Bring back, Bring back, Oh bring back my butter to me!

 

So, the name of the book I am reading right now is Blood, Bones and Butter, a wonderful New York Times best seller by and about Gabrielle Hamilton, restaurant owner,chef, and food writer in New York. Blood, bones and butter, perhaps not the obvious literary choice for a person shunning dairy products and meats to curl up with at night. But wait, if you think vegan can't be chic or sophisticated, you are dead wrong! Inspirational and gorgeous fruits and vegetables shaved, julienned, pureed, minced, and morphed into elegant concoctions fit for any discerning palate. Here's a menu to drool over: Bruschetta with diced tomatoes, basil chiffonade, extra virgin olive oil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. (Make sure you use good Village Bakery type baguette to make the toasts); grilled vegetable platter of asparagus, portobellos, yellow Finn potatoes, zucchini, Japanese eggplant, peppers with two sauces: cilantro pesto and Thai peanut; spinach salad with black beans, red onion, avocado, and meyer lemon vinaigrette; wild mushroom risotto; and flat bread with hummus. Voila! You will never miss your milk or meat. A meal fit to serve the Obamas at their re-election banquet! Victory vegetables!