2010: The Year in Food

In the year 2010, more than any other, the camera was angled down, capturing flicks of food. Sure, there are people on the other side of the table. Had the camera lifted its head, it’d see. But for a gal who sorts time through food, the vibrant color of shared meals and food creations encompass it all. The who, the when, the why and the what. It’s like anti-ana pride [gross]. It’s vegan. It’s foodie-ness. It’s 2010: the year in food.

January. Three Brothers, Long Island’s Italian restaurant with the trailblazing all-vegan menu, was a wonderful addition to the mix, especially in Long Island where “all-vegan” is far a few between and where I would spend most of my weekends during the year. Most notable is their vegan mozzarella sticks, as the price would hint to. My first trip there they were about half the price they are now.

February. Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s Garden Grille’s wonderful prix-fixe Valentine’s Day meal was one of the best meals of the year. Memorable was the entree: Red palm ravioli trio–house-dried tomato with arugula fennel pesto, trumpet mushrooms with rosemary cashew cheese and braised cannellini with spinach served with roasted asparagus, pink vodka sauce and fresh basil. Providence had some great vegan eats and several others that were closed for the holiday.

March. By March I had gotten into the swing of using my breadmaker, a Christmas gift from several months earlier. With the purchase of a proper serrated knife, I cut a slew of interesting loafs during 2010. Unfortunately my uneven slicing skills and ton of stale leftovers had use dwindle by the end of 2010. I’m going to work on this however. Anyone interested in a bread share? I lost the only interested party to the hands of bread-focused freeganism during 2010.

April. The year of the Monday Thai lunch special. With the plethora of amazing lunch special deals in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, temptation they name was lunch. I suppose a 8$ a week Thai habit is an okay addiction compared to what others struggle with. Coming in first place to the area Thai deals is Nine D on Court street, followed by Em Thai Kitchen on Smith street. Pictured here is Em’s Pad Thai with veggie dumplings and spring rolls.

May. I made bagels from scratch! This was quite exciting, especially because I could load ’em up with garlic millings. Thanks to Vegan Brunch, I entered into this bread undertaking fearlessly. Though I don’t foresee whipping up bagel batches on the reg., there is something empowering about making a delicious bagel from scratch… like “look what I can do”, hey hey hey.

June. In looking back at 2010, I’d be a doof not to mention the dedicated vegan grill at the Electrician‘s house. Proof that a long-time vegan and a grill-master omnivore can live in harmony. Though I ate across the table from steak, sausage and real hamburgers [Oh my!], my criticism was preemptively silenced by a respect and accommodation of my personal dietary choices. Pictured here: A waco Tofurky Italian sausage roasting with some veggies.

July. CandyPenny and I blazed a vegan trail across the Great Plains this summer, hitting tons of special eateries. One of the most memorable was Kansas City’s Fud and their jackfruit chalupa. I’ve eaten a ton of vegan food across this great nation and this chalupa stands up tall as one of the most flavorful, fresh and delicious bites. This piece of constructed bliss would make it to my top 10 of all time.

August. If you have patience and a tub of Earth Balance, you too can create huge, obscenely decadent and scrumptious cinnamon buns. I made this big batch for the Real Deal Vegan Brunch [here], a spectacular display of veganization, if I do say so myself. Besides these hot buns there was danishes, scones and egg sandwiches. But back to the buns, a big bun at a cinnamon bun chain will inject you with about 800 calories. This bun I am sure is no more than 799.

September. Boneshakers, the vegan-friendly coffee shop and cafe that hosted foodie friends to many delicious bites through out 2010, opened up Champs Family Bakery this past year, growing their vegan family in my neighborhood. Their brunch is my favorite in the entire 5 boroughs of New York City. Pictured here is their Tofu Benny, a delectable well-balanced morning choice with the most convincing hollandaise sauce I’ve ever tried.

October. Garden Cafe in Woodstock is one of my favorite restaurants. Everything that is set in front of me is close to perfect. They know how to season, to accompany, to garnish, to cook. Even the simplest of sandwiches, like the tofu mango one pictured here I ate during my upstate birthday roadtrip, are absolutely fantastic. Garden Grill is a must-visit at least a couple of times a year. I am hoping 2011 will have me stopping by on an overnight camping trip.

November. Deep. Fried. Twinkies. And you thought that the state fair was one-up on veganism with their battered and deep-fried delights. Nope. With a simple batter, an eclair pan and pastry bag, deep fried vegan twinkies became a reality in November during Deep Fryday. This opens up a world of deep-frying opportunities. I am thinking: rice krispy treats, chocolate chip cookies and Brussels sprouts.

December. In 2010 I veganized some classic tasty treats: tiramisu and creme brulee. Both tries were successful checks off my veganization list. For 2011 I hope to make a satisfying vegan version of the Scooter Pie, my absolute favorite kid snack. But back to the creme brulee for this December milestone, although I got the process down for creating this dessert [water bath and butane torch] I’d like to experiment with a more yummy custard. But c’mon the welded caramel crackling sizzle of sugar pushes this dessert into the 2010 Year In Food.