Fagiolena in London

Back in February I moved to London, and now I have a whole new city of vegan restaurants and bakeries to explore. So many neighborhoods, so many places to try...Saf in Shoreditch, Mildred's in Soho, and more than I can count in Camdentown.

Last weekend, though, I was shopping a bit by myself and hungry for some good veg. I headed off of Oxford Street, turned down Wardour and ended up at Vitao, a delicious Asian-influenced buffet. Delicious vegan options beyond any buffet you can imagine...cabbage, aubergine in a white, aromatic sauce, sauteed broccoli, lentil dahl and other Indian, Nepali and Asian-style dishes.

So tasty, that I had to close out with a delicious slice of double chocolate cake. Fantastic! I will be going back soon, and next time I will get a smoothie..

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.

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.

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...

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

Alicia Silverstone: A Weekend of Eating in NYC

I will be following Alicia's footsteps next time I'm in New York. Check out her latest blog update here.

She hit up Counter, one of my favorites, but also Souen, a macrobiotic restaurant, and Hangawi, plus also ate some desserts from Candle 79. My next trip to New York will definitely be gluttonous. Start eating!

Thoreau Restaurant Was--

So good! I absolutely loved it! I dragged my poor friends out in the snow last nigh to try this new spot, and I am so happy that I did.

We started with the Green Curry Mango Summer Rolls, which were rice paper wrappers filled with carrots and parsnips, flavored just enough but not overpowered by a dipping sauce drizzled on the plate.

For dinner, I ordered the Blue Plate, which was overall very good, although the edamame and corn succotash that lined the bottom of the plate under the blue mashed potato and glazed mushrooms looked surprisingly like the frozen variety I buy at Trader Joe's. Regardless, the mushrooms were sweet, and the potatoes were slightly salty, which encouraged me to mix a bit of both every time I took a bite.

My friend ordered the Shepherd's Pie, which was actually more of a soup topped with white mashed potatoes. Beneath the potato was couscous, a mix of large chunks of vegetables, and a green sauce. The Tamarind Peanut Noodles rounded out our collection of entrees, and they were excellent, too. A lot of flavors, a lot of vegetables, and all very nicely put together.

I loved the use of vegetables in a variety of different ways: pureed, cut into large chunks (my favorite!), roasted and mashed, grilled and seasoned. Almost everything on the menu could be made vegan if it wasn't already. Even the ancho chile butter served with the bread at the beginning of dinner came in a vegan variety!

It was so delicious that I ate so much I had no room for dessert. There was one vegan dessert on the menu that I remember looked good, but, in my food coma, I just couldn't bring myself to order it nor, apparently, remember what it was.

Five stars for this new addition to the Philly gourmet veg scene. It is of the quality of Horizons but a bit different in terms of flavors, ingredients and approach to vegan food. I'm happy to have two great restaurants to choose from when I want to go out to a good dinner, and I will definitely be going back!

Su Tao, Su Tao, Oh Don't the Burbs Have Anything Better to Offer Than Su Tao?

Out in the Philly 'burbs there just aren't many vegan options. I thought the best I would ever find would be the Whole Foods (where I could mix and match at the salad bar all day!), but, a few months into my new job, wasn't I happy to learn that right off of Rt. 30 near Paoli a vegan restuarant existed?!

Su Tao is an Asian vegan restaurant. In true suburban style, it has a full menu but also offers a buffet at both lunch and dinner. I went last week with a friend and was a bit disappointed. Perhaps all the great veg dining options in Philly have spoiled me! Don't get me wrong, I was happy to find any vegan eats out in the middle-of-nowhere Main Line suburbs, but Su Tao was greasier, heavier and just not as tasty as I had hoped.

I decided to live it up and try the buffet, and the salad bar portion of it was unexpectedly good. Fresh greens, cold noodles and various pickles (including kimchee) were all on display and tasty. The miso soup at the end of the bar was also very good. The hot bar, however, left much to be desired and didn't quite convert my non-vegan dining companion! The spicy eggplant was coated in a thick sauce, the veg fried rice was overly greasy, the mock meat dishes were coated in a brown sauce, the tofu was fried. I did enjoy the steamed vegetable dumplings (can't mess them up!) as well as some steamed bok choy, but other than that, I could have skipped the hot food and stuck with the salad bar.

The biggest disappointment, though, was dessert. When I asked where the dessert bar was--having gotten excited after reading about the vegan ice cream on the menu--the waitress pointed to a bowl full of Whole Foods private label Oreo cookies. Really?

Props to Su Tao for even existing, but please try to give vegan food a good name.

More Upscale Veg Options for Philly Veggies

While Philly has its share of all kinds of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, not all of them are consistently tasty, inspired, interesting places to dine. Govinda's is ok, MiLah is good, Farmicia is really good but not totally vegetarian, and Horizons is excellent. This week, we might have another excellent to add to our weekend dining rotation here in Philly. Chef Mike Jackson opens his new Loft District vegetarian grille, Thoreau Restaurant, this Tuesday night.

While I've never eaten at his first restaurant in the suburbs, Blue Sage Vegetarian Grille, I've heard a lot about it. If Thoreau lives up to the reputation of its predecessor, than I think we will see our options begin to expand.

The menu looks delicious, inspired by a range of cuisines like Malaysian, all ranges of Latin American and more with plenty of avocado and interesting vegetable dishes. Jackson certainly doesn't rely on tofu and seitan to fill out the "meat" portion of the plate but instead looks to create vegetable-based meals with layered flavors. Vegans beware--looks like cheese plays a role at times, but fortunately most meals don't appear to rely on dairy.

Looking forward to writing a review soon!

Vegan Bakery Heaven Finally Comes to Philly....

Yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I wanted to buy cupcakes to celebrate the occasion. I turned to Yelp to find out what was nearby, and--totally unexpectedly--a vegan bakery popped onto the screen! Sweet Freedom just opened two weeks ago right next to Govinda's at Broad and South.

I picked up vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. The chocolate cupcakes were cocoa-y, the vanilla cupcakes slightly nutty, the frosting was rich and not too sweet. Excellent cupcakes and so good that my non-vegan mom savored every bite.

When I picked up my cupcakes, the owner (brunette in the picture on the website), told me all about the brand new bakery and how she just got back from a trip to NYC to give Alicia Silverstone a sample of all Sweet Freedom's treats. I'm sure we can expect a comment on her blog, The Kind Life, soon.

Next time I'm going to try the Magic Bars, a coconut-chocolate concoction, and the chocolate-chip cookie sandwich. Reminds me of the menu at BabyCakes in the Lower East Side in NYC. Thank goodness we finally have our own vegan bakery started by some local gals (the blonde in the website photo looks strikingly similar to a woman who goes to my yoga studio...) here in downtown Philly!

Skip fine dining, stick to the cafe at Govinda's

Last weekend I went to Govinda's. A small, vegan, fast-food-like cafe on Broad and South Street, Govinda's opens up the back room for sit-down dining on the weekends. Well, let's just say that next time I'm just going to stick to the cafe.

The most disappointing thing about Govinda's menu was that it was all based on faux meat. No pure tofu, seitan or vegetable dishes but only "scallops," "chicken," etc. The best part of the meal were the veg samosas we had for appetizers, and those actually were on display in the cafe.

The cakes looked excellent, though, so next time just the cafe and dessert for me.

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?

Celeb-vegan

My favoriate fashion magazine, Elle, had an article a few months ago on The Veronicas as part of their music issue. In the article, "The Veronicas Eat L.A.,"Elle takes the Veronicas to hot eateries in L.A., including a MexiCali-Korean food truck, where they taste all the new vegan-eatin' the city has to offer. Props to Elle for featuring fun new artists (they always write about cool new indie bands and singers that I always end up looking up on iTunes and then, without a doubt, end up buying some songs) plus detailing the vegan adventures of these artists.

On another note, Philly is food-truck heaven, particularly University City. One of the best is Magic Carpet, is the best for veggies.

Mission: Vegan Dessert

How annoying is it to go out with your friends for ice cream, gelato, etc. etc.? Well, I for one am sick of it! Never a non-dairy dessert to be found from your average seller of sweets. For as long as I have been vegan I have wondered why ice cream parlours don't offer at least one non-dairy option beyond your boring, flavorless sorbet. What about the rich desserts? Why can't we eat them, too?

My favorite dessert after dark chocolate covered pretzels and maybe my mom's tofu pumpkin pie is vegan ice cream. I like it all: soy-based, rice-based, coconut-milk based. As long as it is not a fruit flavor, I'm all about it. Well, now our vegan dreams (or potentially just mine) have been answered! A purely vegan ice cream store. In my vegan eats reading I came across a review of Stogo, a non-dairy organic ice cream shop in the East Village. (Of course New York City has everything a vegan could want to eat--on the East Coast at least--and that includes ice cream.) Flavors include chocolate, chocolate chip cookie, toasted almond joy, oatmeal raisin cookie, and of course some fruit flavors for those of you who are not all about decadent, sweet 'n savory tastes like me. I envision a delicious bowl of chocolate, chocolate chip cookie and peanut butter fudge with some kind of vegan chocolate topping to polish it off. So delish!

When not in NYC and without any soy-based ice cream outside of the pint variety to be found (except I have heard Gianna's down near South Street has vegan soft serve, though I've yet to try it), I'm a pretty big fan of Turtle Mountain's Purely Decadent Peanut Butter Zig Zag.

If you are as big a fan as I am of the choco-peanut butter combo, then you might want to try out this recipe for chocolate peanut butter pie.

In my laziness, though, I usually just head over to Last Drop Cafe at 13th and Pine and pick up a peanut butter cup brownie made by Vegan Treats. The actual bakery is in Bethlehem, PA but thank goodness they sell their decadent cakes, doughnuts, brownies and cookies throughout Philly.

Stogo, here I come. But please, when will you come to Philly?