Chips and Hummus

Que Pasa organic blue corn tortilla chips with Private Selection Roasted Garlic hummus

Chick-fil-a Waffle Fries

They weren't before, but now they are. Waffle Fries are vegan!

Click here for the Chick-fil-a website

Tacos at Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill

This is a 2 taco combo, veggie style, with beans and rice instead of chips. This was a really good meal, but it did cost well over $10. The veggies were fresh like they were just picked from the garden. The green salsa was excellent. I told the guys to make one taco with black beans and the other with pintos. I got Mexican rice, fajita veggies, cilantro, and lettuce on top. I really wanted guacamole, but they now charge another dollar for that. I'm not going to start paying a dollar for a scoop of guacamole. I'll bring my own avocado before I do that.

Click here to see the Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill website

Avocado Sandwich

Avocado, kale, and Boar's Head Deli Mustard on multigrain bread.

Dinner at Phil Sandoval's Mexican Restaurante in Huntsville AL

This is a bean burrito with vegetarian beans, no cheese, with ranchero sauce on top. It came with chips and salsa.

A vegan bean burrito at Phil Sandoval's Mexican Restaurante in Huntsville AL

Vegan Burger with Fries at Red Robin in Huntsville AL

Red Robin has options for vegans! The bar tender told me "you can go vegan on pretty much any burger". In the past I got the Keep It Simple with a Boca Burger vegan patty, but the menu has changed slightly and that patty is no longer available. I had to change it up this time. Red Robin is a gourmet burger restaurant, so this is not a cheap meal. It was about $14, and that's not including the tip.

I ordered the Keep It Simple burger just as before, which has lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions on the side. It comes with Bottomless Steak Fries. Now, here's how to make it vegan with the new menu items. I chose the "ancient grains and quinoa vegan patty", requested the bun not be toasted on the grill (to avoid butter or grease from the grill), and requested "allergy fries" (that means the oil they fry them in is used for fries only and not other products like chicken or products battered with milk and egg batter). What came to my table was a huge, delicious, beautify vegan burger with as many fries as I wanted. And I got tea to wash it down.

The ancient grains and quinoa patty was as firm and textured as a beef patty. It had chunks of carrots, corn, and other goodies inside. The other topping on the burger were beautify. This place made it right! The lettuce was a whole bright green leaf, and it was clean! The tomatoes and onions were perfect. They didn't put garbage on my food like some other restaurants do. And the taste was amazing. It was better than any beef burger I ever had. It was also better than the Boca Burger, which was often served under cooked on my other visits to Red Robin. The fries were so good I got a refill.

Now for the mild concerns. The Boca Burger that is no longer available was microwaved, which sounds boring and cheap, but it was a good way for a vegan to feel save about the cooking process. This new ancient grains and quinoa patty was clearly not microwaved. It looked and tasted grilled. It was great, but how was it cooked? Was beef grease all over the grill? Was my patty cooked with beef on a nasty flat top grill? Is there a separate area for veggies? I don't know. It didn't taste like beef at all. I patted it down with my napkin just to check it out. Not much oil to see. Beef grease is usually noticeable. But cross contamination is one of my concerns. Also, the plate on which my food was served looked clean upon first glance, but it was actually greasy. I could take my napkin and rub the clean plate to reveal a cleaner spot. It was almost like the plate was rinsed clean of all solids but without the use of soap that would strip the oil from the plate. These are mild concerns and didn't ruin the meal at all, but I figured I'd mention them. 

Overall, I enjoyed this meal very much. The taste, appearance, and texture of the food was better than expected. It all seemed clean and healthy, not greasy, dirty, or heavy. The option to go vegan with many burger types is surprising. I'm just nervous about the food prep. I will cautiously go back, hoping to enjoy my next visit as much as this visit.

UPDATE: More research has revealed evidence that both the bun and new ancient grain quinoa patty MAY NOT BE VEGAN. Unfortunately, Red Robin wants to remain flexible with the ingredients, and it's difficult to get a clear understanding of what the food contains. My conclusion is that I will remember this as a good meal, but I will not order this again unless I get confirmation that it is without a doubt vegan. Next time I'll stick with fries and a drink.

https://www.redrobin.com/ 

Burger King Hash Browns and Tea

Burger King Hash Browns with a medium tea costs less than $5. 

Bojangles Grits

Here's a good southern breakfast item. This is the Bojangles "picnic grits", meaning this is a larger bowl of grits and not the tiny sample size that people would get as part of a larger meal. With a large sweet tea this is less than $5. Grits tastes best when slightly salty and with a sprinkle of black pepper. In the south grits only get salt and pepper. Some people also use butter. This is a great way to start the day. I always get sweet tea with it because Bojangles knows how to make really good southern sweet tea.

UPDATE: I got a new photo of the tea with lemon. Look at it. Beautiful!

Gas Station Snack: Fritos and Coffee

Peanut Patch Cajun Style Boiled Peanuts

Vegan Christmas Party Snacks

Hey, herbivores. Have you ever been invited to a fancy Christmas party and knew there would be nothing to eat once you get there, so you eat a pack of Lance Cashews or a banana on the way? I have many times. I went to a really nice company Christmas party and was pleasantly surprised with the following options. Check it out!

Strawberries, crackers with capers, blackberries, cornichons, garlic stuffed green olives, black olives, red pepper stuffed green olives, and french bread. I also had grapes, veggie kabobs, and several glasses of chardonnay blanc, but my camera was malfunctioning and photos of those aren't available.

Vegan Hors d'oeuvres

I made these with organic wheat crackers, vegan cream cheese, rosemary, and fresh red bell pepper.

Vegetable Pasta

I went to a vegan food sharing event and filled up on delicious vegan pasta. It's nice to attend an event with like-minded individuals.

Lance Salted Peanuts

Lance Salted Peanuts are two for $1. This snack keeps me from getting hungry, and it's great for hiking or biking adventures. I eat one pack and save the other for later.

Stacy's Multigrain Pita Chips & Lilly's Red Pepper Hummus

This was my first time buying Lilly's Hummus. It was pretty good. I just had to stir it up before eating. This meal was all "Non-GMO" and vegan.

Veggie Lovers Pizza and Breadsticks at Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut Veggie Lovers with no cheese on a thin crust. Very crunchy and delicious. This is one of my favorite pizzas.

Breadsticks with a side of marinara dipping sauce. I order them "with no butter and no sprinkles....just bead". It will come with Parmesan cheese and butter if you don't request it plain. 

Laughing Seed Cafe in Asheville NC

I went to Laughing Seed Cafe two days in a row, because it's that good!

DAY ONE

Pakoras 

This dish is was fantastic! These are Indian-style fritters made with chickpea flour and vegetables served with Punjabi chutney and yogurt. I chose the vegan option, so the regular yogurt was substituted with the vegan style. This was very flavorful. Everything about it was amazing! I will definitely get this again.

 

 

Daily Special Pasta 

This pasta dish was a daily special that isn't a regular menu item. I was lucky enough to catch it while it was available. I told the server "I'm vegan and I'm here to try something new". She suggested something the chef was trying that day. I believe it was a vegan pesto experiment. I ate all of it and nearly licked my plate clean. I don't know why this isn't a menu item. It was very good. I would order this again if I knew what it was. And look how beautifully crafted is was.

 

DAY TWO

Jalapeno-Onion Fries 

Russet potatoes fried with sliced onions and jalapenos seasoned with spices, served with organic ketchup and vegan chipotle ranch. This was also very good. Enjoy them fresh. The left-overs will get very soggy, but the flavor is still good.

 

Harmony Bowl 

Layers of brown rice, black beans, tofu, steamed veggies, and sesame ginger sauce. This has been my standard Laughing Seed lunch since my very first visit way back in the early 1990s. It has everything you need in micro nutrients.

 

Laughing Seed Cafe never lets me down. I always leave completely satisfied. The food is always awesome and the people are friendly. It's on a cozy one-way street, and a public parking garage is just a few feet away. They have a dog-friendly eating area outside. If you're in Asheville, you must try this place! The prices are a bit higher, but the food is worth it.

Click here for the Laughing Seed Cafe website

Which Wich Black Bean Patty Wich with House Chips

The Which Wich Black Bean Patty Wich is not the only vegan wich at Which Wich, but it is my favorite. I get mine topped with deli mustard, spinach, lettuce, green pepper, black olives, red onions, and oregano. I get the white bread because the wheat bread contains honey. This is also available Lettucewich style, which means they use several big pieces of lettuce wrapped around it instead of bread.

Click here for the Which Wich Menu

Chipotle Mexican Grill Vegan 3 Point Burrito

I ordered a Chipotle 3 point burrito. This is a tortilla with black beans, white rice, and guacamole.  The 3 point burrito is cheap because it counts as 3 side items at 90 cents each, and it's enough food for 2 meals. I just make sure they don't charge me for a veggie burrito, because that costs almost 3 times as much. This is another awesome non-GMO meal!

Click here to see the Chipotle website

Veggie Delight at Subway

I ordered a 6 inch Veggie Delight on white bread, toasted, no cheese, with my favorite veggies and oil, vinegar, and oregano. I get the white bread because the others contain milk or honey.

Another Morning at SpringHill Suites

I made some oat meal and put pecans and raisins in it. This is pretty good for a hotel lobby. A vegan can eat something at SpringHill Suites.

Uncle Maddio's Pizza In Madison AL

I built my own pizza with wheat crust, garlic oil base, Daiya cheese, seasoned tofu, black olives, green peppers, and onions. The tofu is generously seasoned, so this pizza has much more flavor than other vegan pizzas. According to their allergy chart, the "Traditional Crust" contains milk, but the "Wheat Crust" does not.

Click here to see Uncle Maddio's website

French Quarter Dip Sandwich at The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant in Nashville TN

French Quarter Dip. Portabella mushrooms and seitan in a Creole seasoning served with au jus dipping sauce. Served with a light salad.

Click here for The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant website

Jason's Deli Soup and Sandwich Meal

Here's a half Zucchinin Grillini without cheese and a cup of Vegetarian Vegetable Soup with a side of steamed vegetables.

Click here to see the Jason's Deli website

Zoe's Kitchen Veggie Kabobs With Potato Salad

Click here to see Zoe's Kitchen website

Veggie Quinoa Bowl and Lentil Bowl at The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant in Nashville TN

The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant serves only vegan food unless you want yogurt. I tried a few dishes in the past. They've all been great. On this visit I ate what I believe is the Veggie Quinoa Bowl and Lentil Bowl with grilled tempeh.

Click here for The Wild Cow Vegetarian Restaurant website

McAlister's Deli Ultimate Nachos

The Ultimate Nachos can be vegan. Substitute chili for veggie chili, and leave off the Rotel nacho cheese, cheddar jack cheese, and sour cream.

Vegan Pizza at Spazio Pizza & Taps

Spazio Pizza & Taps is attached to Whole Foods in Huntsville AL. I was able to create my own pizza with wheat crust, oil base, basil, black olives, roasted garlic, and vegan cheese.

A vegan pizza at Spazio Pizza & Taps in Huntsville AL

Jason's Deli Salad Bar

Jason's Deli has the best salad bar in town. Look at those colorful veggies!

Click here to see the Jason's Deli website

A Bowl of Black Bean Soup at Panera Bread

The black bean soup is very good, and it's vegan. You can tell by the taste that it's a very simple water-based soup with beans, mild peppers, and other veggies. This comes with a side of  french bread or potato chips, and both options are vegan.

Click here for Panera Bread's vegan menu

Ma Po Tofu at P.F. Chang's

While this is one of P.F.Chang's best vegetarian dishes, I want to warn vegans about a problem I've had with it. This tofu appears to be deep fried. You know what that means? They probably fry this in the same fryer and oil as the meats. I lost count of the times I've found little bits of gristle and mystery items in this dish. I will probably not order it again. I'll just remember it with this beautiful photo of the time it was perfectly made.

Click here to see P.F.Chang's website

Hummus on an Onion Bagel at Bruegger's Bagels

Home-style Bean Curd at Fulin's Asian Cuisine

This meal was absolutely delicious. This is tofu with vegetables in a vegetarian brown sauce. I've been to Fulin's a few times. The tea was great. The food tasted fresh and clean...... except for the little bit of gristle I found in it. It only happened once. It could have been a piece of chicken batter. I'm not sure. Vegans, beware. I'll definitely order this again if I'm in the area, but I know to watch out.

An Edible Arrangment

This is an Edible Arrangement called Simple Daisies. This was good, but it was not cheap!

Another Good Lunch, You Pick Two at Panera Bread

This time I ordered using the You Pick Two option. I had a half Mediterranean Veggie sandwich without feta and a cup of Black Bean Soup. It came with a chunk of French bread. This meal was tasty and satisfying without filling me up too much.

UPDATE: This bread does contain honey. I choose to avoid honey, so next time I order this meal I will be getting this served on Sesame Semolina bread.

Click here for Panera Bread's vegan menu

Domino's Pasta Bowl

I created my own pasta bowl. I ordered it with only noodles, pizza sauce, and veggies. The marinara sauce ingredients have changed a few times and it's not vegan. In the past it had milk and chicken flavoring in it. Vegans, make sure the crew knows you want the "pizza sauce"! The pizza sauce has consistently remained vegan. The noodles do not contain eggs. If you're really friendly with the crew, you can talk them into sprinkling oregano or garlic seasoning on top. Both are also vegan an will make this bowl even better.

Blackened Tofu Plate by Chef Will The Palate in Huntsville AL

Chef Will the Palate has a vegetarian food truck at Lowe Mill in Huntsville AL. This is one of his most popular vegan meals. Blackened Tofu comes with spinach, tomatoes, guacamole (or avocado wedges), seasoned rice, and a sweet and tangy sauce. This was amazing! Everything I've had from Chef Will has been excellent.

Blackened Tofu Plate by Chef Will The Palate in Huntsville AL

Home-made Vegan Sushi Platter for a Social Gathering

I enjoy vegan catering. This plate contains samples of my vegan sushi. I was just trying some new ideas. Some of it was beautiful and some was just weird.