Now in Nowon~

     I've been without a personal computer for a while now and (regardless of how obvious this realization will be), I have gained so much more time and general appreciation for my surroundings. I still access email and facebook (eghhhm) but have swapped afternoons home and reading random news, dreamy recipes, and tumblr rolling with stronger bonds and friendship(s). I've been in a great place just connecting with people and getting that buzz from being social.
    Though~ I've missed this blog. I have been eating delicious (and simple) things, been doing some art projects, bonded with some beautiful Seouls, and actually breathing~ (And now the air is cleaner...Nowon!) I've stuck as gluten free as presently aware of (I'm a learning gf baby) and still use soy sauce from time to time (tamari...I'm hunting around for you~) but I have knowledgeably turned my head from being 100% gf...how could I say 'No thank you' to my student's grandmother who put so much effort into making a vegan meal? And one time I really wanted a beer... I can keep this up, but I've been dreaming of pumpernickel rye bread lately.
     I have my final day of work tomorrow and I have been counting down the hours. I will miss (some) of the kids...but I am eager to have more time to do my hobbies, spend more time with friends, and just live more. More often than wanting to admit, I will sometimes just go to work and come straight home, no social action, no activity, no creating...not even stretching or kicking it with the girls! All around pumped...anyways~~ Here's a few things consumed by this lady...

Smiles~

Special vegan kimchi for me!! photo taken by VeganBeats

yummy Thai salad~ photo taken by VeganBeats

Fresh juicy mango fruit salad~ photo taken by VeganBeats

VeganBeats back Stateside: Rushing around and Bumbling through Brooklyn

     As most people and crew know, I wandered my way stateside for a best friend's wedding (CONGRATULATIONS LOVERS) but while doing so, I invested a lot of emotions and parts work into the trip. The trip was very tightly scheduled and within it, involved traveling all around...but I was ready, and am so glad I did it all.
     I took American Airlines most of the way, and despite rumors of no more veggie meals, they were somewhat accommodating. They came up with some pretty horrid ideas of veggie meals (cucumber, kiwi, butter soggy sandos?!~) I did start my first flight on Japanese airlines and their vegan meal was surprisingly good. I got a green salad with carrots, daikon, spring greens, and a few cherry tomatoes and a simple balsamic redux dressing  the main was a pumpkin, zucchini, carrot, and onion curry served with turmeric rice and peas, and a spicy tomato eggplant jalfrezi. This was served up with a side of two chapati/pita and the dessert was a raw coconut, apple, apricot bar! HELL yeah vegan jams!

Japanese air Vegan meal~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     As soon as I landed, I booked it home for a quick shower and buzzed to The Melting Pot for Nichole's bachelorette party. I honestly wasn't up for eating (and fondue just doesn't get me sassy) and felt vodka was a smarter choice. I asked for a cranberry vodka and got a giant glass of cranberry flavored vodka. Swirling about later I managed to make a couple dozen decorative bows for the wedding.
     The next day (Sunday) was family jams. I made three different types of hummus and one bean dip while my mom made roasted pumpkin, a Japanese soba noodle salad, and mandu soup. Vegan jams for the WIN! Even in pictorial absence, there was a feast prepped and I so wish the wedding was towards the end of the week...lady stress aside and implied insecurities fully owned~ how can I enjoy feasts when I've got a dress to snuggle into at the end of the week?

veggie platter...photo taken by VeganBeats

     Oh~ minor MAJOR detail, my boy Binger~ he remembered me! The little old man full of creaky knees, a foggy eye, digestive struggles, started chatting away the moment I opened the door. He's an old one but still a pup. I'd be lying if I didn't say he was someone I was BEYOND pumped to spend some mama baby time with! 

heya mama~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Seriously, the second I put him on my chest he stretched out and caught me up on the past year of shenanigans and trouble he's been getting into. Too bad he tired himself out!

sweepy~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The next couple days was all about finding my ground, getting some rooting in, getting my head back on, reconnecting with positivity, and understanding what it is that I love and need to maintain a pleasant, positive, and productive state of being. Monday began with a blinded sprint through South Station to settle a spot via FungWah to New York ($15.00 to NY from Boston!). I was going to kick it with some Bearquarium loves and I was all too eager to get to NY as fast as possible. BUT 20 minutes outside of South Station, just over the Mass border these horrendous sounds started rumbling in the bass of the bus. Smoke started to billow out and angry hisses erupted out of the bus's sides, it started to slow and the heaviness started to hint in my chest.
      On the side of the highway, half a bus full of people sat seeing hundred of cars wiz by, free of complications. I've only read about the failed FungWah missions, and after taking it for nearly a decade and well over a dozen times, this was a first. After an hour, another bus came and picked us up and this one, bus number two, broke down three separate times on the way to New York.
     I arrived and Towsky just began his class, I hailed a cab after walking a couple blocks (cabs are a plenty...but only in Seoul). I stumbled into a bar, interrupted a class and was presented a strong cranberry vodka (this time WITH juice). Filled with giddiness and genuine excitement about actually sitting NEXT to Towsky, I got far drunker than intended (thanks Professor). I blame my roadster rush into inebriation on BQ love! Once class wrapped up, we headed back to Towsky's and I explored my home for the next two nights. I've only seen Towsky's place via skype and if it was impressive then~ in person it's insane! My favorite part was his indoor greenhouse, goji berries, basil, avocado tree, greens...grahhhhhhhhh.

garden glory~ photo taken by VeganBeats

      After a bit we linked up with Spy and went for a wander around Brooklyn. We stumbled (literally) into a park and started climbing trees (pics later...maybe) and everything felt so balanced. The bliss and content that used to be a big part of my life was surrounding me. (whine: I love my friends here, but I really miss BQ) I was feeling...good, great, at peace. These things have been so clearly and loudly missing from my life here. 

by our park~ photo taken by VeganBeats

      After putting monkeys to shame and getting swirlier than intended, I skipped back home and Towsky, Spy, and I shared a few bottles of wine, laughs, stories, and still...peace. I passed out earlier than intended and woke up at 7!! Towsky conveniently woke up and there were two options; deal with our spinning hangovers sleeping OR throwing on waterproof clothing, sneakers, and hitting the dewy morning on bikes!
     We were both in this world of disbelief. I haven't seen Towsky in years, and though Skype has been brilliant, physical presence is a world of difference. Is this a dream?
     Towsky is now gluten-free and more than accommodating to vegan jams (you are kind of stuck with me ya) and he found Sun In Bloom, a gluten free, raw, and vegan restaurant. (facebook page)

You see these types of signs...all over NY~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     I'm not a breakfast lady but how often am in New York?! How often can I eat a raw meal with a BQ crew bud?
     Phbbbt~ and game~ Towsky got a chia seed almond milk that was nearly pudding. Kissed with cinnamon and coconut, thick and creamy, this drink was pure energy and bliss. It was rather pricey though, but recreation is a mission worth getting on~

chia seed almond milk~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     For a main, he got the Bloom Burger as a salad ($9.25). This is a live burger (nothing is cooked) made up of tomato, basil, caramelized onions and assorted seeds and such. It was served with cabbage, lettuce, with a Live sunflower dill dressing. The dressing was a bit too sweet for me, and I can't help myself, I want sriracha on EVERYTHING.

Towsky's dish~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     I got a Rueben Special as a salad ($9.25), which was marinated tempeh with house made raw sauerkraut and a live creamy Russian dressing. It was served on a bed of raw cabbage and lettuce and dusted in parsley and black pepper.  This was so good, but I've NEVER had a Reuben before so owning that I have nothing to compare it to. But if this is what they taste like...whoa~

My dish~ photo taken by VeganBeats

      After brunch, Towsky had class and I met up with Spy for more jolls around New York. I foolishly wore GIANT shoes and still trekked the town...eh who needs to feel anything below the ankles right?
     We wandered through all of High Rise Park and in all my times in New York, how could I have missed this? The past visits have involved nightly escapades and shows or swirly mornings...another gracious thanks for getting in some sun and having a New York day. The park is quite brilliant, it was a deserted subway line that runs over several main streets in the city. There are hidden art pieces along the path and cute spots to open up a sketch pad, read a book, binge on coffee, snuggle up with a loved one, or just be.

road view~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     When we got to the end of the park I squealed about wanting to see Lady Liberty and being a great sport, he was game to kick it to the Hudson river.
     The weather was pristine, and I was already glowing and full of all this love and grounding, my appreciation and presence with the world was electrifying me. I was feeling so connected to NY, I really loved it, and my energy was more than above baseline. So many people are out;  awake, running, biking, loving, snuggling, singing- int heir own world's and still interacting in this world, on the river, on the roads. The community is present!! I know Seoul has it's special things too, but there's something really nice about seeing and being with all that activity!
     We wandered to the Freedom Tower (hell yea NY) and we wandered back toward his neighborhood for coffees while waiting for Towsky to get out of class. Whilst binging, I was on mission numero two...VT~ I wanted and planned to kick it with as much of BQ as possible, and I wanted to squeeze it in before Wedding Rehearsal time. I came to discover that the only possible way I could do this was to catch an 8:30 am bus to Burlington and arrive at 4 then to catch the 2am bus BACK to Boston at 7:30am. I did complain and argue with the computer for a bit, but if I was Seoulside, I'm sure I'd be in such a bitter and angry position where hatred would fill my veins. I was frustrated, but...aigo.
     Spy and I got out missions done then met with Towsky for a late dinner...messing up subway lines and getting confused we took longer than planned (Seoul subways...thank you for making sense to me) and by the time we got to his place...like old times, I was interrupting slumbers. Spy juiced up our mission and we whirl-winded out to the chilly streets for another wine and dine mission.
     Oh Towsky's place is even better because there's a Trader Joe's so super close!!! ughghhghghghg I'm a space cadet in Joe's and though I was wine-focused, I started wandering and had to be barked at to get focused...Damn You Joe!!
     A quick wine purchase and we went to Mocha Hookah, a grungey and delicous Mediterranean spot. We got a cute corner booth and still...I can't string enough words together to express my peace. As soon as we sat, we got a generous plate of green olives; oily, briny  just enough sour to draw me in. These fatty morsels are a treat...god damned the dress haunting me in my home.

olives~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Dishes and appetizers were all affordable and the fact that Mediterranean was suggested absolutely tickled me. Making consumption easier for me is not a huge things, but a few people have always gone out of there way to just...help me out. Also, I LOVE going out to eat with these boys, hungry people hell yeah! We got a tabouli salad, LOADED with parsley and light on the bulgur, hummus, babaganoush, a falafel platter (with extra falafel balls), a thick salad (greens for V), pita, and stuffed grape-leaves for Spy. I generally and regrettably kind of despise eating with friends, or in public, or amongst a community. I'm one of those solo-diners, but back in the day, BQ always did family style, and this was just another way to give me a gift of grounding and home. I've savored those meals with the BQ family although I did most of my consumption with Spy. This connection back "home" brought me closer to BQ, safety, acceptance, and clarity.
     How I've missed home...

tabouli~ photo taken by VeagnBeats

family style noms~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Post belly bulging, we scampered back to Towsky's and opened up my new wine and enjoyed my final night in Brooklyn.
     The details of the evenings needn't be explored, I just left feeling a lot of peace, grounding, content, and a better understanding of where and what I want to be. A whole slew of parts were/are talking and this sounds potentially awful and ungrateful of me to say, but for the first time in a really long time, I felt like I was stepping on some ground. I could see a bit clearer and I felt warm, safe...I was happy, I was present, and I wasn't stressing. I was joking around, feeling light-hearted, ate a huge meal and was good with it. All this comfort and "home" I used to feel was visiting me. My parts have been waiting for it and embraced these very comforting emotions willingly, almost hungrily. It felt as if these parts have been missing, left behind, taken...and we were rejoined, just for a bit, but I think I can see the ground, or make out a hemisphere...
     I feel so much better now that I've interacted with these parts again, I do feel like I've carried some of them back with me...but I'll get into this later.

Until later~

Sun In Bloom:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Weekend Brunch
Hours: 8:30am-9pm {M,T,W,Th,F} Weekend~ 10am-5pm
Address: 460 Bergen Street Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone #: (718) 622-4304
E-mail: info@suninbloom.com
Facebook Page

Mocha Hookah:
Hours: 9am-midnight Everyday
Address: 183 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY 11201
between Court and Clinton St
Phone #: (718) 624-6764
E-mail: info@mochahookah.com
Facebook Page

Scotty Soul's Surprise

     October has been more than busy, stressful, emotional, and brilliant. It started off with the death of a brilliant man, upsetting family realizations, emotional roller-coasting, a draining wallet, and rounded off with birthday celebrations, party preperations, smiles, laughter, growth, an anniversary, new family members, Halloween jams, and November began with a SURPRISE!
     This is a silly side-note and apologies to my girl, but Hamlet and I celebrated two years together on October 26th! She has brought so much joy and love into my life! The nights I've ended snuggling up to her are immeasurabley blissful!

baby~ photo taken by VeganBeats~

     Anyways, Scotty Soul had his birthday on October 29th and since Halloween is on the 31st, it's been a bit neglected. For his actual birthday I made him a super veggie friendly but NOT vegan birthday dinner paired with a massive yummy salad~

up close, and not that pretty~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     When I was a little thrasher, my nanna used to make baked macaroni and my entire family and I would literally melt in it's scent. She would make a creamy roux, rich buttery smells and whole wheat flower, with soft cheeses, and baked with a crunchy ritz cracker and butter topping. Not healthy, but very comforting, and delicious. Scotty Soul isn't vegan, and I wanted to make something homey, comforting, and special...

     The non-vegan dish was a baked three cheese macaroni. The cheeses were feta, extra sharp cheddar (VT!), and pepper jack. The veggies I threw in were broccoli, spinach, kale, caramelized onions and bell peppers, and the topping was blended tortilla chips (less salt overall chyea)~ 

Scotty Soul's plate~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The salad I made was chalk full of greens and all sorts of textured roughage. Iceburg lettuce, romaine, green and red leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, onions, broccoli chunks, celery, cucumber, and bamboo shoots! The dressing I made was my "friends with salad" dressing.
      One of the gifts I made for him was a custom deck~ Got a board, sanded it down (thanks to my neighborhood grocer for finding sandpaper for me~) and spent all night painting finishing touches while ruining four cakes...ugh

his deck~ photo taken by VeganBeats~

again~ photo taken by VeganBeats~

     But...BUT this past weekend a community that has nothing but love for Scotty Soul joined up at Braii Republic for a Surprise party! I still managed to ruin a couple cakes but eventually made two that I aimed to make! The first one was Jake the Dog from Adventure time WATCH THIS SHOW!!!

Jake the cake~ photo taken by VeganBeats~

     ...and the second was one of his childhood "dream" cakes!~ (Thanks to the goddess and stunning Carrie for helping me out =^ㅊ^=)..

dream pool cake~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The Jake cake was a dark chocolate cake with white chocolate and cranberries with a coconut butter cream frosting with cocoa essence. The dream cake (the swimming pool cake) was a dark chocolate, cranberry, white chocolate, and peanut butter swirl cake with a dark chocolate and coconut butter cream frosting with raspberry and strawberry essence. The "pool" part was organic strawberry jam.
     The cakes themselves were vegan but the frostings weren't due to actual butter used (baked birthday dinner leftover ingredients) and the peppero sticks~
   

Al Matto~

      More back-posts (I've got quite a handful) and memory stirring~ a big complaint I hear about how Korea does some food is pizza. I can't really personally speak for za because I've never really ate a lot of it. I just wasn't in the pie-cult. I know there are cheap 5,000원 pies available, Mr. Pizza, Pizza Hut, Pizza Etang, etc...but the chain of responses or feedback I get is "It's not real pizza."
     There was some hype of a new pizza joint in the HBC that had a beautiful array of ingredients, a real brick pizza oven, pasta and spaghetti done right, and I'm open to check it out, and when meeting with Melissa way back~ I was on board. The only thing...not a pizza kid. None the less, we were grabbing noms at Al Matto.
      The first thing we started with were the drinks. It was a horrid humid day and the sweat was collecting on everyone...and everything. I went with a mango margarita and Melissa went with the blackberry/currant/blueberry (aigh, it's been a while). The restaurant wasn't packed but it was rather understaffed. Two guys manned the place and everything, from water to getting orders taken took a sweet amount of time. But...when we did get the drinks, things rode a slightly more patient boat.

drinks~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     For food, there are a few vegan options, you can get a pizza sans cheese, and there are salads, but I wanted something super filling. I got a veggie wrap, with no bell peppers, and nearly twenty minutes after, I got a toasted pita filled with balsamic kissed caramelized onions, mushrooms, eggplant, and garlic. The dish was served with a small side salad dressed in sweet balsamic and some peppery french fries. Melissa and I threw in generous doses of hot sauce and struggled to not spill the sandwich/pita wrap all over the place. It was good, but nothing to really write home about. Saute some veggies, throw in garlic and balsamic and you've got the twin, fro a fraction of the cost. It was satisfying but not inventive, and wet. I don't eat bread often, but when I do, I don't want soggy.

photo taken by VeganBeats

     If you're with friends and feeling for a pizza, this place may be better. The sandwiches aren't that special, the salad was light and tasty but teeny, the fries were great but...I'd rather get more salad. Anyways~

How to Get There:

Noksapyeong station, walk out exit 2 and continue walking straight. When you get to the kimchi pots continue on straight and walk up Haebongchon (The HBC) for about 10 minutes, Al Matto is a little farther up the street and across from Jacoby's. 

Sundried Tomato Walnut Pesto Pasta~

Happy MoFo kids~ 
     Considering everything that's going on, I want to keep myself a bit busy and doing some Mofo jams feels like it'd be one very good, productive, busy thing to do!!
     A while back, (I know, another backpost) I made a massive pesto pasta salad and instead of using the usual vinegar or mayonnaise-based dressing I made a sun-dried tomato walnut pesto sauce. I threw in loads of veggies too, although they look rather lost in the pictures. To go with the carb-crazy dish, I made a whole wheat and walnut garlic bread~
     As my 'itchinthekitch' adventures always go, measuring and planning out what I'm doing doesn't happen often. For the pesto I threw in a bunch of sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, loads of garlic, some flax seeds, black pepper, nutritional yeast, and some red-chili pepper. The pasta was whole wheat, and the veggies I used were onions, zucchini, carrots, kale, greens, and some eggplant. I stir-fried all of them in a little bit of oil, just to soften them up and add a bit more color to the red pesto/orangey feel to this dish.
     It was filling, there's no doubt about that...and I had loads to last me for a whole week...thankfully, ScottySoul helped me!!

      Happy Mofo Veggies~

Itchin in the Kitch backup~ and other foodstuffs

     I've been playing around in my kitchen/apartment/bedroom...(ugh) and I've come up with some pretty tasty and complex things...
     Here's just a little visual stimulation that may birth savored/taste-budded orgasms~~

Ginger jammin fusion General Tsao's tofu~ photo taken by VeganBeats

garlic ginger stir fry~ photo taken by VeganBeats

mini whole wheat thin crust pizza, topped with black pepper and garlic roasted pumpkin, zuchini, and onion, basil red pepper lettuce pesto, a dollop of tofu cashew nut chili pepper cheeze, a bit of red tomato salsa fresca and pinto bean blend, and balsamic redux...a glorious bite~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Asides from my apple days, and kitchen experiments, eating out or having a meal made for me is pretty rare. I tend to lean to the raw and easy energy providers, but last week Scotty Soul made me a special vegan (and glorious) dinner! It was complex, delightful, healthy (yay!) and right up my alley. Veggies, salad, balsamic, garlic, AND high in fiber...get to the VeganBeats heart why don't you!!
     He got a brilliant idea to marinate Asian pears in balsamic and lightly heat them up on a skillet! The subtle sweetness and rough (in the cutest way >_<#) texture sponges up the vinegar and left something juicy and savory, while still remaining crunchy! He threw this on a bed of salad~ romaine, green leaf lettuce, cucumbers, sprouts, thimbleweed, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and pecans! It was served with a balsamic redux and the drink~ lemon, pomegrante, improvised red sangria with green onion, Asian pear, and garnished with a crunchy pecan.

improvised sangria~ photo taken by VeganBeats

Scotty  Soul's vegan meal! photo taken by VeganBeats

    Healthy, fresh, inventive, almost 100% raw, high fiber, sodium free, and tummy tempting...

     singing~

You CAN make friends with salad...Best Dressing!

     I love salads, eat them everyday if not always~ I always hear the snap attack

"You can't make friends with salad"

~~~jargon from omnis (primarily) and..well the vegan jams gets picked on often but hey...ignorance is an inevitable right?!
     Sometimes to make a salad satisfying for even the pickiest and animal-bit crazed folk, you need a great sauce, marinade~ a bangin' sexy dressing!! I've got it...lather greens in this and you got something everyone wants to slurp up...slutty greens!

salad with that special sauce! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I got this recipe from Kufner, a BQ crew buddy~ This dressing pairs some of my favorite things, vinegars and mustard...wait, that's vinegar!

     It's super simple, super flavorful, and mind blowingly addictive~

What you need:

1. good quality olive oil (extra virgin!)
2. balsamic vinegar (I go with Blaze...yummmm)
3. 2-3 garlic cloves, minced (I like them BIG)
4. 1-2 T of sweetener (I like maple syrup or coconut sugar)
5. 2 T of whole grain mustard

What to do:

1. get a 1:1 ratio of Balsamic to Olive oil going...about 1/2-1 cup each will do!
2. mix them up and add everything together
3. shake/whip/mix it all up, taste and add salt or more of whatever to make even more perfect for you...
4. What, simple, done already?! Go buddy up with them greens friend!! ^ㅊ^*



Raw Meal loving~ featuring bangin high-fiber green pea hummus poser

      Over the past couple weeks I've been playing around with more complex raw foods/meals. I usually stick to carrots, cucumbers, and any type of vinegar (load up that mustard and balsamic) but I've been wanting to mix things up! I've also been trying to keep my wallet a bit thicker for the Philippines (^ㅊ^*) so using whatever has been kicking it in my food cabinet is the only choice! This raw meal (salad) started with chopping up everything I had in my fridge, every veggie that's been chilling (hahah) got sliced and diced and sat staring at me in a bowl...balsamic (hell yea) is my go to, but I ran out of that so...the closet hunt began. I had a can of peas...0.o# I wasn't craving the lovely circular form of peas and wanted something to coat and equally be divided amongst all the chopped bits...hummus-like spread was called for! Garlic, black pepper, jalapenos, and a food processor...BOOM!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     So it may not be pretty, but it's healthy, delicious, full of flavor, and I felt super good after it! I found myself full of energy post-nomming and not feeling guilty~ 았사!!!~

yum~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     So...everything involved: red, purple, AND green cabbage, carrots, romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, green onions, and cucumbers!!! Chop chop choppy~~~Then I threw in a bunch of this bangin high-fiber green pea hummus poser~

What you need:

1. can of green peas (it's what Korea's got) so maybe 1.5 cups of green peas
2. 1-2 t black pepper
3. 1 jalapeno (or more!~~)
4. 2-3 cloves of garlic (or more~)
5. water OR olive oil (I opted out)

~> got a food processor? Blend that ISH!!

Mix that raw jazz up!! 

     The salad/meal is high in fiber, got lots of protein, full of natural flavors and super filling! Hella Chyea~

Vegan Crunk'n and in need of somethin'

     When you drink, what do you eat? Most people, especially in Korea, go for animal bits and pieces. Eating and drinking is a HUGE part all over the world. But Seoul-side...what's a vegan gal to do?
     There are classics, the essentials, the delicious and not to girthy, dotori muk, acorn jelly salad!

glory~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     It's great for a million reasons, even when I'm not throwing back alcohol, I'm secretly spying for places that have this! I LOVE it...it's got an interesting texture, super light, spicy, full of veggies, and slurp-worthy! yummm~
      Another easy vegan/veggie way to pack the tummy whilst marinating it...steamed tofu and kimchi. Make sure to ask if the kimchi is fried in butter, with pork, or has fishies in it! A lot of the time...vegan kids pull of lucky.

steamed tofu and kimchi~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Usually, I go for the drink on empty route, but every so often...re-fueling is absolutely necessary and these are the two dishes that most, if not all Korean alcohol places always have available!! The Tofu kimchi is much heavier...but the body wants what it wants...

Cheers~

Eating Seoul...after a couple week (?) hiatus

     Whoa~ it's been a hella while! Where have I been?

     working...playing...baking...dancing...and inebriating...

     Since the camera and robbing jam, I've been trying to figure things out, naturally detaching from those "WHY ME!?" and "GODDAMNSHITBAGGINMOTHERPOOPINGCRUMBLYFACESNOTMUNCHER!" thoughts... I've been absent, not in life, but from the blog...aiaiai

     There is a silverlining though, there always is. I had a camera gigging promise and it fell on the Saturday right after the steal, but a wonderful Seoul reached out to me and lent me his camera. (Thanks Chris!!) Regardless of the favor, I was and am far more excited about the fact that I got to kick it with Chris, it's been far too long!
     We had plans to wander off in some restaurant, but it was closed. So we kicked it at his place, watched UFC, drank maekgoli, and ate some homemade DELISH miso soup~

oh hey you....I'm eat you...DEAL~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The maekgoli was delicious...and hella strong! We shared a bottle and even after filling our bellies, got red-faced and tipsy!

Chris' miso soup~ ughhhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I barely ever have miso soup, and having some with a wonderful friend may have made it even better~ a friends making it for you, sharing it with you...BEST~~
     There has been a bunch of eats from the past that...well I'm going to lay on you~
Coco Bruni is a swank and pricey cafe that kicks it around Sinsa and Apgujang and during a lunch tutoring session I got a DANK loaded, vegan sando...but only after over half an hour of explaining what I'm not very keen on shoving down my throat.
      "No mayo."
      "okay."  and then five minutes later. "Mustard okay?"
      "Yeah! Sounds great!" and then ten minutes later.
      "The mustard sauce has mayo, is okay?"
      "Ahh, no mayo, so no thank you."
      "Ahhh, aiiii, what do we do...no mustard, no mayo, it;s not sanwichi."
      "....do you have balsamic?"
      "uhhh yes....but..." scurry to the back, conversin with the boss....shuffle back "balsamic is with salad, sanwichi maybe, okay, maybe...no, yes..."
     etc etc etc....

the monstrously delish sando~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Well WELL worth the confusion! I got a toasted ciabatta sandwich filled with caramelised onions, slivered grilled zukes, slices of pumpkin, grilled balsamic eggplant, sweet tomato slices, green leaf lettuce, spicy green lettuce, sprouts, and a generously garlic kissed balsamic...they even threw in a salad...ughhhhh~
     Hit up hospital dining also...a buddy decided to climb trees...then snap them~

hospital 비빔밥...rice niente~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I've also done some itchin'n'the kitch...'cooking' for myself lately has involved grab'n'go cucumbers or carrots...I've been translating the "I'm hungry" into cooking kitch challenges~~

jajangmyeon for breakfast?~ had mine with cucumber noodles~ photo taken by VeganBeats

chickpea, black-bean, pea burgers with a sesame, garlic, tofu-sauced salad bedded on top~ photo taken by VeganBEats

 Oh...and being summer I had my first official So Delicious ice-cream!! nom nom nom

chocolate mint chip~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     I got the chocolate mint chip~ perfect for a hungover and heated Sunday! SoulScience and I went for a bit of a wander, sipping and knocking back an orange hooch (hungover healers?) and indulged in these coconut sweetened vegan darlings~ I think he got the cherry amaretto...I didn't try it but it's got to be SO DELICIOUS!!!



ahhh I'm done, mind in gutter...growing up (phbbbt chyea)

anyways~ in the next couple days (or week) they'll be loads more posting...annnnd atem~

The Baker's Table: revisiting

     Lately my weekends have been chalk full of evening adventures, drink "tastings", music inspirations, and bed snuggles. I've slept in, enjoyed the comfort of my room, blankets, and AC~ I've been doing the weekend thing. I work a lot and when my days are free of any income-dependent activities...veganbeats is mellow~
     A couple Sundays ago I got out and bathed in the sun and got all sorts of productive and active. I started off with some giant iced coffee, legs cracking, and beats blaring and met with a beautiful Seoul over at The Baker's Table in Noksapyeong. Usually coffee does me more than well in terms of post-Saturday adventures, but the idea of hummus and a fresh Summer Salad was beyond deniable.

pita and hummus~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Scrolling over the menu, Melissa and I chose the tomato and mango salad; it's naturally vegan! There's no cheese or honey or secret animal bits, just mangoes, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, balsamic dressing, a couple toasted slices of bread! Everything looked beautiful, bright, and sunny and tasted perfect. Sweetness from the mangoes paired well with the slight sweet acidity of the tomato, and the crunch of the sunflowers added great texture to the firm and soft textures of the fruits. The balsamic was great, as it always is, because honestly~ you can't go wrong with balsamic. Some people choose chocolate as an ideal death, but I'm all about the balsamic!! Drown me in that!

tomato mango salad~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     We also got some chilled white wine to bubble up a great date, day, and meal...while her kids (Bailey and Sadie) wound themselves around us, and we both got kisses of tipsy, the sun bore down on us and I know I was sweating. We both were game for adventure and trucked to Namsan to frolic around some dirt paths!

between the trees~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     When I'm in the woods and surrounded by nature I get lost in the wonders of the world...I realize and get connected with what is around me, what truly grants my body life... I miss trees, forests, woods, animals...I wish I was in  Fern Gully!!
     After playing in dirt for a while, Melissa and I ventured to a secret bar with a Beautiful view and got some mojitos while we watched the sun set over Seoul. I got a Shirley Temple (I found one!) and as the temperature cooled, the mint sat on our lips...I fell a little bit more in love with Korea. I know I sometimes spit some anger it's way, but at the end of the day, I am grateful.

mojitos and Shirley to bid the day farewell~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

More Love for Vatos~ AND FUNDRAISER!

     It seems like I've been riding such a high and positive wave for a while now, and I'm LOVING it~ Parts of me are cautious, waiting for things to crash, but I'm living this and soaking it all up. Every weekend has been filled with beautiful Seouls, great music, dancing jams, positive energy, great food, delicious drinks, lots of laughter, and loads of adventure. Other than the weekends, the weeks have been filled with productivity, socializing, and exploring emotions and feelings that I genuinely thought have passed. Open your heart, open your eyes, live your life~
     Maybe it's all of these bursting flowers adding to my colorful and smiley style, I won't complain...not in the slightest.

photo taken by VeganBeats~

     This past weekend has been nothing short of brilliant, so many reasons, so many Seouls, so many real moments...am I woman loving life? Am I gloating a bit...I'm celebrating ^^*~
     The weekend commenced with a gathering at Vatos Urban Tacos! If you've been following, my genuine love and enthusiasm for this resturarant is unavoidable and undeniable! Everytime I spend time at Vatos, I have a great time. And every time my friends are introduced to Vatos, they leave with happy stomachs, giant grins, and a similar attitude to mine..."I LOVE Vatos~"
     I tend to go on a "Vatos soapbox" whenever someone slips the "I really want Mexican good" or "does anyone know of a good restuarant?"
     This Sunday night I introduced Vatos to a buddy and other friends joined us...we started with a Mexican martini (for him) and a Vegan Bloody Mary (no worchestire sauce) for me and jeezum~ This was spicy, strong, and sassy. My vegan parts were tickling with silly excitement, cellery ughhh~...ahh the veggies of the states...I miss you so~

Vegan Vatos Bloody Mary (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I ordered a "Surprise me" taco salad and Kenny served up something on the wim that was more than satisfying, it was perfect! The taco salad had the cabbage slaw, beans, kimchi, sauteed veggies, salsa, and two corn tortillas! There was a great balance of texture, warm kimchi and veggies with crunchy zesty cabbage! Vegans~ Do Vatos...do it...!

Vegan Vatos Taco Salas~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My buddy is South African and has been talking about this cider that I "HAD TO TRY!" Vatos carries it, Hunter's dry and sweet! The alcoholic cider I recall and know is Woodchuck from Vermont...I'm sorry VT, but it doesn't compare. Hunter's is bubbly, great with lemon, and really delicious. I ended up downing three of these...granted my groggy woozy head should've told me to chill but my taste-buds were craving!!

one of my many bottles~ (photo taen by VeganBeats)

     Every time, every single time someone comes here here, they leave wanting to come back, and with a new level of expectation for food in terms of what Korean provides. In what Mexican cuisine is available in this teeny peninsula. The food, the drinks, the entire restaurant provides a great experience. It's nearly (I think completely) impossible to not have a great time! Do yourself a favor, your friends a favor and check out Vatos!

Also~ This Saturday, Vatos is hosting it's First Cinco De Mayo and Children's Day Fundraiser! 
Here is the information:
May 5, 2012 11:30 am to 11:30 pm~

"Come join us as we hold our 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo / Children's Day Fundraiser at Vatos Urban Tacos!

We will be offering:
-Vatos NUTELLA NACHOS
-Homemade TRES LECHES CAKE
-Homemade APPLE CINNAMON CRUMBLE (YES, back for ONE day only!!!)

***100% of our dessert proceeds will be donated to an Infant Orphanage. We will use the proceeds to BUY infant items and personally take it to them.

The orphanage believes every child should have the opportunity to learn and grow in a loving home. Currently it has about 50 infants waiting to be adopted; most are younger than 3 months old. The majority of the mothers are young and unmarried who wish to provide better prospects for their child. Let's be that helping hand!

***In addition, we will be accepting any donations consisting of infant formula, infant diapers and other infant items leading up to Cinco de Mayo starting TODAY!!!!

*** Open donations will be greatly appreciated as well

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~"
Facebook Event Page~

Hope to see y'all there!!