G Zen hits the Spot Every time!

I've never really been a particularly big fan of tacos. Mexican food, sure thing, especially in my Austin, TX days when I could get good stuff! Güero's, I miss you. And your enchiladas. And your Mojitos. and your everything.

The point is, tacos in and of themselves never did much for me. As many of us stumble through our lives we begin to realize just how profoundly influenced we have been by our parents. In this case, an acquired disdain for chopped meat in corn shells due to the repeated insistence of a parent that I will love them if I really just give them a chance. But simultaneously we can't help being just like them.as we offer healthy alternatives to processed food, night after night, and insist they would be loved if only given a chance. Of course, refusal of such a request is another similarity between parent and taco-shunning child. Nothing changes. I am not my father. I am my father. Who knew? It's kind of like the universe of my persona expanding and collapsing in on itself. Repeatedly.

Philosophy aside, G Zen has opened my eyes to a new kind of taco. A raw Taco. A taco so delicious, so satisfying, so unbe-fuckinglievable that I literally went home and started figuring out how I was going to make them at home.

Here's a picture of theirs:



Dark, I know, but the flash did funny things to the image. Essentially, what you have is a romaine leaf "shell," topped with Spicy Walnut Taco Meat, covered with a rich tahini sauce, fresh raw salsa, and sprinkled with cashew Parmesan. Super easy, super delicious.

The star of the show is the walnut meat, which is surprisingly similar in taste to seasoned taco meat, but of course completely raw. Click the hyperlink above for a recipe. I could serve this stuff to my father and he would t know the difference. Until I told him, at which point he would probably spring to life and throttle me Homer-style. I did try to get him to have a taste, full disclosure up front, but nay, he sayed.

Mine did not come out as pretty as Mark Shadle's, but I suppose that has as much to do with his considerable experience as with my being wet behind the vegan ears, as they say. Hence, I am not sharing a picture of my very yummy but not quite as pretty attempt at the sincerest for of flattery. Instead, let me offer a photo of G Zen's Miso soup, which was mellow and sublime. Once again, apologies for the lighting, I really ought to start carrying my digital camera around instead of relying on my phone.





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Location:Madison, CT