Scrumptious Sacramento

Initially we were in town to have dinner with the governator but we flaked on him to sight see on our own ; ) Well the sight seeing on our own part is true! Anyhoo, I would expect that the state capital city Governor Muscle calls home would cater to a healthy audience and I was soooo right!!

I opted out of my away from home treat, Starbucks, and walked into Chicory. I've always like the smell and taste of Chicory over coffee but it's availability is close to nil in most coffee houses. I was so excited for my soy chicory latte and my fresh veggie sandwich that instead of taking it on the run so Dan could go sketch the Capitol, I let him go while I enjoyed in inside their cute establishment. Definitely worth a stop if you're in town, Chicory is a great alternative to the competitive conglomerates ; )

After Dan's sketch we walked around downtown and came upon The Park. It's a cool area with bars, clubs and chic restaurants that included Ma Jong's Asian Diner so we decided we'd eat there. It was way cool inside and I am always happy when brown rice is offered! I ordered it in my garlic tofu rice bowl and it melted me ; ) I'm sure the place hops on a weekend and you can stroll over to one of their trendy clubs afterwards. Check out the Ma Jong's and The Park online.

For our last meal we looked around and decided on Cafe Bernardo's Midtown. I liked the look and style of the place and figured the food would be tasty based on their good taste ; ) We shared a nice sized salad and I scarfed a killer portobello mushroom sandwich (sans the mayo, sub balsamic, YUM!). Bernardo was casual and tasty and just what we needed before we headed back to LA. They have 3 locations and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner ; )

Sacramento is hip and becoming chic-er by the day. I look forward to my next visit to sink my teeth into some more sweet and savory meals!

Lovin' Lake Tahoe

I love mountain towns but Tahoe is more like a mountain city! With booming casinos, a ginormous lake for a multitude of water activities, and scenic views to die for, one could spend many happy days here. I must say that all of that stuff is great and the mountainous feeding frenzy is just as satisfying!

We stayed at the super cute Zephyr Cove Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. The weather was phenomenal so we had our morning meal the the lodge's restaurant. Sitting on the patio that overlooks the lake was quite nice as was the brisk mountain air. And the food wasn't half bad either!! I had some hearty oatmeal with a nice bowl of fruit as well as some fresh squeezed oj while Dan had his own concoction of breakfast heaven ; ) The lodge is typical Tahoe, look into the Zephyr Cove Lodge for your next jaunt up the mountain.

We hung out and drove shore side through South Tahoe, stopping for photos and assorted tourist stuff. We wandered into the Naked Fish as a light lunch sounded nice. I was going to go for my usual veggie roll but the names on the maki list made me giggle so I ordered the Fun Guy and Shitake Happens rolls! They were quite good as was the delish miso and tofu soup. Dan's not much of a sushi guy and they had some nicely portioned cooked meals for him ; ) I highly recommend the Naked Fish for good, light, healthy food and a few laughs ; )

Now, after an afternoon of running around in the thin mountain air, I had an appetite something fierce. And what better way to fill my empty tummy then with some carby Italian!! And Tep's hit the spot like you wouldn't believe. First of all, I loved the small town Italian restaurant feel of it. It felt a bit time warpish but it was oh so comforting. From the chilled salad plates at the salad bar to the red checkered table cloths and dim lighting, I was 6 years old again. And I was way impressed with their attentiveness to little old vegan me ; ) They had some real yummy salad bar ingredients and were quick to tell me that the soup was beef based (sad but glad they were knowledgeable and concerned) and my gnocchi with veggies in an eggplant marinara could have fed a small army. And fed them happily cause it was sooooo yummy ; ) Ok, so I don't want to overhype it because it's definitely not gourmet, but Tep's Villa Roma put a little birdhouse in my soul ; )

Again, our time here was short lived but I love it up here and will report from Lake Tahoe once again!!

"Sayonara" San Franciso!

Ok, so normally ice cream isn't a healthy option but I can't visit the bay area without a quick trip to Maggie Mudd. It's a small ice cream shop with a big menu that makes ice cream lovers of any age, and any diet, do cartwheels in the street! They have soy, coconut and rice cream options as well as traditional moo ice cream ; ) I went nuts and broke my diet by having a loaded soy cream sundae with hot vegan fudge, a mountain of vegan whipped cream and sprinkles!! They make all kinds of frozen delicacies, even vegan ice cream cake!! Break your diet without to much guilt at Maggie Mudd!!

Stepping out on the town on our last night in town, we strolled into Impala. It was a way cool bar/lounge and when I sip wine, I get the munchies ; ) Lucky for me Impala had some buck guacamole and crazy good veggie tacos!! I really liked the vibe and I loved that I didn't have to wait till last call to convince everyone to go eat at 2 am!!

Breakfast, when done right, can be the bomb! We stopped in to Ananda Fuara on our last day and I was stoked to have a well done tofu scramble that I added some veggie sausage, guac and black beans to while Dan was still able to eat his usual morning meal ; ). They serve breakfast through dinner and I would love to come back to try something else when I return. I couldn't wait so I took some veggie raviolis to eat later that night, heehee! Find out more at Ananda Fuara.

After our last few stops in town, we wanted to grab something quick before we hit the road. 'Wichcraft caught my eye cause I'm a sucker for innovative names, logos, packaging and all around eye candy ; ) It was a smart stop for the opposite dietary duo as Dan got a meaty cheesy sandwich while I got a chickpea, peppers,olives and general off the hook, party in your mouth ingredients bewtween 2 slices of ridiculously awesome bread. I dig these easy and healthy sandwicheries popping up in big cities and so will you!! Let 'Wichcraft cast a spell on your tummy!

Now I'm gonna sew my mouth shut until our next trip out of town!!

Seconds In San Fran ; )

Spending time in this city, you can't help but want to try every place you see. Luckily, most places are way veggie friendly so the only thing you have to worry about is fitting into your britches when you head home!

One place I never miss is Millenium. It is a famous vegetarian gourmet spot and rightfully so. Pricing is not for the faint of heart but the time, effort and creativity that goes into devising the seasonal menu here is worth every penny. The ambiance is classy art deco and the food is to die for. I own all of their cookbooks and hand over my wallet willingly for one of the best meals ever ; ) This time around I had a 5 course meal that filled me up with vegan happiness as it included tasty bread with hummus, salad, appetizer, entree and dessert. I should have jogged all the way back to LA! Salivate at Millenium.

You can't go to the city without stopping into a brew house with some friends. The 21st Amendment is a great option for just that type of outing. Tons of beers, near the Giants Stadium, fun vibe and food for all. While everyone pounded brewskis, I went to town on a cheeseless Portabello Mushroom Napoleon and a stacked veggie burger with avocado, mushrooms and onions. As you can imagine, I walked back to our hotel ; ) Twice!!! Look them up at the 21st Amendment.

Trying to not overdo it again, we had lunch the next day at Asquew Grill. A fun place full of skewered treats! I opted for the tofu stick that came with veggies and i swapped my mashed potatoes for citrus cous cous on the side. Super yummers!! With everything for greenies to omnis, Asqew Grill has it all from skewered salads to sides of fresh veggies ; )

Dinner that evening was at the swanky Paragon. They pride themselves on using locally grown foods and are as organic as possible. Every dish is a work of art and they are more then happy to accommodate vegans. I kept it light with a field green salad and an incredible quinoa entree that I had them prepare without their truffle butter. For a great meal, day or night, check out Paragon.

Stay tuned cause there's one more bay city installment comin' up!

Serving It Up San Francisco Style

I could go on for months with the plethora of veggie yumminess that San Francisco has to offer. With breathtaking views of world famous bridges, mountains and buildings, San Francisco is a great place to visit as well as to treat your tastebuds!

There is no shortage of places to dine in SF, and no shortage of options for a gal like me. I've been up to this city by the bay many times and this time I found a new place. Weird Fish is a rockin' cool eatery in an unassuming part of town. Their menu is creative and caters to carnivores and veggies alike serving up sandwiches, tacos, salads, soups and brunchy items. Their vegan options are killer, I had a ton of food starting with pancakes for me and my man to share and then their vegan chorizo tacos. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and the lines to get in go around the block so make sure you plan ahead so you can enjoy the ridiculously delish Weird Fish!!

For veggie friendly Thai, Tom Yum named itself appropriately ; ) They've got a super veggie friendly menu and I highly recommend their veggie samosas - very Tom Yum!!! The chef is wonderful about veganizing anything on the menu as well as keeping things healthy by steaming and avoiding any allergy inducing ingredients. Located in the marina area, find out more at Tom Yum.

Keeping eclectic on this trip, I stopped into Naan -N- Curry for some Indian grub. They have 3 locations and combine Pakistani and Indian and it is scrum-didly-uptious!! I went for a healthy dose of chana masala and split some veggie pakora with my honey. You can find them all over town and on their website.

I was happy to find a tasty meal at what seemed to be a meaty place that Dan wanted to try. Town's End Restaurant & Bakery is located in the Embarcadero district and i am happy to report it was yumalicious!! I ordered a veggie ruben (hold the cheese)and it was quite good! I salivated over their dinner menu where a mushroom risotto called my name ; ) I'll make it for dinner next time but you can go there any time of the day online at Town's End.

As you can imagine, I'm not done with San Francisco so I'll see you here again next week!!

OH, San Luis Obispo ; )

San Luis Obispo is a sweet town half way between LA and San Fran and is super close to the famed Hearst Castle. I dig the sleepiness of it as well as the great old mission architecture. It's a nice place to relax, take in the calm coast and possibly a tour of the castle in San Simeon as well as to get your grub on!

Every time I pass through SLO, I dine at Big Sky Cafe. It's a southwestern with asian flair style health joint and I dig it! I normally get a steaming bowl of their killer veggie chili but this time I got their bean burger with a side of my fave, sweet potato fries. There is something for everyone here and it is delicious. Info for Big Sky Cafe can be found online ; )

For a swell dinner, we like Vieni Vai trattoria. It's an authentic Italian eatery and I really enjoy their choices for veggies ; ) My boy and I split their yummy bruschetta and a big green salad and then I go for a hefty helping of the basil and tomato gnocchi. Prrrrr!! Vieni Vai serves lunch and dinner and is worth a try!

If you're with a bunch of non-veggies who have a hankerin' for some carcass but you still need to eat, Firestone Grill is a popluar pit stop. It's always packed and people drive from LA just to eat here. I was none to excited that I may have ot suck it up and eat fries but they had a really tasty veggie burger and they assured me it was made on a different grill ; ) Yay!! I loaded it with onions, mushrooms and avocado and it was super yum ; ) To appease everyone you may be traveling with, step into Firestone Grill located at 1001 Higuera St Ste A, San Luis Obispo, CA 9340,
(805) 783-1001.

For a drink and a good meal, Corner View is a great choice. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner and everything is hearty and fresh. I love their salad selection as well as great veggie appetizers, sandwiches and dinners. I like their veggie penne with a crispy salad ; ) Peruse Corner View's menu online.

So if you are on your way to see the crazy Hearst Castle or just stopping in for a relaxing weekend, San Luis Obispo doesn't disappoint the hungry ; )

Yes Sir, I Ate In Big Sur!!

Driving down the coast, we didn't anticipate a stop in beautiful Big Sur. However, due to a blazing wildfire we were forced to turn around and go back through it so we stopped in for some essentials. The small town on the scenic 1 highway is tiny and cute and surprisingly offered up some grub for this traveler who was blown off course!

We rolled into the Fernwood Resort for some roadtripping supplies and ended up staying for din din. The resort was an adorable cabin like place tucked into the trees and had a nicely stocked convenience store with a baby sized deli. They had soy milk for coffees and a fridge full of vegan goodies like a bbq tofu wrap, veggie hummus wrap and vegan staples like tofurky and the like. They've got a camping area, cabins and a proper motel and I promise you won't starve! If you are driving up the Cali coast, make sure you look up Fernwood.

Next to the resort, we ate at the Redwood Grill. Again, I was surprised at my options ; ) They had the Carolyn's salad which was a no brainer for me to order along with a pretty good veggie pasta. They had a veggie burger available and other salads but I was way happy with my choices ; ) Check them out online at the Redwood Grill site.

The next day on our way out, we dined at the Big Sur River Inn and it was awesome! I had a great tofu salad and split some sweet potato fries with my honey before we hit the road. Their dinner menu looked just as nice and I look forward to passing through again. Big Sur River Inn is a hit off the 1!

This stretch of the famed Pacific Coast Highway is breathtaking and even if you are only driving through for a photo op, make sure you drive through hungry!

Santa Cruz is Veggie Paradise ; )

As I searched for vampires, as I always do when I visit Santa Cruz, I had to fuel up the tank. And there is plenty of good fuelin' no matter where you go in tow. It really is a veggie paradise amongst those pesky bloodsuckers ; )

Famous for their surf, their amusement park pier and yes, the Lost Boys, Santa Cruz is also very crunchy! There isn't a place in town that doesn't accommodate their green patrons. My favorite place when I'm in the SC is The Acapulco. A Mexican joint on Pacific Ave that has the yummiest veggie taco meat and cilantro rice. You can get any variety of Mexican dishes made with veggies or the veggie meat and their guac and rice is mega yummm! And you can drag anyone there for margs and meaty dishes while you get to feast on the healthier side south of the border ; ) You can find the melt in your mouth tortillas and beans at 1116 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, (831)426-7588.

For kitsch and late night grub, The Saturn Cafe is the place to go. It's fun spacey decor goes well with a killer vegan milk shake and tuno melt! Definitely not lo-cal but they do have great salads and soups as well as "regular" diner type food for your non-veggie pals. It's great fun with an even "funner" menu, check The Saturn Cafe out online.

If your craving some good Mediterranean while hanging ten on the Pacific, try The Falafel House. They've got traditional medi plates like hummus, dolmas, babaganoush and so on but they are big and fresh and tasty ; ) It's easy and wallet friendly to pop in and out of The Falafel House.

Hula's Island is way fun and way yum!! If you happen to be in Santa Cruz or Monterey, dining at Hula's has to be on your to do list. Hula's has what you would expect, a tiki theme and seafood BUT they do cater to peeps like me! Veggie spring rolls and a ridonkulous tofu and veggie wrap totally hit the spot. I also saw that they had a big ass veggie burger and tofu tacos!! Hop on the Hula's site and salivate ; )

Santa Cruz is full of great health food stores and even more leafy eateries but the Healthy Voyager has to keep movin'!

How To Eat In Half Moon Bay

Of all the small towns we visited, Half Moon Bay was the smallest by far. However, it was beautiful being by the sea and did not disappoint in the healthy food arena. Half Moon Bay is a farming town and most of the restaurants support their local organic farmers and that was music to my ears ; )

Italian is usually a good choice where I can gorge as well as Dan and his buddies so we sauntered into Pasta Moon. I had a lovely artichoke pizza sans cheese along with a hot cup of their minestrone. Seaside in Norcal is quite chilly for this native Floridian so soup and pizza was a hit ; )

The next morning we had a late start so we had lunch at the Mainstreet Grill. It was a simple local diner and I was perfectly happy with my garden burger and a salad. They are a cute breakfast joint and seem to be quite a staple in their community. Look them up online at Mainstreet Grill.

Dinner with our friends was a special one at Cetrella Bistro. This was quite the elegant Northen Cali seaside town establishment! I had an extraordinary seasonal veggie plate with cous cous on flatbread, yummmmm, as well as a ridiculous artichoke appetizer. If you are even passing through Half Moon Bay, Cetrella Bistro is a must!!

Plating it up in Petaluma

On our NorCal trip we spent some time in Petaluma. It had some cute architecture and had a quaint small town feel. And with the small town feel came the small town hospitality and with small town hospitality comes food!!

McNear's Saloon is where I'm standing under the marquis in the photo. It seems to be the town staple for fun bar atmosphere and live music. And with it's big theatre it had a big menu to go with it. Nothing goes with a good band and a beer like a garden burger or their California sandwich (hold the cheese and mayo. To bad we missed the Billy Bob show but I bet it would have been fun while I dug into a veggie burrito with a side of fried zucchini! Check out the menu and the upcoming entertainment at McNears.

We walked along the river and spotted a cute spot called Dempsey's. I was thoroughly impressed with the knowledgeable and helpful staff that we stayed for dinner. The chef was more then happy to veganize anything I wanted and whipped up his Chef Selection veggie plate. They had beautiful salads and Dan was happy with his meaty mcmeat dish so we waddled out of their happily after our tummy filling evening. Make sure you let them know of your dietary restrictions as they will bend over backwards to feed you well at Dempsey's.

The next day on our way out of town we had a refreshing lunch at Cafe Zazzle! With a name like that you just expect fun!! I wanted to keep it light as I knew we would be eating our way south so I grabbed the Mediterranean wrap with no cheese but I added tofu. I was torn but because of the heat I chose not to order the noodle dish but it looked great as it was chock full o'veggies and tofu. This was a great and healthy find and comes highly recommended by yours truly!Cafe Zazzle is at 121 Kentucky St, Petaluma, CA 94952,(707) 762-1700.

Once again the small town delivers and there is even more in the weeks ahead!!

Knowing Where To Go in Novato

Muir Woods is quite the Redwood wonderland in Marin County. We stopped and explored it while we popped up to Northern Cali for a little getaway. We were visiting some friends who lived in Novato and I have to say that I was impressed with the options I had in this little NorCal town!

Our first afternoon there we had a lot to see and do so we needed to grab a quick bite. I got that in a very satisfying way at Hi-Tech Burrito. They had a whole healthy burrito menu that included healthy tortilla options, great veggies and tofu for any of their custom Mexican wraps. Located in the Novato Fair Center, find at more about this chain at Hi-Tech Burrito.

On the main drag there were a number of places to dine and I dug the fun bar atmosphere at Finnegan's. They had a good sized menu that included a veggie burger and a nice veggie sandwich, big salads and a ton of different beers if you are so inclined to imbibe with your healthy meal ; ) For a bar menu I was excited that I didn't get crappy iceberg lettuce and gross fries ; ) Pop in for a pint and a meal at Finnegan's!

Another place in the cute little downtown area was Portelli Rossi. Italian cuisine in the heart of anytown USA ; ) It was super cute with a nice patio (we opted out on that particular day as it was 106 degrees outside!!). They had a great tomato and fennel soup that I enjoyed alongside my artichoke salad. They were very accommodating and I look forward to eating there again when we go back to visit our friends and their new baby. They are at 868 Grant Ave in Novato, CA, (415)892-6100.

Outside of Novato we had dinner at E&O Trading Co in Larkspur. A short drive away we had dinner and it was delish! I ordered a bunch of sides like portobella skewars, jasmine rice and this yummy and spicy naan. This place is a fusion of all Asian cuisine and I dug it as my finicky fiance ; ) Try it out if you find yourself in Norcal, E&O !

I'll be back next week reporting on more tasty treats in Northern Cali!

Presidential Eats ; )

Did you hear that there's a big election coming up? Yeah, it's hard not to go anywhere or watch anything that isn't covering the race. So feeling patriotic and trying to stay local to conserve that other big topic, gas, we decided to take a couple of day trips around the LA area and check out some of our former presidents'presidential libraries. In SoCal we have 2 big ones, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Fan of them or not, both of these libraries boast some pretty nifty artifacts from our nation's colorful history ; )

The Gipper's library rests on top of a great hill in Simi Valley, CA. It's really a very comprehensive and interesting place and good ol' Reagan's final resting place is on the grounds as well. I got sucked in to he and Nancy's love story while Dan sketched Air Force One. Yep, the original aircraft that flew him around during his presidency is right there for anyone who visits to walk through. It is a pretty neat sight as is the archives of everything from his acting days all the way to the day he left the building ; ) Food wise they had 2 cafes where a hungry veggie could sink her teeth into. The was the Ronald Reagan Pub, located underneath Air Force 1 as well as the Reagan Country Cafe. Both a cafeteria style but the cool Irish pub by the plane had a bunch of salads and sandwiches that could be doctored up for a gal like me. The cafe upstairs had a view of the valley and I asked if I could make my veggie pizza cheeseless and that was A-ok with them ; ) After our day at the library, we made our way over to Don Cuco's for dinner. I got a huge veggie tostada salad and it was delish! More info on President Reagan's library can be found online at Reagan Library. Don Cuco's is a chain and worth looking up as well!

The following weekend we headed south to Orange County and we paid a visit to Tricky Dick, Richard Nixon's presidential library. His had a special attraction as the house he was born in is on the grounds and like Air Force 1, you can get an inside tour. The library is on the acreage that young Nixon played on while his parent's farmed lemons. It's got some great info about the era he "ruled"and apparently they are updating their Watergate exhibit so it's worth a visit. They had a very small cafe on site where they had pre-made sandwiches and fruit cups available. We popped into Chili's afterwards for dinner and I got my usually yummy portobello fajitas! Go visit Pat and Richard at the Nixon Library.

Some exciting stuff to come so keep checkin' back!!

Loverboy in the Desert

Yeah, that's what I said, Loverboy! I know, what rock did they crawl out from under? I don't know but they were pretty great after all of these years! Being that they were doing the county fair and free park show circuit, we had to drive out to Palm Desert to see their old butts rock out. But it was well worth it!! A quick trip to the desert is always a fun treat for the soul and the tummy!

One place that needs no intro is Native Foods. They have locations in LA, Palm Springs and Palm Desert. It's a vegan paradise for fast food. From great pizzas, salads and scrumptious deserts, Native Foods will not disappoint. Check out their creative and mouthwatering menu at Native Foods.

It is an absolute must when you are in Palm Springs to have a meal at La Casuelas. Voted one of America's top 50 Hispanic Restaurants, there is no doubt why. They have a huge menu and almost any entree can be vegie or veganized. The black bean pizza or tostada is awesome as is there veggie enchiladas sans cheese. Their fiesta guacamole goes great with a big ol' margarita too!! See the yummy dishes at La Casuelas.

If you are in the mood for something deli like and quick, stop at Cafe Totonaca located in the Nature's Rx market . They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and everything is super tasty. their morning scrambles are delish as are their soy strip fajitas any time of the day!

If you want a little exotic flair from the east, definitely try Thai Smile (760- 320-5503,651 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262). They are not vegetarian but they have great veggie options and it is super tasty.

And lastly, if you need a quick pick me up, Cafe Zertz (250 South Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-416-0980) is the ticket!! It's super cute and they brew up a mean cup of soy latte and serve up some good veggie sandwiches.

No need to starve out in the desert when you have all of these great choices in the oases that are Palm Springs and Palm Desert!

Yummy Yosemite

What can I say about Yosemite that you don't already know but WOW!! It really is breathtaking and I wish we had had more time but I'm sure we will be back soon ; ) From the short time we spent there, I still squeezed in time for a meal and did some research for next timehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gif!

We dropped into Curry Village to grab some souvenirs and in the gift shop they had scrumptious vegan cookies!! They also have a food courtish type commissary that had Mexican food, pizzas and a bunch of other lunch treats. I had a veggie tostada salad that was enormous and the guacamole was pretty damn good! Yosemite Village, like Curry Village, is inside the park, also has snacks and great selection of soups and salads.

If you want to live the high life at Yosemite instead of roughin' it outdoors with them there bears, definitely try a night or 2 at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Their main dining room has a gourmet menu that doesn't forget about those who chow on greens. They have soups that are veggie based, tasty salads and scrumptious entrees like pasta carbonara. They are great about labeling what is available veggie style!

At the Yosemite Lodge, their Mountain Room Restaurant is a vegan and organic haven. From vegan soups to quinoa based entrees, this is a nature lovers paradise and a must if you visit the park.

Just outside the park is the Wawona Hotel and dining room that also happens to be very veggie friendly. Fresh soups, salads and an assortment of veggie alternatives are always in season at this Victorian beaut of a lodge.

So if you are camping, be sure to bring lots of healthy goodies to sustain yourself during your explorations and lock them up good so the fuzzy wuzzy bears don't get to them first! But if they do, there is a nice size market in the park where you can re-stock. But even if you are roughing it, be sure to take a break and pop into one of Yosemites fine dining halls and eat up!!! Nature never tasted so good!!

"Goodbye God, I'm Going to Bodie!!"

That's a direct quote from a little girl whose family was moving to the infamous and wicked mining town in the 1880's. Now a genuine ghost town, Bodie, CA, is quite a step back into our nation's nutty past. On our way back from Black Rock City (Burning Man), we stopped into this town frozen in time before we passed through Yosemite.

Bodie has a great story and is worth the 8,000 ft mountain drive to get there. There are no inhabitants or services beyond the gift shop in Bodie so we stopped for dinner and slumber about 45 minutes past there in Lee Vining at Mono Lake. Lee Vining is a town of 300 people so you would think there wouldn't be a healthy morsel in sight. Wrong!! It was so easy and the people couldn't have been nicer.

Our first meal was at Bodie Mike's BBQ and I pigged out. They had a great veggie mexi burger (salsa in the veggie patty with guac on top!!) as well as a delicious soup and salad bar. I also saw that they had teriyaki veggie kabobs!They are at Hwy 395, Lee Vining, CA 93541, (760) 647-6432.

After a good night's rest, I popped into the Latte Da cafe (a few doors down from Bodie Mike's) where they served up organic soy lattes ; ) I broke fast with my travel buddies at Nicely's, directly next door to Bodie Mike's, where I got a big bowl of yummy oatmeal and fresh oj.

If you happen to pop into Lee Vining for some lake activities or before you head over the Tioga Pass into Yosemite, you can stock up at their local market with fresh produce and a ton of vegan, veggie and other healthy products like Amy's frozen goodies, tofurky and Odwalla juices. The selection was incredible and I highly recommend you poke in if you are thinking of heading into Bodie or Yosemite. Or if you miss the turn for Mammoth!!

Passin' Time in Pasadena

Home of the Rose Bowl and some beautiful architecture, Pasadena is one of the prettiest areas in Los Angeles. It is swarming with people every day as their Old Town section is perfect for a nice walk, shopping and unique restaurants.

One of the first places I ate at as a vegan 8 years ago was Orean. It is like a vegan dairy queen with ice cream, shakes and wicked vegan junk food. I love their tacos and burgers!! They are at 817 N Lake Ave,(626) 794-0861.

Among the many chain restaurants in old town like Cheesecake Factory, Louise's Trattoria and so on, there is one that I adore and that is Le Pain Quotidien. In the recent years they have sprung up across LA but it's so damn good ; ) Their soups are almost always vegan, their salads fresh and their tartines delectable. My choice is always the black bean hummus tartine. Look them up at Le Pain Quotidien.

Despite the commercial, mainstream shops and restaurants, there are still many unique places such as this terrific Brazillian spot, Chiara, 43 E Colorado Blvd,(626) 564-8696. I was able to munch on some plantains and rice and share some of their hummus that was actually very good. I had a little to much of their caipirinas as they went down super smooth!

Just outside of Pasadena, you can find one of the best veggie places around, Fatty's. Fatty's, despite the name, is veggie fine dining in the heart of Eagle Rock. It really is amazing and I urge you to try their ravioli, moussaca or strudel. You must stay for dessert and have their Fudgey!! All info for them is online at Fatty's Cafe & wine bar.

So whether you live across town or across the country, if you find yourself in Pasadena, there is no shortage of yumminess ; )

S-deux-dio City ; )

So I couldn't leave out the rest of my top places to chow in my old neighborhood. And might I add that it just keeps getting better and better. The nightlife, shopping and dining is becoming more and more hip and bringing the valley some good street cred ; )

All around town, I've been seeing these vegan thai places pop up. 2 of my faves are in Studio City. Vegan plate, 11943 Ventura Blvd(818) 506-9015 and Vegan Express, 3217 Cahuenga Blvd W,(323) 851-8837, have similar menus but are equally good. Plate has lots of combo dinners and sandwiches as does Express but they have breakfast all day ; ) The cowgirl breakfast with tofu scramble, faux chicken and pancakes will fill you up all day. And at Vegan Plate, I love their chicken wrap and chicken satay.

Tapas are super cool and trendy and Ole hits that spot. They have flamenco dancers a good music most nights as well as some tasty sangria. They have veganizable dish that will fill you up as will their yummy wine! 13251 Ventura Blvd,(818) 986-3190.

I know this is a chain but it's oh so good to us greenies! Panera has the bomb vegetarian soups like black bean, garden vegetable and southwest stew. Their salads and sandwiches can be veganized and their iced green tea is extra zingy!! Look for their Studio City location online at Panera.

Lastly, for nightlife, definitely Firefly. This bar and restaurant has a neat atmosphere that is library meets Moroccan patio chic.If you need to munch they have wonderful salads and the occasional garlic fry won't kill you. But the drinks are reasonable and the vibe is rockin' Firefly is at 11720 Ventura Blvd,(818) 762-1833.


Luckily, I'm only a 15 minute drive away from all my old faves ; )

Ode to Studio City

Ahh, the view from my daily hike at Wilacre Park that overlooked my old hood ; ) Studio City is a great little area in Los Angeles and jam packed with healthy and yummy places. This valley town is right at the base of the hill and offers shi-shi shopping and dining but with the feel of a small community. Some of my most favorite eateries are in Studio City so if you live in town or are visiting, it's just a stone's throw away from Hollywood, Universal Studios and just off the 101 freeway.

My first fave is Kung Pao Bistro. When I'd have a hankerin' for Chinese take out, this was the only way to go as they have a a fully vegan menu in addition to their traditional fare. Their veggie chicken drumsticks would make a carnivore salivate as do their veggie beef and broccoli and veggie orange chicken. They have all kinds of veggie stuff like shrimp, skewers, dumplings and more as well as plenty of real meat for your non veggie pals. They have 3 locations however, the one is Studio City is at 11838 Ventura Blvd, (818) 766-8686 .

My next addiction is Leonor's vegetarian Mexican. Yumm-alicious! They make the bomb vegan pizzas, enchiladas, empanadas and so on. Their guac could use a little salt but other then that it's really cheap and they give you a boat load. They have great sandwiches as well as again, non-veggies will enjoy this place as well. They have 2 locations, in Studio city you can find them at 12445 Moorpark St Ste C, (818) 762-0660.

Mexicali & Casa Vega are valley staples for killer mexican food and nightlife. Both places are always busy and full of hotties for those of you singles trollin' for love ; ) Mexicali has fantastic salads as well as awesome veggie burritos, enchiladas and more. If you are in town to star gaze, this is a prime place for it too. Be sure to come by on Monday's for their all night happy hour where the whole menu is 30% off - 12161 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 985-1744. Vega has my favorite spinach enchiladas (I order with no cheese) and the most ridiculous vegetarian mexican pizza!! And of course, huge Margs ; ) Casa Vega is at 13301 Ventura Blvd, (818) 788-4868.

For brunch, lunch and dinner, Hugo's is the place. It's quite busy so expect a wait but it's totally worth it. Vegans and non-vegans can enjoy great meals from pancakes to pizzas to yummy entrees. They also specialize in great teas and juices and opened a taco stand across the road that is so good you'll want to run around the block screaming ; ) Hugo's valley location is at 12851 Riverside Dr, (818) 761-8985 and the Hugo's Taco Stand is at 4749 Coldwater Canyon Ave, (818) 762-7771.

And for those every now and again treats, Studio Yogurt and Humphrey Yogart are an absolute must. Trying to satisfy your sweet tooth and stay healthy is very difficult but either of these places can hook you up. Studio Yogurt always has a dairy free yogurt selection and each day is a new and unique flavor. You can choose any toppings you want from fresh fruit to sprinkles and carob chips. Humphrey's is just as delish with soy yogurt options that you can mix in any toppings and they also have wicked vegan milk shakes!! The mystic union is to die for - chocolate and peanut butter!!! Studio Yogurt is at 12050 Ventura Blvd Ste 105, (818) 508-7811 while Humphrey's is just up the road in Sherman Oaks at 4574 Van Nuys Blvd, (818) 906-2490.

There are still some of my Studio City haunts left to mention so check them out next week!!

Glorious Glendale ; )

So, this is no travel for me but it may be for non LA folk ; ) We just moved from "The Valley" to Glendale so exploring our new place of residence has been somewhat of a trip ; ) It's still LA but a cute city in itself. It's got a great downtown area with a grip of high rises that give some small towns across the U.S. a run for their money. There is some awesome shopping, theatre, galleries, the historical Brand park and library as well as http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gifsome good eats!!

Driving through our picturesque little neighborhood, I found this quaint commercial area right in the middle of the residential hood. It looks like a gingerbread village with cute shops and a small market. This small market happened to be a gem! The Village Market is a natural grocery store and cafe. They have a deli that makes RIDICULOUSLY good vegan sandwiches!! It is a must if you are popping into LA or live here and want to jump on over to Glen-dizzle for some yumminess on bread! Their info can be found at The Village Market Place .

Another gem that I found is right on the border of Glendale and Burbank and it brings me back to my hometown of Miami. Mambos is the closest thing to real Cuban food you can find in LA which means it kicks some serious butt!! Not only is the Cuban food super authentic, they have a vegetarian section on the menu to boot!! They have the staples: black beans, rice, plantains, yuca and awesome bread; but they also have veggie tamales and a veggie version of the Cuban favorite, picadillo. It really is the bomb!! Mambos is at 1701 Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201, (818) 545-8613.

Keeping in the vein of delish Cuban food, there is Porto's Bakery. They have 2 locations, 1 in Glendale and 1 in Burbank. When I saw there was one in biking distance from my "casa" I almost lost it! They have the bomb mariquitas which are thinly sliced plantain chips with garlic, lemon and olive oil dressing. They are finger licking good! As are their veggie sandwiches and variety of fresh made juices. Check out Porto's and go to their about us page for address and info.

I'm off to unpack some more stuff but keep an eye out for the next installment of The Healthy Voyager!!

SoCal Wine Country

"I'm not drinking any Merlot!!" - Paul Giamatti, Sideways

Contrary to the ravings of Mr. Giamatti, I dig Merlot and tasted lots of it in Solvang and Los Olivos!!

If you happen to pop into Santa Barbara Wine Country, you must follow up your day of wine tasting at Los Olivos Cafe. It is most famous for it's appearance in the movie Sideways, but it is also well known for it's delicious California/Mediterranean cuisine. They offer up some wonderful dishes that feature flavors from the surrounding farms and vineyards. I was blown away at the variety of choices I had from delicious salads, appetizers, sandwiches and entrees for greenies like me! Their hummus and olive tapenade was to die for and my primavera gnocchi was beyond delicious. And of course, you MUST have wine with dinner!!

We popped into Solvang, the neighboring Danish replica village and had some good eats as well! For the meaties, they will love any of the Danish spots as they serve up some of Denmarks most popluar dishes like Frikadeller and it's popular spirit, Aquavit. My friend's had a great time chowing on the Danish goods and I didn't miss out on the fun as I was able to get salads and veggie sandwiches at all of the places we stopped into. You musn't miss the Danish bakeries either!!

Solvang, Los Olivos and Buellton are the 3 vineyard towns in Santa Barbara wine country and each has their own special charms. Some of the vineyards offer horseback tours of the wineries and others have bed & breakfasts on the grounds. It's a great little weekend getaway for delicious food, wine and fun!!