|
MyHealthyHighways
On the Healthy Highways Again: Winter/Spring ‘05
HH Tripsters: Nikki & David Goldbeck
As in winters past, we escaped the cold northeast again this year to
enjoy the Florida sunshine. En route, we were delighted by our first
road meal in Richmond, VA at Healthy Highways’
listing Ipanema Café (917 W. Grace St). The
chalkboard menu, which changes daily, is predominately vegetarian
with one fish entrée. The imaginative fare includes soups,
appetizers, salads, and sandwiches, as well as entrees. The service
is very friendly, the atmosphere homey and casual, and there is full
bar service.
One of the things we love about our drive south is the coastal
geography. This year we decided to visit St. Mary’s Island,
which is the last of the small islands that dot the coast before
arriving in Florida. We had been there several years ago and had fun
strolling around this cute seaside village. As before, everyone was
friendly and inviting, however like most typically southern towns,
there wasn’t much in the way of vegetarian or wholefoods fare.
We ended up settling for the vegetarian standby – a Mexican
restaurant. After being reassured that the beans were made without
meat, we had a totally forgettable meal.
Delray Beach and Neighboring Towns
We spent a couple of weeks in Delray Beach, FL, which became the hub
for visiting several HH eateries in the area. We had a chance to
revisit Stir Crazy ( 6000 Glades Rd, Boca Raton), a
terrific place to bring vegetarians and meat-eaters, since there are
options for everyone. Although there is an extensive menu, we think
it’s more fun to opt for the create-your-own stir-fry. With this
unique system, you fill your bowl from the ample salad-bar-like
display of fresh vegetables (including tofu), select one (or a few)
of the cooking sauces, and watch the whole thing being theatrically
woked. Combined with brown rice, it’s a very tasty meal.
We also made a special trip to Boca’s Bombay Café,
only to discover that it is no longer strictly vegetarian. Although
vegetarian offerings are still available, the food was a big
disappointment and we have removed it from our listings (see HH Updates).
We had been informed that Kef Room Mediterranean & Vegetarian Grill
in Delray Beach was closed, but it has, in fact, reopened with a new
name Kebob Mediterranean Grill ( 1676 S. Federal Hwy)
and the same vegetarian-friendly menu. (This change, along with the
new phone number, is posted on HH Udates.) Despite this being
middleastern fare, which like several other ethnic cuisines we
usually don’t list in Healthy Highways since most
have similarly ample vegetarians offerings, the menu at Kebob goes
beyond the usual. We dined here a couple of times and highly
recommend the zucchini pancakes, shepherd salad and bulghur pilaf.
Some whole wheat pita would be nice, though.
A must for everyone who enjoys great food – even those who
don’t normally seek out vegetarian meals – is Sublime (
1431 N. Federal Hwy, Ft. Lauderdale). We always make a point of
going here with meat-eaters, just to revel in their ecstatic reaction
to the terrific vegan dishes and the elegant décor. No one has
been disappointed. As one friend put it, “who cares if
there’s no meat!” Although not a HH listing (as we do not
list Thai restaurants unless unique), in Delray Beach you will also
find good eating at Lemongrass, offering many tofu choices, as
well as brown rice. Another surprising option is Cabana el Ray,
a southern branch of a New York-based restaurant, where the
“Latin fusion” menu draws from South American cuisine,
which usually ignores vegetarians. Here, however, in addition to a
couple of unusual appetizers (the arepas were very tasty), there is a
terrific vegetable stew entrée. Both restaurants are on
Atlantic Ave., the main tourist and dining strip.
Miami Beach
 Miami
Beach’s South Beach area, where we hide out for the winter, is
still short on eating establishments that truly meet HH standards.
(But you can easily find veggie burgers, ample salads and an
assortment of Italian, Thai, Japanese, and other “ethnic”
eateries.) We continue to enjoy the Front Porch Cafe ( 1420
Ocean Drive), which has a delicious homemade veggie burger packed
with fresh greens on whole wheat pita. And you can’t beat the
location, right across from the beach. Sadly, last year’s new
raw food restaurant Food Without Fire is gone, but Wild Oats (
1020 Alton Rd) is bustling. Aside from using it to stock our
kitchen, one rainy night, returning late and famished from a Miami
Film Society screening with friends, we were all thrilled to find the
café still open (daily until 11 p.m.).
A new fast-food option in South Beach is Lime ( 1439 Alton Rd).
Patrons line up at lunch and dinner to enjoy the very fresh Mexican
offerings. The vegetarian burrito (beans, rice and guacamole) is huge
and you can request it be made with a whole wheat burrito. Our
meat-eating dinner companion raved about the (vegetarian) black bean
soup. There is a free assortment of really interesting salsas to
choose from and the prices are quite reasonable. A great place to eat
before or after the movies (just a few blocks away at Alton and
Lincoln Rd.).
 New
this year, as well, and a huge hit with everyone we have taken
there, is Siembra ( 2601 Collins Ave), a cozy
restaurant off the main drag, owned by a Cuban-Uruguayan couple.
After almost 3 months of restaurant eating, at our final meal at
Siembra, David proclaimed it the best restaurant in South Beach. If
you are looking for a real quality meal and an affordable price, this
is the place. There are a number of wonderful vegetarian appetizers
(peppers stuffed with beans and cheese in a vanilla-scented tomato
sauce, potatoes in a seductive cheese sauce, a slightly sweet corn
tamale to name a few), which easily combine for a full meal. And if
you call ahead, they are happy to prepare something special. (We had
an interesting pumpkin escabeche and sumptuous vegetarian paella one
night, although it was made with white rice.) We’d like to see
this place endure, so if you’re in Miami Beach, give it a try.
(Note: despite the address on Collins is it actually on 26th Street
between Collins and the boardwalk.)
Among our long-standing ethnic favorites is Tap Tap ( 819
5th St), where the rarely seen food of Haiti is the attraction,
along with the colorful décor. Vegans and vegetarians can
easily fill their stomachs here. Try the pumpkin soup and coconut
spinach, the unusual appetizers and side dishes featuring malanga,
cornmeal, yucca, and plantain, and the exotic salads. Admittedly, the
sole vegetarian entree of vegetable stew would benefit from some
protein (it comes with fried plantain, white rice and a suggestion of
beans). If you come on Thursday or Saturday, you can also sample the
Haitian music. One suggestion: If you’re under 25, you might
want to dine at one of the two porch tables. The acoustics inside can
be deafening.
 
 
Another nice option heading uptown from South Beach is Ouzo (
940 71st St), a Greek restaurant that offers a generous
price-fixed, family-style dinner on Monday nights. Ask for the
vegetarian version and you feast on a huge sampler of dips, Greek
salad, saganaki (fried Greek cheese), spinach and cheese pies,
vegetarian mousakka, a rice-stuffed tomato or pepper, and specialty
items of the evening. All accompanied by Greek wines, belly dancing,
and if you still have any room, dessert. Unfortunately, no whole
grains here and not really for vegans.
“Natural food cafes” seem to be blossoming in South Beach.
Two of these relaxed eateries that we checked out but didn’t get
to eat at are Gourmet Carrot ( 959 West Ave) and Juice
& Java ( 1246 Washington Ave). Each has a big
eclectic menu with plentiful choices for vegetarians and vegans,
including tofu options, brown rice, quinoa, fresh juices, big salads,
and much more. For nonvegetarians, there are fish and poultry. When
it comes to breads and wraps, there are even some whole grain options.
Homeward Bound
For the trip back north, we stocked our cooler with pita, whole grain
bagels, peanut butter, fruit, hummus, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and
some healthy snack items and were able to easily sustain ourselves
when the wasn’t any roadside attraction. Our timing was perfect
for dining in Fredericksburg, VA on our last night on the road. Sammy
T’s ( 801 Caroline St) has been a long-standing HH
favorite, and the large eclectic menu still features (and clearly
indicates) many vegetarian and vegan choices. Since the weather was
unseasonably warm for an April night, we were able to dine outdoors
and enjoy the street scene.
 
That’s it, until our next big trip. By the way, we did take a
brief sojurn to Southern California in March for the Natural Living
Expo. You’ll find the highlight of the weekend in the current
Featured Eatery.
Please send us your my Healthy Highways
HEALTHY HIGHWAYS STANDARDS
Natural food stores. In order to qualify for a listing, natural food
stores must have a good selection of groceries. Of particular
interest are stores that offer freshly prepared food and a place to
sit and enjoy it.
Eateries. All eating-places must provide a reasonable selection of
vegetarian and/or vegan options and serve freshly prepared food using
a minimum of processed ingredients. We also list those that emphasize
wholefoods cooking or pay attention to organic or locally grown
ingredients. To be listed, we must see a copy of the menu – hard
copy or via website. (Send menus to Ceres Press, New HH Listings, PO
Box 87, Woodstock, NY 12498.) Thank you.
|
