VVC 2013 in Portland, day 3

If you read my previous post, you saw that I had a rather abbreviated, short-arm-version of a self-portrait-with-Amey, and promised to post the long-arm professional version taken by Amey herself, when she sent it to me. Not only can she  draw the best cartoons, she's a master of the self-portrait. Go Amey! (Taken at the end of Galarama and silent auction.)

Sunday morning started with breakfast in the Art Museum ballroom. I enjoyed Bob's Red Mill GF multigrain hot cereal sprinkled with hemp hearts, coconut chia pudding, Peeled snacks dried fruit, fresh fruit and something else that might have been a tofu scramble with veggies. Honestly I can't remember, and even trying to think about all the food I ate during the weekend leaves me weakened. What you see is only what ended up on my plate — there was more to choose from.

The first session I attended was Advanced Photography by Susan Voisin. If you follow Susan's blog, FatFree Vegan Kitchen, you know what a fabulous photographer she is. Self-taught, she shared her wealth of knowledge with us in an attempt to inspire us to make our blog photography the best it can be. Though she is widely-known and highly respected for her wonderful recipes and stunning photographs, Susan is as humble and kind as she can be. It was an honor being in her class.

After the session, we zipped out the door and headed to Powell's Books, where my husband wanted to look for a book he'd been unable to find at home. He didn't find it, but I found a hardcover copy of "Vegan Eats World"  at a can't-pass-up price.

After our shopping spree we headed back to the museum for lunch — a sandwich board affair with both regular and GF bread, and heaps of toppings — Nasoya mustard-herb tofu · Upton’s Naturals Bacon Seitan · Tofurky slices · raw walnut meat · Nayonaise · Happy Campers GF & Grand Central bread · raw greens · Earth Balance peanut butter · Lily’s hummus · grilled summer vegetables · GO Veggie! shreds · dressings and hot sauces from Organicville & Secret Aardvark. I had a tofu and raw greens sandwich and a collard wrap with grilled veggies and carrot shreds. With toppings.

Just after I snapped a photo of my lunch, one of my tablemates appeared with a very creative-looking plate, and I had to photograph hers as well.

There was ice cream for dessert. There was ice cream all day long, actually, and as I already noted, I ate more than my share. I probably wouldn't have sought out dessert but Bethany brought me some GF cookies & cream to try. I think it was Larry and Luna though I couldn't find it on their Web site. It might be a new flavor that hasn't yet hit the market.

These are my samples. Where are yours?

Speaking of ice cream, I'd be terribly remiss if I didn't mention the Wayfare Foods ice cream, which is made from oats. And no, it doesn't taste like oats. I sampled so much of the Wayfare ice cream that at one point I had to walk away from the table because the pile of empty sample cups in my sweaty palm was embarrassingly high. It's really good. My favorite flavors were vanilla creme, Vermont maple and lemon sunshine. I entered a drawing to become a new products tester for Wayfare, and I sure hope they pick me.

My first session after lunch was the very informative How Hot Topics in Nutrition Influence Vegan Advocacy by Gena Hamshaw, Ginny Messina and Jasmin Singer. Next up was Tech for Effective Web Presence by Jason Das. If my post titles become more boring (at least temporarily), it will be thanks (or no thanks) to Jason.

And then, all too soon, it was time for the closing address and the end of VVC 2013. The three lovely VVC organizing wizards, Janessa, Jess and Michele thanked us about 50 times (at least) for coming, but it was really we who should have been thanking them for creating such an amazing and inspiring conference. THANK YOU! x 50. I had a wonderful time meeting fellow bloggers and seeing old friends (Ricki from Diet Dessert and Dogs, Kim from Welcoming Kitchen, Megan from Gluten-free Vegan, Kittee from Cakemaker to the Stars, Amey from Vegan Eats and Treats, Kristy from Keepin' it Kind, Cadry from Cadry's Kitchen, Christy from The Blissful Chef, Marti from Tofu and Sprouts, Susan from FatFree Vegan Kitchen, The Food Duo, Dan from The Gay Vegan, Julie Hassan, Lydia and Mauro from A to Vegan,Jennifer from Vegan Dance if You Want To, etc. etc etc.)

But we weren't leaving until very early Monday morning, so we had one more meal to fit in. I really wanted to go to the Mississippi food trucks and get takeout from Homegrown Smoker and/or Native Bowl to take on the train the next morning, but we just couldn't manage it, and ended up walking to Prasad Café instead, for dinner.

It took me forever to decide what to get and finally I chose the urban bowl — mixed greens with olive oil, steamed kale, cabbage, sea vegetables, avocado,
carrots, scallions, sesame & hemp seeds with jalapeno cashew cheese sauce. I really had high hopes for Prasad, but even though I knew my selection had sea vegetables, and I usually like sea vegetables, I was unprepared for the vast quantity of sea vegetables. There was a huge pile of wakame on top, and lots of hijiki (my least favorite sea veggie) mixed in. It was just so fishy. I removed the sea veggies as best I could and ate the raw salad. Then, at the bottom of the bowl I discovered the steamed kale, but by that time I was so full I couldn't eat more than a bite or two.

My husband was much happier with his choice, the Kali bowl — quinoa, garnet yam vegetable curry, steamed greens, slow cooked mango chutney and cilantro. He also had a salad, and he was a happy eater. Next time I'll choose better.

We both enjoyed our juices — carrot-ginger for me, and carrot-beet-apple-ginger for him.

Before I close, I want to mention how much I love Portland. It's a beautiful, accessible city with great restaurants and shops, cool citizens, and to say it's vegan-friendly is an understatement. The downtown is filled with interesting buildings and street art, and is a pleasure to explore on foot.

And it's weird. But before you pack your bags and move to Portland, you should know that it does rain a lot. I think the weather is a small price to pay for all the rest of the package. But of course, I live in Seattle so what do I know?

coming up next: swag