Somethin's Cookin' in St. Augustine

There is something about being in the oldest city in the United States that evokes a feeling of pride, patriotism and hunger! Walking through the fort, going to the oldest school house and visiting the fountain of youth can whip up a mean appetite. So where can a health nut chow in an old timey town? I'll tell ya!

Rolling into town, I needed sustenance. I had read up on The Manatee Cafe and had to hunt it down. And was I glad I did! I had a killer breakfast burrito with hummus, beans, avocado and all kinds of other healthy fillings. I wanted to eat everything on the menu but I knew there was more to try throughout the day so I behaved. For any meal of the day, definitly make one of them at The Manatee Cafe!
Stepping out for the day in downtown, I needed a pick me up. I strolled over to Crucial Coffee Shop because the sweet smell yanked me over! Crucial is in the thick of the historic district, in a cute old wooden cottage, plopped on the corner of an old brick road. Sounds magical, eh? Well so was their soy chocolate madness latte! It hit the spot for my holiday time sweet tooth as well as gave me the jolt I needed to walk the oldest streets in the nation ; ) Crucial is way cute and way yum, walk on up and have a cup o' joe at 26 Charlotte St, St Augustine, FL 32084,(904) 810-2080.

Since we were with the familia, we decided to have lunch on the water where the nieces could feed the birds and the fish. Santa Maria is not positioned on a sea wall, it really is on the water, on stilts, and quite the place for hungry seagulls, and human families, to dine. It's seafoody, rustic ambiance scared me into thinking I'd be consuming nothing but bread and tea but I was wrong! They had a yummalicious black bean burger and a big old salad for me and I ate every last crumb ; ) The kids, the birds, the fish and the vegan had a fine lunch at Santa Maria!

On our way out of town, we rested our weary feet at Pizzalley's. A cute Italian joint in downtown, it was all hustle and bustle. And for good reason! The food was very good and the prices were just right. I ordered up the "create your own pasta" dish, sans pasta (might have had egg in it). They sauteed up a slew of yummy veggies in a super delish marinara and I was in a food coma all the ride back. It's a cute place with a fun vibe and great food right in downtown St. Augustine at 117 St. George St, (904) 347-2479.

I hadn't been to St. Augustine in many, many years. I was glad to see that it was still as quaint and pretty as I had remembered and I was even happier at the fun places that have sprouted up for nutty people like me to fill their hungry bellies ; ) I'm excited to pop back in very soon!

Jumpin' for Jacksonville

Back from a very long holiday trip to see family, plan our wedding and have some of our own, non-holiday, vacation time, it's nice to be back at the keyboard ; ) One of the many cities on our 3 week winter jaunt was Jacksonville. I hadn't been there since I was a kid so it was really nice to spend some quality time there. It's the south for sure, with a hint of Florida. Palm trees, sun, beaches and good southern hospitality are a great mix!

During the holidays, it's a given that most of us spend time with family. That being said, if there are a lot of you, it's tough to find places where everyone can eat something that suits them. We took a ride downtown to have a meal by the water. There were a few choices at Jacksonville Landing and we all decided on The American Cafe. It is a chain however, I'd never been to one, and it wasn't shabby. They were great about making my dish the way I needed as well as other picky diners who joined us. I got a yummy Portobello sandwich with no cheese and a side of sweet potatoes. It definitely filled me up for the rest of the day. To find a location near you, check the American Cafe out online.

One evening, we all popped into a strip mall so that each of us could grab what we needed from lattes to liquor (afterall, it was the holidays!) ; ) I smelled this wonderful aroma wafting from the Heirlooms Bistro so I swooped in. I ordered a delicious salad that was filled with fresh veggies and a super tasty vinaigrette. They had all kinds of gourmet foods, all fresh, and were very helpful to little miss vegan.

Finally, on our last evening in town, we wanted one more waterfront meal so we chose the River City Brewing Company. It's a great place with a beautiful view of the skyline as well as some pretty damn good grub. It's a bit fancy shmancy but the leaf eater was way satisfied. I split some killer bruschetta with my beau (split means I ate 75%!) and I had a super duper house salad. They had a serious veggie plate but after the 3/4 bruschetta, I had to keep it light ; ) If you are ever in J-ville, make sure you have a romantic meal at the River City Brewing Company.

Jacksonville is the pit stop before Florida turns into Georgia and a great one to pick up some savory meals on your way in or out!

Noshing in Naples

Down in South Florida for the holidays, we drove across the state to the west side to see some friends and do some airboating. There for just a short time, I was still able to scope things out and find some good grub ; )

Rolling into town I needed a snack after the drive. I found the Organic NRG Market where their deli case was chock full o' yumminess. They had a nice variety of veggie and vegan items available as well as a healthfully stocked store. I grabbed a container of tempeh salad and a greek dolma. They have a few locations in Florida, find out more info at the NRG Site.

Just before our airboat ride, we needed to grab a quick picnic lunch. Jason's Deli was a big cafeteria style deli with a huge menu. Big sandwiches, salads, soups and the usual New York deli fare, Jason's also had a nice sized veggie menu. I had a grilled veggie wrap on spinach tortilla. It was quite good and got me pumped to see some gators! All their info can be found online at Jason's Deli . There may be one near you!

After our afternoon thrill ride, it was time for dinner. Our friends suggested we have a nice meal at the Bellasera Hotel restaurant, Zizi. It was quite nice and I was able to enjoy a delicious meal. I ordered the Raspbery chicken salad with no chicken and asked to have a veggie risotto made. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and is just as pretty as the rest of the resort. Check them out at Bellasera.

After we played and stuffed our bellies we headed back to Ft. Lauderdale to stay through Christmas day. Join me next week when the healthy voyager dines in Maryland!

Don't Forget Ft. Lauderdale!!

I love Miami but I think I might love Ft. Lauderdale just a little more. The vibe is slow paced and the lifestyle is cool and relaxing. Very Florida, very beachy!! And not mention it is home to one of my most favorite places to dine!!

So I will start with that one! Sublime really is Sublime!! It is one of the best vegetarian restaurants around and will not scare meat eaters. They have an imaginative menu that includes sushi, Italian, and american/asian fusion comfort foods as well as some of the best desserts I've ever had. If they have it, you must try their Tiramisu - it's out of this world! I can't recommend this place enough!!

Now another one of my South Florida addictions is Sara's (3944 N 46th Ave, Hollywood, 33021 - at Stirling Rd between 441 and 95). Technically it's in Hollywood but that's about a 5 minute drive from the heart of Ft. Lauderdale. Since becoming vegan 8 years ago, I never missed meat or cheese but I do miss Cuban sandwiches ; ( But that all changed the first time I went to Sara's. They make the sickest, vegan version of a cuban sandwich!! So much so I make my mother smuggle them to me by the dozen when she comes to visit me out west!! Besides that, they have delicious salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. They are 100% Kosher so veggies have a great time here. In fact, I've gotten a bunch of my non veggie friends and family hooked on this place. You shouldn't miss it!!

Las Olas is a beautiful area near downtown Ft. Lauderdale and one of the most hoppin' places on the strip is Cafe Europa (726 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, 33301) (954) 763-6600. They've got great pastries and coffees but you shouldn't miss a meal there. They have a heavy European menu (go figure) and I lean towards their Italian goods. I get a cheeseless veggie pizza every time I go and it is 100% tastiness!!

Ft. Lauderdale is packed with waterfront bars, grills and restaurants and it's not hard to find a healthy yet delicious meal. Some of the best seafood around is found here as well as amazing juice bars and spots to get ginormous salads. Healthy goes hand in hand with this beach city so no worries in Ft. Lauderdale!!!

Miami Twice

Yep, Miami has to much going on to leave for 1 posting!! In this follow up post, I will cover some more veggie-ish places all over Miami as well as a few more on our beloved beach ; )

Near my old alma mater, U of Miami, you will find Beehive (5750 Bird Rd, Miami 33146 - at SW 40 St and Red Rd/SW 57 Ave)305-663-1300. Here you can munch on veggie empanadas, Jamaican patties as well as homemade soups and sandwiches. It's a great little juice bar that packs a king size punch!

Off the beaten path, you can convene at the tasty Garden of Eating (136 NW 62nd St, Miami 33150 - at Martin Luther King Blvd) 305-754-8050. Their island influenced juice bar and buffet are pretty good but you can't leave without a taste of their cakes and pies!!

On the beach, try The Cafe at Books & Books (933 Lincoln Road; 305-695-8898) for yucca and leek hash browns and tomato-cucumber gazpacho. The nearby Bayside Grill at The Standard (40 Island Avenue; 305-673-1717) is another great choice. Dine waterfront on the fritto misto — chickpea fries and crispy baby artichokes — or a selection from the greens and grains section (quinoa and dried fruit, yum).

Just over the bridge, The Lost and Found Saloon (185 Northwest 36th Street; 305-576-1008) offers meatless dishes like the posse club burrito with tofu and spinach and the pinon-and-pepita-crusted tofu. Or, grab some latin soul food at Canela Cafe (5132 Biscayne Boulevard; 305-756-3930), where you can nibble on tapas like the tostones rellenos (crispy plantain cups filled with asparagus, sofrito, and goat cheese) as well as their awesome veggie paella.

You'll be sure to enjoy these south florida pit stops as much as your carnivorous cohorts will!! Isn’t the wheatgrass always greener?

Bienvenidos a Miami!!

Being a Miami native, I can absolutely agree with why people from all walks of life are so enamored with this tropical paradise. The weather is hot and so are the people, the scenery is beautiful and the food is delicious. The taste of all of the Caribbean cultures that come together in Miami make for a delectable town to chow in!

I could spend days writing about the killer places to eat well in Miami but I will keep it short so that it's easily digestible, haha!! (I kill me!) I will have to do a few Miami blogs to cover it!

There is no denying that if you are visiting Miami, you have to stop by Coconut Grove and South Beach's Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive. Both parts of town are chock full of incredible restaurants and al fresco eateries that cover every style of cooking there is. From ridiculously good Italian to the "you can only get it in Miami" Latin fare, your taste buds are in for a gastronomical climax! There are plenty of places to get amazing salads, fresh seafood and vegan/vege or just figure friendly cuisine. In fact, you have no choice if you want to prance around the beaches amongst all the bathing beauties!!

One great place that is good for veggies as well as non-veggies is on Lincoln Road called Sushi Samba. This super modern cafe offers a delicious menu that fuses Japanese, Peruvian and Brazilian flavors so there isn't a soul who won't leave happy. I had their yummy miso soup and one of the best and most imaginative vegetarian sushi rolls I've ever had. You can find them at 600 Lincoln Road - (305) 673-5337.

Another perfect spot for the healthy and non-healthy travelers on Lincoln Road is Nexxt Cafe. This place has perfected and gourmet-ized comfort foods. No one would be disappointed with their menu as it is enormous. If you're looking for a light lunch or a hearty dinner, Nexxt is sure to please! They are right up the block from Samba at 700 Lincoln Road - 305.532.6643.

Another one of my favorite areas in Miami is Coconut Grove. And eating on the water is one of the best things South Florida has to offer. Monty's in Coconut Grove is the quintessential Miami bar grill. Everything is always fresh and the bamboo hut atmosphere is very relaxing and island like. They are famous for their weekday happy hour where you can get seafood and drinks half off. Seafood lovers will go buck wild and veggies like me will adore their salad bar and yummy pina coladas!! Monty's is a must and you can find them at 2550 South Bayshore Drive, Miami Florida 33133 - (305)672-1148.

More to come next week!!!

Pleasant Pensacola

If you ever find yourself in Pensacola, Florida, you will be pleasantly surprised. Not only by their white sandy beaches and their southern hospitality, but also by the variety for us green eaters ; )

For a light meal, I stopped at the End of the Line Cafe. It was a vegan coffee house and eatery that absolutely delighted me. They had some delicious sandwiches, salads and deserts. I had a phenomenal tomato and vegan mozzarella panini as well as a great chocolate mousse pie. It was very indie, arty coffee house and you will love all of the local artists contributions to the look of the place. It's a non profit co-op so you're eating smart and spending smart! Don't forget to pop in to one of their Monday movie nights!! You can check them out at The End of the Line Cafe .

For a special occasion, we visited Jackson's in downtown. Right in the historic Jackson Square and very near the hip Seville Quarter (Pensacola's mini version of the French Quarter just a few hours west), Jackson's is a beautiful fine dining establishment that went way out of their way to create an immaculate, vegan gourmet meal for me. I was blown away by the 5 course meal that just got better and better with every dish. And might I mention the exceptional wine pairing with every course!! With advance notice, Jackson's will accommodate any diet and they will hit it out of the park! Their information can be found at Jackson's Restaurant.

Lastly, but definitely not leastly, catch a cool local band, a bottle of beer and a vegan snack at Sluggo's. In more of a residential part of town, Sluggo's is a watering hole of choice for veggie conscious artists and musicians. Definitely worth checking out! Try the nachos or one if their killer sandwiches! Sluggos on Myspace

Take a nice Northwestern Florida vacation this summer and leave your worries about your taste buds and your tummy at home!!