Lucky Lunch-goers

Stacy makes a not-so-subtle effort to conceal her height as we pose in front of Lucky Creation.

Who: VN associate publisher Colleen Holland + VN Office Manager Lyndsay Orwig + VN Editorial Assistants Stacy Blondin + Melissa Feineman

What: A leisurely lunch

When: Saturday, February 28, 2009

Where: Lucky Creation in Chinatown

Why: To find out if the hype could be believed

A lot of talk goes down at the VNHQ. Sure, much of it is related to work and other serious matters, but, as it turns out, food is both our line of work and a serious matter, so it should come as no surprise that a lot of the talk is food-related. If someone has discovered a hot new restaurant, a charming café, or a can't-live-without-it comestible, chances are good that everyone in the office will be hearing about it in due course of time (which, more often than not, is the next morning). Of course, having constant access to all this highly valuable and expertly culled information is an honor, but one that comes with a certain sense of responsibility. If you, for example, hear one day that there is a tiny hole-in-the-wall establishment selling the best Chinese fare this side of the Pacific, you feel bound to investigate. After all, this is not just about you–this is about keeping the vegans of San Francisco (and beyond) well-informed.

So it came to pass that Colleen, our associate publisher and long-time San Franciscan, let us know about her favorite Chinese place, Lucky Creation, deep in the heart of Chinatown. A lot of words get thrown around the VNHQ, but let's just say that when we hear "my favorite restaurant in the City," we know Colleen's not joking.

We came from all corners of the city, but somehow managed to make it at our agreed time. The rumbling sound that nearly drowned out all conversation was not a distant thunderstorm, but in fact, our stomachs. However, since Colleen was clearly the expert, we put our menus down and let her take charge with the ordering. Here's what she chose: Pot Stickers, Won Ton Soup, Sautéed Black Mushrooms with Chinese Greens, Meatless Diced Almond Chicken, and Braised Eggplant with Bean Sauce in a Clay Pot, all served with a side of steamed rice.

Just some of the tasty morsels we devoured in record time.
(Clockwise, from left: Pot stickers, Sautéed black mushrooms with Chinese greens,
and diced meatless almond chicken.)

Within a few minutes of ordering, our table was chock-full of delightful dishes, and our only dilemma was deciding which deserved seconds and thirds. My favorites were the pot stickers (they had a nice, crispy texture on the inside) and the eggplant in a clay pot, since it was gooey, sweet, and oh-so-satisfying. However, if you asked my dining companions the same question, I doubt you'd get the same answer. Funny how everyone's tastes can be so different, yet we pretty much universally agreed the meal was a smashing success.

So is Lucky Creation the best Chinese food in The City? The only way to find out is to continue our intrepid journalism and sample many, many more restaurants along the way. We'll keep you posted.

Put a Little Love in Your Hut

The Won Ton Noodle Soup at San Francisco's Loving Hut

Who: VN Publisher/Editor in Chief Joseph Connelly + VN Editorial Director Aurelia d'Andrea
What: A vegan restaurant opening
When: Saturday, October 11, 2008
Where: San Francisco's Chinatown
Why: Vegan food, silly!

The Scoop: If there's one thing San Francisco needs more of, it's vegan restaurants. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: bring on the dosas, burritos, tajines, tamales, gnocchi, fried noodles, bibimbap, dim sum, pho, sushi, injera, and your won ton noodle soup, and make mine animal-free! Well, ask, and ye shall receive, apparently, because the Supreme Master Ching Hai folks—the ones who've given us Golden Era, Golden Lotus, Vegetarian House, and other Chinese-Vietnamese veg places around the world, have now given us Loving Hut.  

Joseph and I agreed to meet in Chinatown at 11:00 am on this sunny autumn Saturday to celebrate the newest addition to the global chain of Loving Hut cafés. Finding the restaurant wasn't a problem; we merely gravitated toward the crowd that converged at the corner of Stockton and Vallejo streets, and we were met with a festive hoohah that included dancing dragons spitting out chunks of cabbage, fireworks, drums, and lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd.

After the commotion settled, the hungry throngs poured inside the immaculate, slightly sterile interior for a taste of whatever was on offer, which happened  to be an eclectic melange of Asian and good-ol' American. From noodle soups and mild curries to veggie burgers and French fries, there was a little something for everyone. I opted for a bowl of Bun Hue—a spicy noodle soup loaded with fake meat, while Joseph went for the Won Ton Noodle Soup. And the Gurus Curry. And the Spring Rolls. And the Raspberry-Chocolate Cake. Okay: We actually shared. However, the soup was so filling there was barely room for anything else. Somehow I made it happen, though.

While we slurped our noodles and chopsticked our way through the curry, we felt the eerie sensation of eyeballs boring into us. Looking out the glass window onto Vallejo Street, we recognized a familiar face staring back at us: HSUS' Erin Williams! Turns out Erin—who, among other things, is co-author of Why Animals Matter: The Case For Animal Protection—was out in the 'hood distributing Prop. 2 flyers, and since it was lunchtime, she and a couple of cohorts thought they'd stop in for a nibble. 

We later discovered—by their own admission—that for Erin, Karin, and Walker, this was to be their third Loving Hut meal in two days. Looks like Loving Hut is already a hit.

Walker, Karin, Erin, Joseph, and Aurelia at Loving Hut

Around the World in Saturday

Who: VN Associate Publisher Colleen Holland, Office Manager Jenny Diaz + Editorial Assistant Lisa Mickleborough
What: Gastronomical tour of San Francisco
Where: San Francisco's Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods
When: July 12, 2008
Why: To be ladies who lunch. And snack. And get treats to go.

The Scoop: Having lived six months in this fantastic town, I'd like to think I've done Arthur Frommer proud, exploring SF's most remarkable nooks, crannies, and vegan venues. But no amount of my own enthusiasm or well-researched trailblazing can compare to a personally guided tour with a long time local—particularly one who happens to be vegan and great company. Colleen planned a jam-packed, epicurean treasure trail, leading Ms. Jenny and me east around the new old-world, making stops in the particularly delicious China and indulgent Italy. First stop: lunch at the Buddhist and vegan Lucky Creation—a tiny, spotless hole-in-the-Great-Wall where, no sooner had we dumped our bags and placed our orders did countless steaming white dishes descend upon our crowded table. Boasting simple and flavorful renditions of won-ton soup, pot stickers, tofu and eggplant, and homemade marinated curry, sweet and sour, and barbecue mock meats, all made with amazingly fresh ingredients. Lingering longer than our business-like hostesses would have liked (you may have to trade your first born for a second glass of water), we stopped for a quick photo op before meandering through the famous Ross Alley to peak in on the hard-working ladies of the historic Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.

After so much food, we were in danger of slipping into a food coma, so off we went to North Beach for some uppers in the form of soy lattes and Italian sodas. But first, we had to take a quick Eurasian detour to the now all-vegan The Usual Suspects Café and peek at their recently Ruskied menu which, as we found out, boasts "borsh" and blintzes. Uh, you heard us. Check back here for highlights for our upcoming full-review!

Heading north, we visit Caffe Greco—one of San Francisco’s most treasured Italian spots. Famous for its authentic, fresh tiramisu and cannoli, they also whip up some mean, foamy lattes and a special sweet treat for our sweet-toothed tour-guide: the Greco Sunrise, which consists of Orangina and gourmet strawberry syrup. With the Saturday sun and tourists in full-force, the café's sidewalk seating presented the perfect opportunity to rest our feet, watch the flurry of interesting international fashions, and soak up some vitamin D. With no cuisine more indulgent than that of the French, we had to cap our tour de SF in France—or, at least, a French chocolatier. XOX Truffles’ founding chef Jean-Marc Gorce is nationally renowned for his velvety morsels, and we scooped up some of his vegan dark Chocolate, “l'orange,” and “noisette” (hazelnut) vegan flavors to take home as a sensual souvenir.

Here's a photo of the enthusiastic, albeit extremely caffeinated, trio: