The Veggie Option

Recipe: Bruschetta

2009-07-01T20:19:00.004-04:00

I know I'm rushing the season a little bit because none of my tomatoes have ripened yet, but the weather insisted that I make a big ole plate of bruschetta and crack open a bottle of prosecco.

The ingredient list: 1 French baguette, olive oil, 1 large tomato or a couple Romas, garlic, fresh basil, mozzarella (Bel Gioioso is vegetarian), salt and pepper

Finely dice the tomato

If using something other than Roma tomatoes, leave them to drain for half an hour

chop fresh basil

This sprig got chomped by insects

Combine tomatoes and basil with a couple glugs of olive oil, then hit with a shake of salt and a crack of black peppercorn

Slice the baguette into half-inch pieces and broil until they begin to brown. Rub browned side with garlic and turn over

Top with slices of fresh mozzarella

Pop bread back into the oven for a few minutes - just long enough for the cheese to get good and melty

Spoon tomato mixture over melted cheese and enjoy!

What's your favorite bruschetta recipe?

New Vegetarian Restaurant in Columbia Tusculum

2009-06-25T13:57:00.003-04:00

Accoring to today's Cincinnati Enquirer, a new vegetarian-and-eco-friendly restaurant will be opening next month in Columbia Tusculum's Columbia Square retail and office development.

The report states: "By mid-July, Cincinnati restaurateurs Mark and Mary Swortwood are slated to open Green Dog Café - a "green" restaurant focused on the use local ingredients, sustainability and renewable resources. The menu will cater to vegetarians and vegans, but include traditional offerings. The 3,200-square-foot restaurant will seat about 120 inside and 40 outside. It's also expected to include a wine and bar menu."

Can't wait to check it out!

Ruby Tuesdays

2009-06-24T17:25:00.005-04:00

Ruby Tuesdays
Multiple locations
www.rubytuesdays.com

Ruby Tuesdays is one of those restaurants that I always lumped into the same category as Applebees, Max & Ermas and TGIFridays: popular casual dining chains with precious little for vegetarians. In fact, the last time I had visited a Ruby Tuesdays (admittedly, over five years ago) they had nothing at all for vegetarians and I ended up walking out.

Ruby Tuesdays: Who could hang a name on you?
I probably would have happily continued ignoring the restaurant had I not gone on a weekend get-away with my Mom and Ruby Tuesdays was the only restaurant near our hotel that wasn't drive-thru fast food.

I was wowed by the salad bar, which is a cut above the average. Alongside the standard bar items, there are unique items like edamame, thinly sliced zucchini and slivered pickled beet. They also offer four varieties of lettuce to choose from, two types of vegetarian pasta salad, a smashing bean salad, and creamy apple salad.

The salad bar choices are excellent
It's too bad their hot entrées aren't as well thought out as the salad bar. None of the soups are safe (the broccoli-cheese soup has a chicken base) and the menu's only veggie entrée is a standard veggie burger.

The restaurant has jumped on the "mini sandwich" and "endless fries" bandwagon with a bevy of pint-sized selections a la White Castle that are available as appetizers or as a salad bar accompaniment for a small upcharge. There isn't a veggie burger mini, natch, but they do offer a mini grilled cheese option if you don't mind ordering from the kid's menu.

My neice and nephew tagged along on a recent visit and tried out the minis. Truthfully, we probably could have gotten away with one plate between the two of them, but Zoe wanted grilled cheese and Gunnar wanted burgers. It's a shame that the restaurant doesn't offer a mix & match option because one of each mini was left untouched by the kids.

Zoe is pleased with her mini-grilled cheeses
Gunnar prepares to dig into his mini burgers
Steve wasn't about to be left out: he ordered the mini buffalo chicken burgers
The restaurant's bar has different drink specials every day of the week and margaritas are $5 all the time. Sadly, although they advertise Yuengling on their beer menu, Ohio law doesn't currently allow for the sale. Too bad!

All in all, Ruby Tuesdays' menu still isn't all that different from other nationwide casual dining chains, but the addition of a veggie burger (boring as it may be) and a better-than-average salad bar makes it an acceptable vegetarian-friendly option when traveling.

Emanu East African Restaurant

2009-06-17T17:43:00.006-04:00

Emanu East African Restaurant
6063 Montgomery Road
Pleasant Ridge
513-351-7686
http://www.emanuea.com/

Emanu
This family-owned and operated Ethiopian restaurant was originally known as East Africa Restaurant and was situated in a house up the street from the current location at the corner of Montgomery and Losantiville. Emanu, the restaurant's namesake, has developed quite a following since she left Africa and came to the United States in 1992, introducing her delicious, home made dishes to Cincinnatians.

The restaurant is tastefully decorated in tonal browns and exudes a spa-like tranquillity, even on a noisy Friday evening. And it can get noisy - the lack of soft furnishings in the room means there is little to absorb the sound.

The sleek dining room
There are two main components to Ethiopian cuisine: tsebhi/watt, which are stew-like dishes of vegetables or meat, and injera, which is a large, supple flatbread on which the tsebhi/watt is served. The helpful guidelines on the menu state that the injera functions as both the platter and the utensil; bits of it are torn off and wrapped around the tsebhi/watt so that there is no need for cutlery.

The menu is small but varied, with several vegetarian/vegan entrées to choose from:
Ahmelti (Gomen) - collard greens and lightly spiced cabbage with onions and peppers.
Ades (Misir-Watt) - split lentils stewed in a thick, mild red sauce
Hiwswas (Beyayneti)- a combination of ahmelti/gomen and ades/misir-watt, with the addition of creamy yellow lentils, and carrots with beans.

I opted for the Hiwswas/Beyayneti combination platter, which at $13 is a good way to sample all the vegetarian/vegan dishes the restaurant has to offer. Food is served family style on top of a single injera, so if there are meat-eaters in the group it is wise to request the vegetarian option separately lest the juices from the meat dishes mingle with and foul the vegetables.

The Hiwswas/Beyayneti combo platter
Having never tried Ethiopian cuisine I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found the dishes reminiscent of southern soul food, which is not surprising given its historical nature, but also of Indian cuisine. The carrot and green bean selection, for instance, had hints of ginger and cardamom, while the ades/misir-watt was similar to a mildly spiced masoor dal.

Extra rolls of injera have the appearance of washcloths, but taste much better!
The divergence of cultures lies in the bread. Instead of southern corn bread or Indian naan, here it is injera, which is unlike anything I have encountered before. It's made by mixing together teff flour (a gluten-free, high-fiber grain found in Northeast Africa), and warm water, which is then allowed to ferment for several days at room temperature before salt is added. A little of the thin batter is poured then into a lightly oiled hot pan and swirled around until the entire surface is covered. The batter is returned to the heat so that the moisture can evaporate and when tiny indentions appear on the surface of the bread it is ready. It looks similar to a crepe, but is very stretchy and has a slightly sour taste. The odd texture may be off-putting to some, but the use is similar to a tortilla and I found that the various dishes had a wider dimension of flavor when wrapped in it than not.

This close-up reveals the porous nature of injera
The restaurant offers several types of dessert, including sorbet, baklava, cream cheese pies and pound cake. The options vary and popular items sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to order your dessert at the same time as your entrée to ensure that it will be available. I missed out on the amazing honey cream cheese pie – although Food Hussy was kind enough to let me sample hers – and opted instead for the apricot pound cake, which wasn’t anything to write home about.

The apricot pound cake was a bit of a letdown
Emanu does not have a liquor license, but they are happy for you to bring your own and they do not charge a corkage fee. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and dinner is from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The restaurant is open an extra hour on Friday and Saturday, and is closed Sunday and Monday.

Champps Sports Bar

2009-06-11T17:32:00.004-04:00

Champps Sports Bar
9424 Civic Center Blvd
West Chester
513-759-6316
www.champps.com

I still have no idea how we wound up at Champps Sports Bar, but I'll readily admit that we weren't expecting much. Sports bars in general aren't known for their vegetarian friendliness, what with all the chicken and burgers and buffalo this and that. I'd already figured on having to order an overpriced appetizer as my main dish when I walked through the door.

Not your average sports bar
It's nice to be wrong. The restaurant doesn't have a lot for vegetarians, it's true, but when our server learned that I am vegetarian she informed us that any of the pastas can be prepared sans protein for a buck less, although the menu doesn't expressly state this. They also give the option of a veggie burger substitution for any of their specialty burgers.

As most of the specialties include applewood-smoked bacon, the choice is whittled down to four:
1. The 'Shroom Burger - sauteed mushrooms and Swiss cheese
2. The Patty melt - sauteed onions with Swiss and American cheeses
3. The Fresca - melted provolone with roasted red pepper and spinach, topped with feta crumbles
4. The aptly named Flamethrower - bell peppers, green chiles, poblano peppers, onions, chipotle tabasco, cajun seasoning and pepperjack cheese, topped with fresly sliced jalapeno peppers

Of course I went for the Flamethrower. OF COURSE. And it lives up to it's moniker. That there was a vegetarian patty beneath all the fire was secondary - if the sandwich had been prepared with all the ingredients bar the patty I'd have been blissfully burning and none the wiser.

The Flamethrower

Do I really want to eat a burger named after a J.Geils song?Yes...yes I do.
Steve, being British and not giving a toss about stereotypes, ordered the fish and chips meal. He proclaimed that it was very tasty indeed, even though there was so much food that he had a "clean plate club" fail.

Fish & Chips
As with most sports bars, Champps is a large, open space with plenty of big screen televisions showing a plethora of sporting events. It can get very noisy, especially if auto racing is on the schedule. Their happy hour runs M-F from 3:30-6:30 p.m. with drink specials and a selection of half price appetizers, of which the mozzarella sticks are vegetarian, and the Mile High Nachos can be ordered sans chicken and chili. When we first looked at the menu we thought the prices seemed a little high for a sports bar (burgers being just under a tenner) but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. With menu selections that are above average, Champps comes out a winner.

Claddagh Irish Pub

2009-06-04T21:10:00.000-04:00

Claddagh Irish Pub
1 Levee Way
Newport on the Levee
Riverwalk
Newport KY
859-581-8888
http://www.claddaghirishpubs.com/

Well I guess I ought to dispel some of the venom I heaped at Claddagh a few months ago because they took my complaints to heart when they revamped their menu for the summer. There is now a vegetarian entree listed, and it's pretty darned good.

We were on our way to another restaurant at the Levee and noticed that Claddagh had a new "Summer Taste of Ireland" menu posted, so we went over to have a look. I really wasn't expecting to find anything vegetarian, but the Stuffed Portabella piqued my interest enough to walk through the door.

The restaurant is decorated in a faux Olde World style with lots of grey stone, wrought iron and dark wood. Credit where it is due, the restaurant does look similar to the pubs we visited in Dublin a few years ago; the only thing missing was the obligatory elderly drunken Irishman spouting abuse at patrons. Oh well, you can't have everything!

Claddagh has a pleasant outdoor dining area with a picturesque view of Cincinnati's skyline, and the proximity to the Purple People Bridge makes it an ideal location for people-watching. We ordered drinks (a pint of Carlsberg for Steve, a shandy for me) and got a table on the patio to watch the show.

Shandy: not recommended
The shandy wasn't very good. I should have known better than to order one on this side of the pond because American lemonade is quite different from the Brit version of lemonade, which is usually served sparkling and tastes rather like a more delicately flavored Sprite. What I got at Claddagh was a lager cut with American lemonade, which gave the drink a flat, bitter aftertaste. I like my beer, but I couldn't make it halfway through this. The Carlsberg and side salad were winners though.

A refreshing side salad

I'll admit that I wasn't holding out much hope for the meaty mushroom because much of the time I find them over-seasoned and oily, but Claddagh's kitchen staff showed tasteful restraint with the basil oil. The entree was not so much "stuffed" as it was layered: brie and thinly sliced tomatoes sit atop a crumb-coated portabella on a bed of sauteed spinach and cherry tomatoes. Very nice, but a little steep at $10.99. That said, I'd certainly order this entree again.

Stuffed Portabella entree
A close-up with my fork, for perspective

Claddagh's new summer menu also lists Banoffee Pie, a traditional British dessert made with homemade caramel, bananas and Bailey's whipped cream. I am sorry to say that I didn't get to sample the pie on this visit, but there's always next time. With a bonafied vegetarian option on the menu, a repeat visit is already in the works.

Newport Pizza Company

2009-05-29T06:16:00.007-04:00

Newport Pizza Company
601 Monmouth St.
Newport, KY
859-261-4900

When I learned that our neighborhood was getting a new pizza house, my first thought was, "Do we really need another one?" Forgive me for being a bit jaded, but with several other independents and franchises already servicing the area (Pasquales, Dewey's, Donatos, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut etc) I figured the market was already saturated.

Newport Pizza Co. - the new kid in town
Regardless, the lure of a new pizza parlor within walking distance of our house is red rag to a bull. Our first visit found restaurant staff airing a Pearl Jam concert on the flatscreen TVs. The music was loud, and the concert was on the whole time we were there. I'd have rather heard a variety of artists, but no biggie. A repeat visit later in the week found a good selection of college rock playing at reasonable levels and a Reds game on the TV.

The restaurant has several vegetarian appetizers (asiago spinach dip, garlic bread, french fries, and fried mozzarella sticks); one vegetarian sandwich served hot or cold on a toasted hoagie; several salads and a pair of vegetarian specialty pizzas: the Lotsa Mozza and Roma (fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and olive oil) and The Zeus (fresh baby spinach, feta cheese, roma tomatoes, roasted garlic, olive oil and asiago cheese). All pizzas come in two sizes: 12" and 16".

Side Salad at Newport Pizza Co.
On my first visit I tried a side salad and the Veggie Ortaggio hoagie served cold, while Steve and Pete opted to try two of the non-veggie specialty pizzas. I'm not sure how appealing a raw veggie sandwich on a buttered, toasted bun is to most people, vegetarian or not, but I'm a big fan of raw foods and really enjoyed the contrast of crunchy vegetables and soft, lightly toasted bread. The sandwich was chock full of the kind of toppings one normally finds at a pizza place (mushroom, green pepper, olives etc) but also the occasional unusual one, like broccoli. It was a little like Subway, but more fun.

Veggie Ortaggio Sandwich on toasted hoagie The Monmouth Pizza The BBQ Chicken Pizza
The guys were knocked out by their choices of BBQ Chicken Pizza and The Monmouth, so much so that I was somewhat jealous that I hadn't ordered a pizza as well, something I rectifed on a second visit with The Zeus.

The 12" Zeus
This is a damned good pie. The crust was perfect - thick enough not to crumble like a saltine, yet not so thick that your jaws get tired of chewing. I also liked the use of slightly salty feta and asiago cheeses as an alternative to mozzarella. Nice!

The menu doesn't mention alcoholic beverages - nor did the server on our first visit - so we had no idea that the restaurant had a liquor license until we noticed a couple bottles of wine sitting on a ledge behind the counter. I questioned the wait staff and learned that they have quite a few bottled imports and craft beers on hand, as well as a couple of house wines.

An undersized air conditioning unit coupled with a large bank of windows means the restaurant can get stuffy on sunny days, although they have taken measures to curb the heat by installing curtains. Whether or not that will alleviate the problem remains to be seen, but it shows that owner Lee Kinzer is mindful of customer suggestions and is working to make his place the best pie house in town. He's got my vote.

Myra's Dionysus

2009-05-26T17:42:00.002-04:00

Myra's Dionysus
121 Calhoun St.
Clifton
513-691-1578
www.myrasrestaurant.com

Vegetarians cannot go wrong at Myra's Dionysus. This restaurant has been serving up great veggie fare for years and there is a reason for their staying power when so many other places go bust: great food at great prices served in an friendly, unpretentious atmosphere.

The restaurant's prime location in the heart of the University of Cincinnati no doubt helps the bottom line, but it's the jawdropping amount of vegetarian fare that keeps me returning year after year. From the astonishing number of wholesome, veggie/vegan soups to the remarkable list of Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches and rice dishes, it is obvious that the folks at Myra’s are old hands at vegetarian/vegan fare. I do not know how long the restaurant has been in business, but judging from the dark wood paneling, hand-painted signs and other hippie touches, I’m guessing they opened in the mid-70’s.

Not every item on their vast menu is available everyday because food is prepared in small batches of daily specials and can sell out. Their menu lists approximately 30 soups, for instance, but not every one of them will be on offer. It's best to call ahead to find out what's cooking if there's a certain something that's got your jones.

Homemade hummus and garlic oregano pita points
While Myra's menu is skewed heavily in favor of vegetarians, they do offer a couple of chicken dishes and spiced meat gyros for those not interested in a veggie meal. For those not adverse to mock meats, they offer a FBLT (faux bacon/lettuce/tomato) sandwich and a green salsa burrito filled with soyrizo.

Even though the Turkish Imam Bialdi dish of eggplant and tomato sounded divine, and past experience of their baked tofu had me waffling about what to order, in the end I had to feed my craving and go with the falafel pita sandwich.

Awesome falafel sandwich
It's a simple sandwich comprised of fried chickpea patties garnished with tomato, romaine lettuce, and pickle that is really packed with flavor thanks to the interplay of the spiced patties and the bright tahini lemon sauce. Delicious.

Be sure to leave room for dessert when visiting Myra's. You'll see the chilled deli case of home made desserts as soon as you walk through the door - stop and have a look. Chances are that something in there will strike your fancy. For me, it was a coin toss between key lime pie and vegan lemon-blueberry pound cake, although there are plenty of chocolaty goodies too. While I found the vegan pound cake delicious, it was almost too sweet for me. I like my desserts on the sharp side, and the iced topping on the cake overpowered the tart blueberries and lemon.

Vegan lemon-blueberry pound cake

The student-friendly prices and hours (open til 10 p.m. Sunday and weekdays, and 11 p.m. on weekends) make Myra's a popular haunt, although parking along Calhoun can be hit or miss. Save your meter money and park in the free lot at the corner of Calhoun and Scioto. In a city famous for chili and goetta, Myra's Dionysus is a real gem for the non-meat eater.

Tom's Pies

2009-05-19T06:27:00.001-04:00

Tom's Pies
915 Vine St.
Downtown
513-235-2400
http://www.tomspies.com/

I spend a lot of time doing research at the downtown library on the weekend and each time I enter and exit via Vine Street I pass by Tom's Pies, a tiny little joint specializing in home-made pot pies. I’d picked up a menu during one of my library visits and noted a vegetable pot pie on the list, but I never seemed to be able to catch the restaurant open for business. I soon discovered that this is because the restaurant is only open weekdays from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., although there is an evening carry-out service if you call ahead. So when I happened by one weekday afternoon while dropping off some library books and saw the OPEN sign, the lure was too strong to resist.

Mmmm....pies
Owner Tom Wolfe made his mark in the pot pie business around fifteen years ago when he began delivering his scratch-made pastries to the Reds clubhouse, where he quickly became a team favorite (see his testimonial page for details). His pies were so popular that his fame grew to the point where eventually he opened up shop downtown.

The pie case - almost empty
He keeps it simple, using only the freshest ingredients: there’s a chicken pot pie, a veggie pot pie and his signature staple, the chicken alfredo broccoli pie. Make it a meal with a side of coleslaw and cornbread.

Blissfully filling and affordably priced, the veggie pot pie’s flaky crust is generously stuffed with chunked vegetables simmering in thick, creamy stock. It is coma-inducing comfort food.

A piping hot veggie pot pie

Soon everyone will have a chance to enjoy his pies in the comfort of their own home, as he's just inked a deal with bigg’s supermarkets, where his scrumptious savories will be on offer as heat & eats from the deli. Although Tom modestly protests that he isn't much of a businessman, the integrity and care that goes into each crusty creation is unmistakable, and it's wonderful to see a nice guy with a great product persevere.

Food, Inc.

2009-05-12T11:42:00.004-04:00

Steve and I got around to watching the film Fast Food Nation a few weeks ago. We'd both read investigative journalist Eric Schlosser's book of the same name, which examines the local and global influence of the United States fast food industry.

Now filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on the nation's highly mechanized food industry in the new documentary, Food, Inc.

The University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental Health's Center for Environmental Genetics will host a one-time screening of the film next Thursday, May 21 from 4:30-7 p.m. at Kresge Auditorium.

Admission is free and given on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on the screening: http://www.healthnews.uc.edu/events/?/8458/

1st Wok

2009-05-11T05:18:00.001-04:00

1st Wok
90 Alexandria Pike
Fort Thomas, KY 41075
tel: 859-572-9900

"Excellent Food and Amazing Prices - Nobody Beats 1st Wok"

So said the menu we found hanging on our door recently. I looked it over found and that they also list fast delivery, use 100% vegetable oil only and use no MSG. There were plenty of vegetarian choices too, so Steve and I decided to give them a try the next time we were out that way.

1st Wok Fort Thomas
The restaurant is in a small strip center that's not easily seen from the road because it sits on a hillside behind a Dodge dealership. Although the $4.50 lunch buffet was still on offer when we arrived, we opted against it since the dining room was empty and we had no idea how long the items had been languishing in the warming trays.

I inquired about whether or not the hot & sour soup was vegetarian or chicken-based and the server said that it was vegetarian, so I opted for it as a starter and chose Ma-Po Bean Curd as my entrée, which was described by the server as bean curd in a spicy brown sauce with carrots and peas.

I'm pretty sure I was served the wrong soup, because it was neither hot nor sour. Someone in the kitchen was also heavy handed with the cornstarch; the consistancy was so coagulated that I pondered turning over the bowl to see if the soup would mold like Jell-O.

Not hot & sour soup
Unfortunately the entrée also disappointed. Although I was initially pleased to see that the tofu wasn't deep fried (as it is in so many Chinese restaurants) I soon found it quite problematic because it fell to pieces when I tried to pick it up with chopsticks. Why in the world would they opt for soft tofu over firm for this dish? Answer: because it wasn't stir-fried, it was nuked! And what I thought would be sliced carrots stir-fried with snowpeas turned out to be diced peas and carrots of the frozen variety. If I had preserveered with the chopsticks, I would have still been sat there.

I guess I was expecting something a little more sophisticated than frozen mixed veg microwaved with tofu and sauce, but I was wrong
Steve's Chicken in Garlic Sauce lunch special wasn't much better, although he said that the chicken - when he could locate a piece - was quite tender and juicy. The menu notes spicy dishes with a red chili symbol, yet his dish had no spice to it at all, nor did it taste of garlic. The specials come with a choice of fried or white rice, and soup or an egg roll. He selected the egg roll and found it to be of the microwave variety; rubbery on the outside and blisteringly hot inside.

We finished our meals and tried to get our server's attention so that we could get our bill, but she was sitting at a table near the front of the restaurant poring over stacks of paperwork, oblivious to us. We eventually went to the cash register and stood there talking until she looked up and realized we were there. We opened our fortune cookies in the car. Mine said: "Your everlasting patience will be rewarded sooner or later."

Indeed.

El Rancho Grande

2009-05-05T06:54:00.001-04:00

El Rancho Grande
6601 Terhune Drive
Middletown, OH
Tel: 513-705-0454
www.elranchogrande.biz

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a visit to an authentic, family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant? I stopped in to El Rancho Grande in Middletown with my friend Gail, to catch up on things and sample the delicious margaritas while we were at it. The restaurant has grown from a humble beginning inside a former Howard Johnsons to a purpose-built, free standing building just off State Route 122, and the enterprise has grown to encompass seven locations, including Sharonville and West Chester.

El Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant
I hadn't been to the restaurant since they had moved house, but some things remain constant - there are still friendly servers, a bustling atmosphere and tasty drinks. The restaurant sports several hand-painted murals depicting scenes of Guadalajara, giving the new building an old world ambiance. That I was able to photograph one of them is down to getting there as soon as they opened, because the restaurant does such a roaring trade that normally all the surrounding tables are filled.

Hand-painted murals decorate the cheery restaurant
Gail and I weren't bothered that it wasn't yet noon. We ordered a round of margaritas anyway. Tequila features heavily in El Rancho Grande's drinks selections, although there are also an impressive number of Mexican beers on hand. Draft beer is limited to Budweiser and Bud Light, with several different sized pitchers available. The restaurant also has the usual Coke-family of soft drinks and non-alcoholic frozen drinks. The restaurant's happy hour runs 3-6 p.m. daily.

Go for the margarita specials!
There are five vegetarian specials on the menu:
1. Bean burrito and cheese enchilada with rice or beans
2. Burrito with mashed potato, cheese quesadilla and guacamole salad
3. Mushroom quesadilla with rice and beans
4. Bean burrito with melted cheese and mushrooms, rice and beans
5. Vegetarian fajitas - sauteed bell pepper, onion, squash, tomato and mushroom served with lettuce, fried beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo.

I went with #2, as I wanted to see if it was as good as a similar dish that I make at home on occasion. It was decent, but relied heavily on enchilada sauce to carry the flavor. When I make mine, I add diced onion, sour cream and avocado to the mashed potato so that the reliance on sauce is minimal. El Rancho Grande's mashed potato burrito was simply mashed potato rolled in a flour tortilla, smothered in enchilada sauce and baked. Not bad, but not all that great either. I was also disappointed in the guacamole salad - mainly because it tasted like it had gone off. After one bite I left it untouched.

Mashed potato burrito with refried beans and guacamole salad

I hope this visit isn't an indication of what happens when a good family restaurant mutates into a chain. Perhaps I would have enjoyed my meal more had I chosen something else, but that doesn't excuse the restaurant from serving ruined guacamole. That's just wrong.

Mammoth Cafe

2009-04-29T06:32:00.001-04:00

Mammoth Coffee & Cafe
515 Monmouth Street
Newport, KY
859-291-TUSK

Now that the weather is getting nice again, Steve and I took a morning stroll through the neighborhood and wound up at Mammoth Café, a friendly, funky little independent coffee shop on Monmouth Street. That neither Steve nor I drink coffee mattered much, as we figured there would be more than just coffee available.

Mammoth Coffee & Cafe
We were right. The café not only offers a full menu of hot and cold espresso/coffee beverages, but a full line of imported teas, Italian and French sodas, fruit smoothies and frappes, as well as bottled juices, soft drinks and specialty bottled sodas.

Although the food menu is small, the restaurant goes above and beyond with their vegetarian selections. Daily breakfast offerings include a burrito stuffed with vegetarian sausage and roasted potatoes; a breakfast bagel made of egg, veg sausage and pepper jack cheese; fresh fruit and cottage cheese with a fresh baked muffin; and granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. Sometimes the quiche du jour is also vegetarian so be sure to ask. All breakfast offerings are served with home baked apples or fresh fruit.

A stylishly retro interior
I opted for the veggie breakfast burrito with fresh fruit. Although I am not a fan of mock meats, I thought the chunks of spicy vegetarian sausage gave the burrito an interesting, chewy kick, and a decorative drizzle of Huy Fong’s Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce on the side of the plate adds a little extra umph if you want it. Lunch begins at 11 a.m. and includes several salads, a veggie wrap and soup du jour served with toasted ciabatta or jalapeno cornbread. Most menu items run $6.95-$7.50.

The vegetarian sausage & roasted potato breakfast burrito
Steve chose the southwest breakfast burrito
The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired window motif, funky fiberglass chairs and hexagon floor tile indicate a flair for mid-century modern, and the restaurant offers local artists a chance to display their artwork throughout. Mammoth Coffee and Café is open Tues-Fri from 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m., from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekends, and closed on Monday.

A section of the café displays local art

Recipe: Navratan Korma

2009-04-24T18:08:00.006-04:00

I've been trying out various korma recipes over the years and this is one of our favorites:

Navratan Korma
1 Tbs ghee or butter
1/3 Cup mixed dried fruits and nuts (cashews, raisins, sultanas etc)
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1 Tbs ginger-garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground chili powder (or cayenne)
1 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp garam masala
1 Medium onion, grated
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1/4 Cup milk
1/4 Cup heavy cream
3 Cups boiled vegetables (potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, peas, bell pepper, green beans)
Salt to taste

First off, I think one of the keys to a great dish is by making your own ginger-garlic paste. To do so, buy fresh ginger and two bulbs fresh garlic. Peel the ginger and slice it into small chunks, then whirl in a food processor until it forms a paste. Do the same with the garlic, then mix the two together with 1/4 tsp of turmeric and a little salt. You can store this in the fridge for a week or up to a month in the freezer. Yes, I know it is time consuming to peel all the garlic, but trust me, it's worth it.

Start with fresh ginger and garlic
Whirl the sliced and peeled ginger in a food processor
Do the same with the garlic, then whiz together with turmeric and salt to make a paste
1. Boil vegetables and set aside.
2. Heat ghee/butter and lightly fry raisins and nuts for about a minute on medium heat.
3. Add oil to the pan and fry the grated onion and ginger-garlic paste til golden.

Fry grated onion and ginger-garlic paste in oil
4. Add turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala to the mix and fry for a couple of minutes.
5. Add tomato sauce. Stir well for about 4 minutes, taking care not to let it stick to the pan.

Add tomato sauce
6. Add milk and cream, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until sauce thickens. For a richer taste, add 1/2 cup of heavy cream instead of half milk and half cream.

Add cream and milk
7. Add vegetables and mix well. Simmer for another 5-7 minutes or until thickened.

Add boiled veggiesSimmer together
Enjoy!

Serves 4

For added flavor, try adding a little cardamom, clove and cinnamon to the mix. YUM!

Kyoto Sushi Bar

2009-04-21T06:27:00.003-04:00

Kyoto Sushi Bar
12082 Montgomery Road
Symmes Township
513-583-8897
www.kyotosushibar.com

What better way to spend a birthday evening than in the company of friends and appletinis at a local sushi bar? It was Lauren's big day, so we fought the northbound traffic exiting the city and met up with her at Kyoto Sushi Bar in Symmes Township to celebrate.

Appletini - complete with bamboo umbrella!
The restaurant is in a small, nondescript shopping center just off Fields-Ertel that also houses a Dominos pizza, Cheezburger Cafe and Skip's Bagel Deli, among others. Had I been passing by without the express reason of meeting my girlfriend, I would have never given Kyoto a second glance. Why? For starters, it doesn't face the road so the only indication it's there is the small sign near the parking lot entrance, and secondly their neighbors don't exactly scream "fine food." On top of that, I'd looked at their online menu and didn't see much of interest to vegetarians, so I considered forgoing sushi altogether and just having a drink before heading elsewhere for food. Once I had stepped through the door and saw an entirely Japanese staff and the spirited activity at the sushi bar, however, I was swayed.

The nimble sushi chefs in their element
There are several vegetarian-friendly appetizers to choose from: edamame (steamed and salted soy beans), vegetable tempura, and either steamed or fried tofu, none of which run more than $5. I was excited by the opportunity to sample the tempura, since that was a favorite when I studied in Japan as a college student. My host mother could whip up the fastest, tastiest tempura ever, and I didn't think I was likely to taste anything outside of Japan that could touch hers. Mea culpa. Kyoto's batter-fried vegetables took me right back to Yoshida-san's kitchen. The delicate, crispy batter had not the slightest hint of oil residue and the vegetables (sweet potato, taro, asparagus and broccoli) had that crisp-tender crunch signifying deft technique. Very impressive and a steal at $4.95.

Vegetable tempura with tonakatsu sauce
I went slightly overboard on ordering sushi after the positive experience of the tempura. The selection of vegetarian sushi options is limited to avocado rolls, cucumber rolls, vegetable rolls (a combination of avocado, cucumber and asparagus), sweet potato tempura rolls and taro tempura rolls. Taro is a potato-like starchy tuber that is a staple in Pacific cultures, and I wasn't too sure how well it would work as sushi, but what the heck. I ordered it, along with the sweet potato tempura and the vegetable rolls.

Vegetarian selections include L to R: vegetable rolls, sweet potato tempura rolls, taro tempura rolls
These options are what is known as urimaki handrolls, urimaki meaning "rice on the outside." The handrolls are formed into a cylinder shape and sliced into six bite-sized pieces. My order of three types of handroll resulted in 18 pieces of sushi, none of which Steve was interested in trying. He opted for an order of hibachi (charcoal-grilled) chicken with rice and was gobsmacked by the size of the portion, which was too large even for his healthy appetite.

Hibachi chicken
Soup and salad come standard with each meal. The iceberg lettuce covered in ginger dressing did very little for either of us, and the miso soup was made with chicken stock, so it was left untouched. The rolls, on the other hand, were out of this world. The sweet potato rolls, which I had approached with trepidation, were by far the stars of the plate.

The ginger dressing salad was blah
The sweet potato and taro rolls combine the delight of urimaki with the exquisite subtlety of perfectly executed tempura, topped with a delicate drizzle of Japanese BBQ sauce. Terrific. Fantastic. Awesome. Words just can't do them justice. I wish I could gush about the vegetable rolls as well - and they weren't bad - but were bland little wallflowers compared to their batter-fried cousins.

vegetable urimaki rolls of avocado, cucumber and asparagus
Oishi tabemano! Urimaki rolls of sweet potato tempura and taro tempura with a heaping helping of pickled ginger
Although I do not eat seafood, I still find it easy to tell a good sushi restaurant from a not-so-good one. The best sushi bars use only the freshest ingredients; so fresh, in fact, that you'd never know you were eating raw meat at all. And if it isn't fresh you'll taste it in the rice - even in vegetarian selections - because a sushi chef's hands are constantly juggling fish and rice. I'm pleased to note that there was absolutely no hint of fish with any of my choices at Kyoto. Color me impressed.

We were surprised by how busy this little sushi restaurant is. A steady stream of suburbanites stopped in for take-away orders, and we saw three love boat specials (25 pieces sushi, 25 pieces sashimi, and a handful of rolls) being delivered to diners in the hour we were there. And this on a week night.

Nearby diners allowed me to photograph their Love Boat Special
Even though there isn't a lot for vegetarians at Kyoto Sushi Bar, I'd not hesitate to revisit. The sushi was affordably priced and superb, and the friendly staff was helpful and efficient - a bit too efficient if truth be told, as Lauren's birthday dessert arrived at the same time as the sushi and had to be sent back until the end of the meal. Little hiccups like this are easily overlooked when the food is as good as it is at Kyoto. This place is a keeper.

Red bean ice cream polishes off a fantastic meal

The Loving Cafe

2009-04-16T17:21:00.007-04:00

The Loving Cafe
6227 Montgomery Road
Pleasant Ridge
Tel: 513-731-2233
http://www.thelovingcafe.com/

The Loving Café’s mission statement is to offer affordable, healthy, vegan cuisine in an earth-friendly dining environment that contributes to a higher standard of personal, community and planetary health. They use organic, locally grown and fair trade ingredients whenever possible. It may sound idealistic, but the restaurant manages to pull it off.

A not-so-great shot of the restaurant front
A busy lunch service
The limited menu relies heavily on fake meats, of which I'm not a fan. Sure they have their place, but personally I can do without them. I’ll admit to being somewhat dismayed that the restaurant’s only menu item sans mock meat was a raw veggie salad. Since my appetite called for something more substantial than a salad, I bit the bullet and chose the Loving Café Sandwich. Consisting of veggie ham and bologna, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, pickled carrots, vegenaise and vegan pate on a crusty baguette, it was a hearty and flavorsome sandwich. The tart crunch of pickled carrots and smooth pate worked really well together and along with the addition of some other veggies would make a nice wrap without resorting to an analogue. I could have done without the generous slathering of veganaise too, since for me a little mayo goes a long way. I ended up scraping most of it off.

So you are probably wondering how the mock meats stack up to the real thing - and I can't answer that. It's been far too long since I had a piece of ham, bologna or chicken. I will say that I don't think the mock meats added anything to the Loving Cafe sandwich, and I'd have been perfectly happy without them. Those making the transition from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian or vegan diet may find this restaurant the perfect starting point, but I don't think that the sandwich I had is going to convert anyone who doesn't already want to make the change.

The Loving Cafe Sandwich
Other menu options include sloppy-joes, chik’n fillets with fried rice or greens, or baked spring rolls with fried rice. Kids meals include chik'n strips and salad, fried rice and spring roll, or almond butter & jelly on sprouted whole grain bread.

Steve got the spring roll and fried rice dinner. He was not impressed, saying there was no moisture to the rice - as though it had been sitting around awhile - and he didn’t think the rolls had much taste, even though they were filled with finely sliced vegetables and veggie ham. Maybe non-meat eaters would enjoy this dish moreso than someone who is used to pork spring rolls. The entrée came with a side salad of organic baby greens, but there wasn't a choice of dressings. What arrived was a ginger paste so thick that it stuck to the sides of the plastic container. The only way to eat it was by dipping in the fork tines first, then picking up the lettuce. I'm guessing they do not offer vinaigrette dressings because they don't want any oil going into the compost bin.

The Spring Roll Entree with fried rice
Fresh, organic greens accompany the Spring Roll entree
Ah, the compost bins. Food is served on paper plates which are added to the recycling bin after any leftovers have been scraped into a compost bin. Bins are prominently displayed and labeled with easy to understand instructions. Kudos to the Loving Café for offering this simple, earth-friendly option.

The recycling stations are prominently located
The restaurant offers a thoughtful choice of gourmet teas, natural sodas, and organic juices, as well as vegan smoothies made with chocolate Silk (soy milk) or white almond milk. If you’d rather just have water, there is a small station in the dining room with complimentary pitchers.

Mock meats aside, there are a few ambience-related issues that the restaurant should address. The florescent lighting in the back dining room is quite harsh and negates the soothing vibe being broadcast by Supreme Master TV, and the smoothie machine is JARRINGLY LOUD. We had to yell our order to the cashier at the front counter and she still couldn't hear us until the smoothie machine was switched off. Steve and I ran into Cincinnati Enquirer food critic Polly Campbell in the back dining room, and the three of us had trouble hearing each other whenever there was a smoothie being prepared. The roar of that machine was overwhelming.

The product of a roaring machine: a yummy tropical smoothie
The TV shows inspirational messages in the back dining room
The counter is chock full of delicious looking vegan desserts
I want to love the Loving Café and want to champion their cause, but this visit just didn’t do it for me. I’m pleased to see a vegan establishment in town, I think their ideals and ethics are sound, and I love the forward-thinking of the recycle and compost bins, yet their heavy reliance on mock meats leaves me feeling a bit let down. Hopefully the restaurant is still finding its way and will offer a wider selection of items in the future.

Dusmesh

2009-04-09T06:12:00.006-04:00

Dusmesh Indian Restaurant
944 Ludlow Avenue
Clifton
Tel: 513-221-8900

Dusmesh is located in a converted house (the old Indian Palace restaurant) across the street from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and the menu offers a wide selection of North Indian haute cuisine made from the finest and freshest ingredients. The sweet, comforting aroma of Nag Champa greets visitors at the front door; a first indication of good things to come. Diners are greeted promptly by friendly staff, and even first-timers are welcomed as old friends. It's very refreshing.

This unassuming building houses a fantastic Indian restaurant!
The entrance is via this pint-sized addition on the right side of the house
As with most local Indian buffets, there are several vegetarian dishes alongside meat-based dishes. The difference with Dusmesh is in what they offer - on the day we visited the vegetarian offerings included aloo gijjar (a gorgeously tasty potato-carrot dish laced with coriander and onion), and egg bhurji (scrambled egg masala). I haven't seen these at other local buffets, but more importantly both had a complexity of flavor not found elsewhere around town.

The choices on the buffet bar are impressiveThe cheery lunchroom
Another difference between Dusmesh and other local Indian restaurants is their light-handed use of chillies, letting the other ingredients shine. That isn't to say that none of Dusmesh's offering are fiery, but most dishes are gentle and pleasing. Steve and I were both astonished by the depth of flavor in the navratan korma (meaning "nine jewels," it's nine vegetables in a lightly spiced cream sauce). The interplay between the coriander, turmeric and garam masala with the cream and vegetables was a symphony for the tongue. I've had mixed veg korma plenty of times, but here this dish is taken to a completely different level. By far is the best I've ever tasted.

Navratan Korma, rice and Aloo Gijjar (in bowl)Another helping of navratan korma and rice, this time with egg bhurji and hot pickle (in side dish)
I tried every vegetarian offering on the buffet bar (although not all of them photographed well enough to be shown), and my only quibble is that the temperature of two of the dishes was tepid at best, possibly due to faulty warmers on the bar. Considering just how phenomenally good the food is at Dusmesh, this is an issue they should sort out sharpish.

A plate of appetizers clockwise from top: tomato soup, veg samosa, veg pakora and turnip masala
The lunch buffet is daily from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and runs $8. Dinner service runs until 10 p.m. and vegetarian fare is well represented; the restaurant offers 24 dedicated vegetarian dinner entrées, as well as a number of veg appetizers, soups and tandooris.

The desserts at Dusmesh should not be overlooked. Alongside buffet staples like kheer (rice pudding) and fresh fruit, on the day we visited there was also a lovely grated carrot pudding. This delicately sweet dessert meshes carrot with cardamon, sugar, milk and ghee (clarified butter) for a taste similar to baked sweet potatoes slathered in butter and brown sugar. Oh my, I could have eaten the entire tray.

Gajar ka Halwa (Carrot pudding) is a satisfying end to a fantastic buffet meal

Trattoria Roma

2009-04-05T17:15:00.003-04:00

Trattoria Roma
609 Walnut St.
Downtown
513-723-0220
http://www.trattoriaroma.net/

I met up with a friend for lunch recently at Trattoria Roma, a nice little Italian place across the street from the Aronoff Center. The restaurant is dimly lit and looks bigger than it is, thanks to a strategically placed wall of mirrors on one side of the full-service bar. Although I've never visited during dinner hours I imagine that it can get very busy, considering its prime location. Lunch is served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and dinner runs from 5-9 p.m. M-Th and until 11 p.m. on Fri and Sat, although times may vary based on Aronoff show times. Best to call ahead.

Conveniently located across from the Aronoff
The restaurant wasn't very busy on the day we visited, yet we felt we were being rushed to make our menu choices. Our server didn't have a very good grasp of English and couldn't tell me if the soup of the day was vegetarian or meat-based, and didn't understand what I was asking when I wanted to know if the tomato sauce was vegetarian. The menu doesn't specify vegetarian items, so I cast my fate to the wind and hoped for the best.

As with most Italian cuisine restaurants, there are several items on the menu that are vegetarian when prepared with marinara sauce: calzones, pizzas and two pasta dishes - tortellini alla panna (tortellini in cream sauce with artichoke hearts and peas), and penne with broccoli and sundried tomatoes. Luckily the tomato sauce at Trattoria Roma is a vegetarian-friendly marinara. I figured it would be, but not knowing for sure and not having a server who could tell me was exasperating. It would be nice if the restaurant noted vegetarian items on the menu, or at the very least listed the marinara sauce as vegetarian.

The pasta dishes come with a side of soup or salad, and since I was unable to suss out the ingredients in the soup, I opted for the safety of greens. We were served a basket of warm rolls when our salads arrived, but the accompanying butter pats were nearly frozen and had to be warmed up considerably before they were useful. My penne was cooked correctly - I would expect no less from an Italian restaurant - but the sauce was watery and didn't have much flavor to it. I would have expected some garlic, or some basil and oregano at the very least. Instead the dish relied on commercial parmesan to carry it.

The Trattoria Roma side salad
Penne with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes
I think the problem with this restaurant is that there is no "wow factor" on the menu - at least as far as vegetarian items are concerned. There are plenty of standard dishes, but nothing exciting and certainly nothing that I can't do a better job of creating at home. I want to like Trattoria Roma, but after this visit the jury is still out.

Vacation: The New Clock Inn

2009-03-31T16:57:00.004-04:00

The New Clock Inn
Sandy Lane
Fair Oak, Hampshire UK
http://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/index.php

The New Clock Inn used to be a "grubby ole boozer's pub" according to my husband. He should know - he spent many an evening there with his mates as a college student. Back then most pubs didn't offer food; it was a few packets of crisps (potato chips), pork scratchings and KP peanuts if there was anything at all. How times have changed.

The New Clock Inn
Steve was gobsmacked by the changes in this pub. It was clean, for a start. Gone were the nicotine-stained walls and ceiling, replaced by polished wood, cheery photos of bygone days and lots and lots and LOTS of flat-screen televisions broadcasting the match of the day. All these updates have been made possible by the Hungry Horse pub chain, owned by the Greene King Brewery.

The New Clock Inn is modelled on the typical American sports bar, although the food tended to rise above the burger-hot wings-pizza trifecta one normally sees across the big pond.

The garden patio
Although the vegetarian entrées sounded promising, (a choice of Vegetable Enchiladas or Wild Mushroom lasagna) I wasn't feeling hungry enough to tackle one, so opted for something from the pub's "lighter bites" menu instead, where veggie options were limited to a cheese and chutney baguette or a baked potato with a choice of toppings. I'm a sucker for chutney so the baguette option was a no-brainer.

Cheddar and mango chutney baguette
I was surprised that the baguette hadn't been sliced in half, and as my meal was classified as a sandwich I wasn't given any cutlery. I borrowed my husband's knife to halve the sandwich, but the salad garnish was left untouched since I didn't want to eat it with my fingers. The sandwich was ok, but I've made better ones at home. Still, it filled a gap and went well with the shandy I'd ordered. A shandy, for those who may not know, is beer flavored with ginger ale or lemon soda, usually to a ratio of half and half. It's quite refreshing.

The New Clock Inn isn't going to win any culinary awards, but it seems to be a popular place for the non-vegetarian. On the Sunday we visited the place was really hopping with families taking advantage of the Sunday Roast special, which consists of either roasted chicken, roast beef or roast pork served with roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, peas, seasonal vegetable of the day and a Yorkshire pudding and gravy, all for around $10 per person.

Vacation: The Royal Oak

2009-03-26T22:32:00.001-04:00

The Royal Oak
Wootton Rivers
Wiltshire, UK
Telephone: 01672 810322
http://www.wiltshire-pubs.co.uk/

Situated in the charming thatched village of Wootton Rivers, The Royal Oak dates from the mid-1500's and was originally a coaching inn comprised of three premises - the village bakery, the farriers and the old ale house. Stepping into the building is like stepping back in time; the oak-beamed ceilings are low, the glass windows are leaded and thick, and a barmaid stokes the flames in a rustic, open fireplace.

Welcome to The Royal Oak at Wootton Rivers
The building is a 16th century thatched-roof free house
The Royal Oak holds a very special place in our hearts; Steve and I were married here eleven years ago, and we make sure to revisit publicans John and Rosa at least once per year. It was sheer luck that we stumbled upon it, as Wootton Rivers is off the beaten path. While on our way to visit the pre-historic stone circle that surrounds the village of Avebury, we saw a hand-painted wooden sign along the A4 that said "Good pub food, next left." We decided to give it a try and found ourselves on a winding narrow road remniscent of Appalachia.

The entrance oozes olde world charm
You couldn't ask for a more picturesque setting for a wedding, so when we learned that they were not only licensed for weddings but also had charming bed & breakfast accomodation on premises, we were sold. We rented the entire B&B for our wedding party and it exceeded expectations on all counts: the rooms were cheerfully decorated and cozy, the country kitchen and modern bathroom facilities were of a high standard, and the breakfast was top-notch.

A sunny dining room
The well-stocked bar
An inviting log fire greets visitors during winter months
Wedding celebrations aside, the pub is a central figure in the daily life of those living in and around the village; farm hands in Wellies come in for a pint and a game of darts, posh-accented couples sip wine in the dining room, and ramblers stop by for lunch while their sad-eyed spaniels rest at their feet. There is a reason The Royal Oak has broad appeal across the classes: the homemade food is utterly fantastic.

Nearly everything on the menu is sourced locally, and each meal is executed with great care and attention. The descriptions do not do these dishes justice, but hopefully the photos will.

There are four vegetarian selections on The Royal Oak's impressive menu:
1. Stilton and vegetable bake w/ mixed salad
2. Homemade ratatouille topped w/ toasted brie and a mixed salad
3. Baked halloumie and mozzarella with chargrilled vegetables and mixes salad
4. Homemade country vegetable pie with salad and a choice of potatoes

At one time or another I have tried them all, and the consistancy of the kitchen is flawless. This time around I opted for the country vegetable pie, which is prepared with thick chunks of carrot, potato, swede, cauliflower and spices incased in a flaky filo-pastry. This simple, rustic meal was perfectly executed and tasted divine.

A mixed salad of field greens, sliced fruit & veg and homemade potato salad
The country vegetable pie with a side of chips
Inside it's a piping hot vegetable bonanza
The pub is what is known as a free house, which means that it is independently owned and operated, rather than owned by a brewery chain. In theory a free house can stock whatever brands it chooses from whichever breweries it chooses. You'll find an excellent selection of local cask beers at The Royal Oak, as well as a thoughtfully chosen selection of wines, after dinner drinks and spirits. If you are driving, however, it's probably best to stick to a selection from the sweets board.

The Sweets Board lists the day's desserts
Homemade brownie in chocolate sauce with vanilla bean ice cream
Orange sorbet is a refreshing finish
Stonehenge may be the most famous location in the county, but no trip to Wiltshire is complete without a visit to the bucolic village of Wootton Rivers, and while you're there, stop into the Royal Oak. You'll be glad you did.

Vacation: Fisher's Pond

2009-03-21T16:10:00.000-04:00

The Fishers Pond
Main Road
Fisher's Pond, Eastleigh,
Hampshire, UK
Telephone: 02380 692209
http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thefisherspondeastleigh/

Perched on the edge of the pond for which it is named, The Fishers Pond is a traditional country pub in the heart of Hampshire. The pond was originally part of a planned garden city, but the area was declared a green belt in the 1930's and further development ceased. When my father-in-law was a young lad, the pond had a designated swimming area and he regaled us with stories of learning to swim in these waters.

The Fishers Pond Pub

We were slightly confused about how to order at this pub. In most pubs you find a place to sit and note the table number, then place your order at the bar. Payment is made at the time of the order, rather than afterwards like at a restaurant. The table number helps the kitchen know where to bring the food when it is ready. At Fisher's Pond, there were no numbers on the tables, which usually means that a server will come by to take the order.

Not so at Fishers Pond. The tables weren't numbered and we assumed that someone would take our order. When they didn't we asked a member of staff, who told us that the bar would give us a large, numbered wooden spoon when we ordered, and that we should put it into the stone crock cutlery container on our table. Fair enough.

It seems that all English pubs are offering some sort of two or three-course lunch meal deal at the moment, and The Fishers Pond is no different. There are three starters on the lunch specials menu, all of which are vegetarian: breaded mushrooms, fresh cantaloupe melon, and the soup of the day. Steve and his Dad opted for the mushrooms, and I had tomato soup with roasted red peppers and fennel. It was a meal in itself and very tasty indeed. The butter for the bread was softened and easily spreadable - it may not seem like a big deal, but it's the little touches that can make or break a pub.

Large bowl of breaded mushrooms with dipping sauce
Tomato and fennel soup with thickly sliced bread and soft butter
There was only one vegetarian entree listed: pumpkin ravioli with rocket salad. I was intrigued enough to give it a shot. I found it to be a bit on the dry side, and wasn't wild about the salad, which was served on top of the ravioli rather than on the side. I had to remove and discard the wilted mess.

Portions at The Fishers Pond are very generous and unfortunately we didn't have room for a third course, although the profiteroles looked heavenly.

Ravioli covered in rocket salad
Steve opted for Shepherd's Pie with veggies and chips
A colorful array of sauces to try with the meals
The large, rambling structure sports a wall of windows facing the pond, and a lovely, well-used stone patio to enjoy the natural wildlife while supping a pint from their range of real ales. One of the nicest things about traditional English country pubs is their easy-going attitude toward animals. It is not uncommon to find dogs lounging on the pub carpet at their master's feet, or the publican's cat curled up in front of a roaring fire. I think it makes for a cozy atmosphere.

Traditional English pubs are very animal-friendly
The inviting patio overlooking the pond

New All-Vegan Restaurant Opens in Cincinnati

2009-03-19T11:28:00.005-04:00

The grand opening is Saturday, March 21 from 12:30-4 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Loving Cafe
6227 Montgomery Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45213
Phone: 513-731-2233
http://thelovingcafe.com/
info@thelovingcafe.com

Café Opens In Pleasant Ridge To Support Cincinnati Climate Protection Plan By Offering Plant Based Cuisine

Cincinnati, OH – Headlines around the world are drawing attention to our need to take swift action to reverse climate change. In response to Cincinnati’s own Climate Protection Action Plan, Loving Cafe offers plant based meals as a way to help citizens ease their dietary impact on the planet.

Every Earth loving Cincinnatian can be proud of our city’s Climate Protection Action Plan, which includes a thorough inventory of our collective carbon footprint contributions and recommendations for their mitigation. Also known as the Green Cincinnati Plan, this 212-page comprehensive report examines the potentially harmful effects of our current lifestyle in areas of transportation, energy, waste, land use and food choices. It’s in this last category that Loving Cafe feel they have an easy and delicious solution to offer those interested in greening their diet.

Loving Cafe’s hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 11am-7pm, with an offering of a variety of entirely plant based fare, meaning free of all animal products. The menu brings carbon savings in the form of veggie protein entrees, raw salads, organic smoothies, fair trade teas and fresh baked goods. Dishes like the Baked Spring Rolls, served with fried rice and a garden salad, allows the hungry environmentalist to save 1,000 gallons of water compared to consuming its animal-based counterpart!

In addition to a green menu, Loving Cafe’s environment was created using many found, reclaimed and reused materials. Many of the fixtures in the cafe came from local buildings around Cincinnati. The marble tabletops are taken from a stairway of a home in Walnut Hills; the counter and table bases came from the old Cleveland Machine Company building in Northside, the old doors used to face the counter came from a home in Roselawn and the shelving in the storage room came from a closed Office Depot. And for take-out food, the containers, cups and utensils, are composed of biodegradable and/or recyclable products.

At Loving Cafe, you’ll find a comfortable place to enjoy a meal with friends and family, confident that you’re replenishing your individual health, environment and community, as well as that of local farmers, vendors and the global fair trade market.

Vacation: Kuti's Noorani

2009-03-16T12:49:00.001-04:00

Kuti's Noorani
465 The Square
Fair Oak, Eastleigh
Telephone: 023 8060 1901
http://www.kutis.co.uk/index.htm

Serving authentic Indian cuisine in the Bangladeshi style, Kuti's is a highly regarded, award winning small restaurant chain with locations in Southampton, Portswood, Wickham and Fair Oak. That the restaurant would open in the latter location is surprising, because Fair Oak is a small community, albeit with an attractive village centre. It is here that Kuti's has opened its stunning, cosmopolitan eatery.

Posh exterior
All decked out in the evening
Even first-time diners are greeted as old friends here, and as we sat on the sofa by the swish, LED-lit bar waiting for our friends to join us, we found an array of newspapers, magazines and complimentary bowls of Bombay Mix on the low tables to enjoy while we waited. I also noted that Kuti's logo - a woman holding a lotus flower - was woven into the lavender wool carpeting throughout the restaurant.

Elegant dining awaits
Service is impeccable and fastidious; on our first visit I was surprised when the waiter unfolded our linen napkins and covered our laps, however this didn't happen on a second visit, which coincided with a casual buffet night. It is difficult to forget that you are dining at Kuti's because there are constant reminders everywhere you look: spice shakers, plates, tablecloths, after-dinner chocolates, and of course the aformentioned carpet all sport the Kuti's name and logo.

The Kuti's logo is everywhere, even on the plates
The menu lists 11 vegetarian entrees and 14 sides, and these numbers don't take into account breads, rice dishes or desserts. Even more impressive is that Kuti's correctly categorizes their sides, which are often considered entrees in the states. Items like aloo gobi (potato and cauliflower) and palak chana (chick peas and spinach) are put in their rightful place.

There are some savory-sounding vegetarian entrees on the menu: Dum Aloo Kashmiri is small potatoes scooped out and stuffed with potato, herbs and spices and cooked in a cashew nut paste; Vegetable Dansak is lentils and vegetables in a sweet-sour hot sauce; and Karai Sabzi is listed as fresh vegetables, highly spices and cooked in the karai (similar to a wok) with fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, onion and capsicum.

A selection of starters. After this photo, I was so busy enjoying myself that I forgot to take photos!
The experience at Kuti's is top-notch, and even at £15 per person their buffet is far superior to any Indian buffet I've encountered in the states. The spread included six starters, three of which were vegetarian, and approximately half of the 12 entrees were vegetarian-friendly. I could have eaten nothing but the rice at Kuti's and been happy; delicately spiced with cardamom, it was so much tastier than the bog-standard basmati rice with green peas that one normally finds at Indian buffets. There were also an interesting and delicious array of desserts, including a gorgeous semolina pudding that I am going to try recreate at home.

Vacation: The Hut

2009-03-14T03:31:00.002-04:00

The Hut
Bournemouth Road
Chandler's Ford
Hampshire, UK
Telephone: 02380 266626
www.beefeater.co.uk

It has been several years since we last stepped foot in The Hut, a Beefeater-brand pub of the Whitbread chain which comprises over 140 restaurants in the U.K., and I was surprised by the stylish, modern make-over that has taken place. Before, it felt a bit dowdy inside.

The Hut still looks like a traditional pub on the outside...
Now it was bang up to date with intimate, cozy booths, low lighting and contemporary fixtures and artwork. I'll admit to being slightly concerned by the etched images of leaping flames on the front door, which reminded me of something you'd see at an American steakhouse, but the theme is understandable since the chain prides itself on unique chargrilled meats.

...but inside it's stylishly up to date
The restaurant was advertising something called "Flaming Good Meal Deals" where diners before 6:30 p.m. can order a main course from a set list for £5.95, two courses for £7.95 or a three course meal for £9.95, and there are several vegetarian items to choose from for each course.

From the starters menu nachos and honeydew melon were the only two listed as vegetarian, although the server informed us that the garlic and herb breaded mushrooms were also vegetarian, even though the menu didn't indicate it as such. The restaurant also offers at least one vegetarian soup of the day, and on the day of our visit it was an enticing tomato-basil with peppercorn.

Although we were seated quickly and our order taken in a timely manner, the starters we ordered (soup for Steve and me, garlic mushrooms for my father-in-law) were slow to arrive. As the restaurant was virtually empty, we couldn't understand the hold-up. When it finally arrived the soup had a nice tangy flavor, although we could have done without the wedge of butter that came with the side of crusty bread. It was frozen and of absolutely no use.

Tomato soup with crusty baguette
On the mains list there are three vegetarian selections: Mediterranean spiral pasta, Mediterranean tomato risotto, and a quesadilla wrap. Knowing how difficult risotto can be and not really wanting the hassle of sending it back if it was wrong, I opted for the spiral pasta, which I figured would be difficult to mess up.

The pasta was ok but certainly wasn't worth the amount of time it took for it to arrive. The menu advertised it as a "rich tomato sauce with courgettes, peppers and soya beans, topped with cheese shavings." I wouldn't describe the sauce as "rich" at all - watery yes, but rich? Not so much. I was also at a loss to find the courgettes and soya beans, but after a thorough search finally located two tiny bits of diced courgette and a couple of soya beans hidden at the bottom of the dish. The pepper seemed more of a decoration than part of the meal; it was charred and inedible.

The spiral pasta was a letdown

We noticed that very few were taking advantage of the "Flaming Meal Deal" the day we were there - in fact there were very few in the restaurant, period. I cannot imagine how the restaurant would cope with a busy lunch service; Steve requested vinegar for his fish and chips and was over halfway finished with his meal by the time the server got around to bringing it to him.

I'd hazard a guess that word has gotten out about the exceptionally slow service. Our two course affair took over two hours and while we considered a dessert course (I really fancied profiteroles) at the end of the day we didn't want to waste another hour waiting for it.

Vacation: Wolfgang Puck's Airport Cafe

2009-03-11T17:04:00.001-04:00

Wolfgang Puck's Airport Cafe
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Terminal 3, Gate 17, Concourse B
Hebron, KY
859-767-4970

The Cincinnati/Northern KY International Airport is growing on us. The airport doesn't seem as busy as it once was - rising costs at Delta have forced the vacation traveler to consider low-cost airlines at rival airports - but it seems cleaner and more streamlined these days. Sure, it doesn't have the elegance of Amsterdam's Schiphol nor the sexy, sleek modernism of Københavns Lufthavn, and it certainly doesn't have the hustle and bustle of O'Hare or Heathrow, but it's efficient and easy to navigate, which score big points with travelers.

There are a fair number of eateries at CVG, but most are run-of-the-mill fast-food and snacky-snacky items like cinnamon rolls, cookies, doughnuts and frozen yogurt. We wanted something more substantial before our transatlantic flight, however, and a quick look at the menus of Outback Steakhouse and Max & Erma's confirmed a lack of vegetarian options. Luckily we had some time to kill and had a wander to the opposite end of Terminal 3, where a friendly face welcomed us to Wolfgang Puck's. The list of vegetarian-friendly options posted on their specials board lured me in.

Obviously this outpost lacks the wow-factor of a traditional Wolfgang Puck restaurant, but the stylish decor was impressive for an airport cafe. More important for me was the list of vegetarian options, which for an abbreviated menu were more than adequate. There are two vegetarian soups (tortilla and butternut squash) and two salads (spinach and mixed baby greens) for the light appetite, as well as two veg pizzas and three pastas on the entree menu. I opted for the linguini with tomato basil garlic sauce, which came with a side salad.

Baby greens with bright dressing
The salad dressing was delicate and tart, with bright hints of orange and thyme. Fantastic. The salad itself was a basic mix of baby greens, and the only complaint I have is that it was almost too cold to eat. I'm guessing the salads (plates and all) are stored in a frigid environment.

The linguini entree was the exact opposite - Holy cow but that melamine plate came out scorching and I burned myself on the first bite. The entree was inedible until it had time to cool, and I must admit that I thought it would be better than it was, given the chef's reputation. I've never had any of his range of frozen ready-meals, but I suspect the restaurant entree came from the same industrial kitchen.

Linguine in tomato-garlic sauce
Not so my husband's choice of roast chicken with garlic mashed potatoes. He was surprised to find a half-chicken on his plate - much more than he had envisioned. He was well pleased with his selection, and I was envious after I'd had a couple of forkfuls of those mashed potatoes. They were creamy and buttery and garlicky and amazing.

The stylish decor is inviting
Wolfgang Puck's Airport Cafe has a decent selection of bar drinks, but as it appeared that the corporate entity might have been at the restaurant assessing staff on the day of our visit, I'm very surprised that the bar would pair a bottle of beer with a lowball glass rather than a standard pilsner/drinking glass. It felt odd sipping a beer in a glass that I equate with whiskey. The managerial party taking notes on the staff should have meant a stellar dining experience, but although our server was energetic and friendly, she neglected to clear away our salad plates, which sat on the tiny table for our entire meal.

All in all, I found Wolfgang Puck's to be an alright place for a pre-flight meal and will most likely revisit the next time we travel, moreso because of the vegetarian options available rather than a genuine enjoyment of the food, which was just ok.

Still, it was better than the vegetarian meal served up by Delta a few hours later.
Delta Air Lines' sad excuse of a vegetarian meal