Restaurants- Houston, TX

When I last visited Houston I had several vegetarian places in mind. However, I did not make it to many of them. I was driving near the Galleria when I discovered a place that was NOT on any of the sites.

Nam Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant is located at 2727 Fondren St. 3A in Houston, near the Galleria. I was driving to a place that was closed when I got there and needed some food, so I stumbled upon this place by accident. It is a great looking place, very comfortable; and the staff was friendly. Unbeknownst to me, this place uses mock meats for some of their dishes. Their spring rolls were excellent as an appetizer; very fresh. Their Menu has good stuff like Garlic Tofu, Tofu with Tomato Sauce, and Shaken Tofu. Not on their Take Out Menu are all the mock meat dishes. I asked them several times and all their veggie-meats are vegan. I had the Veggie Pepper Steak and it was superb! They had several other items like Veggie Chicken in Garlic Sauce. I highly recommend this place for anyone since they serve both vegetarian and carnivore food. It is hidden from the road, so you have to take the right turn; it is next to the Scientology Center.

Recipes- Pizza

Pizza dough is easy to make, but I always use the Bread Maker for this; so if you have a Bread Maker, use it to make the dough. Once the dough is made and rolled into the right size, bake the crust for 15-18 minutes at 375 to brown the crust. I brush the dough with olive oil prior to baking.

I top my pizza with Sauce, Onions, Green Peppers, Spinach (or Broccoli), some sort of Veggie Meat substitute (like veggie-pepperoni, or seitan), and Soy Cheese.

It is best to cook the pizza for longer than you think. I discovered that the best time was about 35 minutes at 375.

Try not to overload the pizza with toppings, but fill it out.

Restaurants- Denver, CO

Watercourse has a sister restaurant located in its old location. It is called City 'O City and is wonderful.

City O' City is located in the old Watercourse location, at 206. E. 13th Ave in Denver; just south of the Capitol building. It is more of a bistro, with Coffee drinks and spirits for happy hour. They have good drinks, but even better food. They, like Watercourse, use homemade seitan to make Wings; but they give you the option of Buffalo or Teriyaki Wings; both of which are excellent, but the Teriyaki ones are not TOO hot. Their pizzas are innovative and can be made vegan using their own 'cheeses'; they have a Vegan Mozzarella (one that I am not TOO fond of) and a Cashew Ricotta, which is much better. The pizzas are fresh and come with organic cheese unless you ask for it vegan. They also have salads and wraps; the BBQ Tofu Wrap was incredible. The best part is dessert. They are right next to the Watercourse Bakery, so they have tons of vegan desserts. We highly recommend the Ho Ho Cupcake. Over the weekend we had a Cookie DOugh Ho Ho Cupcake that was sooooooooo good. If you have time to sit for awhile, I would say go to Watercourse. If you are driving by and want to pick something up, go to City O City. www.watercoursefoods.com/cityocity.html

Compassion for People

Vegans tend to disagree with me about a lot of things in regards to talking to people. I used to be one of those who would try and convert everyone because "I was right". I learned over the years that the only way for people to truly see the goodness inherent to Veganism is to be kind and treat them with respect. You won't win over anyone if all you do is tell them why they are wrong (PETA, I am looking at you). I also tend to be compassionate towards anyone trying to do something nice for me. If someone bakes me some cookies and they are not vegan, I will accept them and eat them. To make a big deal about how they didn't make them vegan simply adds stress to the situation and, instead, I take the route of keeping people happy. The more one complains about how non-vegan a situation is, the more it makes the other people stressed out or worried. However, I do place the line at meat. I will NOT eat something with meat in it, but would eat something with dairy (in some cases). Compassion also means that we understand that everyone has a choice; if we want them to rethink that choice, we need to make a strong argument. It is that argument that mostly fails for typical vegans. Most vegans (and MOST people who are passionate about one particular point) get upset or mad at people who disagree; most people tune out someone who is ranting and raving. However, most people will listen to a calm, rational argument for eating less meat. In fact, I have MANY examples of how my type of compassion has helped people decide that they should consume less. I can also point to MANY people who have been turned off to the idea because of past problems with militant vegetarians. All in all, if we as vegans understand that there is MORE to being vegan than not eating animals, we will become better people and show others the better way. Compassion for ALL; even those that eat meat.

Political Compassion

Many people have asked me about this year's election. Most have their minds made up and question me fervently for not having decided yet. I have always been against voting for someone "because the other guy sucks", but this year I might have to make a change. I am a longtime Progressive with Left-leaning views. However, I feel the MOST compassionate thing any politician could do is admit that the other guy MIGHT be right in some instances. This will not happen because our country is so engrained in our Two-Party system that no one can see that the best thing for all of us is for everyone to try and work together. I want a REAL third party to shake things up and make both the Republicrats and the Democans realize they are both out for themselves and not for the majority of us citizens. Compassion is NOT dirty politics; it is NOT telling everyone that 'the other guy' is less Patriotic; it is not bad mouthing your opponent and spreading lies about them. BOTH parties this year are guilty of all of that. Yes, Barack has lied about McCain; McCain has lied about Barack; Everyone seems to be lying about Palin and Hillary. All in all I do not see much of a difference since they are all pandering to their bases. Barack WAS a Progressive until he decided to run for the White House. McCain WAS a maverick until he got into bed with George Bush. Both are simply trying to put their party in power so they can do favors for their people. McCain will cut taxes on Rich people and pad his pocket with Oil money. Barack will cut taxes on the Middle Class (Supposedly), but ramp up insurance premiums to pay for his Universal Health Care (thus making HIS people happy). Barack's undoing with Progressives was his choice of Joe Biden as VP; Biden is "Washington" to the 10th degree and will not sell Independants on voting for Barack. Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate, is the only viable solution for me. He has not been fake, has not lied about his opponents, does not run smear campaigns, and will make the government leaner and more efficient. He does not have a REAL chance to win, but until people like me vote their conscience and not what they are being told to believe, NO ONE will ever beat the 2 parties. Someone PLEASE tell me why I am scolded each and every time I tell someone "I am unsure for who I am voting"? Barack is better than McCain, but by how much? At least McCain made a gutsy move by nominating Palin, whereas Barack went backwards with nominating Biden. I do find myself liking Barack as a person; he is articulate, intelligent, and hard workingl; so he is the better choice of the two.

Compassion gets lost once you breach the Politics subject. My question is WHY? This country NEEDS someone who is Compassionate (not the George Bush Fake-Compassionate Conservatism).

Restaurants- Rockville, MD

Growing up in suburban DC made it easy to find veggie restaurants in the area. In an Animal Rights group meeting once in High School I was told about The Vegetable Garden in Rockville. As soon as I ate there once, I was hooked. Since that day there have been several other vegetarian places that have opened on Rockville Pike, but The Vegetable Garden still stands atop the pack.

The Vegetable Garden is located at 11618 Rockville Pike, just north of White Flint Mall. It is in a strip mall, but the atmosphere, staff, and food make this a wonderful dining experience. They have introduced many new, innovative methods of making vegetarian cuisine. They were one of the first I ever knew of that used the mock meats in multiple dishes. They have wonderful lunch specials, but their dinner is still worth it. Try the Whole Wheat Steamed Dumplings or Crispy Black Mushrooms as an appetizer. It appears they have several more than when I used to go; I really want to try their "Golden Pond" appetizer. They have tons of salads and soups, but their entrees really stand out. Veggie Chicken with Cashew Nuts was amazing, as was the Hunan Beef. The Sesame Veggie Chicken was great, but not as good as the General Tsao's Veggie Chicken. They also have sandwiches, including a Vegan Gyro. They have Macrobiotic foods, Raw Foods, and many other options for the entire family. If you are in the Rockville area, this one deserves a chance. http://www.thevegetablegarden.com/

Influences- Gary Hall

Another big influence over my cooking was my first college 'roommate' Gary and his girlfriend (now wife) Laura....

My mom taught me quite a bit, but it wasn't until I got to college that I started actually cooking for myself. I moved in with an old family friend (Gary) and Laura in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They were mostly vegetarian at the time and were very helpful in showing me proper ways of chopping vegetagbles, making pasta, and they were big into stir fry. Gary showed me how to cook tofu for the first time and how to best cook onions, peppers, and assorted other vegetables. They were an amazing force for me; passionate about food and a couple who obviously loved each other and helped me understand communication better. It was when I lived with them that I first got together with Kelly, so they were there to see the beginnings of my own lifetime relationship.

Recipes- Cream Cheese Frosting

this frosting can be used on the Agave Cupcakes, or for any reason you see fit....


1 container 'Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese'
1 stick Earth Balance Soy Spread (not margarine)
4 cups Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla


Beat the 'butter' and 'cream cheese' until smooth. Slowly fold in the sugar and add vanilla until the frosting is thick and to your taste.

Yummy....

For CHOCOLATE frosting; omit the Vanilla and Add Chocolate Extract, OR use 3.5 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup cocoa powder

Recipes- Vegan Agave Cupcakes

this recipe is taken from the BEST vegan dessert book EVER: "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. We love each and every cupcake we have made from this book, but the Agave sweetened one is the easiest.

Simple Vanilla and Agave Nectar Cupcakes (makes 12)

2/3 cup Soy Milk
1/2 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (yes, it matters; you HAVE to use Apple Cider Vinegar)
2/3 cup Agave Nectar
1/3 cup Canola Oil
1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
1 1/3 cup Flour
3/4 teaspoon Baing Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners and preheat oven to 325.

2. Mix the soy milk and apple cider vinegar in a bowl; allow to sit for a few minutes to curdle. Beat in agave, oil, vanilla, and almond extract. Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until very smooth. Fill liners two-thirds full. Bake 20-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do Not Overbake as this will dry out the cupcake.

3. Let cool for at least 1 hour.

Restaurants- Toronto, ON

Toronto is one of the most vegetarian friendly cities in the world; it has too many restuarants to count....but one in particular was my favorite....

Vegetarian Haven is located at 17 Baldwin St in the Chinatown section of Toronto. I ate outside on a nice outdoor patio. The staff was very friendly and accomodating to an American looking for good Canadian veggie food. I started with the Grilled BBQ Soya Kebab and it was magnificent. The kebab was very filling, but I had to try a few other items since their menu is very extensive. I had the Spicy Szechuan Seitan Nuggets as an entree and it was unbelievably good; homemade seitan and a great, light sauce. Other patrons told me that Sweet and Sour Tempeh, the Spicy Black Bean Eggplant Tofu, and the Spaghetti with Black Pepper Steakette are some of the best vegetarian options around. They have tons of salads, soups, and various other incredibly innovative vegetarian cuisine. A vegan dessert case caps this place off well. Their double chocolate brwonie was awesome! A definite must if you're ever in Toronto. http://www.vegetarianhaven.com/

Hiking....

part of being able to be compassionate in daily life is being able to be compassionate to yourself and your loved ones.....one way we make sure we are in sync with each other is by hiking regularly....once on the trail the worries of daily life go away.......

Recipes- Shepherd's Pie

this recipe is taken from "Vegan Planet" by Robin Robertson (the best vegan cookbook author out there) and is on page 365....we make it so much, we know what page it is on... :)

Ultimate Shepherd's Pie

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Large Onion (she likes Yellow, but we prefer White), diced
1 Large Carrot, chopped
4 ounces White Mushrooms, chopped (we actually add Green Pepper instead of mushrooms)
1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
2 tablespoons Tamari or other Soy Sauce
1 cup Vegetable Stock (get the Organic kind; Pacific makes a good one)
1 teaspoon fresh minced Thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon fresh minced Marjoram leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried
salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch (dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water)
3 frozen veggie burgers, crumbled (another idea is chopped Seitan, which adds a different flavor)
1/2 cup frozen green peas (thawed)
1/4 cup ground walnuts
3 cups of Mashed Potatoes (for a vegan version, use soy milk with the potatoes)
1/4 teaspoon Paprika

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot, cover, and cook until tender; about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms (or peppers) and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, tamari, stock, thyme, marjoram, and salt and pepper (to taste). Stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer to thicken slightly; about 1 minute.
2. Spoon the filling mixture into a lightly oiled 2 1/2 quart baking dish. Stir in the burgers (or seitan), peas, and walnuts. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Spread the mashed potatoes over the top. Sprinkle with paprika and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.
3. Bake until potatoes are hot and bubbly and the top is golden brown; about 30 minutes. Serve HOT.

Thanks to Robin Robertson for this recipe; more of her to come in future installments since everything she makes seems to taste REALLY good!

Restaurants- Washington DC

Harmony Cafe located at 3287.5 M St NW in the Georgetown area of Washington DC makes for a phenomenal meal. It is hard to see, but there are stairs leading downstairs to the restaurant and it opens up nicely down there. They are a traditional Chinese place, but with the mock meats and they will make any of their dishes vegan if you ask. I used to go here in High School, so it has been around for quite some time. It always looked like there was ONE woman working everytime we were there, but she was very friendly and even knew several of us because we went there so often. I will post about specifics later when I can find their menu, but rest assured, this place is awesome. MENU to come....

Influences- My Mother

I am going to give a shout out to those who have influenced me over the past 16 years of vegetarian cooking.....and the first person to mention is certainly my MOM....

When I was 15 my brother became a vegetarian for Animal Rights reasons. I felt inclined at the time to agree with him and forced myself to give up meat. One thing my mother did incredibly well was to show me how to get the proper nutrition out of a vegetarian diet. She told me that she would support my decision only if I was healthy about it. Later on in my teenage years she began a Nursing degree at George Mason and part of her degree was nutrition. At that time I had started to become Vegan; more cause for nutritional concern. However, I feel I was taught very well on how to get the most out of what I ate. Also, she was (and IS) very supportive about trying out old favorite recipes , but making them Vegan. When I went to College I was always impressed by her efforts when I would return; Vegan desserts, tons of experimental dishes for me to consume. To this day she impresses me with her Vegan Cooking.

Throughout the years she has also influenced me philosophically. Touting the tenets of "true" Chrisitanity; love for your neighbor, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and helping the poor and needy, she made a huge impression on me. Even as I delved further into the depths of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, we would always have wonderful intellectual conversations. She never pretended to completely agree with my vegetarianism, but she would ALWAYS try; and along the way, I think I have shown her some great attributes of myself.

I will forever remember the times when she and I would walk the dogs down to the reservoir and talk. They are some of my fondest memories of growing up. These walks helped solidify hers and my relationship beyond that of son/mom. She always knows when to add humor to the discussion as well as when to be serious. The walks were my first indication that I needed to be outdoors and commune with Nature; hence the current situation of going to the Mountains every weekend. Her visits to us in Colorado definitely count as some of the best days of our lives; and will continue to do so until we move.

Spiciness.....

as an answer to andy's comment....yes, I LOVE spicy food....

I do feel that spiciness does help get rid of extraneous 'stuff', but I hesitate to use the term 'toxins'. I struggle with that term since it has become merely a label used to try and convince people they are toxic. Of course our world is full of bad substances, but to say that this food or that food will clean your body of said 'toxins'? Spiciness clears out mucus, some of which COULD be considered 'toxic'. Moreso I would say that spicy food tastes better.... :)

Meditation...

Hiking and skiing are both favorites of ours, but it is what they do for our minds that really helps us out. I was a big fan of meditation in college, but have found that simply cleansing your mind anywhere you can will really help your life. When we hike, we try and get far away from anyone and become ONE with our surroundings. Sitting at 13,000 feet overlooking the Continental Divide is a great way to clear your mind and become ready for the work week. Anyone can do this in their area. Whether it is walking a little while into the woods and sitting for an hour by yourself, or calmly sitting at the beach, even if you are not close to 'mountains'; your mind can become calm and relaxed enough for you to let yourself become happier.

The beauty of a High Alpine environment will always be my passion; hiking it, skiing it, or simply staring at it. After 5 hard days of work I need to relax my mind for at least 3-4 hours every weekend. Once I have (to use a computer term) "defragmented" my mind I am ready to go back to work.

I would highly recommend to everyone that they take at least 1 hour every week to sit. Whilst sitting you can answer unanswered questions, deal with issues, and come to conclusions in your life. Then you'll feel a lot better once you no longer have to "worry" about those items. Quiet meditation won't be the answer for ALL one's issues, but it will ALWAYS help clarify one's Life.

Restaurants- Boulder, CO cont....

The Scotch Corner Restaurant and Pub in downtown Boulder is a great outing for veggies and carnivores alike. Located at 1800 Broadway Ste. 150 in One Boulder Plaza, it has validated garage parking, which makes going downtown easy. It has two kitchens, one for meat and one for vegetarians. Thye have a veggie section of the menu, but other items are labeled as "vegetarian version available" such as vegetarian sausage rolls and veggie-haggas. They have Vegan Sliders (small veggie burgers), as well as vegetarian 'bangers and mash'. This place was a lot better yesterday than it was awhile ago. when they first opened, their food was relatively bland, but they have made a more concerted effort to be more tasty. They also have a great selection of Beer and Scotch. I would also recommend the Vegetarian BLT sandwich. http://www.scotchcornerpub.com/

Recipes- Morning Smoothie

here's what we have for breakfast every day....

2 bananas
2 handfuls of frozen strawberries
2 cups of Orange Juice
1/2 container of Silk Soy Yogurt

mix these in a blender and voila! you have a great morning boost....and unbelievably healthy for you!.....

"Climate Change"

an interesting article published in Time magazine....

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1839995,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner

I have been saying this for 15 years, but it is nice to see that the Mainstream media is taking notice....

Restaurants- Fairfax, VA

I have to give much Love to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant in Vienna (just outside Fairfax). This has NO link to Sunflower Organic Dining in Boulder. Growing up in a place with a lack of veggie options, Sunflower was always a breath of fresh air. They have been steady and there for many years, with some of the most wonderful vegetarian options ever. They are a Buddhist Vegetarian community and have plenty of reading if you are waiting for take out. When I was there they had one location, but now it appears they have a second location in Falls Church; yay!

Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant is located right on Route 123, just north of I-66; at 2531 Chain Bridge Road in Vienna. Their other location is on Route 7; 6304 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. One of the main things they have done better than most is labeling their food. I am impressed when a restaurant does not have to say "Veggie Chicken" or something like that. The "Fried Chicken" appetizer does this, but mostly they name their dishes around the main portion of the dish; ie; Wheat Gluten in Fermented Black Bean Sauce instead of Veggie Beef in Black Bean Sauce. The "Chicken" appetizer is wonderful and I would almost say that two orders of this makes a perfect meal. It is homemade soy protein nuggets and tastes nothing like Boca or any of the other major brands. Their soups are wonderful; a vegan Wonton Soup is one example. They have burgers and sandwiches that are better than anywhere else. Their entrees are where they shine the most. All cooked fresh, they bear names like Popeye's Favorite, Sweet and Sour Sensation, and Adventures in Tempeh Land. The two key ones are Songbird (Sauteed chunks of wheat gluten, soy protein, konnyaku & celery in a hot kong-pao flavored sauce. Tossed w. steamed watercress & peanuts.) and the General Tso's Surprise (chunks of soy protein in hot kong-pao sauce, garnished with steamed broccoli and carrots.). Anytime you can go here, do it; there Lunch Specials are amazing for 7 bucks as well. http://www.crystalsunflower.com/

Compassion at Work....

well not at the Workplace...but at work in daily living...

Compassion for all starts with what you eat. By lowering one's footprint on the Earth by consuming less resources, one can begin to become empowered in all other facets of life. Vegetarianism is a clear choice for anyone worried about Climate Change (or whatever term They are using these days) or the suffering of sentient beings. It affects Climate Change because of the severely reduced emissions caused by producing vegetables and fruits versus the MASSIVE waste of producing animal products. It affects animals' and humans' suffering because more grain and vegetables can be diverted to help starving people and, obviously, less animals will be harmed. Life on this planet is intertwined and what you do for animals needs to equate to being compassionate towards humans. This is where traditional Veganism falls short for me. To do something only because it helps animals but not to understand its effect on humans is NOT to be compassionate. Compassion in this sense is more a Utilitarian philosophy (the greatest good for the greatest amount of Life).

Recipes- Tofu

Alas...I have to say SOMETHING about tofu....

I like my tofu a little fried.....so, for me, it is best to pan fry the tofu first....

Take a block of tofu...if at all possible, drain it and put it on a plate with paper towels underneath...put a paper towel over it and another plate to press down on it....this will drain the liquid out....refrigerate for 1-2 hours prior to cooking....

then cut into half inch thick slices.....using a griddle, or other pan, fry each side until golden brown.....once the larger chunks are all brown, then you can cut them into smaller cubes or pieces and use in the Stir Fry Recipe (see other posts) or use the tofu chunks as a BBQ sandwich.....

Restaurants- Northern Virginia

Big ups to Woodbridge, Fairfax, Washington DC, Rockville, and everyone inside or just outside the Beltway!...

Woodbridge: This is the town of my birth and, up to a few years back, you had to go to Fairfax or DC to get good veggie stuff. Once I left, they got two great places;

Shanghai Cafe: Located at 12760 Darby Brook Ct, it is just off Old Bridge Rd and in a shopping center. Nothing specifically unique about this place except it has several vegetarian options. They use faux meats for a couple items and the Lemon Vegetarian Chicken is the best. I would try all of them if I still lived there.

Siam Bistro: Located on the west side of Lake Ridge at 4129 Merchant Plaza, this is the first truly great Asian restaurant in Woodbridge. They know if you say 'vegan' and will accomodate most tastes. They have two great appetizers, either the Fried Tofu or the Summer Roll. They have some great entrees; Pad Kra Pow with tofu is excellent and they have a Vegetarian Duck that is actually VERY tasty. In NOVA and want good Thai food? Then you should go here. http://www.siambistrothai.com/

Restaurants- Central Virginia continued

I cannot mention Central Virginia without giving another shout out to Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Williamsburg..

Richmond:

China Panda is a class in and of itself. They have three locations in the metro Richmond area (even though when I was there, it was only 2; so they must be doing well). The main location at 616 N Sheppard St in downtown is an enigma. On first glance it looks like a dive restaurant, dirty, etc.. but the food is unbelievably fresh and tasty. It is vegan Chinese and rivals that of Ming Dynasty in C'Ville. The sauces are great, they have veggie chicken and beef and seafood, and the people are friendly. I really enjoyed their Sesame Vegetarian Chicken. As far as I remember, the other site in southern Richmond (10020 Robious Rd) has the same menu and vegan options. A definite must for any vegan in Richmond, or anyone traveling through the area.

Fredericksburg:

Bangkok Cafe is a great Thai place in Downtown, located at 825 Caroline St. This is the first place my brother Josh actually got some food that was TOO spicy for him (he LOVES things 'as spicy as possible'. They have good fried tofu as an appetizer and several good entrees. They will substitute tofu for meat in any dish and leave out fish sauce. The Eggplant with Tofu and Basil was phenomenal. http://www.bangkokcafeva.com/

Sammy T's is a staple in F'Burg and is located in the Historic Caroline St area, at 801 Caroline St. It is a great outing for all involved and they have a TON of vegetarian options. They have a Black Bean Cake appetizer and several soups that are vegan. They have two veggie burgers, one is actually a Tempeh Burger. A couple veggie sandwiches and a great Bean Burrito add to the great menu. They also have a falafel sandiwch. Anytime you are in Fredericksburg, check this place out! www.sammyts.com

Williamsburg: This place is terrible for vegetarians. You have to go to Hampton to find some good Asian food or to Richmond for their great options.

Restaurants- Telluride, CO.

Kelly, the dogs, and I spent our last anniversary in Telluride. Apart from being one of the most beautiful places in the world, its vegetarian options abound. There is plenty of great hiking around town and a good meal makes a full day of hiking worth it.

Smuggler's Brewpub located at 225 S Pine St is a great place for Happy Hour and food. The beer is really good and fresh. The Smuggler's Beer Nuggets appetizer was wonderful (fried dough with marinara). Their Onion Rings appetizer was also vegan (so they said), but we did not try them. They have tons of salads and a vegetarian soup as well. We both tried their veggie burger and it was really good. They also have a bean and rice burrito that looked phenomenal. Their menu closes out with Linguine over marinara that is also supposedly vegan. The place has some cool seating outside; the seats are old ski lift cars that they have made into booths. This is a cool restaurant and anyone who is veggie and likes beer should frequent this place. http://www.smugglersbrew.com/

Siam is a great Thai place. Located at 200 S Davis St (corner of Davis and Pacific) they are very well versed in what 'vegan' means, so they have a good amount of choices already labeled, but will make any dish with tofu and leave out fish sauce. Specifics are coming shortly....

Recipes- Tempeh

Tempeh....what a great idea for making vegetable proteins more digestible...Tempeh is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form. It is especially popular on the island of Java, where it is a staple source of protein. Like tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans, but tempeh is a whole soybean product with different nutritional characteristics and textural qualities. Tempeh's fermentation process and its retention of the whole bean give it a higher content of protein, dietary fiber and vitamins compared to tofu, as well as firmer texture and stronger flavor. Long before people found and realized its rich nutritional value, tempeh was referred to as “Javanese meat.” (taken from wikipedia)...

I like Tempeh more than Tofu....but most people tend to favor Tofu......

2 ways I like to make my Tempeh:

BBQ Tempeh:
Cut Tempeh into patties, usually about 4 inches by 4 inches (an approximate). Boil the Tempeh for 10-15 minutes. Remove from water and drain. Marinate it in a light coating of BBQ Sauce and let sit for 1 hour (or less). Bake the Tempeh patties for 20-30 minutes at 375. Server on a bun or with mashed potatoes and corn.

Tempeh Parmesan:
Follow same instructions for boiling the Tempeh. Marinate the patties in pasta sauce for 1 hour. Bake the patties at 375 for 10 minutes. Turn the patties and top with Soy Cheese. Bake again until the cheese melts and browns. Server hot with pasta and sauce (see my Post on Pasta Sauce)

Restaurants- Central Virginia

I have to give a shout out to my alma mater James Madison University. Also, a big shout goes out to U.V.A. and William and Mary (Kelly's Alma maters)(plural). If you ever fine yourself driving on I-81, I-66, I-64, I-95, and assorted highways from NOVA down to Staunton and east to the Beach, then I can recommend some great eateries therein.

Harrisonburg (Hometown of JMU): I graduated in 1999, so some of these may or may not still be there. However, it was one of the more vegetarian freindly towns in all of Virginia.

The Little Grill Collective is a stand out place that does not look like much. Located at 621 N Main St, The Little Grill is a worker owned restaurant and does quite a bit of local charity work, including a soup kitchen. Every Tuesday is All-You-Can-Eat Mexican food and I highly recommend going for this. If you say you're vegan, they'll make everything without dairy for you. The BBQ Tempeh sandwich is amazing as is the "Go Ask Alyce" sandwich (falafel and veggies). Wednesdays used to be Indian Night, but it appears that they have made Wednesday their "Special" night and the type of food changes per week. Other assorted falafel dishes abound as well as burritos and vegetarian chili. This place is a must if travelling to and/or from Harrisonburg. http://www.littlegrillcollective.com/

Taste of Thai is a nice Thai place located at 917 S High St. They have a Fried Tofu appetizer that is really good. They also have a nice section of their menu labeled as "Vegetarian". If you are vegan, you can ask tell them that and they'll know not to add Fish Sauce. The Sweet and Sour Tofu and the Spicy Tofu are both excellent choices. Their Curries are also very well done and fresh. One another note is that they tend to cook their veggies well and not overcooked. You could also try their Pad Thai (without egg, of course). A little away from the main areas of H'Burg, this place is worth the trip. http://www.taste-of-thai.com/

Charottesville (Home of UVA and Thomas Jefferson): I spent almost every weekend in Charlottesville because Kelly went to UnderGrad there. Home to a plethora of veggie friendly restaurants, it is home to our favorite Chinese place in the country.

Ming Dynasty is located at 1417 Emmet St North just north of the college. It is run by a Buddhist woman and her family. It is not 100% vegan, but will make ANY item on their menu vegan, using faux meats. I really enjoyed their Sweet and Sour Vegetarian Chicken, and Kelly's staple was Vegetarian Pepper Steak. The Buffet for Lunch is good, never made it for a Dinner buffet. Their Orange Vegetarian Beef might be the top entree as the sauce is unmatched so far in my experience. Plenty of good veggie options and a wonderfully friendly staff makes Ming Dynasty the best Chinese place in Virginia, maybe even the country.

Baja Bean Co. is a great Mexican outing. Located on the "Corner" right off Campus, 1327 Main St. Although there is nothing truly amazing with their vegetarian options, their veggie burritos, quesadillas, and tacos are fresh and good. Also, their "fishbowl" margaraita is a classic.