(source)

We had planned months ago to run the Disney Half Marathon but due to Neil hitting his head we decided to defer our entry fees to the 2012 Disney Wine & Dine Half next November.  We also decided to cancel our trip all together due to the fact we had no idea when Neil would get the letter for us to go for his interview.  We did ended up keeping our flight down due to the fact that it would cost us more to cancel it- crazy right?- and debated heading to Florida last minute since our flight wasn’t until Thursday evening but ultimately decided not to go because flights home were outrageous.  So we went with Plan B which was a debate over Boston and New Haven but we ultimately decided to head to Saratoga Springs, NY (I know not Boston or New Haven) because it was closer and less expensive.

First things first though we packed and then headed out for a celebratory lunch at The Farmhouse per the birthday boys request and then we hit the road to Saratoga Springs.

I ended up getting a really great deal on Hotwire for the Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs which was conveniently located right downtown within walking distance to a ton of eateries and shops.  We checked in and headed to the room where we promptly took a nap.

(source)

After our nap I did a little research on places to eat and ultimately the birthday boy decided he wanted to try Chianti Il Ristorante a nice Italian restaurant only a 10 minute walk from the hotel.  We walked in and I was instantly impressed by the decor of the restaurante and the friendly staff.  We were seated and took a quick look over the menu before inquiring about their vegan options, there were surprisingly a number of options and we lucked out because  our server was well informed and helpful in making our decision.

I apologize now for the poor iphone photos but they’re all I have.

We started with the PAPPA AL POMODORO CON FARRO a quick peasant style tomato and farro stew, olive oil and crushed crisp olive oil croutons.  This was easily our favorite dish, if I had known how amazing it was going to be I would have ordered myself a bowl for my entree.

 We enjoyed this dish with (too much) tasty fresh bread with balsamic and olive oil to dip in.

 For our main course we both decided to get the special which was the Spaghetti Dai Monti which was filled with oyster and shiitake mushrooms that were pan seared with garlic, olive oil, white wine and truffle oil.  We also ordered a side of sauteed spinach with garlic just to add something green to our meal. Both the pasta and the spinach were delicious and the portions were huge so we ended up taking half our meals to go, but left just enough room for dessert, a nice bowl of lemon and coconut sorbets.

After our dinner walked back to the hotel and took a dip in the pool then it was off to bed for another fun filled day. (more to come)

Birthday Boy!

*I debated discussing our immigration journey on the blog but have  decided that somethings just need to be kept private however if you have any specific questions please feel free to e-mail me and I will answer your questions the best I can.

How could I pass up a date with this hunk?

Since we are trying to be more frugal with our dining out we decided to use one of our Living Social deals to Asiana Noodle Shop, a favorite spot of ours where I usually get a giant bowl of noodle and vegetable soup that I could fit my whole head in.  Last night neither of us were in the mood for noodles so we flipped to the back of their extensive menu and decided to both get sushi.

Neil got the

It was so delicious and came with a bowl of miso soup that he kindly shared with me.

I ordered the Union Maki which was so delicious and MASSIVE but don’t worry I had no trouble eating the whole thing, I even ate the salad on the side.  I was hoping that Asiana had a description of the roll on their online menu but they don’t seem to but basically it was filled with asparagus, fried tofu, cucumber and sesame peanut sauce rolled and topped with tofu skin and avocado- DELICIOUS!

After dinner we walked around, popped in Stone Soup for a vegan macaroon and then we were off to the movies to see Margin Call.

So this is when I proceeded to have the most expensive nap of my life.  The movie cost $9.25 (remember the good ol’days when movies were like $5?) well I made it about half way through and I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. The movie wasn’t bad or boring so much as just really slow and not that exciting.  I decided it just wasn’t a theater movie for me.  I would have done so much better watching it at home while multitasking.  The Hubz on the other hand really enjoyed the movie, he agreed that at times it was really slow moving but he really enjoyed all the character development.

Have you ever fallen asleep at the movies? 

After my run and yoga class Neil and I decided to take ourselves out for a dinner at one of our favorite restaurants A Single Pebble.  Honestly some of the best Chinese food that I’ve ever had and always great service.  Last night I started with a seltzer, decided I needed to hydrate after all of my activities.

For dinner we had the scallion pancakes, general chou’s mock chicken (requested vegan), dry fried green beans (requested vegan) and double garlic broccoli.

Everything was delicious and we had tons of leftovers, which we ate for breakfast, whoops!

Now we’re off to the farmers market and to run a few errands.  Enjoy your Saturday!

We ended up picking up a few goodies on our way out including this giant 4lb bag of organic quinoa (swoon).

Following our Costco trip we took my dad out for a “thank you beer” and then we both headed on our way. Since it was getting late and Neil and I hadn’t spent much time together over the past few days we decided to have a spontaneous date night at El Gato Cantina where we dined on delicious Mexican food and I caught Neil up on Gossip Girl.

A few weeks ago I e-mailed El Gato Cantina to inquire about vegan options and this was the response from their chef:

“So, for our vegan options, we have the vegan taco(sheffield seitan marinated in a sweet and spicy ancho chilie sauce), veggie tamales (the veggies in the tamales changes due to seasonality, as of right now they are sweet corn, pablano peppers and tomato), guacamole and chips, all 4 of our salsas, black beans, all of our meat dishes can be subbed out for seitan, and we have two veggie tacos that can easily be made vegan sans the cheese.”

Just FYI the rice is not vegan but they will happily double up your order of black beans which are amazing.  The staff is also very knowledgeable about which options are vegan. Last night I had my heart set on the seitan tacos but just before we ordered, our waiter informed us that they were all out of the seitan. WAH! Well I decided to try the black bean tostada with no cheese and extra beans and it was amazing.  Neil also ordered the tostada and added a veggie tamale which was so good.

After a busy afternoon and a late night (for us) we headed home to do our yoga session for 30 Days of Yoga.  Probably wasn’t the greatest idea, since I was filled to the brim with Mexican food,  but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.

I am now off to get ready to conquer the day which will involve work, organizing my elliptical free office, running and yoga.

What’s on your agenda? 

Our favorite dishes: Vegan Buddha’s Beef (request vegan), Mock Eel, Double Garlic Broccoli, Vegan Dry Fried Green Beans (request vegan) and Vegan Dan Dan Noodles (request vegan).

Chrysanthemum Tea

Vegetable Potstickers

Vegan Chow Fun Noodles

Mushrooms with Sesame Sauce

Double Garlic Broccoli

Shortly after getting to work I was ready for a snack so I broke out my homemade trail mix. In the mix there is raw cashews, almonds, pistachios, tamari-wasasbi almonds, fruit sweetened cranberries, raw pumpkin seeds and mulberries- such a good combination.

Lunch was leftovers from dinner chickpea chili in a wrap, a quick and easy way to transition dinner to an easy lunch. I love wrapping leftovers in a tortilla.

My work day ended and I head straight to the gym to get out 2.5 Miles for Ashley right on track for my half marathon training plan. After my run I stretched and foam rolled, holy hell I haven’t foam rolled in awhile and the foam roller was having a love-hate relationship with my IT band. Reminder to self: FOAM ROLL MORE!

Following my gym sesh I had a health coaching sesh which went really well. I have great clients and I love working with them.

Now it’s time to relax a.k.a. work on the couch for a bit while I ice my knees and enjoy a glass of vino.

REWIND

Anniversary Dinner:
Tuesday was Neil and I’s 5 Anniversary since we got together. We have been married for 3 years and we don’t usually celebrate our dating anniversary but since it was 5 years it was a big deal and the Hubz decided to surprise me with dinner at a new restaurant, The Bobcat Cafe.

Neil called, checked on vegan options and made a reservation (big deal he never does this) and I swooned. Then we enjoyed an amazing dinner:

Started the Night with a Beer- Bobcat Cafe is also a brewery!

Then we started with the Black Bean Gazpacho and...

a Green Salad with an amazing Roasted Corn and Basil Dressing

The star of the show was the 5-Spiced Tofu A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Overall Bobcat Cafe was amazing. The food was incredible, the service was great and the beer was good. The atmosphere was a mixture of classy restaurant and a pub- which made for a wonderful place to eat.

Q. If you’re married to you celebrate your dating anniversary?

Iced Coffee and Avocado Hummus Wrap

After lunch we decided to extended our adventure and head a few more hours south to Northampton MA. Northampton is one of my favorite spots to wonder, shop and enjoy a beer.

After wondering around Northampton we stopped into Target to pick up bathing suites (i.e. gym clothes we can wear into the pool) and then checked into the hotel. We decided to get in a quick pool workout since we didn’t pack running clothes for our spontaneous trip. After a hard pool workout we got dressed and headed out to dinner at Fresh Side in Amherst.

After a beautiful weekend that took us through Vermont, New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire we are experiencing extreme devastation thanks to Irene.

Beautiful Weather Friday and Saturday

I’ve spent my birthday inside flipping between episodes of Gilmore Girls and the news while following saddening tweets about the destruction throughout Vermont:

I hope that everyone affected by the hurricane/tropical storm are staying safe.

This is a continuation of my first Vegan Philly post- this post features exclusively vegetarian and vegan restaurant. You can read my Philly vegan friendly omni restaurant post here.

 Rating system: 

• 1 –> 3 or less vegan options
• 2 –> 4-5 vegan options (at least one entree)
• 3 –> 6-7 vegan options (at least one entree)
• 4 –> 8-9 vegan options (at least two entrees)
• 5 –> 10+ vegan options (at least two entrees)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blackbird Pizzeria: 507 s 6th st, Philadelphia, PA, 19147 | contact@blackbirdpizzeria.com | 215.625.6660
Rating: 5 (all vegan) Check out the menu here

Mi Lah: 218 South 16th Street, Philadelphia

Rating: 5 (all vegan) Check out the menu here.

Mamas Vegetarian: 18 South 20th St, Philadelphia, PA
Rating: 5 Check out menu here

Basic 4 Vegetarian Cafe: Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Arch, Philadelphia 

Rating: 5 (veg and vegan options) Check out the menu here.

Sweet Freedom Bakery:1424 South Street (between Broad and 15th), Philadelphia, PA 19146 

Rating: 5 (vegan) Check out options here.

• Govinda’s Gourmet Vegetarian:1408 SouthStreet, Philadelphia, PA 19146
• Rating: 5 (mixture of vegetarian and vegan) Check out the menu here
• Loving Hut: 742 South Street- Philly
• Rating: 5 (vegan) Check out the menu here.
• New Harmony: 135 North 9th Street- Philly
• Rating: 5 (Vegan) 
• Veggie Lovers: 225 North 11th Street- Philly (Vegetarian)
• Philadelphia Chutney Co.: 1628 Sansom Street, Philly (Vegetarian)
•  Maoz

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I don’t know if you’ve picked up on this yet but I am a crazy planner.  My husband likes to pick on me because I will do 50+ hours of research for a weekend trip.  However he won’t complain when we get there and I know where the good things are (as long as I don’t get us lost).  One of the biggest projects I take on is finding great places with vegan eats.  Yes I know there are tons of vegan/vegetarian places in Philly but we are going with omni friends so it is important for me to find places that are good for both of us. Here is my guide to Philly (omni restaurant) dining (FYI this gives you an idea of what you can eat at these restaurants it is not a review of the restaurant because frankly I haven’t been- I will do a review of the ones we do visit upon our return):

 Rating system: 

• 1 –> 3 or less vegan options
• 2 –> 4-5 vegan options (at least one entree)
• 3 –> 6-7 vegan options (at least one entree)
• 4 –> 8-9 vegan options (at least two entrees)
• 5 –> 10+ vegan options (at least two entrees)

• The Capellini & Sauteed Tofu
• FARMiCiA Salad
• Tuscan Grain Salad
• Beet & Fennel Salad
• French Lentil Salad
• Mega Dose of Vegetables & Grains
• Tres Tamales
• Corn Risotto Croquettes
• Scrambled Tofu & Vegan Chorizo Sausage atop vegan sopaipilla w/ refried black beans & avocado salsa (brunch only)
• Coconut Lime & Mango(vegan) Sorbet

Verti Ristorante: 1312 Spruce Street, Philadelphia

Rating: 3

Now that summer is upon us, we have plenty of great vegan options. The farmers are dropping product off every day. We also have a variety of pastas that we make in house that do not contain eggs. We recently have been receiving polenta from upstate New York that is out of this world as well.

Options: Egg-less pasta with marinara, a marinara pizza, and vegetable anti-pasti platter.

 The following dishes are or can be made vegan:

• Appetizers- roasted beet and watermelon chaat salad; chilled sesame cucumber; english pea-potato samosas
• Entrees- vegetarian thali; south indian “uttapam”
• Breads- carrot-coconut paratha; potato paratha
• Sides- chana masala; grilled asparagus; spicy tomato cauliflower

El Rey: 2013 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 215.563.3330
Rating: 5

The following is a list of dishes that are vegan or can be modified to be vegan:

• Sopa de Hongos (wild mushroom soup)
• Chayote Salad (corn pickled red onion, avocado, lime vinaigrette)
• Sopa de Tortilla **NO chicharron/ NO cheese/ NO crema (tomato broth, crisp tortilla)
• Guacamole with tortilla chips
• Chips & salsa
• Zucchini blossoms & corn quesadilla **NO cheese
• Huitlacoche (mexican corn truffle) quesadilla **NO cheese
• Chilaquiles **ONLY tossed in salsa verde / NO egg, NO cheese, NO crema
• Black Bean enchiladas **NO cheese, NO crema
• Portobello tacos **NO shallots
• **VEGGIE Gorditas **NO hard boiled egg
• **VEGGIE tostada **NO cheese, NO crema
• Rice
• Refried black beans **NO cheese
• Corn on the cob **NO cheese
• Esquites (warm corn salad)

Royal Tavern: 937 East Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia

Rating: 3

Vegan Options:

Brunch:

• Tofu & Tempeh Hash roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, breakfast potatoes, toast
• Vegan Bacon

Lunch:

• Wakame Seaweed & Soba Noodle Salad tofu croutons, cucumbers, red bell peppers, toasted peanuts, ginger dressing
• Tempeh Club  grilled tempeh, vegan bacon, lettuce, tomato, basil aioli
• Vegan Sloppy Joe vegan beef, spicy tomato sauce, smoked coleslaw, pickled jalapeños
• Grilled Sweet Potato Bánh Mì bibb lettuce, jícama, carrots, pickled daikon, jalapeños, cilantro aioli
• Chips ‘n’ Salsa

Dinner: (lunch options plus)

• Mixed Greens Salad  bacon, grilled asparagus, tangelo, shaved fennel, grana padano, limoncello vinaigrette
• Refried Bean
• Grilled Asparagus
• Grilled Stuffed Grape Leave

Rating: TBD (three explicitly vegan options- there maybe more)

There may be brunch and lunch options- I would call them directly to find out.
Vegan Dinner options:

• Vegan Beef Tacos - topped with onions and cilantro
• Vegan Beef Burrito - flour tortilla with rice and black beans
• Fajitas Vegan - wild mushrooms, peppers, onions, black beans, white rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, flour tortillas  with seitan chicken and smoked tofu

Vegan Options

• Mixta Salad- avocado, hearts of palm, jicama, orange sections, radishes, almonds, mixed greens, piquin chile vinaigrette
• Nopal Salad- grilled cactus paddle, red onion, tomato, jalapeno, pumpkin seeds, mixed greens, smoked paprika vinaigrette
• Papaya Salad – green papaya, papaya escabeche, avocado, red onion,cilantro, papaya seed vinaigrette
• Gucacamole- with chips
• Tacos – topped with onions, cilantro with vegetables or vegan beef
• Burrito- flour tortilla with white rice, black beans, onions, cilantro with vegetables or vegan beef
• Yuca fries
• Wild Mexican Greens
• Amaranth Salad

Kyhber Pass Pub: 56 South Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 |T 215.238.5888

Rating: 4

Vegan Options:

• Fresh Popped  Vegan Buttered Popcorn cajun seasoning
• Vegan BBQ Pulled Pork spicy vinegar-ketchup barbecue sauce, coleslaw
• Grilled  Vegan Sausage our seitan sausage patties, lettuce,roasted poblanos, red onion, pickles, creole mustard, vegan mayo
• Po-boys  Leidenheimer roll, dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickles, vegan mayo, creole mustard with vegan fried chicken
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Fries
• Collard Greens
• Mashed Potatoes
• Vegan Coleslaw

Memphis Taproom: 2331 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Rating: 4

Vegan Options

Brunch:

• VEGAN ROOSTER -Tofu scramble with vegan blood sausage, smoked coconut, roasted new potatoes and toast
• MIX GREEN SALAD -English cucumbers, wit bier citronett
• VEGGIEBURGER -Roasted vegetable, white bean and quinoa patty, with lettuce and tomato

Lunch/Dinner:

• MIX GREEN SALAD -English cucumbers, wit bier citronett
• VEGGIEBURGER -Roasted vegetable, white bean and quinoa patty, with lettuce and tomato
• GRILLED PEACH -Buckwheat noodles, sesame, cucumber, cilantro
• CHARRED STRING BEANS-roasted red pepper cumin vinaigrette
• CHICKEN FRIED PORTABELLO-Basil mayo, iceberg, spicy pickles
• SMOKED COCONUT CLUB -Grilled lemon garlic tofu, smoked coconut, tomato herb mayo
• SHITAKE SHNITZEL-Smoked potato salad, braised red cabbage, mustard “cream” sauce

• Coffee, Tea, Lattes
• Vegan Treats
• Tofu Scramble with roasted vegetables, hash browns and toast
• Tofu Egg Sandwich curried tofu roasted vegetable scramble with lettuce and tomato on a bagel
• Vegan Pancakes with blueberry jam and Earth Balance
• One Shot Oatmeal- steel cut oats, raisins, almond, cinnamon and sugar
• The Happy HummusWrap
• Hummus Salad
• Vegan Scrapple
• Bagel dry or with Earth Balance

The Franklin Fountain: 116 Market Street Philadelphia 

Rating: 5 (because it has vegan ice cream and thats why you go there)

Good Dog Bar: 224 South 15th Street,Philadelphia, PA 19102
Rating: 3

Vegan Options:

• Beet Salad- without the horseradish cram
• Drunken Hummus
• Veggie Burger- without the curry mayo
• Vegetarian Sloppy Joe
• Fries
• Side of Vegetable

Vegan Options

• Warm Spinach Dip & Pita Chips Roasted garlic, fried onions, mornay sauce
• Mixed Green SaladEnglish cucumbers, grape tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette
• Chips-N-Dip Sea-salt chips, French onion dip
• Grilled Peach Salad Avocado, baby arugula, sesame wasabi vinaigrette
• Shrooms and Chips  Chicken-fried portabella strips, maple mustard, red bbq sauce
• Mac Provencal  Sundried tomatoes, soy mornay, olives, rosemary, orange zest
• Pastrami Spiced Seitan Reuben-Sauerkraut, Secret Sauce, rye
• Black Bean Burger -Served with lettuce, tomato and onion and a pile of handcut fries

Black N Brew: 1523 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia

Rating: 3

Vegan Options

Breakfast:

• Oatmeal Served with your choice of brown sugar, raisins, blueberries, bananas, maple syrup,
• Tofu Scramble Tofu, salsa, black beans, hummus, and curry seasoning. Served with greens and toast.
• Vegan Blueberry Bars
• Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Lunch:

• Hummus Duo Garlic Hummus, hummus of the day, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers, warmed curried pita bread
• Hummus Wrap With lettuce, tomato & cucumber
• HOMEMADE VEGETARIAN CHILI (vegan, GF)  Served with bread

Morimoto: 723 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
Rating: 4

Vegan Options:

A number of dishes on the dinner menu are vegan or can be modified to be vegan.  These dishes include:

• edamame
• yosedofu
• cha soba noodles
• inaniwa udon noodles
• house green salad
• tomato salad
• seasonal vegetable maki
• shiitake maki
• ume-shiso-cucumber maki
• wasabi rice
• (not printed on the menu) a vegan version of the entrees – seafood toban yaki and the ishi yaki bop with tofu.
• As for desserts there is an assortment of micro-batch sorbets (with at least 1 vegan sorbet) and a coffee jelly dessert.
• Also, they offer a chef’s 7-9 course tasting menu. If you are interested in the Omakase and a vegetarian/vegan diner, the chef prefers advance notice to source ingredients.

White Dog Cafe: 3420 Sansom Street, Philly
Rating: 3

Vegan Options:

• Mesquite Grilled Tofu Kebobs- Organic Local Tofu, Jersey Fresh Vegetables, Cous Cous Salad, Blue Moon Arugula Greens
• Trio of Hummus- Kalamata Olive, Roasted Garlic, Roasted Red Pepper, Tandoori Bread, Cucumbers, Baby Carrots, Broccoli
• Grilled Kennett Square Portobello & Spicy Cress Sandwich- Multi Grain Bread, Sun Dried Tomato & White Bean Hummus
• Seitan Chickpea Dosas- Sautéed Seitan, Onions, Peppers, Curry Coconut Cream, Chickpea Pancakes
• Vegan Chocolate Layer Cake- Port Poached Cherries

Many of you are at/heading to the Healthy Living Summit (wish I could have gone)in Philly this weekend and are probably curious on what to do.

Neil, myself and our friend Laura are on our way to Philly next weekend to meet up with Laura’s boyfriend Aaron and enjoy a new (to us) city.  Since my extent of “visiting” Philly is many layovers at the airport I decided to ask a Philly resident Allison from The Sunday Flog what her top recommendations of things to do and eat are.  This is what she suggested:

• art museum (if you’re into museums!)
• liberty bell/walk through independence mall (5th/6th and arch) – the only one that requires admission is the national constitution center
• run on kelly drive – it’s gorgeous to stroll along the river (FYI from the art museum to the east falls bridge is ~4 miles)
• visit LOVE park (15th and arch) and take pictures
• mini golf at franklin square (7th and race) – all replicas of mini philly landmarks! super fun and $8! then grab [veggie] burgers from stephen starr’s square burger and ice cream and franklin fountain. cute date night!
• stroll on south street and check out the cool shops and weird people
• READING TERMINAL MARKET (12th and filbert)
• italian market! (9th and washington…all along 9th st) a bit more mexican/chinese than just italian, but dinner at villa di roma is great, as is perusing the little shops (fantes housewares is a favorite!)
• stroll through rittenhouse square and grab a drink somewhere!

"I Love Philadelphia," by William C. Ressler

Our date night started at the driving range where we shared an extra large bucket of balls.

After we emptied our bucket of balls we headed to the batting gages.  I watched while Neil hit a few balls and then it was time to head downtown for the second half of our date.

We debated over a few places to go for a drink and dinner but I wasn’t really that hungry so we decided to go to the German brew pub for a beer and decide on what we wanted for dinner later.  Once we sat down and perused the menu we saw that there were a few potential small plate options for us to have and since we were enjoying the quiet night on the patio we decided to stay and order food as well.

Grilled Asparagus with olive oil and lemon

Giant pretzel with horseradish mustard (no butter on the pretzel)

Spicy Fries (more liked seasoned)

The Verdict: delicious beer (we stayed for a second) and tasty food. We sat and enjoyed each others company while sipping beers and snacking on the food. Overall one of the best nights lately and I can’t wait to return for more of the asparagus-SO GOOD!

We chose our beers and decided to get the Mediterranean plate to share; so good on a ridiculously hot day.

After beers and a snack we did a little shopping around downtown and the mall before heading to Whole Foods for dinner. Yes, Whole Foods. We love the Portland Whole Foods and it has an amazing number of vegan options at the hot/cold bars as well as a burrito bar, sushi bar and burger bar (all with vegan options). We could (and have) easily eaten all of our meals at Whole Foods but we only ate three there this weekend.

After dinner we decided to go drive the course and see what we were up against. Well to start the course is on a hill and then to a short incline and then to these stairs.

I was a little nervous that these stairs were going to be a bit of a challenge for the race because they were steep and the gravel around the stairs loose. Oh well!

We made our way back to the top of the stairs and watched the sunset. Stay tuned for the race recap.

While I looked over the menu we snacked on some chips and salsa:

For dinner I had to make a choice out of a few vegan friendly options:


Although both of these sounded good Neil and I both decided to get this:

The wrap was full of veggies and tempeh but I was not too impressed with the flavor, or rather lack there of. It was pretty bland so I added the salsa from my chips, which I didn’t eat since I had chips and salsa already.

Overall the food was okay and the beer was blah not my favorite. I probably wouldn’t return to The Portsmouth Brewery and  I definitely wouldn’t order a beer from there again.

Saturday morning we headed back into Portsmouth for breakfast at The Friendly Toast  a retro dinner with (over priced) breakfast. The restaurant has a fun 60′s/70′s theme and a huge menu but it’s a little expensive for my pocket.

Neil and I had tofu scramble, coffee and water for breakfast.  Overall the food was pretty good, the coffee was great and the water cold.  The Friendly Toast is a fun place but it is a little pricey and can get crazy busy.

After breakfast we did a little window shopping and then headed to the farmers market where I got the best black iced tea ever.

That concludes our visit to Portsmouth! Stay tuned for Portland and Race Re-cap posts!

Rating system:

1 –> 3 or less vegan options
2 –> 4-5 vegan options (at least one entree)
3 –> 6-7 vegan options (at least one entree)
4 –> 8-9 vegan options (at least two entrees)
5 –> 10+ vegan options (at least two entrees)

Green Elephant: 608 Congress St, Portland ME
Rating: 5 (vegetarian, mostly vegan)

Check out their menu here.

Boda: 671 Congress Street, Portland ME
Rating: 3

Vegan Options:

The staff will let you know for sure which options are vegan there are a few I am not sure about- the skewers are though and they are good! So just double check; below are the vegetarian options which are most likely vegan or can be made that way.

• House fried peanuts seasoned with Thai herbs
• Fried taro sticks seasoned with sea salt. Served with spicy chili sauce
• Steamed assorted vegetables with “Nahm-Prik” (eggplant relish)
• Tofu skewer rubbed with teriyaki sauce
• Shiitake skewer with teriyaki seasoning sauce
• Portabella mushroom skewer rubbed with sesame oil & mushroom sauce
• Thai sticky rice with soy sauce, pepper, scallion, and garlic
• Stir-fried wide rice noodles with onion, tomato, pepper, bamboo shoot,Chinese broccoli, Thai basil, and tofu
• Organic tofu, bamboo shoots, red and green pepper, squash, baby carrot, green beans, Thai eggplant and Thai basil in homemade green curry

Personal Experience: LOVED this place. (same owners as Green Elephant)
Sebago Brewing Company: 211 Fore Street Portland ME
Rating: 2

Vegan Options:

• Beer
• Pub Pretzels: they are ok-but without the dipping sauce.
• Hummus & Tzatiki (without tzatiki)
• Greek Falafel (no feta): This salad is fine but with a different
  dressing-the dressing it is listed with contains feta. The falafel is pan
  seared with oil.
• Dressings that are ok:
  Balsamic ving.
  Italian
  Cianti Ving.
  Hefeweizen Ving? (contains honey)
  Pesto Ving.
• Panzanella Salad (no chicken):  without the cheese. suggest adding the falafel to this
• Vegetable Stir Fry: this dish is fine w/o rice could sub pasta
• Linguine-prepped with margarine
• Falafel burger  w/o bun or tzatiki – sub wheat wrap
• Veggie quesadilla without any cheese
• FYI: the onion rings (not vegan anyways), chips french fries & sweet potato fries are deep fried in the same oil as fish

Soakology: 30 City Center Portland, ME 04101

Rating: 3* note this is a tea shop and foot spa so no meals just snacks.

Vegan Options:

• assorted mediterranean olives
• warmed, crusty french roll served with dipping oil & herbs
• hummus & warm pita served with mediterranean olives & veggies
• olive tapenade served with toasted crostinis
• eggplant bruschetta & olive tapenade served with seasonal fruits & toasted crostinis
• an assortment of fine cheese, seasonal fruit & mediterranean olives served with a petite boule, dipping oil & dark chocolate

El Rayo Taqueria: 101 York Street, Portland, ME
Rating: 4

Vegan Options:

• rice and beans
• veggie taco
•  the veggie burrito can be done vegan
• the grilled pineapple
• chili fritas
• chips & salsa
• the el mercado salad
• the fiesta salad can be done vegan

Sonny’s: 83 Exchange Street, Portland.
Rating: 2

Vegan Options:

Vegan Options:

Rating system:

1 –> 3 or less vegan options
2 –> 4-5 vegan options (at least one entree)
3 –> 6-7 vegan options (at least one entree)
4 –> 8-9 vegan options (at least two entrees)
5 –> 10+ vegan options (at least two entrees)

Apparently everyone else had the same idea, to head downtown and eat al fresco.  So we finally settled on Italian and waited a bit for a table.  When we finally got a table we ordered a small chicken of Chardonnay to share and decided on salads and flatbread.

Neil's Arugula and Apple salad with candied walnuts and maple-sherry dressing

My Arugula, Apple and Strawberry Salad with candied walnuts and raspberry dressing.

Our flatbread with leeks, lemon, shiitake mushrooms and micro greens.

How we felt about the flatbread and the service.

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Neil and I spent most of the day running around visiting farmers markets (we visited three) and we finally needed to fuel ourselves. After leaving farmers market number three in Waitsfield, VT we decided to try out Mint a vegetarian restaurant in Waitsfield. We tried it a last winter and we thought it was really delicious but we just haven’t made it back until today.

We were seated outside in Paris and after reviewing the menu we decided on two dishes to share- the Falafel Plate and the Tempeh & Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich.

The sandwich was good but it wasn’t great.  It was a little bland and I would have loved for it to be toasted because it got a little soggy. The greens were wonderful dressed with a lavender-herb vinaigrette; so different but so good.

Now as for the falfael plate- yes it tastes as amazing as it looks.

Look at how crispy these little falafel balls are but how moist and wonderfully tasty they are in the center. Everything was amazing! The pita and falafel were warm and delicious with the tahini sauce.  The hummus was so tasty especially on the pita with a piece of roasted red pepper.  What can I say it was so good I could eat it every day.

Overall our second experience at Mint was just as good as the first- well probably even better. The only downfall of the place is the service is fair but the food is wonderful.

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Wednesday Morning Breakfast- YUM

Breakfast Date

Lets rewind to yesterday:

Tuesday Breakfast

Lunch: Crackers & Hummus because we had no food

After work I went for a run and did my best pace yet, a 12 minute mile! So far I have cut over 2 minutes off my mile – WIN! It was a really great run.

Follow my workouts on Daily Mile

After my run Neil and I met up with friends from for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, A Single Pebble.

A Single Pebble is a tasty family style Chinese restaurant with some of the best food in town. We chose two small dishes, a large dish and a noodle dish to share between the four of us. We washed it all down with some local brews.

Vegetable Potstickers- These were pretty tasty

Double Garlic Broccoli- one of my favorite dishes on the menu. This is a must order at each visit.

Rice of Course

Sesame Buddha's Beef- this is also a suggested must order dish- it was absolutely amazing. We also had a vegan noodle dish with crispy tofu; it was meh not my favorite but it was okay.

After dinner we went out for one more beer at The Farm House Tap and Grill with this cute couple:


We had a great night out with friends, one of whom is currently living in DC. Now we are looking forward to our August couples trip to Philly. What are you must see, do, eat, ect for Philly? We are looking for suggestions.

After our laundry date we headed downtown to the water front for a walk; we did 4 miles in 68 minutes and it felt great. We are right on track for our 5k in three weeks and then it’s on to our 10k in September and then our half in January.

After our walk we headed to American Flatbread for a beer and flatbread of course. Neil and I both got a Long Trail Brewmasters Double IPA. It was so good.

For lunch we split an Evolution salad and a Revolution flatbread hold the cheese add olives.

Evolution Salad: Organic Sweet Leaf Lettuce & Mesclun Greens w/Organic Carrots & Celery, Arame Seaweed, toasted sesame seeds and ginger-tamari dressing

Revolution Flatbread: Homemade organic tomato sauce, caramelized onions, fresh herbs and kalamata olives

We also shared a half of a stout for dessert:

After lunch we did a little window shopping and restocked our beer selection; I can’t wait to try them over the next month. Now it’s time to relax with a little left over Indian food recipes from The Asian Vegan Kitchen (made last night) and a movie or two. GOODNIGHT!

Leftover Indian YUM

To Start- Seeded Baguette

Cocktail for me: Moulin Rouge and a Beer for Him

Artichoke stuffed with Temeph

Espresso

Vegan Carrot Cake: A-MAZ-ING

Overall we had an amazing and delicious meal. The entree was light, fresh and so tasty. The dessert was amazing especially with the espresso. It was the best espresso I have ever had too. Overall amazing meal, amazing ambiance (it was like you were in France) and I had the best date ever- my husband.

After our coffee we made our way to Montpelier just in time to see Allie and Caitlin at the first start of the race.  While we waited for them to make the loop back to the finish we headed to our favorite Capitol City Farmers Market to pick up some veggies and our favorite bookstore Bear Pond Books.  Around 9:30 am we headed to the race finish line and watched as runners began to arrive and waited to cheer on Allie and Caitlin.

At the start of their run (girls in pink)

Around 43 minutes I turned to Neil and said they’ll be here in 10 minutes, that’s my guess.  Well guess what- I WAS RIGHT ON! Allie and Caitlin turned the corner at 52 minutes and some seconds and they leaped across the finish line at 53 minutes.  They were really amazing and I am so proud.

Check out the shirts the girls made for the race:

and the back of Allie’s:

After the race we headed to The Skinny Pancake for crepes and to catch up.  Neil and I both got the Vegan Monster with mushrooms and salsa and topped with our favorite hot sauce.

Following brunch we headed to the Hunger Mountain Co-op to take a look but we didn’t pick up much just a yummy chocolate bar and coconut rolled dates for the Hubz.  When we were leaving I decided to take a peak at the sign up sheet for my Sugar Blues workshop next week and guess what? It was FULL- even the wait list is full!!! Squeal! Eeek! OMG! The pressure is on!

When we finally made it back to Burlington the Hubz and I took a look at the clock and decided we better head to the gym before it closed.  Today we decided to get a 250 meter swim in as well as our run.  I haven’t been feeling great, a little congested, so todays workout wasn’t the best on top of the fact that my legs were killing me from yesterdays squats and lunges. After our run we stopped in at Healthy Living for a smoothie and coconut water as well as some organic strawberries and organic apples. The Hubz and I shared a banana-peanut butter-flax-coconut smoothie and it was delicious.

Now it’s time for dinner, The Voice, foam rolling and relaxing with a movie. What are you up to this weekend?

After our shopping trip we were left with a huge dilemma- what do we do now?  Honestly there isn’t much happening in the Wrentham area and our hotel which was in Franklin well was just not what we’d hoped for on our anniversary.  So we decided that since we got a steal on the room via Hotwire that we would eat the cost  and find a new room in Boston so we could enjoy a nice night out.  Again turning to Hotwire (seriously addicted) we chose a 4 star in Cambridge and ended up with the Hyatt Regency- WIN!

Our accomodations went from:

Room at Hawthorne Suites - Franklin MA

Room at Hawthorne Suites - Franklin MA

To this:

Hyatt Regency Cambridge

Not only did the romance factor increase so did the ability to get out at night and enjoy ourselves. I mean as much as I loved that evening trip to Target and Shop & Save I’d rather be galavanting around Boston. So we checked in at the Hyatt Regency and headed straight to our room to change and take advantage of their gym – we were in need of a good run to stay on track for our training plan.

After our run and a good shower we got all done up and took a walk across the bridge to Boston to catch a T to our next destination, Addis Red Sea. We had made reservations at Addis Red Sea because it has in the past been one of our favorite restaurants to visit in Boston. We love the atmosphere and the Ethiopian food and have always had a good experience ….until this past visit. We arrived 2 hours before closing and were seated. We were super hungry so we decided to order a lentil sambusa and the vegetarian plate for two along with a few beers. Well once the girl finally took our order we settled in to what we hoped would be a great night. About 10 minutes later the waitress returned to tell us they were out of the lentil sambusa but they had the veggie if we wanted that instead; we said yes and 10 minutes after that she returned with two sambusas. I had a feeling something just wasn’t right so instead of biting right in like I normally would have I tore a corner off only to find that our veggie sambusa was actually beef; can you imagine if I had taken a big bite!! Well 10 minutes after that I finally got the waitresses attention and told her of the mistake and that we would rather not have an appetizer at all and we would just like our meal at this point.

After waiting a bit longer our meal finally arrived with two lentil sambusas (I guess they found more?). We started into the food immediately since at this point we were ravenous after waiting for almost an hour for our food. After a few bites the Hubz noticed that we were missing our salad that was to go with the meal and that most of the food was cold and in addition to that when we finally took a bite of the sambusas they were freezing in the middle. Overall we had the worst experience ever at this restaurant ever and we have been here many times. Unfortunately, after this experience I wouldn’t recommend Addis Red Sea and wouldn’t return- there are enough other great restaurants in Boston to eat at so don’t waste time (or money) here. Oh and we got charged for the sambusas after the whole mess and the fact we told them to disregard the order since they couldn’t seem to get it right.

Oh well! We didn’t let the dinner get us down instead we headed out for a celebratory (for our anniversary, not the horrible dinner) Manhattan down the road.  Honestly one of the best Manhattans ever and I had the best company with me too. Love.

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After strolling around the downtown streets visiting with lions and turtles we finally found somewhere to eat.  We stopped in at AS220 a place I had read about during my planning sesh.  AS220 has a gallery, a bar and a cafe and they also host a number of other events.  When I saw the menu I was all about ordering the vegan Bahn Mi but of course just my luck they were out.  Instead I ordered the vegan mac and cheese and the Hubz got the marinated tofu and kale sandwich.  We also ordered the “spicy” black eyed pea fritters.

My mac and cheese was really delicious and Neil (who waited inside to get the food) said they made it all fresh right there. I loved the addition of the broccoli and crispy bread crumbs to my mac and cheese- so good. The Hubz sandwich was really delicious too; we both loved the pickled onions that they put on it- so good. Now as for the “spicy” black eyed pea fritters …..well they were um gross. They had a weird smell, consistency and taste and they were by no means spicy. The vegan sour cream that they came with also tasted really awful. Well I guess two out of three isn’t bad- can’t win them all! Overall we really like the food at AS220, would we go back? Possibly but there are other vegan options around so we would probably try something new first or just eat all our meals at the best bakery ever.

We played a few (okay like 5) rounds of pool before calling it a night and heading back to our comfy giant bed. It is always nice to sleep in a king bed and it makes me miss having one (serious who down sizes from a king to a double-not recommended).

After a night of dinner, drinks, pool and of course elevator dancing we were in need of a gym sesh.  So we headed to the hotel gym and I got in a run and the Hubz used the elliptical.  After that we showered and hit the road to the most amazing bakery I have ever been to.

WE CAME TO DANCE DANCE DANCE

C25K Week 5 Day 2

We spent a hungry hour in the car making our way to Wildflour Vegan Bakery what I am now claiming to be the most amazing bakery I have ever been to in my life.  I could honestly eat here everyday (and would if it wasn’t 4 hours away). We walked in and were overwhelmed by the vast selection of baked goods as well as other tasty items such as kale chips, fresh juices and smoothies.  To help us decide we took advantage of the free samples of basil lemonade, peanut butter brownie and raw chocolate brownie.

As you can see there were so many options to choose from but in the end the Hubz and I decided that the scones looked most appealing for breakfast.  After a heated debated over which ones we would get we decided on the granola scone and the spinach and mushroom scone.  Along with the scones I got a green juice and the hubz an avocolada smoothie.

Everything was amazing and we obviously ordered too much so we ended up taking the granola scone with us and snacked on it throughout the day. The scones were absolutely amazing and flakey; I have never experienced anything so good.

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I received a number of great recommendations as to what to get at The Elephant Walk by a number of tweeps and in the end the Hubz and I decided to both do the 3 Course Prix-Fixe since it was our anniversary and all.

We both ordered the Vegan Rouleaux, Chilled Avocado Citrus Soup and theVegan Crevettes (tofu) Amrita for our three courses.  We also both picked out fancy cocktails.  I chose the Cucumber Martini; it was really refreshing and so good.

Crop organic cucumber vodka accented with a splash of Dolin White Vermouth (an amazing, small production family product) and garnished with a slice of cucumber

First Course: Vegan Rouleaux- this was a really amazing and fun dish to eat.  We were instructed that you take the lettuce leaf and place the fried roll in the middle, then top with mint, basil and bean sprouts roll it up and dip in the sauce.  It was crazy delicious and there was so much food- I definitely got a little filled up just on the first course! I am now going to have to recreate these some day after a long run.

Second Course: Chilled Avocado Citrus Soup- this was the Hubz favorite of the three. It had such an amazing flavor and zip to it.  Again something I need to attempt to recreate.

Third Course: Tofu Amrita- this final course was absolutely delicious.  It was huge as well and neither the Hubz nor I could finish more than half of it after devouring the first two courses.  The dish was filled with wonderful chunks of crispy tofu with lots of veggies and a sweet peanuty sauce. Overall delicious.

Overall the Hubz and I loved The Elephant Walk; the food and drink were both amazing.  The atmosphere of the Waltham location wasn’t my favorite because it wasn’t very romantic and they seemed to try and fit as many tables in as possible so you were basically sitting on top of the people next to you.  However despite that the food was amazing and we will be going back (again and again).

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Last night the Hubz and I decided to take a tour of our local YMCA and got ourselves a 3 day pass to try it out.  We have really been debating joining a gym for years but when we were living in Montpelier I had a mini gym at work and the Hubz work (still) has a really nice gym at his work as well as workout classes and a tennis court (lucky, I know), so we never really needed to.  Before we moved last year we purchased an elliptical  and it is great but honestly I want to run, swim and have access to group classes.  Finally we looked into the Y and the prices for a couple are good especially with yoga, BodyPump, zumba and other classes and a really nice lap pool.  The gym overall is pretty basic with cardio equipment squeezed in next to each other; it also has free weights and weight machines but it fits both of our needs.  This morning we used our trial pass and the Hubz swam and I did C25k on the treadmill.  Overall I loved it.  It felt great to be working out at a gym and not at home, alone.  I think that for me a gym is a place you go to workout and there is a certain energy about it that motivates me, along with being able to workout with the Hubz.

After our workout we both really wanted Friday Bagels but since we are on a soy/gluten/wheat/alcohol/caffeine free cleanse it was a no go. Instead we decided to go to Magnolia Bistro where they have tons of options that are still inline with our cleanse.  I was really feeling something hearty and starchy so I went with three sides: steamed kale, chipotle black beans and homefries, the Hubz was also feeling the starch so he went with kale, polenta and homefries.  We also got a cup of decaf fair trade organic coffee and big glasses of water.

Now I’m off to work and then heading out to find a Mother’s Day Gift and then it’s shoe shopping with the Hubz.  What are you doing for Mother’s Day?

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Q. What is Vermont Restaurant Week?
A. From April 29-May 5, participating restaurants will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Those menus will feature discounted, three-course “tasting-style” dinners (e.g. appetizer, entreé and dessert) priced at $15, $25 or $35 per person. The week also includes a special calendar of special, food-themed events.

Q. How does Vermont Foodbank benefit?
A. 10% of the proceeds from event admissions, sponsorships and restaurant participation fees will be donated to Vermont Foodbank. Restaurant-goers can donate $10 via text messageor make a web donation in our Virtual Food Drive will be launched on this website to allow diners to donate to the Foodbank.

Originally we were going to try a few different restaurants but then decided due to the cleanse and the fact that the other restaurants that interested us are ones we visit often that it would be best to choose just one.  After perusing the veggie friendly menus on the Vermont Restaurant Week site we settled on The Bearded Frog, the only menu that actually said they had a vegan option.  We had heard great things about the restaurant but had never visited it due to the fact that it isn’t close to our home and that there is one vegan option that goes for $19 a plate.

We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated out our reserved table in the corner, which I really loved because it up’d the romance factor along with the dim lighting and warm colors.  We placed a drink order, prosecco for me and beer for him, and then we got down to business and ordered from the tasting menu (the only vegan options in each category). 

Appetizer Course: The salad was very simple yet fresh and the lemon-herb vinaigrette was truly delicious. We paired it with some fresh bread with oil and vinegar instead of the butter and the blue cheese crostini that was to go with the salad.

Appetizer: Baby Mixed Greens With lemon-herb vinaigrette

Bread with olive oil and balsamic

Entree Course: For our entree we enjoyed the vegan version of Spicy Corn and Black Bean Pudding With blue-corn tortilla, dirty rice, avocado compound butter, tofu tomato purée. Instead of the avocado compound butter we received a guacamole. The dish was really delicious however if that is what you get for $19 on the regular menu I’d rather stay home and re-create it for $5.

Entree: Spicy Corn and Black Bean Pudding With blue-corn tortilla, dirty rice, guacamole, tofu tomato purée.

Dessert Course: I would have to say the dessert was probably my favorite thing on the menu and something that I would definitely spend the money to come back and have again. The vegan dessert option was a trio of sorbets which included avocado lime, strawberry & 30 year old aged balsamic and mango violet. All three were really amazing but the show stopper was the avocado lime. It was super creamy and tasted just like ice cream, the Hubz and I both just couldn’t stop raving about it all night….honestly I still can’t stop raving about it.

Dessert Course: trio of sorbets which included avocado lime, strawberry & 30 year old aged balsamic and mango violet

Overall: We had a really wonderful time at The Bearded Frog and the food was really delicious.  I am not sure that I would go back for dinner due to the high price of the vegan option but I would go back every day just for the sorbet.  On another note I saw a number of really beautiful plates of food coming out of the kitchen and if you are vegetarian try the (unfortunately note vegan) crispy tofu cakes because they probably taste as good as they looked.

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The Hubz & I in DC- November 2010

Planes, Trains & Buses

• Plan where you/what are going to en route
  • Avoid fast foods
  • Bring a picnic with you; pack sandwiches, fruit and a vegetables.
• Pack healthy snacks
  • Who food energy bars, whole grain crackers with nut butter, homemade trail mix, hummus and veggies
• Avoid becoming dehydrated on flights by avoiding soda, alcohol, juice and coffee; instead sip club soda or water.

Healthy Eats at Jet Blue Terminal at JFK Airport

Road Trip

• Pack a cooler with healthy foods
  • Fruit
  • Vegetables & Hummus
  • Bean Salads
  • Nuts & Seeds
  • Whole Grain Bread & Crackers
  • Fruit Spreads & Nut Butters
• Stop at markets along the way and restock your cooler with healthy foods
• If your only option is fast food look for the healthiest options
  • Order off the kids menu
  • Look for places with salad bars, vegetable sides, wraps or sandwiches.
    • Healthier Fast Food Options:
      • Panera- try the great selection of salads, soups and sandwiches
      • Au Bon Pain- try their great selection of vegan soups and salads
      • Chipotle- stick to the veggie burrito bowls or salads, however avoid the dairy, chips and tortillas.
      • Boloco- they offer brown rice, whole wheat wraps, organic tofu and a great selection of veggies, however avoid sugar and high calorie sauces, instead top yours with a fresh salsa and tons of veggies.
  • Scope out grocery store and health food stores prepared foods and salad bars.

Road Trips Snacks - Girls Weekend 2010

Room Service & Restaurants

• Enjoy a soup or salad with and appetizer or share an entree- this will help in controlling portions; you can still enjoy delicious food but you will be saving your wallet and waistline.
• Avoid the mini bar; Stock your hotel room with healthy snacks so you won’t be tempted to eat the high calorie (and high priced) snacks that the hotel stocks in your room.
• Do research; if you take nothing else away from this post it should be this.  Take the time to research restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, natural food stores and markets before you travel.  You will be able to make more conscious choices if you already know your options.  You will also be able to scope out the best places to eat so you can enjoy your experience to it’s fullest.

Hotel Room Breakfast- Oats w/nut butter & figs

Cruising

• Stick to your regular eating schedule; I know I already said this above and it applies to any vacations but while cruising (and visiting all inclusive resorts) this is when it is most important to stick to your schedule.  You will have food available to you 24 hours a day and for many this means over indulging.  Additionally remember to only eat when you’re hungry!
• Load up on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Limit your desserts
• Avoid too may sugary drinks, stick to light beers, wine and clear drinks.  If you want something fruity try seltzer with your choice of clear alcohol and a splash of fruit juice.  Also don’t forget to make sure you stay hydrated! Drink your water!

Hubz and I crusing- i kept dried fruit snacks in my bag (you can see them popping out if you look hard)

Top Healthy Eating Travel Tips:

• Stick to your regular eating schedule
• Stock up on healthy snacks
• Make conscious decisions when choosing to enjoy a poolside drink or that special indulgence dessert
• Do you research! Find restaurants and health food markets at your destination that have healthy options.

What are you top healthy travel tips?

After a hot and sweaty run the Hubz and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful night and head downtown for a beer and half of veggie burgers at The Scuffer. We were hoping to sit on the patio but of course we weren’t the only ones out to enjoy the beautiful weather so we had to sit inside. The beer and half off veggie burgers was (almost) worth sacrificing sitting out in the beautiful weather.

It’s funny The Scuffer has been around for years, it used to be The Rusty Scuffer – I think it changed owners and the name changed (correct me if I’m wrong) and we had never thought to go there until a few months ago.  A few months ago we were looking for somewhere new to go and I just happened to check out their menu online and saw that on Wednesday’s they have half off burgers with a drink purchase, so I called and asked if their veggie burger was vegan and it is (oh and it’s homemade too double win).   The other thing that I love about The Scuffer is their extensive beer menu that is filled with local beers and a number of great microbrews and their prices are really good too.

Last night the Hubz and I both got veggie burgers with fries and no bun and we each ordered a beer.  I wanted the Dogfish Aprihop but they were all out (because it’s just that good) so I decided to go with McNeil’s Extra Special Bitter and the Hubz got the Rock Art Midnight Madness; we really liked both of them. Overall we had a great date night out at The Scuffer and will continue going on for the Wednesday special because you just can’t beat the beer, the burger and the prices.

As soon as we sat I made sure to ask which ramen bowls were vegan and we were directed to the Vegetable Ramen Bowl and the Curry Vegetable Ramen Bowl.  The Hubz and I both ordered the curry one as well as an inari roll and avocado roll. I loved that they gave you the option to have brown rice in the sushi roll; which of course we got.

We started off with some complimentary tea that tasted meh okay not my favorite.

Our sushi rolls which were good but over priced compared to other sushi spots in town.

The Curry Vegetable Ramen was good; I loved that it was filled with veggies and seaweed- a pleasant surprise.  The flavor was good but  I don’t think I would order the curry one again because the flavor just got to be a little old after awhile, but that’s okay I really didn’t need all the broth anyways.

Overall the we liked the HJ House and will go back again for ramen, however for sushi we will go else where.

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Delicious tea at Patra

Hummus, pita chips and veggies (that tasted like onions) at Patra

Late lunch with the Hubz at The Farm House Tap & Grill

Oh and of course and afternoon brew

or two! (we both had 2 halves - so one full beer)

Sunday Breakfast Broiled Grape Fruit aka "Royal Grapefruit" (the Hubz thought I said royal when I really said BROILED so now it's Royal Grapefruit)

Yields 4 servings- mix 2T agave, 1t vanilla, 1/2t cinnamon & 1/4t ginger powder together and brush on 2 halved grapefruits- broil on high for 5-10 minutes

Breakfast Frittata with Tomato-Mushroom Gravy

Blog Updates:

Thanks to the Hubz my blog has received a facelift! In addition to a new look I also updated my ‘About Me‘ page so check it out! Stay tuned for more upgrades in the future!

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We started with a liter of wine for the table and enjoyed the beautiful fire place and rustic atmosphere. We also had some amazing yummy bread with wonderful fruity olive oil.

We started with a vegan antipasti for the table and an order of bruschetta both were really amazing.  The vegan antipasti was not on the menu but they had no problem creating a vegan plate for us.

For our main courses the Hubz and I both got the Orecchiette con Fricone  ”Fricone, dialect of the southern region of Puglia for a fried tomato sauce, made from vine-ripened tomatoes, crushed garlic, a pinch of red pepper and arugula, tossed with an imported handmade ear-shaped pasta and pecorino cheese. This dish was easily veganizable and they were will to create other dishes for you as well. It sounds really simple but it was one of the most amazing pasta dishes I have ever had.

We finished the night with espressos and lingering conversation.  Overall we had a wonderful experience.  The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lovely and although service was not over the top they were attentive and allowed you to enjoy the experience there was no push to get you out the door.

The Hubz and I decided to extend the night into a date and had one cocktail out at a bar where we had a horrible experience but oh well we were together.

Hubz Cocktail- "Border Patrol- Canadian Club Whisky and Vermont Maple Liqueur"

However after a late night (for me) I feel a little like this today

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Instead of making a BBQ Tempeh & Sweet Potato Sandwich I made a BBQ Sweet Potato and Black Bean Sandwich.  I baked the sweet potato and glazed it with BBQ sauce. I grilled the kale and red onion on our little George Forman Grill and I whipped up a variation of my smoked paprika aioli, I added roasted garlic and roasted shallot to the aioli- YUM!.  I then layered up the sandwiches and grilled them on the George Forman Grill to make them nice and toasty and served a green salad along side.

Q: Where do you find recipe inspiration?

Vermont Pub and Brewery Vegan Options

• Soup, Salad & Chili:
  • Mesclun Salad
  • Spinach Salad
  • Caesar Salad – without cheese & with House Vinaigrette or Oil & Vinegar
• Appetizers:
  • Spud Skins – plain
  • Salsa & Chips
• On The Side:
  • Basket of Brewhouse Fries
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Beer-Battered Onion Rings
• Hot Sandwiches:
  • Veggie Mushroom Philly – without cheese (with bread, not roll)
  • Portabella Mushroom – without cheese (with bread, no bun)
  • VPB Wrap – without cheese
  • Toasted BLT – Lettuce & Tomato (no bacon)
• Brewery Sandwich Fare:
  • Vegetarian Rolli Polli – without cheese
• Desserts:
  • Apple Crisp

So the next time you are in Burlington and want good food, local beer and a fun atmosphere I recommend you head to VPB!

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This past Saturday we finally made it to Angelica Kitchen, a restaurant that has been on my “To Try” list for years. We met up with my girlfriend Cate for lunch at noon which was perfect timing because the place filled up quickly and within 20 minutes there was a long waiting list. It took a while or us to make a decision as to what we wanted to get because there are so many really yummy sounding dishes on the menu.

To start the Hubz and I ordered the Angelica Cornbread, a wheat free cornbread that I have heard raving reviews about on a number of blogs. Now this is not your traditionally fluffy cornbread, it is dense and filled with whole grains. It is really delicious and worth the raving about. We also ordered a side of the miso tahini spread to go with it; it was good but the cornbread would have been fine on it’s own.

For my main dish I decided to go with the special of the day which was tofu with a chickpea miso sauce, veggies, quinoa pilaf and an Asian guacamole. I thought that the dish was really good and I loved the Asian guacamole; then again I love anything with avocado. Although the dish was really tasty and made with high quality ingredients I have to say at $16 the dish was a little pricey for what I got but oh well it was still delicious and (almost) worth it.

The Hubz went with the Thai Me Up entree which is An All Raw Entree – delicate strands of daikon radish, butternut squash & carrot, on a bed of garlic-lemon marinated kale, dressed with Thai tahini sauce. This dish was absolutely incredible and I am so jealous that I didn’t get it. We both really loved the noodles and the sauce but the star was the garlic-lemon marinated kale; it was incredible. This is a dish that I would recommend you order whether as the entree or the smaller appetizer version.

Cate ordered the Warm Roasted Vegetable Salad A seasonal selection of roasted vegetables tossed with arugula
in a balsamic vinaigrette and garnished with garlic crostini spread with creamy hummus. I only tried a small bite of one of the veggies which was really tasty so I can’t really tell you overall how the dish was but lets just say there wasn’t anything left when Cate was done. Cate also got a soy chai tea which she raved about and went back for seconds.

Overall this has easily become one of my favorite restaurants in NYC; I think that the price can be a little high for everyday eating but it is a great spot to visit when you are in the city. I am ready to head back and try everything else on the menu.

The first time I ever went to Babycakes NYC I was disappointed by the cupcakes, finding them dry and just not as exciting as I had hoped they would be.  Since then I haven’t had much of an interest in visiting Babycakes until I heard about their donuts.  Since  you don’t come across vegan donuts everyday the Hubz and I decided since we were already in the neighbourhood that we would stop in and try a few.

After much debate and a little help from the girl behind the counter we decided on the french toast and the salted caramel along with one their heart shaped chocolate covered coconut mound.  Immediately after we walked out the door we decided to dive right in and started with the french toast donut.  The donut was out of this world! It tasted just like french toast! It was warm and mapley and caramely and oh so good.  Next we tried the salted caramel which was also super sticky and delicious.  We both agreed though that the french toast was the better of the two.

We held out on the chocolate coconut mound until the next day after a three hour trip to Ikea.  It was the perfect treat after a crazy shopping trip.  It honestly tasted just like a Mounds Bar but better. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo, oh well.

All in all Babycakes redeemed themselves and we will be back!

On Saturday morning after a rocky start at the hotel we finally got to the train in Stamford and headed into the city for the day. We debated over just getting bagels for breakfast but then decided that we wanted to find a nice place to sit down and enjoy the morning together. We headed to the Lower East Side and decided to give Teany a try since they have a weekend brunch. We arrived and headed into the restaurant which was surprisingly “teany” but luckily there was only one other group there so it wasn’t so crowded. We took a look over the brunch menu and I was disappointed that the vegan options were really limited; I guess I assumed that since Moby is vegan and one of the owners that there would be a number of vegan options- but there weren’t compared to the vegetarian. I also was surprised that there was no real kitchen but rather just a small counter and a microwave and toaster.
Although apprehensive we decided to just enjoy ourselves and the nice window seat that we had acquired. We started with morning cocktails, hey it’s brunch! as well as a small pot of tea each (both included in the brunch). For our meals I ordered the Vegan BLT and Neil got the Tofu Scramble and “steak” both with greens.
Overall I thought that the meal was meh, just okay. I mean it was Fakin’ Bacon on really good bread with tomato and vegan mayo and Neil’s was warm tofu with heated up packaged seitan steak. I thought that although a nice spot I couldn’t imagine trying to go there when it was busy, you would basically be sitting on top of other people. As for the cost you are basically paying for nice tea and a drink with the brunch, the meal was pretty lame but at least it tasted fine. Needless to say we won’t return except for maybe a quick tea to go.

As for the sushi, we were treated to a number of small samples of different rolls and they were all absolutely amazing and unfortunately I can’t remember all the names.  I do however know that I was in love with all of the ones with roasted garlic it was a yummy surprise in every bite. You really can’t go wrong ordering any of the vegan sushi at Miya’s because it is all delicious and super inventive.  Now that I know Bun is at raw school at 105 Degrees I will be curious to see if he adds any raw vegan dishes/sushi to his menu.

If you haven’t already figured it out Miya’s is the best sushi I have ever had and I would gladly move to New Haven just to eat there everyday. I encourage anyone visiting, passing through or if you just live within a 5 hour radius to jump in their car and go there now and get yourself some amazing sushi.

To start we decided to try the unsweetened iced tea; we were expecting your standard iced tea but this was way better.  It reminded me of the tea used in Thai iced tea’s except with out the sweetened condensed milk- it was delicious.

The Hubz and I were pretty hungry so we decided to start with the vegetarian fresh rolls which were served with a peanut sauce and they were delicious.  The perfect balance of herbs, tofu and noodles all wrapped up into a little bundle.

For the entrees you have 3 options- the vegetarian pho, the lemongrass tofu with vermicelli or the tofu fried rice (no egg). Since i am a huge fan of asian noodle soup and more specifically pho I went with the pho and the Hubz the lemongrass tofu.

Vegetarian Pho

Lemongrass Tofu with Vermicelli

Saucy Sides

Overall we loved out meals; the food was super tasty, the service was great and the cost was well cheap.  We will be back here again for sure!

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Fiery Vegan Valentines!

The Hubz and I haven’t had Friday night Date Night in a really long time and we were itching to get out and have really good food, drinks and conversation. After a little thought we decided there is nothing wrong with doing the same ol’ thing- head to The Farmhouse Tap & Grill for delicious beer and food. We tend to go here most Date Nights because we love the atmosphere, the food and the beer; nothing wrong with enjoying a good thing.

Last night was incredibly busy and we waited over an hour for a table and then we had to wait awhile longer than usual for our food, however we were in no rush so we grabbed a beer at the bar and enjoyed each others company.

Once we finally were seated we had no problem ordering since there are generally only three things we ever get:

1. The tofu burger with no bun (not vegan), no cheese (obviously not vegan) and sub sauteed kale for the bun and we either have it with their amazing fries or greens
2. The nitty gritty corn cakes which come with sauteed greens and mushrooms with the cider or lemon vinaigrette instead of the buttermilk
3. The vegan plate- this is not officially on the menu but you can just ask and they will make you a great plate with fresh local veggies that have been sauteed and served  with grilled local crusty bread

We also occasionally get the olive starter  as well but it’s a huge bowl so we only get it when we go with others.

Tonight I went with the nitty gritty corn cakes

and the Hubz the burger with fries

and we both topped it them with their yummy ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauces.

I decided that I would stick with another martini with dinner but unfortunately this one just wasn’t as good and the olives were teeny tiny; I really hate when you don’t get good olives in a martini.

After ordering our drinks we started with the vegetable dumplings which weren’t really that good, they were greasy and had little flavor. I was hungry though so I topped them with sriracha and dipped them in soy sauce. 

For our entrees the Hubz and I both got our favorite dish the Grilled Spicy Tofu which is marinated tofu that is grilled and then topped with a spicy red sauce and served with brown rice, steamed veggies and kimchi.  It was just as good as I remembered it and I ate the whole thing. I am sad to say this will probably be the last time I ever eat it….hmmm maybe I will try to recreate it.

I know these photos are awful! The Hubz said “those don’t even look like food”

New Moon Cafe

The menu at New Moon includes sandwiches, salads, breakfast items, soups, quiche and baked goods. I really love their roasted veggie paninis but lately my favorite has been the create your own salad. My favorite combination is greens, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, carrots, chickpeas, cucumber and lemon dressing. There are three sizes of salad; the small is massive and they don’t skimp on the artichokes which are my favorite.

Yummy Salad Beast

When it comes to beverages they have the best cold pressed iced coffee, wonderfully sweet and spicy chai lattes and their drip coffee is really delicious as well.

Delicious Coffee

My only complaint about New Moon is that it isn’t open on Saturdays.

Last night I let myself have that 10% GUILT FREE. After work Neil and I had 2.5 hours before our dinner plans so we decided to take advantage of the time and headed first to The Farmhouse for a beer, snack and round or three of darts. This is where our night of indulgence starts; we both enjoyed a nice beer but since I hadn’t had lunch we decided to get an order of their fries (they are to die for).

After beer, fries and darts we took a little walk around downtown Burlington before meeting Laura for dinner at A Single Pebble this really delicious family style Chinese Restaurant.  We had a gift certificate and were excited to use it since that meant we could order all the yummy dishes we wanted without worrying about spending too much (this place is a little pricy). So for dinner we had (please note all dishes were requested vegan- there are some dishes that appear to be vegan on their menu however are not so ask your server before ordering):

Double Garlic Broccoli

Mock Eel- Fun Fact: This was Alton Brown's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate with Chopsticks" (Foodnetwork)

Tan Tan Noodles

Mock Prawns

Dry Fried Greens Beans (my favorite dish)

We ordered way too much food and ended up leaving with a bunch for leftovers. We really enjoyed everything but the favorite dishes of the night were the Dry Fried Green Beans, Double Garlic Broccoli and Tan Tan Noodles.  The one thing that we really were not impressed with however was the service.  We had arguably the worst table in the house and then our service was awful; our sever only came over to our table 4 times in the 1.5 hours that we were there. We also ended up sitting for nearly 30 minutes being completely done eating before anyone stopped by the talk to us, fill our water glasses or ask if we needed anything else.  Normally we have a really good dining experience and come here frequently for special nights out but tonight was just an off night.

Do you indulge guilt free once in awhile? What are your favorite indulgences?

The theme behind the menu at Dunio! (Duende) is unique and different from other restaurants in the area since its focus is on international street food.  The menu is small but provides enough inexpensive vegan friendly dishes that you won’t be disappointed.  They also have an extensive drink menu with wines, beers and specialty drinks as well.

I started with a Manhattan

And the Hubz had a Five Dollar Shake: Stout, espresso, and maple syrup

For my meal the Hubz and I shared the soup of the day which was a creamy squash soup with thai spices it was really yummy and came with grilled bread.

And we shared the Mujadara: Lentils & rice cooked with onions served in a pita with tahini, hot sauce, lettuce & tomato & tabouleh salad- this was really tasty!

Overall we really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere, delicious (inexpensive) food and we will be back again soon.

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
Atmosphere: 4/5

After lunch we did a little more holiday shopping at the mall.

Every year the Hubz and I head out to the mall and pick a child from the gift tree and head out to do a little shopping to pick up things on their card.  This year we decided to pick 2 children a 1 year old boy who was in need of clothes and trucks or learning toys and a 10 month old girl who was in need of clothes.  We picked up a few cute things for them.

Do you have a holiday tradition?

After Christmas shopping we went to visit some of the Humane Society Kittens which I just wanted to take home with me. I hope someone adopts these furry friends soon.

My Trio of Beverages

Peanut-Ginger Tofu, Griddled Tomato and Dry Rye Toast

The Peanut-Ginger Tofu is really delicious.  The sauce coats the tofu perfectly and you get great flavor with every bite.  Also the ginger is really a mild flavor and balanced perfectly with the peanut. “I really like how the sauce is kind of crispy too and the ginger, well you can tell it’s real ginger not just a flavor” – Quote by The Hubz

The Griddled Tomato is my new favorite breakfast item.  Cooking the tomato locks in all the juices and just creates a whole new depth of flavor; place it on top of the rye toast and you’ve got a winner.

As for the beverages I would say they have one of the best cups of coffee in town.  The water was refreshing.  The tangerine juice was surprisingly not overly sweet and I really enjoyed it- I may even order it next visit!

Just a heads up to vegans interested in eating here the homefries are not vegan.

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5- all though not a ton of vegan options the ones they do have are delicious.
Atmosphere: 4/5

Amazing teas from Baked & Wired

After our disappointing breakfast we walked to Georgetown where we spent most of the morning enjoying the weather, the sites, and the shops.  I indulged in a sale at Lululemon and then we had lunch at Chipotle and loved it.
After enjoying our morning/early afternoon in Georgetown we headed to the Museum of Natural History.  Once the museum closed we headed to RFD for a drink before our dinner at Zaytinya one of Jose Andres restaurants.

We had the most amazing dinner at Zaytinya!  The concept around the restaurant is small plates that come out in waves.  We let our server know we were vegan and she let us know the vegan options (there were a good number).  We ordered 6 items as well as a yummy drink and turkish coffee.  I would go back here in a heart beat.

Warning these photos below are lacking in quality because they are from my iphone but the food was amazing.

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
Atmosphere: 4/5

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So-Che: tofu egg, soy sausage & vegan cheese

Eggcentricity: tofu egg, soy chicken & vegan cheese

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 4/5
Atmosphere: 2/5

After breakfast we were off to be tourist around the city and ended up spending 4 hours at the Holocaust Memorial Museum.           I don’t have any photos to show you as you are not permitted to take photos in the museum.  We had planned on doing lunch at Rasika but our time at the museum went longer than intended and we missed our 12:30pm reservation by an hour and half.  We also had intended on visiting another museum after lunch  but we were drained from the Holocaust Memorial Museum and decided that we would just walk back to the hotel and find something to eat along the way.  To our delight we passed right by Maoz where I had another Groupon for $5 for $10 worth of food and we decided to use it on 2 junior meals which came with fries and a drink (I had iced tea and Neil an Arnold Palmer.)

After walking around for hours we finally made it back to Dupont Circle and just a block from the hotel was a great pizza and beer place that I had read about Pizzeria Paradiso.  We decided to stop in and have pizza and beer.  We started with complimentary olives; I swear I ate more olives this vacation than I have this entire year. We then decided on our pizzas which Neil and I had with vegan mozza on a white crust with Tomato, Mushrooms, Spinach, Red Onion (note the whole wheat crust has honey in it).  Aaron had the same thing but a smaller one for him and with regular mozza.  We also shared a salad which we had with oil and vinegar because the dressing has parm in it but it was still yummy.

Overall we loved this place- the food was great, the beer selection was good and the service was top notch!

Ratings:
Value: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5

After an early start to the morning we finally made it to Dulles and then eventually caught the Metrobus and then the Metro to our hotel at Dupont Circle.  We stayed at the Palomar DC, it is located right off Dupont Circle and is in a great location.  The hotel is kind of funky and youthful; a great spot for us.

Our Hotel Room

We checked in and then headed out to lunch at Cafe Green where we cleaned our plates and then headed down to the National Mall to visit the National Air and Space Museum.

After spending a few hours looking at airplanes and spaceships we decided to catch at metro back to the hotel so that we could sit down and relax a minute before we headed to the Adams Morgan area for dinner. On our walk back from the metro stop we checked the time and realized we were just in time for the complimentary wine and appetizer hour that the hotel hosts from 5-6pm. So we decided to enjoy a glass…or 2 of wine as well as some marinated olives and flatbreads.

Poor quality iPhone photo but you get the idea

After drinks and a quick change we made the 20 minute walk up to the Adams Morgan area for dinner at Meskerem an Ethiopian place that I had seen on Groupon and had purchased $15 for $30 worth of food.  Our initial thoughts upon arrival that it was very bright, the staff seemed bored and overall not a great atmosphere at all.  We were hopeful that the food would at least be good.  We decided to start with the Sambusas both the collards and cabbage one.  We enjoyed both but the collards was our favorite.
Following the Sambusas we had one of our favorite Ethiopian dishes the tomato salad which is simply onions, tomato, chili and an acid (lemon juice maybe or vinegar?).

For our main event we got the vegetarian platter with more tomato salad instead of the Meskerem salad which has cheese in it.  We really enjoyed all of the food however we were slightly put off by them not bringing warm wet towels to wipe our hands of prior to digging in like other Ethiopian restaurants we have visited.  Overall we enjoyed the food but we wouldn’t return based on the service and atmosphere – I hear there are a number of other really delicious Ethiopian Restaurants in DC.

Ratings:
Value: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
Atmosphere: 0/5

Cheeseburger Soy patty on a wheat bun, topped w/ cheese, lettuce & tomato, sautéed pepper, and onion

Raw California Pizza Platter (GF) Our raw pizza with guacamole and raw cheese topped with tomato, cucumber, carrot onion and peppers. Served with Kale Chips and a petite spinach salad

Ratings:
Value: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5