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Yoni Wolf Does Vegan Food in NYC

August 25, 2009

By: Yoni Wolf

So, I was in New York last weekend for my high school best friend's 30th birthday (wait, am I too old to write for this site?) and as with all my NY visits, I took the opportunity to sample some of the excellent cuisine THE city has to offer.  Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I've never written a restaurant review, or a review of any kind really, but I am an extremely critical person... and I love to eat.  How hard can it be?  I'm also a vegan.  Right after I bought my flight (or maybe before actually) I Googled "vegan restaurants New York City." I must have spent a total of 3 or 4 hours in search mode, but that's half the fun.  I was only gonna be there for a day and a half so I knew my New York meals were limited.  The goal:  maximize the goodness, minimize the wackness...culinarily. CONT'D

My first morning, I was really hungry 'cause I didn't really eat dinner the night before, so I wanted to get something close to my hotel in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.  Not much down there, but I did find a place in Prospect Park that was only a quick train ride away.  The V-Spot.  I went right as they were supposed to open only to find out they weren't opening for another hour.  I got an iced tea next door that tasted like used bath-water and waited.  I drank the whole thing because that's what kind of man I am.  When they finally seated me at The V-Spot (that name feels so obscene to say), I was so hungry and at risk of some major over-ordering -— one of my many common brunch errors.  "Hmm, sweet or savory?...I know!  Both!"  But with the hardships my digestive system has been enduring as of late (I won't go into it) I thought it better to refrain from doubling down and just go for the essentials: tofu scramble, side of potatoes, tempeh bacon, toast.  Vegan version of an American classic.  I've been all over the world, and I don't know of another culture that understands breakfast correctly.  The scramble was on point but not necessarily standout. The potatoes were excellent, covered in fresh rosemary.  Considerably better iced tea there than next door.  The staff was friendly and attentive enough without being overbearing.  I had to ask for Earth Balance for my toast though.  Who eats dry toast?  What is toast but a condiment conduit.  All in all, it was a really nice solo brunch.  I did some texting and ate nice and slow —  20 chews per swallow.

After brunch, I met up with my buddy Antonio Diaz, the artist, and walked up to Prospect park. We sat in the shade for like 4 hours and drank purple Vitamin water for elecrolytes.  My friend RJ (birthday boy) and his parents and girlfriend showed up after a while.  Tony hadn't eaten all day, so we went and got a bite over at 'Snice, a casual vegan spot close to the park and up the street from The V-Spot.  We got tempeh reuben sandwiches and I got a side of pasta salad (the kind of pasta that's like short squat penne).  I think I can say it was the best reuben I have ever eaten.  I don't know if it was the smartest thing to have eaten, but there wasn't a thought of caution in my mind during the feed.  Soy cheese, russian dressing, sauerkraut...I love sauerkraut.  The works.  We sat on the patio while the sun was going down.  I, once again, had some iced tea.  After dinner, we sat on Tony's stoop and ate Purely Decadent coconut-mango ice-cream (UNbelievable!) and drank coconut water.  Coconut and coconut. Don't hate.  You know, sometimes white pants look best with a white top.  'Twas a lovely evening.

The next afternoon,YAH's own Jena Steinbach and I checked out a place in the West Village called Gobo.  Jena had heard this place was hot shit and knows my culinary convictions, and so had suggested it.  This was by far the classiest joint I hit up last weekend.  And of course, I was in my airplane clothes (which, thank God, for once did not consist of a muscle shirt and sweats).  She was in her Monday best.  I would whistle here if this were oral.  The staff thought I was a crazy person when I showed up before Jena with all my bags and asking for extra water to make my electrolytes with.  She legitimized me as a human in their eyes when she walked in to meet me.  Thanks Jena!  Its not like a fancy fancy place or anything, just casual classy.  Anyway, at 30, I don't have the digestive system I did at 20, so I decided to be kind to myself before my flight and get the green tea noodle miso soup with soy filet.  It's a shame, as their menu is chalk full of really interesting and creative food combinations, that I couldnt try more stuff.  I will have to go back there when I can go all out.  Jena went with the eggplant and string beans with basil sauce.  My soup was exactly what I needed: a miso broth to soothe, some simple buckwheat noodles (not sure where the green tea comes in), tofu fish (I think thats what they were getting at) for protein.  It wasn't the most exciting meal, but then again, I knew that going in.  Mild.  I asked for mild.  It was just what I needed (like Rick Ocasek).  Left me feeling fit to fly.  I tasted Jena's eggplant, which was a flavor party in my mouth, and think I will have to go that route next time.  We had a nice talk about careers, and parents, and the city vs. the country, and WWOOFing, etc. etc. and then I headed to JFK on the A train (Like Billy Strayhorn).

Posted in FOOD on August 25, 2009 9:12am by Jena Steinbach | 30 comments

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We are young (early 20's) and hungry (for knowledge! music! art! food!) friends living on (or in areas which border) Manhattan. We moved to the city seeking higher education, and an alternative to frat parties and gin buckets. We prefer a bottle of Chianti to a keg, lunches at City Bakery to a dining hall, Joe's to Starbucks, Frankie's Amatriciana to Batali's. Our uniting factor is our love for food. For detailed, personal information, keep reading.
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