Dining Out in New York City - by CHLOE.

Now this is a "Happy Meal" - by CHLOE

Given my fondness for and success with Chloe Coscarelli's recipes, it's no surprise that I was anxiously awaiting the launch of her all-vegan NYC restaurant by CHLOE. I suspected this might be coming with her efforts to grow her brand by appearing on the Today Show and keeping an active social channel going (Instagram: @bychefchloe, @chefchloe) where she shared updates along the way; this was a smart move, building loyalty before opening. The location is another smart move, near the W 4th Street subway stop and right by NYU, where students can grab vegan grub until 12am most nights. The creative direction and branding is just like her, refreshing, adorable and easily likable! 

Interior Design, Complete with Wicker Chair Swings (on the other side) - by CHLOE

Love all the packaging!

I saw the announcement just yesterday that her restaurant was having its grand opening on Tuesday, July 28th and I excitedly told my boyfriend exactly what we'd be doing for dinner the next day. He's enjoyed many Chloe cookbook recipes and was happy to take me! We showed up around 7:30pm and a large, but well managed line was there. They were giving away free cookies all day and even free burgers to the first 50 customers. The website only launched today with a posting of their menu, so I scrambled to make a very hard decision. In line, Chloe herself came around with free samples of a Peanut Butter Cacao Smoothie and a Kale Smoothie. Both were very yummy! I didn't hold back and asked to take a picture with her, she is so sweet! 

Now for our taste testing in the form of a large meal: I ordered the Kale Caesar Salad, as is, with shiitake bacon, avocado, almond parmesan, maple-wheat croutons, capers, grape tomatoes, and Caesar dressing. I hate to criticize my first choice, but this was just too salty for me to order again. I finished it, of course and thought the ingredients themselves were great, but it seemed like each one got salted separately and then tossed together. Along with it, I had a small order of Mac N' Cheese, which was creamy and delicious with a slight kick of smokey spice. The sauce coating the shells was a sweet potato cheese and it was topped with another dose of crunchy shiitake bacon. 

Mac N' Cheese - by CHLOE

The Classic Burger - by CHLOE 

My non-vegan boyfriend got The Classic Burger with Air Baked French Fries. The Classic Burger is built off a super hearty patty with tempeh, lentil, chia and walnut, topped with pickles, onion, beet ketchup and served on a potato bun. I had one bite and said without much experience myself, "tastes like a real burger!" My boyfriend didn't want to share, which is a good sign. His major complaint with vegan burgers is the mistake of serving a mushy veggie-based burger on tough, dry bread so the whole thing falls apart in your hands - this burger had a soft bun and it held it all together. The fries were also very tasty and you'd have no idea they weren't actually "fried." The Beet Ketchup was hot pink and sweet, a nice upgrade. The Special Sauce was light orange and likely a cashew cream base, it was a little bland and I would have preferred more of a mayo or vegannaise flavor. 

 

Chlostess Cupcake - by CHLOE

Dessert was another full course! For my free cookie, I got the Cinnamon Espresso Cookie, compared to my experience making these from her cookbook hers were much thinner and crisp, not moist. I really liked it, its got a slight overbaked taste, but in a good way that complements the espresso flavor. My boyfriend bought for himself (thinking he wouldn't have to share!) a big square of the Banana Bread and a Chlostess Cupcake (previous blog post here). He really enjoyed the Banana Bread, stuffed with chocolate chips and walnuts. As for the Chlostess Cupcake, this was super chocolatey and velvetly smooth and rich. 

Cinnamon Espresso Cookie - by CHLOE

These Look Familiar! The Many Dessert Options - by CHLOE

The menu is lengthy, especially considering this is a brand new restaurant, so that means I will be making many return trips. Chloe is a doll and was a pleasure to talk to, so it makes it a no brainer to support her in her business endeavor! Good luck :)

by CHLOE.

185 Bleecker Street

New York, NY 10012

by Chloe Website

by CHLOE from the Outside

Dining Out in New York City - Cafe Gitane

Avocado Toast - Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Chili Flakes - Cafe Gitane

My favorite vegan chef, Chloe Coscarelli inspired me to dine at Cafe Gitane, with two locations on Jane Street and Mott Street, I visited Mott Street in Nolita. It's a buzzing cafe with a European feel.

It's not the type of place where you feel overly welcomed as a guest, at least for me. In fact, I sometimes felt like I was inconveniencing our waiter just being there, but when you reach a certain level of popularity I guess it just doesn't seem necessary to treat your patrons like valued customers. It also could have been that I wasn't the model or celebrity they may be used to for diners. We grabbed aggressively stalked a seat at the bar, because the wait for a table was 45 minutes. Be warned it's small and often crowded, especially during brunch hours. Our bar stools were actually great because we had an up-close and personal view of the cooks at work preparing beautiful lattes and gourmet food. 

Moroccan Couscous - Cafe Gitane

I knew immediately I'd be ordering their famed Avocado Toast, but chose to be kind and split this with my boyfriend. The seven-grain toast is covered edge to edge with mashed avocado then doused in lemon juice and olive oil with a generous sprinkling of chili flakes. I liked it, but I've got to be honest, I've made a better version at home. I like when the toast is crunchy and this was softer with a heavier lemon flavor. Sharing left me with enough room to test another other vegan-friendly dish, the Moroccan Couscous, which definitely was not a sample size. This heaping tower of couscous is a work of art, speckled with color from the red peppers, raisins, toasted pine nuts, potatoes, and topped with hummus and eggplant. It's served with a vibrant green oil and two small pieces of bread with more red peppers. For $14 you get a full meal. I loved this. It was hearty, filling, flavorful, creamy, nutty, and fresh-tasting. I took home half of it, but ate that later in the day. In addition to my meal I got a Latte, but was disappointed to find they only serve soy milk, for some reason I figured almond milk would be in their supply. It was still great quality coffee. 
My boyfriend got the Baked Eggs Sandwich and thought it was pretty darn good. We would come back, but not during peak hours.

Tip: CASH ONLY

Cafe Gitane

242 Mott Street

New York, NY 10012

Cafe Gitane Website

Latte with Soy Milk - Cafe Gitane

Dining Out in New York City - Beyond Sushi

Spicy Mang & Sweet Tree Rolls - Beyond Sushi

It took me so long to try this delicious all-vegan sushi spot, with locations throughout New York City. I went for dinner on a weeknight with my non-vegan friend who I know is open-minded and willing to try new restaurants! My hesitation with going before wasn't about the food, although going to an all-vegan sushi restaurant would deter me from inviting a number of my friends to join me, but I delayed going because it's a very casual almost counter-service only setup, so unfortunately you can't make much of a dining-out experience with it. 

What really sets this place apart is the creative and colorful menu that truly highlights vegetables in all their glory. The servings are huge and very reasonably priced. It's true you're not paying for fish, but you do get a specialty roll with eight pieces that would normally cost more than $10 at a traditional sushi place. You can and should take a peek at their menu online with high quality, gorgeous photography of each item. They also offer veggie bowls, salads, fresh wraps, juices, and premade desserts. You can order combo meals as well to pick and choose rolls, individual pieces, and wraps. 

Spicy Mang Roll - Beyond Sushi

I ordered the most popular Spicy Mang Roll, with black rice, avocado, mango, cucumber, spicy veggies and a toasted cayenne sauce and the Sweet Tree Roll with six-grain rice, avocado, sweet potato, alfafa sprouts and the same toasted cayenne sauce. Both rolls were delicious! I loved the creamy dressing on top, especially paired with the Spicy Mang Roll, because it did have a medium level of spice that hits you after your first bite. I also was a big fan of the unique whole grain rices that brought a richer, nuttier flavor than the typical sushi rice. I would have liked more fresh ginger on the side, but I'm sure I could have gotten that if I asked! :) I would order both again and two rolls was more than enough for a meal.

Roll of the Month - Beyond Sushi

To get the most out of my first visit I also tried the Roll of the Month which had black rice, braised saffron-infused pigeon peas, sweet pea and mint sauce, topped with chopped walnuts. This was a larger, single piece so I had to take one big bite to eat it all at once. It was good, but I preferred the bright flavors of my other rolls. Finally, because I was getting over a cold I added on a premade juice from their cooler, the Orange Coconut Juice. I enjoyed it, but it was a little watery, and not very sweet. My friend ordered the Strawberry Kiwi Yuzu Juice and enjoyed it more. She also got the Nutty Buddy Wrap instead of an individual roll, but after two full rolls she was too full to try it and brought it home!

Orange Coconut Juice - Beyond Sushi

Nutty Buddy Wrap - Beyond Sushi

Though I loved the food, the major flaw to the Beyond Sushi chain of restaurants is lack of seating. They present such elegant, beautiful dishes you'd expect the dining environment to match that, but sadly you're left fighting over table space with only three high-tops and end up elbow-to-elbow with strangers. Seems a waste to do takeout, but I guess that is the better option. I will be enjoying their food in the future, but likely as delivery, takeout, or an office catering order.

Beyond Sushi

229 East 14th Street

New York, NY 10003

Beyond Sushi Website

Union Square Location

Dining Out in New York City - Seasoned Vegan

Lemon Crusted Chicken Nuggets - Seasoned Vegan

First off, sorry for the lame iPhone photos on this post. Sadly I didn't come prepared with my camera for this meal and the dim restaurant lighting didn't help. I'd been wanting to try this vegan restaurant for a while, although it's still fairy new. It required a subway trip to upper Manhattan and a dining buddy that would be up for the adventure. It's conveniently located next to Central Park North (110 St.) stop off the 2 or 3 subway line in Harlem. Though it was a frigid evening, upon walking in I felt a warm, welcoming vibe in this family-oriented restaurant. Bring your appetite and forget the diet when you come to dine here! The cuisine ranges from New Orleans inspired and Southern comfort food to raw dishes. If you were a fan of fish before going vegan this menu has a number of vegan seafood options for you.

Stuffed Avocado - Seasoned Vegan

I read on Yelp reviews that they sometimes run out of menu items throughout the day, which is a bummer. Hopefully they'll get more organized with time. On this occasion they were all out of the Po' Boy Wrap which was a dish I was hoping to try. Instead we ordered a nice variety of things to split: Chicken Parmesan Wrap, Baked Mac & Cheese, Stuffed Avocado, and Lemon Crusted Chicken Nuggets. The Chicken Parmesan Wrap had a bread-crust coated soy chicken patty with lots of gooey, melted vegan mozzarella and a nice tangy marinara sauce rolled up into a grilled tortilla. This was delish! I haven't had too many vegan chicken parms, but I could indulge in this one again and again.  The Baked Mac & Cheese was so smooth and creamy. It was well seasoned, but didn't have a very cheesy taste. I enjoyed it a lot, but be warned it's a tad on the greasy, buttery side. The Stuffed Avocado was so incredibly filling that it could have been my whole meal. It's a whole avocado split open and filled with a seasoned almond "meat" topped with pico de gallo and a cashew cheese, all served over a bed of mixed greens. This gluten-free dish was the most natural and "green" of the bunch, but still loaded with fat (the good kinds) so I was appreciative that I was splitting it.  Lastly we tried the Lemon Crusted Chicken Nuggets, one of their most popular dishes, and it did not disappoint. The nuggets were coated in loads of bread crumbs for a super crispy outside and served with two sauces, one was more like a BBQ sauce called Uptown Tangy and the other, a creamy one I could drink it was so divine, called Jiggy's Harlem Renaissauce. The soy nugget itself was chewy and resembled chicken.

Baked Mac & Cheese - Seasoned Vegan

Chicken Parmesan Wrap - Seasoned Vegan

My full plate of delicious, filling vegan food!

Overall this meal rocked! We walked out stuffed and happy with every taste bud dancing and without much of dent in our wallets. My non-vegan friend thoroughly enjoyed her meal, which is important in my book and a great sign of how well prepared the food was! Worth the trip for sure.

Seasoned Vegan

55 Saint Nicholas Avenue

New York, NY 10026

Seasoned Vegan Website

Dining Out in New York City - H&H Midtown Bagels East

Whole Wheat Everything Bagel with Tofutti Scallion Cream Cheese
H&H Midtown Bagels East

The Array of Bagels - All Vegan (Except for Egg)
H&H Midtown Bagels East

I have a love-hate relationship with bagels. They have become the all too common and too readily available breakfast food in the office. People usually get excited for bagel mornings, but I'm always conflicted. To me they are a useless food - high in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, sometimes sugar, and relatively low in fiber and other nutrients. They rarely fill me up to the point that it's a satisfying meal, but they are tasty, especially smothered in a creamy spread or peanut butter.

As abundant and delicious as they are in New York City, it's a danger zone. I knew I had to try a few to see what all the fuss was about. Based on reviews online I gave H&H a shot and it lives up to the hype. I've since brought my boyfriend, friends and family there, who have all enjoyed them with the traditional dairy cream cheese and lox toppings. It's common to see a long line here, always a good sign, but no less annoying. Thankfully it moves fast. They have multiple cashiers and men working to fix you your bagel one after another. You can even order online for catering and ship them nationwide. In addition to bagels the store sells some prepared side dishes and baked goods, none of which are vegan unfortunately. 

For vegan options, all bagels are vegan-friendly except for egg. I've even tried the mini bagel for fewer calories, but they didn't have any wheat options sadly, so I had the mini Sesame - still great! The cream cheese alternatives are Tofutti Plain, Scallion, and Vegetable, and peanut butter. As bagels can be bland (especially plain with plain cream cheese!), a more flavorful and savory combo that I like to order is a toasted Whole Wheat Everything Bagel with Scallion Tofutti cream cheese. Yum yum yum... until the guilt sets in :) Every once in a while it's worth it, and H&H is the place to get your bagel fix.

H&H Midtown Bagels*

1551 2nd Avenue
(between 80th & 81st St)

New York, NY 10028

H&H Midtown Bagels Website

*Not in Midtown! Location is in Upper East Side

Dining Out in New York City - Candle Café

Cajun Seitan Sandwich - Candle Café

Author's Note: I'm sadly writing a review that is not glowing. I realize it's pretty rare on this blog so I consider myself lucky for so frequently finding delicious food. I always share my true opinion of the food and restaurants I try, so here it goes...

I had high expectations for Candle Café since its fine dining sister restaurant Candle 79 has such fabulous cuisine and a warm atmosphere, but it didn't quite meet them. For my first visit, I ordered my lunch as takeout and sat at the bar to wait. I usually don't comment on or factor in the clientele to my reviews, but something about the customers here irks me. They are slightly pretentious and give off the "old money" vibe, which makes sense because my biggest issue with Candle Café is their prices. I was expecting more casual dining and more affordable options vs. the upscale Candle 79, but they are too similar. 

  

Seitan Chimichurri - Candle Café

As for the food, my first meal was mediocre, but I gave it another chance. The first time around I ordered the Seitan Chimichurri Skewers and a side of Mac & Cheese because I was craving comfort food. The seitan was marinated with an herb-citrus sauce. It was a lot more rubbery than I had expected and because it was served with just sauce and nothing else, it was a little boring. The Mac & Cheese was bland and lacked even a fake cheese flavor that you'd expect from its name. It too was a little boring, but I did enjoy how creamy it was. 

Side of Mac & Cheese - Candle Café

The second meal I had here was much better after choosing a menu option that has a lot of fans on Yelp...but it was still a sandwich for $17! I ordered the Cajun Seitan Sandwich, which was focaccia toasted and served with crusted seitan, steamed greens, caramelized onions, and avocado, with a generous supply of chili aioli and served with a side of coleslaw. I could eat this again and again. The seitan had the right texture for a sandwich and was very flavorful. 

Leftovers - Must Savor Every Bite!

I will undoubtedly go back to Candle Café to try more dishes because the quality of food really is great. I will just have to go less often so I don't empty out my wallet!

Candle Café - Upper East Side

1307 3rd Avenue (between 74th & 75th St)

New York, NY

Candle Cafe Website

Dining Out in New York City - Angelica Kitchen

Wee Dragon Bowl - Angelica Kitchen

Angelica Kitchen, located in the East Village, has a long history of serving vegan food. It was established in 1976! They pride themselves on being very eco-friendly, using fairly traded goods and supporting small, local businesses and non-profits. The menu is part-American, part-Asian inspired with everything from cornbread, soups, salads, dips, sandwiches, seitan and tempeh entrees, and rice bowls, to desserts. They don't take reservations so try to go during off-peak hours for the best experience.

Special Warm Appetizer People's Polenta

To begin the meal we went with my boyfriend's pick - People's Polenta, a dish consisting of three polenta balls with diced vegetables, basil-walnut pesto, chile de arbol – guajillo chili tofu cream, avocado and marinated kale. Proceeds of the dish go to charity. This was a great start to the meal; it was enough to please the palate and not too filling or heavily flavored. 

For my meal, I chose the healthiest, though less adventurous, route of a Dragon Bowl and even went with the Wee Dragon to save room for dessert. The Dragon Bowl was almost exactly the same as the Macro Plate that I enjoyed at Souen, a simple clean dish with brown rice, black beans, sea vegetables, and steamed vegetables like green beans, carrots, cauliflower. For the dressing I chose Brown Rice Gravy, but would have preferred a sweeter one like Creamy Carrot. That would have really made this identical to my meal at Souen. I was a little envious of my boyfriend's meal, the Olé Man Seitan a large burrito filled with homemade seitan and roasted vegetables mixed with a spicy chocolate mole sauce, and topped with lime-jalapeño tofu sour cream and pimento. It had so much flavor and the serving size was huge, a great pick for my non-vegan.

Olé Man Seitan - Angelica Kitchen

Pineapple Coconut Layer Cake - Angelica Kitchen

With some room leftover, we ordered a dessert to share. The Pineapple Coconut Layer Cake appealed to both of us and it did not disappoint. It's a spelt flour cake with a pineapple filling and coconut frosting. The cake was very moist and the frosting was not nearly as sweet as most vegan baked goods I've had, including recipes I've made. This wasn't a bad thing, as the pineapple filling was plenty sweet.

Overall it was such a bright and colorful meal, it didn't just taste healthy it looked healthy, too. To keep with a more wholesome vegan diet, I would happily dine here again!

Angelica Kitchen

300 East 12th Street

New York, NY 10003

Angelica Kitchen Website