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Strong Hearts Cafe, Syracuse, NY

Posted by Danielle Bussone on May 18, 2013 in American, I-81, Syracuse, NY | 0 comments

Strong Hearts Cafe is a particularly delightful find. Vegan restaurants are not always my favorites as they tend to use a lot of highly processed meat substitutes, rather than focusing on healthy vegetarian fare. While there is plenty of this at Strong Hearts Cafe, it is largely a restaurant which focuses on healthy, delicious vegan food. The vegetables are locally sourced as well as their organic tofu. We brought Rich’s nephew John, his wife, Tina, and their two daughters, Maria and Angie as our guests to try out this restaurant. They are all carnivores and each commented how much they enjoyed the meal. Strong Hearts Cafe is the only all vegan restaurant in Syracuse. It is conveniently located right off Interstate 81.

The breakfast menu is extensive from French toast and waffles to “egg” muffins, tofu scrambles and freshly baked muffins.They offer several tofu scrambles ranging in price from $5.50 – $7.00 for the fully loaded scramble. Angie ordered the French toast which was decadently delicious at $5. You can order fruit on top for an another $1. Maria, order the blueberry muffin, $2. A different kind of muffin is baked fresh every morning. They only bake a dozen and when they are gone, they’re gone. (more…)

2013 Charlotte VegFest

Posted by Danielle Bussone on May 12, 2013 in Charlotte, NC, Charlotte, NC, Features, Veg Fests | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Today, May 11th, Charlotte VegFest celebrates it’s second annual gathering of health and animal rights enthusiasts. It is held from 12pm to 5pm off Commonwealth Avenue in Plaza Midwood in Charlotte, NC. Rich and I made the rainy 3 hour trek to Charlotte with high hopes but low expectations. After all, it’s only Charlotte’s 2nd VegFest. We were delighted to discover at 12:30 the place was already packed with vegans, vegetarians and the veg-curious sampling the wares of venders offering raw cookies, juice bars and vegan salads and pastas. We visited organic spice purveyors, yoga instructors, macrobiotic chefs, raw and vegan chefs and numerous animal adoption and rescue agencies. There were also recycling and green energy agencies represented. The turnout was fantastic! Every hour or so there were speakers discussing issues concerning health, fitness, and what we as individuals can do to reduce global warming. Shabaka Amen (Fitness & Nutrition), Dr. Michael Smith (Naturopathy Physician), Leilani Munter, race car driver, and Gene Baur (co-founder and President of Farm Sanctuary) were on the program. We connected with numerous establishments which cater to the plant-based diner and have plans to return in the near future to do restaurant and chef reviews as well as cooking videos. Even the weather cooperated! Just as we tooled into Charlotte and found a good parking place, the skies cleared and we enjoyed a sunny day made perfect by a light breeze. On the way out we stopped and had a fantastic vegan lunch at Fern. Just the ticket after a long drive and a few hours perusing the tents at the Charlotte VegFest. We are already looking forward to next year’s festivities!

Barter Theatre Cafe Removed from Veggin’ Out & About!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on May 12, 2013 in -Cuisine, American, I-81 | 0 comments

While we love the Barter Theater and continue to support their fine actors and performances, we unfortunately have to remove them from our food blog. At an opening performance of The Blonde, The Brunette and The Angry Red Head, we stopped in to have dinner at the Barter Cafe. We were disappointed, to say the least, that the Barter no longer carries any Vegan or Vegetarian options. I can’t imagine what lead to this decision but until they see the light and add vegan options to their menu, we can no longer carry them on our site. C’mon Barter! Step up to the plate!

Beautiful and Functional Vegetable Steamer by Grim Pottery!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on May 7, 2013 in Features, Living Plant-Strong! Profiles & Articles | 2 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Debbie Grimm’s Veggie Steamer

I am excited to share with you pictures of my new vegetable steamer created by Virginia potter, Debbie Grim Yates of Grim Pottery. It is both beautiful and functional. Just add a couple inches water to a medium stock pan. Set the steamer on top and fill it with your favorite steamed veggies and put on the lid!

Inside Deb’s Veggie Steamer

You may want to put in your longest cooking veggies first, such as carrots and potatoes and add the quick cookers a little later. Bring to a boil and in a few minutes you have wonderful steamed veggies. The steamer is so lovely, you can serve directly from it. What I like best about it is you don’t lose the wonderful nutrients which are released from the vegetables as they cook. Most steamers have holes in the bottom so these nutrients are lost into the water of the sauce pan. In this one, the steam is released in a hole in the lid and the juice from the vegetables is saved with the vegetables. This has become my favorite new cooking tool!