All Hail Atlanta!

"Welcome to Atlanta where the players play!"- Jermaine Dupri

And play I did! Oh yes, and gorge my greedy little face I did too ; ) The hustle and bustle of the Atlanta metropolitan area is intoxicating. Already a big city, it's getting even bigger. Cool sky rises, modern shopping areas, the world of coca cola museum and aquarium as well as the nooks and areas tucked away for the hipster crowd, I had no problems getting into a groove here. So as one would imagine, there would be no problems finding some good eats in the capital of the south!

Fighting the city traffic, i made my way into the World Peace Cafe just in time for a quick dessert. We knew we had limited time in the city along with lots of obligations so I wanted to make sure I made it in. Run by the Rameshori Kadampa Buddhist Center in Sandy Springs, the cafe is mainly volunteer operated. But you'd never know it as the place runs like a dream and the food is even better. I was able to grab a minty chocolate cupcake before they all headed home but the menu looked great! Brekfast to dinner, fresh juice to dessert, they've got a veritable cornucopia of awesome veggie food. Feed your karma and your soul at World Peace Cafe!

We stayed in the heart of downtown at the Marriot Marquis. In it I had my lovely Starbucks waiting for me every morning as well as 2 restaurants and a bar. Having rolled in late, we were pretty hungry and weary so we popped into High Velocity. Located in the main lobby of the hotel, it's a chic sports bar with a fun menu. I was stoked to find a bunch of vegan and health friendly options at a sports bar so I had a taste of a few things ; ) I shared the lemon hummus with veggie sticks (almost no calories!!) and a black bean soy burger piled high with mushrooms and onions with my babe. It hit the spot just before we hit the sack.

The next day I had a hankering for soul food. What better place for such a meal than Atlanta and what better place in Atlanta than Soul Vegetarian. They've got locations all over the world and have a neat concept. A fully African-American run business that originated in Israel, this cafeteria style diner also boasts a fresh juice and home made ice cream bar as well as a holistic center that offers all kinds of services including colon hydrotherapy! I happen to like the 1 sto shop idea ; ) I chowed on a ginormous portion of soy mac and cheese, collard greens,salad, corn bread and I had to split the vegan gyro with Dan as my stomach wouldn't fit it all. Don't leave Atlanta without going to 1 of the 2 locations of Soul Vegetarian.

Another place with a few locations is The Vortex Bar and Grill. It's a hoot!! I was laughing my ass off just reading the menu and so will you (the website is just as kooky). It was cold out so I went with a steaming bowl of veggie chili and a side of sweet potato fries. There isn't a soul who couldn't find something on this menu as well as find this place quite the place for a fun night out!

Ok, so, I'm sure you can guess there is alot more to cover here in Atlanta so stay tuned next week for more!!

Valentine's Vittles

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is here ; ) Whether you've got a sweetheart or are spending the day with other happily single folk, make it fun and enjoy yourself! I've got some eco friendly, fun and healthy ideas to make this Valentine's Day the best one yet!

• If you're single, hit a bar with friends or rent a funny or scary movie and order in. Either place will assuredly not have many couples gazing into each others eyes ruining your good time!
• If you have a honey, make a romantic, organically candle lit dinner at home. It's cheaper, less stress of finding a reservation at the right place, and perfectly private - ooh lala! I've got some couple-tastic recipes to try below. Be sure to check them out!
  
• Make your own cards or support a local artist who hand makes cards from recycled materials. Also shop online at spots like Tiny Prints.
  
• Buy and give a locally, organic grown plant. Your loved one will be able to enjoy it a lot longer then expensive flowers that will wilt as soon as the clock strikes midnight on the 15th ; )
  
• Give organic, vegan or fair trade chocolates like the ones you can find at Rose City Chocolates or Chocolate Decadence.
  
• Fair trade, recycled or vintage jewelry and handmade gifts are a hit for any occasion!
  
• Wear sexy and cute organic, or hemp lingerie. You can find nice but naughty nothings s well as boudoir buddies at places like the Sensual Vegan.

And try some of these finger lickin' dishes:

Roasted Artichoke with Garlic Aioli

• 1 large artichoke
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
• Half head of garlic (roasted in tin foil with olive oil, salt and pepper for 30-40 minutes)
  

In a medium sized pot, place artichoke in water and bring water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat slightle and allow to steam for 15 minutes. Remove artichoke from pot, place in baking pan and drizzle with olive oil, garlic and salt. Bake artichoke in 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes, until soft. Meanwhile, blend together mayonnaise and the roasted garlic until well mixed. Add salt and pepper to taste. When artichoke is done cooking, allow to cool slightly. To eat, pull leaves from the artichoke, dip in chipotle sauce and enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate Fondue

• 1/4 cup vegan margarine
• 8 ounces chocolate chips or dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tbsp soy milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup Kahlua or other flavored liqueur
  

Melt vegan margerine, chocolate and soy milk together in saucepan. Once melted, remove from heat, add the rest of the ingredients, combine well and transfer to fondue pot to keep warm. Serve with fresh fruit, pound cake, or sweet bread.

Have a super sweet Valentine's Day!!
xoxo

Savann-ahhhhh ; )

Yay!! More Savannah!! Being as small as it is, there are some great things to see, do and eat in this cute town. Hollywood thinks so as Savannah is very proud of the many films that have shot here like Forrest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil. They've got movie tours, Paula Deen tours, Foody tours, Historic walks, ghost tours and tons of other stuff to keep you busy. And still, there is time to eat!

I'm always down with a good pizza and it sounded great before we headed out on a cold evening ghost tour. I was stoked at how awesome the Mellow Mushroom was! I could have rolled through town on my belly after my vegan tortilla soup and my bbq tofu and veggie pizza. They didn't have soy cheese but the pizza was great without it and it seemed like a happening family place as well as a fun joint for the art school crowd. I dug it and so did my regular pizza eating honey. For menu and locations, check out the Mellow Mushroom online.

Down at City Market there is a great little walking street filled with outdoor cafes and cute shopping. We spent a lot of time between the river front and the historic areas so finding a place to eat in the middle of all of that was no problem.

The Cafe at City Market had a neat retro vibe and a very American menu. With some modifications, it would be fit for a vegan, definitly acceptable for a vegetarian, but I went the easy route and had a house salad with a steamy bowl of black bean soup.

Belford's is a good old fashioned place serving up some southern favorites. I couldn't leave Savannah without trying some fried green tomatoes and to counteract the fried goodness, I had the Belford salad with no cheese. A nice selection and great service.

For a glass of wine and flavorful plates, Tapa's on Julian St. in City Market, is a fine choice. It's southern style tapas but I was still able to find a meal to suit my liking. A hearty veggie pasta primavera (I had them sautee in olive oil as it came with butter) was perfect before some more walking about town.

I can't rave enough about Savannah and I'm so looking forward to some more ghost hunting and eating in this charming city in the south!

Savory Savannah

Boy oh boy, if the lady next to me isn't my polar opposite, food wise, I don't know who is! But let me tell you, Paula is the sweetheart of Savannah and I can see why she calls it home. Savannah is beautiful and creepy all at the same time! Full of sleepy Spanish moss filled trees, incredible southern hospitality and a plethora of ghosts, it's quite the interesting vacation spot.

I will start with Lady & Sons, since I'm standing next to the Savannah sweetheart in the shot. This cute, 3 floor diner, is Paula's Deen's place and it's always packed. So packed that people stand in line every morning at 9am to just make a reservation for sometime that day! Ok, so what can a vegan eat at the self proclaimed butter queen's palace? The Sho Nuff vegetable sandwich, minus the cheese, was a hit with me. It was between that and the asparagus sandwich but I'd have to modify it to much to chow down. I of course had some sweet tea, duh, and was told that at dinner, the chef prepares a kickin' veggie plate for us non meaty meat eaters ; ) I loved seeing where the magic started for Paula and even more getting a reservation. There is more info available at Lady & Sons online. PS - they offer a gluten free menu too!

Being in the sweet south over new years was fun! What made it great was that we met the nicest people and loved everywhere we went. We stayed in the historic district at the Country Inn & Suites and our concierge hooked us way up! We hopped on to the trolley and ghost tours by Old Savannah Tours and she got us a 1980's limo car ride to Corleone's for our last meal of 2008. I dug the place, along with it's Godfather theme. The food was fresh and tasty and veggie friendly. the Penne Broccoli with white wine garlic sauce was a perfect end to 2008 as was the nice glass of wine I had to start off the night ; ) Make sure you take the 80's mobster limo to Corleone's, call to make arrangements before you dine!

For an organic, chic meal, head over to Cha Bella. It's Savannah's answer to trendy, seasonal dining with a little stylish shabby chic to go with it. The food is super fresh and everything is beautifully presented. I had a savory seasonal vegetable primavera while my beau dined on a pretty awesome looking sandwich. For a nice, southern night out, definitely try Cha Bella.

Being that Savannah is small and quaint, only the main shopping street, Broughton, had a commercial coffee place for my city butt ; ) But I hustled over to Forsyth Park and found the Sentient Bean. Not only was my soy latte yum, and my eco karma rewarded, the vegan sandwich they whipped up for me was one of the tastiest I've ever had. It was new year's day so they had not stocked up on much so they created a magical feast on bread that made my mouth and tummy, do cartwheels ; ) A hispster place located by the big, pretty park and next door to a natural market, Sentient Bean is a must visit for food, refreshments, and even indie film nights!

I love Savannah so much that there is more to come next week!!!

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!