Welcome to Monk Island, a food blog with a new perspective. This blog documents my experiences as a roaming vegan with limited time, money, and resources. I search the land for simple, plant-based meals for one person, and I share those here with you. This blog is for herbivores on the go who don't live in the kitchen, don't have a kitchen, or don't have a home. No politics or extremist rants. Just peace, respect, and veggies.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
A Vegan Halloween Party Drink
A Halloween Vegan Snack: Halloween Pretzels
A Halloween Vegan Snack: Paqui Haunted Ghost Pepper Tortilla Chips
Warning: The contents of this bag are extremely frightening. Paqui is not responsible for any injuries that may result from ingesting this delicious terror. The use of gloves and safety goggles is encouraged. Common side effects include addiction to burning pain, blurred vision, and unquenchable thirst. Enjoy with caution and consider yourself warned.
Of course I had to try it. I'm not scared.
The serving size is 10 chips? Really? Let me tell you. The first chip was immediately very hot. Each chip after that became exponentially hotter! I made it to 5 chips before my lips became red and swollen. I barely made it to 10 chips. I now feel like I have a stomach ulcer. My nose is running like a fountain. My whole head is hot. My tongue is simultaneously numb and throbbing with pain. My hands are contaminated with hot pepper residue. I accidentally touched my eyelid and nose, and I may have mild chemical burns. I temporarily lost the ability to concentrate and focus. I feel like I just gave myself a dose of pepper spray. If I ate 2 servings of these I'd be out of my mind with confusion and pain!
But these chips are really good! And they're addictive! The best way to eat this product is to eat just 1 or 2 chips and stop for a while. That's all it takes. These are good with hummus too, because it controls the burn. The chips have a nice crunchy texture. The powdery flavoring is made with ghost, cayenne, chipotle, and chili peppers. I recommend these chips only to the experienced pepper or hot sauce eater, because they are offensively hot.
UPDATE: I'm fine. No serious effects came with the enjoyment of this delicious product. My side effects went away after about an hour. I'm ready for more tasty pain!
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Buffalo Tofu Grinder Meal at The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant in Nashville TN
The grinder included grilled tofu tossed in buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, shredder carrots, pickles, and vegan ranch on a vegan wheat hoagie. The buffalo sauce was tangy and hot, but it was a medium heat that allowed other ingredients to shine. The tofu was firm with a hint of soy sauce. The carrots had a light sweetness. The pickles had a bold, tart flavor and light snap. The vegan ranch was amazing! It really made the whole sandwich come together. The hoagie was spongy and firm.
The vegan coleslaw was cool and refreshing with a crisp texture. The sweet, tangy juice offered a hint of pineapple and the classic flavor of traditional coleslaw. By taste, an omnivore would never know it was vegan.
This was as great as expected. The Wild Cow never lets me down. The food is always excellent and often amazing. The only thing about this meal or my time at The Wild Cow that I don't care for is the noise level. The restaurant has concrete surfaces. The sound has no good way to be absorbed. When a loud group or a family with children come in, the sound level is so high I must use ear plugs. The kitchen noise and music are not the primary sources. The Wild Cow is just so good it attracts large, happy crowds.
Click here for The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant website
Sunday, October 28, 2018
A Great Vegan Meal at Legends Steakhouse in Pulaski TN
The service was fast, and the young lady who served me was really sweet. This Legends Steakhouse looked older and had a more casual atmosphere than the one in Shelbyville TN. It looks like it could have been an old Ruby Tuesdays before the restyling. Other vegan options included a baked potato, a sweet potato, and a side of steamed broccoli. Of course those all probably come with butter unless requested without. Free rolls come with the meal, but those are not at all vegan. Overall, this meal was very good. When I return to Pulaski, I'll know there's something good to eat at Legends Steak house.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Mexican Rice Bowl at Happy Tummy in Huntsville AL
Mexican Rice Bowl at Happy Tummy in Huntsville AL |
This was a pretty good lunch! It tasted good, the portion size was right, and it was vegan! There was nothing fancy about this. It was simply white rice with black beans, corn relish, onion, guacamole, and salsa. But I like keeping it simple and knowing what I'm eating. There's no mystery sauces, no seasonings that I must question, no meat substitutes, no weird ingredients that can't be identified. What you see is what you get with this honest bowl of veggies. It's simple and I like it!
The people at Happy Tummy are familiar with the word "vegan", and they have many vegan options. When I tell them I'm a hungry vegan, they can tell me without hesitation which foods I can eat and how to order it if it isn't already vegan. They make it so easy for me. I will be back!
Click here to see the Happy Tummy website
Monday, October 22, 2018
Luvo Mighty Masala & Greens Power Bowl
Remember, this brand does make non-vegan foods. They clearly mark each vegan and vegetarian product on the label above the flavor description.
Click here to see the Luvo website
A Side of Beans and Rice at Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill
The quality of this meal was excellent, however I frequently have issues when ordering at Salsarita's. This time the server keep wanting me to pay for a huge platter of food at $6.99 when I specifically asked for the small side of beans and rice at $1.99. She kept saying they only sell one size, the big bowl. After I calmly and politely read her the menu, she got the small bowl and gave me what I ordered. Maybe I'm the only one who orders reasonably sized meals that consist of only side items and it confused her. The small serving filled me up. There's no need to spend more money and walk out with 4 servings of leftover food that will sit in my car all day.
I hope Salsarita's get things straightened out. I love their vegan options, but they make it so difficult to order small healthy meals at reasonable prices.
Click here to see the Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill website
Home-made Chopped Salad
I don't know about everyone else but my body loves it when I give it this kind of nourishment. This is how I should eat everyday!
I can make 3 or more salads like this with the food I bought at $13. That's $4.34 per meal, a reasonable price considering this is real food. The prep time for this salad was about 10 minutes.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Sprouts Black Bean Hummus with Home-made Bread
Another Work Party
Friday, October 19, 2018
Tempeh Sloppy Joe Lunch at Cashew Plant Based Vegan Cafe in Chattanooga TN
This Tempeh Sloppy Joe is the first Sloppy Joe I've had since the mid 1980s. I don't remember what the meat version tastes like, just to be completely fair. I can't imagine a meat product tasting as good as this. The generous pile of tempeh stuffing was a soft mass of small chunks held together with a thick tomato paste. The crisp slaw topping was fantastic and could have been a meal alone. The bun was soft and warm. This enormous sandwich filled me up. But I didn't stop there. Notice I also got a side of Chips and Cashew Cheese. That's a must-have at Cashew.
I made it a real feast by adding Mac N Cheese to the meal. This is a perfectly cooked shell pasta with thick vegan cashew cheese. I've posted on this before.
Eating the Mac N Cheese is always a moment of bliss, It was so good I licked the bowl clean like a dog. People were watching, but I did not care. It may be the best vegan Mac N Cheese on this planet.
To summarize, this meal at Cashew Plant Based Vegan Cafe was beyond perfection. It was the best meal I've had since the last time I was there.
Click here for the Cashew Plant Based Vegan Cafe website
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Coconut Samoa Cake from Vegan Vee Gluten-Free Bakery in Nashville TN
Rice Noodles with Mock Chicken and Spicy Peanut Sauce
This mock chicken tastes nothing like chicken. I know an herbivore isn't the best judge on that, but you can trust me. It tasted like wheat gluten, which is exactly what it is. I like it when it has a sauce on it, but I wouldn't choose to eat it plain.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
256 Nachos at Fire & Spice TexMex Smokehouse in Huntsville AL
256 Nachos at Fire & Spice TexMex Smokehouse in Huntsville AL |
This massive platter of herbivore favorites was enough to feed a family of four. The 256 Nachos includes tortilla chips, pinto beans, rice, vegetable medley, spicy slaw, salsa verde, guacamole, and cilantro. I began to nibble away at this mountain of vegetation knowing that a take-out box would soon be needed.
The chips are heavier than average and easily hold the weight of whatever goodies are piled upon them. I got a hint of burnt oil in the chips, but it didn't take away from the meal. It just gave it a classic fried food flavor. The pinto beans were peppery with a very nice home-cooked bean flavor and texture. The beans were my favorite part of this meal. The bell peppers and jalapeno peppers were fresh and flavorful. Whether or not they were cooked was unclear. They still had a crisp snap when bitten. The spicy slaw was definitely spicy. It was also crisp and peppery. The salsa verde and guacamole were both refreshing and cool. The sweet tea was perfectly made.
Overall, this was a very good meal. There was just a bit of tension between the heavier chips and the fresh natural flavors of the toppings. Either a lighter chip or the addition of vegan cheese would help neutralize that tension. This meal was spicy but the cooler ingredients kept it all well balanced. The price of this meal was $16.35 plus a good tip. I don't usually spend
that much on food, but it was a nice treat that ended up being 3 meals.
I would buy this again if the moment was right.
The interior of Fire & Spice TexMex Smokehouse looks clean and smells clean. They have wooden seating, corrugated metal details, and graphics on the walls. It looks like a casual, trendy barbecue restaurant. The music during my visit was classic pop hits from the 1960s and 1970s. They have full service plus a bar with a nice selection of adult beverages. During my visit, the service was fast and friendly. Every table gets a bottle of sriracha sauce and a whole roll of paper towels. There's plenty of omnivore foods. Other vegan options include quesadillas made with vegan cheese, a veggie bowl, and vegan tacos. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes good food and has a digestive system.
UPDATE: I returned to Fire & Spice for another awesome meal. I
have more details on the food. All fried foods share the same oil, so
the tortilla chips and fried cauliflower may not be considered
acceptable for very strict vegans. That explains why I thought the chips
tasted kind of unhealthy during my first visit. The sauteed veggies are
cooked on the flat top grill, but they do have a separate area for the
veggies. This may still not be acceptable for strict vegans, because it
is the same grill with possibilities for cross contamination. The vegan
burritos and quesadillas are toasted on the same flat top grill.
On
my latest visit, I had a friendly discussion with a server and a member
of management just for clarity. They are very familiar with food
restrictions. They went over the menu and helped me understand how
things are done in the kitchen. For my recent meal they gladly made it
"allergy style". They used a clean pan for the sauteed veggies and to
toast my burrito. They made it their mission to make it right. The
service and food were excellent. It was the best food I've had in
months! I will surely return!
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Edward & Sons Japanese Restaurant Style Miso Cup
This soup has a light soy sauce and seaweed flavor. The tiny bits of mushroom and soy bean float around in the middle. The seaweed and cabbage settle to the bottom. The tofu and green onion float to the top. I just slosh it around before each sip. This is excellent!
Instructions:
1. heat a mug of water
2. add the miso paste (small package)
3. add the chunks (larger package)
4. stir and let the chunks absorb the water for a few seconds
5. enjoy and keep it stirred
Home-made Vegan Chili Cheese Nachos
Monday, October 8, 2018
Home-made Vegan Cauliflower and Onion Soup
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Amy's Indian Samosa Wrap
Friday, October 5, 2018
Dr Praeger's Kale Puffs
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Chocolate Caramel Coconut Doughnut from Cashew Plant Based Vegan Cafe in Chattanooga TN
Click here for the Cashew Plant Based Vegan Cafe website
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Vegan Hors d'Oeuvres with Capers
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Gigandes in Vinaigrette
Vegan Black Beans and Saffron Rice
Vegans, be careful. Many saffron rices are seasoned with chicken fat. Another similar Mahatma product is not vegan. Also, canned black beans could be seasoned with pork. Always read the ingredients.