Dining Out in London - Manna

Sticky Toffee Pudding - Manna

Manna is an all vegan restaurant located in Primrose Hill, a pricey more residential part of London compared to busier parts like Soho and Bloomsbury. I loved walking in this sleepy, quaint neighborhood with white townhouses and boutique shops. I met with a friend from the US who moved to London over a year ago, her vegan friend joined us for dinner. From my research I knew this historical (celebrating 47 years!) restaurant offered some of the traditional British fare, things I had never tried before even in non-vegan versions, like Bangers and Mash and Sticky Toffee Pudding, but even with the unknowns I was excited for a sit-down meal with good company. Manna is a small restaurant and although I called and couldn't get the reservation I wanted, there were empty tables throughout our dinner (a bit frustrating). 

Manna Mezze - Manna

Manna Mezze, Arancini - Manna

Baja California Plate - Manna

We started with the Manna Mezze to taste a variety of appetizers. I got to try the Arancini, Vegetable Tempura and Indian Pizza. All of them were delicious, though the Arancini and Indian Pizza were more unique and exciting. I enjoyed the sauces paired with each one. Though their menu changes often, the Organic Bangers and Mash is a constant. I ordered this dish for my entree, again I didn't have much to compare it to because I'd never tried the non-vegan version before. Sadly I wasn't in love with my dish, but it was good. It contained organic fennel and pumpkin seed sausages, on a parsnip and carrot mash with a red wine leek and thyme jus with onion rings. The vegan sausage had lots of seasoning and flavor, but the texture was a little too grainy. I of course loved the fried onion rings that topped the dish! My dining companions both ordered the Baja California Plate (sadly no longer on the menu) and really enjoyed it. Their meals were slightly more fresh and colorful than mine. Although already full, for dessert I had to get my hands on the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Luckily I was able to share it with my friend. It was presented beautifully with a flavor that was decadent and very sweet, certainly happy with this choice to end the meal!

Overall I enjoyed the appetizers and dessert the most. For this more relaxing, quiet dining experience compared to what I experienced in the city center, I would return here. The quality of food was high and service, despite being slow, was decent. In comparison to US prices, this wasn't a cheap meal, but I didn't feel like I was overpaying.

Organic Bangers and Mash - Manna

Manna

4 Erksine Road

Primrose Hill

London, United Kingdom NW3 3AJ

Manna Website

Dining Out in Charlotte - Fern, Flavors from the Garden

Laughing Buddha Bowl - Fern, Flavors from the Garden

Inside Fern

I visited Charlotte, NC for the first time recently for a business trip. Per usual, I didn't have much free time to explore the local vegan dining scene, but I did quick research to see what was close to my hotel for a vegan lunch. Under 2 miles away was Fern (or Fern, Flavors from the Garden, its longer name), a vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options. I cabbed it over with two of my colleagues for what turned out to be a truly delicious, comforting meal. The interior of the restaurant was so pretty - a sophisticated, rustic look with mason jars, reclaimed wood, and live plants throughout. It was the middle of a weekday so we had the benefit of being only one of two parties dining in. 

Before starting our meal we were offered cucumber water and it was so refreshing! We then began our meal with two appetizers, the vegan Spicy Glazed Cauliflower (image below on left) and the non-vegan Fern Bruschetta (image below on right). My dining buddies were amazed at how great these first dishes were. Given my vegan history I had tried dishes very similar to the Spicy Glazed Cauliflower. It closely resembled the Gobi Manchurian at Red Lentil in Watertown, MA and the Frito Misto at Sublime in Fort Lauderdale, FL with its General Tso's look and taste. The dish is fried cauliflower florets coated in a sesame balsamic glaze and it's just fantastic. The Fern Bruschetta contained parmesan cheese (so I couldn't try it), and seasonal vegetable ragu on charred garlic bread,  the verdict on this was "sooo good!."

               

For entrees, I was really craving a salad, but to make sure I got a taste of the most popular dishes I went for the Om Burger, topped with smoked tomato, pickled cucumbers, pepper aioli served on a sesame bun and I added avocado to it. I also ordered Kale Chips for my side. Besides an extra bready bun that I trimmed down, the burger was full of flavor, not too mushy and filling. The Kale Chips were mildly seasoned, but could have been a bit more crispy. Both of my colleagues got the Laughing Buddha Bowl, described as a unique daily balance of the essentials: legumes, rice, greens and vegetables. This one wasn't labeled vegan on the menu, but I'm sure you could request it. 

Om Burger with Kale Chips - Fern, Flavors from the Garden

Matching Laughing Buddha Bowls!

At the end of the meal all of us said we would return! The restaurant was the OpenTable Diner's Choice winner in 2014 and I can see why.

Fern, Flavors from the Garden

1323 Central Avenue

Charlotte, NC 28205

Fern Website

Dining In - Sweet-and-Sour Party Meatballs

Sweet-and-Sour Party Meatballs - Chloe's Kitchen

I've now made this recipe twice, but for two occasions that were a couple years apart. The first time I made them for a holiday party I was hosting and the second time was this year for a Thanksgiving appetizer. Both times they were a crowd pleaser for vegans and non-vegans. I caught my uncle going in for thirds at Thanksgiving and my friend kept asking for the recipe after my holiday party. We have Chloe Coscarelli to thank for this one. You can find this recipe and others in Chloe's Kitchen (buy your copy here). 

The ingredients are so filling that it can be good and bad as an appetizer - good because you may be too full to overindulge on the main course, but bad because you may be too full to fully enjoy the main course! Either way these are made with lots of healthy, hearty goodness. They have a creamy, nutty taste and the sweet and sour sauce goes perfectly with them to give little punch of tangy flavor. The sauce when cool starts to resemble a jelly from the cornstarch thickener and can be difficult to dip into, so it's best to serve both the "meatballs" and sauce warm.

Party Meatballs 1 8 oz. package of tempeh
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 15 oz. can lentils, rinsed and drained
1 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch

To Prepare Meatballs: 

Start by steaming the tempeh to remove the bitterness. Break up the tempeh block into about 4 pieces to fit into a steamer basket over a small pot of water. Heat water on low to medium and steam tempeh for about 20 minutes. 

Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet and cook onions until softened. Add garlic and cook for a few more minutes, until fragrant. 

Using a food processor, add steamed tempeh, lentils, walnuts, flour, basil, salt and pepper and pulse until everything is blended and forms a thick paste. Though difficult to do, I like to leave some texture to the meatballs by not over-processing, but make sure all ingredients are incorporated together.

Using your hands scoop out mixture and form into 1-inch balls and place on a plate. 

Heat canola oil on medium heat and fry the meatballs using a wooden spoon to turn them to cook on all sides. It's hard to keep these perfectly round shaped, but moving them around often with the spoon helps. Transfer cooked meatballs to a paper towel covered plate to soak up excess oil. 

Soak up excess oil with paper towels

Sweet-and-Sour Sauce

To Prepare Sweet and Sour Sauce: 

In a medium saucepan, whisk all sauce ingredients together and heat on medium-high heat until mixture begins to boil. Reduce heat down to medium-low and continue cooking until the sauce thickens and big bubbles form, keep stirring throughout.


Stick a toothpick or fancier hors d'oeuvre pick into each ball for easy serving. Serve warm with sauce on the side or poured over meatballs so they are already covered.

Dining Out in Minneapolis - Pizza Lucé

Athena Pizza, Gluten-Free & Vegan - Pizza Lucé

I visited Minneapolis for the first time earlier this year on a business trip. I knew my options would be limited for vegan dining, but I was happy to find a vegan-friendly menu at a local pizza chain, Pizza Lucé. The food wasn't anything to write home about, but I was fed and enjoyed seeing a menu well labeled, meeting the needs of dietary restricted diners. I first dined in with a friend.  Our waiter was friendly and was able to speak to the vegan options. We started with an app, the Veggie Meatball Appetizer, with veggie balls smothered in thick red sauce seasoned with herbs and served with garlic toast. These were hearty and good, probably the highlight of the meal. 

Mock Muffeletta - Pizza Lucé

For my entrée I had the Mock Muffeletta Sandwich. It was okay, but the bread to filling ratio wasn't quite right, as you can see in the photo. It came with BBQ sauce and seasoned mock duck, similar to seitan texture, with Muffeletta olive mixture, red onions, and Rinotta, their homemade vegan cheese made with tofu and cashews. I would and did skip this the next time. We finished out the meal with two desserts, because the prices were so cheap and I wanted to try as much of the menu as possible! We ordered the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and the Molly Bar. The Molly Bar (both gluten-free and vegan) was supposed to be a brownie, but it so dry and chalky we actually told the waiter we didn't want it. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars on the other hand were very good. It reminded me of a Rice Krispie treat, but made with peanut butter. It was topped with a layer of chocolate and powdered sugar garnish. These were very crumbly and flaky, but not dry in a bad way like the Molly Bar. 

Molly Bar, Gluten-Free & Vegan - Pizza Lucé

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar - Pizza Lucé

The second time I ordered delivery to my hotel room. Unlike Galatic Pizza, Pizza Lucé offers free delivery! I treated myself because there was no way I was stepping outdoors again in the -15 degree temperature. Nothing quite like pizza delivery to your hotel room, lounging in PJs, and watching reality TV after a day's work! I ordered the Athena pizza with a few modifications to make it gluten-free and vegan. Typically it includes fresh spinach, tomato, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, red onions, Greek oregano and toasted garlic with light mozzarella on Bianca sauce. My order was: 1) gluten-free crust 2) no feta 3) swap out mozzarella for vegan cheese and 4) no olives (I'm just not a fan). Again, it wasn't anything outstanding, but it satisfied my craving and was more than enough to fill me up. I much prefer the vegan cheese (it might be Daiya) over their Rinotta homemade vegan cheese, which does have a grainy texture like ricotta. 

All in all I would and have gone back to Pizza Lucé when in town because my options are so limited, but it's been hit-or-miss so far. I think I'll stick with the vegan cheese pizzas or appetizers.

Pizza Lucé

119 North 4th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Pizza Lucé Website

Dining In - Warm Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Warm Spinach-Artichoke Dip - Chloe's Kitchen

This dip used to be one of my favorite appetizers to order when dining out at restaurants. It's salty, creamy, indulgent, and always tasty. The major ingredients were certainly not vegan however, so it takes a good recipe to replicate it and still satisfy that craving. Chef Chloe Coscarelli to the rescue! Based on these ingredients, this appetizer is also gluten-free, if served with the appropriate chip or cracker.

I first made this for a company event and unfortunately I slightly overcooked it. It was still very yummy and my non-vegan coworkers enjoyed it. I made it a second time to bring to my family Christmas gathering this past year, where it would compete against cheese platters, pigs in a blanket and other heavy hors' dourves. Looks-wise, it's not the prettiest dish, as the green color browns slightly and there's no melted cheese strings to entice you. It has a kick to it, depending on how much red pepper you add. I didn't mind it, but my mom would have preferred it milder. It wouldn't be fair to taste this expecting it to match up to the same dip served at Applebee's or Chili's, but with an open mind and recognition that this is much healthier you can certainly enjoy it! You can find this recipe and others in Chloe's Kitchen (buy your copy here) and in this article on Yahoo. 



2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
5 oz. fresh baby spinach
14 oz. soft tofu, drained
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 oz. canned artichoke
Chips or crackers to serve with


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 1-quart baking dish. I used what I had on hand - a round cake pan. A glass loaf pan or a ceramic dish would work well, too. 

Begin the cooking process by heating the olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Cook onions for about 3-5 minutes or until softened. Add in minced garlic and red pepper and cook for a few more minutes until fragrant. 

Reduce heat to low and add in spinach. Stir and cook until spinach is wilted.

In a food processor, combine tofu, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, basil, sea salt and black pepper until blended and smooth. Add in artichokes and the spinach/onion/garlic mixture. Pulse about 10-15 times, enough to blend together while leaving some texture. 

Transfer to your baking dish. Cook for about 30 minutes or until it starts to brown on top. Serve warm with a "dipping vessel" like pita chips!

Spinach-Artichoke Dip Right Before Going in the Oven!

Dining Out in New York City - V-Note

Zucchini Pappardelle - V-Note Organic Wine Bar & Vegan Bistro

I made a last minute reservation at V-Note for dinner to make use of a Groupon voucher I had bought a few weeks earlier. It's not a spot that was on the top of my must-visit list, but I'm always excited to try a new vegan restaurant. It is run by the owners of Blossom and Café Blossom, two other well known vegan restaurants in NYC. I dined at this Upper East Side establishment with my non-vegan boyfriend on a Friday night. It's fairly small so I recommend making a reservation. 

Cape Cod Cakes - V-Note

Our waiter provided us with menu recommendations and great service overall. My boyfriend picked an appetizer for us to share. We had the Cape Cod Cakes that were a blend of hiziki seaweed, tofu, and herbs served with a side of greens and tartar sauce. They are similar to a crab cake in terms of flavor and looks, served as a small lightly fried ball. I was skeptical about them at first because I think it's more of a challenge to successfully veganize seafood, but they were super delicious! I would go back just for these or order them as takeout, definitely the highlight of the meal. 

For an entree I ordered the raw Zucchini Pappardelle with thinly sliced raw zucchini, avocado, cherry tomatoes, olives, red peppers, marinated onions, oyster mushroom, almond butter, and cashew cream. My boyfriend opted for the most "safe" and traditional dish on the menu, the lasagna, served with sauteed eggplant, broccoli rabe, and a red sauce. After having a warm appetizer that was outstanding it was hard to go to a healthier raw dish, but I still enjoyed mine. As most raw food is, it was very filling and tested fresh. My boyfriend was starving and wolfed down his lasagna. I got a taste and it was okay, but nothing special. 

Raw Zucchini Pappardelle - V-Note

Lasagna - V-Note

Butterfinger Shake - V-Note

I had my eye on dessert and was making a tough decision between the beloved Chocolate Ganache Cake with a peanut butter center or a Butterfinger Shake. The weather was unseasonably warm so I opted for the shake. I've had the Butterfinger Shake at Terri and in comparison I preferred this one at V-Note. Terri's shake was a little too sweet. This did have a slightly chalky taste and texture, but it's not too surprising with non-dairy milks. 

I would go back to try more of the appetizers, particularly the Yelpers' favorite Black Eyed Pea Cake. The ambiance is intimate and romantic, a good date night spot.

V-Note Organic Wine Bar & Vegan Bistro

1522 First Avenue 

(between 79th & 80th Streets)

New York, NY 10075

V-Note Website

Dining Out in Portland - Los Gorditos

Soycurl Nachos - Los Gorditos

I was excited about this place for the filling, "cheesy," dirty-in-a-good-way Mexican food. It's rare to find classics like nachos, quesadillas, and burritos that still have all the heavier, creamy ingredients like sour cream and cheese served in a vegan-friendly way. My friend and I ended up here because we discovered Blossoming Lotus had moved and was no longer across the street in the Pearl District of Portland. I had this on my list of top vegan food spots, so I wasn't too upset to give it a try.

Soycurl Taco - Los Gorditos

They have a separate vegan menu with lots to choose from. We were excited about trying the live nachos from Blossoming Lotus so we ordered nachos here to satisfy that craving. Unfortunately they weren't the greatest. They were too dry in a sense that there wasn't any melted cheese or enough sour cream or refried beans on them to get that loaded nachos effect going, you know when the chips get stuck together and it's so messy you have to eat it with a fork? Those are good nachos. They came with soycurls, a popular vegan item in Portland, rice, lettuce, onion, jalapeños, avocado, tomato, cilantro and refried beans. I had to get my filling of "cheese"so I ordered a Cheese Quesadilla Solo alongside an order of Soycurl Taco. The quesadilla was definitely more in line with the melted, greasy, cheesy taste I was looking for - they use Follow Your Heart brand. The Soycurl Taco was served in a soft corn tortilla with grilled fajita vegetables, beans, onion and cilantro. One cool part of dining here is that there is a self-serve sauce station offering salsas and hot sauces from mild to very spicy. I tried a few and stuck with the medium to spicy variety.

Cheese Quesadilla Solo - Los Gorditos

Overall the dining experience was okay. The staff was super friendly and helpful and the prices were below average, but the food wasn't outstanding and in Portland there are higher standards to meet. I would definitely be willing to try other menu items to give this a second chance... next time I'm in Portland!

Los Gorditos

922 NW Davis Street

Portland, OR 97209

Los Gorditos Website