Running Away to Jersey, Part 1
Ocean Organics in Toms River

With a long weekend ending several long arduous weeks, I decided to run away. The time away with my thoughts would help me process some unexpected and heartbreaking news. Within a concentrated deliberation and emotional exploration, my trip south carried me through a couple of stages of grief for the loss of a close friend–shock, pain, anger and guilt. Feeling all the feelings, I was captive to their shifting whims. I carried on obediently through an itinerary made at a happier time the day before, but I was only partially available. It was jarring how my joy receptors were dulled by this grief, how the things I loved were not able to fill my heart like they used to. I was grateful, however, for the distinction as I know some experience that absorbing grey all the time. To follow are pictures of my quick trip, the things that temporarily pushed horrible imagery out of my head.

Before my long list of neat stops on a two-day tour of my southern neighbor New Jersey, a satisfying breakfast. Jersey’s shore offers plenty of vegan options, but it would be the highly accoladed Ocean Organics in Toms River that would sustain my jam-packed day… for so many reasons.

All over Ocean Organics‘ menu are some of my favorite words to see on a menu: “Our,” “house-made,” and “homemade.” This matters to me greatly. Also, these things proudly listed on their website: Organic, Non GMO, Vegan, Whole Food, Vegan Nutritionist, Master Herbalist, Family Owned and Operated. While some can get excited about grossly processed fake meat Beyond & Impossible popping up on a menu, I will scream loud about places like this.

I got a breakfast sandwich–a millet & lentil sausage, avocado, a homemade pineapple habanero sauce, tomato, onion and their house cashew cheese on a toasted sprouted wheat bagel. It was as delicious as it sounds.

Clean, hearty and tasty. It is rare that all of these are in an eat.