vedge

 

My best friend, Stephanie Hoban of Ripe Cuisine, just so happened to be in Philadelphia for work at the same time I was recently. We decided to go out to eat at Vedge for a delicious vegan meal! Stephanie is a vegan chef & registered dietician, and although I'm not vegan nor vegetarian, I love all things veggie! We were both seriously impressed with this dinner. I love when plant-based food is both creative & satisfying, and the food at Vedge is definitely both, all while making vegetables the star of the show. Here is just a sampling of what we enjoyed. I cannot wait to go back!

 

 

salt roasted gold beets, everything lavash, smoked tofu, crushed cucumbers

 

rutabaga fondue, today's soft pretzel, yesterday's pickles

 

 

 

wood roasted carrot, kimchee reuben, pumpernickel, sauerkraut puree

 

braciole, smoked & roasted eggplant, italian salsa verde, cured olive puree

 

 

 

hakurei turnips, turnip kimchee, refried farro

 

broccolini, smoked onion dashi, grilled shiitake

 

 

figgy cheesecake, fig jam & concord grape jam gel, madeira ice cream, "honey smacks"

 

miso caramel delite, kung pao pineapple, coconut-mac nut granola, kaffir lime sorbet

 

 

 

 

to finish, vegan millionaire bars

 

cafe colette

 

My husband and I love a late breakfast or early lunch on a quiet weekday, and one of our neighborhood spots is Cafe Colette. We almost always get the same thing too: the kale & butter bean stew is hearty & comforting, and topped with a fried egg, parmesan, & grilled sourdough bread. Derek gets it with an extra egg for added umph, and sometimes a side of sausage or potatoes. They make a mean cappuccino as well, which we occasionally double-up on. The team there knows us by now, and always make us feel right at home. 

 

gardner

 

I recently got to dine with my husband and parents at Gardner in Austin, Texas. It was on my list of new places to try, and we figured why not for a fun night out on New Year's Eve? They were offering a set tasting menu, which was just as delicious to eat as it was beautifully plated. I recently read that the owners are planning to close Gardner, and re-open a new project in the same space next month. I'm sad I won't make it back in time to try out the regular menu, but I will definitely check out their new spot next time I'm in Austin!

 

meadowsweet

 

Meadowsweet is one of Williamsburg, Brooklyn's best eateries- and the Michelin guide agrees, garnering it one star in both the 2015 and 2016 guides. The restaurant offers a delicious New American, Mediterranean-inspired menu by Chef Polo Dobkin. Chef Dobkin first earned a Michelin star for the previous occupant of the space, The Dressler, which was considered one of the great, original Brooklyn restaurants. He is now back as both owner and Executive Chef of Meadowsweet, partnering with his wife Stephanie, who acts as general manager. She also oversees the cocktail program, which uses herbs from the the restaurant's own garden loft, and is not to be missed. Besides being great at what they do, the couple is also extremely generous and helpful. They've been a great aid to my husband when it comes to running a restaurant, offering beneficial advice and support along the way. Furthermore, the food at Meadowsweet highlights my favorite cuisine, and I never fail to fall in love with the fresh, creative, and beautifully-plated dishes.

 

john's drive-in

 
johns drive in.jpg

What can I say about John's Drive-In? It's our absolute 'must go when in Montauk' place. Always, anytime of year, sometimes multiple times in one trip. It's a no fuss, no frills kind of place- good ol' griddled burgers, traditional onion rings, and malted milkshakes. More appealing to me, however, is the fact that they make their own ice cream from scratch. They offer all your typical flavors, like mint chip & cookie dough, but make seasonal & unique flavors as well (think pumpkin or coffee Heath bar). I'm kind of obsessed, as is evidenced below. Take your milkshake to-go, and enjoy it by the beach!

*Photos by Sean Greenberg as part of our feature on The Weekender Travel

 

emmer & rye

 

Emmer & Rye is a new Austin hotspot, and for good reason. Their local & seasonally inspired menu is extremely impressive. Even better, they mill their own heritage grains in house, making for super fresh and tasty bread and pasta. They also source whole animals for their meat dishes, and even have an in-house fermentation process to really preserve flavors at their peak. What sets Emmer & Rye apart even more is their offering of dim sum. In addition to their menu of small plates and entrees, carts are rolled around the room offering about 10 dishes that change each night. These really highlight the farmers' offerings of the day, and allow the cooks (and diners!) to have some fun. We got a (large) mix of both menu items and dim sum- I couldn't even snap photos of it all! My husband was really blown away, and even ended up in the kitchen at the end of the meal to meet and thank the chef personally.