Vegan day 38: Franchia: Korean vegan cafe
Where can you take someone on a date that doesn’t involve alcohol or coffee? You think it’s creative and trendy to take them to a “tea bar” or “tea palace” but they just don’t exist! Well, Franchia may be the hot date spot for you! If romance is not what you are looking for, you are still in luck! They are actually known for their Korean dining- and guess what? Franchia just happens to be VEGAN!
I’m making my way through New York City’s vegan restaurants and I am simply amazed at the artful, healthy and delicious creations! I am so truly blessed and grateful that I was able to close the doors to my unhealthy, uncreative and indulgent eating choices, behaviors and patterns. That being said, I am really loving being a vegan. 5 years ago, this way of eating was nearly impossible, and just downright frustrating and depressing for me- and quite dangerous for those around me. Going vegan brought out my bitchiness more than ever lol- I felt so limited and trapped. Now the world is seen through new glorious vegan eyes as I find vegan food all around me. It almost makes me want to return to a pattern of dining out frequently, like a typical New Yorker. I can’t and I won’t though- because I’m sure I gained a pound or two tonight- watch what we ate!
Franchia vegan cafe
I honestly couldn’t even get to the dinner menu because I was borderline overwhelmed at the amazing tea choices. I was so tempted to get a high-end Korean green tea, but instead I was lured into the
Chrysanthemum tea that claimed it would relieve frustrations of the day. This seemed quite fitting for the end of a busy business day- it was almost spa-like. I have many a teapot collection, being well into my studies on herbalism, but I have never seen this type of tea glass before. There was a glass inside of a glass; when you pulled the inner glass out, the tea drained through and the herbs were pulled out. Of course now I am on a mission to find this!
First up were- Combination pancakes: sweet corn cilantro, crispy scallion and spicy kimchi. These were light and delicious!
Next was a sushi dish that we almost passed up as we had already ordered a few things. Luckily, we ordered it anyway: Green tea roll– green tea leaves wrapped with seaweed and brown rice. This was delicately tasteful to all of us- but beginner healthy eaters may need to acquire a taste for this!
We ordered 2 entrees:
Tofu and roasted kabocha pumpkin with mushrooms and veggies in a sesame soy sauce and
Kimchi with vegetables over brown rice in a sizzling stone bowl
Once again, roasted pumpkin and squashes are taking over at the top of my favorite vegetable chain! This dish was beautifully prepared and full of various exotic tastes.
I really don’t recall off hand having had this stone bowl experience before! This sensation outscored even my best paella encounter ever. I had to examine this food more closely because I just couldn’t believe it was so tasty and so healthy! Needless to say- there were no left-overs here!
Now I’m the instigator when it comes to desserts- once again feeling that if someone went out of their way to prepare a vegan dessert, who am I do decline such a gracious offer! My bad– and this one- I think is the best tofu cheesecake yet. Mark my words-
I WILL MAKE A TOFU CHEESECAKE!
I am also going to make kimchi- and very soon!
I wish I could tell my friends that I waited until the next day to finish the other half of the cheesecake but I would be lying and hiding the fact that I splurged. Out of the vegan food closet I come- I admit it- I ate the whole thing!
Another healthy aspect of dining out is actually not rushing for once; just enjoying incredible food that you wouldn’t normally make at home and sharing that with good friends or family! This was a nicely paced experience where digestion was maximized with time in between entrees and time well spent catching up with special friends!
Next stop could be their sister restaurant HANGAWI– must wear nice socks though; everyone has to take their shoes off!
