Hangin' in the East Bay, Eating Brunch at Donut Farm!

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the holiday parties, right?! I hate getting dressed up when it's cold outside, but I do love a good party, and in the grand scheme of things, San Francisco isn't that cold -- CHICAGO IS COLD! More than I dislike getting dressed up in a chilly apartment, I used to hate getting dressed up in my Chicago apartment with the heater blasting. I don't know why it didn't work for me; probably because I knew outside the temperature was about 15 DEGREES OR LOWER, and pardon me for repeating myself, it felt weirdly artificial. ANYWAY, let's talk brunch.

I live in San Francisco, and I try to avoid going across the Bay Bridge (I am sans car, yo) as much as possible. But, I will go across, on BART, for food and parties. And so, I went across the bridge to attend Laura's holiday party, fooling myself into thinking I would make the last BART train home. Needless to say, I slept on a couch in my party dress, SURPRISE SURPRISE. I did have a toothbrush on me, THANK GAWD, I can't not brush my teeth in the morning - it makes me completely insane. (I also like to brush my teeth at the gym after I work out, so that toothbrush is in my purse, always. I can and will sleep almost anywhere, knowing that.) Again, I digress.

The best part about crashing (or having guests crash at my place) after a party is the post-party PARTY! The wrap-up party, if you will. Ours included a trip to Donut Farm for Sunday brunch! I had never been and I was so excited! And it was delicious -- totally worth the wait!

I felt like the coolest lady in all the land, rolling in with Laura, Jonas and Meave. Never mind the bed-head and slept-in party dress.

The owner and chef Josh generously gave us a couple of items on the house, including this decadent double-dipped donut! 

I ordered the biscuits and mushroom gravy, which came with hash browns and I added the southern greens (one of the best food decisions I've ever made). I loved it. I'm not usually into carb-loading, but I had been hitting the gym real hard, so I splurged. I couldn't be more stoked that I treated myself to this breakfast because it was SCRUMPTIOUS. 

Let me assure you, the next time I have visitors in town, we are spending the day in the East Bay, as both Donut Farm and Flaco's are absolute musts, and two of my favorite Bay Area restaurants! 

Donut Farm is located at 6037 San Pablo Ave in Oakland, and only serves brunch on the weekends, so plan accordingly!

My FAVORITE Vegan Celebrities!

LA Weekly just came out with a list of their favorite top 10 vegan celebrities. This got me thinking, "I love celebrities! Why should LA Weekly have all the fun?" So, speaking on behalf of all the Vegansaurs, I made a top 15 list, in which I actually posted about 17 celebrities! That's how I do me.

Some people love it, some people hate it (And have not hurt my feelings on tumblr. I am better than this. WHY DO THEY TAKE THE FUN OUT OF EVERYTHING. I'm letting it go.) but I'm stoked with it! Man, it took me a week to do. Halfway through, I thought about scrapping the whole thing because it was quite tedious. Now that it's finished, I'm so proud! And when the haters are hating, I say "Calm down, it's just a celebrity list", but really I'm thinking "F@#K you".

Let's be real. The inspiration from this list also came from the fact I spent weeks earnestly contemplating how I could combine my two loves: vegan blogging and No Doubt.

See the list HERE!

New Pop-Up in SF and it's JUICE!

I LOVE JUICE! I LOVE POP-UPS!

Check out SōW at Pause Wine Bar on Mondays and Saturdays! Read my review at Vegansaurus here!

Healthy Surprise Snack Box!

I would appreciate a subscription to this box, thanks. It's like a CSA box for snackers! It's amazing!

Read my review over at Vegansaurus, HERE!

COOKING CRUNK!

Look at the cookbook I received to review for Vegansaurus! I'm so excited. I love Bianca's blog, and actually used it once as an eating guide in Memphis! REMEMBER THAT? I was on my way to SXSW, back in my glory days. Actually, at time I was sick as a dog and also very depressed, but EVERYTHING HAS TURNED AROUND! I'm the epitome of health (ahhahahahahahahahaha) and not depressed (always a good thing!).

Anyway. Super stoked. Can't wait til payday so I can make EVERYTHING in here!
(Specifically the Tofu Ham with Redeye Gravy!)

Join The Navitas Naturals "SMOOTHMENT"

It's a smoothie movement! I don't do smoothies myself, but I know a lot of hippies who do. I prefer my blended drinks at a Tiki Bar, but hey, to each their own.

Are you into Smoothies? Read my post, co-written with my pal Caroline (that's her smoothie, pictured above) on Vegansaurus! Or skip the middleWOmen and head right on over to the Natvitas Naturals Smoothment page for videos, tips and recipes! Fun.

Make Broccoli with Nacheez Sauce, TONIGHT!

DO IT! Here's how!

I've Been Baking!

Sometimes, companies send me products to review, which makes me feel like a VIP! Wholesome Chow generously sent me a box of seven baking mixes to try out, and so far I love them!

Check it out, yo! The vanilla lavender review comes with my vanilla frosting recipe! It is too legit to quit, I just want to eat it ALL day.

 Vanilla lavender cupcakes, with vanilla and blueberry frosting.

Chocolate cake with espresso frosting and chocolate flowers/borders.

Another Night, Another Dinner

I used Appetite for Reduction tonight! I made the Chili-Lime-Rubbed Tofu recipe and it's yum! Very flavorful and easy. I also made a wilted kale salad, with caramelized onions, and mushrooms, spiced with lime juice, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper.

And of course a companion salad, with lettuce, tomato, grilled corn, avocado, green onions, cilantro and a splash (or 3) of white rice vinegar!

Summer Vacay!

 I took five days, and went to Chicago. Within that trip, I also went to a wedding in Michigan.

 

Then, I took some time to myself to start watching 30 Rock, work, and what I'm really saying, is that I couldn't bear to write for about a month. My sister had a baby shower, I turned 31, things were happening!

You can read about my SUMMERized  (ahahahaha) summer vacay here.

I Saw Soko The Other Night at Bottom Of The Hill!

How exciting for me! I've seen Soko before, at SXSW. Something happened in the last two years, as she is a lot mellower, and her songs have a much sadder air about them. She's still a fun and charismatic performer! And guess what? She ate at Source for dinner that night, as I sent a tweet to her, recommending the place! But her phone got stolen at dinner (WTF?). When she was onstage, she talked about how upset she was that her phone, with her contacts, a documentary she was filming throughout the tour, and her show notes, got stolen at the restaurant she ate at. Little did I know at the time it was the one I worked at! I found out the next day; what a bummer! Never give your phone to the owner to charge, he'll put it in a public place on a busy Friday night, instead of behind the counter. Jeez. How embarrassing.
Anyway, here's the post I wrote the night before the show, on Vegansaurus, to try and rally the troops. I don't think it worked.

Oh yeah, when she told her story about the phone, some douche-canoe yelled "First World Problem". That saying itself is a first world problem and I want so badly for it to go away. It's diminishing and rude.

I love Tofu Pasta!

Read how I cook up tofu pasta here! It's my fave, as too much grain hurts my stomach. Over-processed soy products sure don't! Plus they are gluten-free with low carb and calorie counts. Marinara sauce is fun again!

Type-O blood. Not everyone believes that "Eat Right For Your Blood Type" stuff, but I do! Supposedly I should stay away from grains, (carbs in general -- potatoes, sugar, flour...), and be eating a very clean, high protein diet. Like meats, fruits and vegetables. But I don't eat meat, soooo, I have to adjust accordingly. The raw food diet makes me feel the best, but gawd damn it's intense and time consuming. (Excuses, excuses)

Vegansaurus is Up for an Award!

The other blog I write for, Vegansaurus, is up for an award! How exciting! Vote for us, pretty please? If we win, it will give me a reason to keep living writing! Thank you!

Treehugger Best of Green Reader's Choice Awards: Best Food Website

You don't have to register or any of that usual annoying noise. Just click the link and vote! You are the best! xoxo!

In celebration, here is a picture of me hugging a tree. It happens.

'Find Your Dog Twin' App!

This is my dog twin!

Read all about the free app here! It's so much fun!

Rachel Ray Joins Forces with Katherine Heigl and I Go On Too Many Tangents

I wrote this post last night when I was really tired (and possibly jet lagged plus I may have eaten a 'brownie'). I sent it in to Vegansaurus, knowing full well it might not get used, which is not my style but...jet lag?
Somehow they made it work! (My original title did in fact get used, which surprised me.) Here's the original:

Hey! I don't know if you follow me on twitter, but you should! I think I'm hilarious and also, I have no filter, so you'll always get some TMI! We all like that, right? RIGHT? Well, if you follow Vegansaurus, you may have recently seen the retweet in which I refer to myself as a vegan Rachel Ray, only emo and introverted! Look, I'm going to be honest here -- I really love Rachel Ray. If I had cable, I'd watch '30 Minute Meals'. When I have extra $$ on me, I buy her magazine. HER RECIPES ARE SO EASY TO VEGANIZE! And they are quick! I know you all want to make a fast dinner during the work week! Stop hating and start veganizing her simple, yet tasty and creative, recipes! Plus, she didn't go to culinary school and neither did I! No pretension here*!

Anyway, on to something that has to do with animals. Rachel Ray has teamed up with Kathrine Heigl to save some dogs! Let's not talk about how I feel about Kathrine Heigl, okay? (Let's just say that I love Grey's Anatomy and cry to it every week. Who needs Adele**, when I can just watch doctors be all sexy and also tug on my heartstrings on a weekly basis?!)
Animals, right. Okay. On her recent show, Rachel Ray donated $150,000 dollars to Katherine Heigl's animal charity, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation. It's all about raising awareness about spaying and neutering dogs! Which reminds me of the only PETA poster I ever loved (and even owned, but sadly lost in some move between apartments in Chicago).


Not Rachel or Katherine, but instead: Chan Marshall! Not wearing feather earrings! Also telling you to spay and neuter your pet!

*Cause stereotypically, culinary/pastry school graduates are completely kind of pretentious.

**Lying. Totally listen to Adele constantly.

Always Be Promoting!

Laura, the HBiC over at Vegansaurus, was the one who told me this catchy phrase - "ABP! Always be promoting!" So here I go.

My posts here have been short. But for good reason! I've been doing longer posts over at Vegansaurus. I'm really proud of them! So read 'em! They take time to write, and in a sense, writing for Vegansaurus can feel like homework once I get home from work. In that way though, it's like the project you are really excited to get home and work on. So read me there! And here!

All my posts, in one link.

xoxo

First Christmas Present!

This is a gift I got from the editors (an editor?) of Vegansaurus. I love it! I am not going to wear it while making anything with tomatoes, as I do not want to get red stains on it. The first dish I made whilst wearing it was tacos! I was so incredibly careful not to get food on it. Or red wine!
(It is an apron, not a bib. I like to tie my aprons up really high. I do not know why I do this.)