FireFly Fare Serves It Up Vegan In Roanoke, VA

by Danielle Bussone

 

Our first stop on our sojourn to the Big Apple is a restaurant we’ve shamefully overlooked for far too long. Firefly Fare is located in downtown Roanoke in the busy Market Square and is the very best place in the area to get good plant-based cuisine. We’ve stopped there many times to and from other parts of the country and it is high time we paid them their due.

 

Firefly Fare, inside the Market Square

Danielle at Firefly Fare, inside the City Market Building

 

Located in the historic City Market Building, smack dab in the heart of downtown Roanoke, it is less than 10 minutes from I-81. Parking is not always a given and you may have to circle the block a few times before something opens up.  But it is worth that minor inconvenience to experience the fresh and flavorful cuisine served up at Firefly Fare.

Over time we’ve tried just about everything on the menu and I can honestly say there wasn’t a single thing we didn’t enjoy. Firefly Fare also offers a fresh juice bar with concoctions such as Gingered Grasshopper, a refreshing blend of  spinach, celery, cucumber, kale, apple, lemon and ginger.

 

Firefly Fare Green Juice

Firefly Fare Green Juice – Gingered Grasshopper – $5.68

 

Firefly Fare offers a set menu with daily specials. Their ingredients are sourced from local farmers, which also means the menu is likely to change according to what produce is currently available. From Farm To Table is the watchword for Firefly Fare. Good food comes from fresh ingredients and you can’t get much fresher than this, not unless your grow your own vegetables. (more…)

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Barter Theater Costume Designers Create a Green Space That Feeds Body & Soul!

by Danielle Bussone

The Barter Theater, Abingdon, VA

The Barter Theater, Abingdon, VA

The closest thing to Broadway one can find outside of New York City, at least in the US, is the Barter Theater. The Barter, Virginia’s state theater, has put Abingdon on the map, making it a destination for tourists from around the world. One has only to attend a performance, any performance, to recognize the breadth of the talent that resides in this tiny corner of SW Virginia.

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Whole Health Natural Foods — Now Located Near The Virginia Creeper Trail!

by Laura Blankenship

 

Chris In Doorway

Chris, long-time employee of Whole Health Natural Foods, welcomes customers to the new store.

 

NEW LOOK, NEW LOCATION, SAME INTENTION

This June Whole Health Natural Foods store (aka Whole Health Center) opened at its brand new location in the heart of Abingdon.  Conveniently situated between I-81 exits 17 and 19, the new location is nestled between neighboring restaurant 128 Pecan—a fun, casual spot with some vegetarian dishes and a vegan option or two—and the trailhead of the beautiful Virginia Creeper Trail.

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The Richmond Vegetarian Festival Promises Its Best Year EVER!

by Danielle Bussone

 

Only NINE days to go to the advent of one of most happening VegFests in the country!!! The Richmond Vegetarian Festival hosted over 12,000 visitors last year and this year promises to be even better. Located on the verdant grounds of Bryan Park in Richmond, Virginia, in the Azalea Gardens, even the parking lot is shady and gorgeous! The June 21st festival will begin at 12 noon and last until 6 pm. A rain date is set for July 5th, same time same place, should the event have to be cancelled due to inclement weather. The festival’s Master of Ceremonies will be Richmond’s favorite meteorologist, Mike Goldberg, who is also an animal lover and music enthusiast.

 

Richmond VegFest: Gene-Tour-2012-420x210

 

Vendors at Richmond Vegetarian Festival: India K'Raja

India K’Raja

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Taste of Tandoor Marries Indian Spices With Old World Elegance in Woodbridge, VA

by Lisa Harris

The Taste of Tandoor located at 13836 Smoketown Road, in Woodbridge, Virginia is a wonderfully pleasant and relaxing place to dine for lunch or dinner.  Although not a completely vegan restaurant the owner Dave has worked very hard to meet the needs of his vegan patrons by having nine main vegan dishes permanently on the menu such as Chana Masala, Aloo Masala, and Aloo Ghobi Masala.

 

Chana Masala

Chana Masala

 

Vegan Flatbread

Vegan Flatbread

 

 Bismatti Rice

Bismatti Rice

 

They also have two appetizers and several vegan breads.  The appetizer vegetable samosa is a delicious vegetable turnover stuffed with potatoes, green peas, cumin seeds and spices.  It come with two types of dipping sauces but a word of advice, the green dip is not vegan so be sure to avoid it.  Besides your everyday salads Taste of Tandoor serves kachumbar which is a delicious cucumber and onion salad with lemon herbs. (more…)

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Lamplighter Roasting Company of Richmond, VA Offers Good Food And Locally Roasted Coffee!

by Michael Carpenter

Looking for a made to order breakfast or lunch item with a locally roasted coffee?

If you are in Richmond, then check out Lamplighter Roasting Company.  Located in a repurposed service station in Richmond’s historic fan district, Lamplighter has an eclectic artsy atmosphere with indoor and seasonal outdoor seating. On the sunny day when we visited the outdoor seating was busy but a table was open for us. Looking around we noted many milling around enjoying a cup of coffee and the weather while others were enjoying lunch and a game of chess.

 

Lamplighter Roasting Co.

 

Lamplighter opened in 2009 with the goal of offering a world class coffee experience. This cafe not only offers fresh food, but free public tastings the last Friday of every month.

 

Lamplighter Roasting Co.

 

We ordered the TLTNA $7.75 with tempeh and plum BBQ sauce. Many of the vegan BBQ sandwiches I have had in the past tend to be messy, however this had a good amount of sauce giving it a hint of BBQ without making it overwhelming or messy. The tempe had enough crunch combined with the avocado for a creaminess to make it a satisfying meal. Combined with a tasty fruit cup on the side this was a perfect light lunch.

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