Restaurant Review: Pizzanista

I love boobies

 Set in the art district of Los Angeles, California, Pizzanista, is a laid back, cozy, and quaint venue. They offer a variety of creative pizza flavors designed to satisfy meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike. The decor is simple wooden tables and bar stools, while their signature breast cancer support “I love boobies and pizza” shirts adorn the walls. They have a an awesome selection of beverages and customer service is quick and friendly. 

Vegan Pizza

After a short Pasadena visit my friend (shot out Scott) and I shared a vegan pizza and some garlic knots before we headed back to Norcal. The pizza was amazingly delicious. The thick doughy crust melted in my mouth as the homemade marinara captured a traditional Italian spice with each bite. The Daiya cheese evenly smothered the pie kicking it up two extra  knotches. It was soooo good. 

Scott and I (as soda)

We washed it down with soda pop. I had the bubble up, while Scott had the the Creme Soda. Yum!!! I had a great time here and will return upon my next SOCal visit. Check them out!

Restaurant Review: Gracias Madre

 

 Delicious, spicy, flavorful, and vegan are just a few of the words to best describe the food at Gracias Madre Restaurant. Nestled in the belly of San Francisco’s Mission District, the sister company of Cafe Gratitude houses tasty traditional favorites like enchiladas, tacos, and even horchata with a vegan twist.

As you enter you are welcomed by a larger than life size glass mosaic of Mother Teresa outstretching her arms. The outside seating, seats large parties and echos warmth and laughter. Inside, the restaurant is set up family style with large chairs and long tables designed to seat multiple parties. 

I arrived a few minutes earlier than my friend, so I sat at the bar and defrosted with a warm cup of spicy vegan Mexican hot chocolate. When my friend arrived we sat at one the large tables, we reviewed the menu and quickly made a decision. We both wanted the tacos; good thing Gracias Madre offered a variety to choose from. 

I chose the kale, butternut squash, and plantain tacos. While my friend ordered the mushrooms, plantain, and cauliflower tacos. When our food arrived our plate looked beautiful. A colorful arrangement of three tacos, surrounded by black beans, with a cashew cheese garnish sat before us. It smelled delicious and the taste was beyond words. Our table became dead quiet as we focused on the flavors that enveloped our mouth. We cleaned our plates and although,  satiated we didn’t want to pass on dessert. We ordered the warm apple cobbler a la mode. The vanilla vegan ice cream was amazing yet the cobbler left more to be desired. 

Please, believe I will return again and again for the great service, the delicious tacos, the vegan drinks and for a great time.





If your in the area pop your head and hunger into Gracias Madre and share your thoughts, located at 2211 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94110, 415.683.1346 you wont be sorry. 

Restaruant Review: Souley Vegan

Vegan soul food sounds like an oxymoron to some but at restaurant Souley Vegan its a way of life. Here soul food is re-imagined and recreated from its infamous fatty, salty, and artery clogging history to a vibrant, healthy, and flavorful modern meal.

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Oakland, CA, Souley Vegan mirrors the restaurants of the south with its picnic style tables, chalkboard menu, and self serve water as family photos and Blues artist adorn the walls. An in-house DJ entertains a jam packed room full of hungry people from meat eaters to die hard vegans. This is a great place for large groups, an informal date, or family meal.

Nothing like Blues Greats for Wall Decor

I always order the everything plate which is a reasonable $20 and can be shared between two people. This plate offers all of my favorites: mac and cheese, bbq tofu, lentils, potato salad, yams, cornbread, tofu catfish, black eyed peas, and greens (for extra $5 I add fried okra and red beans and rice). After my meal I’m usually too stuffed for a dessert but they do offer various vegan treats that seem appetizing.

$20 Everything Plate

Add $5 fried okra and red beans and rice

During my last visit I brought two of my meat eating besties. One ordered a three item combo meal for about $10. It included the juicy bbq tofu, creamy mac and cheese, and the tender sweet yams. This meal went far above her expectations. 

Three item combo plate

If three items is too much, something smaller like the gumbo may do. The gumbo is a mryiad of well seasoned veggies atop steaming rice. The presentation is beautiful and will have you coming back for more. 

Vegan Gumbo

 My friends came in as non-believers and left knowing that vegan soul food is tasty and there is, in fact life after meat. A long, healthy, and active life that is.










 If your ever find yourself hungry in downtown Oakland with only $10 to spend check out Souley Vegan and report back on your experience. Souley Vegan is located at 301 Broadway Oakland, CA 94607.





 

Vegan in Atlanta Part 2: R. Thomas Grill

Menu

 It is my goal to visit every vegan friendly restaurant in my vicinity be it my home town, my new home, or any place I maybe visiting that feels like home. I love healthy food, I love trying new things, and I love sharing the experience with others. So here goes. I knew I'd be traveling to the Atlanta and would need to eat so I researched all of the vegan restaurants in ATL and the one closest to my hotel was R. Thomas Grill.

R. Thomas Grill is unlike any place I've ever been its has the laid back flare of the South with a California inspired menu. The outside looks like a pumpkin patch with pumpkins, scarecrows, caged birds, grassy hay, and the occasional skull here and there. (Think of Halloween year around) Inside, is like a busy cafeteria, picnic style tables and even more of the pumpkins and skulls decor. 

Southern Vegetarian Bowl: Vegan Green, Mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, smashed sweet potatoes, corn bread

 The place was amazingly busy not to mention there was a line out the door to get in. The harried wait staff bypassed greetings and asked that I shout out my order. Although, I had reviewed their menu online at least 20x before (which is kinda my thing just to be sure meals fit into my daily nutrition and caloric needs) being there live and in the flesh required I place a little extra attention on the desserts. Yum!

The great thing about R.Thomas Grill is that it caters to every type of eater from carnivore, pescatarain to down right raw vegan. I mean truly you could order a burger, fish, vegan bowl, to a raw pie all in one menu. As I hear it this place also happens to be popular to Atlanta's rich and famous such at Ludacris, Usher, and Andre 3000 to name a few.

I digress.

 After shouting out my order I waited patiently taking in the ATL restaurant vibe- I can't say it was much different from the Bay yet I can say I am glad the Bay is culturally diverse. First arrives my Donkey Kong Smoothie (which I sipped up so quick I forgot to take a picture of it). While sipping I watch the owner circulate the room with baby birds in which people were eager to hold and touch. He seemed very kind and warm-hearted. Shortly after my food arrived and it was good; my server Michael who happened to be a former athlete was very friendly and introduced me to the Souths well known Southern hospitality. I thoroughly enjoyed my smoothie, my entree was okay, and my dessert  was delicious. Overall, it was  a great experience and I am so glad I went.

Mango Pie (which I later learned is NOT vegan)

Vegan in Atlanta Part 1: Truva Mediterranean Restaurant

As you know, I visited Atlanta, GA almost 2 weeks ago for a conference and race. Also, as you know I am vegan and Atlanta is known for its tasty Southern soul food which is often devoid of fresh vegetables and vegan options. Although, I always pack emergency food for my travels I wanted to explore the vegan options Atlanta offered. I stayed in downtown at the conferences host hotel I didn’t want too stray far from the location so my options were limited to the surrounding area.

I roamed the streets like a tourist taking pictures of everything in my Bay Area weather confused dress which was: long sleeved and above the knee. 



After passing over 8 restaurants that could barely meet the needs of a vegetarian. I came across a beautiful restaurant and named Truva. The menu had many vegetarian options and a few vegan options. I studies the menu for a good ten minutes outside before I decided to go in. I didn't want to walk in and walk right back out if I learned they had nothing I could eat.

Finally, I decided and ordered stuffed grape leaves and red lentil soup it also came with bread that I was assured hadn’t been prepared with dairy or eggs. I was in business.

My waitress was very kind and efficient. I would definitely visit again and the food was delicious and filling. (I tried to go back the next day for lunch but they’re only open for dinner).

Red Lentil Soup

Stuffed Grape Leaves

Part 2 I did It!!!: Black Girls Run Conference and Race

I just returned from the Inaugural Black Girls Run Race to End Hunger Conference and Race weekend in Atlanta, GA. Words cannot describe how inspired, motivated, and rejuvenated I feel from this trip. Within three days I was immersed in love, sisterhood, fitness, and adventure all in one. But, before I tell you about my journey I must thank those who helped me get here

I usually do not like to bring up God publicly in an effort to respect others beliefs. But, in this case I have no choice because this experience had everything to do with God. I am grateful for every blessing, kind person, monetary donation, and warm heart I encountered through this process. I had a vision, I declared it and it was manifested just as I had seen it. With the help of my mother, father, aunt Sheila, uncle Rob, grandpa, friends Cecile, Jay, and Scott. I was able to attend this great event debt free.

Never in my life have I been surrounded by such beauty, success, health consciousness, and sisterhood among women. Hundreds of women poured in downtown Atlanta’s Sheraton Hotel for a once in a lifetime conference that discussed topics ranging from: Marathon preparation, speed training, hair care, and the psychology of a runner. We closed the educational day with an Honors Dinner in which Oldest Woman Bodybuilder Ernestine Shepherd was the keynote speaker.  It was an organized and beautiful ceremony and on top of that our pre-race dinner was delicious and suitable for every dietary need from Meat eater to vegan to gluten free. Following our eventful night, we ladies rushed to our beds for our beauty rest in prep for our race the next morning. At 7am the popular Atlantic Station was filled with over 4,000 runners (women and men) of BGR ready to  Race to End Hunger. Together we made history.  

Below are a host of pictures and anecdotes I want share with you about this great event.

At airport on my way to ATL

While waiting to board my flight I opened my favorite magazine: Oxygen to find my comment won letter of the month and I win $50 for it. It was a great way to begin my trip.

 I arrive in Atlanta to a wall of History. I stood there for several minutes reading and taking pictures. I felt very proud to see aspects of my peoples history showcased in such a public environment and in a positive manner. I loved it!!!

BGR Founders (from right) Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks with two friends at Friday Night Mixer

 Saturday's Workshops were posted on a screen by time, class, room. It was very organized and efficient.  We were to choose 4 workshops out of  10 workshops options. Guess what I chose to take?

Koya Webb's: "Foods you Love that Love you back"

Queen Sheba, Mari, Kevin, Stickman (from dead prez): "Psychology of a Runner"

Tina Klien:"Marathon Training: How to run a smart Race"

Green Salad lunch at hotel

 We had a two hour break in between workshops. I went to explore downtown Atlanta and not to my surprise there weren't any vegan options. So, I returned to the hotel for a green salad. I ate and read my Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine. My waitress was also very sweet she brought me two salads (one on the house) maybe she thought I would still be hungry :)

My conference gear

Honors Dinner looked so beautiful

Pre-Race Dinner

My plate: Veggies and Pasta

Dessert: Chocolate cup filled with fruit

Night before: Race Day Check-List: race bib, race shirt, fanny pack, wiki head band, ipod holder, earphones, peanut butter, apple, perfume (before race/don't take with), lip balm, water, wiki socks, towel.

6:30 am: Before the Race

Onika and I before race. I sat next to her on shuttle she was so sweet. She adopted me to her New York BGR team. 

New York Black Girls Run Team

After a very hilly 10k I completed it at 1:05

My Medal

There were so many people at the finish line cheering us on. It was so exciting.

Jorie from Chicago and I: we met in line while waiting for a complimentary massage.

The after race party was so fun. Imagine a football field full of Black Girl Runners taking pictures, dancing, singing, stretching, getting massages and just having a great time. We danced the wobble, the BUTT, and the dougie as a group. We even took it way back and made a HUGE Soul Train line. It was so fun and beautiful. I am glad I went and now I am even more dedicated than ever to fitness and sisterhood. Thank you Black Girls Run!!!

After a fun filled weekend, a 10k race, new friends, good food, and 2 flights later I am back in Cali

 I also go to meet two of role models which were major reasons why I decided to go to ATL.

Koya Webb and I

Ernestine Shepherd and I (not a great picture, I don't have a flash, but its something)