The Peasant Plate from Baja Burrito

Burrito joints are a dime a dozen. It seems like a new one opens up every month. Chipotle has the market cornered but when you want a great burrito in Nashville jst head to the little place in Berry HIll that has been serving delicious Baja California eats since 1999.

I first visited Baja Burrito in ’99 when I stumbled upon it while working in the Berry Hill area one Sunday. They were closed. When I went to the door there was another person who was disappointed and told me how great it was. I made a point to return and was happy I did.

Baja Burrito has always been a bit of a dive. Over the years it has become even more so. That’s not taking anything away, I enjoy dives. It can become very crowded during lunch and dinner. Be comfortable with eating close to others, you may be sharing a table during those times. There’s limited parking beside the restaurant but more can be found in lots for the restaurant just behind on Columbine Place.

The burritos are generous but I recommend the Peasant Plate. Black and pinto beans are both vegan so take your pick. Rice, and guacamole with your choice of add-ons and tortillas make it the perfect choice. Make sure you avoid the tortilla chips if you are vegan. They are fried with the fish. That may not matter to some but it would make them not vegan unless you prefer fish proteins swimming on your chips.

You also have the option of seitan chorizo as a filling for your burrito. I tried it when it was first introduced but didn’t care for it. I find it to spongy, a texture that’s of-putting and the flavor doesn’t work well. I prefer just the veggies and beans and never forget the pineapple salsa

So, the next time you are in the mood for a burrito you can drive right through the burrrito forest to the only one that does it right, Baja Burrito.

I don’t eat out very often. I realize that’s probably something you won’t read often on a site devoted to veganism but that’s the case with me. I love to cook. I think I can cook anything at home and it be better than what I can find in a restaurant locally. I’m sure you feel the same about your own cooking. I also like to save money and we all know eating out in any restaurant that’s not fast food can get expensive. In our house we cook something from scratch at least 5 days out of the week. The other days it may be leftovers. So, what do you like to cook? Show me your food pictures. Find more of my own on Instagram.

Seitan Piccata. I only make this about once a year.

Seitanic Dumplings, one of my favorite comfort foods. Very filling and great on a cold night.

This is my daughter's first attempt at cornbread. It turned out very well and she is now in charge of cornbread baking.

We all have those times when we just want a greasy treat and you want that treat topped with mustard, ketchup, relish and maybe a heap of sauerkraut. If you’re vegan or vegetarian and that hunger hits you should find yourself at Cori’s DogHouse.

You can have your dog served up anyway you like and the menu is fairly extensive. For the vegans and vegetarians you can choose from a Lightlife dog or a Tofurky Italian Sausage or Kielbasa. After that small decision it’s up to you on which direction to travel. I personally go for a New Jersey Italian with deli mustard, fried potatoes and grilled onions and peppers or a Chicago with tomatoes, onions, dill pickle, hot peppers, mustard, celery salt and add sauerkraut. Our first visit we were inquisitive about the buns, which are just sliced thick bread, and the “butter” for the buns which is just a vegetable oil. We were assured both were actually vegan and were shown the packaging to view ingredients.

You can also get your dog with a heaping side of hot crispy fries. I recommend it. I mean, if you’re going to indulge in the dog why not go all the way. You can always run a few extra miles or sweat them off with another hour of hot yoga or something like that.

After you devour that dog be sure to go back for a second and try something new. It’s worth it. I always do.

The Jersey Italian with a vegan Tofurky Italian sausage.

Cori’s DogHouse – Chicago Vegan

If you’re really hungry just order a group and pig out.

Cori’s Doghouse has two locations, Nashville’s West End and Mt. Juliet in Providence Marketplace.

Cori’s DogHouse
106 29th Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 329-9444

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Cori’s DogHouse
401 South Mount Juliet Road
Mount Juliet, Tennessee 37122
(615) 758-6960

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Sometimes a vegan likes to eat the things they loved before becoming one who avoids animal products. Many vegans will say cheese is one of the hardest things to give up on the path to veganism. There are many cheese substitutes in the grocery store now, many more than just 5 years ago. As a vegan you have to read your labels even on these veggie-based cheeses as many contain casein. That’s something I’ve never understood. Why put milk in a cheese if your trying to make a veggie cheese? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? I realize the casein is there to give the cheese the proper texture when melted but if you can’t obtain the proper texture without it then why bother making the veggie cheese to begin with? Many vegan cheeses  have found the proper ingredient formula to get all the stretchy goodness of melted cheese without the extra animal squeezings. Galaxy Nutritional Foods is the latest to give this a try.

Galaxy Nutrition Foods has just come out with two varieties of vegan cheese shreds, mozzarella and a Mexican blend. I gave the mozzarella a try on the only proper way to do so: pizza.  Not just any pizza but grilled pizza, my favorite way to bake a pie.

The cheese has a good flavor and melts very well. As far as stringy stretch it doesn’t quite get there like another very popular vegan cheese but instead has a more “liquid” consistency when melted. As far as flavor, it is very tasty. I would prefer more of the stretch but still a very good vegan cheese.

I’ve only found Galaxy Nutritional Foods Shreds at Kroger and EarthFare but I’m sure it will be making it’s way to other outlets soon.