This morning I woke up feeling stressed out, short tempered, and negative. I woke up at 6am on a Saturday and was wide awake. So, I watched a couple of online lectures and did work for a class I’ve grown to passively detest. That did not improve my mood. I had no desire whatsoever to run, but thought it might make me feel better. It helped a little, but I was still just feeling drained all day. You know those days when everything just feels like too much effort? “Ugh, why do I have to clip my nails? Why do I have to use deodorant? Why do I have to prep myself every day? Why can’t our apartment clean itself? Gaaahhh.”

It dawned on me that I hadn’t had a good meal in a while. The hubs and I don’t treat ourselves by going out to restaurants very often. So, tonight I thought, why not? We ended up at a newer restaurant in the North East end of Minneapolis called Ginger Hop, which we’ve gone to a couple times. The wait staff is great, the restaurant has a a nice modern Asian vibe, and they have a wonderful selection of East Asian cuisine. The best part: they have several vegan options (even marked with a little “v” on the menu). I was craving Pad Thai. Like, GOOD Pad Thai, unlike the stuff we attempted to make for Valentine’s Day that looked great, but tasted like nothing! Seriously, no matter how much flavor we added, it tasted like noodle air.

So I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu (sans egg) and it was sooo good! Oh, it just really hit the spot. And I have leftovers now, which is, of course, another bonus. Sometimes I think it’s easy to take for granted the importance of a good meal in morale boosting. It gave me a second wind and now I’m ready to conquer the world! Or at least have a very relaxing, stress-free evening with my favorite person.

Side note: if you haven’t seen the movie Inception yet, you really should. It’s absolutely fantastic. Though, upon seeing it, I can’t decide if Chrisopher Nolan is a genius, or bordering on schizophrenic. Or both. But yes, go see it!! View the trailer here.

Ginger Hop
612-746-0307
201 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Our adorable, newly-engaged friends, Matt and Darcie, just bought a fantastic home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The hubs and I stopped by to see their new digs over the weekend. They took us out to brunch at a super cool restaurant called Honeypie. Several of the menu items can be made vegan, and all dishes are home-made and mid-western inspired. And guess what else? They make their own VEGAN CUPCAKES!! I wanted one so bad. They looked absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, I had canker sores in my mouth that were staunchly advising me against having any sugar. So, reluctantly, I obliged them. But next time I go to Milwaukee, you can bet I’ll be getting one! See their vegan dessert menu here.

Instead, I had a lovely curry tofu salad sandwich. Num-num! See brunch menu here.

The restaurant itself is hip, stylish, and bustling! It has a great outdoor seating area in the back that smells of cedar. My friend Darcie, who had a huge hand in Wisconsin going smoke-free, pointed out that even their outdoor seating is non-smoking

On the inside, the walls are adorned with some eerie old black and white photos and… there may be a few taxidermied animals on the walls as well. What can I say? It’s traditional mid-western decor. A little off-putting, but they DO make some amazing vegan food, so I think that makes up for it.

If you’re in the Milwaukee area, I highly recommend it.

HONEYPIE
2643 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Milwaukee WI 53207
(414) 489-PIES (7437)

If you’re in the Minneapolis area, you should definitely check out Joe’s Garage. It’s a very cool restaurant with some great food. I had a Chinese mock duck salad that was absolutely fantastic. Here are some of our friends at Joe’s expressing a range of emotions. Actually, they were all quite happy.

City Pages gives it props for its “legendarily pretty” rooftop deck. Unfortunately, since our very nice weather is also very recent, the patio wasn’t quite ready for the season.

They have lots of yummy options for vegetarians and several items that could easily be de-cheesed, like their black bean and falafel burger, which I’m not seeing on their online menu yet. Must be new.

The restaurant has several levels of seating. Though it may look like a small restaurant from the outside, do not be deceived. The higher up you go, the cooler the atmosphere. And it overlooks Loring Park, which is a huge, totally awesome park downtown. It also happened to be where we threw around some Frisbees prior to dining at Joe’s Garage.

Ahhh. Spring is finally here!

Joe’s Garage
1610 Harmon Place
Minneapolis MN  55403.
612. 904. 1163.

I just got back from Denmark, where my sister lives now with her family. I went there for her wedding. She and her husband were already married but they didn’t have time for a real ceremony then, so they decided to make up for it with a traditional Danish ceremony. Her husband and his family are all from Denmark and it was really great meeting all of them and attempting to learn some Danish in the process. We were so fortunate to stay at their adorable family summerhouses, right along the Atlantic. Talk about a beautiful view!

Here’s the summerhouse we stayed at. Looks like it’s straight out of a magazine.
Gorgeous photography, courtesy of Emory.

And here I am with an odd expression, recovering from the freezing cold Atlantic.
Gorgeous photography, courtesy of Emory.

I can see why Danes are said to be the happiest people in the world. Denmark is absolutely beautiful, the food tastes better, the beer and coffee are smoother, there seems to be a stronger family bond there, and people are just so nice! Even the animals seem much happier, with all the cute family farms that exist there.  The only downside is how expensive it is. So, if you’re planning a trip there, start saving now!

I got to spend some time wandering around Copenhagen with some very dear -and newly engaged- friends. One of the highlights of our day was stopping for lunch at Rizz Razz. This restaurant had a fantastic buffet that was almost all vegan! And the food was so good. And very affordable! I must stress how difficult it is to find affordable restaurants there. Danes don’t go out to eat nearly as much as Americans, due to the high cost. I also should mention how rare it is to find vegan-friendly restaurants. We really struck gold here.

That was my delicious plate. I was all excited to go back for seconds, because they had so many other great dishes to try, but after finishing this plate of goodies, I was stuffed.

So if you’re itching to travel to a beautiful Nordic country, Denmark’s the place. And if you’re ever in Copenhagen, do check out Rizz Razz. You’ll be filled with good eats.

The Wienery in Minnesota (featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives) is a tiny hole-in-the-wall divey diner that makes a delicious vegan dog. But if you’re looking for a bar/restaurant with a nice, but casual, atmosphere, a long list of tap beers, AND that serves “Not Dogs,” The Bulldog is the place. The “Not Dog” is melt-in-your-mouth good. And in my opinion, veggie dogs always taste better when someone else makes them.

The Bulldog has two Minneapolis locations: one in the North East end, which I’ve been to, and one in Uptown.

The Bulldog, N.E.
401 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55414

The Bulldog, Uptown
2549 Lyndale Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55405

While we’re on the topic, I’d like to applaud Tofurky for making one delicious vegan Beer Brat. Must be that time of year, because I have intense cravings for brats and dogs lately. The Beer Brat is especially good if you grill it. But don’t take it off the heat too early. Wait for the exterior to get crispy. Heaven!

photo by kari.volkmanncarlsen

I have discovered a vegan goldmine in uptown Minneapolis. It goes by the name of French Meadow Bakery. I just went there for dinner and was absolutely floored by their culinary genius. I enjoyed a savory vegan calzone (normally served as an appetizer) filled with hearts of palm, cherry tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and fresh basil, topped with a decadent roasted tomato sauce. It melted in my mouth and left me in a euphoric state. Emory had an amazing butternut squash gnocci (which I tried) and it was also divine. Emory and I devoured our meals and licked our plates with glee. For dessert (naughty, naughty) we shared a vegan chocolate turtle cake that was moist, not too rich, and just about perfect. You could taste the freshness of their local organic ingredients.

And another lovely trait about French Meadow is their portions. They aren’t gigantic- they’re just right. We were fully satisfied without doubling over in pain by the end. Which I appreciate.

The atmosphere during the day there is a hopping bakery. And by hopping, I mean, good luck finding a table at lunch time. This place is popular! On a Tuesday night, it’s still popular, but not overwhelming. And we got a table right away, adorned with candles, fresh flowers, and surrounded by birch trees dressed in white lights (man, I wish I would have brought my camera!). Our waiter was wonderfully attentive, and our bill was very manageable.

Overall, I give French Meadow five stars. We will definitely be going back again. Hopefully soon. Note: French Meadow Bakery also offers all natural food products sold in grocery stores.

French Meadow Bakery
2610 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

I was in Madison, WI this past weekend, visiting friends at my alma mater. For breakfast, we went to Monty’s Blue Plate Diner. As soon as you arrive, they have coffee ready and waiting for your sippage, which is heaven to me. We also had several soy milk fans in the group and they gave us a little caraff of soy for our coffees while we waited for a table.

I had long been contemplating the idea of vegan French toast. Was it possible? I know now it totally is. Monty’s has some great vegan and vegetarian options, and vegan French toast is one of them. My only qualm was that the French toast was slightly dry. But with some maple syrup, it was great. Emory had a tofu scramble that I nibbled which was also yummy. And the servers were great about replenishing our coffee supply. All around, it was a great breakfast.

When you’re done dining at Monty’s Blue Plate, you should wander across the street to Gail Ambrosious – Choclatier. They make AMAZING (though kind of pricey) chocolate, some of which is vegan, with local ingredients. I recommend the peanut butter filled chocolate bunny (Easterly festive), and also the dark chocolate hearts. What? I told you I had a sweet tooth. Don’t judge me. If you can’t get to Madison, you can order the chocolates online. Hooray!

Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
2089 Atwood Avenue
Madison, WI

&

Gail Ambrosius — Chocolatier
2086 Atwood Ave
Madison, Wisconsin 53704
(608) 249-3500 phone
(608) 249-3501 fax

I must admit, I was pretty sad to leave Este Pizzaria back in Salt Lake City. They make a mean vegan pizza. Mmmmm. I didn’t know if I’d ever find another pizza place that could match such a magically mouthwatering slice of New York style soy cheese. That is, until I discovered Pizza Lucé.

Pizza Lucé is a small chain with locations in uptown and downtown Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and the Seaward/University area. I’ve been to the downtown and uptown locations and love them both. The downtown location is a bigger, cooler looking bar/restaurant and the uptown location is smaller with more of the “your local pizza joint” vibe. Since we live in uptown, Emory and I go to that location more often to indulge in savory pizza at an affordable price. And I’ll probably make it around to the other locations eventually to check out their unique atmospheres.

One thing not too many pizza places offer is a menu filled with vegan options like Mock Sausage Parmigiana, Mock Muffeleta, vegan garlic cheese toast, and vegan Foccacia. I must admit, I haven’t tried anything besides the pizza. I’m simply hooked on the pizza. But they have several vegan and vegetarian dishes, and even vegan chocolate peanut butter bars for dessert. Yum! And if soy cheese isn’t your thing, try their rinotta cheese. It’s a nice nut cheese with a grainier texture, but I’m still a sucker for the soy above all else.

This is one chain I would love to see expand. All major cities (and minor ones) should have a pizza place this delicious to show the world that vegan pizza is not such a scary concept. In fact, people might actually enjoy soy cheese on their pizza. A lot!

Brookfield, Wisconsin recently opened a new gem of a restaurant called Café Manna. I’ve had the pleasure of dining there twice since they opened, and both times I had a euphoric meal paired with excellent service. It’s a somewhat hidden, modest little restaurant with a modern, earthy vibe, and it’s 100% vegetarian. The FIRST 100% vegetarian restaurant in Southeast Wisconsin.

One thing I really love about this restaurant is that they label each dish, indicating if it’s gluten free, vegan, raw, or all of the above! My mom raves about the great food. And even my dad, a hardcore meat eater, loves this restaurant. So that tells you something. If you have non-believers that think vegan dishes can’t possibly be tasty, take them to Café Manna. In addition to great food, they serve organic sulfite-free wines, organic beers, green drinks, almond milk, several flavours of tea, and much more. And if that’s not enough, they use 95% organic ingredients, support sustainable farms, and use eco-friendly building materials. AND they’re the ONLY restaurant in Wisconsin that’s certified by the Green Restaurant Association. Can you hear the angels singing?

So, if you’re in the area, or are willing to head there, I strongly encourage you to stop by and support this lovely little café. You shant be disappointed. And your belly shant be, either.

Café Manna
262-790-2340
3815 N. Brookfield Rd.
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045

Bowling alleys aren’t traditionally known for serving amazing vegan food, but Bryant Lake Bowl is no traditional bowling alley. And not just because it has a cabaret theater. It’s certainly not your typical greasy spoon dive, though it may appear that way at first. In fact, the special they were offering the evening my fiance and I arrived was an eggplant platter. Emory had a wonderful phad thai and tofu dish, I had a delicious Basmati rice and vegetable dish with mock duck. This bowling alley prides itself in buying locally, having its own compost for kitchen waste, using reusable napkins, and working hard to be an eco-friendly establishment.

Bryant Lake Bowl is run by Wisconsin native Kim Bartman, who runs a couple of other eco-friendly establishments: Barbette, and the Red Stag Supper Club, which is Minnesota’s first LEED-certified eatery (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).  All of these restaurants offer vegan and vegetarian options and I am very excited to go check them out. And I would recommend you do the same if you’re in Minneapolis. Not only will you be comforted in knowing you’ve got vegan options eagerly awaiting you, but you’ll be supporting eco-friendly businesses. Delicious.

Bryant Lake Bowl
810 West Lake Street – Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825-3737

Barbette
1600 West Lake Street – Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-827-5710

Red Stag Supper Club
509 1st Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN
612-767-7766