Something Green Is Brewing On Magnolia: Avoca Coffee

Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth is the street one wanders to see the products of clashing cultures in the city.  Some know this area as the "granola district" because of its modern hipster vibe, and others see it as the stretch of concrete that houses some of the finest dining in Fort Worth. Booming with up-and-coming restaurants and entertainment venues, the only thing Magnolia has yet to offer is a good independent coffee house – until now. 

Answering the call is Avoca Coffee, a local roast and coffee house that boasts a full menu of espresso beverages and teas, which will move into the neighborhood this spring.

Unlike many of its corporate brethren, Avoca Coffee intends to emphasize the impact of each person’s actions on the planet, including their morning cup of coffee. They plan on doing things a little differently. Instead of the throw-away bags you can pick up from the supermarket or a chain coffee shop, they are selling their house-roasted coffee in recyclable glass jars.

Many people don’t realize the impact their everyday activities can have on the environment, and owners Garold Larue and Jimmy Story believe by encouraging the re-use of their bean jars, customers will in turn think of other changes to their lifestyles they can easily make. Being a green business is also crucial if Avoca Coffee wishes to cater to a growing and influential market of consumers who desire to purchase products from exclusively environmentally-conscious businesses. Along with their bean jars, Avoca will strive to be sustainable through support of local bakeries, the showcasing of Fort Worth artists, and direct relations with their bean farmers.

"We want to bring the public to coffee," says Story. "We can do so by allowing them to see where the coffee comes from. Perhaps not the grove, but definitely the bean in its purest form."

Furthermore, customers will be able to view the entire Avoca Coffee roasting process right on location, making for an even richer experience. Not only will you be able to pick up your double tall latte, but you will also be able to see the beans roasted by artisan coffee roasters.

Residents of the greater Fort Worth area are abuzz with excitement, and it’s not from caffeine. Many are excited to finally see a local coffee shop open up in Fort Worth. Avoca Coffee will be the only one of its kind. This past week, the sign could be seen going up on the front of the shop, directly across the street from Spiral Diner. With its prime location and unique position on sustainability, Avoca Coffee promises to be a central gathering place for Fort Worth locals who want to say "no" to the corporate coffee chain. And whether you are an artist or foodie, the common word on everybody’s lips will be, "Avoca." 

Friend Avoca Coffee on Facebook and follow them on Twitter (@AVOCAcoffee) for more updates on the shop and the official opening dates.

Social Media at Work: My Blog on The Veg Daily

 

As an Ad/PR major, I am constantly being reminded of the power of social media. I am plugged in on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and (of course) Blogger. I use a Twitter-Facebook-Blogger social media mix to get my blog posts out there, and today I found out it paid off! The Veg Daily, an online publication composed of stories, photos, and blogs that are tweeted with the hashtag "#veg," picked up my article on Hot Damn, Tamales! from earlier in the week. Thanks to The Veg Daily, this truly made my day! Follow The Veg Daily on Twitter (@VegGalaxy) and check out their daily publication at http://paper.li/VegGalaxy.

Milk Alternatives

When I was vegan, I knew I would have to give up milk products, which I have found to be considered the hardest part of the transition when talking to my vegan friends. Cheese and milk are in so many delicious foods, the thought of giving up those things is almost frightening. What some may not know is that I have been lactose intolerant since I was young, so I have always tried to regulate my dairy intake. I have tried many different milk alternatives -- there was no WAY I would give up cereal -- and below are some of the alternative I have had the fun of trying in recipes, with my cereal, or just drinking by the glass.

Soy Milk- (Gluten-Free)
Soy milk is created from soybeans and is slightly thinner than cow's milk, and is sold in either the refrigerated dairy section or in shelf-stable packaging. It comes in many different brands (Silk is extremely popular) and flavors, such as original, unsweetened, and chocolate. Silk also offers their Silk Light, which is lower in calories than the regular Silk. There has been some research that finds a correlation between soy bean products and cancer in women, so making sure you go with a non-GMO and organic brand is important if you are going to drink soy instead of cow's milk. Furthermore, it has been possibly linked to stunted growth in males, so boys, limit how much you drink.
Soy milk is probably the most common milk alternative that is offered at restaurants and businesses. Starbucks carries its own vanilla soy milk (it's organic, too!), so you can always choose to make your latte or Frappuccino dairy-free.

Almond Milk (Gluten-Free)
Almond milk is my new found love. I am a sucker for dark chocolate anything, and Silk's PureAlmond Dark Chocolate flavor caters to all my cravings while supplying vitamins I need since I don't drink milk. Almond milk is made from, you guessed it... almonds! It is made by a process where almonds are softened in filtered water and blended into a liquid that is extremely close to cow milk. You can also find this in the dairy cold case or in shelf-stable packaging. For those worried about GMOs, or for the male reader, this is a great alternative and is close to what you may be used to.

Oat Milk
Oat milk is an interesting milk alternative, one that took some getting used to. It was recommended in a few of the vegan cookbooks I picked up when I began my meat-free journey, and it is hard to describe. Made from oats, this liquid is a beige color, thicker than cow's milk and has a sweet flavor to it. When I use it, I typically pour it out from its shelf-stable container into a larger one so I can water it down a little to the desired consistency. For those looking for a gluten-free milk alternative, oat milks are typically not gluten-free, though there are some.

Check out these alternatives and see which one is best for you. The best test (in my opinion) is using it with a plain cereal to see how you like the taste, but it is all about personal preference. 

Hot Damn, Tamales!

Having lived in Fort Worth all my life, I tend to take it upon myself to try and support local businesses in any way possible. First, this helps with the local economy, which is always good. Second, having good, local food creates a sense of pride for your city that you just can't replace. This is why on Monday, I finally decided to head down to Magnolia in Near Southside to try out Hot Damn, Tamales!, a local tamale shop with three tables for in-house dining. I decided to bring Ashley, a fellow vegetarian and good friend of mine, to check out what vegetarian tamales they had on the menu.

Hot Damn, Tamales! is extremely well priced, especially considering everything you get with your meal. They offer one choice, the tamale plate, which comes with three tamales of choice, black beans, Spanish rice, and homemade pico de gallo, all for $8.50. While you wait for your meal, they bring out homemade tortilla chips and salsa, which Ashley and I agreed could go up against the best. For my plate, I chose one three cheese queso tamale, one wild mushroom and Texas goat cheese tamale, and one black bean and Oaxaca cheese tamale.  It is hard to find good vegetarian tamales with flair, even in Texas, as the traditional tamale is made with chicken, beef, or pork, but Hot Damn, Tamales! is definitely the place to head if you are craving a traditional but meat-free tamale.

They also offer tamales in orders of a half-dozen or dozen for take-out, ranging in price from $9 to $24. Furthermore, they offer vegan friendly and gluten free options, so practically any dietary need can be met with one of their tamales. Check out their website for restaurant hours, prices, and a full list of all the tamales they offer.

Vegan Banana Muffins

Last week when I was sick, my mom was awesome (as she always is) and waited on me the entire time. She made these vegan banana muffins for breakfast and I thought I would share the recipe with you. These are made with no dairy or eggs, and the banana is used to bind the ingredients together. My mother made them plain, but adding cinnamon or chopped walnuts make for a yummy twist on the recipe.

Vegan Banana Muffins

3 browned (ripe) bananas
1/4 cup oil or vegan margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

1. Pre-heat oven to 360 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork till soft. Add the oil or vegan margarine and sugar and cream together.
3. In a separate bowl, combine together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Combine with the banana mixture, stirring gently just to combine.
4. Grease or line a muffin pan, and fill each muffin about 2/3 full with batter. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean. 

*We use Earth Balance brand vegan margarine, which can be found at WalMart. 

An Ode to Sprouts

Since I began my veg journey, I have found many different places to dine out in Cowtown. Whether I want Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean or Italian inspired dishes, Fort Worth has grown to include meatless options on practically every menu, making it simple to join friends (vegetarian or not) for a meal. However, one thing Fort Worth has failed to cater to -- until recently-- is the growing demand for vegan/vegetarian products and organic, locally grown produce. This is why there was a buzz when everyone heard we were getting a Sprouts Farmers Market off Hulen and I-20.

According to the Sprouts website, the mission of the Arizona-based health store chain is simple. It reads:

"Sprouts Farmers Market: Helping America eat healthier, live longer, and spend less."

What more could we ask for? Especially during these hard economic times, people are constantly looking for ways to save without having to cut out the food that is best for you. Sprouts offers organic and locally grown produce, which not only supports local farmers and the economy by investing your disposable income close to home, but it is also better for the environment. On top of it all, Sprouts sports a vast selection of vegan and vegetarian products that are typically only found at Whole Foods Market in the DFW-Area, the closest of which to Fort Worth being off I-30 in Arlington. For anyone wanting the substance of Central Market with Target price points... this is the stuff your dreams are made of.

The Grand Opening of Sprouts was this past Wednesday, January 26, and the response from Fort Worth residents could not have been greater. The store was fully staffed with new and seasoned employees who willingly escorted you to anything you were looking for, which was definitely needed with the heavy traffic. Nothing is more refreshing than entering a retail location with employees who know their product knowledge. Not only that, but the excitement from the shoppers caused anyone and everyone to talk to each other about their personal experience at the opening, which allowed time to pass quickly when standing in the lines that stretched from the front registers to the produce section.

Of the vegetarian products I found, what excited me most was finding Oogave Watermelon Cream Soda in the bottle. This is typically served on tap at Spiral Diner on Magnolia Avenue and is my all-time favorite soda. I was also excited to find Gimme Lean vegan sausage, which is the closest to the real thing when you are craving a country breakfast. It can be used in most recipes to substitute ground beef. Extra perks at the opening were the Sprouts brand San Francisco Style Sourdough Bread at $1 a loaf, as well as the bulk granola on sale for $1/lb.

Needless to say, we are excited to have Sprouts in Fort Worth. This store completely supports both vegan and vegetarian dietary needs, and even more so the needs of the DFW area.

Cooking with Emily: Oven-Roasted Veggies

This past week, my friend and coworker, Emily (co-author of What Would Martha Do? cooking blog) decided to have my friend Casey and I over to learn a quick and easy one-pot vegetarian dish. Emily is a great go-to for easy, yummy foods, and I was so excited to learn this recipe from her. The idea is to make in large batches on a Sunday so you can pack it as your veggies for the entire week.

Oven-Roasted Veggies

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
2 heads of broccoli
4-5 baking potatoes, cut into sixths
12-15 fresh Brussels sprouts, halved
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 cloves fresh garlic, whole
1 lemon, quartered
olive oil
salt
pepper

1. Set oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a shallow roasting pan, combine the lemons, potatoes, onions, sprouts, carrots, and garlic.
3. Separate the heads of broccoli into little "trees", cutting the stalk if necessary. Combine broccoli with other vegetables, mixing them all together.
4. Once mixed, coat the veggies in olive oil liberally, as this creates the crispy texture when roasting. Sprinkle salt and pepper on veggies to taste.
5. Place the pan in the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, check the veggies and stir. Place them back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.

Serves: 3-4 people


This is my variation of the recipe from memory. Adding fresh herbs to the pan also makes for a great variation of this dish.