A Vegan Lifestyle Blog



Growing up my dad called me "Gina Beana Fagiolena," or "little bean" in Italian. He never could have guessed that I'd become a vegan, but the nickname suits me more now than ever. Read on to learn about all things vegan: fashion, books, food and more.



Related Posts with Thumbnails

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Chocolate PB Fix...Now!

It's Sunday night, and it's time for dessert. Of course, my cupboards are dessert-bare, but that won't stop me from planning what I will make next time I go home to bake with my mom.

Check out these amazing Chocolate Peanut Butter Pillows on PPK. Here's the recipe. Here's the pic:
Source: thePPK.com

The recipe has been published in Vegan Cookies by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.

Sitting here in my pajamas with only a spoonful of peanut butter left on my fridge and little motivation to move, I'll settle for a chocolate Odwalla bar dipped in the good stuff. Not the same, but still quite delish!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Koo-Zee-Doo's Veg Option #2

I had been looking forward to going to Koo-Zee-Doo, this new Portuguese BYO in NoLibs, for weeks. I was very excited to try their vegan option (only in NoLibs would a Portuguese restaurant have a vegan entree).

I called ahead to make sure that the Milho Frito, a combo of fried corn porridge, fennel, fava and green beans, was totally vegan. The woman on the phone confirmed.

Now even more looking forward to this dinner with friends over a few glasses of vinho do porto, the sweet wine produced only in Portugal, I couldn't wait to start eating:

(Me, my friend Ralph and the porto!)

Look at that excitement on my face! Well, unfortunately I was a little disappointed. When I ordered the Milho Frito, the waiter said, "Oh yea, I knew you were coming, but we actually just sold the last one." Really?! Sold the last one? Probably to a table of non-vegans, no doubt, who thought it sounded tasty, which I guess I can't argue with because it sure did sound good.

Instead, the chef made me a special dish, which was delicious but unfortunately not quite as unique as I had expected. It just didn't taste as "Portuguese" as I had hoped. The fried porridge would have been so delicious, but instead I had a meal of sauteed ramps, asparagus potatoes and leeks--very tasty but not quite what I wanted.


The chef was accommodating enough to also serve up a vegan appetizer, also not on the menu, to make up for the misunderstanding. He sent out an absolutely delicious chickpea cake with broccolini and and an olive tapenade.

We also started with Salada de Cores, which included romaine, asparagus tips, large fava beans and white beans, thin baby carrots and beets, all drenched in a sweet but light dressing. This salad was an excellent start to the meal.

Even though I was disappointed, I will definitely go back. I always appreciate a chef who is willing to experiment in the kitchen and consider special requests. Veg option #2 was actually very, very good, just not what I had hoped to eat that night. Delicious, but not as memorable as I would expect the Milho Frito to be.

And who doesn't like a BYO? Plus vegan options, plus beautiful plates (see the white and blue pattern above), an intimate setting and excellent service.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Elle's Eco-Fashion Challenge

Get eco-inspired with Elle Magazine's 21-Day Eco-Chic Challenge. Elle lists 21 days of planet-friendly travel, fashion and beauty products.

My favorites include Day 11, which highlights sustainable fashion, Day 12, which includes a mention of Olsen Haus, a Fagiolina favorite, of and Day 14, a brief mention of Stella McCartney's commitment to organic fashion and veg lifestyle.
Source: Elle Magazine

Fabulous fashion without sacrifice seems to be the trend. And it keeps gaining momentum! It's nice to see that a number of the eco-aware designers in Elle's Fashion Challenge have an interest in animal-aware products, too.

Earth Day Sale @ Arcadia

My favorite eco-chic Philly boutique Arcadia is hosting an Earth Day sale this Thursday, 4/22. Come celebrate Earth Day with exclusive deals on vintage clothing and accessories and extra sales on sale items.

Plus can't resist posting a picture of a fabulous Matt & Nat Deetron Bag from Arcadia's website:
Source: Arcadia Boutique

The bucket-style bag and zipper detail makes it a stylish option for the season. Looks like lots of compartments to keep you organized, too!



Thursday, April 15, 2010

Lovin' this L'Oreal, All-Natural Hair Care

With little fanfare, L'Oreal Paris launched its EverPure hair care system. After getting my hair colored and highlighted this week (lighter to welcome the beginning of spring!), I went to the drug store to find a good shampoo and conditioner that would protect my color.

I grabbed the L'Oreal shampoo off the shelf and began reading the back and--go figure--the entire line is 100% vegan. Not only is it vegan but sulfate-free (no chemicals to dull the color or get into your skin) with a botanical, fresh scent and natural ingredients.

After a week of use I'm completely happy. My hair is full and moisturized with a rich, bright color. Good for vegans but also for those just looking for an all-natural, color-protecting shampoo.


Sunday, April 11, 2010

Living A Message

When thinking about being vegan and how to share your beliefs, it is tough not to want to tell the world everything you know and have learned about what it means to be a vegan. You want to tell your friends, family...everyone you care about.

But maybe the best way is just to live your life? Others will observe how you live your life and then make their own decisions on their own time.

Carl Lewis does just this. In a recent article in an Atlanta newspaper, this nine-time Olympic gold medalist and track star is real low-key.

So Natalie Portman or Carl Lewis? Actions vs. words?

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Grezzo, Don't Go...

When you want to share your vegan lifestyle with your friends, you typically want to do it via a fun boutique or a good meal. Arcadia, an eco-boutique in Philly, was a hit both for me and the friends I brought. Imagine how disappointed I was when another recent attempt via a good meal was totally miserable--even for me!

I was in Boston with two college friends, and I had made dinner reservations for us at Grezzo, a vegan restaurant in the North End. Grezzo was the only vegan restaurant I could find in Boston. Not only was it vegan, it was raw vegan. Never had it, but thought I'd give it a shot. With only two granola bars and a martini in my stomach, I was really looking forward to a good dinner.

Not so with Grezzo! My friends and I sat down to a meal full of tasteless food and poor service. First, the menu was very limited. Nothing like what I found on their website.

We started out with a first course of mushroom tea, which was a soup. Lukewarm of course, since raw food is never above 112 degrees, but still mildly tasty.

I had a seaweed salad, topped with slices of lotus root. It was a bit spicy, and the dressing was a bit watery and bland, but I do have to say it was kind of tasty, perhaps because seaweed salad isn't on many menus. It was a new flavor, a new dish, a new taste. Lots of different kinds of seaweed comprised the salad, so the textures were diverse and interesting.


While the first course was fairly good, it was the second course that really disappointed. We ordered two "pasta" dishes, and one called "land and sea," which was mushroom-based.

This is a zucchini pasta. Hard to tell exactly what the sauce was, but it was not bad. However, the contrast between the thinly sliced zucchini pasta and the greens on the plate was rough and seemed mismatched.


We also ordered a gnocchi dish. First, the gnocchis were very bland (again, the raw greens seemed to disagree with the softer pasta), but the real problem with this meal wasn't necessarily the food but the way it was served. Originally it was an appetizer on the menu, and my friend asked if it was enough for a dinner. The waitress said she could make a dinner portion. Little did we know she was doubling the price.

The third entree we ordered was called "land and sea." It was a plate full of mushrooms, representing the consistency of two different meats through an interesting blend of mushrooms propped on a bit of vegan cheese.

Again, it was edible, but not flavorful.

The worst part of the experience, however, was the service. An interminable amount of time seemed to stretch between our first and second courses. Did our waitress forget to place our order? Did they forget to make our food? Who knows, but what made the situation worse was when our waitress came over to our table while we were waiting for our entrees and asked us if we were ready to order dessert! Obviously completely unaware of the progress of our meal and completely inattentive.

Given the misunderstanding and our long wait, I asked if she wouldn't mind offering us a dessert. She offered a round of drinks instead, but since one of my friends was already nearly passed out, I figured more food would be better. However, the waitress retorted, "Sorry, our manager doesn't want to provide dessert because the nut products we use in our desserts are our highest margin [or lowest margin...it was unclear] products, so we can only offer you drinks."

Now how does that work? A bottle of wine vs. one dessert to share? Awful. Just awful. Not only was the waitress rude and the manager unaccommodating, our original waitress never returned to our table after making that mistake. Instead, she sent the other waitress!

I was craving a dessert, hoping it would improve the meal. I figured I would just pay for it despite my previously lost battle. About 10 minutes earlier, a table near us had ordered a few brownie sundaes, which looked delicious. When I tried to order one, the kitchen just happened to be out. We ordered a "super cookie" with icing instead, which, when described as composed of algae and grains, became a lot less appealing. Next time I recommend keeping the ingredients to yourself, and let the flavors speak. I ate half the cookie and tossed it. I will say that at the last minute the restaurant covered the cost of the cookie, but only after I ordered it on my own with full intentions to pay.

All in all, I was obviously not impressed. My desire to try more raw vegan is shot. I know Pure Food and Wine in NYC is supposed to be delicious, but I hesitate to take friends there for fear of turning them off to veganism. Plus, my first raw vegan experience was very bland and unsatisfying. Quite a shame. Maybe in a few months I will give it another try, but in the meantime, I want to actually enjoy my food.

Monday, April 5, 2010

More Than a Name at Soy Cafe

I strolled into Soy Cafe with a friend a few weekends ago (well, actually, I had read about it, googled it, and tracked it down...I guess it was more of a mission than a stroll!), and I am so glad that we did.

This adorable cafe on N. 2nd in NoLibs offers vegan desserts, sandwiches and smoothies. Despite the name, I do think that they serve non-vegan snacks, but I of course I heard that the vegan stuff is the best....

We shared a pot of tea and a mint-oreo-chocolate brownie and a plain old chocolate brownie as well as a toastie with sliced bananas and almonds on top. Vegan desserts=B. The desserts at Last Drop at 13th and Pine are better. I haven't tried the smoothies here, though, and I hear they are the best! Let me know if you try one...

Beliefs, Opinions and Social Grace

Politics and religion: two things we are taught not to discuss at the dinner table, not to discuss with acquaintances for fear of offending someone we do not yet know. Add eating habits to this list. Don't share your beliefs about eating animals at the dinner table. It's rude, impolite.

These rules surely stem from the fact that we are taught not to make others uncomfortable, and I agree with that. But I am also frustrated that, at times, I feel I can't share my vegan beliefs, for fear of making others uncomfortable. What if the intent is not to argue but to inform?

Natalie Portman has, until recently, felt the same. Her article in the Huffington Post begins:

I've always been shy about being critical of others' choices because I hate when people do that to me. I'm often interrogated about being vegetarian (e.g., "What if you find out that carrots feel pain, too? Then what'll you eat?").

But now she doesn't mind. After reading about the huge human cost of factory farming, she became more vocal, less "socially" polite. The environmental destruction due to the incredibly vast amounts of animal waste created at these farms (that then leaks into our water supply, is sprayed into our atmosphere, corrupting our rivers and choking our lungs) detailed in Eating Animals was so shocking that she felt she had to share. I would add the less-known health impacts of eating meat detailed in The China Study to this list of information to share.

Maybe it is time to be less socially graceful and more concerned about our families, friends and colleagues. Maybe we should express our views not because we want to force others to believe them, but because we want to provide our loved ones with information that could potentially help them make the best decisions regarding how to live long, healthful lives? Shift the angle from negative and preachy to positive and helpful. Could this be the best approach?

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Market Fresh Veggie Plate @ Seasons 52

Imagine my surprise when I went to lunch with my coworkers today out in the 'burbs, and I had an excellent vegan meal!
We went to an unexpectedly excellent chain restaurant called Seasons 52, and there was even a separate vegan menu!

I had the Vegetable Plate, with roasted vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, fennel, carrots, golden beets and broccoli), grilled tofu and cranberry almond tabbouleh.

So maybe the 'burbs aren't so bad?

Monday, March 29, 2010

Dairy Farming: Bad for your health, bad for the planet

In today's Wall Street Journal, read "Manure Raises a New Stink."

'Nough said. For more info on this subject, read Johnathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

' “I like my vegan food to be sexy, dirty fun,” Ms. Silverstone chirped, her voice rising with the girlish lilt so memorable from her best-known role, the matchmaking high school princess Cher Horowitz in the 1995 movie “Clueless.” '

So says Alicia Silverstone in a recent New York Times article, "Vegan in Word and Deed."

Reporter Patrick Healy joined Alicia and her friends at her--and my--New York favorite, Candle 79. She's blogged about it a few times, I've blogged about it a few times...overall, it's just a favorite.

Alicia is really taking on the vegan world by storm with her book The Kind Life (recently no. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list for hardcover advice, how-to and miscellaneous books) and her blog of the same title. She's been vegan now for over 10 years.

Given the success of her book, could we begin to fathom the possibility that our diet is becoming more mainstream? That more people care about their health and are beginning to realize the impact of diet on their health, energy and overall well-being? Let's hope so.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Evolve into a Vegan Diet

A completely non-vegan friend sent me this link to the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart.

It is sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which, according to its website, is:
"doctors and laypersons working together for compassionate and effective medical practice, research and health promotion."

This site can support you as develop your vegan diet or as your just getting to know it:
Dr. Colin T. Campbell, author of The China Study, Dr. Andrew Weil, and others lend credibility to the group. Why do I like this organization and these doctors? It's because they promote the healthy lifestyle that we live and give us facts to support our choice to be vegan. Both Dr. Weil and, Dr. Campbell in particular, are advocates of the study of the link between diet and disease. Dr Campbell advocates a vegan diet for your best health.

I am not a huge believer in traditional medicine, and I tend not to trust doctors because of an awful experience I had during college trying to diagnose and treat a digestive problem. Long story short, it was lactose intolerance, but no doctor that treated me wanted to believe that could be a legitimate answer. After two weeks in the hospital, morphine drips, painkillers and others to relieve the constant pain in my stomach, my final visit to a traditional doctor ended with a quote I will never forget and that changed my life forever: "Well, I don't know what's wrong, but just keep eating normally, and it will probably clear up in 6 months to a year." Is that an answer? Is that the best that "medicine" can do? Suffer until you get better?!

Finally, after sharing my experience, a family friend suggested it may be lactose intolerance, and, lo and behold, once I eliminated dairy from my diet I started to feel better. I started researching alternative diets and eventually learned about--and began to experience--the amazing health benefits of going vegetarian, then vegan.

I respect and admire doctors who think beyond the bounds of traditional medicine, tests and treatments. I recommend this site to help you get started and stay committed to the diet part of a vegan lifestyle.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Eco-Fashion on Shop Bop

shopbop.com has a cool eco-fashion section. The skirt on the right is made out of recycled fabric by Re Collection.

Daily Candy also showed photos of the lines recycled, rocker chick.

Sunday Brunch in Yo' Own Kitchen

I made these waffles today for my non-vegan family for brunch today and--surprise!--everyone loved them. Actually, how about "no surprise"?! Vegan food is not only good tasting food but it is actually real food (note sarcasm). I'm getting a bit bitter about constantly explaining my choice to everyone who happens to be around when I'm eating a meal. "Why are you vegan, and how do you get enough protein?" have become tired, tired questions. I'm happy to share my reasons and share information on what I believe is a healthier lifestyle, so I should be happy that people ask.

But lately, I'm just tired! You don't hear me asking everyone, "so how did you choose to eat meat?" Probably because they never chose, they just did without thinking. Maybe it was how they're raised, and that's that.

I have been feeling on the defensive lately, perhaps because the question has been coming frequently. In some circles, vegetarianism is still a hippie thing, not a part of the mainstream. I could use a little break from all the scrutiny and, instead, a little open-mindedness and easy, quick acceptance.

Enough negativity! Make these waffles. I did, and they certainly put me in a good mood...

Barley Waffles
Makes 4 6-inch waffles
2 cups barley flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2cups soy- or rice milk
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 vegetable oil spray
1 fruit preserves or maple syrup, for topping

Preheat waffle iron. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, stir together non-dairy milk, syrup, vinegar, and oil. Combine the two mixtures and stir to mix. Lightly coat the waffle iron with vegetable oil spray, then pour in some of the batter and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with fruit preserves or syrup.

Source: Foods That Fight Pain by Neal Barnard, M.D.; recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Mimosas, Olsen Haus, Matt & Nat @ Arcadia

Mimosas....











Vegan shoes......











Vegan handbags......








.....an amazing afternoon of eco-shopping.

Arcadia hosted a Denim Brunch this past Saturday. Many of their eco-items, including vintage, were on sale. This amazing boutique carries so many fashionable, animal-friendly brands that, I have to admit, I was a little overwhelmed! Matt & Nat bags (which I just discovered at this event by the way) were the best find.

Arcadia's vintage display got me thinking...while it is great to purchase products that are made from eco- and animal-friendly materials, isn't it even better not to have to produce something at all? Why not save on the energy and all the other processes involved in manufacturing a new product and just re-use something already made? (Check out ReMade USA for a cool interpretation of re-used fashion.)

I'm not always a huge fan of vintage when it's a bit dirty, dingy and too worn-in, but, in some cases, not only can you find something fashionable, but you can reduce your impact on the environment, too, by not contributing to the production of something new. Just a thought.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Coffee + Cupcakes

Sweet Freedom, Philly's vegan bakery at Broad and South, is now coming into its own. It's starting to feel like a full-on cafe, with coffee (local La Colombe of course), tea and free wireless. Come spring there will be outdoor seating, too.

Now isn't that sweet.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Cook This

I copied this straight from my February 2010 Veg Newsletter. I couldn't resist! It looked so good that I had to share.

Moroccan Simmer

This incredible one-pot meal is sure to brighten the dreariest of February days, and leave you feeling not only nourished, but fabulous. Slightly sweet, slightly spicy, this recipe by VN contributor Patti Breitman knocks our socks off every time we make it. Added bonus? It boasts more than 300 milligrams of calcium per serving!

What You Need:
1 teaspoon canola oil
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1-3/4 cups orange juice (preferably calcium-fortified)
6 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
8 parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup dried figs, chopped
1/4 cup raisins
Pinch of cayenne pepper

What You Do:
In a large nonstick saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and cumin; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add orange juice, carrots, parsnips, figs, raisins, and cayenne. Simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes, and serve with rice or couscous.

NoLibs to the Rescue: Eco-Fashion Boutique Sells Vegan Shoes

Arcadia is Philly's eco-fashion boutique, and, even though Philly has no 100% vegan shoe stores, Aracadia sells my favorite Olsen Haus line of vegan shoes plus a number of other hot, vegan styles.

An incredible find given the fact that ordering shoes online never works out well. You have to order three different sizes hoping one fits, and regardless you always have to ship a few pairs back! Online shopping is not ideal, so I'm very happy to find vegan shoes sold by a Philly boutique.




More about Melissa Shoes and her collaboration with Vivienne Westwood




Arcadia is all about promoting a sustainable lifestyle, not only through fashion but through travel as well. The team at Arcadia helps plan group and individual sustainable travel through away@Arcadia.

Sidenote: NoLibs is one of the best spots in Philly to find businesses oriented toward supporting our sustainable lifestyle. Whether through food, fashion or other products, NoLibs is Philly's vegan, eco-conscious hub. Not that there aren't great spots all over Philly, but NoLibs seems to concentrate that energy. More to explore...

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Gianna's Grille: Don't EVER get your hopes up with this one

I went to Gianna's Grille today at 6th and South to get a big, fat piece of cake and soft serve soy ice cream today, and what a HUGE, MAJOR disappointment! No soy ice cream (machine is broken?) and no cake...why no cake? Apparently the owners were too lazy to bake today. What a shame, I will never go back to that dirty, greasy place.

No longer will I waste my time on these silly bakeries. Why not just bake myself? Much more reliable and less expensive. First one I'll be trying is from a recipe from a blog called the Baking Bird. I can't wait to make this chocolate peanut butter cake.


Next on the list are two recipes from Post Punk Kitchen: rich chocolate cake and fudge frosting.

My NYC Vegan-Eatin' Adventure!

Candle 79, Upper East Side, NYC

Whoops, sorry, nothing left...it was ravioli

Avocado and quinoa salad topped with toasted pumpkin seeds

Chile-glazed seitan

Onto dessert! Two scoops of vanilla fudge marble ice cream and one scoop kahlua

And finally, dessert #2, Mexican chocolate brownie with a roasted banana and coconut ice cream

Take that Alicia!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Coup de SEITAN Tacos!

I have waited and waited to post this because I've wanted to try the tacos for myself first so that, instead of the screenshot of Coup de Taco's website, I could post a ridiculous picture of me devouring a BBQ seitan taco! But then I realized I shouldn't be so selfish and deny the rest of Philly a chance to try a taco first, so....

If you're in University City and craving cheap vegan eats swing by Philly's only vegan taco truck on 40th between Locust and Spruce. Grab a Tikka Masala seitan taco for your bus ride back to Center City, or take a BBQ seitan rice bowl to class.

While there is chicken on the menu, I'm convinced it is only to lure the non-vegans to a source of cheap, tasty veg fare. Once they see a BBQ seitan rib taco, how could they ever order meat again?!
I'm sure Jeff (my grad school classmate!), Peter and Richie totally persuade everyone to go with the veg....in fact, Jeff was originally interested in starting a vegetarian fast food restaurant, but somehow his idea morphed into a food truck. Go figure, but lucky for us!

Follow the Coup crew's food truck start-up adventures here.

Stella's Summer 2010, Way Hot, Way

Stella's Faux Suede Platform Scalloped Ryden Sandal is fabulously, fashionably, faux, but also fabulously, fashionably out of most of our price ranges!

While it may not be realistic for all of us to support our veg fashion desires by committing to wearing only Stella McCartney clothes and shoes, at least we have a successful, recognized, vegan fashion representative in the ranks of high fashion. She stands for animal-friendly values, and, through her, more and more people in the industry will learn, understand and hopefully incorporate our beliefs into their design and into their lifestyles.


NeuAura Shoes: Just a Preview, Profile to Come

I'm definitely feeling this shoe by Neuaura. I've come across the brand several times while shoe site-ing for Olsen Haus and Cri de Coeur.

Overall not quite as stylish as the other brands I like, but there are a few gems in the line like "Kettle Gray" pictured here. I love the detail that makes this more than just a plain old gray pump. The shape of the heel and the extra material that encloses the foot almost like a little bootie makes them unique and interesting to wear.

Full designer profile TBD, but here's a preview. Launched by yet another fashion-forward vegetarian (there are so many of us!), Arti Upadhyay had been in the shoe industry for the past decade and had launched several successful national brands. Lamenting the lack of fashionable animal-friendly footwear, and finding many other women with the same complaint, she decided to create her line. More style-inspired info to come.


Cri de Coeur: Designer Profile

Apparently I'm not the only one who noticed just how poor the vegan shoe selection is. Why does it have to be difficult to find mindfully made, stylish shoes? While most of us are not in a position to solve the problem except through how we spend, fortunately there are fashion designers out there who have the creative energy and design experience to do something about it and help out the rest of us!

Gina Ferraraccio is one of these designers. This Nolita designer launched Cri de Coeur, a vegan fashion shoe brand, in 2007. She has been a vegetarian for 12 years, and, after attending Parsons School of Design and working in various parts of the fashion industry, her concept of a trendy, vegan shoe line was born. Rather than trade off style for her personal philosophies, and to finally put to rest conflicted feelings associated with wearing leather, she created and launched her brand.

Given recent consumer interest in eco-friendly fashion and her long-time commitment to the environment, Gina focuses on using only eco-friendly vegan materials in her shoes. Suede microfiber, canvas, chambray and rubber composite are just some of the materials she uses. Cri de Coeur also purchases to carbon credits to offset its carbon footprint and sponsors reforestation, planting a tree with the purchase of every shoe.

Not only has Fagiolina been posting about Gina and Cri de Coeur for the past couple of months, but Elle, Lucky, InStyle, Marie Claire and Daily Candy have all given props for the designer's hot styles and vegan ethic.

However, Gina's clear that her shoes are not just for vegans--they're for anyone who wants to wear a fashionable shoe. Listen to Gina talk about her shoes here and read an interview with Gina here.

Now, come on, I know that really all you want to do is buy the shoes!

To sign up for the newsletter, find a listing of local stores that sell the line and stay up on the latest collections: www.cri-de-coeur.com

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

And the Best Veg in Reykjavik Is...

I just spent a long weekend in Reykjavik, Iceland. Surprisingly, not only was it not as cold as I thought it would be, but there was less snow on the ground than in Phillly!

Also, surprisingly, there were two excellent, casual vegetarian restaurants right downtown. Neither were purely vegan, but all the staff at both restaurants knew exactly which menu items to point out when I asked for meat-, dairy- and egg-free options.

The first restaurant was Á Næstu Grösum. I ordered at the counter from a buffet, mall-Chinese-food-style, of vegetarian dishes. Diners could order from the buffet and then sit down and eat in the spacious cafe, or to do takeaway. I ordered a combination of a mint-flavored, green-colored cous cous and a ratatouille to go. I really wanted a dessert, but unfortunately none of the options were vegan.


Not bad, but the second veg restaurant I found, Græn Kostur, was better, although the selection was much more limited.

I think it had to do with the trendy, thoughtful design of the restaurant (pitchers of water flavored with mint, fresh lemon and orange wedges lined a shelf under the chalkboard menu on the wall). Overall the experience was just much more appealing. The style of service was similar, but it felt much more honest in it's "counter style." The first restaurant almost seemed to be trying to be a "real" restaurant, while the second happily provided tasty, reasonably priced vegan options in a casual, upscale fast-food atmosphere.
Maybe it was the peanut sauce that got me? Maybe the vegan banana pie and chocolate-pecan dessert made me like it? Regardless, I ordered a rice, noodle and tofu with peanut sauce meal that was exactly what I was looking for. Chunks of eggplant rested in the peanut sauce and were tasty with a bite of brown rice.

Dinner:


Dessert (two of course!):

The inspirations were American, Asian, Indian and more...overall it just worked.

Both cafes offered fresh, flavorful veg options for the Reykjavik traveler seeking the same pleasure in food that traveling companions find in Icelandic meat delicacies. There is something for everyone in Iceland, and being a vegetarian won't spoil your dining pleasure. So eat, travel and enjoy!