restaurant review: toad style.

Hey, y'all! Long time no blog, but I hope you've all been well. I finally had the opportunity to check out the infamous Toad Style restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. A friend of mine from grad school, Dennis, told me about how amazing it is a long time ago. Today, a friend of mine decided to fill his promise to buy me lunch after I got he and his mom some tickets to see the Nets vs. Celtics earlier this year. I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to take a non-vegan (who always trolls my vegan Instagram posts by the way) to a place where he could experience authentic, plant-based food. At Toad Style, everything is made from scratch except the buns. When choosing vegan restaurants, my first concern is always what cheese they use. I do not like Daiya cheese brand, and I made a vow to myself that my cheese alternative would only be a nut-based cheese. The house-made almond cheese used on the fries (pictured here) was delicious! It was really a cheese sauce, so not stringy like in lasagna, but lots of flavor. We both enjoyed the jackfruit "pulled pork" BBQ sandwich. Shredded jackfruit is a big phenomenon in the vegan community. From what I've read, you can buy it frozen and sauté it with your favorite seasonings and sauces. The jackfruit is used before it is ripe, so it has a neutral taste until you remix it! This BBQ sandwich was to DIE for. I will definitely be buying some jackfruit for our summer BBQ's. I have always been a pretty picky eater from birth, and I personally am not a fan of faux-meats. I think it's very weird to be eating some man-made substance to make it something "like meat". Because I know it's not meat, it just tastes like something that is inauthentic. It's definitely psychological for me, but I can't shake the thought. It reminds me of the "Mystery Meat" episode from Doug [for any Nickelodeon fans]. I would much rather get creative with fruits, vegetables and grains, than to try to mimic meat via creation. By the way, SHIITAKE BACON?! You must try that. I had a BLT with it once and it was the best thing I've had since my last slice of turkey bacon. [Sorry for the tangent, but I had to add that shameless bacon plug]. Toad Style is an intimate, but clean space. I also loved the exposed brick decor, and the free cucumber water! The staff were very polite and friendly. I give them TWO THUMBS UP, and would recommend it to anyone but especially to non-vegans who believe there isn't good, cruelty-free food out there. It exists, it's delicious, and you feel great afterwards! I felt full, but without the excess mucus caused by dairy consumption. Go see for yourself...

CHAO!

Peace, Kings & Queens

xoxo

Shanelle Julia Rosita Campbell