Philadelphia, PA:
The Winter Plate at Horizons. Four words: Dijon Seitan Cauliflower Terrine. This was like a fancy mini shepherd's pie.
New Harmony. Everything at this place is good. I've recently discovered their Beef with Broccoli and Peanut Sauce. So, so good and just enough peanut flavor. The Walnut Shrimp is also killer, if the super-firm texture doesn't freak you out. Last night, I had a bite of someone's seafood in a nest(?!) and I am totally getting that next time. The sauce was super-flavorful and savory. Love this place.
Cozumel, Mexico:
El Perro Verde, Cozumel's only all-vegetarian cafe. I can't believe I found this place because I wasn't even looking for it. I got a homemade veggie burger, which was a huge crispy patty filled with beans and seeds. I also got a nice soy-based smoothie with soy milk, banana, ice, a bit of soy ice cream, and wheat germ. It was just barely sweet and very refreshing. So glad I found this place. What a find!
Later in the day, I allowed my carnivorous family to eat in my presence at a regular restaurant. My spanish-speaking brother ordered me two mojito cubanos, menos alcoholica. Or something like that. They were super-good. I love mint.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Vegan on a Carnival Cruise
My family went on a Carnival Cruise on the Inspiration over spring break. I had been on a Carnival Cruise before and they were great about making me vegan food, so I wasn't worried. The first night of the cruise, I spoke to the dining room staff member that handles all special meals. I was thrilled to find out that they were willing to make their daily vegetarian entree dairy-free with advance notice. Here are some of the meals I had:
Zucchini and Eggplant with Tomato Sauce. Simple but good.
Black Bean Enchiladas with Salsa and Guacamole.
Poblano Pepper stuffed with Potato and Corn.
Channa Masala, Mattar Aloo, Spiced Basmati Rice. This was the best.
One night, my brother commented that my food looked like it was more about presentation than the actual food. I assured him it was yummy, too. Overall, I was impressed and I never left hungry. I got two appetizers every night: Salad with Balsamic, and a Tropical Fruit Plate. For dessert, another fruit plate. The fruit was always ripe and sweet, but it was always the same: cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, and sometimes pineapple or watermelon. Maybe half a strawberry, or two blueberries. One night, there was some papaya. That was exciting. I probably ate $10 worth of fruit every day. Mmm.
They also gave me a little glass of soy milk every night. I just wanted a little for my coffee, but a whole glass is cool, too. I also got soy milk to go with my cereal and coffee when I ate breakfast in the dining room. A couple times, I got a soy latte from the on-ship cafe, but that costs extra.
Every day, they had four fancy vegetarian salads for lunch at the salad bar. Usually two of them would be dairy-free. but it was hard to tell. I wish they had been labeled. I recall a Cabbage and Roasted Beet Salad dressed with a fancy vinegar being particularly tasty. There wasn't much else for lunch, though. I'd usually have a big salad with some beans and oil and vinegar, fruit, and another salad. Fiber is good!
Overall, I really enjoyed the food. I just wish there had been some sort of dessert. I realize now that maybe I could have requested a simple soy chocolate pudding. On a previous Carnival Cruise, I was given a soy vanilla pudding with cherries every night. It was always very firm and jiggly and, looking back, I am now semi-convinced that they served me a soy-based gelatin pudding. So, I was kind of afraid to ask.
Zucchini and Eggplant with Tomato Sauce. Simple but good.
Black Bean Enchiladas with Salsa and Guacamole.
Poblano Pepper stuffed with Potato and Corn.
Channa Masala, Mattar Aloo, Spiced Basmati Rice. This was the best.
One night, my brother commented that my food looked like it was more about presentation than the actual food. I assured him it was yummy, too. Overall, I was impressed and I never left hungry. I got two appetizers every night: Salad with Balsamic, and a Tropical Fruit Plate. For dessert, another fruit plate. The fruit was always ripe and sweet, but it was always the same: cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, and sometimes pineapple or watermelon. Maybe half a strawberry, or two blueberries. One night, there was some papaya. That was exciting. I probably ate $10 worth of fruit every day. Mmm.
They also gave me a little glass of soy milk every night. I just wanted a little for my coffee, but a whole glass is cool, too. I also got soy milk to go with my cereal and coffee when I ate breakfast in the dining room. A couple times, I got a soy latte from the on-ship cafe, but that costs extra.
Every day, they had four fancy vegetarian salads for lunch at the salad bar. Usually two of them would be dairy-free. but it was hard to tell. I wish they had been labeled. I recall a Cabbage and Roasted Beet Salad dressed with a fancy vinegar being particularly tasty. There wasn't much else for lunch, though. I'd usually have a big salad with some beans and oil and vinegar, fruit, and another salad. Fiber is good!
Overall, I really enjoyed the food. I just wish there had been some sort of dessert. I realize now that maybe I could have requested a simple soy chocolate pudding. On a previous Carnival Cruise, I was given a soy vanilla pudding with cherries every night. It was always very firm and jiggly and, looking back, I am now semi-convinced that they served me a soy-based gelatin pudding. So, I was kind of afraid to ask.
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