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 Brooklyn - Champs Diner

Red Velvet Pancakes - Champs Diner

This place is like a glutton's heaven; it's like waking up in a vegan food dream. So be warned, it's not for the "light" eater and you better bring your appetite... and your patience, because you will need both. Champs (or Champs Family Bakery or Champs Diner, whichever you prefer) recently moved to a new location and spruced up their decor, but kept with their retro 50's diner vibe. Even on a rainy, cold Saturday morning there was a crowd outside waiting for a table and unfortunately due to the small size, the hostess wouldn't allow people to wait inside. I came here for a birthday brunch with my best friend and was willing to wait. Instead of standing in the rain, we actually made the smart choice (thinking only with our stomachs here) to swing by Dunwell Doughnuts a couple blocks away for a pre-meal vegan doughnut (yup, talk about healthy). 

I had studied the menu a few times before coming and even ordered takeout from Champs months ago. I was second guessing the fact that everything here is vegan, because it sure doesn't sound or look like it, which makes it that much more exciting! I first tried the Buffalo Chik'n Sandwich but wasn't impressed. It was a hero sandwich made with spicy buffalo chik'n, greens, tomatoes, sauteed onions, and ranch dressing. I couldn't enjoy it because it was too spicy for my taste. I was very eager to go back for a real brunch though because they are known for their breakfast foods. Some stand-outs include the Red Velvet Pancakes (photographed above), Drunken Cowgirl Tofu Scramble, French Fries with Cheese & Bacon (yes, you read that right). My friend was in the mood for more of an "egg" savory dish and went for the Get Scrambled tofu scramble with onions, peppers and ham. I made my decision based on reading the description of Country-Fried Seitan Sandwich...or maybe it was just seeing "fried" in the name. My sandwich was incredible, not something I could eat everyday or even every week, but a scrumptious unhealthy treat nonetheless. The crispy seitan cutlet was crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, smothered in creamy ranch dressing, topped with bacon and melted cheese and a few fresh veggies - lettuce and tomato - all served on Texas toast, because why not?! Man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I had to save room for our breakfast dessert so I brought half home and ate it only a couple hours later. For dessert, with hardly any room left in our stomachs (those doughnuts before our meal might have been a bad idea), we sunk our forks into a stack of Red Velvet Pancakes. I've never had the pleasure of enjoying red velvet in this way before! They were chewy, fluffy and moist, a well-made pancake indeed and served with a generous heap of heavy whipped cream with melting chocolate chips decorating the plate. 

Country-Fried Seitan Sandwich - Champs Diner

This whole meal left me saying "nom nom nom" and wanting to find a cozy warm corner to go lie down in for a while. There are just so many more things I need to try here. I will be back and I will wait in that line, because dammit it's worth it.

Get Scrambled - Champs Diner

Another shot of those beautiful red velvet pancakes

Champs Diner

197 Meserole Street

Brooklyn, NY 11206
Champs Diner 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 - 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 - 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 Portland - Veggie Grill

B-Wing Salad - Veggie Grill

Childishly, I wanted to dislike this place because it's such a great idea that I kick myself for not going out there and making it happen. Someone else had to and these guys are doing it well. In all of my dining while staying in Portland I have to admit this was one of the places I wish I had gone back to. I could have eaten here everyday! The service is quick, the menu is huge, and the one meal I had there was perfect. They are expanding rapidly with at least four more locations coming soon along the West Coast. 

My co-workers and I stopped into the downtown Portland location for a quick dinner before heading to a Trail Blazers basketball game. I had read about the B-Wing Salad in another blog post so I decided quickly that was what I'd try. The staff was very friendly and there is a higher level of service here than at your typical fast food joint. They bring your order to your table, check on you while you're eating, and clear your table when you're done. 

B-Wing Salad - Veggie Grill

My meal was fantastic. It was a huge serving so I couldn't finish it all, but I came pretty close! I haven't had a salad like this since before I was vegan. It is served with Gardein buffalo wings, chopped romaine lettuce, avocado, celery, roasted corn salsa and creamy ranch dressing. The colors even match their logo! The buffalo "chicken" wings were extremely close to the real thing (also noted by my non-vegan co-worker) and the creamy dressing was amazing. I'm not a fan of celery so I would ask for less next time, but it's to be expected with buffalo chicken; I can't knock them for it. My co-worker tried the Cauli-Mashed Potatoes and Gravy side dish. Another dish that is rarely served vegan, but still tasted good and fairly close to the real thing. It was prepared with cauliflower blended with mashed potatoes, porcini mushroom gravy, and fresh rosemary. It wouldn't have been my first pick, but that's because I also had my heart set on trying the Mac-n-Cheese. 

Cauli-Mashed Potatoes & Gravy - Veggie Grill

This is what I would consider vegan junk food based on the soy-heavy products, but they do offer soy-free and gluten-free options on their menu. I didn't have a chance to try any of their desserts, but just reading the description on the menu for the Grilled Cookie left me with a strong craving. 

I can't wait to go west again and try more of the menu!

Veggie Grill

508 SW Taylor Street

Portland, OR 97204

Check out their website for a full list of locations and others coming soon!

Dining Out in San Francisco - The Plant Cafe Organic

Plant Burger with Mixed Greens - The Plant Cafe Organic  

During my first trip to the West Coast I had a layover in San Francisco, a city I've always wanted to visit. While I only saw the airport this time around, I was excited when I stepped off the plane and saw a vegan-friendly restaurant in my terminal (hint: fly Virgin America to get access to this gem). 

I power-walked my way up to the counter at The Plant Cafe Organic and upon seeing "Awarded 1 of 10 Best Burgers in San Francisco" I decided I would give the Plant Burger a try. Though tempted by the vegan cupcakes and cookies, I started with a real meal. It is a house-made burger with lentils, mushrooms, beets, cashews, and bulgar wheat served on a sourdough bun with lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and aioli. It comes with a side of mixed greens and a citrus dressing. The burger was like comfort food, filling, tasty and a little bit of an indulgence. Any time there is a creamy dressing or sauce on my vegan food it's a treat. The burger patty even looked like a rare meat burger from the red beet coloring, which is gross in a way but also amusing :) 

After waiting around some more and fully digesting, I went back for a smoothie to take on the plane. I got the Blue Green smoothie. It interested me because of the spirulina. I often feel the need to overdose on vitamins and nutrients when traveling to avoid getting sick. Spirulina is a green superfood loaded with protein, amino acids, and iron and is found in tropical lakes (think algae). I had a smoothie that looked similar to this years ago from Whole Foods. This one contained bananas, blueberries, almond milk, coconut milk and spirulina. It was the right amount of sweetness and the combined fruits worked well together. 

They also offer a number of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, along with a longer list of vegan-friendly entrees and baked goods. With a growing number of locations throughout San Francisco, I would say this place is doing pretty well. I applaud them for offering travelers a healthy option - it was certainly my first encounter with truly delicious vegan options in an airport.

Blue Green Smoothie - The Plant Cafe Organic

Toasted Coconut Cupcakes - The Plant Cafe Organic

The Plant Cafe Organic

Terminal 2

San Francisco Airport (SFO), CA 94128

The Plant Cafe Website

Other Locations: 

Strawberry Village Shopping Center 

800 Redwood Hwy, Suite 810

Strawberry, CA 94941

3352 Steiner Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

101 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Suite 108, Pier 3, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111

1395 Burlingame Avenue

Burlingame, CA 94010