The focaccia sandwich that we introduced last week was a huge hit!  We are overjoyed that people love our food.

We’re doing thanksgiving dinner this week, vegan style of course.  Check out the menu over on the vegan food truck page.

In honor of giving thanks week, we’re giving away all [...]]]>

The focaccia sandwich that we introduced last week was a huge hit!  We are overjoyed that people love our food.

We’re doing thanksgiving dinner this week, vegan style of course.  Check out the menu over on the vegan food truck page.

In honor of giving thanks week, we’re giving away all 5 of our cheeses to one lucky winner!  This contest is open to everyone, however if the winner is from Chicago, we’ll do our best to make sure you get your cheese before feast day.  Otherwise, we will ship your cheeses out between Monday and Wednesday of next week.  A winner will be chosen at random.

Instructions:

In the comments section: a) If you have tasted a meal from the vegan food truck, what was your favorite?  b) If you have not tasted a meal from the vegan truck, what would you try if you could?  c) If a) & b) do not apply to you, then what do you dream about eating from a vegan food truck?

Rules:

1. Keep it vegan.
2. Have fun.
3. All entries must be submitted by Wednesday, November 24th, 11:59PM.

Vegans are awesome!

The pic above is an unadulterated vegan breakfast burrito that is a regular featured item on the vegan food truck.

The pic below is an adulterated breakfast burrito via @winnie

We love feeding the hungry vegan masses!  You guys are amazing!  We are so grateful for the support from our Chicago vegan [...]]]>

The pic above is an unadulterated vegan breakfast burrito that is a regular featured item on the vegan food truck.

The pic below is an adulterated breakfast burrito via @winnie

We love feeding the hungry vegan masses!  You guys are amazing!  We are so grateful for the support from our Chicago vegan family and the shout outs  (foodtruck requests) from other states!  We love what we do!

Oh yeah, we still make gourmet vegan cheese.

This sandwich won for three reasons:

I bought the plantains today in anticipation of making this treat!  My only quandary is what vegan [...]]]>

This sandwich won for three reasons:

1. This sandwich starts with tostones.
2. We never heard of a sandwich with tostones in place of bread.
3. How can one go wrong with tostones as a foundation for a sandwich?

I bought the plantains today in anticipation of making this treat!  My only quandary is what vegan protein will I put in between my fried plantains?  We’ve discussed seitan, tofu, vegan pastrami, the opportunities are endless.  We’re going to have so much fun figuring out what is most delicious.

So Mark, you are the winner!  Contact laviyah@stemartaen.com to claim your vegan pecan pie!

We launched the vegan food truck this week. It’s been a really, really busy week. We’re so pumped by the response from the vegan community! We are so thankful to those of you who have spread the news, who have given us feedback on [...]]]>

Vegan Shredded Chicken Tacos with Pico de Gallo

We launched the vegan food truck this week. It’s been a really, really busy week. We’re so pumped by the response from the vegan community! We are so thankful to those of you who have spread the news, who have given us feedback on our culinary skills, who have come out in the rain to get some vegan good eats! We are appreciative of our customers old and new. It is an honor and a privilege to serve you! Continue to check back here on our website, following us on twitter and facebook in order to keep up with our whereabouts.

I have posted some pictures of two of our menu offerings this week. Enjoy!

Vegan BBQ Beef Sub

More of the same from a different angle. (Just in case you didn’t get a good look)

Vegan Shredded Chicken Tacos with Pico de Gallo (just in case the first pic above was lacking)

Oh yeah! This is just the beginning.

This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated [...]]]>

This photo was taken over a year ago, when my daughter was just a wee one. I was sifting through the recipe folder, looking for a recipe to post and finding none, I came across this photo. So much has happened in this year. Our small business has grown and we have celebrated birthdays and cried over the passing of my beloved Grandpa. I want everyone who comes across this to be happy in knowing that love is such an infinite force. It cannot be contained, bottled or canned. I spent two weeks in Georgia with my grandma who had just lost her partner of 65 years. I am so amazed by her strength and her foresight. She was prepared to lose her husband, I wasn’t prepared to lose the man who had stepped in as my father for the past 30 years.

When my grandparents still lived in NYC, they took me everywhere with them. I went on countless road trips from NYC to Georgia. I remember my grandmother always making more food than we could eat and my grandfather always impeccably dressed. He was a proud man and he was always loving, affectionate and proud of me. I was their first grandchild and the only grandchild for ten years. My father being their only child, they welcomed me, an unexpected gift as their daughter. As I write this, the love and positive example that he showed me is engraved permanently in my heart and my soul.

Like my grandfather, I am quiet, choosy even with the folks that I share my life with. However, “I love you” should never be left unsaid. I am grateful that I have the loving memories of the times that I spent with my grandpa. He could always make me laugh. He didn’t miss much and often had colorful observations to share.

As you read this, you must know that love is a powerful choice and it feels so good to have it in your life. If you are out there seeking it, stop, for it is first found within. Everything is already there, just open your eyes. If you are going through a hard time, if there are troubles in your midst, remember to love. Give love freely in kindness to others and receive love through forgiveness.

I am just sharing with you a portion of my journey because I have found that love always wins, the spirit lives on and we are all magnificent beings with an amazing capacity for love.

Let’s start with these. The shelf life of our vegan cheeses is 3 weeks. I have been thinking about how to extend this. We currently sell our product in plastic containers and I have been thinking about vacuum sealing for a while. I want to keep the oval shape of the cheese, but [...]]]>

Let’s start with these. The shelf life of our vegan cheeses is 3 weeks. I have been thinking about how to extend this. We currently sell our product in plastic containers and I have been thinking about vacuum sealing for a while. I want to keep the oval shape of the cheese, but how to get a clean edge when vacuum sealed? And, I would want to find some kind of eco-friendly wrap. I haven’t found a green vacuum bag yet.

So, if I do vacuum seal, what would I get? Another 3 weeks or so. Our product is produced fresh weekly, so I don’t know if that “freshness” would last 6 weeks no mater how tightly sealed.

Do I go for freshness or shelf longevity?

Either way, I definitely am changing the packaging. So I have to keep meditating on that aspect as well.

Let’s eat some vegan goodness and think

Sounds good to you, huh?

Anyway, on a positive note.  We are still making vegan cheese, our children are still healthy and my mom is still awesome.

There are a couple of updates I am going to add, like other stores we are currently in, what new services we are offering [...]]]>

I’m so glad April is over.  It sucked.

Anyway, on a positive note.  We are still making vegan cheese, our children are still healthy and my mom is still awesome.

There are a couple of updates I am going to add, like other stores we are currently in, what new services we are offering and just some all around house cleaning.  Things were getting a little dusty around here.

In the meantime; I found the cutest vegan couple: http://www.meettheshannons.net/ Please check them out!  In the spirit of Julie and Julia, they are veganizing the Betty Crocker cookbook!

Speaking of veganizing.  I have veganized many of her recipes, but I am so unofficial about it…lol

Thank you for being awesome!

You know who you are…

P.S. Someone goes vegan with Ste Martaen cheese!

http://planetverge.com/2010/03/going-vegan-episode-6-whats-cooking/

The Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala was amazing! This has been such a hectic holiday season and we prepped ourselves for this event, however it’s been a while and we don’t get out much…together. I had so much fun being around grown ups, dressing up, serving our cheese, taking pictures, [...]]]>

The Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala was amazing! This has been such a hectic holiday season and we prepped ourselves for this event, however it’s been a while and we don’t get out much…together. I had so much fun being around grown ups, dressing up, serving our cheese, taking pictures, hanging with friends (Kevin & Chelsea) and spending time with my Silver Fox!

The man behind the Ste Martaen brand.

Our spread. Many people came back not only for seconds and thirds, but fourths and fifths. We were flattered!

We shared the table with other vegan Chicago local talent–Karyn’s and Great Taste Cafe. Their food was so beautifully presented!

Karyn’s Raw Sushi Rolls

Great Taste Cafe Roasted Sweet Potato with Chipotle Cream & Green Onions

So Pretty!

Early on in the evening before we were swarmed…

The decor was quite beautiful! The room where we ate dinner was amazing, however it was so dark in there I didn’t attempt pictures. The dinner meal was provided by the lovely people from Chicago Diner, dessert was Delicious Cafe, Raw Creations and Great Taste Cafe, the Late Night meal was provided by Uptons Naturals (someone stole our sandwiches) , Pattycake Vegan Bakery (They had so many vegan desserts to choose from, it was a true dessert buffet!) and Turtle Mountain.

The cast from Oh Brother Where Art Thou showed up! j/k

Kevin auditioning for the new Bond movie.

Not really.

Food, friends and fun!

This Friday, December 4th is the Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala. Ste Martaen cheese will be there! We’re excited to be one of the vegan businesses involved in helping to honor the vegan change makers in our local community.

We’d like to take this time to thank Delicious for being [...]]]>

This Friday, December 4th is the Mercy For Animals’ 2nd annual Celebrating Compassion Gala. Ste Martaen cheese will be there! We’re excited to be one of the vegan businesses involved in helping to honor the vegan change makers in our local community.

We’d like to take this time to thank Delicious for being awesome and so supportive of us!  We’d also like to thank Vegan Chicago for allowing us to debut our cheese and it’s been crazy ever since!  We’re so thankful for the positive feedback and amazing support from the vegan community at large.  Let’s continue to support one another.

Choose Joy!

Laviyah