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Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Austin #SXSW

February 28, 2012 By 4 Comments

Iron Cactus, Austin photo by @rj_c

As the days get closer and you have probably mapped out where you will stay and what sessions of SXSW you will attend, one of the questions you might want to ask yourself if you are a Vegan or Vegetarian is where will you eat? We have listed some Food Carts that cater to Vegans and Vegetarians for when you are on-the-go.

Here are about six restaurants located Downtown in Austin that we found that serve and cater to vegans and vegetarians.

  • Austin Java will serve you breakfast all day with products that are vegan and vegetarian friendly and non-GMO (They do not use products that are a Genetically Modified Organic.)
  • Clay Pit if you want to do lunch and enjoy Indian Cuisine but check out their schedule before you reserve on the Open Tables system. Here is a list of their vegetarian options.
  • Pita Pit offers you Lebanese style vegetarian options. They are also offering a vegan black bean patty.
  • P.F. Changs If you would like to enjoy a sit down dinner and Asian cuisine.
  • Serranos Tex Mex Restaurant will have vegetarian options for you . If you are a vegan just ask them to prepare your meals with out the cheese.
  • Iron Cactus it has a great view of downtown Boston and Raúl’s experience during #SXSW was great both times  Raúl choose to eat there.
  • Casa de Luz - recommended by Nando Caban-Mendez and Thom Singer according to it’s website their nutritionally trained chefs handcraft plant based, 100% organic, vegan, vegetarian, alkalizing, nutrient-rich meals that will improve your health.

There are more restaurants in the downtown area that will serve you vegan or vegetarian options.

Thanks to VegAustin.com for providing great information. If you feel like venturing outside the downtown area, this site will provide you with other alternatives. I would check the list to make sure the restaurants are still operational as there were some that we found out of business.

We also posted a previous post on Vegetarian and Vegan Food Carts which also can give you a few other options.

Are there other restaurants in the Downtown area of Austin that serve Vegan or Vegetarian options? 

 

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Vegetarian/Vegan Brunch at St. Germain Bistro & Cafe

December 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

We went up to Old San Juan a few Sunday’s ago to meet up with our favorite, soon-to-be-wed  couple Zuleyka and Pepe. Raul  had gone to the restaurant for dinner while he was staying up that way for a conference last month. I had read about the vegetarian options served at this restaurant when doing research for other stays and day trips in the area but we never got around to going.

Parking Close by

The parking closest to the restaurant is called La Cochera (they validated the ticket for the first hour of your stay at the restaurant). Ask the parking attendant to direct you to Calle Sol which is up the street and around the corner from the parking garage. If you are walking around you will have to walk up pretty far from Paseo de La Princessa area. But the good thing about that is you get to see the great architecture of Old San Juan.

Once we got to the restaurant that seats about 40 people, it was buzzing with guests and employees. We were goin to eat brunch for $17.22 (plus tax) in Old San Juan which is a pretty great price considering the location. I had previewed the menu on our ride up and sorta of knew that I wanted a sandwich. So for that price you get you choice of coffee or tea, juice, green or fruit salad, your main dish and side, plus dessert!

I ordered the Siciliano which is a black tapenade, mozzarella, tomato, pesto sandwich on a baquette with the side of fresh garbanzos.

I also ordered the fresh fruit salad with orange/carrot juice and for dessert a nice restaurant made carrot cake. The best thing about everything I ate was that our daughter of nearly 11 months could eat as well. She loved the kiwi, granola, watermelon, bananas, and the cinnamon lightely sprinkled over all of the fruit. I think if we would have ordered another fruit plate for Daniela she would have eaten that as well. Everthing I shared with Daniela minus the carrot/orange juice was delicious. We even took some extra garbanzos from Pepe.

Raul’s platter and brunch experience was custom and he’ll explain how the staff catered to his needs.

Raúl’s Comments

Different to many locations where hey have a set menu and will not change if for you, St. Germain caters to the dietary needs of each individual.

In my case I requested a vegan meal and the manager Mayra was more than happy to switch the many options on the menu for a Vegan Sandwich which is on their regular menu called Patrick. I have been trying to stay away from coffee for some time now and I also appreciated the fact that St. Germain had tea as another option. There Lemonade was fresh and refreshing and their fruit salad was delicious.

As in my other visits to St. Germain they are very consistent in how fresh the food options taste. If you are in Old San Juan on a Sunday, I have to say my recommendation would be to stop at St. Germain and enjoy an awesome brunch in a fresh and cozy place.

 St. Germain Location and Contact Info

156 Sol St
San Juan, PR 00901

(787) 725-5830


 

 

 

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More Vegetarian Option @PFChangs San Juan

November 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When I travel Stateside especially in the south part of the U.S. in places like Chattanooga, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Raleigh, NC and I am looking for a place to eat vegetarian PF Changs is my first option.

Over the year’s I have made PF Changs one of my favorite restaurants because of their solid vegetarian menu offering and the flexibility to turn and customize other plates on the menu into vegetarian.

New PF Changs in San Juan

I am also very happy that a PF Changs restaurant was opened in San Juan where I can drive to it when I feel like having my favorite PF Chang treats.

PF Changs open their new location at Plaza Las Americas Mall with plans to open a few more throughout the island.  Experiencing PF Changs from the comfort of my island for the first time was an awesome experience.

My Favorite Vegetarian Options on the PF Chang’s Menu

I went ahead and asked for my favorite appetizers the Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps that are made out of Tofu and the Vegetable Steamed Dumplings. The preparation of both was prepared the same way or better with the many times I have had those plates in other PF Changs.

Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

 

As an entree I requested the Kung Pao Tofu, which is the Kung Pao Chicken, dished modified to being vegetarian. I had been at PF Changs Boston in September and they where not able to make that plate for me. I was more than happy that the San Juan Team was able to make my favorite off the menu option and make it taste great.

Kung Pao Tofu

Overall my experience was unique and the Vegetarian they served me where delicious.

If you are looking for an awesome vegetarian lunch or dinner in the San Juan Metro PF Changs might be one of your best options!

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Going Veggie at Disney, Universal Studios/IOA and Busch Gardens

November 15, 2011 By 1 Comment

Hello all, hope you’re doing well. Lately I’ve been researching a few traveling tips and such preparing for a possible trip 2012 and it got me thinking of the last times I traveled which were the years I was a vegetarian. I do have another post about eating veggie in the Miami/Palm Beach areas (especially Boynton Beach where I lived) but today I’m going to concentrate on my last trip to Orlando/Tampa in 2008.

The trip was my high school Senior trip which translates to – doing as much as you can in very little time and VERY, VERY, VERY limited dining options and although I do realize that many of those subscribed to VegLatino are past the high school age many of us often get caught in quick trips (or “viajes relámpagos” as my mom calls them) with limited options and surrounded by people who don’t understand or simply tell you to get some lettuce and tomatoes.

This trip was during April/May 2008 and was from Monday – Friday. We visited all Disney parks, Downton Disney, Islands of Adventures, Universal Studios, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Busch Gardens and Pirate’s Dinner Adventure. Please note that this was in 2008 so I cannot recall if some of these things have changed but I’m parting from my experience not so long ago. Here goes..

First things first make sure you call ahead to Medieval Times and Pirate’s since they do have vegetarian options. Medieval Times is known for it’s meat dishes (and no forks…how fun) that include various pieces of chicken and a potato. Truth be told my vegetarian plate was delightful and had nothing to envy the meat plates, truth be told I couldn’t see it so I had to take a picture to see what I was digging in to. My plate consisted of a vegetable kabob, rice pilaf that had roasted almonds and dried cranberries, hummus with pitta chips and a huge mushroom topped with a slice of eggplant and some spices…to die for, and a huge plus – veggies get forks (+10 points for Medieval Times) the soup that they offer at the beginning I was told was fish stock so I stayed away from it.

Pirate’s dinner, once again call ahead but don’t expect a delicious delight it was a slice (rather huge) of frozen vegetable lasagna, not bad but I think they could do better. I believe the others had some sort of chicken with vegetables and pasta dish, I was feeling rather sick that day so I just ate my meal and watched the show without questioning much. But..in my opinion, the Pirate’s show is much more interactive and if you get close enough seats you’re practically part of the action, very well decorated as well.

Now on with the parks. Let me state before I proceed that we had breakfast at Ponderosa (Kissimmee) every day so it was rather flexible and that’s why I won’t state anything about it. The parks generally have very little healthy foods and if you’re vegan you’re in for a tough day. In regards to snacks you have your regular cotton candy, popcorn, pretzel, etc. snacks and we all know the ice cream varieties; what I mean to say is that if you’re looking for a quick healthy pick-me-up during the day you might have to take it with you since apparently for Disney they only protein filled snack they believe in is Turkey legs and nuggets. However, many Disney stores do have trail mixes and nuts available so that’s good, I remember buying a rather tasty Chip and Dale Trail Mix in a little souvenir shop right in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (which will always be Disney’s MGM Studios for me!) and the only frozen treat that I did not feel guilty about eating was their frozen banana pop dipped in dark chocolate sprinkled with chopped nuts – however if you’re allergic to nuts it will be even more complicated for you. A good option there as well is the Hollywood and Vine Buffet, they have lots of good veggie options such as pasta salads, potatoes in all ways, hot pastas, grilled veggies, etc.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom they all decided to have lunch at Pizzafari, a over the counter pizza place, they did have Caesar salad available but since I dislike dressings I didn’t get it – it was all pre-prepared so I couldn’t get it without (-10 points for Disney) and some dressing variations include anchovies so it was out of the question anyways. There I had cheese pizza..and that’s it since the only other options were breadsticks (more carbs? A week before prom? What are they crazy ?!?) and pepperoni pizza.

At Disney’s Magic Kingdom I only had lemonade since we arrived straight from the airport and then went on to Medieval Times but I do remember going on a previous occasion to the Terrace (where different counter services are available) and the Asian one had veggie noodles with tofu.

At Disney’s Epcot Center I had a feast at the Moroccan Pavilion since they have lots of veggie options. At the restaurant I ordered a vegetable kabob with some hummus and spanakopita. All amazing. Definitely a good veggie option if you’re dinning at Epcot.

Now for Universal Studios/IOA. At IOA some friends and I decided we were tired of on-the-go food so we decided to sacrifice going on a few rides and go to a sit-down restaurant. We opted for Mytho’s Restaurant a Greek-ish restaurant beautifully decorated and the architecture was amazing. The special was pesto-steak pizza and some different burgers. Since the other plates were rather pricey and I still had a few good days left in Orlando I went for the pizza which they kindly made veggie for me. The made it without the meat and added extra red onions, the pesto sauce gave it an amazing touch and would definitely stop by again next time I go.

Universal Studios, we went a few hours after eating so I wasn’t really starving but I was pleasently surprised at all of the healthy snack options they have (+50 points for US). Right in front of what today is Harry Potter’s Wizarding World and back then was Dueling Dragons was an amazing “market” cart with lots of fresh fruit, some whole and some cut and ready to eat, bags of granola and 100% pure juices. I remember grabbing a fruit salad and apple juice and they were very tasty. Definitely a great twist on amusement park foods.

And now Busch Gardens. I know some people love it but other than the animals I honestly wouldn’t go again. We decided to go once again to one of the counter-service places and it was just depressing the menu was hot dog, chicken nuggets, cookies, hamburgers, garden salad and fruit. I will show a picture of what I had which was obviously a salad and fruit and don’t get me wrong it’s great and healthy but would some soy nuggets kill them? or assorted veggies with perhaps some dressing or heck, even a baked potato with some mixed veggies in it? It was rather depressing, the strawberries with cream were great but that just doesn’t make a meal.

At Downtown Disney I went to Wolfgang Puck’s Express restaurant and had a hummus sandwich which was rather tasty, it came with cut up veggies although I highly suspect that the hummus wasn’t home made. Other options there are Planet Hollywood, McDonalds, Fulton’s Crab House and an Irish Pub as well as an Italian Restaurant.

All in all, my recommendation is to call ahead where you can and if you’re planning to eat inside of Disney do some research beforehand, search online for the menus at the parks and Downtown so that you know where to go and to see if you have to call ahead. Luckily for me every night we went to Walgreens so I was able to pick up some cereal bars/cups and some 100 Calorie Snacks which I always made sure to have 2-3 in my bag. Other than that, plan ahead, call ahead and make sure you take some healthy snacks with you – veggie or not it’s just not healthy to feed children (or anybody really) pretzels, popcorn and turkey legs bigger than our heads. Hope this helps.

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

1st Visit to Veggie Friendy St. Germain in Old San Juan

November 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

A Month Ago while I was at ISACA Latin CACS & ISRM Conference I had the opportunity to meet a neat group of people and reconnect with old acquaintances.

While I was happy that I got a neat upgrade at the Presidential Suite of the Caribe Hilton I was deciding where I could go and eat my friend and ISACA member Lymari invited me to try out St. Germain a restaurant in old San Juan.

Is it Vegetarian Friendly?

My first question when I get invited to eat at a new place is to ask if it is vegetarian friendly. The answer was yes and Lymary also indicated that it was probably one of the most vegetarian friendly places in Old San Juan.

We arrived at the restaurant to find a very cozy small restaurant setting with the staff smiling. When I asked my waitress what vegetarian options they had she was more than happy to go into the specifics of the many options they had she was nice enough to point out which one was her favorite entree. Most of them where sandwiches which sounded really attractive and all vegetarian.

I could Have Soup TOO

Thankfully the soup was made out of Vegetable Stock. One of the things that really won me over was the Soup that was made out of vegetable stock not sure what vegetables it had in it but the flavors where so rich and tasty I forgot to ask. Once the waitress indicated it was made out of pure vegetables I decided to trust her and after tasting the soup I sure did not regret it.

My entree came out being a delicious sandwich with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a side salad that tasted so good I would have asked for the side salad as an entree and I have expressed how I feel about salads in the past. Something I do realize when creating this post is that I am recommending a restaurant without going into the details I was so enchanted by the staff, the flavors, and the good company I had I really did not get into the specifics of each plate which gives me another reason to go back and do a more formal review.

All Options Even the Drinks Where Amazing

I ended the night with the most delicious carrot cake I have tried in years. Being vegetarian it is very difficult for me to really enjoy each item of my complete meal as much as I did. All 4 items I ordered including the Ginger Margarita that I recommend to anyone who wants to have a refreshing cocktail where excellent.

I want to thank Daniel and Lymary for the recommendation and introducing me to these new place where I can go and have tasty and great vegetarian options in old San Juan.

We will be posting our second visit to St. Germain where they where able to offer a fully vegan option for me feel free to Subscribe to VegLatino by Email and get updates directly in your inbox.

Any other Latino/Hispanic inspired places that have excellent vegetarian options we should try out. Feel free to share in the comments area.

 

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Not Just Cowboys and Cow for Dinner in Dallas

September 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

Dallas has a reputation:  Southern drawls, women with bleached blond highly hair sprayed coiffures, JR Ewing, Urban Cowboy and the Dallas Cowgirls in high boots and almost-not-there skirts.

My first trip to Dallas was more than 25 years ago. It was a business trip, and I felt some culture shock when at a business dinner, one of the men ordered the food for all of us at the table. I felt like I was a woman living in the ‘40s. The worst part about it was he ordered an array of meats I wouldn’t touch.  Back then, the word vegetarian was not heard much, and certainly the guys at my dinner table would have been clueless about a meat free diet.  I can’t recall, but I’m guessing I ate a small side salad, as I was so used to doing at establishments that didn’t offer vegetarian options. Back in those days, I was even used to going without any food, as the choices often were dismal.

 

Now in 2011, I had another business trip to Dallas. I was determined to try to work in as many of the vegan spots.  A vegan friend gave me some pointers, and I also consulted dallasvegan.com 

The first place I stopped into made me want to return for more.  Spiral Diner looks like a funky chrome-laden diner with plenty of your traditional comfort foods like hot dogs and frito pies and milk shakes and ice cream – all vegan of course.  Since I gave up comfort foods more than 35 years ago, those menu items didn’t appeal to me.  However, Spiral Diner has a vast selection of wraps, sandwiches, and hot plates to choose from.  They also have agave-sweetened caffeine-free sodas. 

While I would have enjoyed ordering an appetizer, main plate and dessert or soda, I kept it simple with a wrap.  My selection was a whole wheat tortilla filled with sweet potato, avocado, hummus, greens, candied walnuts and tahini dressing.  I’ve mixed black beans with sweet potatoes before, and beans and avocado are a natural combo, but this was very different, tasty, crunchy, healthy and filling.

 

Next stop on the vegan express, Bliss Raw Cafe.  I know all the benefits of raw foods, but let’s face it, raw foods aren’t always as comforting as cooked dishes.  Wrong.  I ordered Vietnamese noodles. This raw version was made out of kelp with an almond paste dressing.  I splurged on a dessert. Since I don’t consume any sweeteners except agave, I was in heaven with this agave-sweetened cacao brownie. The next day I returned and the owner suggested their coconut kale enchiladas, which are apparently a best seller.  The tortilla was a reddish paper thin sheet made out of coconut. The enchiladas were stuffed with kale and other greens, and topped with white and orange creamy dairy-free sauces.  Now I know why they call this restaurant Bliss.    

 

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) opened Dallas’ first vegetarian restaurant 28 years ago. Over the years, it has won many awards for the best vegetarian place in town.  What impressed me most, beyond the good food that I was expecting, was the atmosphere. 

ISKON’s spiritual leader decided Dallas was the place to build a special temple.  Set in a fairly poor working class neighborhood, the Krishna temple, ashram and Kalachandjis restaurant are housed in a palace.

The restaurant has a lovely patio and gift shop.  Kalachandji’s offers lunch and dinner buffets for under ten dollars.  I tried to avoid overdoing it and ate only barbecued tofu, spinach, and a cauliflower zucchini curry.  No soup, no salad, no dessert, no drink, even though they were all included, and I left feeling stuffed.  For the picky eater, you can see the daily buffet items online before you visit, at kalachandjis.com

 

I actually spent more on books than I spent on my meal.  One of the books I bought as a gift, The Higher Taste, is chock full of rationale why people should adopt a karma-free diet.  The first half of the book talks through scientific and spiritual reasons to be vegetarian and includes many quotes from notables such as Paul McCartney, “if anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat.”  The latter half of the book provides vegetarian (not all vegan) recipes in accordance with ayurvedic practices.

 

To round out the circle of plenty, I tried Cosmic Café, a funky place located not far from downtown. On the second floor, the café has a community space for yoga and meditation classes.  The first floor looks a bit like a 60’s style yoga pad. Most the menu items have a taste of India. Even the hummus platter is served with Indian sides like flatbread and mango. This is an all vegetarian restaurant, and most the items can be ordered without cheese or other dairy ingredients. 

There are also plenty of other vegan or vegan-friendly options outside Dallas in Fort Worth, Plano and Richardson, several of which specialize in Asian fare.

So while ranch-hands still may work in Texas there’s plenty of eats beyond Cowboy breakfasts here.

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Alma in Pittsburgh, PA

August 30, 2011 By 1 Comment

Alma’s Website
Urbanspoon Review

Alma is a restaurant located near Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. It is not a vegetarian restaurant but has a nice selection of vegetarian friendly dishes. As I have mentioned in the past I enjoy spending time in restaurants that can serve both me and my non-veggie friends. Well let me tell you, Alma delivered.

I can tell you that the presentation of every dish was amazing. The service was awesome and the knowledge of every dish was incredible. The menu includes a reference to where the dish comes from. Or at least the nationality from which the dish was adapted from. In the end I had the “Vegetarian plate with quinoa, assorted fresh vegetables and hominy”. Loved it. Except the kale. It is not personal, I don’t like kale. But everything else was amazing. Just look at the picture. It was great.

I have been to Abay, another restaurant from the same owner. I enjoy the other restaurant and this remind me of this. A small cozy place with a nice selection of dishes and a small bar in the back. If you ever come to Pittsburgh, you should certainly visit this place.

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews

Veggie at La Vista Latin Grill Restaurant @SanJuanMarriott

August 3, 2011 By 2 Comments

Last Friday, we gathered with a group of local bloggers and twitter users at one of two restaurants located within the San JuanMarriott Resort and Stellaris Casino located in Condado, Puerto Rico. The restaurant that offers buffet and an a la carte menu is called La Vista Latin Grill located near the pool and beachfront area of the San Juan Marriott.

SJ Marriott

Once we all met up in the lobby, we were served drinks and snacks by the bar matron Jennifer. She took a liking to Daniela and chatted with us for a bit making sure we all had something to drink in our hands. Afterwards, we were brought down to La Vista Latin Grill by Melissa and Cristina, who are employees of the San Juan Marriott and coordinators of the luncheon along with CIMA IT Solutions, Inc.

Once seated, our waitress proceeded to list the items available for all to eat. I had to pay close attention to the vegetarian options in the buffet and a la carte menu. We were able to ask Melissa and Cristina questions about the restaurant and the services they provide at the hotel.

While everyone was talking at the table and waiting for their beverages, I decided to take a walk with my daughter  and talk to the staff and chefs about the vegetarian and vegan options available. Of course I had to sacrifice my waistline for the greater good of other vegetarians and vegans they may want to visit the hotel as guests or locals.

One of the employees that was standing near the food, informed me of the vegetarian options and stated that he was waiting for one of the two vegetarians to come up to him. He introduced me to Lucy and Emanuel, two of the chefs at La Vista, that provided me with information regarding vegetarian or vegan options. I wanted to make sure that they understood the difference between Vegans and Vegetarians.

As I proceeded to talk to Chefs Lucy and Emmanuel, they understood that if someone who was vegan wanted something cooked, they would omit any type of dairy product from the meal. I also asked them if they had someone who was vegan or vegetarian and they wanted soup, they would make food with vegetable broth. They further explained they could make food for the guests  according to their specific dietary needs. All you would have to do is ask them.

In this case, if I was the San Juan Marriot, I would put a little note near the foods stating this or have the waiters ask if there is someone with a dietary need who is dining with them that particular day. This would really be something out of the ordinary as far as customer service is concerned.

Sometimes we walk into certain places and don’t see vegetarian options so we leave. But the good thing about the employees that I talked to at the San Juan Marriott was that they were aware that people do have different needs when it comes to food. When the waitress did tell us the vegetarian buffet options she noted the quinoa and couscous stating that they were gluten free. I would recommend that they put a little note next to foods that were considered gluten free or vegetarian/vegan in order to ease a diners experience.

I was with our daughter Daniela who is eating solids and I also asked if they catered to moms and babies who needed food prepared for them. They did state they could do this for the family and asked me if I wanted something made for Daniela. Since I had brought her food and told them she likes mashed potatoes, I said it wasn’t necessary.

A couple of minutes later as I was feeding Daniela her peas and mango puree, one of the employees asked me if I wanted some mashed potatoes for her. I said sure and they brought out a plate of mashed potatoes that could have fed several babies. I thought this was genuine and an extra touch to the good customer service we were getting. As a new mom I am picky about what my daughter eats, ( I make her food at home) and I did taste the potatoes before giving them to baby. They had a good taste to them. I would recommend that if you do need this type of service at La Vista, go into detail about what ingredients your baby can or can not have.

When I saw the the plantain soup I thought I will be going for that during my food adventure. I found out from my partner that the chef had warned him not to eat any because it was not made with vegetable stock. For me it is kind of weird to make a vegetable or root based soup with chicken stock. But that is something that we run into with many places on the island that offer vegetable or root based soups and are not are vegetarian or a vegan cafeteria. I would recommend changing the recipe to include vegetable broth or include a soup in the buffet that is made with a vegetable base just for vegetarians or vegans.

The only item on the a la carte menu was a veggie burger. We were asked by the waitress if we wanted to try it and asked if we wanted to omit or add cheese. We did ask for swiss on the burger which I was going to share with my partner. They prepared a veggie burger that had toppings other than the lettuce tomato you might get elsewhere. They grilled eggplant, yellow squash, green and red peppers with a hint of balsamic vinegar. If someone were Vegan, they would offer the patty without the cheese. I have to say that it was delicious and I am usually a ketchup girl. But I didn’t need it with the way the vegetables were seasoned. I made sure to go to Lucy and Emmanuel and tell them both how delicious the burger was. Emmanuel told me that the focaccia bread was made in-house. It really tasted fresh and was soft!

Their salad bar was extensive and include mixed greens, iceburg lettuce salad with dried fruit incorporated, olives, tomatos, red peppers, shredded carrots, shredded broccoli, and cauliflower, corn, and other vegetable toppings. They also had balsamic vinegar and oil if you did not want any of the other dressings. They did have a couscous salad and quinoa salad that were prepared in vegetable stock.

For my main dish I did have the eggplant lasagna. It was made with tomatoes, marinara sauce, cheese, yellow squash, and of course eggplant. They did have extra marinara sauce to top the lasagna. I served myself the mixed greens salad, quinoa, couscous, and mozzarella balls. I did not leave one string of broccoli on my plate. It was all very flavorful.

The end of my lunch was topped off with coffee and sweets. I was told by my friends Zuleyka and Pepe to eat the guayaba cheesecake. I followed their recommendation and did not regret it at all. There were a wide variety of desserts from mini tarts, homemade mini chocolate chip cookies, decadent chocolate cakes, to typical tembleque and arroz con dulce. I recommended to one of the employees that they specify if there are any diabetic friendly desserts or even desserts that vegan’s can indulge in while they are visiting. 

The customer service and attention to small details, especially the mashed potatoes for Daniela, was exceptional on behalf of the staff at the luncheon. There is always room for more vegetarian and vegan options when it comes to the a la carte menu at La Vista Latin Grill. But unlike other places, they had a good jumping point besides just lettuce and tomato that other places think is vegetarian or vegan friendly food.

Disclosure: The San Juan Marriott hired CIMA IT Solutions to assist with the coordination of this event. Even though our lunch was Complimentary on behalf of the La Vista Latin Grill and the San Juan Marriott, we don’t feel that this influenced the writing of this post in any way.

 

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

Cincinnati – City of Immigrants

July 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

Typical building in "Over-The-Rhine"

Before my visit to Cincinnati, I knew this city was in the state of Ohio, near Kentucky, but not much else. Unfortunately, too many of us are American history illiterates. Even though I consider myself well-read, there was little I knew about the mark Cincinnati had in our nation, and the role of history on this major city.

 

Once called Losantiville, it was later known as the Queen City because it was the cultural capital of the New America.  This was also the site where Annie Oakley met Buffalo Bill, even though they were pegged as gun slingers of the Wild West. Along with the notoriety of sharp shooters, gangsters and gamblers prevailed across the river in Newport, Kentucky, once upon a time.

Bets are on that only major sports enthusiasts will know that Cincy was where the World Series was invented by the owner of the Cincinnati Reds.

Of course I didn’t miss those lessons dozing off in school. Every American learns about the struggles 150 years ago during the Civil War.  But how much can most of us recall about The Underground Railroad? This was a path to freedom for an estimated 100,000 slaves and servants.  They travelled from the southern states all the way north to Canada which was a safe haven since slavery was illegal there.  Others travelled south to Mexico. Along the way, Cincinnati and the Ohio River were important stops, and referred to as “the River Jordan.” 

Harriet Tubman is a well known name. She, like so many others in the South, was faced with selling her children. There are poignant quotes from Tubman and others that grace the walls of the Freedom Center, a place well worth visiting in downtown Cincinnati. This is an ultra modern museum that gives visitors an excellent crash course in American history and the Underground Railroad.  Located right by a familiar looking bridge that connects the city with Kentucky, it turns out the Ohio River crossing was the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Beyond the history of the blacks escaping the south, another part of the city’s history that I found fascinating and relevant today was its cultural makeup. Cincinnati was, and is, a city of immigrants. Each wave faced different prejudices and challenges.  The first settlers were primarily Protestants from England and Scotland.

Interior of old beer garden

When a large wave of German Catholics arrived in the mid 1800s, they faced many setbacks. “Over-the-Rhine” became their enclave. So densely populated, within a three-square-mile area, it was estimated that ten people lived in every two rooms. With 75 percent of the population in this part of the town being German, English was not the dominant language spoken here.  The Germans brought not only their language but their culture. At one time, there were more than 130 beer gardens and saloons in the German ghetto. Beer was popular, in part, because it was safer to drink than the water. 

Site of old underground brewery

Visitors that take a tour of “Over-the-Rhine” can get a peek inside the last remaining intact German beer hall, where the film “Rage in Harlem” was filmed with Danny Glover and Forrest Whitaker. They can also enter an underground beer factory that was designed to brew lager in cave like cool temperatures.

Beyond the beer gardens, the Germans were theatre goers.  One corner had three venues, one of which had seating for 1,200. Nearby was a theatre that boasted the first valet parking service, and one of the first fire-proof buildings.

Almost simultaneous to the German wave of immigrants, was the influx of Irish caused by the Great Potato Famine. Cincinnati was a major destination for these White Christians who along with the Germans faced extreme prejudice from the White Christian native born Ohioans. In fact, the two groups were feared by the locals. While the United States may now be experiencing waves of racial profiling, hate crimes and anti-immigrant bigotry, it was so common in 19th and 20th century Cincy that signs such as “no Irish need apply” and “For service, speak English,” were commonplace.

Today, cultural diversity is embraced and enjoyed at the city’s main plaza, known as Fountain Square. A good variety of free entertainment from Reggae to Salsa is offered, especially during the summer months. Special events at Fountain Square that reflect the heritage of the city include a Celtic Festival and Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

For vegetarians, Cincinnati is known as “porkopolis,” but there is a great vegan friendly restaurant, Myra’s, a ten minute bus or cab ride north of downtown, near the university.  This looks like the type of place frequented and run by university students.  It’s very small but inviting.  Myra’s offers loads of desserts, freshly made soups, salads, rice dishes, entrees and sandwiches. The teeny kitchen also has an ample variety of teas, hot and cold, caffeinated and caffeine-free. Items that are vegan are clearly marked, and the entire menu is vegetarian. This is clearly a health-food-style venue, but they don’t scratch wine off the menu.  Maybe because it pairs so well with a few of Myra’s Italian selections.

Additionally, a number of restaurants with international flavors are close to the Square. Just north of the Fountain on Sixth Street is Akash, an Indian restaurant. Special orders can be placed to meet dietary needs. Wasabi lovers can find plenty of vegan or fish-free plates across the street from Akash at Mr. Sushi. Walk another two blocks north to Eight Street to find a small Middle Eastern shop that boasts healthy foods. With two tables outside and no more than half a dozen on the inside, Al Amir offers plenty of tasty dishes at modest prices.  Be sure to request no feta on the salads if you are a vegan.

For a mammoth taste of the multiculturalism, imagine the World Choir Games taking place over 11 music filled days and nights next July. This is the largest event of its kind. Thousands of choir members from more than 70 countries, dressed in traditional attire, will perform in what’s considered the Olympics of choral music. This is a great way for Cincinnatians to welcome people from all over the world.

 

 

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Vegetarian Creativity in the Pearl of the South

July 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Last February I met a small restaurant owner and chef that operates and works in my hometown of Ponce.

One of the biggest issues you can have in Puerto Rico like I have expressed on past occasions is the lack of opportunities for vegetarians to eat out. Much less have a meal prepared by a chef that completely understands the definition of vegetarianism.

I visited Chef Creations in Ponce a place which has been in operation for over 10 years. I had never cared for visiting the place since it did not say welcome vegetarians. When chatting with my friend and also client Romy Baez , we made the decision to have lunch at Chef Creations. I had taken the invitation from the Chef many months ago and he had told me he was going to create a plate especially for me.

When I arrived I engaged in conversation with Chef Jorge (Owner of Chef Creations) on the opportunities that a restaurant on the Island has of having various vegetarian options on the menu. Before he prepared my meal, he ran me through all the important questions that re-assured me that he understood what a Vegetarian and Vegan could consume and not consume.

I felt very much at home. Most of Chef Creations clients are locals that know of the place by word of mouth.

I was very impressed on how cozy and inviting the inside looked. It was very different from the outside which does not say come in and enjoy a great meal.

We arrived when they where about to close and although they had stored everything they decided to take care of us. Chef Jorge decided to create a Vegetarian Pasta mixed with sauces and a creamy sauce.

For me it was something unique because I am not a big fan of Pasta but this Pasta was really delicious. Once I finished my plate he decided that I had not been fed enough and decided to create a salad and a mix of fruits which was something enjoyable that complemented the pasta very well. I was so enchanted by the meal I ended not leaving room for dessert.

After the meal Chef Jorge explained how he is planning to put a few vegetarian items on the menu and the only thing that was holding him back was that he wanted to offer the Vegetarian and Vegan community only the best options on the menu.

He did indicate that if you are Vegan or Vegetarian and have any special food needs you can feel free to let him and he will use his creativity, art, and culinary knowledge to create a unique plate that will go well with the experience of meeting such a talented guy. (But I would recommend calling ahead (787) 848-8384 to make sure they can meet all your diet needs).

Chef Jorge creates themes such as Hawaiian night that compliment the ambiance and food making the name of the restaurant a great fit.

When I was getting ready to leave,  Chef Jorge indicated that the meal was on the house. I have planned my next visit to Chef Creations where we are planning to have a Vegetarian paella.

So if you are visiting and driving around Ponce or the southen part of Puerto Rico I can clearly say that this one of your only options of having a restaurant serving you a vegetarian meal with flavor and passion.

5 stars for Chef Creations and I will update you as soon as we experience the Vegetarian Paella stay tuned! Feel free so sign up for our Subscribe to VegLatino’s Newsletter via Email.

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