Day 12 in Deutschland, Easy Vegan in Bremen

After brief appreciation (Griswald Grand Canyon style) of Kölner Dom, I moved on from Köln. With my days counting down quickly, I needed to do some cities flash pan speed. I boarded an early train north, foolishly thinking it’d be a quiet and secluded ride. Right smack in the middle of the holiday season, throngs of excited, vacationing Germans and their hefty suitcases litter the aisles of the train. I’ve yet to make a seat reservation on any of my train excursions but I see now that it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Today’s destination is Bremen, whose roots date back to a settlement in 100 AD. How spectacular to be able to linger amongst such a deep-rooted history. Bremen has some appealing sights and some vegan options I can’t pass up. I knew as soon as I ventured out of the main station that this was my kind of city. I tried, in vain, to find Veganbar, an all-vegan food truck, with no success. Now I realize that today they are stationed elsewhere. This is the price I pay for not knowing what day it is.

I left my suitcase in storage so I can explore the sites, many of which were far closer to the train station than my hostel. Bremen is pretty easy to navigate. I found all the places I wished to go, and discovered some new ones along the way. Take a look at yet another stunning German city.

On the way to the old quarter I saw Windmill am Wall.

Bremen is very proud of their mascots–a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster– or The Bremen Town Musicians, the title of a Brothers Grimm folktale about misfits finding a new home. The image is everywhere I look here in Bremen, along with intricately detailed historical buildings.

The gorgeous old quarter:

I was really excited to check out Veganissimi, an all vegan shop with grocery items, sweets, and other vegan miscellany. I was in vegan heaven! They had so many items I have never seen… which makes sense since I am very far from home. The store owner, Tatjana, was amused by my excitement–and surprised that New York did not have its very own vegan-only store like Veganissimi. Yes, New York, you need to step it up!

Here is the queen of Veganissimi, Tatjana. She was very gracious. Besides giving me a recommendation for lunch, she invited me to an all-vegan brunch buffet, a monthly event that happens to be tomorrow. Though my plans are tight, I decided that I can not miss this brunch.

Some shots from the store: a slew of vegan cheeses, veggie brats of all shapes and sizes, animal liberation imagery all about, and just all around yumminess.

I have never seen white chocolate bars before–and they had a variety! I ordered an apple cupcake and a simple cheese sandwich that really hit the spot.

The cheese was really good–out of the fridge and cold–unlike some packaged cheeses that.

My goody bag, literally: A white chocolate bar with crispies, chocolate-covered biscuit and vanilla creme things that look too much like Scooter Pies for me not to by, the Bonbarr–which was like a vegan Charleston Chew (!), Vego–a huge chocolate and hazelnut bar, and a strawberry creme chocolate bar. Yikes!! Oh, and a tofu monster bag.

After checking into my hostel and getting the nitty gritty on how to ride the street cars, I ventured out to a bustling Park Slope-ish strip of cafes and shops. Yes, it says “TOFU” on the building.

I hit Vengo for a late lunch/early dinner. This was the recommendation from Tatjana. I was thankful for the insider tip as this mostly vegan eatery was not on my radar. Inside, a friendly counter gal helped explain the many vegetable-based dishes, many Turkish-inspired, I could choose for my 8-sides plate. This was a fantastic and flavorful meal I devoured quickly… then proceeded to Vengo’s dessert. What an amazing day of vegan discoveries!

My glorious colorful plate of awesome vegan goodness: braised chickory, black bean and herb salad, delicious black-eyed peas, a potato salad, eggplant and sun-dried tomato, carrot hummus, and cous-cous-like pilaf on Romaine lettuce… and a pineapple and mint palate cleanser

After a meal like that, I couldn’t wait to try the dessert–a sweet coconut milk rice with layers of sweet thin apple, cooked to perfection, and sprinkled with coconut. Oh Bremen, you are a fantastic stop on my journey!

After my meal, I took a walk along the Weser river back to the old quarter, a recently renovated “Maritime Mile.” that adds to the city’s historical range. Bremen has a proud heritage as a member of the Hanseatic League, a group of trade guilds along the coast of Northern Europe started in the 13th century.

My trip here is Germany is peaking. I can’t believe all that I have seen thus far. A couple more days of this kind of existence and then I’ll be back to reality. Until then…