Strong Hearts Café

TLT (Tofu, Lettuce, Tomato) Sandwich With Pesto

Strong Hearts Café
719 E. Genesee St.
Syracuse, NY 13210
315-478-0000
www.strongheartscafe.com

Hours
Monday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

It's one o'clock in the morning, but the night is still young and you and your friends are craving vegan pizza with broccoli, mushroom, and pineapple or perhaps a good old-fashioned dairy-free grilled "Teese" sandwich. If you're in Syracuse, you're in luck! Just duck into Strong Hearts Café—and order one of its famous vegan milkshakes while you're at it! Your biggest problem will be deciding on which flavor shake to choose from. Will it be the "Che Guevara" coffee flavor, the "Rosa Parks" peach cobbler, or the "Tiananmen Square Guy" green tea variety? Fortunately, you can't go wrong with this socially responsible but delightfully flavor-filled menu.

With fresh, organic, locally grown produce as the basis of its made-to-order culinary creations, Strong Hearts proves that diner-style comfort food can be socially responsible and decadently delicious. Not only are animal products shunned from this vegan haven for home cookin', so are high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, so you can eat your fill and feel good about doing your body a flavorful favor.

But there's more to this café than just delicious vegan pancakes (available every day during all open hours) and faux "chicken" salad sandwiches. Strong Hearts shows its strong conscience by using only biodegradable packaging, purchasing locally grown produce directly from farmers, and carrying 100 percent fair trade and organic coffees and teas. Strong Hearts Café even refuses to support "multinational war profiteering financial conglomerates" and, instead, relies upon a local cooperatively owned federal credit union for all its financial service needs.

"We are deeply committed to living and promoting a vegan lifestyle. Spreading a message of compassion for animals and respect for the Earth, as well as creating a welcoming, accommodating space for everyone (vegans and non-vegans alike), was our main impetus behind opening Strong Hearts," say vegan owners Nicholas Ryan and Joel Capolongo.

Good food builds strong hearts. And Strong Hearts will steal your heart with each bite.

TLT (Tofu, Lettuce, Tomato) Sandwich With Pesto

For the Tofu:
1 lb. extra firm tofu
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos
2 Tbsp. orange juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. minced fresh basil
2 tsp. thyme, crushed with fingers
2 tsp. Italian seasonings
1/2 cup boiling water

• Press the tofu to drain the water. Mix the olive oil, vinegar, Bragg Liquid Aminos, orange juice, garlic, basil, thyme, and Italian seasonings in a bowl. Add the boiling water and whisk to mix. Cover and allow to steep for about 10 minutes.
• Cut the tofu into 1/4-inch-thick sandwich-sized rectangles (or whatever shape you want to conform to your choice of bread) and lay in a pan in a single layer. Pour the marinade over the tofu and marinate, preferably overnight, in the refrigerator.
• Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

• Combine the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and salt in a food processor. While blending, add olive oil until the desired consistency is met.

• Spread some pesto on one slice of the bread. Top with the tofu.
• Spread a thin layer of vegan mayonnaise on the other piece of bread and add a few slices of soy cheese. Top with tomato slices, lettuce, and alfalfa sprouts.
• Put the sandwich together and grill in a sandwich grill or sandwich press until golden brown and/or the "cheese" has melted.*

Back to Top