PureSweets

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:28:00 GMT

I've been slackin' on the blog posts, since this wonderful steamy summer has arrived. Can you remember a summer this warm and sunny in Philly? (Are you jealous west coast friends?) Since my last post, I've been traveling around the country experiencing new foods and learning new techniques. When I've been at home, I feel like a kid in a candy store trying the bounty of organic fresh fruit from our local farmer's markets. It's made my experiment (for the most part) to stay raw before dinner easy and fun. I feel satiated throughout the day, I don't experience my typical cravings for sweets and carbs anymore -even during that time of the month, and I don't feel tired after long days of baking. I've never felt so good, and my body is becoming leaner and stronger to boot. I'm eating about 70% vegetables and fruits and 30% legumes/whole grains. The more fresh, whole foods I eat, the less tired and more energized I feel. When you feel great, all the rich, decadent stuff isn't appealing anymore.

My good friend, Laura (who's a newly appointed Asst. Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine! Congrats, LY!), introduced me to Wimer's Organics which is a reasonably priced CSA with a great variety of fresh produce. Every week I make new dumpster smoothies and green juices based on what Bud sends us and also create new dishes based on what I receive. Nearby our house is a farmer's market from Delaware that sells fantastic organic berries, white peaches, figs, and herbs. I rarely cook the same meal twice.

The summer is passing by too quickly. In between working on the newly expanded menu and website, I've had the pleasure of taking two week-long trips to NYC's Natural Gourmet Institute, a long weekend to California's northern coast (including San Fran), a weekend in Ithaca, another long weekend in beautiful Westerly, RI, and next week will be a 10 day road trip to the wild west! Hope I won't starve on the road... I'll post pics on this trip. Throw in seeing Kathy Griffin in the mix and it's been a great summer so far, indeed.

Raw Ice Cream - First Attempt...

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:51:00 GMT

My other favorite food group (besides dumplings and ramen) is ICE CREAM! I tried making ice cream once before and it failed miserably. It was terribly crystallized from the lack of cream. With a new Vitamixer in hand, I decided to give it another shot.

Result: a little too thick! Fearing it would be too "icey", I didn't add additional nut or coconut milk. I will next time. It could've used some because the ice cream came out a bit thick from the mix of raw cashews and coconut meat. However, It's kicking major butt as a milkshake. The flavor is perfect and it's as creamy as cream!

Ingredients:

3 cups organic raw cashews
2 cups of green tea
1 box of organic creamed coconut (Let's Do Organic makes a great version)
1 cup of organic grade B maple syrup (or preferred sweetener)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 T. organic unsweetened vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean scraped
1 T. organic peppermint extract
1.5 bars of Endangered Species Deep Forrest Mint Chocolate, finely chopped to create flecks in ice cream

Directions:

Soak raw cashews in water overnight. Enough water to barely cover cashews. (Don't let this sit for more than a day or mold will come a trampling.)
Cream cashews 1 cup at a time in Vitamixer or blender.
Add 2 cups of brewed green tea instead of water for added nutritional benefits. Liquid here helps cream the cashews to a smooth consistency. If you don't want to bother with tea, feel free to use water or milk substitute. You can't taste the green tea in the end anyway. It was just handy!
Throw a box of creamed coconut into the Vitamixer and blend until smooth.
Add sea salt, vanilla and peppermint extract. You may also use fresh mint instead, but I didn't have any on hand at the time. Plus, I prefer the taste of peppermint over regular mint for ice cream. I bet the local farmer's market has peppermint mint... will check it out.
Finely chop 1.5 bars (or more if desired) of a mint chocolate bar. I like Endangered Species because it uses unrefined beet sugar and not much sugar compared to other bars, as well as donating to wildlife. I find their chocolate less sweet in general.
Add chopped chocolate to Vitamixer and pulse a few times. Be careful not to blend all the chocolate into the cream.
Pour mixture into ice cream maker and follow manufacture's instructions.

I left this in the freezer overnight and the ice cream turned into rock. I took the ice cream container and moved it to the fridge to thaw. A day later, it was a creamy soft serve, which is my favorite form of ice cream. Wish I could make some swirls with it. It's a good start, but not perfect yet. I'll make some adjustments and try again soon.

What are your tricks to making creamy vegan ice cream?

More Juice Combos- Clean Me!

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:45:00 GMT

I must be motivated because I woke up earlier to make this drink and to post this for Day 2.

I bought greens last night for today's Green Juice #2, but not really in the mood for veggies at 8am. Decided to make another dumpster drink (whatever I could find in the fridge got thrown in).

Ingredients: (sorry, no precise measurements this morning because I'm running late for work.)

1 pint organic pink grapefruit
1 pint organic papaya
1 organic lime
1 cup of coconut water

First, pulverize the grapefruit which creates a great deal of liquid and helps blend the remaining ingredients together.
Squeeze limes into grapefruit liquid. I prefer limes over lemons for flavor and lack of seeds.
Blend the papaya. Papayas are starchy, so the smoothie becomes rather thick at this point.
Add coconut water (or filtered water) to your liking to dilute.

This tastes much better than yesterday's Green Juice. It's actually good enough to sell in a juice bar. It was like a lime-ade with papaya. Didn't even notice the grapefruit, it balanced the sweet papayas well. I love lime juice with fruit because it reminds me of Mexico.

I caved yesterday and bought a Vita-Mixer at Wholefoods where the Vita-Mix guy sold me with an extended warranty and discounted dry blade, neither offered online. Not having to wait for it to be shipped didn't hurt. I already knew what this machine could do, I've been wanting one for 5 years, but couldn't justify spending that much on a blender.

Well, now I have professional reasons to invest in one. It makes creaming nuts and creating raw desserts so much easier and with consistent results. At least that's what I told myself. It will definitely make sticking to my raw/cleanse project much easier!

I started making another green juice in the masticater and it was great with the spinach leaves. I could see dry, fibrous spinach pulp coming out of one orifice and a vibrant green juice coming out of another. It clogged when I threw in juicy chunks of pineapple. Note: not good with watery fruits. I transferred the juicy mess into the Vitamixer and threw in a bunch of other random citrus and fruits leftover in the fridge. The combo of sweet fruits and tangy citrus is a match made in heaven. Love, love, love!

Ingredients:

1 cup of organic spinach
1 cup of organic pineapple
1 cup of organic frozen blackberries
1 small organic mango
6 organic key limes
3 organic Meyer lemons

Besides my post-workout smoothie of banana, spinach, and unsweetened soymilk, I finally had a chance to use up my ripe avocados for a shake. I wanted to sip on something all day until our dinner party tonight. (I'm bringing supplies to make your own brownie fudge sundaes with coconut ice creams, homemade brownies & hot fudge, and my special candied walnuts.)

Here are the ingredients for my avocado shake:

1 ripe organic avocado
1 organic lime
1/2 large organic cucumber
1/2 cup frozen or fresh organic blueberries or any fruit you like

Directions:

Blend the avocado, lime juice, and cucumber (skinned, but included seeds) together until it becomes a creamy smoothie.
Add water or coconut water to desired consistency.
Pour into glass(es).
Clean out Vitamixer and add blueberries with some water or coconut water.
Add the blueberry puree to the avocado shake, and gently stir with a spoon until blueberries emerge throughout.

Spring Cleaning 2010

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:34:00 GMT

I eat what I crave, and my cravings have been leaning towards lighter foods as temperatures are warming in Philadelphia. Another reason I love spring and summer (and sunny destinations).

One of my favorite vacation spots is Tulum, Mexico where I drink fruit smoothies and coconut water by day and eat fresh veggies and legumes by night. Eating light is so easy in warm climates, the body doesn't really feel hungry in the heat (mine prefers to stay hydrated) and the last thing I want is to feel heavier in humid climates.

Back in everyday life, raw has been an elusive concept for me because let's face it, tasty and healthy vegan isn't convenient in this town, let alone raw. With the addition of long days, I'm not really in the mood to cook at 9pm. I just want to eat dinner! Until I can afford a personal chef, I need to get with the program. I know eating less starchy meals would do me so much good- been feeling weighed down by many nights of restaurant food. Time for a cleanse.

I'm starting the transition today. I have no expectations of how raw I'll go or for how long. I'll let my body decide and listen accordingly. Here's my first green juice. There are many variations; this is my mash up of what's available in the fridge today. My masticater hasn't arrived yet, so everything is going in the blender. It was still very light and refreshing. As long as I didn't use any starchy fruits, the drink came out light.

The end product looked a tad putrid in color after I added the wild blueberries. So no image of the final juice. The green from the veggies was a spectacular deep and bright green. The chlorophyll was calling my name! There are so many green juice recipes. Some add vanilla and sweeteners, which I've omitted. Personally, I like to keep sweetness to a minimum and saved only for dessert. I don't want to train my taste buds to crave sweets any more than it already does. Feel free to do as you like.

Green Juice #1

Ingredients:
8 oz organic wild frozen blueberries
5 oz organic baby spinach
3 oz organic lemon juice (used Meyer lemons today)
2 oz organic cucumber (kept the skin, removed seeds)
1 oz organic petite pak choi microgreens
2 cups of filtered water

Directions:

I blended the spinach with enough water to cover the greens. Blend in small batches and until all leaves are pulverized. I only used about 2 cups of water.
I added freshly squeezed lemon juice (seeds removed).
Cut up some cucumber, removed seeds, kept the skin, and threw it in.
Threw in the microgreens and pulsed.
Added blueberries for extra antioxidants and minimal sweetness to off-set the bitterness of the greens.
Results in about 30 oz of green juice. Enough for you and a lucky mate.

Have fun experimenting! If you have favorite combos I should try, please let me know!

Rickshaw Dumplings (NYC)

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:31:00 GMT

Anyone who knows me knows I have an obsession with dumplings. I was always thrilled to come home from school and find my mom wrapping a gazillion wontons for that evening's dinner. Images of a heaping pile of baby bok choy and a cauldron of broth waiting to bring it all together brings back warm memories. When it was almost time for dinner, my Mom would ask each of us how many we wanted. My Dad: around 50, my older brothers- not far behind, me- about 35. I also remember wanting to eat more, but controlling myself. I couldn't get out of shape for field hockey season! I was in 8th grade. That's the last time I ate my Mom's dumplings before going veg. If there's ever a vegan dumpling entry in a dumpling contest, let me know. I'm so in!

Besides my Pure Sweets project, I've dreamed of opening a DJ'd-dumpling lunch truck. Why stand in line when you can dance while you wait?! Plus, anything resembling street food is my kind of cuisine.

When I read about Rickshaw Dumplings a year ago, I was beyond ecstatic. I can see how someone else is working out a similar concept. Love their brand (and songs on the website "Close to Me" and "If I Ever Feel Better".)

A few weekends ago, I made a detour to their 61 West 23rd locale. It was pretty empty on a Saturday afternoon. The space was long, narrow, and minimalist. The staff were super sweet and accommodating. I had one option: the edamame whole-wheat dumpling. I ordered 6.

Presentation was simple and clean. Their logo is great: memorable and to the point. Only problem with the presentation was that the dumplings needed a layer of parchment or lettuce from sticking to the paper dish. I inevitably ate some cardboard or lost part of the skin to the dish.

For me, I enjoy a dumpling that's enclosed in a thin wrapper. I don't want to be reminded of what a carb-fest dumplings are, the less of a wrapper, the better. Rickshaw's whole-wheat dumpling skin had a wonderful elasticity and just the right amount of thickness.

I'm sorry Rickshaw, but the filling was a let down. I really wanted to love it, because I love what you're doing. It consisted of mashed edamame similar to hummus with a few whole pieces of edamame. Not much flavor. I look forward to some garlic, ginger, green onions, the usual suspects. A difference in texture would've been welcomed, too. I still have hope for you. Please come up with more veg varieties. (I'm also a fan of the catchy t-shirts! Got some for my family.)

In the meantime, I'll be working on my own dumpling recipes with the help of Andrea Nguyen. Her blog, Asian Dumping Tips, and gorgeous book, Asian Dumplings, is my bible for all (edible) things wrapped.

Authentic Korean (North Philly)

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:28:00 GMT

Jong Ka Jib Soft Tofu Restaurant in North Philly got me through the cold winter blues.

The staff barely speaks English, nor do you see many non-Koreans. The interiors are also wonderfully nostalgic of traditional tea houses.

The menu is rather small, which usually means authentic to me. You have a choice of soft tofu stews or korean bbq (no bbq at the table). Prices are very affordable (around $10 or less) with generous portions. The beginning array of little dishes isn't that impressive, but their mushroom tofu stew and stone bowl bibimbap are more flavorful and satisfying than Center City or South Jersey counterparts. There was a variety of Asian mushrooms: oyster, shiitake, and enoki with silken tofu. The bibimbap had a lovely mixture of dark greens, more mushrooms, pickled cucumbers, and sliced nori among other veggies. I only wish they had multi-grain rice as an option, but that's just me.

I ate here often during this past frigid winter. Thanks Jong Ka Jib for keeping my belly warm and happy.

Escaping Winter- Back to L.A.!

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:22:00 GMT

Sweet T treated me to one of my favorite cities for my 32nd birthday in February: LA. I was able to try a few new veg-friendly places and here's the list:

Veggie Grill (El Segundo)- a quick and easy place to grab a light meal. I tried the "Carne Asada" without the bun. Portions are rather light for the price when I added on sweet potato fries, but I think this is normal for West Coast. If you want to eat a lean, light meal, you pay a premium. And many people are willing to pay. This place was packed on a Thursday afternoon.

I forgot what T ordered, something tempeh...we definitely left hungry!

Sprinkles Cupcakes (Beverly Hills)- had to try their new vegan version: red velvet. I can't say I'm a fan because it was rather oily as a cake and as a frosting, but the moistness was impressive. If you're not used to eating cane sugar, you might find this too sweet like I did. The "V" candy top is great touch, but it tasted rather pasty and bland. Always glad to see vegan options though and looking forward to future improvements, thanks Sprinkles!

Seed (Venice)- organic, macro, and vegan? Sign me up. I regret not trying the burger which is what they're famed for, but they served the best sweet potato fries I've had yet. Crispy, just the right saltiness, and plentiful. Doesn't hurt that it's served in a Chinese takeout box, which I love. I had the "House Greens Salad" because it came highly recommended, but found it too light to be satisfying by itself. Eaten with the fries, it was a good meal. Seed also served water gratis that was infused with cucumber, mint, and lemons that was as refreshing as it sounds. Again, we thought the meal was rather pricey for the portion and casualness, but I think if we were used to living out here we wouldn't be sticker shocked!

(I was having so much fun I forgot to photograph meals for the next three restaurants.)

Inaka (La Brea)- this was a great surprise (thanks Erik)! A macro Japanese restaurant that served up the heartiest hot pots. Definitely check it out. The decor is minimalist and the food is simple, and you won't leave feeling overly stuffed.

BCD Tofu House (Koreatown)- this was a desperate stop for dinner while stuck in traffic. I was happily surprised to find vegan tofu soon dobu filled with mushrooms and other veggies. I asked for very spicy and cried for the first time in my life from the spiciness. My mouth also went numb. Don't get cocky like me.

The Stand (Laguna Beach)- this was my favorite surprise, thanks to T. A vegan stand where the menu is so huge you get cross-eyed. If you're a soup lover, come here. They have about 10 varieties of vegan soups and let you taste test every one. I also love their soft serve fruit that is simply fruit pushed through a juicer. Think ripe bananas as soft serve ice cream.

Didn't have time to check out Gjelina (Abbot Kinney) and Interim (Santa Monica) which were also on my list... next time!

AKASHA (Culver City)

Mon, 24 May 2010 03:02:00 GMT

Akasha was our last stop before jumping on the red-eye to Philly. Erik recommended this place as high-grade organic cuisine. Indeed, what you're seeing were the best sweet potato fries I've ever tried. Perfectly crisp, sweet, and salted. I'm just a bit bummed I picked the wrong item on the menu.

The Thai curry noodle tasted nothing like a curry and the tofu was a bit pungent. It was originally listed with salmon and I asked them to veganize it. My mistake. The noodles were very bland, and I learned since salmon is very strong and it's often served with something very light.

The others in our party loved their dinners: the organic turkey burger and market vegetable stack. I wish we weren't in such a mad dash to the airport because they also offered a few vegan desserts. Next time...

I miss you already L.A.!

Real Food Daily (Santa Monica)

Mon, 24 May 2010 02:52:00 GMT

I couldn't wait to hit up Real Food Daily, also remembered as my favorite veg spot in Los Angeles. It's been several years since I've visited, so I was sticker shocked or maybe I'm just feeling the economy more!

The prices have noticeably gone up. I remembered this place being under $10 a plate, but now most everything is above. Portions are still generous, but he food wasn't as satisfying or amazing as remembered. Maybe I'm the one that changed... sounds like a break-up?!

What you see here is the THE CLUB TRIPLE DECKER sandwich made with a seitan chicken cutlet, tempeh bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato on sourdough. The seitan tasted bland and didn't add much to the sandwich. The tempeh bacon was made in-house, so it tasted much better than Fakin' Bacon and more like a lightly baked chip. I would've preferred a whole-grain bread over sourdough. Overall the sandwich was unsatisfying, and this used to be my favorite item on the menu. Shockingly, the salad was more filling than the sandwich. You know how I don't care for salads, but the peanut dressing was ever so light and creamy. I wish I could replicate the dressing at home. Price: $13.75

The other plate we ordered was the BASIC FOUR where you choose a protein, grain and some vegetables. We went for grilled tofu, a quinoa and millet combo, and collard greens with a mixture of the veg of the day (butternut squash, brussel sprouts, etc.) This tasted as boring as it sounds. The grilled tofu had no seasoning and the vegetables were simply steamed or broiled. I suppose that's what the dressing is for. We chose the wasabi vinaigrette, which wasn't enough to salvage the above. Price: $11.95

Last, but not least was dessert. We tried the three best on the menu: layered chocolate fudge cake, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. All desserts are sweetened with maple syrup, and baked with whole wheat or unbleached white flour.

The chocolate layered cake tasted like the real thing. You could not tell it was vegan. The cake was fluffy and moist and the cream and chocolate ganache were perfectly rich and sweet. But, for $7.95 I won't be ordering that again.

The pecan pie was the table's favorite, but I couldn't tell what the mushy filling was made of, so it was slightly off-putting. Price: $4.50

The pumpkin pie was most disappointing; it was very spicy (too much ginger) and the crust was bland. Price: $4.50

We were looking for birthday sweets one late evening and returned to see what else was available. It's slim pickings before closing time, but we found happiness with the Fauxstess Cupcake and Brownie Bowl.

The Fauxstess looked like the real thing. Pretty good imitation. My only reservations was that the cake was a bit dry and there wasn't much cream to be found. Maybe if we had one freshly prepared...

I loved the Brownie Bowl. I had no idea the scoops of ice cream would be so gigantic. We tried the carrot cake (recommended by waiter) which was weird and definitely didn't go with the brownie. It was sort of spicy and the consistency of the ice cream (made from rice and hemp milk) was grainy. The other ice cream flavor was mint chocolate chip which was excellent. It was refreshingly minty and creamy. We also ordered a scoop of chocolate ice cream, but it was left out. Seeing how large the scoops were, we're glad they did.

The brownie was perfectly moist and fudgy, and I would say made the Brownie Bowl the best vegan dessert we had in L.A.

Despite the mediocre fare and high prices, the place was packed on a Monday afternoon. What I didn't know was that dinners here were so much better! The portion sizes seemed even more abundant and you could easily go home with leftovers for lunch. I loved the "Cold Noodle Salad" with perfectly chewy green soba and crunchy vegetables. Our friends had the "Gumbo" which was a huge stew with whole grains, tempeh, and a corn muffin in case that wasn't enough. I'm still not convinced of their desserts, but their meals are worth trying whether you're a veg eater or not.

Taco Loco (Laguna Beach)

Mon, 24 May 2010 02:46:00 GMT

My favorite Mexican food joint of all time is...<drum roll>...Taco Loco! Laguna Beach has plenty of vegetarian options, but hangs you dry when you're vegan. Taco Loco saves the day with their scrumptious blackened tofu and mushroom tacos, burgers, and salads. (They offer lots of fresh seafood as well.)

For $2.50, I ordered a blackened portabella soft taco with blue corn tortilla, a heaping mound of fresh guacamole and spicy sauce. I don't know how they make it, but it's cheap and good.

The salad you see is a half-order at $5.50. Over a bed of tortilla chips are layers of crispy romaine and blackened cubes of grilled tofu and mushroom. Again, topped with generous amounts of gauc and spicy sauce.

Fresh, light, healthy and fills my tummy. I could eat this stuff every day and never get bored.

M Cafe (Culver City)

Mon, 24 May 2010 02:35:00 GMT

I haven't seen my freshman year roomie, Gretchen, in years. I love reuniting with Smithies because 1) they don't age, 2) we always pick up where we left off, and 3) they're like the sisters I never had.

Gretchen has been living in LA since we graduated from Smith and she is a walking, breathing embodiment of a vibrant Cali girl. She looks refreshed, sun-kissed, and likes to dine on salads for dinner! That's what you see here from the M Cafe de Chaya.

M Cafe is a macrobiotic place that is mostly vegan with a few seafood options. I wasn't feeling terribly hungry this evening, so I went for a small plate of organic brown rice sushi which was excellent, but expensive. One is topped with hijiki seaweed (a bit too fishy for me), the other has marinated shiitake which I loved, and the rolls are made with avocado and more shiitake. The sushi was delish, but at $2.50 per piece...yikes! Good thing I wasn't too hungry!

For dessert, we went for the most appetizing options which were the Tiramisu and chocolate layered fudge cake. The Tiramisu was pretty damn close, but the cake was crumbly and failed to melt in your mouth like the real thing. The creamy portion tasted a bit too much like soy milk and left more to be desired. The creamy filling and frosting of the chocolate cake was right on. Nothing vegan about it, but the cake was a bit dry. Maybe if it was eaten the day it was prepared it would've tasted fresher.

Overall, this place had a great menu, but what you end up getting for the price may leave you feeling hungry and broke.

Little Ethiopia (L.A.)

Mon, 24 May 2010 01:53:00 GMT

After attending our friend's debaucherous wedding in Acapulco, I was looking forward to a good vegan meal in the City of Angels. Our gracious host, Erik, picks me up in his Prius and whisks me away to Merkato. I've had Ethiopian in D.C. and West Philly before and neither made me want to return for seconds, but this place was different.

We grabbed the spongy Teff and started scooping up the deliciousness. For a trio of vegans, this 20"+ platter was good and plenty. What you see remaining are collard greens, red lentils, ground chickpeas, cabbage with potatoes and carrots, and tomato salad. Merkato changed my feelings about Ethiopian fare. Each of these dishes had a distinct flavor, and the bread was slightly sweet which balanced the curries well. For the first time, everything didn't taste like pungent vinegar.

Thanks for changing my mind about Ethiopian, Merkato!

Healthy Korean (Cherry Hill, NJ)

Mon, 24 May 2010 01:49:00 GMT

After relying on Beowan as my usual Korean fix for years, I discovered Myung Ga Korean back in October. This place is also in Cherry Hill (NJ) except this place knows how to please picky eaters with multiple restrictions. Low carb? Check. Vegan? No problem. Jain? Sure!

I tried the same dishes I order at every Korean place: tofu soon dobu (tofu stew) and dolsot bibimbap (stone rice bowl). I've tried every Korean dish that can be made vegan and these are my favorites. The dolsot bibimbap was generous with vegetables and had lightly seared cubes of tofu over multi-grain rice. It was heaven. I love purple rice and wished it was more available. The tofu soon dobu was also solid, but I prefer the kimchi over the mushroom tofu stew because of the added flavor. Next time, I'm not ordering two entrees. The dolsot will be plenty- plenty satisfying that is!

What I love most about Myung Ga is that your dietary requests are understood. No dirty looks here. The staff is incredibly hospitable and eager to please.

My non-vegan boyfriend ordrered this massive calamari udon dish that was in a platter the size of a big ol' pizza for $16. The prices here are reasonable and the food very plentiful.

Best Brunch

Mon, 24 May 2010 01:28:00 GMT

When you go vegan, brunch pretty much goes out the window. Who wants to eat cereal, oatmeal or fruit when you go out? Then again, what else is there? I've tried a very hyped vegan brunch place in Philly, and it was utterly disgusting. If you want the name, email me.

Sabrina's is my #1 brunch destination in Philadelphia. It doesn't have many meat-free options, but what it does have is a winner. My ultimate fav is the Grilled Veggie Sandwich on a Sarcone's hoagie roll. I request the sandwich to be made without pesto or cheese. Trust me, you won't miss anything. It comes with a side of sweet potato fries, home fries or regular old french fries. The home fries are delicious and huge with golden crispy edges. Sweet potatoes are better without the powdered sugar (so unnecessary!) and the fries pictured here were actually very crispy. I avoided the coleslaw completely because the cabbage is always raw and bitter. It tasted like methane! Unfortunately, on this particular day they were out of Sarcone's at the Art Museum location. The sandwich isn't as good on sliced whole grain bread. I have much better luck at the original Sabrina's in the Italian Market, although I frequent both. The 9th Street location is consistent and never fails, while this spot is hit or miss...

I've also tried the tofu scramble which is what you'd expect... kinda bland and kinda soft. I'd rather stick with the perfectly grilled veggies on Sarcone's sesame seed roll. And for the rest of the world that eats everything, there are some amazingly generous and decadent choices like challah french toast, frittatas, breakfast burritos, etc.

Thanks Sabrina's for giving me brunch back! What's even better is that you can order brunch all day long.

Yummy in My Tummy at POD

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:28:00 GMT

After a sweat-soaking butt-kicking workout with Juliet (Fusion Trainer Extraordinaire), my friend AC and I headed to POD in University City for some healthy, but oh-so-good grub.

The lighting in the place was extra horrible for photos, but managed one shot of the lettuce wraps...

I love the Lettuce Wrap with Tofu. They use delicate butter lettuce to complement the nicely diced tofu. I ask the tofu to be prepared with "less salt" otherwise the regular dose bloats me up the next 24 hours. I also ordered the mushroom fried rice with brown rice and without egg. I should've asked for this with less salt too, it was a tad too much. Note to restaurants: we as a country don't need any more sodium! The fried rice comes with mushroom tempura, but since the batter has eggs, they graciously put the tempura on the side for AC to enjoy.

AC had the miso soup which is always a winner and their lightly battered calamari salad.

Another great workout, another yummy meal. If you're ever in Philly, give Pod a try. http://podrestaurant.com/