Grubbin' in Greenville

Just a short drive from Asheville & Charlotte, NC, as well as Atlanta, GA, you will find Greenville, South Carolina. I really enjoyed this quaint city as it had all the "accoutrement" of a large city without the overwhelming crowds, etc. The downtown is wonderfully charming too. Complete with a river and waterfall right smack in the center, a neat suspension bridge over the whole park ties the whole area together beautifully. Along with the pretty park, you will find some great eats in downtown Greenville, as well as in the burbs ; )

One great spot in downtown, is Cantinflas. A Mexican restaurant with an extensive vegetarian menu! I was stoked that my dinner guests where all able to find something they enjoyed while I munched on fresh made guac (vegans have to ask for it as the regular guac appetizer contains sour cream) and the Mexican chipotle vegan meatballs with rice, beans and plantains, yummmm. I really loved that there was something on their menu for everyone. It was refreshing to be able to order a "meat" with my mexi-meal that was tasty and nutritious! Visist Cantinflas Mexican Restaurant at 10 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601-2709, (864) 250-1300. Very friendly staff, good margaritas and super accommodating too!

Heading out of downtown for a taste of the east, I lunched at Saffron. Some of the best Indian I'd ever had, my lunching partners who don't normally eat Indian food, agreed. Everyone was ecstatic with the smorgasbord of food that we feasted on, tastier and tastier with every new dish. Family owned, Saffron offers up a great lunch buffet as well as a full vegetarian menu. No matter how spicy you like your chana masala, what your dietary restrictions are, or if you are an Indian food novice, Saffron is the perfect place for a great meal from Indian food nubie to connoisseur ; ) Great food, wonderful service and super helpful to boot ; )

Another great find outside of downtown is the Pita House. Another awesomely authentic, family owned eatery and market, The Pita House is the place to go for Middle Eastern in Greenville. They bake their own pita bread fresh every morning, make all of their pastries, hummus and other goodies in house. A band of brothers keeping their family food and traditions alive and well in the American south, its a must to shop as well as dine at the Pita House 495 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607, (864) 271-9895.

Heading back downtown, Lemongrass Thai is a fantastic place for dinner. Yet again, Greenville surprises with an establishment that catered quite nicely to the veggies. A full menu, the veggie options were many and I indulged ; ) Starting with the fresh basil rolls and ending with a generous helping of the vegetarian massaman (curry and coconut milk action), I was happily stuffed. Soothing atmosphere and a delicious menu, Lemongrass Thai is definitely on my Greenville hot list!

For some good ol', casual Italian, pop over to Trio Brick Oven Cafe. The pizzas, salads, pastas and sandwiches are all tasty and easily customizable per your diet. I veganized a sandwich and salad and didn't sacrifice a bit of taste. I was even able to enjoy some dessert as they had a killer sorbet to finish off my meal. Multo Bene!

Greenville was very pretty, very relaxing and very tasty. I would be more then happy to come back soon and chow some more ; ) Off to celebrate my birthday week - see you for a fun Labor Day post to wrap up the summer!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Health in Entertainment

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests Elizabeth Turner & Jolia Allen from Vegetarian Times celebrating it's 35th year in print as well as Naomi Streimer, vegan songstress, playing live in studio:

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Next week, Anna Mhikitarian of Annatarian Eco-Effective Design & Jen Boulden from IdealBite.com!

Another Look at Asheville

Here I am again, yappin' about Asheville, NC ; ) There is just to much good food to not tell you about!! So make sure you keep this info handy if you're ever passin' through or passin' time in this healthy, mountainous munch fest of a town!

If you want to catch dinner and a movie, Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company is the spot. And I don't mean, dine and dash to the theatre. I mean dine and eat IN the theatre! This kitschy theatre turned brew and chow house is a fun spot for kids and adults alike. Come order a veggie pizza, healthy sandiwch or whatever you fancy while dining at a tabke in front of the silver screen. Really a great place to hang out and get some fun food with your flick! Find out more at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company site.

Burgermeisters is a cool eatery in West Asheville that caters to omnivores and lettuce eaters alike. My buddies and I all dined happily at this joint while taking in the cool decor. I devoured my grilled tofu philly sandwich and salad. I was delighted to see that they hand cut their own potatoes for fries and mix sweet potatoes in with russets - yum! Their chips are also home made among a variety of other delicious menu items. No one will leave Burgermeisters hungry, just happy!

If you are vegetarian or vegan, The Laughing Seed Cafe is a must. One of Asheville's premiere veg dining establishments, The Laughing Seed deserves its kudos. From great appetizers to their great Sunday Brunch, it's tough to find something on the menu that you won't like, especially with their international menu. As soon as I saw the Cuban Sandwich (i veganized with by ordering it without the cheese), I looked no more - Yummm-o!

I was stoked to find a veggie, late night menu at Rosetta's Kitchen. A late night, veggie, soul food menu to boot! Open till 3 am on weekends, what a great alternative after a fun night out then a greasy spoon diner. I had to go for the corn bread (duh, it's the south), some mac & cheese and a steaming bowl of veggies and greens. The whole menu was calling my name so I will be back for sure!!!

Man oh man, the south took care of my vegan belly and there's more coming so stay tuned!!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Healthy, Green & "Volun"tourism

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests Donna Zeifinger from www.vegtravel.com & Daria Gledhill from www.helpinghow.com, chatting about healthy, grean and/or volunteer travel:

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Next week, Vegetarian Times Magazine & Singer Naomi Streimer!

Awesome Asheville

Asheville is one of those cities where a health nut need not worry. Most restaurants in this quaint mountain town have options or will easily accommodate almost any special diet with a smile ; ) It was a real treat to be in the hospitable south without worrying about loads of buttery and fried dishes, settling only for dry salads. Amongst the greenery and clean mountain air, you will also find some of the best and healthiest food around!

Brunch (or any meal for that matter) at Early Girl Eatery is a must! Make sure you arrive with plenty of time to hang as this place is always hoppin' and for great reason. The food is fresh and delicious no matter your dietary variety. Husband and wife team owned, Early Girl is the epitome of southern charm and comfort cooking. I had the best tofu scramble ever that included a pile of spinach, tomatoes and mushrooms along side some extra yummy baked tempeh. It was so nice to have my veggies with an appropriate amount of tofu as opposed to the other way around. LOVED it ;) Visit the site fr more info on them, their food and don't miss it even if you are just passing through town!

One thing I have yet to have found is a really great vegan gyro. That's because it has been hiding at Firestorm Cafe & Books! A great space for books, games, internet, socializing and yummalicious treats. A neat co-op business where the workers also own a portion of the biz, Firestorm boasts some great sandwiches, sweet treats for veggies and gluten-free'ers as well as almond milk for lattes which I wanted to do cartwheels over. My buddies and I all tried a different sandwich from the menu and we all left super happy. My gyro rocked and so did my double gooey vegan brownie!

Just outside of the beautiful Biltmore Estate, in Biltmore Village, you will find the fine dining hotspot, Corner Kitchen. Definitley a great spot before or after a tour of the estate for a taste of fine southern dining. I veganized their Portobello sandwich and it was divine. The staff takes a great deal of pride in their culinary selections and are delighted to create meals for special diets. Super cute and quite good!

Green Sage Coffeehouse & Cafe is the quintessential Asheville locale. Offering local and organic beers, wines, coffees and the same for the ingredients in their dishes, Green Sage IS super green and healthy. Start with a fresh squeezed veggie juice and go nuts on their sandwiches and salads. All veggie, vegan and gluten free items are clearly marked for zero confusion and 100% tasty goodness. I devoured the tempeh avocado sandwich with a tall glass of the Green Monster. So yum and so good for you too!!

If you're in the mood for some caribbean latin fare, head to Salsa's at 6 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 252-9805. Definitely start with the salsa appetizer where they bring out chips with a salsa sampler. The selections change depending on seasonal ingredients but you can healthify or veganize anything by simply asking - after all,it is Asheville ; ) I'm always up for latin food and Salsa's hit the spot!

And I'm not stopping here, Asheville has too much to offer my veggie appetite. See you next week with some more!!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Stop Talking, Start Doing!

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Guest Amy Applebaum from Bootcampforyourmind.com helps us to stop talking and start doing:

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Next week, Donna Zeifinger from greenearthtravel.com!