My Vegan Valentine -- peacefood cafe

Between my moving at the end of February and not having had a proper Valentine’s Day celebration, I decided to treat myself to an excursion to find a vegan eaterie; now that I am meat-free, I’ve only eaten what I cook myself. In NYC on the Upper West Side, I didn’t have to go far. Only a few blocks actually.

Between 83rd and 82nd on Amsterdam, I found peacefood café. I knew the word “peace” equaled vegetarian. Probably there for years, it was the first time I had noticed it. A peek at the menu made my mouth water, and I was in the mood for Asian dumplings. Their pan-seared shanghai-style dumplings are filled with chives, shitake and wood ear mushrooms, marinated tofu, vegetarian protein and served with a ginger balsamic dipping sauce ($7). I could already taste them as I walked through the door. The place was packed for lunch (President’s Day), so I ordered to go. The soups of the day were posted on a board behind the cash register and the cauliflower and parsnip soup called to me. I ordered, and while I waited at the counter drinking filtered water, I was mentally picking out my next visit’s choices. The vegetable tamale served with jalapeno and cilantro oil ($6) sounded good. So did the panini with pan-seared French horn mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, artichoke, aioli, mint and basil pesto ($9.95).

Sandwich orders for other diners made their way past me and I made a mental note that the tahini sprouts sandwich ($9)with sprouts, avocado, cucumber, onions, shredded carrots and miso tahini with poppy seeds spread was another possibility . Salads were another option and the other Caesar sounded tasty, as did the Asian greens ($9.95 each).

Once home, a taste of soup revealed a thick puree with small bits of cauliflower spiced up by the more piquant parsnip flavor. The puree had a hint of potatoes mixed in. A nice mild but tasty dish served with crispy bread slices to crumble on top. The shanghai-style dumplings were absolutely wonderful. The meatiness of the mushrooms and the subdued tangy balsamic sauce blended perfectly for a hearty lunch.

Next time, I’ll sample their desserts…mmm, brownies, cheesecake, tiramisu and chocolate ganache. Who needs a date for Valentine’s Day when food this good can fulfill your passion and be good to your heart at the same time?