-Interstate | Veggin' Out And About

Fern – Flavors From The Garden – A Vegetarian Gem In Charlotte, NC

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Feb 5, 2014 in Charlotte, NC, Eclectic, Fern, I-277, I-77, I-85, Organic and/or Non-GMO, Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

The first time we visited Fern was during the Charleston Vegetarian Festival last summer. It was a blistering day and our beloved monster, Phoenix, was feeling the heat. We noticed the building as we were driving through town and it happened to be within walking distance of the festival. With covered out-door seating and entirely vegetarian, it seemed to be just the ticket. Phoenix settled down at the foot of our table and the waitress was kind enough to fill her dish with water. I had the Om Burger and I cannot for the life of me remember what Rich had. I can tell you that it was all delicious and I am filled with guilt every time I think about it. We had every intention of writing a review of Fern then but as it sometimes happens, life got in the way and Fern continued to slip farther back on our “to do” list. Recently, en-route to Charleston we decided to give Fern another try.

Fern: Flavors From The Garden Vegetarian Restaurant

Fern: Flavors From The Garden Vegetarian Café

Fern is a charming café with lots of tables and bustling activity. When we were seated we were brought a glass of water infused with cucumbers. This was an unexpected and delightfully refreshing treat! I remember how welcome that was on our parched first visit to Fern.

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Dell’z Vibez – Smoothie and Juice Bar In Downtown Charleston, SC!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jan 31, 2014 in Charleston, I-26, Juice Bars, Vegan | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Just around the corner from Dell’z Diner you’ll find Dell’z Vibez (Vibes), a bustling smoothie and juice bar owned and managed by Dell’z daughter, Nicole (Nikki) Brown. Nikki, as it turns out, is Holistic Health Practitioner, a Certified Raw Foods Chef and Teacher.

Rich and I waddled in after stuffing ourselves at Dell’z Deli and couldn’t resist ordering something to drink. Nikki recommended something light which would help us to digest the heavy meal we had just consumed.

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Dell’z Deli – Vegan Eats To Go In Charleston, SC!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jan 31, 2014 in American, Charleston, I-26, Soul, Vegan | 0 comments

by Danielle Bussone

Dell’z Deli is a tiny (as in tee-nine-y) little sandwich shop located in downtown Charleston, SC. The owner, Dell (Maudell Grayson), greets us with a big, pearly white smile and a head full of dreadlocks peaking out of a cool gray scarf. Her son, a tall, affable young man expertly assembles sandwiches and pizzas, moving them efficiently into and out of a toaster oven. Another helper, answers the phone, takes orders, handles the cash and passes out take out lunches to the steady stream of customers who crowd around the four seater counter where Rich and I sit on wobbly stools awaiting our meal. It’s standing room only and no one seems to mind.

Dell’z Team

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Chow Thai in Boca Raton, FL – A Favorite Among Vegan Diners!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jan 31, 2014 in Boca Raton, I-95, Thai, Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly | 0 comments

by Andrea Medalie

So there we were, my running partner, Mark, and I, scrambling to find a restaurant to accommodate our specific tastes on a Friday night. With no long run scheduled for the next morning, we were looking for something somewhat exotic and spicy. We contemplated the trendy and overpriced Japanese place up the street and then decided on the all-you-can-eat Japanese place nearby for the same value. Much to our dismay, it had closed so we were at a loss. Then it suddenly occurred to me…a few blocks north of us, on S.R. 7 or 441, just south of Palmetto Park Rd. , in South Boca Raton, FL, there is a Thai restaurant that the local vegan Meet up group raves about. I know, I know, Thai food isn’t typically vegan friendly, with either fish or oyster sauce present in most, if not all of their dishes, sauces and dressings, not to mention egg in the Pad Thai. I had eaten at this very place a few years back and I did indeed enjoy it. With my palate being even more refined, I thought, why not revisit this establishment, long hallowed by discerning vegan patrons.

Chow Thai Vegetable Soup

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Taste of India, Charleston, SC, Teaches Us How To Make Bhindi Masala

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jan 29, 2014 in Charleston, I-26, I-526, Indian, Vegan | 0 comments

This is a video shot by VegginOutAnd About! at the Taste of India Restaurant in Charleston, SC, on how to make Bhindi (Okra) Masala:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Tablespoons high quality olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 cup freshly chopped tomatoes, plus a tablespoon for garnish
1 cup fried okra
1/4-1/2 teaspoon chili powder (you may use cayenne)
1/8 teaspoon cumin powder
1/8 teaspoon coriander powder
1/4 cup onion sauce
chopped cilantro for garnish

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Veggin’ Out at Mooney’s Mediterranean Café in Winston-Salem, NC!

Posted by Danielle Bussone on Jan 29, 2014 in I-40, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Winston-Salem | 0 comments

by Laura Blankenship

Step into Mooney’s off of fourth street in Winston-Salem and the first thing you’ll notice is the chic interior for such a quaint little café. Actually, if you’re there during the middle of lunch, like my dining partner and I, the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s jam-packed and you’ll worry about your chances of getting a table. Luckily we snagged one of two vacant ones in the house; business is bustling and turnover is fast during lunch, where mostly business people from downtown are on their lunch breaks.

Mooney’s Mediterranean Café In Winston-Salem, NC
Interior

During lunch, customers order at the counter from the menu above it written in chalk on a blackboard. With tons of options–vegan, vegetarian, and meaty, too–in small handwriting and the long line that was moving fast, I didn’t have long to deliberate and quickly picked something that sounded vegan and delicious: the Tempeh Pita.

Mooney’s Tempeh Pita

During my lengthy conversation with owner Ameen David, I learned that my wrap was developed by a strict vegan employee, Stephen (minus his consumption of two eggs a week per doctor’s orders, Ameen recalls). The Tempeh Pita isn’t the only menu item developed by his employees. Leah, one of Mooney’s servers, and her boyfriend, a chef at a neighboring downtown restaurant, suggested that Ameen start using olive oil rather than butter in the couscous when they became vegan. He listened. And every time his wife saw him, Ameen says, he was eating this sandwich that wasn’t on the menu. “What is that?” she asked. Thus the Falafel Burger, the brainchild of an employee named Scott, was born.

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