Living On The Vedge

NYC Instagram Weekend.

2013-04-18T17:09:00.002-04:00

This was my past weekend in New York, as seen through Instagram (plus a few shots that didn't make it).

Mr. Vedge's Restaurant Entrepreneurship class field trip (tours/Q&A/meals at Jean-Georges, Lavo, and Shake Shack) brought us to good 'ol NYC for a long weekend. Of course I went along.

I spent a lot of time on my own as I wasn't able to join the class, but we did sneak in a fun dinner with friends both old and new at Kajitsu (photo 1), house of vegan Shojin cuisine and had another dinner at Pure Food & Wine (Mint Sundae, check. Green Tea Tiramisu, we had to) and met up for drinks with friends after.

I checked in at Piperlime in Soho (photo 2), refreshed with mango chia water and a root veg/mushroom bowl at Hu Kitchen (3) and juice/smoothies at Treehaus Midtown (4) and Organic Avenue (6). I finally had a rainy day lunch at Cinnamon Snail (5) where I witnessed just how devoted their lunch fans are (they came, in droves, in wind and rain) and devoured a basil pesto tofu baguette that was worth getting soaked for. On another day, I had falafel at Taim (7) (which lived up to its fame) with a berry/basil smoothie after attempting to order something at newish the Butcher's Daughter (8), where I found out that they wouldn't serve food (dinner) until 6 and stopped making smoothies at 4. I hope they change this, I arrived confused and left disappointed. What a great weekend, otherwise!

Sprouted Granola Shake: Beauty Detox Foods Inspired.

2013-04-03T10:34:00.003-04:00

Kimberly Snyder has taken over our kitchen. And I'm not complaining. Everything we've made from the Beauty Detox Foods Cookbook has been fairly delicious and as a nutrition geek, I've enjoyed learning about the "top beauty foods" and various healing properties of food.

There have been quite a few books in my life lately, but this one is getting a lot of attention. We've been leaning on this book for sustenance over the past week. Since many of my husband's final classes involve tasting alcohol or visiting restaurants, when he is home he pretty much loads up on greens and more balanced, cleaner meals. Many of the ingredients and processes are reasonably simple, and a lot of the recipes share ingredients. It is approachable, and yet there are plenty of new recipes and techniques for those who already have the first book and want to take the next step.

So far, we've made the Asparagus & Veggie Tempeh Stirfry, Low Sugar Sprouted Buckwheat Granola, Spiced Quinoa, Sweet Potato Fries, and the Vegan Lasagna from the book. The highlight was of course the lasagna, which got us through a couple of meals and this comment - "Can we make this every week?" The lasagna calls for brown rice noodles and is loaded with tons of steamed spinach and broccoli, and we added the optional vegan cheese and it was perfect.

The sprouted granola was crunchy and nourishing as a breakfast served with bananas and almond butter, and I did notice how easily it digested/great I felt afterward. Today I tried a handful in my morning smoothie. Again inspired by Kimberly... At her smoothie shop Glow Bio in L.A., there are "Active Shakes" in vanilla or chocolate that are made with raw sprouted buckwheat.

The verdict? It's delectable and elevates your everyday protein shake. Here is my Kimberly-inspired recipe:

Sprouted Granola Shake

1.5 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 frozen banana

1/4 cup sprouted buckwheat (method/recipe in Beauty Detox Foods)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 date or couple drops of stevia to sweeten

1 scoop sprouted brown rice protein, optional

Blend on high. You may need to blend a bit longer than usual.

Makes 1 pint glass

I added cacao powder to Josh's shake for the chocolate version of this smoothie, but I really loved the vanilla. The Vitamix will pulverize the buckwheat and make the shake nice and thick.

Vega One All-in-One Nutrition Bar.

2013-03-26T16:41:00.000-04:00

This barfly recently received samples of the new Vega One Bar, which promises the nutrition of their popular Vega One shake in "bar" form. I was intrigued, although I consume more "shakes" and smoothies these days than actual nutrition bars. That's mostly because I have the time to prepare things and prefer to get my nutrition that way, but it's not always easy if you're a busy student or constantly traveling or stuck in meetings. So that habit of keeping a bar on hand, tucked away in my bag? I've never quite been able to shake it, and it has saved me from hungry situations/mood swings more times than I can count.

The Vega One Bar comes in 3 flavors: Double Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry, and Chocolate Almond. It is truly a traveler's best friend, a nutritional powerhouse, and sounds perfect on paper: 15 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, 1 serving of greens, probiotics, Omega-3s and covered in...Chocolate. I couldn't really ask for anything more in a bar. Here is the nutritional label for the Chocolate Cherry flavor.

So how does it perform flavor-wise? The most important part, always.

I was having a typical Kelly Phillips craving for dark chocolate in the afternoon and unwrapped one of these for a snack, ignoring the raw dark chocolate bar in the cupboard that I save for days like these. The Chocolate Cherry was very rich and indeed chocolatey, without tasting too "healthy" or chalky the way that other chocolate protein bars can taste. It was fruity and had a slight crisp taste to it from the rice crisps and white chia seeds. Chocolate coated and good for me? Win. I found it very satisfying and would gladly add one of these to my stash.

Does it pass the husband test? Josh tried the Double Chocolate yesterday and asked me his favorite question: How much is it? Which means that yes, he really liked the Vega One Bar, and to answer the question, the bars will sell for $3.99.

A Low-Key Spring Break & Cheesy Miso Sundried Tomato Spread

2013-03-25T16:07:00.000-04:00

I had a much needed spring break in Philly last week. Even though the temps were frigid and bikinis and rum were far from my reality, I spent a solid week re-connecting with friends, working through challenges at work and with family and yes, challenges with my wintered-out self. But most of all, I talked. I vented. I emoted. Good stuff.

I cooked, I sweat a ton, I hugged my mom, I started to write a novel, I took bubble baths, I had wonderful dinners out, I churned out my work, I made giant batches of green smoothie for the family, I kissed my husband a lot, and I learned how to sleep again without freaking out.

When we got back to Ithaca, it became clearer than ever that we are almost done this challenging year. Two more months. I'm just going to cook and write and vinyasa my way through it.

First up is this spread, which I don't call hummus because there is no garlic or lemon. It's more of a cheesy spread, a clearing-out-the-cupboard blend, and it's totally addictive. I plan on using it as the filling for collard wraps this week.

Cheesy Miso Sundried Tomato Spread

2 cups cooked chickpeas

1/4 cup sundried tomatoes

3 tbsp nutritional yeast

2 tbsp miso (I used barley but white also works well)

2 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp rice wine vinegar

1 date, pitted

sea salt and pepper to taste

1/4-1/2 cup water for blending

I soaked and cooked the chickpeas first, so they were warm for blending. If using canned chickpeas instead of dry, you may want to heat them up first, I swear it makes a difference. Add all ingredients to Vitamix or food processor and blend, drizzling in water as needed.

Makes 6-8 servings.

A few fitness highlights from my trip:

First Time at Flywheel. Flywheel's Philly location recently landed at 15th & Locust, and I headed over for my first ride (the first one is free!). I'm new to spinning and was glad to have extra staff available to help me adjust my bike and clip my shoes in. I wasn't sure at all what to expect as I've never taken a full spin class. The studio itself is really nice, clean, and yes, a bit intimidating at first, but my instructor was full of smiles and energy, and the playlist was upbeat and I ended up loving the intensity. Numbers junkie? You can track your performance data and calorie burn after class in your online account. I also think it's neat that you can choose to have your name on the Torqboard to compete with other riders, to push you even harder. At $25 a class, it's pricey, but with free shoes, free towels, free lockers, and tricked out bikes, I can see why, and will definitely try to fit in an occasional ride. See you on the Leaderboard?

Maha Yoga Studio. One of the things I will miss the most about Ithaca is my yoga studio. There are studios I like in Philly, but I was on the lookout for something close to where we will be living in Philly this summer. I decided to try out Maha after my teacher here recommended it, and 1700 Sansom was only a quick two block walk.

Yogahour is Maha's $7 class that runs twice a day, usually around noon and 5pm. I immediately felt welcome when I walked into the lobby and was introduced to instructor Andrea. The studio was full of natural light and was quite large, and Andrea eased us into an alignment-based practice that wasn't too sweaty (perfect for noon if you want to take a class during your lunch break) and opened me up. The second class is free and as another bonus, Maha also offers massage, so I think I will be spending quite a bit of time there this summer.

And something to look forward to THIS week: Beauty Detox Foods Book

A friend and I are pretty much Kimberly Snyder superfans and are not-so-patiently awaiting the release of her second book, out tomorrow. Her beauty and nutrition tips are the best. You can preview a few of Kim's recipes on her blog and order the book here. Stay tuned for a full review later this week.

[image via Amazon.com]

Vegan Chocolate Mint Super Shake.

2013-02-25T11:20:00.001-05:00

There are smoothies... and then there are shakes. To me, a smoothie is light and frosty and a shake is rich and creamy. This is my favorite shake recipe yet. I've been making variations of a chocolate mint shake for years and finally found that avocado is key. It's what makes this truly thick and luxurious. I normally make avocado puddings... well this is like drinkable chocolate avocado pudding/mousse. You'll definitely want to spoon up the last bit at the bottom of the glass.

As far as the rest of the ingredients: I like coconut water for hydration in the morning and mostly use it in smoothies instead of/in addition to water or milk. The lucuma is a low glycemic source of sweetness and a powerhouse as far as nutrients and antioxidants. I use nibs for texture and fiber. Be careful if using mint extract, a little goes a long way, so I find that 1/4 tsp is a nice mint flavor and 1/2 is way too much. If I have mint leaves around I throw in a handful of those instead. I added some protein here, with half a scoop the entire smoothie has about 20 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber. Puts the Shamrock Shake to shame.

Chocolate Mint Super Shake

1/3 avocado

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup coconut water

1/2 cup nondairy milk

1 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp cacao nibs

1 tbsp lucuma powder

1 handful mint leaves OR 1/4 tsp mint extract

1/2 scoop of brown rice protein powder, optional

If you're planning on purchasing a Vitamix in the future, I can now offer you FREE shipping on your online order. Just place your order through this link or enter my associate code 06-008333 at checkout for free shipping ($25 US/$35 CN Value).

The Yoga Body Diet. Ayurvedic Matcha Porridge.

2013-02-23T09:11:00.001-05:00

Winter Reading and Yoga-ing... I've spent my entire Fall/Winter in Ithaca either reading about yoga or practicing it. I feel like I have a brand new spine. My shoulders no longer go all the way up to my ears (most of the time). I walk home from every practice having had some type of emotional breakthrough that you would think I had just had a heart-to-heart with Oprah. But it's working...and I will be home in Philly in a few short months and hope to not undo any of the progress.

So what on this earth have I been reading? I just tore through the Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards, and while I had some mixed feelings on the book, I found it truly compelling, a must-read for anyone who spends time on the mat. The book discusses some of the myths and misconceptions of yoga, citing various studies, and left me thinking about yoga in a different way. People are always telling us how wonderful that yoga is for us (myself included) that it is refreshing to hear the not so beautiful parts. I am hopeful that now that yoga is beyond mainstream, there will be even stronger research from which we can continue to learn. But read it! And let me know what you think.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Yoga Body Diet. Looking back now, this is the kind of book that the author of Science of Yoga warns about. Whatever your thoughts are on ayurveda as medicine, however, I have found many solutions in these pages.

This book makes the practice of ayurveda simple. You determine your dosha if you do not already know it, and find tips, recipes, an ingredient list of the best foods for your dosha, as well as suitable yoga poses. It includes tailored yoga practices for those who practice at home. It's straightforward, simple, and from what I've noticed, works. I feel a million times better if I follow the guidelines for Vata, especially in the winter or as seasons change.

And honestly? Ayurveda is a lot more reliable than those magazine quizzes you take to find out your skin type.

One of my favorite London breakfasts was this creamy, green-tinted Matcha Oatmeal made with matcha blended oats that I found at Selfridges, with soy milk, cinnamon and honey (if strict vegan, try maple syrup, also good for Vata). Here in the states I use organic rolled oats and mix in cinnamon and matcha. Matcha can be expensive but you only need 1 tsp for this recipe so it will last. I buy a small tin of Republic of Tea matcha for $6, which is fine for this use. I also use it for Green Tea Cupcakes.

Cinnamon, oats, honey, coconut, almonds, and soy milk are all on the Vata list, and they all make their way into this recipe. And you don't have to be a Vata dosha to enjoy it, since Winter is a Vata season and all doshas can adjust this to be beneficial. See below for recommendations.

Ayurvedic Matcha Porridge

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup soy milk

1 tsp matcha powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1.5 tsp honey

2 tsp coconut butter

small handful of crushed almonds, for topping

Heat the soy milk and then add oats, matcha, cinnamon, and honey. Stir the matcha in thoroughly until your porridge is a pale green. Simmer until oats are cooked, stirring often. Then fold in coconut butter (makes it super creamy and adds healthy fat for Vata) and top with crushed almonds for texture.

Makes 1 serving.

This porridge is incredibly creamy, has a slight green tea flavor that I love, and is probably one of my all time favorite oatmeal bowls.

For Pitta: Top with blueberries. Soy milk, cinnamon, and oats are wonderful for Pitta, but use maple syrup or raw sugar instead of honey.

For Kapha: All berries, honey gets superfood status for Kapha, cinnamon, oats, and soy milk are great.

This book has simply made me more conscious of knowing what will serve my body versus what will aggravate it. There's science, there's "alternative medicine", and then there's delicious. Can't we be inspired by all 3?

[book images: williamjbroad.com, athleta.com]

Massutera Online Vegan Bakery Review.

2013-02-22T13:32:00.002-05:00

Cupcake break! We were chugging our greens and then Valentine's Day happened. Chocolate, cookies, champagne, all of that...and then a special delivery showed up this week.

Vegan bakery Massutera states on its website that it is founded on the belief that just because food is vegan doesn't mean it has to taste like cardboard.

Truth is, it irks me when people exclaim "Oh, that doesn't even taste vegan!" as if implying that vegan has to translate directly to "not as good as non-vegan" or "healthy".

The assortment of cookies, brownies, and cupcakes that the kind folks at Massutera offered to send me taste like the baked goods that you remember as a kid. They taste like butter (vegan, of course) and sugar and decadence and birthday parties.

Today when I was tasting the treats, I stopped myself from saying "You would never know these were vegan" because it's always been my belief that vegan isn't a compromise.

Back to the goodie breakdown...

The Amazing Fudgy Brownies are chewy and true-to-their-namesake-fudgy, and would sell out in seconds at a bake sale. And the brownies they sent me were enormous! Perfect for sharing with some very stressed out Cornell grad students.

The Chocolate Chip Cookies were classic, buttery, and slightly crispy. I usually prefer a softer cookie (like the PB) but these were also delicious.

My favorite was the Peanut Butter Bliss Cookie. Everything you want in a peanut butter cookie - incredibly rich and with the familiar criss cross. A tall glass of soy milk and it's a date.

Finally, the cupcakes. They were shipped with the frosting separate in little tubs. I received the Choc-Coca-Mocha, which is a chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate buttercream with a coconut and mocha buttercream on top, and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake, which is filled with peanut butter. The frosting had drizzled chocolate in it, which is why it looks a little messy. And...yum. I am not the biggest cupcake fan as I've said before, but I know a good one when I meet one.

Not done with chocolate this month? Have an event coming up and would rather focus on shopping for champagne? You can order from Massutera online. All items are vegan and they can prepare gluten-free items as well. They ship with compostable bakery bags and recycled paper/boxes/labels along with the cutest cupcake packaging to keep your cupcakes tidy. My treats arrived in great shape, thanks to a cooler pack and the packaging genies over at Massutera.

Back to the green stuff tomorrow with an upcoming post for an ayurvedic-inspired breakfast (hint: it's green and it's not a smoothie).

Vitamix Professional Series 300.

2013-02-16T14:32:00.001-05:00

Blown away. Our Professional Series 300 Vitamix is everything I've always wanted in a kitchen appliance. The 300 is a newer model that promises restaurant quality blending, with a 2.2-peak HP motor compared to the 2-peak motor. We also chose the 300 because of the newly designed 64-ounce container: It's wider and looks more modern and the blades measure 4 inches in diameter compared to 3 inches of other models, it also has a new ergonomically designed handle. I've tried out other models in the past, and while they're all amazing machines, this one just seems...burlier. It's incredibly powerful. The Pro Series 750 is pretty much the same except it has pre-programmed settings, which we just didn't find necessary for our uses.

I'm not sure how we made it this long without a Vitamix, but I am very, very happy with this recent addition to our kitchen. We've mostly been making smoothies and salad dressings, but I whipped up a batch of the creamiest hummus in just a few seconds, incredibly smooth mashed sweet potatoes (hello baby food), and Josh experimented with a whiskey "snowcone". Stay tuned for many recipes that require little-to-no-chewing, Living on the Vitamix style. Sort of kidding.

For now, our 1# smoothie essential is Garden of Life Raw Sprouted Brown Rice Protein Powder in Vanilla. Things we like about it: the taste (not too vanilla-y), 100% Vitamin D, probiotics, essential amino acids, easy to digest. We don't add it to every smoothie, but it does help in getting you through to lunchtime. I also really love to add coconut butter to smoothies for texture and satiety, and we are big fans of cacao nibs in non-green smoothies.

Favorite Green Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup filtered water

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen mango

4-5 kale leaves

1 thumb size piece of ginger

Josh's Breakfast Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

2 tbsp cacao nibs

1 tbsp raw almond butter

1 scoop Brown Rice Protein Powder

[image via Vitamix.com]

Oat Pecan Waffles. Gluten Free!

2013-02-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

Snowed in? Make waffles! What's better than piping hot waffles flooded with maple syrup during a blizzard? Backstory... I had the pleasure of attending a Vegan and Gluten Free Valentine's Day Brunch with Amie Hamlin at Greenstar Co-op this past week where we learned how to make these oat-y blender waffles. I often make gluten free waffles at home using the Babycakes recipe but I was looking for something a bit simpler and lighter. I enjoyed the lightness of these waffles and loved the idea of making them in the blender. Amie suggested adding cinnamon to the recipe if we made it at home, so of course, that was one of the tweaks that I made here. I also added baking powder because I find that it really makes a difference in fluffy waffles.

Finally, a gluten free waffle recipe that doesn't include xanthan gum, tons of oil (though I do love my oils), and sixteen different flours! Success.

Don't have a gluten sensitivity? I urge you to try these anyway. Oat flour and pecan flour make for a nutritious, stick-with-you alternative and the recipe couldn't be easier. Just add the few ingredients to the blender, whirl it around for a minute, and you're all set.

Oat Pecan Waffles

2 cups rolled oats

3 tbsp pecans

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder (be sure to use a gluten free baking powder)

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp maple syrup

2 cups water

1/2 cup non-dairy milk

Blend all ingredients until smooth, gradually adding water as needed. Let mixture sit for a few minutes to thicken. Oil your waffle iron. I found that these waffles don't stick the way that other recipes do, another plus!

Makes 4-5 waffles.

Notes: Those of you who follow me on Twitter may have heard that we finally caved and ordered a Vitamix, but I did prepare these in a regular high power blender and they turned out great.

Looking for another waffle recipe using alternative flour? Try my Blueberry Ginger Buckwheat Waffles, another favorite.

Rome Recap.

2013-02-06T13:27:00.002-05:00

Rome. It's gritty, gripping, gorgeous. We savored every minute.

We found something stunning to gawk at on every block. We found ourselves wandering the streets until our bodies felt wonderfully sore and melted into bed. And even though it was harder to find sustenance free of dairy and meat with what little Italian we carried, we found that, too.

Here are the 3 best veggie spots we went to:

Ops Cafe had been recommended to us by our very charming waiter at Il Margutta. Although it was only a buffet and a bit of a walk for us, the food far exceeded our expectations. We had some truly remarkable homemade rosemary seitan (in my experience, it's hard to find good seitan once you've experienced it in Philly) and I was overly ambitious to pile my plate with lots of different salads and hummus (I eat hummus nearly every day so by this point my body was freaking out for the stuff). I think this was the most we ate on our entire trip. We ate pretty lightly everywhere else.

Il Margutta, a vegetarian restaurant near the Spanish Steps, offered a vegan tasting menu. We liked the pasta and the lentils dish the most here and went back twice as it was close to our hotel. And of course, the warm, friendly service and wine.

Ginger Cafe, also near the Spanish Steps, had a buzz with people queuing to get in, but we decided it would be worth the wait as they had organic and vegan options for us (hummus baguettes, marinated tofu and olive salad, juices and soy smoothies) so we had a nice lunch there one day and stopped for soy lattes another time.

We had a lovely stay at Hotel Eden near the Borghese Gardens and Via Veneto. It's worth having breakfast or a cocktail here for the incredible view, and it was very easy to walk to all of the sites from here. Overall, it was my ideal kind of getaway - unplanned, unfettered, and deliciously unknown. I always love the idea of winging it, but we rarely do just that.

Winter Skin-Saver: the Konjac Sponge

2013-01-24T10:31:00.000-05:00

I made many discoveries over in Europe, but the one that has been the most helpful during this hellish East Coast week of deep freeze?

The cure to red cheeks, chapped skin, and dryness? The Konjac Sponge. My French Pink Clay facial sponge for sensitive skin has gotten me through winter so far. No soap needed, this biodegradable, plant-based sponge exfoliates, plumps up, and brightens skin and removes light makeup. The sponge has simplified my routine and left my skin feeling soft and looking healthy even as the wintry elements rage on. It will last at least 2 months if taken care of properly, and you can order it here in the states from Spirit Beauty Lounge. There are different types of sponges for different needs.

I never thought I'd be in love with a sponge but here we are...

[image via Konjac Sponge Co]

Back from London.

2013-01-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

London has been our home for the past month during my husband's restaurant research. It's been one fast-moving, high-dining ride since December. While there was plenty of work on our plates, too, we were fortunate to be staying with family and had a very relaxing holiday, and smartly, there was a long weekend in Rome carved out for the two of us. We're back in Ithaca until Josh graduates in May, but it's looking like we'll be seeing more of London soon...Here are a few places that made my Would-Go-Back-in-a-Heartbeat List:

Starting with wellness...

Content Beauty

This holistic beauty boutique in Marylebone stocks all of my favorite organic skincare brands as well as some sweet new finds (Inika organic eyeliner, Konjac beauty sponges, Nourish, Studio 78 Paris) and they offer Tata Harper facials and non-toxic Kure Bazaar manis and other treatments. Naturally, I went here for all of my grooming needs during our stay.

Triyoga Chelsea

I took classes at both the Soho and Chelsea studios but found that I preferred the teaching styles at the latter. I loved the Anusara-inspired class as well as the Level 2 Vinyasa class. Another bonus at Chelsea is the on-site cafe, which had a variety of raw and vegan dishes to choose from (Raw Pizza, Rocket & Avocado Tortillas, Quinoa Salad, Mini Tofu Toasts) as well as a full range of juices.

Frame Shoreditch

Frame's industrial studio tucked away on New Yard Inn is a fun environment for the cheeky sounding lineup - Ass & Abs, Resist Yourself - and the well-rounded offerings make firming your frame a lot more interesting.

Lomax Bespoke Fitness

I wandered upon Lomax on my way to Triyoga Chelsea one day and decided to give it a go. The downstairs cafe has delicious healthy options (ratatouille, raw oatmeal raisin cookies, "Supple Skin Pots", smoothies, buckwheat wraps) to support all of the hard work you do in the studio upstairs. Spinning, pilates, personal training, nutrition, and spa treatments are available here, but it was the Blast class that caught my eye. Described as one of the best calorie burning workouts in London, I completed a 60 minute circuit of high intensity cardio intervals that included spinning, squats, weight training, and ab work all timed to kick my ass. Just when I thought I couldn't push for another second, the timer would beep and I'd move on to the next exercise. This was the most challenging workout I found in London.

Moving on to decadence...

The Zetter Townhouse and 69 Colebrooke Row

We attended a masterclass with cocktail mastermind Tony Conigliaro at 69 Colebrooke Row and loved the experience so much that we headed back for drinks at the intimate and innovative spot. For NYE, we headed to the Zetter, Tony's second drinking venture, and were met with the finest hospitality and quality of drinks that I've experienced anywhere. Skip the 5 Star Hotel bar and just come here.

Otto Pizza

We fell hard for the cornmeal crusted by-the-slice pizza action at this modern Notting Hill spot and quickly bonded with the owner (his hair is so much cooler than mine). I have dreams about the red lentil kofte cashew cheese pizza, and there are at least two other veganizable options (both incredible).

Pollen Street Social

While we had quite a few vegan tasting menus booked in London that were impressive and rave-worthy, Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social won us over on one of our last nights in town. We both found it interesting that some of our best veggie meals were not at veggie restaurants, but at Michelin-starred restaurants. Pollen Street served truly unforgettable food and drink (the cocktail list is worth noting) with an atmosphere that was relaxed and natural.

Dishoom

This Bombay-style cafe was another lunchtime hit for us. The delicious Indian small plates were enhanced by the detailed and playful decor and inviting environment.

The Artesian

If there is one hotel bar that gets its drinks right, it's the Artesian at the Langham. Voted Best Hotel Bar in the World for a reason, there's tiki inspiration for those that want to stray from the classics, serious dedication to the craft, all in a beautiful bar that was built for buzz.

Kai

It's been called the Best Chinese Restaurant in London, and I'm going to agree. This Mayfair hotspot wowed us from the wine menu all the way to the tea service and every point in between. There is a vegetarian menu with many vegan options, with the most outstanding being the Aromatic Crispy Beancurd, Kai's veggie take on Peking Duck. They even say on the menu that "For too long have vegetarians been excluded from the experience of enjoying the iconic Crispy Duck."

London Vegans

Thanks to the amazing folks who made us feel right at home and gave us the vegan lowdown on London. We had a blast at Vegan Drinks at Tibits and some ridiculously tasty vegan Japanese food cooked by new friends in North London. Until next time!

Legends of the Fall

2012-10-26T14:16:00.000-04:00

If I could have one thing this fall, it'd be more time to write. In lieu of that, there are a few things with which to garnish a busy, busy season. Fall essentials:

1. Clearly, I didn't think this through, by Anna Goldfarb. I first met Shmitten Kitten's Anna back in my early blogging days in Philly and truth: she has one of the strongest blogging voices out there. Cancel your date, pop open some vino, and fall into this

2. Emmy's granola & macaroons frequently make my shopping list, so when I finally spooned into her chocolate sauce, there was no going back. I have 1,001 plans for this fudgy condiment.

3. Kure Polish is an eco-friendly non-toxic polish in slick colors

4. Tree of India's Ayurvedic essential oils help balance my fidgety Vata tendencies

5. Pumpkin Spice Truffles from Gnosis are my Halloween treat of choice: Pumpkin seed creme, warming spices, maca and ginseng all encased in raw chocolate

6. I'm due for a new vegan leather jacket and this number in "Brick" belongs in my closet

[images via Shmitten Kitten, Emmy's, SpiritBeautyLounge, Tree of India, Gnosis, and Piperlime.com]

Shaved Asparagus with Olive Oil & Sea Salt.

2012-09-29T17:18:00.000-04:00

There's always that verrry nice bottle of fancy olive oil that you keep tucked away, that you use sparingly and not often enough, because it's one of the most expensive ingredients in your kitchen.

Well, break it out and live a little. Because this simple yet shockingly delectable snack/side calls for it.

Shaved asparagus. Not a big deal. Not breaking any major culinary boundaries or re-inventing the wheel here. But how often do you actually eat raw asparagus?

You. A mandoline. A bit of fruity, extremely high quality olive oil. Sea salt and gently crushed black peppercorns.

But first. How to tell if your olive oil is the real thing?

1. Make sure your oil is labeled Extra Virgin. Look for a Free Fatty Acidity (FFA) level of no more than 0.8%, regulated by the USDA as extra virgin.
2. Check for a Protected Geographical Indication or Protected Designation of Origin logo on the label.

Our olive oil is from a friend's family farm in Greece and the taste of it has convinced me that most olive oil that I have bought or consumed in the past is utter crap. I am completely blown away by how fine an oil this is. I want to use it for everything. MADLY IN LOVE.

Now, to the recipe! My new favorite snack.

Shaved Asparagus

6 raw asparagus spears

A liberal drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

sea salt & crushed pepper to taste

Carefully shave each spear lengthwise with a mandoline. As you would shave a carrot. You want paper thin slices. Place in bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Gently toss with salt and pepper and serve. Simple!

Serves 1-2. (Plate in photo is 2 spears)

For some reason, this tastes like potato chips to me. It cures that salty craving. The thin asparagus is outstanding, and the better your olive oil, the better this will be.

Barre Review

2012-09-21T16:23:00.000-04:00

On a recent trip to Philly, I picked up a few "Barres", a new-to-me nutrition bar created by two professional ballet dancers.

What I like about these vegan, soy and wheat free bars is that they are made with different types of protein (hemp protein, flax, brown rice protein, nuts) than you see in the usual bars out there, and they offer a little something extra than the typical fruit-and-nut based bar. The bars have around 200 calories and 11-12 grams of fat with 4 grams of fiber and 5-7 grams of protein, which makes it the ideal snack for me. Plus, as if I needed to add this, I am a sucker for packaging/marketing and if you put the word "barre" on something, I probably need to try it.

The two flavors I found were Black Swan Chocolate Berry and Pirouette Cinnamon Pecan. The Barre also comes in Ballerina Spirulina, but they were out of that flavor at Whole Foods (I spotted them at Callowhill).

Black Swan Chocolate Berry

So how do they step up? The Black Swan bar is fudgy and substantial, and got me through a 90 minute morning cardio + barre workout + brisk walk home flying high on energy. I enjoyed the tart cranberries and the rich flavor of this bar. The Pirouette Cinnamon Pecan tasted like gingerbread and had a gooey texture that I liked, but I preferred the Black Swan. You can taste the protein powder just a teeny bit in the Cinnamon Pecan, but I don't mind that. Both bars were very filling, and I don't say that about most bars.

Back to the Barre? In college I survived on protein bars and rarely felt satisfied, but didn't have the time to eat proper meals because I was a crazy person (at one point I had 7 part-time jobs). These days, I look at bars as an emergency snack to pack if I am traveling or need to supplement a meal. The truth is, I think most bars just don't taste great, and I'd rather have a piece of fruit or hummus or something that stimulates me more and makes me feel connected with what I am eating. I was very impressed with the Barre, however, and I hope to see them available at other stores in the future. The ingredient list is superb and the taste is simply delicious. Call it my new go-to.

You can find the Barre near you here.

Pirouette Cinnamon Pecan

Blueberry Ginger Buckwheat Waffles

2012-09-03T12:01:00.000-04:00

We could go on and on about the health benefits of ginger and why I need it in my life, but honestly? I'm a slave to its flavor. Mr. Vedge loves to make a ginger syrup for his cocktails and I always add ginger to my juice, so we usually have a few knobs on hand. I decided to add some extra ginger juice to this waffle recipe and seeing as blueberry and ginger are made for each other, the sweet & spicy flavors came right through in this recipe.

Lately, my base waffle flour is buckwheat. Sometimes I do half buckwheat and half cornmeal, and that tastes great, too. It's heartier, lumberjack-y, and more energizing for me than a white or whole wheat flour, both of which typically make me crash within the hour. These waffles aren't going anywhere, they're here to keep you firing all morning.

Blueberry Ginger Buckwheat Waffles

Wet:

1 cup almond milk

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

1-2 tbsp coconut nectar (or maple syrup)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp fresh ginger juice (optional, but adds more zing)

Dry:

1 cup buckwheat flour (or try 1/2 cup buckwheat with 1/2 cup cornmeal for a lighter flavor)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

Organic blueberries

Preheat waffle iron. Spray with coconut oil spray or coconut oil to prevent sticking.

Whisk together wet ingredients first, then add in dry. Mix together, then fold in blueberries.

Makes 3-4 medium sized waffles or 2 large waffles. You can double this recipe and freeze any extra waffles for later. I like to serve with raw almond butter or coconut butter and coconut nectar on top.

Kulae Elite Hybrid Yoga Mat...and My Power Week.

2012-08-24T15:42:00.001-04:00

Back to yoga...and a new yoga hybrid mat review below.

I rarely go more than a week without finding myself on the mat. But I decided to get my butt to yoga, somewhere, every day this week. And man, does it make a difference. I've added so much to my practice and finally feel myself melting more and strengthening in a way that you only can from hot, spicy yoga. I feel amazing.

Taking a week off from running, lifting, and Lithing sounded wholly unreasonable to me. Yet as soon as I stepped out of my Saturday class at the newly renovated Lotus Seed Yoga studio in Collegetown, every muscle was on fire. I was committed.

Lotus Seed's Vinyasa with Diane hit me in all of the right ways. She even added on some aromatherapy towards the end, sampling a new spray that the studio carries (along with uber-cute yoga wear from a female entrepreneur). This was my second class with her (the first was last year during Mr. Vedge's interview at Cornell) and both times, it was a beautifully balanced and intimate class. And you'll definitely feel the burn, especially if you walk up the hill to Collegetown before class and are already sweating when you get there. Thanks, Diane!

My week continued...deliciously sore, I slipped over to my downtown yoga flavor of choice, Mighty Yoga for a Sunday evening class with Gina. Mighty is a convenient 2 block walk for me. It has a little something for everyone and is such a welcoming community of instructors and members. It took me some time to get used to the heat (I have never sweat more, ever) but my mind feels so clean after class there.

This week, all classes were $3 at Mighty for their 3rd Anniversary (donated to Ithaca Health Alliance) with extra classes and some special sessions to mix things up. Perfect timing! I tried classes with different instructors, at different times, and loved and valued every minute. I feel so much more comfortable on (and off) my mat after this week. And yes, I feel mighty.

MAT REVIEW. And it's not just the new mat, either... Midway through my power week, my new Kulae Hot Yoga Mat arrived. The Elite Hot Hybrid is a yoga mat/yoga towel hybrid (it's machine-washable) and since I've been doing a lot of hot yoga sans towel, I figured this would be worth a try. I slip often, and when I use a towel, it slips often, and although I've gotten more used to rooting myself down, it's still something that interrupts my flow (I will cram as much yogi speak into this post as possible).

This mat solves all of that. I felt cool and steady this week, and wasn't thinking about my towel or my grip for even a second. The mat feels more durable than I thought it would and I'm curious how it holds up to washing over time. The towel is supposed to be antimicrobial and after my best sweaty sessions in a long time, it was still dry. So far, thumbs up. Aesthetically, it's attractive and comes in appealing colors. The length is perfect, and it's made of environmentally friendly ECO PER and Bamboo Microfiber. It's a few bucks pricier than a regular mat, but since it includes a towel, it's actually cheaper to just buy this.

Fall is my favorite time to practice yoga, so I am going to push forward and get to the studio more. Ithacans, I hope to see you in class at one or both of these studios - they simply rock. And Philly folks, my mat and I will find our way to you soon for a visit.

UDPATE: Over 6 months later with a weekly toss in the washer, and my mat is still in excellent condition.

[images via Lotus Seed Yoga, Might Yoga, Kulae]

No-Bake Weekend: Sweet Freedom Bakery Treat of the Month Club

2012-08-13T13:16:00.002-04:00

It's been some time since I've seen this box (okay, a little over a month).

It was standard for me to fit a Sweet Freedom Bakery visit into almost every trip to Rittenhouse in Philly. A client's office happened to be a few blocks away. Or I'd swing by after a sweaty class at Lithe Method for my 10% Lither discount (you'll often see the owners of SFB in class).

I wish that Sweet Freedom Bakery (or vegan-friendly and allergen-free bakeries) was as ubiquitous as Starbucks. But until that happens, there's always the Sweet Freedom Treat of the Month Club. For those that find themselves very far away from their favored treats purveyor. SFB will ship you your very own box jammed with the GOODS. I'm talking stuffed. The box comes in 2 sizes, regular 8"x8" and a Family Size 10"x10". I ordered the smaller box, of course, and was surprised to discover 16 treats in there. Here's a little taste of Month 1, some pretty classic SFB fare. I'm looking forward to seasonal items as the autumn months come upon us.

4 Chocolate Chip Cookies
4 Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
2 Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 Brownies
2 Cinnamon Donuts
2 Blueberry Muffins

Orders are shipped out on Wednesday, and my order showed up Friday afternoon, full of amazingness. The best part about SFB treats is that they freeze quite well. But there's always Almond Milk & Oatmeal Cookie Oats if you can spare a cookie.

Saturday morning baked goods:

So, wanna join the club? Here are the links:

3 Month Club-$47.00 each month

6 Month Club-$45.00 each month

12 Month Club-$40.00 each month

3 Month Family Size Club-$70.00 each month

6 Month Family Size Club-$65.00 each month

12 Month Family Size Club-$60.00 each month

Monthly 2 Day Ground Shipping is included.
2-day ground shipping is used for PA, NJ, NY, VA, DC, DE, NH, MA, VT, ME, CT, RI, OH, WV, NC, SC, TN, KY, IN, and MI

Vegan Lunch Date in Syracuse

2012-08-07T10:15:00.003-04:00

When it comes to my pixie cut, I'm willing to travel for a salon that uses naturally-derived hair products. Syracuse is about an hour drive from Ithaca, so we hopped in the car for a quick afternoon trip to Hair Habitat and Strong Hearts Cafe (I had to convince my partner that there was something in it for him, other than the satisfaction of pleasing me). Both businesses happen to be in the same large building, which also holds a spa and yoga center.

The building itself is charming and older, but Hair Habitat's space on the 2nd floor is airy and modern, and the staff is sweet and down-to-earth. I had a very relaxed experience, the hair color was gentle and buffered with essential oils, and my stylist did a great job taking my hair to a more honey-hued shade of blonde. I'm loving the slight change.

Downstairs at Strong Hearts, it reminds me of Grindcore House in Philly, with a far more expanded menu. Tattooed mommies, vegan milkshakes, enormous sandwiches, multiple tofu scrambles and all day vegan breakfast. Mr. Vedge first discovered it when he spent time in Syracuse for work last year and made a habit of visiting Strong Hearts for lunch. His co-workers quickly became fans of Strong Hearts also, and I was looking forward to finally visiting.

The daily soup is not to be missed, and that day's was a sweet corn chowder. Sandwiches look like the thing to get at Strong Hearts, so I went with the TLT after careful consideration. Marinated tofu, walnut basil pesto, L&T&sprouts, vegan mayo, pickles & Daiya...pressed into a messy but delicious affair. He went for the Reuben, stacked with seitan, pickles, Daiya, sauerkraut, and 1000 Island dressing on toasted rye. The salads looked amazing, but hey, when in Syracuse...

We finished up our afternoon date with some shopping in Armory Square. Next time we'll have to hit up Alto Cinco or Lemongrass, two of Mr. Vedge's old haunts.

Veg Out: Mexeo in Collegetown

2012-07-10T16:29:00.000-04:00

If you trek up those crazy hills in Ithaca for a taco, it better be one hell of a taco.

Or you should at least hope to find kombucha on tap.

Mexeo delivers both. If the candy-striped walls inside are any indication, you're going to have a good time at Ithaca's foodiefied Tex-Mex joint. Fill out your order form and keep in mind a few things:

The beans and rice are not vegan. Don't freak out, though, it turns out you don't actually need them. My tofurizo and tofu mole tacos were plenty filling with onions, cilantro, and habanero salsa. Mr. Vedge's vegan mole burrito was packed with dairy-free goodness and so, as much as we love our beans, we found the tofu and veggie filling to be lighter and more enjoyable. There are other places in town that do vegan beans & rice, but they are just not half as good as Mexeo.

The habanero salsa is fantastically hot. I'm often underwhelmed by most salsa, piling it on in attempts to feel something, anything, and this stuff has a real kick. It will teach you something.

Items are mostly locally sourced.

The tofu taquitos are light and refreshing, and don't taste like junk food.

Mexeo is tiny and there are no tables, so grab your order to go and luxuriate outside.

Not one, but two flavors of BAO kombucha are on tap. The ginger flavor paired with the habanero salsa is not for the light-hearted.

Vegan Eats at Vernick Food & Drink

2012-07-09T14:21:00.000-04:00

We're back in Ithaca this week, with some memorable new finds to tuck away for future visits. One of the highlights was a new Philly restaurant that served us a vegan meal that was thoughtful, satisfying, and sexy. Because as I tweeted a few nights ago, I could easily eat my meals at my favorite vegan restaurant in the world every night when I am in Philly...but it's always rewarding to add a new spot to the delicious list.

Vernick Food & Drink is just around the corner from our Philly base in Rittenhouse Square. With the soul-sucking heat, that's about as far as my feet wanted to travel. I'm glad we opted to try something new. It's so easy to stick to your favorite haunts, knowing that you won't be disappointed. But in a city full of new restaurant openings, we wanted to drop in on a few curious places.

Vernick's clean design and ambience proved a proper setting for food and drink that is simple and yet smart. We sat in the second floor dining room and began with a glass of rosé and a cocktail, and knew it was going to be a swell night. My camera didn't make it out that night, unfortunately, so phone photos it is...

Among the vegan choices: Amuse of raspberry gazpacho, mustard seed oil, crispy potatoes & shishito peppers, summer squash (the spices were terrific), today's greens, roasted carrot & tomato salad w/ cornichon olive dressing (my entree, I want to drink this dressing like it's water), veggie plate for Mr. Vedge (he loved it). I wanted to try the toast and we were told that a few tweaks could be made for vegan toast, but we didn't want to disassemble anything. Maybe they'll have a veggies-only toast another time. Regardless, we left full and pleased, with every staff member that we passed on the way out smiling and thanking us for visiting, and finally, holding the door open. If Vernick Food & Drink was a man, I would have been thoroughly wooed.

5 Years of Living on the Vedge

2012-06-28T11:35:00.003-04:00

It's been 5 years since I first sat down to share my thoughts on veggie food with you all. I started LoTV as a young freelance writer still in college who was interested in writing about vegetarian food. Since then, every few days I'd check in with a restaurant review or my latest food find in Philly (I was a hungry little thing). I had many the adventure and tried on more writing styles than Sybil, but I always found myself here, ready to put something down. It was so that I could look back on it later, but it was also to inform other people that a vegetarian could have panache, and not just be political. Through it all, I ended up becoming a vegan, learned how to cook and began posting recipes, met someone who could keep me on my faux leather clad toes, and found myself impassioned by nutrition and wellness. I've connected with some truly amazing food-lovers and entrepreneurs along the way, whom I now count as good friends and would gladly give my last bite of raw chocolate to.

I want to thank anyone who pops by here. This might never be an incredibly organized blog with a consistent schedule of beautiful recipes and exciting content. I try not to make it just a vegan blog, or an outlet focused on ethics, although that is something I feel strongly about, that's just not entirely what I'm doing here. This is my take on a vegan lifestyle, a collection of thoughtfully sourced products, a balance of nourishing recipes and vegan indulgences, and my experiences.

Some observations?

It's hard to believe how much vegan frozen food I ate while in college, a habit that was shrugged off after eating at enough of Philly's finer restaurants and developing my palate, and I have to thank my food-obsessed friends for showing me the way.
I also have no clue what anything I wrote pre-2009 even meant. I was incredibly sober and innocent, except when I was not.
In 2010, I fell hard for raw food. It was inspiring and totally different and never boring, and it changed my health, my body, and the way that I think about food.
2011 was my favorite blog year. I spent more time in the kitchen than ever before, took too many photos, and had so much energy. The recipe ideas flowed.
I make a really good cocktail now.

This year, things will be a little different. I'm living in a more rural town for the first time, which happens to be a very green and vegan-welcome place, but it's certainly not Philly, where I was constantly out and about at blogger events, restaurant openings, and cooking for lots of friends and parties. My pace here is...slow, and relaxed, and enjoyable, and I prepare a lot of quinoa-bean bowls because our grad student budget is okay with that. I'll be posting recipes and travels when I feel that they're special, and I hope you'll stick with me as we prepare to step into the hospitality industry when this year is through.

XOXO, namaste, cheers, and all of that,

-Kelly

P.S. I'll be in Philly next week, in the usual places, and perhaps some new ones? You tell me! Or let's drink together.

Summer Lovin'

2012-06-27T15:34:00.000-04:00

It's fair to say I'm having a memorable season already. My summer loves:

Vineyard hopping on the Cayuga Wine Trail (below: Sheldrake Point), rosé, lacy espadrilles from Jeffrey Campbell, Organic Avenue & Tata Harper Love Beauty Cleanse, GT's Mystic Mango Kombucha, organic raspberry picking at Kestrel Perch Farm, smoky Mezcal-laced margaritas at Agava, Google Nexus 7 Tablet ($199, now that's refreshing!), Twilight of the Elites by Chris Hayes for non-light reading

[images via Organic Avenue, GT's Kombucha]

Waffle Frolic: Vegan Waffle Wonderland

2012-06-18T11:03:00.000-04:00

How is it that I've lived about 100 feet away from a waffle cafe that serves vegan, gluten-free waffles, knowingly, and had yet to be drawn in by that sweet smell after passing by daily?

Waffle Frolic has been on my to-eat list since we got here over a month and a half ago. The blissed out faces of the waffle diners who drizzle syrup onto enormous square grids outside of the shop in Ithaca's Commons is its credibility. As for our procrastinating, Waffle Frolic opens up at 9 a.m. on weekdays, and by that time, we've already had breakfast and Mr. Vedge is sitting in his Corporate Finance class. Our waffle moment would have to wait.

Waffle Frolic specializes in waffles, from savory to sweet with 4 different bases (including one that is both vegan and gluten-free) and all of the usual toppings, and few unexpected ones, including almond butter and Earth Balance. You order a single or a twin, and then watch as things get busy at the row of waffle irons. Not in a waffle mood? There's a grilled Daiya cheese option, a vegan waffle dog served with maple mustard, flaxseed smoothies and hemp milk lattes and kombucha...

But the waffles! They're crispy, snappier than any vegan waffle I've ever turned out on my iron at home, with a sweet dough and a deep crannies waiting to be pooled with local maple. My single was more than enough, especially fashioned with berries and almond butter, and even though it wasn't quite hot by the time we sat outside, it was possibly the holy grail of vegan waffles, all golden and perfect.

Afterwards we took the visiting in-laws over to Taughannock Falls so that we could hike it all off.

A Saturday afternoon would not be right without a visit to the Ithaca Farmer's Market for veggies, strawberries, and Macro Mamas. Pearled barley polenta with savory rhubarb and onion sauce, black beans with toasted cumin, corn, and pickled onions, collards with smoked eggplant dressing, and broccoli with garlic scape and walnut pesto.

We prepared a simple, light stir fry for dinner of seitan, garlic, bok choy from the market, and cashews. Served in lettuce wraps. Then we headed to the local roller derby game, which has become a regular event for us.

Some short-but-sweet Father's Day family time (even if we had to celebrate a day early) and such a relaxed, delicious weekend were just what we needed. I'm feeling a bit of a life/career stall out here and can't help but feel like being inside of the Ithaca Bubble forces you to slow down a bit and check things out. So I've just been going with it, getting in my work hours when I can, but taking advantage of the brilliant sun and spending more time than usual in downward dog. I guess this is what happens when you find yourself away from a major city for the first extended time in your life.

Vegan Brunch at the Owl House, Rochester.

2012-06-11T14:09:00.002-04:00

Why Rochester? We're about an hour and 45 minutes from Rochester and I was ready for a day trip. Mr. Vedge is getting hammered with class projects and I figured he could use a few hours away from Excel files. So after a bucolic ride along some remote roads, we arrived relaxed and peckish.

Well. We didn't do a ton of planning and didn't actually spend much time IN Rochester, proper. But! I had googled a vegan restaurant for lunch and had a feeling it would be amazing. And! We had plans to visit the nearby Lululemon (this is how I know he's the one), just outside of Rochester in Pittsford. It was a Lululemon showroom, which meant less product and limited sizes, but the smell of luon pleases me immensely.

A pair of special edition speed shorts and a cool racerback in my possession, we drove a couple of miles into Rochester to the Owl House. A good deal of the menu is vegan, with tempeh sandwiches, vegan migas, avocado mousse and the like rounding out the menu. The restaurant takes up two stories of a house in what I would call the Fishtown of Rochester (there's a co-op down the street and lots of shiny, happy people with tattoos and fun hair).

Saturday was World Gin Day, so we quickly ordered a Tom Collins and a Gin Fizz (made vegan with soy cream!? A traditional uses egg whites) from the very respectable drink menu. I love a well-stocked bar in an unexpected place, it almost immediately sets me at ease. It shows attention to detail and nearly always leads to a capable kitchen.

[photo via the Owl House Facebook]

While Fee Bros. Bitters are not the favorite bitters brand in this house, Fee Brothers is located in Rochester. We didn't visit, but that certainly explained all of the Fee bottles on the Owl House bar. My drink listed "fee foam" as an ingredient, and it was incredible. Frothy, citrusy, floral, and fun, I made short work of my Gin Fizz and had to remind myself that it was only 2pm and I had the rest of Gin Day left. I could drink these fizzes all afternoon and I'm usually a total buzzkill when it comes to afternoon drinking.

[photo via the Owl House Facebook]

The menu has its share of vegan bar food. We saw the Vegan Mozzarella Sticks and had to experience this fried naughtiness. They order blocks of Daiya, cut them into mozza stick size, and then bread them in panko. They're stretchy like the sticks I remember as a kid, gooey, and well, it's a lot of Daiya. If you like vegan bar food, this is the answer. It made me feel like I was in Philly again, perhaps at the Memphis Taproom or the Royal Tavern.

I had the Lentil Burger with tempeh bacon and he had the Vegan Breakfast Nachos. Not something we'd eat everyday, but this was a road trip and both were really good, although we didn't manage to get any other food shots.

We did some more exploring and shopping, then made our way back home for more gin and socializing with some of Mr. V's classmates. If you do find yourself near Rochester, I still have no idea what to do there, but you should probably drop by the Owl House for a meal.