Vegan Eats: Utah, Nevada, California

Hello, Foodies & Travelers!

I've just returned from a long journey: a two week road trip from Colorado to California. And I can't wait to tell you all about what I ate! From on the road to on the coast, there were plenty of vegan eats.

Let's start with:

UTAH

My half-way stopping point was to visit an old AmeriCorps friend in an outdoorsy, desert mountain town by the name of Cedar City.

Utah is epic and gorgeous, if you didn't know, and Cedar City had a charm about it that I was excited to explore a little more. Home to Southern Utah University, the Utah Conservation Corps, and Utah Shakespeare Festival, there were plenty of things to do while still admiring the small-town feel.

After a late night arrival and a restful sleep on my friend's couch, I was told the best coffee was at the Grind Coffee House - and, bonus! - they also had vegan menu options.

The first thing you'll notice when you approach is the large sign that boasts:

GLUTEN FREE & VEGAN OPTIONS.

The second thing you'll notice is the long line. 

Luckily, for a food review, this is a great problem to run into.

The energy of the staff is focused and controlled. The baristas are running the show and keeping the flow of the lines moving. The mood is curious with tourists, bikers, and passers-through, gawking at the kitschy items. At least I'm not the only one taking photos!

As promised, there are, in fact, vegan options!

For coffee:

All of their syrups are vegan, the mocha is vegan, and they offer soy and almond milks. Incidentally, this place made the best almond-flavored almond milk latte I've ever purchased.

For food:

Their original and everything bagels are both vegan. They have oatmeal, smoothie bowls, salads, and two bagel sandwich offerings. At the cashiers recommendation, I went with the Cedar Breaks bagelwich.

These bagels are huge. 

They seem to shave down the bagels so they're more sandwich-friendly and less fluffy, making them capable of filling to the max. This sandwich has spicy hummus, balsamic vinaigrette, spring greens, onion, artichoke, cucumber, and tomato. For only $5.99? Unreal!

Beautifully served showing off all of the inside ingredients, with a side of lightly pickled bean salad (garbanzo, green bean, kidney bean, and red pepper). My only wishes were that they offered vegan baked goods in their display case, and a vegan chip on their shelf (there were only flavors of Doritos, Cheetos, Funyuns, and other bold-flavored chips that aren't vegan, sadly.)

Even from a marketing standpoint, it would be wise to invest in a few more baked good items that are vegan: if I came here to work over over a light breakfast pastry with my coffee, there's a high chance I'll stay long enough for the vegan lunch option, too. More sales for them, more options for me!

The service was super helpful, open, and expedient - the baristas could've easily beat out a carnival barker in a contest - and they bus tables as quickly as they flip. (So quickly, that in the time I got up to grab a to-go container, the other half of my bagel was gone and the table was cleared! But the busser apologized, and kindly offered to reimburse me another half-wich.)

Oh - and they also have a bookstore, next door!

Overall, the space is wonderful. Large, clustered tables, but plenty of seating. The front will give you a mountain view and nice natural light. My view happened to include two adorable cyclists and a red mountain.

There's also an entire back area away from the coffee hustle up front, for a more laid back seating option. Comfy chairs included. I could spend all day in here if I didn't have to hit the road.

All in all, if you ever find yourself in southern Utah, be sure to stop by The Grind.

Next up:

LAS VEGAS

Vegenation's claim is:

"Fresh global street food that makes you feel really damn good!"

And honestly, I can't dispute this.

I stopped here for a late lunch/early dinner leaving Cedar City. I knew I needed to try something vegan while in Vegas, and this one popped up close to the highway. So, why not?

I found parking just around the corner - mind you, it wasn't free, but... I lived dangerously, and decided to run inside to eat quickly, and hope to make it back out before getting a ticket. And guess what? I WON! You can't say I didn't gamble in Vegas...

Featured here is the Muchas Gracias, one of their customer favorites. It's a sweet potato & black bean quesadilla, topped with chipotle ranch and guacamole for $13.00.

This dish was clean, filling, and left me feeling light. My only complaint is there wasn't much flavor going on - which, for a quesadilla, I was hoping to get a little spice kick or at least some seasoning.

I washed it down with a gingerade kombucha and got back on the road before rush hour. If you're ever driving through Vegas and you want something quick, VegeNation is a good one. 

Plus, it's adorable!

Onward, to:

EAT - DRINK - VEGAN

Pasadena, California

If you've been in the vegan game for a while and you're familiar with the Los Angeles vegan scene, you've heard of Eat Drink Vegan. However, there are many articles floating around saying this was their last festival.

While sad, fear not! There are an abundance of vegan festivals throughout L.A. on a regular basis - which is, allegedly, one of the reasons why this was the last EDV fest - so you can be sure to still find these vegan restaurants, trucks, and pop-ups around town for some time to come.

Rather than give you a photo series and literary run-down of what I ate, I'll just direct you to my latest YouTube video where I discuss everything. Please give it a view if you're a super-foodie, like me - I am pretty proud of this one, I must say!

And for now, that's all I've got for you - BUT!

Please check back for the next blog, which will feature:

WHAT I ATE IN SAN DIEGO

And more to come:

Where I ate in L.A. (besides EDV)

My experience at the Girlboss Rally

Bel Air Bed & Breakfast Review (Entirely Vegan/Veg!)

Please stay tuned to my YouTube channel, as well! I've got lots of exciting content coming soon over there - including video content to complement the future articles listed as well as some collaborations with Los Angeles YouTubers/influencers!

Be sure to sign up for my e-mail list so you are notified when the next article is live. :)

I'll see you on the next adventure, whether that's on the road or in the kitchen.

Cheers!

Vegan Restaurant Week: Top 10 Community Reviews

VEGAN RESTAURANT WEEK

TOP 10 COMMUNITY REVIEWS

On May 13th, 2019, Denver, Colorado held it's very first all-vegan restaurant week. 

As a quickly-growing community filled with hungry vegans, the response for restaurants to participate (vegan and omnivorous restaurants, alike) was well-receieved. 

There was no shortage of restaurants to choose from, as you can see below (and even more, who may not be listed here, chose to participate up until days prior).

But before diving into our reviews, some well-deserved appreciations must be voiced.

THANK YOU to the entire VegFest Colorado team and Veganizer Denver chapter leader, Sarah Eastin, for making Denver's very first all-vegan restaurant week a feasible (feast-able?) reality. The effort given from these sponsors was unrelenting. From the beginning stages of networking, to marketing, advertising, & graphic design, to the actual execution of an entire week overflowing with vegan options - this couldn't have happened without you.

THANK YOU to all 30+ restaurants in the Denver area who took a chance on a new concept. Thank you for deciding to participate. Conceptualizing new menu items. Amping up already dope menu items. Ultimately - whether you were already a vegan establishment or one who was entirely new to (and nervous about) a vegan menu - thank you for emerging unabashedly into the growing, thriving vegan scene here in Colorado.

THANK YOU to the Denver community. For trying new places, attending tastings to help restaurants culture their concepts, and for posting or reposting the items you ate on social media. Restaurants were able to partake in the kind words and photos that you shared within this community, and sharing keeps the vegan options present, abundant, and expanding. 

From the team work, to the tantalizing treats, to the taste buds that enjoyed: 
This post is a tribute to you all.

Courtesy of patchworkcactus.com

The reviews you are about to read are local opinions from the Denver vegan community. These submissions are directly from the mouths (pun intended) of local vegan influencers. These women are always on the town tasting the latest and greatest vegan plates around. Let's just say, they know good vegan food when they find it!

If you're looking for sugar-coated reviews, I'm afraid you won't find those here. We've acquired honest, open opinions, some of which are downright forward. So hold onto your britches and pair this feedback with a sour beer, if need be. (We hear Goed Zuur can help you with this.) Like any good food critic, we must uphold our integrity with unbiased opinions. While there were many interesting and fun experiences, there is also criticism - hopefully, the criticism you'll find is portrayed in the most helpful of tones. 

That being said: because there were SO many restaurants that participated in Vegan Restaurant Week, the amount of reviews collected here are obviously only a portion of experiences. If you know of a restaurant that deserves some praise or constructive insight, feel free to mention them in the comments below.

Without further ado:
The Top 10 Community Reviews!

Please click on any name below to read about a genuine Vegan Restaurant Week experience.

Bang Up to the Elephant
Review 1 by Holly Harper ("Plant Brat")
Review 2 by Emma Caroli ("Veg In Denver")

The Choice Market
Review by Miranda Lipes ("Uprooted Foodie")

Concourse Restaurant Moderne

Review by Janelle Stone ("Nutti Nelli")

The Corner Beet

Review by Emma Caroli ("Veg In Denver")

Deep Roots Winery & Bistro

Review by Kari Rowe ("Plant-Based Karoe")

Global Goods and Coffee

Review by Sarah Eastin ("Veganizer Denver")

Goed Zuur

Review by Kari Rowe ("Plant-Based Karoe")

Migration Taco

Review by Miranda Lipes ("Uprooted Foodie")

Turtle Boat

Review by Sarah Eastin ("Veganizer Denver")

Vegan Stoner Club

Review by Amy Beth Bolden ("That Vegan Wife")

Honorable Mention:

Adelitas Cocina y Cantina
Video Review by Versa Colorado News

What did you think of Vegan Restaurant Week? 

Do you have a review of your own to add? Leave a comment below!

Are you a restaurant offering vegan food who didn't see a review of their establishment here? We don't want you to feel left out! Please reach out to host/collaborate for a future review, whether it's Vegan Restaurant Week or just any ol' regular week of the year.

Again, many thanks to the VRW sponsors! 

Please be sure to support VegFest Colorado this year! The dates are July 27th and 28th in Broomfield, CO, and you can read more about it (and buy tickets) here.

Keep following Sarah Eastin (@veganizerden) on social media to stay in the loop regarding Veganizer pop-ups, dinners, and events - and just Denver vegan culture, in general. For more about Sarah and her thoughts on Vegan Restaurant Week, read her blog here.

I hope you'll continue to keep your eye on Uprooted Foodie for tips regarding veganism and travel.
There are more reviews on the horizon... so stay in touch if you'd like to be apart of future reviews such as this - or if you just want to say hello!

Peace, Love, and Plants.
I hope to see you at the next Vegan Restaurant Week!

Turning over a new "Leaf"

Vegan Food Review:

LEAF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

After a lovely April day in Broomfield (at my temporary office job), I decided to meet my boyfriend, Kyle, at an all-vegetarian restaurant for dinner. One that had some rave reviews, up in Boulder. 

Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
1710 Pearl Street, Boulder CO

Leaf is a family-owned restaurant offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu items. An aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, embracing open windows in warm weather; Leaf serves high quality dishes with a farm-to-table vibe and will absolutely leave you satisfied.

STARTERS

We started our Leaf experience with the Avocado Tartare: marinated mushrooms, avocado, endive, and pico de gallo.

Now, I've never had a proper tartare - but I've certainly served one. When I was living in Washington D.C. (circa 2016) I served at a downtown fine-dining restaurant called NoPa, where they served all sorts of exquisite (and not-super-vegan) dishes... so I was prepared for what it would look like, but not what it would taste like.

Can we just appreciate this beauty, for a moment?

From the splashed olive oil puddles in the endive leaves to the earthy-green sprouts a-top, I just wanted to stare at this tartare for an hour. Eventually, hunger took over, and I had a few bites: delicate, oily, and creamy... this dish lets you taste the ingredients to a simple degree. There's a freshness along with a salty-savory profile which makes this such a delightfully refined experience.

Our next dish was a little more hands-on: Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos.

Spicy, meaty, and again: fresh. Be prepared to get your hands dirty with these babies. The cauliflower is crispy, yet full of flavor and extra crunchy with the carrot and celery.

I paired both of these appetizers with Prosecco, FYI. Prosecco is perfect to cleanse the palate between more dense food items. Plus, it also just tastes really, really good.

ENTREES

Kyle went with a vegetarian dish, so if you're vegan, please cover your eyes for this next photo. 

Just kidding; please don't, it's still beautiful! Mushrooms of the Sea: campanelli pasta, oyster and trumpet mushrooms, dulse "sea" cream, tomato, pecorino (sheep's milk). According to Kyle, these mushrooms really are just like fish. I wouldn't know, but I'll take his word for it.

 I'm excited to present this next one to you: Jamaican Jerk Tempeh. (Fully vegan.) 

The Jamaican Jerk Tempeh is a cake of tempeh and forbidden black rice in a coconut plantain sauce with sauteed greens, fruit salsa, garnished with a plaintain chip.

Creamy, sweet, but flavorful. The plantain was a fun garnish for scooping bites. I paired this dish with a Cotes du Rhone which brought out the spicy notes. And you might not guess by looking at her, but she's very filling. 

DESSERT

Of course, we couldn't leave without trying dessert. Right?

This fun culinary art project is Leaf's Red Velvet Beet Cake with golden milk cream, candied ginger, beet glaze, and cumin walnuts.

This is a dense cake, almost like a bread pudding. Dare I say this one was a little dry, but luckily you can soak this up with the golden milk cream and beet sauce provided.

THE FINAL VERDICT

Would I return to Leaf?

Yes.

The ambiance is ten out of ten, the food is exceptionally beautiful and tasty, and the drinks are great. Service was on par; the hostess appeared to be on her first day or so, but the manager on duty (or possible owner) who brought us our drinks was very accommodating, even offering to pour my Prosecco at the table for me (which is a gesture I always appreciate). 

Next time, I would love to come back for a salad or new entree, a different dessert, and I have 100% interest in trying a dessert cocktail.

All in all, I'm pleased to say we found a new spot to take family when they come to town! 

Have you ever tried this establishment? What dishes were your favorite? 

Leave a comment down below and let me know!

Vegan Wing Review: No FOWL play at FOTM

My history with eating chicken wings doesn't span very much of my life's timeline.

Bourbon Chipotle Seitan Wings.

If I'm being honest with you, I don't believe I've ever eaten a hot wing made from a chicken (and I'm, clearly, one hundred percent okay with that).

That's not to say I never ate chicken - I did. I just ate chicken tenders because I liked the breading, and the occasional grilled chicken at my grandmother's, once upon a time or two.

So, when I came into my own with veganism, I wasn't really thinking about places that served hot wings, let alone vegan wings. My veganism started out with whole foods and the rare novelty items that were around in the early 2000s (namely Follow Your Heart mozzarella, Veganaise, and soy or rice milk).

2019 is a WHOLE different ball game.

Commence my further infatuation with veganized fridge staples, curiosity about vegan fast food items, and my affection for entire restaurants that are solely vegan. Of all the places around the U.S. I've inhabited, I feel like Denver keeps surprising me. And it's so wonderful.

So, let's get into it!

This blog post is more than just a shout-out to just Fire on the Mountain. This is a thank you to my boyfriend for going out of town for a week and leaving my mind to wander, wondering what vegan finds Denver had that I had yet to explore. 😂

It's also a shout out to the adorable cafe across the street from FOTM... Cafe Zuri!

Manhattan, stirred, Cafe Zuri.

What does this cute little cocktail have to do with my wing night? I'll tell you.

When I walked into Fire on the Mountain, it was swarming with wingnuts. I was inevitably going to be put on the waitlist for a table, and while I was given 45 minutes to wait for their text confirmation of an open table, I wandered. (Go figure.)

Photo courtesy of Cafe Zuri social media.

As I planned to walk a few blocks to the nearest brewery, this cafe caught my eye. I was drawn to them, even if I had to settle for a non-alcoholic beverage while I waited - but, glory be, they had alcohol, as well.

Zuri has a no WiFi & no laptop policy so that everyone can enjoy the intimate ambiance without feeling too detached. They not only serve caffeine and alcoholic beverages, but they also serve adorable baked goods and a vegan option among their panini selection.

I struck up some small conversation with the bartender and a local. By the time I really started to enjoy myself, my phone prematurely vibrated with a text that my table was ready (in only ten minutes as opposed to a full 45 - woo!) - so I slammed my carefully crafted & strong Manhattan, asserted my goodbyes & thanks, and walked back across the street, ready for a solo wing night.

Mural on the side of FOTM's buidling.

I was guided to the far corner of the restaurant at a two-top, tucked in the back. I notice the table is well-stocked with silverware, napkins, and condiments, including malt vinegar (rightfully, so). Fire staff seats you with a menu and invites you to order at the counter when you're ready.

FOTM Food Menu.

This night, there were lots of folks in line, both to dine in and to carry out, but it was well worth the wait. The hostess took her time with each customer and was thoroughly friendly. My cashier was patient and kind, so I was excited to tell him I was loving their extensive vegan options - and when I casually ordered my "wings" (without specifying), he clarified that I wanted the seitan wings... and I am so grateful for that potentially expensive mistake, both in my wallet and in my gut.

Vegan Ranch, Cauliflower Wings with Raspberry Habanero, and a small fry.

Let's get to what we all really want to talk about: the food.

First things first: I noticed immediately that my ranch was left with the "VR" label on the lid when delivered to me - again, much appreciated! Knowing that my meal is truly, fully vegan is always the biggest relief when going to an omnivorous joint for grub.

Second, these fries.

Now, I may not have ever *eaten* wings before, but I neglected to mention one little fun fact about my past... I worked at a Buffalo Wild Wings. While vegan. Hey - it was 2009, and ya girl needed a job in a college town, okurr? Point being - WHILE I was working at B-dubs, I served a lot of french fries. And for some reason, at these wing joints, all the wings have a similar dusting of seasoning... if you're a wing aficionado, you'll know what I'm talking about. And these fries... they're dusted. 👌 Nice.

Round #1: Cauliflower Wings.

A basket. I chose raspberry habanero for my wing sauce, without realizing it was automatically served on the side - which, when realized upon receiving, I was instantly happy about. Who likes soggy cauliflower? NOBODY, JANET.

Cauliflower Wings

I reached for the crispy girl first (Hallelujah! Crispy fried food!) and was impressed. This choice? Strong. I love cauliflower wings more than most folks, and I usually prefer them to seitan wings. These are simultaneously juicy and crispy. So pleasant.

The raspberry habanero is probably my favorite sauce of all. Spicy and sweet, it doesn't leave you without tastebuds. Respect.

Let's talk ranch, quick.

Milky, buttery, sweet. Not a mayo consistency, but legitimately saucy (therefore, not quite hitting the "dip" mark of what I was expecting, but the flavor is so on point that I don't even care). I don't think I've ever tasted a more legit ranch. And for a wing place, that's how it ought to be! I don't know if this is a vegan brand that they buy in bulk or if they make it in house, but I will say that they absolutely know what they're doing with vegan ranch in this place.

Wing Trio: Cauliflower Basket, Bourbon Chipotle Seitan, & Jamaican Jerk Seitan.

Round #2: Bourbon Chipotle Seitan Wings.

As a woman who just came across the street after having a Four Roses Manhattan straight up, I'll let you know a little secret... I am a bourbon lover.

The flavor is almost sweet, at first, then it hits you high on the back of your palate and kicks you in the throat. (Like I said: bourbon, you do me proud!)

Bourbon Chipotle Seitan Wings

Texture: a great chewy texture. And in all honesty, it does have that particular seitan texture, which resembles steak more than chicken, in my opinion. The flavor and the chewing process take a while, so you probably don't need too many wings to enjoy the experience of your vegan wing night. But we're not amateurs, so we're going in for Round 3.

Round 3: Jamaican Jerk Seitan Wings.

Jamaican Jerk Seitan Wings.

Not gonna lie - I had to research this sauce, beforehand. (I told you, my wing history is nearly a clean slate.) Every sauce on the menu seems to have a spice kick, especially if you're sticking to the vegan options (R.I.P. Honey BBQ), however, you can taste all of them before you order! Yes, you heard me right, folks. You can sample any of the sauces listed on their menu with pretzel sticks as you're ordering at the counter, to ensure that you make a choice you're proud of (or at least a choice that you can't blame on the restaurant if you dislike it, later). Each sauce is marked with vegan and gluten-free notes, so you can be in-the-know. Here, I'll even show you the menu, below, for reference.

FOTM Food Menu.

Anyway. Jerk sauce seems to be sweetened, typically, with brown sugar. A nice contrast to all of the buffalo, habanero, hot, etc. markings. 

Flavor reaction? 

"Okay. Yep."

Cloves.

Smoky, sugar-y, saucy cloves. 

This is almost like a sweet gravy at first (think Sputnik's incredible vegan brown gravy *drool*) and then it slaps you with that familiar clove smokiness once you've swallowed and licked your lips. (Sorry for the foodporn-dirty talk. But... I'm being honest.) I do wish the gravy aspect lingered more.

Texture: Somehow more crumbly than the bourbon chipotle basket. I enjoyed this more than the bourbon chipotle, surprisingly. I think the jerk must just soak into the seitan better. 

At the end of the day, which round would I go back for?

Round #1: Cauliflower Wings.

Cauliflower Wings win me over every time, fam. But that's also due to the fact that I never liked meat or meaty textures growing up - hence why I'm vegan now!

I love a crispy fried veg any day of the week, and this basket did not disappoint. If you're in a similar boat as me, preferring the vegetable option to the faux-meats, then I'd opt for this basket and order a few sauces on the side to get a nice spectrum of flavor. The lime-chipotle, spicy peanut, and raspberry habanero would all be wonderful companions to this juicy, fried wing.

All in all, this place is rockin' with the vegan options. You can sub any protein of your choice for their sandwiches, salads, etc. - play around with it, and have fun! They're super accommodating. (They'll also be at Vegan Restaurant Week in May - so perhaps you can give them a go, then, if you're local.)

And that's all, folks! 

Additional things to note regarding Fire on the Mountain's vegan options:

• Every Thursday is $2 off meatless menu items including vegan cauliflower and seitan wings!
• Vegan week special menu starting 11am on Thursday 5/16 through Thursday 5/30
• Munchies- Fried mac and "cheese" balls 3 for $9 served with vegan sriracha ranch 
• Salad- Kale pesto pasta salad. kale pesto- peas - tomato- green onion- carrots- pasta bowl for $5
• Sandwich- Jack fruit pulled BBQ sandwich with avocado ranch slaw served with a side of fries. $12

Be sure to grab one of FOTM's bazillion delightful beers to wash down those plant-based wings. And don't forget to tip the staff after you order at the counter, because they're working their butts off. I tipped an extra $5-6 bucks, and they're worth every penny for their stellar service. 

Fire on the Mountain: Worth It. They... bring the heat, as it were. 😉