New Kitchen, New Video, New Pump!

 A few months ago, I moved into my very first very-own kitchen, meaning that for the first time in my life, my kitchen is entirely my own and I don't have to share it with anyone else.

Somehow that also means I'm supposed to be in charge of all of the dishes and sweeping and cleaning, which doesn't seem entirely reasonable since I'm only one person and the universe should only expect so much. But so far so good, and I'm thoroughly enjoying customizing the space to work for me.

In this ongoing quest to create the best kitchen in the universe, I frequently find myself in Home Goods and TJ Maxx and the clearance aisles of Big Lots attempting to buy All The Things.

One of the things I've bought is a refillable, hand-pressurized, stainless steel oil spritzer. It is my newest kitchen gadget and one unlike anything I've experienced before, so I wanted to bring you along to see my first impressions firsthand.

Any advice on the ideal pumping schedule for this apparatus is appreciated.

Am I Old?

 I have a regrettable confession to share with you, loyal readers....

I don't think I've purchased Oreos in years.

Years! Can you believe this? It's like I'm a whole different person. In what universe do I not have Oreos? In what universe do I let Oreos unleash new flavors and I just walk past?

It disappoints me to say it..... but I may have grown up.

Which is bullshit, because grownups have to pay bills and pretend like they know what they're doing, and I'm going to be really bad at that, y'all! I can barely pretend I'm human. Now you expect me to be an ADULT? I didn't sign up for this shit.

 

But if I have to be an adult, at least I'll be an adult who knows how to make an air fryer pizza in 10 minutes or less. Boo yah!

Vegan Pizza & Beer in Winchester, VA

 Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to spend a night on the town in Winchester, Virginia, and y'all, we need to talk about Pizzoco.

Perfect golden crust.

 

Gooey vegan cheese.

 

An expertly seasoned, slightly sweet sauce that is made in-house every day.

 

Choose from toppings galore to create your own masterpiece, or easily veganize several of their signature pies.

 

It doesn't get better than Pizzoco.

 

On this visit, we opted for the Tomato Pie to embrace the stunning simplicity of an artisanal pizza. Vegan cheese goes down first, then the sauce spirals across the top. Garlic, olive oil, and oregano finish out the flavor.

We ate the whole damn thing in one sitting. No regrets.

On my next visit, I'm eager to try a veganized version of the "Winchester": sweet peppers, basil, and onion with classic red sauce and vegan cheese. 

Speaking of Winchester, Pizzoco is in the town's historic district. Taking a stroll through the neighborhood will treat you to a brick-laid walking mall lined with restaurants and local shops. At the end of the walking mall, you'll find George Washington's office from his pre-war surveyor days. Glamorous, it is not, but it puts history in perspective when you acknowledge the great accomplishments of the man in light of his meager surroundings.

Pizzoco gives nod to another local treasure on its very walls:

See the green turret rising over the hill on the left? It isn't a whimsical invention from an artist's imagination, but rather the city's historic Handley Library.

 

The green roof is iconic in Winchester today, but when the building was constructed over 100 years ago, it gleamed in bright copper. Over time, the copper aged and its patina became a stately landmark overlooking the town. It still functions as a public library today, and its history and charm are just as magical as to stories it holds.

In addition to our stroll through time, we were able to visit Winchester Brew Works, a woman-owned, family-friendly brewery in downtown Winchester.

This is possibly my favorite beer experience of all time.

We opted to share a flight. It's the height of summer here, so three of our choices were light and fruity: the #glamping Pink Lemonade Shandy, the juicy Northside Light Lime, and the gentle 2200 Mile NEIPA (inspired by the Appalachian Trail). 

 

Our fourth choice was the velvety, decadent Bourbon Barrel Bear Tracks. This is a reprise of their fan-favorite peanut butter porter. In this version, Bear Tracks has been aged in bourbon barrels, resulting in a rich brew with notes of cocoa and vanilla. My recommendation: Don't buy the full pour of this. Order a mini and savor each sip without overwhelming your palate.

All in all, Winchester isn't the most vegan-friendly place I've been, but if you know where to look, you can find some hidden gems. If you visit, I hope you'll share your finds with me!

Earth Based Cafe Restaurant Review

 Do you remember the veganniversary post where I teased this picture:

Of course you remember. Who could forget something so epic and delicious?

That burger, my dudes, is the glorious creation of Earth Based Cafe in Martinsburg, WV.

Now, as a native Virginian, I was under the impression that the only vegan food in West Virginia was beer. But whooo boy was I wrong.

As it turns out, all I had to do to satisfy my junk food vegan hopes and dreams was drive across the border.

Let me tell you the tale.

One night after work, we made the impromptu decision to have a date night. So we hopped in the car, drove 20 minutes north, picked up a ridiculous amount of takeout for only two people, and ate it on a blanket in the park, all romantic-like. (Well. Almost romantic-like. If you ignore the fact that we couldn't get into the park and ended up eating ten feet away from the car in a patch of grass between the parking lot and a ditch. And also if you ignore the fact that we almost got run over by this one kid on a bicycle about four times. If you just focus on the food and the blanket, it was very romantic-like.)

 

We ordered two entrees, two apps, and two sides.

For the appetizers, which were gargantuan enough to be entrees in their own right, we chose garlic knots and cheesy spinach dip.

 

The garlic knots? Heavily. The marinara sauce? Perfection. The spinach dip? Cheesy as all heck. The tortilla chips? Warm and crispy, as the gods intended them.

Then, my friends, there were the entrees.

Are you prepared for this? Because I was definitely not prepared for this.

I ordered a nacho burger.

Just in case you haven't had the pleasure of feasting on a grilled Beyond Burger topped with two kinds of cheese, jalapenos, onions, chipotle sauce, and tortilla chips, I'm here to assure you it is spectacular. I would eat this every day of my life and die happy.

My dinnermate ordered a Philly cheesesteak.

 

This cheesesteak was loaded. We're talking holy cow thick. Acres of seitan spilling out of a warm bun, dotted with zippy green peppers and swirled with ooey gooey cheese. Delectable.

The sides we tried were macaroni salad (classic) and sriracha baked beans (exotic). 

 

Both were lovely accompaniments to an outstanding meal.

But that burger, y'all. I need you to understand how much I love that burger.

This is happy dance food.

I cannot recommend Earth Grown Cafe enough. Go there, eat the food, bring me some on your way home. Rinse and repeat.

BRAND WARS: Vegan Mac & Cheese

Have you ever spent a Saturday afternoon wondering what to do with yourself?

The answer is make four boxes of mac and cheese.

For science.

I can say this with authority, because that's exactly what my brother and I did this past Saturday.

Which means....ladies and gentlemen!

It's time for another BRAND WARS!!!!

Veganniversary: Year 4!

My dudes, I have been vegan for four years as of yesterday.

This boggles the mind. Where did four years go? What was I doing all that time? And furthermore, wtf happened to the world???

In addition to the chaos the entire universe unleashed in the past four years, my own life has been pretty darn hectic. Here are some highlights:

Vegan Food in Hagerstown, MD