Overall, I've been absolutely loving my move to Phoenix from the Bay Area. However, there is one major thing I am missing most and that is a variety in choices of vegan baked goods, particularly the vegan baked goods at Whole Foods bakery. Vegan or not, these baked goods are just gooood.
My absolute favorite is the Banana Walnut muffin. Ah see, deelish!
Then there are the vegan donuts. My fave are the cherry and the crumble.
There is also vegan poundcake and various other cakes like German Chocolate. And lastly, I cannot forget the vegan cupcakes like this decadent chocolate cupcake. Oh yes, we are sugar overloading, but I cannot help myself.
It doesn't taste vee-gan
To me, what makes the Bay Area Whole Foods baked goods so awesome is that in most cases, you cannot tell when eating the goods that they are vegan. The baked goods are just good...period. I believe this is the key to vegan fods crossing over into mainstream popularity. The food just has to taste good first and be a wonderful experience in the mouth. Then you tell the eater after they've had some pleasurable bites, "...and by the way, it's vegan."
For example, I've bought the vegan banana walnut muffin for friends and family and didn't tell them it was vegan. I waited til they took some bites, and asked them what they thought. "Delicious" was a common answer. Then I'd tell them it was vegan, and you should see the reaction which was mostly, "Oh really, it doesn't taste vegan." Whatever "vegan" is supposed to taste like who knows. I'm guessing the assumption is grassy and bland.
It's cool to see the pleasant surprised look on people's faces.
While I'm visiting the Bay Area, I will continue to enjoy the vegan baked goods here. You can find me with a banana nut muffin in hand!
