The Vegetarian Gourmet

⁣We pride ourselves on our eclectic selection of plant-based cuisines from around the world – whether vegetarian, vegan or non-vegetarian. Menus are prepared with love and expertise from locally sourced, sustainably grown, organic ingredients.⠀ ⠀ We are here to serve – contact us if you need help during the Holidays or at any other time. We make it easy, and we make you look good. Visit https://lnkd.in/ebyh2gVp ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #organiccatering #thevegetariangourmet #vegetarian #oaklandcatering #sanfranciscocatering #foodie #food #gourmetfood #bayarecatering #foodandwine #foodlover #sanfranciscofoodie #oaklandfoodie #bayareafoodie #veganfood #vegetarianfood #sandiegofoodie #losangelesfoodie #organicfood #supportlocal #eatright #vegetarianchef #veggiechef #realfood #vegetariancatering #bestcateringservice #satisfiedclient #bestcaterer #bestcateringservices

⁣For your next gathering or Holiday party, surprise your guests by adding avocado to a seasonal fruit salad, e.g. watermelon, citrus and mint. There are more than 80 varieties of avocados, but most of us are familiar with the year-round Hass avocado with the thick, nubby skin. California produces 90% of avocado crops in the US, and Florida produces the other 10%.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #AvocadoLovers #Superfood #HealthyEating #PlantBasedProtein #FruitSaladGoals #AvocadoFacts #CleanEating #NutrientDense #HealthyFats #SeasonalSalad #FoodIsFuel #AvocadoObsessed #HolidayEntertaining #AvocadoEveryday #FarmToTable #FoodieFun #HealthyAndDelicious #AvocadoAddict #VitaminsAndMinerals #CaliforniaAvocados

⁣Empanadas, dim sum, pasties, piroshky . . . the list goes on. Many cuisines feature tasty little packages of meat and vegetables wrapped in dough – the perfect finger food – which can be served as an appetizer or with a salad for a light meal. Our vegan empanada is a new favorite from The Vegetarian Gourmet, served with chimichurri sauce. The filling has a nice little bite to it, made of a mix of caramelized onion, yams, black beans, cilantro, garlic and Field Roast Mexican chipotle sausage. Our chimichurri sauce has lots of parsley, mint, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, salt and a splash of red wine vinegar.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #Empanadas #DimSumLovers #VeganEats #PlantBasedFood #VegetarianGourmet #FoodiesOfInstagram #FingerFood #VeganEmpanadas #ChimichurriSauce #GlobalCuisine #MeatlessMeals #FoodArt #FlavorExplosion #TastyBites #VeganFoodie #HomemadeDelights #FusionCuisine #AppetizerGoals #FoodLoversUnite #HealthyAndDelicious

⁣When people talk about going on a diet, it’s usually for the purpose of shedding unwanted pounds, to fit into that fab outfit, to impress at a school reunion . . . but the fact is this. We’re ALL on a diet – whatever we choose to put into our bodies on a regular basis, that’s our diet. The concept of “going on a diet” always smacks of deprivation . . . eating foods we don’t like for the purpose of shedding a few pounds, and then going right back to business as usual. Sound like a good plan? I don’t think so!⠀ ⠀ As human animals, we evolved along with our food supply, and the microbes inhabiting our bodies. Our cave-dwelling ancestors ate two things: plants and animals. When someone says “my ancestors were hunters, therefore I’m a carnivore”, I remind them that our ancestors were hunter-gatherers. Most of what they ate was food that they foraged, with the occasional meal of wild game. And because they foraged, they ate a very varied diet, which gave them great mobility and a hardy constitution.⠀ ⠀ Here in the US, 70% of what people eat is processed food, and 70% of people struggle with weight and related health challenges. Keep that in mind the next time you’re thinking of going on a diet. The best reason for changing your diet is to improve your health – and you do that by eating real food: plants and animals. Michael Pollan: Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #HealthyEating #RealFood #FoodForThought #WholeFoods #NutritionMatters #BalancedDiet #EatToLive #MindfulEating #FoodIsMedicine #PlantBasedLifestyle #HealthTips #CleanEatingJourney #DietMyths #BackToBasics #FoodWisdom #HealthyLivingTips #AncestralDiet #MichaelPollan #ProcessedFoodFree #NutritionEducation

⁣Until fairly recently, western medical science thought of the gut as mere plumbing . . . you know, sort of like your garbage disposal. Nothing could be further from the truth – the importance of the gut has now been promoted to the SECOND BRAIN.⠀ ⠀ The gut microbiome – the collection of microbes inhabiting our gut – has been found to be instrumental in disorders related to aging. A healthy microbiome is characterized by a diverse range of microbes, able to perform specific metabolic functions. Loss of this diversity can result in diminished immune function. Dysbiosis – or microbial imbalance – is linked to chronic low grade inflammation, eventually leading to all kinds of metabolic disorders.⠀ ⠀ But here’s the good news. A vital microbiome can be achieved with regular physical activity, and a diverse diet HIGH IN PLANT FOODS. This will increase the number of beneficial Bacteriodetes, a gram-negative bacterium which is able to ferment polysaccharides and other indigestible carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids beneficial to the gut. They are found in fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole grains and legumes – in other words, PLANT FOODS.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #GutHealth #Microbiome #SecondBrain #HealthyGut #GutMicrobiome #NutritionTips #PlantBasedDiet #HealthyLifestyle #HolisticHealth #AntiInflammatory #WellnessJourney #EatTheRainbow #WholeFoods #DigestiveHealth #HealthyLiving #GoodGutBacteria #ImmuneHealth #HealthNews #PlantPower #FoodAsMedicine

⁣Trump those egg dishes with sexy fare from our southern neighbors . . . the possibilities are endless. Ever tried escabeche, a fish that’s partially cooked over a fire and then finishes “cooking” in a marinade? Recipes vary by region, but always contain vinegar or citrus, onion, garlic, chilies and spices. Look for a firm white fish that isn’t too bony – halibut or cod are excellent choices. Serve the fish on a bed of greens with avocado and shredded vegetables, and a side of rice and steamed yam. Buen provecho!⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #EscabecheDelight #TasteOfMexico #LatinFlavors #SouthernInspiration #FishLoversParadise #GourmetFish #HalibutRecipes #CodCreations #SeafoodEats #CitrusAndSpice #FoodWithFlair #AvocadoLove #HealthyLatinFood #BuenProvecho #FoodieInspiration #GlobalCuisine #MarinatedFish #RiceAndGreens #CulinaryAdventure #FlavorfulEats

⁣You don’t have to live in Boston or be a Mad Hatter to enjoy a Tea Party; it’s a great way to break up an afternoon and recharge. My Australian mother always had a pot of tea ready around mid afternoon when we returned from school.⠀ ⠀ For a quick afternoon break, pair a pot of black tea with little savory sandwiches and cookies. Look for a loose-leaf black tea -- one of my personal favorites is a Chinese Oolong tea from Rishi Teas, available at World Market. Prepare your tea pot by giving it a quick rinse with hot water. Add the tea leaves while the pot is still hot, fill with boiling water, and let steep for a few minutes. You’ll need 1 teaspoon of loose tea for every cup, plus 1 teaspoon for the pot. This will give you a good, strong cup of tea – I like mine with a little sugar and a splash of milk.⠀ ⠀ For a fancier spread on a special occasion – such as a book club gathering, baby shower or bridal shower -- serve up some bubbly, some miniature scones, a couple jams, clotted cream, lemon curd, and some tea cakes or cookies. Enjoy!⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #TeaTime #AfternoonTea #TeaPartyVibes #LooseLeafTea #TeaLoversClub #HostessWithTheMostess #OolongTeaLove #RishiTea #WorldMarketFinds #TeaAndCookies #SavorySandwiches #FancyTeaParty #BookClubIdeas #BridalShowerInspo #BabyShowerTea #TeaAndScones #AfternoonDelight #TeaSetLove #HighTeaAtHome #TeaBreakTime

⁣Beans are a handy staple in your pantry, and they are certainly full of it: full of fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Some beans are available canned or frozen for a quick addition to a meal. Stores like Whole Foods and Berkeley Bowl offer many more varieties as dried beans. And wonderful heirloom varieties are carried by Rancho Gordo, available in some local markets and online. Dried beans take more preparation, but it’s worth the effort. For best results, soak the dried beans overnight in cold water, with a pinch of baking soda. Drain and rinse the beans, then cook them in fresh water with dried herbs. Do not salt, or the beans will be tough. Try this recipe⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #BeanLovers #PantryStaples #HealthyEating #PlantBasedProtein #CookingTips #HeirloomBeans #RanchoGordo #WholeFoodsMarket #BerkeleyBowlFinds #FiberRichFoods #HealthyPantry #DriedBeans #CookingFromScratch #SustainableEating #ProteinPacked #HomeCookingTips #BudgetFriendlyMeals #BeansAndLegumes #ComfortFoodIdeas #SlowFoodMovement

⁣The most frequently served side dish for all our events is a platter of grilled vegetables. Seasonal, locally available vegetables are cut into one-inch pieces, tossed with some olive oil and sea salt, and roasted in a hot oven (400-425 degrees). Root vegetables, available pretty much year-round, include yams (try purple yams), beets, carrots, turnips, and celeriac. In spring and summer, we add summer squash, eggplant or cauliflower. For some accent color, try some Brussels sprouts, cut in half, and tossed in oil and salt. The vegetables can be served alone or on a bed of seasonal greens, with a splash of balsamic and some fresh marjoram and rosemary. Remember -- food is like feng shui: if it's all beige, there's no energy!⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #Recipe #SeasonalEating #FarmToTable #HealthySideDish #EventCatering #VegetableLovers #LocalProduce #RootVegetables #FoodPresentation #CateringIdeas #PlantBasedEating #FoodFengShui #EatTheRainbow #SustainableCooking #FlavorfulFood #OvenRoastedVeggies #FreshIngredients #FoodStylingIdeas #HealthyCatering #VegetablePlatter

⁣Planning and preparing Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends is a labor of love . . . and it’s a lot of work. Why not give yourself a break to enjoy the “Holiday” and delegate some of that work to someone else? Choose from our selection of organic seasonal foods that will delight your guests and make your job easier. Orders need to be in by Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 8:00 pm. You can pick up the foods on Wednesday November 27, 2024 by 2:00 pm at Port Kitchens in Oakland, or by special arrangement.⠀ ⠀ Contact us: https://lnkd.in/ebyh2gVp ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #ThanksgivingMadeEasy #HolidayCatering #Thanksgiving2024 #OrganicThanksgiving #HolidayMealPrep #ThanksgivingDinner #PortKitchensOakland #ThanksgivingToGo #SeasonalEats #ThanksgivingFeast #FamilyGathering #FarmToTable #OaklandEats #OrderNow #StressFreeThanksgiving #HolidayCooking #ThanksgivingAtHome #OrganicHolidayFood #GatherAndCelebrate #ThanksgivingCountdown