Vegan Vacation, Part Two: New York City

It comes as no surprise that NYC is THE place go for amazing plant-based meals. A quick search of HappyCow.net will retrieve hundreds of results for vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly locations.  So, when we decided to visit NYC during our vacation in New Jersey, I was understandably giddy.  Truth be told, I was really hoping to try Candle 79 or Pure Food and Wine, but things didn't go according to plan.  Never fear!  I still had an awesome time and enjoyed delicious vegan food at a restaurant I'd never heard of, but that I will definitely be spreading the word about.

We started the day later than expected, but with six people sharing one bathroom, that's kinda predictable.  After a nice big bowl of steel-cut oats with bananas, strawberries, walnuts, and flax seeds, we headed out to the big city.  We instructed the GPS to avoid tolls, and apparently, this means you get to drive 35 mph through every small town along the way. I'd be lying if I said it didn't irritate me.  After all, this was the highlight of the trip for me, and I didn't like being made to take it slow.  We finally made it to Liberty Park and found the ferry to take us across the choppy water to the big city around 2pm.  Yep, like I said... Late start.  The girls really enjoyed the ferry ride, and Charlotte sat perfectly still, just like a big girl.  I was surprised that she wasn't the least bit nervous, being that she's only been on a boat once when she was two months old.  My kid is one tough cookie.

We arrived in lower manhattan and immediately headed to the 9/11 memorial.  It was the one thing I knew I HAD to see.  Having never been to NYC before, I didn't know what to expect in such a sacred place, but I was so pleasantly surprised.  In such a busy, bustling city full of noise, people were noticably calm and subdued, showing complete respect for what those new fountains represent.  It felt like, no matter where we were from or what we believed, everyone there was together.  We all shared in the same emotions at that moment in time.  That was the day when we explained to my niece what the memorial was about.  She didn't know why we wanted to walk miles and miles to see these structures, but I think she understands now.  That day is so engrained in me, a part of my life that I'll never forget, but I'd never considered what it means to those born after it happened.  I wonder if the history books will convey the story in a way to make them "feel" it the way we did?  Will my daughter ever be able to comprehend why standing there brought up so many emotions in me?  Something to ponder, I suppose.

After paying our respects, we ventured on.  We weren't hungry yet, but figured we should start walking in the direction of dinner, since we'd likely be starving by the time we arrived.  I pulled up my HappyCow app and searched near me.  I saw a spot that caught my eye, called Sun in Bloom.  It looked like they had salads and juice among other healthy fare, so we headed that way.  I really enjoy the architecture in NYC, I must add.  Walking through the city was like a feast for the senses.  So much is happenig at any given time, that it's hard to know where to look, but that's all part of the fun. 

I snagged this pic from their Facebook page, but this is actually from their Brooklyn location which appears to be a sit-down restaurant with an extensive menu.

When we arrived at Sun in Bloom, we were disappointed to see that it was more of a "grab and go" kinda place than a sit-down restaurant.  They had a large refrigerator case filled with packed kale salads, nut milks, juices, etc., and behind the counter was a plethora of tea and coffee choices.  We decided to have dinner elsewhere, but did opt to try a little something there.  My brother and niece shared a gluten-free, vegan brownie that was quite a hit with the fast-food, junk-food-loving kid.  I picked up a carrot walnut muffin, also vegan and gluten-free to save for later, and had an English breakfast tea for the walk to dinner.  I forgot to get pictures, but the cafe was super cute and bright, and the muffin was ridiculously good!  They don't go stingy on the walnuts, either.  If I lived near there, I'm sure it would be a regular stop.

My mom suggested we try a place she found called The Butcher's Daughter.  The name alone got my attention, but when I checked the menu out on my phone, I figured she was on to something.  It was 1.1 miles further to walk, but we all agreed we were fine with that.  I have to add here, I LOVE my Tom's shoes.  They're practically all I wore on this trip, and my feet never hurt. 

We passed some more gorgeous buildings on our way to Kenmare Street, and finally found our destination.  I fell in love as soon as I saw it.  This quaint little bistro-style restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, greenery hanging from the ceiling, and a bright interior, it was perfect.  The weather was absolutely beautiful that day, so they had the front doors wide open, which made it feel like we were sitting outside, even though we had taking our seats at the large community table in the back.  The whole front of the restaurant is lined with windows bringing lots of natural light in, and with the heavy distressed-wood table, it felt like sitting in a garden.  I hadn't even tasted one morsel, but I knew I was gonna enjoy my dinner here. 

 

Our lovely server came to the table with mint-infused water for us all.  That's right, mint water is their go-to free beverage!  After glancing at the menu, I asked to have a wheatgrass shot, but she informed me that they were out.  Sad face. :-( However, she suggested I try the Liquid Vitality tincture, which contains ginger, honey, yuzu (not sure what that even is, but who cares?), and echinacea. It was really neat... Spicy, tart, sweet.  And I figure, being in new allergy region during fall, the components would be a good way to keep healthy on the trip.  Definitely a thumbs up from me.

After studying the menu and considering ordering one of everything, I finally settled on The Butcher's Burger, a vegetable-black bean patty with cashew cheddar, Bibb lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and special sauce on a brioche bun with roasted potato wedges and Harissa mayo.  I never order burgers, but it was calling to me.  And I figure I HAD to try the signature dish, right?  My mom and brother ordered a special Thai zucchini noodle dish.  Anyone else find it funny hat I'm the one who got the burger while my two omnivore companions opted for the raw food?  We were pretty amused by this turn of events.  

When our food arrived, we were so hungy, we forgot to take pictures.  I snapped this one after Charlotte had stolen a potato wedge.  There was no making this kid wait.  I must admit, this was one of the best damned veggie burgers I've ever had!  Most of the time, they get soft and soggy, and start to fall apart halfway through, but this was crispy and hearty to the last bite.  It was much heavier than what I'm used to eating, but I really enjoyed every bite of it.  That bun!  It was crispy on the outside and feathery light and soft on the inside.  Definitely not gluten-free, but worth it.  Mom and Matt really enjoyed their noodle dishes, as well.  I really wish I'd taken photos since they were so pretty.  Oh well, maybe next time I go there, and I hope that's soon.

Since this was my one NYC vegan food experience, I went all out and ordered dessert.  Of course, the raw chocolate ganache was calling my name.  Charlotte learned a new word that day, "chocolate".  We all shared the slice, but I could've easily eaten the whole thing.  It was amazing!  Creamy, not too sweet, served with a side of berries and jam, it was divine.  If you're ever in the area, so yourself a favor and try this adorable bistro.  There are so many creative items on the menu, from a cheese board and pates, to hearts of palm salad, to kale chips, and even a pulled "pork" BBQ  sandwich made from shredded portabello mushrooms, as well as daily specials.  I can't wait to go back!

"Chochit!"

Before leaving, I stopped into their gift shop and picked up two organic cotton tshirts, one saying "We sell designer kale." and another reading "Beet it."  I'm gathering quite the collection of veg-supporting shirts.  

After dinner, as the sun was setting, we began our long walk back to the ferry, which took us through Chinatown.  It was quite an experience seeing all of the little shops and markets along the way.  I was sad to see how many dead animals were hanging in the windows, and the smell of fish was overpowering at times, but for the most part, it was an enjoyable walk.  I purchased four new scarves for $5 each at a souvenir shop, so that was a nice find, too.  We somehow got lost and ended up too far east having to backtrack.  It was so fun spending the day doing something new to all of us.  My mom had been to NYC before, but with a native, so this was the first time she had to act as your guide.  I think she did pretty well, and gettin lost actually allowed us to see some more amazing architecture.  

This was her look the entire way back to the ferry after dark.  I think she was amazed. ;-)

We finally boarded the ferry and headed back with two very sleepy girls around 8pm.  The GPS got us lost on the way home, but not too far out of the way.  By then, we were used to it.  

Bye, bye, big city.

Once we arrived home, I had a big spinach salad and went to bed exhausted but on cloud nine.  Even though we didn't get to see nearly as much as I had hoped, I still had a great time and felt satisfied.  I figure we'll get closer to Times Square next trip.  Maybe then I can try the famous raw and vegan restaurants.  And I'll be sure blog about it. 

The next installment in the Vegan Vacation series will focus on Asbury Park, NJ, what to do at the beach in October, and how to find vegan food in a very not-veg-friendly restaurant.  Hint:  be very kind to the server.  

How to Travel and Stay Healthy

 

Last week, Little Miss Charlotte and I packed up the car and headed to my hometown for a few days.  We had plans to visit with my dad, brother, sister-in-law, adorable nephews, and grandmother, plus, attend a reunion of my camp buddies who I hadn’t seen in 15 years.  Yes, I’m one of those people who still thinks the 1990’s were ten years ago, and it makes me feel really old to think it’s been 15 years since I’ve seen someone.  Anywho, to complicate things, I joined a 9-day raw “celebration” that started on June 1^st.  We were calling it a “celebration” instead of a “challenge” because we wanted to focus on the positive aspects of eating 100% raw instead of making it sound like something difficult.  I was committed to staying ALL RAW on this trip, so I had to plan ahead.  I managed to stick to my plan and didn’t have a single cooked morsel the entire trip.  It was a completely raw vegan vacation.  (Vegan may not be accurate considering the turkey who I inadvertently helped commit suicide on my drive home, but I didn’t eat him, so I think it still counts.)  So how did I do it?  Here are my tips for a healthy road trip whether you’re attempting to stay raw or not:

 

Pack as if you’re going camping.  By this, I mean to bring everything you will need.  Pretend you’ll be staying in an RV with limited amenities.  This works far better is you’re driving, not flying, of course.  (Unless you can afford the insane overweight fees.)  I have a Baby Bullet blender that was a baby shower gift, and it’s wonderful for packing on trips.  It’s compact, but works really well for making smoothies.  I also packed my julienne peeler, a sharp knife, coconut oil, protein powder, chia seeds, raw cacao powder, maca powder, spirulina, as well as plenty of actual produce.  My thinking was that I would have everything I needed to make nutritious smoothies, if I didn’t have anything else to eat.  Chia seeds and spirulina are awesome to have when traveling because the chia seeds are super filling and don’t require anything besides water, and the spirulina is packed with minerals and vitamins to keep your immune system firing when traveling compromises restful sleep.  Basically, in a pinch, without any other green vegetables, you’ve got instant chlorophyll in a bag. The weekend before we left, I made raw corn-red pepper chips and “smoked” almonds in my dehydrator to bring along as snacks, and I made the sundried tomato wraps from Nouveau Raw.  (They’re very easy and have a texture very similar to corn tortillas.)  Since I knew I’d be doing plenty of smoothies on the trip, I made a big batch of fresh almond milk the night before and packed it in a Tupperware pitcher with a tight lid.  As far as produce, I packed ripe bananas, since most stores don’t have ripe ones sitting around.  I took along apples, dates, berries, and mangoes.  I eat lots of fruit this time of year, so I was prepared to continue that trend.  I also packed the ingredients for my favorite salad dressing, since I knew I’d be eating salads every night if I could.  For Charlotte, I pre-cooked some brown rice, edamame, and veggies, plus took a couple of avocadoes.  She mostly eats what I prepare for myself, but she loves to have some heavier stuff once in a while.

 

Find healthy shopping options ahead of time.  There’s a health food store in my hometown that’s been there since my mom was a kid, and it’s a great option for stocking up on vegetables and raw food supplies.  When we got to town, they were my first stop.  As a bonus, they had organic local lettuce on sale while I was there, so I bought a bag for each evening I’d be in town.   We loaded up a cart with lettuce, raisins (for Charlotte), chia superfood bites, some Raw Revolution bars, loose-leaf black tea (which was super cheap, by the way!), organic cherry tomatoes, and fresh ground spices.  I also filled two gallon jugs with High-Oxygen water.  I’d never had it but thought it would be good to try in such circumstances, given that the quality of the county water is “iffy” at best.  My second day there, I made a trip to the grocery store and grabbed a few extra things, like cherries and grapes.

 

Set your intentions and communicate them with those you’re visiting.  I was posting my raw celebration meals on Instagram and Facebook every day before I left, so my friends knew I’d be continuing to eat raw during my visit.  My dad, however, doesn’t use those forms of communication, so I just let him and my stepmom know that I was part of an online group who had vowed to eat all raw vegan food for nine days, so I wouldn’t be interested in going out to eat.  I told him that if they wanted to go anywhere, though, I’d be happy to join them and just not partake.  They decided to stay home and have healthy fresh-cooked meals each night instead, which I think that was a good thing.  My stepmom is a great cook, by the way, so I don’t think Dad was missing out on anything by skipping the Mexican joint.   All in all, no one even questioned what I was eating.  At the reunion, there were tons of hotdogs and chips (Ew.), so I just packed a cooler with grapes, cherries, strawberries, bananas, and a Raw Revolution bar.  Charlotte and I munched on that stuff while everyone else ate what was provided.  Funny enough, one of my friends had brought her two-year-old daughter, and she kept snatching our food.  I’m telling ya, the kids know. 

 

If all else fails, consider it an impromptu fast.  I know it’s not easy to just skip meals.  After all, I’m breastfeeding a toddler!  But there’ve been occasions when there wasn’t anything appetizing available at a social function I attended, so I just drank lots of water and waited until later to eat.  As a matter of fact, those occasions are the reason I pack so heavily now.  I’ve learned my lesson, so even if it’s just a few hours at a friend’s house down the street, I’ll still squirrel away a  raw food bar or a couple of bananas.  Eating beforehand is also a good habit.  That way, you won’t be tempted by unhealthy options. 

 

Basically, my days went like this:  Cacao, banana, almond milk smoothie with chia seeds, protein powder, and maca for breakfast.  Lunch was either a salad with tomato, onion, and avocado topped with tahini-lemon dressing or just fruit.  And dinners were a huge salad topped with cucumber, red pepper, tomato, onion, avocado, almonds, and a tahini-lemon dressing.  I didn’t have much variety on this trip, but that’s ok.  I had a plan and I stuck to it.  And if you’ve tried Bonzai Aphrodite’s “Tahini Dip that Done Stole My Heart”, you’ll understand how not-boring my salads were.  That stuff is like crack!  I also munched on the chia bites, dates, and fruit throughout the day.  I had my raw corn-red pepper chips or a tomato wrap with my salad to make it more filling. 

 

I feel like I did pretty good at staying healthy on our trip.  I’ve done it before, but usually it involved a lot of dehydrated food, which I get tired of after a while.  I just don’t feel as good when I’m eating them a lot.  My body needs lots of high-water food to feel it’s best, so this trip was far better with all of the salads and smoothies.  Charlotte took it upon herself to have most of her food second-hand, meaning she mostly nursed the entire trip.  It was actually really nice since my milk supply had dropped last week due to extra work and not being able to pump as often.  She ate plenty of fresh fruit and even shared my salads.  Her favorite thing, by far, were my chips.  If she even saw the bag, she went nuts.  I think we may have a new staple food around our house. 

 

When you’re as routine as I am, being able to stick to that routine can make a huge difference while traveling.  I’ve had many trips when I didn’t do that, so my digestion got all wonky, and I ended up with a cold after returning home.  Traveling can be very hard on the immune system, so having a plan and following through with healthy eating keeps your body in fighting shape.