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.

Olsen Haus, Open-toe Bootie

Olsen Haus, Babylon flat

Olsen Haus, Enchantment heel

Ruby Boot

Melissa Gold Flat

More about Melissa Shoes and her collaboration with Vivienne Westwood

Olsen Haus, Shortie Bootie

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...

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!

I just returned from a much-needed vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I was looking forward to sun, sand and of course lots of dancing and partying! I also was looking forward to lots of rice and beans, figuring that was going to be my best vegan option, with a little guac on top to round out my Mexican "dining" experience.


Little did I know that our hotel would be right next to a natural food restaurant called 100% Natural...tofu, seitain and all other kinds of vegetarian and vegan options filled the menu. Fresh fruit juices and other delicious items completed the meal.


To commemorate our last night in Playa, my friends and I had dinner at 100% Natural for the last time (several dinners later), and I ate a "Arroz-ote." Not quite sure if it's a modified version of an authentic Mexican dish, but it was freakin' good. Broccoli, spinach, tofu and brown rice all stir-fried in a soy-based sauce.

The best meal, though, which I unfortunately didn't take a picture of, was the seitan tacos. Three flour tortillas filled with perfectly spice seitan (kind of like a dry rub), with sauteed peppers and onions, sprouts, spinach, and a side of guac. It was so good that I think I'll be trying to recreate that one here at home...now how do I recreate that hot DJ we danced with at the club?