Woohoo, October is finally here and so is the Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge! And there is a great list this year.
We started out by meeting some friends at Pho Fresh last night to try their Vegan Chef Challenge menu and it did not disappoint! We managed to try almost everything on the menu between the 4 of us and took home leftovers. We started with the OMG Roll (faux crab and tofu rolls fried in panko batter, yum!), Crispy “Chicken” Bao (a winner from previous year, spicy vegan chicken in delicious bun), and Hot Baked Faux Scallop (mushrooms topped with layers of lovely spice) appetizers.
Then the Crispy Basil Pizza, Shaken Steak-less Faux Shrimp with lo mein noodles, and Lemongrass Faux Shrimp with Vermicelli Noodles. Getting hungry again just thinking about everything and it was all delicious – we may need to go back.
Miko is hanging in there, still coughing, but breathing rate has been okay. I’d like to do something to address his coughing more, but the options are limited with his heart condition and we really need to see a vet cardiologist for the best adjustments on his meds. I have that appointment scheduled next month, but need to decide if I should try to get him in earlier which is not easy now. He has been happy to spend our hopefully last hot weekend for awhile inside relaxing in the AC on his mountain of blankets.
Other eats have been simple this week with so much going on at work – simple one-pot dinners creating leftovers for easy work lunches too such as Ron’s delicious beans and rice, a hearty curry quinoa dish, bean sautés, and a simple tofu stir fry.
I did score a great deal on a 2-pack of Sweet Earth Vegan Veggie pizzas we had Friday night dressed up with additional vegan mozz and olives.
Okay, time to combat the Sunday blue with the list!
Totally drooling reading about your dinner with friends. It sounds like it was amazing!
Hi Christine-
Hope that you are well.
I’d recommend calling and getting Miko into the specialist vet, and please let them know when you call that he is coughing. He may need some medicine to help remove some fluid. I’m an RN who worked in cardiac surgery and ICU for many years (& have had many many dogs/cats, etc) over the years. Thanks. Hope Miko feels better.
Hi Michelle, you too and thank you for the advice. I was able to bump up his cardiologist appointment to this month and he saw his regular vet earlier this week to confirm no fluid build up currently and his cough is related to a compressed trachea and allergies. Though I am always worried it could be something more and monitoring it closely.
You are amazing, Christine… Miko is so blessed to have you for a Mom!!! Stay well, and have a great day!
I’m so glad the the Vegan Chef Challenge is still going on! I wish that more cities did this too. The results are always so impressive and it’s a win for the business to attract new customers too.