Matt and I’ve been plant-based for about fifteen years and now we have performed a number of touring in that point. Because of this, we’re fairly savvy about consuming nicely on the street. Typically we nonetheless prepare dinner for ourselves as a result of we get pleasure from cooking and it’s so low cost and simple to DIY. Vegan choices on restaurant menus are more and more straightforward to seek out once we do not feel like cooking although and that is actually cool. I imply, shoot, I had an not possible burger at a diner in the midst of rural Wyoming on the best way again from Roger Waters! My go-to on the street is to seek out an Asian restaurant, particularly a Thai one*. In additional city areas Matt usually checks to see if they’ve any vegan eating places since that’s nonetheless fairly a novelty for us. That is how we discovered Watercourse Foods, say, and the way I discovered about breakfast pizza.
| Matt, me, and the primary blush of sundown on the north entrance to YNP. |
Cooking shouldn’t be allowed within the rooms on the Outdated Trustworthy Snow Lodge in order that was out as a strategy to feed ourselves–though there’s a mini fridge in every room in order that gave us some extra flexibility. Throughout the winter season, there are two restaurant choices at Outdated Trustworthy: the Geyser Grill and the Obsidian Eating Room. The previous is informal and the latter extra upscale. They each have vegan choices, however we did not wish to depend on them for each meal for 4 days. That appeared repetitive and costly.
 |
| I fairly loved the view from our window on the snow lodge. We have been on the third flooring. It allowed a pleasant perspective of the steamy geyser basin and mountains within the distance with the skating rink and Customer’s Heart within the foreground. It was grand. |
So, Matt and I contemplated meals that fulfilled some moderately particular standards in preparation for the journey. What vegan menu may we plan that required no cooking and was:
- scrumptious and satisfying
- nutrient-dense and balanced
- capable of journey by quite a lot of temperatures, together with excessive chilly as a result of the bags truck is unheated
- capable of survive in a suitcase that might get stacked with/below a bunch of different suitcases within the baggage truck
- assorted so it isn’t the very same factor each time
- appropriate for any meal of the day–breakfast, lunch, or dinner
- straightforward to organize and clear up
The reply we got here up with was twofold: vegan charcuterie boards and tortilla wraps. And it was genius if I do say so myself. …which I do!
 |
| Gazing at geysers throughout the Firehole River. |
Full credit score to Matt for placing all of it collectively. 100%. He made a number of spectacular varieties of seitan–turkey, pepperoni, and chorizo kinds. He made cashew cheeses and acquired a block of Daiya’s gouda. There have been three sorts of nuts– salted blended nuts, chili-lime cashews, and Form bars. He rounded that each one off with wheat crackers, flour tortillas, and Honeycrisp apples. We introduced alongside some candy treats, too– fig bars and chocolate-covered peanut butter cookies from Winco (that are by chance vegan and absurdly low cost, by the best way). The seitan and cheese have been securely saved in aluminum foil and zip-top plastic baggage earlier than getting packed into our baggage.
 |
| A full array for brunch full with a pair of mimosas is within the Yellowstone cups on the again. We introduced some champagne in a can plus one itty-bitty can of orange juice to make the mimosas. I stored them in my private bag on the snowcoach so that they did not freeze and/or explode on the unheated baggage truck. That was a pleasant deal with to return “dwelling” to after our morning being dazzled by the spectacular hoar frost, rime ice, and steam. |
We ate a blended unfold of charcuterie each single day of trip from day one in Gardiner to day seven once we returned dwelling. Not solely was it scrumptious, it was extremely filling and satisfying, too. We might return from tromping by the snow on the boardwalks and be having brunch lower than ten minutes later. It was easy-peasy. Oh, it was yummy, too. The pepperoni seitan and cashew cheese have been notably unimaginable. The apples have been so recent and juicy–and not even bruised from their time within the suitcase.
We additionally ate at the very least one tortilla wrap meal every day. This was a very straightforward and packable lunch. We may combine and match the completely different cheeses and varieties of seitan to maintain it fascinating. Matt ready the wraps earlier than we left the room for the day, stowing them in a plastic bag in our daypack till wanted. This was good for the times of exploring the higher geyser basin, touring within the snowcoach, or the morning we spent skiing out to Lone Star Geyser.
 |
| A brunch unfold and the primary of the Christmas puzzles we accomplished on the journey. The primary one was 500 items. The second was 1,000. The desk in our room was barely sufficiently big. |
We ate dinner within the Obsidian Dining Room twice. We by no means went for breakfast or lunch. We obtained meals from the Geyser Grill twice, too. We loved the vegan choices offered at each eating places. These have been the choices on the time of our go to. As at all times, menus and substances change so take all this data beneath with a grain of salt.
Two of the eight entrees on the dinner menu within the eating room have been vegan. I used to be fairly impressed. That is a full 25% of the dinner choices!. Not “simply” vegetarian both, however vegan as is on the menu! Since there have been two vegan entrees Matt and I may order various things and share a chew right here or there. All too usually we “need to” order the identical factor as a result of it is the one vegan choice on the menu. So, that was good. Selection and selection, even when it was simply between two issues. They have been each very yummy decisions!
 |
| I did not take any photographs within the eating room. I did not even convey my cellphone. It appeared too stylish for that, additionally too darkish. I needed to concentrate on Matt and the eating expertise. |
Matt ordered the smoked tofu served in barbeque sauce with roasted greens and historic grains. I ordered the fire-roasted mushroom stew and a demi-baguette (which was vegan in the event you did not get butter). The primary time within the eating room my soup was a bit too salty. Although it’s value nothing that we used the baguette to sop up each final drop of the broth …so it could not have been too unhealthy, proper? The second time I ordered it the stew was merely unimaginable. Savory, umami heaven in a bowl. The roast Brussels sprouts in Matt’s dish have been fabulous, as have been the foundation greens. The tofu was smoky and well-cooked. Each dishes have been very tasty and fulfilling.
Within the Geyser Grill, the meals and eating expertise are each somewhat extra informal. It was extra like a quick meals joint with a self-serve soda fountain, cubicles, and vibrant lighting. That they had a veggie burger and fries on the menu although in order that did the job for us. Matt introduced us every a slice of his cashew cheese for a DIY improve from burgers to cheeseburgers! He is so intelligent. The bean burgers have been effective, however the fries have been really wonderful. Each occasions the workers insisted on dropping a recent basket of fries for us. As such the very beneficiant portion was at all times piping sizzling and crisp and ideal.
 |
| The identify tag on this inflatable within the Geyser Grill made me smile…and get that track caught in my head. The workers there appeared to be having a reasonably good time at work. |
The partitions and ceiling of the Geyser Grill have been painted just like the panorama outdoors. Clouds, blue sky, and the billowing steam of erupting geysers have been on the ceiling overhead. Critters, geysers, and the forested mountains within the distance adorned the partitions. I’m actually shocked I did not take any footage of this as a result of I assumed it was very well performed. Relying on the place an individual sat it was potential to look at Outdated Trustworthy erupt whereas munching fries. That was cool.
 |
| As soon as once more I did not take any photographs within the eating room. This time it was principally as a result of I used to be famished and did not even consider it till I used to be midway by with my sandwich. |
After being dropped off by the snowcoach in Mammoth on the return journey we determined to seize lunch earlier than heading off to Chico. The lunch menu is smaller than the dinner menu so there was only one vegan entree out there within the eating room on the Mammoth Sizzling Springs Resort for lunch. So we each obtained the tofu bahn mi sandwich. It actually hit the spot. We ate a late lunch/early dinner from the bar menu at Chico. They’ve these particular home garlic fries that you might purchase by the pound! I am unable to imagine I managed to cease at one order. On the cabin in Gardiner kicking off the journey we actually solely wanted dinner and breakfast. There was each a mini fridge and microwave so Matt made tofu quiche at dwelling which suited each functions when reheated. Gall dang that quiche was delish. Unbeknownst to me, Matt packed a slice for every of us in a silicon storage bag in his backpack on the snowcoach trip right down to Outdated Trustworthy. It was a eager chilly lunch on the Madison Warming Hut pit cease.
 |
| Quiche, espresso, and sweet sweet. The sweet canes we picked up from the resort office–ho, ho, ho! They have been very unusual, sudden flavors although. One was butterscotch. The opposite was anise. Bizarre, proper? |
Good meals could be one of many many sides of an excellent trip. The Winter in Wonderland definitely had a number of that alongside all of the epic pure magnificence and tranquility. The choices for filling, balanced, yummy vegan meals from starting to finish have been very satisfying. It certain beats the plain salads or infinite hummus cups of yore. Matt and his vegan charcuterie board have been sensible. It’s a nice time to be a plant-based individual. It simply retains getting higher and higher because the years go by.
