Happy November 1st, the Christmas season has officially started! Sorry, couldn’t resist. Oh, and it’s World Vegan Day, happy that too! I’m thrilled to have an extra long quiet Sunday morning with fall back, but not so much about changing clocks around the house. And does anyone want Halloween candy? I overestimated how much we’d need for a Saturday night Halloween this year.
Anyway, last Sunday we headed to the Rio City Cafe in Old Sacramento to celebrate my mom’s birthday with a waterfront brunch.
Where the brunch menu was a disappointment for vegans or anyone looking to eat healthy, they seemed to rely on the view and bacon fat to draw in customers.
Come on guys, you could at least offer oatmeal, Asian congee, or something without animal! Especially in light of last week’s news, get with the times. Even the black beans in the tostada bowl had bacon fat, so I couldn’t order a vegan version of that. The best they could do for a vegan option was a seriously watered down, small salad.
And no, it was not satisfying and I’m not in a hurry to go back.
To make up for lacking lunch, I made a huge rice, lentil, and sweet potato stew for dinner that was much better.
Miko agreed, he was happy to share sweet potato chunks with me.
Other eats included this simple oil free tempeh bok choy stir fry after a busy work and gym day.
Kale salad with hummus dressing and baked butternut squash.
Another simple oil free stir fry with lots of veggies.
Hearty breakfast smoothies with raw beet, frozen banana, protein powder, kale, carrots, and pumpkin pie seasoning.
Heh, and more kale salad with steamed spaghetti squash.
Friday night we headed to a vegan costume party at Garden to Grill where it was our first costume party together. I went with a generic and cheap women’s “Ninja Dragon” costume from the Spirit Halloween store when the “Adult” Lisa Simpson costume I ordered from Amazon was apparently not actually meant for adults. Can you guess what character hubby is?
He was thrilled that some people at the party knew his character since it’s from a slightly obscure show. I love the eclectic decor on the patio.
Fun decorations for the party.
And great vegan menu including the Kombucha Kocktails which were awesome.
We shared a huge plate of vegan nachos.
And spent a few hours hanging out with new vegans and friends. We didn’t stay out too late since it was a long work day before the party, but it was fun and maybe I’ll participate in another costume party next year and have more time to plan a costume!
Onto the list! I will skip last weeks huge story since I’m sure you’ve been flooded with it already. By Monday evening I was tired of seeing it on Facebook, major news feeds, local TV news, and NPR. But it was a busy week last week, so this list will be shorter.
Use miso to create amazing, vegan risotto.
Here are decadent vegan breakfast recipes for a good vegan brunch!
Celebrate World Vegan Day with the 21-day vegan kickoff.
We get more vegan roast options for the holidays.
Simple mini raw vegan walnut brownies, yes!
It’s cool and overcast outside – perfect running weather calls me!
Is your husband dressed as Rick from Rick and Morty? I just started to watch that show, it is pretty funny.
Don’t you hate the salad option? Ugh. The most annoying thing is one restaurant goes to the effort to make a vegan burger but the buns are vegan so you have to order it on… yes you guessed it, on a salad.
You can try giving away your candy to the troops: https://opgrat.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/halloween-candy-for-the-troops/
I am not fully participating, a friend is doing it so we are giving our extra candy to them.
Yes he is! He is obsessed with that show now. :-)
Agreed on the vegan burger too, so disappointing and I was surprised to see such a dated menu at what used to be a very highly rated place.
Great idea on the candy, thanks!
I always overestimate how much candy I’ll need on Halloween, but maybe it’s not such an accident, really… ;)
True, I worry about the horror of running out and Target actually had a good vegan selection.
You had me at the word costume! Haha. Isn’t dressing up so much fun! ha. But no doggie costume pics? Mine switch it up each year, but they were cops, tie and all! People love Dachshunds dressed up as cops. Last year, they were dressed as a bride and groom. SO fun!
I gotta try doggie costumes next year, Miko hates wearing any kind of clothes and sits there and pouts when we put a simple warm sweater on him! :-P
Fantastic! Looks like you had a great time! Everything sounds wonderful! You know I saw the first Christmas commercial during Labor Day Weekend for Kmart’s Layaway! WTH!?
Ugh on Christmas, Target was already setting up their Christmas section on Halloween!
It’s so frustrating when a restaurant doesn’t have one option on the menu for vegetarians or vegans. I always wonder how inept the chef must be, right? Love your costumes and the menu at the restaurant. Fun!
Very frustrating, their menu is dated to say the least. Thanks on the costumes!
The thought of Halloween parties makes my skin crawl lol – pun… Intended?
I hear ya, but it was more fun than I thought and no “slutty” costumes at this one. :-P