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Zest Restaurant at @SanJuanWBC Hotel Caters to Vegetarians!

March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Raul and I are always looking for local places to eat that can cater to both of our palates.

We recently were hired for @CIMAPR to help a local boutique hotel, San Juan Water & Beach Club with telling their online story. One of the most exciting things that happened with our new client is that their Executive Chef, Raúl Correa, was nominated for @FandW Food & Wine Magazines People’s Best New Chef Gulf Coast region. 

When I sat down to talk to the General Manager, José Torres, he told me they had a complete vegetarian menu and not just one for omnivores.

Vegetarian Menu Zest Restaurant San Juan Water & Beach Club

Anytime a restaurant can accomadate our family, that is a place that we can support. With a little help from our community, we are asking for you to vote for Chef Raúl in the Gulf Coast category and read more about his inspiration for cooking.

We are rooting for Chef Raúl and hope that if you are vegetarian or vegan, stop by Isla Verde and have your meal at Zest!

Filed Under: News, Restaurants, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Join @peace_n_loaf for a Slice of Hope

October 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The ladies at @Peace_n_loaf are teaming up with an industry magazine called, Pizza Today, in a charity  event called Slice of Hope. Slice of Hope is dedicated to raising money for breast cancer awareness and is counting with the donations made at participating pizzerias in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Look for participating stores near you.

I spoke to Stephanie and Vanessa at the Organic Markert, (Isa was home sick with a cold)  regarding the Slice of Hope charity event for this coming Friday, October 12. They will be open from 3-9 p.m. (their usual hours) and will be donating 15% of their sales to the Karen Mullen Breast Cancer Foundation.

You will be able to purchase your regular sized pies and if you don’t want an entire pie, you can purchase a nice sized piece of pizza with a drink for $5.00. I have eaten at @Peace_n_loaf on several occassions and their slices are not small at all.

Besides who wants to cook on Friday after a long day of work?

 

If you need further details, you can contact Stephanie or Isa regarding this event on Facebook , via Twitter, or Website.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, News, Pizza, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , ,

Peace N Loaf Vegetarian/Vegan Pizzeria

August 9, 2012 by 2 Comments

We have known about Peace N Loaf’s Pizzeria since they opened but could not align with their time schedule when in the San Juan Metro Area. We usually visit San Juan early in the day and Peace n Loaf thankfully is open when most other vegan and vegetarian friendly places are closed. We have already mentioned consuming Isa and Stephanie’s artisanal bread at the local Organic Market In La Placita de la Roosevelt many times. Since we moved to the metro area about two weeks ago, we decided to go and have dinner at the first and only vegetarian/vegan friendly pizzeria.

The Atmosphere and Menu

When we visited the restaurant, the ladies were just coming back from vacation/business trip out in the states where Stephanie mentioned that they would be opening up another Peace N Loaf in her home town in Ohio. Raul and I loved the decoration and homey feel of the place. The menu was on the wall with their specials, appetizers, and creative use of space. The wall serves as a chalk board (with chalk board paint) and eliminates paper menus and reduces the printing of new menus if something changes.

The Food and Drinks

Raul and I have said this many times; Stephanie is a master at selling her bread at the market and so it was no surprise to us that the same service we get at the market was the same service we got at the pizzeria; Excellent! She explained the cheese options which were either vegan or regular mozzarrella. A majority of the ingredients used at the pizzeria are local organics and the best thing is that if you have any type of allergy, you can let them know in advance.

We ordered the Super Veggie (mushrooms, sun dried tomato, vegan cheese, black olives, green peppers, onions and red peppers) and hummus with bread and vegan jalapeño cheese. The hummus was so creamy that our daughter had a blast dipping away and eating. We did not let the hummus go to waste and ask for more bread. The drink options we chose were watermelon and parcha juice made in-house. Don’t expect to be served in paper plates or cups. No straws are kept in the restaurant. Stephanie has commented to us in previous discussions that straws need to be eliminated everywhere. The ladies have really made the restaurant as eco-friendly as they possibly can.

Once the pizza came out, it was delicious. The crust they use is free of potassium bromate and at times they do have gluten free pizza crust (Corrected below thanks to Stephanie). I like a thin crust with an even amount of cheese and sauce. The pizza was just the way I like it and our daughter enjoyed eating at the restaurant. If you don’t want pizza, you can order a melt.  You can even buy a loaf of bread and take a piece of the pizzeria home. At the end of our meal we finally got to meet Isa, after so many years of interacting with her via Twitter.

We will be visiting Peace n Loaf more often and one of our primary places to eat since we want to support local and vegan friendly places.

We give Peace n Loaf 10 stars and recommend you stopping by the only vegetarian pizzeria in Puerto Rico.

Contact Info

  • Address
    • 1402 Avenida Americo Miranda Caparra Terrace, PR
  • Phone
    • +1 787-293-7773
  • Website
  • Map


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Filed Under: Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , , ,

Eating Vegetarian & Vegan Isla Verde

May 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sunset in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

When we are out and about, we try to always bring some food just in case there aren’t any restaurants that cater to our hunger pains. Sometimes if we know that we will be out, we will go to our regular places such as Sakura’s Restaurant for Vegetarian Sushi Rolls in Caguas, Puerto Rico or P.F. Chang’sin San Juan, Puerto Rico.

La Playita Restaurant

On one of Raul’s recent trips to San Juan, specifically Isla Verde, he visited our friend Melvin. They went out for lunch at

La Playa Hotel’s La Playita Restaurant and Wine Lounge that overlooks the water . Raul stated that they had vegan and vegetarian options to eat. And yesterday we headed out to Isla Verde to spend time with Melvin and enjoy the beach. As it is a holiday weekend, we decided to wait out the traffic and just spend more time watching the sunset to begin.

We were hungry by the time we bathed our daughter and decided to head out to La Playita. When we got there, which is just a short walk on the beach from our friend’s home, the restaurant and bar was full. There was live music for the clientele to enjoy and our daughter was ready to dance and she did.

Menu options at La Playita

I looked over the menu and they had more options than what I thought. They had Spinach and Feta Turnovers, about four come on a plate for an appetizer. Sauteed Mushrooms with vegetables served with pita, and homemade Hummus with pita bread. That was our starter dish. For dinner we had vegetable wraps that came with a side order of fries. The servings were enough for the four of us. They also have salads that you can probably ask to omit any bacon, seafood, or cheese if you are vegan.

Vegetable Wrap La Playita Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

I was so hungry that I ate more than my share of mushrooms, hummus, spinach and feta turnovers, and only ate half of my vegetable wrap. What I liked about the food was that it looked simple, but the taste was amazing. Sometimes the most simplest foods on a menu end up being the tastiest. I need to learn how to make those spinach and feta turnovers for us at home with probably a substitute cheese for Raul.

See More food pictures here

Our friend Melvin said that the first time they went to the restaurant was his first experience eating a great tasting mushroom dish. I was glad that he ventured into eating a new dish  because sometimes we just get stuck ordering the same things when we go out and don’t try different things. I am not a mushroom lover, but when it is prepared well, I can eat my share.

If you come to visit Puerto Rico and need a cozy, off the beaten path restaurant, that caters to everyone’s palate, I would definately go back to La Playita, in Isla Verde  to eat again.

You can download their menu here.

Have you ever gone to La Playita? 

Web Page La Playita

 

 

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: , ,

We’ve Got Collard Greens

May 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Collard Green plants

For a major part of the year last, I was reading about the leafy greens that were going to give us a nutritional boost. My mission was to find as many leafy greens as possible. I wanted collard greens but they did not sell them at the local stores and read about the benefits of eating kale but did not have any luck getting them at the supermarket either.

Talking to a few of our friends we found greens at the local organic market that we visit every first and third Sunday. When we first started purchasing seeds, we bought them from a farmer called Raul Rosado who owns Desde mi Huerto. He has all types of seeds that he grows and sells. You can also buy the seedlings from him via his website or from the organic market.

Collards we encircled with bricks

I decided I wanted to start with collard greens and planted them with Daniela. Well our dog JuanGa decided that the planter was a toy and spread the seeds around the yard. I told Raul not to be surprised if something sprouted somewhere. Well several weeks passed by and we finally had some much needed rain. After the rains came, I noticed a bunch of thick leaves in the corner of the yard.

I told Raul that they looked like the collards we planted in a pot and the ones we had been purchasing. Well we confirmed what we thought. We had collard greens growing in the ground thanks to JuanGa. They were actually bigger than the ones we had re-planted in another pot.

Our first time picking collard greens

Raul and I decided that we were going to start growing the rest in the ground as we saw how quickly they sprouted. So far we have eaten from them three times. Just recently one of the plants started sprouting flowers. I see more collard seeds to be planted in the near future.

What have you planted recently and what have you made with what you have grown?

 

Filed Under: Gardening, Organics Tagged With: , ,

Animal Welfare of Culebra’s TSP (trap, spay-neuter, release) Project

April 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Best Toy Nature Could provide a Black Labrador like Juanga

We are always willing to help any animal that comes our way or any organization that dedicates itself to helping strays. Terrie  who volunteers at the Animal Welfare of Culebra posted this today on their Facebook Wall about a TSP Project  (Trap, Spay-Neuter, Release) going on in May.

Here are the details and contact Terrie or Animal Welfare of Culebra for more information:

” Animal Welfare of Culebra (AWC) in partnership with the Humane Society of PR, All Sato Rescue, The Animal Project, Island Dog, the Municipality of Culebra, & others is sponsoring a large-scale TNR (trap, spay-neuter, release) program on Culebra.



We have identified 5 areas to target for stray cats (one including Flamenco beach) & will be trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating, treating for medical issues, & then releasing back to live as a healthy, managed colonies.



We’ll have several veterinarians on island & vet techs as well as experts in TRN from the states & are seeking folks to help with a variety of jobs (catching, trapping, cleaning cages, feeding, watering, labeling, etc.).



This project will be ongoing from May 2-8 (surgeries on May 5 & 6th) & we’ll need folks helping from the 2nd (truck arriving from main island with supplies to unload/secure at La Cancha Bajo Techo-gym across from Palmetto) & then starting on the 3rd, catching & trapping-thus feeding, & cleaning.



This project can have a big impact on Culebra for the animals & people! Please won’t you offer a hand?
 “

 

Thanks to @rj_c for this picture

 

Filed Under: Animal Rights, News, Volunteer Tagged With: ,

Grosellas Puerto Rican Gooseberries

April 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Yesterday we had the pleasure of being invited to the home, office, and workspace of @TropicalBloom . Owners and Environmental Biologists Jennifer and Osvaldo, opened up their home and land for us to relax and enjoy.

We walked with Osvaldo who showed us around the workspace where they cultivate the bromeliads, house fish, turtles, guinea pigs, and eleven rescue dogs who are part of their family.

Our daughter enjoyed all the plants and animals she got see, especially the cats (one of her words for all four legged animals including JuanGa.)

Bromeliads growing in Añasco, Puerto Rico Tropical Bloom

Grosellas

Jennifer had mentioned that she was going to make us some Grosellas and I had no clue what she was talking about.

Before their clients left with their new bromeliads, Osvaldo and Raul went Grosella or what you would call Gooseberry, picking. They grow on a tree in bunches almost like grapes and the tree was packed with them.

Grosellas or Gooseberries

I had never eaten a gooseberry but have seen a variation of the gooseberry that is yellow or orange on one of the cooking channels. I ate one raw and it almost tasted like a green pepper.

Jennifer said they are packed with Vitamin C and are usually cooked in water and sugar as a treat. That evening she made some with brown sugar and water. Put them in the fridge and let them cool a bit. What you get is a semi-sweet tart fruit.

BreadFruit (Pana) and Green Bananas (Guineos)

Cooking Grosellas

We packed up some breadfruit, bananas, and gooseberries for the ride home. This morning I decided that I was going to make my gooseberries with a little bit more flavor. I added some cinnamon, vanilla extract, brown sugar, confectioner’s sugar, and some freshly squeezed orange juice and added this to the water.

I let it cook and waited until the gooseberries took on a brownish color and had separated. I also tasted them to see if they were soft.

Grosellas (Gooseberries)

I put them in the fridge and since the gooseberry soaks up the flavors added in the water, you get a semi-sweet tart, cinnamon tasting treat. I didn’t measure anything; I just added and tasted. But if you want to have a recipe to follow, here is one that I found this morning on a site called @VeganInTheSun .

Grosellas or Gooseberries Treats

Thanks @TropicalBloom!

Thanks to Jennifer and Osvaldo for teaching me something new about the fruits and vegetables that grow in Puerto Rico. If you would like to visit Jennifer and Osvaldo’s shop in Añasco, Puerto Rico, write to them here , you can find them on Twitter @TropicalBloom and on Facebook  .

Tropical Bloom Shop Añasco, Puerto Rico

Have you ever had Grosellas or Gooseberries? 

What did you think of the taste and how did you use them in your cooking?

Thanks to Raul @rj_c for taking the pictures.

Filed Under: Fruit, Organics, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , , ,

Plant, Grow, and Eat!

April 2, 2012 by 1 Comment

This is a guest blog post by our friend Dwight Santana. @Slayerkun on Twitter. 

Margarita

Lately I have discovered a passion for plants. Throughout the process I realized that I can plant, grow, and depending what seeds I purchase, eat. Mostly I have been planting flowers and other type of decorative plants, until I tried to grow some plants with actual purposefulness. I mean not to underestimate the miracle that are flowers, but they are mostly decorative, and I wanted something more with a purpose.

Sweet Peppers

Plant and Grow

So on my “gardener” journey, I started experimenting with cultivating some plants that are either edible or they grow some type of produce. I planted herbs, a tomato plant , lettuce, peppers (Regular and sweet), culantro (coriander), mint, “Yerba Buena” (that stuff that looks like mint and it is use to make mojitos but its not mint), “Anis” and Albahaca blanca” (white basil.)

Sweet Peppers Bail Me Out

At first I thought it would just be cool to plant them and grow them and make it a hobby. Until one day I  was cooking a potato salad and I realized I had not bought some peppers. In my frustration that I’d have to change to mashed potatoes, I remembered that my sweet pepper plant had flourished!

It had green, red, and some yellowish ones. This was perfect I thought, so I picked them, really cleaned them with some water and soap, an proceeded to use them. Let me just say they were delicious and fresh. But a different kind of fresh; a fresh you can only get from just picked produce.

Coriander or Culantro in Spanish

The fruits of my labor

Then I realized that this hobby had turned into something else, something with an actual purpose. This plant completed my meal and it saved me from running out to the store to buy peppers. This part about not going out saved me gas, supermarket parking fee, time (important) and having to actually buy the peppers that would have costed me around $3 dollars. I thought I could be onto something. The thought that I had was not just in the monetary savings; I knew that they had grown naturally without any help of fertilizers or everything else they are used at the farms. It was easy, fun, and the space I used for them is minimal.

Where I live there’s not that much space for planting but I used pots and they are doing really well.

Grow what you can in limited spaces

I also thought this might be a good resource for saving some money and if you are vegetarian it helps a lot since organic food at places like “Freshmart” are  more expensive.

Here is an opportunity to  actually see  what you are growing and what you’re going to eat.

Some plants that can grow fast are: beans, pumpkin, corn and a variety of vegetables. And here on the island many of them have a perfect weather to grow.

Orange Roses

I may not be vegetarian, but fruit and vegetable are a great part of my meals, so slowly I might change and start  a project, where I can eat just what I plant. I’m betting I’ll be saving a lot when that happens, and the best part, I really don’t need a farm, just some time, pots, and good weather.

All Photo Credits thanks to Dwight Santana!

Filed Under: Gardening, Lifestyle, Organics Tagged With: , , , ,

Artesanal Bread Classes with @Peacenloaf and @IsasBread

March 8, 2012 by 1 Comment

If you have not had the chance to eat their vegetarian pizza or artesanal bread made by @IsasBread and Stephanie at their establishment Peace n’ Loaf, you can get to the Local Organic Farmer’s Market in San Juan, Puerto Rico every first and third Sunday. You will find them also selling bread at the Mercado Agricola in Old San Juan and distrbuted through the Community Supported Agriculture boxes (CSA) via El Departamento de La Comida.

Better yet, if you want to learn how to make delicious artesanal bread and are in the San Juan, Puerto Rico area, you can learn directly from Isa and her staff. Their next class is Sunday March 25th, from 8:30 a.m. to -12:00 p.m.  Peace n’Loaf is located Avenida Americo Miranda #1402 Caparra Terrace. Space is limited and the class fills up quickly. Drop by the restaurant to sign up for the class or give them a shout on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: ,

Satito looking for an Owner

March 6, 2012 by 1 Comment

One of our contributor’s here at Veglatino,  @AnaLovebug,  posted a picture of a male dog who is three months old that is looking for a home. He is up-to-date with vaccinations and is ready to bring love to your family. If you or someone you know is searching for a new family member to cuddle with, I know this is your guy.

For those who don’t know what a sato is, it is the term in Spanish for a mixed-bred dog. You can contact Ana or Jose for more information through Twitter @jpadilla_ or leave a comment on the website and we can direct your inquiry to Ana.

Thanks to @Analovebug for the picture!

Filed Under: Adopt A Pet, Animal Rights Tagged With: ,
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