Restaurants -Leadville, CO

We hiked up to the Hagerman Tunnel in Leadville, just west of town above Turqoise Lake Recreation Area. The Hagerman Tunnel was the highest railroad line when it was built in 1887; however it never made any money and fell into disrepair. We hiked up to the tunnel and it was a great hike, about 6.5 miles round trip and 2,000 foot elevation gain. Our dogs were able to swim in two different lakes up near tree line. Once done, we were incredibly hungry and took our chances that there would be SOMETHING to eat in the town of Leadville. We walked around for awhile and found a couple possbilities, but settled on Doc Holliday's Bar & Grill.

Doc Holliday's Bar and Grill is located on the southern end of the main town. It is in an historic building and is the fabled last place Doc Holliday shot someone. The main foods here are steaks and burgers, but they also have a few veggie options. They have a couple of ways of doing the veggie burger: a black bean or a garden burger. I got the Royal, which had 2 patties, tomatoes, onions, and peppers stir-fried on top. All the sandwiches came with hash browns, which were very good. The burgers were good, the beer was good, but the service was really slow. However, maybe that is how it is done at 10,200 feet. http://www.dochollidays.com/

Robin Robertson

Robin Robertson is possibly the greatest vegan cookbook author out there. I highly recommend ANY of her books. In particular, "Vegan Planet" and "The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes" books are fantastic. I will be posting some of my favorite recipes from those books in future postings.

Also, Kelly and I had the pleasure of having Robin cater our wedding reception. We got married in Boulder, but had our reception in Virginia Beach. Robin and her crew came out and did a wonderful job catering for us. We also had a vegan wedding cake from another place in Virginia Beach.

Recipes- Basic Stir Fry

Stir-fried veggies over rice is a staple amongst vegans and vegetarians. Usually we use store-bought sauce because I have yet to master a truly great sauce from scratch. I have tried a few times and found that I can make them well, but not as good as some of the sauces at the store.

Stir Fry:

1 large onion (diced)
1 large carrot (diced)
2-3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 Bell Pepper (diced)
A Protein Source; like Seitan, Tofu, or TVP (cut into small cubes; or large if you are so inclined)
1 cup Broccoli florets
Alternate veggies: Zucchini, Squash, Tomato, Green Beans, or your favorite veggie

1-2 cups of rice
4-8 oz of your favorite sauce

Cook rice according to directions. Usually 1 cup of rice gets 1.5 cups of water. In a wok or pan, stir fry onion, garlic, and carrot in olive oil for 4-5 minutes until all are soft. Add the Seitan (or your favorite Protein source) and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add all other veggies except broccoli. Stir fry for 4-5 minutes. Add the sauce and cook for 5-8 minutes. Add the broccoli when there are 2-3 minutes left; simply add the broccoli, turn down the heat to medium-low and cover to steam the florets. Serve hot over the rice.

New Look

Does anyone think the old style was better than the current Mountain backround?

Restaurants- More Southern California

Whilst in Costa Mesa I traveled up to Redondo Beach, where our good friends Nathan and Randy live. It is a great town on the beach and I had a great time with them. There are plenty of Thai places around which offer various vegan options. Also, Mexican and Chinese places abound. There is a little gem of a place in Redondo Beach called Happy Veggie.

Happy Veggie is located on the PCH at 709 N. Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach. It is in a small strip mall and you could miss it if you are not looking. It is a small place, but the people who run it are very friendly and knowledgeable about vegan fare. I had a vegan Thai Iced Tea which was SOOO good. They had some excellent appetizers, which included Soy Chicken Dumplings, Spring Rolls, and Golden Tofu to name a few good ones. They had vegan Pho which I did not try, but am told it is very tasty. As for entrees, I do not know where to begin. I had the Szechuan Chicken Strips which came with onion, brocolli, and a fantastic Szechuan sauce. The Curry Chicken was also amazingly tasty. In a previous visit I had the Green Beans and Chicken which had a nice, light vegan brown sauce. Other staples are their Pad Thai, House Special Chicken, Grilled 'Fish' Dinner, and Kung Pao Chicken. They had an incredible array of desserts which includes a vegan Flan. Yep, a vegan Flan. They were out of it while I was there, but the idea is great. They have a few other cakes, I had the Almond Mocha Whipped Cake and it was superb! This place is a definite for any vegetarian anywhere near Redondo Beach. Go there now! http://www.happyveggie.com/

We drove up on Mulholland Drive, and descended back into Hollywood for lunch the next day. There is a great vegan Thai restaurant on Melrose.

Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen is located at 7168 Melrose Ave in Hollywood, but has a second location in Santa Monica as well. This place was incredible. The selections were diverse and they were very friendly and accomodating. I started again with a vegan Thai Iced Tea, which was very good. It is essentially a typical Thai place, but everything is vegan; so if you have a favorite Thai dish, they have it. We had their Hot Wings appetizer, which was awesome. (It came with vegan ranch, but once again I tried it and did not like it, but that's just me) They have Dumplings, Fritters, Spring Rolls, Fried Tofu, and many other appetizers. I had their Dried Chilis with Cashew entree with veggie chicken and beef. It was amazing and tasted very fresh and authentic. We also tried the Orange Chicken, which was great if you like deep fried things. (which i definitely do) Some of their specials sound really good. Crisp Fish with Green Apple (crisp veggie-fish with apple, cashew, onion, chili, and house special dressing), Busaba Pumpkin (pumpkin sauteed with tofu, garlic, chili, basil, and house special sauce), and several version of Fried Rice top the listings for innovative Thai vegetarian cuisine. If you are ever in Hollywood, take a journey over to Melrose; do a little shopping and stop in to this place for an amazing lunch or dinner. www.bulanthai.com

Fruits- Bell Peppers

Generally known as a 'vegetable', the Bell Pepper is actually a fruit. Technically Botany does not recognize 'vegetable' as a known entity; most are either fruits, roots, fungi, legumes, or other assorted titles. Red and Green are the two biggest varieties, but Green is the most common. Both peppers have enormous nutritional value that most people don't know.

I have found differing opinions on exactly what nutrition is in Bell Peppers, so the following is merely a guide to approximate values;

20-30 calories
6-9% of your daily Potassium
8-10% of your daily Fiber
1-3 grams of Protein
15-25 % of your daily Vitamin A
180-200% of your daily Vitamin C
4-6% of your daily Iron

It is the Vitamin C that throws people for a loop. The Green Bell Pepper is a BETTER source of Vitamin C than the Orange.

Same caviat to the Red Bell Pepper;
20-30 calories
6-10% of your daily Potassium
10-12% of your daily Vitamin B6
8-12% of your daily Fiber
1-3 grams of Protein
100-120% of your daily Vitamin A
200-250% of your daily Vitamin C
2-6% of your daily Iron

Both have a small, but not insignificant amount of; Vitamin E, Folate, Manganese, Molybdenum, and other trace elements.

Restaurants- Orange County, CA

I found myself in Costa Mesa, California recently for 6 days. It was a great trip because I had great friends and family in the area and was able to see them several times each. (Obviously, more would have been nice! :) I was there on business and was in class each day from 7-3) The Orange County area and L.A. both offered up some phenomenal restaurants for vegans. I went to a few of them multiple times because of the extent of their menus.

Native Foods bills itself as "California Vegan" and has 4 locations in the southern California area. One of them happened to be about 1.6 miles from my hotel, so I found myself getting something from there 4 of those days. That location is 2937 Bristol St in Costa Mesa. It is located in a "camp" of like minded shops/boutiques/restuarants and immediately as you walk inside you are greeted by a sense of peace. It is a nice circular model with a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating (not enough sometimes; since it seems to be VERY popular). They also make their tempeh and seitan in-house. I was excited to see a bakery as well and the entire menu is vegan. My only complaint (and I say this with Love) was that certain dishes were very bland. I LOVED the "Save the Chicken" Wings (Housemade soy chicken), but the "Thai Sticks" (Grilled tempeh) was good, but not excellent. I LOVED their "Mad Cowboy Earth Bowl" (A bowl of rice with grilled veggies, potatoes, tempeh, and BBQ sauce), but was disappointed somewhat by the "Philly Peppersteak Sandwich" (Housemade seitan with portobellos, peppers, onion, and soy cheese). I think the reason is that I do not like MOST vegan cheeses. Their french fries are great and the "Native Nachos" were unbelievably tasty. Their assortment of vegan burgers is astounding as well and the "Chicken Run Ranch Burger" was the best vegan chicken burger I have ever had (sans Ranch though; I do not know why, but I HATE ranch dressing, even when it is vegan). Definitely visit this restaurant whenever possible. http://www.nativefoods.com/

Another gem in Costa Mesa is right around the corner from my cousin Melissa and her husband Josh. Avanti Cafe is located at 259 E. 17th St in Costa Mesa. It is a great little cafe with a mission. They run a vegetable co-op where local people pay a certain amount to receive a basket of whatever vegetables are in season. Buy local; what a great concept. They host events for local Green businesses and are very involved with energy conservation. I had a wonderful organic beer and a "Roasted Riviera" sandwich with roasted tofu and tempeh. They have agreat array of vegetable dishes, not all vegan; but they can make jsut about anything vegan. Good sandwiches, veggie burgers, pizzas, salads, tapas, soups, and baked goods. They even sell organic dog food. Another definite must for anyone in the area. http://www.avantinatural.com/

The Wheel of Life vegan Thai restaurant in Irvine was quite possibly the best vegan Thai I have ever eaten. (A close second would be Komol Thai in Las Vegas) In a strip mall with tons of Asian shops, groceries, services, and restaurants it sits calmly in the middle of activity and once you walk inside, the calm set in. It is run by some amazingly friendly people, most of whom were family. At first glance, one might think of it as small and dingy, but once you taste the food and talk to the people, you will find a wonderful place. I was told by other customers that EVERYTHING is good there. I really enjoyed the Vege BBQ Chicken and Thai Spring Rolls appetizers. As for entrees, I would highly recommend the Vege Shredded Chicken with dry Bean Curd for those who don't like deep fried entrees like Sesame Vege Chicken. If you are deep fried inclined, the Orange Vege Chicken was incredible. It is located at 14370 Culver Dr in Irvine. Wonderful food, great message. http://www.wheelofliferestaurant.com/

Recipes- Seitan Sandwich

Seitan is a great protein option for many vegetarians; especially those that do not like Tofu. I love Tofu when made well (yes, it CAN be nasty), but Seitan is more universally appealing. The only downside would be if you were allergic to wheat gluten. If you are not allergic, try this easy sandwich.

BBQ Seitan Sandwich:

1 package 'Traditional Seitan' (the blue box) (or some other Brand) (cut into bite size cubes)
1 large onion (diced)
1 large green pepper (diced)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
sub rolls or bread
Your favorite BBQ sauce (my fav mainstream brand is Bull's Eye)
potatoes or fries
soy cheese (an add-on, but not necessary) (I use Soysation brand Mozzarella)

If you want french fries with it, preheat your oven and make them as per instructions. If you want a baked potato with this, microwave the potato for 8-9 minutes and then bake it for 10 minutes to crisp it up.

For the sandwich: Heat some olive oil in a skillet for 1-2 minutes on medium. Then add onion and garlic and cook until they are a little brown. Add the Seitan and brown it for 2-3 minutes. Add the pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add BBQ sauce to the skillet and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Turn off heat. If you are using soy cheese, then take the mixture and put it on a sub roll or bread, sprinkle with cheese and brown the cheese in a toaster oven. If you are NOT using cheese, the sandwich would be ready after the BBQ sauce is cooked.

The sandwich has plenty of protein, iron, and vitamins. However, to add more nutrition, try having a side of brocolli.

You could also try this sandwich with YOUR favorite sauce.....hoisin, sweet and sour, etc...

Comments

Please feel free to ask questions in the Comment field and I will respond to them. Only pertinent questions will be answered.

Recipes- Mexican (Nachos)

Mexican food is great and here in Boulder we have tons of options for eating vegetarian Mexican. However, I have found that making it is almost easier and quicker.

We either make Nachos, Burritos, or the occasional Mexican Pie.

Quick Nachos:

1 large onion (diced)
1 large greep pepper (diced)
1 large red pepper (diced)
2-3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1-2 cups of a vegetable protein (either TVP, seitan, crumbled tofu, or Grillers crumbles) (change it up and the taste will also change, so this could be 3-4 different meals)
1 large tomato (diced)
plate of tortilla chips
salsa
1 can Whole Black Beans (NO salt added)

Simply stir fry the onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes until mildly transparent. Add the vegetable protein and cook for 2-3 minutes. Preheat an oven to 350. Add the tomato, green pepper, and red pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes. Then add 1/4 cup of the salsa and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Meanwhile, drain and rinse the beans. Then cook the beans on medium for 4-5 minutes. Once oven is preheated, put tortilla chips on a cookie sheet and cook them at 350 for 5-6 minutes. When the tortilla chips are a little darker and cooked, take them out. Top with beans, then the vegetable mixture. Finish with some salsa and Tofutti Better than Sour Cream (if you like that stuff). Nachos don't NEED cheese.

Vegan Shoes

I have just learned that Vegan rock stars 'Rise Against' have unveiled a new line of Vegan shoes through Vans Shoe Co. This is going to be great, since Vans were once my favorite shoe. I will post more details as I learn them.

As for current places to get Vegan shoes, Payless Shoe Source always has a good amount of 'Man Made' shoes for work, etc.. I suggest any of their brown or black work shoes; and they have no animal products at all. For sneakers, most New Balance shoes have no leather; Adidas has a number of non-leather shoes, as does Nike.

http://www.veganshoes.com/ is a great place.

http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/ is another good place.

http://www.veganstore.com/ is another one.

Recipes- Pasta

Pasta is potentially the best all around food source for us. We change up the type of Pasta with each meal, but my pasta sauce makes any pasta taste better. Pasta is also the best way for vegetable-fearing people to get their vitamins. Simply put a whole bunch of veggies in the sauce and BAM! it is better.

First off, I feel all pasta sauce needs a dose of onion and garlic. You can eliminate these if you do not like them, but I think it makes every sauce better. You can add or subtract veggies as you see fit.

Sauce:

1 Large Onion
2 Medium Cloves of Garlic
1 cup Diced Tomatoes (preferrably fresh)
1/2 cup 'Morningstar Farms Grillers Crumbles'
1 Large Green Bell Pepper
1 Large Red Bell Pepper
1/2 jar of 'Prego' Original Sauce (the big jar)
Fresh Oregano, Basil, and Rosemary

Saute 1 large onion and 2 cloves of garlic in olive oil in the saucepan. Stir and cook until onions are semi-transparent and the garlic is almost brown. Add 1 cup of diced tomatoes and stir for 3-4 minutes on medium. Add 1/2 cup 'Morningstar Farms Grillers Crumbles' and stir for 3-4 minutes. Add 1 large green pepper (diced) and 1 large red pepper (diced); stir for 1-2 minutes. At this point, add the Prego Original Sauce to the mix and then cook on medium for 10-15 minutes; stirring regularly. Add traces of fresh rosemary, basil, and oregano and continue to cook for 5 minutes.

Pasta:

2 Cups Pasta (preferrably fresh)
1 Cup Broccoli florets

I usually start the water for pasta then start the sauce. By the time the sauce is ready to be left alone, the water is boiling. Put pasta in the water and 2-3 minutes before it is done, throw the broccoli in the SAME water. Broccoli tastes best when only 'blanched' (lightly boiled) for 2-3 minutes. Boil pasta according to the specified directions.

This is one of the healthiest meals you can have; it has protein, calcium, iron, and most vitamins.

I take this same recipe and tweak it depending on what veggies are in season and one big one is Asparagus. Instead of the Broccoli, try boiling Asparagus spears in the same water for 7-8 minutes. Other additions/subtractions might include using TVP (texture vegetable protein) instead of the Grillers crumbles. Seitan gives a different flavor. Sometimes I use a Boca Chicken Patty as 'Chicken Parmesan' over pasta. (using soy cheese of course)

Then make some sort of Garlic or Cheesy bread to go along with it.

Restaurants- Colorado Mountains

Since we hike every weekend in either Summit, Park, or Eagle County and Ski every weekend during the Ski Season at Keystone, Breckenridge, A-Basin, or Vail, we have a great need for good food in the High Country.

Most resorts have something in their lodges. Vail has the best array of food, Keystone and Breck are both very close to good food, and Copper Mountain has one of the best Chinese places around.

Keystone Resort: Unfortunately for us, Keystone being our favorite place to ski (night skiing mostly), Keystone has very little in the realm of veggie friendly cuisine. The River Run Village has a couple places where you can get a small snack. Parrot Eyes has burritos and chips and salsa; but little else. Several other places have a veggie sandwich, but little else. The Summit House food court, at the top of Dercum Mountain, at a few options for eating quick. They have veggie chili, sometimes a veggie burger, fries, onion rings, and some light sandwiches. If you can get away from Keystone to eat, go to Frisco or Dillon.

Breckenridge Resort: We would suggest eating in the Town of Breckenridge. There are MANY options there. However, if you find yourself in a pinch while on Peak 8 or 9, there are a few decent options. Beaver Run, at the base of Peak 9 has veggie chili, fries, pretzels, and most of the time a veggie burger (we went once when they were out of them). Peak 9 Restaurant at the top of Peak 9 has a better selection of salads, sandwiches, and assorted snacks. Vista Haus food court at the top of the Colorado Superchair on Peak 8 has some good options, but nothing special.

Town of Breckenridge: Wow, there are several good options for eating in Breckenridge. The Breckenridge Brewery and Pub located at 600 South Main St is a start. Good microbrewed beer, veggie burger, veggie sandwich, (they had a special Portobello Sandwich last time I was there), fries that are vegan, onion rings, tater tots, edamame, veggie black bean soup, veggie burrito, vegetable pasta, and salads. http://www.breckbrew.com/ My Thai is a great, fresh Thai place that has many vegan options. Located at 500 South Main St, it is a typical Thai place, but with a twist. Ask for anything VEGAN and they'll know. They had a Tempeh appetizer last time i was there, however it is not on their website. The menu has designations next to each dish that can be made Vegan. The Drunken Noodles with Tofu was amazing, as was the Massaman Curry with Tofu. Great people work here too, they were extremely friendly. http://www.mythaibreckenridge.com/ Downstairs at Eric's is another local place with good food and a fun atmosphere. They have good beer and several options for vegetarians. Located at 111 South Main St, it is hard to see at first, but when you walk down the stairs it opens up. Two veggie burgers, both NOT Garden or Boca, lead the list here. A 'Fire Roasted Veggie Burger' was great and so was the 'Black Bean Burger'. There are pizzas with lots of toppings and can easily have the cheese left off (there is no cheese in their sauce). Eggplant Parmesan (without the cheese can be done), Potato Skins, Onion Rings, and fries are also available. http://www.downstairsaterics.com/ The Motherloaded Tavern is another great choice. A few doors down from Eric's, at 103 South Main St, it has a very eclectic look and feel about it. It has some great appetizers and a few great entrees. In the appetizer realm, they have Shush Puppies (vegan Hush Puppies), crispy green beans, fried okra, fried dill pickles, tater tots, fries, and homemade potato chips. They have a black bean burger that was good (even though they said it was NOT a black bean burger anymore; it tasted like one). The grilled PB&J was the best; homemade bread, peanut butter, and jelly toasted with potato chips inside. They also have a veggie-hummus wrap. http://www.motherloadedtavern.com/

Dillon/Frisco: Being so close to Breck and Keystone, Dillon and Frisco both offer some good choices for dining as well. Fiesta Jalisco is a good Mexican restaurant, technically in Silverthorne (but since Dillon and Silverthorne are right next to each other, who cares, right?). Located in the first shopping center south of I-70 at 269 Summit Pl, they have a good array of veggie options. The veggie fajitas were amazing; different vegetables like squash and cauliflower make these a unique spin on vegetarian fajitas. The veggie burrito was also good, but they will make anything vegan; so you can get just about any of the veggie items vegan. They also have a location at 450 Main St in Frisco. http://www.fiestajalisco.net/ The Sunshine Cafe is in the same shopping center as Fiesta, 450 Summit Pl, and is a great breakfast or lunch idea. They have many options which include a tofu breakfast burrito, lots of soups and salads, a veggie burger, and burritos. When we were there last they had vegan sausage too. The Dillon Dam Brewery is a fun choice. Located at 100 Little Dam St (right off the main road; just past the shopping center with Fiesta), it has some great beer. It has a 'make your own' veggie burger option along with several veggie soups. Their fries are vegan. They also have a portobello mushroom sandwich, hummus plate, and soft pretzels. http://www.dambrewery.com/
Alpine Natural Foods in Frisco is possibly the best choice for everyone. It is a Natural Grocer that has a Deli. The deli has meat and veggie choices, including a Marinated Tofu Sandwich and Kung Pao Tofu. The menu stays the same, but they have a fresh case of differing foods; including vegan desserts. It is a great stop to get hiking food and VERY vegan friendly. Located at 301 W Main St, it is just off the final Frisco exit on I-70 (westernmost).

Copper Mountain: Although we don't ski at Copper anymore (we have the VAIL 5 Mountain Pass), they still have the best Chinese Place in the mountains. Imperial Palace Chinese Restaurant, located at 189 Ten mile Cir (in the main Copper Village), has the faux meats and they use them well. They have several Tofu dishes and the Sesame veggie-Chicken was great.

Vail: Say what you will about Vail, it is still the most well-rounded skiing in the country. It is also a great place for veggies who need fuel for the ski season. Eagle's Nest at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (in Lionshead Village) is a great cafeteria style place with several options. Veggie Chili in a bread bowl is the best, but they sometimes have veggie burgers and sandwiches. Look Ma's is another good choice at Mid-Vail at the top of the Vista Baun Chair. For those who are going to Vail and NOT skiing, there are a couple good choices in the Lionshead Village. The Flying Burrito Company is a great fast burrito. They have several kinds of veggie burritos and make them fresh. Very much like a Chipotle, Qdoba, or Illegal Pete's, but with a different flare. Garfinkle's is at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead and has an outdoor deck overlooking the chairlift and gondola. The Hummus Trio appetizer is phenomenal. They also have a veggie wrap, veggie burger, salads, soups, and house pasta. Beer and Hummus work wonders during a busy ski day. http://www.garfsvail.com/

Restaurants- Boulder

Eating out in Boulder and vicinity is extremely easy and can accomodate ANY tastes.

Boulder itself only has one major vegetarian specific restaurant, but just about every other place in town is veggie friendly. There are several organic restaurants. Most major Chinese places have a good array of tofu and other proteins for vegetarians. All (virtually) Thai restaurants will substitute tofu for any meat and leave out fish sauce. Brew pubs (with an incredible variety of microbrewed beer) have 4-5 options for vegetarians and, at the very least, a veggie burger along with the buffalo burgers and other carnivorous options. We have MANY Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan restaurants and just about ALL of them have very high quality vegetarian options; most know exactly what you mean when you ask for it 'vegan'. Italian flavor is greatly represented for vegetarians in several spots. If you are into sushi (which I am not...) there are many great places that have quite a selection of veggie options. There are tons of juice places; most of which have some kind of sandwich.

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant is located at 2010 16th St in Boulder. It is just north of the intersection of Pearl and 16th, next to Ahi (a good Happy Hour place). It has become better over the years, with new changes to the menu and seemingly better ingredients. We highly recommend the Vegan Happy Hour from 3-6 every day. They have good drink specials then and have ALL vegan appetizers; try the Seitan Skewers and the Mediterranean Plate. As for entrees, the best one is Jamaican Jerk Tempeh; but the BBQ Seitan is good also. Good pastas abound here as well; if you eat cheese, they have cheese too, but ask for anything vegan and they'll make it for you. http://www.leafvegetarianrestaurant.com/

Tsing Tao is possibly the best Chinese food in America (if not, it is a close runner up to Ming Dynasty in Charlottesville, Virginia). It is located at 607A South Broadway, at the intersection of Table Mesa and Broadway; near the King Sooper's. It is not fully vegetarian, but has a seperate vegetarian menu with tons of mock meat choices. Their lunch specials are very affordable and come with a Vegan Egg Roll (I know, it sounds like a contradiction in terms, but they assure me that the wrap has NO egg). We highly recommend the Veggie Beef; Mongolian Beef, Beef with Onion and Green Pepper. Also good is the Sesame or Sweet and Sour Veggie Chicken. We tend to get the same thing each time (the Veggie Beef, either with Onions and Peppers or with Broccoli). Fantastic Vegan options here!!! http://www.tsingtaorestaurant.com/

Casa Alvarez has two locations in Boulder County; one at 3161 Walnut St in Boulder, the other is 502 S. Public Rd in Lafayette. We feel the Lafayette one has better food; same menu, but for some reason the Lafayette cooks get it right more often. It is a traditional Mexican place with most of the usual Mexican food, however, they made a point to include vegetarians. Not only are their beans and rice vegan, they use TOFU for their tacos/fajitas/chimichangas/burritos/enchiladas. Their Green Chili is vegan too, so you can get their Tofu Fajita Burrito smothered in Veggie Chili. It's classic! Also good is the Taco Combo plate; two tofu tacos, beans, and rice for about 7 bucks. We highly recommend Casa to anyone looking to have authentic Mexican fare.

Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery is another favorite. It is located at 1535 Pearl St, just east of the walking mall. They brew their own beer (many selections) and cater to the Boulder crowd with good food. Once again, not a vegetarian restaurant, but has 6-7 options for us. Best of all, they will add tempeh to anything. They have two veggie burgers, a veggie burrito, veggie chili, an avocado sandwich, a hummus and veggie sandwich, and many salads. Their French Fries are quite possibly the best fries ever; fresh, homemade, and fried in their OWN oil, so no cross contamination. We recommend the Hummus and Veggie Sandwich with tempeh added and fries on the side. The Black Bean Burger is also good (not 100% vegan), the Burrito is huge, but very tasty; and they know what it means if you ask for it Vegan. Try the Annapurna Amber beer, the Ruckus Wheat beer, or the Colorado Kind Ale. They have another location called the Southern Sun at 627 S. Broadway with the same beer and menu. They also have new pub called the Vine Street Pub in Denver at 1700 Vine St in Denver. http://www.mountainsunpub.com/

As for Thai, you really cannot go wrong in Boulder with Thai food. All will substitue tofu, but a few are a little fresher and tastier. Siamese Plate at 1575 Folsom St is a good choice. Buddha Cafe at 2719 Iris Ave is a very veggie friendly place (28th and Iris). Chy Thai is a new place right off of 28th and Canyon, 2720 Canyon Blvd. Khow Thai is another choice, 1600 Broadway; across from Wild Oats (oops, now its all Whole Foods). Moongate Asian Bistro on Pearl Street is good too, located at 1628 Pearl St. There are several other choices; again, Thai food is always good food in Boulder for vegetarians.

Indian Food is very good and fresh here too. There is Himilaya's Restaurant at 2010 14th st; next to the Boulder Theater, just off Pearl. The Taj is decent, even though one time we went there we got chicken in one of our dishes; 2630 Baseline Rd. The Royal Peacock is very fresh food; 5290 Arapahoe Ave. Tandoori Grill is very popular and veggie-friendly; 619 S Broadway. There are some others as well.

Nepalese and Tibetan food is also plentiful, and better than its Indian counterparts. Firstly, the Tibet's Restaurant and Bar in Louisville is the best; 321 McCaslin Blvd, Louisville. The cook used to cook for the Dalai Lama and the food is unbelievably fresh and good. You can request ANYTHING be vegan and MOST of the menu is vegetarian already. Tibet Kitchen at 2359 Arapahoe Ave (corner of Arapahoe and Folsom) offers really fast, yet healthy food. Sherpa's Adventurer's Restaurant and Bar is another good choice for fresh, veggie friendly Tibetan cuisine; 825 Walnut. The best Nepalese restaurant in the area closed its door, but re-opened as two separate places. It used to be called Narayan's Nepalese, but the managers left and started Nepal Cuisine at 4720 Table Mesa Dr (in the old Rudi's location).

I cannot mention eating in Boulder without mentioning Mustard's Last Stand. Located at 1719 Broadway, it is within walking distance of most of Downtown. It is a typical Hot Dog Stand little restaurant (Chicago-Style); but they have veggie dogs and veggie burgers. They can make a Veggie Chili Dog; their fries are veggie too.

Other Boulder places for good food are Turley's (a locally owned Applebee's style restaurant with several veggie options), The Med ( a great Mediterranian place with awesome Happy Hour drinks and Tapas), The Rio Grande Cafe (good mexican, great margaritas), Foolish Craig's (Pearl Street place with crepes and other veggie items), The Dushanbe Teahouse (great place to go have breakfast and teas), The Walnut Cafe (and Southside Walnut Cafe) (which is a great breakfast/brunch place with tofu scrambles and vegan sausage, etc..), and Dot's Diner (a staple of Boulder; great breakfast and very vegan friendly).

Other notable Chinese places would be Golden Lotus (has mock meat options, plus tons of veggies and tofu), Colorado Wok (in Lafayette; tons of tofu dishes), May Wah (again, tons of tofu dishes), Asian Garden Grill (in Lafayette; will sub tofu for anything, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese), Lee Yuan (good inexpensive lunch specials; I like the Sesame Tofu), and Pei Wei Asian Diner.

We also have the privilege of having a Fast Food Veggie restaurant called VG Burgers. Located at 3267 28th ST, it is fully veggie and mostly vegan; burgers, falafel, soy ice cream.

Restaurants -Denver

Eating out in Denver for a vegetarian is actually VERY easy.

Denver has possibly THE BEST vegetarian restaurant in the entire world. (I don't say that lightly; I try and eat at every veggie-restaurant wherever I travel). It is called Watercourse Foods. It is located at 837 E. 17th St in Denver. It is 99% Vegan, with certain items coming with organic cheese (but you can substitute vegan cheese). They make their own Tempeh and Seitan which provides for an excellent difference between them and MOST veggie places. I highly recommend anything on the menu, but definitely get the 'Seitan Buffalo Wings' as an appetizer. The most common entrees for us would be 'Country Fried Seitan', 'The Dona Lee' (a sandwich with avocado, veggies, and herb-crusted Seitan), 'Philly Cheese Sandwich' (a seitan version of a philly cheese steak), 'Tempeh Scallopini', and any of their breakfast Scrambles (tofu, potatoes, and veggies). http://www.watercoursefoods.com/ My wife Kelly loves the 2-for-1 mimosas on Saturday & Sunday. Her favorite meal is the Dona Lee with a side of vegan mashed potatoes & gravy and a cup of the coconut curry soup. Watercourse also runs a 100% Vegan bakery (yay!!!!!!!!). All their brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and yes, even cheesecakes are Vegan!!!! My favorite is the Vegan Ho-Ho Cupcake.

If you are in South Denver, near the Tech Center; there is a phenomenal Chinese restaurant right off Monaco. It is called Sunny Gardens and is the typical strip-mall-looking Chinese place. But don't be fooled, this place is fresh, and they use 'faux meats' for all their dishes. They even know exactly what Vegan means, so you don't have to worry about the sauces. The best dish is actually called 'Double Vegan'. It is a light Garlic Sauce with carrots, bamboo shoots, Veggie-Chicken, Veggie-Beef, and Tofu. (I think it has a couple other veggies, but I can't remember specifically). Also good are the Sesame Veggie-Chicken, Mongolian Veggie-Beef, and the Veggie-Beef with broccoli. They have even started offering 'Veggie-Meat Soup' and Veggie Jerky. This place is a gem that most people do not even know about. It is located near the intersection of Monaco and Yale; 6460 E. Yale in Denver.

Also near the Tech Center is Shanghai Kitchen. It is near the intersection of Yosemite and Belleview; 4940 S. Yosemite, technically in Greenwood Village. It is another strip mall Chinese place; smaller than Sunny Gardens, but still as veggie-friendly. It is not as tasty as Sunny Gardens, but the Sesame Veggie-Chicken is really good.

The Tech Center has a Qdoba (good, fast burrito), a Tokyo Joe's (the Boulder Veggie bowl is fantastic), and an Illegal Pete's (good fast burritos; potato burrito!!!); which makes quick veggie-food easy to find there as well.

Cherry Creek offers an abundance of good Asian cuisine. Thai Basil, Thai Spice, Dragon Cafe, and many others (to be named later). Chipotle, Eat Greens, Tokyo San Bowl, Swing Thai.

Downtown offers also offers quite a few great choices. Vesta Grill, Mountain Sun, Watercourse, Mercury Cafe.

Descriptions to come later...

Groceries- What is in my closet

In future postings I will show many easy recipes that can be made every day. These can be accomplished using very common items with a few 'specialty' items.

Since I live in Boulder, vegetarian shopping is really easy. However, as I travel, I have noticed that most places have easy access to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, or a local grocery with a large natural foods section. Here in Denver/Boulder we have a local processor that makes tofu: Denver Tofu. We also are in the hometown of White Wave Foods, makers of soy products and other vegetarian options. So for us, that makes it very easy to buy everything a vegan would need using local products. Most people are not going to stop importing/exporting products from other states, so even if they have to be shipped in, at least the processing of vegetarian products before shipment was low.

Produce should also be easy to find from relatively local sources. The exception for us in the arid tundra would be citrus fruit. Most fruits do not grow well here, but mostly we can get the citrus fruit from California, which is not too far away.

My grocery shopping experience means our fridge/freezer/"pantry" looks a little like this:

Onions (usually White), Green Peppers, Red Peppers, Asparagus, Broccoli, Potatoes, Spinach, Corn, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Carrots, Garlic, Ginger, Bananas, Strawberries, and differing Fruits/Veggies in season.

Sub rolls, loaf of bread (certainly both whole grain, no refined products), sugar (usually locally produced 'normal' sugar), unrefined flour, cereals, vegetable oil, olive oil, sesame oil, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, cocoa, bread crumbs (yes, there are vegan versions available regularly), powdered sugar, baking powder, baking soda, various spices (lots of 'em; ground pepper, paprika, garlic powder, etc..), soy milk (we like Soy Dream original or Silk), pasta sauce (I like Prego Original since it is merely a base...I don't like to cook with already flavored sauces), orange juice, frozen fruits, tortilla chips, salsa, Silk Soy Yogurt, Tofu, different types of Tempeh, Seitan, Morningstar Farm 'Griller' crumbles, french fries, Soysation brand Soy Mozzarella (yes, it is not 100% vegan.....but we'll get into that later), crescent rolls, BBQ sauce (Bull's Eye is the best mass marketed brand, but I love just about any vegetarian BBQ), ketchup, mustard, Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and veggie burgers.

This is a list that anyone can have and produce a wonderfully healthy, tasty, and eco-friendly lifestyle/diet.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

"As the ideals of sacrifice and simplicity were becoming more and more realized, and the religious consciousness was becoming more and more quickened in my daily life, the passion for vegetarianism as a mission went on increasing."

"The sacrifice offered at the altar of vegetarianism was neither intentional nor expected. It was a virtue of necessity."

"The greatness of a Nation can be measured by its treatment of its animals"

We all know the greatness of the man who was known as Mahatma (merely a title, like Christ; not in itself a name), but few know his beliefs when it comes to eating and charity work. The first quote here was written by him just before his major spiritual awakening while in Germany. He recognized that it was a Virtue to cause little harm. He sought to bring relief from suffering to the poorest of India, but also included in that was India's and the World's animals. He felt by showing Compassion across the board people would attain a higher spiritual level and become one with Creation.

Mohandas Gandhi was very influential over me from the first time I read anything about him and his practices. He kept a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and the Sermon on the Mount at his bedside. Both books illustrate two different world views coming together with a singular message; "Bring Compassion to everything you do in this Life"

Albert Schweitzer

"From experiences like these (seeing animals suffer), which moved my heart and often made me feel ashamed, there slowly grew up in me an unshakeable conviction that we have no right to inflict suffering and death on another creature unless there is some unavoidable necessity for it. We ought all of us to feel what a horrible thing it is to cause suffering and death out of mere thoughtlessness."

Albert Schweitzer was one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century; he spent most of his time helping people in Africa by building hospitals and other outreach programs. He was very important to me growing up as he made the case that animals and humans were interconnected. He also believed that Jesus' philosophy calls his followers to find it in their heart to have Compassion for animals. He was saying this in the early 1900s, and had a great philosophy of having reverence for ALL life.

"The deeper we look into Nature, the more we recognize that it is full of life, and the more profoundly we know that all life is secret and we are united with ALL life that is in Nature.."

ALL life is valuable....