Went to Millennium in San Francisco this past week

[Stuckinthebush]

Oh, my sweet vegan Jesus it was good!

For those who don't know it, Millennium is consistently rated as a top vegan restaurant in the US. The chef is phenomenal. It really shows what can be accomplished by not using meat or dairy. This was fine dinning at its best.

We also went to a number of other vegan and vegetarian restaurants around the city and were so sad to leave such a progressive place as San Francisco.

We drove up the coast and stayed at a little inn in Mendocino called The Stanford Inn by the Sea. The restaurant attached to the inn is mainly vegan and uses vegetables and herbs grown in their own organic garden. The food was fabulous. I highly recommend this place to any vegan or vegetarian looking to get away to a vegan-friendly place.

One of the most interesting side trips we took was a tour of a vegan winery in Sonoma County. The vineyard is Frey Vineyards, and the wine is rather tasty. I had no idea why some wines were considered vegan, but the owner told us that the problem is in the fining process. In order to get the last remaining proteins from the wine, fish bladder or blood is used to "fine" the wine. This makes most wines non-vegan. They use a clay like substance in fining which is a bit more expensive but eliminates the use of animal products.

All in all it was a wonderful trip. Now we are back home in Alabama where most people don't know what the word vegan means and those who do think we must be commies!

Ah....sweet home Alabama.

[Dastard Stepchild]

1. (((((((((((jealousy vibes)))))))))))))

I have heard of Millenium. I want to sample Millenium. I have often gone to their website just to drool at the descriptions. :cry:
Oh, I just love food!

What did you have? Tell me all about it. :)

[shockra]

2. Exactly. I'm jealous too.

The first time I ever heard of Millenium was when I saw all the Millenium cookbooks in the veg section. Such a nirvana actually exists?!

[livetohike]

3. Please tell us what you all ordered

:-).

[Stuckinthebush]

5. It was heavenly!

For an appetizer, we shared the warm spinach & glazed pear salad consisting of crimini mushrooms, smoked tofu, marinated red cabbage, mulled spice & red wine vinaigrette, rosemary candied walnuts. I managed to get two or three bites in before my wife's fork began to threaten as I reached over the table.

Then for the main course I had the glazed tempeh with soba noodle rolls, house-made kim-chi, satsuma mandarins, enoki mushrooms, and sweet tamarind bbq sauce. My wife had a special of the evening which was a squash blossom lightly fried with a special sauce and was filled with something very yummy (it is not listed on the Millennium site, so I can't give all of the details!)

For the sides, we had the fresh green beans and roasted new potatoes.

We had to have dessert, so we split the molé brownie sundae consisting of a chilé spiced chocolate brownie with coconut-mint sorbet, roasted pineapple, and caramel sauce.

We enjoyed a Napa Valley vegan Sauvignon Blanc with our meal.

I won't tell you the price! Yikes! But it was well worth it!

[livetohike]

6. Oooooooh, that sounds so good!

Thanks for the descriptions. Whatever it cost, you both have a good memory to share :-).

[Dastard Stepchild]

7. must not destroy....

must.... congratulate....

But it hurts so. I want Millennium food! :cry:

[Stuckinthebush]

8. LOL!

I thought of you the whole time I was eating it....really, I did.

(OK, I didn't...but perhaps it helps to believe that!)

[Dastard Stepchild]

9. It eases the pain somewhat.

Somewhat.

[smbolisnch]

4. I am jealous!!

I have never been to a vegan restaurant. :( We don't have those around here.

And, even though my sister lived there for 10 years, I have not been to San Francisco!! I was young when she lived there and my mom wouldn't fly, so you know.

Sounds like you had a GREAT time!!

[jobycom]

10. Never been there, but follow this link. Might make you happy again!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0898158990/qid=1123901708/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5386776-3898331?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Stuckinthebush]

11. Yes...very happy indeed!

Actually, while we were finishing dessert, my wife asked to see a copy of the cookbook. As she was thumbing through it she began to giggle and then she started to laugh out loud.

I asked her what was so funny and then she showed me the recipes.

I started to laugh as well.

You see, we have three small children. We are lucky to get everyone home by 5:00, homework done by 6:00, food on the table by 6:30, bath by 7:30, and bed by 8:00 or 8:30. The lovely food served to us takes time to make properly, and this was evident in the recipes. Perhaps in 15 years we will be able to have the time to make Millennium style meals, but for now, steamed green beans and shake-n-bake tofu are the norm!

[jobycom]

12. Some are quick, some can be prepared

They have a few recipes that rely on their garlic cream sauce or other recipes you can prepare days in advance an whip out for a quick dish later. They also have a few recipes which cook in minutes, like their pizzas.

My hardest problem is keeping a wide enough variety of ingredients on hand. I have two kids, too, and little time, and some of the recipes require a special trip to the grocer.

But it's a great book to have around, for when you really want to impress meat eaters but don't want to stoop to faux meats.

[shockra]

13. Thanks for the great post in Wetzelbill's thread.

I thought I was going to get a string of people telling me I was crazy, so that was a pleasant surprise. :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3833685&mesg_id=3833989