Awesome Blossom
Blossom Restaurant at 187 Ninth Avenue is the ideal place for fresh organic and vegan food sans the earthy dirty taste. Personally, my body doesn’t work well under the restrictions of one specific diet – I’m not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of girl. Instead, I try to make an effort to choose healthier alternatives whenever possible (except for dessert…that’s an entirely different ballgame). Not a vegetarian or a vegan, I still appreciate Blossom’s commitment to providing a meat and dairy free menu. Blossom offers several protein substitutes, including seitan, tofu, and tempeh. Set in a warmly lit townhouse, the dishes are enriched with strong flavors and textures. I love the Feijoadinha with Smokey Tempeh ($18) which is a twist on the Brazilian national stew of smokey roasted tempeh, black beans, chayote sqaush and sweet potatoes in a light orange-lime broth. The Phyllo Roulade ($18) of french lentils and root vegetables served with swiss chard and a carrot-cream sauce is also amazing (and I usually HATE carrots).
Seitan: High in protein (twice as much as tofu and 40% more than two medium eggs), Seitan is made from wheat but looks, tastes and feels more like a meat product. This raw wheat gluten is higher in calories than its other soy counterparts but contains no saturated fat or cholesterol.
Tempeh: A complete protein food that contains all of the essential amino acids, Tempeh is made up of fermented cooked soybeans and is firm in texture with a subtle nutty mushroom flavor. This meat substitute contains isoflavones which are most commonly associated with stronger bones and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. The fermentation process coupled with the fact that tempeh retains the whole soy bean, contribute to this foods higher protein, diety fiber and vitamin content compared to tofu.
Seitan (4 oz) = 20.3 grams protein/114 calories/2.1 grams fat
Tempeh (4 oz) = 20 grams protein/ 216 calories/ 12 grams fat
Firm Tofu (4 oz) = 10.1 grams protein/94 calories/5 grams fat
85% Lean Ground Beef (4 oz) = 21 grams protein/240 calories/17 grams fat
*Recommended daily intake of protein is 56 grams for most men and 46 grams for most women
