The article highlights various meals that are notable for their dynamic combination of textures and ingredients, specifically focusing on creating an enjoyable salad-type dish. One standout meal mentioned is the Corn and Poblano Chile Salad with Adobo Pinto Beans, which is described as a Mexican-inspired dish perfectly suited for a warm spring day. This meal featured roasted poblano peppers, sweet corn, cabbage, brown rice, and pinto beans, complemented by a mild spinach base and a roasted jalapeño vegan ranch dressing.
Another dish, the Lemongrass Shirataki Bowl, is recalled as a memorable cold noodle salad combining savory-spicy flavors with diverse textures. The chilled rice noodles in this dish are paired with a lightly spicy marinated mixture of sautéed vegetables and pea protein crumbles. Crisp ingredients like cucumber, spinach, ginger, lemongrass, and peanuts contribute to its crunch. The standout element of this dish is the house-made vegan “fish” sauce, crafted from ingredients such as coconut aminos, date syrup, rice vinegar, lime juice, tahini, mushrooms, and seaweed, delivering a super-umami flavor similar to traditional fish sauce.
For breakfast, Thistle’s fruit-focused selections are noted as particularly appealing, including a dense polenta almond cake accompanied by a bright raspberry chia jam. Additionally, a smoothie bowl featuring blackberry and hibiscus with coconut granola provided a refreshing start to the day. The Super Seed & Berry Muesli overnight oat dish, notable for its textural variety, included a bright-blue coconut and vanilla spirulina “mylk” but could benefit from more fruit for added freshness.
While the heated dinner meals were satisfactory, they lacked the complexity of the salads. A chimichurri sauce elevated a straightforward pasta dish with beans, artichoke, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. However, a Latin-inspired dish with black beans, spinach, rice, and plantains required additional acidity or spice for enhancement. Other snacks, like a charcuterie-style plate, fell short due to drying vegetables and a vegan cheese with a grainy texture. Despite this, a vegan cheesecake with tahini tres leches mousse was acclaimed as one of the best vegan desserts.
Overall, despite its high price point, currently reduced by 40 percent, Thistle is viewed positively. Delivery notifications via text are provided, but a delivery mishap resulted in one meal kit being delivered to the wrong address, necessitating an unplanned grocery trip. As a result, future preferences may include meeting the delivery person directly to ensure receipt of meals.
