World Wide Vegan

Sorry for any visual pain you may be experiencing by looking at this photo, but it was taken with my husband's cell phone at Applebee's. I forgot to bring my camera. But I did want to blog about my vegan experience there. I've eaten all over the world but until Saturday I hadn't tried this popular American eatery as a vegan. And to my surprise, I enjoyed it.

In fact, with a little tweaking here and there, I could have ordered any number of items on the menu. After some perusing, I settled on a chickenless Asian salad. In place of the chicken I asked for avocado, and as you can see they obliged. As you can see in the photo, the dressing that came with the salad looked as though it had been made with mayonnaise and so I asked for a side of Italian dressing. The Italian dressing didn't detract at all from the blend of greens, cabbage, carrots, almonds and noodles that denoted the Asian theme.

After seeing the size of the salad I wished I had ordered a half-salad with a bowl of French Onion Soup - minus the cheese of course. We were out for the day so I wasn't able to take home what I couldn't eat.

I had brought in my own cheese in case I needed it. I have a small plastic container in which I often carry soy cheese when I eat out. It is small enough to fit in my purse and discrete enough so that I don't look OCD when I pull it out at a restaurant. It would have come in handy with French Onion soup but as it was I didn't need it at all.

Labels: Applebee's, restaurant, salad, Vegan, Vegetarian

This trip was great fun. I went to Washington with two friends - no men - so we were able to eat and shop to our heart's content.

We started out in Seattle Washington where we stopped just long enough to rent a car and get some lunch before heading off to Birch Bay, our first destination, on the northern coast of the state. My two friends are not vegans and so, once again, I needed to eat in places that a vegan might not think to eat. But as usual, I was able to find ways to be healthy and satiated regardless of the menu limitations. Red Robin was my friends choice for lunch. I had never been before and thought it was a Seattle based eatery. As many of you already know, it is a national restaurant, and so I am including it here in this blog.

I ordered Red Robin's French Onion Soup without cheese as well a half, Asian Salad without chicken. Instead of chicken I asked for a sliced avocado. I would have ordered a side of kidney beans if they had had any but they didn't, so I just figured I'd fill my protein quota at dinner. Both the salad and the soup were delicious and filling.

Tip: When eating out, don't be afraid to order a dish that traditionally comes with meat or cheese. Just make it clear that you cannot eat animal products and have them make your dish without the traditional ingredients. Remember, you are paying for their product and it is up to you how it is served.

I discovered that Red Robin is a very "meat intensive" eatery which made finding something other than a "garden salad" a little challenging. But I am never shy about asking for just what I want. As long as the restaurant is willing to attend to my desires I put them on my list of places to recommend to my vegan friends. Red Robin fit that bill and so I will go back again if the opportunity arises.


We stopped at a farmers market in Seattle (pictured above) to pick up some things for dinner. I was stunned at the beauty and out-of-this-world flavor of the huge, red raspberries we bought for a fruit salad. California's berries are wonderful, but none hold a candle to those we bought in Washington that day. I also bought fresh herbs and veggies to make a vegan spaghetti, as well as salad greens and even some garlic and a loaf of fresh bread.



Tip: When traveling it always pays to visit a farmers markets or produce stands before thinking about finding a restaurant. You may be surprised to discover the wide variety of fresh, organic and even precooked foods that are available. Even if you are not able to cook in your room you will find sufficient fresh foods and healthy, cooked foods to make a satisfying, healthy meal.

One of my two friends is a graduate of California Culinary Institute and so I was a little nervous about making a vegan dinner for her. But as it turned out she was very impressed. The fresh herbs and vegetables combined with the refreshing fruit salad was just the right way to end a day of traveling. Check back tomorrow for the recipes for both.

Labels: raspberries, Red Robin, restaurant, Spaghetti, Vegan

Mykonos is a beautiful Greek Island in the Aegean Sea. And whether you are going for a few days or are only there for a day as you cruise the Mediterranean you are bound to fall in love with this jewel among hundreds of Greek Isles.

There are so many things I would love to tell you to do while in Mykonos but that would require more than a short blog so I will focus on the food. First I will say that the morning hours are best for shopping, visiting Mykonos Town and taking photos of the beautiful water and Greek architecture. Once lunch time rolls around most of the eateries begin to open and most of them offer traditional Greek cuisine.

Although it is possible to find vegan items on most menus (like salads - ask for no cheese), in most cafe's the employees are not likely to speak a lot of English. Greek restaurant personnel are more gracious about making substitutions than are those in Italy or France, but asking for a substitution is still a tricky skill to acquire for someone who doesn't speak the language.

Tip: Baklava is a classic Greek treat but be aware that it is often made with honey. So if you are a non-honey-eating vegan you will want to find a veganized recipe for baklava to make at home.

Sesame Kitchen is the only vegetarian place to go in Mykonos. It is next to the Naval Museum in Hora. Fresh spinach, vegetable, cheese, and chicken pies are baked daily. A large variety of salads, brown rice, and soy dishes are offered, as well as a vegetable moussaka and stir-fried veggies. Vegetarianism is still something of an anathema to the Greeks but this restaurant serves an excellent range of healthy dishes including many vegetarian and vegan options. The Traveling Vegan will have to pick and choose carefully though and be sure to ask that vegetable-cheese be used on your dish.


For a more formal dining experience you may want to visit the Petasos Beach Resort Spa where you will find a dine vegetarian restaurant. Vegan dishes are easily amended from the vegetarian menu. Follow the signs to Platis Yialos. At the end of the road Petasos beach resort is located on the right side of the road.

In Mykonos you will find a great variety of eateries. I recommend walking around and viewing the different menus and prices before deciding where to eat. There are many over priced restaurants in Mykonos, however a number of inexpensive taverns are available for a quick snack or just to sit outside and enjoy the ambiance with a bottle of water and fresh made bread.

Labels: Greek, Mykonos, restaurant, Vegan, Vegetarian

San Francisco is a fabulous city. And in the heart of California it is no surprise that they have many vegan/vegetarian eateries. I have been to San Francisco more times than I can count and so I have learned which parts of the city I prefer to roam around by myself, with my kids and in the evening. Because many of you will be new to San Francisco I will direct you to those eateries which are the best loved and which are in safe, clean, easy to find parts of the city.
Greens is a highly rated casual yet sophisticated restaurant that offers small but delicious portions of creative and organic dishes. The prices are a bit higher than other vegan restaurants but the view and the atmosphere are worth every penny.
The best thing about Greens is that they will also make your meal to go so that you and your kids can walk down to the nearby beach to have a picnic. If you choose to eat in you may wish to ask the chef for a special pasta dish for the little ones as there is no children's menu. **** stars
______________________________

Another wonderful eatery for vegans and vegetarians is Alive. Alive serves plant foods that have not been cooked - raw foods. Before you turn up your nose take a look at their menu to see the mouth watering presentations they have created for your picky palate. The more I eat raw, the more excited I get about the whole idea. They are located at Building A, Fort Mason Center ***stars not too far from the street car turn-around.
______________________________

In most ethnic restaurants in the city you can find items on the menu that would suit a vegan diet -you just have to be creative, and of course be nice to your server when you ask for changes,
The following is a listing of other vegan eateries in the central city area:

Herbivore-Vegan Restaurant
www.herbivorerestaurant.com - (415) 826-5657

Greens Restaurant
www.greensrestaurant.com - (415) 771-6222

Cafe Gratitude
www.cafegratitude.com - (415) 824-4652

Ananda-Fuara Vegetarian Restaurant
www.anandafuara.com - (415) 621-1994

Cha Ya Vegetarian Japanese
www.yelp.com - (415) 252-7825

Lucky Creation Vegetarian
maps.google.com - (415) 989-0818

Shangri-La Chinese Vegetarian
shangri-la.wp.net - (415) 731-2548

Alive! Vegetarian Cuisine
www.aliveveggie.com - (415) 923-1052

Peace Cafe
www.redvic.com - (415) 864-1978

Medicine Eat Station
www.medicinerestaurant.com - (415) 677-4405

Labels: dining, ethnic, Greens, restaurant, San Francisco, Vegan, Vegetarian

Hawaii is the perfect destination for finding the best of vegan fare. The island of Kauai has a large population of vegetarians and so the local eateries cater to the vegetarian and vegan patrons by offering vegetarian and easily veganized meals.

Click to enlarge photo

The Blossoming Lotus Fusion Cuisine in Kauai, Hawaii (and Portland Oregon) has got to be the nicest vegan eating establishment I have ever been to.

While in Kauai last week we visited the Blossoming Lotus in Kapaa on the Coconut Coast. The completely vegan restaurant is on the main road on the north end of town across from the ABC store. Now, I'm not talking about burritos or stir fry dishes, this restaurant offers a full menu of gourmet selections. Not only do the chefs create original recipes using fresh island ingredients, but they have foods inspired by popular dishes from around the world.

Click to enlarge photo

I had Greek Spanakopita with tofu, falafel and spices. My husband had a huge salad with the best vegan corn bread I have ever tasted. The cornbread was served with fresh apple butter and sprinkled with cocoa and cinnamon. It was almost good enough to be a dessert. And my son ordered marinated tofu with a soy-yogurt topping that made the flavors burst fourth in your mouth.

Click to enlarge photo

At the gift store you can buy a recipe book with all the foods offered on the menu. Click on the links above to go to the official site for the store and the restaurant.

Of course the meal was a bit pricey but this is Hawaii, and the experience was well worth every penny.

Labels: Blossoming Lotus, Hawaii, Kauai, Portland, restaurant, Vegan

Before leaving for vacation we stayed with my son in San Jose CA. Because I live in the country I get both nervous and excited to go back to the city, I get nervous because I know that finding a place to eat that will satisfy the men and will also have vegan options available can be an ordeal. I get excited for the same reasons. I love a good food adventure.

Tip of the Day: Get a small deli-style container to carry shredded soy cheeze or other proteins with you when you are trying a new eatery, just in case you have to order items without protein. i.e. A veggie sandwich minus the cheese and mayo has little to no protein.

The first night out we went to Una Mas! a healthy-style burrito and Mexican fast food eatery. I thought I would have to create something different from the items available but to my happy surprise they offered several "Vegetarian" burritos, the Butternut Squash Burrito, the Grilled Fajita Burrito-Veggie and the Roasted Pasilla Veggie Burrito. Of course I ordered mine without cheese. Click here for nutritional listings.

I had brought along some of my own shredded soy cheeze but in the end the huge, tasty burrito didn't need it as there was ample amounts of black beans and rice. I did add some medium salsa and some cilantro and I ordered it with a tomato wrap. It was divine.

When trying a new eatery always prepare ahead of time to make sure your meal will be healthy and satisfying. There is no sense in eating a meal without protein or other beneficial ingredients, especially when a little planning can insure that you remain both vegan and healthy.

Labels: ethnic, Mexican, restaurant, travel, Vegan

Well, I just returned from a trip to Kissimmee Florida where we went to Disney World. Before leaving on our trip I looked up Disney World online and found that they have a policy which is Vegan friendly. The day before entering any of the Disney World Parks you can call the eatery you wish to dine at and request a vegan meal ahead of time.

Having never been to Disney World this option didn't work for me. I had no idea where I would be at any given time or where the eateries were located so I had to wing it. What I discovered is that each of the parks have very different types of eating opportunities. Let me give you an overview of what I found about each of the different parks we went to. This Blog will focus on the Epcot Center. Look up the subsequent blogs for information about the other Disney parks including the Wild Animal Park, Downtown Disney and the Magic Kingdom.

Tip: Disney theme parks have a solid policy of attempting to make all of their customers happy. This includes dietary needs and requests. While some of the parks such as the Epcot Center have vegan and vegetarian menus and foods readily available many do not. However if you call ahead to the eatery you wish to visit they will create a meal just for you.

Epcot Center:
* The Epcot Center had a building called The Land in which were several different places to eat. One was The Garden Grill restaurant which offered several vegetarian and easily veganized dishes. The price per meal is about $23.00 which is about what you will pay at most Disney restaurants.
* The other eatery, Sunshine Seasons was primarily a self serve food court which served breakfast lunch & casual dinner items. This was where I found the greatest variety of fully vegan dishes. They had many ethnic dishes including tabbouleh, Asian noodle bowls, stir fry, cous cous, fruit salads, pasta and even veggie sandwiches. The food was tasty and the price was about what you would expect from a theme park.
* The World had many different eating establishments with foods from all over the world. We ate a late dinner at the more formal, Italian restaurant where I chose a pasta dish, dinner salad and minestrone soup. I had to ask that the meal be made without cheese and the server eagerly obliged.
* For a midday mini-meal we stopped at the Chinese village and went to the Lotus Blossom casual dining area where we shared an order of bean curd, rice and stir fried vegetables. It was tasty and fairly inexpensive ($7.29). Although the bean curd was a little too mushy for my pallet I was surprised by how tasty it was.

We were at the Epcot Center for about 14 hours and all day I felt secure with the knowledge that vegan-style food was always nearby. I just had to look for it.

Labels: Disney World, Epcot, restaurant, travel, Vegan