I’m super delighted to be able to report back on even more Miami deliciousness! While there are lots of things to do in Miami it is an absolute must to save time to dine on the local fare. It’s super cool at how many places have popped up over the last few years that are not only accommodating to special diets but are also incredibly delicious. So whether you are looking to partake in some Miami sightseeing tours or just passin’ through, make it a point to check out the rest of the fave spots that I was lucky enough to get my grub on at!

There’s nothing like a romantic Italian meal but an organic Italian meal takes the cake! EscoPazzo is THE premiere organic Italian locale in Miami to get healthy, delicious food. And what’s even cooler is that they have vegan and raw vegan menu items!!! Yum!! No matter who you may be struttin’ down South beach with, you can all enjoy a world class meal at Escopazzo. My personal favorites are the tomato and avocado tartar with pickled watermelon and micro mustard greens as well the vegetable lasagna with cashew cheese. OMG!

I had the good fortune of being able to do my first book signing of my cookbook, The Healthy Voyager’s Global Kitchen, at Books & Books on Lincoln Road. Just before the signing, I dined with the chef at the Cafe at Books and Books. Chef Bernie is not only a hoot, and a fellow healthy Latino, he is a gifted chef as well. the vegan items at the cafe are fantastic! Full of the flavors of Miami, and my childhood, the veggie dishes are pure bliss. Using lots of grains, legumes and veggies, it’s pure, clean food with the tastes of Latin America. The carrot cake with mango sauce is a great twist, his quinoa and vegetable bowl is delish and there us even a mock chicken curry sandwich on the menu. Yumm!! Eat first, shop second!! Books and Books is a great place to spend an afternoon ; )

If you’re looking for a kick ass bar with healthy vegan food, The Lost and Found Saloon is the place for you. With it’s fun western theme, you might be surprised to find vegan friendly dishes there, let alone healthy ones. Not your usual bar food, Lost and Found does it up right. Their signature salad chock full of fresh greens, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, avocado, eggplant portobello mushrooms and topped with pepita encrusted tofu is enough to show you that this ain’t your traditional bar menu. And the list goes on! Chipotle black bean burgers, seasonal veggie plates, chipotle tofu melt, pinon and pepita encrusted tofu over saffron rice…Insanity! So much fun, so much yum, you gotta bring all your friends (veg or not) to get lost and found asap!

Fast food is gross so Evos has come to the rescue. Boasting their fresh real fruit smoothies, air baked fries and healthier options for traditional burgers, it’s much easier for folks to make the switch. with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, you too can enjoy an American classic meal of burgers, fries and a shake without the fat and guilt. Eco-friendly and cool, even their flavored ketchup rock! I fell in love with my thai vegan wrap and air fries dunked in garlic ketchup, mmmmm! Take that McD’s!

Just north of Miami and south of Ft. Lauderdale, you’ll find Hollywood. Home to Sara’s Kosher Vegetarian and L’Chaim Chinese restaurants. Owned and operated by a lovely couple, both restaurants are completely kosher and offer great veggie food. Sara’s is usually my first stop when i am home visiting as I crave their vegan Cuban sandwich all year long. at Sara’s, they’ve got it all from pizza, sandwiches, soup, salads and full entrees, all easily (and happily) veganizable. next door at L’Chaim Chinese, you can get vegan avocado spring rolls, veggie lettuce cups and basically anything on the menu made with tofu. So no matter what you’re in the mood for, Sara’s and L’Chaim have your cravings covered!

So that’s a wrap on Miami for now but it looks like the healthy spots are growing so I’ll be back to fill you in soon! Happy healthy trails!

My hometown of Miami is finally getting on a healthier kick! And I have to say, it was worth the wait! With a plethora of healthy, vegan and even raw places to dine, Miami is definitely becoming a force to be reckoned with in the veg world.

Oddly enough, of all the “vegan” cities I have visited around the world, I’m finding that the ones that are just now offering veg and special diet friendly foods to be even healthier then those that are big vegan meccas. Sure, vegan comfort food is great once in a while but when there is a lack of really healthy options, you miss the goodness and wonder of eating real plant based foods. Miami, while making its slow appearance on the veg scene, is doing a killer job of keeping it real!

Let’s start with an awesome raw food eatery called Life Food Gourmet. Located just south of downtown, this quaint whole foods restaurant knocks raw food out of the park. Innovative dishes and ways to prep common raw food meals is what this place has perfected. So many delicious menu items made with incredible new ingredients, Life Food is a great example of Miami taking health and delicious food seriously. With the menu boasting icons that show you what part of the body or aspect of health the food benefits, it’s a no brainer to lick you plate clean when dining here. Go for any of their shakes and pizzas but don’t leave without  having their cauliflower tabbouleh, brazil nut hummus or out of this world chocolate mousse pie!

Another prime example of a healthy, passionate locale who aims to share it with all of South Florida, is Choices Cafe. A small diner that packs a punch. Combining the local Latin flavors with fun all vegan favorites, you won’t leave hungry or disappointed when visiting choices. Fresh juices, sandwiches, salads and other delicious treats, go for lunch, go for brunch but regardless, just go! My personal faves are the chili con kale (best chili I’ve ever had) and the insane burrito (yes, that’s what it’s called and for good reason). This burrito is filled with all that is awesome in this world ; ) The brainchild of 2 brothers with a mission for providing healthy food and happiness, they are definitely doing it right, attracting all sorts of folks and helping them heal with food.

Now if you’re looking for fun and yum in the midst of on of Miami’s hottest spots to party, El Vato is the place to be. A unique tequila bar and Mexican food restaurant, don’t let the hot rod low rider, East LA themed restaurant fool you. Not only does the menu offer only local, organic, free range food, it also has an awesome vegan menu complete with ooey gooey vegan quesadillas, burritos and veganized versions of everything they make for the omnivores. healthy Mexican with a boatload of vegan options, why would you get your margaritas and chips anywhere else! Party there with the in house DJ, sit in the cool old car while you dine and have a ball!

The food truck phenomenon has hit South Florida in a big way but even bigger and ballsier is the all vegan Mac N’ Food Truck! This delicious comfort food eatery on wheels pulls up to all sorts of events, meetups and locations in and around South Florida, proving that awesome vegan food exists, even on a food truck. Their signature mac n’ cheese is to die for ( i love their spicy soyrizo mac!) as are all of their fun menu items. Starting lunch delivery this month, it’s time to start tracking down the Mac n’ Food truck!

In the heat of Miami, a chilly ice cream cone always hits the spot. The Frieze has non-dairy folks drooling with their decadent sorbets like peanut butter, champagne, maple walnut and chocolate mint, you’ll be making stops here between meals!

Located in Ft. Lauderdale, about 30 minutes north of downtown Miami, you’ll find Sublime. One of the country’s premiere vegan restaurants. I’ve covered them before but they bear repeating as they are always perfecting their menu. A beautiful and stylish restaurant and organic bar, it’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner, birthday, wedding rehearsal dinner and so on. It’s lovely and the food is divine. Their frito misto will have you thinking quite differently about cauliflower as will their amazing coconut cake. Everything the serve is delicious so be sure you spend enough time in Ft. Lauderdale to dine in more than once!

And that’s not all! More to come next week!!!

I couldn’t stop with just 1 post seeing as how Atlanta had a restaurant crammed in every nook and cranny of the city so here with go with number deuce! A hipster brunch spot, a ridiculously awesome vegan gourmet eatery, a seasonal feast and a vintage diner with a modern twist, you are sure to find something you will devour ; )

Who doesn’t like brunch? Ok, that was rhetorical but I’m sure I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy sleeping in and still being able to order breakfast ; ) At Ria’s Bluebird you can get breakfast or lunch or both! You can also get vegan or not which was great for my sugar and me as a good vegan breakfasty brunch is hard to come by sometimes. Not only was the food yummers but the feel of the place was great. Think country diner meets hispsterville and that’s bluebird. The cool Atlanta crowd with the Georgia presence and bluebird theme is a nice combo and I dug it. I also dug my tofu scramble with cilantro pesto! Not far fomr downtown, find at more about Ria’s Bluebird!

Now, my barometer for convincing vegan food is my omnivorous counterpart. I’ve only seen him chow down, with pleasure, on a super vegany meal at 2 restaurants. Now there are 3. Cafe Sunflower made the list with their soy steak, tofu and veggie fajitas and vegan spinach and artichoke dip. I went over the edge with the moist and ridonkulously awesome strawberry shortcake!! It was stupid good, even for the non-vegan and with 2 locations, Cafe Sunflower has got to be your number 1 visit next time you’re in town.

Seasons 52 is a pretty sweet concept and I had no idea it was becoming a chain. Gladly I popped into their location in Buckhead and enjoyed their winter market vegetable plate and shared a cheeseless flatbread with my boy. The menu changes weekly as the seasonal ingredients do which makes for an innovative and ever exciting dining experience. They promote healthy, organic and fresh meals and that rocks! See if a Seasons 52 location is coming to your town.

For a late night treat after some partying in the Highlands, the locals like to head over to the Majestic Diner. For 8o years this hot spot serves up southern faves and comfort foods and doesn’t leave out the tree huggers ; ) I had a veggie burger and took in the interesting crowd.
The Majestic can be found at 1031 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306-4215, (404) 875-0276.

You know you’re a foodie when you are in the middle of one meal and chatting about your next! Because of such conversations I was able to find the last few places on my trek through Atlanta before I headed back home to the sunny west coast; )

I was told I needed to check out East Atlanta as that’s where the “real” locals hang. So I did and I found Cenci. Cenci is a vegan/veggie bar and club as well as awesome restaurant. How freakin’ cool!!! They are only open for dinner and most nights they have a dj. I would suggest the philly, chicken fingers, egg rolls, and collard green rolls with your jams ; ) Cenci is located at East Atlanta Village
1259 Glenwood Ave, Atlanta, GA 30316, (404) 627-0533.

Dan and I wanted to catch a flick and unwind so we found a theatre at the new Atlantic Station. Packed with restaurants, bars and entertainment, this little commune of fun had some cool places like Doc Green’s and The Lobby among many more super trendy and happenin’ places to eat, drink and hang. At Doc Green’s, I grabbed a nice portobello wrap to sneak into my 3 hour movie. They had fresh salads, soups, sandwiches, flatbreads and more. After the movie we sauntered over to The Lobby for a nightcap and I thought my margarita would go well with some fresh guacamole and chips. It was very nice inside and seemed the quite to nightclub. You can see what else is bumpin’ at Atlantic Station online.

Lastly, but not leastly, where do you go for 24 hour vegan and not vegan where the owner has tons of birds hangin’ around the joint? R. Thomas Deluxe Grill is where! It’s funky, to say the least, with a menu that everyone can find something they would like. For instance, I had the veggie sloppy joe wrap while my dining partners had burgers. We all were full and none of us had to sacrifice our tastebuds in the process ; )

So, for now I bid adieu to Atlanta but it, and its dishes, will not be soon forgotten!

“Welcome to Atlanta where the players play!”- Jermaine Dupri

And play I did! Oh yes, and gorge my greedy little face I did too ; ) The hustle and bustle of the Atlanta metropolitan area is intoxicating. Already a big city, it’s getting even bigger. Cool sky rises, modern shopping areas, the world of coca cola museum and aquarium as well as the nooks and areas tucked away for the hipster crowd, I had no problems getting into a groove here. So as one would imagine, there would be no problems finding some good eats in the capital of the south!

Fighting the city traffic, i made my way into the World Peace Cafe just in time for a quick dessert. We knew we had limited time in the city along with lots of obligations so I wanted to make sure I made it in. Run by the Rameshori Kadampa Buddhist Center in Sandy Springs, the cafe is mainly volunteer operated. But you’d never know it as the place runs like a dream and the food is even better. I was able to grab a minty chocolate cupcake before they all headed home but the menu looked great! Brekfast to dinner, fresh juice to dessert, they’ve got a veritable cornucopia of awesome veggie food. Feed your karma and your soul at World Peace Cafe!

We stayed in the heart of downtown at the Marriot Marquis. In it I had my lovely Starbucks waiting for me every morning as well as 2 restaurants and a bar. Having rolled in late, we were pretty hungry and weary so we popped into High Velocity. Located in the main lobby of the hotel, it’s a chic sports bar with a fun menu. I was stoked to find a bunch of vegan and health friendly options at a sports bar so I had a taste of a few things ; ) I shared the lemon hummus with veggie sticks (almost no calories!!) and a black bean soy burger piled high with mushrooms and onions with my babe. It hit the spot just before we hit the sack.

The next day I had a hankering for soul food. What better place for such a meal than Atlanta and what better place in Atlanta than Soul Vegetarian. They’ve got locations all over the world and have a neat concept. A fully African-American run business that originated in Israel, this cafeteria style diner also boasts a fresh juice and home made ice cream bar as well as a holistic center that offers all kinds of services including colon hydrotherapy! I happen to like the 1 sto shop idea ; ) I chowed on a ginormous portion of soy mac and cheese, collard greens,salad, corn bread and I had to split the vegan gyro with Dan as my stomach wouldn’t fit it all. Don’t leave Atlanta without going to 1 of the 2 locations of Soul Vegetarian.

Another place with a few locations is The Vortex Bar and Grill. It’s a hoot!! I was laughing my ass off just reading the menu and so will you (the website is just as kooky). It was cold out so I went with a steaming bowl of veggie chili and a side of sweet potato fries. There isn’t a soul who couldn’t find something on this menu as well as find this place quite the place for a fun night out!

Ok, so, I’m sure you can guess there is alot more to cover here in Atlanta so stay tuned next week for more!!

After historic Annapolis, we jumped up Baltimore. I loved the city and was totally surprised to see what a nice variety of healthy grub there was as well as some other neat sites. Let’s get started, shall we?

The evening we arrived, we spent time a walking around downtown. We explored the lovely National Aquarium and got a bit hungry from the workout of walking up and downstairs. There was a whole group of us and we were in tourist central so we ended up at The Hard Rock Cafe. Yep, you can find something healthy there! I usually splurge on veggie burger with a side salad but I only eat half the bread. I’ve also ordered their fajitas in the past and just asked for grilled veggies instead of meat, no sour cream or cheese but extra guac and salsa! Yumm! See for yourself at the Hard Rock!

Well, poking around Baltimore I didn’t think I was in the south. But The Yabba Pot specialized in vegan soul food!! What? Yeah, and tasty too! Can I just say bbq tofu wrap? How about a nice helping of Avocado or “chick-un” salad? Hells yeah!!

If you’re looking to curl up with some good books and veggie grub, Red Emma’s Bookstore and Coffeehouse is the place! Lots of yummy coffee drinks and veggie food from bagels to sandwiches to pastries, be sure not to miss the Monster Vegan Cupcakes!

A fun surprise was this awesome raw vegan joint called Liquid Earth. Fresh juices and healthy elixirs, if you’re in the mood for something light and fresh, you’ve come to the right place ; )

Finally, on our way out of town, we hid from the cold at The City Cafe. A very New York feeling vibe, City Cafe was a good find for all of us. My fellow travelers had yumminess of their own while I chowed down on an ridiculously tasty roasted eggplant sammy ; ) They had a nice variety of veggie friendly fare and some super cool atmosphere to boot. Make your way in to The City Cafe.

I will definitely be back for some more in Baltimore ; )

Quaint and historic Annapolis was beautiful as well as a dining delight! In the midst of all the vintage American architecture, it was not hard to find some modern day health grub ; )

Our first stop was a quick one where they had a Whole Foods, the holy grail of health food, and a Baja Fresh. For those of you that haven’t had the pleasure of this healthy version of Mexican fast food, it is a must. As a Californian, Baja is a staple and oh so wonderful to find abroad. My usual is the tostada salad with no meat, no cheese or cream, and extra veggies. Another great menu selection is the veggie burrito bowl with all the flavor of the burrito and half of the starchy carbs ; ) They do not cook with lard, msg or any other unsavory additives – check them out at Baja Fresh. Another incarnation of yummy fast-ixan food, is Moe’s which I found in downtown. They too have some yummy items, like the vegetarian Personal Trainer Salad. Visit Moe’s Southwestern Grill for more info.

After walking all over one of our nation’s best historical cities, we had a hankerin’ for Thai food ; ) We filed into Lemongrass (167 West Street, Annapolis, MD,410-280-0086). Big on seafood due to it’s close proximity to the Atlantic but also big on good curry and veggie options. Everyone was satisfied here as was the persnickety vegan ; )

Later on, I thought I might pack some snack for the next leg of our trip so I sauntered into Sun and Earth Foods. They had a nice sized market with a great little deli where a packed away a few veggie sandwiches, juices and goodies to munch on for the next few days. They are located at 1933 West St, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, 410-266-6862.

But my favorite spot in town was Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge. Featuring farm to table, sustainable and seasonal cuisine, Metropolitan has you covered from breakfast to dinner and drinks. Way cute inside with an equally awesome menu, this is the place to be any time of day.  I love their black bean hummus flatbread, root vegetable mash and tofu scallops! Yumm!!

I absolutely would love to come back and spend more time here as I know they must have a ton more places that would keep my belly happy as well as my traveling team. Be it their famous seafood for those who enjoy it or their colonial like hospitality, Annapolis should be a welcomed addition to your traveler’s check list.

There’s more! Taking a Washington D.C. vacation is a great one for families as well as single travelers. So much to see and do, it’s hard not to work up an appetite after a Washington D.C. sightseeing tour. There were so many great choices for a gal like me to eat at in D.C. and I’m sure I didn’t even scratch the surface. However, I did find enough to bring this part two of D.C. to you!! We stayed at a pretty swanky hotel and to my surprise, the neighborhood was chock full’o killer restaurants.

On P St and 14th there was a beautiful Whole Foods and a bunch of eateries and coffee shops that were 2 blocks from our place. I was in love with 1 of the yummy P street places was Logan Tavern. It was a great place complete with bar and 2 dining areas with a rustic but classy vibe. They had a great beer and wine selection as well as excellent selections on the menu for peeps like me ; ) I ordered a tofu and veggie stir fry and eyeballed the veggie burrito for next time. See there yummy menu at Logan Tavern. Be sure to check out their other location, Logan at The Heights.

Just a few doors down on good old P street was Merkado Kitchen. This spicy Latin eatery was a great mix of Carribean, Mexican and South American food which was a welcomed style of menu for me since I was homesick for my native Miami that I had left about a week prior ; ) Everything was fresh as well as healthy and their veggie options were the bomb! The veggie enchilada, hold the cheese, was mouthwatering as were their salads. This establishment was great for me and my picky guy and I loved how many dishes I could choose from.

Finally, for my travel troop, it would have been a sin to them to not have fresh Atlantic seafood on their trip. Being a non-animal eater, I wondered if a seafood spot like Grillfish, would have anything for me but I was wrong! While everyone else munched on their favorite marine meal, I have a really good grilled portabella sandwich as well as an apple salad. They also offer vegetarian menus upon request. I was stuffed and I sacrificed no taste ; ) I’m hoping to get back here soon as I’m sure I missed some good feastin’!

What a year to be in the nation’s capital. Mighty and awe inspiring by it’s own right, being there during a pre-election year was even more incredible. And with all of this history and power in one place, you can imagine it has to offer some killer dining to impress the world’s dignitaries. Beyond the great sights, I was even more overcome by the great places to fill my tummy in D.C.! So much that next week’s post will also cover D.C. ; )

Since we walked most of the time while we were in town, I got to see so many cute cafes and places that I wanted to try. However, since we were only in town for a few days, time was of the essence so our meals during the day were pretty quick. Pizzeria Paradiso was just the place. This pizza hot spot has two locations and they are always packed. As so they should be since the food looked, smelled and tasted so good. They are famous for the gourmet, true to the motherland pizza pies and the Healthy Voyager was able to enjoy every bit of that as they offered a tasty Soy Mozzarella. I topped with a ton of fresh veggies like artichokes, spinach, basil and more. I was a happy camper taking my food to go and eating my yumminess on the run. Find out more at Pizzeria Paradiso.

Later that evening we joined up with some friends for cocktails and tapas. We strolled along U street and stumbled upon Tabaq Bistro. And what a happy accident it was! The atmosphere was insane as they had rooftop dining with full views of D.C. It was hazy and cold but the buildings and neighborhood looked great from up there. The food and drinks also matched the wonderful look and vibe of the place as well. The menu was Mediterranean tapas and small entrees. There was entire veggie menu for me to choose from as well as many other dishes for my buddies. I ordered from the small dish menu, the dolmas and 1 of their 3 hummus selections. I absolutely recommend anyone stop in to Tabaq no matter who they are with ; )

Now I will share with you my D.C. addiction ; ) Sticky Fingers Bakery was such a good time for me. So much so that I visited them and went out of my way to buy something from this cafe every day that I spent in town. The spot is a cool wi-fi cafe with a ton of great vegan baked goods from cupcakes to cinnamon rolls and more. They have soft serve vegan ice cream, a build your own vegan hot dog stand as well as a freezer case with savory sandwiches, small plates and other side dishes to go. I had a vegan sausage, egg and cheese mcmuffin every morning. They do mail order as well so if you don’t get to d.c., they can come to you!

Lastly, but not leastly, we had a date night at Vegetate. This place was so hipster and chic and had a good thing going as they had a bar upstairs that offered vegetarian bar food during happy hour along with a cool dj spinning tunes. The dining area downstairs is a bit more reserved but nice nonetheless. The menu changes every day and is very nontraditional, gourmet and artistically presented. We enjoyed what we ordered but I did leave hungry. However, I wish I could have gone back for the veggie bar food at happy hour and I suggest you give it a try too. Peruse their site at Vegetate.

See you next week with some more D.C. dining!

So I’m back with another San Diego round up as 1 post is just not enough. So many great places, too little time ; ) And the best part is that gastropubs are really stepping up in the way of veggie food options to go with a nice frosty mug of (enter adult drink of choice here)! So here we go!

One such place that has food plus alcoholic frolic is the Blind Lady Ale House.  Local beers and local, organic food, it might even be good for your health! I love that they have a ton of drink options that suit any taste and any of it goes well with their Stone Fruit Salad or soyrizo taco! Proud of everythig from their food to their choice in glassware, Blind Lady takes their business of drinking and eating seriously and that rocks!

Another great watering hole is Stone Brewing Co. Known for their specialty beers and now hawkers of a new book on the National Book &Beer tour, these guys ain’t foolin’ around with their bistro food and brews! A beautiful rustic chic locale, perfect for events and weddings, the fresh, local farm sourced food is elegantly paired with their wide selection of beers and other libations. Us vegheads can indulge in a tasty tofu stir fry while sampling a slew of frothy hops and malts! Make it a romantic evening of a just a nice getaway for lunch with friends and worry not my restricted diet travelers!

In the heart f San Diego State University country you’ll find the Olive Oil Organic Cafe.  Natural, organic and lots of dishes fir for a green diner, Olive Oil is a great place for students as well as for tourists looking for a healthy bite. Boasting a menu of vegan and vegetarian sandwiches, it’s nice to see that we’ve got choices and good ones to boot! I love their Green Goddess which is piled high with Portobello mushrooms, artichokes, avocado, spinach tomato, caramelized onions and vegan pesto aioli. MMMMMM!!!

I’m always down for some out of the ordinary ethnic cuisine and Pomegranate Russian Restaurant hits the spot for just that very thing! An authentic Russian-Georgian restaurant and cafe, this place had more then I cold have ever imagined a vegan could eat at a Russian locale. Vegetarian dishes are clearly marked on the menus (of which there are tons) and veganizing is no problem for the lovely folks at Pomegranate! Go for the Kavkaz beet salad and vegan Borscht!

Lastly but definitely not leasty is the Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Italian fusion joint, SipZ Fuzion Cafe. 100% vegetarian with a nice amount of vegan dishes, Sipz is pretty darn neat. A large menu complete with soups, salads, sides (spicy & non) as well as awesome entrees, it’s hard to choose! Somehow I finally settled on the wonton soup and vegetarian Pho and it was OMG delish!!

For now, this is a wrap on San Diego but this relaxing bay side city is always evolving so I’ll be checking back sooner then later! Stay tuned!

Whether you are doing a tour of California for a little r and r or frequently travel San Diego for ComicCon, the southernmost metropolis of California, is a great place to visit. Beachy, relaxed and beautiful, healthy food is easy to find in this bayside border town. From my first San Diego post many years ago until now, lots of great stuff has popped up so I’ve decided to go back and check out some of the new places in and around town.

San Diego is packed with cool little pockets of hip neighborhoods that boast cool places to drink and be merry. One such place is Hamiltons Tavern (no relation to me or my in-laws). A great, English style pub with tons of beers, including vegan and gluten free options, you don’t have to starve at this local watering hole. They offer fun vegan bar food like a hearty veggie chili, vegan sausages with loads of toppings and other, ever changing menu items fit for vegheads who like to drink with their meals (or vice versa!)

In the same building, down the block from Hamiltons, you’ll find Alchemy. A local, seasonal restaurant that serves up organic and fresh dishes that suit all sorts of special diets. Featuring cultural cuisine from around the globe, this healthy voyager was delighted to dig in to the international veggie offerings. I started with the black quinoa hush puppies and ended with a veganized version of their mixed grain salad. Their specials are always new and exciting and if you time it right, you may be able to get in on their vegetarian farm dinners!

In the same general area, you can stumble over for some more beer and delish at Toronado. Another beer based bar with vegan bar food available, North Park is the place to celebrate all weekend long without having to cab it all over town!

Not far from the University, there are a bunch of veggie and health friendly eateries. One of which is Spread. A chic and modern, casual dining locale that features organic produce all year long to make fresh vegetaian and vegan comfort foods (and drinks!) Menu items like thai veggie pizzas, chocolate melange and basil lime sangria will keep you coming back season after season, checking out what new and delicious goodies they are offering. They also have their own line of products to take home so be sure to stock up when dining in!

If you’re in a hurry, fast food is always an unwelcome option. But not at Evolution Fast Food as it’s a 100% vegan fast food/drive through restaurant! Yep, with a fun menu of burgers, wraps, shakes and other desserts, you can eat quickly AND guilt free! They use quality, natural ingredients, have an organic juice bar and are proud of their healthy & eco conscious food, unlike their gross competitors. Pull in on your way into town, grab food on the go while heading out on the town or stock up for a road trip, either way, Evolution is the answer to fast healthy food!

Check out some more of the healthy San Diego scene next week!