The Veg Food Festival that wasn't.... April 3rd

Ok, so before I explain the title of this post, let me start out by apologizing for my absence (again). But I have a lot of catching up to do after this weekend!

So yesterday my friend Melissa and I tried out a new brunch spot in Astoria called Omonia Cafe. I had walked by this place the previous weekend and was intrigued when I saw their brunch menu. You get SO much for your money, which is always a bonus! So this weekend we checked it out and here's what I got (all for $12.95, their pre-fixe brunch rate):

Choice of beverage (I chose orange juice).

Choice of alcoholic beverage (I got a screwdriver which was very watered down, as was Melissa's mimosa).

Choice of entree (I got the "strapatsada" which is scrambled eggs with tomatoes, feta cheese, and oregano, served with pita bread).

(Melissa got this as well and we both thought it was delicious!)

And finally, choice of dessert (I got the strawberry shortcake, which was as good as it looks!).

So overall we really liked it and would definitely go back... their desserts alone are reason enough!

Now, on to today's fiasco... I have been looking forward to NYC's first ever Vegetarian Food Festival for weeks (as I blogged about last time) and had planned to meet up with some friends (and fellow bloggers) there. I was the first of my friends to arrive a little after 11:30 this morning, and I saw a line bigger than anything I had ever seen in my life! You can imagine my shock and horror when I realized that THIS was the line just to get in the food festival!!!!! (So much for our ecomony being on an up-swing! It reminded me of a great depression bread line, albeit slightly more cheery than that). No one could have EVER predicted this kind of turn-out for a vegetarian food festival, which is why admission was free and there were no tickets (note to whoever runs this event, MAKE PEOPLE BUY TICKETS NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!). I mean literally everyone and their brother was there, to the point where it looked like an American Idol audition or something!

So, I used some quick thinking and high-tailed it out of there down to Sacred Chow! I KNEW it would be empty, since every vegetarian in the city was standing outside the food festival, and I was SO RIGHT! Sacred Chow was literally EMPTY, which is unheard of on a Sunday. It was great because I had the restaurant all to myself, got my food right away, and it was nice and quiet! Luckily I was able to warn some of my friends away from the food festival (if they didn't want to stand on a 2 or 3 HOUR line and wait all day to eat!!).

So I got my usual tofu scramble....

And after all that aggravation, no plate of food ever looked so beautiful in my entire life! I left completely happy and satisfied, and the waitress thanked me profusely for coming! :)

Btw, I knew that Sacred Chow was going to be AT the food festival, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go, but luckily I still got their amazing food and I didn't have to stand in an enormous line for it either!

As for Peanut, here are some pictures from his day to day life in the new apartment... and as you can see, he's got it rough! lol

I really do look forward to hearing how the food festival WAS from any of the brave souls that stood on that horrendous line! So please come forward and let me know. Maybe they'll handle it better next year... one can only hope!

But, every cloud has a silver lining, right? And you know what, in retrospect that huge line makes me very happy. Why? Because that means there are a LOT more veggies out there like me than I even realized! And even if all those people weren't vegetarians, I'm certain that some of them are close to "converting" or are definitely open to the idea! And that is ALWAYS a good thing. :)

Making Headway... January 18th

The move is well underway, although at only just over a week to go (the big day in next Wednesday, the 26th), we still have a LOT to do! Peanut has been extremely busy helping us though, as you can see:

I've been trying to eat when I can, although on top of all the stress with the move, I also managed to get some viral infection in my throat (which I went to the doctor for today). So my appetite has been off too. :(

However, this past weekend I went to Sacred Chow to get my favorite brunch, their tofu scramble.

And yesterday for lunch I stopped in Suzie's, a chinese restaurant in the village.

I got their lunch special which included wonton soup (I get the veggie kind)

and their bean curd homestyle dish which is tofu and vegetables, with some veggie fried rice and veggie egg roll as well. (All this food for under $10, not bad!!!)

And today after my doctor's appointment I got a yogurt parfait from the Pax on Park Ave. Granted, it's not vegan, but I need all the probiotics I can get now!

When I got home, Peanut was helping us pack some more... can you find him? lol

There he is!

Peanut is in 7th Heaven with all these boxes!! He thinks the whole thing is just one big game!

I'll be updating more when I can, although it's going to be a really busy week!!

My Favorite Things... December 18th

So I'm going to be definitely moving next month... Probably to Queens, although we're still not sure. But in the meantime, I am visiting my favorite Manhattan establishments...

Wild Ginger with my usual favorites (spring rolls, shumai, and pineapple fried rice):

Mozzarella sticks and a "high c" smoothie at Good Stuff Diner:

And my favorite, banana bread french toast at Sacred Chow:

And incase you're wondering, that's blueberry sauce on it-- incredibly delicious!

We also got some holiday treats (from Figi's) too!

Red velvet petit fours and it came with a sample of free fudge (which surprisingly wasn't very good!).

Here are some recent pics of Peanut that I wanted to share too... starting with bath tub play! lol

On my bed...

And these adorable close-ups!

What are some of your favorite things (for the holidays or anytime of year)?

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! I'll be Upstate visiting relatives, but I'll update when I get back!

Cold Days & Tofu Brunches (November 8th)

It feels like we've bypassed fall and we're already into winter! Wtf happened?! :( In any case, I've been trying to eat well to ward off any colds, etc. But I am a HUGE vitamin fan, so that helps. (For reference I love the brand Rainbow Light and take quite a few of their supplements.)

The last two brunches I had out were at two of my favorite vegan restaurants, and BOY do they both know how to make a tofu scramble!

The first was at Blossom a few weeks ago...

And the second was at Sacred Chow just this past weekend... and it was so crowded I actually had to wait for a table! This place has really caught on... the "secret" is out and people are flocking to it now! Back when I started going in 2007, I was the only person in the place!

Sacred Chow's wasn't quite as good because they put too much pepper on the home fries. However, that's just nit-picking! lol

My mom and I had a nice dinner Friday night at the Olive Garden. We hadn't been in a long time and I got to try some new stuff on their menu...

Starting with the old favorites... breadsticks & salad (I always munch on the breadsticks, mom on the salad).

I got a venetian sunset drink (mom got a strawberry martini which was literally the size of a swimming pool-- in fact, you can see it in the background!).

One of my favorites, minestrone soup (which they claim-- and I hope-- is vegetarian!).

Their new lasagna rollata al forno (which was tasty, although I think I still prefer the ziti al forno).

And I was FAR too stuffed for dessert, but I got one of their new mini "dolcini" desserts to go. You can choose 3 for a set price, or pay for them individually. I just got one, the strawberry & white chocolate cream cake. I PRAY they make a large size of this. It was amazing!

And lastly, colder weather means cuddling. And Peanut takes full advantage of the situation whenever there is something warm to lay on!

Splaying out on the sheets...

And nestling in warm laundry. :)

And on a side note, I met this nice family at Sacred Chow who was asking me about vegetarian restaurants. They told me how they found out about that restaurant through Happy Cow (which is a great resource for vegetarians btw!). It's funny that they picked me to talk to, as I pretty much am the authority on vegetarian restaurants in this city! lol Of course I told them about Wild Ginger too... I swear, Wild Ginger should pay me a salary!

Ok, that's all for now!

Brunches & Lunches! August 21st

Just a quick update today with some delicious brunch and lunch dishes that I've had recently...

Last weekend I went to brunch at the Blue Water Grill... I don't think I've been there since last August (see here)! Wow, a year goes by quickly!

I started off with their amazing bread... they always have great breads at brunch. I had two slices of their cinnamon raisin bread (at least that's what I think it was!).

Then I had their grilled asparagus and wild mushroom omelette, but I opted for cheddar cheese instead of goat cheese (which I hate!). Their omelettes always come with tasty potatoes too (plus, a free beverage-- I always get their fresh squeezed orange juice!).

One day this week I ordered lunch in from Suzie's. I got their lunch special which is a great deal. I got the bean curd homestyle, which is basically tofu and vegetables. And it comes with vegetarian wonton soup, a vegetarian egg roll, and vegetable fried rice.

Another great lunch I had was at Sacred Chow. I had been there for brunch many, many times, but never for lunch. I have always heard good things about their soy meatball hero, so that's what I ordered!

It was really good and tasted very authentic (Italian). It was very filling too, I couldn't finish it all!

And for brunch today I went to a little place in the village (but really popular brunch spot), Elephant & Castle (on Greenwich Ave. & West 11th St.).

I ordered the eggs n' apples benedict on french toast with maple syrup. How amazing does that sound?! And it was! They are famous for this dish and I can see why. It was like a spiced up version of eggs and toast.

And when I got home, I forced Peanut into another picture with me! lol

Here's a better shot of him though, up-close. He really is such a beauty!

A long over-due update! August 12th

Sorry it's been so long guys! I've been busy focusing on other things... mainly, like getting a good paying, steady job... which hasn't happened quite yet, but I'm working on it! Here are just a few of my eats over the past couple weeks (when I actually remember to take pictures!):

A couple weekends ago I tried the breakfast sandwich at Sacred Chow...

I actually prefer their tofu scramble more, but it was good none the less! The tempeh bacon was just ok, but still, you aren't going to get a better vegan meal anywhere in the city than this place (believe me, I've tried them ALL!).

I've been frequenting Good Stuff Diner a lot... it's my new favorite place!

And my mozzarella sticks/smoothie combo really goes together well! This is not "diner" food, but actually great quality... and I care far more about quality of food than anything else!

My usual favorite meal at Qi...

Spring rolls...

and pineapple fried rice.

Finally, the other day I tried a new vegan restaurant called Gobo (on 8th St. & 6th Ave.). They are another pan-asian veggie restaurant.

I wanted to try a few different things there, but their restaurant menu is SO much more expensive than the take-out menu I had seen online, that I only got the pineapple fried rice-- which was really good, but $14?! Insane!

And here is what Peanut has been up to...

Relaxing on the piano.

Peeking at me.

In the laundry (again).

Lounging in his favorite box.

Chasing/nibbling his tail! :)

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer while it lasts! I'll be updating when I can.