Out and About - Meatless Monday Edition

Eating vegetarian isn't only about reducing animal cruelty - it's also about limiting your environmental impact. One of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to do this is to frequent your local farms and farmer's markets and buy what's in season. The shorter the distance between your produce and your plate, smaller your carbon footprint, so on this Meatless Monday, I'll take you on a tour of two of my favorite local places to buy fruits, vegetables, and other vegetarian products.

Terhune Orchards - Princeton, NJ

Blueberries, peaches, nectarines, and watermelon are delicious in July

Try incorporating summer vegetables like squash, beets, carrots, and radishes into your salads and side dishes

The Wrightstown Farmer's Market is open May - Mid-November from 9am to 1pm and features locally grown (often organic) produce and other vegetarian offerings such as cheeses, honeys, baked goods, and breads from Bucks County area farms.

Local Food Finds

During a recent shopping trip to Whole Foods in Princeton, NJ, I tried out a delicious local coffee called One Village Coffee. The company is located in Souderton, PA, but they distribute their environmentally and socially conscious coffees to shops throughout the Northeast (with a heavy focus on New Jersey and Pennsylvania). According to Lead Sales Manager Rob Altieri, who I spoke with while he did a product demo, One Village Coffee is certified USDA Organic and the company is dedicated to responsible farming and fair-trade.

I tried the Evening Blend a dark roasted "half and half bledn of regular and water processed decaf coffee" with aromas of "honey, spice, and fresh roasted nuts." The coffee was smooth and mellow, not bitter at all, with a hint of cocoa flavor.

For those of you craving an all-natural ingulgence, try Simply Nic's shortbread cookies (I picked them up at Jamie Hollander Gourmet in New Hope, PA). Nic uses fresh, local ingredients like honey from Princeton, NJ and Lavender from Doylestown, PA to craft her tasty shortbread bars in sweet and savory flavors. My favorite is the rosemary - delicate and buttery with just a hint of herb. A perfect snack or dessert paired with a cup of slightly sweetened herb tea. Simply Nic's products are available at shops throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but if you don't live in the area, you can order them online.

Restaurant Review - Indian Garden

Last night, thanks to the recommendation of a friend, Melyssa and I ate at Indian Garden in Yardley, PA. We were stunned and slightly upset to learn that restaurant has been open for over 2 years, as this was our first time enjoying their fabulous fair and clearly we have been missing out!

Indian Garden has a pleasant atmosphere with golden tones, low lights, and ample spacing between tables. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive without hovering, and our water glasses were never less than half full!

The eager waitstaff promptly brought out a pile of Papadum with tamarind sauce and mint chutney. Both condiments were delicious and tasted home-made- not from a jar like many other Indian establishments. We found it difficult to stop snacking on the crisp, nicely spiced crackers..

Our Naan bread ($2.25)  appetizer was fresh, warm, and buttery - the perfect balance of crisp outside with a soft middle. An excellent vehicle for the cool, creamy Raita ($1.50), which was one of the best we'd ever tasted.

We also enjoyed mango lassies ($2.95) - perfectly sweetened, fruit-forward and refreshing yogurt shakes.

The timing between courses was just right, and allowed us to digest our appetizer and make room for the ample entrees to come.

Indian Garden's menu features an extensive selection with an impressive array of vegetarian and vegan options. Each dish can be spiced according to personal preference, ranging from mild to "Indian Hot." We finally settled on the following:

Vegetable Makhani - Garden fresh mixed vegetables cooked in light cream, onion gravy, and tomato sauce with a special blend of spices ($9.95)

Generous assortment of tender veggies (cauliflower, peas, carrots, potatoes, corn, even lima beans) in a perfectly seasoned, creamy - but not too heavy - tomato onion sauce.

Aloo Baingan - Potatoes and eggplant sautees with ginger, tomato, onion, and spices ($9.95)

Soft chunks of perfectly roasted eggplant with a unique, smokey aftertaste as if cooked in a tandoor. Delicious, but slightly overshadowed by the flavorful Makhani.

Saag Gosht - Tender pieces of lamb cooked with a  generous portion of spinach and herbs ($12.95)

Fork-tender lamb in a fragrant, pureed spinach sauce with just the right amount of spice.

Garlic Naan - Naan bread topped with fresh garlic and herbs and baked in a clay oven ($3.50) 

As if we hadn't eaten our fill of bread, we also tried the garlic version of this Indian staple. What a knock-out! Hot from the oven and redolent of garlic, butter, herbs. Like an Indian take on the best Italian garlic bread you've ever had. Melyssa says she could have eaten an entire basket.

Though we, with our full stomachs, protested, our smiling waitress brought out complimentary bowls of Kheer - traditional Indian rice pudding with nuts flavored with cardamom and rose ($2.50). 

Though bland in many restaurants, this home-made pudding was fragrant and flavorful, topped with perfectly toasted almond slices for crunch. 

After such a delicious dinner, we can't wait to go back and check out their lunch buffet, available from 11:30am - 3pm Monday through Friday and 12pm to 3pm Saturday and Sunday. It would be smart to make a dinner reservation on weekends, as by 7:30pm there was a line nearly out the door! Unfortunately, Indian Garden does not have an official website, but you can check out photos of their menu here.

Restaurant Review - Sprig & Vine

For lunch today, my daughter Melyssa and I decided to try out the new "pure vegetarian" (read: vegan) restaurant in New Hope, PA - Sprig & Vine. 

According to the manager, Sprig & Vine's menu is seasonal (changing every 3-4 months) and features as much local produce as possible. The chef is a dedicated vegan, but hopes his menu items appeal to all variety of eaters.

The upscale-casual establishment is decorated in earth tones with dark wooden accents and simple, modern furniture. Though the decor was pleasant enough, our chief criticism was the lack of interior lighting. It didn't help that the shades were drawn, keeping out the brilliant sunshine.

The lunch menu consists of only soup, salads, and sandwiches - perhaps a bit limited, with no hearty entree dishes available until dinnertime. Here is what we ordered and what we thought of everything:

French Lentil and Mushroom Soup $5

I was expecting a heavier, heartier soup. The broth was thin, more like a minestrone without the noodles. The lentils were a nice texture, but I didn't get any mushroom flavor as it was overpowered by excessive bay leaf and other herbs. My daughter says the word that springs to mind is "earthy - not really in a good way." Over-all a bit of a disappointment.

Roasted beet salad with fennel & frisee, grapefruit vinaigrette, toasted beet greens $8

This beautifully presented salad was tasty, bright, and colorful. I thought the vinaigrette was delightfully refreshing, although my daughter insists it lacked acidity and needed more of a citrus punch. The only downside was the toasted beet-greens, which I at first mistook for bits of plastic in my dish until my daughter figured out they were edible! Luckily there were not many of them on the plate. The restaurant is vegan, but I would add some soft goat cheese if I were to recreate this salad at home.

Reuben with caraway-crusted tempeh, thousand island, pickles, sauerkraut, grilled pumpernickel $9

Melyssa ordered this sandwich and said it was the best tempeh preparation she'd ever had. The tangy flavors complimented each other perfectly and were not overwhelmingly sour. The only addition I would make would be a slice of melted vegan or vegetarian Swiss-style cheese. I can't wait to recreate this sandwich at home. The side salad's dressing was overpowered by the taste of oregano, as if someone had been too heavy-handed with a jar of "Italian Seasoning."

Spicy Vietnamese cauliflower Banh Mi carrot, cilantro, mint & jalapeno,  lemongrass aïoli on baguette $9

This was a lovely, fresh spring sandwich. The bread was fresh, crusty, and delicious. The individual elements didn't stand out on their own, but the combination over-all was really flavorful and not too spicy. Melyssa thought the filling was delicious, but not quite substantial enough and wished it contained tofu, like a many traditional Vietnamese sandwiches.

Cookie plate $4

This was a bargain at $4 for 6 tasty cookies: Lavender Snicker-doodle, Cornmeal cookie with berry compote, and Orange-Pistachio balls dusted with powdered sugar. The orange pistachio balls were the standout on the plate - you would never guess these were vegan! The consistency of each cookie was delicate and "buttery." Melyssa thought the cornmeal cookies were a bit dry, but the addition of the sweet and spicy berry topping was delightful. The snicker-doodles were moist and not too sweet, with just a hint of lavender.

Chocolate mousse pie with cocoa crust, coffee ice cream, and "creme anglaise" $6

This decadent chocolate pie made with silken tofu was rich and velvety but a tad too sweet for me. The creme anglaise (made from cashew cream) was ok, but tasted typically "vegan" - Melyssa was not surprised, as there's really no vegan substitute for egg yolks and cream. The coffee ice cream made from coconut milk was a standout - strong coffee notes, creamy and refreshing. Both desserts were big enough to share!

We perused the dinner menu and it looked interesting - we will come back and try it soon.

Over-all ratings:

Leslie - 3 1/2 stars

Melyssa - 3 stars


Review written by Melyssa and Leslie Ahlborn