Sarah's Kitchen

I don't eat salads often, so I need my salad dressings to be useful for other meals as well.  Drew's All Natural has more than fulfilled my wishes with their line of mostly vegan dressings.  The flavors are delightful and creative--the oil dressings go far beyond your basic Italian, and the vegans even get a couple of creamy varieties.

My favorite of the dressings is the Smoked Tomato.  It's become a staple in my house, because it is so much more than just a salad dressing.  The flavor is fresh and vibrant, and the dressing is a tempting smoky red.  It's great as a tofu marinade, in hot sandwiches, on top of noodles, with grillled vegetables, or even as a dip for raw cucumber slices.

Next time you're in the market for a new dressing or marinade, be sure to look for Drew's.  It's usually found near the gourmet and specialty salad dressings, in most any grocery store.

Cafe Agri has managed to create a lot of hype in the veg community since it opened, and certainly it deserves the attention it's getting.  This delightful addition to the city will be a treat for anyone regardless of diet or lifestyle.

Located on a quiet corner in Minneapolis, the cafe would be easy to miss if not looking for it.  The kiwi green walls provide a contrast to the dark wood furniture and brighten the small room, making it cheery yet relaxing--the perfect place for a celebration.  Although tiny, the restaurant still seats quite a few people.  It is quaint but not overcrowded.

Agri's menu is deceptively simple.  Much thought has been put into the number and variety of options available, and most of the dishes have complementary flavors, making it easy to choose appetizers and entrees or share a bite with a companion.  Most vegan and/or gluten free items are labeled as such but not all options are immediately apparent.  Waitstaff are patient and willing to resolve any questions.  Agri has a noted dedication to organic, sustainable and local foods, when possible, and it shows in the flavor of the meal.

The food is all you'd expect from such an establishment--simple, flavorful, and beautifully plated.  The curry corn soup is a delight and paired with the black bean salad makes a perfect light dinner.  The entrees are equally lovely:  the seared maple tofu comes with a delicious wild rice side which complements the maple flavor wonderfully, and the penne primavera has a wonderful thick vegan cream sauce and a gorgeous array of vegetables.  A notable shortcoming on the menu is the falafel--although served with delicious cucumbers in a vivid vinegar dressing, the falafel itself lacked a few traditional spices and failed to make up for their exclusion.  On a personal note, my group of four ordered the eight dollar appetizer to share, and received a plate with only three pieces (having made falafel myself for a number of group sizes, I can say with certainty that it would not have been a hassle to add one additional piece so everyone in our party could have their own piece).  The butternut squash ravioli was also a bit disappointing.  It was delicious, and a delight for someone with a small appetite, but when paying double digits for an entree, I would expect to receive more than four pieces of pasta (this is, after all, Minneapolis, and we Minnesotans know how to get our money's worth).  The dessert menu is perfectly sized and portion sizes are more than adequate.  Try the apple spice cake, but skip the chocolate almond cake in orange sauce--mine seemed just out of a freezer and was drier than I expect of any cake, much less chocolate. 

In all, Cafe Agri is a delight to the senses.  It would make a great stop for wine and a light dinner or dessert after visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Arts or a romantic night out.  Although not a place I would personally return to frequently, Agri is definitely worth a try.  I recommend stopping by with a group for your first visit so everyone can explore the menu together.

Cafe Agri's menu and location can be found here.

• Cookbooks!  Pick a book with recipes the recipient will enjoy--a dessert book like My Sweet Vegan for someone with a sweet tooth, a diet one such as Skinny Bitch in the Kitch for the health nut in your family, or an all-around book like Veganomicon for the foodie in your life.  Or get the aspiring chef a blank recipe book and jot down some of your favorites in it before giving it to them.
• Philosophy and Informational Books:  If someone you know has been wondering about a cruelty-free lifestyle, has lots of questions for you or just seems receptive to the vegan world, one of these books could have the power to change their life--and they'll have you to thank!  Those who are already vegan will appreciate the sentiment, too.  Here are a few to get you started:  Vegan Freak, Becoming Vegan, The Vegan Sourcebook, Introduction to Animal Rights, Dominion, Diet For a New America, Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating, Being Vegan, Raising Vegan Children in a Non-Vegan World, or The China Study.

• Pangea
• Vegan Essentials
• Zappos
• The Vegetarian Site
• Vegan Jewelry:  Peace on a String
• KidBean
• AnimalRightStuff
• Herbivore Clothing
• Minneapolis: Fast and Furless
• Atlanta: Cosmo's Vegan Shoppe
• San Diego: All Vegan
• Portland: Food Fight!
• Quebec: Viva Granola

• Animal rescues and sanctuaries.  These places are always terribly short on funds and they do so very much.  Consider a donation to Farm Sanctuary, SASHA Farm, Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, or a local rescue or sanctuary.  One idea is also to make an agreement with friends:  instead of buying gifts for each other, pool all your money together and buy supplies or a gift card for a sanctuary, shelter, or rescue.  These organizations often have Wish Lists available on their websites or upon request, and they will almost always take gift cards for relevant stores (or just a check).  If they need supplies, you can make it a fun shopping day for your friends, and maybe you can even deliver your gift in person!
• Activist groups.  Vegan Outreach, Compassion Over Killing, Action for Animals, and many other groups spend a lot of time and resources getting the word out about compassionate lifestyles.  Through leafleting, demonstrations, and public events, they make a huge difference in the lives of farmed animals.
• Sponsor an animal!  Many groups offer the chance to sponsor an animal.  A monthly or yearly donation helps pay for medical care, food, and other care, and often you get perks in return such as the chance to visit your sponsored friend, photos, updates, and other goodies.

• Buy a bag of red or black grapes and stick it in the freezer.  When you want to snack, grab a few to snack on...for some reason, when they're frozen you'll be satisfied with just a few.  You can also slice bananas, put them in baggies and freeze them.
• A few snack crackers with crunchy peanut butter on them will fill you up between meals and satisfy cravings for salty or fatty foods without blowing your calorie budget.  Next time you want something fried, try peanut butter instead.  It works!
• One day when you have a few minutes, cut up carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli.  Put them in a prominent spot in the fridge--when you're tempted to eat, they're handy.  Eat your veggies plain or dipped in a little salad dressing.
• Baby pickles and black or green olives are satisfying snacks.  Just watch the sodium!
• Pita chips are more satisfying and less greasy than potato chips.  Buy some or make your own by baking pieces of pita brushed with cinnamon or herbs.
• Make your own trail mix with granola, dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate chips.
• Drizzle apple slices with agave syrup for a sweet treat.
• Healthy eating tip:  Never eat directly out of a bag or box.  Studies show that people will eat up to three times the calories as they would if they put their snack on a plate instead.  Dish yourself a serving and put the box away immediately!  That said, you can put graham crackers, pretzels, popcorn, etc. into small sandwich bags and store them prominently in your cupboard.  That way, the little bag is more convenient, and you'll take one serving instead of mindlessly chowing down that whole bag of chips.

• Toss some short noodles (rainbow rotini or elbow macaroni) into a bowl of tomato soup.
• Sandwiches, sandwiches, sandwiches!  If you don't have regular bread, slice off a piece of french bread, use a tortilla, or use a bun or bagel.
• In a pinch, tofu hot dogs are easy and incredibly quick.
• Salads can be prepared and stored in a large bowl up to a few days in advance.
• Make a smoothie using soy yogurt, soymilk or juice, agave nectar, and various fruits.