New Favorite Restaurant

I'd like to thank you all for your wonderful comments, emails, texts, etc.  I shared my story and my struggle to open a window into some of the "hidden" truths in food blogging.  Personally, when I read certain blogs, I allow myself to feel like a failure for not eating kale (24/7) or train for marathons or owning a Vitamix.  I love the fresh taste of a spinach smoothie but I NEVER feel full after drinking one.  I mainly wanted to share my story to "clear the air" and help anyone struggling with food/body image (etc) realize that he/she is not alone.  I struggle almost everyday to love my body.  So please if you are struggling, remember that a number is just a number and beauty flows through all of us whether we use Stevia or Splenda in our coffee.  Again thanks :) And if you have more questions for me, please email me or comment on one of my posts.

If I could write songs, I'd write my own Ode to Joy to the wonderful Open Kitchen Bistro in Falls Church.  What makes Open Kitchen so amazing:

1. Wonderful/friendly service who doesn't look utterly confused when you state that you are a vegan and really don't want another salad
2. A menu with items that are vegan and/or easily veganized
3. Gorgeous decor and patio-perfect for the crisp Spring night
4. Pot of tea for $3.50
5. Vegan (and non vegan) cooking classes

On a beautiful Spring night here in the lovely DC metro area, my friends and I decided we needed a good meal ASAP preferably in VA so we could all drive with outdoor seating and a restaurant where vegan food would not be a salad without the cheese and meat.  And Open Kitchen Bistro seemed the perfect restaurant.  I started with a chamomile citrus tea that arrived in this:

(my own teapot...adorable)

And for my meal I had this:

Vegan Zucchini and Basil Soup

and

Quinoa Vegetable Medley

I absolutely loved the soup!  The accent of basil with the pureed zucchini left me wanting another bowl or two.  I gobbled the soup up in 3 seconds and then started analyzing the quinoa vegetable medley which upon first sight disappointed me.  I thought that a vegetable medley would include more vegetables than a couple pieces of carrots and onions (which I love but do not agree with my poor tummy).  Then when I took my first bite, my suspicions were confirmed.  The quinoa and veggies had no flavor.  I'm a spice girl (lol...I'd be Garlic Spice) and the quinoa just tasted boring and bland to my overly seasoned tastebuds.  So instead of eating dull quinoa I decided to snap pictures of my friends' meals (which I didn't sample as nothing about them were in the neighborhood of vegan).

 

Herb crusted Tuna Burger with side salad and homemade chips

Steamed Mussels

Both dishes smelled wonderful and both of my friends were in love with their dishes.  Since I didn't enjoy the quinoa, I didn't eat it (why waste my calories) so my friend V. took them home for her lunch the next day.  However I'm planning on returning soon to sample some of the other vegan options including a cauliflower steak...yummm :) And Open Kitchen also offers vegan cooking classes.  I'm going to attend a Vegan Indian cooking class later this month.  Though the quinoa disappointed me, I LOVED Open Kitchen because of the great service, numerous options, and  decor (sorry no pics this time).  I will definitely be back soon!

Has anyone ever had difficulty ordering food at restaurants?  I hate when my family wants to go to steakhouses for dinner.  I've even hidden a PB&J sandwich in my purse to supplement the iceberg lettuce I always get served.

Yummy Eats and Shopping Treats

Happy Hump Day!  How's your week been so far?  Besides a mini crisis on Monday my week has been wonderful even with the icky rain on Tuesday.

Today I got to relive my Denver experience by eating at Jason's Deli.  I discovered this deli in Denver because of its location right next to my hotel.  I ate there everyday for lunch because of the fantastic salad bar and its commitment to healthy and organic food.  Needless to say when I discovered a location in Tyson's Corner I began planning a return trip immediately.   The salad bar is packed with spinach, romaine, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, artichokes (yummmm), hummus, onion, cucumber, mushrooms, carrots, different seeds, nuts, dried fruit, etc.  Basically it's salad bar heaven :)  Here's my plate (with a fruit cup):

I got spinach, bell peppers, olives, cucumbers, broccoli, mushrooms, artichokes, and topped it off with some balsamic vinegar.  I strongly dislike most balsamic vinaigrettes but I love the pure vinegar...am I weird??  After devouring my salad, I ran back for a second helping (lots of artichokes and olives).  It's a bit pricey but for an unlimited salad bar with such yummy eats it's completely work the price.  No icky iceberg lettuce in sight.

And finally, I made my first purchase at Lululemon.  Typically I'm against spending lots of money on clothes I sweat in BUT my friends and family have been harassing me about being a Scrooge and whining about hating my workout gear.  Plus I'm going on a bike trip this weekend in Gettysburg and it's supposed to be cold and rainy on Saturday so I don't want to freeze to death.  After consulting with the Lululemon experts and a couple of deep breaths, I purchased this:

It's the very cute Define jacket costing me slightly over $100 which is A LOT of money for me to spend on workout wear.  However, Lululemon's quality is impeccable and created to last at least 5 years.  The jacket is cute and will definitely keep me much warmer than my yucky old Northface which I destroyed in college.  I'm testing it out tomorrow morning on route to my 6am Body Step class!!

Do you own anything from Lululemon or otherwise expensive workout wear?  What's your policy on workout clothing?

Beautiful Saturday :)

I finally made it back to Body Step this morning for the first time in a couple weeks (since I've been house sitting and super busy thus doing my own cardio workouts aka jogging, eliptical, etc).  I absolutely LOVE body step even though I feel I should be wearing sparkly spandex and leg warmers. Body Step is a Les Mills workout class that incorporates cardio, target training, and dance with a step for a full body workout.  For me, Body Step is an hour long party that gives me tons of endorphins and a fantastic booty :)

After Body Step, I went to Toscana Grill to meet a bunch of other DC bloggers for lunch coordinated by the lovely Anne P.  After boring my friends and families with my incessant food talk, I loved being with a bunch of other foodies who love food as much as me!  Toscana Grill joined with Compassion Over Killing (an animal rights group not PETA) to make April a vegan month so their menu for the entire weekend is completely vegan!

Check out this swag:

The tryveg.com is a sticker which I want to put in my car's back window :)

The menu looked fantastic but since I had massive amounts of hunger after Body Step and had a piece of toast with peanut butter I decided to stick with the Minestrone Soup.  However, I thought it left much to be desired.  For a restaurant that tries to encourage a healthy organic lifestyle, the soup mainly included broth, maybe 8 red beans, a green bean or two, and WHITE pasta.  I spent more money of a bowl of soup than the ingredients I could have bought to make a healthier and more tastier soup which is another reason I semi dislike eating out.  I always think I can make something healthier and maybe tastier.  However I loved meeting all the lovely bloggers and we had fantastic conversations about good food and exercise (my favorite topics). And provided me with lots of inspiration for a talk that I'm giving tomorrow to a bunch of college seniors.

I'm an advisor for my sorority at a college in Maryland and tomorrow I'm giving a talk about cooking/eating healthy on a budget without dining halls and Mommy making us dinner every night.  My first year after college I lived paycheck to paycheck but still managed to lose twenty pounds (not because I starved myself with lack of funds for food) while eating organic food, tons of fresh produce, and even shopping at Whole Foods.  So I'm going to be sharing the tips/tricks that I learned with these college seniors who (like me) might struggle with that first difficult year after graduation.

I'll (hopefully) be back tomorrow with a recap of my talk and the recipe I made as example of a quick, cheap, healthy breakfast for busy career girl who doesn't have time for making a pot of steel cut oats. Here's a teaser:

 

And no it's not oatmeal!!

DC Vegan Cafe

In case you were wondering, I survived the massive blizzard that overtook Washington DC.  I bunkered down in my parent's house which is closer to my office than my apartment where I basically slept, ate, read, watched TV, repeat.  Fortunately I managed to get some gym  time in thanks to my mother's SUV and Michigan winter driving skills.  Plus hiking in snow up to your waist for a couple miles is a fantastic workout. And walking up and down the stairs for an hour gets your heart-rate going even though your parents look at you like you're crazy...

Just for an idea of how much snow the DC metro area received here are some comparison photos.

My little Hyundai Accent Friday night in the first couple hours of snow fall:

Here's my car Saturday morning as snow still kept falling:

Needless to say my car would not move without massive assistance.  So my Dad and two teenage brothers removed all the snow from around my car and moved it into the driveway...while I sat in the warmth of my parent's house stamping cards with my mother!  My mother provided a bounty of food including 30000 containers of hummus which I proceeded to devour over the next week (some with veggies and some with massive amounts of pita chips).  But after a couple days, I got massive cabin fever and finally managed to return to my apartment and make a connection with the outside world!  So when my friend E. asked me to go to another Vegan cafe in downtown DC, I became ecstatic to be a social human being (not that I don't love my time with my family) and finally try Java Green!

Java Green considers itself an organic eco-cafe that does not serve any products with meat, fish, or eggs.  Plus there are numerous Vegan, Gluten free, and Raw options for everyone (well except omnivores looking for steak).  Plus all of their takeout silverware and dish ware are biodegradable and the cafe provides recycling bins.  It's a tiny cafe perfect for grabbing a quick healthy lunch (though seating is limited so I wouldn't go during the week during prime lunch hours).  After browsing the menu (so many yummy options) I finally chose the seaweed soup with kelp, seaweed, mushroom, and scallions in veggie broth.

And trust me, it's as delicious as it looks!  A huge bowl of soup on a windy, winter day in DC satisfied my soul plus reminded me that I still knew how to behave in social situations and wear real clothes not just my brother's sweatpants and a ratty hoodie. My friend E. chose the organic tofu scramble (which is a very popular brunch item...yum vegan brunch).

She seemed to enjoy the scramble (she spiced it up with Java Green original hot sauce) but I had a little taste and I thought it needed some kick minus the hot sauce as I am a spicy wimp.  I would have covered the scramble in garlic (as I typically do with all food I consume including popcorn).  We both sipped on brewed hot teas and chatted about how we survived the blizzard of 2010!

I immensely enjoyed Java Green and contrary to some opinions on Yelp, I found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable about the food and customer's dietary restrictions.  I am definitely returning (even though the food prices were a little pricey-$10 for my huge bowl of soup) because there are so many other options I want to sample including raw pizza, mango kale salad, etc.  Plus I'd rather pay a little more money for food that is good for me and the environment!  Though I typically will avoid all the dishes with faux meat products.  I've found that many faux meat products are too processed for my taste though I love Quorn's frozen "chicken" tenders.

Have you tried any faux meat products?  If so what are you favorites or which ones don't you like?  And do you have any tips for surviving long snow days without eating your weight in hummus?

And if I can get my act together I should be back sometime this week with a book review!

Eco-Vegan-Vegetarian-Carnivore Friendly Haven

As a vegetarian, it can be difficult to find restaurants that will satisfy my culinary demands as well as my meat eating friends.  For example-Outback Grill last weekend...I'm not paying $10 for an iceberg lettuce salad!  One of my co-workers (he's a vegan) told me about a restaurant in Arlington (VA neighborhood right outside of DC) called Toscana Green (Grill).  So one of my friends and I decided to check it out one night after happy hour.

Sorry I didn't get any pictures of the interior but picture a smaller, cozier restaurant with lots of booths and various shades of green...really cute :) It wasn't crowded and our waiter was incredibly attentive.  Both my friend and I just drank water (boring but healthy) and munched on some whole grain bread appetizers.  I didn't try the oil-so I can't pass judgement:

 Finally our meals came.  I love the idea of pasta but pasta typically upsets my stomach...it's too heavy for me!  But when I saw raw zucchini pasta with basil marinara I knew I had to try it!!

.

The dish was super yummy but the marinara sauce was a little watery yet the fresh basil was an amazing addition to the sauce.  I'm going to add fresh basil to all of my tomato sauces!! But I was still really hungry after I finished all my meal (and I hardly ever finish a restaurant portion meal).  I need some non meat protein and fat (so I might have snacked on some hummus when I returned home).

My friend ordered the curry risotto which included mushroom, onion, and carrots in a curry cream sauce over brown rice.  

I stole a little bit and I loved it!  Typically I'm not a huge rice fan (I prefer to get my grains in the form of popcorn...lol).  The curry tasted amazing: not too heavy and creamy and complimented the veggies and brown rice perfectly.  I'm definitely going back to Toscana Green and sampling some of the other vegetarian/vegan dishes.

What's amazing about Toscana Green is the variety of options!  There are pasta dishes, entrees, salads, soups for every diet including carnivores, vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, raw foodies, etc.  It's the perfect place for a mixed group of culinary demands.  Prices were typical for a more casual DC restaurants (I paid around $15 for my entire meal including tip).   Though my pasta was not super filling, I loved the flavors of my dish and the risotto.  And I definitely have a couple ideas for my next meal at Toscana Green: the asparagus risotto caught my eye.

Do you eat a different diet from your friends?  And if you do, how do you pick restaurants that everyone will enjoy??

Parisian Dreaming in Washington DC

In my attempts to pretend I'm in Paris, I suggested brunch/lunch/shopping with some girl friends Sunday morning. After non stop rain on Friday and Saturday, Sunday's sunny morning with fall temperatures made me estatic to spend the morning outside with good food and friends. We had decided to dine at Le Pain Quotidien (http://www.lepainquotidien.com/) before exploring the flea/farmer market. Now I have eaten at several LPQs throughout the country. My first experience with LPQ was last year in Manhattan when some friends and I discovered one close to Central Park on the West side. And I had never realized it was a chain restaurant until I discovered one in Bethesda, then Eastern market, and now below my gym in Arlington. I have a love/hate relationship with LPQ mainly due to their prices and service and amazing of their food. This is NOT a cheap restaurant for the portion of food that is served (it's probably the correct portion size and I'm just Amercanized but we are in a recession aka I want the most bang for my buck) and the service is not horrible but it can take too long to get food/refills (I've experienced this at all the LPQs that I've eaten at). So why do I eat there? Because of the amazingness of the food and the European vibe that is evident in the attitude and decor of the restaurant. First, LPQ is considered a communal/open table restaurant with a bakery. There are individual tables for private groups but also long tables that singles and other groups can sit. The furniture is light wood accented with subtle light fixtures and huge windows (I love the sun). A bakery is avalaible to purchase LPQ original breads and spreads (jam, jelly, butter,etc) and treats. But it's their menu based food that wins my heart. First, LPQ focuses on organic, homemade food with numerous healthy benefits and specified vegan/vegetarian options. I typically order one of three tartines (an open faced sandwhich): black bean hummus tartine (vegan), scallion nori avacado tartine (vegan), and the salmon tartine. All three of these are a fantastic blend flavors not commmonly found in most food. On Sunday I was craving avacado so I decided to order the scallion nori avacado tartine. It comes served on LPQ whole grain bread with slices of avacado and scallions with nori sheets, radishes, lemon, and tomatoes on the side....delicious!

It's like a mexican sushi sans rice. I try to be ladylike and eat with my knife and fork but about half way through lunch, I grabbed it and starting chowing down. One of my friends (who is vegan) ordered their six vegetable quiche which is made with a buckwheat, gluten free shell. I had to try a little sample and was greatly rewarded with a beatiful combination of some of my favorite flavors. It was a blend of carrots and sweet potatoes accented by the buckwheat shell giving the quiche a more earthy/fall flavor than your typical egg based quiche. Unfortunately, I'm now semi obsessed and foresee myself stopping at LPQ on my way home from the gym to order the wonderful quiche. The rest of my friends ordered other tartines including a tuna salad tartine (which my friend adored and ate as quickly as I ate my own tartine) and the smoked turkey tartine which was described as "an adult version of a delicious turkey sandwhich). We also enjoyed pots of coffee, mint lemonade (which I personally do like drinking mint), and fresh fruit salad (I absolutely adore honey dew). After gorging ourselves (not really-LPQ is great for portion control since everything is expensive), we strolled the market enjoying the beautiful DC fall weather. Overall, I recommend LPQ as a treat when you are craving a simple, fresh, and beautiful breakfast/lunch and you do not mind paying the extra money for the deliciousness you will enjoy.