Where To Eat: The Source Cafe

It seems I am a bit late to the fabulous The Source Cafe in Hermosa Beach.  Friends have been singing its praises for months, telling me I would love it with its fresh, organic, and vegan options. I finally treated myself there last week and am looking for an excuse to go back soon!  

I love so many things about this cafe.  It features fresh juices, smoothies and "elixirs" that celebrate the bounty of a plant-based diet.  I also am in deep gratitude for the multitude of vegan dessert options and muffins.  They offer gluten-free wraps for their sandwiches, and they have a variety of vegan spreads - cashew cream spread and a spicy hummus.   They also offer coconut and almond milk for your coffee and tea, and make an in-house, homemade almond milk.  They clearly are catering to the veegs and earth conscious.

Aside from the great tasting food, the restaurant is quaint and cozy, everything I would expect from my local, neighborhood cafe.  The staff was cheery and sweet.  I'd love to hang out for a morning or afternoon there.

Here are the details:

Info: 509 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach; (310) 318-1600; http://thesourcecafehb.com

Setting: Cozy beach-style cafe

Service:  The staff was super helpful in explaining the menu and highlighting the vegan options.  I ordered takeout, but there are several tables inside and out to stay for your meal.

Kids Menu:  No, but kids would love the smoothies, paninis/wraps, and most stuff from the "Edible Garden" section of the menu.

Prices: "Edible Garden" $5-$12; Salads $8-11; Paninis and Wraps $9.5-$12; Elixirs $3.75- $8; Smoothies $8-$10.50

What I ordered: I ordered the Rawsome salad and the Turmeric Tonic elixir.  The salad was fresh and tasty.  I am dying to try the Kale salad next time.  I enjoyed the tonic (made with turmeric, lemon, ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar), although it was a little heavy on the cinnamon, making it a bit to sweet for my taste.  I was in heaven with their Almond Balls and Cacao Flaxseed Brownie.  They also had muffins and chocolate chip cookies.

If you are in the beach area, do yourself a favor and drop in!  If you do, let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Where To Eat: Gracias Madre

I died and went to vegan Mexican heaven two weeks ago.  I am a giving a muchisimas gracias to Gracias Madre, the newest addition to the LA vegan scene.  It opened January in West Hollywood on the very hip and chic Melrose Avenue.  Created by the founders of Cafe Gratitude, Matthew and Terces Engelhart, it is the restaurant's second location (the original is located in San Francisco).  They collaborated with Executive Chef, Chandra Gilbert to create a vibrant and plant based menu with ingredients that are sourced from local farmers markets.

My non-vegan husband and I couldn't stop celebrating Gracias Madre and the amazing food that graced our plates.  Do yourself a favor and book your next meal there!  Here's the info:

Info: 8905 Melrose Aveune, West Hollywood; (323) 978-2170; http://graciasmadreweho.com

Setting: We sat outside, which felt like we were on someone's private hacienda estate. Spanish villa comes to mind.  The indoor dining room is equally magnificent with a hoppin' bar and "scene."

Service: Extremely friendly and helpful.  Our waiter was spot on with every recommendation, including cocktails.  

Kids Menu: No...not sure I would bring them, as I loved the "upscale" ambience, but the food is definitely family friendly.

Prices: Starters and appetizers $4-$10; Entrees $12-$16; Sides $3-$6; Desserts $8-$9

What I ordered:  We started with the Cauliflor Frito (flash-fried cauliflower with nacho cheese and lemon), and then shared plates of Chilaquiles and Flautas.  Both entrees came with the best black beans I have ever tasted.  We topped off the meal with Mexican Wedding Cookies and their homemade coconut milk chocolate ice cream.  And let's not forget the cocktails - The Purista margarita for dinner and El Guey Aguanta with dessert!

Everything was incredibly delicious and fresh.  Oh, and did I mention the tasty homemade chips and guacamole?  Yep, pure heaven.  I can't wait to go back!

Where To Eat: Fresh Brothers

Fresh Brothers recently hosted me and few VeegMama readers to lunch on them at their Redondo Beach location.  The occasion?  They launched some new vegan items on their menu and wanted our opinions.  Lucky us!!  

I was already a big fan of Fresh Brothers.  Their pizza dough is the best, in my opinion, and they offer a gluten free crust too!  They have always offered Daiya vegan cheese as an option among their toppings, and their salads are out of this world.

I was thrilled to taste test their new items.  Our lunch spread included The Farmers Market Salad with their new vegan ranch and bleu cheese dressings, vegan chicken tenders, and a gluten-free pizza crust loaded with vegan sausage, Daiya cheese, and veggies.  Everything was delicious.  I was surprised at how real the sausage tasted, better than any other vegan sausage product I have ever eaten.  I brought some leftovers home and my kids, husband, and meat loving dad all loved it too.

The chicken tenders were equally tasty - a great "junk food" splurge for me.  I loved dipping them in the vegan ranch.  I wanted to order a tub of the dressing to go!  

When ordering pizza, Fresh Brothers is the only choice for me.  It has wonderful options for my whole family (I always order their kids sauce loaded with veggies).  I love that I can get a pizza with cheese and now something other than just veggies that is all vegan.  The vegan dressings and chicken tenders are an added bonus. 

Well done, Fresh Brothers.  VeegMama is a fan!  I want to extend a huge thank you to the Fresh Brothers for hosting me and and my readers.  I hope you will check them out.  This fantastic family owned business has locations all over Los Angeles and soon in Orange County.  Here are the details.

Info: They have various locations including Hollywood, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Calabasas, West Hollywood, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills.  Visit their website for details: http://www.freshbrothers.com.

Setting: Casual, quick service style with comfortable dine in surroundings.

Service:  Friendly and helpful

Prices: Vegan tenders $10 for a half pound; Salads range $5-10; A large two-topping pizza is about $18. 

Where to Eat: Cook's County

I had the great pleasure of celebrating a very dear friend recently.  She chose Cook's County in West LA.  It was my second time dining at Cook's and I was delighted just as much the second time as the first.  Here are the details:

Info: 8009 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 653-8009
http://www.cookscountyrestaurant.com/Eat.html

Setting: Chic and trendy, but comfortable and unassuming

Service: Very attentive and friendly.  My friend is a regular there so they served us with a glass of Prosecco upon arrival both times I have dined there!

Kids menu: Not specifically, but I saw several families dining there when I visited.

Prices: Dinner starters range $8-14; Dinner entrees range $20-25

What I ordered:  This is not a vegan restaurant, but it is very veggie friendly.  I visited the first time on a weeknight when it was not as busy so they were able to veganize several items on the menu.  I really loved the Chickpea pancake.  I started with the Beet Salad (minus the cheese).  My second visit was on a hopping Saturday night, where they were too busy to accommodate menu changes so I stuck to vegetables that they could prepare easily by omitting the cheese.  I loved the Roasted Caulflower, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, and Spinach.

Let me know if you visit - and what you order!

Where To Eat: Veggie Grill

I am such a fan of Veggie Grill, (crave their All Hail Kale Salad like a drug!), that I cannot believe that I have never blogged about this great vegan restaurant.  I met a friend there for lunch recently and tried out one of their new Winter bowls.  Now, I have another favorite item on the menu! 

Everything at Veggie Grill is vegan - the sauces, dressings, everything!  I love that I can order anything I want without having to scrutinize the menu.  Even four years into being vegan, I still get excited when I can order anything from the menu. If you are a transitioning vegan, this is a great restaurant because it offers a lot of the faux meats - chicken and beef - that can be helpful when you first go veeg.  I am not so much into that anymore, but they also offer tempeh and other veggie based dishes, (like that awesome All Hail Kale Salad I mentioned above), that are fantastic.  Here are the details:

Info:  It is a chain with several locations all over Los Angeles.  I frequent the El Segundo (720 Allied Way) and Torrance (2533 Pacific Coast Highway) locations most often.  Visit http://www.veggiegrill.com for other restaurants.

Setting: Casual - you order at the counter, and the food is served to you at a table.

Service: Friendly 

Kids menu: Yes ($5 and includes a drink)

Prices: Entrees are $8-10; Sides are $3-4; Desserts are $2-5

What I order: The All-Hail Kale Salad is my go to.  I also love the Savory Kale Caesar.  My favorite sides are the Herb Roasted Veggies, Sweetheart Fries (served with an amazing chipotle ranch), and Steamin' Kale.  The Bombay Bowl was delicious.  They have a Chocolate Pudding Parfait that is better than any non vegan version I have ever had.  

Is your mouth watering yet?  Check out Veggie Grill and let me know what you think!

Join Me For Lunch At Fresh Brothers!

I have been a huge fan of Fresh Brothers since they launched their first restaurant in Los Angeles just a few short years ago.  They now have nine locations in SoCal with plans for two more in development.  There are many things that make them stand out from other pizza places - their deliciously, fresh ingredients...their signature pizza dough....their unique sauce blends...their mouth-watering salads.  In addition to their fantastic menu and food, they have an outstanding community presence and pride themselves on giving back to the neighborhoods they serve.  They are also innovative thinkers, always being health minded. Since their launch, they have offered a vegan cheese option for their pizzas (soy and casein free), as well as a gluten-free crust.  Fresh Brothers is my go-to place for pizza!

They are at it again and kicking things up a notch with a whole set of vegan menu items.  I have been invited, along with a few of my readers to try them out!  I'd love you to be my guest at lunch in February.  Email me at veegmama@gmail.com to join me.

What Does A Vegan Eat At A Steak House?

I recently visited BOA in Santa Monica for a celebration dinner with my parents, sister and her boyfriend.  As it was a celebration for my dad (a huge meat lover), we chose this restaurant as a treat for him.  As our date neared closer, I admit I was a bit worried about what I would eat (as I always tell everyone, "Don't worry about me.  I always can find something to eat.")  Turns out, I had no cause for concern.  I had a beautiful and delicious dinner at BOA.  Here's what I ate:

For starters, salads are a vegan's best friend.  Mostly all can prepared without cheese (added in many on the BOA menu), and can be served with a dairy free vinaigrette (or try fresh lemon juice and sea salt if all else fails).

For the main course, get to know the veggie section of the menu.  Most steakhouses serve a robust variety of veggies in a variety of sophisticated preparations.  True, some of the items on BOA's menu were not adaptable (such as the bacon Brussels Sprouts that my hubby loved), but I had a lovely choice of mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, steamed veggies, and farmer's market veggies that all could be prepared vegan if not already done so.

To complement my veggies, I ordered a baked potato (toppings on the side) and piled my veggies on top.  Steakhouses also have these plump, large Russet potatoes that are such a treat to eat.

If you are looking for something heavier, you can also look for ingredients on the menu that they can prepare special for you.  For example, BOA's menu had a spaghetti with bolognese sauce and meatballs.  I am sure they would have been able to prepare the spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, and some of the veggies from their menu instead.

Eating at a steakhouse is far from impossible.  It just takes a bit of creativity and flexibility by the waitstaff.  Bon appetit!

Vegan Afternoon Tea

VeegMama and family at Tiffin at The Langham

I have always been a huge fan of tea parties.  Aside from the delicious teas (I am partial to chamomile) and cute sandwiches, I suppose I also really love the feeling of being a "lady of leisure."  I devoured Jane Austen novels as a teenager and would love to be a character in her book who receives afternoon callers for tea and scones, and dresses accordingly for the occasion.

My stepmom has been my "partner in crime" for some time now when I need my "tea time" fix.  Recently, she and I splurged for tea at Tiffin at The Langham Huntington Pasadena and brought my girls.  Not only was the setting gorgeous and the service impeccable, but also the food was delicious.  They were completely accommodating for vegan, as well as vegetarian for my step mom and girls.  Everything was plated beautifully.

Here's what the chef prepared for me (When we made the reservation, we requested vegan.)

An assortment of tea sandwiches that included: an over sized cherry tomato stuffed with asparagus spear tops, a cucumber wedge filled with a fresh tomato salsa, and two raw vegetable sandwiches featuring tomatoes and squash

















Zucchini bread and chocolate chip scones

Fresh fruit

It was all delicious.  I equally enjoyed the teas.  We selected the Green Tea Passion, Silver Jasmine, and Golden Chamomile varieties.  I could have stayed in that room all day, sipping the afternoon away.  What a treat!  I highly recommend Tiffin at The Langham.  

Where To Eat: Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain is my new favorite "cafe."  Serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, this restaurant offers many vegan options, denoted with a cute, little carrot icon on the menu.  With locations all over Los Angeles, it is my new go-to spot for meeting up with friends across town - and around the corner.  I am so excited to have discovered this place.

Info: Several all over Los Angeles.  I have been to the Manhattan Beach (451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach) and Beverly Hills (9630 S. Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills) locations.  Visit http://www.lepainquotidien.us for other restaurants.

Setting:  Casual, "cafe" dining, featuring a French style bakery

Service: Attentive and friendly

Kids menu: Not specifically

Prices: $4-14 for breakfast; $11-14 for lunch

What I ordered: When I visited the Beverly Hills location a few months ago, I had their organic vegan bread assortment with spreads and a tea latte with soy milk.  I would love to try one of their many breakfast items, starting with their tofu scramble.

Recently, I met a friend for lunch at the Manhattan Beach location, and ordered the gazpacho and organic lentil and avocado salad.

My food at both locations was delicious.  I highly recommend Le Pain and will be visiting again myself very soon!

Where To Eat: Petros

I am a huge fan of Greek food.  I could eat it almost every day.  It is one of my top picks for dining out when given the choice, and luckily for me, I have several options close to home.  Petros, located in Manhattan Beach's Metlox Center, is one of my favorites.  Although it is not a primarily vegan restaurant, they have a few vegan things on the menu that I keep coming back for more.  Here are the details:

Info: 451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach; (310) 545-4100; http://petrosrestaurant.com

Setting: Elegant, yet casual.  I love the outdoor patio.

Service: Attentive and friendly.

Kids menu: Not specifically, but it is kid friendly.

Prices: Appetizers: $9-16; Salads: $10-14; Entrees: $13-21; Desserts: $8-10

What I order: I get the Super Salad without cheese every time.  It combines tomatoes, cucumber, olives, avocado, and capers with chopped romaine lettuce, carrots, radishes and red onions.  It is dressed with a homemade red wine vinaigrette.  I am also a huge fan of their vegetable bean soup.  During my last visit, I ordered the Horiatiki flatbread pizza (tomatoes, olives, avocado, red onion, and capers) without the cheese and it was delicious.  Beware though, it is huge and it doesn't really keep for leftovers with the fresh avocado topping.  I also like to order the dips appetizer with a few modifications to get only the vegan spreads (just let the server know and they will accommodate you.)

The Super Salad

The Horiataki Flatbread Pizza

I hope you will give Petros a visit and if you do, let me know what you think in the comments section below.

The Happiest Vegan on Earth

My in-laws gifted my family with Disneyland/California Adventure season passes this past holiday season.  It has been a real treat.  We have been enjoying the parks about every other month since January.  We have gone enough now where I have scoped out my favorite places to eat.  I was surprised to find several vegetarian and vegan options at many of the restaurants.  I haven't tried all of these yet, but below is my go-to list for dining vegan at The Happiest Place on Earth.


California Adventure

Schmoozies - (Located in Hollywood) I haven't tried this yet, but looks fantastic - a smoothie bar at an amusement park!
Flo's Taste In - (Located in Cars Land) This is set up like an "open market" and offers fresh fruit and juices.
The Lucky Fortune Cookery - (Located on the Pacific Wharf) This restaurant offers Asian rice bowls featuring rice, vegetables, your choice of meat (including tofu) and your choice of sauce.
Ariel's Grotto - (Located in Paradise Pier) For finer dining, this restaurant offers character dining with the Disney Princesses!  There are many pasta vegetarian options that you can veganize by asking your server.
Goofy's Fly School - (Located by Pacific Wharf) There is a great Mediterranean to-go restaurant right next to Goofy's Fly School that has become my favorite place to order lunch.  You order at a walk-up window.  They offer kebobs (including a veggie/tofu variety) with a choice of four sauces (I get the chimichurri).  It is served with rice pilaf, pita, and cucumber salad.  It is delicious.

Disneyland

Plaza Inn (Located in Main Street U.S.A.) - This is set up like a buffet and has pasta and salad options.
Tomorrow Land Terrace (Located in Tomorrow Land) - There is a great veggie burger and fries at this stop.

For more info on dining at The Happiest Place on Earth, click here for links to the parks' maps where you can view write-ups on all of their dining options.

Did I miss something?  Please let me know if there is a vegan dining option at Disneyland that isn't included above.  I would love to add it to my go-to list!

Where To Eat: Red O

Red O is Rick Bayless' gourmet Mexican restaurant in Hollywood.  Although it is not a vegan restaurant, it has lots to offer a veeg gal like me.  I am not sure if it is the guacamole and mouth-watering chipotle salsa...or it may be the La Dama margarita...or the churros I just discovered are vegan (without the chocolate dipping sauce)...I really dig this place.  The Improv is right across the street so it makes for a night out.

Here are the details:

Info:  8155 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles 90046; http://redorestaurant.com; (323) 655-5009

Setting: The restaurant is stunning.  The furniture is grandiose and hip.  Make sure you ask to sit in the main dining room and not the patio (better ambience and people watching!).  The bar is so cool and I love the tequila tunnel in the middle of the restaurant. 

Service: The servers and hosts are attentive and knowledgeable.  I always appreciate the extra effort they make to ensure that my meal is vegan.

Kids menu: Nope.  This is a grown up place!

Prices: $10-20 for Soups and Salads and $20-30 for Entrees (Enchiladas, Tacos, Cazuelas and more.)  

What I ordered: The menu is vast and diverse.  For veegs though, there are only a couple of options.  I order the Spinach, Woodland Mushrooms and Roasted Garlic Cazuelas every time.  They cook it in vegetable broth (you need to specify this) and I ask for no cheese.  If I am being good, this can easily keep as lunch the next day (but, most times, I gobble up the whole thing!).

Where To Eat: Off Vine

For Mother's Day earlier this month, my family went to see Rain at the Pantages Theater.  My husband booked us reservations at this lovely restaurant, Off Vine, before the show.  The setting was charming and the service was impeccable.  I was impressed that they had a small vegan menu for me to choose from.  It was perfect.  I will definitely be visiting again the next time we have show tickets.  Kudos to my hubby for finding this gem!

Here are the details.

Info: 6263 Leland Way, Hollywood; http://offvine.com; (323) 962-1900

Setting: The restaurant is situated in a turn-of-the-century Craftsman-style bungalow.  It is charming.

Service: The staff was flawless.  They thought of everything and were attentive and respectful.  It didn't hurt that all the waiters looked like actors too!

Kids menu: No, but we were able to order pasta three different ways for each of my kids.  They have a pesto served with bread on the table that one of my daughters used to top her pasta.  My son had a butter sauce, and my other daughter had hers served with marinara.  They cleaned their bowls!

Prices: $7-11 for Starters and $13-27 for Main Courses.  

What I ordered: I had three options - Stuffed Bell Pepper (quinoa, mushrooms, asparagus, apples, mandarin oranges, topped with a truffle oil and orange dressing); Beluga Lentils (with grilled zucchini, tomato, eggplant and a roasted bell pepper coulis); and Pistachio Encrusted Vegan Chicken (with a mango sauce and served with vegetables and dairy free mashed potatoes).  I chose the Vegan Chicken and loved it.  There were also several salads that I would love to try.

I wish I hadn't been so stuffed from Mother's Day lunch earlier that day and we weren't so rushed to get to the theater.  I would have eaten and enjoyed the setting of this beautiful restaurant a lot longer.  It gives me an excuse to visit again soon!

Where To Eat: Lyfe Kitchen

Lyfe Kitchen Culver City

LYFE Kitchen (stands for Love Your Food Everyday) is a cool concept for a restaurant: fresh, natural ingredients (preservative free) that are quickly prepared to give you delicious meals.  It is essentially the closest thing you'll find to a healthy fast food restaurant.

Their second restaurant opened in Culver City last month so my hubby and I thought we'd try it out.    They serve breakfast (their breakfast menu looks really good!), lunch and dinner and have separate vegan and gluten free menus, making it very easy to order.  I really like that there were lots of choices for me, while my hubby could still get non vegan fare.  All of the menu items list the caloric and sodium information.  Tal Ronnen, founder of Gardein products (and restauranteur - see my previous post on his new restaurant Crossroads), is one of the chefs so Gardein products are featured in some of the menu items (which I love).

I ordered a simple wrap for lunch, but would love to try all of the salads and veggies (their brussell sprouts and baby kale salad look yummy) on the menu.  They also have a chips and guacamole item that looks delicious.

Here's the info.

Info: 8540 Washington Blvd, Culver City, http://lyfekitchen.com, (310) 507-7955;  Their original location is in Palo Alto.

Setting: Modern and casual

Service: You order at the counter and someone brings your food to the table.  It's a bit laid back, but the staff is friendly.

Kids menu: Yes

Prices: Starters $6-8; Salads $9; Entrees $9-15; Sandwiches and Burgers $8-10

What We Ordered: I got the quinoa crunch wrap, which had veggies, avocado, edamame hummus, rice and beans rolled together in a whole wheat tortilla.  It came with a hot sauce on the side that was too spicy for me.  It wasn't the best wrap I ever had, but definitely tasty.  My husband ordered their chicken sandwich that he really liked.  We also ordered some baked sweet potato fries (always a table pleaser).

Overall, I really love the concept and would like to visit again to give some of the rest of the menu a try.  It is definitely a great casual dining option for the family.

Quinoa Crunch Wrap

Where To Eat: Shojin

I have had the great pleasure of dining at Shojin in downtown LA twice.  Every time I go, I wish they had one close to my South Bay home.  My wish was finally answered last month with the opening of their Culver City location!  Shojin provides excellent, vegan sushi and more.  They use organic, natural ingredients in traditional Japanese and macrobiotic dishes.

Their food is creative and artistic.  My tummy and soul is always nourished when I eat at Shojin.  I dined with non-vegan friends at the Culver City location and they loved it too.  The menu is diverse so that there is something for everyone.

Info: 12406 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 390-0033, http://www.theshojin.com/cchome.htm

Setting: It looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the inside is artfully and elegantly decorated.  You feel you are in a fine dining oasis.

Service: Traditional Japanese - very attentive and respectful.

Kids menu: Not really.

Prices: Appetizers are $7-12; Soups are $7; Rolls are $14; Entrees are $19

What we ordered:  We started with two appetizers: Shishito Peppers & Fried Tofu and Spicy "Tuna" on Crispy Rice.  Both of these were delicious.  The Shishito Peppers were a little spicy but I really enjoyed it.  The Spicy "Tuna" was insanely delicious.  It definitely gives you the feel of spicy tuna.

We then followed with Mushroom Miso Soup.  This soup was delicious.  I love a good mushroom soup and the miso gave it a little extra something.  It thought the combo was genius.  It made me wonder, "Why have I never eaten a miso like this before?"










We ordered three rolls:  Pirates of the Crunchy (Fried tempeh and crunchy corn flakes with spicy mayo on green vegetable roll served with dynamite sauce) -  This is THE rolls of all rolls in my opinion and why I love Shojin so much.  They are so creative.  No avocado and cucumber plain rolls here.  They know how to kick it up and combine flavors and ingredients to surprise and delight your palate.  This is a must order, veegs.


Green Forest (Avocado wrapped asparagus and carrot roll, tempura broccoli and yuzu mayo on top; Served with ginger soy sauce on top) - This was a new try for me.  I really liked this one.  The sauce was delish and I loved the tempura broccoli on top - so cute!







Rocky Mountain (Avocado, cucumber and shiso inside, tempura shitake on top, served with sweet soy sauce and wasabi mayonnaise) - This is a close favorite for me with the Pirates of the Crunchy.  I have never ordered this before because it has as mushroom on top (I usually dine with my hubby who is not a fan of the 'shroom), so this was an indulgence for me.  I loved it and will order it again!

The next time you are in the mood for sushi, do yourself a favor and go to Shojin, and if you do, please let me know what you think in the comments below!

Where To Eat: Real Food Daily

I had the luxury of meeting a friend for lunch earlier this month at Real Food Daily.  I have only been once before for dinner and really liked it.  I own Ann Gentry's (the restaurant owner) cookbook, Vegan Family Meals, a gem in my kitchen.  For lunch, I went to the West Hollywood location and was so excited to be able to choose anything from the menu.  (I still get giddy when I go to an all vegan restaurant).  Here's the info.

Info: 414 N. La Cienega, Los Angeles, http://realfood.com, (310) 289-9910;  They also have Santa Monica and Pasadena locations.


Setting: Modern and casual

Service: Super nice.  Everyone there is smiley and helpful.

Kids menu: Very kid friendly

Prices: Starters $8-10; Salads $12-14; Sandwiches $11-14;  They also serve smoothies, shakes and breakfast!


What we ordered: Since taking my macrobiotic cooking class last month, I have been eating a lot more macro, so I want with the Real Food Deal, which was a macro bowl, filled with beans, greens, pickled veggies, steamed veggies, sea vegetables and brown rice.  I chose the tahini sauce on top.  It was divine - so nurturing and satisfying (I am still dreaming of that bowl...)  It came with miso soup (best I have ever had) and homemade corn bread (wow!).  If I wasn't going macro that day, I would have chosen the Tu-Nut sandwich (tuna style sandwich made with nuts).




For dessert, we shared the Coconut Moonpie.  This was amazing.  I want it every week!




















This restaurant is definitely going on the rotation.  Try it out and let me know what you think.

Where To Eat: Crossroads

I had been eagerly anticipating a visit to Crossroads since it opened last month.  I was giddy with excitement for my date there last week...and it did not disappoint.  It exceeded all expectations I had for vegan fine dining with chef extraordinaire, Tal Ronnen: the restaurant was elegant and chic; the food was beautiful and artfully presented; the menu options were creative; and the food was spectacular.  I cannot wait to go back!  Here's the info.

Info: 8284 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, http://crossroadskitchen.com, (323) 782-9245

Setting: Beautiful, elegant and hip dining room.  I loved the lighting fixtures and loved the people watching at the bar.  The location on Melrose is perfect, drawing a dynamic and fun group of folks.

Service: Impeccable.  It is exactly what you would expect at a fine dining establishment, without the stuffiness.  There is a laid back vibe (the servers' uniforms included an undone bow tie that hung open on their shirt).

Kids menu: I'd hire a babysitter for a night out here.

Prices: Surprisingly affordable.  The drinks were the most expensive things on the menu (but oh so good).  Appetizers were around $5, with salads/small cold plates and small hot plates ranging $6-12.  Entrees were $12-14 and desserts were $4.

What we ordered:  I loved that I indulged here with two appetizers, a salad, entree, and dessert (and three drinks) and didn't not feel overstuffed at all.  I was perfectly satisfied.  This was in large part due to the perfect sized meal portions.

I started with a Sunset and Vine cocktail - loved it!  Isn't it beautiful?

For appetizers, we ordered the "Crab Cakes" and Artichoke "Oysters."  The crab cakes were made with hearts of palm and the oysters were served on artichoke leaves which I thought was super creative to give the "oyster" effect.

I had the Farinatta for my first course.  The crepe was perfection and loved it paired with arugula.  My hubby had the red grapefruit salad, which was light and refreshing.





For dinner, I ordered the Bolognese.  It was such a treat to have fresh pasta and it was so good.  I am still dreaming about the sauce.  I literally wanted to lick my plate (but did not!).  My husband ordered the quinoa, which he really enjoyed and I thought was tasty.


I devoured the chocolate bundt cake for dessert.  It was so cute and tiny.  I loved it!

If you hadn't noticed by the write up, I am smitten with Crossroads.  I need no excuse to go back and will most likely be visiting again soon!  Please give it a try and let me know what you think.

Where to Eat: Rice

I love Japanese food and never tire of sushi rolls (sans the fish, of course!).  Shojin in downtown LA is my favorite place to go for vegan sushi.  The food is phenomenal - creative, fresh and delicious.  Unfortunately, I don't make my way out there much.  So, I was thrilled recently when a friend told me about Rice in Manhattan Beach.  I ate lunch there with my vegan foodie partner-in-crime (thank you, Nataly) and was not disappointed.  They offer vegan and non-vegan fare, with an impressive whole menu of vegan rolls.  Their salads were equally delicious.  They also have a whole ramen and vegetable menu that I didn't even get to try.  I am so excited to have a vegan sushi option in my South Bay backyard.  Here's the info.

Info: 820 Manhattan Avenue, Suite 105, Manhattan Beach (Entrance is on 9th Street), www.ricemb.com, (310) 798-7722

Setting: It's in a office building structure, but don't let that steer you away.  It's small and quaint inside.

Service: Super attentive, traditional Japanese

Kids menu: No specific menu but, very kid friendly.  In fact, there were some kids dining with a family at the table behind us.

Prices: Rolls are $12; Salads are $6 or $10, depending on the size.  Their vegetable menu averages $6 per dish and ramen is $11.  They also offer lunch specials which include a roll, salad, and soup.  Dessert is $4-6.

What we ordered: Nat and I both got a lunch special so we could each try a different roll and salad and share.  We like to maximize our options!  I ordered the Yellow Brick Road Roll (crispy tofu on avocado, cucumber, asparagus roll with sweet and spicy sauce on top) and Nat got the Moon Light Roll (asparagus, avocado, and cucumber roll with soy paper, with spicy tofu on top).  For salads, we shared the Quinoa Arugula and Beach (sea vegetables and kelp noodles on mixed greens) salads.  Everything was delicious.  Great miso soup too!

The Quinoa Arugula Salad

The Beach Salad

The Yellow Brick Road Roll

The Moon Light Roll

Where to Eat: Akasha

Akasha Restaurant

I first went to Akasha for my birthday a few months ago on a date with my hubby.  My birthday happened to fall on a Monday this year, which was perfect because Akasha offers a "Meatless" menu and live Jazz on Mondays.  I have been back several times since with non vegan girlfriends and although the regular menu isn't vegan, it offers two vegan options (a quinoa tofu dish and another that I haven't tried with mung beans).  They also have a delicious hummus plate, farm fresh veggies and even two vegan desserts!  This place is a fun night out for me where I can take carnviorous friends who don't just want tofu and quinoa.

Info:  9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City 90232; (310) 845-1700; akasharestaurant.com

Setting: Hip and trendy with a bar "scene" in the heart of downtown Culver City; I loved the live jazz on Mondays

Service: Very attentive, knowledgeable staff

Kids menu: Leave the kids at home

Prices: Dinner entrees range from $13 - $29 (for meat); Salads are around $13 and sides $6 - $8; Desserts are $8 - $9.  They also serve lunch.

What I order: The quinoa with market veggies (add tofu) is my favorite.  I love the hummus, flatbread and olives appetizer.  I have never tried the salads, but they all look delicious and I bet they could do them without the cheese.  For dessert, I LOVE the Salty Chocolate Peanut Bar (a must try).  They just added an apple tart that is delish and have a few choices of vegan ice cream.  Oh, and they have a great wine list and choice of cocktails.

I hope you try out this fave spot of mine in Culver City, and if you do, please tell me what you think in the comments section below.

Where To Eat: Mendocino Farms

If you want a killer sandwich, look no further than Mendocino Farms.  The farm to table sandwich shop always has a line out the door.  It is because the sandwiches are inventive, fresh, and delicious.  They are all about the sandwich and take down home favorites and twist them into gourmet versions without pretense.  Their salads are equally unique with fresh flavors.  It is a great place if you are with non vegans who prefer meat on their sandwich, but Mendo also offers four vegan sandwich options on their menu.  Three of the items are on their permanent menu and one of their seasonal sandwiches is always vegan.  They also serve at least 2 vegan salad options.

Here are the details:

Info: 4726 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey; (310) 822-2300; mendocinofarms.com 
They also have locations in downtown LA, West LA and West Hollywood.

Setting: Casual and busy.  The kitchen is open so you can see all the action going on.

Service: Super friendly

Kids menu: Yes!

Prices: Sandwiches range from $8.85 - $9.85 and salads are between $9 - $11

What I order: The Traditional Vegan Club is my favorite (tempeh bacon, smashed avocado, vegenaise, pickled red onion, tomatoes and greens on buckwheat), but I also love their Vegan Shawarma (chickpea shawarma, bean puree, tzatzki, red onions, cucumber, tomatoes, and romaine in a vegan tortilla wrap).

You must check these guys out the next time you are in the mood for a sandwich.  It makes lunch anything but boring.