Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
After a few stints in various modes of transportation, I have finally arrived in DC for the weekend. Spring break has officially begun, and I have entered relaxation mode. Check out the view from our hotel room today at sunset:
What are you up to this weekend?
Backtracking to those last few days before freedom:
Wednesday
Those frozen artichoke hearts were calling my name again, so I made a quick pasta dish to incorporate them. Whole wheat angel hair pasta, artichoke hearts, pesto tofu, and minced garlic made for a delicious evening meal. On the side, I had some steamed snap peas and lots of greens with tomatoes. Can you tell that I was trying to use up my produce?!
The smoothie that evening was another peach-mango concoction using Nutribody protein. Tasty, as always.
Thursday
As you may know, I have a fondness for vegan French toast, particularly for Tofu-Banana French Toast from the Imus Ranch Cookbook. Indeed, half the reason for my enjoyment of the dish is for the batter itself–I could eat it with a spoon…so I did. (Since it is a vegan recipe, the batter is egg-free, so eating the batter does not present a threat of salmonella). Instead of using the batter for its intended use, I ate it as a pudding, into which I dipped some more of those blueberry mini waffles. I washed it all down with rice milk.
After my last class, I was in a particularly celebratory mood due to not having class for the next 10 days. I kicked things up with a BBQ veggie hash: chickpeas, garlic, zucchini, mushrooms, and Whole Foods brand BBQ. I scooped it all up with baked blue corn chips, and I used up the rest of my fresh produce in a salad with cashews and a dish of grapes.
Then I packed up my suitcase for home…I thought you all would appreciate some of my “travelling essentials.”
I also packed up dinner and a few snacks for my flights that evening. Dinner consisted of a veggie bologna sandwich, an apple, almonds, and raw veggies. For snacks, I brought along a light cheddar stick with rice crackers and a small container of TJ’s trail mix.
Once at the airport, I picked up another small snack to nosh on while reading Shape. Mango? Yes, please.
I arrived home late, but I needed to pack up for DC before bed. Here’s a glimpse at my reading material and my “emergency breakfast kit.” What are some of your travel essentials for eating healthfully?
Finally, I got to sit down and read a few blogs with my nightly smoothie: Vanilla Alive! protein with blueberries, rice milk and Nature’s Path cashew-ginger granola. Ah, the comforts of home.
Friday
Before heading out to the airport (again!), I had a quick breakfast: Rudi’s bagel with Sunbutter, apple, and Friendship cottage cheese with apple pie spice. Oh Rudi, how I missed you.
By the time we arrived at the train station in DC, I was starving. Fortunately, there is a “grab and go” Au Bon Pain in the station, so I snagged a few items to eat: garden salad (with sprouts!), mixed nuts, vanilla soymilk, grapes, and whole grain bread. I didn’t eat all this…but pretty close.
Next up was dinner at Nora, the nation’s first certified organic restaurant. I was surprised to find that the vegetarian options were rather limited (read: only one entree was meat-free). Nonetheless, I had a fabulous meal. I ordered a spicy tofu hot pot with loads of veggies and soba noodles. I drained that bowl clean:) For dessert, I ordered the coconut sorbet, aka heaven in a martini glass. Everything I ordered was completely delicious, and completely vegan, as the waitress assured me.
Whew! I am spent from all that eating. It’s so nice to visit a city where eating out is a delight and stress-free for vegan/vegetarians. What are your favorite cities for dining?
Before I sign off, I want to let you all know about a special giveaway over at Blue Plate Special. Anna is offering the chance to win Raising the Bar, a book about the creators of my beloved Clif bars. In case you missed it, I recently did a review of ALL Clif bars (minus the peanut flavors)–check it out here. Obviously, I am one of Clif’s biggest fans:)
Good night, all!
Filed under: Meals
Hello and welcome! I have created this blog for people who love food, especially healthful, vegetarian food.
I have just graduated from Duke University with degrees in English and psychology. I plan to pursue a master's degree in nutrition starting in Fall 2010. Ideally, I would like to combine my love of food and the written word someday as a health writer.
I’m totally packing my PB with me for Spring Break!!!
Mmm fabulous idea for the French Toast Pudding! Mmm
Hope you’re having fun in DC! I think my favorite city for dining is Montreal… I lived there for 9 years and it’s just such a great town for college students/grad students/good cheap dining, as well as ethnic dining and local specialties. I miss Montreal. Durham’s pretty good, too, from what I’ve had so far, which isn’t much. I really want to go to six plates for my 21st birthday
I just had heart palpitations when I saw your trail mix. I wish I were kidding.
What a beautiful view! I love how in DC you can see the monument everywhere.
Your meals are gorgeous. Every time!
My fave city for dining is PORTLAND! It’s my fave city for everything actually.
Have a great trip!
I LOVE how you ate the French toast batter – so fun!!
Coconut sorbet?? Yes, please!!
**My favorite cities for dining = NYC and Chicago.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend in DC, girl!! Oh and I sent you a text yesterday, haha
enjoy your break
everything is amazing – love your snacks!
ps. my fave thing at moe's is the personal trainer salad, i love salsa, beans & veggies all mixed together ~ yum!
Have fun in DC! While there, you must try some Ethiopian food! Julia’s empanadas are always popular, and hit up Sticky Fingers if you haven’t yet =)
Batter as pudding to dip waffles in?! Seriously, you’re a culinary goddess!
My travel essentials: protein bars, PB packets, carbs of some form, fruit
Fav city for dining: Chicago, hands down!
Pesto tofu sounds awesome! Have a wonderful and relaxing break
I have only had pesto tofu once, but it was so amazing that I am SUPER glad you remind me of it! Sounds like it would be awesome with whole wheat pasta, too!
And I am totally stealing your emergency breakfast kit idea! Thanks.
ugh! I feel like blogger HATES me commenting on your blog! I always have troubles!
anyways, to recap what I JUST WROTE that was deleted (grrrrr) I said……..
a) how ALWAYS gorgeous and amazing your food looks….and how inspiring you are to me to eat health-fully and BEAUTIFULLY. thank you for that!!
b) how im so jealous you are having so much fun in dc. but also so happy for you, and how I totally need to stock up on some good mag reading for when I go back home!
and
c) that your tofu meal from the restaurants sounds sooooooooo tasty!!
have a great weekend Chickpea!
Coconut sorbet? Awesome!
so many great eats! my mouth is just watering! those mini waffles look marvelous!
my travel snacks are kashi/clif bars!
xoxox
WOW great eats OVERLOAD!!!!
OMG, I’m seriously DROOLING at the sight of your pesto pasta… I must make that asap!! I love pesto anything, YUMMO!
Tofu banana dip + mini waffles is calling my name as well, so do you just blend tofu+banana together n that’s it?!! Hehehe …
Omg, coconut sorbet?!!! Sounds DIVINE!!! Hrmmm, I wonder if you blend frozen coconut water, you’ll get sorbet in return?!! Hrmmm :/
As for fav city for dining … Perth is pretty ‘meh-ish’ but maybe NYC coz there’s nothing you can’t get to eat in that city
I’m very intrigued by that pesto tofu. The pesto is IN the tofu? Where does one get such a product?
I’m just like you when it comes to traveling, I bring way too much food with me because I worry about “just incase”. Always including dried fruit and granola bars.
Shelby: Haha–good to know I’m not the only one!
Rosalie: I am SO glad to hear that the tripping wen well!
I’ve never been to Montreal, but it sounds like such a great place to visit. I had no idea you lived there! I’ve never been to Six Plates, but I hear it’s pretty awesome.
Sarah: Haha–go to TJ’s!
Erin: I REALLY want to visit Portland. It seems like such a veg paradise! Have you ever been to Food Fight Grocery? I think it’s in Portland, and it looks like it has amazing vegan products.
VG: Chicago is for sure a favorite for dining for me too-I haven’t visited NYC since my foodie obsession began, so I need to revisit:)
LoveofOats: I’ve never gotten the Personal Trainer–I might have to try it next visit!
Kim: Aww, I wish I had longer to spend in DC so I could hit up those places. Next time I MUST make time for Sticky Fingers though.
K: Seriously, I am no culinary goddess–I just happen to put weird ingredients together. I am pretty sure my roommate thought I was crazy when I made that concoction.
Chicago is a GREAT dining city. You can never run out of places to eat there!
Lauren: Thanks!!
Ruby: Pesto is a great flavor enhancer to tofu!
I ended up not needing my emergency kit, but it’s always nice to have on hand in case a place turns out to be not quite veg-friendly!
GC: Oh no! I am so sorry that Blogger is being a poop. I hope it’s resolved soon.
Thanks for your kind words! I really appreciate your taking the time to read and comment on my blog.
Marianne: That was pretty much my reaction when I saw it on the menu…
Jaime: Excellent choices on the travel snacks…I think I could keep Kashi in business, single-handedly.
Cecilia: I just recently tried pesto for the first time…and I love it! Now I incorporate it into everything!
The tofu-banana batter includes half a banana, about a quarter block of silken tofu, vanilla, cinnamon, and a splash of non-dairy milk.
So true about NYC–you can get ANY kind of food there!
Erin: Actually, I just cooked the cubed tofu in a skillet with minced garlic, then added prepared pesto to coat.
YUM! AuBonPan has a GReAT selection of grab-&-go veggie eats!
I had to go back to see what the "pudding-french-toast" consisted of, & wowowow! Deeelish!
One of my favorite cities for vegan eats is definitely PORTLAND, OR!!! Have a great trip!
[...] preparation for my weekend trip to Chicago, I have assembled some foodstuffs to tote along. For every trip I take, I bring along what I call an “emergency breakfast kit.” It comes in handy [...]