Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich

The Chefs: Rashida and Rhea's Deli

The Menu: A faux-chicken sandwich smothered in chili-garlic sauce and loaded with cabbage slaw and pickled onions

The Goods: I accidentally slept through my alarm this morning, which means that my plan to bring lunch from home was unfortunately foiled. Rhea's Deli to the rescue! I had been daydreaming about Rhea's Vegetarian BBQ Chicken sandwich ever since VN Office Manager Lyndsay Orwig endorsed it in the VegEscape section of the January+February issue. The mouthwatering faux-drumsticks drowning in sweet-spicy chili glaze were so satisfying that I may 'accidentally' sleep through my alarm tomorrow morning too! In non-sandwich news, tomorrow is the deadline to subscribe to VegNews in time to get the action-packed March+April issue. I won't give too much away, but let's just say that Potato Chip Chocolate Truffles may be involved...

Eggplant and Sundried Tomato Sandwich

The Chef: Hilary and Herbivore

The Menu: A hearty eggplant sandwich with tangy sundried tomatoes, herbaceous pesto spread, and fresh side salad with avocado and mustard dressing. 

The Goods: After Publishers Joseph Connelly and Colleen Holland were generous enough to bring in a smorgasbord of bagels for the staff this morning (complemented by Office Manager Lyndsey Orwig's amazing butternut squash butter—like apple butter, but to reiterate, butternut squash!), I didn't foresee my appetite springing back into action for hours. However, due to a lively brainstorming session for the cover of the November+December issue, which will contain the eagerly awaited results of the 10th annual Veggie Awards, I needed something majorly nourishing by lunchtime. Sorry to brag, but having an all-vegan café right around the corner comes in really handy sometimes. Keep San Francisco in mind when you plan your next road trip, as we're launching our own Ultimate Vegan Road Trip on VegNews.com this month. Follow us as we cruise the country finding all of the best veg eats that America has to offer. 

Salad and Spring Rolls

The Chef: Anna and Valenica Whole Foods

The Menu: A spinach salad with sweet potato, black beans, tomatoes, zucchini, red peppers, and balsamic vinaigrette with veggie spring rolls courtesy of Valencia Whole Foods.

The Goods: Maybe it's just me (and it is), but I want to drop-kick my salad into veggie oblivion. While I am in the homestretch of Kris Carr's 21-day cleanse, and have felt and seen the benefits of green juice, I've eaten more salads than I care to think about. With 66 hours left (but who's counting?), it's a comfort to know that soon I will be able to ingest sugar, gluten, and alcohol again. (I'm looking at you, chocolate cake and whiskey). I'm excited for my next Café VegNews post, where I will most likely be scarfing down vegan candy bars from the VegNews Store, VN office favorite Herbivore's chicken sandwich, and some Neapolitan bars (this week's What's Cooking?) all at the same time. I might have to recruit someone in the office to be my extra set of hands—two is not going to be enough.