D.C. Times 2!

There were so many great choices for a gal like me to eat at in D.C. and I'm sure I didn't even scratch the surface. However, I did find enough to bring this part two of D.C. to you!!

We stayed at a pretty swanky hotel and to my surprise, the neighborhood was chock full'o killer restaurants. On P St and 14th there was a beautiful Whole Foods and a bunch of eateries and coffee shops that were 2 blocks from our place. I was in love ;)

1 of the yummy P street places was Logan Tavern. It was a great place complete with bar and 2 dining areas with a rustic but classy vibe. They had a great beer and wine selection as well as excellent selections on the menu for peeps like me ; ) I ordered a tofu and veggie stir fry and eyeballed the veggie burrito for next time. See there yummy menu at Logan Tavern. Be sure to check out their other location, Logan at The Heights.

Just a few doors down on good old P street was Merkado Kitchen. This spicy Latin eatery was a great mix of Carribean, Mexican and South American food which was a welcomed style of menu for me since I was homesick for my native Miami that I had left about a week prior ; ) Everything was fresh as well as healthy and their veggie options were the bomb! The veggie enchilada, hold the cheese, was mouthwatering as were their salads. This establishment was great for me and my picky guy and I loved how many dishes I could choose from.

Finally, for my travel troop, it would have been a sin to them to not have fresh Atlantic seafood on their trip. Being a non-animal eater, I wondered if a seafood spot like Grillfish, would have anything for me but I was wrong! While everyone else munched on their favorite marine meal, I have a really good grilled portabella sandwich as well as an apple salad. They also offer vegetarian menus upon request. I was stuffed and I sacrificed no taste ; )

I'm hoping to get back here soon as I'm sure I missed some good feastin'!

Was up Washington??!!

What a year to be in the nation's capital. Mighty and awe inspiring by it's own right, being there during an election year was even more incredible. And with all of this history and power in one place, you can imagine it has to offer some killer dining to impress the world's dignitaries. Beyond the great sights, I was even more overcome by the great places to fill my tummy in D.C.! So much that next week's blog will also cover D.C. ; )

Since we walked most of the time while we were in town, I got to see so many cute cafes and places that I wanted to try. However, since we were only in town for a few days, time was of the essence so our meals during the day were pretty quick. Pizzeria Paradiso was just the place. This pizza hot spot has two locations and they are always packed. As so they should be since the food looked, smelled and tasted so good. They are famous for the gourmet, true to the motherland pizza pies and the Healthy Voyager was able to enjoy every bit of that as they offered a tasty Soy Mozzarella. I topped with a ton of fresh veggies like artichokes, spinach, basil and more. I was a happy camper taking my food to go and eating my yumminess on the run. Find out more at Pizzeria Paradiso.


Later that evening we joined up with some friends for cocktails and tapas. We strolled along U street and stumbled upon Tabaq Bistro. And what a happy accident it was! The atmosphere was insane as they had rooftop dining with full views of D.C. It was hazy and cold but the buildings and neighborhood looked great from up there. The food and drinks also matched the wonderful look and vibe of the place as well. The menu was Mediterranean tapas and small entrees. There was entire veggie menu for me to choose from as well as many other dishes for my buddies. I ordered from the small dish menu, the dolmas and 1 of their 3 hummus selections. I absolutely recommend anyone stop in to Tabaq no matter who they are with ; )


Now I will share with you my D.C. addiction ; ) Sticky Fingers Bakery was such a good time for me. So much so that I visited them and went out of my way to buy something from this cafe every day that I spent in town. The spot is a cool wi-fi cafe with a ton of great vegan baked goods from cupcakes to cinnamon rolls and more. They have soft serve vegan ice cream, a build your own vegan hot dog stand as well as a freezer case with savory sandwiches, small plates and other side dishes to go. I had a vegan sausage, egg and cheese mcmuffin every morning. They do mail order as well so if you don't get to d.c., they can come to you!

Lastly, but not leastly, we had a date night at Vegetate. This place was so hipster and chic and had a good thing going as they had a bar upstairs that offered vegetarian bar food during happy hour along with a cool dj spinning tunes. The dining area downstairs is a bit more reserved but nice nonetheless. The menu changes every day and is very nontraditional, gourmet and artistically presented. We enjoyed what we ordered but I did leave hungry. However, I wish I could have gone back for the veggie bar food at happy hour and I suggest you give it a try too. Peruse their site at Vegetate.

See you next week with some more D.C. dining!

Yummy Annapolis!

Quaint and historic Annapolis was beautiful as well as a dining delight! In the midst of all the vintage American architecture, it was not hard to find some modern day health grub ; )

Our first stop was a quick one where they had a Whole Foods, the holy grail of health food, and a Baja Fresh. For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of this healthy version of Mexican fast food, it is a must. As a Californian, Baja is a staple and oh so wonderful to find abroad. My usual is the tostada salad with no meat, no cheese or cream, and extra veggies. Another great menu selection is the veggie burrito bowl with all the flavor of the burrito and half of the starchy carbs ; ) They do not cook with lard, msg or any other unsavory additives - check them out at Baja Fresh. Another incarnation of yummy fast-ixan food, is Moe's which I found in downtown. They too have some yummy items, like the vegetarian Personal Trainer Salad. Visit Moe's Southwestern Grill for more info.

After walking all over one of our nation's best historical cities, we had a hankerin' for Thai food ; ) We filed into Lemongrass (167 West Street, Annapolis, MD,410-280-0086). Big on seafood due to it's close proximity to the Atlantic but also big on good curry and veggie options. Everyone was satisfied here as was the persnickety vegan ; )

Later on, I thought I might pack some snack for the next leg of our trip so I sauntered into Sun and Earth Foods. They had a nice sized market with a great little deli where a packed away a few veggie sandwiches, juices and goodies to munch on for the next few days. They are located at 1933 West St, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, 410-266-6862.

I absolutely would love to come back and spend more time here as I know they must have a ton more places that would keep my belly happy as well as my traveling team. Be it their famous seafood for those who enjoy it or their colonial like hospitality, Annapolis should be a welcomed addition to your traveler's check list.

Valentine's Diet Massacre

Ah yes, Valentine's Day. The day where you either stuff your face with a rich meal, wine, candy and chocolate along with your better half or celebrate single awareness day with quite the same menu. Which ever Valentiner you are, here are some healthy tips to make this "holiday" less guilt ridden ; )

• If you choose to stay in and have a romantic meal, make a delicious salad with arugula and avocado. Make a light homemade honey mustard dressing and toss a few pine nuts on top. Each ingredient in the yummy, healthy salad is an aphrodisiac!
• If you are fighting the dining crowds on V-day, try sushi. Veggie sushi with brown rice and a glass of organic wine will rev up your night without slowing down your metabolism. It's sexy to feed your dinner partner and it too is a proven aphrodisiac.
• Wine is the alcoholic beverage of choice for health nuts as it's the lowest in calories. Opt for a glass or 2 over your usual mixed drink and your waistline will thank you. Especially if you are squeezing into a little bit of nothing later in the evening ; )
  
• Whether you choose to stay in or out, opt for a fruity desert. Strawberries, raspberries, bananas and pineapples are great to help you digest your sensual meal and again, are part of a short, but healthy list of erogenous foods. If you are home, grab some soy whipped cream and make a yummy parfait for 2!
• Go for a romantic walk after your meal. Sitting around after a rich meal slows down digestion which doesn't feel so good come "sexy time". Walk it off on this cool winter night and then get inside with your honey to warm up!
• If you are hot for some good old fashioned chocolates in a heart shaped box, check out Indulge in Chocoalte, Taraluna and Garuda International for their fair trade chocolates. The lack of dairy will keep you from falling asleep and dark chocolate is filled with antioxidants. You won't miss anything from run of the mill Valentine's chocolates but you will taste the presence of full chocolate flavor that will make you purrrr!
• Celebrate with organic and fair trade gifts! The Organic Consumers Association has an extensive list of green, organic and fair trade vendors for all your Valentine's shopping needs. Check them out!

So whether it's a special night for you and your baby or a fun night out with friends, let this Valentine's day be a sexy, sweet and healthy one!

More in Baltimore

After we left the warmth of South Florida, we jumped up the east coast to Maryland. We spent some time in a few different cities, good ol' Baltimore being one of them. I was surprised to see what a nice variety of healthy grub there was as well as some other neat sites.

The evening we arrived, we spent time a walking around downtown. We explored the lovely National Aquarium and got a bit hungry from the workout of walking up and downstairs. There was a whole group of us and we were in tourist central so we ended up at The Hard Rock Cafe. Yep, you can find something healthy there! I usually splurge on veggie burger with a side salad but I only eat half the bread. I've also ordered their fajitas in the past and just asked for grilled veggies instead of meat, no sour cream or cheese but extra guac and salsa! Yumm! See for yourself at the Hard Rock!

Well, poking around Baltimore I didn't think I was in the south. But The Yabba Pot specialized in vegan soul food!! What? Yeah, and tasty too! Can I just say bbq tofu wrap? How about a nice helping of Avocado or "chick-un" salad? Hells yeah!!

Finally, on our way out of town, we hid from the cold at The City Cafe. A very New York feeling vibe, City Cafe was a good find for all of us. My fellow travelers had yumminess of their own while I chowed down on an ridiculously tasty roasted eggplant sammy ; ) They had a nice variety of veggie friendly fare and some super cool atmosphere to boot. Make your way in to The City Cafe.

I will definitely be back for some more in Baltimore ; )

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!