Vegan Iowa Restaurant Guide!

I get to travel all over the state for work and this can make eating out a bit of an adventure. A project I have been wanting to tackle for a really long time is a comprehensive list of restaurants that are vegan, vegetarian or veg friendly here in Iowa.

I've added pages to this site (located on the top right hand side) directing readers to restaurants near you that are great vegan options. However, one diner cannot make the list alone and I need your help! (I really do not eat THAT much) Share your favorite vegan places to eat in Iowa City, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Mason City and across the state! Your hot spots will be added so we can share the vegan love with everyone.

Thanks so much!

Red Avocado for Valentines Day!!!

The best gourmet vegan restaurant in the world closed last month. Developers gave the Red Avocado 30 days to vacate and shut down the business which has thrived for the past 12 years. Petitions circled and voices raised, but the development won. The restaurant has not announced plans for reopening or relocating. However, special meals are being planned for the faithful vegan followers of this cherished Iowa City restaurant.The first, is a Valentines Day meal!

Chef Dave is planning A Valentines Day 4-5 course meal to be served at the Hillel House. Reservations can be made by emailing dave@theredavocado.com. There are more details on the Red Avocado Facebook page.

Also, if you are a busy person on the go and are interested in the Red Avocado meal plans they are also still available.

Red Avocado has always been that special place for me where I shared birthdays, New Years, Valentines, Solstice, and many other special memories with friends and loved ones. It will always hold a special place in my heart. My favorite dish was the College Green Sunset with cup of steamy spiced hot chocolate.

A toast to the Red Avocado, Dave and the staff who made it a vegan icon in Iowa City. Thank you to the Red Avocado staff and chefs who served up wholesome, organic, vegan goodness for the community to enjoy. Thank you for supporting the community month after month and year after year with your goodwill and donations. The award winning restaurant deserves to be remembered. Many blessings to the staff and their families as life moves forward with new endeavors.

If there are any other special community meals or holiday feasts, I will be sure to share them here!!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/red-avocado/valentines-2012/10150545908665353

Fresh Cafe - A Vegan Paradise

Fresh Café is a breath of fresh air. Literally, when you walk through the doors it smells like a fresh spring garden with a few spices blended in. This is because they specialize in wheat grass and so everything smells fresh! They have modern seating, with a light and comfortable atmosphere. What a fabulous hidden jewel in Des Moines! I have bemoaned the fact I couldn’t get fresh baked vegan goods in Des Moines and it was right by me all this time!

My co-worker Sara ventured out with me for a wonderful lunch! In case you have not been to Fresh, it is tucked behind a few shops off of University and 25th. (The road across from Toys R US). Kerri Rush, the owner of Fresh Café, greeted us and told us about the background of the restaurant. Fresh Café has been around for seven years, and has been vegetarian/vegan/raw for about three years.

The menu features sandwiches, entrees, drinks and of course dessert! All of the menu items can be made vegan and there are a few raw dishes as well. Their vegan black bean brownie is a hot seller and sounds like it may not be a dessert but it is phenomenal! YUM! All of the baked goods are vegan, and you will also be able to pick up raw treats as well. There was a very steady lunch crowd and everyone complimented their food.

For lunch I tried the raw pasta dish and Sara had the apple melt. Admittedly, this is where I am mad at myself for losing the take home menu – because I can’t remember the name of the actual dishes – but at least the essence is here. The base of the pasta was a zucchini “noodle” served on a bed of spinach with a tomato and pesto sauce on top. This is the perfect cool down dish for a hot summer day, and it worked just fine on a winter day in January as well. Delicious!  

Sara's sandwich served on honey wheat from Big Sky Bakery, was topped with melted cheese, spinach and apples. This sandwich can also be made vegan – they sub my favorite vegan cheese, Daiya. 

Sara is a meat eater with a teenage daughter who has become vegetarian. She took home some ideas for meals with her daughter and was already making plans to visit again while we were eating.

Then came dessert…

This is the whole reason we were there. We got to taste test a few cupcakes, the black bean brownie, a chocolate chip truffle and WOW! The cupcakes are the lightest, fluffiest vegan baked cupcake I have EVER had. It was melt in your mouth good. We tried three flavors, chocolate, vanilla and apple cinnamon. I’m a sucker for chocolate and it did not disappoint. The apple cinnamon had great flavor and would make a good fall cupcake. They were a teeny bit crumbly but made up for this by being so delectable. Fresh Café does cater cupcakes for parties, weddings, or any special day!

In case you were wondering, the black bean brownie does NOT taste like black beans. It tastes like a really fabulous soft chocolate brownie treat, and the fact it is healthy and vegan is a huge bonus. They are sized very generously and are pretty much guilt free in my book.

We left with more goodies, full stomachs and huge smiles. Sara got a treat for her daughter and another co-worker. Let’s just say our co-worker finished off the cupcake in 3 bites with a HUGE smile on her face. Yes, it was a good cupcake even for non-vegans!

Kerri is considering expanding, so we may see another Fresh Cafe pop up locally and this will only spread the goodness through the metro. Visit Fresh Cafe and enjoy!

Fresh Cafe

1721 Twenty Fifth Street Suite 110 

West Des Moines, IA  50266

515-440-4700 

http://www.freshcafeandmarket.com/

Merry – Merry – Merry – Merry

Many blessings to you today!! Enjoy every part of this holiday with your family, friends or with a good book on the couch. Whatever you do, make it fun!!

As you make your New Year’s resolution – remember, like any other goal setting, make it a SMART goal.

SMILE - Boys will be boys...

Simple

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timely

Be good to yourself and give yourself a realistic timeframe to make changes in life.

My New Year’s Resolution are:

1. Publish at least two blog posts each month.
2. Get my photography website up and running by the end of January.



My nephews "pose" for a photo...




3. Increase the amount of fresh vegetables I am eating during the day – to include a bit more raw foods in my diet.

Have a fabulous holiday and a great start to the New Year! Cheers!

Oh FUDGE!

The holidays are hard on vegans. We are surrounded by gigantic turkeys, tubs of whipped cream and desserts filled with butter, milk, eggs and tons of additives. This irresistible fudge recipe is the cure to holiday dessert envy.

Bring these sweets to your family Christmas or New Years party and it will blend in with all of the other desserts - no one will ever know the difference, except you! Psssst…it also makes a great gift!

Ingredients:

¾  cup         Canned coconut milk

2 ¾  cups    Sugar

¼ cup          Earth Balance (or vegan butter)

1 cup           Chocolate Chips

1 tsp            Vanilla

1 cup           Almonds, pecans or nut of choice (optional)

3/8  cup       *Dark Cocoa

2 TBSP       *Olive oil

*(You can substitute the cocoa and olive oil and add another cup of chocolate chips.)

1.     Use nonstick spray to coat an 8X8 pan

2.     Mix Coconut milk and sugar in saucepan – stir slowly until mixture comes to a boil.

3.     Stop stirring! Lower heat and continue boiling for 5 minutes. Mixture will turn clear and begin to get candy like after 3-4 minutes.

4.     After 5 minutes, remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips, butter and cocoa. The top should have a nice sheen to it. Mix cocoa and olive oil so cocoa is dissolved and stir into pan.

5.     Add vanilla and almonds fudge

6.     Pour into prepared 8X8 dish

7.     Place in fridge for 1-2 hours

8.     ENJOY!!

 

Have a FABULOUS Holiday and Happy New Year!

Shop Local - Shop Vegan!

This year as we think about the people in need and how we can best serve the greater good, think about the local owned businesses you pass by everyday. Saturday after “Black Friday” has been dubbed “Shop Local Saturday.” I think we need to think about shopping local everyday.

Small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities. You may not get a half priced video game, but instead you will be investing in your neighborhood and supporting the artist next door. I had the honor of serving as an ex-officio board member for the Iowa City Downtown Association while working for the Summer of the Arts. The business owners I worked with were some of the kindest, most generous and hard working people I know. Everything these local business owners do centers around supporting the community. If shopping small local shops is not your usual routine, then I challenge you to change it up a bit.

Below are some of my favorite local small businesses where you can find vegan friendly goods.

Etsy             
www.etsy.com

Etsy is the home of small business entrepreneurs online. Type in vegan as a search term and you will find tons of things from food, clothes, accessories, soaps, and much more, all of which are handmade or recycled to new life.

Of course, I will recommend my favorite Des Moines area Etsy Artist:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MetamorphisArts

Beaverdale Neighborhood - Des Moines

Back Country Outfitters

You will find much more than outdoor gear here! This local shop has a great variety of Fair Trade, Vegan and high quality clothes, shoes, accessories and anything you need if you are heading out for a winter camping trip. Oh, and they also have a great variety of Organic clothing for men and women! Organic cotton is so much softer…

I found a beautiful Vegan winter coat at Back Country last year that is the warmest thing I have ever worn.

While you are in the Beaverdale neighborhood you will find many family owned local businesses that have been open for generations. Finish off your shopping with a short drive through neighborhoods filled with beautiful historic homes.

West Glen Town Center – West Des Moines

If you are going to Target, then give yourself a few extra minutes to shop at some of the local owned businesses in the shopping center!

Bella Boutique

This is a shop for the ladies! They have great gift items, purses, clothes and accessories at really great prices for your family or co-workers. I found an adorable fuzzy pink tiara here for my niece.

Jake’s Journey

A few doors down from Bella you will find a fun locally owned outdoorsy store! They have all of the fun shirts and gifts for your family. 

Downtown Iowa City             
www.downtowniowacity.com

Take a tour of the downtown shops and you will not be disappointed! Truthfully, I love every downtown shop I have ever visited in downtown Iowa City. I had trouble choosing but here are a couple I recommend.

Lorenz 2.0

I walked up to Lorenz 2.0 and the first thing I saw was the sign that said “Vegan Shoes.” I was in heaven! When I asked about the vegan shoes, I found out that everything they have in stock right now is Vegan! (HOORAY!) Not only are there shoes, really great comfortable shoes that are really hard to resist, but there is also a great variety of accessories hand crafted by local jewelers. They have locally made jewelry for every style and taste.

Catherine’s

Men, get your ladies a gift certificate and they will love you for it! This isn’t the national Catherine’s chain. Local businesswoman, Catherine Champion, has revitalized this shop to carry high-end women’s wear. She has a variety of vegan, organic and fair trade brands she carries AND her staff will spend the time with you to make sure you have everything you need.

Art & Gifts!

Of course you need to check out the Iowa Artisans Gallery, Chait Galleries and Beadology Iowa.

My Challenge to You
This is my favorite time of year. The holidays for me are full of family, friends, good food and of course great shopping deals. Everything glitters, shines and seems a little brighter as we go into the cold winter months. As an eternal optimist, I find joy in all of the little things like decorating my tree or finding a great bargain at the stores.

So if you choose to indulge in consumerism this fall my challenge to you is to buy AT LEAST one thing more than you usually would from a locally owned store or artisan.

Okay, so I know there are tons more Vegan friendly shops, please add more suggestions in the comment section!

Chocolate Heaven

Chocolate Heaven...

Okay, these cupcakes will satisfy any chocolate or sweet cravings you may have. They are rich, moist, fluffy, and melt in your mouth delicious.  Not to brag too much – but these are the best cupcakes I have ever made. I have been sick and finally had my taste buds back and after looking through dozens of recipes, I struck out on my own and came up with this.

Warning: If you don’t like your chocolate cake to taste too sweet, or do not enjoy actually tasting the chocolate in your cake then these are not for you. But…If you are a chocolate lover who needs to satisfy a monthly craving or chocolate fix of any kind then these are for you!

Cake:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar (or sweetener of choice)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chocolate almond milk
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup vegan sour cream
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray a cupcake pan with nonstick spray. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt thoroughly.

2. Combine the chocolate almond milk, apple sauce, sour cream and vanilla in another bowl. Use a hand mixer to blend thoroughly. (The vegan sour cream is sometimes a little thick and needs to be mixed in well)

Create a well in the bowl with your dry ingredients and combine your wet ingredients. Use a hand mixer to blend.

3. Scoop immediately into cupcake pan – distributing evenly and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (if you find a spot without chocolate chips). Be careful not to bake too long or you will get a chewy outside layer (which does not taste bad at all) If you can wait…allow to cool before adding frosting. If not – have at it!

4. For frosting, use your favorite flavor…whatever it might be (chocolate perhaps?!)

5. Decorate your cupcakes and ENJOY!!

Frosting

There are TONS of great frosting recipes I use – and since none of them are my own I will direct you to www.vegweb.com where you can find just about any recipe that has been made vegan. So you can top this with a chocolate butter cream frosting or whatever fits your mood.

Baking Tips

Here are a couple of baking tips I picked up from the Cupcake Queen: Christine Alexander, former owner of Fairgrounds Coffeehouse, in Iowa City (where they have the best vegan cupcakes on earth - outside of these of course).

1.   Always preheat your oven and have your bake ware ready ahead of time.

2.   Make sure you combine your wet and dry ingredients quickly and are ready to immediately get your dish in the oven. Once the baking soda or baking powder combines with the wet ingredients it is activated and the amount of rise and fluffiness is improved with quick turnaround to the oven.

3.   When combining wet ingredients, always have a rubber spatula on hand to get all of the wet ingredients mixed into the dry. Recipes calling for a certain amount of moisture are relying on the full amount of wet ingredients. If you have a good layer of wet ingredients in your bowl then you are shorting your recipe by a couple of tablespoons of wet goodness!