Chow Vegan

Green Smoothie

September 9, 2008 By chow 10 Comments

I’ve been drinking Odwalla’s Superfood for years, so I’m no stranger to green drinks. But I didn’t think to make my own until I saw a green smoothie on VeganTickles blog awhile back. With that bright green color, I’ve been meaning to try it and finally got around to it.

I made some changes to the recipe – I used soymilk instead of water and grapes instead of the pineapple because that’s what I had in the fridge. It came out delicious, taste just like a smoothie.

I know some people make a yucky face when they see the green. Maybe they think it tastes like green vegetables. It doesn’t.

It’s very light and refreshing and very nutritious. The trick is to make sure you have enough of the other ingredients so you don’t have a strong vegetable taste.

Would you be more willing to try it if it was in a funny green cup? Yes, yes?

Green Smoothie
Makes about 2 2/3 cups
2 bananas, sliced into rounds and frozen
4 green kale leaves
1 cup soymilk
1/2 cup grapes

Separate the kale leaves from the stem, wash and tear into smaller pieces. Combine everything in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Dining at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara

September 6, 2008 By chow 4 Comments

While in Carlsbad, I stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara. Living up to the Four Seasons reputation, they had some very good vegan and vegetarian food options.

Over at the pool (pictured above), one can order a Gardenburger, among other things from the Ocean Pool Bar & Grill. Imagine that – a veggie burger with fries poolside, and you can get it “to go” as well. I had it twice and both times the burger was nicely done with fresh tomato, red onion, lettuce and alfalfa sprouts on a fluffy toasted bun.

I also had an opportunity to dine at their signature Italian restaurant, Vivace. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I haven’t had much luck with Italian places besides the typical Angel Hair Capellini something or other pasta dish. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

Vivace serves its food in the Italian style of separate courses; they printed out a whole separate vegan menu for me. It actually says “Vegan Menu” on the printout. That blew me away, that I could actually pick from two different options for each of my courses.

For the insalate course, I chose the spinach with peaches salad. For primi (first course), I had the mushroom risotto that was so good – it’s my favorite dish of the entire trip. For secondi (second course), I had grilled vegetables with farro. And for dessert, a selection of various sorbets.

Sadly, I didn’t bring my camera to dinner so no pictures of the meal. But what a great and delicious surprise to find that they had already planned a vegan menu for anyone who asks (it was a last-minute decision to eat there). I would happily eat here again.

Nozomi Japanese Fusion Review

August 27, 2008 By chow 9 Comments

Now we’re talking, this is the kind of vegan sushi I’ve been looking for, something new and different. I was down in Carlsbad last week and stopped by Nozomi Japanese Fusion restaurant for lunch.

I started off with organic Genmaicha, a green tea combined with roasted brown rice for a little bit of a “popcorn” taste. It’s delicious, but don’t let it steep too long or it becomes bitter-tasting.

For my entree, I had the vegetarian sushi combination which including the chef’s choice of 6 pieces of vegetable nigiri and a 4-piece vegetable roll, all made vegan. From left to right the different types of nigiri were: a leafy green wrapped around sushi rice, some pink vegetable that I don’t know its name, a strip of some preserved vegetable topped with avocado, eggplant, greens on top of rice in a wrapper, and shiitake mushroom. The veggie roll was similar to other veggie rolls that I’ve had before. But it was all tasty.

I also tried a tapas styled appetizer, steamed mushroom and leek dumplings in a truffle and miso broth.

I ended up eating there twice during my trip, both times for lunch. I got the sushi combination again and got slight variations on the offerings. The second time I got a few pickled leeks on the plate, I normally eat them in my Chinese Veggie Chicken Salad but I’ve never seen them before in a restaurant.

Now I’m more inspired than ever to try to make my own sushi at home.