You need to dine in Eugene!

Not far from Portland is another healthy town, one that Jack Kerouac once hailed from (his statue is reading me a story in that photo). And that town is called Eugene! On our Pacific North West road trip, we were told to stop in Eugene on our way back home.  Good thing we listened as there was much to grub on and I'm going to share all the info with you now!

The main reason we stopped was to be sure we visited the Pizza Research Institute. It was more then well worth it, I wish we had one in LA!  A converted mechanic shop, the PRI has an ever changing menu but always scrumptious regardless of what's on it. It is completely vegetarian and veganizing items is not hard at all. They really do have some wonderfully experimental dishes but each is a hit.  The day we popped in I had a killer spinach soup with their ridiculous spiral garlic rolls and a slice a spicy tofu vegan pizza. I was in heaven!  Check them out and even if it's your only stop in Eugene, you must dine at the Pizza Research Institute!

I'm sure I've said this a thousand times and I'm glad to say it again, you can always find a healthy dish with Asian cuisine. Sweet Basil Thai is just that kind of place.  All kinds of authentic Thai dishes, it wasn't difficult to fin something that suited any special diet. I went straight for the I Love Veggies Stir Fry and requested the vegan sauce that went with it. They offer tofu, tempeh or veggies with any dish and are very helpful with all sorts of food allergies. If it's Thai you're craving, let Sweet Basil scratch the itch ; )

Just because I'm The "Healthy" Voyager, doesn't mean that I don't let myself indulge in a sweet or 2 every now and again.  And I chose to indulge at Sweet Life!  Organic and many vegan desserts, you can anything here from a pie to a custom wedding cake - yummmmm! I went for their Vegan Chocolate Silk Torte and savored it for most of my trip home.

An awesome lunch spot I stumbled into was the Laughing Planet Cafe. I went to town with all the healthy, low fat, veggie options that I had to take some on the road with me in our cooler to enjoy later ; )  I started with their plantain chips & spicy bbq dip and moved on to their Soylent Green Bowl wchich was full of healthy grains & greens topped with tempeh & delicious mushroom sauce. Mmmm! Then i took a vegan deluxe burrito for the road ; )

Finally, I will confess that I stopped into yet another bakery ; ( But I had no choice!! It was 100% Vegan!! Woot woot!  Gotta support veggie businesses even if it means I must eat cupcakes ; ) And eat cupcakes I did at Divine Cupcakes. They've not only got vegan cupcakes but they have gluten, sugar & wheat free options so no one is left out of the sweet mix. You can pop in for freshly baked cupcakes (might I recommend the Red Velvet or the Lavender?) or take & bake options. And if you are so inclined, they ship!  No more excuses, get yourself a cupcake ; )

I'm more then excited to get back to Oregon and Eugene is definitely on my return list ; )

Ahh, Ashland ; )

As we crossed over the Oregon/California state line, we hoped to find a place to grab some grub. We lucked out and drove through the cutest town nestled in the mountains, a town called Ashland. Well known for it's renowned Shakespeare Festival, this once mining village is now an adorable artist community and college town. I was so excited to explore the downtown area so we stayed a bit and discovered some yummalicious locales!

If you're looking for a quick and healthy bite, Pangea is your spot.  I could tell by the name that they were veg & health friendly so I popped in just to be sure. And I was right ; ) They offer all kinds of veggie salads and sandwiches as well as tofu & tempeh options.  IN addition they've got gluten free options as well as some really nice low fat goodies ; ) Yummy, quick and affordable so if you are in town, give Pangea a whirl!

In the mood for something warm, spicy and/or delicious? Then Sesame Asian Kitchen is a must visit. With a menu that suits everyone at your table, Sesame had some of my fave dishes like tofu lettuce wraps and pumpkin curry.  With a chic vibe and creative menu,  I recommend this place for a fun night out with friends or even a romantic meal. A meal at Sesame is like dying and going to the veg-friendly orient heaven ; )

For a family fun, great for all "omnis" & "herbis" alike, Grilla Bites is your place. This natural and organic sandwich-soup-salad-ery has something for everyone. For sit down or take out, Grilla Bites is super accommodating as the menu is clearly marked with what is veg, vegan and even heart healthy! Their tempeh burger rules and so does their bbq tofu ; ) With locations in Oregon, California and Utah, you gotta try them out next time your in the Pacific Northwest.

I LOVE Italian food, especially when it's chilly out. Very comforting and warm ; )  Pasta Piatti mixes casual with traditional and was totally a hit with this veg-maniac. I devoured my huge bowl of veggie minestrone along with a scrumptious organic mista salad.  Warm bread and Italian comfort food, how can you go wrong. Check out what you'll order at Pasta Piatti online!

I wish we had more time in Ashland as it was just charming. perhaps I'll come back to catch some Shakespeare festival action soon!

Before Departing Portland

Woe is me, if I could only stay a little bit longer or visit a little more frequently, I would be a happy girl. Portland charmed the pants off of me with it's fun folks, eco-friendliness and health, vegan goodness. I could go on for ages but I'll save some for my next visit.  In the mean time, here are a few more "musts" to check out in good ol' Portland!:

There are no words to describe how phenomenally awesome Portobello Vegan Trattoria, it is that indescribably good. With a seasonal, vegan menu, this coffee shop by day, fine dining by night phenom blew me out of the water.  Each course was even tastire then the next and I knew that every dish on it's ever changing menu was not only well thought out but prepared with meticulous love.  Since I was there in the fall, I indulged in all things autumn starting with their hearty Fall minestrone and moving on to their pumpkin crepe topped with cashew cream & basil. An I didn't stop there because I was torn between 2 desserts so I got them both (which was totally cool as I had Dan to share them with).  Uh, uh, uh, what????  The best tiramisu on the planet & the bomb diggitiest chocolate cream filled cannolis! Yes, I know, I stuffed myself which is not of the Healthy Voyager code but man, ohhhh man, sometimes you just have to live a little and Portobello is where its at!

One of the newer kids on the Portland scene is the appropriately named, Back to Eden Bakery. A veritable wonderland for shutting up your sweet tooth, Back to Eden dishes up freshly baked vegan delights along with soft serve soy & scoopable coconut  ice cream. In addition, they have a boutique that stocks all sorts of vegan goodies, candies & even local crafts from other artsy vegans.  Back to Eden is a super sweet spot so add it to your dining card!

One thing I absolutely love but don't get to much of, is fabulous breakfast or brunches.  There are some terrific places in LA but their all spread out all over town so I rarely get my butt out of the house in time to go get some on any given weekend. But on my trips, I am always in search of that elusive, perfect breakfast and I found it at Paradox. Serving food all day, this menu is just heaven. They've got everything from comfort food, fun food and healthy dishes so no matter your mood, Paradox has it.  But brunch was my meal of choice and Paradox delivered. It's been well over a decade since I've been able to order my breakfast by number so I was stoked when my number 1 made it to the table, tofu with home style potatoes along with a hunk of corn bread. I had to try their pancakes so I split a baby stack of the Solstice Corn Cakes with my guy.  Talk about a breakfast of champions!

I love places that has something for everyone and Old Wive's Tale is just that kind of place.  From omnivores to vegans, gluten free folks to low fat diners, this menu is drool inducing and wonderfully accommodating. Serving up yumminess all day as well as their famous Sunday brunches, this is the spot to bring everyone in your crew and no one leaves hungry. On top of the eclectic menu, OWT gives you a choice of fun dining areas: the main dining area, the children's playroom & the classical music dining room. It is hard to dine at the Old Wive's Tale and not want to try everything once and if you did try that, you wouldn't run out of options for an awfully long time! I made the healthy choice of visiting their soup & salad bar and just loved all of the great selections. Fresh & friendly isn't just an old wive's tale in Portland ; )

The last but certainly not least on the list is Vita Cafe. The epitome of Portland culture with its sustainable philosophy, veg-tastic food & fun for everyone vibe at and affordable price, Vita Cafe rocks! Specials for healthy kids meals are a great draw but the food itself is draw enough. Another all day eatery, you can eat your 3 square meals here and be surprised by each and every one. I went both naughty & nice with an order of shareable mac & cheese along with a super stuffed cold veggie wrap that was chock full of crunchy and good-for-me goodness.  Another hot spot in the Alberta Art District Vita Cafe is yet another home run ; )

So it's ta-ta for now to Portland but so much more ahead. See you next week for some more healthy eats in a new city!

PDX-ellent!

I just couldn't get enough of Portland and neither will you!  If you're a foodie, this town is the gem of the northwest. Sure San Fran, LA and even Seattle have their famous eateries on this vast west coast, but Portland rivals the best of the best  with some surprisingly delicious dishes!

You cannot, I repeat, cannot, visit PDX without hitting up Voodoo Doughnuts. With locations in downtown as well as South East Portland, these all night doughnut shops are more then the usual joint. I've never seen a more creative, funny & outstandingly tasty menu of doughnuts, not to mention, a HUGE selection of vegan choices. I haven't had an iced & topped doughnut in ages so I splurged and ordered a few.  On top of the ginormus variety of sugary sweets is their killer collection of artwork, knick knacks & overall enjoyable eye candy. And if awesome doughnuts for all kinds of eaters along with a fun environment & staff wasn't enough, the cool cats at VooDoo also perform weddings! Yep, that's right, from super simple to the big shebang, owners Cat Daddy & Tres are the kings of bliss both in dessert & of the wedded variety.  Check them out as soon as you roll into town and go every day until you leave because you can't have just 1 when the VooDoo casts its spell on you!

The best thing to do after mountains of sugary dough is to work it off.  Seeing as how Portland is one of the most bike friendly cities in the U.S., it is a great idea to set up a ride with Pedal Bike Tours. See the great metropolitan areas of the city on the most eco-friendly of vehicles while hearing city secrets & stopping for local treats with your savvy tour guide on 2 wheels.  I was lucky enough to have Todd, PBT's owner himself, to give me the grand tour of the cit he calls home and it was fantastic.  Through downtown, a few of the bridges that link the city with the burbs, checking out some history and more was a fine way to spend a Fall afternoon in Portland.  The tour comes with a bike, your helmet and a whole lotta fun, visit Pedal Bike Tours online for more information.

Most of the cheap eats & meal deals aren't consumed by us veggie folk as they rarely exist. But again, Stumptown hits it outta the park at the Hungry Tiger Too.  Every day of the week, this bar & grill boasts a "regular" as well as a vegan menu so everyone can enjoy a brew with some good grub and not feel left out.  Their mac & cheese is to die for, their butternut squash filled wontons with coconut cream are just insane but the big draw... $1 vegan corn dogs every Wednesday. Oh yeah, they are always on the menu but hump day is the day to hit them up for cheap eats, laughs and even cheap beer.  Make sure you head over to the Hungry Tiger Too and if you happen to be around on a Wednesday, live it up for a few bucks ; ) Visit them at 207 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, (503) 238-4321.

With 2 locations, one in the Pearl District and one in SE Portland, the Blossoming Lotus is the talk of the town. Everywhere I went, all I heard was "Have you been to the Blossoming Lotus yet?" so I finally made it in.  The cafe in downtown is located in a beautiful yoga studio and offers some gorgeous, healthy fare as well as a nice variety of raw food.  Their newest location serves all day and has a larger menu for a more sit downy, romantic feel. Either way, Blossoming Lotus has a fresh and pure menu that doesn't leave out taste.  Their signature cashew hummus, raw cacao truffles & lavender lemonade are just a smattering of how innovative the food is here at this healthy sanctuary.  So after a great yoga session or for a romantic dinner, Blossoming Lotus is the perfect choice!

I am a sucker for all kinds of ethnic cuisine and Arabian Breeze hit the nail on the head.  With a mix of Syrian, Lebanese & Middle Eastern flavors, their authentic menu sends your right out of the states and into a new and exotic world.  They offer everything for all sorts of patrons so I had no problems finding a hearty array of things to try.  I went for the vegan Arabian Breeze Mezza which was a delicious sampler plate of middle eastern goodies then followed that up with their vegan Arabian Breeze pizza, whoa! What a neat combination of flavors and I'm so glad I had some to take back to the room with me to enjoy later. 

If only all of these placed could same day fed-ex me, I would order up dishes & treats from them every day! Stay tuned because there is still more Portland next week - hungry yet?

Portland Ohhh-regon!!

Well, Portland is pretty much like visiting vegan & eco-friendly heaven.  It is so easy to find something healthy, gluten free, vegan or whatever in this town along with super convenient bike paths & parking.  The city is very busy downtown and connected to the "burbs" by 10 very different bridges.  It is bustling with out feeling hurried or stressed, manageable without feeling trapped.  I really enjoyed my time here, made a bunch of new friends and know that if there is just 1 thing I need to come back for, it's the food!!!!

For first rate accommodations, the Hotel Monaco in downtown is a must.  Not only is it mega pet friendly and green seal certified, this place is luxurious and fun with zero pomp.  Beautiful rooms and killer decor throughout the hotel, the Monaco is a fabulous place to rest your head in the heart of the city.  With fun music and complimentary wine & food tastings at happy hour along with extraordinarily friendly and helpful staff, Hotel Monaco is a healthy, eco & adventurous traveler's dream.  Find out more about the hotel, reservations, their fantastic car-less vacation package, bike rentals and other reasons why they are not only green certified but also awesome, online at the Hotel Monaco website.

During my stay in Portland, I was able to visit the Bob's Red Mill facility as well as the restaurant & market. Not to mention, I got to hang out with Bob himself! Visiting the healthy & gluten free flour king at his plant was like seeing Wonka in action.  His product line is impressive and his factory, jaw dropping.  After a tour of the building, I got to ride over the nearby Bob's Red Mill market & deli with Bob in his '31 Model A Ford.  I totally dug the big red barn filled with all things Bob & his Mill produce while enjoying a fabulous brunch with him and his staff.  The deli offers food for all kinds of folks and is very accommodating to vegans & gluten free diners.  If you do ever find yourself in the Portland area, make a date to visit Bob's Red Mill. Stock up on all their wonderful products and have a fresh, healthy & scrumptious breakfast or lunch too! Who knows, Bob himself might have a seat at your table!

Sweet Pea Baking Company, Herbivore Clothing, Food Fight Grocery & Scapegoat Tattoo are all a part of what has been coined as the world's first all vegan mini-mall (it's just like, it's just like - a mini - mall!).  And I spent hours there!  I started out with a tasty brunch at Sweet Pea Baking Company.  Offering home made and ridiculously delectable sweets, treats, sandwiches, soups & healthy rice bowls, Sweet Pea rocks!  I couldn't decide on just one thing so I ordered a bunch to be sure I didn't miss out on any of the goodness. I helped myself to a hug pumpkin cinnamon roll, a bbq sandwich, a happy rice bowl of veggies, brown rice & beans topped with garlic aioli & a latte.  No I did not eat it all in one sitting but I did devour it shortly after ; )

After my brunch I popped into Herbivore clothing.  Also an online retail store, their brick & mortar location boasts some pretty nifty goods. From clothing, bags, jewelery & books, Herbivore Clothing is 100% vegan & cruelty free.  A great place to shop for hip, guilt free gifts!

Next door was the famed Food Fight Grocery. Also with an online component, their physical shop is not only full of great, hard to find products but it's also a crack up.  Every corner has something that is chuckle worthy and their veggies fighting the McDonald's cast of characters is priceless. In town or not, make it a point to shop at the Food Fight Grocery.

While I'm not a tattoo clad gal myself, I was intrigued by Scapegoat Tattoo.  Another 100% vegan establishment, Scapegoat's tattoo artistry is eco and animal friendly. From soy based inks to healthier ways to clean their instruments, Scapegoat, mainly staffed by vegans, is a neat departure from the run of the mill ink shop.

Since I had walked off my brunch, we decided to grab a slice o' pizza so we headed over to Bella Facia Pizzeria. Pizza pie for everybody, I was stoked to be able to order a fully vegan, fully delicious, piece of pizza. It's not every day that I can walk into a pizza joint and get 1 slice. Usually I have to special order it and get the whole darn pie but at Bella Faccia, they know to have it ready and waiting.  The vegan is rad with its roasted pepper, tomato & cashew base, topped with marinated tempeh & loaded with veggies. And the crust is boss! Nothing rocks harder then killer crust, ok and vegan cheese, but crust is king. Bella Faccia also offers great salads and a variety of baked goods from Piece of Cake Bakery (lots of goodies for gluten free peeps & vegans).

For an elegant yet affordable and sustainable dinner, Aquariva on the river is just the spot.  A really chic locale with a nice bar and event space on the second floor, Aquariva isn't what you'd expect.  The menu is extremely affordable and on top of that, features local and organic, seasonal ingredients. They even have their own vegetable and herb garden for added freshness.  I was glad to see how helpful they were in recommending and creating a wonderful vegan meal for me. My risotto was off the charts and the baby greens and beet salad was nothing to sneeze at.  For a change of pace & ambiance, have a romantic and relaxing meal at Aquariva.

Let me tell you, there is way more Portland to come.  I could go on for days and still not have covered all the phenomenal food & neat things to do in this Pacific paradise. See you again next week with some mo' Portland!