March 5, 2016
Today I reserved a table at a new vegetarian restaurant by a Michelin-starred chef in Manhattan… then ran out to a bunch of burrito counter spots in the suburban sprawl of Long Island. I capture both sides of the spectrum, all for you dear blog. Though Long Island is not super vegan-friendly, there has been Read more…
March 2, 2016
It seems the world gets more and more vegan-friendly everyday. As a vegan food blogger, the surge in vegan options near, kinda near, far and very far is overwhelming. From big cities to small locales, I can’t keep up. But I try… And I looove trying. It’s very delicious. My Read more…
February 18, 2016
There are many things I enjoy about omusubi, Japanese rice balls with goodies within. They are handheld, small, and contain the flavor punch of an entire meal… and, lastly, they are not a meal. I had a dinner reservation on the horizon, after all. At Hanamizuki, a pretty cafe near Read more…
Ravi DeRossi’s Mother of Pearl has gone vegan. But chances were I would have loved to visit Mother of Pearl either way. The union of nostalgic, color and kitsch, I love a tiki bar. Below is my investigative photoshoot for a special event I am planning. But being pretty detail-orientated, I had some wardrobe recon Read more…
Finally! Some Staten Island reporting! Staten Island is a borough of New York City, but besides the familiar MTA bus signage and towering NYCDOE public schools, the Island is an island unto itself. The hilly land contains a city-suburb hybrid mix of residential spans and all the needed industries of a Read more…
February 12, 2016
Have you ever told an eatery that you had an allergy that you didn’t have? I think in my two decades of being vegan I have, though probably not in the last 10 years. Although silly, it was easier than fighting or starting an irritating ethics debate while hungry… or Read more…
February 8, 2016
What a wonderful discovery that Spot Dessert Bar has an all-vegan dessert option. And it’s Monkey Bread! This dreamy option is well-worth facing the awkward state of St. Marks Place, right across from where Mondo Kim’s used to be, right next to where Coney Island High used to be. ::sigh:: Read more…
January 23, 2016
I’m near Penn Station every so often. And now Cinnamon Snail has a home there: The Pennsy! The Pennsy is a high-end food court attached to Penn Station / Madison Square Garden. It was pretty slow at my arrival during peak rush hours… except for Cinnamon Snail. I asked the Read more…
January 18, 2016
I am delighted to kick-off the first V.V. report that highlights the vegan wonders of my neighboring states: the Tristate area. As you may or may not know, New Jersey has a lot to offer a vegan. To start, take these two wonderful eateries… Vital Dining, a vibrant new take on Jamaican in pleasant downtown Read more…
January 10, 2016
I am starting a month of salads! So most of my week’s groceries were from the produce section. In order to hold my interest while sustaining my nutritional needs, I was going to do a lot of mixing and matching. You know what they say about variety… So here are my Read more…
January 4, 2016
Guittard‘s Cocoa Rouge is a wonderful red Dutch processed cocoa powder, the first in my quest of finding a go-to cocoa powder. The reddish brown is Earthy and clay-like. The deep brown chocolate cake boasts the cocoa’s richness. Those light chocolate smears are melted chocolate chunks. Once the cake is Read more…
December 30, 2015
In 2008, I did a vegan cheese tasting. Boy, have things changed since then. I remember the leg work and hoops of getting that variety of vegan cheeses altogether. Now, in 2015, Riverdel, a cheese shop in Brooklyn, does all of that for you! What’s better is that they weed out Read more…
Match #1 of the V.V. Burger Showdown Semi-Finals: I Must Break You(r Brand Marketing). Pickle Shack vs. Bareburger We are now in the Semi-Finals of the V.V. New York City Burger Showdown! Sixteen burgers in, I have tasted some amazing burgers. But with new burger options already in waiting for another match-up, this field is ever-evolving. Read more…
December 29, 2015
Every now and again, walking through her streets, I remember that this city is the best one in the country… that the books and movies and art and culture and subculture that praise her are for good reason. And I am grateful to have known her so long, though we’ve grown Read more…
December 18, 2015
On Tuesdays there are all-vegan tacos from Los Veganos Hermanos at Good Co. Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After we watched los veganos make the tortilla from scratch and sipped on some cocktails, I ate one of each of their tacos. From left to right, Mushroom “Carnitas” Taco with smashed avocado and shredded red Read more…
December 17, 2015
Match #8 of the V.V. Burger Showdown: The Battle of Charmed Timing. Cafe Ghia vs. Cinnamon Snail Gentrification surrounding the L-train stops has been happening for decades. 20 years ago, as a straggly teenager who frequented the original Domesy’s Warehouse on Kent, I walked through Williamsburg’s then shady streets to pay for my Read more…
December 14, 2015
Ever since I saw Brooklyn’s The Bagel Store‘s Rainbow Bagel on Instagram… I’ve wanted to take a picture of it, as most do. But I really didn’t want to eat it. So… I didn’t. I brought them to my parents and sister. They’re beautiful, no doubt, with a sweet, sugary sap on Read more…
November 27, 2015
Toast & Co. is a bustling breakfast spot right off Huntington Village’s main drag, New York Avenue. Once you visit, it is easy to see why it brings in such crowds. It’s got that old fashioned diner ambiance, great service, and… a separate vegan menu that is spectacular on its Read more…
November 25, 2015
It isn’t a coincidence that there are a tons of vegan vendors in Bryant Park’s Winter Village. The owner of the company that organizes this annual set up of holiday shops around Bryant Park’s ice rink is a vegan. I found my way nearby and decided to binge eat as Read more…
November 17, 2015
Sunrise on the train station. Vegetable Mofongo and yucca fries from Mi Casa Restaurant, unlikely vegan options are my favorite. Stripes and dots. Pumpkin Dandies really taste like pumpkin. Kitchen color. Quickly go the days.
November 14, 2015
Match #7 of the V.V. Burger Showdown: The Battle of (vegan) Growing Pains. Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop vs. Bareburger Along with the large scale collective growth in vegan food products and eateries, omni embrace of “vegan” is also evolving in its own way. Vegan pantry staples are showing up in traditional supermarkets and Read more…
November 11, 2015
I went to Dirt Candy back in 2012 when they were a tiny, dark, bustling space. Sadly, the tiny, dark, bustling space was all I could remember years later. But now–Dirt Candy is in a much, much larger space. It was quiet and relaxed on our Tuesday evening visit. There Read more…
November 10, 2015
First, a quick appetizer before my dinner date: Clementine Bakery in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. My last (and only) visit was when they had recently opened their doors. They’ve grown up well! Now: dinner. In the great expanse of New York City, sometimes an eatery can exist without showing up on your radar field. Read more…
October 24, 2015
It annoys me how NYC food culture vultures and foodie scenesters so often snub vegan food… especially when they really have no experience with it. Well, wait. That’s not necessarily true. They have no experience with it as cuisine genre. Those who think that “vegan” is a curse word, well Read more…
October 21, 2015
For as long as I have worked, I have always taken off my birthday. It’s a gift I give myself–to be under no obligations but my own. So I do the things I enjoy… driving and finding new places to take pictures of. Shrine of Our Lady of the Island in Manorville Read more…
October 19, 2015
Before setting out on a road trip, a vegan has to consider how long it may be until a proper meal is available. Like a marathoner, it may be appropriate to load up on carbs to anchor the behind in for hours driving (not running). This is why I love Read more…