Vegan Meal at Kayne Prime

On Saturday night, Paul and I had a date night in Nashville at a — gasp! — steakhouse. Now I know what you're thinking. But Paul still eats meat, and he ran a half-marathon that morning so it was his day to celebrate. Plus, he had a gift card to pay for the meal.

The place was Kayne Prime, which happens to be one of the most acclaimed steakhouses in Nashville, and it's is SUPER fancy. Like so fancy that we felt a little out of place, even though we were all dressed up.

Paul won the gift card at work, and he had a selection of several steakhouses to choose from. But he picked Kayne Prime specifically because he'd read they had vegan options for me. After perusing their menu, I gave my approval, and he made a reservation.

We arrived a little too early though, so we had a beers at the bar while we waited. After we were seated, I opted for a cocktail since the place made me feel fancy. I find most cocktails are too sweet for me, so I typically opt for beer or wine. But when in a fancy restaurant ...

I ordered a Ginger Spice Cocktail with Ketel One Vodka, St-Germaine, grapefruit, lemon, and ginger because it didn't sound too sweet. But when it arrived, it was pretty darn sweet. Tasty but no way I could drink more than one. Probably should have gone with a dirty martini. Oh well.

We ordered some Kennebec Fries with truffle oil to share as an app. OMG. This was seriously my favorite part of the meal. These just look like ordinary fries, but they were saturated with truffle oil. I find truffle fries are usually lacking in truffle flavor (probably because it's pricy and people tend to use it sparingly). But I love that truffle flavor, and I like it to be strong. We devoured every last one of these.

Somehow, I still had a little room for my entree — Cauliflower Steak!!

Yes, even a vegan can get a steak at a steakhouse! This grilled cauliflower steak was slightly caramelized and filled with flavor. I'm not sure what all the sauces were, but I asked about the white one to make sure it was vegan. They said it was almond cream. I'm guessing the others were cilantro chutney, curry sauce, and maybe a beet ketchup? Regardless, they all tasted delicious.

We had a great experience at Kayne Prime, and I'm so grateful for amazing vegan options!

Vegan Eats in Nashville!

I spent the weekend in Nashville, where my partner Paul works (and lives part-time). He was running the Hendersonville Half Marathon (his first half!), so I wanted to be there to support him. Also, my friend Cassi needed a ride to Nashville because she was performing in a burlesque show there. She hitched a ride over with me on Friday afternoon.

While we were on the road, Cassi mentioned that she'd like to try White Castle's new Impossible Slider. We don't have White Castle in Memphis (it's a Krystal town), but Nashville has a few. So we looked up the one closest to where she was staying, and I put it in my GPS. This was our first stop off the interstate! Bianca and Cassi go to White Castle!!!

I ordered a couple sliders (no cheese) to save for lunch the next day! I heated these up in a skillet at Paul's parents' house and enjoyed with a salad from the Kroger salad bar. Loved them so much that we stopped back at White Castle on the way out of town Monday morning for brunch. Memphis REALLY needs a White Castle. How cool to get a vegan burger at a fast food joint!

After I dropped Cassi off in East Nashville, I headed to Hendersonville to meet up with Paul. Then we grabbed his friend Collin and headed to The Southern V for dinner. This is my favorite restaurant in Nashville! Vegan soul food, yes please. I got the Chicken Fried Chick'n with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans. Mmmmmm.

The next morning, Paul ran his half (and KILLED IT!). So proud of him. 

My lunch was those leftover White Castle sliders, enjoyed while Paul got cleaned up from his run. Then we headed downtown to check into our hotel. We had dinner reservations for a fancy place that I'll dedicate a whole post to tomorrow night. So check back for that!

Let's skip ahead to Sunday. We went to the all-vegan Graze for brunch — our usual spot. They have $5 Bloody Marys on Sundays, so we'll never miss that when I'm in town. 

I ordered the Loaded Potatoes — roasted taters with cashew cheese, sour cream, seitan chorizo (locally made from The BE-Hive in Nashville), and guacamole. These were super good and so filling. 

I was stuffed from brunch, but there was no way I was leaving East Nashville without a vegan doughnut from Five Daughters Bakery (conveniently located around the corner from Graze). I opted for a Maple Glazed Doughnut. Yeasted perfection. Tasted like pancakes.

Dinner on Sunday was Paul's leftovers from The Southern V. He was being a picky eater Friday night since he had the pre-race jitters, so he didn't finish his chicken fried chick'n. I gladly finished it off later in the weekend!

I'll be back tomorrow with a recap of Saturday's date night dinner.

Explore Cuisine: Pasta Primavera Marinara

Quick note: This is a sponsored post, thanks to my friends at Explore Cuisine — makers of organic protein-packed pastas made from beans, lentils, rice and peas. I don’t do a lot of sponsored posts, generally opting instead for more objective review posts where I can say whatever I want. But when I do agree to work with a company on a sponsored post, you can trust that it’s a company I REALLY believe and support. #UseYourNoodle

Time is precious, especially these days when I’m running from work to yoga and then trying to scarf down dinner and be in bed by 9:30 pm. Since I’m still recovering from a stress fracture in my left foot, I’ve traded in my morning runs for spinning classes at the gym. And they all start at 5:30 am! So I’m getting up at 4:30 these days.

All that is to say, I like a quick meal. And sure, I could just heat up a frozen veggie burger and throw some potatoes in the air fryer and have dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Sometimes, that’s exactly what I do. But lately, I’ve been trying to focus on getting more veggies into my diet, so a quick meal that’s also filled with nutrition is a bonus.

So that’s the focus with today’s Explore Cuisine recipe post. I used their Edamame Spaghetti to create a fast and easy Pasta Primavera Marinara. And I didn’t even have to include any traditional protein source, like beans or tempeh, because the protein is IN THE PASTA! Explore Cuisine’s Edamame Spaghetti is packed with 24 grams of protein per serving. And there’s just one ingredient: edamame. This is definitely the smarter way to pasta!

As for texture, the pasta is just a little softer than a whole wheat noodle, but it still has a firm al dente bite. And I actually prefer its texture over traditional pastas. Topped with sauteed veggies and jarred marinara, this made a perfect, simple dinner.

One quick tip: I pre-chopped my veggies the night before and placed them in the fridge. That meant my dinner came together in minutes! You can also save time by purchasing a frozen Italian vegetable mix. I’d recommend using about 4-5 cups of frozen, mixed veggies for this meal if you’re going that route.

Without further ado, here’s the recipe!

Pasta Primavera Marinara

Yields 3-4 servings

1 box Explore Cuisine Edamame Spaghetti

1/2 red onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup baby carrots, cut in half horizontally

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 zucchini, sliced and quartered

1 cup broccoli florets

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 cup cherry tomatoes

2 cups jarred marinara (any flavor)

Vegan parmesan, to taste (optional)

Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Set aside.

Simmer the marinara in a saucepan, until heated through, while the veggies cook (instructions follow). 

Add the onion, garlic, and carrot to a large skillet. Add just enough water to coat the pan. Heat on medium heat for 5 minutes or until onion becomes tender. Add a few splashes of water if it begins to dry up.

Add the remaining veggies (except tomatoes), herbs, and spices. Saute for 10 more minutes or until all veggies are tender. Add the tomatoes, and saute another 3 minutes or until they begin to blister. You may need to check periodically for water and add more as needed. In the end, the veggies should be soft and the water absorbed. You don’t need much water, just a few tablespoons to keep the pan wet. 

Once the veggies are done, create your pasta bowl by layering noodles, the desired amount of marinara, and as many sauteed veggies as you want. Top with vegan parm if desired.

Nasoya Vegan Dumplings

Nasoysa — makers of my favorite tofu! — sent me a few free packages of their vegan dumplings to review. Few things make me happier than tofu and veggies stuffed into tender dumpling dough, so I was more than happy to oblige.

There are two varieties — Tofu Vegetable Dumplings and Thai Basil Dumplings. Each package contains about two and half servings (one serving is five dumplings).

If you've ever made fresh dumplings, you know what a pain it is to stuff and fold and cinch the ends OVER and OVER and OVER. I'd much rather have that process done for me, so Nasoya makes it easy. These are ready to fry or boil — your preference.

I tried these several ways. My favorite method, used on these Thai Basil Dumplings, was frying, of course. I used non-stick cooking spray instead of oil though because I didn't want them to be super-fatty. Since I've cut back on oil, I've found I can be pretty sensitive to too much.

These soft pillows are stuffed with tofu, peas, carrots, onion, bell pepper, and Thai basil. I'm not a huge fan of large amounts of Thai basil, but there's just a little in these so it's not at all overpowering. I served these with a bottled peanut-coconut satay sauce, and it was just perfect.

I boiled the Tofu Vegetable Dumplings, which are stuffed with tofu, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, onion, and carrot. The taste is pretty similar in both, but the mushrooms give this a little different boost of flavor. I served these with a teriyaki soy dipping sauce made with soy, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, water, and garlic powder. I had a green bean and tofu stir-fry on the side for a well-rounded, delicious meal.

One day, when I had to bring my lunch to work, I tried microwaving these and the texture, while a little chewier, wasn't that bad! I wouldn't recommend preparing them that way, but in a pinch, it works.

You definitely need these Nasoya dumplings in your life.

My First Trader Joe's Haul

Okay, that title is deceptive. I've been to Trader Joe's plenty of times and have had many a haul. But always from a Trader Joe's in another city.  Now, after YEARS of stops and starts, our Trader Joe's store in Memphis is FINALLY OPEN. It's an autumn miracle!

Technically, Trader Joe's is located in Germantown, Tennessee, which is a small suburban town on the outskirts of Memphis. But it's close enough that Memphis is claiming it. Now, I can get to TJ's in 30 minutes versus the 3.5 hours that it took to drive to the store in Nashville.

Cassi and I went on opening night — last Friday, September 14 — and it was INSANE. Parking was a challenge, and maneuvering through the crowded store was even more challenging. People and carts were bumping into each other. Items were selling out. Registers were breaking down. It was a madhouse, but it was so worth the hassle.

I plan to start posting my TJ's hauls (inspired by my favorite posts from Long Island Vegan). Unfortunately, I didn't think of that until I'd already eaten a few things — TJ's Baked Tofu and TJ's Firm Tofu. So those are missing from my pics. But here is everything else — Daily Bread Sprouted Whole Grain Bread, Organic Charles Shaw Pinot Noir (!!!! $5 buck chuck!!!!!!), Soy Creamer, Sriracha, Soy Sauce, ABC (almond butter cocoa) Bars, Tempeh, and Mouth Wash.

Some of this was stuff I needed anyway (like the tempeh and mouth wash), and other products are among my TJ's faves — the wine and sriracha. The ABC Bars are new this month, and they're awesome. Even better than Clif Nut Butter-Filled Bars!

I did not get my Vitamix at TJ's, but it made a cameo in the above pic. :-)

I also got this stuff — Strawberry Raspberry Oats, Tart Cherry Chia & Pumpkin Seed Oats, Coconut Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, and Apple Cider hand soap.

I'm traveling this weekend, so the oat cups and coffee are going with me. And that hand soap smells like fall!

I am soooooo excited to have TJ's in the area! What are your fave TJ's products? I need some ideas for what to buy next time!

Pizza & Oatmeal & Tater Skins!

This past Saturday was our annual Cooper Young Festival, a massive arts/crafts/music fest in Midtown's Cooper Young neighborhood. Megan, Cassi, and I rented Bird scooters and scooted there since parking cars during CY Fest is always a nightmare. After walking around the fest for a couple hours, we were pretty hungry. So we grabbed Vegan Cheese Pizza Slices to go from Imagine Vegan Cafe (which is located smack in the heart of Cooper Young). Slices were just $3, and so were the beers (I got a Crosstown Brewing Traffic IPA).

Later that night, I joined my friend Misti for her birthday dinner at Midtown Crossing Grill. I hadn't eaten anything since that slice and was famished. These Vegan Potato Skins with mushrooms, Daiya, and arugula hit the spot.

This morning, I had a Dave's Bagels Whole Wheat Bagel with Miyoko's Creamery Plainly Vegan Cream Cheese & Hot Pepper Peach Jam. HIT THE SPOT, y'all.

I ate my lunch out on the second floor patio at Crosstown Concourse again today. Had a Hummus & Roasted Veggie Sandwich with roasted eggplant, bell pepper, tomato, baby spinach, and roasted garlic hummus. Plus, some more Vegan Dude potato chips (cheese pizza flavor today!).

Been eating lots of oats lately! One of my oat bowls last week had fresh plums, maple syrup, unsweetened almond butter powder (mixed in) and sunflower butter (on top).

Yesterday, I had oats with frozen berries (cooked in), maple, and peanut butter. Tasted like a PB&J!

Tacos & Sandwiches & Pizza!

New Wing Order –  a new Memphis food truck specializing in hot wings — also offers something for vegans! Yay! They have Fried Avocado Tacos with vegan sriracha aioli and pineapple slaw, and they are to die for. They're even marked VEGAN on the menu, which I think is super-rad because it's really nice that they offer something for everyone. I was invited to their VIP truck opening last Friday night at Memphis Made Brewing Co., so I got a couple tacos (and washed down with Memphis Made Huggy Bear Brown Ale).

I have a busy week ahead, so I brought my lunch to work instead of heading home for lunch (I live about 5 minutes from my office, so I typically lunch at home). I had planned to work through lunch and nibble at my desk, but it was just too nice of a day for that.

So I took a quick break outside and read Rich Roll's Finding Ultra while I enjoyed a Mustard Baked Tofu Sandwich (with Trader Joe's baked tofu, sauteed spinach & shallots, sliced tomato, and maple-dijon mustard) from The Vegan Reset Cookbook, along with a side of the BEST EVER CHIPS. These Vegan Cheddar & Sour Cream Chips are made by Vegan Dude Foods, and they taste just like the sour cream & cheddar chips of my youth. My dad ordered these from Vegan Essentials. So good! Full review (with more flavors) coming soon.

My life hasn't been all fried food and chips though. I did have this Mint To Be Green Smoothie from I Love Juice Bar at Crosstown Concourse one day last week before an evening yoga class. Mint, pineapple, mango, coconut milk, and apple juice. Yum!

Here's a Saturday morning ramen bowl! With Soy Curls, peas, carrots, and corn. The noodles are Koyo Tofu Miso. LOVE!