On Valentine's Day, we attended the OUTReach Denton fundraiser at Banter. We had a great time eating awesome food and chatting with friends.  But let me tell you, we had no idea what kind of treat we were going to get when dessert came.  Look at this cake!  It's a chocolate layer cake with a raspberry filling.  And it tasted even better than it looked.  So we had to know who made this!  My husband went to ask while the kids and I tried to be polite and not lick our plates.  

It turns out that local musician Bonnie Norris is the talent who created this magical cake. I contacted her to find out more about the vegan treats she offers.  She kindly sent me this lovely flyer.  So give her a call or an email sometime when you need some vegan baked goods in your life.  Thanks, Bonnie!

Behold, the Pra-Ram at Andaman! This one was ordered with veggies instead of tofu. What you have here is a magical mix of two sauces that don't touch until you start eating. The coconut sauce surrounds the food at the bottom, then the slightly spicy peanut sauce is poured on top. It's amazing!! Be sure to specify vegan when ordering.

Beirut Mediterranean Grill

Today we enjoyed lunch at the Beirut Mediterranean Grill. It's located where Royal East used to be, and has been redecorated beautifully.



Pictured here is the (mostly eaten) hummus tahini, green zaatar pie, and cauliflower sandwich. My husband ordered the falafel sandwich. All of it was great! The menu is clearly marked with green leaves for vegetarian items, and we asked to be sure ours were vegan. Looking for fresh eats? Give them a try!

The amazing tofu noodle bowl with vegetarian fish sauce and a jasmine iced tea at Viet Bites! Did you know they opened a second location? It's at Fry Street near UNT.

I recently received an email from Corey asking where he could find some good vegan desserts for his wife in Denton.  What a great guy!  It seemed like the kind of information that everyone could appreciate, so here are some ideas for all of you sweet tooths out there!  All of these have been well tested by my own husband, who loves sugary treats.

Rusty Taco has fried fruit tacos that are light and sweet.  Think of a fried hand pie.  The flavors vary, and usually include apple, peach, or cherry.  They come with a little cup of honey, so keep that in mind depending on how you feel about eating honey.  

At Banter you can find cookies made by our friends at the Denton Vegan Cooperative.  Usually you will find either these oatmeal raisin goodies or the always satisfying chocolate chip cookies.  Grab one when you order your vegan frito pie and just try and save it until after your meal!  We can never wait that long!  Mine is pictured here with a soy latte.  You can also find their treats at Big Mike's Coffee.

Denton Vegan Cooperative also has their baked goods available at the Denton Community Market.  The menu changes weekly, but do get a brownie when they're offered.  They're the best!  You can also special order from them by the dozen.

My non-veg friends agree: the best vegan cake in town is found at the Cupboard Cafe.  It's there about 50% of the time, so take my word for it: grab it when you see it.  Do not think twice!  You never know what flavor they'll have, or whether it will be sliced cake or cupcakes.  They will also take special orders!  You can also find cookies and muffins making random appearances.  Look in front of the glass case between the cafe and salad bar, or by the cafe cash register.

How about some breakfast for dessert?  Or dessert for breakfast?  Either way, Seven Mile Cafe has amazing cinnamon rolls.  I often take home a half dozen when I eat there so we'll have dessert or breakfast later.  FYI, all of their cinnamon rolls are vegan.  For another twist, try the vegan cinnamon roll pancake!  It's too sweet for my taste, but my kids love them.  Pancakes come in regular and vegan, so be sure to specify.  
*Seven Mile recently added nondairy ice cream to their menu!  That means they will make you a VEGAN MILKSHAKE in one of several flavor options.  So exciting!*

Another vegan sweets vendor at the Community Market is Vegan Delights.  My husband never misses buying a bag of the lemon cookies.  They are great summertime treats!  They also take custom orders online, so check out their website.

Ok, this is completely unfair because they don't open for a few more weeks, but one of the best locations in town for dessert in Mean Greens on the UNT campus.  (See me profess my love here.)  At every meal there is dessert, which varies every day.  The online menu is helpful, but doesn't always reflect what is served.  Some past desserts we have enjoyed greatly: rice crispy treats, cupcakes, cobblers (cherry, peach, apple, chocolate), cookies, cake, and pudding with a dollop of whip.  They also have a soy soft serve machine!  Sometimes it's vanilla, sometimes it's vanilla and chocolate and the swirl in the middle.  Remember, it's all you can eat, and that means you get to try ALL of the desserts!

There are some other places to get desserts, but I don't have photos of these.  Try the poached banana in coconut cream or the sweet rice and mango (seasonal) at Andaman.  Hannah's Off the Square has a daily sorbet.  Yogurt Fusion also has nondairy sorbet.  Top it off with vegan candies.  Not sure which ones to pick?  Here's a list to get you started.  Or, take that list or this one to Atomic Candy on the square and go crazy!  

So much sweetness in Little D!  Enjoy yourselves and thanks for making kind choices and supporting local!  

Did I miss something?  Please let me know in the comments or via email.  Thanks!

Oh, look! It's my friend Sharon and some amazing vegan dishes at Seven Mile Cafe! I ordered the new VIGAS and she went for the tired and true TOFU BENNY. Also new on the menu: a breakfast plate with scrambled tofu and spicy soysage, nondairy ice cream, and vegan shakes. Rejoice!

Rasoi always has vegan goodness hot and ready! Try one of their daily veggie dishes that with a cabbage salad, hold the yogurt dressing. We love the samosas!

The atmosphere is also a Denton original. It's a renovated gas station with a variety of drinks in the coolers and Bollywood movies on the screen. Definitely a place you need to check out, especially when you want to eat good food in a hurry!

The Denton Community Market is open!  Last Saturday we had a great time purchasing vegan goodies from these amazing local businesses:

For years now, the Denton Vegan Cooperative has been giving us a solid reason to visit the market regularly!  Their menu changes weekly and sells out fast.  Pictured here in the foreground: the breakfast plate consisting of biscuits and gravy, tofu scramble with greens and potatoes, and fruit salad.  In the background: the soul food plate featuring a barbecue sandwich, gluten-free mac and cheeze, and pan fried greens.  It's all amazing!  Need a sweet treat during the week?  Stop by Banter, Jupiter House, or Big Mike's Coffee for a DVC cookie or banana bread anytime! 

New this year to the market is Vegan Delights!  Kaylia makes some amazing organic treats and has little samples for you to try.  My family loves the snicker doodles, and I'm a huge fan of the granola bars.  Go visit her at the market, or you can place an order online and she'll deliver it to you!   

A good friend of ours had a birthday and we were on the hunt for gifts.  Then we found these two tables and knew we were in the right place!  On the left, Macaroni Island Coffee.  It's a local non-profit that roasts a small variety of beans.  At this time, all profits are going to Denton County Friends of the Family.  It's a birthday present not only for our friend, but for the community as well!  (And one for us - we love coffee!)  On the right, Farmhouse 43 jams, which are made by a lovely friend of mine named Ashley.  We chose the pineapple jalapeño since our birthday boy loves spice.  She grows the peppers in her own backyard!  Talk about local.

So the next time you're looking for Denton flavor, look no farther than the market on a Saturday morning!  These guys are out there from 9-1 all summer long!  See you there.

I love Mean Greens.  All  you can eat vegan food, made fresh, with lots of variety.  Pictured here:  tofu fingers, green bean casserole (yes, the Thanksgiving kind with mushrooms and crispy onions), carrots with asparagus, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Squash soup.  Kale chips with a sweet potato chip.  Pecan pie.  Pecan sandy cookie.   100% apple juice with a little cranberry mixed in.  Not pictured:  the build-you-own crunchy taco, cheese pizza, fresh rolls, lentils, and soft serve ice cream cones that my kids devoured.  

So here's what you need to know about this little piece of heaven on the UNT campus.  First of all, they are only open during regular semesters (no summers), Monday through Friday.  They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner on those days.  (Yes, the biscuits and gravy are divine!)  The first time we went, we were pretty sure we were walking into a laundry room at the dorm.  Fear not, they have better signage now!  Park for free along Collier or any other neighborhood street where you can find a spot.  Walk across Eagle, through the parking lot, and turn left.  Stand in awe for a few moments at the incredible decor, walk down the ramp and pay the kind student the very affordable flat rate at the register.  (Yes, they take credit cards and allow anyone to eat there.)  Eat and be happy, order custom panini, have dessert, then take your dishes to the back window before you go.

Special thanks to Ken Botts of Ecoveggy who put so much energy and love into this place, and to the very talented Chef Wanda.  You guys make real and amazing food for people, not just vegans.

Ok, I'll admit that I'm the first one to wish the Greenhouse had more vegan options. My husband and I practically lived there when I was in grad school (and non-vegans) and I know they would rock it if they made a special mesquite grilled vegan dish!

I do have to say that what you see here might just be the perfect spring & summer salad! It's the Quinoa Bean Salad and it's just plain amazing. Cool, colorful and light. So go and enjoy the season there on the lovely patio and soak up the sun!