We went to Asheville and ate everything.

We are the ladies who lunch. And dinner. And brunch. And eat fresh jam cookies at Amanda‘s house. I have missed my friend so much! Mary and I went to visit Amanda in Asheville this weekend (and take a little side trip to Greensboro to get my feet tattooed, but I’ll post about that when they’re healed). We spent our time touring this lovely town and sampling its amazing vegan fare. I figured I could only post pictures having to do with food during our Asheville trip and play it off like I was doing special reporting for VeganMoFo, and maybe fool y’all into thinking our whole trip didn’t revolve around food. Yeah, that’s it!

First we hit up Rosetta’s Kitchen, where I thought I’d died and gone to vegan heaven. They had all manner of delicious looking things on the menu from straight up comfort food to General Tso’s Seitan. Did I mention they also had a huge case full of vegan cookies, cakes and pies? Oh wow. I ordered the “mini-favorite” which is a lunch portion (a big one!) of their special: peanut butter tofu, sauteed kale and mashed potatoes with gravy. Soooo good!

One thing I miss about not being vegan is comfort food that you don’t have to make yourself! I haven’t had mashed potatoes and gravy made by someone else in a year and a half or so! I enjoyed this way too much.

Mary got the tempeh reuben with live saurkraut and sweet potato fries. The bread was hand made rye. Delicious.

Amanda got the portabello burger on a homemade flax bun with a huge piece of avocado, vegan mayo, caramelized onions. We took several sweet treats to go. My favorite was a brownie/bar that had garam masala in it. Just the right note between savory and sweet.

We also hit up Laughing Seed Cafe, which specializes in vegan brunch. I could get in some serious trouble at this place. Here’s Mary all elated over the vegan eggs benedict which was a.maz.ing.

I got the blue plate. Gravy again! And hands down the best biscuit I’ve ever eaten in my life. We are going to beg them for the recipe.

Banana quinoa pancakes! These had an amazing crunchy texture from the quinoa that I really want to try to duplicate. I highly recommend either of these places if you’re in Asheville (although there is no shortage of vegetarian restaurants)! Tomorrow you get to hear about the farmer’s market and my new favorite fruit. Amanda is a good salesman, seriously the Asheville tourism board or someone should hire her, cause she has me convinced I want to move there. Throw some good vegan food, tons of local produce, open air markets, lots of artist/hippie types, hiking/nature galore, and two record stores in one block at me, and I’m sold. Stay tuned for more from the weekend.