A juice bar should have juice.

Ohhhh, boy!  Here goes a rant.  So, I went to Sawgrass Mills Mall yesterday, and had the misfortune of trying to order juice at a juice bar.  What a mistake that was.  I used to be so naive as to think that a juice bar would be the perfect place to get a nice, fresh cup of juice.  Apparently, juice bars are places where you buy smoothies, salads, pastries, coffees, paninis...pretty much anything but juice.

Or, at least that was the case with Rio Station Juice Bar.  I asked if I could order a juice, assuming that maybe the menu excluded juice simply because there would be no need to inform people that there was juice available at a juice bar.  The obviously disoriented cashier said something along the line of "yes, um, juice, um, smoothie, um, juice, um, banana hammock," or something like that.  So, I asked for a grande watermelon and strawberry juice and reiterated that I did not want a smoothie.

Only 15 minutes later, after battling a fly and doing the samba with the other five people in line at this treasure, I was the proud owner of a watermelon and strawberry smoothie!  Just in case you were thinking of spending your day in a gigantic mall, just to defraud Rio Station Juice Bar out of a smoothie that you didn't pay for...don't even think about it!  As I quickly learned, every employee will individually review your receipt for authenticity before the reluctant blender-technician hands you the smoothie you kind of ordered, but really didn't.

The smoothie was delicious, by the way.  But, a juice bar should have juice.  I'll never go back.

Delius Restaurant - Long Beach, California: Awesome Vegetarian Fare

Wouldn't you know it?  After blasting house salads, I find a restaurant with an amazing house salad!  Delius Restaurant, in Long Beach, California, is a local gem.  I decided to keep true to my mission by reviewing a restaurant that offers food for everyone.  I was not disappointed.

Right near Long Beach Airport, at 2951 Cherry Avenue, lies Delius Restaurant.  It offers a full lunch, dinner, and kids menu, as well as a full bar.  The decor and overall atmosphere is modern and somewhat intimate.  This place does a great job welcoming business people, couples and families, alike.  The restaurant is a decent size, unlike the airport, and the prices are reasonable for California (perhaps a bit pricey for some, with entree prices ranging from $13 - $32.  There are five vegetarian offerings, and a couple of them can be vegan.  I tried the House Salad, Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese, and the Penne Puttanesca.  I did not try the Spinach Mascarpone Risotto or the Four Cheese Pizza, because there's only so much room in the tank.

Let me start off by saying that the House Salad is incredible, but, it is not the "house salad" you're accustomed to - European greens with candied walnuts, red onion, red grapes, cherry tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese and a rosemary infused balsamic vinaigrette.  It is not going to stuff you, but it is enough for a delicious light meal.  The only possible objection I could see someone having to this one is that the candied walnuts have a cinnamon overtone, which was somewhat of an odd flavor for a salad.  I loved it, though.  The greens were fresh and the bleu cheese was mild.


I tried an appetizer portion of the Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese, but there is a dinner portion and meat-eaters can add shrimp or Andouille sausage.  Assuming Andouille isn't a synonym for soy, I had it plain.  But, there was nothing "plain" about this Macaroni and Cheese.  It comes out piping hot and is incredible.  If you are lactose intolerant, this stuff may kill you.  It is cheesy.  The chipotle isn't offensive (I was really worried) and offers a vague hint of spice, which works wonders.  I highly recommend it.


The Penne Puttanesca came in a trough.  I could only eat half of my portion.  I really liked it, and enjoyed the capers, and olives.  The only surprise there was that it was a bit spicy.  I love spice, but it was much spicier than most meals that aren't traditionally considered spicy food, so be warned.  Beforehand, I also tried the Carrot and Fennel soup.  This soup was good.  It could have been better, if the fennel flavor was a bit stronger, but I cleaned the bowl nonetheless.


All in all, I strongly recommend Delius Restaurant.  Great food and service.  If you are flying into or out of Long Beach, or just in the area, give this place a try.  You won't be disappointed.  For more info: www.deliusrestaurant.com.

Gag me with a house salad.

If I had a nickel for every time I got invited to some cookie-cutter, meat-infested, casual dining craphole (if it's not a word, it is today) and told "you can have a house salad," I would use all of those nickels to buy a Bob Marley autographed guitar to bash the next person to offer me a house salad over the head.

I don't have a problem with house salads, per se, but I do have a problem with the fact that someone would invite me to eat with them while caring so little about my taste buds that they think a bowl of half-wilted iceberg lettuce, a cucumber slice, and three cherry tomatoes was going to be an enjoyable dinner.

I won't stand for it anymore, and you shouldn't either!  It is our duty as vegetarians to inform our friends, family and colleagues that we do have sophisticated palates, too.  Most vegetarians do not graze in a field.  We like variety as much as any carnivore and don't eat salads all day.  If I do have a salad for dinner, it is going to be a dinner salad, and it better have some nice, fancy stuff all over it, like craisins, apples, walnuts, artichokes or something else yummy.  If it's not on a dinner-sized plate, it's not a dinner.

Ok.  I'm done ranting.  Wow!  I could really go for a salad right now. How ironic? :-/

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Unhealthy Vegetarians

I've known some fat, unhealthy vegetarians.  Now, I'm not at my physical peek, but I'm relatively healthy.  There are some goofballs out there that think that you can't be healthy if you don't eat meat.  That's stupid.  But, most people tend to think that it is hard for a vegetarian to be unhealthy.  That's not quite stupid, but it is very wrong.

I used to be like most people in the world.  I used to spend my days dragging my knuckles on the ground, eating slabs of charred dead animals and driving around in my Hummer looking for small animals to run over.  My gut hung way over my belt line (I wasn't even wearing a belt) and I couldn't remember the last time I bathed.  Then, I became a vegetarian.  NOTHING CHANGED.

I wondered, "how can I still be a grotesque, loathsome beast when I don't even eat carcass anymore?"  The answer, of course, is that meat isn't the only thing that keeps a person from discovering their inner supermodel.  I realized that you not only have to stop eating unhealthy foods, but you must begin to eat healthy foods.  Once I figured out that balance was key, I shed hundreds of unwanted pounds, grew thick, beautiful hair only where I wanted it, and began emitting a pleasant scent, at will.

Some of the facts of my metamorphosis may be a little off, as it has been so long and my memory is hazy, but you get the point.  Avoiding empty calories and eating lots of fruits and vegetables is the obvious, and most often ignored, path to good health.  The best way to eat the right balance is to eat a variety of colors every day.  Here is a link to a good article about the colors of fruits and vegetables, and their health benefits (ignore the fleshy meal suggestions):

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn595w.htm#reasons

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Vegetarian Web Presence

Obviously, I eat at restaurants all the time.  I also travel quite a bit.  I find it so difficult to find vegetarian food when I go places.  Sure, there are guides to vegetarian eating, and they are great.  But, for some reason, I find the best places through word-of-mouth and not on the web.  Why is that?

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that vegetarian restaurants tend to be small "mom and pop" type establishments.  They are often way more worried about the food that they are preparing than they are about their advertising.  This is good and bad.  While these places may enjoy a great following at first, due to the fact that vegetarians are always trying to find new places, once the novelty wears thin or another restaurant opens, they often go out of business.

Also, major restaurants do absolutely nothing to promote their vegetarian selections.  You never see advertisements for a meatless offering from any of the popular casual dining establishments, but most of them do offer something.  This, I believe, is because they do not value the business that these items bring.

I don't have an answer to this one.  This was more or less a rant.  I do think that vegetarians and vegans ought to do their best to encourage restaurants to build their web presence and to promote their vegetarian selections online.  The more this is done, the more other places will get the hint and develop their menus to include us herbivores.

That's it.  I'm done.  Feel free to weigh in.

Vegetarian Tacos...fast, easy and yummy!!!

I love vegetarian tacos.  I'm eating them tonight, as a matter of fact.  They are fast, easy and oh so good.  They can be pretty healthy, too.  Here's what I do, but you can go nuts with these.

Note:  This is not a recipe.  This is more like an idea for you to put together your own recipe.

1. I get Morningstar Farms Veggie Crumbles and saute' them with garlic, salt, pepper (black and cayenne), and, sometimes, a taco seasoning packet.  If you prefer Boca crumbles or another kind, do it.  I'm not the boss of you.
2. I bake a mess of taco shells.  I prefer Ortega, but will make whichever brand is on sale, because I'm cheap.  I also heat up some soft tortillas.
3. Then, I fill my tacos and add whichever delicious ingredients I want that night.  These can include cheese (real or soy), guacamole, salsa, cilantro, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, pretty much whatever you like.
4. Then, I douse it all with hot sauce because I hate my intestines.

That's it.  I love it.  My family loves it.  My friends love it.  You'll love it.  If you come up with anything else interesting to add, let me know.  I'm always down to try some new grub.

I'm the reason your girlfriend likes tofu.

My posts are probably way too cynical.  You probably all have great friends who respect your dietary decisions and encourage your healthy lifestyle.  I don't.  My friends are jerks.  I get ridiculed at every turn.  When we are out to eat, they make a point of ordering as much meat as possible.  Then, they tell me how good every bite is.

I can deal with that.  It might have been difficult at first, but now I just laugh it off and strike back when I can.  What I can't deal with is when they question my hetero-credentials.  Now, for all of the non-hetero readers out there, don't take any offense.  I'm okay with whatever floats your banana boat.  But, the assumption that all vegetarian men are playing for the other team are far from accurate.  In fact, vegetarianism exemplifies many characteristics that females look for in men, such as:

1. Healthy Living:  Every woman wants a man who cares about his body (because she cares about his body).
2. Self-Discipline:  One of the biggest complaints women make about men is that they lack control and discipline.  You must have discipline if you can stop eating meat. (hahaha)
3. Sensitivity:  Vegetarians are characterized as having a lot of concern for the environment and animal-welfare.  Women tend to love that stuff. Yay!
4. Trendiness:  Vegetarianism is often looked at as a subculture.  Subcultures are a rebellion against the norm, and rebellion is cool.  Women look at vegetarian men as a different kind of bad boy.

So, please, if you are a man and are interested in vegetarianism, don't let your guy friends peer-pressure you not to.  Just give it a shot and take their girlfriends. :)

Summer's Comin': Time to Get Grillin'!!!

You probably have a friend who threw a barbecue and told you something like "Sorry.  Barbecue's aren't for vegetarians." (with a stupid grin on his face, no less)

Well, your friend is a filthy liar!

Sorry for my righteous vegetarian indignation, but fire cooks vegetables just like anything else.  The only challenge for vegetarians at a barbecue is getting your carnivorous friends to keep their carcass kabobs off of the clean foil...and, of course, having the right recipes.

Now, I'm not going to list a bunch of grill-ready recipes here, but I have posted some links below, and there are plenty of resources online.  As for my barbecue experiences, I've made some delectable veggie burgers, baked potatoes, sweet onions, portobellos, and even eggplant.  I've heard great things about grilled tofu, tempeh, and Gardenburger brand riblets.  So, don't be shy and have fun!

http://www.vegparadise.com/cookingwith57.html
http://www.theundergroundbootcamp.com/nutrition/how-to-host-a-healthy-vegetarian-barbecue/
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/barbecue-tofu-sandwiches/Detail.aspx

BBQ Tofu Sandwich

Gelatin is made from animal skin and bones.

Gelatin is made from animal skin and bones.  I know my fellow veggie people know all about it, but it amazes me that I still have to tell grown people this piece of common knowledge.  So, I decided that the best way to put it out there is the good ol' world wide web.  Anyways, for any of you who don't know, or were skeptical about it because you heard it from some smelly hippie (I kid, I kid), GELATIN IS MADE FROM ANIMAL SKIN AND BONES.  So, please don't look at your vegetarian friends like they are lunatics when they turn down your various offerings of gelatin products, which, by the way, are made from animal skin and bones.  Vegetarians and vegans do not eat:

Skittles
Jello
Medicines in gel-caps
Starburst
Marshmallows
Gummie Bears
...and the list goes on

If you want to "taste the rainbow," be my guest, but just don't offer me any.  I'm on a no skin or bone diet.

For more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin

Marley's Mellow Mood puts you to sleep...and it's legal!

What can I say?  I like to sleep.  Don't get me wrong, I don't sleep a lot.  But, when I do sleep, I like it to be deep and cozy.  For years, I have had issues falling asleep when I want to.  This has caused me to fall asleep when I absolutely didn't want to.  The worst instance was during a training session at a new job (they eventually stopped waking me up and let me sleep).  Now, I know there are many remedies out there, but they each have their own issues.  Many don't work.  Some work, but are addictive.  And, some are illegal (I'm not elaborating any more on that!)

That is why I was pleasantly surprised when I learned about Marley's Mellow Mood.  It comes in a small variety of flavors and potency (check the ingredients), and can be found, at least in South Florida, at many convenience stores and gas stations.  The flavor is nice, but the effect is what got me.  I am seemingly immune to most over-the-counter sleep aids.  Marley's Mellow Mood knocks me right out.  I have yet to hear any negative responses to it.  What really impresses me about these drinks are the ingredients.  They are all-natural, vegan, and even colored with vegetable juice!  You can't go wrong and I highly recommend you try some.  That is all I will say without getting paid. ;)

For more info:


http://www.marleybeverages.com/
Twitter: @drinkmellowmood

Is Kava Dangerous? My Violent Torpedo of Truth About Kava...

There are not too many cool places for vegetarians to hang out.  Don't get me wrong, vegetarian hangouts are super-cool, but there aren't too many of them.  Vegetarian restaurants are usually pretty awesome, but it's hard to drag your meat-loving friends there.

That's why I love kava bars.  Kava is a funky drink that tastes gross and makes you feel great.  Kava bars are popping up everywhere and have opened the door to introducing carnivores to a more "earthy" environment.  But, there are a lot of places banning, or considering banning kava.

Why, you ask?  Because friendless people hate anything that popular people do to have fun.  Well, maybe that's not the whole story.  To sum it up real unscientific-like, there are reports that kava causes damage to the liver.  Does it?  Yes, kind of.  But also, no.  Through my hours of wiki-research, I have learned that there are chemicals in kava leaves and stems that do cause liver damage.  However, studies have shown that kava drinks that are made from the kava root, DO NOT have these substances and, therefore, DO NOT cause liver damage.

Please don't take my word for it.  I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on tv.  Look it up yourself.  If, after doing your own research, you feel safe drinking kava drinks (which are made from the root) like I do, find your local kava bar and enjoy.

I'll see you on Cloud 9. :-)

 

Typical Kava Set Up

Green Wave Cafe...Raw, Vegan, Delicious!!!

This weekend, I got to experience a real treat.  I had lunch at Green Wave Cafe, in Plantation, Florida.  Now I am not necessarily a raw food person.  I'm not even a vegan.  But I must say, if I could prepare raw foods like they do at Green Wave Cafe, I would be.

It was voted the Best Raw Food Restaurant 2010 by the New Times.  However, it's not easy to find.  It's not big.  It's not fancy.  It's not cheap.  But, when you eat raw, vegan, organic food, you just feel good.  I had every color on my plate and a smile on my face.  I tasted the black bean soup, the creamy asparagus soup, the burrito and the open-faced hummus sandwich.  Neither of them looked at all like I expected.  There were lots of veggies and sprouts and beans, and I didn't even know how to pick it up.  What a delicious mess it was.

After all of that nutritious yumminess, I decided to order the chocolate banana pie.  Wow!!!  It is so, so good!  I don't want to spend a lot of my blog time talking about local spots, but Green Wave Cafe earned it.  Go there and eat a lot.  You'll thank me later.  I hear they have raw food preparation classes.  I have a strong suspicion that I'll be in one before long.

Here's their info:

Green Wave Cafe
5221 West Broward Blvd
Plantation, FL  33317
954-581-8377
www.greenwavecafe.org

New Vegetarian Resources

If you don't want to be vegetarian, don't.  I understand that it's not for everyone (you murderer - just kidding).  But, if you have any inclination to try it out, don't cop out and say that it's too hard.  There are so many resources to help you.  There are plenty of websites and plenty of blogs with all of the information you need to make the transition relatively smooth (and unlike this one, they're not all just incoherent ramblings of a fat vegetarian sociopath).

Here are some sites that can help a lot:

Helps you get started:

http://www.peta2.com/p2vsk_flash/index2.html

Things to cook:  

Lazy Vegetarian - http://thelazyvegetarian.blogspot.com/

A little fancier - http://veganyumyum.com/

Vegan - http://hellyeahitsvegan.com/

For various cities:

Miami - http://www.meatlessmiami.com/

New York - http://supervegan.com/restaurants.php

Charleston, SC - http://veganincharleston.blogspot.com/

Los Angeles - http://www.vegparadise.com/restaurants.html

Houston (yeah, Houston) - http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/cuisine/vegetarian.asp

Everywhere else - http://www.vegguide.org/

I hope that helps.  Comment, subcribe, share. :)

I ate bacon.

Let me tell you a little story. I went to Outback Steakhouse the other day and ate bacon. That's it. I told you it was a little story.

Well, I guess I can elaborate a little bit. It was a business lunch and the person paying with their business card wanted to go to Outback Steakhouse. So, we went to Outback Steakhouse. Anyways, I had heard that they had a nice veggie burger. LIES! They had nothing of the sort. So, I decided to order some vegan kryptonite (a quesadilla). Of course, it was a chicken quesadilla, hold the chicken. I did inform the waitress that I am vegetarian. I find this to be very helpful, just in case something you order has some hidden meat products or are cooked with chicken broth or something.

So, there I was, expecting Brittney to bring me a yummy quesadilla while I talked business. Little did I know, they were cooking up some carcass with my name on it. When I bit into what looked like heaven, I didn't feel anything unusual. Lucky for me, I tasted the bacon way after the fact. The waitress apologized for forgetting that they put bacon in their quesadillas and brought me a new one, meat-free. Now, I'm not militant. I didn't complain to the Manager. I didn't argue or make a mean face. But, I won't be eating at Outback Steakhouse anytime soon. And, I won't be forgetting my own rule. READ THE MENU and LOOK AT YOUR FOOD! Otherwise, you may be in for a surprise.

The Vegetarian Demographic

There are a lot of assumptions that are made about a person when they divulge the the fact that they are vegetarian. I have heard all kinds of misguided stereotypes. Many people think that vegetarians are all on the fringe of society, not like meat-eating "normal" folk. I find that, when I tell people that I don't eat meat, they come to vastly unrelated conclusions about my political stances. Also, every person from every culture tells me that people of THEIR culture or ethnicity can't possibly be vegetarian because THEY eat so much meat (Americans can't go without steak and potatoes, Hispanics can't go without pork, Caribbean people can't go without chicken...and the list goes on).

Some common misconceptions are:

- Vegetarians are all just rebelling
- Vegetarians are all politically liberal
- Vegetarians are all drug users
- Vegetarians are all malcontents

While, of course, some vegetarians are some or all of the above, the same goes for non-vegetarians. In fact, I have vegetarian friends who occupy some of these characteristics. But I also have carnivorous friends that do, too. Now, I'm not naming names, but here are some celebrities that you may know, who represent many different ends of the cultural spectrum AND all of whom are vegetarian or vegan. You can get see the complete list at http://www.happycow.net/famous_vegetarians.html.

Meat is Murder...tasty, tasty murder...so why be a vegetarian?

I hear so many comments about how delicious meat is - how great a nice juicy steak is, and so on.  Now, I admit, I had many delicious racks of barbecue ribs in my time.  I grilled some mean burgers and cooked hotdogs over the campfire.  I dare say I made some of the best Italian meatballs ever (my mom helped a little).  So, why did I stop eating meat?

No.

HOW did I stop eating meat?  I'm asked that on almost a daily basis.  The answer is simple - it makes me feel so much better.  My life after meat has been so much healthier.  My energy level and my general health - my complexion, my memory, my weight, everything benefited.  I normally don't subscribe to listening to or spreading propaganda, but the video I have attached today shows some people who have had many of the same experiences I have had since I stopped eating meat.  It is real.  If you haven't tried it, try it.

Is A Vegetarian Diet A Healthy Diet? from Larry Cook on Vimeo.

Seven vegetarians share how being vegetarian has improved their health. Produced by Larry Cook. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Attack of the Vegans!!!!

So, some of you may find this blog through my posting on vegan or vegetarian message boards on www.craigslist.org.  Well, I made a BIG mistake...I posted a link to my story about supporting meaty restaurants that offer vegetarian selections, such as Applebees, on the vegan forum, rather than the vegetarian forum.

Ohhh, boy!  You see what I always say about hippies?!!! I have spent the past two weeks being verbally assaulted.  Now, being the culinary deviant that I am, I am decidedly thick-skinned and take the insults with a grain of salt (Fairtrade certified sea salt, of course).

But, I do want to use this as an opportunity to point out something that I often point out.  The meat-eating world and the non-meat-eating world often clash because of extremism.  If you want to rage against the food machine, that is your prerogative, but I don't.  I have a job and friends and family who don't all espouse my dietary philosophy.  I choose to coexist with them and apply the peace-loving hippie mentality when it really counts and when it requires some effort on my part.

I suggest you all do the same.  The paradigm is shifting.

Getting Awesome Vegetarian Products

Every socialite entertains from home now and again.  It is hard to decide between ordering delivery or cooking, but, and I speak from great experience, it is quite difficult to get good vegetarian food delivered in most areas.  If you decide to cook, as I usually do, there are many options.  I will, from time to time, talk about different options available at the grocery store.  But, today, I want to talk about a more delicious option.  As posted in one of my favorite vegetarian blogs, www.groovyvegetarian.com, ordering online is a viable alternative to some of the more well known frozen groceries or cooking from scratch.

At http://groovyvegetarian.com/2010/03/18/vegetarian-meals-5-places-to-get-some/, they mention www.veggiebrothers.com, which offers some awesome foods, and www.greenpeople.org, which offers links to all kinds of stuff.  But, if you have the pleasure of living in South Florida, as I do, you have access to the best of the best:  www.harmonyvegetarianmeats.com.

Harmony Vegetarian Meats is awesome, offering a huge selection at reasonable prices.  Do yourself a favor and try the vegetarian drumsticks.  Buy as many as you can afford and invest in some awesome sauces, such as teriyaki, jerk seasoning, wing sauce, etc.  You won't be disappointed.

Promoting Vegetarianism

I feel like it's important for me to take a moment and explain why it is important to promote vegetarianism.  Some of the reasons are altruistic, while others are tools to satisfy my own wishes.  Here are my favorites:

1. Vegetarianism is healthy.  I want those around me to be healthy.
2. Vegetarianism is good for the environment.  I want the environment to be healthy.
3. The price of vegetarian products will decrease as they get more popular and competition increases.  I want my bank account to be healthy.
4. More places, including restaurants, will provide vegetarian options when the market becomes lucrative.  That would be awesome!

Anyways, at the risk of sounding like a simpleton, those are my reasons for promoting vegetarianism.  But, I don't hold up a sign or stand on street corners preaching the benefits of a herbivorous diet.  So, what do I do to promote vegetarianism?  I'm glad you asked.  I support businesses that offer vegetarian options, and so should you.  It's nice to go to Tim & Moonglow's Corner Store to buy homemade kava kava suncakes, but the "big guys" deserve some reward for catering to our finicky needs.

If everyone would make a point to stop by Applebee's and have their vegetarian sliders, or by Johnny Rockets and enjoy a Streamliner, or just go to Publix or Winn-Dixie or Albertson's, or whatever your local grocery store is, and patronize their tiny vegetarian food sections, one day they will have many vegetarian options and huge vegetarian food sections.  Can I get an "Amen"?  Or, at least give me a "kumbaya" or whatever hippies say. :)

Vegetarian Breakfast

Well,  I'm up early today and it dawned on me that you barely ever hear of any vegetarian breakfast foods.  That's because vegetarians don't wake up until after noon (kidding).  There really aren't many options.  At home, you can make oatmeal, cereal in soy milk, and a number of soy products.  But, when you're a social animal such as myself, it is hard to eat a vegetarian breakfast on the town.

So, here's what I do.  Starbucks (where I'm going in a few minutes) has a couple of options, including croissants, bagels and muffins.  Oh yeah, there's fruit.  Fruit is light and works for most healthy types.  You can always just eat some pancakes or waffles, hold the sausage.  Speaking of holding the sausage (LOL), there is one fine establishment where I got an amazing vegetarian breakfast.  Our veggie buddies to the north, in Atlanta - I'm from Miami - have a great treasure in Ria's Bluebird.  You can check them out at www.riasbluebird.com. While they do serve meat, they also have treats such as their Southwest Tofu Scramble, Bionic Breakfast, Country Fried Tempeh, and Soysage.  What a spot!  Breakfast might not be the best vegetarian meal of the day, but hey, it helps you survive until lunch. :-p

If you know of any other places where you can get a greasy-delicious vegetarian breakfast, I'd really like to know.  For now, I have to take my proverbial hat off to Ria's for having the best vegetarian breakfast in the universe.

Bionic Breakfast @ Ria's Bluebird, ATL

Why is Pizza so Awesome?

Why is pizza so awesome, you ask?  How dare you!  Pizza is delicious!  I know, I know, I'm eating cow mucous, cows are suffering for my food, my arteries are getting clogged, but pizza is delicious.  I can't resist it.  If you can, I envy you.  At the same time, I feel sorry for you, because you're missing out on pizza.

But, seriously, there are a few great things about pizza for the vegetarian socialite.  First of all, it's yummy.  Second, it's cheap, when you have to "ball on a budget".  Third, most people love it, so it is universally agreeable.  Fourth, it is available EVERYWHERE.  Fifth, no matter how "high-brow" your company is, pizza is a a low-brow food that gets a pass (Donald Trump eats pizza!).  Sixth, it's yummy (did I mention that I like pizza?).

If you're a lucky vegan, you'll find a pizza joint with soy pizza.  But, odds are, if you're not on the west coast or in New York or Miami, you probably won't.  If you do enjoy some cheesy sin from time to time, don't be afraid to suggest pizza as your dining preference for your night on the town.

Surviving Interrogation

When out and about, vegetarians all tend to get the same question, incessantly:

"So, why are you a vegetarian?"

You can reply, "because I'm not an animal-murderer" or "none of your business" ... but neither of those will earn you any vegan brownie points.  Therefore, I suggest a more measured approach - I tell the truth.

Now, there are many shades of the truth, so choose yours carefully.  I became vegetarian for many reasons, in fact all of the reasons (I think).  So, without getting to "deep" into the subject, I politely smile and say "well, all of the popular reasons."  If questioned further, I say that I enjoy the health benefits, like veggies, prefer not to eat animals if I don't have to, and feel like I'm doing good for the environment.

Usually, at this point, I get a "that's cool," and I order another round of vodka-cranberries (did I mention I'm a lightweight?).  On the rare occasion that I am questioned further, such as, "don't you know you need protein" or "don't you miss meat," I simply smile and reply "so far, it's been working for me."  If a person doesn't recognize your passive response as an invitation to stop interrogating at this point, then just punch them in the face (I kid, I kid).  Really, at that point, I just joke it off and say something like "animals don't eat me, so I don't eat them."

Remember, you don't want your diet to lose you valuable contacts or friends, and you don't want your attitude to turn off a potential future-vegetarian.  If you don't convert at least 24 people to vegetarianism in your lifetime, you don't make it into Veggie Heaven. ;-)

Vegetarian Food at a Nightclub

Every socialite must, by definition, socialize.  Vegetarians and vegans are no exception.  While I would love to socialize at a farmer's market, much of the meat-eating world does not.  A popular place to see and be seen is a nightclub.  And, people often hit the club early to eat or find somewhere in the vicinity to eat.  This can be an issue, if you are not a card-carrying carnivore (say that three times fast).  Most late night spots are thinking more about satisfying the drunken masses than they are about supplying the earth/health conscious.  But, there are options if you know what to look for.

• Pizza - Sorry vegans, but I've been referred to more than once as a cheese pizzatarian.  Pizza is scrumptious and readily available at late night eateries, hold the meat.  Cheese pizza is the only true pizza anyways.
• Greek/Mediterranean - These restaurants are popping up everywhere trendy. Hallelujah!!!  Hummus, felafel, feta salads, tabouli!!!  These are all delicious, relatively healthy, vegetarian and trendy.  It's a win-win.  WARNING: if you order the stuffed grape leaves, you are smart, but you also must ask if they have meat.  On rare occasions they do. :(
• In the club - This is the hardest place for a vegetarian.  If you are at a top-notch club, they will have a full menu.  But, at smaller clubs, you must be resourceful.  Try to find a salad or pasta dish that you can order "hold the meat".  Otherwise, you may be able to order a vegetarian side dish (fries, yum).

If you can't drag your friends to a good veggie spot, don't stay home, improvise!

Chain Restaurants

I am not a huge fan of chain restaurants (what vegetarian is?). But, vegetarians learn quickly that they are popular among the business crowd and must be tolerated for the purpose of socializing.  While it is difficult to always be the person who picks the meeting place, it is easy and convenient to make suggestions.  Here are some of my favorites, by cuisine.  They are not all "up-scale", but being a socialite does not mean you have to be pretentious (don't judge me).

• Asian: Pei Wei - fast, friendly and delicious food.  You can have anything with tofu and they'll let you know if the sauce is vegetarian.
• Italian: Any place - pastas, pizza, eggplant parmigiana.  It's the food of the gods.  Just try not to be too messy and watch the garlic breath. Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, and Carrabas are all acceptable chains for entertaining.
• Mexican: Tijuana Flats is awesome - plenty of stuff without meat.  Moe's Southwestern Grill and Chipotle Grill are both good and offer tofu as your filling.  WARNING - at Mexican restaurants, always ask if your rice is cooked in chicken broth and whether or not the beans are cooked with meat.  You will often find that one type of beans is and another is not.
• American: Outback Steakhouse offers a surprisingly good veggie burger.  Believe it or not, Denny's has awesome veggie burgers and I hear reports that some are now using Amy's brand (yay!).  Johnny Rockets offers the Streamliner.  Just make sure you tell them not to cook it in a pile of burger grease.  Ruby Tuesdays has a decent avocado quesadilla, fresh guacamole and chips appetizer, and vegetarian minis (little black bean burgers with barbecue sauce and fries).
• Sandwiches: I hate Subway (you always leave smelling like a, well, Subway), but if you are into that sort of thing, they have a veggie sub (salad in bread).  I prefer the veggie sub at Quiznos - mushrooms, olives, guacamole, peppers, etc.  Jimmy John's has an AMAZING gourmet veggie club, if you eat/like cheese (lots of provolone, my favorite).
• Other:  I have to mention Panera Bread Company.  They have vegetarian soups and salads that are tasty and healthy.  This is a good place for the sophisticated ambiance.

I know that none of these are exactly China Grille, but real movers and shakers need to eat at places that are quick and convenient.  I'll make some classier recommendations another time.  Just be glad I didn't talk about Taco Bell...yet. Feel free to post any of your favorites or critique mine. :)

What's wrong with hippies?

I often tell people that "I am not a hippie".  So, what's wrong with hippies?

Actually, nothing.

I am a big supporter of free will.  But, the fact that so many vegetarians/vegans are "hippies" does a lot of PR damage to vegetarianism.  Most people have a distaste for what they view as a subculture that is strange at best.  For most of us, working in corporate America is a reality.  We shop at Wal-Mart and drive whatever car we were able to afford at the time, and we have lunch meetings and dinners with our friends and family, who are mostly meat-eaters.

I think that it is important to challenge the common perception of vegetarians and present an example to "everyday people" that vegetarianism can be just a simple choice of diet, which does not necessitate a complete lifestyle change, the alienation of family and friends, nor an advanced degree in Yoga.  Vegetarianism is healthy, it is humane, it is good for the planet, and it is a good decision for anyone. 

If you are what people consider a hippie, please don't be offended.  You are probably a good person, but just not good publicity for vegetarianism.

Vegetarian Socialite

Somewhere out there, there are vegetarians living in a campground, growing their own food, playing drums and weaving straw hats.

Then, there's me.  I am not a hippie.  I do like to camp and hike from time to time, but, I work in an office, drive a lot, play sports, go to clubs and eat in every restaurant with the decency to provide at least one meat-free dish.  I eat cheese, as I am addicted to pizza, and I eat cookies that I know (somewhere in my hidden subconscious) were made with eggs.  I won't eat any flesh, but most of my friends and family do...and I'm okay with that.

This blog is for those vegetarians who have chosen not to rage against the machine.  It is for those who just want to peacefully coexist with the majority, without compromising our own standards.  I will post about dishes, good and bad, that I've had at popular restaurants.  I will offer quick meal suggestions and make recommendations of all types for vegetarians on the go.

I hope that others will do the same.