Hey folks! I’m working on several (super exciting) longer posts for later this week, so this one will have to be short, eh, it spiralled out of control, whatever. Today I want to share the names and URLs of some Atlanta-based vegan bloggers. I’m glad you like my musings, but I provide only one perspective on our fair city. I’d love it if you had lots! This post might look long and wordy, but it’s pretty dang comprehensive and awesome (like all of us). In fact, it’s kinda like twelve different MoFo posts in one! Let me know what you think.
- Vic Robinson at The Life: Vic is one of the most extraordinary and interesting folks I’ve ever met. He’s not much older than me, but sometimes when I hear him tell stories I feel he’s already lived a thousand lives. One of the posts I’m working on for later this week is an interview I did with him over the weekend, after a meal of seitan steaks, mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, a big salad, and cheezecake – that he made entirely from scratch like it was no big thang. I love Vic’s blog because of all his recipes – “Links” on the right-hand side of his blog. If you like full-flavored food, his recipes won’t disappoint.
- Elisabeth, the Czech Vegan (in America): Not only does Elisabeth have the darn cutest accent ever, but she’s also known for her recipes. My favorite posts have to do with veganizing Czech cuisine. She’s a really generous person who loves to share – recipes, ingredients, time, conversation. I only wish she didn’t live on the other side of town (Buckhead!) so we could hang out more often.
- Alicia Simpson, author of Quick & Easy Vegan Comfort Food, Quick & Easy Vegan Celebrations, and Quick & Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food (forthcoming), who blogs at Vegan Guinea Pig and The Lady & Seitan. Alicia’s recipes are always solid – she’s got two best-selling cookbooks! – and she has a friendly, conversational style. Her “Lady & Seitan” blog is especially fun because she focusses on veganising Paula Deen recipes.
- Laura at Abracapocus: Her blog has a beautiful clean theme (“Less is Less, but usually better”), lovely pictures, and witty copy. She’s a master baker. She doesn’t post recipes often, but she always cites her sources and talks about what works, what doesn’t.
- Steph at Ink & Cupcakes: I really like Steph’s blog. She doesn’t update often but I relate to her themes: vegan baking, healthy-living, depression. This might sound trite, but I like how real she is. There are few blogs that don’t attempt to make everything seem sunny all the time, but Steph doesn’t mess. Since she doesn’t post often, you should follow her on twitter. Oh! And she has a Tumblr, which she updates a lot. Maybe you should just read that one. It’s full of pretty pictures. :)
- Becky at Glue & Glitter: Becky is a blogger, crafter, and cook. Her personal blog has a lot of recipes – food and non (natural home & personal care products). A couple of her recent ones are for a biscuit-topped pot pie & the cutest little burlap sunflowers. She’s an enthusiastic explorer of Atlanta and beyond. Her blog is sure to make you smile – and possibly give you lots of new ideas!
- Cosmo’s Vegan Shoppe: maintains a weekly blog that not only discusses new products at the store, but interesting events going on around Atlanta. One upcoming: Isa Chandra at the store on October 30th!!
- Nataleigh at the Vegan Darlin’: Nat will always be special to me because I gave her her name! Not only that, but she’s a new vegan cook who doesn’t use overly-fancy or esoteric ingredients, making her recipes accessible to all. So far she’s covered tomato soup, tomato sandwiches, and sweet-and-sour seitan. Her chatty style is quintessentially southern and adorable.
- ATL Vegan Drinks: the official blog of the Atlanta Vegan Drinks meet-up. Follow for invites to upcoming events, drool-worthy pictures, and the occasional recipe.
- Zack is one of my favorite folks and a from-the-beginning supporter of Crack the Plates meal delivery (along with this equally amazing vegan partner Tony.) One of my favorite little corners of the internet is his comprehensive film log. I have been known to lapse into severe hyperbole and brag that he’s written about every film ever made – not true – but reading through, it really kind of seems like he has!! Zack has consummate taste, so if you’re into films, go there now!
- Jeanette Zeis Ceramics: I really can’t say it better than her “About Me”, so here goes: “Jeanette Zeis Ceramics is a one-woman pottery in Atlanta, Georgia. Recently moving her studio to the historic Old Fourth Ward studio, Jeanette spends her days drinking iced coffee. And trying to make some headway in the never ending “to-do” list. A full-time potter since 2008, Jeanette loves working with clay. It is a constant source of awe and education. If she isn’t actually making pots, chances are pretty good that she is thinking about making pots.” Check out (and buy!) her gorgeous stuff here.
- Jeanette’s vegan partner Kenn runs Free Art Friday Atlanta and sells his interesting stuff on etsy. I love his art and plan on giving it for holiday presents. Buy his stuff here!
- My sweetie Nate, who blogs at Chip the Glasses. It’s usually poetry or programming, but he’s also a passionate vegan. Perhaps the best place to keep up with him, like Steph above, is via twitter: follow him here.
- Other Atlanta Twitter Vegans: @CzechVegan, @Michael_Redman, @vegandarlin, @hillarylibby, @SethP23, @AtlVeg, @hgielatan, @ChocolateOrchid (who blogs HERE), @VeganRun, @HildeeIsaacs, @dulcevegan, @glueandglitter, @JenniferJV, @atlvegandrinks, @KandaiCakery, @CrackthePlates, (you’re following, right?) @werethees, @JeanetteZeis, @heyenglish, @VeganGuineaPig, @atlvegan, @gutenfleischers, @zmcghee, @tmantones, @doughbakery, @KennTwofour, oh, and duh – me: @adriennefriend!
and coming soon…
- A little birdie told me that the adorable Chubby Vegan is moving to Atlanta soon for work!!! I am so excited! I can’t wait to read his thoughts about our fair city. Follow him on Twitter.
Well, that’s all I have for now! Please let me know if I foolishly forgot to include you on this list and I will update ASAP. I can be ridiculously absent-minded about this sort of thing, so please don’t take offense – just let me know and you’ll get added!
And just so you don’t get the impression I haven’t been cooking during MoFo, here are a few pictures of today’s brunch:
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Lookit that crust!
I threw this together when a cravin’ for brunch teamed up with my desire to save a little money by cooking at home. This often happens: I get it into my head that I need to eat out, and then I walk into the kitchen, open the cupboards, and half an hour later we’re eating something ridiculous.
Today it was just a simple battered and pan-fried (country-fried?) tofu. Here’s what I did:
- Press fresh firm tofu between two cutting boards for at least twenty minutes to get rid of the excess moisture (fancy folks can use their tofu X-press gadgets)
- Put a few glugs of olive oil into cast-iron skillet; permit it to get hot
- In one small bowl mix about a cup of unsweetened soymilk with a few tablespoons of cornstarch
- In another bowl mix half a cup of flour, 1/3 cup of nutritional yeast, lots of fresh black pepper, & salt
- Cut pressed tofu into about seven pieces, 1/2-in thick
- Designate one hand dry, one hand wet; dip one piece of tofu into milk mixture, then into flour mixture; then back into milk, then back into flour
- Once you have three or four of them dipped & douple-dipped, place them all in the pan on medium-high to high heat and allow them to sizzle and brown, turning every couple minutes.
Interestingly, it brought back instant memories of my mom’s famous pork chops, which of course I haven’t had in fifteen years. Since this is a spin on the classic dip&dredge method, I bet our recipes are similar. Just, yanno, with tofu.
The grits are just one cup Nora Mill stone-ground simmered in a mixture of three cups water-1 cup unsweetened soymilk; flavored with salt, freshly ground black pepper, 1/3 cup of nutritional yeast, and a couple of handfuls of Daiya cheddar for decadence. Daiya is a on-sale-only treat around here – usually we just do the Poor Gal’s Vegan Cheezy Grits recipe, grits with nutritional yeast. YUM!
A sweet ending: Dancing Goats espresso in my favorite mug*, topped with Sweet & Sara pumpkin spice marshmallows.
(*Don’t freak, I’d never spend $50 on a damn mug. It was a gift from my mom years and years ago, found at a thrift store. She has a good eye. Anyway, it’s my fave.)
Aaahh, what a sweet post! Thank you so much for your kind words and for all you do towards veganizing Atlanta :-) You are an angel!
I wasn’t following you on twitter but I am now :)
And I LOVE that owly mug
Awesome round-up! Love the vegan-ATL bunch :) And that tofu? Want!
I’m new around here, but I’m also a vegan blogger & VeganMoFo participant here in Atlanta (okay – I’m actually OTP ;)). I’ve been enjoying your posts – great to hear there are actually more vegan options in Atlanta than I knew about!
Hey Heather! Thanks so much for letting me know! Next time I make a post I will mention you. We love our OTP friends too. :) Glad the series is helpful – feel free to pass it on to anyone you hear disparaging the south!!
OTP for the wins! :)
Thank you so much for the kind words. I was wondering where all my new hits were stemming from!
The crust on that tofu is incredible. I wonder if I could use buckwheat (or any other gluten free flour) to create the crust? Hmm..