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Everlasting Life Restaurant & Lounge, Capital Heights, MD

Posted by Danielle Bussone on May 28, 2013 in American, Capital Heights, MD, I-495 | 2 comments

Everlasting Life Restaurant & Lounge is not just a restaurant, it is a movement. Located in a strip mall surrounded by fast food restaurants, Everlasting Life stands out as a beacon of hope to a sick and obese community drowning in a sea of poor dietary habits. Everlasting Life is a cafeteria-style restaurant offering fresh salads, whole plant-based entrees and side dishes, vegan desserts, juices and smoothies.

The first time we visited Everlasting Life, we had a little trouble finding it. We stopped and asked some guys in the neighborhood and they all exclaimed in unison, “Oh, that’s a great place to eat!” We tried it and had to agree. The mac and cheese was the best vegan mac and cheese I’ve eaten to date. The portions are huge! I had sweet potatoes with brown sugar, collard greens and mac and cheese as my entree. I will admit, I also slipped in a piece of vegan zucchini cake and I would not let Rich have more than one bite. It was that good! Southern soul food made healthy is my best description for it. Every day the menu changes. The hot bar offers one entree and two sides for $11.00 or one entree and one side for $8.75. You may choose to have only the vegetable sides or only entrees, the price is dependent on how many you choose. The cold bar offers a huge assortment of salads. A plate of two salad dishes is $7.00, three is $10.05 and four is $11.75. You may also purchase personal pizzas, sandwiches, breakfast rolls and much more. (more…)

Vegan Meetup in Asheville, NC

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Apr 22, 2013 in Asian, Features, I-240, I-26, Thai | 0 comments

For the vegan and veg-curious, there is no better way to sample a variety of great vegan dishes than by joining a local meet-up group. The best way to find one in your area is to simply google vegan meetups (your city). For example, vegan meetup Butler, TN. This brought up meetup groups in Boone, NC, Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN, all of which we have become members. Participation in these potluck events are usually free or very inexpensive, depending on whether the group has to pay a fee for a venue in which to meet. I’ve never seen one charge more than $3. You are expected to bring a pot-luck dish which has no animal products in it whatsoever and will feed eight people. Usually, you also bring your recipe as well as your own place setting. This is a great way to experience vegan cuisine, gather new recipes of the dishes you enjoyed and become a part of a supportive group of like minded people. Occasionally, a group will get together to sample the vegan cuisines offered by local restaurants.

Yesterday, we were able to visit for the first time (due to the long drive) The Asheville Vegan Society’s luncheon at Suwana’s Thai Orchid. Suwana’s was one of the first restaurants we reviewed when we began our journey with Veggin’ Out & About. We learned yesterday she is in the process in opening up an Asian Noodle shop very near Suwana’s Thai Orchid. We are excited about reviewing this new find in the coming weeks.

The Asheville Vegan Society is a robust, laid-back group of vegans of all ages. We had such a great time and were welcomed like old friends. The food at Suwana’s was even better than we remembered. It was all so delicious and the service was fantastic. Thank you, Joe W. VeganMan for organizing this great event and this dynamic group!! And thank you, Suwana and her amazing staff for pulling it off so seamlessly!!

Misser Wot (Spicy Lentils) from Sheba’s Ethiopian Restaurant

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 8, 2013 in Ethiopian, Fairfax, VA, I-495, I-66 | 18 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Misser Wot is an Ethiopian spicy red lentil dish. Sheba’s owner (Azeb Gide) and her chef (Adanech Hussen) shared their recipe for this wonderfully spicy and healthy dish. Unfortunately, Sheba’s is no longer in business. It’s a real shame for this was one of our all-time favorite restaurants.

Ingredients

1 large chopped onion

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 to 1/2 cup berbere

split red lentils

2 -3 tablespoons fresh minced garlic

cinnamon to taste

salt

boiling water

ground black cardamom seeds (more…)

Sheba’s Ethiopian Restaurant, Fairfax, VA

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Mar 8, 2013 in -Cuisine, Ethiopian, Fairfax, VA, I-495, I-66 | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Sheba’s Ethiopian Restaurant is the most elegant of the D.C. area Ethiopian restaurants we visited. Sheba’s boasts a freshly restored dining room with orderly tables bedecked with white tablecloths and prices that are beyond reasonable. The owners are Azeb Gide and her husband Million Hundessa, who Azeb proclaims to be a gifted cook. Her talented but camera-shy chef, Adanech Hussen, assisted in preparing the spicy red lentil dish for our video.

Azeb feels it is important to cook with healthy, whole foods. “My children eat at this restaurant. This is the food I feed my family, of course I want it to be made of the best ingredients possible.” Azeb has taken care to choose the best cookware as well. Rather than using the cheaper aluminum cookware she chose all stainless steel to avoid any concerns about aluminum’s potential contribution to Alzheimer’s disease. She takes the health of her patrons seriously. (more…)

Fasolia (Green Beans & Carrots) from Enat

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 23, 2013 in Alexandria, VA, Ethiopian, I-395 | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Abbe, the owner and manager of ENAT, has kindly contributed his recipe of Fasolia, Ethiopian Green Beans and Carrots. This is the mildest dish you can find in Ethiopia. It is made from ingredients which are widely available at your local grocery stores.

4709 Chambliss St
Alexandria VA 22312
Facebook Page

703-642-3628

Fasolia, Ethiopian Green Beans and Carrots

Ingredients: (more…)

Enat Ethiopian Restaurant, Alexandria, VA

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 23, 2013 in Alexandria, VA, Ethiopian, I-395 | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

We knew Enat Ethiopian Restaurant in Alexandria, VA, promised to be an excellent and authentic Ethiopian restaurant when we walked in and did not see another white face in the crowded room other than our own. Enat didn’t disappoint. The room has the ambiance of a family sports bar. A wide screen TV is fitted against a large wall; a soccer game was on when we first visited. Families were situated around the tables with linen tablecloths covered with glass and many eyes were glued to the screen. As you walk in you will see a large granite bar with a young bartender expertly mixing drinks. Well behaved children shared bites of Wat with injera on a communal plate with the rest of their family. Relaxation and comfort is the name of the game here. You see businessmen in suits and others in shorts, t-shirts, jeans and sneakers.

Abiye Bisrat is the owner. He’s an affable man with an ingratiating charm who immediately made us feel welcome. The name Enat means “mama” in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. This is exactly how we were made to feel, as if we were eating Mama’s cooking in the family dining room. (more…)