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 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 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 Out in New York City - Two Boots Pizza

V for Vegan Pizza - Two Boots

This could really be titled a "Dining In" post, because I ordered delivery, something I haven't done since college! You'd think living in NYC means I can walk outside and find a meal within a few blocks, and while that is true when the temperature drops and you have websites like Seamless it's so tempting to just order online and never leave your building! 

A pizza craving hit me this weekend and I needed to satisfy it so I checked off one of the places I learned about from another vegan blogger. In what some might consider the pizza capital of the world, second of course to Italy, I had high hopes of finding delicious pizza here even with the added challenge of being vegan-friendly. I now have a decent list to work through, and Two Boots was first. They have multiple locations throughout NYC and beyond, like Baltimore, LA, and Jersey City. It's easy to order online and they are open until 4:30am on weekends and 2am on Thursdays. That spells trouble!


I loved that it was simple to spot my vegan options on the menu at Two Boots. There are two speciality vegan pizzas (Earth Mother and V for Vegan) and a make-your-own option. I opted for the V for Vegan Pizza with whole wheat crust topped with a generous helping of Daiya dairy-free cheese, artichokes, red onions, shiitake mushrooms, basil pesto and red pepper pesto. It packed more flavor than a lot of the non-vegan pizzas I've had! It's also nice to look at with all the veggies and stripes of pesto giving it extra color. 

The small size was plenty for me. I had to control myself and not eat the whole thing. For leftovers, it's great cold, but got a little soggy when reheated in the microwave with all the cheese and veggies layered on, so I recommend reheating in the oven. I have a feeling you could convince a non-vegan to try this pie and get a positive response!

Two Boots

Multiple Locations Throughout New York City

Two Boots Website

Dining Out in Portland - Sizzle Pie

Spiral Tap & New Maps Out of Hell Vegan Pizza - Sizzle Pie

Spiral Tap Vegan Pizza - Sizzle Pie

Although New York City is known for its pizza I haven't had a delicious slice of vegan pie...yet. I admit it is for a lack of trying, so I will be on the hunt and hope to find one soon. While I was in Portland, Sizzle Pie came up in my restaurant research for having fantastic pizza both non-vegan and vegan. The option for vegan pizza wasn't just a plain pie with some Daiya cheese thrown on top as a substitute. They offered a well thought-out, creative and generous menu of vegan pizzas with amusing names. If that isn't enough they also have a "Create Your Own" menu with a full list of vegan toppings, including vegan pepperoni, seitan italian sausage, and something called "buffalo jackfruit."

My co-workers and I stopped in after going to a Trail Blazers game (and after we had had our first dinner at Veggie Grill earlier that night). They stay open late, 3am on weekdays. Somehow I found my appetite again when I smelled the heavenly pizza aroma from the street. I was even more excited to see they had two vegan pizzas available for slices, so 1) I didn't need to wait for an entire pizza to cook 2) I could try more than one variety. Even better, they didn't just offer the option of one massive slice, you could get what they called a "cut" for only a $1.75, depending on the pizza. That's a smart idea. All of their pizzas seem to be thin crust, which I prefer.


 I ordered a full slice of Spiral Tap, the more traditional though still very unique choice of the two vegan pizzas. It resembled a craft project with swirled purple and red sauces. Made with creamy caramelized onion spread, marinara sauce, and a sprinkling of nutritional yeast, I really enjoyed this one, however it was a little too sweet to have for a full meal. I immediately wished I had ordered a full slice of the second choice, New Maps Out of Hell; it was perfection! This one had a creamy basil cashew spread (more like pesto in this case), seasoned soy curls (a popular item in these parts), and your choice of three veggies, as presented on the menu. That night the additions were roasted garlic, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts. I am not a fan of olives, but I hardly minded them with this combination of flavors. No cheese substitute necessary, I wouldn't change a thing. 

 

I thought about going back to Sizzle Pie many times while in Portland, but there just wasn't enough time or room in my stomach to allow for it. I give this place two thumbs up and hope to find comparable pizza near me.

926 W. Burnside Street

Portland, OR 97205

Sizzle Pie Website

Dining In - American Flatbread Vegan Harvest Pizza

Vegan Harvest Pizza - American Flatbread

I picked up this frozen pizza at Organic Basic Food in Hoboken, NJ, but I'm sure they are available in other grocery stores (in fact, here is the American Flatbread Product Locator so you can check it out yourself). I wanted something quick, but still tasty and a little bit indulgent and while I didn't plan to eat the entire pizza... I did. Indulgent? Check! This pizza reminded me of Naked Pizza (which sadly seem to be closing quite rapidly, including the two Boston locations). It had a nice thin crust, tomato sauce, seasonings, and a generous amount of Daiya cheese.

This was very easy to prepare. All you have to do is preheat the oven to 425 degrees and put the pizza on the rack (no pan needed) for about 6-8 minutes until crispy. It's a thin crust so it will crisp up, which I loved since the frozen pizzas I remember had thicker crusts that were soft or soggy when done. Try not to eat the whole thing like I mistakenly did, but do know that if that happens, stay calm. Here's the overall damage - 520 calories and 18g fat, not good, but not awful for a whole pizza. 

Check out the American Flatbread website for more details on this vegan-friendly variety!

Dining Out in Boston - Veggie Planet

Peanut Curry with Coconut Rice - Veggie Planet

Sister restaurant to Veggie Galaxy in Central Square, Veggie Planet is best known for having a now 50 year old folk music club called Club Passim within the restaurant - the main dining area converts into a setting for live music. It's located in Harvard Square on a small side street, almost like an alley. I haven't actually eaten at the restaurant, but I have gotten takeout here twice. The takeout process is a bit awkward because you sort of feel like you're waiting in the kitchen when you checkout. The space is pretty small, but I have not ventured into the main dining area. Both times I ordered the same delicious dish! It was the Peanut Curry with Coconut Rice that comes with fried tofu cubes, roasted peanuts, steamed broccoli, and Thai peanut curry sauce, all over yummy, sticky coconut rice. My non-vegan boyfriend also got the same dish twice - creatures of habit! - The Mexican Bean served with black bean puree, pepperjack cheese, salsa, and fried garlic over brown rice. This can be turned into a vegan meal by substituting the cheese for Daiya cheese. 

Their menu consists of all vegetarian dishes, you won't find any meat here. Most of the items can be made vegan if they are not already. You can choose between a small or large portion size. I found the large size worked well for a full second meal from the leftovers. The variety of entrees are featured as either pizzas or rice dishes (coconut or brown rice). We've only tried them as rice dishes, but I imagine pizza with these unique toppings would be great, as well. They also offer soups, salads and veg-friendly desserts like Taza Fudge Brownie or Cookies.

I will most likely continue to order takeout here, unless of course we decide to come listen to a band play. I'm eager to try some of the other dishes, especially a slice of the Cake of the Night, since Veggie Galaxy was one of the very generous donors who provided two amazing cakes for my Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale in April!

Veggie Planet in Harvard Square

Veggie Planet

47 Palmer Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

Veggie Planet Website

Dining Out in Boston - OTTO Pizza

Roasted Tomato & Basil Pizza - OTTO Pizza

OTTO is a gourmet pizza chain quickly gaining popularity in the Boston area. Originally founded in 2009 in Portland, Maine there are now three locations in Boston. They feature a thin, delicious, and vegan-friendly crust that can be topped with a large variety of things, that includes a menu with over 20 interesting pizzas. Some of the most requested are those that are a bit unusual, and unfortunately not vegan, like mashed potato, bacon, and scallion pizza, or the three-cheese tortellini pizza (yes, that means pasta served on top of pizza!). They also offer gluten-free crust, but unfortunately it is not vegan-friendly because it contains eggs.

Roasted Tomato & Basil Pizza - OTTO Pizza

When they first opened it seemed like the staff was not consistently trained on what to offer vegans, but now they seem to have a good handle on it. Amongst their wide variety of vegetable toppings there are a few that are not okay for vegans, just be sure to ask. Here's what I've tried in the past - Roasted Tomato & Basil with red sauce (#16 without Ricotta), Zucchini, Summer Squash & Spinach (ordered once with red sauce, once without sauce). I preferred the latter, it tasted fresh and was a unique topping combo for a pizza. I liked it without any sauce because the sweet flavors of the veggies came through. A small pizza makes for a good meal, with a couple of leftover slices (..maybe).

Zucchini, Summer Squash & Spinach Pizza - OTTO Pizza

OTTO Pizza

289 Harvard Street

Brookline, MA 02446

OTTO Pizza Website

OTTO Pizza

888 Commonwealth Ave

Boston, MA  02215

OTTO Pizza

1432 Massachusetts Ave

Cambridge, MA 02138