Category : Travel
Posted in Travel on January 25, 2012
I’m super delighted to be able to report back on even more Miami deliciousness! While there are lots of things to do in Miami it is an absolute must to save time to dine on the local fare. It’s super cool at how many places have popped up over the last few years that are not only accommodating to special diets but are also incredibly delicious. So whether you are looking to partake in some Miami sightseeing toursor just passin’ through, make it a point to check out the rest of the fave spots that I was lucky enough to get my grub on at!
There’s nothing like a romantic Italian meal but an organic Italian meal takes the cake! EscoPazzo is THE premiere organic Italian locale in Miami to get healthy, delicious food. And what’s even cooler is that they have vegan and raw vegan menu items!!! Yum!! No matter who you may be struttin’ down South beach with, you can all enjoy a world class meal at Escopazzo. My personal favorites are the tomato and avocado tartar with pickled watermelon and micro mustard greens as well the vegetable lasagna with cashew cheese. OMG!
I had the good fortune of being able to do my first book signing of my cookbook, The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen, at Books & Books on Lincoln Road. Just before the signing, I dined with the chef at the Cafe at Books and Books. Chef Bernie is not only a hoot, and a fellow healthy Latino, he is a gifted chef as well. the vegan items at the cafe are fantastic! Full of the flavors of Miami, and my childhood, the veggie dishes are pure bliss. Using lots of grains, legumes and veggies, it’s pure, clean food with the tastes of Latin America. The carrot cake with mango sauce is a great twist, his quinoa and vegetable bowl is delish and there us even a mock chicken curry sandwich on the menu. Yumm!! Eat first, shop second!! Books and Books is a great place to spend an afternoon ; )
If you’re looking for a kick ass bar with healthy vegan food, The Lost and Found Saloon is the place for you. With it’s fun western theme, you might be surprised to find vegan friendly dishes there, let alone healthy ones. Not your usual bar food, Lost and Found does it up right. Their signature salad chock full of fresh greens, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, avocado, eggplant portobello mushrooms and topped with pepita encrusted tofu is enough to show you that this ain’t your traditional bar menu. And the list goes on! Chipotle black bean burgers, seasonal veggie plates, chipotle tofu melt, pinon and pepita encrusted tofu over saffron rice…Insanity! So much fun, so much yum, you gotta bring all your friends (veg or not) to get lost and found asap!
Fast food is gross so Evos has come to the rescue. Boasting their fresh real fruit smoothies, air baked fries and healthier options for traditional burgers, it’s much easier for folks to make the switch. with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, you too can enjoy an American classic meal of burgers, fries and a shake without the fat and guilt. Eco-friendly and cool, even their flavored ketchup rock! I fell in love with my thai vegan wrap and air fries dunked in garlic ketchup, mmmmm! Take that McD’s!
Just north of Miami and south of Ft. Lauderdale, you’ll find Hollywood. Home to Sara’s Kosher Vegetarian and L’Chaim Chinese restaurants. Owned and operated by a lovely couple, both restaurants are completely kosher and offer great veggie food. Sara’s is usually my first stop when i am home visiting as I crave their vegan Cuban sandwich all year long. at Sara’s, they’ve got it all from pizza, sandwiches, soup, salads and full entrees, all easily (and happily) veganizable. next door at L’Chaim Chinese, you can get vegan avocado spring rolls, veggie lettuce cups and basically anything on the menu made with tofu. So no matter what you’re in the mood for, Sara’s and L’Chaim have your cravings covered!
So that’s a wrap on Miami for now but it looks like the healthy spots are growing so I’ll be back to fill you in soon! Happy healthy trails!
Posted in Travel on January 18, 2012
My hometown of Miami is finally getting on a healthier kick! And I have to say, it was worth the wait! With a plethora of healthy, vegan and even raw places to dine, Miami is definitely becoming a force to be reckoned with in the veg world.
Oddly enough, of all the “vegan” cities I have visited around the world, I’m finding that the ones that are just now offering veg and special diet friendly foods to be even healthier then those that are big vegan meccas. Sure, vegan comfort food is great once in a while but when there is a lack of really healthy options, you miss the goodness and wonder of eating real plant based foods. Miami, while making its slow appearance on the veg scene, is doing a killer job of keeping it real!
Let’s start with an awesome raw food eatery called Life Food Gourmet. Located just south of downtown, this quaint whole foods restaurant knocks raw food out of the park. Innovative dishes and ways to prep common raw food meals is what this place has perfected. So many delicious menu items made with incredible new ingredients, Life Food is a great example of Miami taking health and delicious food seriously. With the menu boasting icons that show you what part of the body or aspect of health the food benefits, it’s a no brainer to lick you plate clean when dining here. Go for any of their shakes and pizzas but don’t leave without having their cauliflower tabbouleh, brazil nut hummus or out of this world chocolate mousse pie!
Another prime example of a healthy, passionate locale who aims to share it with all of South Florida, is Choices Cafe. A small diner that packs a punch. Combining the local Latin flavors with fun all vegan favorites, you won’t leave hungry or disappointed when visiting choices. Fresh juices, sandwiches, salads and other delicious treats, go for lunch, go for brunch but regardless, just go! My personal faves are the chili con kale (best chili I’ve ever had) and the insane burrito (yes, that’s what it’s called and for good reason). This burrito is filled with all that is awesome in this world ; ) The brainchild of 2 brothers with a mission for providing healthy food and happiness, they are definitely doing it right, attracting all sorts of folks and helping them heal with food.
Now if you’re looking for fun and yum in the midst of on of Miami’s hottest spots to party, El Vato is the place to be. A unique tequila bar and Mexican food restaurant, don’t let the hot rod low rider, East LA themed restaurant fool you. Not only does the menu offer only local, organic, free range food, it also has an awesome vegan menu complete with ooey gooey vegan quesadillas, burritos and veganized versions of everything they make for the omnivores. healthy Mexican with a boatload of vegan options, why would you get your margaritas and chips anywhere else! Party there with the in house DJ, sit in the cool old car while you dine and have a ball!
The food truck phenomenon has hit South Florida in a big way but even bigger and ballsier is the all vegan Mac N’ Food Truck! This delicious comfort food eatery on wheels pulls up to all sorts of events, meetups and locations in and around South Florida, proving that awesome vegan food exists, even on a food truck. Their signature mac n’ cheese is to die for ( i love their spicy soyrizo mac!) as are all of their fun menu items. Starting lunch delivery this month, it’s time to start tracking down the Mac n’ Food truck!
In the heat of Miami, a chilly ice cream cone always hits the spot. The Frieze has non-dairy folks drooling with their decadent sorbets like peanut butter, champagne, maple walnut and chocolate mint, you’ll be making stops here between meals!
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, about 30 minutes north of downtown Miami, you’ll find Sublime. One of the country’s premiere vegan restaurants. I’ve covered them before but they bear repeating as they are always perfecting their menu. A beautiful and stylish restaurant and organic bar, it’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner, birthday, wedding rehearsal dinner and so on. It’s lovely and the food is divine. Their frito misto will have you thinking quite differently about cauliflower as will their amazing coconut cake. Everything the serve is delicious so be sure you spend enough time in Ft. Lauderdale to dine in more than once!
And that’s not all! More to come next week!!!
Posted in Travel on January 11, 2012
“Welcome to Atlanta where the players play!”- Jermaine Dupri
And play I did! Oh yes, and gorge my greedy little face I did too ; ) The hustle and bustle of the Atlanta metropolitan area is intoxicating. Already a big city, it’s getting even bigger. Cool sky rises, modern shopping areas, the world of coca cola museum and aquarium as well as the nooks and areas tucked away for the hipster crowd, I had no problems getting into a groove here. So as one would imagine, there would be no problems finding some good eats in the capital of the south!
Fighting the city traffic, i made my way into the World Peace Cafe just in time for a quick dessert. We knew we had limited time in the city along with lots of obligations so I wanted to make sure I made it in. Run by the Rameshori Kadampa Buddhist Center in Sandy Springs, the cafe is mainly volunteer operated. But you’d never know it as the place runs like a dream and the food is even better. I was able to grab a minty chocolate cupcake before they all headed home but the menu looked great! Brekfast to dinner, fresh juice to dessert, they’ve got a veritable cornucopia of awesome veggie food. Feed your karma and your soul at World Peace Cafe!
We stayed in the heart of downtown at the Marriot Marquis. In it I had my lovely Starbucks waiting for me every morning as well as 2 restaurants and a bar. Having rolled in late, we were pretty hungry and weary so we popped into High Velocity. Located in the main lobby of the hotel, it’s a chic sports bar with a fun menu. I was stoked to find a bunch of vegan and health friendly options at a sports bar so I had a taste of a few things ; ) I shared the lemon hummus with veggie sticks (almost no calories!!) and a black bean soy burger piled high with mushrooms and onions with my babe. It hit the spot just before we hit the sack.
The next day I had a hankering for soul food. What better place for such a meal than Atlanta and what better place in Atlanta than Soul Vegetarian. They’ve got locations all over the world and have a neat concept. A fully African-American run business that originated in Israel, this cafeteria style diner also boasts a fresh juice and home made ice cream bar as well as a holistic center that offers all kinds of services including colon hydrotherapy! I happen to like the 1 sto shop idea ; ) I chowed on a ginormous portion of soy mac and cheese, collard greens,salad, corn bread and I had to split the vegan gyro with Dan as my stomach wouldn’t fit it all. Don’t leave Atlanta without going to 1 of the 2 locations of Soul Vegetarian.
Another place with a few locations is The Vortex Bar and Grill. It’s a hoot!! I was laughing my ass off just reading the menu and so will you (the website is just as kooky). It was cold out so I went with a steaming bowl of veggie chili and a side of sweet potato fries. There isn’t a soul who couldn’t find something on this menu as well as find this place quite the place for a fun night out!
Ok, so, I’m sure you can guess there is alot more to cover here in Atlanta so stay tuned next week for more!!
Yep, we’ve made another trip around the sun. The new year is upon us filled with brand new opportunities and chances. Let’s do our best to make it an even greener one with these simple tips!
1) Go Veg (or at least try to Decrease Your Meat& Animal Product Consumption) – While not everyone is ready to become 100% vegetarian, there is little doubt that eating less meat is one of the fastest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Pick one or two days a week where you will only cook vegetarian/vegan food. Find a good vegetarian/vegan food cooking book to learn the best recipes, and you’re set!
2) Seasonal Shopping – While it can be tempting to eat strawberries in winter, when they have been imported from halfway across the planet or grown in energy-hungry greenhouses, they’re hardly sustainable. Do some research into what is naturally grown in your area in the season, and prefer these. This way, you’ll also rediscover the pleasure of meals changing with the seasons!
3) Pedal Your Way Through the Year - People who re-start cycling to work and/ or the supermarket often say that it’s lovely to rediscover their neighborhood that way. In fact, unless you live in a very mountainous area, this could be the most relaxing resolution you take!
4) Bus it, Train it or Carpool it - Granted, in the middle of the mountains or when there is half metre of snow outside your door, cycling sounds less appealing. If that’s the case where you live, start using public transport to go to work and the supermarket. If public transport connections are poor in your area, then it’s time to wake up the local campaigner in you and ask for it – make 2011 the year when your community stood up for sustainability.
5) Green Your Abode - By now, I assume most of you have switched to CFL lightbulbs – so it’s time to take home efficiency to the next level. Check your house for heat loss (there are companies specialized in this if you don’t feel expert enough) and make it your DIY project in 2011 to fix them. If you haven’t yet, lower the thermostat during the night. The ideal temperature to sleep is around 16 degrees Celsius. If that’s too cold for you, do it in steps – half a degree less each month. You might realize you even sleep better – and you will see it on your heating bill!
6) Toss Out The Toxins – This might take a while in research, so plan to do it over the whole year. From beauty products to clothes detergent and computer parts, we have become used to toxic products in our daily lives. Time to stop it. When buying new products, check what they are made of, and pick the one that will have the least toxic residues.
7) Take Care of What You Already Have – New cellphone? Must absolutely have the latest iPad? How about the newly released gaming console? Our consumption of electronics is reaching records. Make a break, and promise not to buy new electronics this year, unless the one you already have breaks down (and when it does, ensure it is recycled properly!).
Recycling 2.0 - You probably have two different bins in your kitchen, sorting your waste to have it recycled. It doesn’t end here though. In 2011, try to reduce the amount picked up by the garbage truck. If you have a garden, start your own compost. When you’re at the supermarket, prefer products that are not over packaged (you know the one: plastics wrapped in plastic, itself wrapped in cardboard…). If there are to many of these items in your local supermarket, time to start campaigning! Write to the store manager and express your concerns – and convince your neighbors to do so as well.
9) Make More Outdoor Time - Learn to enjoy nature again. Make a habit of taking a weekly walk outside. We have become so used to live in our houses and in our cars, many people have no idea what nature looks like anymore.
10) Convince (at least) 3 friends to Go Green With You – Why three? Because almost everyone knows three people they can influence. If those three convince three more people next year and so on, we will grow a movement capable of protecting our planet – and the resolutions above will become a no brainer for everyone.
11) … What is your green resolution for 2012? Tell us in comments below!
Basically, healthy holidays is an oxymoron. Who wants to eat salad when you’re surrounded by hot cocoa, santa cookies, candy canes and awesome feasts? Pretty much no one however, there are ways around the 2 extremes, gorging or depriving. Here are some tips to reach a happy medium over the next few weeks of holiday feeding and drinking frenzy!
- Let yourself enjoy the dang treats! – Look, you don’t have to eat the whole tray of cookies or a ginormous piece of pie to get the most out the holidays. AND you don’t have to “just say no” either. Allow yourself to have a cookie or 2, have a piece of pie and curl up with that hot cocoa by the fire. If you aren’t stuffing your face all day every day for the next 2 weeks, you’re ok. In fact, deprivation may cause you more stress in which case your body will produce more cortisol, a hormone that will actually cause you to gain weight. Those few bites of a holiday treat will not kill you and they certainly won’t be the complete demise to your waistline.
- Routine is key – Just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean that you should completely neglect your exercise routine. Sure, maybe you don’t work out hard core for an hour but if you can squeeze in a brisk walk around the neighborhood to check out the pretty lights, just getting moving can really help you keep yourself in check and not fall off the wagon entirely.
- Ho, ho, hydrate – Always have your BPA free or glass water bottle full and handy. Drinking water all day long will keep you full, hydrated and satisfied, helping you curb the junk food cravings.
- Sneak in the good stuff – Even if you are cooking up a crazy holiday feast, always sneak in veggies and whole foods whereevr you can. the more pure, whole and organic your food, the less it affects your body chemistry and weight. Chop up yummy veggies like spinach, tomatoes and zucchini for pasta dishes; add sweet potatoes to your stuffing, make a giant salad full of delicious chopped veggies and legumes and fill up on that before the rich entree, etc. If you’re eating 75%- 85% awesome, if the remainder is holiday treats, you’re good to go!
- Let yourself enjoy a long winter’s nap – REST! This time of year, stress is a biggie that leads to illness, fatigue and even full on burn out. Give yourself the gift of rest and relaxation so that you can start the new year happy, healthy and recharged.You are more likely to enjoy the holidays (and deal with family) if you get plenty of sleep and time to relax.
- Give yourself (and others) the gift of slack – No one is superman or wonder woman, no matter how how we try. Whatever can be put off, if even for a day, allow yourself to let it go and let others have the chance to chillax too. This is the time of year to relax with family and friends and reflect on the year. Let go of problems you can’t solve and enjoy the season. Give yourself and others a break, the new year is right around the corner!
- Be a kid – Yeah, let your inner child do something fun and silly over the holidays. In this day and age, sometimes we need to stop being so serious and the holidays are the best time to have some fun. Wear that crazy sweater, make a snow angle, get in a snowball fight, bake with your family….Whatever your holiday persuasion, do it and enjoy!
While all of these are probably no-brainers, sometimes we all need to be reminded to slow down and take it all in. Enjoy the season!!
