Chic Vegan

I lived in Philadelphia for most of my life, and for the last 4 years of that life I have been vegan. Somehow I had never made it to the acclaimed and nationally coveted vegan restaurant, Horizons, until my last week as a resident.  All I can say is that it was worth the wait.  Doodlebug was nice enough to take me here for a lovely birthday and “going away” celebration.

This joint is loaded with cruelty free goodness from cocktail to sinful dessert. The ambiance was cozy and romantic, the service was great and unobtrusive, and the food…..oh the food.. it was to die for. If you are ever in the Philadelphia area be sure to stop by this gem for a bite. If you are not able to make it there, recreate a little piece of it at home with their cookbook Horizons: New Vegan Cuisine. (more…)

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this self proclaimed “soul café” in the heart of the West Village. Red Bamboo is a vegetarian establishment with the majority of the menu being vegan. (Thankfully, all desserts are vegan.)

When we first entered, the whole place smelled like bug spray or some other kind of strong chemical. That made me weary, but the smell seemed to fade quickly.

I liked how the non-vegan menu items were clearly marked, and casein and whey were taken into consideration. You would be surprised how many restaurants serve soy cheese containing casein as “vegan”. I noticed they seemed to specialize in mock meat and although I don’t particularly fancy it, I decided to live on the edge. (more…)

Unfortunately, some vegans come off as demanding, difficult, and even elitist to unsuspecting omnivores, especially in a situation that involves food. Here is a random and possibly incomplete list of etiquette that I, personally, have found to be beneficial in remaining likable and respectful to others while still holding tightly to my ethics.

1. When eating at a friend or relatives house, do not expect them to make anything special for you to eat. They probably will, but if you don’t get your hopes up, you won’t be disappointed. Always eat a little bit before you arrive so you are not famished. Also, bring something small that you know you can eat (side dish or dessert). If they successfully and purposefully make something you are able to eat, let them know how appreciative you are -even if it tastes like rubber.

2. When out to eat with parties of 3 or more, order last. If you order last, the rest of the table might not notice you giving the server the third degree about the possibility of butter being used to cook your veggies. Also, if the server has to go back and speak with the chef, and decides to do it at that moment, the rest of your party might get irritated that they have to wait to place their order.

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