Organic, Vegetarian & Awesome Oh My!

Cute guy, cute video, great food. 

Foodie Photographers: This Is Your Last Supper

GQ magazine writer Luke Zaleski writes about our growing need to instagram our food instead of enjoying the meal experience. I’m inclined to agree and disagree. 

What do you guys think?

So I’ve been absent from my beloved tumblr due to work, summer classes and evening sessions at the gym. 

I find it amazing that I have this much energy in me and I can only credit my diet and daily amount of exercise. By eating organic and vegetarian I truly believe I’ve removed a lot of foods that tend to make you lethargic. By being active for 2-3 hours a day my muscles don’t fatigue easily and the sweat seems to detox my mind. I not only feel physically attuned by mentally as well. 

It’s amazing how you can enable yourself just by changing your life a few degrees. 

Mangoes, Pineapple, Strawberries, Vanilla Ice Cream, Crushed Ice, Condensed Milk and a Watermelon <3. Sweet Mix is where it’s at ladies and gentlemen.

A delicious gyro and fries combo for my friend Jared and a small thai-salad with tofu out to the side (you can barely see it). Sorry for the poor quality, only had my phone and the lighting wasn’t ideal. 

Crepes for breakfast with all the usual fixin’s.  Let’s get this day started :)

There’s something about the spring and summer seasons that bring fresh starts and new memories. After a long winter there’s nothing like your first outing, finally enjoying fun in the sun with family and friends. Whether it be grilling poolside or lunch at the park, good people and good food make good times. The American delicacy of the outdoors is of course Barbecued meat; everything from ribs, burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings and so on. But what about Vegetarian Americans? You might think being veggie friendly runs your options low but there’s equally delicious dishes out there that don’t bust your beach bod. So what can be brought to the table?

When throwing any kind of barbecue one should never stray from what’s tried and true, keep with a more traditional menu but in this case - with a vegetarian twist. Here are a few of my favorites: Soy burgers, veggie sausages, tofu shish kabobs, chips, queso and a fruit platter for dessert. If possible it’s always best to cook from scratch. But when you’re on a time crunch or looking to take it easy, store bought is the way to go. As any smart shopper does, go into the grocery knowing what you want (the menu) and need (what it takes to prep and cook the dishes).  Never be afraid to pick up a few items that will compliment your meal, everyone loves left overs but no one enjoys running short.

First order of business is where to purchase the goods. True, any grocery is vegetarian friendly now but we’re looking for three areas of criteria and that’s selection, price, and quality. Find one nearby that fulfills all these needs and get shopping. After a few additions and a case of beer I’m ready for checkout. It’s time to start cooking.

As barbecues go there is a little prep work to be had. I’ve bought Boca Burgers and Tofurky Sausages that are ready for the grill, so with assistance from a few friends I’ve got the rest underway: frying, slicing the tofu, cutting the vegetables, grating cheeses for queso, buttering corn husks, tossing seasoning with the steamed asparagus and dicing up fruits for the platter. After the prep work is the grill work. Roasting up shish kabobs, corn, Tofurky Sausages and Boca Burgers actually takes less time than their meat counterparts. Take care in keeping mid temperatures and a close eye on the grill. The result is a mouth-watering, eye filling feast.

Once done, the last step is the best step. Gather the goods and pick a spot outdoors; here we park it, add tasty toppings and condiments, sip brews and enjoy some tunes. Trust me in that this formula is fail proof, a refreshing beer and good music is essential to a proper barbecue. The end result is a marvelous meal that leaves little guilt on the gut. With some thought and know-how a Vegetarian BBQ is the ideal way to start a healthy season. Proving good people and good food make good times.

YUMMY! 

-Photography by Me