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Veganism from the Latino's Perspective.

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Vegetarian/Vegan Brunch at St. Germain Bistro & Cafe

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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


 

 

 

Veggie at La Vista Latin Grill Restaurant @SanJuanMarriott

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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.

 

Vegetarian Options for Brunch at Café Pierre @doubletreesju

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Yesterday we were invited to a complimentary brunch buffet at Café Pierre located within the Double Tree Hilton San Juan (@doubletreesju) along with other invited individuals and their families. The buffet brunch includes options for breakfast and lunch.

They are open for brunch from 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. The vegetarian options we found at the buffet included, pancakes, French toast, assorted fruit, wheat germ, granola mix, yogurt, mixed fruit salad, crepes, cold and hot cereal for children and adults. Their scrambled eggs with chives were delicious and firm.

If you wanted to have fruit such as bananas, blueberries, grapes, and oranges, you could find them scattered about the tables. If you are a bread lover, the assortment included croissants, bagels, English muffins, wheat, and white toast.

I have to say that my favorite breakfast item was the pancakes. They are a good size for children and adults. There were all sorts of toppings that you could include. And if you wanted a customized pancake with dried fruit, nuts, seeds, dried cranberries, or raisins mixed in, all you have to do is ask the waiter and chef for your personalized pancake. You can top the pancakes with maple syrup, raspberry, blueberry, and regular syrup toppings. They even have agave and every chocolate lovers dream Nutella.

They do have a salad station with an assortment of toppings that could be used for the pasta station such as artichoke hearts, olives, assorted shredded cheeses, carrots, and olives. The pasta was served plain and a little bland but that is what toppings such as sun dried tomatoes, marinara, or Alfredo sauce are for. With the ability to customize your pasta, I could have asked for some pesto or other vegetable with the pasta for the lunch option. Mind you I also had to feed my little one while trying to choose from the buffet.

 

Besides the food being good, the service from the staff was great. Our waiter was named Vicente and he introduced himself to us. He stated that if there was anything we needed to let him know. At one point he brought out some ice cream for the children that were there; this special attention is something that caught my eye because it is rare to see this at restaurants. I noticed other staff members engaging with the older children by offering them crayons and coloring activities.

Café Pierre is definitely vegetarian and family friendly. If you are in the Condado area, on a Sunday, and getting ready to site see for the day, definitely fill up on the brunch. You can visit their site for information about pricing and parking.

Disclosure: We where invited by the Doubletree on a Complimentary Brunch. Even though our brunch was an invitation by the Cafe Pierre and the Doubletree we don’t feel that this influenced the writing of this post in any way.

Product Review Worthington Loma Linda and MorningStar Part 1 of 2

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Vege-Burger Worthington LomaLinda

I remember talking to my partner prior to joining him in Puerto Rico about his lifestyle change regarding food. He told me he was giving up meat and fish and adapting to a vegetarian lifestyle. I started to laugh at him because he had given his friend, who is a Jain, such a hard time when they would travel for work and needed to find a restaurant with vegetarian options. To a certain point, I did not believe that he was going to be vegetarian.

When I moved in 2006, I wondered and thought to myself okay since I will be cooking the majority of our meals, what am I going to use as protein besides beans and tofu. One afternoon I went to the supermarket and came upon a section in canned food aisle that had a product called Worthington Loma Linda Fri-Chiks, Vege-Burger, and Redi-Burger.

They had patties, stakeletts, and vegetarian burgers. Skallops, Vege-Links, and I could keep going but if you go on their site, you can see all of the products they have for cooking. The good thing is that they have a wide variety of product with endless uses for Latino cuisine. My partner has their Stripples or how we like to call it Vegeneta for breakfast everyday (vegetarian tocineta ). Those who are Vegan will not be able to consume this particular product because it is made with egg.

My favorite product to use is the Vege-Burger. It is a crumble that resembles ground protein. I have used it in lasagna, piononos, eggplant lasagna, canoas, tacos, burritos, beans, Shepherd’s pie, stuffed cabbage, green peppers, and manicotti. I have even used Vege-Burger to make wontons and spring rolls.

If you purchase their products, whether frozen or canned, I don’t think you will have an issue using them. Make sure to season the products because they do not come pre-seasoned.

I’ll write about their sister company Morningstar in my next post.

Have any of you ever cooked with Worthington Loma Linda products?

What product of theirs was your favorite?

Why Latinos Need to Become Vegetarian

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I don’t want to sound like a preacher with this post. However, I care too much about my community to not be direct with you. You need to become a vegetarian or vegan. Not because eating meat is unethical, but because of your health.

Latinos have some of the highest rates of diabetes in the US. According to the Office of Minority Health, a national survey showed that Mexican-Americans are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with diabetes. HELLO, they said TWICE!  And this is only one of the many health problems we rank high in.

I have a theory of why this is. Back in our parent’s homelands, traditional diets are balanced and the quality of food is different. In the United States, people’s lifestyles change, causing an imbalance in that diet, and thus bringing all sorts of bad juju.  Take the following into consideration:

MSG and an Unbalanced Traditional Cuisine

Lots of our food gets contaminated with MSG and fake ingredients. Do you think your abuelita back in the homeland was using seasoning with MSG? No way man! She was using fresh herbs and traditional cooking techniques. Have you ever noticed that, at least in NY, all “Spanish” food tastes the same? Thats because most restaurants are using the same seasonings, all of which have MSG!

However, the biggest challenge is that our ancestors did not eat as much meat as us because it was either scarce or expensive. Traditional diets are generally healthy because they are an optimal balance of local food items to give your body the best energy, performance, and nutrients it needs. We totally mess them up living in the modern world that is filled with fast food and constant bad-for-you snacking.

Meat is Badly Produced

The meat in the United States is questionable. Why? Well because it comes from large scale, commercial farms that mass produce cattle, chicken, and other animals, in very unhealthy and unethical ways.  How you raise animals directly impacts how it will affect humans. Pump them with antibiotics, you are getting those antibiotics Treat them like badly, and the meat will be tainted with hormones that animals release when they are under stress.

If you need to eat meat, then spring for cage-free, free-range, vegetarian feed alternatives. Remember – a little meat goes a long way. Considering the health bills you will save on, its worth the investment. Your body is like a car engine. The cleaner the fuel, the cleaner it will burn, and the less pollution you will have to take care of.

Bad Treatment = Bad Energy

Karma. Yes, I’m totally throwing that card, particularly since our Catholic-influenced cultures makes it very clear that what you give, you get back. Come on, don’t pretend all of us don’t have a little mystical seed inside that was planted by our grandmothers.

The way that animals are treated in these commercial farms is horrible, almost nightmarish. Even our “animals are animals” family members would be horrified to see some of the practices that take place. When you are consuming meat, you are also consuming that negative energy.

The following video is very graphic, but I think its important to see what I’m describing.  However, keep in mind, this is not even the worst video I’ve seen. I just didn’t want to scar you guys too much.

 

Wisdom from the Oldest Living Cuban

Its hard for your body to digest meat.  You are putting added stress, and thus more wear and tear on your body. Benito Martinez Abrogan, who at 126 was considered Cuba’s oldest living person, said that his longevity was thanks to “a healthy diet of fresh vegetables, some meat and occasional consumption of alcohol.” So, even for a fellow who migrated to Cuba in 1880, it was clear that eating less meat was healthier.  Interesting, no?

I hope some of you will be inspired by this post, if not, then at least start paying attention to what you are consuming. We  need to protect not only our political rights, but our food/consumer rights. The least we can be do is demand that the food we consume is healthy. My mother and great aunt died of pancreatic cancer at a very early age, and I wonder how much their diet influenced their health. Educate yourself and keep your family safe.

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Old Fashioned Onion Rings with Panko BreadCrumbs

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Here is the recipe we used to make homemade onion rings. Using the Panko breadcrumbs will make the onion rings extra-crunchy! Have these as a side with a vegetarian burger. You can use the same recipe to make fried pickles. Make sure to pat off the pickle juice.

Old Fashioned Onion Rings

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup milk, or as needed
  • 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
  • seasoned salt to taste
  • 1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
  2. Separate the onion slices into rings, and set aside. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. Dip the onion slices into the flour mixture until they are all coated; set aside. Whisk the egg and milk into the flour mixture using a fork. Dip the floured rings into the batter to coat, then place on a wire rack to drain until the batter stops dripping. The wire rack may be placed over a sheet of aluminum foil for easier clean up. Spread the bread crumbs out on a plate or shallow dish. Place rings one at a time into the crumbs, and scoop the crumbs up over the ring to coat. Give it a hard tap as you remove it from the crumbs. The coating should cling very well. Repeat with remaining rings.
  4. Deep fry the rings a few at a time for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove to paper towels to drain. Season with seasoning salt, and serve.

Do you have any vegetarian friendly recipes you want to share?