Brunch at Homegrown Cafe

I often get asked what do I eat when I talk with people about my food allergies and the fact that I'm vegan.  People seem very curious as to how I can be vegan but not eat soy, wheat or corn.  This includes vegans.  When I cook for myself there's really no issues.  I've found substitutes for most of my favorite foods.  The problem I run into is that I need to be creative when eating out.  I have to inform my server of my allergies and check that the foods I want to eat are safe.  I've learned over time what restaurants have more options and which ones I get to eat salad at but there is always something on the menu I can eat.  I figured it may help someone out there if I write about the restaurants I frequent and the food I get to enjoy.  

The first place I want to tell you about is Homegrown Cafe on Main Street in Newark Delaware.  Homegrown is a place that I go to a lot.  They have vegan options to most dishes on the menu.  The staff is friendly and helpful.  Also, they have craft beer on tap.  Good beer is a must!  Today I started with a mimosa since we went for brunch.  I usually go for strong, hoppy beers but they had mainly summery beers which I tend to avoid.  My boyfriend got a Dogfish Head 60 Minute, always a good choice.  Usually when I go for brunch I've gone with the Chili Hash dish they offer minus the tofu and cheese.  It's a decent option and I enjoy it but lately I've been trying new things and seeing if there are other things I could try.  Today I opted for a Create Your Own sandwich with portabello mushroom.  I choose the Philly version which was spinach and a garlic sauce.  They have gluten free bread so I requested that.  It also came with a side of fries.  My boyfriend got the vegan Chili Hash which was homefries, tofu scramble, bacon, cheese, scallions, and jalapeños.  Both were delicious.  I am never disappointed when I go there.  I was completely satisfied and didn't have to give up taste or flavor due to dietary restrictions. 

Portabella with spinach and garlic sauce on gluten free bread

Chili Hash

Railroad Earth at World Cafe Live on April 14, 2012

One of my great obsessions is music.  Live music to be more specific.  So one of the things I'll be writing about is the shows I attend.  The most recent being Railroad Earth at World Cafe Live in Philly.  I've never really listened to RRE before the show.  The first time I heard them was a few months ago at a friends house.  I enjoyed what I heard so I decided to check them out live even though I wasn't familiar with their music.  They really put on a great show.  I was surprised how talented all the musicians were.  They have a jammy, bluegrass feel, very danceable. Their instrumental repertoire consists of violin, mandolin, acoustic guitars, banjo, dobro, flute, pennywhistle, saxophones, upright bass, drums and hand percussion.  A pretty impressive collection which led to a very full, interesting sound.  During one song Andy Goessling was playing 2 saxophones at once which was pretty amazing.  I can't even imagine having the lung capacity to play one let alone two so that was pretty impressive.  I would highly recommend checking them out if they are in your area.  It's a show you shouldn't miss!

Here's the setlist:
April 14, 2012
World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Set 1:
Lone Croft Farewell
Long Way To Go
Shockenaw Mountain Breakdown
Just So You Know
Came Up Smilin'
Bowling Green
Gold Rush
Walk Beside Me -->
Hard Livin'

Set 2:
Seven Story Mountain
Goat
Drag Him Down
For Love
Been Down This Road
Potter's Field
1759
Standing on the Corner
Said What You Mean
The Jupiter and the 119 -->
Cuckoo Medley
Encore:
Fisherman's Blues

Playing 2 saxes at once.  Sick!

One of my friends was given the setlist for the 1st set.  Pretty awesome!

Setlist for the 2nd set.

My Journey to Becoming Allergy Free and Vegan

Hey everyone out there in the interwebs!  I'm Abby and I'm the cubicle hippie.  I work in a cubicle by day and jam out to music in the evening.  I'm 32 years old and have only just discovered that a healthy diet was the key to a healthy life.  Strange, I know, I should have known that food was important to feeling good but I never really could prove that to myself.  I spent most of time sick with sinus infections, bronchitis, stomach issues, anxiety and depression.  I tried a few different diets when I was in my early twenties and nothing seemed to make a difference.  Last February after being put on a third round of antibiotics for a sinus infection that just wouldn't go away I decided to take a chance and see an acupuncturist.  Her name is Lorna Lee and she changed my life without even knowing that she was.  Lorna's first instinct was to test me for food allergies.  She informed that I was allergic to soy, wheat and corn.  I was shocked at first considering the Allergy Specialist I saw never thought he needed to test me for food allergies.  After thinking about it for a night I decided that I would attempt to cut out anything with soy, wheat or corn from my diet.  I can tell you it was the best decision I've ever made.  Within two weeks I could tell the difference.  My stomach started behaving normally.  My headaches started to subside.  I made the decision to stick with this diet which meant cutting out almost all processed foods (which included macaroni and cheese, my favorite food), being extremely specific at restaurants and letting all my friends and family know what I could and couldn't eat.  It's been an interesting challenge but my friends and family have been great! 

In December, I started listening to a podcast called Citizen Radio.  The couple that does the show Jaime Kilstein and Alison Kilkenny turned out to be vegan and would occasionally discuss it on the show.  Around the time I started listening to them, they were working on creating multiple podcasts.  One of which was Red Radio with Erin Red (Erin's no longer associated with Citizen Radio but is still putting out the show Red Radio).  It was a vegan podcast.  Erin grabbed me right away.  She was very passionate and you can't help but get pulled in.  Her first podcast she interviewed Colleen Patrick-Godreau.  The interview made me question my lifestyle.  I was beginning to realize that eating meat was not the best choice for me ethically or physically but I still wasn't sure how to commit to a vegan lifestyle.  My family eats meat, my boyfriend ate meat, my friends are all meat-eaters.  How was I going to be social and be vegan?  I pondered this for a few days.  Around this time I was watching a lot of documentaries.  One that had the biggest affect on me was Forks Over Knives.  It discussed how eating meat and dairy was the cause of so many diseases that cause people to suffer. This convinced my boyfriend that becoming vegan was a great benefit to our health and he offered to make the change with me which made my decision so much easier.  To have someone to cook food with, to discuss the changes and challenges, it was very comforting.  The final thing that sealed it was the documentary Life In A Day.  It had a scene in a slaughterhouse that showed exactly how a cow was murdered.  I cried so hard.  It felt so traumatic to see that.  After witnessing that there was no going back.  I was vegan.

Since I made the decision, I have educated myself as much as possible.  I read every vegan book I can get my hands on.  I listen to every show from Erin Red and Colleen Patrick-Godreau (Check out her podcast, Vegetarian Food For Thought.  Extremely Educational!).  I read every label on my food with the occasionally mishap.  I follow many blogs and websites.  I aim to be a healthy vegan and knowledge is power, right?

So, that was my journey to get to where I am now.  I'm happy, healthy, glowing and loving life!  Now I want to share what I learn with other people in the hopes that maybe something I write might help one person change their life.  I'm still learning what works for me and what doesn't.  I'm no expert on nutrition or health, maybe one day I will be but right now what I write is what works for me today.  My goal is to keep a journal of my lifestyle, the things I do to live a healthy life and the things I do that don't work.  If I help one person by posting on here than I'll be happy.