Saturday, August 8, 2015

Vegan Rockaway Redux

You might recall that I visited Rockaway for the first time last year and ate all the vegan foodz. I found myself there again recently for a friend's birthday celebration and I have even more to report. The boardwalk was back and so was I!!


First we went to Caracas Arepa Bar. I've never been to their locations in Manhattan or Brooklyn and I now see the error of my ways.


We all ordered the Super V: black beans, sweat plantains, avocado, jalapeno. The flavor, texture, and temperature combination makes for a most glorious mouthful.

 

One friend ordered the cocada: coconut milkshake with a touch of cinnamon and I couldn't help but to be a copycat. Excellent decision on my part.


For dinner we went to Tacoway Beach- formerly Rockaway Tacos, now housed within the Rockaway Beach Surf Club and run by one of the original co-owners.

 

The menu remains vegan friendly with some of the best prepared tofu I've ever had. So good that while last year I'd tried one bean taco and one tofu taco, this year it was all about the tofu tacos with guacamole (hold the cilantro): no regrets!

 

I also ordered the plantain chips with salsa. The "salsa" was more of a sauce whose origin I couldn't quite put my finger on, but the chips were really great.

 

Even though it had been a dreary day, we got to sit in the outdoor section. Our large group was able to snag the premier table because it was relatively early; usually it's packed.


Altogether with watermelon juice.

 

Finally, cookie cake from Erin McKenna's bakery imported (from Manhattan) for the birthday girl:

 

By the way, how great is this carrot billboard? I always say, there's nothing like a convenient vegetable.


There's still plenty of summer left, so get to Rockaway if you can!


9 comments:

  1. I would like to thank you for your blog. 89 and you show that being a vegan is fun, has a lot of variety and isn't "hard" as so many people tell me. I don't get invited to dinners when my brother tells his friends that I am a vegan, they don't understand. I can eat a carrot stick for dinner if it saves an animal. I tell everyone about your blog. It makes them think in a different way. We need more of that. Now on to my half pint of vegan cashew ice cream, in snickerdoodle flavor, that I picked up at Whole Foods, what a treat!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't you the sweetest? Thank you! And, don't despair. Like-minded friends are all around us :-)

      Delete
  2. very professional photography. it all looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I give the stormy weather all the credit. So yummy.

      Delete
  3. What a fabulous birthday party!! I love caracas arepas, although lately in the e village i go to superiority burger- ask for the vegan bun- it's just a few blocks from FKA Lula's :))
    Those tacos sound amazing, i love how much stuff is ontop too.
    Ttrockwood

    ReplyDelete
  4. I promised myself I'd get to the beach *once* this summer and so far have not followed through. thank you again for the reminder.
    Yessing all over that watermelon juice but also that arepa! I haven't heard of that joint but ever since seeing Terry Romero's Viva Vegan arepa recipes I have wanted one so bad - and now I don't even need to make it myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had that damn recipe bookmarked ever since I got the book! It was much easier to go to Rockaway ;-)

      Delete
  5. Wow I went to Rockaway Beach a couple weekends ago, and did the boardwalk so wrong! I ended up with a Kale Salad and an Avocado shake, both from the juice place. I went right by the arepas because I didn't think they were vegan. Next time!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know; I'm the worst bc I'm such a late blogger. At least you have an excuse to go again!

      Delete

Have you got something to say? It would be so nice to hear from you!
(I know captchas suck, but not as much as spam.)