Dining Out in New York City - 'sNice

Curried Cauliflower Wrap - 'sNice

This artsy, hipster cafe that feels more like a relaxed coffee shop, devotes a majority of its menu to vegan food. The menu includes a variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads, baked goods, and coffee. Though the staff isn't overly friendly, I found it to be an otherwise pleasant dining experience. This is a good spot if you're looking for a more laid back, quiet atmosphere to grab a cup of coffee and a delicious vegan meal. It's like a Starbucks (I'm sure they would hate to hear that) in that a number of people had "set up camp" with their laptops at the larger communal tables. 

Smoked Tempeh Wrap - 'sNice

When I went to the West Village location for the first time, I ordered a wrap to go - the Smoked Tempeh Wrap. It's a favorite on Yelp and I agree with the positive comments. With a generous portion size you get smoked tempeh, with avocado, mixed greens, cilantro, tomatoes, and a spicy, creamy chipotle dressing (which I didn't find to be that spicy) bundled up in a whole wheat wrap. I wolfed this down in a matter of minutes! I loved the hearty, filling tempeh and the creamy dressing and avocado worked well to compliment the spice. When you dine in they serve the wraps with a small side salad and dressing, which is a nice touch. I went back with my friend a few days later. We ordered the Curried Cauliflower Wrap with chickpeas, brown rice and mango chutney and the Bueno Burrito Wrap with black beans, rice, avocado, tomatoes, salsa verde, and salsa rojo. My friend enjoyed the Bueno Burrito, but commented that it was pretty darn spicy. The Curried Cauliflower had great, fresh flavor while still being mild. Again, you get a large serving so it will definitely fill you up. I've heard good things about the vegan baked goods, but haven't tried them yet. I'm sure it won't take me long! I'm also excited to try a few other vegan entrees on the menu - the Meatball Sub with vegan cheese, and the Vegan Panini with smoked tofu. 

Bueno Burrito - 'sNice

'sNice has 3 locations throughout the city

'sNice Website

'sNice

45 8th Avenue

New York, NY 10014

150 Sullivan Street

New York, NY 10012

315 5th Avenue (at 3rd Street)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Dining Out in New York City - Blossom Du Jour

Un-Chicken Avocado Griller - Blossom Du Jour

Midtown Melt - Blossom Du Jour

Blossom Bean Burger - Blossom Du Jour

I came here the day I officially moved to the city, in the midst of running around looking at apartments with my boyfriend. We were starving and needed a quick bite - this is a great spot for that since it's small, with minimal bar stool seating, but quick. I've been to the original Blossom Restaurant, which is a fine dining experience, but having just as delicious vegan fast food at your fingertips is so refreshing coming from a city where you have to search high and low for a good vegan meal! No offense, Boston.

I asked the staff for a recommendation and they suggested the Midtown Melt, which seemed to be a popular choice since the other customers who ordered after me got the same thing. My boyfriend went for the Blossom Bean Burger.

I loved my sandwich - Midtown Melt is made with Cajun spiced seitan, vegan cheese, agave guacamole, lettuce, and chipotle alioli served on a focaccia-style square bread. The Blossom Bean Burger is a house-made burger with tomato, guacamole, and lettuce. 

I enjoyed my meal so much I went back for more the next day, and ordered another staff suggestion - the Un-Chicken Avocado Griller. This one was equally as tasty. It was served cold vs. hot like the Midtown Melt. It comes with grilled rosemary lemon mock chicken, avocado, vegan pesto mayo, and lettuce, on the same bread as the Midtown Melt. 

The sandwiches are on the pricier end for what they're calling "shrewd fast food" so I won't be visiting everyday, but it's nice to know there are quality vegan sandwiches located throughout the city. If you're in a rush you can pick up pre-made wraps, side dishes and salads from the cooler. They also sell their own juices. 

Blossom Du Jour (BDJ, for short) Locations
BDJ Website

BDJ Chelsea (Flagship Location)

259 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011

BDJ Midtown West
617 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10036

BDJ Upper West Side
165 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10023

Dining Out in New York City - The Cinnamon Snail

Maple Mustard Tempeh Sandwich - The Cinnamon Snail

The Cinnamon Snail Menu

Cinnamon Snail, I'm so glad I found you! I hunted you down (no vegan pun intended) on 48th Street & 6th Avenue and was immediately delighted by the glass display of vegan pastries, quoting their website, "Our donuts and pastries are too many and change too often to mention here. Swing by the truck to be strait up baffled by the overwhelming tidal wave of vegan pastries in front of you!" I then saw the full and varied menu offering breakfast items from burritos to pancakes, and a generous list of sandwiches, burgers, and beverages. I was lucky to come by on a day that the truck had almost no line, because I've heard quite the crowd forms during lunch hour. My food was ready quicker than I expected.

Vegan Donuts & Pastries - Cinnamon Snail

For lunch I ordered the Yelp fan favorite Maple Mustard Tempeh Sandwich, served with kale, onion, tomato, and garlic alioli. The sandwich was delicious and filling, a meal I would order again. I do wish it was served differently though. It was packed with fillings and started to fall apart between the thin slices of untoasted bread. Serving this as a wrap might do the trick. I thought the price was fair at $8 (it is organic, vegan, and in NYC after all). Also with help from the Yelp reviews, I picked up a Vanilla Bourbon Crème Brûlée Donut. This was the best damn donut I've ever had, vegan and non-vegan. Yum yum yum! It was moist, fluffy, creamy, with a sugar crust on top. I ate this as slowly as I could so I could savor every last bite! It was heavenly and sinful at the same time. It's certainly not something I could eat at every meal (though I wish I could get away with that). 

Vanilla Bourbon Crème Brûlée Donut - The Cinnamon Snail

To track down The Cinnamon Snail truck (which is what I will now be doing on a regular basis) check out their Facebook or Twitter pages, links below. For more information on the guy behind this successful food truck, read this recent VegNews interview.

Cinnamon Snail

Find Locations throughout NYC and NJ on Facebook and Twitter

Cinnamon Snail Website

I'm Moving! - Boston to New York City

I have an exciting update to share! I'm officially moving from beautiful BOSTON to the bustling NEW YORK CITY. As you can imagine the food options alone have me overwhelmed. It's a city I've always wanted to live in and thankfully I was able to find a job opportunity that will enable me to make the move. The amount of cooking I will be doing will be slightly reduced due to lack of kitchen tools and appliances (luckily I will still have an oven!). Expect to find many more posts on restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and products. I am so grateful to have the chance to explore this amazing city.

Goodbye Boston!

 Hello, New York City!

Vegan-Friendly Places I have visited so far (blog posts coming soon, as I revisit them!):
Terri
Candle 79
Blossom Du Jour
Blossom
Babycakes
Red Bamboo

Vegan-Friendly Places I can't wait to try:
Lula's Sweet Apothecary
Dunwell Donuts
Dirt Candy
Angelica Kitchen (Crossed off the list! See my post here)
Pure Food & Wine


If you have any recommendations to add to my list, please let me know!

Dining In - Marinated Kale Salad

Marinated Kale Salad - The Chalkboard Mag

Here was yet another fabulous find on Pinterest. This was a simple and delicious salad. Anytime I can prepare raw kale and make it taste this good it's a win! It reminded me of the Green Goddess dish from Life Alive, but without the creamy dressing. It is wholesome, flavorful, filling, and gluten-free. It got the stamp of approval from the non-vegan boyfriend, as well! This would work well as a lunch or served as a side dish for dinner. You can find the full recipe online at The Chalkboard Mag

I'll be making this again!



1 bunch kale, torn or chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 avocado, sliced
2 lemons, juiced
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt (I recommend reducing this slightly)
2 cups brown rice, cooked (I use Trader Joe's frozen variety)
1/2 cup almonds, toasted, chopped or sliced


Put all ingredients into a large bowl, except for the almonds. Toss together until evenly distributed. When serving, top with the toasted almonds. 

That's it! How easy was that?

Dining In - Creamy Pumpkin Penne with Crispy Sage and Toasted Pecans

Creamy Pumpkin Penne with Crispy Sage and Toasted Pecans - Chef Chloe

In the spirit of fall, it's time for pumpkin! I love autumn, at least for the first couple of weeks :) the chill in the air, pumpkins on doorsteps, apple cider, the flame-colored leaves. Life got a little busy with summer and I got a little lazy, so there wasn't as much cooking these past few weeks. However, I'm back at it!

I found this recipe on Chloe Coscarelli's website (link here). I was excited for this creamy pumpkin-sweet pasta dish. It was simple to prepare - requiring a pot for the pasta, skillet for the onions and garlic, and a blender for the sauce. Overall I enjoyed it, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. It had a kick to it, from the garlic and nutmeg, and it was a little soupier than I had hoped. I still gobbled it right up and loved the toasted pecans, something I'd never tried with pasta. I'll let you be the judge - if you're a fan of pumpkin it's certainly worth a shot!



16 oz. (1 lb.) penne pasta

Pumpkin Cream Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can organic pumpkin (found at Trader Joe's, see photo)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups plain almond milk
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons maple syrup
3 teaspoons sea salt (would reduce this a tad next time)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Crispy Sage
1 tablespoon canola oil
8 sage leaves


Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Sauté onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic to skillet and cook for about two more minutes, until you can smell the garlic. Remove from heat.

To Prepare Pumpkin Cream Sauce:

In a blender, add cooked onion and garlic, pumpkin, tomato paste, almond milk, nutmeg, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Blend until all combined - sauce will be a light orange color.

To Prepare Crispy Sage:

To crisp the sage leaves, heat oil in a skillet on low-medium. Add sage leaves and watch while cooking to avoid burning. Flip after about a minute. Remove after other side has crisped and put on a plate with a paper towel.

To prepare pasta dish, toss pasta with sauce, toasted pecans, and fresh sage, then garnish with crispy sage.

Dining Out in Boston - Root

Root Burger with Herbed Fries - root

My belly is full and my taste-buds are happy as I write this. I stopped in to the newly opened "root" in Allston and brought my parents along for what turned out to be a delicious vegan meal.

Inspired by Yelp reviews, we started with an order of Sweet Corn and Jalapeño Hushpuppies served with housemade ketchup and garlic aioli over a bed of arugula. They were mildly spicy, which I preferred, and fried to a nice golden crisp. I really liked the dips they were served with.

Sweet Corn & Jalapeño Hushpuppies - root

 Po' Boy with Side of Dressed Greens - root

For entrees, my parents both ordered the root Burger with Herbed Fries on the side, served with a yummy housemade ketchup. The burger is made of black beans and quinoa served with Boston lettuce, tomato, crispy onions and garlic aioli on a bun. It was hearty with great flavor. I ordered the Po' Boy - a huge sandwich with crispy cauliflower, sweet pickles, tomato, lettuce, and a spicy housemade remoulade. It was much spicier than I had expected, especially since the menu made no mention of "spicy" or "hot," but I managed to get through it...slowly. It was all served on a fresh Iggy's bun. I would have enjoyed it more with less bread and the heat turned down a notch. I ordered it with a side of greens since I was sharing stealing the fries from my parents' plates. The salad was fresh with a tasty light dressing.

The atmosphere is modern with an industrial, earthly feel. Though small, you can still have a nice casual dining in experience. The tables are copper with wooden benches. You can serve yourself water in mason jars and your food order is brought to your table. The staff was friendly and helpful, just like at their sister spot FoMu. Other items on the menu include salads, juices, and other sandwiches. If you want dessert just walk a few doors down and grab a delicious scoop of dairy-free ice cream.

I'll be back to try some of the other recommended items. This one is good in my book!


Photos of the Restaurant:

       

root Restaurant

487 Cambridge Street

Allston, MA 02134

root Website 

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 Maine - Silly's

Tofu in a Dinghy - Silly's Restaurant

I'm so glad I got the chance to try Silly's! My boyfriend and I stopped in on our drive back from a great weekend in Vinalhaven. It was another instance of me quickly researching on my phone for nearby vegan-friendly places and stumbling upon a gem. It reminded me of Friendly Toast, with it's quirky, retro decor, including old school lunch boxes for menu holders, and friendly staff. The diner-style menu is large with numerous options for vegans that all sounded delicious - it was tough to pick! They note that there are separate gluten-free and vegan friers to prep the food. I love how open and honest this place is - check out their website for info on how they source their food - almost everything is homemade and local! 

We arrived there right before the end of Sunday brunch, which included some amazing vegan dishes, but I opted for lunch instead. I was in the mood for some junk food and threw caution to the wind by ordering their famous Fried Pickles for an appetizer and Tofu in a Dinghy for my entree. I was determined to get a milkshake when I saw the long list of vegan-friendly options, but sadly I stuffed myself and couldn't do it. 

Milkshake Menu

The Fried Pickles are normally vegetarian, not vegan, because they are coated with buttermilk, but the waitstaff immediately offered us the option of making them vegan and it sounded like that was a common request. The dill pickle slices were coated in spicy breading and served with a homemade, creamy spice dip. I loved that I could enjoy a dip like this, since usually any kind of dip, sauce, or dressing that even looks creamy is off-limits. Yum! It was my first time trying fried pickles and despite a minor stomachache from all the excess oil I give it a thumbs up! I guess they could have been a little crispier, but the flavor was there.

Vegan Fried Pickles - Silly's Restaurant

My waiter had suggested Peace, Love, and Veggies for an entree, which sounded delicious and likely the healthiest dish on the menu, but again I was not holding back for this meal, so Tofu in a Dinghy was my choice. It was essentially an order of Pad Thai with Tofu rolled up in a tortilla and then fried - yeah, once again, I did not hold back for this meal! Here's the real description: Thai ginger peanut sauce, rice noodles, fried tofu, vegan mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, scallions in a flour tortilla deep fried in a chimi style, served with mandarin oranges and fresh baby spinach on the side (which sadly got ignored). I killed the whole tortilla, after already diving into the Fried Pickles, turned down the milkshake at the end, and then rolled myself out of there, happy and full! Thanks, Silly's.

I can't wait to go back! There are so many more things I want to try here :)

Silly's Restaurant

40 Washington Avenue

Portland, ME 04101

Silly's Website

Silly's Menu - PDF

Dining In - Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies - Chloe's Vegan Desserts

Salty and sweet is one of my favorite dessert flavor combinations, that's why I love peanut butter. I eat it many times a week, if not every day. It's a great source of protein, but it also contains quite a bit of sugar, fat and calories. To move towards cleaner eating I switched over to natural peanut butter and try to stick with the unsalted variety, so the only ingredient is... peanuts. Plain and simple, but still delicious. 

These cookies were just how I remembered the peanut butter cookies from my childhood (the non-vegan version). I love the fork marks, too! They were crunchy along the edges and moist in the middle. If you like crunchier cookies you can use crunchy peanut butter, flatten them more before baking, and bake for a few extra minutes. You can find the full recipe in Chloe's Vegan Desserts (buy your copy here) 


1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup Earth Balance margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. 

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add peanut butter, margarine, brown sugar, vanilla and water. Beat together on slow speed until combined and fluffy.

Add in dry ingredient mixture on slow speed. Add more water (1 tablespoon at a time) if the dough is too dry.

Scoop an overflowing tablespoon of dough and place on baking sheet. Leave about 2-3 inches between each cookie.

Using a fork, score each cookie by gently pressing back of fork into cookie and then doing it again to create a criss-cross pattern.

Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes. Allow to cool before removing from pan.