Bánh Mì
By Keren DeCarlo of Chateau Café & Cakery | Yield: 4-6 servings
Celebrating Meatless Monday at Chateau Café & Cakery
By Leila Sleiman
Meatless Monday Pittsburgh was formed last year to raise awareness of the negative environmental impact of meat consumption. With staggering statistics, like how it takes approximately 1,850 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef compared to 39 to produce a pound of vegetables, those who are paying attention want to invite you to join the movement — even if it’s just one day a week!
The Meatless Monday campaign gained popularity when Paul McCartney helped promote it and gave us more reasons than just the environment to go veg, including decreasing your risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease, and the abhorrent conditions the animals are kept in.
With all the delicious, accessible healthy options and interest in Meatless Monday Pittsburgh, we will feature a Meatless Monday Pittsburgh chef and recipe for you to try at home! This month, I spoke to Keren DeCarlo of Chateau Café & Cakery on the North Side. The trained pastry chef shares how Chateau Café & Cakery has grown since it opened in 2003, thanks to requests from their customer base — folks working in the building! — and its use of local purveyors.
Try the café’s featured Meatless Monday specials, including the Bahn Mi, with pickled veggies, portobello mushrooms, fresh cilantro, and jalapeños, provided by the Drew Mathieson Center’s Center of Horticulture Program and Green House, and served on a BreadWorks bun; the "Berry" Manilow, a triple berry compote with toasted almonds and Brie cheese options on sweet onion bread; and the "Brussel" Crowe, a panini packed with shaved Brussel sprouts and caramelized onions.
The roasted balsamic veggie wrap is available on the menu every day, along with an ever-changing selection of vegan soups for this chilly weather, such as Tomato-Basil, Spicy Black Bean, Orzo Veggie, White Bean & Kale, Veggie & Rice, and Tuscan White Bean & Spinach.
Save the date for the upcoming North Side Mardi Gras event on February 6, where Chateau Café & Cakery will be serving baked treats while a local high school jazz quartet performs. Don’t forget to grab some beads!
Visit Chateau Café & Cakery from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Stay tuned to see when it’s open on Saturdays in spring and summer!
Chateau Café & Cakery, 1501 Preble Ave., First Floor, North Side. 412.8022537. chateaucc.com.
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