Tuesday, April 14, 2009

zombie jesus probably wanted mango, not braiiinnnnssss....

It was an unexpected surprise, to hear my mom suggest driving up for the weekend along with my sister, carrying pantry reinforcements of cocoa powder, vanilla extract, organic beer, sprinkles, and BC golden syrup!  Easter obviously isn't an epic day on my calendar, but it is gorgeous to celebrate anything with family, and so I made a ton of fresh summer rolls with two kinds of dipping sauce to remedy whatever fast food travesty they'd had to eat on the drive to my place.  Which totally worked!  And I made lime & poppyseed cupcakes, filled and topped with mango compote and swirled with vanilla frosting, and star sprinkles on top, because hey, it's the time of year for excess sugar and pastel colours, I think.  So yummy!  I think they're actually improving with age, too, flavours melding... I had one for breakfast today, shhhh! :D

We also hit that store with the crazy sales, whereupon we filled our recyclable plastic bags full of fresh udon packets and coconut cream powder and nori seaweed AND these beautiful little herbal tangerine candies I found.  All for a dollar!  I like the tin especially.

Brunch at Aux Vivres, which makes maybe only my third time there, ever.  The hot spot vegan spot of hot vegan dining, and I've barely gone --  I know!  Anyway, I got to see their take on a vegan brunch plate, which my sister ordered, piled high with melt-in-your-mouth tofu scramble (they use medium firm and load it with nooch), maple-y tempeh bacon strips, sweet potato fries, an excellent salad with dressing I forgot to identify, and cornbread with jalapeno in it.  Yum!  Not to mention pretty as a painting if anyone ever wanted their breakfast to cheer them up with sheer resemblance to flowers alone.

Mom ordered the chickpea masala on fresh chapati with apple chutney inside - this one I've had before and it is sweet slurpy savoury delicious, as well as MORE than enough food for two people, with a salad alongside.  If you're ever so devoid of protein that only a total refuel will do, order this thing and you'll be set like superman!

And I?  I was the lucky one.  At the bottom of the menu I spotted a new item, something special... a Montreal smoked meat seitan sandwich, piled all high up with mustard, mayo, pickles and creamy coleslaw on the side... OMG.  It was *crazily* like the roast beef sandwiches I used to eat sometimes, *utterly* delicious, *such* a treat.  The bread was soft and awesome, too.  I think the neatest thing was pulling the second half out of the fridge the next day and almost feeling like I was in my teens again, just eating any old thing I found around. :p

Witness the lovvvvve!!!  They done seitan right, they did.... really soft and spiced perfectly.

cake!  only slightly dented after a trip in a to-go tray 

And!  Should I mention some huge news?  If anyone remembers my old roommate and vegan chef extraordinaire P, well... she's moved back to the city and become... the primary baker at Aux Vivres!  The whole pastry counter - that's her!  So I had to sample a massive decadent slice of chocolate apple cake.  Don't let the apple thing steer you wrong on this cake, either, it is dense and rich and iced with an epic ganache, studded with just enough apple to make the flavour nuanced, with a raspberry sauce served on the side... you should go for this.  Or for any of the desserts!  I am certainly going back to sample other things, I consider it my duty as a friend.   To eat... sugar and chocolate.  My duty!!  As a friend!!  WEll, it is.  :D

20 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

SCRUMPTIOUSNESS!!!

Wow, congratulations to your former roommate!!

VeganWoman said...

Oh the cupcake! The sandwhiches look like the ones made at a vegan gig here in town :) Beautiful pictures!

Jes said...

Chocolate apple cake sounds **amazing**. And that food? Holy yum! I've become a seitan sandwich fiend and that one looks perfect!

jessy said...

ooooh! your cuppies look amazing! how nice of you to make them for your mom & sister to enjoy! that's nice that they drove up for a visit! yay! all the eats @ Aux Vivres look divine! i'm all about the brunch plate & your sammie! mmmmmmmmmmmm! and apple-chocolate cake?!? sooo much goodness! huzzah!

jenny said...

Best title ever!!

Anonymous said...

Your brunch plate looks so good! I have never heard of Aux Vivres before, but their food looks yummy. That's pretty cool news about your old room mate, maybe she'll hook you up when you go there.

Jenni (aka Vegyogini) said...

YUM!

T said...

Oooh mango cupcakes... never would have thought of that! Everything looks amazing...

Carrie said...

That's awesome for your roommate!

I am heading to Montreal in June for a conference and plan on hitting up Aux Vivres a couple of times. :)

Sarah P said...

I have drooled over the aux vivres website before, but now I am convinced: I must visit montreal!

aTxVegn said...

I love chocolate and apples - congratulations to P and her fabulous creations!

I'm glad you had a fun family weekend. You are so lucky to have that wonderful vegan restaurant.

Anonymous said...

That cupper is divine, and Aux Vivres sounds like such a cool place - and how excellent is it for your friend P to be working there - right on!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Sounds like a lovely time with family & looks delicious!

Judy said...

Wow, wow, wow! It all looks and sounds SO yummy, I am really hungry now! It also sounds like you have a great family, you are very lucky - I hope you are thankful!

The Voracious Vegan said...

Wow! Amazing pictures, so gorgeous. That cake looks delicious....

Cyn said...

I love your cupcakes! They're so pretty and delicious. All of the other food looks super tasty as well. Yay for awesome families!

MeloMeals said...

What great eats!

Mihl said...

I want brains, I mean...cupcakes and cake!

Kris said...

That cake makes my brain hurt. SO AMAZING!

Katie said...

Can anyone say cakegasm? Haha It all looks so delicious!