Mesa Pizza - Uptown

I'm happy to report that Mesa Pizza recently opened in an additional Minneapolis location. This one is located on W. Lake Street in Uptown. Vegan pizza by the slice!

Vegan slice at Mesa Pizza

Peoples Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe

I wrote about the Hearty Vegan Burger back in July when I last visited Peoples Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe. I couldn't resist ordering it again. But my wife asked them to veganize the breakfast burrito using tofu scramble. It was delicious. They also serve tofu scramble at any time, which a friend ordered. It looked pretty tasty to me.

Breakfast burrito...veganized

Gorkha Palace

We tried Gorkha Palace for the first time. This is an excellent choice for Nepali, Tibetan and Indian food. The numerous vegan dishes are clearly marked as such.  I had the Aaloo Katahar, which is a jackfuit and potato dish and my wife had the Tofu Aaloo. We'll definitely return again.

Aaloo Katahar

Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck

Sorry about the late notice, but tomorrow (11/20/11) is an annual vegan Thanksgiving potluck sponsored by ARC and EarthSave Twin Cities. It takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church, located in Minneapolis. More info is available on the ARC web site.

The Bad Waitress

The Bad Waitress, with its updated menu, has become one of my Minneapolis favorites. This time I tried the Vegan Faux Sloppy Joe. It's quite sloppy and really tasty. We also had the Vegan Vanilla Shake, which is also excellent.

Vegan Faux Sloppy Joe. The Bad Waitress. 

Vegan Vanilla Shake. The Bad Waitress. 

Vegucated - Minneapolis premiere

Vegucated, a new documentary film, will be shown at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis on Monday (11-7-11). You can apparently obtain advance tickets here.

Breadsmith

If you haven't gone to Breadsmith to indulge in the Chocolate Babka, do yourself a favor and go there soon for this vegan treat. This kosher bakery has three three Twin Cities locations: Edina (50th & France), St. Paul and Minnetonka. Depending on the day, you can buy Chocolate Babka rolls or go for a whole loaf. They have at least a couple of other vegan items; just ask.

Chocolate Babka

Chocolate Babka

ZPIZZA

I can't help but be impressed by zpizza. They make a point of highlighting their vegan selections on their web site. And at the very beginning of the FAQ section, they address a number of vegan-related questions about their food, including a comprehensive listing of all of their vegan ingredients.

We enjoyed the Berkeley Vegan from their one Twin Cities-area restaurant, which is located in Roseville. (There is also a location Rochester, MN.) Yes, they use Daiya vegan cheese!

Berkeley Vegan at ZPIZZA in Roseville, MN

KARE 11 - No dairy or meat, but all delicious: Big Vegan by Robin Asbell

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/941652/59/No-dairy-or-meat-but-all-delicious-Big-Vegan-by-Robin-Asbell

The Bad Waitress

This was my first visit to The Bad Waitress since they've updated their menu and added more vegan items. I really enjoyed the veggie burger, which they say includes a blend of 10 ingredients. I had them include Daiya vegan cheese on the burger. It's big and it's a winner!

Vegan Cookbook Event Today - 10-1-11

Robin Asbell will be discussing (and signing) her new cookbook, Big Vegan, and offering samples of vegan dishes. The event is TODAY, from 11-2, at the Linden Hills Co-op. 

Vegan Meal Swap: 10-1-11

There might still be time to sign up for the vegan meal swap at Ethique Nouveau. The swap takes place Saturday, October 1st.

Rice Paper

Three of us enjoyed a night at Rice Paper, located in Edina, in the 50th & France area. We ordered both the tofu puffs and spring rolls for appetizers. Then each of us enjoyed a curry dish that I don't see on their online menu. It's quite spicy. Ask for the vegan menu when you arrive. You'll spend more than you're accustomed to spending on dinner, but it's worth checking out!

Tofu puffs at Rice Paper

Vegan curry dish at Rice Paper

SHE Royal Food Truck

SHE Royal Food Truck

See my earlier post about the City Hall Cafe, which is operated by the same people who run the SHE Royal Food Truck. The food truck craze has hit downtown Minneapolis in a big way, but most of the trucks don't seem to be vegan-friendly. I'm hooked on the veggie sampler (sometimes called the Ethiopian veggie on their menu), which typically includes one or two lentil dishes and either collard greens or beets, all for $7. They don't always have injera bread at the food truck, so you'll have to settle for rice in those instances. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter to find out where they'll be each day. They're usually at 10th & Nicollet or on Marquette between 5th and 6th.  I often sit down to eat my veggie sampler at Peavey Plaza or the Crystal Court. Otherwise you can also get the veggie sampler at the City Hall Cafe over the lunch hour on Wednesdays and Fridays. I think you actually get a little bit bigger serving size at the City Hall Cafe.  

Highland Grill - special vegan dinner event

Mark your calendars. On Monday, August 29th, The Highland Grill in St. Paul is going experiment with a one-night vegan dinner. If it proves to be popular, it could lead to the restaurant--and other Twin Cities restaurants owned by the same company--adding vegan options on a permanent basis.

Highland Grill
Monday, August 29th, 5-9 p.m.
Menu:
Tomato and Grilled Tofu Salad, followed by Farro Risotto with
Grilled Mushrooms, Snap Peas & Eggplant
The two courses will be paired with two different vegan wines.
The price for the dinner and wine is $15.95

Pizza Luce

The vegan Lil' Gracie at Pizza Luce on Franklin Avenue.

The Lil' Gracie, Pizza Luce

Pizza a Whole Foods

I stopped by the Minneapolis Whole Foods for a slice of vegan pizza, which has a nice mix of spinach, artichokes, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and olives.  

Vegan pizza at Whole Foods

Mill City Vegan Visits Chicago

I absolutely love making regular trips to Chicago. Here are the vegan highlights from our recent trip to this wonderful city.

The Chicago Diner. A long-time favorite. No trip to Chicago is complete without a trip to this place. This time, I had the Majestic Burrito and my wife had the Country Fried Steak. The burrito was honestly one of the best I've ever had. The steak was a super seitan goodness.

Majestic Burrito - Chicago Diner

Country Fried "Steak" - Chicago Diner

Our kids couldn't wait to go to iCream after seeing a feature on some cable tv food channel a year or two ago. Using liquid nitrogen, this place makes your ice cream creation--including soy ice cream--right before your eyes. They have a great variety of flavors.

Raspberry Lime Soy Ice Cream - iCream - Chicago

 
We were fortunate enough to be in Chicago on the day that Native Foods opened their Wicker Park location. I had read about this California-based chain. Now I'm REALLY hoping that they consider expanding to Minneapolis. Fast, creative, and healthy food. Just fantastic! We had the Baja Surf Tacos (with a side of steamed kale) and the Ensalada Azteca Salad. I also ordered the strawberry parfait. I can't wait to return. They're opening other Chicago locations shortly.

Ensalada Azteca Salad - Native Foods - Chicago

Baja Surf Tacos - Native Foods - Chicago 

Wedge Natural Foods Co-op - August/September Newsletter

Here is a link to an article in the current (Aug./Sept 2011) newsletter published by the Wedge Natural Foods Co-op. The article, Vegan Diets: Sorting Through the Myths, was written by By Virginia Messina, MPH, RD 

http://www.wedge.coop/newsletter/august-september-2011/vegan-diets

Kinsen Noodles and Bar

Saturday night we went to Kinsen Noodles and Bar, a new Asian fusion restaurant at 1300 Lagoon. The menu clearly identifies which items can be made vegan. Their noodle dishes are half price during their grand opening week, so I ordered the Pad Kee Mao and my wife ordered the Pad Thai. Both were quite good. The menu warns that the Pad Kee Mao is "very spicy," so I asked them to reduce the spice level a bit. The result was fine; definitely not too spicy. It includes rice noodles, broccoli, and red peppers. I ordered mine with tofu and my wife went with mock duck.  It's nice to have another vegan-friendly option in the heart of Minneapolis' Uptown area. I'm not certain when their grand opening week ends, so I'd recommend going there immediately!

Pad Kee Mao with Tofu

City Hall Cafe

Veggie sampler

On Wednesdays and Fridays, the City Hall Cafe has a veggie sampler as a daily special. You'll typically get one or two different lentil dishes and either beets or greens. It comes with your choice of injera bread or rice. Love it. Yes, as the name implies, the cafe is located within Minneapolis City Hall. It's near the center of the building, at the 4th Street ground level. So, if you enter at 5th Street, go down a level. There are a handful of tables. Open weekdays during lunch only. The owner also operates the She-Royal food truck. I think their location has varied this year, but if you can find the food truck they serve the veggie sampler every day. Their Facebook updates appear to be sporadic. It's worth searching for.

Peoples Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe

I made another trip to Peoples Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe, located in Edina's Galleria. During my last visit I only had time to order a cup of chili. Their menu appears to be slightly different than the online menu. I ordered one of their two vegan burgers; I think it was called the Hearty Vegan Burger. It was fantastic!

Hearty Vegan Burger

Wally's Falafel and Hummus

As fate would have it, the person right in front of me at Mesa Pizza ordered the very last slice of vegan pizza. So I walked around the corner to another vegan-friendly establishment in Dinkytown: Wally's Falafel and Hummus. You can get a decent falafel sandwich with fries and a drink for six bucks and some change.

Adelita's

It seems relatively rare to find an authentic Mexican restaurant that includes a vegetarian section on their menu. Adelita's, located on Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis, does just that. We went there last night and each ordered the vegetarian burrito. Specify that you do not want cheese or sour cream. During dinner, it comes with sides of rice, beans and lettuce. Delicious and filling!

Vegetarian burrito

Vegan at Target Field - Part 2

Another trip to Target Field for a Twins game. This time I asked the folks at Senor Smokes to veganize a veggie burrito. Rice, beans, lettuce, salsa. Not bad. It was more enjoyable than the 9th inning, when the Brewers scored four runs to win the game on Saturday.  Here, once again, is a link to veggie items at the ballpark. 

Veggie burrito

Modern Times

Modern Times is perhaps the newest addition to the vegan-friendly dining scene in Minneapolis. We enjoyed a Sunday afternoon visit. I had the vegan seitan melt and my wife had the TLT (tempeh, lettuce, tomato) sandwich. We added a side of garlic fries. Everything was great!

Seitan melt

TLT

The menu clearly identifies the items that can be made vegan. They had Joy Division emanating from the stereo speakers the whole time we were there. Modern Times is located at 32nd and Chicago. You can't miss the bright colors and the cool, retro sign.

Modern Times

Hard Times Cafe

We had dinner at the Hard Times Cafe tonight. We don't make it to this Minneapolis West Bank establishment often enough. I chose the seitan gyro. It was so messy and impossible to eat that I decided to unfold it and essentially turn it into a seitan salad on top of pita bread. Either way, it was quite delicious. It's served with a side of tahini and chips. 

Seitan gyro

My wife had the Vegan Helter Skelter Breakfast, which she enjoyed. It's a nice mix of potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower. We had a side of chips and salsa. Be warned: it seems like they practically give you a whole bag of chips and a whole jar of salsa!

Vegan Helter Skelter Breakfast

Vegan at Target Field

I admit to being a big baseball fan. I went to the Twins game last night and I hadn't eaten dinner. Fortunately, a vegan can eat pretty well at Target Field. While one has to search a little bit for the vegan stuff, the team's web site makes the search easier by dedicating a page to listing many of the vegetarian (as well as gluten free) options. I started out the night with a veggie burger. During last year's baseball season I confirmed with the staff that the burger has no eggs or dairy products. (I'm not certain which brand they use.) Without reading the ingredients yourself, you have to realize that you're putting a little bit of faith in concession stand workers who might not get questions from vegans on a regular basis. They did confirm for me that the veggie dogs are not vegan. They contain egg whites.

Veggie burger at Target Field

Later in the game I went with perhaps my favorite Target Field item: veggie kabobs. You get two sticks with a variety of skewered veggies, cooked over a flame. They're really simple, tasty and healthy. You might consider asking that they hold the onions...I was still tasting them today! Also let them know that you don't need the container of ranch dressing. These take a few minutes because they make them when you order them. In other words, they don't just make a bunch of them and let the kabobs sit there until someone orders them. That's a good thing.

Veggie kabobs at Target Field

Finally, just to fill in the gaps, I ordered a banana from the "farm stand" that offers fresh fruit near the right field/plaza entrance. 

It's certainly not cheap to eat at professional sports venues, but it sure is nice to find vegan options. As a bonus for eco-conscious vegans, Target Field may be the most transit- and bicycle-friendly ballpark in the country. On average, there are apparently more than 300 bikes locked up around Target Field during a typical game, with significantly more than that during weekend day games. 

Although the Twins have struggled mightily during the 2011 season, I happened to witness a ninth-inning Twins victory over the Rangers on this particular evening.

Open Streets Minneapolis

Open Streets Minneapolis, taking place this Sunday, June 12th, will offer an opportunity for bicyclists (and walkers, skaters, etc.) to roam free on a large segment of Lyndale Avenue. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the street will be turned over to self-propelled transportation between 22nd Street and 42nd Street. With events like this one, perhaps Minneapolis will once again be named the country's most bicycle-friendly large city by Bicycling magazine.

Why do I mention this on Mill City Vegan? Well, Lyndale Avenue is probably Minneapolis' most vegan-friendly street. This seems like a fantastic opportunity to bike to at least a few establishments for an extended Sunday brunch. Here, from north to south, are the places that immediately come to mind:

- I would normally recommend the Wedge, located on Lyndale between Franklin and 22nd. However, their newsletter recently included a really lame, anti-vegan opinion piece. Understandably, some local vegans are suggesting that you consider shopping elsewhere. So let's move on to some places that you shouldn't miss.
- Ecopolitan is located just south of 24th Street. All vegan. All raw.
- The French Meadow Bakery and Cafe is located just south of 26th Street. Stop in for a vegan meal and/or baked goods.
- Galactic Pizza is located between the Midtown Greenway and Lake Street. A vegan-friendly pizza place with awesome delivery guys in little electric cars! You can usually get vegan cheesecake as well.
- At Caffrey's Deli, located just south of Lake Street, you can order a vegan version of their Three Pepper Chicken sub.  I posted about this recently.
- Pizza Luce. Last but certainly not least, this is a long-time favorite with delicious pizza and sandwiches, located at 32nd Street.

Let me know if I missed any. If you don't want to bring your own bike, there are Nice Ride shared bike kiosks along Lyndale Avenue. I'll see you on Lyndale this Sunday!

Evergreen Chinese Restaurant

We can't go very long without a trip to Evergreen. We typically find ourselves ordering one of several different dishes over and over again. This time we both decided to try something off of the menu that we've never ordered before. I had the Fried Tofu with Crispy Soy Bean Flakes. My wife had the Mock Chicken with Cashew Nuts. No regrets. Mine had a unique taste and was pretty spicy. The mock chicken dish was pretty darn good as well. I'm not sure whether either dish will make it into our regular Evergreen rotation, but it's nice to try something new at this vegan-friendly establishment.

Fried Tofu with Crispy Soy Bean Flakes

Mock Chicken with Cashew Nuts 

Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge

Black bean chili

When Psycho Suzi's announced that they were moving to a bigger location and that they planned to overhaul their menu a bit, I was hopeful that more vegan options would be added. It didn't happen. The new location, with its huge patio right next to the river, is really cool. However, the vegan options are quite limited. I did enjoy the vegetarian black bean chili. The waitress was very thoughtful and asked whether I wanted to hold the sour cream and cheese before I even had a chance to ask. I shared tater tots with my co-workers. Psycho Suzi's does have soy cheese for their pizzas, but I assume that they still use the stuff that has casein. I haven't asked. When I go there for pizza in the future, I'll be sure to double-check.  In the meantime, if you're in the mood for quality chili in a fun setting; this is your place.

"Welcome to Paradise"

Caffrey's Deli

I just had the vegan version of the Three Pepper Chicken sub at Caffrey's Deli.  They'll put hummus on the sub in place of the mayo. Good stuff. Caffrey's is located at 3008 Lyndale Ave. S.

Vegan Three Pepper Chicken Sub

Mesa Pizza

After spending a bit of time at Art-A-Whirl, we stopped at Mesa Pizza, a popular establishment selling pizza by the slice in Dinkytown. I absolutely love the vegan slice. There are a number of fine pizza places around town these days, but I'm not aware of another in Minneapolis that sells vegan pizza by the slice. They don't have vegan cheese, but this pizza is completely satisfying without the cheese. They load it up with roasted peppers, artichokes, spinach, carrots, and onions. The crust and sauce are great. The prices are reasonable. For people who are younger than me, they have late-night hours!

Vegan slice at Mesa Pizza

Vegan Waffles & Vegan University

If you're sticking around the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for at least part of your Memorial Day weekend, here are a couple of events on Saturday:

Vegan Waffle Party! Saturday, May 28 at the Fuller Park Building at 48th Street and Grand Avenue South in Minneapolis from 10am to Noon for a deliciously fun vegan wafflepalooza! Bring the kids, bring some toppings to share, and bring a BIG plate to fit all the vegan waffle goodness you can. Please be sure to bring vegan items if you wish to share them (no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no honey, no animal by-products).

And...

Vegan University. Are you vegan-curious? A new vegan? Someone who just simply loves kale? Well then May 28th is your lucky day. Come on out to the Vegan University workshop at Ethique Nouveau and get your vegan on! Vegan extraordinaires Dallas Rising and Al Nowatzki will be on hand to answer any and all questions you have about going - and staying - vegan. From shopping tips and Thanksgiving dinner to moral arguments and shoes, they’ve got you covered. After the workshop, you’ll have the chance to get set up with one of our many helpful vegan mentors. This event is from 1-3 at Ethique Nouveau, 317 W. 48th St. 

Vegan University: It’s like college, but without finals and all the debt. And it’s vegan. 

Forks Over Knives - My Reaction

I attended an advance screening of Forks Over Knives last night. Even prior to its release, the documentary film has been called "vegan propaganda" by some who insist that people should eat animals and their secretions. So I went into this movie with a big question on my mind: "Will non-vegans who watch this movie simply conclude that it's nothing more than shallow propaganda?" After seeing the film, my conclusion is that anyone with a little bit of an open mind will find the movie to be very compelling. At the very least, I think that most people who see the Forks Over Knives are going to walk away convinced that there are health benefits to cutting back on the intake of animal-based products. The film combines exhaustive research and powerful personal stories to demonstrate the devastating results of diets centered around meat, dairy, and eggs. Eating fewer of these products means less obesity, less diabetes, less cancer, less heart disease...the list goes on.

I was impressed by Forks Over Knives. It's an important and powerful film and I certainly plan on recommending it to friends, family and co-workers who I think are able to walk into the theater with an open mind. It certainly reminded me that there is more I can and should do with my diet, like eating more whole foods and fewer processed foods. For those in the Minneapolis area, the movie opens at the Lagoon Cinema this week.  See my previous posts and the film's web site for more information.



 

Seward Cafe and Franklin Freeze

Green Bean Earth Breakfast at the Seward Cafe

I spent part of this beautiful Sunday at two Franklin Avenue establishments in the Seward neighborhood. I had lunch at the Seward Cafe. This place has been serving veg-friendly food since 1974. The Seward has always been one of those places where you feel confident that they aren't confused about the meaning of the word "vegan." Today I enjoyed a half order of the Green Bean Earth Breakfast, in which they substitute pinto beans for eggs in the dish that also includes hashbrowns and broccoli.  I also sprinkle a generous amount of nutritional yeast on top. It comes with a side of toast and you can help yourself to excellent jam. My wife seems to order this dish every couple of weeks, and I'm now hooked as well.

Following our lunch at the Seward Cafe, we traveled a couple of blocks east on Franklin Avenue to Franklin Freeze. I found out late last summer that this place has vegan soft serve ice cream. I only made it there one time before they closed for the season. May 7th was the first day of business this year. The ice cream is my personal favorite: Temptation by Chicago Soydairy. And Franklin Freeze has 24 flavors that they'll add to the ice cream!!! You can choose from three sizes and they'll mix two flavors in a single serving. I had a combination of raspberry and banana. My wife ordered German chocolate. Loved it! I'm pretty sure I'll be a regular here over the course of the summer. Franklin Freeze is just one more reason why Seward is probably Minneapolis' most vegan-friendly neighborhood. 

Vegan soft serve ice cream!!!  

 

Franklin Freeze

  

Poly Styrene - I LUV UR SNEAKERS

I ordered Poly Styrene's new cd, Generation Indigo, the day it was released in the U.S.  Checking out the new release, I was so thrilled to see the lyrics to the first song, I LUV UR SNEAKERS. Any song that includes references to vegan shoes is an instant hit with me:  

the canvas

the color

the rubber toe

no animal died

or lost its soul

in the production of

your beautiful sneakers

I'm still mourning Poly's recent death. Ever since hearing an X-Ray Spex song on a local independent radio station when I was about 16 or 17, I've been enthralled with that band and Poly's work. From her solo record Gods and Goddesses, here is another vegetarian reference that Poly included in her music:

Talk about religion
I say don't do no thing no harm-no no
Talk about religion
I say I'm vegetarian


She'll be missed.

Brunch at the Triple Rock

Vegan french toast

Tofu scramble with home fries and toast

We had a great Mother's Day brunch at the Triple Rock today. The rest of the family ordered vegan french toast and I ordered the tofu scramble. While I'm not certain the Triple Rock has the best tofu scramble in town (maybe a three or four-way tie for first?), their vegan french toast is absolutely fantastic. Combine it with the home fries and you'll definitely go home full and satisfied, without spending a fortune.

Forks Over Knives - Complimentary Passes to May 16th Screening

After my last post I was contacted by a representative from Paramount Pictures authorizing me to offer free passes to anyone who would like to check out a screening of Forks Over Knives at Minneapolis' Lagoon Cinema at 7:30 on May 16th.  Note that this will require that you create a gofobo account, which takes 5-10 minutes. Here, loyal readers of Mill City Vegan, are your instructions:

To obtain your tickets please follow the steps below:

1. Go to: http://www.gofobo.com/screenings/forks_over_knives/767439?pc=VDJBMFk5NkQ%3D 

2. Enter RSVP code= T2A0Y96D

3. Print passes

Forks Over Knives

The Minneapolis premiere of the movie Forks Over Knives will take place on May 18th at the Lagoon Cinema. A book signing will happen at Whole Foods Market from 3:30 to 4:30. The 7:00 p.m. screening of the film will include a panel discussion. According to the online synopsis of the film, "Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called "diseases of affluence" that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn."

Those names are familiar to anyone who has read (or listened to, as I did) The China Study. Tickets to the screening and panel discussion are apparently available now at Whole Foods in Minneapolis. Regular screenings of the film will start May 20th at the Lagoon, according to the Forks Over Knives web site.  

Living Green Expo

Check out the annual Living Green Expo this weekend, May 7th and 8th, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Among the many exhibitors, ARC will have a booth and Dallas Rising will present "Veganism 201" at 2:00 on Sunday.

"No thanks" to the circus; yes to growing food

In case you missed them, here are two stories that should be of interest to Minneapolis vegans.

Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale

Check out the annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.  The only participating Minnesota event will be at Ethique Nouveau this Sunday, April 24th, from 1-4.  Elsewhere in the world, follow the link to find events taking place from April 23rd through May 1st.

Wayfare Cheddar Spread

I REALLY enjoy finding new vegan products on grocery store shelves. Here is a discovery I made at the Linden Hills Co-op. It's a cheddar-flavored spread by a company called Wayfare. The product is called "We Can't Say It's Cheese." I can confirm that the packaging is correct in claiming that the product melts. In fact, it seems to have a more robust flavor when you melt it on chips or crackers. I paid $3.49 for the 8 oz. container. The list of ingredients is pretty impressive (i.e., not bad for you). While I'm not sure this product will take the vegan world by storm, it's pretty tasty and I'll certainly buy it again some time.

Peoples Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe

I made my first trip to Peoples Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe last night. Owned by those responsible for the French Meadow, this is a "stylish" place located in Edina's Galleria. Because we were on our our way to a movie that was scheduled to start in less than an hour, and I was the only one in the group who hadn't already eaten dinner, I ordered a cup of chili and a raspberry bar in order to make it a quick trip. They indicated that a veggie burger would take about 20 minutes. Really good chili and a decent bar. Looking forward to a veggie burger next time. 

Mill City Vegan Visits Boston

I've been fortunate to have traveled to Boston four times since the late 1990s. Three visits have been for conferences related to my profession, and a family vacation accounted for the other trip. Each visit to this wonderfully walkable city has resulted in new vegan discoveries.

My flight arrived on a Friday night.  After checking into my Back Bay hotel, I headed straight for The Other Side Cafe, located a short walk from the Sheraton. I had enjoyed this place during a previous visit, so a return trip was in order. I indulged in the vegan burrito, which is quite possibly the world's perfect food. This vegan gem is stuffed full of all of the things that one should hope for in a burrito. I also like that it includes brown rice. The Other Side is a pretty loud and happening place on a Friday night.

I didn't have a lot of time to go out for breakfast during my time in Boston, so I usually found myself walking over to a nearby Whole Foods Market for vegan muffins and juice prior to heading to my conference each day.

Saturday morning I found one of my most anticipated destinations of the trip: an all-vegan shoe store called Sudo Shoes. After a five-minute walk from the Porter T station in Cambridge, I arrived shortly after the 10:00 a.m. opening time. I settled on a pair of $116 work shoes made by Vegetarian Shoes. Because my carry-on bag was already going to be stuffed full for the flight home, I asked them if they could ship the shoes to my home. They happily obliged for an additional $14 shipping fee. I could have spent A LOT more money at this place had I not exercised a bit of restraint. This is the kind of place that I wish would be located in every major city. But we're not all that fortunate.

Sudo Shoes

Inside Sudo Shoes

We had lunch at My Thai Vegan Cafe that afternoon. Located on the edge of Chinatown, you're rewarded with a really great vegan meal after braving their scary entryway to get up to the second-floor. The mock beef with mixed vegetables is definitely a winner.

Mock beef and mixed veggies at My Thai

Later that night, we hopped on the Green Line out to Allston, where we LOVED the pizza at another all-vegan establishment, Peace o' Pie Gourmet Vegan Pizza.  I'm a pizza fanatic.  This place certainly didn't disappoint.

Peace o' Pie

I headed back to The Other Side Cafe for lunch on Sunday. This time I ordered the vegan BLT, which was stacked super high with vegan bacon, among the other good stuff found on your typical BLT, including vegan mayo.

For our final dining out experience in Boston, we were looking for something reasonably close to the hotel. The destination: Mumbai Chopstix, located on Newbury Street. Indian/Asian fusion with at least a few dishes on the menu that appeared to be vegan. Mine was a mix of tofu, eggplant and spinach, all in a tangy garlic sauce. This turned out to be a nice find.

One of the many things I love about traveling is the adventure of seeking out vegan food and vegan-friendly businesses. Given that I'm also quite fond of enjoying urban places and getting around on public transportation while seeking out great those vegan-friendly establishments, Boston has definitely become one of my favorite places to visit.

This visit was certainly made easier by the consulting Vegguide.org, which is my favorite online source for tracking down vegan food.