Where to Eat in Copenhagen? Govinda, Of Course!

When the usual dish in Denmark (for lunch) is usually cold meat sandwiches, what does a vegetarian eat?  Indian of course!

Mama Veg travels far and wide to bring you vegetarian options from all over the world.  This month, she traveled to Copenhagen with a friend and visited an Indian restaurant where you can almost always find vegetarian options.

What a quaint little restaurant!

 

The regular menu is mostly vegetarian but they do have some vegan options.  Their curry is delicious and has some pretty great reviews.  If you’re in Copenhagen, please check them out!

For more information (use google translate if you need to as their website is in Danish) go to Govinda Vegetarian Takeout .

 

greenbar & Kitchen, Fort Lauderdale

 

I’ve driven this strip of Fort Lauderdale going towards A1A hundreds of times and didn’t realize that back inside one of the little strip malls, was a great Plant-based restaurant! I’ve never even heard of them till this past week!

They have this adorable little patio area that is draped in plants and greenery and kind of takes you out of feeling like you’re in the city.  Inside the restaurant it’s very hip and modern and fresh-feeling.  If you’re looking for a great place for just grabbing some lunch or actually want to take someone out for a casual date-night, it’s the place to go (hint hint-go take someone out this weekend).

I ordered the avocado toast because someone had recommended it somewhere and I didn’t want anything too heavy that night.  Four half-slices of toast with tons of avocado and yumminess piled on top.  My son ordered the nuggets of which he ate three and said he didn’t want anymore- no worries! Mommy saved room for that.  He’s a picky eater and has a hard time trying new things.   Literally, we eat three main items at home.  The nuggets weren’t my favorite but they were the typical vegetarian nugget- I expected the flavor, though it did have an interesting spice thrown in there.

He did however, devour that chocolate cupcake you see below and mommy had to slyly take a bite while he wasn’t looking.  Thank goodness they were offering tons of cupcake samples that night.

On top of the wonderful food options, we were able to listen to a little info session on locally grown foods.  Check them out if you want to learn more about growing your own farm here locally or if you’d like to purchase some of their veggies and plants (just note that growing season in Florida for their veggies is coming to an end for them so now is the time to go before it’s over).  They also sell their own coconut milk.

A great evening all around, so glad I could use this opportunity to check out a new place.  Please let us know if you’ve ever visited and what you had when you were there- inquiring minds want to know what else is good!

For info on greenbar, go to : gb&k
For info on Harpke Family Farm, go to: Harpke Family Farm

Little Goat Diner, Chicago

It’s amazing how quickly your plans change when you have a short time to do everything.  We had planned to eat out all over Chicago last week.  That didn’t happen when we got delayed at the airport with missing car seat (we ended up finding it an hour and a half later) and then missing car reservation (it was there but sniff sniff, they didn’t let us go Gold because it was under my husband’s name and not mine).

Finally, we arrived and were so hungry we ended up finding the nearest chain restaurant and shoveling down acres of crap just to put a damper on all the stress we had created for ourselves.  Thankfully, that was the end of the stress and the rest of our short trip went swimmingly.

We spent an entire day in Chicago, if you’ve never been, park outside of the city and take the train in so you don’t pay hundreds of dollars in parking (we found out the hard way).  Do the Willis Tower first thing- before 9:30- or you’ll sit in nightmarish lines.  Thankfully we got this little tidbit before we went and it was a straight shot up to the top.  Don’t bother to do the fastrack line at that time, it’s completely unnecessary during the week before 9:30.

We also went to look at the art and pretty landscaping at the Fourth Presbyterian Church and walked all the way from the water to the “Bean” or Millenium Park.

On our way out of the city we were dying to go to Girl and The Goat because everyone raved about it.  It’s not a vegetarian restaurant but they have some great options.  We were bummed to learn they don’t open till 5- wa-wa (insert sad face).
However, they have an adorable little sister restaurant across the street that is a wonderful diner serving FAT ELVIS WAFFLES.  These are the best waffles I’ve eaten.  They were crisp but not hard and the peanut butter/butter blob on top was the most delectable little thing.  The only thing you need to keep in mind is that the maple syrup that comes with it has bacon in it so please be sure to ask for the non-bacon syrup.

We are so in love with Chicago, from the sweet Bonita, at the Brown Street line that showed my son around the station to the pizza to the Bean and the water flowing through the middle of the city.

I never had a desire to see Chicago before but I’m so glad that I can now say I’ve been able to experience it.  We will definitely be back.

Black Bean Burger & Sweet Potato Fries at Smashburger

Some days you see your friends struggling and unhappy and you just want to fix it for them but it’s impossible because it’s not your life, not your choices, not your battle.

Those are the days only a burger and fries will do.  That’s when Smashburger comes in- their black bean burger and sweet potato fries provide a healthier alternative to the trash offered at most fast-food restaurants.  Not that this is the most healthy and perfect meal, but it beats the greasy hamburger and white potato fries.  Plus, if you’re already feeling defeated, why add guilt to the equation?

There aren’t many fast food places that offer good meat-alternatives.  However, the Huffington Post just announced yesterday that Amy’s, the wonderful frozen food gurus that bring us veggie samosa wraps and cheese enchiladas, will be opening a fast-food joint in, where else, California.

In the meantime, we’ll enjoy the Black Bean Smashburger and stuff down the Burger King Veggie Burger till we have another option.

Nemo’s Cafe – Pikes Peak, Colorado

Nemo’s Cafe on Pikes Peak Avenue in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a great rustic “coffee shop” find!

They offer organic coffee and a small selection of gluten free vegan foods and a vegetarian burrito, among other regular items.  I chose a Yerba mate latte with almond milk and a gluten free vegan lemon, poppy seed and ginger “power bar”. The latte was one of the best I have ever had and the “power bar” was moist with a delightful crunch to it. The lemon, poppy seed and ginger was a perfect blend of flavors designed to delight the taste buds. A stunning view of Pikes Peak rounds out this culinary experience. I think you will not be disappointed should you decide to drop by.

For more info, go to the http://www.nemoscoffee.com/

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Mama Veg

The Glo Restaurant, Reykjavik (Iceland)

Mama Veg: The Glo` Restaurant really does “glow”. On a side street, one ascends an unassuming staircase to enter the delightful Glo` Restaurant, a real, live, vegetarian restaurant in downtown Reykjavik. The dishes are well presented and the aromas tease the senses. I tried the vegetable soup with spelt bread. The soup was blended with a slight curry flavor and the hummus was coarsely ground and appeared to include cucumber and red peppers and was the best I have ever tasted. I am going back tomorrow to try the pecan pie and cappuccinos. I am sure I won’t be disappointed.

Some of the dishes are vegan & the staff was pleasant and helpful. They said people often take photos of their food displays and that people say their friends “back home” told them to stop by the restaurant during their visit in Reykjavik. Apparently the restaurant is truly world famous. My aunt lived in Reykjavik for several years many years ago while working for the U.S. Navy as a civilian employee. I think she would probably not recognize downtown Reykjavik now. Today it is full of many intriguing little shops and restaurants.Next time you pass through Reykjavik, stop by and enjoy the delectable dishes in the Glo’ Restaurant!

http://www.glo.is/

Mama Veg

Curry Leaf San Fran- A Break From The Seafood “Norm”

As a vegetarian staying in Fisherman’s Wharf, it’s hard to find something close-by that I could actually eat.  I mostly ate salads and pastas during my stay.  That’s sad and depressing (for me anyways).

The second to last day in California, I had enough and figured the easiest way to get some vegetarian cuisine was to find a local Indian restaurant.  I was in luck, just a few short blocks from the Sheraton on the Wharf, was “Curry Leaf”, an adorable little Indian/Pakistani restaurant.  I ordered up a storm- papadum, veggie samosa, naan, palaak paneer, and masala chai (which I actually forgot I ordered) as well as something chickeny for my son.

The papadum was perfect, the right spiciness and flavor.  The palaak paneer was delicious, not too creamy, not too watery, a great flavor and it wasn’t crazy expensive for the area.  Curry Leaf also does things a bit different than normal restaurants- you order at the front and then pick up your own drinks (and pour your own Chai that I forgot I ordered).  You also grab your own plates and cutlery, get your own water and don’t forget to get the salsas from the fridge!

So happy I was able to eat something besides pasta, I wished I would have branched out a little more.  I think next time I’m in San Fran, I’ll probably stay somewhere besides Fisherman’s Wharf….

For more info and to find your vegetarian safety net, go to: http://www.curryleafsf.com.

On a side note, if you’re brave, I also saw this strange Irish pub/Indian restaurant on the way.  If you try it, let us know your review and we’ll post it here!

Kitchen 305- Thank You For Not Throwing Us Out Of The Restaurant

The hubs and I trekked down to Sunny Isles for his 30-something birthday (he’s getting up there).  We had the kid in tow and these days it’s touch and go whether or not he’ll sit for more than five minutes at a table.  Thankfully Kitchen 305 has some really nice waiters as well as a very large “private” dining area that was mostly empty so my 14 month old could run around in circles for 30 minutes while we traded off eating.

  I know this isn’t the audience for it but they have all you can eat stone crabs on Friday night and stone crabs are one of the hubs’ favorite so I selflessly booked a reservation for him.  However, they do have some great vegetarian items on the menu including some delicious salads (one they let me customize by changing out the spinach for mixed greens) and some tasty flatbreads.  I didn’t even finish my meal because I was running around with the kiddo but it was good- what I was able to eat of it.

Check them out if you’re looking for a nice romantic night out or if you’re in the mood for some healthy grub (or if you have a significant other than loves seafood).

kitchen305miami.com

Pictured is their “spinach salad” that I made into a mixed greens; it was delicious:

Spinach Salad

Baby spinach, cranberries, gorgonzola cheese and toasted walnuts with warm caramelized onion vinaigrette

Mandolin, Mid- Town Greek/Turkish Cuisine

My sister-in-law and I were downtown on Saturday and stopped by “Mandolin” with the cookie (my son, for those of you who are new) to have some lunch.  The place is very non-descript except for a valet sign out front.  I would have never noticed it driving by.  It’s definitely a treasure in the heart of Miami with it’s gorgeous waiters, outdoor covered dining and healthy selections.

We both decided to get the samplers for lunch- she got the Turkish and I chose the Greek but switched out the Tarama (fish rowe) for the tomato walnut dip.  I have to be honest and say that it wasn’t the most delicious meal I’ve had but it was simple and I had a choice of adding cucumbers or the endless “complimentary” bread-  I chose both and was happy with it.

I’m guessing that the mushroom sandwich is probably quite tasty, I will definitely be going back if just for the cool atmosphere!  For more information on them, please check out their website: http://www.mandolinmiami.com/

The Best Portobello Burger I have EVER Eaten!

Ok, so that’s a bit of a “fantastic” claim but it’s the honest truth.  I am in love with this burger and I have driven twenty miles out of my way, twice, to eat it.

The guys on the “Bite” food truck have a great assortment of burgers, including this vegetarian one called The Tree Hugger (I love that vegetarians are seen as tree huggers, why not animal huggers… but I digress).  This burger has a full port0bello  mushroom, a delicious sauce and some great veggies on a toasted bun.  This is a seriously delicious burger.

So, if you want the best burger in town….follow the Bite food truck and try it out! http://www.facebook.com/bitegastrotruck