Top 5: Vegan Musikfest Food 2016

For a list of even MORE vendors, take a peek at our 2014  Vegan Musikfest post, with a  walk-through of the entire fest. Most vendors are still here in 2016!

>>Vegan Guide to Musikfest 2014<<

And for more Lehigh Valley + Eastern PA vegan things, check out:

• The food-centric Save the Kales! Instagram account
• And our active private Facebook group: Team Save the Kales!

---

Top 5 Vegan Musikfest Foods 2016

1 . VEGAN TACOS – Ticas Tacos, near Volksplatz, North Side

Hello, lover. Unofficially touted as “The Best Food of Musikfest 2016” by vegans and non-vegans alike, if you only get one stop, make it Ticas Tacos. This is fresh, thoughtful food with a ton of flavor. The standard vegan taco comes with: black beans, hominy, sweet plantain, pickled red onion, pineapple pico, and chipotle vinaigrette. Order one or ten, sold individually at 4 Tickets ($4) each.

Order Tip: Can also be made into a large BURRITO. Or ask for vegan “loaded fries”.

2. KIMCHI REUBEN (vegan) – Bees Knees Grille, near Volksplatz, North Side

Marbled rye toasted in coconut oil, hugging spicy small-batch kimchi, tempeh, melted vegan cheese and a little vegenaise for added creaminess. Served warm, sloppy, and delicious. This is an average size sandwich (not HUMONGOUS like much of the Musikfest food), but it’s delightfully messy and most importantly, quite tasty. A great meal that won’t leave you so full you can’t eat something else later. More snacks > less snacks, yeah?

Order Tip: Ask for it made vegan! They have dairy cheese, too, so be specific. 

3. CHOCOLATE DIPPED CHEESECAKE – Zuzu Confectionary, near Volksplatz, North Side

This is a yummy slice of vegan cheesecake on a stick, dipped in dark chocolate, with options for added toppings like sprinkles or peanuts. Cheesecake is made by the talented and lovely Sweet Doe Bakery, so obvs. it’s delicious! This stand has a ton of vegan options, though, so check out the gourmet popsicles if you’re not feelin’ creamy chocolate on a piece of wood.

Order Tip: You can order with or without chocolate and extra topics are $1.

4. AW SHUCKS CORN – North + South Sides, Multiple Stands

Leave it to a bunch of folks in Pennsylvania to be ENTHRALLED with corn. Eating this (and anticipating it for a year) is a ‘Fest rite of passage. This typically smothered-in-dairy snack is easily made vegan if you ask for it. Go see what all the fuss is about, and prepare to see more social media comments on your photos of CORN than photos of your children.

Order tip: No butter, no cheese. The other spice is vegan!

5. ISLAND NOODLES – North + South Sides, Multiple Stands

Carby thick noodles and veggies all stir fried together in a massive wok, with lots of sriracha on the condiment bar. Add as much as you want (all of it?). These are easily accessible no matter where you are inside the ‘Fest. They travel well if you need to use up food tickets, as the cardboard container folds up and closes for a BONUS SNACK later.

Order tip: Veggie with no meat.

 

BONUS FOOD

I don’t have photos, and anything with a “*” means it should be vegan but haven’t asked them personally, so just check in. Let us know if you find out, mmkay?

South side Mentions!

• CHIPS & GUAC – Cactus Blue, near Steelstacks by Americaplatz/Levitt Pavillion
• *CHICKPEA POPCORN – Fud Truck, on street by Americaplatz/Levitt Pavillion

North Side Mentions!

• SAMOSA EMPANADAS –  Viva Empanada, Plaza Tropical
• FROZEN APPLE CIDER – Sweet Granny’s Kettle Corn, near Volksplatz
• *SMOOTHIE IN A PINEAPPLE – Island Expressions,  Festplatz

---

Remember to check out:

• Save the Kales!: Instagram account  and #lehighvalleyvegan (and thanks to friends for submitting photos!)
• Facebook group: Team Save the Kales!
• Say hello: My personal instagram
• Use #veganmusikfest on instagram and twitter!

More updates will be made as Musikfest continues, so check back!

Thanks to the Artsquest Marketing department for being so darn nice, and helping me scope out the vendor list. I hope you get to treat yourselves to some tacos.

I WISH YOU JOY, MERRIMENT, AND HEADACHE MEDICATION. xo

 

An Update on the Bethlehem Vegfest Explosion (and Why You Need to Eat at Jenny’s Kuali)

Vegfests are meant to be joyful celebrations of compassion for animals and people, healthy minds and bodies, good food and good vibes.

While the 2013 Bethlehem Vegfest was a positive experience for so many (more on that later), a dark cloud hung over the day when, about thirty minutes into the festival, a small explosion at Jenny’s Kuali food vendor booth sent three women to the hospital for first and second degree burns (Jenny herself was burned the most).

Thanks to @obsidianspider, Todd, for sharing your photo

It was a unfortunate freak accident, quickly covered by local and Philadelphia media. No Vegfest patrons or other vendors were hurt, and the festival continued to run as planned.

Because we have such a wonderful and caring community, people have been asking about Jenny’s health, the state of the business (as they never got to sell any food at Vegfest and the restaurant closed for several days), and what they can do to help.

I just spoke to Jenny’s husband, and had a remarkable conversation that left me feeling even more grateful and even more proud that these wonderful people are in our community.

• Jenny is still recovering in the hospital, and her husband happily anticipates she’ll be home early next week. They don’t want her to go back to work just yet, though she’ll be back when they feel she is well enough.
• All expenses should be covered by their insurance company, so they not in dire financial trouble.
• The restaurant has been opened regular hours since Wednesday, Sept. 11th!

 You Can Best Help by going to the restaurant, bringing your friends and family, and feasting on delicious Malaysian food until you have to be rolled out the door. 

 

I felt so helpless (as many of us did) and asked if donations would help cover any of their costs. Jenny’s husband, a man just as kindhearted and lovely as she is, said they do not need donations. They want business to run as usual and to serve people their food, cooked with love.

He added if people feel compelled to donate, send the money to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or a care center for burn victims (like this one locally) “for someone who needs it”.

I expressed my relief that they are financially stable, considering they should have done so well at Vegfest, and then they had to close their business for a few days. That’s when he said something so genuine:

“So I don’t have an extra ten dollars to spend, so what?

It’s just money. Life is more important.”

Where to Go:

 Jenny’s Kuali, Malaysian Cuisine

102 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem (Southside) PA, 18015

Open 11am-8pm Mon-Wed; 11am-9pm Thurs-Sat (Closed Sunday)

610-757-8088

www.JennysKuali.com

Jenny’s Kuali Facebook Page (for updates & specials)

Dine in or Take out

Very vegan + gluten-free friendly!

BYOB — and located right next door to a Wine & Spirits shop

Appetizers start at $2, and most entrees are just under $10

 

 

I wrote about them for Lehigh Valley Style as one of my Favorite Things in the Lehigh Valley (scroll to the bottom).

Jaime K’s tips: Jenny’s is easily one of the most vegan-friendly places in the area, and they are proud to serve so many options to the vegan community. Most of their desserts are made with coconut milk, and you can’t go wrong with the bok choy in any entree. It’s also extremely budget friendly – the last time I ate there with Ryan, we got two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert and it was under $30 (after tax!). If you go on a weekend night, you may want to call ahead for reservations (not always necessary, but a good idea).

Food is love. Show your love for these wonderful people and this shining gem in our restaurant scene and community by supporting Jenny’s Kuali.

Wishing Jenny a peaceful, restful recovery. xoxo

GARLIC PARTY: Vegan Buffet for $20

Garlic is as good a reason as any to throw a party. In fact, it may be one of the better reasons.

Chef Wendy of Balasia and The Honey Underground knows this, and has arranged a celebration in it’s honor along with Robyn of the Grow Indie gardens.

(Click links above to see some videos of these ladies and listen to me gush about how wonderful they are.)

If you’ve ever needed the extra push to try Wendy’s food, LET THIS BE IT.

Garlic Party is an all vegan, local, organic BUFFET — for a mere $20. (And BYOB)

Call the number on the poster to RSVP, get a costume (or not, but if you dress like a vegetable it would be adorable… a sexy vegetable?) and prepare to feast, my friends.

Saturday, October 27

Held between 6pm-10pm

1153 Gravel Pike, Hereford, PA (past Emmaus, PA)

Honey Underground on Facebook

BOARD THE MAYFLOWER: Small Local Diner offers Homecooked Vegan Options

I get a lot of emails from people traveling in the area, or maybe moving here, who are looking for suggestions for places to eat. But sometimes I’ll hear from a restaurant owner or chef telling me about the special vegetarian and vegan options they are offering.

Mayflower Lunch, Bethlehem PA. Good coffee.

Such was the case with Mayflower Lunch. They reached out one day to say “Come in and try our lentil soup, it’s vegan!” Mayflower is a place I’ve driven past hundreds of times but never visited, mainly because it appears to be everything that makes up a small, been-here-forever-Townie-favorite eatery: and with that usually comes nothing I can eat.

I’m happy to report I was wrong about the last part, but so very right about the first part. Being in Mayflower Lunch makes my soul feel good – this is the sort of place I’d go to with my Dad after we finished with a day of antique shops and Roadside America-type kitschy small town exploring. It’s a warm atmosphere, the wood-panelled walls feel like a cozy living room, and the food tastes like it was cooked by a loving Mom.

Mayflower Lunch, Bethlehem PA.

I was surprised to learn that deliberate vegan options were in such a nostalgic place. But was tipped off by server-extraordinaire Amber (go and say hello, she’s great and has the best earrings) – the owners eat vegan a few months a year because of religious customs, and therefore are well-versed in animal derived ingredients and, better yet, how to make delicious food without them.

Mayflower Lunch, Bethlehem PA.

Tuesdays are the days a lot of traditional Greek foods are made fresh, so if you’re looking for falafel or stuffed grape leaves, they should be plentiful that day. Many of the soups made are vegan (lentil, navy bean, spinach and chickpea, etc…), so just ask Amber (or anyone there) what’s vegan that day and they will happily make sure you are well fed.

This is the meal I ate last time I was there; Spanikopita (made special without feta!), stuffed grape leaves, spinach and chickpea soup, coffee. Ryan ordered an item off the menu and got some hot tea. Want to know what it cost to feed two people with all of that food?

Delicious food from Mayflower Lunch.

About $14.50. Yes. That’s right. Less than fifteen dollars.

And the food was delicious. Simple, whole foods and recipes that have probably been passed down through a few generations. It’s not dressed up, it’s not fancy. It’s just good. Really good. 

INFORMATION:

• 622 W. Broad Street, Bethlehem PA
• Meter parking out front
• CASH ONLY – hit the ATM before you go
• Monday – Friday 6am -3pm
• Saturday 6am – 2pm
• Closed Sunday

*Note that it’s called Mayflower Lunch for a reason. These folks are done at 3pm, so plan accordingly. That said, if you pull an all-nighter and find yourself starving at 6am, they will be open and ready to feed you. Also, bring cash.

Mayflower Lunch, 622 W. Broad Street Bethlehem