Rosa Mexicano . Guacamole on Demand

It's no secret that I adore guacamole.  And in my opinion, the best guac to be had is in New York City.  This is due to the fact that most restaurants will make it fresh for you at your table.  This way you can request the level of spiciness, extra lime, less salt, etc, etc.  Rosa Mexicano stands out because they serve soft corn tortillas with your guacamole.  Layered with their salsas, it feels so much healthier than greasy fried chips (they have those too!)  And you can literally make an entire meal out of it.  

My other favorite guacamole spots in the city...Dos Caminos + Mama Mexico.

Popbar

Popbar is a cute little shop in the West Village that sells all different flavors of freshly made popsicles.  You can choose from Gelato, Sorbetto or Froyo.  If you're vegan, stick to the Sorbetto.  The day I visited, they didn't have the beautiful 2-3 layer Sorbettos shown on their website - Raspberry Mint Lemon would have been my first choice.  In light of their shortage, I chose the basic Peach.  It was truly sublime on an extraordinarily hot day in the city. 

You can also have your pop dipped into toppings such as nuts, coffee grains, coconut and/or chocolate.  I chose to have mine plain, but they did look quite tasty. 

Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

Whenever I'm in Omaha, I get my sushi fix at Blue Sushi .  I love veggie sushi and their rolls do not disappoint.  Recently I tried the Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps and they've become my new favorite.  Crisp lettuce, edamame hummus, puffed glass noodles, cucumber salad, pickled carrots and sesame rice noodles with creamy cilantro, spicy peanut and yogurt curry sauce.  If you're vegan, the cilantro and curry sauces contain dairy, so stick with the spicy peanut.  If you'd like some other options, the chef recommends the carrot ginger vinaigrette and the wasabi soy vinaigrette, which are both vegan.

They're so refreshing and satisfying.  There's enough to share, but you won't want to.

See my previous post on Blue Sushi here.  They're extremely accommodating and helpful to people with dietary restrictions!

Justin's Nut Butters

I was a lucky girl growing up.  My mother's side of the family lives in France and we've been visiting them every other year since I was born.  I took great pleasure in eating Nutella for breakfast while in France.  Every morning was greeted with bread, French butter and Nutella.  I was ecstatic when it finally made it to the states - I always have a jar on hand.  Unfortunately, since going vegan I haven't been able to partake in one of my favorite breakfasts.  

Last week I discovered Justin's Nut Butters.  They have lots of flavors, but I went for Chocolate Hazelnut to satisfy my craving.  It's rich, salty and full of nutty goodness.  I eat it almost every morning on sourdough toast with Earth Balance.  Now, don't expect an exact replica.  This version is not sweetened.  However, I don't like to start my day with sugar anyhow.  Crisis averted.

Celebrate Brooklyn

During a recent trip to New York, I had the pleasure of seeing Rufus Wainwright in Brooklyn.  It was a perfect evening in Prospect Park.  If you happen to be in the neighborhood this summer, check out their concert schedule here.

Vegan chili, kettle chips + freshly cut watermelon make for a lovely picnic dinner.

Omaha Vegetarian Recipe Exchange

Last week I met with some very dear friends for our Vegetarian Recipe Exchange.  We meet whenever everyone can get together, sometimes weekly, sometimes bi-monthly.  It's become something I genuinely look forward to whenever I happen to be in Omaha.  And it only makes sense for us to meet at the only vegan restaurant in the city...Daily Grub.  And get this...as if Daily Grub couldn't get any better...they now have a full dessert menu!  

This visit I had the Vegan Pesto Toast with Macadamia Nut Cheese and Heirloom Tomatoes.

And a Strawberry Cupcake with Vanilla Basil Frosting - so moist and flavorful - no one would ever be able to tell it's vegan!

My friend, Jess, brought the original Moosewood Restaurant cookbook from the 1970s...everything was hand written!  I'd never seen this original copy before...it's really charming.

See my previous posts on Daily Grub here and here.

La Buvette

La Buvette is an adorable French restaurant and wine shop in Omaha.  If you can find a table outside, take it quickly and quietly before someone else notices it's free.  Sitting outside feeling the breeze, while enjoying their freshly baked bread, is just that good.  It's especially pleasing on Saturday mornings during the Farmers Market.  

Their hummus is served with crudite and both white and wheat bread...perfect for sharing.

And luckily for me, they had a gorgeous Fruit Plate on the menu last night.  A fantastic way to end a summer day.

Charleston Whole Foods

If you think all Whole Foods are created equal, think again.  Whenever I travel, I try to stop by the nearest Whole Foods to check out the local offerings, as well as items only available in larger cities.  

During my recent visit to Charleston with my family, my mom bought all of the ingredients for pho, a traditional Vietnamese soup, at the local Whole Foods.  This is a favorite in our family, my husband calls it Massage in a Bowl.  While on vacation and eating out for almost every meal, it's great to have something comforting and homemade.

Always check out the bakery section, the larger Whole Foods offer lots of vegan options, including cupcakes!

This location even sells Sweet & Sara smores!  Unfortunately, this is the best picture I can show you.  Chocolate melts quickly in Charleston.

Union Square Market

Every time I'm in New York, I simply have to stop by the Union Square Market.  When I'm in the city for long periods of time, my husband and I do all of our produce shopping here.  The sights and smells make for a perfect lazy afternoon.

How beautiful are these currants???

Tomatoes in every shape and color.

Gorgeous purple carrots.

I first discovered ground cherries in France...they look like little tomatillos but they're sweeter.  They're adorable as a garnish when you peel away the papery skin (leave it attached for the full effect).

Beans, edamame, peppers, eggplant, zucchini...

And fresh, perfectly ripe peaches, apricots + nectarines!

Charleston, SC

This month, I ventured to Charleston, South Carolina for the first time.  And although it was sweltering hot, I was completely mesmerized by its charm.  Incredible architecture, quaint neighborhoods, and warm ocean water...what could be better?  

My first stop was The Southend Brewery and Smokehouse.  I know what you're thinking...a smokehouse?  When traveling, it's not all rainbows and vegan cupcakes.  Sometimes you have to eat at some not so veg-friendly establishments, especially when you have a husband and family who eat meat.  This requires you to speak up.  Make sure you tell your server that you're vegan, don't assume that because an item looks vegan that it is (restaurants love to smother veggies in butter - kindly ask for olive oil).  That said, I ordered the Vegetable Sandwich with some alterations - no mozzarella, fried green tomatoes or spinach and basil spread.  The vegan version is filled with a lovely smoked ratatouille, fresh tomatoes, portabello mushroom, onions, and lots of fresh lettuce on grilled Ciabatta.  Smoked ratatouille on a sandwich...who knew?

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A rooftop breakfast at The Harbourview Inn is a great way to start an exceptionally hot day.  If you ever have the pleasure of staying in this charming hotel, make sure to special request soy milk the night before.  They're happy to provide it with advanced notice. 

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After a long day at the beach, Papa Zuzu's in Mount Pleasant is a splendid choice.  They have some amazing, incredibly fresh veggie options.  The Cucumber Salad is a refreshing way to start...cucumbers, red onion and lots of Greek dressing.

The Veggie Pita is absolutely delicious.  Its stuffed with all your favorite Greek flavors - cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, peppers and oregano.  I ordered mine with a side of hummus - perfectly mouthwatering and oh so filling.

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My family rented a house in Mount Pleasant, very close to the local Farmers Market. Its held every Tuesday afternoon from April to October.  We found so many delectable fruits...nectarines, raspberries, blackberries and heirloom tomatoes. (There's a Whole Foods nearby where you can find soy whipped cream and vegan cake to eat with your just picked fruit!)

You can even find local veg treats for your dogs from The Good Dog Bakery.  (Make sure to check the ingredients - not all products are vegan).

And raw fruit snacks from Nicole's Nutty Goodness.  (Again, read the labels, some products contain whey protein).

And Peach Cider - perfect to sip on while you stroll through the market.

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Water's Edge restaurant was recommended to us by a local couple.  It's in a great location (hence the name) and you can often see dolphins swimming in the nearby bay. 


The menu is mostly seafood based, but the Bruschetta can easily be ordered sans crab.  Count me in for anything with a balsamic reduction.

And they do feature a Vegetable Pasta on their menu, but we asked their chef for his recommendation for the three vegans at our table (my parents are also vegan).  He was more than happy to customize our main course, full of grilled potatoes, okra, asparagus, tomatoes, peppers and a side of white truffle cous cous.  This was amazing....chock full of flavor and texture.

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The following evening we headed to Virginia's, a traditional southern restaurant in downtown Charleston.  The Grilled Pear and Frisee Salad is not to be missed.   The pear is so perfectly sweet and balanced with the frisee and sherry vinaigrette.  Just ask them to hold the blue cheese.

Again, we asked the chef for a customized vegan entree.   He created a lovely dish with bowtie pasta, grilled vegetables, and a spicy vinegar based sauce that almost tasted pickled...a brilliant way to infuse flavor.  Though this dish looks simple, it was full of spicy goodness. 

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On our last day, while wondering through downtown, I stopped in Seeking Indigo, a wellness center that features raw food from The Sprout.  Although I went solely for the food, they also offer infared saunas, nutritional counseling, yoga, and massages.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to enjoy all that they offer, but I did get to taste The Sprout's Raw Pad Thai and The Skinsaver with peach, pineapple, carrot and apple juices.  Crunchy and crisp - perfect on a hot day.

I was so pleasantly surprised with the vegan options in Charleston.  They may not be obvious at first, but the chefs I encountered were incredibly friendly and helpful with lots of Southern hospitality to spare.  Eating vegan in the South?  Completely doable.