I should probably start this post with the fact that my partner and I have been living in Anchorage about three years, now, and are just starting to explore the little niches that make urban living, worth it. I say "worth it", because we were previously forest hermits in Fairbanks, twelve miles outside of Fairbanks, proper, in that little haven called Goldstream Valley. Anyway, it has been an interesting couple of year adapting to our new surroundings, up to and including our little slice of what I like to call suburbia hell. Soon to come: a post on our new-found life mission of, "get rid of the grass and grow some food".
Back on topic: we've been ranging out, trying to discover what great little spots there are within walking distance - and redefining 'walking distance', in the process. So far, we've discovered that Red Robin actually carries Boca patties - probably not a revelation for some, but it was for me. The local hipster dives in our neighborhood are more like biking distance, but Midnight Sun Brewery has an AWESOME hummus and veggie sandwich (named Peace Out); and when they have tofu (not of late, though), there are tacos to be had, of the epic variety, with fresh muddled-avo guac, house pico, and great, great, unfiltered, vegan-friendly beers.
Our latest discovery is Korean Garden, a well-appointed little place in a strip mall off Dimond. I love Korean food, and was totally stoked to learn there was a restaurant that specialized in it, so close by. I ordered the only things that did not list meat as ingredients - a vegetable roll (sushi-style, and literally labeled, 'vegetable roll'), and tofu jige (piping hot kimchi stew with tofu). My partner, being the wiser of the two of us, specifies "no meat, no eggs", in her dish.
The veggie roll arrives, and it is stuffed with rice, carrots, steamed spinach, pickled daikon radish......vienna sausage, eggs, surimi (fake crab), and fish cake. I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Our main dishes arrive, and Dael's bibimbap is perfectly meat and egg-free, complete with hot sauce and hot stone bowl, but her side soup (daikon), is comprised mostly of smoked pork broth. Mine? Smells off, as soon as I get a whiff. What I find - tofu, kimchi, onions, assorted veggies, rice starch cake...and about a cup-and-a-half of full-fat shredded smoked pork loin. My fault for not specifying "no meat" (even if it wasn't listed in the ingredients), but I get the feeling that it would have tasted of pig, anyway. Hope you enjoy your treats, Bou and Lacuna. I don't think we'll be going back there. Much better luck at VIP in Midtown, where they are more familiar with vegetarian diets, at the very least.
Moral of the story: ASSUME NOTHING, and go to VIP in Midtown Anchorage, if you want vegan Korean food.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
So, there are vegans in Alaska.
Hi! Taylor, here. After a little over six years as a vegan, and a life-long Alaskan, I've decided I've garnered enough experience, in both, to comment effectively on how one of these aspects of life may affect the other.
I'm going to try posting once or twice a week, about my experiences finding certain products, the odd recipe, dining out, and dealing with people that have moved to Alaska "for the experience" (which usually means hunting, fishing, and 'subsistence'). Being as I'm fairly new at this, I am more than happy to take suggestions, answer questions, and try to be a resource for anyone traveling to Alaska, looking for vegan-friendly establishments, etc.
A bit about myself: I'm a 30-something, born-and-raised Alaskan "gay girl", who is emphatically anti-Pebble (but I did work four years in the mineral exploration and mining industries, oddly enough). I hold a Bachelor's in Russian Studies, and once had ambitions of working for the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer, before I developed (very strong) opinions of my own. I've maintained a committed relationship for seven years, and my partner and I have two goats (pets, of course), a cat (reformed feral), and a dog (rescue), that we love and dote on, spoiled things that they are.
I have been involved with various lines of employment/service. These include, but are not limited to: blood collections (blood banking); food service/espresso; commercial truck driver; municipal harbor cleanup crew and patrol; janitorial staff; Public Assistance eligibility technician (think food stamps); remote site medic, and, most recently, telemetry technician (monitoring and interpreting cardiac rhythms and vital signs for as many as thirty patients) on an ICU here, in Anchorage. I have ambitions to become a trauma nurse, or a doctor of emergency medicine...not sure which, yet
I grew up in the great outdoors, and love kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife watching, and other such activities. I also have a goal to learn more about mountain biking, than just simple single-track, this year, and LOVE my bicycle commute to work and errands, every day. I try to drive as little as possible, all seasons, and finished my first successful winter of ice/snow biking, thanks to Nokian Hakka bike studs!
Enough about me - I'm interested in knowing more about what any vegans would like to know about life in Alaska. More than happy to address any and all of those topics, here, in addition to whatever subjects I might stumble upon, in my spare time. Please, feel free to ask questions, comment, and suggest topics. I look forward to meeting you, whoever "you" are, out there, in the ether of the Internet.
I'm going to try posting once or twice a week, about my experiences finding certain products, the odd recipe, dining out, and dealing with people that have moved to Alaska "for the experience" (which usually means hunting, fishing, and 'subsistence'). Being as I'm fairly new at this, I am more than happy to take suggestions, answer questions, and try to be a resource for anyone traveling to Alaska, looking for vegan-friendly establishments, etc.
A bit about myself: I'm a 30-something, born-and-raised Alaskan "gay girl", who is emphatically anti-Pebble (but I did work four years in the mineral exploration and mining industries, oddly enough). I hold a Bachelor's in Russian Studies, and once had ambitions of working for the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer, before I developed (very strong) opinions of my own. I've maintained a committed relationship for seven years, and my partner and I have two goats (pets, of course), a cat (reformed feral), and a dog (rescue), that we love and dote on, spoiled things that they are.
I have been involved with various lines of employment/service. These include, but are not limited to: blood collections (blood banking); food service/espresso; commercial truck driver; municipal harbor cleanup crew and patrol; janitorial staff; Public Assistance eligibility technician (think food stamps); remote site medic, and, most recently, telemetry technician (monitoring and interpreting cardiac rhythms and vital signs for as many as thirty patients) on an ICU here, in Anchorage. I have ambitions to become a trauma nurse, or a doctor of emergency medicine...not sure which, yet
I grew up in the great outdoors, and love kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, wildlife watching, and other such activities. I also have a goal to learn more about mountain biking, than just simple single-track, this year, and LOVE my bicycle commute to work and errands, every day. I try to drive as little as possible, all seasons, and finished my first successful winter of ice/snow biking, thanks to Nokian Hakka bike studs!
Enough about me - I'm interested in knowing more about what any vegans would like to know about life in Alaska. More than happy to address any and all of those topics, here, in addition to whatever subjects I might stumble upon, in my spare time. Please, feel free to ask questions, comment, and suggest topics. I look forward to meeting you, whoever "you" are, out there, in the ether of the Internet.
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