Slow Club Cookery.: Whole Wheat Maple-Vanilla Waffles.

how we waffle.

Whole Wheat Maple-Vanilla Waffles

45 Hours in Detroit.

syrup IN the waffles.

It's a beautiful city, Detroit.

One that feels like it's just coming back to life.

Full of characters and character.

I fell, rather unexpectedly, in love with it.

A quick run-down of the things I did in my all-too-brief time there--

Sat in a restaurant and ate a vegan sandwich a mere 45 minutes after arrival.

A new personal best.

Slept on, and watched the most spectacular sunset from, the 58th floor of a hotel with floor to ceiling windows.

Had some vegan soul food.

Saw some local hip hop.

Met some interesting people.

Gazed at some stunning architecture.

Drank beers around a fire pit in the back alley of a bar.

Giddily wandered around Eastern Market on a beautiful Saturday morning-

had to restrain myself from buying everything.

Ate two vegan hot dogs.

MacGyver-ed my party dress together with a travel kit needle and thread

like a proper grown-up.

Watched my friends get married in the Diego Rivera mural room at the

Detroit Institute of Art (WHAT?).

Drank my body weight in dirty martinis, IN A MUSEUM.

Danced A LOT.

Photobooth-ed (it's a verb now).

Rode on a post-wedding party bus to a bar that also served pie.

Stayed up until 4.

Slept for an hour.

Went to the airport.

Boarded the plane home still a *little bit* drunk from the night before.

Was sad to leave.

I also returned home with a bag of Michigan-milled whole wheat pastry flour.

Not a weird thing to bring home in your checked baggage, right?

Forget snowglobes; foodstuffs are the best souvenir.

I've been saving it for something special.

These waffles are it.

best souvenir.

Whole Wheat Maple-Vanilla Waffles

(serves 2-4)

1Tbsp ground flax seeds + 3Tbsp boiling water

2c whole wheat pastry flour

2tsp baking powder

1/2tsp ground sea salt

1/3c coconut oil, melted

1 1/2c non dairy milk (i prefer walnut or coconut)

2tsp apple cider vinegar

1Tbsp vanilla

2Tbsp maple syrup

Preheat waffle iron.

In a small bowl, whisk together ground flax seeds and just boiled water.

Set aside.

Combine milk and apple cider vinegar and set aside for 5 minutes.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

Add milk, flax seed mixture, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.

Stir until well combined.

Ladle batter onto waffle maker and cook-- my iron only has one setting, but if yours is a little more fancypants, I'd say use the medium-high setting and cook for 1-2 minutes per side.
Serve with butter and even MORE maple syrup, if you're feelin' crazy.

russell street deli, once was not enough.

The TLT.

Eats:

Russell Street Deli

This place was near the top of my must-try list and given our insanely early arrival time, our first Detroit destination.
Super vegan friendly AND THEY MAKE THEIR OWN VEGAN MAYO. 'Nuff said. Had to go back a second time because it was a wee bit too early for coney dogs on our first visit. Wasn't disappointed upon our return.

What I ate:

The Vegan TLT-- Michigan-made panda tofu, lettuce, tomato, house-made vegan mayo, whole wheat.

Vegan Coney Dogs-- tofu dog, house-made vegan chili, pickled onion, mustard, poppy seed bun.

Detroit Vegan Soul
Everyone told me to hit up this place. They weren't wrong.

What we ate:

Southern Fried Tofu Bites-- spiced fried tofu served with spicy buffalo dipping sauce.

Collard Spring Rolls-- with smoked collards and sweet chili sauce.

Soul Platter-- mac n' cheese, smoked collards, maple glazed yams, black eyed peas, cornbread muffins.

BBQ Tofu-- house-made bbq sauce, corn, kale, potato salad.

Other Stuff:

Third Street Bar/ Dangerously Delicious Pies-
Gotta love a bar that serves pie.
Was told they have a vegan option but didn't get to sample, as my body was full of martini olives by the time we arrived.
A cool spot, jam packed until closing time on Saturday night/ Sunday morning.
Getting back to the hotel was challenging.
Seems that most cab companies don't pick up in that area at that hour of the evening.
Thank god for Uber.

Old Miami-

Dive-y awesomeness. Local music in the back, good crowd up front. Back alley with a fire pit. Large Rodriguez portrait hanging on the wall. All bases covered.

I was totally blown away by Eastern Market, a beautifully sprawling public market filled with local produce vendors, bakers, craftspeople, food trucks, musicians.
We hit it up on Saturday morning and I wanted to buy EVERYTHING.

Alas, a suitcase only has so much room...
I had to settle for locally-milled whole wheat pastry flour, shallots, and black walnuts.