{"id":81182,"date":"2024-01-24T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/?post_type=newspack_nl_cpt&p=81182"},"modified":"2024-01-24T17:10:32","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T01:10:32","slug":"veganuary-and-date-night-beyond-the-orange-curtain","status":"publish","type":"newspack_nl_cpt","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/newsletter\/veganuary-and-date-night-beyond-the-orange-curtain","title":{"rendered":"Veganuary and date night beyond the Orange Curtain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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Fresh spring rolls with “pork” from vegan Vietnamese restaurant, Au Lak, in Fountain Valley. Photo by Kat Schuster. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was today years old when I realized that some of the best vegetarian<\/s> food (period) is beyond the Orange Curtain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have my partner Michael to thank for that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we met, we hit it off immediately. But when he told me he was a vegetarian, I thought perhaps I should delete his number and download Hinge or something. On one of those apps, I\u2019d specify that I couldn\u2019t live without Korean BBQ and sushi dates. Could I actually do without late-night birria (and consomm\u00e9!) from El Sauz<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then he brought me to his hometown. Give or take 30 minutes from Long Beach is Stanton. It\u2019s Anaheim\u2019s charming cousin, and it\u2019s home to Irrawaddy Taste Of Burma, <\/strong>where you can find the freshest and most flavorful pile of food on God\u2019s green Earth \u2014 the tea leaf salad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On another day (perhaps the next day), we bounded up the street to Little Arabia where we devoured Za’atar Mana’eesh in the corner of a little strip mall. It\u2019s Palestinian flatbread topped with a mixture of the herb zaatar and olive oil. I wondered how I ever lived without it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I did become a vegetarian, who becomes a pescatarian occasionally (I can\u2019t quit you, sushi), but I think it had less to do with my S.O. and more to do with a diverse world of food I didn\u2019t know existed (forgive me, I\u2019m a white girl from San Luis Obispo). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re doing the whole \u201cveganuary\u201d challenge, scouting for a unique Valentine\u2019s date idea or you\u2019re just looking to try something new \u2014 I know just the place, err places, where you can taste food from all over the world. You won\u2019t break the bank, and you will<\/em> say, \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s not beef!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a few to start with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kensh\u014d <\/strong>– 16511 Magnolia St., Garden Grove<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The I Lava You roll at Kensh\u014d in Garden Grove. Photo by Kat Schuster.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We did have that sushi date. It was in Garden Grove, within another strip mall, of course. There\u2019s something to be said about finding gems in \u201cthe sprawl.\u201d Kensh\u014d offers a huge menu of 100% vegan sushi rolls made from plants \u2014 many of which will leave you puzzled that you aren\u2019t biting into the real deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tried I Lava You, <\/strong>a California roll with \u201cbaked oyster scallops\u201d, dynamite sauce, spicy mayo and unagi sauce ($16). Then there was the Yoga Fire: <\/strong>Shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, spicy tuna and \u201cspicy AF sauce.\u201d Oh and don\u2019t forget to start with a tempura blossom \u2014 <\/strong>miso-cream cheese stuffed blossoms with jalapenos and onion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in case you were wondering, yes, it\u2019s cute in there \u2014 sleek and chic. Bring your date here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sababa Falafel Shop –<\/strong> 11011 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, all right, this Palestinian-owned restaurant does have actual meat options, but they also make the best falafel I have ever had in my short life. Actually, they make the best bowl of anything I\u2019ve ever had in my short life \u2014 this I declare after every visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ll likely offer you a sample of that falafel as you\u2019re pondering the made-to-order options, say yes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their menu boasts pita filled with goodies and your choice of protein, but I prefer their bowls, which you can build yourself (sort of like poke bowl style). You can fill your bowl with pickled cabbage, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, humus and more. Plus of course those tender falafels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au Lak <\/strong>– 16563 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The raw curried rice dish at Au Lak, which has two locations, one in Fountain Valley and a newer location in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Kat Schuster. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two words: Living foods. Wait, don’t go! It\u2019s not what you think, they won\u2019t get up and walk away. Au Lak specializes in raw vegan, which isn\u2019t merely a menu full of salads, and they do also offer cooked foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you are searching for that date idea your doe-eyed date probably hasn\u2019t heard of, this must be the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s anything that I\u2019ve learned over the last two years that\u2019s worth noting, it\u2019s that vegetarian food makes up a huge part of Vietnamese cuisine. Most Vietnamese meat and seafood dishes can be made vegetarian. Yes, even shrimp is expertly imitated. Almost any protein you can think of can be reconstructed with plants \u2014 it must be sorcery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, Michael brought me on a date here for the first time. This place is almost as old as I am and it\u2019s quite cozy and charming inside. But you won\u2019t notice your well-decorated surroundings once you take a bite of the eggrolls (and spring rolls) you\u2019ll start with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eggrolls <\/strong>come with an eggless wrap with mushroom, carrot, jicama, clear rice noodles, taro and almond filling served with lettuce, mint and vegan fish sauce. Spring rolls<\/strong> are made with vermicelli, vegan shrimp, chive, lettuce and mint wrapped in brown rice paper served with peanut sauce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Royal Noodle Soup from Au Lak. Photo by Kat Schuster. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For our entrees, we shared two dishes, one cooked, one \u201cliving\u201d (raw). Of the cooked variety, we got the Royal Noodle Soup<\/strong> (B\u00fan B\u00f2 Hu\u1ebf): Lemongrass broth with round rice noodles, bologna, mushroom and beef served with bean sprouts, mixed herbs and cabbage. Off the raw menu, we ordered the curried rice:<\/strong> wild rice, broccoli, cauliflower, peas and corn in spiced macadamia sauce served over avocado, olives and cucumber, and topped with marinated mushroom, dehydrated crisp onion, fresh carrots and cilantro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I won\u2019t waste any more words trying to describe how much I loved each of these orders. Just go there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I have so many more places like this to share with you, but we both have places to be. I\u2019ll bet many of you have your own hidden kitchens to recommend in the OC. Do share. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kat Schuster<\/strong> is the assistant editor for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her at kat@lbpost.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vietnamese, Japanese and Palestinian eateries you need to check out in OC. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":81185,"template":"","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"hidden","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","disable_auto_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32199],"tags":[],"newspack_nl_advertiser":[],"coauthors":[9454],"class_list":["post-81182","newspack_nl_cpt","type-newspack_nl_cpt","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-off-the-clock","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_nl_cpt\/81182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_nl_cpt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/newspack_nl_cpt"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/302"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_nl_cpt\/81182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81238,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_nl_cpt\/81182\/revisions\/81238"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81182"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_nl_advertiser","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_nl_advertiser?post=81182"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=81182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}