Where to Drink Vegan: The Coffee Truck - Nashville, TN

After deciding that I do in fact like coffee our next coffee adventure in Nashville had to be The Coffee Truck owned and operated by the lovely miss Juliet and her brother Sutherland. Juliet and Sutherland grew up in Costa Rica on their family's coffee plantation - so they know coffee. They served me up a delicious vegan mocha latte!

They were sweet enough to let me hop into the front of their truck and take a peek inside. While the inside of the truck is cramped - as any truck is - they managed to make it cozy with some personal touches. The seats are garbed in coffee sacks from the coffee that they use on-truck!

You can find them most days (Tuesday- Friday) at 719 McFerrin Street but follow their twitter or facebook to find out when they might be at local events.

Where to Drink Vegan: Barista Parlor - Nashville TN

One of the first places Marty took us in Nashville was a newly opened coffee joint called Barista Parlor. It's a pretty neat space actually. The coffee is brewed and served out of a converted old garage so there are high ceilings, wide open floors and interesting hanging lamps and lights all over the place.

They also use a Japanese style of coffee brewing which includes these fancy, spiraling chemistry set looking pipes and levels. The owner did a cool interview talking about the processes he uses and his vision of the Parlor.

Now truth be told I'm not a coffee drinker. I can get down with a cup of tea leaves but keep those beans out of my hot water. That was until I went to Barista Parlor.

I discovered two marvelous things on this visit.

1: Olive and Sinclair Chocolate.

This chocolate - made locally in Nashville, reminds me a lot of Taza which I discovered in Boston. Stone ground, vegan, delicious. It has a strangely low melting point though. After my first bar melted in my purse I bought a few extra to take home and put them at my feet in the car so they would be in the shade and in the direct flow of cool air. They still melted.

2. I actually DO like coffee if it's in the form of an Almond Milk Mocha Latte. Marty is always thoughtful enough to order things I can photograph and taste too and once I tasted this cup of mocha I was sold. They use the Olive and Sinclair chocolate which makes it that much better.

My only gripe with this place is that they didn't any vegan items to munch on other than the chocolate. Their food menu is very very small - I only saw three items on their little printed clipboard menu and then they have a few baked goods on the counter.

Very fun hangout spot. We liked it so much we went back again before leaving.

All that coffee gave us an attitude.

Fried Rice Collard Wraps

A while back I posted what is, in my opinion, the Best Fried Rice recipe. I've recently gotten into collard wraps and so I thought...well why not make that fried rice more portable and stick it in a roll!

Fried Rice Collard Wraps

1 batch fried rice with a few shakes of black toasted sesame seeds
1 bunch collard greens
olive oil
fresh lemon juice

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil.

2. Lay a collard leaf down on a cutting board with the more protruding underbelly side of the leaf facing up. Take a sharp knife and slice out the largest, toughest part of the stem. You'll go about half way up the leaf. Repeat with all the remaining leaves.

3. Once the water is boiling drop your collards into the pot and let them boil for about a minute or until they turn a bright green. Drain the leaves and run cool water over them.

4. Combine several Tbsp of oil and lemon juice in a bowl. Place a collard leaf on the cutting board. The side that is facing the cutting board will be the outside of your wrap.

5. Using a pastry brush lightly coat the leaf in the olive oil and lemon mixture. Arrange the leaf so that its a solid piece - remember you took out part of the stem so unless you arrange it there will be a gaping hole in the middle of your wrap.

6. Place a large dollop of fried rice towards the bottom of the leaf in the center portion of that bottom half. You will fold the wrap in the same way you fold a burrito. Fold the outer, vertical sides of the leaf over onto the rice and then grab the very bottom, horizontalish side and begin to roll up, tucking the vertical sides in as needed until it is fully rolled.

7. Repeat with remaining leaves and rice. Serve with garlic chili sauce.

Home on the Gram

Recently...

Remi Visits

On his way home to France my friend Remi stopped by DC for a short trip. During his first trip to DC we hung around the Mall quite a lot so this time I wanted to take him to Georgetown, Chinatown and Adams Morgan to kinda round out his DC experience.

We were all over the place from District of Pi one night to second hand book shopping with Graham in Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle the next day, to kayaking the Potomac River, a lavish dinner at Vermillion, coffee and desserts at Busboys and some nice long walks around the city.













For our last activity we went to the Black Cat to see JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound which was one of the most involved and enjoyable shows I've been to in a long time. Check them out for some funky tunes.

Where to Eat Vegan: Lan Cafe - East Village, NYC

Lan Cafe is a vegan Vietnamese place tucked into "Little India" in East Village. Bordered on all sides by the wafting smells of curry and naan, this tiny restaurant wouldn't have caught my eye at all if I hadn't been looking for it.



After the heavy burritos of the morning it was nice to relax with an avocado smoothie and some summer rolls and to watch people walk by the window.



For my main meal I opted for a bahn-mi-esque baguette with seitan, carrots, cucumbers and cilantro. Despite eating a giant baguette this meal still felt light and satisfying.



Rachel made an awesome choice of rice noodles, carrots and bean curd.



Overall our meal was filling and well priced and I could see this being a casual hangout that I would go to to get away from the crowds and just have a simple, well prepared meal.

Location:

342 E 6th St
(Btwn 1st & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003

Where to Eat (and Practice!) Vegan: Jivamuktea Cafe - NYC

Jivamuktea has such a cute name how could I not love it? With a lovely selection of teas, smoothies, rice bowls, wraps and soups I felt right at home in this cozy little cafe. The cafe is a part of the Jivamukti Yoga School. Their mission is to support the practice of ahimsa - which means non harming.

Jivamukti - the yoga form is actually a practice that supports and advocates veganism and activism. If you happen to be in town stop in for a class or a meditation. If you aren't in the area you can subscribe to the free podcast Sunset Gita by searching for Gita Wisdom Teachings in Itunes.



This is the seitan and veggie wrap paired with a simple salad. Perfect after an intense practice.

Location:

841 Broadway , 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003