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 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 - 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 Chicago - LYFE Kitchen

Art's Unfried Chick'n - LYFE Kitchen

I visited Chicago on a last minute trip for work this month and unlike my usual trips, for work or pleasure, I tend to research vegan spots beforehand. I didn't have much time to plan for this one, but I still found a couple places I was interested in mainly for the convenience of where I was for the evening. LYFE Kitchen happened to be next to the bar I was going to and although I could have and did have enough appetizers to count as dinner, I still walked over after for a full vegan meal. The interior of LYFE - Love Your Food Everday - is modern, trendy, and clean. It's quick and casual dining, but you can certainly sit and enjoy your meal here and pick from vegan, gluten-free or non-vegan menu items, which span from smoothies, salads, breakfast entrees, vegetable sides, desserts and a kid's menu. I didn't realize until later that this restaurant is a chain with additional locations in Texas, Colorado, and California. It's not an all-vegan eatery, but reminds me of Veggie Grill from the coloring of it's logo and menu to it's use of Gardein and Daiya to turn things vegan while maintaining the flavor.

*Pardon the photos on this post - Had to use my iPhone to get these shots!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie - LYFE Kitchen

Going off of Yelp reviews, as I usually do, I ordered Art's Unfried Chicken (or Chick'n for vegans) served with roasted brussels sprouts, butternut squash and dried cranberries served with a cashew cream dijon vinaigrette. I really enjoyed this dish. The breaded Gardein patty was crispy and yummy and the sauce served with it was amazing.

When presented with the option, I have to get dessert, so I brought home a chocolate chip cookie. It was hands down the best vegan chocolate chip I've ever had. Even after two years of knowing vegan food can be as good, if not better than non-vegan versions, I questioned if it was really vegan because of how buttery it tasted. Thankfully all of the desserts listed on the menu were vegan. 

A pro and con of their menu is that they list out calorie count and sodium - I appreciate it for the most part, but sometimes ignorance makes the food taste better! They have an eco-friendly focus and the interior space even looks and feels that way. For takeout, the food was packaged in compostable containers. They also offer catering and the option to order online.

If there was a LYFE Kitchen near me in New York City I would frequent it. The prices were very reasonable and the food seemed healthier than some vegan fast food spots in city. 

LYFE Kitchen

413 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60654

LYFE Kitchen 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 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