tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48730017296813928532024-02-07T21:53:46.005-05:00weggebobbles and fruitvegan restaurant reviews from philly and beyond...zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-22610130472051329232011-01-22T06:51:00.004-05:002011-01-22T07:11:23.518-05:00blackbird pizzeriablackbird pizzeria<br />507 south 6th street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 625 6660<br /><a href="http://www.blackbirdpizzeria.com" target="_blank">www.blackbirdpizzeria.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: vegan pizza!<br />culinary excellence: 9<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br />the bottom line: holy crap, best pizza ever!<br />*recommended*<br /><br />luca wanted to stop at maoz for felafel on our way home from the tile store in south philly, but i managed to convince him to give this new place "blackbird" a try. it didn't help that he had bad associations with gianna's grille, the former occupants of this space, nor that the recommendation came from someone who rescues bugs from her salads, but man oh man did this place surpass both of our expectations. i can't even remember ever eating pizza this good!<br /><br />luca got a <b>seitan cheesesteak</b> with <b>french fries</b>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLfduzvwgEhLecn0P4VrFOA53iCoNRlVQ0YwH3lZwINtPbnTgs29O5m8h9JQeIgSauLCcvKbtMevvnfdxvhgLrQ0WqefGYbjW-MgqTHHNBzpfj-9E5vFRUHJCeZDzqTh3bQeHzT8dKiM/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLfduzvwgEhLecn0P4VrFOA53iCoNRlVQ0YwH3lZwINtPbnTgs29O5m8h9JQeIgSauLCcvKbtMevvnfdxvhgLrQ0WqefGYbjW-MgqTHHNBzpfj-9E5vFRUHJCeZDzqTh3bQeHzT8dKiM/s400/IMG_2860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564978793467905490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_YhvIzq5viU2LglRWqly1FesjMXXiMnaHlqxItwpEBUYLTY_OEfZok6lP8twwYPZKQ0ch8t3_SrGJt5fdx_HgJ-rlWM_sz8tYdKrvZwpa3p21a9YxrK9j0QbwxsCgrkE9n0r2Nfy7fU/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_YhvIzq5viU2LglRWqly1FesjMXXiMnaHlqxItwpEBUYLTY_OEfZok6lP8twwYPZKQ0ch8t3_SrGJt5fdx_HgJ-rlWM_sz8tYdKrvZwpa3p21a9YxrK9j0QbwxsCgrkE9n0r2Nfy7fU/s400/IMG_2859.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564978789122013794" /></a><br /><br />sorry the pictures suck - i took them hastily in bad light because i was seriously hungry when we got home. you can see much more appetizing photos on blackbird's website. regardless, the cheesesteak was outstanding. everything just melted in your mouth - totally savory and delicious, complete with mushrooms, peppers and daiya cheese.<br /><br />the fries were also incredible. awesome consistency with just the right amount of salt. and they give you a giant portion for only $4. that's another thing about this place - the prices are entirely reasonable!<br /><br />i got 2 slices of their specialty pizzas from the display:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5OZ9rUkMkkZU9mhyuU5SiKOpF0aKg7ZzNU0VaP9wRKwoDnu6mpKCUkoqns3Z6ZiYOIlNIvUU0g6UgEIgzkzsh-4GmKm4_om3mdB49hIFK6IPoCMbhbYS0maYO8GaGdfmkayaDcSMmV4/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5OZ9rUkMkkZU9mhyuU5SiKOpF0aKg7ZzNU0VaP9wRKwoDnu6mpKCUkoqns3Z6ZiYOIlNIvUU0g6UgEIgzkzsh-4GmKm4_om3mdB49hIFK6IPoCMbhbYS0maYO8GaGdfmkayaDcSMmV4/s400/IMG_2857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564978784292677906" /></a><br /><br />the one on the left is a <b>south philly</b>, topped with seitan sausage, broccoli rabe, fennel, eggplant, red sauce and daiya. on the right is a <b>yukon</b>, topped with potatoes, rosemary, olive oil and sea salt. both were perfect. the combined flavors of the south philly slice were blissful and the yukons are melt-in-your-mouth good. i would have loved to try a <b>haymaker</b> - garlic butter, seitan sausage, onions, red sauce and oregano - but sadly they had no slices available when i went in. <br /><br />for dessert, we couldn't resist some vegan treats:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKmO4vhFBrlfVr0jcawLkh0z2LegfmcCeXQMZzc7do7pz03cUhbYdGs7j2C7sdSEtBXtTMVviCcwznK58y47d62zaD2vGV9E2rbdX_hzmvF-mLQujFGDEB3f-gEHJPuqGuF3aw4PYuG8/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKmO4vhFBrlfVr0jcawLkh0z2LegfmcCeXQMZzc7do7pz03cUhbYdGs7j2C7sdSEtBXtTMVviCcwznK58y47d62zaD2vGV9E2rbdX_hzmvF-mLQujFGDEB3f-gEHJPuqGuF3aw4PYuG8/s400/IMG_2861.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564978796819025154" /></a><br /><br />can't go wrong with <b>peanut butter tandy cake</b> or <b>peanut butter chocolate brownies</b>. hell yes. perfect with a cold glass of soy milk.<br /><br />i am definitely planning to return to blackbird for more delicious food and hopefully soon!!zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-18551279686424377792011-01-02T16:22:00.003-05:002011-01-02T16:38:59.414-05:00cafe blossomcafe blossom<br />466 columbus avenue<br />new york, ny<br />(212) 875 2600<br /><a href="http://www.blossomnyc.com/cafeblossom.php" target="_blank">www.blossomnyc.com/cafeblossom.php/</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: organic vegan<br />culinary excellence: 5<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br />the bottom line: overpriced and mediocre<br /><br />luca and i were on the upper west side last night and in the mood for seitan, so we decided to check out cafe blossom on columbus avenue. i had eaten at their chelsea location back when they opened and remembered it being pretty decent. unfortunately, the quality of the food just doesn't measure up to the prices.<br /><br />we started off with some of their $7 juices - a <b>pink lady</b> for me and an <b>adam & eve</b> for luca. you really can't go wrong with beet/pineapple/ginger/pear or carrot/apple/ginger juice, but i wish they would have strained it. the bottom inch and a half was just froth.<br /><br />for our entrees, luca got the <b>lemon peppercorn seitan</b> ($21) and i went for the <b>southern seitan sandwich</b> ($14) with <b>sauteed greens</b> on the side. we were surprised when the food arrived just minutes after we ordered it, leaving us to wonder if everything was pre-prepared and reheated. luca's dish was exceedingly bland. the potatoes had very little flavor and the pile of thin slabs of seitan certainly was not on par with the <a href="http://weggebobblesandfruit.blogspot.com/2009/04/candle-79.html">candle cafe</a>'s. my sandwich was also mediocre - like something you might get in a pinch but certainly not seek out. the rosemary focaccia was cold, the fried seitan itself was underwhelming and the greens on the side were too oily and smoky-tasting.<br /><br />i was also disappointed with the <b>cookie dough</b> shake that we shared for dessert. i liked the idea of little bits of cookie dough to scoop out with a spoon, but it was all thoroughly blended together and had a syrupy sweet taste that was rather cloying.<br /><br />so despite the friendly service and pleasant decor, i would not recommend cafe blossom when there are so many great vegan options in the city.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-74776080708362747562010-11-22T08:09:00.003-05:002010-11-22T08:26:27.032-05:00food for allfood for all<br />7127 germantown avenue<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(267) 297 7122<br /><a href="http://foodforallmarket.com" target="_blank">www.foodforallmarket.com/</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: organic, allergen-free take-out<br />culinary excellence: 8<br />vegan friendliness: 9<br />*recommended*<br /><br />food for all is a lovely little market specializing in products and prepared food for people with celiacs or other food sensitivities. everything in the shop is free of peanuts, gluten, soy, dairy and eggs, making it also quite vegan-friendly. although they do offer some prepared foods with meat, there are always good vegan options on the menu and plenty of inventively prepared vegetables. the other night luca and i got take-out. it was hella expensive, but incredibly tasty and filling. we sampled their <b>bean and millet chili</b>, which was hearty and hit all the right notes, <b>stuffed acorn squash</b> filled with jasmine rice, which had a slightly sweet, slightly smoky taste to it, <b>oven roasted brussels sprouts</b>, which were possibly the best brussels i've ever had - perfectly cooked and generously seasoned with salt and pepper and <b>roasted carrots</b>, an inspiring array of different colored carrots roasted much like the brussels. i also couldn't resist one of those heavenly <b>cookie sandwiches</b> that they get from <a href="http://weggebobblesandfruit.blogspot.com/2010/03/sweet-freedom-bakery.html">sweet freedom bakery</a>. perfect with a glass of vanilla rice milk, i think that is my favorite food.<br /><br />the market is stocked full of interesting types of crackers, spreads, drinks, grains, frozen dessert products (dairy-free coconut bars!) and spices. they even have daiya cheese, which is more than i can say for weaver's way co-op. it feels good to shop in an independently owned neighborhood shop. the owners clearly care about their business and have high standards for it. well done!zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-71665118756627976072010-08-18T09:09:00.003-04:002010-08-18T09:31:18.811-04:00country life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgX6kaX_pM1HVvkuu8HzI6O9yTNe4ehWwmEAwuaFI7piZWL3flW7lMhL3geACH5VQZhpxWu7n4c0YHXXRf5x7ER5Li6LdAXj9qtYmaSOaIM-6mPRnvPLW0JdenhYbO__IrWz_QHR_RFw/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgX6kaX_pM1HVvkuu8HzI6O9yTNe4ehWwmEAwuaFI7piZWL3flW7lMhL3geACH5VQZhpxWu7n4c0YHXXRf5x7ER5Li6LdAXj9qtYmaSOaIM-6mPRnvPLW0JdenhYbO__IrWz_QHR_RFw/s400/IMG_2602.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741445080687346" /></a><br /><br />country life<br />melantrichova 15 (plus other locations around prague)<br />prague, czech republic<br />224 213 366<br /><a href="http://www.countrylife.cz/" target="_blank">www.countrylife.cz/</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: healthy vegetarian, cafeteria-style<br />culinary excellence: 7<br />vegan friendliness: 9<br />*recommended*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVdxU_vemgsBcwxRPPdkT_fqgU3rv_0XeAxsoxDsFPWxXCfA7xFliH9mpoQdoDivGMYn5UshUI48rplOG0EAeno_9M-0rB7jFg7jy5l9ESwFvwxhajqzgE5woZO4IUzQKM-C9G4G4CrY/s1600/IMG_2603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVdxU_vemgsBcwxRPPdkT_fqgU3rv_0XeAxsoxDsFPWxXCfA7xFliH9mpoQdoDivGMYn5UshUI48rplOG0EAeno_9M-0rB7jFg7jy5l9ESwFvwxhajqzgE5woZO4IUzQKM-C9G4G4CrY/s400/IMG_2603.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741449046943570" /></a><br /><br />country life is a chain of health food stores and cafeteria-style vegetarian restaurants in prague. we went to the one just outside of old town square and it made for an excellent lunch. could also be a fine light dinner, but they close fairly early. apparently everything they offer is vegan, but i didn't know that when i went, so i was a little nervous that my especially well-held-together <b>veggie burger</b> and buttery <b>potatoes</b> may have contained eggs or butter, even though the woman behind the counter affirmed that they were "vegansky." everything was tasty, but certainly the best items we sampled were the amazing <b>hummus</b>, loaded with tahini, my <b>elderflower soda</b> and luca's <b>burrito</b>. i wish i had gotten a non-blurry shot of the burrito, because it was really good. it had a soft flour tortilla, filled with hearty brown rice and some sweet tomatoey stuff around the edges. the veggie burger was cold, firm and a little disappointing. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTblPk5m7bn7Bd6f4Ua7r6FffaTRj2MZidllqGHf7fjaolkcKj0Xsa7Zrjsrdt77cnQFHE9AAy537tEwnQMgQAe3pDhZLg1ocaYxryHqlyBi8KrYT_5X3dQxfdcGExigBGPFmI8FwGMEg/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTblPk5m7bn7Bd6f4Ua7r6FffaTRj2MZidllqGHf7fjaolkcKj0Xsa7Zrjsrdt77cnQFHE9AAy537tEwnQMgQAe3pDhZLg1ocaYxryHqlyBi8KrYT_5X3dQxfdcGExigBGPFmI8FwGMEg/s400/IMG_2599.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741424676774818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg200QVeysSBAmQLV4n89u0OevaZZLxGiaVz9_ho972GGNf5H2SW0snmn5B3P3GomsNtmF55A2PAvFWbL24NuETmoLTFCtZR78gNVA8AcZiS8rV68HnteQdwV4hjz2EfELO2UhEGzMNKAc/s1600/IMG_2600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg200QVeysSBAmQLV4n89u0OevaZZLxGiaVz9_ho972GGNf5H2SW0snmn5B3P3GomsNtmF55A2PAvFWbL24NuETmoLTFCtZR78gNVA8AcZiS8rV68HnteQdwV4hjz2EfELO2UhEGzMNKAc/s400/IMG_2600.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506741436700825250" /></a><br /><br />all in all, though, a great place for a small or large meal full of whole grains, vegetables and non-animal protein. and elderflower soda!!zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-51392476871400875912010-08-17T09:56:00.003-04:002010-08-17T10:13:23.727-04:00don pietro<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1l9dTBgNIyQxogkDkUatNNrWt33WDKigL-s-M6dyvYN-NnaOG3sbn-0mhNenjCiNxV9cUbl_6dgBmgKlKU9raBDU17CIwY5pDz2WiFmt8vRCbYz3FaMxtdHjOsChdMSNHABNUsUt7iA/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1l9dTBgNIyQxogkDkUatNNrWt33WDKigL-s-M6dyvYN-NnaOG3sbn-0mhNenjCiNxV9cUbl_6dgBmgKlKU9raBDU17CIwY5pDz2WiFmt8vRCbYz3FaMxtdHjOsChdMSNHABNUsUt7iA/s400/IMG_2541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506381547918174514" /></a><br /><br />don pietro<br />panska 18<br />cesky krumlov, czech republic<br />775 336 282<br /><a href="http://www.donpietro.cz/en" target="_blank">www.donpietro.cz/en</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: pizza<br />culinary excellence: 5<br />vegan friendliness: 3<br /><br />there was one restaurant listed on the cesky krumlov page at <a href="http://www.happycow.net/europe/czech_republic/cesky_krumlov/" target="_blank">happy cow</a>, but it was not in the town center and luca was concerned it would take too much time to walk there and back. so of course we spent twice the amount of time that would have taken to find a veg-friendly place nearby. ultimately we decided on this cute pizza place with outdoor seating, since the waitress told us they could do a cheeseless vegetable pizza. luca sipped his spectacular <b>passion fruit mojito</b> while we waited and i sipped my imaginary <b>guava colada</b>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WB-q9Nco40YPhtDuhCdDj17o65vQGjIZnZPePYBXCaKNz3BCk4ZfzhNxFJfcglG-b6ftSypzgZatffwlTMhmCIJXOcm2kWnqfxirQXcKQ5PH6VNcBrQE15YdmjNjy5jYa8Qi0WWt2No/s1600/IMG_2537.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WB-q9Nco40YPhtDuhCdDj17o65vQGjIZnZPePYBXCaKNz3BCk4ZfzhNxFJfcglG-b6ftSypzgZatffwlTMhmCIJXOcm2kWnqfxirQXcKQ5PH6VNcBrQE15YdmjNjy5jYa8Qi0WWt2No/s400/IMG_2537.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506381526109780178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQf_AWhgU8bQZ2bBlEYP0yA5IFExwME7CoJN_4BaNi59a3jw8KO4pkK81mXXl4WCIvvMBqzIOCOtgq-ALPF-0QfY0eJMBXZ-KY5cd85ht0g9Y8Dy1UHNhhiAq1o5hh9Iev0c4thipgPM/s1600/IMG_2539.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQf_AWhgU8bQZ2bBlEYP0yA5IFExwME7CoJN_4BaNi59a3jw8KO4pkK81mXXl4WCIvvMBqzIOCOtgq-ALPF-0QfY0eJMBXZ-KY5cd85ht0g9Y8Dy1UHNhhiAq1o5hh9Iev0c4thipgPM/s400/IMG_2539.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506381538322373266" /></a><br /><br />after a long while, the waitress brought out our pizza, but it was covered in cheese. she realized this as soon as she set it down and it was another 10 minutes before she brought it back, sans fromage. it seemed like they just took the cheese off, since there were still little traces of it, but for me that was preferable to wasting the whole thing. anyway, the corrected pizza was pretty good. it certainly could have had more seasonings and a few cloves of roasted garlic, but the assortment of vegetables - broccoli, corn, spinach, mushrooms, onions and peppers - worked nicely. the crust was soft and tasty. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbm1GtXY3E4fBNFVIvV_lTk-8wBuEZsFlvl7O3j_y9MXCCdleRYKjnIDhZwFlcoXm0CnVJbPHe5ljETESlwdRlg6KfEYhwc8pgPSIy78LDa7iaNY5oTEJJ1yKmRuj1x04R7otfAD0dbAU/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbm1GtXY3E4fBNFVIvV_lTk-8wBuEZsFlvl7O3j_y9MXCCdleRYKjnIDhZwFlcoXm0CnVJbPHe5ljETESlwdRlg6KfEYhwc8pgPSIy78LDa7iaNY5oTEJJ1yKmRuj1x04R7otfAD0dbAU/s400/IMG_2540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506381545673007906" /></a><br /><br />just make sure you have some cash, as don pietro does not accept credit cards.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-44125473926312681402010-08-17T07:56:00.004-04:002010-08-17T08:19:19.942-04:00hotel cerna liska<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8JUkrgJkq-vqKdB0f-1axnseQpkKZNutg9sEl-DDo-b91wBh2Tq3oN2pCk1mZNRQZzPnRJaWo92nJ5GHeCy55LB14JmUbd2-IBx7dAiGgqN5v4XB__wiyB5hX7kJpYlbafm56_r7t_s/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8JUkrgJkq-vqKdB0f-1axnseQpkKZNutg9sEl-DDo-b91wBh2Tq3oN2pCk1mZNRQZzPnRJaWo92nJ5GHeCy55LB14JmUbd2-IBx7dAiGgqN5v4XB__wiyB5hX7kJpYlbafm56_r7t_s/s400/IMG_2514.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506351978204078802" /></a><br /><br />hotel cerna liska<br />mikulasska 2<br />prague, czech republic<br />224 232 250<br /><a href="http://www.cernaliska.cz/restaurant.html" target="_blank">www.cernaliska.cz/restaurant.html</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: international<br />culinary excellence: 4<br />vegan friendliness: 4<br /><br />i am pretty annoyed as i write this review, because apparently i did not go to the "vegetarian" restaurant at the hotel cerna liska. i saw this place listed at <a href="http://www.happycow.net/europe/czech_republic/prague/" target="_blank">happy cow</a> and it sounded really great, but when we got there, there didn't seem to be much in the way of vegetarian food. as it turns out, i don't think we were at the right place. there is apparently an underground restaurant in a "vaulted cellar" serving "renowned vegetarian food." that certainly would have been a lot better than the crappy meal we ate upstairs! i only wish that our waiter had noticed that we ordered only vegetarian food and guided us to the proper place. unfortunately, he did not seem to be much interested in our patronage at all, let alone attentive enough to spot our mistake.<br /><br />this was one of the worst meals of our trip. i got a plate of <b>warm vegetables with avocado</b> - just the kind of dish that a restaurant that knows nothing about vegetarianism would serve. the peppers were undercooked, the zuccini and eggplant were ok but too oily and i really don't think avocado should be eaten warm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vbW8QmGRzXms1OHo8gsTuB9w8wzbpGK1SVMhUh4L8Lbcomhw9rapZcpnsZx_lL4kqWQ9rMjTYwPo-ziZGyNxdy3hdptIIk-EM9Qc6Iqay3u1K5pL31nHKBsVCOX0VoeiduSCzrYE4_g/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vbW8QmGRzXms1OHo8gsTuB9w8wzbpGK1SVMhUh4L8Lbcomhw9rapZcpnsZx_lL4kqWQ9rMjTYwPo-ziZGyNxdy3hdptIIk-EM9Qc6Iqay3u1K5pL31nHKBsVCOX0VoeiduSCzrYE4_g/s400/IMG_2511.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506351975425923218" /></a><br /><br /><br />luca had only a few bites of his non-vegan <b>pasta pesto</b> because it was swimming in so much oil. instead he munched on <b>french fries</b> that tasted like they were brought in from mcdonalds. just awful! so learn from my mistake and ask to be seated in the gothic cellar.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-39571967223186302852010-08-17T07:29:00.004-04:002010-08-17T07:44:38.241-04:00gopal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShprcTIsC-yUbY9uTNiDkZOWaLza1G7Wmv9rTRpp6ee3_yij1inZ7LqYjPkKK9L-gh7Mmf9R28UZfSkH-oJ8x7siw18xsBbiQkbY4BI5zrE3sPmzIRiEfvJCfvHSgjeNc2nijoL05zkU/s1600/IMG_2496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShprcTIsC-yUbY9uTNiDkZOWaLza1G7Wmv9rTRpp6ee3_yij1inZ7LqYjPkKK9L-gh7Mmf9R28UZfSkH-oJ8x7siw18xsBbiQkbY4BI5zrE3sPmzIRiEfvJCfvHSgjeNc2nijoL05zkU/s400/IMG_2496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506343088127148834" /></a><br />gopal<br />nerudova 32<br />prague, czech republic<br />604 434 931<br /><a href="http://www.gopal.cz/indexuk.html" target="_blank">www.gopal.cz/indexuk.html</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: indian<br />culinary excellence: 8<br />vegan friendliness: 9<br />*recommended*<br /><br />gopal is a lovely hare krishna restaurant in a beautiful section of prague, offering daily plates of wholesome, indian-style vegetarian food. if you are vegan, simply let them know that when you order at the counter and they will make sure your meal is dairy-free. the guy who took our order was super nice and it didn't take long before our food was brought to us in the outdoor seating area. on the day we went, the meal looked like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45J5p3LDfeS4w-qG11yGGuL1wdQwX-95Sxm1zl76MhB0ggrv8EdklgRePRCMRRjrLInLoP7t2zKEuU6ZHx5Y96I1FK04Ks8eKadfAL6QFTWO-8eF_RjPdmKL1nOvofyqbXtUpmEI56_0/s1600/IMG_2497.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45J5p3LDfeS4w-qG11yGGuL1wdQwX-95Sxm1zl76MhB0ggrv8EdklgRePRCMRRjrLInLoP7t2zKEuU6ZHx5Y96I1FK04Ks8eKadfAL6QFTWO-8eF_RjPdmKL1nOvofyqbXtUpmEI56_0/s400/IMG_2497.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506343091791748578" /></a><br /><br />everything was delicious and fresh. delicate basmati rice with potatoes, chickpeas and zucchini in a mild tomatoey sauce, spicy apple cinnamon chutney, a salad of lettuce and tomato in a salt-water-like dressing and delicious "halva." i'm not really sure how that had anything to do with halva as i have known halva to be. it was more like a a course, mildly sweet mush with peanuts. whatever it was made of, i loved it. the meal was also accompanied by some cold minty spiced tea with lemon, a pleasant counterpoint to the flavors in the meal. i highly recommend paying gopal a visit if you're in prague. it's perfect for lunch on an active day.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-80464213061601205982010-08-16T14:57:00.006-04:002010-08-17T10:12:32.268-04:00maitrea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcIFlpvDBij4zCt9lY16KuBJPYLpIVU0WjyZAJbHcmEOoikIWePyf6PidZqfk1DjAjlwd-yKo2x-kUD_OkRwxhcDd6NpqGDshgdOSAz8KvKy_PkB4DepkvAEx7WEN5IzHL-nvsd2sgBI/s1600/IMG_2488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcIFlpvDBij4zCt9lY16KuBJPYLpIVU0WjyZAJbHcmEOoikIWePyf6PidZqfk1DjAjlwd-yKo2x-kUD_OkRwxhcDd6NpqGDshgdOSAz8KvKy_PkB4DepkvAEx7WEN5IzHL-nvsd2sgBI/s400/IMG_2488.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096378737430450" /></a><br /><br />maitrea<br />tynska 6<br />prague, czech republic<br />221 711 631 <br /><a href="http://www.restaurace-maitrea.cz/en" target="_blank">www.restaurace-maitrea.cz/en</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: vegetarian<br />culinary excellence: 8<br />vegan friendliness: 9<br />*recommended*<br /><br />made 2 visits to maitrea during our trip to prague, as it was the favorite of all the places we visited. the sister restaurant to <a href="http://weggebobblesandfruit.blogspot.com/2010/08/clear-head.html">clear head</a>, maitrea serves up wholesome, varied vegetarian cuisine in a beautiful, zen-like space. the servers are helpful and friendly and the food is top-notch. like clear head, everything on the menu is clearly marked if it is vegan or veganizable.<br /><br />for our first meal there, we sat downstairs, adjacent to this calming fountain:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9SHSrSPOMW-ttPSaeh6nfBCCqTpg4Ej8-AeQOPaZGarRj29seCjAdpUN03B2uqQ-Kh0ISUFvloKmIaK0NbDehgR-AesFJymMxT5VB85A2KOkCzkBDfxpWoQPMigiUNq7oAkIpefj-rA/s1600/IMG_2485.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9SHSrSPOMW-ttPSaeh6nfBCCqTpg4Ej8-AeQOPaZGarRj29seCjAdpUN03B2uqQ-Kh0ISUFvloKmIaK0NbDehgR-AesFJymMxT5VB85A2KOkCzkBDfxpWoQPMigiUNq7oAkIpefj-rA/s400/IMG_2485.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096372581330322" /></a><br /><br />luca and i shared an appetizer of <b>vegetarian sausage</b>. it was served cold and had a nice flavor. the sausage itself was meaty and satisfying, served with crunchy smoky strips of onion and some bland brown bread.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqR6xkUCzg2jn6_r9ZK9VWqsf-TDTH8cOGupJnZV770RAJmgCKoeFWevmamog4piyVdt7APBFnpiOg8Em2VlJPrh7z5kLqVI65fUbeF4iOCoWKwmShg-Ius3msmRhZLd1Da8xlP9iCgy8/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqR6xkUCzg2jn6_r9ZK9VWqsf-TDTH8cOGupJnZV770RAJmgCKoeFWevmamog4piyVdt7APBFnpiOg8Em2VlJPrh7z5kLqVI65fUbeF4iOCoWKwmShg-Ius3msmRhZLd1Da8xlP9iCgy8/s400/IMG_2482.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096340645079410" /></a><br /><br />luca got a <b>vegetable stir-fry</b> for his entree, which consisted of lots of julienned veggies over rice in a pureed red pepper sauce. it was smooth, but could have been more flavorful. too many string beans, in my opinion. it also would have been nice if the waitress had told him that when you order this dish vegan, it doesn't come with the mashed potatoes listed on the menu:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbAa_PJMLVhIZRYzn_KCZu0vinWsYWzdAJLWakR3CYl-RQLVrqesi3JObdW4ynLCrFfxSVSrYhl_VEwV4QrczIGHZS8tHkFL_xwudL_gKt3ILxd9bQSyWSyc7lb1IZ2pBIV2ZNHiDYxM/s1600/IMG_2483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbAa_PJMLVhIZRYzn_KCZu0vinWsYWzdAJLWakR3CYl-RQLVrqesi3JObdW4ynLCrFfxSVSrYhl_VEwV4QrczIGHZS8tHkFL_xwudL_gKt3ILxd9bQSyWSyc7lb1IZ2pBIV2ZNHiDYxM/s400/IMG_2483.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096352642314434" /></a><br /><br />i was deciding between <b>oven-roasted vegetables</b>, <b>seitan goulash</b> and <b>spinach and arugula salad with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic and smoked tofu in a balsamic-honey reduction</b>. our waitress heartily recommended the salad. it was fantastic. the greens were ever so slightly wilted in the warm vinaigrette and the flat strips of smoked tofu were delicious. the roasted garlic was great for smearing on the brown, grainy bread. this was a great combination of ingredients. the only thing i would have changed would have been to have a few less capers and some oil-cured black olives instead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrx_tH5y2iVUOFAwvEDqYSUTmEUjFJFM7I9f-PPPXwBN6uk0SWdN7b0DZBUusEnjqYFm50pAxB8gbpfIVwJAVT-fHxAkIauFC-njIyAIpt1XunxuK2hyphenhyphenFB1bxx457dasFGZ5zGg8LRvN0/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrx_tH5y2iVUOFAwvEDqYSUTmEUjFJFM7I9f-PPPXwBN6uk0SWdN7b0DZBUusEnjqYFm50pAxB8gbpfIVwJAVT-fHxAkIauFC-njIyAIpt1XunxuK2hyphenhyphenFB1bxx457dasFGZ5zGg8LRvN0/s400/IMG_2484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096364258604802" /></a><br /><br />i was really hoping maitrea's <b>hot chocolate</b> could be made vegan, but apparently the milk was already mixed in, so i had to depart without a sweet fix.<br /><br />on our second visit to maitrea, we sat upstairs, which felt a little more casual. if you can, i recommend trying to get a seat downstairs. the meal was excellent, once again. we started with <b>tortilla chips and sun-dried tomato tapenade</b>. the chips were crisp and nicely salted and the tapenade was extraordinary. i wish i could have taken home a huge jar of that stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtNRTmdkw-qwcVecb7jREa4jldPMT4DmD8tQSjedFvZnkiKVyWUll6oBA9ZfuJMvelaeR0ioWxOF0y3scobKmzI6e-w0SeHvTf6izCvLID8wkazfreTj2WKj31K-BoJGRF2OSIEqEFWw/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtNRTmdkw-qwcVecb7jREa4jldPMT4DmD8tQSjedFvZnkiKVyWUll6oBA9ZfuJMvelaeR0ioWxOF0y3scobKmzI6e-w0SeHvTf6izCvLID8wkazfreTj2WKj31K-BoJGRF2OSIEqEFWw/s400/IMG_2608.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096828488738626" /></a><br /><br />for my entree this time i order the <b>goulash</b>. i couldn't help it, i was too curious. it was actually really good, though it doesn't look that way from the picture. sadly, i couldn't get the bread dumplings made vegan, so rice accompanied the seitan, which was very soft. some pieces actually seemed so soft they were undercooked -mushy - but mostly it was good. the sauce had a nice rich flavor and there were some slippery mushrooms hidden in it. the waiter didn't know the english name for the little seeds in the sauce that gave it its distinctive flavor, but it tasted like caraway seeds to me - very eastern-european tasting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XVIG6u4Ltjkv61ja8qCrrYyvcQC4WfnKR8_T2XRwRrDmQIZJX7mW5J8aYzBCN8E4qLeuDJW6szR_aoQVgALzRYBK1gOFMBjX_65myfYUq9b5jKVuplFv7YR_OV19vFLYgMLZ4UMcRMk/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XVIG6u4Ltjkv61ja8qCrrYyvcQC4WfnKR8_T2XRwRrDmQIZJX7mW5J8aYzBCN8E4qLeuDJW6szR_aoQVgALzRYBK1gOFMBjX_65myfYUq9b5jKVuplFv7YR_OV19vFLYgMLZ4UMcRMk/s400/IMG_2613.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096850419610770" /></a><br /><br />luca got the best entree either of us had on the entire trip: <b>thai eggplant with tofu</b>. i guess it pays to get the dishes listed as favorites on the menu, because this was just outrageous. it didn't look nearly as incredible as it tasted. i'm not even an eggplant fan, but it kind of melted in your mouth, along with the little bits of tofu, wading in a pool of light but sumptuous coconut lime sauce. it was adorned with lemongrass stalks and black sesame seeds. don't miss this one!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3Fjw9GFie4lVDb4m8S0TcwYAg0WjQOv3QgdpeztYELHpypaSBUC_FFIT9-jN0t9tbxgSowSo0pYf2gDvlpE0Z9wrbv3qMPPzNBj8yRKuqi75vtt8ZS88pAb76UqFoZUYTj9G6fLxS2k/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3Fjw9GFie4lVDb4m8S0TcwYAg0WjQOv3QgdpeztYELHpypaSBUC_FFIT9-jN0t9tbxgSowSo0pYf2gDvlpE0Z9wrbv3qMPPzNBj8yRKuqi75vtt8ZS88pAb76UqFoZUYTj9G6fLxS2k/s400/IMG_2610.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506096839696637074" /></a><br /><br />i highly recommend maitrea. just remember to bring enough cash for your meal, as they don't accept credit cards.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-64450649383192166622010-08-16T07:01:00.004-04:002010-08-16T07:31:38.421-04:00clear head<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZLDDVNL4xgtNm4I63Ukr_SZvuH7HDeLkLoipaI2Ps2tqtznyVNo8RDChhqwnnB0UkGBzKs72ra_CdJKSmrALygs2STT7rlx8klrkRH4GdT0MUviOGtiqg6VQxQGlMnX3aDMQ7wesg2A/s1600/IMG_2440.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZLDDVNL4xgtNm4I63Ukr_SZvuH7HDeLkLoipaI2Ps2tqtznyVNo8RDChhqwnnB0UkGBzKs72ra_CdJKSmrALygs2STT7rlx8klrkRH4GdT0MUviOGtiqg6VQxQGlMnX3aDMQ7wesg2A/s400/IMG_2440.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505963074656947490" /></a><br />clear head<br />borsov 2<br />prague, czech republic<br />222 220 665<br /><a href="http://www.lehkahlava.cz/en_novinky.htm" target="_blank">www.lehkahlava.cz/en_novinky.htm</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: vegetarian<br />culinary excellence: 8<br />vegan friendliness: 9<br />*recommended*<br /><br />our 3rd dinner in prague was certainly our healthiest, as we got a reservation at the most well-known vegetarian restaurant in town. the space was really nice and clean, with several dining rooms. we ate in the pink/coral room. the menu includes a lot of explanations of ingredients that visitors may be unfamiliar with and everything is clearly marked with symbols for dishes that are vegan and dishes that can be made vegan upon request. <br /><br />i had wanted <b>hummus</b> to start us off, but luca wanted <b>grilled veggies</b>, so we went with that. good thing too, because they were unbelievable! it was a pile of wonderful grilled vegetables, including tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, eggplant an onion in a ludicrously delicious balsamic and oil infusion with garlic, topped with fresh arugula and accompanied by sections of two types of whole grain breads, one darker and harder, one lighter and softer. yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbrkn5USrwOsg91NUsrom0IxXZJjgLk-YwDkfmOoPEJNJZNR6m0Haaruwq6QdHM_k4HKyCFwkPReWHbNQAHKUiZx1xyR7Buxko5AToMCu-S3tE49rSSTV0QKWq0VTbYxBPDaodxwh_2I/s1600/IMG_2442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbrkn5USrwOsg91NUsrom0IxXZJjgLk-YwDkfmOoPEJNJZNR6m0Haaruwq6QdHM_k4HKyCFwkPReWHbNQAHKUiZx1xyR7Buxko5AToMCu-S3tE49rSSTV0QKWq0VTbYxBPDaodxwh_2I/s400/IMG_2442.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505963082016912306" /></a><br /><br />the entrees were HUGE, so if you're not looking to take home half a week's worth of food, you may want to opt for a half portion. my <b>bulgar risotto with veggies tempeh and sun-dried tomatoes</b> was awesome. it tasted whole and real, with a giant dollop of sun-dried tomato tapenade on top. take a little with each bite of risotto and taste it harmonize with the little shreds of veggies, smoky tempeh pieces and whole grains. the salad on the side seemed unnecessary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqv4zwyk8CYiM362aX5UgBfqHF_TPypQnIMQ6-OFBw3M-7VOcFdj0BRpyyacCqlX1slUoyVLHydRE979vxJiQN8rdvK5AW_WyXHoczRmkvE0j7AAF5UafUoU8-JC9vDUmPiNn5J4hax5Q/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqv4zwyk8CYiM362aX5UgBfqHF_TPypQnIMQ6-OFBw3M-7VOcFdj0BRpyyacCqlX1slUoyVLHydRE979vxJiQN8rdvK5AW_WyXHoczRmkvE0j7AAF5UafUoU8-JC9vDUmPiNn5J4hax5Q/s400/IMG_2444.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505963098002297250" /></a><br /><br />luca got the same dish he got at <a href="http://weggebobblesandfruit.blogspot.com/2010/08/klub-architektu.html">klub architektu</a> - <b>pasta with smoked tempeh, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes</b>. he preferred the other restaurant's version, as this one came in a rather tasteless vegan cream sauce with mushrooms:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWidXlsfLl3o3ZAlei_eLvbhNNsps5VOwo31NKv_DYHLfs1QsxcbPigpNJkQ3OJVbmxYs2lqXjGhoC3yPrib9RrVlnRwk4PXfQfrIkcPYp0U6oA-V-P7zJcVW7T492PuXh0U1iUXBJIFI/s1600/IMG_2443.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWidXlsfLl3o3ZAlei_eLvbhNNsps5VOwo31NKv_DYHLfs1QsxcbPigpNJkQ3OJVbmxYs2lqXjGhoC3yPrib9RrVlnRwk4PXfQfrIkcPYp0U6oA-V-P7zJcVW7T492PuXh0U1iUXBJIFI/s400/IMG_2443.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505963085114329314" /></a><br /><br />since it had been days since either of us had indulged in any sweets, we decided to get their sole vegan dessert option: <b>carrot cake</b>. well, this was not my idea of dessert. it was cold, made of millet and smothered in a mild gooey sauce that didn't taste like much of anything. i prefer my desserts small, rich and chocolately. this was large, bland and healthy. i took the majority of it with us to go, thinking it might make a better breakfast, but it still tasted pretty unpleasant the next morning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIInCEW6mCxYpWwNi1m_VN28NmMjmdfas4s1Uk53zj1y572k7lnIq6y2dhMnCIrpj0xR1YHBSMtkNwKuvNlkrU5cU2r-t6RtUAOrgM6cNctfHDoeK3B6fBzO4N6R8KSOeDQgkQZHNiVU/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIInCEW6mCxYpWwNi1m_VN28NmMjmdfas4s1Uk53zj1y572k7lnIq6y2dhMnCIrpj0xR1YHBSMtkNwKuvNlkrU5cU2r-t6RtUAOrgM6cNctfHDoeK3B6fBzO4N6R8KSOeDQgkQZHNiVU/s400/IMG_2451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505968240508647202" /></a><br /><br />we also had big clear mugs of fresh mint and ginger tea with lemon and honey:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MyBXBtwWobRMTcb4W4y667mO-u_9ApBM-8XUgzjKdpFWArx2u8rUyoPX7WRdA9KLP3kC7lyNYtZI7mY2hCNvfRJQACv6xq2trmoJD4_CEREsJOjVpZmjtEAPEQHkukqZH08jUU0OC24/s1600/IMG_2448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MyBXBtwWobRMTcb4W4y667mO-u_9ApBM-8XUgzjKdpFWArx2u8rUyoPX7WRdA9KLP3kC7lyNYtZI7mY2hCNvfRJQACv6xq2trmoJD4_CEREsJOjVpZmjtEAPEQHkukqZH08jUU0OC24/s400/IMG_2448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505963105062188386" /></a><br /><br />it was so nice to get some nutrients overseas. i could feel my mood elevating as we ate. even the waiting area and bathroom smelled great and were a pleasure to visit and the servers were kind.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-34707124823485722212010-08-16T06:32:00.003-04:002010-08-16T06:50:59.422-04:00indian jewel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHklalpTowwYbZ9OuRo6ybGcaZY8aFqPeXVJFkeQO097LSZWdnnu703GixXR6o9TONZX6h1yYWwBz4Gn05x1j95lI-TJPV0-dqFjHovOzEVuCt676rRkXr_mKQDSO26OunKaKQpFMqko/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHklalpTowwYbZ9OuRo6ybGcaZY8aFqPeXVJFkeQO097LSZWdnnu703GixXR6o9TONZX6h1yYWwBz4Gn05x1j95lI-TJPV0-dqFjHovOzEVuCt676rRkXr_mKQDSO26OunKaKQpFMqko/s400/IMG_2383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505955881486615586" /></a><br /><br />indian jewel<br />tyn 6<br />prague, czech republic<br />222 310 156<br /><a href="http://www.indianjewel.cz" target="_blank">www.indianjewel.cz</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: indian<br />culinary excellence: 7<br />vegan friendliness: 6<br /><br />we had been planning to check out the eats at the hotel cerna liska, but found ourselves lured by the smells and lovely outdoor seating area of indian jewel, in a quieter part of old town. the service was very nice and the waiter told us with certainty which items contained dairy and which did not.<br /><br />all the food was brought out together - tasty <b>samosas</b>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVvWKWI089yRUD8X3X0K8fi0qlaEIoMmsniAErF0kqElepdr1-ugn7PFg88PtaKW-MKq4PfMl3IDZwmc7I-13iYJxQnWOlNYVsVJ3P6ONj0skxHQ9tKmTwZqVRjgyZdVqqR1hu3FRGnE/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVvWKWI089yRUD8X3X0K8fi0qlaEIoMmsniAErF0kqElepdr1-ugn7PFg88PtaKW-MKq4PfMl3IDZwmc7I-13iYJxQnWOlNYVsVJ3P6ONj0skxHQ9tKmTwZqVRjgyZdVqqR1hu3FRGnE/s400/IMG_2386.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505955869751829554" /></a><br /><br />a really nice <b>potato/cauliflower dish</b>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYlkiwEbiBXraWx5wX09vFkvtdTwCMJtJDFKa9TqJfxeY7y8Ais7jUuVe5Z4u_Pha98J014YVhh4LqGJxaqpjPoRnLSgKuvOGJk3Zk1SUwW-b6C5jjmfmdW7Hm_RcFzYPR5SvRYCl5NY/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYlkiwEbiBXraWx5wX09vFkvtdTwCMJtJDFKa9TqJfxeY7y8Ais7jUuVe5Z4u_Pha98J014YVhh4LqGJxaqpjPoRnLSgKuvOGJk3Zk1SUwW-b6C5jjmfmdW7Hm_RcFzYPR5SvRYCl5NY/s400/IMG_2387.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505955868151195522" /></a><br /><br />a weird-tasting pureed <b>mustard greens dish</b>, with coriander seeds and some odd flavor that i couldn't discern:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YlO60sAMpvzetDSo2LUxmSQrvAkQeOZ4hau2BVgoTq044dhHeBkn20rBHa7pDm-7jai9HG7XYQHKOej0L3ve1pUNSeHWXNJlfTPBEC4l9dQHfe6EaJbyvcb8KQxPg0DVuPcMQVSKns0/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YlO60sAMpvzetDSo2LUxmSQrvAkQeOZ4hau2BVgoTq044dhHeBkn20rBHa7pDm-7jai9HG7XYQHKOej0L3ve1pUNSeHWXNJlfTPBEC4l9dQHfe6EaJbyvcb8KQxPg0DVuPcMQVSKns0/s400/IMG_2388.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505955883990723730" /></a><br /><br />good, lightly-oiled <b>naan</b>, which i forgot to take a picture of before guzzling half of it:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_E5ncU2kB6FXF01fld6AOgOPWycY3tRkkZHrN0DU6n0-uInmncdXuDtloeUF6yBfRVwmqlVxehyphenhyphenaQVXQ1t6EqKbDGEEokhwC1TrHkjhw28eLiQnPUd6wP_Japg2Iv7lgzRK_I6A7q3A/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_E5ncU2kB6FXF01fld6AOgOPWycY3tRkkZHrN0DU6n0-uInmncdXuDtloeUF6yBfRVwmqlVxehyphenhyphenaQVXQ1t6EqKbDGEEokhwC1TrHkjhw28eLiQnPUd6wP_Japg2Iv7lgzRK_I6A7q3A/s400/IMG_2389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505955886961396866" /></a><br /><br />eating outside in prague seems very romantic at first, and you surely get better food porn pics, but then you have to contend with smokers and close proximity to the conversations of grumpy people, so it's a gamble.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-15203858653754893972010-08-14T05:46:00.004-04:002010-08-14T08:53:08.297-04:00klub architektu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEhfhDeDubv1uIjSQtjCquCtqIaoFfb5F3myITtc41faNvKH9C9D7ayE41_T4fTuG5A3_k8_gsOTwTuteIjuJVU9xbqGeLQmcrFuE3r4B7vvrjo06ubpSLoHtNxatFDej8kCN5XK43Jg/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEhfhDeDubv1uIjSQtjCquCtqIaoFfb5F3myITtc41faNvKH9C9D7ayE41_T4fTuG5A3_k8_gsOTwTuteIjuJVU9xbqGeLQmcrFuE3r4B7vvrjo06ubpSLoHtNxatFDej8kCN5XK43Jg/s400/IMG_2331.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505204571198764226" /></a><br /><br />klub architektu<br />betlemske namesti 5a<br />prague, czech republic<br />224 401 214<br /><br />type of cuisine: eclectic, with some vegetarian<br />culinary excellence: 7<br />vegan friendliness: 6<br /><br />had our first dinner in prague at this vaulted underground tavern near the hotel:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z7hpgchnoGxlVlPcF60S_ar98b0Fqo3tVKHYOp1hszd8dq0snYFxekOGDO_UPLyDfHsYiNXpfX1abhIut3wgJgQvhLCURdil01FPYGNsj2FAs3cfxXY-6KUpJofktTL3rODglEAG0sw/s1600/IMG_2328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z7hpgchnoGxlVlPcF60S_ar98b0Fqo3tVKHYOp1hszd8dq0snYFxekOGDO_UPLyDfHsYiNXpfX1abhIut3wgJgQvhLCURdil01FPYGNsj2FAs3cfxXY-6KUpJofktTL3rODglEAG0sw/s400/IMG_2328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505204562059403218" /></a><br /><br /> they had several vegetarian options, but only a couple vegan possibilities. luca and i both ordered <b>pasta with smoked tempeh and sun-dried tomatoes</b>. it was quite a wait for the food to be served, but it totally hit the spot. the pasta was wide noodles (hopefully egg-free!) with good, though somewhat canned tasting olives, small pieces of tempeh whose consistency were more like a cross between tofu and tempeh - wonderful smoky flavor - very nice sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. wonderful combination of textures and flavors and salted to perfection:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMGaeyI-PmmEZbNyQChLmIuqAYQK6V9p4SvwYmGB0aUc5p9RYfKS3lPUoXCSTI4ZtM5vB7w6GVhABYPQbihACLkxRrUdIJFTzE5ZQK-cL2bsWJyTmgFjPtUjpBpPRQ8J19MFOuKLwPoc/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMGaeyI-PmmEZbNyQChLmIuqAYQK6V9p4SvwYmGB0aUc5p9RYfKS3lPUoXCSTI4ZtM5vB7w6GVhABYPQbihACLkxRrUdIJFTzE5ZQK-cL2bsWJyTmgFjPtUjpBpPRQ8J19MFOuKLwPoc/s400/IMG_2329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505204558028831986" /></a><br /><br /> it was just the right amount of food, too, and we ate every last bite. it would have been nice, however, if they had offered us some nice crusty bread to go with it. they had <b>organic teas</b>, which we sipped before heading back out into the chilly evening air:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28ZeTg9d6-YfDcaS5sNSgnAepOnJknpqJd83kmCkBG2llrmyIu3r_15uCL2QrvYBEnvCtWYvNnsoiGATmRd_A41yIrInktwHyt9mz7Nm1E8b0Gn1UHoDgGaKMAQ-54yChwdIUw2d69PU/s1600/IMG_2330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28ZeTg9d6-YfDcaS5sNSgnAepOnJknpqJd83kmCkBG2llrmyIu3r_15uCL2QrvYBEnvCtWYvNnsoiGATmRd_A41yIrInktwHyt9mz7Nm1E8b0Gn1UHoDgGaKMAQ-54yChwdIUw2d69PU/s400/IMG_2330.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505204548284810418" /></a>zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-54399012176842704502010-07-17T20:13:00.007-04:002010-07-19T10:15:57.402-04:00mugshots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E_Bjc2mNFQsQujOBGNE-NohZFGOIjMib2h7bgUANJFOXmue4Wm06zhwftU8yWDlPxai6dCHHJ7MUT81z8G0oOu5G5cjXxhXQkRwDtQn0HpT8Y8k2MeTULAmV0dHYPTwxMkC_ptVl_Do/s1600/IMG_2259.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E_Bjc2mNFQsQujOBGNE-NohZFGOIjMib2h7bgUANJFOXmue4Wm06zhwftU8yWDlPxai6dCHHJ7MUT81z8G0oOu5G5cjXxhXQkRwDtQn0HpT8Y8k2MeTULAmV0dHYPTwxMkC_ptVl_Do/s400/IMG_2259.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495601615324001490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqMJR9vY_qqhywCJak6cDjp5ViGjxdnAxQPhp_esvrbro2Vor8og0e2SmCgu4peBqqoLmUMZQZVN7pkxI3nyhJEXUD-bchQDHc_O-pSzM7aL1W8igfJxKls-nq6MRoNaN8hMdk_peyqs/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqMJR9vY_qqhywCJak6cDjp5ViGjxdnAxQPhp_esvrbro2Vor8og0e2SmCgu4peBqqoLmUMZQZVN7pkxI3nyhJEXUD-bchQDHc_O-pSzM7aL1W8igfJxKls-nq6MRoNaN8hMdk_peyqs/s400/IMG_2257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495601624238169682" /></a><br /><br /><br />2100 fairmount avenue<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 514 7145<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwGWTO_p2uJfdTUeluSmY8asPa0QBouYtVN3UIpvJFqj1nL4VRQ4_7sHJyxUVL_8dX0hHKEc1mpsLbvxeKm91A4N8xVHu_pK-EIPFCaPuwnDCWIHEEDF4zwPSmW2zTiTtEuh9e18gEyA/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwGWTO_p2uJfdTUeluSmY8asPa0QBouYtVN3UIpvJFqj1nL4VRQ4_7sHJyxUVL_8dX0hHKEc1mpsLbvxeKm91A4N8xVHu_pK-EIPFCaPuwnDCWIHEEDF4zwPSmW2zTiTtEuh9e18gEyA/s400/IMG_2204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495033713521185954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJpVNuwCk4BY31awduN1dx-AdrdI6k7OAGtsQZnybaeIDXGRwKypUBQlKIf6Ebb96EeOInx5gaTaLbXOr4sRRQmFGCRY6B_AAXrUWugKjwALSdanluHKSjGCs-4fOmCqoh5HttUeoPd8/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJpVNuwCk4BY31awduN1dx-AdrdI6k7OAGtsQZnybaeIDXGRwKypUBQlKIf6Ebb96EeOInx5gaTaLbXOr4sRRQmFGCRY6B_AAXrUWugKjwALSdanluHKSjGCs-4fOmCqoh5HttUeoPd8/s400/IMG_2206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495033707218885570" /></a><br /><br />110 cotton street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 482 3964<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mugshotscoffeehouse.com/" target="_blank">www.mugshotscoffeehouse.com</a><br /><br />this adorable coffee house and juice bar, located across from the <a href="http://www.easternstate.org/" target="_blank">eastern state penitentiary</a>, not only has the most brilliant name and laid back college campus feel, but also serves a variety of vegan sweets and treats. my first visit followed an intake of some janet cardiff and linda brenner (ghost cats!) installations in the cell blocks over yonder. i chowed down on a <b>faux chicken salad wrap</b>, a <b>chewy molasses sugar cookie</b> and an <b>iced oregan chai with vanilla soy milk</b>. the wrap was very pleasing, with finely shredded soy mixed up with what tasted like a vegan mayo with dill, lots of lettuce, tomato and red onion. tasty, but it'll leave you with a killer onion aftertaste. the cookie was pretty good too. luca ordered the <b>hummus with raw veggies plate</b>, a generous serving of well-tahinied garbanzo pate, served with thick warm pita and some carrot, celery and bell pepper sticks. samara's <b>three grilled cheese</b> looked fabulous. <br /><br />subsequent visits to mugshots confirmed for me how lovely this place is. one time i sipped an <b>acai recovery shake</b> and munched on a <b>vegan blt</b> while watching <i>wal-mart: the high cost of low price</i> on their big white sheet. great vibe, great food. for dessert it was a sinfully delicious <b>brownie</b> from <a href="http://www.vegantreats.com" target="_blank">vegan treats</a>, fudgy and moist, with white drizzle on top of slivered almonds. the <b>chocolate cookies</b> with white chocolate chips are fairly good, but nuthin' compared to those brownies. enormous <b>whoopie pies</b> taste exactly the way they look - light, fluffy and without any nutritional value whatsoever. recently, mugshots has started making their desserts in-house, instead of ordering them from the vegan treats bakery. here is a look at their dessert case:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV6qiawFLnacvUv5R6HNtr9BEBLBF8ZNTqa7gBthyphenhyphenS75xZxfQGkmXr8Po2wQ2jJlzw-AoYMAkNtDRQ_MkrKs20MmhJh6X-wsa9MCApcS6fF_kE0MMrp246zR42qLgE2Lt6OWGSPB3CiU/s1600/IMG_2256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV6qiawFLnacvUv5R6HNtr9BEBLBF8ZNTqa7gBthyphenhyphenS75xZxfQGkmXr8Po2wQ2jJlzw-AoYMAkNtDRQ_MkrKs20MmhJh6X-wsa9MCApcS6fF_kE0MMrp246zR42qLgE2Lt6OWGSPB3CiU/s400/IMG_2256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495603703786305746" /></a><br /><br />and here is a picture of a slice of their strawberry shortcake, once i got it home:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsaYwSxUYFXBvahBOvCwGiRgY-_Cm0bjqD8s7SiEF4qOmoE99ZwcooREk_BceBm4en_yU_EOspQsm5kr0bNZGV4BBByAwzT9C_xu9U-7fmw5PGkosIf7xUe1EcCoXQ2VsfRw5RRzwf7M/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsaYwSxUYFXBvahBOvCwGiRgY-_Cm0bjqD8s7SiEF4qOmoE99ZwcooREk_BceBm4en_yU_EOspQsm5kr0bNZGV4BBByAwzT9C_xu9U-7fmw5PGkosIf7xUe1EcCoXQ2VsfRw5RRzwf7M/s400/IMG_2269.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495603689098467042" /></a><br /><br />i was actually quite pleased with the new cake. it definitely tasted more home-baked than their vegan treats counterparts, and less commercially slick. they probably use more wholesome ingredients, too. the cake itself is moist and the icing is super sweet. unfortunately, the artistry is not as developed, so the visual appeal of the cakes is minimal. the brownies also look positively grody in comparison with danielle's (vegan treats owner).<br /><br />non-dessert meals i've also tried at mugshots include <b>"the slammer"</b>, a vegan sausage wrap with salsa, guacamole and lettuce that was mediocre, the <b>vegan chain gang</b>, a lovely, smoky wrap with a mixture of hummus and baba ganoush, cucumber, red onion, lettuce and tomato, their <b>tempeh reuben</b> - dry, overpriced and blah - and the <b>jailhouse rock</b>, sweet and melty peanut butter, honey and banana on multi-grain toast. <br /><br />the smoothies at the manayunk site seem to be better than their fairmount sister. they used to be awful - i remember ordering a <b>grasshopper soy smoothie</b> that was so abysmal i actually gave it back in exchange for a <b>mango recovery shake</b>. that, as well as the <b>pina colada recovery shake</b>, was very delicious, but made from a <a href="http://www.drsmoothie.com" target="_blank">smoothie mix</a> that contains those insidious "natural flavors". why not just use real fruit?) the <b>pb&j shake</b> was also inexcusable. i think they actually put jelly in the shake, rather than fresh strawberries. i could be wrong, but it tasted thin, mild and artificial. yick! however, on a recent visit i got a <b>mango momma</b> smoothie that was delightful. it tasted fresh, the consistency was spot-on and the blend of flavors worked really well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGsioKC6AwKsZYGUbpw2-Pv9z5aksiI91F2ZB-4eAz4lN0ksPQKeC4avobCvRnVgH7EaDBsQf7eAA_r5XMSwOjnnCJGBQhqc5rOGNF8DHlsSTIeje5LHy-rax0vDa0X74KYZwL6wGBRk/s1600/IMG_2258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGsioKC6AwKsZYGUbpw2-Pv9z5aksiI91F2ZB-4eAz4lN0ksPQKeC4avobCvRnVgH7EaDBsQf7eAA_r5XMSwOjnnCJGBQhqc5rOGNF8DHlsSTIeje5LHy-rax0vDa0X74KYZwL6wGBRk/s400/IMG_2258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495606014842018738" /></a><br /><br />their manayunk location, on the other hand, serves up consistently killer smoothies! i really like <b>the champ</b>, a combo of chocolate syrup, soy milk, bananas and organic peanut butter. it is perfect for when you're thirsty but also craving something sweet. the consistency was more like a creamy milkshake than a smoothie. <b>venice island</b> is a nice choice too if you're in the mood for something fruity. it's made with strawberries, bananas, orange juice and soy milk. here are some bonus photos of me and luca drinking mushots smoothies in the car before going to see <i>inception</i> at the main street theater:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3kL1xTlcSjo7ENkPI1DWZEhsiFR-kp2N_0mD5AFuzJZeqEev8XwLhhr2Kd1MvHvQ5KO2HUgyvxRvbWl-7kO3KG7cDxp4_kfxQkwe0O_NGvxuPf9eDg9jmlchdAZakFCXTAMEr1FIClI/s1600/IMG_2210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3kL1xTlcSjo7ENkPI1DWZEhsiFR-kp2N_0mD5AFuzJZeqEev8XwLhhr2Kd1MvHvQ5KO2HUgyvxRvbWl-7kO3KG7cDxp4_kfxQkwe0O_NGvxuPf9eDg9jmlchdAZakFCXTAMEr1FIClI/s400/IMG_2210.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495033698079188978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiXsTEjJChmgJrfqQd8c2Qk0h1CZsKUX9AjIzCq4WXbaRFuqzMz8ppLZNdh3yvpkdSwZZA5NgKV-amCUyuyujcKDhutdg9MTVpr12NmENkiQVhLWwKgfoqPk6sN41A-4mq9_lYXNs-UQ/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiXsTEjJChmgJrfqQd8c2Qk0h1CZsKUX9AjIzCq4WXbaRFuqzMz8ppLZNdh3yvpkdSwZZA5NgKV-amCUyuyujcKDhutdg9MTVpr12NmENkiQVhLWwKgfoqPk6sN41A-4mq9_lYXNs-UQ/s400/IMG_2211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495033689705657410" /></a><br /><br /><br />both mugshots locations are great coffee shops for relaxing with a book or writing. and according to their website, the manayunk branch has extended their hours! i was always frustrated that they closed at 4, so that makes me very happy.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-49219290176370723082010-07-17T09:58:00.006-04:002010-07-17T10:52:55.571-04:00dos segundos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyQdPESGYMen38uParpx5tJ1HGNTUXEUzh_TwESJQLzmswmz1uz6jmGSTBNXcJsHRnokv5fJaTIpxbtrM2TSpEkQJsVwUNh1isZQIkv0sgFbl_3jaNmG_e6vRdJivzt1xJCYJZ3nkJuY/s1600/IMG_2202.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyQdPESGYMen38uParpx5tJ1HGNTUXEUzh_TwESJQLzmswmz1uz6jmGSTBNXcJsHRnokv5fJaTIpxbtrM2TSpEkQJsVwUNh1isZQIkv0sgFbl_3jaNmG_e6vRdJivzt1xJCYJZ3nkJuY/s400/IMG_2202.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877023733453122" /></a><br /><br />931 north 2nd street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 629 0500<br /><a href="http://www.cantinadossegundos.com" target="_blank">www.cantinadossegundos.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: mexican<br />culinary excellence: 7<br />vegan friendliness: 7<br /><br />thanks again to the <a href="http://www.postpunkkitchen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1971" target="_blank">punk kitchen posters</a> for turning me on to yet another vegan-friendly philly joint. dos segundos is apparently one of two sister restaurants serving up tasty mexican food in northern liberties and south philly. danielle and i decided to hit up the northern liberties sister for dinner last night.<br /><br />the space has a kind of festive rustic chic atmosphere, with exposed brick, deep orange walls and blocky wooden tables and chairs. when we got there a bit after 6pm, it wasn't too busy, but by the end of dinner, our voices hurt from having to scream through all the noise just to to hear our own conversation. <br /><br />in my effort to avoid hard alcohol, i ordered a <b>red sangria</b>. danielle selected a <b>watermelon frozen margarita</b> from their enticing menu of fruity drinks:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08jY4jFu9gOWuUwgZZkB9OWqm0SDlwKb9wWmZdKN2Cew-TTrRH8D3cTR_yWdWxWNg0vIA-vzmG2NCrTT0qH3eMO4QuJXwb7pXWIF0pXj7C-86UK1JQSyDaAAqTUbMU_hXadFKrx188EY/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08jY4jFu9gOWuUwgZZkB9OWqm0SDlwKb9wWmZdKN2Cew-TTrRH8D3cTR_yWdWxWNg0vIA-vzmG2NCrTT0qH3eMO4QuJXwb7pXWIF0pXj7C-86UK1JQSyDaAAqTUbMU_hXadFKrx188EY/s400/IMG_2193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877017311249250" /></a><br /><br />they look good, right? sadly, they were underwhelming. my sangria tasted kind of syrupy and watery at the same time and danielle's choice was unevenly mixed, so there was frothy fruitiness at the top and what seemed like pure alcohol on the bottom. the thin salty tortilla chips served with both green and red salsa were a nice consolation.<br /><br />there weren't as many vegan entrees as i had expected, but our attentive waiter checked ingredients for me in his little menu rolodex. since i didn't want a salad, he said i could choose between <b>tofu and seitan fajitas</b> and their <b>mole tofu burrito special</b>. there was one other option which he didn't recommend, because it would have meant omitting cheese, and they did not have any vegan cheeses to sub in, as i had thought they did. he said they have vegan cheese on occasion, just not on a regular basis. so i went for the fajitas:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11HYLxjMdowGkAEvdN4tXubHCQyml5ueWOn0sxncXzNPEwDaDbDiRYUzafy8gqlU7Zxpw7t_0Wr0XHulvo8vorTFQfDBkeKKyeVK4drPlBLKuB6a52xXDaHzB5ml94r6zYKdqX1n2jr8/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11HYLxjMdowGkAEvdN4tXubHCQyml5ueWOn0sxncXzNPEwDaDbDiRYUzafy8gqlU7Zxpw7t_0Wr0XHulvo8vorTFQfDBkeKKyeVK4drPlBLKuB6a52xXDaHzB5ml94r6zYKdqX1n2jr8/s400/IMG_2195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877006444371554" /></a><br /><br />the waiter warned me that this was a large dish, and that it was. a hefty hefty plate of well-made guacamole, pico de gallo, moist and smoky black beans, perfectly cooked rice and a delightful mix of deeply flavorful onions, peppers, wild mushrooms, delicious strips of firm tofu and chunks of meaty seitan served with four soft flour tortillas. i was very impressed with the dish, particularly since it <i>didn't</i> rely on soy cheese or sour cream - just really nice seasonings and combinations. the tofu was good enough to have eaten alone. the seitan was not on par with the <a href="http://weggebobblesandfruit.blogspot.com/2008/09/adobe-cafe.html">adobe cafe</a>'s, but the texture added to the mix anyway.<br /><br />we got the check before i realized that all of dos segundos' cakes were actually from the <a href="http://vegantreats.com/" target="_blank">vegan treats bakery</a>, but that's ok because i was pretty stuffed by that point. if they had had chocolate covered strawberry shortcake or peanut butter bomb instead of carrot cake and tiramisu cake, i might have broken down and gotten a piece to go. alas, vegan treats seem to be everywhere these days.<br /><br />one final note about dos segundos - it was a pleasure making a trip to the bathroom there! you go downstairs where the walls are done in a calming blue faux finish and on the way back up you see this!:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyPpolKTFWH9VqN3BTHyYXSfr1v5Wx0rLTRx0du2auyqhsKmbq5-U81osfWqh5lM70SFBXCCjsMCZfa4nHeOO_NtZo99BhuJSRfiTHoRpv_SYQy7NAmdscuIir0ZR42B5CllOBMXSTBg/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyPpolKTFWH9VqN3BTHyYXSfr1v5Wx0rLTRx0du2auyqhsKmbq5-U81osfWqh5lM70SFBXCCjsMCZfa4nHeOO_NtZo99BhuJSRfiTHoRpv_SYQy7NAmdscuIir0ZR42B5CllOBMXSTBg/s400/IMG_2200.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876993050880642" /></a><br /><br />if their sister restaurant, <a href="http://www.cantinaloscaballitos.com/main.html" target="_blank">los caballitos</a>, also has the vt cakes, that might justify a trip over there...zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-82520873542291838342010-07-15T22:54:00.013-04:002010-07-15T23:53:21.720-04:00sprig and vine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNou40-qZhdl51wTl1fXIanafuOEPBAv_SwuoJDphwWl-3hXrdEAOJeA3JmVpqFwSj7zEayAmCUnGLVrdw0KFfpzlSc7vfxEcJGAKLMXbBNAgx5Cf80xVOFSNjyqPKagnUK8tdkAQx9mM/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNou40-qZhdl51wTl1fXIanafuOEPBAv_SwuoJDphwWl-3hXrdEAOJeA3JmVpqFwSj7zEayAmCUnGLVrdw0KFfpzlSc7vfxEcJGAKLMXbBNAgx5Cf80xVOFSNjyqPKagnUK8tdkAQx9mM/s400/IMG_2164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494345152588209218" /></a><br /><br />sprig and vine<br />450 union square drive<br />new hope, pa<br />(215) 693 1427<br /><a href="http://www.sprigandvine.com/" target="_blank">www.sprigandvine.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: vegan<br />culinary excellence: 9<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br />*recommended*<br /><br />having heard about the opening of spring and vine, an all new vegan restaurant about an hour outside of philly, i was delighted that the opportunity to meet <a href="http://lenyagurevich.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ms. lenya gurevich</a> near doylestown presented itself last weekend. the restaurant was created by a former horizons chef and the buzz was alright! so i headed out into the night until i found myself in the lovely waterside town of new hope. lenya arrived in a flowing white dress and showered me with gifties. i got a handmade mug and soap bar and gave her a little purple maniac in return. we got french wine in the neighboring town of lambertville (it's byo) and began our culinary journey.<br /><br />for appetizers we got <b>edamame falafel</b> and <b>watermelon gazpacho</b>, pictured below:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fa4JVe4CAJCfmH8nJAeS_qgNWX2Cf_jDvTzZuODCs6omXwZyd_NFXMyNbR1U45QeEnvRSKg6nLJMgAHlYr1zPVgFAKWrqnKkJlT7O-sj5lSRgRyPwm2dYclavkJDsclyq0RnV__hjl8/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fa4JVe4CAJCfmH8nJAeS_qgNWX2Cf_jDvTzZuODCs6omXwZyd_NFXMyNbR1U45QeEnvRSKg6nLJMgAHlYr1zPVgFAKWrqnKkJlT7O-sj5lSRgRyPwm2dYclavkJDsclyq0RnV__hjl8/s400/IMG_2167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494334933748147970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Qxdbd1az99EPOLWRvuWLsKHa6SS8JvKUvIk4rHFeeA4e1Y5CM6NL9NYeFhVcdojOtUo9YZg4493GNhyW7m3KsZHAKGVbjI-Vvc8zNuFIcC2uuWtXcyBSnFefxWy9so0zX42we8qNRmA/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Qxdbd1az99EPOLWRvuWLsKHa6SS8JvKUvIk4rHFeeA4e1Y5CM6NL9NYeFhVcdojOtUo9YZg4493GNhyW7m3KsZHAKGVbjI-Vvc8zNuFIcC2uuWtXcyBSnFefxWy9so0zX42we8qNRmA/s400/IMG_2168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494334930614885570" /></a><br /><br />both were outstanding! the falafels packed a punch of flavor and the consistency was divine. totally crunchy on the outside and sumptuously soft and inviting in the middle. the zen presentation turn this middle eastern junk food into mindful haute cuisine. the gazpacho was even better. in fact, i think that was the best gazpacho i've ever had. the thing that made it really extra special was the dollop of basil sorbet in the center. this cool sweet creamy addition made each bit of tangy summer soup sing in ecstasy.<br /><br />for entrees we shared <b>coconut risotto cakes</b> and <b>cornmeal crusted tempeh</b>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblE6ew1R3ft0Oi0rn9wwXFEQzEbT-WTkuc0nsCmezdPNsdZzW3iaNCEInQfVIzoXGFm6svjdua4bxydSN8GY6ei-sTBUeBZptzDKfOZI7QJCcidvcQoy3j3P4YAr2XNlDhaq2sYjdg-I/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblE6ew1R3ft0Oi0rn9wwXFEQzEbT-WTkuc0nsCmezdPNsdZzW3iaNCEInQfVIzoXGFm6svjdua4bxydSN8GY6ei-sTBUeBZptzDKfOZI7QJCcidvcQoy3j3P4YAr2XNlDhaq2sYjdg-I/s400/IMG_2169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494335950878720610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI1VWTfEyJINdd1VikYiX9g_eO0n3iv6afyGRqzvO3u3RdDM5fggRfzNnuBHYQMbS7P0v0vNvqvry-6yafZX2CUO9zqW-RwS5ZTlQ7qvciTca3W33RS-_BZXEo9AODQTAelWGJCCr2Ac/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI1VWTfEyJINdd1VikYiX9g_eO0n3iv6afyGRqzvO3u3RdDM5fggRfzNnuBHYQMbS7P0v0vNvqvry-6yafZX2CUO9zqW-RwS5ZTlQ7qvciTca3W33RS-_BZXEo9AODQTAelWGJCCr2Ac/s400/IMG_2170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494335946648530306" /></a><br /><br />lenya preferred the risotto cakes and i the tempeh, so it worked out perfectly. actually, i really liked the risotto cakes themselves, but i wasn't crazy about their plating on a base of lentil dal and those twiggy things on top were a little off-putting. the bok choy and mushroom stir fry on the side was insanely savory and delicious. the tempeh was generously portioned and doused in this exquisite smoked maple-mustard sauce. it also had a nicely crisped outer layer. here again, the sides were inconsistent. the smashed potatoes were decent enough, but they were kind of heavy for a summer meal and i didn't care for the cabbage at all.<br /><br />dessert was <b>olive oil cake</b> and <b>chocolate mousse pie</b>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLzCuwXX_bB4m1bb1nT_2VoSpRF4NoKCRtDjFWyahGVCCQ_Hhzy13Y9UNjppaScz9b-3FWGrzfkoak-9PEkpoTHIyiMnvDUejtctDbcZU3rkBpTHzugWctOTr4qmzkbA8TslttHLa4ZI/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLzCuwXX_bB4m1bb1nT_2VoSpRF4NoKCRtDjFWyahGVCCQ_Hhzy13Y9UNjppaScz9b-3FWGrzfkoak-9PEkpoTHIyiMnvDUejtctDbcZU3rkBpTHzugWctOTr4qmzkbA8TslttHLa4ZI/s400/IMG_2174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494338044861025058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFk3anjitLUUU1tf9Xn3MoGZbcU6U9DLfQ7j-griXGJxAmsoDChVszM56SXRNVyjOCp-dmu580hbeXFlBS5ZDYgMzoICAOPa8cTB_ciqEI3rhtjH5SC_eB0GJhs9Y6XBxoE5jHvopb4M/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFk3anjitLUUU1tf9Xn3MoGZbcU6U9DLfQ7j-griXGJxAmsoDChVszM56SXRNVyjOCp-dmu580hbeXFlBS5ZDYgMzoICAOPa8cTB_ciqEI3rhtjH5SC_eB0GJhs9Y6XBxoE5jHvopb4M/s400/IMG_2176.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494338037682556018" /></a><br /><br />these hit their mark! the olive oil cake tasted like a really gourmet muffin shaped like a slice of cake and topped with with creme fraiche. my mousse did not disappoint either. totally luscious and smooth - maybe the tiniest bit too heavy - served with a refreshing and complementary portion of peanut butter ice cream. <br /><br />i hope to return to new hope with lenya again soon and for the rest of our lives.<br /><br />bonus pics of new hope:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXO7B9P_7AAt3v5wW-eCuJ115LzxrDA0S-UQy6-Y7dgN4mdM73bHyfwlRNQV5mJ_aSTCu9S0-CLNZJvuFuKkqXRuvqdaT1OTwDGh4HxxDksCy1s0qcHSyj6wvB3n57BFrwYLSCwdfrmE/s1600/IMG_2159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXO7B9P_7AAt3v5wW-eCuJ115LzxrDA0S-UQy6-Y7dgN4mdM73bHyfwlRNQV5mJ_aSTCu9S0-CLNZJvuFuKkqXRuvqdaT1OTwDGh4HxxDksCy1s0qcHSyj6wvB3n57BFrwYLSCwdfrmE/s400/IMG_2159.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494340323495944130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAB6T2btFzcodbWgOdrZGkvDaD2ez7YeehrfluZHgqnmm6AdqVrr3ylQaLT9yEt1ElJVHO8umzuu-CUqvPUbqiftweOdZOZVOQZrmxAR0zGbU40hsT7V43ixlga9Ndx-qPt_7tSlAuMY/s1600/IMG_2163.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAB6T2btFzcodbWgOdrZGkvDaD2ez7YeehrfluZHgqnmm6AdqVrr3ylQaLT9yEt1ElJVHO8umzuu-CUqvPUbqiftweOdZOZVOQZrmxAR0zGbU40hsT7V43ixlga9Ndx-qPt_7tSlAuMY/s400/IMG_2163.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494340314362638626" /></a>zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-1051536567530930932010-07-15T12:29:00.005-04:002010-07-15T13:09:02.158-04:00meritage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPe0NOWT9gCfXVDWf724dBIQaBpycdOAz-Uu-bOivXVqCWLRNGA_r6pfa9knqWro8mT62iFASFIvndR6k88GUsh1TleFjTa_5ujBjVvYqdrndOlSJX1hdr8Ul-1cIkE78plVAo7P2RI0/s1600/BIGdsc_5895.jpg%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPe0NOWT9gCfXVDWf724dBIQaBpycdOAz-Uu-bOivXVqCWLRNGA_r6pfa9knqWro8mT62iFASFIvndR6k88GUsh1TleFjTa_5ujBjVvYqdrndOlSJX1hdr8Ul-1cIkE78plVAo7P2RI0/s400/BIGdsc_5895.jpg%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494179557802090754" /></a><br /><br />meritage<br />500 S. 20th street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 985 1922<br /><a href="http://www.meritagephiladelphia.com/" target="_blank">www.meritagephiladelphia.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: vegan tasting menu<br />culinary excellence: 7<br />vegan friendliness: 8<br /><br />i have given this restaurant an 8 in vegan friendliness because in in june they began offering vegan tasting menus every tuesday night. it is a set menu of 4 courses that they have changed once since that time. their regular menu includes a couple of veganizable appetizers, but no cruelty-free entrees or desserts to speak of. <br /><br />when luca and i went last month, their menu began with an amuse bouche involving a <b>vegetable tartlette with tomato chutney</b>. the crust was a thin wrapper that tasted a little stale and there was a mystery flavor in the vegetables that i couldn't decipher. after that we got some delicious, salted <b>flatbread</b> with an incredible red pepper sauce that wasn't even listed on the tasting menu. next came <b>heirloom tomato salads with cucumber granita</b>. this was served with a lovely, fine thai basil pesto and oddly enough, some bland little rice cakes. the official 2nd course, which was more like the 4th course, was really yummy - <b>grilled japanese eggplant, salt baked fingerling potatoes, gingered carrot puree, indonesian kaffir lime curry sauce and crispy chick peas</b>. really nice medley of flavors - the eggplant was delicate and the carrot puree was wonderful. followed by <b>mushroom lentil sticky rice in a banana leaf, shallot confit, fricasse of asparagus and royal trumpet mushrooms with lemongrass espuma</b>. i remember enjoying eating the strange rice out of the banana leaf but by that point in the meal luca and i had nearly polished off an entire bottle of the <b>nine vines angoves rose wine</b> that our server recommended. just when we couldn't imagine yet another course, we were brought our dessert - <b>rhubarb soup and coconut panna cotta</b> with a sheet of chocolate. i am a chocolate lover myself, but i don't think it added anything to this fruity dish. i think the "sesame tuile" in the description would have been a better touch. i also didn't love the texture of the coconut panna cotta - very gelantinous - and the flavor was mild yet pleasing.<br /><br />all in all, i liked the concept of a tasting menu, but i doubt i would have ordered any of those items had i any choice in the matter. maybe the eggplant or the sticky rice, but certainly not the salad or the dessert. everything was prepared well and nicely presented, just not particularly inspiring. meritage's <a href="http://www.meritagephiladelphia.com/gdoc-ChefsTastingMenu.php" target="_blank">current tasting menu</a> is more my speed. maybe it's time for another visit.<br /><br />i found this <a href="http://jenmccleary.com/2010/06/restaurant-review-vegan-tuesday-at-meritage/" target="_blank">review</a> of this same tasting menu at a fellow blogger's site, which includes photos of all the dishes described. i think i will start bringing my camera to restaurants from now on.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-42931145401854829262010-07-11T19:41:00.001-04:002010-07-15T13:06:46.003-04:00mi lah vegetarianmi lah vegetarian<br />218 south 16th street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 732 8888<br /><a href="http://www.milahvegetarian.com/" target="_blank">www.milahvegetarian.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: international vegetarian<br />culinary excellence: 3<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br /><br />i had been meaning to go to mi lah since it opened in october. when i saw their online <a href="http://www.vividsmile.com/milah/Mi_Lah_Dinner_Menu.pdf" target="_blank">dinner menu</a> i couldn't believe my good fortune! such scrumptious sounding food - could <a href="http://zoeprizer.blogspot.com/2008/07/restaurant-review-horizons.html">horizons</a> have a competitor? as it turns out, they do not. mi lah is just terrible. it's the kind of place that makes me feel embarrassed to be vegan because it reinforces that oft-held omnivorous belief that if it's vegan, it must taste like crap. <br /><br />luca and i started our meal off with some complimentary <b>pumpkin hummus</b>. this spicy pate, which would more accurately have been referred to as pumpkin <i>seed</i> hummus, wasn't bad, but it was served on this strange hard-as-a-rock flatbread that tasted like foot calluses. yes, it's gross because it's true. then came our appetizer: <b>pumpkin dumplings</b> in a ginger sage gravy with some little browned summer squash dice. this just didn't work for me. the dumplings were more like large pieces of pumpkin gnocchi and the sauce was pretty unappealing. my entree - the <b>roasted root vegetable tart</b> - was definitely the best thing about our meal. though i found the butternut puree around the tart a bit dirty-tasting, i loved the salty-sweet bright orange squash chunks held in by a pleasant pot-pie crust. the top layer of spaghetti squash seemed bland and unnecessary. poor luca couldn't even eat his <b>seitan skewers</b> due to some bizarre astringent flavor in the "mango jalapeno" glaze. i couldn't blame him - that was some of the worst seitan i've ever tasted. fortunately, the waitress was kind enough to provide him with an alternative dish. she recommended the <b>roasted fingerling potatoes with spinach, tempeh, black beans and avocado corn salsa</b>, which was better, but still totally weak. it's a huge pile of hot salad sitting atop a few dry earthy-tasting blue potatoes and smothered in a coconutty mayo-type dressing. capping off our illustrious meal was fresh-baked mini chocolate cake, served with a scoop of vanilla temptation ice cream. other than the fact that the cake was mush inside and this brand of soy ice cream is cloyingly sweet, i wouldn't classify it as a "bad" dessert. lisa's friend joe, who's a bit of a maverick himself, was dining at the table next door. he seemed excited about their new brunch menu, despite his luke-warm reaction to mi lah's food. me, i'm done with them.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-3641652761849658542010-07-11T19:33:00.001-04:002010-07-11T19:36:26.360-04:00kingdom of vegetarianskingdom of vegetarians<br />129 north 11st street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 413 2290<br /><br />type of cuisine: chinese<br />culinary excellence: 5<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br /><br />i never actually reviewed kingdom of vegetarians on my old website, but being the strange bird that i am, i made some notes on my computer about a couple of my visits there. these are the dishes that i sampled:<br /><br /><i>dim sum:</i><br /><br /><b>scallion pancakes</b> are thick with a crispy outside; not too greasy, a little doughy, very good<br /><br /><b>spring roll</b> is typically tasty; great texture, fairly large<br /><br /><b>sesame chicken</b> is odd – seitan totally covered in sesame seeds, you dip them yourself into the duck sauce; not the best I’ve had<br /><br /><b>fried stuffed taro</b> very greasy and mushy, not really stuffed with much<br /><br /><b>sticky rice in lotus leaf</b> is a bit aromatic, but good variation of flavor and texture; has veggies, some small cubes of solid fake meat; not as good as mekong’s banana leaf rice<br /><br /><b>fried bananas</b> would be better with a sweet dipping sauce; very hot; outside is thick layer of puffy dough, inside are soft melty bananas; 2 come for free with fortune cookies<br /><br /><i>lunch:</i><br /><br /><b>wonton soup</b> broth is delish, but wanton purses are filled with flavorful in not such a good way minced veggies<br /><br /><b>sweet and sour chicken</b> this just didn’t taste like food; processed fake meat battered and fried, sauce is good; peppers, pineapple chunks and tomato (wrong choice!) make for an alright dish that is slightly disappointing<br /><br /><i>smoothies:</i><br /><br /><b>strawberry</b> tastes a little overripe, can’t tell what’s in it; good but not so fabulouszoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-41583328342325534142010-06-28T19:03:00.001-04:002010-06-28T19:05:25.016-04:00trolley car diner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgfGpVULBlzIFbko-EqmpDPcFmUutZr5pm1xoHQxB8QIKDkfXdn1S7aVcX_dSZyKIC8YDTmwqLV727_Us6tZM7rnnbZvS15uxd20ngv7PYTX3ei-_3DK7tieSmIEu_OeLROQz-YDDik4/s1600/tcar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgfGpVULBlzIFbko-EqmpDPcFmUutZr5pm1xoHQxB8QIKDkfXdn1S7aVcX_dSZyKIC8YDTmwqLV727_Us6tZM7rnnbZvS15uxd20ngv7PYTX3ei-_3DK7tieSmIEu_OeLROQz-YDDik4/s400/tcar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487964119048908466" /></a><br /><br />trolley car diner<br />7619 germantown avenue<br />phildelphia, pa<br />(215) 753 1500<br /><a href="http://www.trolleycardiner.com/" target="_blank">www.trolleycardiner.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: diner<br />culinary excellence: 4<br />vegan friendliness: 3<br /><br />in my search for vegan-friendly restaurants in mt. airy, i came across this listing at <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/tn/21/2/2028/Philadelphia/Vegan-Friendly/Mt-Airy-restaurants" target="_blank">urban spoon</a>, naming the trolley car diner as 1 of 4 good bets. sadly, i did not find this place to be especially generous towards us vegan folk. they have 2 vegan items on the menu, but 1 is a <b>bean chili</b> that is only available in winter, leaving only the <b>szechwan tofu stir fry</b>. the thing is, you go to an adorable old-fashioned diner with neon lights, cushy booths, breakfast all day and an adjacent ice cream parlour and it doesn't put you in the mood for szechwan tofu stir fry. you want a burger piled high with add-ons, batter-dipped fries and a ginormous milkshake. or maybe you want griddle cakes or grilled cinnamon buns or stuffed french toast, again with a ginormous milkshake, but you surely don't want a tofu stir-fry! however, given that that was our only option, luca and i saddled up and ordered two stir-fries and some beer. it was not a particularly inspired stir-fry. way too many onions, green peppers and celery, plus cubes of soft tofu swimming in an overabundance of salty, soupy, sauce. it wasn't terrible, but i would have so preferred a veganized version of pretty much anything else on their menu! surely i am not the only vegan in mt. airy who would frequent the trolley car diner weekly if they would only recognize that's it's not hard at all to whip up some cruelty-free griddle cakes or assemble a fantastic veggie burger. sigh. at least their selection of beers is unbeatable. lately i have been enjoying <b>leinenliugel's berry weiss</b> brew, which i'm sure is a sissy beer, but i don't care because it's yummy.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-65011305281187139322010-06-12T20:28:00.003-04:002010-06-12T21:08:33.423-04:00pukk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfbkvh2pdnfB3MM27DSe5iwkFtukbzG7pidrno8RxI2AzD-LB3mxwnTQJyM7FYbz1JzchdW2T8BhS3B-NjA5TP5H7IbEn_9OngzD6i3QVPosb8C-9Gmu7aN1Bw7AEb2adPzTwC5Ue0k0/s1600/pukk1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfbkvh2pdnfB3MM27DSe5iwkFtukbzG7pidrno8RxI2AzD-LB3mxwnTQJyM7FYbz1JzchdW2T8BhS3B-NjA5TP5H7IbEn_9OngzD6i3QVPosb8C-9Gmu7aN1Bw7AEb2adPzTwC5Ue0k0/s400/pukk1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482057879935140690" /></a><br /><br />pukk<br />71 1st avenue<br />new york, ny<br />(212) 253 2741/2<br /><a href="http://www.pukknyc.com" target="_blank">www.pukknyc.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: thai<br />culinary excellence: 6<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br /><br />i was trying to think what would be the best vegan place in the east village to take my mom to for our last vacation day together. i figured she would be very confused at <a href="http://www.caravanofdreams.net/" target="_blank">caravan of dreams</a>, <a href="http://www.counternyc.com/" target="_blank">counter</a> was too expensive after splurging at <a href="http://weggebobblesandfruit.blogspot.com/2010/06/pure-food-and-wine.html">pure food and wine</a> on monday, she hates indian food and she wasn't in the mood to have an <a href="http://www.lulassweetapothecary.com/" target="_blank">ice cream sundae</a> for dinner, so i decided on pukk, a little all-veg thai place on 1st avenue. i had been there once before with my nyu friends and remembered it to be pretty decent. the space is totally garish looking (all lime green and tiles) and i kept feeling like i was going to break off the table from the wall if i leaned on it, but the food wasn't bad. m started with an <b>all green salad</b>, a generous plate of greens with an assortment of fresh veggies, mandarin oranges, beans and little pieces of fried tofu in a zesty lime peanut dressing. i got an order of <b>spinach toast</b>, which was surprisingly good. i'm not sure what the spinach was wrapped in, but it was delicious. like crispy little savory wantons in a sweet chili broth. for her main course, m ordered the <b>fried rice</b>. i never would have thought to order something so basic in a restaurant that features creative vegetarian fare, but she chose wisely. it was a fantastic mound of multi-grain rice with broccoli, mushrooms, pineapple, cashews and multiple other vegetables. the smoky soy flavor was so amazing that i wondered if there was some form of msg in it that was kicking up the taste. my entree, the <b>black bean ginger chicken</b>, was less impressive. i liked the flavor of the ginger sauce, but the stuff soaking in it was mediocre. the chicken was little soy protein patties in a cupped shape that added nothing to the dish besides a meaty texture. it was also full of these slippery black ear wood mushrooms that kind of creeped me out, plus lots of onions and scallions. i was just happy that m enjoyed her meal, despite initial anxieties about ingredients that our waitress could not allay due to a language barrier. that didn't pose a problem for me since i already knew that none of the dishes were made with fish sauce or other animal products. so much easier to eat at all-veg restaurants!zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-6374788259286041832010-06-09T20:31:00.002-04:002010-06-12T20:29:29.029-04:00pure food and wine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskeQ29ftJy92MTtIuLAtFeVMCcmkFbDAvZeI_zVbHJPRtfmttvMP1gjavAUZDp9C2jIZoLCOvaZHwcO-c9SNvT02q3giHuFcec3Ocnb9mIYrXhQ3kSHMiqhMY-0G6o8yBPPql2axoa4s/s1600/pure-food-wine01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskeQ29ftJy92MTtIuLAtFeVMCcmkFbDAvZeI_zVbHJPRtfmttvMP1gjavAUZDp9C2jIZoLCOvaZHwcO-c9SNvT02q3giHuFcec3Ocnb9mIYrXhQ3kSHMiqhMY-0G6o8yBPPql2axoa4s/s400/pure-food-wine01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480936089899944642" /></a><br /><br />pure food and wine<br />54 irving place<br />new york, ny<br />(212) 477 1010<br /><a href="http://www.purefoodandwine.com" target="_blank">www.purefoodandwine.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: raw vegan<br />culinary excellence: 9<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br />*recommended*<br /><br />pure food and wine is not the kind of restaurant that i imagine many people frequent on a regular basis, but whether you're gay or straight or black or white or asian, it is an experience that should be had at least once. i had the good fortune to visit there for the third time on monday night. the space is absolutely beautiful and the garden is a real sanctuary, so i do recommend going in the warmer months. the menu is entirely raw, which might ordinarily be off-putting, but the good people at pure food have elevated raw food to astronomical heights. wines are clearly marked organic, biodynamic, sustainable and/or vegan and they have an assortment of sake cocktails and sangria. i suggest starting with a <b>mojito</b>. they are pitch-perfect and in my opinion, preferable to some of the fancier cocktails, like the <b>white light tini</b>, made with green tea and lemongrass, which was light, refreshing and pretty, but underwhelming. felice got some sort of fruity cocktail that tasted like a fine, slightly alcoholic pink lemonade. the thought of a <b>master cleanse tini</b> was distressing after having attempted an actual master cleanse... yugghh...<br /><br />my family and i ordered a number of appetizers or "first courses" to share. felice special ordered a giant green salad with tons of veggies in a vinaigrette. i got a <b>plate of assorted dr. cow tree nut cheeses</b>. i have been wanting to try dr. cow cheeses for a long time now and they did not disappoint! there were only three small wedges but they packed a punch, served with rosemary flax crackers, honeycomb, a super-sweet strawberry and mache. i can't remember what each of the cheeses were, but one was really smoky and another tasted kind of like halvah. a really nice starter. we also got <b>king oyster mushroom scallops in a coconut lemongrass broth</b>, which was interesting, but not one of my favorites. craig's <b>hazelnut crostinis</b> were delicious - little crackers with dollops of a pureed variety of dr. cow's. we also noshed on <b>olives and pickled fennel with rosemary</b>.<br /><br />for our entrees, felice and i both ordered pure food's signature dish, the <b>zucchini and heirloom tomato with basil-pistachio pesgo, sun-dried tomato sauce and macadamia pumpkin ricotta</b>. this was bliss. $24 bliss. the tomatoes were plump and fresh, the ricotta unbelievable and the pesto rich and flavorful. highly recommended. craig got the <b>sweet corn and cashew tamales</b>, which we both agreed was wonderful, though we couldn't really make out any of the different flavors. the cacao mole sauce on the side was very spicy. mom got the <b>three pizzettes</b>, one with spinach pesto and arugula, one margherita pizza and one with crimini and kalamata olives. this was the perfect dish for her. it had very nice recognizable flavors with interesting italian seasonings. the "crusts" were almond and rosemary crisps. dad ordered some sort of seaweed croquettes, which he enjoyed, but i found to be a little dry. unfortunately, no one ordered the <b>squash blossoms</b>, but they sounded totally kick-ass.<br /><br />even though we were all full from so many beautiful tastes, we order three desserts to share. dad and i got the <b>trio of dark chocolate coated indian spiced ice cream treats</b>. just one of these rich delicacies would have been more than enough to finish off our meal. they were super-rich, particularly the pistachio gelato ice cream sandwich. the mini cone with cardamom coconut ice cream was very special and the chai creamsicle was exquisite. i don't really understand how they got the chocolate to taste like that given the limitations of raw food prep, but it was sumptuous. the kind of chocolate where you only need a bite or two. mom got the <b>chocolate passion fruit tart</b>, which she seemed to enjoy, and craig and felice shared up some sort of coconut and pineapple sorbet in a little tart. very pure and refreshing.<br /><br />the bill came to about $450. much gratitude was offered and we all left with a good feeling of having enjoyed really interesting, healthy, skillfully prepared and artfully presented food in a lovely oasis in manhattan on a clear early summer night.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-13680795577504132502010-06-08T22:23:00.003-04:002010-06-08T22:35:14.296-04:00sliceslice<br />1740 sansom street<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 557 9299<br /><a href="http://www.slicepa.com" target="_blank">www.slicepa.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: pizza<br />culinary excellence: 4<br />vegan friendliness: 4<br /><br />i was all excited to get a slice of vegan pizza before my last ulysses class, but slice was totally disappointing! the only vegan pizza they had by the actual slice was a cheeseless affair with eggplant, sliced portabellas, red onion and roasted peppers. the crust was very thin, which was nice, though it was also a little burnt, which was not nice. the rest of it tasted like pizza that had been sitting out for a few days and all the flavors just kind of melded together into nothingness. i'll bet their vegan pies with cheese are not great either, since they use follow your heart mozzarella. i so wish they would make vegan versions of all their pies. i would love a vegan barbeque chicken pizza or a hawaiian one with mock ham and daiya mozzarella. i bet the truffle one would be fantastic with daiya too. maybe i need to just start bringing daiya cheese with me wherever i go. if vegan pizza happens to come up in conversation, i'll be prepared.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-55274654323385769632010-06-08T21:26:00.006-04:002010-08-01T21:26:09.503-04:00bacio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQGknm-ZcM895lAx8vxwKzJ64ne1sXWpvx7ry9ssH4ClGOp-EMfzopm-Blsua-JbAJw14hlD7Y_TIwNZLNajVgmWQtYF6O4ZTQ2z1ix_d5NozWx3d8NwLwmFlrrOGxSPHJ614G4j1GQo/s1600/IMG_2286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQGknm-ZcM895lAx8vxwKzJ64ne1sXWpvx7ry9ssH4ClGOp-EMfzopm-Blsua-JbAJw14hlD7Y_TIwNZLNajVgmWQtYF6O4ZTQ2z1ix_d5NozWx3d8NwLwmFlrrOGxSPHJ614G4j1GQo/s400/IMG_2286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500616739136529810" /></a><br /><br /><br />bacio<br />311 west mt. pleasant avenue<br />philadelphia, pa<br />(215) 248 2740<br /><br />type of cuisine: italian<br />culinary excellence: 8<br />vegan friendliness: 8<br />*recommended*<br /><br />the first time i went to bacio, i still lived on the main line. johanna took me there for my 30th birthday and it was a frustrating experience. although the restaurant was charming and served home made eggless pastas with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, i was bummed that we didn't think to bring any wine, bummed that they didn't have vegan gnocchi on that particular night, and bummed that i was totally full from bread dipped in olive oil after a 70 minute wait for our food:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbayobR_zs3tQ4XrzldA6LzSMig1HfRkY3HouRXBGOaFi-0Gvb-dQHlUhkPOjFujY1c5RzjSE9ssp47twa5MFivfpa24ldoKrDUwzjO6cygXqpElQ1MHZF7qAai-_XJKGSAhTE_31XPKE/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbayobR_zs3tQ4XrzldA6LzSMig1HfRkY3HouRXBGOaFi-0Gvb-dQHlUhkPOjFujY1c5RzjSE9ssp47twa5MFivfpa24ldoKrDUwzjO6cygXqpElQ1MHZF7qAai-_XJKGSAhTE_31XPKE/s400/IMG_2288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500616741616473778" /></a><br /><br /> i realize now that the wait was due to them making me vegan ravioli from scratch. and it wasn't even good! sadly, the chefs are unschooled in the fine art of tofu ricotta (you need nutritional yeast, people!) and cheese-free pesto (again, it's all about the nooch). here's the thing though - don't order some special vegan dish just because they say they can do it. order the following: <b>pasta e broccoli</b>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLZ39HH_LwU19QTPZKQNTk3elsnnUpKB4cBkdIni53uGjurndMHl0jiGU8SCtZopzT8Bamo_wRED65z6pmVuzhLhWoJwk37FprsHmftF2S0tnFKBnhKYhWbTGDBL3Zf1u8eb4ILg8vsc/s1600/IMG_2292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLZ39HH_LwU19QTPZKQNTk3elsnnUpKB4cBkdIni53uGjurndMHl0jiGU8SCtZopzT8Bamo_wRED65z6pmVuzhLhWoJwk37FprsHmftF2S0tnFKBnhKYhWbTGDBL3Zf1u8eb4ILg8vsc/s400/IMG_2292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500616759581207858" /></a><br /><br />this is possibly the most delicious pasta dish i've ever had. the pasta itself is fantastic and the combination of broccoli, olives and capers in white wine sauce is a dream come true. their salty <b>pasta puttanesca</b> is also delectable, but of the two i prefer the broccoli. plus sometimes they add eggplant to the puttanesca and that's just not ok to add eggplant to a dish that doesn't list eggplant as an ingredient.<br /><br />now luca and i live 5 minutes from bacio and we go there so much that they know who we are. or at least they know who luca is. apparently he has a more memorable face than i do. other items we have tried include the <b>vegan rollatini</b> (not nearly as good as the recipe from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Veganomicon-Ultimate-Isa-Chandra-Moskowitz/dp/156924264X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276047646&sr=8-1" target="_blank">veganomicon</a>), <b>bruschetta</b> (excellent - just ask them to hold the cheese), <b>tomato, basil and tofu mozzarella</b> (this is not on the menu, but we were offered it as a compliment one night and it was quite good - i think the "mozzarella" was just nicely prepared soft tofu with salt and other spices - very satisfying), <b>sweet potato gnocchi</b> (so disappointing! the gnocchi's themselves were bland and tasted of nutmeg and the maranara sauce did nothing to enhance it), <b>beet salad</b> (wonderful, an excellent starter), <b>egg-free ceasar</b> (fantastic!) and <b>vegan cannoli's</b> (hella awesome and served with <a href="http://www.callebaut.com/usen/11" target="_blank">the most delicious chocolate i've ever had</a>). here is an example of a complimentary dish offered to compensate for a long wait time:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1ysLz9RH8z4MU361Q8KD7ek21WWhCFmv8tmAb4X0NcO8UAKapz8UUO6LtnEaesvZmUJiQH5-s_GLD17ks0h4kRPKK1Ucec9KUoub-WReWvR9v6K-yZObBqszWUx_oxlNavB_ysXFjL4/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1ysLz9RH8z4MU361Q8KD7ek21WWhCFmv8tmAb4X0NcO8UAKapz8UUO6LtnEaesvZmUJiQH5-s_GLD17ks0h4kRPKK1Ucec9KUoub-WReWvR9v6K-yZObBqszWUx_oxlNavB_ysXFjL4/s400/IMG_2289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500616746497048978" /></a><br /><br />so go to bacio. bring wine. bring wine in a cute little wine cozy. it will make you feel better.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-78921749374842671192010-06-08T11:14:00.001-04:002010-06-08T11:14:34.005-04:00sun in bloom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPwB_Bx-RpCHXGDHuQva1GWlxdeSq3s0x0wpYhbIgTmc-b5sAh_FSAdu3-X5jAflgy6BoHBA7HKvTklLIbWIuN7qWK_P-NHrX7cuHbm9SYD93aVoS_5F8VJLOqoWNss9Pw5BJqWZbgajp/s1600/sun+in+bloom+1-2010.JPG.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPwB_Bx-RpCHXGDHuQva1GWlxdeSq3s0x0wpYhbIgTmc-b5sAh_FSAdu3-X5jAflgy6BoHBA7HKvTklLIbWIuN7qWK_P-NHrX7cuHbm9SYD93aVoS_5F8VJLOqoWNss9Pw5BJqWZbgajp/s400/sun+in+bloom+1-2010.JPG.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480366770478870610" /></a><br /><br />sun in bloom<br />460 bergen street<br />brooklyn, ny<br />(718) 622 4303<br />www.suninbloom.com<br /><br />type of cuisine: light vegan, organic, raw<br />culinary excellence: 4<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br /><br />i spent a few hours over at sun in bloom last weekend reading stieg larsson on my (eh-hem, luca's) kindle. the space was pleasant, but seemed a bit too spacious for the amount of goods they had to offer. the fridges were half-filled with various nut milks, green juices, pastel pink raw pies and prepared salads. there were lots of empty shelves by the register and around the seating area that could have used some plants, at least. it made it feel like the cafe was not entirely ready for customers. amy, the woman behind the counter was very friendly, introducing herself to all new customers and greeting regulars warmly. the menu consisted of some smoothies, breakfast options, sandwiches, fresh baked vegan muffins and assorted sides including some fine-looking kale chips. everything was vegan with a raw/macro bent. amy told me it would take a little while to make my <b>morning energizer burrito</b>, which was fine by me, so i hung out with lisbeth salander at one of the wooden tables and sipped from my half-bottle of fresh <b>brazil nut milk</b>. i'm sorry to say it was not the revelation of brazil nut milk served up at jubb's longevity. the taste was fine - they spiced it up with a bit of cinnamon - but the consistency was a bit goopey. i prefer my nut milk strained and light. the burrito was not much better. it tasted like the dreaded "health food" that omnis tend to associate with vegan cuisine. a tasteless whole wheat tortilla filled with tasteless brown rice, somewhat undercooked black beans and bland tofu with the slightest smattering of avocado puree throughout. on the side was dulce-sprinkled green lettuce and some tasty salsa. i felt bad that the burrito was so boring because it did seem to be made with love. it just needed more flavor. i bet their macro bowls are good, since they are supposed to be simple and plain. final verdict: if you're a yoga-doing, meditating, whole food sort of vegan and you live near flatbush, you'll probably like sun in bloom. if you're a red bamboo and soy ice cream sundae sort of vegan visiting from philly, you might be better off having breakfast at s'nice.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-61027478021034184122010-06-08T10:58:00.001-04:002010-11-15T08:09:41.027-05:00red bamboo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYfYAPpxmW_uKrk_KITnCCfIpIW2kzT_xXwingUvBf9ad58pfC6LSKtSoPwx9AcYBCc7CNMzvlbgTjwWDOZMw53Sou5wEsEPYBdXrdxZ-WwH0jkqy2RAFme88759hCdyivZCNPC4FGmw/s1600/IMG_2712.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYfYAPpxmW_uKrk_KITnCCfIpIW2kzT_xXwingUvBf9ad58pfC6LSKtSoPwx9AcYBCc7CNMzvlbgTjwWDOZMw53Sou5wEsEPYBdXrdxZ-WwH0jkqy2RAFme88759hCdyivZCNPC4FGmw/s400/IMG_2712.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539761111913330978" /></a><br /><br />red bamboo<br />140 west 4th street<br />(212) 260 7049<br /><a href="http://www.redbamboo-nyc.com" target="_blank">red bamboo</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: vegan soul food<br />culinary excellence: 8<br />vegan friendliness: 10<br />*recommended*<br /><br />when i lived in new york, red bamboo was my go-to restaurant for delicious vegan grub in walking distance of film forum, ifc and nyu. there was nothing like a soul chicken sandwich and a glass of wine before class or a night out with luca involving collard rolls and chocolate covered strawberry shortcake. they have expanded their menu considerably since that time, but you can still expect fantastic vegan soul food in relaxing setting, a diversity of patrons, attractive tattooed servers and mock meat galore. ordinarily, i'm not a big advocate of fake meat, but red bamboo does it so well that it overrides my usual preference for non-fake food.<br /><br />some of red bamboo's appetizers that i enjoy are the aforementioned <b>collard greens rolls</b> (crispy and perfect), <b>salmon rolls</b> (you will not believe how good these are), <b>roti canai</b> (unbelievably delicious soft roti with a savory dipping sauce) and <b>sweet potato and broccoli tempura</b> (outstanding). i was not impressed with the chewy <b>cornmeal crusted calamari</b>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1bxvbX5zT3MK3PPy4NQhLyIh5h3cVTDruVptAvBz3s8Ck7J3hVsLDWMM3HjsdeIm8mwM8KUhYUC88SU9xuvPGYFmFgRndAeFq5TN2lx2xvT1KD9he0Ej25WmYqMY_7QOpmD3Hj2ETsU/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1bxvbX5zT3MK3PPy4NQhLyIh5h3cVTDruVptAvBz3s8Ck7J3hVsLDWMM3HjsdeIm8mwM8KUhYUC88SU9xuvPGYFmFgRndAeFq5TN2lx2xvT1KD9he0Ej25WmYqMY_7QOpmD3Hj2ETsU/s400/IMG_2714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539761125310763410" /></a><br /><center>collard rolls</center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BPQkKzFQQfHNNx0mIfvb1pmz_bWyMxEXO9DzaDypOKmdI9BfFvDw48K8CUfb9bIgtw1ZFVLm-V63S4L-GGxhI_j8oJV6n8-UsFQuadClUxL9x634c_OiMp2YCwVPsl36QKxkCknHeWc/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BPQkKzFQQfHNNx0mIfvb1pmz_bWyMxEXO9DzaDypOKmdI9BfFvDw48K8CUfb9bIgtw1ZFVLm-V63S4L-GGxhI_j8oJV6n8-UsFQuadClUxL9x634c_OiMp2YCwVPsl36QKxkCknHeWc/s400/IMG_2713.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539761117529369282" /></a><br /><center>roti canai</center><br /><br />excellent entrees include the <b>creole soul chicken</b> (scrumptious soy chicken served with cooked carrots and zucchini and sweet corn mashed potatoes with a fantastic mushroom gravy), the <b>crispy sole filet</b> (in my opinion the best "fish" entree, also served with corn mashed potatoes and <b>sylvia's honey lemon catfish</b> (delicious and flavorful). reasonably good entrees include the <b>salmon teriyaki</b> (served with steamed vegetables and hijiki and not as good as mobay's veggie salmon), the <b>voodoo sticks</b> (savory shish kebabed seitan), <b>coconut chicken</b> (tasty but not super exciting) and <b>fish and chips</b> (pretty good if you are vegan and crave this dish, but probably not impressive to carnivores). mediocre dishes include the <b>butterfly soy chops</b> (same faux meat as the soul chicken only the patties are larger and topped with a sweet apple-raisin sauce; the side collards are swimming in bbq sauce), the <b>tandoori chicken</b> (stewed in sauce with potatoes) and the <b>grilled bourbon chicken</b> (good, but served atop a palate-clashing salad). the <b>codfish cakes with mango salsa</b> are pretty mushy and terrible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVl2oqjmi55l4yeDlrxW7y8eycw-DrtOXZjrZVGFMuL2DwggGEzBZsIrZ9L_Z5Xi91Ukc5TWrb4wSGrDDS7JNXx5qMZ2Nw9mzRY8Fo6NH7-Rxbo9KOw3_v8Nn2FzrFnga6XI7RgIr970/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVl2oqjmi55l4yeDlrxW7y8eycw-DrtOXZjrZVGFMuL2DwggGEzBZsIrZ9L_Z5Xi91Ukc5TWrb4wSGrDDS7JNXx5qMZ2Nw9mzRY8Fo6NH7-Rxbo9KOw3_v8Nn2FzrFnga6XI7RgIr970/s400/IMG_2716.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539761157462966210" /></a><br /><center>creole soul chicken entree</center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7M6rr51lExSUynmS_qkRiWEN_Z6j-J_eqlUGf8PjlqqjMQGZKG7pyYqls6Y3bi6Q4Qk7dk5te9OnRCN8AprqMv4HRSQd3-chQMw9NTXzDX-FO8zAjXg6z2enl7bRa5lt8X2Jyt9l_sM/s1600/IMG_2715.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7M6rr51lExSUynmS_qkRiWEN_Z6j-J_eqlUGf8PjlqqjMQGZKG7pyYqls6Y3bi6Q4Qk7dk5te9OnRCN8AprqMv4HRSQd3-chQMw9NTXzDX-FO8zAjXg6z2enl7bRa5lt8X2Jyt9l_sM/s400/IMG_2715.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539761140361377746" /></a><br /><center>coconut chicken</center><br /><br />as far as the sandwiches go, i recommend the <b>soul chicken sandwich</b> hands down. it's a little overstuffed, but it is addictively good. the <b>sole on a roll</b> is just like the entree but in sandwich form. the <b>classic blt</b> made me feel like i was 8 years old again. the <b>philly cheesesteak</b> was not particularly good when they first premiered it, but it's entirely possible they have made improvements since that time. same goes for the <b>chicken parmesan hero</b>. the <b>mottalini</b> is similar to the soul chicken sandwich but with mustard and onion instead of vidalia dressing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDAifRymkyn9OlosO0GI4zKIlZMkZxE6j2zwlx6lTs-6J2zrMzIDSEADtMzYiKexfrkAo2N37E2KqzTIkcfpnw-yELvppKR4APM1dT_CYlA8bi6hi3HgKlffuSNf0tNQZBRmYGxMO3yw/s1600/IMG_2718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDAifRymkyn9OlosO0GI4zKIlZMkZxE6j2zwlx6lTs-6J2zrMzIDSEADtMzYiKexfrkAo2N37E2KqzTIkcfpnw-yELvppKR4APM1dT_CYlA8bi6hi3HgKlffuSNf0tNQZBRmYGxMO3yw/s400/IMG_2718.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539762564946046994" /></a><br /><center>soul chicken sandwich</center><br /><br />the <b>roasted garlic angel hair pasta</b> and the <b>sweet basil linguine</b> are both very good, but why order pasta when this is a vegan soul food restaurant? boring!<br /><br />desserts are delivered from <a href="http://www.vegantreats.com/" target="_blank">vegan treats</a>, so you can expect hella delicious cakes made with totally awful ingredients (i.e. hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, etc.) but hey, i think a big slice of chocolate covered strawberry shortcake or peanut butter bomb every now and then surely does more good than harm. the cakes are definitely better than the milkshakes and soy ice cream options. however, they are often out of the best choices on weekends, so you may have to settle for one of the fancied up cheesecakes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajZcPN-IzpQPKEvJGng7Ok-njTNnWk2wUYoFv4JXKF4Be8NJqJO0M39_xkCdO0wv7DyX77C7uyRkqwco8S7ne8ZKCWZqRUakuOFfBcD4DK7KKI5kl_eVAjLzA2va1lZBVPtNUVZslG6I/s1600/IMG_2720.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajZcPN-IzpQPKEvJGng7Ok-njTNnWk2wUYoFv4JXKF4Be8NJqJO0M39_xkCdO0wv7DyX77C7uyRkqwco8S7ne8ZKCWZqRUakuOFfBcD4DK7KKI5kl_eVAjLzA2va1lZBVPtNUVZslG6I/s400/IMG_2720.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539762582279641698" /></a><br /><center>oreo cake</center>zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4873001729681392853.post-55785975420620958252010-05-16T21:17:00.000-04:002010-06-08T11:17:01.977-04:00jaleo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9a6jFo8XIY2bIpINmblrgOibgOkw8jGW1oVR5XLNkppzYlHQB3iuxnOhqC6hiDBIowpQtKeBnsXsJg6Jxl_51_u7GFK-7Zp29gX4jdoXteFeW4iv13oI85pnp_RqwxqDNErclQhZqgN0/s1600/20050929-200958-DSC03969.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9a6jFo8XIY2bIpINmblrgOibgOkw8jGW1oVR5XLNkppzYlHQB3iuxnOhqC6hiDBIowpQtKeBnsXsJg6Jxl_51_u7GFK-7Zp29gX4jdoXteFeW4iv13oI85pnp_RqwxqDNErclQhZqgN0/s400/20050929-200958-DSC03969.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471996101460300642" /></a><br /><br />jaleo<br />7271 woodmont avenue<br />bethesda, md (see website for locations in dc and arlington, va)<br />(301) 913 0003<br /><a href="http://www.jaleo.com" target="_blank">www.jaleo.com</a><br /><br />type of cuisine: tapas/bar<br />culinary excellence: 9<br />vegan friendliness: 7<br />*recommended*<br /><br />i was a bit concerned about dinner plans in bethesda since the 'frew crew i was traveling with were not keen on driving over to rockville to dine at <a href="http://www.thevegetablegarden.com/" target="_blank">the vegetable garden</a> or <a href="http://www.yuanfuvegetarian.com/" target="_blank">yuan fu</a>. i also wasn't sure how i felt about risking taking coworkers to a mediocre vegetarian restaurant, since i have never been to either of those places. so julie made a reservation at <a href="http://www.rakuasiandining.com" target="_blank">raku</a>, a well-reputed japanese restaurant right near our hotel. unfortunately, the restaurant had no record of her reservation, so rather than wait 45 minutes for a table, we ventured over to <a href="http://www.jaleo.com/bethesda.htm" target="_blank">jaleo</a>, a tapas bar across the street. to our good fortune, it turned out to be a fantastic meal.<br /><br />at first their menu doesn't seem to have a whole lot of vegan options, but they are extremely accommodating. absolutely anything on the "verduras" menu could be made to order, with any non-vegan sauces or cheeses either left out or on the side. this made for happy dining in a crowd of one vegan (moi), one vegetarian, one kosher person and two open-minded omnis.<br /><br />julie took the liberty of ordering for everyone, making sure to check that all of the dishes were suitable for a vegan. she wound up ordering about 12 out of the 16 or so verduras tapas and a <b>paella arroz mediterraneo</b> - made with porcini mushrooms, mixed vegetables, green and black olives and thyme.<br /><br />we sipped <b>sangria</b> as our waiter brought out 1 or 2 tapas at a time. the only ones that weren't outrageously amazing were the <b>red beet salad</b> (the beets were good, it's just that the coldness of the salad didn't complement the warmth of all the other tapas), the <b>tuscarora farm mushrooms</b> (these were ok, but didn't pack as much flavor as most of the other veggies we got) and there was one <b>green dish with snow and snap peas</b> that i can't find the name of on their online menu that i did not care for. standouts included the <b>sauteed spinach with pine nuts, raisins and apples</b> (perfection), the <b>roasted red peppers, eggplant and sweet onions</b> (sumptuously savory), the <b>fried baby artichokes</b> (does food get any better than this?), the <b>mushroom risotto</b> (rich and luscious) and the <b>sauteed cauliflower with dates</b> (an unexpected but delicious combination). the <b>endives with oranges and almonds (goat cheese on the side)</b> were creative and refreshing, the <b>grilled asparagus</b> was tasty, but i didn't think the romesco sauce added anything to them, the <b>chickpea stew</b> was reasonably good, with a somewhat indian flavor, the <b>wrinkled baby potatoes</b> were totally yummy, but i would have preferred a pesto to the "mojo verde" dipping sauce.<br /><br />after all of this plentiful deliciousness, our ginormous paella arrived. without much room left in any of our tummies, we pushed forward and ate of this culinary masterpiece. it was extraordinary. immensely flavorful rice, cooked in a porcini mushroom broth with a glorious array of vegetables, olives and spices. i had to take the leftovers with me because it would have been a sin to let food that delectable go to waste.<br /><br />i highly recommend jaleo to bethesda vegans. next time i'm in town i'll venture over to rockville to try the veg establishments, but honestly i can't imagine they are anywhere near this good.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460887957108945090noreply@blogger.com0