Please post your Healthy Highways comments and share your travel experiences with the guide here. Additions and updates should be posted on http://www.healthyhighways.com/forum.shtml
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Comments
Please post comments about the listings and your dining and travel experiences.
We would love to hear about good Healthy Highways routes and the experiences on trips you took. Share the fun!
Great Book! Truly a "Roadfood" for the vegetarian/Healthy Eating community. My first stop out of this book was The Coffeehouse and Deli in Normal, IL (HHT p. 158); I just finished a 100% vegan soy sausage and biscuits dish, followed by a vegan pancake, and a cafe mocha with soymilk. And Ellie, my 12-year-old, just had a vegan pancake. Almost finished it.
The place is cool, very collegey, with big table for community seating...and Free Wi-Fi.
The Gems of this book, IMHO, the real diamonds, which are worth the price of the book, are the utterly explicit, well-written directions. I think most people, were they to have the option of traveling to one of the establishments outlined in this book—would be discouraged IF there were poor directions. Not so with HHT. The directions to the restaurants are perfect.
Even so, you should call ahead. (for example, with the coffeehouse in Normal, road construction had the front door closed. I called, and got directions on how to access the back door.)
Here's an interesting review by Jeff Broder a green eatery in Rochester Michigan called Mind, Body Spirits. http://metrotimes.com/food/story.asp?id=14113
People's Food Co-Op, Kalamazoo, MI (HH p. 223): The People's Food Co-Op is a rather small establishment, mostly a grocery store stocking —as space permits—organic, locally-grown food; a fairly large refrigerated and frozen section stocking not only alternative meats like Tofurkey and Smart Dogs, but real meat, usually organic or free-range. They have a good selection of organic, canned items, a snacks section (chips, ricecakes, etc.), and a small section for personal hygiene products. Their bulk section is also imopressive.
But in my opinion, where People's really stands out is in a tiny little corner of the store in the rear, where one of the employee/owners cooks a variety of foods for the lunch hour and beyond. In addition to sandwiches made with locally-baked bread, they make two hot items, usually a soup and something more substantial, such as polenta lasagna, or a vegetarian casserole. They also brew great coffee. Since there is no room in the store to enjoy your lunch, there is a picnic table out front on the sidewalk to eat and drink. Another highlight of the store is the utter sunshine which emanates from all of the employee/owners. They are never too busy to say Hello.
Whereas the friendly employees at People's Food Co-Op look as if they just returned from the Woodstock Festival in 1969, the folks who work at Sawall's are the epitome of Health. They truly look as if they practice what they sell, even if sometimes they may look a bit overworked and grumpy. Their store is huge, kind of a mini Whole Foods Market, with a full range of health products and groceries, and available staff to help anywhere.
Their customer service is excellent; I once asked a woman about liquid vitamins, and was treated to close to a twenty-minute tour and history of vitamins in liquid form, their pros and cons, and queries as to exactly what I was seeking. In the rear of the store is a special area for cosmetics and natural emollients.
Their selection of frozen packaged organic meals is vast and varied.
They are located in a small strip mall next to what is reputed to be their healthy, high-end sister restaurant, The Oakwood Bistro, though I can't confirm that the two businesses are associated.
Unbelievable Vegan Food. Breakfast.Lunch.Dinner. In this reporter's opinion, the best VEGAN restaurant in the midwest, upper and lower.
The stars of this diner are the vast and varied food offerings: Essentially, you will find something to eat here. My picky, picky, choosy vegetarian 12-year old daughter found something here. Your 88-year old Professional Diner grandmother will find something here. I'd even bet the farm that if you brought in the beefiest, choosiest, chain-smoking, long-distance truck driver whose idea of a "Vegetarian" dinner is picking the pork out of an unheated can of pork and beans with their bare hands while navigating his (or her) 52' rig at 45 miles per hour through the Construction Zone of Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) during rush hour on a Friday afternoon, THEY would find something to LOVE at the Chicago Diner. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, indoors or outdoors at the rear patio. My favorite breakfast item: The SCRAMBLED DELUXE for 8.99: Seasoned tofu with pesto sauteed vegetable medley & brown rice. My daughter's favorite breakfast: The FRENCH TOAST COMBO for 8.99: 2 wedges, scrambled eggs or tofu, homestyle potatoes, seitan sausage patty & fruit garnish. They even have a special substantial, gluten-free menu.
Staff: Patient, informed, compassionate servers. (Compassionate: The last time I was there, I was in a major funk, because I had traveled 200 miles to Chicago to place flowers at my father's grave, and discovered that the cemetery was CLOSED for the day. I drowned my sorrows at the Diner, where they offered me a piece of vegan chocolate cake...on the house. Beautiful people.)
In terms of square footage, the Diner is not the largest establishment , so be prepared to make some new friends, or get a bit close to the cooks in the back on your way to the bathroom.
Indoors, they have the choice of table or counter seating.
One Chicago caveat: Parking meter rates have increased to obscene levels, so I would recommend traveling here by El. Although there is some free parking behind the restaurant, the Diner is only a 9 minute walk from the Belmont station of the city's Red Line Subway.
Cafe on the Green, (Woodstock, NY. - our home town.) HH listing. Fine reasonably priced vegan food. Pam is a great baker too - she made David's last birthday cake.
Seeda Thai, 28 North Central Ave, (Valley Stream, N.Y.) Not a HH listing. Has good veg menu. One of the best Thai restaurants around. www.seedathai.com. David & Nikki
Last night we ate at Oriole 9 in Woodstock for a pre birthday dinner for David. Basically, Oriole 9 is a b’fast and lunch spot, once a month they have a price fixe dinner ($30.). It is a bargain = delicious, extravagant with plenty of meatless choices. Say hello to Nina and Luc. Reservations required. Oriole9.com
Here in Greenville, SC, we have Jason's Deli, a chain of restaurants all over the US that has food with NO high-fructose corn syrup and NO hydrogenated oils. Their salad bar has a lot of organic and is a fantastic salad bar! They have a lot of vegetarian options and vegan soups as well. The place is always packed for lunch and dinner. Visit their web site to see if there is one in your area: JasonsDeli.com.
The book is a great addition to a US road trip!!! My boyfriend and I took a trip to the states to follow Phish for a week and used it quite a bit. However there were a few corrections to be made since the 2004 copy I have: 1) in Boston, Massachusetts, Buddha's Delight is now called My Thai Cafe and is upstairs at 3 Beach St. instead of 5 Beach St. The place is AMAZING however and I totally recommend it! 2) In Mansfield, Massachusetts, the Green Earth Grocery is no longer open. 3) In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania we tried the Essence Market and Cafe for breakfast. Very similar to Whole Foods, enjoyable, but not recommended for a hang over breakfast. Just didn't seem to hit the spot and most of the food is served cold.
Looking forward to more road trips and great eats!! xok
Great Book! Truly a "Roadfood" for the vegetarian/Healthy Eating community. My first stop out of this book was The Coffeehouse and Deli in Normal, IL (HHT p. 158); I just finished a 100% vegan soy sausage and biscuits dish, followed by a vegan pancake, and a cafe mocha with soymilk. And Ellie, my 12-year-old, just had a vegan pancake. Almost finished it.
ReplyDeleteThe place is cool, very collegey, with big table for community seating...and Free Wi-Fi.
The Gems of this book, IMHO, the real diamonds, which are worth the price of the book, are the utterly explicit, well-written directions. I think most people, were they to have the option of traveling to one of the establishments outlined in this book—would be discouraged IF there were poor directions. Not so with HHT. The directions to the restaurants are perfect.
Even so, you should call ahead. (for example, with the coffeehouse in Normal, road construction had the front door closed. I called, and got directions on how to access the back door.)
Here's an interesting review by Jeff Broder a green eatery in Rochester Michigan called Mind, Body Spirits. http://metrotimes.com/food/story.asp?id=14113
ReplyDeletePeople's Food Co-Op, Kalamazoo, MI (HH p. 223):
ReplyDeleteThe People's Food Co-Op is a rather small establishment, mostly a grocery store stocking —as space permits—organic, locally-grown food; a fairly large refrigerated and frozen section stocking not only alternative meats like Tofurkey and Smart Dogs, but real meat, usually organic or free-range. They have a good selection of organic, canned items, a snacks section (chips, ricecakes, etc.), and a small section for personal hygiene products. Their bulk section is also imopressive.
But in my opinion, where People's really stands out is in a tiny little corner of the store in the rear, where one of the employee/owners cooks a variety of foods for the lunch hour and beyond. In addition to sandwiches made with locally-baked bread, they make two hot items, usually a soup and something more substantial, such as polenta lasagna, or a vegetarian casserole. They also brew great coffee. Since there is no room in the store to enjoy your lunch, there is a picnic table out front on the sidewalk to eat and drink.
Another highlight of the store is the utter sunshine which emanates from all of the employee/owners. They are never too busy to say Hello.
Sawall Health Foods, Kalamazoo, MI (HH p. 223):
ReplyDeleteWhereas the friendly employees at People's Food Co-Op look as if they just returned from the Woodstock Festival in 1969, the folks who work at Sawall's are the epitome of Health. They truly look as if they practice what they sell, even if sometimes they may look a bit overworked and grumpy.
Their store is huge, kind of a mini Whole Foods Market, with a full range of health products and groceries, and available staff to help anywhere.
Their customer service is excellent; I once asked a woman about liquid vitamins, and was treated to close to a twenty-minute tour and history of vitamins in liquid form, their pros and cons, and queries as to exactly what I was seeking.
In the rear of the store is a special area for cosmetics and natural emollients.
Their selection of frozen packaged organic meals is vast and varied.
They are located in a small strip mall next to what is reputed to be their healthy, high-end sister restaurant, The Oakwood Bistro, though I can't confirm that the two businesses are associated.
Chicago Diner, Chicago, IL (HH p. 152):
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable Vegan Food. Breakfast.Lunch.Dinner. In this reporter's opinion, the best VEGAN restaurant in the midwest, upper and lower.
The stars of this diner are the vast and varied food offerings: Essentially, you will find something to eat here. My picky, picky, choosy vegetarian 12-year old daughter found something here. Your 88-year old Professional Diner grandmother will find something here. I'd even bet the farm that if you brought in the beefiest, choosiest, chain-smoking, long-distance truck driver whose idea of a "Vegetarian" dinner is picking the pork out of an unheated can of pork and beans with their bare hands while navigating his (or her) 52' rig at 45 miles per hour through the Construction Zone of Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) during rush hour on a Friday afternoon, THEY would find something to LOVE at the Chicago Diner. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, indoors or outdoors at the rear patio. My favorite breakfast item: The SCRAMBLED DELUXE for 8.99: Seasoned tofu with pesto sauteed vegetable medley & brown rice. My daughter's favorite breakfast: The FRENCH TOAST COMBO for 8.99: 2 wedges, scrambled eggs or tofu, homestyle potatoes, seitan sausage patty & fruit garnish. They even have a special substantial, gluten-free menu.
Staff: Patient, informed, compassionate servers. (Compassionate: The last time I was there, I was in a major funk, because I had traveled 200 miles to Chicago to place flowers at my father's grave, and discovered that the cemetery was CLOSED for the day. I drowned my sorrows at the Diner, where they offered me a piece of vegan chocolate cake...on the house. Beautiful people.)
In terms of square footage, the Diner is not the largest establishment , so be prepared to make some new friends, or get a bit close to the cooks in the back on your way to the bathroom.
Indoors, they have the choice of table or counter seating.
One Chicago caveat: Parking meter rates have increased to obscene levels, so I would recommend traveling here by El. Although there is some free parking behind the restaurant, the Diner is only a 9 minute walk from the Belmont station of the city's Red Line Subway.
Were we ate (recently)
ReplyDeleteCafe on the Green, (Woodstock, NY. - our home town.) HH listing. Fine reasonably priced vegan food. Pam is a great baker too - she made David's last birthday cake.
Seeda Thai, 28 North Central Ave, (Valley Stream, N.Y.) Not a HH listing. Has good veg menu. One of the best Thai restaurants around. www.seedathai.com.
David & Nikki
Last night we ate at Oriole 9 in Woodstock for a pre birthday dinner for David. Basically, Oriole 9 is a b’fast and lunch spot, once a month they have a price fixe dinner ($30.). It is a bargain = delicious, extravagant with plenty of meatless choices. Say hello to Nina and Luc. Reservations required.
ReplyDeleteOriole9.com
Here in Greenville, SC, we have Jason's Deli, a chain of restaurants all over the US that has food with NO high-fructose corn syrup and NO hydrogenated oils. Their salad bar has a lot of organic and is a fantastic salad bar! They have a lot of vegetarian options and vegan soups as well. The place is always packed for lunch and dinner. Visit their web site to see if there is one in your area: JasonsDeli.com.
ReplyDeleteThe book is a great addition to a US road trip!!! My boyfriend and I took a trip to the states to follow Phish for a week and used it quite a bit. However there were a few corrections to be made since the 2004 copy I have:
ReplyDelete1) in Boston, Massachusetts, Buddha's Delight is now called My Thai Cafe and is upstairs at 3 Beach St. instead of 5 Beach St. The place is AMAZING however and I totally recommend it!
2) In Mansfield, Massachusetts, the Green Earth Grocery is no longer open.
3) In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania we tried the Essence Market and Cafe for breakfast. Very similar to Whole Foods, enjoyable, but not recommended for a hang over breakfast. Just didn't seem to hit the spot and most of the food is served cold.
Looking forward to more road trips and great eats!!
xok