The Green Bean Cafe: NYC

Cheddar Burger ($7.50)

Peanut Butter /Oatmeal Cookie($2.00) Macaroon ($1.75)

Banana Chocolate Muffin ( $2.50)

I got a chance to go by a place that I have been skeptical of trying, simply because I havent found to much information online about the cafe and the reviews were mixed. "The Green Bean Cafe" on the UES. Let me begin by saying I really enjoyed the food at this place. It's a small cafe so a lot of people get things to go ( which they have a full case pre-made.. sandwiches, salads, desserts, drinks, and smoothies.. but they also have sandwiches and food like pizza made to order along with raw dishes and desserts like vegan ice cream!) There is only about 6 seats available so if you want to eat in come early. They also offer breakfast starting at 7 a.m. The service was sub par. The guy who served me was nice but not to knowledgeable about the food they offered and didn't have many suggestions, the other woman working there was simply put a little rude. Let's get back to the food though - the most important part. I ordered the "Cheddar Burger" ($7.50)- this is a homemade soy vegetable patty ( which was mouth watering good), sauteed onions, mushrooms ( which i opted out of), tomato, romaine lettuce, vegan mayo, dijon mustard, served on a Whole Wheat Bun, and of course daiya cheddar cheese. This normally comes with a side of organic tortilla chips and a pickle but I decided to get a salad ( $1.50 extra). { you can also swap out the chips for homefries, or steamed greens}. As I said this sandwich was way beyond my expectations of amazing. Great portion, comes out hot from the kitchen, with a thick slice of tomato and fresh organic lettuce.. simply delicious. Now for dessert! They had so many I decided to get a few things and try a piece of each so I could review them for you! I got an "Oatmeal Cookie" and a "Peanut Butter Cookie" ($2.00 each)- they clearly label all the desserts whether they are wheat free, raw, gluten free, and also list each ingredient. These cookies were both fantastic! You can tell they are freshly baked on the premises each day, soft and crumbly with huge raisins and fresh peanuts! I favored the Oatmeal Cookie simply because as a whole I enjoy oatmeal cookies over most others. I also ordered the "Wheat Free Chocolate Macaroon" ( $1.75). I really enjoyed this- thinner than a regular macaroon so it almost reminded me of a cookie. Soft and oozing with fresh pieces of coconut, one of the best macaroons I believe have touched my lips;) Finally the guy working behind the counter convinced me to get a "Chocolate Chip Banana Muffin" ($2.50)- I'll admit I finished this muffin without saving a piece- moist and fluffy from the banana with some chocolate chips to give it that extra kick. A fantastic muffin - Of course we all know my favorite muffins come from Chef Brookes in Fort Myers. This muffin was yummy though. As a whole I would tell everyone to go to The Green Bean Cafe- even though its small its worth it to come early and get a seat or take your lunch and head over to central park on a cool day:) Eat Clean kiddos:)!

Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Kris

The Green Bean Cafe
1413 York Avenue
New York NY.
212.861.1539

S'Nice: NYC

So I tried a new place in the city 'Snice- a quaint little place filled with young people reading and older people enjoying the calm of the restaurant. I read  Quarry Girls Post about 'SNice and I knew I had to try it out. She ordered the Tempeh Reuben ( $8.75) and it looked so amazing thats exactly what I ordered! The sandwich was absolutely amazing! Whole wheat toast lightly toasted with with tempeh, sauerkraut, vegan thousand island dressing and soy cheese. yum. this was like the most amazing grilled cheese you could possibly ever have then add tempeh and all the goodies listed above. A perfect combination, I don't know how they do it but it is divine. Generally it comes with a side of greens but they 
had just brought out fresh broccoli with red pepper flakes so I had to have that ($1.50 extra for changing). The broccoli was delicious as well the flavor was fantastic! After lunch I ordered one (ok I took another one for later;) } Energy Cookie ( $2.75) Full of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, cranberries, and other dried fruits all pulled together with oats- simply put Heavenly. I don't

Tempeh Reuben ( $8.75)

think I can find anything to compain about at this restaurant. I will most definitely be coming back. They have a HUGE menu with almost to many choices to decide ( I asked for a recommendation and knowing how much quarry girl liked it, I had to taste)  . They offer smoothies, desserts, sandwiches, paninis, salads, and breakfast. ( lunch starts at 11) . SO head on out and try 'Snice you won't be disappointed:) Eat clean and healthy kiddos:)

Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Kris


'Snice
45 8th Avenue
New York NY.
212.645.0310

Energy Cookie ( $2.75)

Homemade: Seduction Seitan Sandwich.

So today I made my own lunch ( simply due to the fact of having to work- you know otherwise I'd be hitting up a delicious vegan joint in the city to review.. but I make due) I decided to take some seitan ( west soy brand one of my favorites they make different kinds depending on what your cooking) I slice up the seitan and added a little bit of chili powder to it then baked it for about 20 minutes on 400 degrees. I then added it to a seduction roll I got at Wholefoods - a yummy roll filled with seeds, which gives it a perfect crunch. I also put some mustard, lettuce, and tomato on. A simple but amazing sandwich if I do say so myself - a healthy lunch. SO if you ever feel like being creative or maybe saving a little cash cooking at home go ahead and try this seitan- even if you don't make it a sandwich its amazing by itself!!


Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Kris

p.s. hitting a new vegan joint to review for you tomorrow:)

Candle Cafe: Seitan Chimichurri.

Seitan Chimichurri ($8.00)

So I've reviewed Candle Cafe on the UES a few times before- mostly for selfish reasons since it is one of my favorite places to eat in NYC. Great service, great food, great area.. why wouldn't I keep going back? Out of all of the times I've dined at Candle I've never tried the ever so popular Seitan Chimichurri ($8.00) - big pieces of seitan ( a wheat protein) marinated in a citrus herb sauce then grilled up to perfection. Let me tell you a delightful appetizer, the seitan is grilled to a perfect texture and the sauce was unbelievably delicious. They offer this seitan at Whole Foods NYC in the case to take home- I have tried this version of the dish but I have to say I think you get a completely different and better experience having it served fresh to your table at Candle. So go on to the upper east side and try this bite of heaven. You won't be sorry!
Eat clean stay healthy:)

Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Kris



Candle Cafe: Website
1307 3rd Avenue ( 74/75th street)
New York NY.
212.472.0970

Chef Brookes Natural Cafe: Ft. Myers Fl.

Vegan Mac N Cheese ( GF*)

I've written a few reviews on Chef Brookes in Fort Myers Fl, but this dish Im going to review tasted so delicious it became a necessity to review it to let you all know what your missing! ;) Macaroni and cheese a comforting all american dish.. kids, adults, teens who doesn't love it? Well for vegans or maybe those of you who just don't enjoy cheese we miss out on this delicacy..until now friends... Vegan Mac N "Cheese"( gluten free*) : Brown rice pasta cooked perfectly topped with "cheese" but no, not your typical boring soy cheese you would normally find at another vegan joint. Chef Brooke has taken it further with much more creativity.. The "cheese" is actually made from roasted yellow squash and delicious herbs-homemade. I can honestly say this is one of the best things ever to hit my tongue . Hot and comforting just the way mac n cheese should be. A healthy vegan and gluten free take on a classic, and let me tell you a successful one at that! Chef Brooke offers different specials everyday along with fresh baked goods, and smoothies.. I can't say if you stop in that you'll catch her making the mac n cheese but maybe you can put in a request - tell her I sent you;)
Alrighty eat clean and healthy kids:)


Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Kris

Chef Brookes Natural Cafe:
1850 Boyscout Drive
Fort Myers Fl.
239.332.2433
Hours: Mon- Sat. 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Check it out:)

Let me start of by saying this is not a blog about food ( the picture says it all right?)

Just letting you few faithful readers ( I have a few don't I?) who enjoy the different food pictures and blogs why I haven't been out and about eating and reviewing for your enjoyment. one simple, horrible, terrible word that I've come to hate more than maybe any other word in the last 10 days ..ready?.. PNEUMONIA. ugh:/ I havent been sick in about 5 years but about 3 days after being back in NYC I started feeling horrible ( I honestly don't remember the first few days of it.. 105 degree fever, chills,cough, weakness.. I won't go into anymore detail but basically any symptom you can get with pneumonia I had). Which  needless to say put my eating out ( eating anything in general) and reviewing on a bit of a hold. Fortunatly my mom was in NY with me at the time but ended up having to be back in FL, so I flew down here to get back on my feet. I am glad to say that all my symptoms are gone after some heavy antibiotics and I'm feeling 100%  better. The worst part about it though is getting back into my workout routine. Im a pretty hardcore runner ( everyday) and it's been difficult hitting the miles and pushing and getting my strength back but I am, and am pretty much back. Just trying to rest and build back up my strength then head back to NYC. Im trying to look at the bright side of things here... Im a pusher, and honestly I sometimes push myself to much with a strenuous daily work out that I havent given myself a break from in the past 5 years basically.. this forced me to be completely down about 6 days total ( then of course I was back at the gym working to get back to normal)  a few days of couch time ( with light yoga and what not at home except the days of suffering :/ ) with really no control over my body or routine or situation. Ordered some take out ( when was able to eat) , cooked some nice meals, watched some movies with mom.  I enjoyed that part { and only that part}. Now that Pneumonia has come and gone though it is back to the normal but not without a little more appreciation for my body and health and my mom for taking such good care of me:) Alrighty so Im sure this blog was pretty boring compared to amazing food pictures but I had to let you in on what was going down lately. I should be back to reviews soon so keep looking out:). Eat Clean, live healthy friends.

Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Kris

Good Enough to Eat: NYC

Strawberry Preserves 

Irish Oatmeal ( $8.00)

Multi Grain Toast

So today we did breakfast. "Good Enough to Eat" is a place on W. 83rd Street a block away from church. This place is not a total vegan place but we always pass it after church and there is ALWAYS a line outside. We got to the place around 9:45 a.m. for breakfast and their was a small line since it was early. We got seated right away since we were a party of 2. This is a cute little restaurant everything is pretty much homemade, they have a big menu with waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon, oatmeal, homemade granola, you name it! As I said most of it is not vegan as the waffles and all have egg and milk but the oatmeal is vegan, the grits, bread, granola, they also offer 2 vegan tofu scrambles. The decor is cute old type country ( almost reminded me of a cracker barrel) I ordered the "Irish Steal Cut Oatmeal with Bananas and Raisins", which came with a side of Multi Grain Toast ( $8.00) I also had a side of strawberry preserves with my toast. The oatmeal was delicious thick but creamy with some soymilk, fresh bananas and raisins. The toast was thick and homemade, they give big portions (4 BIG pieces of toast), smudged with the nice fresh strawberry preserves a bite of heaven. Me and mom also split a side order of grits($3)- I've always been a fan of good, hot grits with fresh pepper on top and toast. . nothing better... and these were no exception. Some of the best grit's I've eaten! This place also offers lunch and dinner ( so many options so check out the menu online) What I love is that they have most everything as a side order so if you wanted to try a bit of everything you pretty much could! This is a great place for non vegans but they do have great options for vegans as well ( seeing as I enjoyed it:)} Eat good and eat clean:)

Peace, Love, and Vegan Food,

Grits ($3.00)

Kris



Good Enough to Eat:
483 Amsterdam Avenue ( 83/84th)
212.496.0163
http://www.goodenoughtoeat.com/