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Saturday, January 28, 2012

OR Smoothie & Cafe. Raw, Cooked, Vegan eats in St. Louis. East St. Louis Stray Dogs.

Vegan Tofu Wrap from OR Smoothie & Cafe in the Central West End, St. Louis.   They also have a Portabella Wrap that is vegan and a Tempeh Wrap which can be made Vegan.  The "Central West End" (CWE) in St. Louis is a trendy area near Barnes Jewish Hospital  and parts of  Washington University.  Home to a lot of restaurants, trendy shops, coffee places,  and bar/night spots.  It's North/South borders would probably be Delmar (north) and Forest Park Parkway (South).  And the Western border is Kingshighway.  Eastern border may be Taylor....So it's a nice area to walk around after noshing on vegan eats.  If you are from out of town, you might want to head over to The St. Louis Cathedral.  The mosaics will blow you away. A major "quiet" tourist attraction at 4431 Lindell.

 OR Smoothie & Cafe in the Central West End. 
6654 Clayton Road  St. Louis, MO 63117-1602(314) 647-8881

Not all vegetarian, but a fair number of options for vegans and even raw juices and a raw nori wrap.


Salads:  House Salad (vegan): organic baby spring mix, carrots, 
cucumber, onion, tomato, avocado, 
served with our famous House dressing


Caesar Salad (can be vegan): romaine lettuce topped with organic
Caesar dressing, house made organic croutons, parmesan cheese, and
tomatoes.



Spinach Salad (vegan): spinach, red onion, sundried tomatoes, house
crouton, veggie bacon bits, and Shitake dressing.




Rolls:  Raw Nori Rolls (vegan): organic spring mix, carrots,
 cucumbers, onion and avocado wrapped in Nori paper and served
 with our Bragg wasabi sauce.   

Veggie Sushi (vegan): brown rice, carrot, celery,
tofu, and avocado

Veggie Spring Rolls (vegan): a light and healthy 
Vietnamese wrap made with green leaf lettuce, 
mint, tofu, jicama, and peanuts, all wrapped in rice paper
 and served with the house Bragg sauce

 Or Juice & Smoothie has another location on Clayton Road (which is perpetually rushed by Bikram students just getting out of class).  This Euclid Location is a bit bigger than the Clayton Road location,  which has limited seating and a no cell phone policy.  I believe that you can use your phone/ipad, etc...and you won't get busted for changing the cellular integrity of the supplements nearby.   You order at the counter.  Which means you don't have to worry about "figuring out a tip".  Lots of vegan options and dishes with a star noting "may be made vegan".  They use Bragg's a lot, so many of the dishes can be gluten free (vs. soy sauce which contains gluten).

 I love that this place is "centrally located" so it is an option if I meet up with folks who like to eat healthier but may not want to go to a "full on" vegan place.  Well, there is only one of those in city limits (PuraVegan) and they are not open for lunch.  So this & Whole Foods are my best options.  VegaDeli would be great, but that is a trek from downtown.

 They are mostly vegetarian and do have some vegan options.  Full Line of Juices (except you can't really get JUST a green juice).  Wheatgrass Shots.  Smoothies.

Some Menu Items:


Wraps: Tofu Wrap (vegan): marinated tofu, tomatoes, onion, herb, fresh green
leaf lettuce, brown rice, and house hummus.


Portabella Wrap (vegan): sautéed portabella, onions, red bells, yellow
squash, fresh green leaf lettuce, brown rice, and house hummus.


Tempeh Wrap (can be vegan):
 tempeh, green leaf lettuce, spinach,
tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, feta cheese, brown rice, and house hummus.



Sandwiches:  Portabella Sandwich (can be vegan): sautéed portabella mushroom,
onions, red bell, yellow squash, melted organic cheese, LTO, and pesto 
mayo served on a delicious John Dough bread.



Veggie Sandwich (vegan): organic house hummus,
 avocado, cucumber
shaved carrots, and LTO on multigrain bread.


House Veggie Burger (can be vegan): our award winning house-made
organic burger served with LTO, ketchup, and mayo.

 This is my staple, Raw Vegan Nori Rolls.  Nori with carrots, lettuce, sprouts, and avocado and a Dipping Sauce (with Bragg's as a base).  So gluten free as well.  It's yummy.  Seriously "clean" and a "no guilt" meal.  


Soups: Soups:     Two delicious vegan house made organic soups
• Pea
• Lentil & Squash


 The food is beautiful.


House Rice Bowl (vegan): organic brown rice topped with sautéed
portabella, red bell pepper, squash, onion, a side of salad with marinated
tofu.



Raw Feta Pizza (can be vegan): organic: pita bread, hummus, onion,
cucumber, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, feta cheese (or avocado if vegan), olives,
and sun dri
ed tomatoes.

 There isn't a ton of ambiance in this place.  But they have good clean food. Service is speedy enough and seems like they are pretty used to dealing with rushes as it is close to the hospital and student base.

Power Smoothies:
 8) Protein Strawberry apple juice, strawberry, bananas, whey protein
9) Protein Energizer apple juice, mixed berries, bananas, sherbet, rice protein
(contains Siberian Ginseng)

10) Choco Choco milk, banana, chocolate whey protein
11) *Peach Recovery peach, banana, nectar, yogurt, rehydrating supplement
with electrolytes

12) *Miracle Green mango, orange, banana, organic miracle greens
13) *Ultimate Power apple juice, mixed berries, bananas, ultimate meal, sherbet

 Wheatgrass.  Sometimes I get a regular juice here as well, but juices are pricey when out.

Non-Dairy Smoothies: These smoothies are blended with just fruit and juice.
14) Berrylicious grape juice, mixed berries
15) Little Tart Tropical strawberry, pineapple, papaya
16) Delicious C orange juice, mixed berries
17) Sunny Monkey orange juice, banana
18) Pure Tropical strawberry, banana, guava
19) O.R. Mango mango, orange, banana

 The gal I went with ordered a Tofu Wrap.  It seems like their wraps are made with the sprouted tortillas (not raw).  My hubby gets this one as well.  Also the Rice Bowl with Brown Rice & Veggies looks like it is a fair amount of food. Hubby's absolute favorite are the Veggie Spring Rolls.

Juices23) Beta Bunny organic carrot juice
24) 
Liver’s Nutrition carrot + red beet
25) 
Special Blend carrot + orange juice
26) 
*CCR carrot + celery + red beet
27) 
*Kidney’s Veggie carrot + celery + parsley
28) 
*Potassium Rich carrot + parsley + spinach
29)
 *Blood Builder carrot + fennel + red beet
30) 
*Kyrogreen Mix carrot + kyrogreens
30a)
 *Ginger Tonic ginger + apple + spinach + carrot

Organic Wheatgrass Single shot or Double shot

Overall, this place rocks.  It isn't the biggest, but there is enough seating to hang out for hours with the girls.  They have bubble teas (soy milk offered) and a lots of espresso types of drinks as well.  Everyone seems to be able to find something to eat.  The prices are okay....middle of the range.  Totally casual environment.  And just a great location.  There are very few places in the entire St. Louis area that offer "clean" food and actually have vegan/gluten free options.  So even though this place has some non-veg stuff, the veggie stuff is still high enough quality that it makes it worth it.  And they seem to really "know" what is vegan and have clear labelling on their menu.  A few dishes also have "may be made vegan" as well, so it is very easy to order here.  And the fact that they have freshly made juices here from real veggies like celery, carrots & beets-well also a rarity here.  So it is on my short list for sure.  PuraVegan and VegaDeli are above it.  Since they are both ALL vegan.  But.....this is basically 3rd on the list, along with Whole Foods Salad Bar.

OR Smoothie and Cafe on Urbanspoon


These kids will hopefully at least get T&R (trapped, spayed/neutered and released).  But since they are not "feral" we would love for them to find real homes.  These are short clips from our East St. Louis Feedings of the stray dogs & cats.  Pj & GPG have been going every single day for well over a decade, to care for these kids.  Feed, Rescue, Foster, and Adopt..... 

And Lloyd.  Who has been out here for at least 5 years.  But Pj sees him on & off.  We have been seeing him on a fairly regular basis right now.  Poor guy is getting gray on the streets.  He is a bit alpha though so Pj thinks he would do best with a submissive female or as an only dog.  She didn't think he would fare so well with cats......she is just guessing based upon how he is on the streets.  However, he seems like a real sweetheart with people. All Photos below are from January 26, 2012 Feedings in East St. Louis.  All of these kids are up for adoption, but they need fosters.  As soon as we get a foster, we can pull them.

 Horton.  His pack has been rescued so he is trying to make new friends.

Knuckles.  Most likely on the short list as he needs his "elbow" checked.  It may be dislocated, and we may or may not be able to fix it.  But we want to at least check.

 This group is nearly always here.  At least 5 cats.  Mr. Tux, the black & white one, is always the first to come out.  The siamese is a little shy but really funny.

 They aren't really "feral" because they come when Pj drives up, and they let her pet them.  Picking them up may or may not be difficult, depending on the cat.  If we rescued them we would most likely have to trap them. But they need fosters.

 So cute!

 Rebel is a newer little girl on the route.  Pj thinks she has had one litter of puppies.  She wants to pull her before she has another, but is just working on getting her to come a bit closer each time.  She is really shy right now and I couldn't believe she was this close.  We were both in the car at this point.  But the first time we saw her she just kept running the opposite direction.  She didn't associate Pj's car with food at that time.  Now she has learned....

Poor RaRa.  Every time Pj sees her, she asks if anyone wanted to foster her.  And Pj has to tell her that there are no fosters for her.  Even though she was in the documentary and has been such a sweet girl out here.  She would probably do best with a submissive male (like most women, right?).  

This is one cat from an actual "colony" of kids.  They are on a different street from Mr. Tux and the bunch.  Only a few came out this day, but this one was so funny as he was hanging out on the roof.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Cafe Viva Herbal Pizzeria. New York Vegan Pizza. Gluten Free Options.

Cafe Viva Herbal Pizzeria
East Village, New York.
179 2nd Ave.
212.420.8801

Out of all the "fine vegan" dining offered in New York, this may be my hubby's favorite.  Pizza could actually be considered a vegetable here!  Lots of gluten free, dairy free, kosher options.  Vegan cookies, brownies, and ice creams.  Green Juices.  This place is amazing.  Hemp Crusts.  Spelt.  Spinach.  Broccoli.  Daiya Cheese.  Thin Crust.  Thick Crust.  By the slice or buy the whole pie.  In a wonderful location, across the street from Liquiteria, a juice bar that offers both "regular" juice and "wonder juice" from the "Norwalk Juicer" (the juicer of yours truly).

 Lots of Vegan options....





 Yikes!  GLUTEN FREE!!! VEGAN!!!!  This is the first place we ever had Daiya.  They had it before it hit retail.

 Vegan & Soyfree!

 Yum!! 

 Wheat & Sugar Free.  Vegan.  And full of HEMP!
Cookies!

 Ganja anyone??  This is Pizza on Willy Wonka!!  VERY full of garlic!


 Vegan.  Spelt.  "Seitan Dream".  With Artichokes & SunDried Tomatoes.

 Green Tea Miso-Tofu?  Shitake? Maritake?  Green Tea herbed spelt crust.
Vegan.

 Everything Vegan.  Some gluten free.




 Gluten Free.  Vegan.  Sugar Free Cookies.


 Vegan Whoopie Pies. 


It's a small place but a very comfy hang.  Super casual.
Lots of students.  But people of all ages come here for yummy vegan eats.


 Green Juices, Kombucha, Coconut water.

 Even a Vegan Ice Cream Freezer.  Chicago Soy Dairy desserts.


 Here the Pizza would probably qualify as a vegetable.  

There is so much broccoli on the pizza.  Probably more on one slice than most people get in a whole day.

 Hubby usually gets this Sicilian for lunch then gets something with more zing for late night eats!  The sauce is so full of flavor.

All the good stuff.  Hot peppers, nutritional yeast. 



 Yes, they have "real" juice.



 Veggie & "Omega" zines....

 Love that the Veggie places support the animal sanctuaries & food festivals.


Viva Herbal on Urbanspoon


Late night eats.


1. Magic Mushroom Minestrone (V) shitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, reishi mushroom broth, veggies and herbs

2. Soup Of The Day (V) 

3. Marinated Roasted Veggies in hemp oil, fresh herbs, and balsamic
4. Spinach & Broccoli Stromboli spinach, broccoli, ricotta and mozzarella rolled inside whole wheat pizza dough
5. Soy Sausage Stromboli soy sausage, red pepper, onion, mozzarella rolled inside whole wheat pizza dough

Salads

1. Garden Salad romaine, tomatoes, red onion, broccoli, zucchini, carrots

2. Pasta Salad tri-colore fusilli pasta with fresh veggies and sun dried tomato in a herbed pesto sauce

3. Antipasto romaine, artichokes, calamata olives, grilled red pepper, broccoli, red onion, grilled eggplant, carrots, zucchini
4. Caesar Salad romaine, whole wheat croutons, parmesan cheese with a yogurt caesar dressing (no anchovy, no eggs)
5. Spinach Salad with goat cheese and sundried tomato
6. Caprese Salad fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes, roasted red peppers, fresh basil

Calzones

1. Roasted Garlic with sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella and ricotta
2. Grilled Veggies grilled eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, mozzarella and ricotta
3. Four Cheeses mozzarella, goat, ricotta, parmesan
4. Viva whole wheat crust, roasted garlic, fresh garlic, spinach, broccoli, mozzarella, ricotta
5. Santa Cruz (V) whole wheat crust, soy sausage, miso and herb marinated tofu, veggies
With Spelt Crust
6. Zen (V) green tea herbed miso tofu, green tea basil pesto, shiitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, onion, red pepper, sundried tomatoes, roasted garlic in a green tea herbed spelt crust.

Pizza

Traditional

Slice / Sm / Lg
1. Napoletana mozzarella & tomato sauce

3. Siciliana Marinara (V) thick crust, spicy marinara (no cheese)

3. Al Pesto pesto sauce and mozzarella


4. Sorrentino ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan (no sauce)

5. Margarita fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and fresh basil with tomato sauce


8. Ziti unbleached white crust, mozzarella, ricotta, ziti pasta, marinara sauce. price plus tax.

Whole Wheat Crust

Slice / Sm / Lg
7. Siciliana thick crust, with mozzarella and tomato sauce

8. Napoletana mozzarella and tomato sauce


9. The Viva mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, fresh garlic (no sauce)


10. Naturale (V) tomato sauce, miso tofu, fresh veggies and spinach

11. Bella pesto sauce, mozzarella, sauteed spinach, onions and feta

12. Santa Rosa (V) tomato sauce, sundried tomato, mushroom, roasted garlic, calamata olives, miso tofu
13. Vegetarian (V) tomato sauce, tomatoes, broccoli, onions, mushroom,
14. Picante soy sausage, roast red pepper, mozzarella cheese
15. Viva Special tomato sauce, mozzarella, cheese and saute artichokes
16. Artichokes Dream tomato sauce, mozzarella, cheese, and saute artichokes

17 Vegan Picante soy meatball onion red pepper.

Corn Meal Crust

Slice / Sm / Lg. Wheat Free
18. Veggie Dream grilled veggie tomato sauce and mozzarella
19. Azteca no sauce, mozzarella, onions, red pepper, corn kernels
19. Sausalito no sauce, roasted garlic sun dried tomatoes goat cheese and mozzarella
20. Mexicali a salsa of jalapeno peppers, onions, tomatoes and cilantro topped over a bed of melted mozzarella cheese

Spelt Crust

Slice / Sm / Lg
22. Tutta Verde (V) all green pizza with pesto sauce green peppers, broccoli, zucchini & spinach


23. La Vita (V) roasted red peppers, soy sausage, mushrooms, broccoli, roasted garlic, tomato sauce, corn kernels

24. Il Fiore (V) grilled eggplant, onions, roasted peppers, roasted garlic, tomato sauce, fresh rosemary

25. Zen (V) green tea herbed miso tofu, green tea basil pesto, shiitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, sundried tomato, roasted garlic, on a green tea herbed spelt crust (super anti oxidant pizza)


26. Carrozza fresh tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella cheese

27. Canja (V) diced onions, tomato and garlic marinated in hemp oil roasted hempseeds, hempseed nuts, hemp herbed basil pesto, calamata olives tempeh and roasted garlic on hemp herbed spelt crust with hemp herbed miso tofu

28. Magic Mushrooms (V) shitake mushrooms, spinach, red peppers, onions, hemp oil, hempseed nuts, hemp herbed basil pesto on a hemp herbed spelt crust with miso herbed tofu


29. Santa Cruz fresh tomato, broccoli, mushroom, tomato sauce, mozzarella, cheese soy sausage

30. Seitan Dream (V) seitan, caramelized red onion, sundried tomato artichokes

31. Gluten Free (V) brown rice crust daiya cheese steam broccoli tomato sauce


Spelt Contains Proteins That Should Be Avoided By Celise Patients.

 

Baked Pasta

Lunch & Dinner
1. Grilled Veggie Lasagna grilled eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, roasted garlic, mozzarella, ricotta

2. Spinach & Mushroom Lasagna sautés mushroom and spinach in fresh garlic with ricotta and mozzarella

3. Soy Meatball Lasagna (V) soy meatball, red pepper, onion, daiya cheese
4. Baked Ziti Sorrentino ricotta and mozzarella with tomato sauce
5. Baked Ziti Primavera grilled eggplant, zucchini, red peppers with ricotta, mozzarella & tomato sauce
6. Stuffed Shells ricotta, cheese and mozzarella
7. Manicotti ricotta cheese and mozzarella

Ravioli

Lunch & Dinner
8. Ravioli Di Soya (V) tofu filled with tomato sauce. price plus tax.
9. Spinach Ravioli (V) spinach filled with tomato sauce
10. Portobello Mushroom Ravioli (V) 
11. Ravioli Primavera (V) 
12. Jumbo Cheese Ravioli ricotta cheese filled with tomato sauce
13. Pumpkin Ravioli (V) 

Saute Pasta

With Choice Of Linguine Or Penne. Now Available With Wheat Pasta Or Spelt Pasta. Add $2
14. Toscana (V) mushrooms, onions, plum tomato, zucchini, roasted garlic, capers with tomato sauce
15. Margarita fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes, fresh garlic, fresh basil with tomato sauce
16. Soy Sausages & Peppers (V) soy sausages, roasted red peppers, fresh garlic, onions with tomato sauce
17. Marinara (V) with tomato sauce
18. A La Vodka (V) plum tomatoes, vodka, fresh garlic, cayenne, parmesan, with a soy cream sauce
19. Florentine (V) spinach, onions, mushrooms, fresh garlic with a soy pesto cream sauce
20. Arrabiata (V) plum tomatoes, fresh garlic, cayenne, fresh basil, tomato sauce
21. Cutlet Parmigiana (V) Optional homemade seitan cutlets with mozzarella or soy cheese (contains some casein) or no cheese at all with tomato sauce
22. Primavera (V) grilled eggplant, zucchini, red peppers with fresh garlic, white wine and tomato sauce
Dinner Special after 5pm. choice of pasta plus cup of soup and sm garden salad add

Sandwiches

1. Zen Hero green tea pesto, green tea miso-tofu, shiitake, maitake, onions, sundried tomato, roasted pepper, roasted garlic.
2. Goat Cheese Grill Veggie Pesto 
3. Soy Sausages & Peppers 
4. Grilled Eggplant Parmigiana 
5. Caprese fresh mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, sundried tomato
6. Garlic Bread 

Beverages

Natural Sodas & Spritzer 
Fresh Squeeze Juices coke, d coke, sprite, root beer cans
Honest Tea 

Vegan Desserts

Daily Specials all kinds of cakes, cookies, brownies

Create Your Own Pizza

Choice Of Toppings

Slice $0.75 / Sm Pie $3 / Lg Pie $4, Per Topping
Mushrooms 
Onions Fresh Garlic 
Broccoli 
Sweet Corn 
Green Peppers 
Green Olives 
Fresh Tomatoes 
Extra Mozzarella 

Choice Of Crust

Sm / Lg. To Substitute, Add To Price.
Whole Wheat Free 
Wheat Free, Corn Meal Or Spelt Crust 
Green Tea Herbed Crust 
Hemp Herbed Crust 
Gluten-Free, Yeast Free 


Hemp Seed Products And Hem Oil Are High In Protein And Contain All The Essential Amino Acids In A Favorable Ratio, 
And In An Easily Digestible Form. The Hemp Oil Contains 75 Percent EFAs Including The Important Omega 3 And Omega 6.

Sun Dried Tomatoes 
Grilled Eggplants 
Grilled Zucchini 
Roasted Red Pepper 
Capers 
Saute Spinach 
Pesto Sauce 
Feta Cheese 
Roasted Garlic 
Artichokes 
Goat Cheese 
Soy Cheese? contains casein
Soy Pepperoni 
Soy Sausage 
Fresh Mozzarella 
Tofu Marinated In Miso 
Seitan 
Calamata Olives 
Tempeh 
Shitake Mushroom 
Add Maitake Mushrooms 
Daiya Vegan Cheese add maitake


(V) Vegan.

And I have to include some short videos of just a few of the kids that we see on the East St. Louis Feeding Route.
www.gatewaypets.com
East St. Louis Strays.
These are just a few of the kids we see.  Pj feeds the dogs every single day and GPG rescues them as we are able.  We always need fosters!  Knuckles may get pulled soon.  His leg/hip might actually be dislocated so PJ is keeping an eye on him to see if it is just arthritis or if he needs medical attention.

I kind of can't believe Mr. Tux & the Siamese cat aren't already adopted!!  There are about 5 cats at this house.  We tried to trap one for someone, but we got the "wrong" one (that wouldn't work with her others) and ended up doing a trap & release, and a neuter.  We are working with some girls that will be doing more T&R for these kids.  Of course we would prefer to find them homes, but while we are looking, we don't want the population to get too crazy.  They are not truly "feral" as they let Pj pet them and they run alongside the car!!

This cat is by far the most social cat on the route.  He always runs alongside the car, too close for comfort.  He will love all over you.  We thought he belonged (we use that term loosely) to someone, but Pj checked, and he does not.  I think he would do really well adapting to life in a home.  Does anyone want to foster this cat??