a millennium moment- mm mmm mmmmm

pumpkin curry at Millennium

hi. i love Millennium! here are some more photos from a recent visit.

my pumpkin curry was supreme! i was shocked by the huge portion.. look at all that forbidden black rice. i actually couldn’t finish it!

brussel sprouts at Millennium

i was really impressed with these sprouts! they were so flavourful and were complimented by little bites of smokey tofu cubes. millennium’s b-sprouts were the inspiration for my brussel sprouts.

cajun style tempeh at Millennium

this was my chum’s dinner..

pear crisp with rosemary ice cream at Millennium

oh joy! i was so stuffed from my pumpkin curry that i really had a heck of time knocking back my pear crisp. but i did. YUM!

Millennium
580 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-345-3900
www.millenniumrestaurant.com

cha-ya vegetarian japanese restaurant

senroppon salad (shredded salad) at cha-ya, san francisco

i visited cha-ya’s san francisco location and was more than pleasantly surprised. first off, you should believe the rumours that cha-ya gets crazy busy, but i visited during lunch and it wasn’t too bad. i didn’t even have to wait for a table.. maybe it was an off-day.  i ordered the senroppon salad, which is so lovely you don’t even want to eat it! there is shredded daikon, turnip, cucumber, carrots, tofu, radishes, soybeans, sprouts, and pine nuts, all topped with a soy-vinaigrette dressing. YUM. everything is really affordable, but just remember it is cash only. it’s also all vegan.

vegan roll at cha-ya

hello vegan roll. these sushi rolls are massive! there is asparagus, tofu, cucumber, broccoli, pickled burdock, and shiitake all waiting for you. i must have looked funny mooshing it all into my mouth; however, i enjoyed it and i can’t wait to go back for more!

i don’t have a photo, but the vegan chocolate cake is amazing!

thank you, cha-ya for existing.

Cha-Ya Vegetarian Japanese Restaurant
762 Valencia St
(between 18th St & 19th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 252-7825

p.s. there is another cha-ya location in berkeley.

sweet basil thai cuisine

sweet basil thai cuisine

sweet basil will knock your socks off with their thai spice. when i first ordered the lunch special (above) i ordered it “very spicy” and almost died. they do not mess around with their thai chilies, and if you like it spicy you are in luck. if you don’t need too much spice then go ahead and order it “not too spicy” and you will be quite pleased. i love spicy food but its nice to be able to control it… so, i usually just ask for the hot sauce if i want it to be more spicy.

i really enjoy sweet basil. the lunch specials are so affordable, delicious and filling.. and it’s located on solano avenue, with all of the nice shops and the xocolate bar is right across the street! for lunch i like to order the green curry with drunken tofu and brown rice combination. all for $9.50! i’ve also tried the basil eggplant, which is outstanding! the staff are very accommodating if you have any food sensitivities. enjoy!

Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine
1736 Solano Ave
(between Ensenada Ave & Tulare Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 527-8611

razan organic kitchen

mediterranean platter from razan

i had eaten at razan organic kitchen many times before i tried the mediterranean platter and was already in wow-mode, but after trying the mediterranean platter i was hooked! this is a great meal for lunch or dinner, however i prefer it for lunch because it holds me over all day long with no hunger pangs to speak of. it’s also very affordable! let me break this down for you: hummus, tabbouleh, falafel, dolmas, salad and tahini dressing, brown rice, whole wheat pita, and unlimited hot & mild salsas! i also love their egyptian and lebanese wraps. it’s so incredibly fresh at razan and there are numerous things to choose from: salads, wraps, burritos, and platters. the portions are giant size, so be prepared to eat it all, share, or take home. the owner is very nice and will smile at you more if you finish your meal.

Razan Organic Kitchen
2119 Kittredge St
(between Fulton St & Shattuck Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 486-0449
razanorganickitchen.com

the xocolate bar

the xocolate bar

my sweet tooth is on a rampage this week, and i have been thinking about these yummy chocolates from the xocolate bar in berkeley. as their website states, they are drop-dead delicious, and they are made without preservatives, artificial flavors, high-fructose corn syrup, or trans fats. they also offer many vegan chocolates! the flavors and shapes are quite unique; i tried a few of the vegan ones: tamarind-mango, blackcurrant, cacao nib, and coconut. i enjoyed the cacoa nib and coconut the best. they are almost too pretty to eat!

the xocolate bar chocolates

if you can’t make it to the berkeley location you can order chocolates on their website. gelato is also available for the non-vegans.

The Xocolate Bar
1709 Solano Ave
Berkeley, CA 94707
510.525.XOCO
http://www.TheXocolateBar.com

dinner at millennium mishmash

indian spiced grilled portobello mushroom at millennium

the number of amazing restaurants is endless in the bay area, and i give to you millennium! here are some photos taken at millennium over the last few months. i think the food can speak for itself..

vietnamese style scallion & mung bean sprout crepe at millennium

mmm..

blackberry glazed smoked tempeh at millennium

this dark chocolate “cheese” cake was insanely good. let me describe it for you: cocoa nib-brownie crust, conocado chocolate cream, caramel ice cream, blackberry coulis.

dark chocolate "cheese" cake at millennium

the almond shortcake was my favourite and i came back a few more times just for this: ginger-coconut cream, seasonal berries & stone fruit, lemongrass scented aprium-blackberry sorbet, thai basil creme anglaise!

almond shortcake at millennium

here is my friend’s rice pudding timbale, which is saffron scented rice pudding, strawberry-mango-serrano chutney, mango sorbet, and coconut almond tuile.

my friend's millennium dessert.. so pretty

millennium's sorbet sampler!

many dollars have gone into this millennium photo shoot but it was a pleasure to dine in this vegan wonderland.

http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/

ethiopia restaurant

nene'wee at ethiopia restaurant

dear east bay,

you are so lucky to have so many fine ethiopian establishments to choose from. we visited ethiopia restaurant in berkeley and were happily delighted. i ordered the nene’wee, which consists of five vegetarian items to choose from a possible twelve, and all for $10.95 ($9.95 for lunch). the injera (spongy crepe-like sourdough bread) is made with 100% teff! i loved the engudai we’t (mushroom stew) and yemisir we’t (red lentil). it was all so good and fresh!

http://www.ethiopiarestaurant.com/