The other night Eric and I met a friend for dinner at Flat Top Grill with to start celebrating our wedding a little early. I absolutely love Flat Top Grill. They’re so accommodating for vegetarians and vegans. They clearly label everything so you know what is safe and then you can have your stuff prepared on a separate, clean grill so it doesn’t mingle with the meat and dairy! So awesome!
Category : Food & Beverages, Fun Things To Do
Ok, so I may have found my new heaven!!! Fritz Pastry is AMAZING! I’d read online that they have lots of vegan stuff so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out how much they really had AND got to see what an adorable little shop they have! I will definitely be back very soon so I can sit and enjoy the full experience – and take photos for you! I went on Thursday night on my way to the veterinarian’s office so I ran in, grabbed a Fritz Cake and a Streusel Cake and ran out the door eating the Fritz Cake. I’m sorry I wasn’t on top of it enough to take a photo, but let me just tell you. The Fritz Cake was one of the most amazing cupcakes I’ve ever had! The chocolate cake part had the most amazing real chocolate flavor and the frosting was slightly salty which made it extremely complementary to the sweet cake. I can’t rave about this place enough – stay tuned for a better post with more information and lots of photos!
1408 W. Diversey Pkwy
Chicago IL, 60614
773.857.2989
7am-7pm Everyday!
This adorable little wine shop recently opened in our neighborhood. I figured it was highly unlikely that they’d have an vegan wines but I still wanted to check it out and give our business to the new neighborhood hot spot. Eric and I both ordered vodka drinks – yes, very odd for a wine bar – and then had sandwiches for dinner. I had the Grilled Mediterranean Meadley: Grilled Portabella Mushroom, Zucchini, Eggplant, Squash, Red Onion, Piquillo Pepper and Provolone (but actually no provolone!) The sandwich was amazing! I loved that although it was stacked high with flavorful veggies, they were sliced very thiny so it was manageable to eat. For the side I had the papas asadas with ketchup instead of the aoli. The papas asadas were great – a lovely change from a side of fries. Eric had the P.L.T.: Crispy Prosciutto, Bibb Lettuce, Sundried Tomato Pesto and Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese on baguette. He liked everything about it except the choice of bread, he’s not a fan of baguette as its a little hard and thus hard to eat! Next time he’d get it on the softer panini style bread I had.
The ambiance was great and the location can’t be beat so I decided to send an email to the owner requesting they carry a vegan wine and to my surprise, after checking with his distributor, the Le Paradou Rouge they currently offer is vegan!!! I’m so excited to go back for a glass! Although their selections will change over time, Chris, the owner, has assured me he’ll have his staff aware of the vegan options at all times. So, if you’re up for a night out in Chicago for vegan wine, this is your place to go!
Open Monday through Thursday from 5pm
Open Friday through Sunday from 4pm
Vintage 338
(773) 525-0521
338 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
vintage338@gmail.com
One of my girlfriends and I are starting a Veggie Supper Club to try out all the great vegetarian/vegan restaurants around the city. You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to join us – everyone is welcome! Dinner will be the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7pm – beginning on May 25. If you’re interested in joining us please email me at cups@ecocupscious.com
Saturday I went to Molly’s Cupcakes on Clark to do a tasting for the cupcakes for my wedding this summer. Although we’re not having a vegan wedding we’re having plenty of vegetarian food and of course Molly’s fabulous vegan cupcakes. I chose to have them for both moral reasons – due to factory farming – and for environmental reasons – the dairy/egg industry has a hugely negative impact on our planet.
I settled on the following vegan cupcakes:
Vanilla and Chocolate cupcakes with pink and green vanilla butter cream frosting with white pearls on top.
Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter filling and chocolate ganache frosting, topped with a peanut.
Chocolate cupcakes with Oreo filling and green, mint butter cream frosting, topped with part of an Oreo cookie.
Vanilla cupcakes with raspberry filling and pink butter cream frosting, topped with a raspberry and white pearls.
Stop into Molly’s and try one for yourself – they’re FABULOUS! If you’re wedding planning, Lindsay is a delight to work with. Even if your wedding isn’t in Chicago you can always have a friend transport them for you – that’s what I’ll be doing!
Category : Dining Out, Food & Beverages, Shopping
I’m really looking forward to checking out the new French Market here in Chicago – it sounds absolutley FABULOUS!
Opening December 3, 2009, Chicago will finally have its first and only year-round, indoor marketplace providing you with permanent, convenient and personal access to local artisans and purveyors.
Open Monday thru Saturday, enjoy Chicago French Market’s fresh selections for dining at our place, cooking at your place or on-the-go.
IN CHICAGO’S WEST LOOP
131 NORTH CLINTON
AT THE OGLIVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER
Category : Dining Out, Fashion
There is a great new building getting ready to be the home to tons of Chicago green businesses later this year.
“Later this year, Green Exchange will open its doors as the country’s largest sustainable business community, offering 272,000 square feet of convenient one-stop shopping options where the public can engage directly with the country’s leading green businesses, eco-speakers, events and ideas. Green Exchange is committed to shifting the green marketplace from niche to mainstream, making green living easy and accessible for the public, and giving green businesses and innovators the national stage they need to grow exponentially.”
How cool that Chicago will be home to such an amazing complex! It’ll be a one stop shop for all things eco-friendly. Check out the video below to see the building the merchants and the people behind this awesome project!
An Introduction to the Green Exchange (web version) from Conscious Living TV on Vimeo.
I’ve made a new discovery at the Farmer’s Markets in the Loop lately – Rock ‘n Roll Noodle Company! Next time I see her I’ll see if she has more info on a website or a flyer as I couldn’t find anything when I searched online. Last week I tried her spring rolls and they were awesome! Super fresh and full of flavor. Yesterday I got the Thai sticky rice – sticky rice with blueberries and coconut cream. She uses ingredients from the farmers that come to the markets she sells at. She’ll even tell you which farmer the different ingredients are from. Isn’t that cool! I love that in addition to buying a delicious lunch item I’m supporting a local chef and local farmers! I’ll be back with more info next week. If you’re in the look stop and see her at the market in Federal Plaza on Tuesdays or Daley Plaza on Thursdays.
Category : Food & Beverages
I don’t know why I haven’t been going to Hannah’s Bretzel over the last couple of years as I had heard about it but now that I’ve finally been in - I’M HOOKED! I LOVE it! The food is organic and they make every effort to be green – they serve their food in recyclable and biodegradable containers and they have a recycling bin next to the trash bin!
I had the barley soup and it was fabulous – so glad it’s a staple year round. Eric and I both had a very difficult time deciding on sandwiches as there were so many fabulous options…and don’t let me get started on the WALL of chocolate bars!!!! Can you believe they seriously have a WALL of CHOCOLATE! I was in heaven!!! Ok, but back to the sandwiches, they were fantastic. Eric kept gushing about the bread and I was rather impressed that there were 3 vegetarian sandwich options and one was vegan! I can’t wait to go back!
I went to the 180 W Wells (corner of Wells & Washington) location but now they have another one at 233 N Michigan in the Illinois Center Concourse
Category : Dining Out, Food & Beverages
The other day Eric and I went to brunch at The Chicago Diner. They’ve been around since 1983 and I’ve been going there since 1991. A great way to lessen your impact on the environment is by eating a veggie meal. This restaurant is a great choice as there are plenty of things a meat eater like Eric can enjoy without missing the meat on his plate.
I had (with tofu and soy cheeze):
HUEVOS A LA MEXICANA 8.99
Eggs or tofu, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, avocado, cilantro, cheeze, with corn tortillas, rice, black beans & salsa.
This was FABULOUS! The only drawback was it was rather spicy. The portion was large enough that I ate a little more later that afternoon and took the remainder to work on Tuesday for breakfast.
Eric had:
GRILLED POTSTICKERS 6.99
With cabbage, carrot filling, dipping sauce & sesame seed topping.
I would have to say these were the BEST potstickers I’d ever had. The dipping sauce was thick and held on well – great flavor!
FRENCH ONION SOUP 3.25 4.25
Caramelized locally grown organic sweet onions in a savory sage & thyme vegan broth with seasoned croutons.
I love finding vegan french onion soup. It was great but a little spicy for Eric’s taste buds – I loved it!
