwawa had its grand opening last Friday. My editor went there for lunch, and he sent me this picture. Check out the Bianca Dawg at the bottom!

I could barely contain my excitement, but I managed to wait until Saturday after the St. Paddy's parade to stop in and order my own Bianca Dawg. It was so fun telling the waitress, "So I'm gonna have the Bianca Dawg 'cause that's me!"

It's a grilled Tofurky brat served on a flour tortilla with sweet 'n' tangy mustard-based Slaw Chiwawa. You know, I'd never have thought to roll a brat up into a tortilla, but it's genius. Less calories than a big ole bun. Plus, eating a hot dog in a tortilla makes you feel like a big kid!

Items at Chiwawa are served a la carte, so our table ordered a plate of Papas Fritas to share. Warning to vegans: Be sure and request the papas with no cheese. They arrived with some sort of crumbly white cheese on top, but our waitress was super nice and immediately whisked them away and replaced them with fresh, hot cheese-free fries. They were served with a yummy Memphis-style BBQ sauce for dippin':

The Bianca Dawg isn't the only veg item on the menu. My friend Greg, who couldn't bring himself to order something with my name on it (I have the nicest friends ... rolling eyes), ordered this mushroom taco with avocado and veggies. I wish I knew what it was called on the menu, but I can't remember. He said it was delicious!

Besides combining hot dogs and Mexican food (my mama's two favorite cuisines in the world, btw), Chiwawa has the added bonus of being a fine purveyor of fancy cocktails made with tequila and whiskey.

For now, you can get perfectly mixed margaritas and other cocktails. But come summer, Chiwawa will be serving up tequila snowcones and whiskey popsicles on its spacious patio. I am counting down the days.

Chiwawa is located at 2059 Madison Ave. Call 901-207-1456.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: New Hong Kong

It's been awhile since I've done a Bluff City Vegan Eats post, mostly because I've been eating out twice a week at Imagine Vegan Cafe (not exaggerating ... we go every Wednesday night and every Sunday for brunch). But turns out, there's been a very, very vegan-friendly Chinese joint in Memphis for quite some time.

A friend filled me in on the magic that is New Hong Kong. This tiny, mom-and-pop Chinese restaurant is tucked into a nondescript shopping center in East Memphis, about 20 minutes from my Midtown neighborhood. Driving past, you'd never in a million years guess they'd have anything beyond the typical bean curd stir-fry.

But girl, they do! They have a whole secret vegan menu! There's only one copy and it's stashed behind the counter, so you have to ask to see it. But it's loaded with about 30 or so totally vegan dishes, most of them made with mock meats. They even have a disclaimer on the veg menu to let diners know that all dishes are free of animals and their by-products, including eggs and dairy. How cool is that?!

I met Stephanie (Poopie Bitch on the PPK), her husband Richard, and their baby Peter there yesterday to check the place out. We started with an order of Vegetable Wontons:

Now, I haven't had a wonton since I gave up dairy cream cheese in 2004. And I used to LOVE me some fried wontons. These were cream cheese-free and just stuffed with veggies instead. This batch was a little overcooked, but still tasty, especially when dipped into the sweet 'n' sour sauce. I'm going to order them again next time to see if they're not quite as overcooked.

I ordered the General Tso's Mock Chicken:

I don't think I've ever had meaty General Tso's chicken, but it's such a standard that I HAD to order the vegan version. The "chicken" was wheat gluten-based (as are all their mock meats) and fried. Then it was coated in a sweet 'n' spicy sauce. I love how they included three little pieces of broccoli! Gotta make more room for the mock meat because that's the good part.

I really loved the texture of their mock chicken. It wasn't creepily meaty, but definitely toothsome enough to fool any omni. I mean, it looks just like real chicken, right?!

Richard ordered the Sweet 'n' Sour Chicken, which came with a side of that iconic bright red sweet 'n' sour for dipping:

And Stephanie ordered the Mock Orange Beef:

This may have been everyone's favorite dish. Though I loved the chicken, there was something extra special about the fried "beef" chunks coated in a sweet 'n' savory citrus sauce.

We'll definitely be going back very soon. New Hong Kong also offers dishes made with mock ham, mock shrimp, and regular old tofu (but who would order tofu when you can have mock beef?). They even have vegan lo mein!!

New Hong Kong is located at 4594 Quince. Call 901-680-0999.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Cosmic Coconut

Cosmic Coconut is finally open!! I've been awaiting this new vegan juice bar's first day forever, and that day finally came on Good Friday/Earth Day. The East Memphis shop held its soft opening from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day, and since our offices closed at noon for the holiday, I had just enough time to make the drive from downtown to East Memphis. I arrived to find this storefront at 5101 Sanderlin Avenue:

And this cute ass sign out front:

Inside, I was faced with loads of choices! For now, Cosmic Coconut offers juices, smoothies, coffee, tea, and smoothie bowls (topped with coconut, granola, or walnuts). They eventually plan to add raw desserts and snacky foods, like guacamole and hummus:

After much deliberation, I finally settled on a large Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie:

This was made from bananas, So Delicious coconut milk, almond butter, cacao powder, and carob powder. It was all I had for lunch, and it was so satisfying. The delicious combo kept me full right until dinner time. I can't wait to try the juices and smoothie bowls.

Cosmic Coconut is located at 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 104B. Call 901-729-7134 or visit their website.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Bari Ristorante

Y'all know I don't care much for gourmet fare. I'd take a big ole slice of vegan pizza or a bowl of mashed taters and gravy over a fancy five-course meal any day. But there's something about special occasions that makes you feel compelled to dine out somewhere nice. For Paul's 31st birthday on Tuesday, we opted for Bari Ristorante, a gourmet Italian joint specializing in cuisine from the region of Puglia. Here's the birthday boy actin' fancy with wine and un-vegan pasta:

We started with a bottle of pinot and bread with olive oil and cracked pepper. I'm not sure the vegan-ness of the wine, but I rarely check when dining out. These were wines from Italian wineries and they weren't listed in my iPhone vegan wine app. When it comes to wine in restaurants, I have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy (Except I'm telling y'all now. Oops!). I also ordered a bowl of Mixed Olives, and it had black, green, and red ones! I'd never even seen red olives before!

For my salad, I went with the Radicchio e Indiva salad — a grilled endive and radicchio salad with a red wine vinaigrette. It typically comes with gorgonzola, but I asked for that to be omitted:

It was tasty, but the vinaigrette seemed a little heavy — too oily and also too heavy on the vinegar. But I'd never tried grilled lettuces before, and I must say, they were quite delicious.

Next up was Fava con cicoria — fava bean puree with chicory root:

Bari offers a great selection of veggies sides, but the fava beans were calling my name for some reason. Maybe I just needed protein. These mashed beans were peppered with bits of savory chicory, which tasted a little like the radicchio. Even though this was "gourmet," this dish felt more like comfort food. Probably because it was mashed.

For my pasta course, I went with a veganized version of their Orecchiette alla Pugliese — little ears pasta with sauteed broccoli rabe, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic:

This dish normally comes with anchovies, but that is disgusting. Thankfully, our super-nice server was happy to order the dish for me sans the tiny fish. Though most pasta at Bari is fresh pasta made with eggs, I was told the orecchiette and rigatoni noodles were egg-free. These were absolutely delicious. I loved the chewy texture of the "little ears," and there are few veggies more satisfying that broccoli rabe and tomatoes.

I was far too full for dessert after this indulgent meal. Bari's menu does feature an option that I thought was vegan — grapefruit segments drizzled with Campari reduction and sugar crystals. But an anonymous commenter just informed me that Campari isn't vegan because of the red dye they use, so nevermind! No vegan desserts at Bari.

Even though Paul and I typically go for more Americanized Italian (yes, we love the Macaroni Grill!), Bari offered a little something different. They don't even serve marinara! Paul didn't understand how an Italian joint doesn't serve marinara, but I suppose that says something about how very un-bourgeois we are.

Anyhow, I was impressed with Bari's friendly service and willingness to work with a picky vegan. Definitely a great option for a future special occasion dinner.

Bari Ristorante is located at 22 S. Cooper. Call 901-722-2244 or check out their website.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Pho Hoa Binh

If you're a vegetarian in Memphis, you know Pho Hoa Binh. I mean, like, you know it intimately. You know the overwhelming sense of joy that comes from the first bite of chewy, salty, deep-fried Lemongrass Tofu. You know the satisfaction of stuffing your plate with as much tofu from the buffet as possible and then going back for seconds. You know how good it feels when you shell out a measly $6 and some change for enough food to feed a vegan army.

If you're not in Memphis, let me fill you in on the best little Vietnamese joint in the M-Town. Everyday at lunch, this modest eatery offers a small-but-packed-with-goodness buffet featuring mostly tofu dishes. There's always about two meat entrees, but most people skip right over those. Even omnis go there for the tofu, and that's sayin' somethin'. Here's my omni friend Halley stuffing her plate with tofu, no meat:

And here's my haul from a recent lunch — Lemongrass Tofu, Black Bean Tofu, and Coconut Curry Tofu:

Now, they do offer a few salad items on the bar, but you don't go to Pho Hoa Binh for the veggies. It's all about the chewy, fried tofu. No place fries up bean curd quite like Pho Hoa Binh.

Pho Hoa Binh is located at 1615 Madison Avenue. Call 901-276-0006.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Jasmine Thai & Vegetarian Restaurant

Most Thai places in Memphis offer a few vegan options, but the curries typically contain nasty fish sauce. Eww! Thankfully, we have loads of very vegetarian-friendly Thai options at Jasmine Thai & Vegetarian Restaurant in the Cooper-Young neighborhood.

For years, I've ordered the same thing at Jasmine — Thai Chesnut Tofu:

Fried tofu cubes, baby corn, peppers, bamboo shoots, and cashews top a crispy potato basket. A potato basket, by the way, is a crispy bed of fried hash browns. Oh yes, this is amazing! You can see why I've ordered it over and over.

But on Sunday, my friend Rachel, her daughter Acadia, my boyfriend Paul, and I went to Jasmine and I was feeling all adventurous. So I ordered a dish I'd always wanted to try — Crispy Orange Bean Curd:

It may not look like much, but OMG, y'all. Giant deep-fried balls made with tofu and assorted veggies are coated in a sweet-n-savory citrus sauce flecked with jalepenos, carrots, and celery. I think I may have a new fave Thai dish.

I've yet to try any of Jasmine's curries, but there are plenty of vegan options. In fact, there are so many veg dishes offered at Jasmine, it's nearly impossible to choose one. That's why I've stuck with same Thai Chesnut Tofu for years. As a vegan, I'm easily overwhelmed by options. Now I think the Crispy Orange Bean Curd will be my new standard. BTW, even though "vegetarian" is part of Jasmine's title, they do also serve meat. But the veg menu is as large (maybe even larger) than the meat menu.

Jasmine Thai & Vegetarian Restaurant is located at 916 S. Cooper. Call 901-725-0223.

Do you have a regular dish at a restaurant that you order over and over again?

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Woodlands Indian Cuisine

Indian food was one of the driving factors in my decision to go vegetarian in 1994. My best friend Purvi moved to my small Arkansas town from India in the 8th grade, and she was vegetarian. When her family moved to Oklahoma the next year, I spent a week visiting them. While I was there, I only ate vegetarian food since her family is veg. Her mom didn't make much Indian food for us at home (mostly grilled cheese sandwiches), but on my last night, we ate at an Indian restaurant. One bite of a samosa and I was hooked for life. I'd wanted to go veg since the moment I realized meat came from animals, but it wasn't until that experience with Indian food at age 14 that I knew I could do it. I gave up meat and never looked back.

Fast forward to now: I still love, love, love Indian food. And I especially love South Indian food thanks to all the fried goodness and dosa. Woodlands Indian Cuisine is, hands-down, the best South Indian joint in Memphis. They don't use ghee in many of their veg dishes, and their dosa is to die for. Woodlands used to be a totally-veg establishment when they opened, but they added meat to the menu a year later because Memphis is a dumb, meat town that can't sustain a totally-veg restaurant. Thankfully, the menu is still ripe with veg options.

Last Thursday, I met PPK-er Jody, her friend Julia (both from Boston), Stephanie (Poopie Bitch on the PPK), her husband Richard and their Poopie Baby Peter at Woodlands:

I strayed from my usual Gobi Manchurian for this delicious Mysore Masala Dosa. Look how big that dosa is!

The dosa was stuffed with hot sauce, potatoes, onions, and spices and served with coconut chutney and sambar soup. I rolled it up burrito-style and gobbled the entire thing:

And if that wasn't enough fried food for me, I also ordered this appetizer of Vada Sambar (fried savory lentil donuts with sambar soup):

I was totally stuffed after all of that, but Stephanie brought a tester apple pie from Isa and Terry's upcoming pie book (the completion of the cupcake/cookie/pie trilogy):

Nothing says multicultural like Indian food and apple pie, right?

Woodlands Indian Cuisine is located at 4205 Hacks Cross. Call 901-737-9914.

And don't forget to enter my Speed Vegan cookbook giveaway!!

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Pita Cafe

Over the last six years of my veganism, I'd like to think I've become somewhat of a falafel expert. It sort of comes with the territory. Vegans know hummus, and vegans know falafel. It's just what we do. And having sampled falafel at a gajillion Memphis eateries, I've concluded that the best damn falafel in Memphis comes from Pita Cafe on Park Avenue. Their Falafel and Hummus Wrap is Middle Eastern magic:

Now I know this half-eaten photo of my wrap from tonight isn't the best representation, but I was hungry. I snapped a quick inside shot and quickly devoured the rest. Their falafel is always made to order, so you have to wait a bit. But the wait is so worth it. Besides falafel and a generous amount of hummus, my wrap contained lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, cucumbers, hot pepper relish, and hot sauce. Yum!

Look how big this wrap is! I wish you could see the whole thing in this photo. It's at least a foot long, and I ate every bite.

I met Stephanie (Poopie Bitch), her husband Richard, and their new baby at Pita Wraps tonight to exchange Solstice gifts. They come here so much that the staff knows them by name!

Steph gave me giant bag filled with homemade vegan candy, but I couldn't get a great shot at the table. Come back tomorrow to see Steph's vegan chocolates and ridiculously cute pictures of my pets opening their Solstice gifts.

Pita Cafe is located at 3950 Park Avenue. Call 901-452-1055.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant

Remember last week when I asked about your favorite "exotic" food? Well, I neglected to tell you mine. I realize the term "exotic" is totally relative, but in Memphis, Ethiopian food is about as exotic as it gets. And thankfully, we have the best Ethiopian joint ever — Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant:

Here's a shot of my overstuffed plate after a trip to Abyssinia's Saturday afternoon buffet. Honestly, I'm not even sure what any of the dishes are called, but I do know that about 95 percent of Abyssinia's buffet is meat-free. They typically have one meat entree and about 9 to 10 veggie offerings. The buffet's only open for lunch throughout the week and on Saturday, but the veggie platter offered at dinnertime has the same dishes that are on the buffet.

There's the tasty red lentil dish and my favorite yellow split pea entree. The cold mung bean salad and mayo-less potato salad are out of this world. There's always some fun veggies, like sauteed spinach, savory cooked cabbage, or roasted carrots and green beans. The rice and noodle dishes are surprisingly good despite the fact that starchy pastas don't always hold up under harsh buffet lights.

But none of the above tastiness would be nearly as delightful if you had to eat it with a boring old fork. That's what the spongy, sourdough-like injera bread is for! Granted, I've never had injera anywhere but Abysinnia, but I'm still certain that theirs is the best. I've even been known to cram any leftover injera into my purse to take home and freeze for later. Yes, I have done that. Don't judge. At least I didn't put tater tots in my pocket.

Abyssinnia Ethiopian Restaurant is located at 2600 Poplar, Suite 115. Call 901-321-0082.

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Three Angels Diner

When I went vegan in 2004, I could count maybe three restaurants in Memphis with a decent selection of vegan options expanding beyond the typical veggie burger/salad fare. How far we have come! Today, I can name a pretty decent list of restaurants that not only offer vegan items by request, but actually print the word "vegan" on their menu.

One such place is the new Three Angels Diner in the Broad Avenue Arts District. This kitschy little cafe opened a few months ago, and though they have several meat dishes, their vegan options are impressive. I met my buddy Pat there for lunch today and ordered the Momma Veggie Sandwich:

That might look like plain white tofu, but it was actually baked and quite flavorful. It was complemented by roasted red pepper, thinly sliced red onion, vegan mayo (yes, they had vegan mayo!), olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. So, so tasty. And the perfect size for lunch — not too big, not too small.

Sandwiches at Three Angels typically come with a side of chips, but they're happy to switch those out for a fresh vegetable dish for an extra $1.50. All of their veggie sides are vegan, and today's offerings ranged from mashed potatoes to sauteed snow peas to arugala salad to these yummy Roasted Carrots and Butternut Squash (my choice of side):

These were lightly cooked in oil and seasoned just right. The thin slicing ensured that all pieces were thoroughly cooked.

Pat ordered a meaty main dish, so I won't show you that. But her Cucumber Salad side looked delightful with its cute little sliced radishes:

Next time I go to Three Angels, I'm totally ordering the mock egg salad sandwich (made with tofu and vegan mayo). I've heard it's delicious!

Three Angels Diner is located at 2617 Broad Ave. Call 901-452-1111. They have a website, but it's not so great yet.