Vegan at a Wine and Cheese Party.

[ms_kitsch]

So, I was invited to an omni wine and cheese party, and would like to attend with a cheerfully vegan "cheese"-something-or-other and a nice wine pairing. Finding a vegan wine will be pretty easy, but I'm not sure what to do on the cheese front. I would like something omni/vegetarian friendly so it's not just me munching on it alone all night

Comments

[lesbianic]

I don't know if the people above have tried Sheese and not liked it, or just never had it, but I for one would definitely give the Sheese on crackers a shot - I love it. I eat it on crackers or even alone pretty frequently, and I think it is absolutely delicious. I've fed it to several non-vegan with great results. I would most definitely go with the cheddar varieties rather than the mozzarella though; the latter is pretty unpalatable uncooked, in my opinion. The smoked and strong cheddars are amazing, though - by FAR the best vegan cheese I've ever had. I seriously doubt you'll get any complaints about it.

[veganvalentine]

I make this pesto dip that might be useful? Sorry if the amounts are a little vague...

-1 container tofutti 'cream cheese' (room temp makes it much easier to mix!)
-1/4 cup pesto
-few tablespoons of tofutti 'sour cream' and vegenaise
just mix it together and it's lovely on a toasted baguette, or crackers, or regular italian bread.

[ms_kitsch]

This is a great idea, thanks!

[nephastie]

I'd make cupcakes. They taste just as good or better as omni cupcakes, unlike fake sheese vs. real cheese, and they can be fancy and everyone will love them more than the cheese anyway, haha. And there is precedent for wine and cupcakes; i've read about wine tastings that pair cupcake flavors with wines.

[ms_kitsch]

I lovvvvve the idea of a wine and cupcake tasting! Thanks for the tip.

[ex_captain_j286]

I'd stay away from fake cheese, or you might be the only one eating it.

A friend gave me a chocolate platter that was for wine tasting, it was really delicious, so I think a variety of nice dark chocolates would be good.

You can also make an olive tapenade. My non vegan friends love it.

Here's a recipe (dont use the anchovies, obviously :p)
http://homecooking.about.com/od/saladrecipes/r/blcon106.htm

You can also get store bought dip without the anchovies.

Good luck, sounds fun!

[rebbyribs]

Yeah, I'd go with tapenade or caponata (a savory dip with eggplant and capers).

[emraldfire]

me too.

[quietgrrl]

faux cheese, no matter how much vegans like it, never sits quite well with non-vegans, especially if it's not mixed with something.
I totally second the idea of olive tapenade and think some really good hummus would do you well too.
Berries, chocolate, vegan crackers and good breads are all going to pair well with wine.

[quietgrrl]

oh yeah and nuts (I always forget about those as I'm allergic).

[inquiet]

i think part of the "not sitting well" is that the "cheese" designation implies a certain thing. it's sort of like me telling you to close your eyes and try the strawberry and having bread put in your mouth instead. it's not that it's objectionable in and of itself, it's just not a close thing [some processed cream cheese subs excluded]. i've had great luck with ffvk's chreese sauce and another cashew "cheese" with non-vegans. i do call them sauces instead of variations on cheese. sauce tends to have a much wider range of acceptable things. my carnivore said it best: it's a really awesome sauce, but it's certainly not a cheese. and while you can sub tofu for ricotta in a lasagna pretty easily, or use tofu and chocolate to make tofu pie and slip it by most people, recipes with fewer ingredients are not going to be so easily altered. especially ones that rely on the cheese for their taste. so when they get vegan cheese products expecting cheese taste, they are sorely confused.

[tejolote]

ffvk?