Betty's Wok & Noodle Diner

Last night I ventured out to Betty's Wok & Noodle Diner, right by Symphony Hall.  I had purchased a Groupon for this place and was anxious to try it.  While they technically only have one vegan dish (the Va Va Vegan), they offer a vegetable bar where you pick your own veggies, sauce and accompaniment and they stir fry it for you.

We started with vegetable dim sum.  The dumplings were pretty good, but I was eager for the main course.  Mostly I was anxious to get to the vegetable bar.

I picked all the veggies ;)  I chose tofu, brown rice and the Kung Pao sauce.  The sauce was delicious and really spicy which I love, but they but just a little too much sauce for my liking.  No complaints here though as I had the leftovers for lunch and it was pretty awesome.

If you are in the neighborhood, check this place out. They have some solid vegan options and it a great place to take your carnivorous friends for a good meal.

Denver Adventure's: Watercourse Foods

Prior to going to Denver I did some research on vegan spots so that I could be well prepared.  I knew that I would likely have only one chance to get to a vegan place because it is hard to get non-vegans to come along.  I read Yelp reviews and decided on Watercourse Foods because of their philosophy and approach. WaterCourse Food's philosophy, is simple and accessible. They have created an atmosphere that welcomes everyone which I thought would be accommodating to my non-vegan friends.

When I got there, I was blown away and it far exceeded my expectations in terms of quality of food and atmosphere. The sign outside reads "Eat the path of least resistance".  I loved this phrase because it reminded some about my reasons for becoming vegan- eating natural, healthful foods that are not highly processed.  When you walk inside you are faced with a case of gorgeous vegan desserts.  Beautiful pies, cookies, scones, and so much more.  

There was a 30 minute wait, but it was well worth it!  The menu was fast with a southern comfort feel.  We went for brunch and I was so torn on what to get- breakfast or lunch.  Watercourse is a vegetarian establishment, but most of their base foods (and all soups, dressings, and desserts) are all vegan.  The breakfast items could be ordered with eggs and most items could have cheese added.  This made it very accommodating for my brunch companions.

After much agonizing I settled on the Blackened Caesar Wrap with soup and french fries (you get two sides with every meal!).  My wrap included blackened tofu and a fresh Caesar salad stuffed in a whole wheat tortilla with tomato and red onion and I added avocado and cucumber.  It was so incredibly delicious that I don't think I can give it justice in words.  I have had other vegan Caesar dressings and they are usually not very good.  This dressing was delicious.

The tofu was cooked to perfection and the blackened seasoning was the perfect spiciness.  The soup of the day was a tomato, curry bisque.  It was so flavorful and so amazing.  I need to figure out this recipe...more to come on that ;)

I finished my meal with a delicious chocolate chip cookie which surprisingly light and delicious.  I think that they used almond flour which made it so yummy.


I loved this place so much, and it made me sad because there is really no place like this in Boston.  The few vegan restaurants that we do have are decent, but nothing like this place.  If you ever get to Denver, check it out.  You won't be sorry.

Denver Adventure's: Tokyo Joe's

Last weekend I ventured to Denver, CO for the WFTDA Championships.  Not only did I get to watch amazing roller derby, but I also got to eat some fantastic food.  On the way from the airport, Amy and I stopped at Tokyo Joe's, a healthy, fast food establishment.  This place was awesome and offered some great vegan options- just what I needed after the plane ride.

I did the build your own bowl with brown rice, tofu, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and snap peas all served in their fabulous Dragon sauce which was spicy.  I loved this.  It was healthy, filling and so awesome.  There does appear to be a few of these restaurants in MA, but not in Boston.  If you have a chance to check them out, I totally recommend it. 

The meat's on stage, not on the plate

That is the motto behind Casa Diablo, Portland's first vegan strip club.  BEST CONCEPT EVER? Maybe.  You heard me right, all the food served in this establishment is 100% vegan and many of the strippers are too.  Interesting. 

Portland has the highest per capita number of strip clubs in the US.  They also have a significant vegan population.  It was only a matter of time before someone combined them.  Casa Diablo attracts vegans and non-vegans alike, as I am sure you can imagine.  Johnny Diablo's philosophy on this: "if they are eating here, that is one less animal that they are consuming".  Priceless.

When you enter Casa Diablo, it may seem a bit familiar.  That is because it looks exactly like the set of From Dusk Till Down.  Epic.  According to Yelp, the food is amazing and the girls are unparalleled.  Johnny has been a vegan for 24 years and previously owned the Pirate's Tavern, which was a pretty fabulous pirate themed vegan restaurant. Yarrr! But that didn't work out so well, so he figured boobies must be better.  They always are ;)

The sign above the stage reads:  "Please do not wear fur, feathers, silk, wool, or leather on the stage. Thank you – the animals.” I love it.  Casa Diablo also happens to be Portland's only smoke-free strip club.  Even better.

FACT: The club’s no-frills Mexican-based menu comes with no description of meals—just a title, like “Fajita Platter $8.00” with “choose steak or chicken” written underneath. Diablo says he enjoys duping meat-eating customers, and that what’s served is gluten-free, wheat-based soy. Brilliant.

So the controversy...isn't there always controversy?  Typical to most strip clubs, there have been reviews claiming the subjectification of women.  It is the ago old argument about strippers.  Believe me I get it.  However, strip clubs don't seem to be going anywhere and the women who strip choose to work there.  Personally, I have never been to a strip club.  But if I ever go, I want it to be this one! 

What do you think?

Maple Farm Sanctuary: You Can Make a Difference

I first learned about the Maple Farm Sanctuary when I was looking to volunteer at Farm Sanctuary, a national farm animal rescue organization. Farm Sanctuary has two locations in NY and CA.  I was delighted to see a smaller and local farm animal rescue had been established in MA. 

Max was the first animal I saw when I got to the Maple Farm Sanctuary.  Check out the landscape and the

amazing life he now has.  You would never guess that he was neglected so badly that he is now blind because of an infection.

I first reached out to Cheri, Maple Farm Sanctuary, on the phone several months ago and filled out all of the paperwork to go visit the farm.  But after my accident, I had been delayed in be able to visit the sanctuary.  Last weekend, I finally got to go and work on the farm.  There have been few times where my consciousness and purpose for being a vegan have been strengthened.  I feel like this experience re-affirmed my commitment to veganism, but also my pursuit of fair treatment of animals.

Jonathan is a 500 lbs pig who was so ill when he was rescued that he he had stopped eating and drinking all together.  He underwent

hernia surgery immediately and now lives a happy live on the farm where he enjoys fresh veggies (esp. tomatoes) and mud baths

Cheri and her husband Jim founded the Maple Farm Sanctuary, both former farmers, goat and dairy respectively.  In talking with Cheri, it was interesting to hear her progression to veganism and then to the founding of Maple Farm Sanctuary.  She truly is an inspiration.

Love is tried apples.  The goats LOVE them.  Just ask Melissa!

The Maple Farm Sanctuary is home to about 80 animals who have previously been abused, abandoned or neglected.  From providing forever homes to llamas, to cows to goats to promoting awareness, veganism and respect for all life- Maple Farm Sanctuary is a gem in MA, yet few people even know it exists.

One of the many llamas on the farm.  While we were cleaning the stalls, this fellow came in and kept us company.

For all the good that Cheri and Jim do, their efforts are often unnoticed and the sanctuary is usually just making it by.  They are desperately in need of volunteers to help run the farm, as you can imagine it is a ton of work for just two people.  Volunteering on the farm is so rewarding.  Tasks range from cleaning stalls, preparing meals and general bonding with the animals.  I developed a special relationship with a certain goat who followed me around all day and even put his paw on me multiple times to get my attention, much like my dog. 

My boyfriend Luke.  I heart this guy like WHOA!

Giving of one's time can often be hard, I get that, especially if you need to drive to Mendon.  But everyone can make a difference.  A gift of any size would make a huge different to this great effort.  Even $10 can provide care for a chicken for a whole month.  That is two Starbucks' coffees, you can totally handle it. To make a one time or reoccurring gift, please click here.  Maple Farm Sanctuary also has a wish list and you can send them a care package if you cannot drive to Mendon.  Here is what they need:


Kling (rolled gauze)
4x4 Gauze Pads
Vet Wrap
Neosporin + Pain (any brand will do)
Digital thermometers
Mineral Oil (used to treat "bloat" )
Baking Soda
Old Blankets, Sheets and Towels
Stamps!!


Supplies can be sent to them directly at:
Maple Farm Sanctuary
101 North Avenue
Mendon, MA  01756

Farming is hardwork!  Skip the gym and come help!

 Maple Farm Sanctuary is also desperately in need of food donations.  They do receive weekly donations from Whole Foods, but it is not nearly enough.  In volunteering, park of my job was to help prepare meals.  Half of the food was rotten and inedible and the remaining food had to be rationed among the animals.  Are you a member of a CSA? Ask them consider sending the food that they would not put in your weekly package to Maple Farm Sanctuary.  It would make a world of difference.

Volunteering is so rewarding.  Look at all the love you get!

To say that the Maple Farm Sanctuary is a treasure to MA would be an understatement.  To have a place for animals to go that have been forgotten, that have been neglected and have been abused is something that many of us take for granted.  I truly hope that you will consider helping in whatever way you can.  Every little bit makes a difference.

As for me, I can't wait to go back and I hope to bring a fleet of volunteers with me!  If you are interested, let me know.  I also want to plan a fundraiser for this wonderful place.  Raising some money for Cheri and Jim is only a minor way that I can think of to help thank them for dedicating their lives to kindness and these amazing animals.  I hope you will join me when this goes down.  In the meantime, I thought I would share some pictures of my amazing day with Cheri, Jim, and the wonderful animals at Maple Farm Sanctuary.

A gentle giant. Cassie was diagnosed with agoraphobia. Agoraphobia arises from an internal anxiety condition that has become so intense that the suffering individual fears going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings of panic have repeatedly occurred before. She was at a slaughterhouse when she jumped a 6 foot fence to escape the torture and inhumane conditions. Cassie's fear was so intense that she originally only felt comfortable in a dark stall with no windows. Cassie has received so much patient love and kindness from all the workers at the Farm and her friends the Chickens that she has allowed Jim to make her a window. Now, she actually ventures out of her stall into the barn for a few minutes at a time. Cassie receives holistic treatments and has been comforted by music therapy.

Max is the gentle beauty you saw at the beginning.  He is a 2,000 lbs cow that had an infection which was left untreated.  As a result, he is not completely blind.  Max is a love and it kind of daunting when he stands next to you.  He is over 6 feet tall.  He now has a peaceful life at Maple Farm Sanctuary and loves to have his back scratched, with a rake!

This one of the many chickens at the sanctuary.  Cheri told a story that happened recently where someone had ordered live chicks in the mail and then refused them on delivery.  The post office didn't know what to do with them and was going to destroy them.  Cheri said NO WAY and rescued all 20 chicks which are now full grown chickens.

Dover the llama is amazing.  She has something wrong with her that requires her to be seperated from the other llamas, but that doesn't get her down.  She loves attention.  Cheri taught me that llamas are often skiddish when first meeting humans and to let them smell your hair and skin by putting your face against theirs.  It was scary at first, but the second that Dover nudged me back I knew I was in.  I LOVE this little lady.

Some other awesome friends from the Maple Farm Sanctuary.  At this wonderful farm, every animal is a treasure and treated with compassion and love.

Lucky is perhaps the saddest story for me.  Lucky is a breed of horse that humans have created-the miniature. They’re adorable and have a loving attitude. Lucky suffers from dwarfism and has various musculoskeletal defects, the most obvious being his front hooves and his overbite. The problem with his hooves is often mistaken for neglect, for not being trimmed properly. In reality, the bones in his hooves are turned outward, only allowing the hooves to grow sideways.

Lucky was rescued from a local miniature horse breeder who had left him to die in a pen with many other neglected miniatures. Someday his deformities will cause him arthritis. Maple Farm Sanctuary will continue to provide him with a high-quality life and medical treatment he needs for the rest of his life.

Please consider however you can.  Every little bit helps and you CAN make a difference in the lives of these animals.  Stay tuned for more information about a possible fundraiser here in Boston.

True Bistro: An Upscale Vegan Dining Experience

Last night Katie and I headed to True Bistro in Somerville for a birthday dinner.  I had very high hopes for this restaurant as there has been NO vegan fine dining in Boston since Grezzo closed last spring.  Let me just say that this place not only met, but surpassed my expectations.  From the clean and inviting ambiance to the decadent food- finally Boston vegans have somewhere to go for a nice meal.

From the outside, True Bistro looks really cute and almost hidden.  When you get inside it is light and clean and very inviting.  We sat down and were greeted with three menus: wine, cocktail and dinner.  Um, yes please.  I started out with a glass of Savignon Blanc and Katie had El Diablo. 

Everything on menu looked amazing and we had a really hard time deciding what to get.  I mean we really struggled which means another trip will need to happen really soon.  We started with the cornmeal-crusted oyster mushrooms and the house made french fries which are tossed with porincini infused oil and fluer du sel.  The mushrooms were out of this world and served with a wasabi-like dipping sauce.  The french fries were equally scrumptious.

On to the main course, I finally settled on phyllo purse which was stuffed with seitan, roasted zucchini, red mole, fire roasted peppers, arugula and pepitos.  This was seriously one of my top 3 vegan dishes ever.  It was epic and beautiful and tasted even better than it looked.  Seriously amazing.

Katie had the stuffed eggplant with coconut, jasmine rice and steamed red cabbage.  I tried this too and damn, that stuffing was hella good!  Also, the cabbage was cooked to perfection and had just enough crunch.  I would totally get this dish next time if there wasn't like 10 other things I wanted to try!

We then moved on to dessert. Yes, you heard me right, dessert.  There are so few vegan places that do dessert right, but True Bistro nailed it.  Katie had the brownie a la mode with vanilla coconut ice cream.  This was good, but mine was like a little slice of heaven.

I had the mango and macadamia nut crumble with vanilla ice cream.  This was off the hook.  It combined two of my favorite things; mangos and macadamia nuts.  If anything was going to seal the deal on my love of this place, it was THIS dish.

While we were waiting for dessert, I got to talking with one of True Bistro's owners, Linda.  We talked about what inspired her to open True Bistro and her answer rang so true with me- because there were no vegan fine dinning choices in Boston.  Linda told me how she has been a vegan for 6 years and that the local vegan food scene had left something to be desired.  That inspired her and her husband (who is mostly vegan) to open True Bistro. 

Linda, thank you for that!  Your restaurant rocks and I can't wait to come back and try everything else on the menu.  True Bistro has been open for 9 months.  Check them out on yelp or visit them for yourself at 1153 Broadway in Somerville.  Trust me, you won't be sorry!



Revitalive: A Holistic Approach to Food and Wellness

Today we took our bikes and headed to Newburyport.  The goals of our trip were to take in amazing scenery and to check out Revitalive, a raw food cafe.  While Revitalive is new to me, they have actually been around for three and a half years and are well known in the community.  In addition to the cafe that I visited, they also have a wellness center which offers a variety of services from vegan detoxes to nutritional consultations to pilates.  They take a holistic approach to health and wellness.

They had me at their mission which is to empower people to heal themselves through raw and living foods education.  Owners Anna Forkan and Kristen Overlock definitely have the credentials to back up their mission.  Kristen has a BS in Nutrition from Penn State and has been helping clients achieve health goals for the last 15 years.  Anna, a trained engineer, has worked at the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute. I got a chance to meet them both and to hear how living a raw lifestyle has changed their lives.  It was inspiring to say the least.

When I rode up to the Tannery, Revitalive's second location, I was pleased to see a booming farmer's market.  It was great to walk around and see the local farmers and I even bought some vegan treats including a chilled black bean soup.  When you walk into Rivatlive's cafe there are shelves of amazing treats from kale chips to raw granola.  I was pretty sure I walked into a little piece of heaven.

The menu is amazing and I had a hard time deciding what to get.  At Anna's recommendation, I went with the Mexi Bowl which included quinoa, avocado and "refried beans".  Oh my goodness was this delicious!  It was filling but light and totally tasty.

I then had the cookies and cream smoothie and a cookie dough dessert.  I also took another dessert home.  The shake is amazing, with a distinct taste of banana and cacao.  The cookie dough ball had a delicious chocolaty center.  At this point, I was sold.  This place is great!

The icing on the cake--they deliver to Boston!  I cannot wait to visit Revitalive again and try even more of their amazing menu.  I also really want to try their 3 day cleanse which sounds so healthy and refreshing.

I love everything about this place from the owners to the storefront.  It is worth making the trip to Newburyport, this is one of the best vegan places I have been two and I absolutely adore their  mission and owners.  If you can't make it to Newburyport, have them deliver or check them out at the Boston Local Food Festival on Saturday, October 1, 2011 along the Boston Waterfront in Fort Point Channel.

Revitalive Cafe is located in the The Tannery, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA.  Their other location for services is located at 21 Pleasant Street in Newburyport.  

Blue Inc

Last night I went to Blue Inc, a new restaurant in the financial district with some friends.  Having looked at the menu, I was pretty sure there was nothing I would be able to eat.  I called the restaurant and much to my surprise, they were happy to accommodate and create me a vegan meal.  They were so great and so willing to make me something delicious.

The first course was a vegetable ragu which included corn, zucchini and a bunch of other veggies.  It was light and delicious and had a really earthy taste.  The second course tempura battered tofu with watermelon sashimi which was hand delivered by the chef.  It was out of this world.  Being a vegan, I rarely get to eat dessert.  So imagine my surprise when they delivered a flourless chocolate cake with avocado sorbet and strawberries.  It was decadent and such an amazing surprise.  The food was out of this world.

The wine and cocktail list at this place is off the off the hook.  I started with a delicious white wine that was light and fragrant.  I then switched to a drink called Strawberry Fields.  It is muddled strawberries with basil infused vodka and soda.  So fresh and so amazing.

The wait staff was phenomenal and it was such a great night.  Sometimes it can be hard to go to eat in this city when you are vegan, but Blue Inc made this a great night and I will definitely go back.  I highly recommend trying it.  And if you are vegan, call in advance and I am sure they will accommodate you!


Blue Inc
131 Broad Street
Boston MA 02110
Phone: 617.261.5353
www.blueincboston.com

Peace O'Pie

After volunteering on Saturday, Joe and I went to Peace O'Pie in Allston for some delicious vegan pizza.  Yep, you heard me right, there is a vegan pizza place right here in Boston.  This was my second time coming to this restaurant and each time it seems to get better and better.

We started with cheesy bread sticks which were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  They were gooey and garlicky and all around perfection.  The marinara dipping sauce was so fresh and chunky.  I had an organic Steaz Teas with Agave and Joe had Maine root beer.  Yum.

Peace O'Pie offers so many options it is ridiculous.  You can get regular sized pizzas, but Joe and I opted for personal pizzas so we could get exactly what we wanted.  Check out the amazing menu here.

For my pizza I had Canadian Bacon and Onion.  When it first came out I was a little concerned because the the fake bacon look a little scary.  I am not a big meat substitute kind of girl, but I wanted to try something new.  After that first bite, I was in love.  OMG this pizza is amazing.  And this coming from a girl that lives in the North End, where some of the best pizza in the country is made. 

Joe had the Peppy- pepperoni, mushrooms and onions.  I had a bite of this too and it was out of this world.  Joe, who is a carnivore, also loved this place.  He said that the pepperoni tasted just like the real thing.

Peace O'Pie offers so many great options.  You can opt for regular pizza dough, but they also make gluten-free and whole wheat options as well.  All of their ingredients are organic and many are locally bought.  They use Daiya cheese.  You can find a description of Daiya in this post.

Peace O' Pie is great for more than just their scrumptious food though.  During the renovation of the building before the restaurant opened, the owners used eco-friendly building materials including sustainably produced bamboo counter front, a countertop made of 100% recycled office paper, and ceiling tiles with 65% recycled content.  They also compost and use compostable, biodegradable packaging and supplies.

Peace O'Pie also offers some retail options too.  While there I purchased a 1/2 pound of Daiya cheese for $5, some Sjaak's Peanut Butter Cups.  They also offer amazing vegan desserts and on Sunday's they do a whole vegan brunch.

Basically, they had me at hello.  This is one of the few Boston establishments that openly respects animals, the earth and their customers.  I can't wait to go back!