We've long been know as a #SauceBoss, and our next Bartleby's at Home recipe is more evidence in favor of that moniker. As we edge closer to reopening the online store, Bartleby's Seitan Shop, we're putting together a bunch of recipes that use our crispy seitan cutlets and craggy nuggz so you can create devilicious meals at home. Today, we present Seitan & Satay Sauce. This rich peanut-based sauce hits those savory-sweet buttons, and it's silky-smooth consistency is a great match with our hot, hand-battered seitan cutlets.

If you're a nut-free devil, feel free to swap in sun butter, or another seed butter of your choice. A printable PDF version is available at the bottom of the page. Stay well and eat wickedly, dearest demons.

SEITAN & SATAY SAUCE
Traditionally, this dish would be made with roasted peanuts, but most of us in the United States have easy access to peanut butter, which speeds the preparation of this dish. It's not for devils who are faint of heart. A lot of good fats appear in the peanut butter and coconut milk, and the sauce is so good you'll just want to drink it straight from the pot. You've been warned.

Maybe you heard the HOT TEASER, that after being completely shut down because of COVID-19, we've finally been able to take the steps toward opening our new kitchen space and getting Bartleby's Seitan Shop, our online store, back up and running. This means that soon you'll be able to order our crispy seitan cutlets and nuggz for delivery anywhere in the 48 states. HOLY HELL! We are wicked excited.
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​If you've still got a stash of cutlets in the freezer, you can use them in this Bartleby's at Home recipe for Seitan Piccata. Recipe here below, and a handy-dandy printable PDF version, too, if you roll that way (that's at the bottom of the page). Be sure to tag us (@bartlebysfood) and use hashtag #bartlebysathome if you try this dish (or any of the others we're working on).

PDF Printable Version:
Bartleby's_Food_BAH_recipe_printable_seitan_piccata.pdf (743 KB)

Hi Devils,

We have some big news. In many ways this change is exciting, full of opportunity and potential. In other ways, it is heartbreaking.

We are moving Bartleby’s headquarters from its birthplace in Massachusetts to northwest Arkansas. And not because we don’t love the amazing community here, because we do. Your smiling faces and hungry bellies have made our first two years in operation truly magical. We feel lucky to have so many incredible people who surround and support this project. I never thought this truck would make such a big impact―but wild dreams do come true. Mine certainly did.

Arkansas provides a really unique opportunity for Bartleby’s. There is a robust food truck community already established in Fayetteville, our destination, and the warmer climate will allow us to operate comfortably all year long. We are also looking to grow Bartleby’s menu, and in the heart of the south we can be immersed in the type of culinary scene that inspired our first recipes. The vegan lifestyle is becoming more mainstream: there are vegan options available at many restaurants, and a fully vegan restaurant slated to open over the next few months. Though the popularity of plant-based dining is surging in Arkansas, the demand currently exceeds the supply. Enter Bartleby’s. 

Practically speaking, the lower cost of living provides Bartleby’s the opportunity to build out a major headquarters: a location to expand into wholesale distribution, grow our online business, and establish a dedicated storefront. Arkansas also puts my partner and I hundreds and hundreds of miles closer to our families.

While I am thrilled to build a new home for Bartleby’s in a place with so much opportunity for growth, I am equally sad to leave Boston. Boston is home to me, and the birthplace of Bart. I am profoundly grateful to this city and all you devils who have come by to try some nuggz, grab a Deluxe sandwich, or drizzle your meals with our scratch-made sauces.

Near the end of February, we will take approximately two months off to make the move south, set up in our new commissary, secure our location permits, and so forth. We will relaunch the online shop once settled so you can still have Bartleby’s delivered right to your doorstep, wherever you’re located. We also have plans to bring Bartleby’s back to the northeast in a more permanent way, so this isn’t goodbye. I hope to see you at our last few truck shifts, pop-ups, and cooking classes to share some smiles and say “see you later!”

xo,​

Download a PDF version of this letter and schedule:
Bartleby's_Seitan_Stand_relocation_letter_Jan2020.pdf (159 KB)

We always love visiting the Worcester area. We have so many devils out that way, even though we spend most of our time in Boston and Cambridge. Earlier this month, we got to participate in two Worcester County events in the same weekend.

Saturday, September 7, was the Self Help Festival at the Worcester Palladium. The Palladium has been around for ages, but this major music venue is only in its second year of hosting events outdoors. We parked our big blue and orange truck on the grounds for a long service day (about 9 hours!) and were able to see the stage and enjoy the music along with the crowds. We heard from a lot of customers how happy they were to have a vegan option available for the show! You can watch our tiny interview with Jane UnChained from our time there (below).

The next day, Sunday, September 8, we rolled out to Grafton for the 21st Annual Pet Rock Festival. This event is near and dear to our hearts. We love animals, and part of our desire in serving a plant-based menu is to do good by our fellow earthly inhabitants. The proceeds from Pet Rock Festival are distributed to various local animal welfare organizations, so we were glad to be a part of a day that provided direct help to our furry friends and crawly creatures.

Thanks for showing us the love, Worcester! We love you back and hope to see you again soon.

We were happy to sling seitan at the inaugural Taste of Stoneham event earlier this month. Each vendor was encouraged to serve a composed plate at $5.00, so I decided to make available a 5-piece serving of our signature nuggets (that’s a “Wee & Wicked” in our official menu jargon) and a side of tangy seasonal slaw. Having just that one option available made I had some extra time to speak face-to-face with customers. I really valued the opportunity to get to know the devils in the community where Bartleby hangs his horns (our commissary, Food rEvolution, is located in Stoneham).

There were electricity issues during the first hour of the event, and I was sad not to be able to feed people straight away. However, it was amazing to watch the organizers (members of the Stoneham Community Development Corporation) move into full-on emergency mode. They went well above and beyond to make sure things were up and running again ASAP.

The rest of the day was smooth sailing. The weather was perfect, and we saw such a good turnout. So many local families came by to share nuggets and try ALL THE SAUCES. We had lots of positive feedback on the day, and on the fact that our nuggets (and sauces) are always available for pick-up in Stoneham. I was glad to share information about Food rEvolution, since many curious citizens had been watching that building evolve over the years. Having a chance to promote aspects of the commissary, like the various cooking programs hosted there (including our upcoming Spooky Session of the Seitan School!) and the amazing businesses that operate out of the kitchen was the icing on the cake of a wicked awesome day in Stoneham.