Category: All Reviews

Thai Vegan (Osuna)

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restaurant | thai cuisine | menu

My first time trying this place came from my boyfriend and I (ecstatically) putting in our first (and final) offer on a home that really wanted.  We had spent hours signing paperwork, when we realized how famished we were and that we were relatively new vegans so we couldn’t just grab food from anywhere.  Directly across the street, a store front read, “Thai Vegan”.  Seemed like the safest bet ever.  I ordered the dinner portion of Basil Leaves and my boyfriend ordered the Fresh Ginger. Both were so incredible that this is often our first choice for eating out. 

story

There is little information on their story aside from the owner being a female, Buddhist, monk, who aims to make people smile via food.  But it was recently mentioned in Albuquerque Business Journal that Thai Vegan is one of 51 Albuquerque restaurants to receive grants awarded to create outdoor dining experiences. They were also awarded best Vegan Food in Albuquerque a few years ago.  And while I would love to reach out to the owner to learn more about them, I think that is for a time in the future when things are not as fragile and uncertain in today’s restaurant world. 

I have limited photos of the food because… well, truthfully, their food doesn’t photograph well.  I have only ordered take-out here, and unless it’s a bakery item or something with a cross section (burrito, sandwich), food looks better on a plate. I’m sure it’s a beautiful presentation when dining in.  Please do not get turned off from this, the food doesn’t look unappetizing in the slightest, it’s just not a beautiful backdrop of their biodegradable containers and fragrant sauces.  I suppose I am leaving quite a bit to the imagination with this.  But you will have to trust me that this is not the Instagram-worthy dinner, this is the dinner exclusively for you and your taste buds.  And if you’re only buying food to post a picture and show-off to your followers, then you’re doing yourself a disservice, and maybe you should try your luck somewhere a bit trendier.    

The majority of this “review” is for me to give you a little extra help when navigating through their online menu, give you some suggestions, and encourage you to try this local, small business, that delivers in flavor every single time.

 

COVID-19 Compliance

Their protocol during this time should be mentioned in the newspaper.  Seeing as it isn’t, I will give them the praise they deserve.  Instead of bitching, about how the governor is imposing safety restrictions, they adapted! They have switched to a 100% carry-out system by building (an evident DIY project 😊 ) a station in front of their door (outside), which allows customers to walk up, pay, and get their food, without ever walking inside.  I think this is so admirable, while I’m sure they prefer the simplicity, it also shows that they care about their customers enough to exemplify the safest way a business can operate amidst a pandemic.

umm.. is this the cutest hand-drawn to-go bag you’ve ever seen? made with love.

Menu

Unless I were to write a 200-page book, I cannot go into depth about every menu item or menu section for that matter. This menu is the local equivalent to The Cheesecake Factory’s, without the advertisements.  Their menu is a bit overwhelming, provides very minimal description, and 5 photos in total.  Even if you look on Yelp, there’s not a ton of photos there either.  If anyone knows the owner, I will happily help them out with their web development/social media presence.  But it looks like they’re doing fine without me.

Any time I’m about to order, as the countdown begins for my hunger turning into aggression, admittedly, I get frazzled with their menu.  They have 13 sections on their menu page, most of them are repeats from other sections.  If it’s your first time visiting the site, you’re just like, “Wait, what are the differences here?” I’ll try my best to help you. 

choose from (entrees):

  • Foods without the combo (This includes: Soups, Salads, Noodles, Wraps, Burgers, Chef Specials)
  • Lunch combination plate that comes with brown rice, 2 spring rolls, and a small side salad ($9.95, without add-ons)
  • Dinner combination plate that comes with brown rice, 2 spring rolls, and a small side salad ($11.95, without add-ons)

my recommendations:

  • Get an appetizer. Any of the dumplings are super filling and the best bang for your buck out of the apps. The “Chicken” Satay is delicious with the peanut sauce, but unfortunately, they are not very big.
  • If you are as obsessed with curry as I am, get any of the Curries. The Green Curry with the soy fish is my absolute favorite!
  • If you are not so hot on curry, the Basil Leaves is a safe bet, or the Pad Thai with tofu.
  • Dessert? I have tried the Banana Chocolate Chip Rolls, they are delicious. Who doesn’t love deep fried egg rolls made of melted chocolate and banana? They are a bit pricey at $6.95 for 4 rolls but oh, so worth it if you have got a huge sweet tooth after dinner.

tips:

  1. Thai Spice is SPICY!! – If you like spicy food, do not ask for extra spice. If you love spicy food be cautious when asking for extra spice. If you’re getting something spicy, I recommend trying it the way it comes first, then next time upping the spice meter. 
  2. They have zero meat – Sometimes their menu it says, “Lightly breaded shrimp”, it’s a soy product. Vegans’ biggest fear is accidentally being served the real meat instead of the “fake meat”.  It’s all faux here, so order away.
  3. Order the Thai Food! – Unless you’re one of those people who is not so adventurous with international foods, try the Thai options! Sure, they offer lentil loaf, veggie burgers, Creamy Chicken, but if you’re a fan of Asian foods then order the Asian foods!! That is no knock against their American options, but come on, it’s Thai food, try the damn curry!!!!

Planty Sweet

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bakery | gluten-free| online ordering

 

Story

One thing I really admire about this bakery is that the head chef and owner is blazing her own trial for plant-based sweets in New Mexico. Not only was Karina Cake’s Planty Sweet, Albuquerque’s first vegan dessert shop, but she also teamed up with local coffee shops to make her product widely available to vegan and non-vegans.

As you can find her treats in the pastry display of Zendo Coffee, Humble Coffee, Cutbow Coffee, and Whispering Bean. She intentionally partners with local businesses to further support her community, and still welcomes the partnership of even more local, organic ingredients for her business. After studying at the Matthew Kenney Culinary Institute, a plant-based culinary school, she is now an instructor for the course Advance Raw Cuisine.

 


Website: https://plantysweet.weebly.com/

 

What to get?

Glazed Bundt Cakes:

These are like the dessert sampler, entry level, minor league, dipping your foot in the water.

If you’re considering ordering a large cake from them and want to try every option, these mini bundt cakes will be your best choice. Or if you just want to run out and taste a vegan cake right this second, you can find these at Zendo Coffee, Humble Coffee, Cutbow Coffee, and Whispering Bean. But do not bank on trying multiple flavors; they sell out pretty quickly from my experience. Fortunately, you can always put in an order online. Definitely worth it!

Cheesecake: 

Albuquerque vegans are no longer deprived of the rich, indulgency of a fresh cheesecake!!!

Layered Cakes:

These gorgeous cakes are Instagram-worthy and completely edible! I am not sure why we all still pretend that fondant is edible? Fortunately, she has 12 completely edible flavors that include blueberry lemon lavender, Samoa, cookies n’ cream, an Elvis (banana+peanut butter+chocolate), and many more.

Cupcakes:

Any of the layered cake flavors can be made into cupcakes. One flavor per dozen.

Treat Yo’ Self Boxes:

If you can snag one of these before they sell out for the week, treat yo’ self to a box of these assorted treats.

Almost, too pretty to eat.

Cost:

Glazed Bundt Cakes are anywhere between $18.75-$39.00.

Cheesecakes fall between $36-$48.

Layered Cakes Range from $35-$70 depending on how many mouths you’re feeding.

Cupcakes are a flat $30 per dozen.

I am unsure on the Treat Yo’ Self Boxes.

Instagram

Verdict:

The reason I hold this place so near and dear to my heart is that it really gave me the encouragement I needed to continue a plant-based lifestyle.  Coffee dates at the previously mentioned coffee shops were a biweekly affair for my mother, best friend, boyfriend, and myself. The idea of “going vegan” is more daunting than the actual execution. I was deeply terrified that I would be sitting at these coffee dates drooling at the pastries but settling for a bag of carrots in my fanny pack. So when I finally decided that I was going to BE a vegan, to my surprise, there was always a vegan option available. “Oh this is not so bad, my pastries look better than everyone else’s and I have like 3 milks to choose from!” These adorable cakes opened my eyes to how fortunate I was, to be living in a time where veganism is becoming normalized and widely embraced.  Thank you Planty Sweet, I can now have my vegan cake and drink my oatmilk latte too! 

Wicked Roots Urban Farm

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local grower| free delivery|
online ordering

Albuquerque microgreens farmer, Jesse, provides the simplest way to pack a nutritional punch! Wicked Roots Urban Farm uses hydroponics and vertical farming in the heart of Albuquerque to grow their sustainable sprouts. On top of that, your greens are made-to-order, and hand delivered (within the Albuquerque area), to complete the farm-to-table experience. 

Did you know that microgreens are between 9-40x more nutrient dense than their mature versions???? Also, they’re crunchier than most greens, without the wilt factor!

So if your next question was, “What do I do with these?” I have plenty of answers.

Jesse has several recipes posted to the Wicked Roots Journal, from smoothies to salads, and even a delicious sharable, Sunflower Root spread.

My household has come accustomed to having these sprouts around the house so we can quickly add some nutrients to almost anything that doesn’t quite feel healthy enough.  They’re like our health cheat code.


A homemade focaccia bread, some leftover vegan pesto, grilled portabella, and some garden tomatoes, would not have been a complete sandwich without Spring Salad Sprouts to bring in the extra CRUNCH!

Pesto cannellini bean pasta salad topped with lemon zest and broccoli sprouts is perfect for serving a crowd something fresh and bright on a hot summer day.

After trials of mediocre veggie burgers, I have finally perfected it! Check out my Classic Green Chile Cheeseburger recipe.  For this recipe, I partnered with Wicked Roots to combine two New Mexico native projects into one southwestern delicacy.