Oh My, Thai!

The Chef: Stacy

The Menu: A terrific, two-course Thai treat! This may well be the most colorful lunch ever to be featured on this blog, and it was as delicious as it was vibrant. Ms. Stacy busted out a totally wonderful Thai-food-inspired coconut soup with sweet potato, fennel, spinach, green onions, and carrots. Alongside was an equally attractive rice-noodle salad with a few of the same ingredients, plus basil and thin slices of bright-red pickled ginger, which was tossed in a light, lovely vinaigrette.

The Goods: There's nothing to brighten up a slightly dreary day like a super-colorful lunch and some special-guest-type company. Today we had the pleasure of dining with Justin Lucke, one of our favorite local veg chefs and Organic Athletes. Oh, any maybe there's a hidden message in today's headline. We're just saying, it pretty clearly says "my thai," and what event is happening tonight? Oh, that would be a little something we like to call SF Vegan Drinks. Yes, subtlety has always been our strongpoint. Now come see us at Martuni's!

Cio-freakin'-ppino

The Chef: Aurelia

The Menu: An incredibly veganized version of the San Franciscan original! That's right, cioppino was created right here in the City by the Bay, and today's delicious dish did the fish-free crowd proud. A rich tomato base, celery, carrots, purple potatoes, and hearty helpings of faux fish and shrimp comprised these belly-busting bowl fulls. Ms. Aurelia served up the soup with the other well-known SF favorite—sourdough bread. Sides of couscous with garbanzo beans and shredded greens and a fresh, bright salad made the meal complete.

The Goods: Faux fish can be dangerous territory for even the most accomplished veg chefs, but everyone agreed that today's cioppino was an outstanding success. The recipe was adapted from that of Tadich Grill, San Francisco's oldest restaurant. In addition to the utterly yummy eats we got to enjoy the company of four guests: Justin Torrellas of Organic Athlete, and Adrian, Mariana, and Emilia Carstens, who happen to be related to a certain senior editor. Emilia happens to be the cutest baby on the planet—yes, that's her official title—so it would be a crime for us to keep her to ourselves. Here she is with today's incredible chef!