Dining Out in Paris - Bob's Kitchen

Avocado Lemon Tartine on a Bagel - Bob's Kitchen

Inside Bob's Kitchen

Before it gets too delayed and my dining memories fade I want to share a review of Bob's Kitchen, a healthy restaurant that I visited during my late spring trip to Paris this year. Bob's Kitchen is one of five businesses run by the same company called Bob's Food Etc., it includes a juice bar, bake shop, catering, and pressed juices in addition to this kitchen. I found my way there early in the day and when I arrived I was the only customer, which is quite the opposite of what reviews on Yelp say. I was not used to the late morning start that Parisians are accustomed to, but lucky for me this place opens at 8:00am.  It tends to be very loud and crowded in the later hours in this very casual, small restaurant. I was greeted in English and shown the menus on the wall to order my breakfast. It seemed like more of counter service setup with small tables to dine at versus table service. 

For breakfast, I paired a Vegan Matcha Protein Smoothie with an Avocado Lemon Tartine, otherwise known as an open-faced sandwich topped with spreadable ingredients. Maybe I've become a spoiled New Yorker after the last couple years, but this was not a bagel I'd go writing home about. It was dry, hard and since I typically go for more savory flavors like an everything bagel, it was too bland. It reminded me of a grocery store Thomas' brand bagel, not very impressive. The French have perfected their bread, but bagels they should leave to the Americans! The avocado topping was plain and simple avocado slices with a tiny bit of lemon juice with sea salt. Again critiquing as a New Yorker with access to about ten restaurants who've all perfected avocado toast (hello, Cafe Gitane!) I would say this didn't stack up, but it was one of the few places I could find healthier meal options. My Matcha Protein Smoothie was creamy and delicious, definitely worth the price.

Karlie Kloss is a fan!

In order to have a healthy breakfast for the next day I walked by again that same afternoon to pick up something I could store in my mini-fridge back at my hotel. I grabbed a premade Chia Pudding with berries. It wasn't very sweet or flavorful, but I was glad to have the wholesome ingredients versus a big baguette and coffee and my only alternative. I loved Paris and if I return I would visit Bob's again for their healthy dishes and give some of the lunch dishes and salads a try. As a final note I should mention that it's gotten a supermodel stamp of approval, I noticed a Karlie Kloss' autographed photo at the register! 

Vegan Crumble, Seasonal Fruit, Chia Pudding To Go

Cold Pressed Juices

Bob's Kitchen

74 Rue des Gravilliers

Paris, France 3

Bob's Kitchen Website

Dining Out in Paris - Sol Semilla

Assiette du Jour (Dish of the Day) - Sol Semilla

This is another postponed recount of my vegan tour of Paris (see my earlier post on the delicious Hank Burger here). I walked across the city to visit Sol Semilla for dinner and it was well worth it! I spotted the brightly colored cafe, which also houses a small market for their selection of supplements and organic food products. The website is dedicated to these "Superaliments" that you can also purchase online. I was warmly greeted (despite its Spanish name and location within a French city, in English, which was a relief as a typical language-deficient American). I took a seat at the window for prime people-watching while dining alone. 

Menu boards inside with the WiFi password, of course!

 

The Green Detox Juice - Sol Semilla

My ordering decision was very easy because the menu is short, but my meal definitely didn't lack variety. I ordered the Dish of the Day which included about six different tasty, nicely seasoned vegan side dishes made with chickpeas, beets, potatoes, brown rice, homemade hummus, and garnished with greens and apples. I appreciated that the ingredients were all whole vegetables and grains, no processed soy products here. They had various vinegars and oil on the table to dress the dish. For a beverage I opted for a green juice and skipped the full meal option which also included a dessert, since I was already feeling full from my colorful plate. My juice was the Green Detox, apple juice mixed with chlorella, a vibrant green algae in the form of powder. 



I would visit Sol Semilla again. The food was nourishing, fresh, and reminded me of a home-cooked meal, something I was craving given my longer than usual travels in Europe. It was a bit pricey (15.50 Euros for the dish alone, plus a couple more for the juice), but I was happy to spend it given my options in this city. 

Sol Semilla

23 Rue des Vinaigriers

75010 Paris, France

Sol Semilla Website (in French)

Sol Semilla Facebook Page

Dining Out in London - Tibits

A Mix of Delicious Vegan Dishes - Tibits

I learned about Tibits from Chef Chloe Coscarelli's list of "must dine at" places in London. I was out and about on the Bank Holiday (May 4) enjoying the beautiful weather when I came across the lovely alley, known as Heddon Street with a handful of restaurants that had plentiful outdoor seating. Tidbits founded by three Swiss men is a vegetarian buffet-style restaurant that is pay-by-weight. I'll admit, this turned me off a bit before going. You might assume (like I did) when the kitchen tries to create so many dishes, 40 in total, and keeps them out for everybody to pick at, that the quality suffers. It did not, let me tell you! I enjoyed my meal so much that I cleared my large plate then went back for takeout on both dinner and desserts. I think I shocked the cashier when I downed so much food! I made sure to come back for another visit later in my trip, too.

The rare find, a vegan creamy dressing!

Tibits offers a ton of vegan and gluten-free options, everything is labeled and it seemed at least 90% of the options were vegan. You'll find a mix of hot and cold sides and entrees. Some of the highlights on my plate were the Swiss Chard Lasagna, Orcchiette Pasta with Tofu, Japanese Noodle Salad, Creamy Herb Dressing, Gnocchi, Falafel, Red Pepper Hummus. For dessert I was already thrilled to have more than one vegan option so I took a whole box home with me of Sticky Toffee Pudding, Chocolate Chai Cream, Rhubarb and Apple Crumble and Victoria Sponge Cake. I also ordered a fruit juice that sounded appealing, named Tutti Frutti, with orange, kiwi, apple, pear, banana, and sea buckthorn syrup (what's this? I didn't know either, it's an herb with many health benefits including vitamin C)!

Tutti Frutti Juice - Tibits

I could eat here almost everyday, but cost-wise, it can get expensive if you're not careful, my first plate cost about $15 USD. There is so much variety, so much to choose from, and everything I tried was delicious. Buffets can be overwhelming, so given more time I would soon discover my favorite items, until next time... or maybe a trip to Switzerland?

Tibits

12-14 Heddon Street

London, England W1B 4DA

Tibits Website

Tibits on Heddon Street in London

Dining Out in Charlotte - Luna's Living Kitchen

Rawco Taco Salad - Luna's Living Kitchen

I've been frequenting Charlotte for work recently and though I don't have much free time when I'm there, I always find time for a good vegan meal! After dining at Fern on my first visit down, I went to Luna's Living Kitchen for a solo lunch on my second trip this March. My Uber driver even asked how I found out about Luna's because he takes other out-of-towners there fairly often (must mean not everyone can handle BBQ for every meal!). It's located in Charlotte's South End District at the Atherton Mill and Market, which is a very cool industrial style shopping center with retailers, a farmer's market, and quite a bit of history to it (built in 1919). The restaurant itself is bright and airy with high ceilings and lots of seating. I liked what I saw on the menu and in the Yelp photos. It's a clean, wholesome, vegan menu with lots of raw and gluten-free options and a large juice and smoothie selection. Despite it being Charlotte, this place is not cheap; prices here were in line with NYC prices. 

My first visit was dining in and I ordered the Rawco Taco Salad. It was a huge bowl of healthy ingredients: All layered on a bed of lettuce and raw crackers was avocado, pico de gallo, walnut-almond crumbles, cashew sour cream and a delicious hot sauce, served with lime wedges. This was fresh, vibrant, colorful and had the right amount of kick to it. As I sometimes find with raw meals, the walnut-almond crumble was a little bit salty, but the creamy sauce, hot sauce, and lime balanced it out. I ordered the Grey Hulk Smoothie to go, hoping it would keep well enough for breakfast the next day. Of course I sipped it my whole ride back; it was filling and not-too-sweet, though a little bit chalky and actually grey-colored! It had berries, banana, hemp milk, spiraling  mama, and hemp protein. With the spirulina and added protein I felt I was doing my body good.

Chia Breakfast Bowl - Luna's Living Kitchen

My most recent visit was a quick one, I picked up take-out to have for breakfast and lunch. To get my energy kick I ordered the Chia Breakfast Bowl, which they just packaged in a parfait cup. This sweet tapioca-like dish had chia seeds soaked in a homemade cashew milk with vanilla bean and orange zest, topped with fresh fruit and maple syrup. It was outstanding! I loved the vanilla flavor and the creaminess of the pudding. The fruit was fresh and bursting with flavor to complement the chia seed mixture. I also requested a Matcha Latte but iced and they were able to accommodate. It was the expected matcha earthiness taste with a very creamy almond milk. I could have used a tiny bit more sweetness. 

Lunch menu items are not available until 11am so I ordered the Living Bagel to save for a later lunch. It was a raw, savory bagel made with almonds, flax, zucchini and rosemary with cashew sour cream and topped with tomato, onion, avocado, basil and sprouts, jalapeños on the side. I didn't know what to expect with a raw bagel but this was really filling. The bagel held together nicely. All the toppings made this a delicious, much better-for-you bagel sandwich I could easily eat a few days a week as a full meal. It was certainly high in fat content because of the nuts and avocado, but I felt satiated right away.

Living Bagel - Luna's Living Kitchen

Needless to say I will be returning to Luna's whenever I can make it back to Charlotte!

Luna's Living Kitchen

2000 Boulevard

Charlotte, NC 28203

Luna's Living Kitchen Website

Dining Out in Minneapolis - Ecopolitan

Raw Taco Pizza (Half Order) - Ecopolitan

After trying out the raw vegan cuisine in Chicago (at Chicago Raw) the week before, I thought why not give it a try in Minneapolis where I was for my next business trip? I found the Ecopolitan, a 100% organic raw vegan restaurant not far from my hotel so I hopped in a cab and went for lunch.

Dining Area - Ecopolitan

It was peaceful and quiet for a weekday lunch hour, which didn't surprise me as it's not very centrally located to many offices and didn't have the quick service, fast food vibe. The dining area is basic with a handful of wooden tables and chairs and it has a small area with pre-made desserts in a cooler case along with various supplements and powders for purchase. You can also just walk in for a quick juice or smoothie from this area versus sitting and waiting for service. 

I asked the waiter what the popular items were which included mainly full size entrees like Rawvioli, Mac and Cheese, and the Nachos Supreme, but knew I was going for a smaller meal and didn't want to break the bank. 

Greenway - Coconut Smoothie - Ecopolitan

I ordered the Raw Taco Pizza in the half size and started with a coconut smoothie called Greenway, made with coconut water, banana, pear, spinach, seasonal berries, and vanilla. It was thick and creamy. The flavor was refreshing and not too sweet or too "green" tasting. I would order this again and again. The Raw Taco Pizza was marked as spicy, but I first confirmed that it wasn't too hot, as I can only stand a little. It was made with macadamia-cashew cheese, lentil taco meat, tomato, bell pepper, onion, cilantro, cashew sour cream, and hot sauce. It packed a lot of bold flavors. The veggies were fresh and helped keep the saltiness down; I often taste a lot of oversalted raw foods. I liked the creaminess of the nut cheese to offset the sharp tang and kick of the lentil meat. The full size would have been too much because this was much heartier than it looked and kept me full for a while. It was a little odd that it was served with a side of raspberries, but it was a nice sweet bite to end on, and I am one who always needs a little dessert to finish a meal, out of habit sadly. 

I would dine here again to give at least one of the full entrees a try. There were many other juices and smoothies I would have liked, as well so it's worth a return visit. I probably wouldn't bring a non-vegan here unless they are very open-minded and prepared for raw food!

Ecopolitan

2409 Lyndale Ave. S.

Minneapolis, MN 55405

Ecopolitan Restaurant Website

Dining Out in New York City - Peacefood Cafe

Fluffy Quinoa Salad - Peacefood Cafe

Here is another casual restaurant that delivers on healthy, clean, vegan eating that completely satisfies the taste buds. I made my first visit this winter, trekking over from Upper East Side by taking a cold, but still lovely walk across Central Park. I dined in, though it was pretty crowded for post-lunch hour. Many people come and stand in line for quick counter service/takeout (they offer a lot of fresh juices, smoothies, and a full coffee drink menu) or you can wait for a waiter service table. While waiting you can drool over a full, tantalizing pastry case right in front. I've made it out of there without indulging, only because my meal was so filling. 

I ordered two of the most popular dishes for my lunch, the Fluffy Quinoa Salad and Chickpea Fries. I was somewhat surprised by the high prices of the "fries" but the serving size is large and the dipping sauce that comes with it is heavenly, so together it was worth it. They reminded me of a samosa despite their rectangular shape, and in fact, they are made with Indian spices. The salad was also a very generous portion. It includes baby greens, sprouts, avocado, sweet red peppers, corn, and onions. I was curious about the dressing because others commented how creamy it was. It was creamy, but yet so refreshing from the citrus - it's a lime mustard vinaigrette. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chickpea Fries - Peacefood Cafe

I returned recently with my parents which gave me the opportunity to taste test the Roasted Potatoes Pizza and Pan-Seared French Horn Mushroom Panini - both delicious, though the pizza was missing something so my Dad kept stealing my Chickpea Fries' dipping sauce to add more flavor to his slices. I did not appreciate that, but the waitress supplied us with more, thank goodness!
It's a large menu and I continue hearing about new things I want to try from various customers (like Roasted Japanese Pumpkin and Fried Seitan Medallion Panini). A co-worker told me the carrot cake is fantastic so I'm ready to test out the desserts during my next visit!

Two Locations in New York City:
Peacefood Cafe Website

Peacefood Cafe (Upper West Side)

460 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10024

&

Peacefood Cafe (Greenwich Village)

41 East 11th Street

New York, NY 10003

Dining Out in New York City - Candle 79

Wild Mushroom-Squash Risotto - Candle 79

Candle 79 is my favorite fine dining vegan establishment. It's also at the top of my list of favorite New York restaurants.  It opened in 2003 after much success of its sister restaurant Candle Café. Named by Zagat as the city's #1 vegetarian restaurant, it's also frequented by NYC's elite, including many famous vegans and non-vegans. It doesn't work for all occasions and is by no means a cheap eat, but if you're looking for an intimate, relaxing, satisfying, delicious meal, this is the place. I loved my first experience here, which was a surprise dinner reservation made by my boyfriend for my birthday last year. I had no idea where we were headed but when I saw the name as we pulled up to the restaurant I knew I was in for a fantastic meal.

Chipotle Black Bean & Squash Ravioli - Candle 79

I dined here for the second time just recently. It was also for my birthday, but this time my parents accompanied me. Neither of them are vegan, and my Dad isn't quite comfortable with the concept yet. He asked where the meat was when reading the menu, but after some guidance he picked out a dish that he thoroughly enjoyed. For a starter we went with the Chipotle Black Bean & Squash Ravioli made with whole wheat pasta, sautéed spinach, crispy capers and tomato sauce. There were two or three large raviolis stacked on the plate surrounded by sauce. We really enjoyed it! My Dad's meal was the special of the night, a BBQ Seitan served over black-eyed peas with a handful of other ingredients I can't recall. My Mom ordered the Wild Mushroom-Squash Risotto because she's a big fan of mushrooms. It was prepared with cashew cream, pumpkin seeds, fresh herbs and frizzled leeks. It was a hearty winter dish presented elegantly. I opted for one of the most popular dishes, the Seitan Piccata. The entree is a generous serving of housemade seitan with creamed spinach, grilled potato cake, oyster mushrooms and a lemon caper sauce. I was practically licking my plate! Delicious!

Seitan Piccata - Candle 79

For drinks, my parents enjoyed white wine while I had a cocktail, the Fall of Persephone, made with gin, pomegranate, lime, agave, orange blossom water, and soda. It was a cold, snowy night and this full-flavored beverage warmed me up.

Fall of Persephone Eco-Cocktail - Candle 79

For dessert I had to have the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss. They presented it beautifully with a birthday candle and berry sauce drizzle (or coulis, as the menu reads). Made with very rich chocolate, normally I don't go for such flavors and textures, but the salty, creamy peanut butter offset it perfectly. It also happens to be gluten-free, which is a nice plus. Only after devouring it, did I wonder if it was the same dessert I had enjoyed for my first visit. Clearly that means it's a winner. My parents opted for the Apple Cranberry Pie served with vanilla ice cream. They loved it.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss - Candle 79

Apple Cranberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream - Candle 79

It was the perfect outing to escape the snow, celebrate almost two years of being vegan, and my first birthday as a NYC resident. My boyfriend's mother just gave us a gift card for Candle 79 as a Christmas gift and I cannot wait for my return visit!

Candle 79

154 E 79th Street

New York, NY 10075

Candle 79 Website