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.

Naturally, we started out the evening with cocktails. I had a mojito, while Doodlebug had a mojito of the virgin persuasion. It always makes me smile when he orders faux frilly drinks!  Next came the first course. We ravenously devoured the smoked eggplant empanadas and the vietnamese tacos. Both dishes were absolutely delicious and the servings were surprisingly generous, which is not typical of a restaurant of this caliber. I would eat the vietnamese tacos everyday if my wallet or culinary skills allowed it.

Hearts of Palm and Curries Crepe...Yum!

Then, in a very timely fashion our entrees arrived. Doodlebug ordered the Hearts of Palm and Curries, simply because it was the most unique thing on the menu. It was delicious (yes, of course I ate some of it!) and had really unique flavors. The only undesirable  factor was that it was somewhat like our vietnamese taco entree. Although we weren’t really complaining about that!  I got the grilled seitan entree, because I was in the mood for a more traditional dish and was craving mashed potatoes. I need to emphasize that this was the only “fake meat” I’ve ever eaten that has even come close to the real thing. I was never much of a meat eater, so this was probably not the best thing for me to order, but I would highly recommend it to any carnivore dining at Horizons.

Behold the Grilled Seitan

Although we were stuffed to the max and barely able to move, we still managed to scarf down a slice of cheesecake and some lovely chocolate concoction (I forget the name, but it came with peanut butter ice cream!). Both were exceptional and (thankfully) small portions.

My birfday cheesecake

I truly regret waiting until my last moments in Philly to experience the amazingness that is Horizons. The next time I am in town I will be sure to make a beeline there straight from the airport.

But you? You enjoy it now!!

Horizons
611 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 923-6117
horizonsphiladelphia.com

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.

For an appetizer we had the Carribean Jerk Spiced Seitan. The portion size was a bit small, however the marinade was spectacular. Nice and tangy. Very true to traditional “jerk” sauces. (insert-inappropriate-joke-here) Seitan is by far, my favorite mock meat so I was naturally happy with this dish.

The entrees were pretty disappointing. I had the Coconut Chicken and my devastatingly handsome dining partner had the Bamboo Club. My entrée was pretty bland and consisted of a huge hunk of soy protein with a small amount of coconut baked into the top. There were pineapple rings breaking up the soy action, but I still feel there was not enough diversity in this dish. I want veggies!!! The Bamboo club was bland as well, with basic veganized club components and deep fried french fries.

The service was super fast and friendly, and our waitress was very helpful. Good service always makes up for everything!

To cap off the night we decided to order three desserts.. yes three. They all sounded so good we couldn’t decide. So we indulged (or binged) in the Carrot Cake, Brownie Bottom Cheesecake, and Peanut Butter Heaven. And we were oh-so glad we did. The carrot cake was absolutely amazing, it has a dense texture and the icing was surprisingly sweet. The brownie bottom cheesecake.. well, lets just say I’m still dreaming about it. The peanut butter heaven was good but was overpowered by the other desserts.

All in all the experience was decent, but not as extraordinary as I thought it would be given all the stiff NYC veg competition. Just a few unique flavors and extra spices would have sent Red Bamboo over the top. However if you are in the mood for cheap, basic food.. this is the place for you. We will definitely be back on our next visit for some dessert!

Red Bamboo
140 W 4th St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 260-7049
www.redbamboo-nyc.com

Other veg NYC dining:

Blossom

Candle or Candle 79

Pure

Quantum Leap

Or just consult super vegan.

Top Photo courtesy of DaniVance

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.

3. Always, ALWAYS be courteous and appreciative to the server when requesting your food to be prepared in a specific fashion. Emphasize your “please”s and “thank you”s, and let the server know how important your food preparation is to you. For the love of god, DO NOT make demands or place your order in a threatening fashion. (Ex: “If I find a molecule of cheese in my salad, I will send it back, and then leave and never return.”) By nature, people are more willing to help others when they are treated with respect and compassion.

4. If you are going out to eat with omnivores, do not think for one second that they want to go to a vegetarian or vegan restaurant. Unless they specifically say they want to, always choose a restaurant where both of you have plenty of options.

5. Do not preach the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of veganism with every opportunity you get to speak. If somebody wants to know, they will ask.

6. Do not look at anyone’s food/ leather items/ pure bred poodle with obvious disgust, even if you are disgusted. You wouldn’t want anyone to give menacing stares to your seitan dish or hemp handbag now would you?

7. Most importantly, if anyone disrespects your beliefs and purposely attempts to make you feel ashamed of your lifestyle, do not hesitate to either walk away (far away and don’t turn back), or stand up for yourself and your noble beliefs. Don’t stand for ignorance. Either avoid it or prove them wrong.

This list just includes some things that have worked for me personally. I find that just using common sense, compassion and good ol’ fashion manners are the best ways to remain on everyone’s good side.

Are there any rules of etiquette that you frequently use or have had to use at one time? I’d love to hear some stories!

Photo courtesy of Corbis