*This post is not sponsored but the meal was provided by Local 360 Vegan. All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
Today's post is SUPER exciting. I am a big fan of tasting menus and this one is even better because if features a vegan menu. Not only that, one of the chef's/bakers there is someone I met on Instagram over 3 years ago and her and her husband worked to open Local 350 Vegan. When she reached out to me to enjoy a tasting here, I definitely had to try it out (Chef Tanya is an AMAZING baker).The concept at Local 360 is truly special - they only use ingredients sourced no further than 360 miles away from Seattle. This helps showcase what the PNW has to offer with a culmination of fruits, veggies, grains, and more. The ambiance was great-there is definitely a rustic, ethereal vibe to this space, especially as it turns into dusk.
Below is the menu and a look at the courses we had:
Pictured above are the Kale Chips, Watermelon Gazpacho, and Wild Mushroom Mousse with fresh baked foccacia, and a side salad.
- The Kale Chips were baked just right and heavily oiled with salt for a very nice simple taste and texture. I definitely enjoyed the whole Kale leaf vs. how you may get them broken up or crumbled in a chip bag.
- The Watermelon Gazpacho was absolutely refreshing and so full of flavor. The use of fruits, tomatoes, edible flowers, and pea vines added such a nice variety of texture and flavor. This was one of my favorites for sure (and how pretty is the plating, or all the silverware for that matter!?).
- Another favorite course was the Wild Mushroom Mousse. If you didn't tell me this was vegan, I would've never guessed it! It tastes like a delicious pate, but just a bit creamier and smoother. The cooked cherries on top just added a nice sweet layer of flavor. Dipping the fresh baked foccacia was a game changer.
This beauty here is the Almond Cheese Tartine, or an adult version of the classic PB&J. This was elevated to a whole other level starting from the presentation all the way down to the taste of the almond butter and the blueberry compote and the perfect crunchiness of the baguette.
Another sweet treat I want to share is the Vegan French Macaron. It's vegan because they used aquafaba aka the water from chicpeas whipped to the consistency similar to that off eggwhites! Apparently it's a finicky ingredient but these turned out so great!
My dining experience was so amazing that I went back a few weeks later to treat my family out and there were already some new items on the menu!
- Roasted summer squash and caramelized peaches: I'm not a big fan of squash in general but the preparation of these with the peaches made it more than bearable. This was an excellent example of fruit and veggies paired together.
- Peach crumble: This a nice and warm pre-dessert that was very comforting. It was reminiscent of a peach cobbler but not overly sweet in anyway.
- Pavlova made with huckleberries: This was another dish that utilized aquafaba and it tasted just like real meringue. The sweet crunch pavlova paired with the slightly tart huckleberries was a perfect compliment.
- Corn soup w/ blistered cherry tomatoes: My favorite dish of the night by far! I'm a huge fan of sweet corn and the way they turned it into a creamy soup base with the cherries was amazing. They also paired some pea vines in it which added a nice depth of flavor.
My experience here both times was nothing short of amazing. I would also recommend the wine pairing (split!) for a great deal at an added $20 or their mixed drinks as well. As a very heavily meat/seafood lover, like myself, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and this vegan tasting experience. I did not miss the meat/seafood and was very full after everything was served. I also really appreciate the fact that they're not a place that tries to make something veggies/fruits ar not (like fake meats, etc.). Not that I don't like those since I do love places that serve them, but enjoying the veggies and fruits as they are was a refreshing experience. I am definitely going back not only to support local (and my friend), but because I thoroughly enjoyed the food and can't wait to see what they do as the seasons change.
Are you a fan of vegan food? Would you try a vegan tasting experience?
-Kirstie