Covering all things vegan in Jacksonville, Florida

My Catskill Animal Sactuary Vegan New York Trip – August 2014 (Hudson River Valley)

Posted on November 5, 2014 by jaxvegan

A very overdue post fom my 5 day trip this fall to the Catskill Mountains (August 2-6, 2014)…click here to see all 300+ pictures from my trip.

During our vacation my husband and I stayed at the Homestead Guest House (a 200 year old farmhouse) on the grounds of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, NY. Every morning we were cooked an amazing vegan breakfast by the staff! Another perk was being able to stroll the sanctuary any time (not just during guided tours) because we were guests at the Homestead.

During our five day trip we ate our way through all of the vegan friendly restaurants and candy shops in the Hudson River Valley!

Here are all the places we ate at:
Karma Road (New Paltz, NY)
Lagusta’s Luscious (New Paltz, NY)
Mexican Radio (Hudson, NY)
Mountain Brauhaus Restaurant (Gardiner, NY)
New World Home Cooking (Saugerties, NY)
Garden Cafe on the Green (Woodstock, NY)
Rosendale Cafe (Rosendale, NY)
Park Falafel & Pizza Inc. (Hudson, NY)
Luna 61 (Tivoli, NY)
Oriole9 (Woodstock, NY)
Little Apple (Woodstock, NY)
LUCKY CHOCOLATES (Saugerties, NY)
Krause’s Chocolates (Saugerties, NY)

Anytime we weren’t eating (or hanging out with the animals at CAS) we were out exploring all the Hudson River Valley area had to offer…wildlife, berry picking, waterfalls, hiking, wild flowers, the mountains and numerous historic homes!

I would recommend this region of NY to anyone (vegan or not)! It was the absolute perfect vacation!

You can see all of my 300+ pictures from our vacation here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126122816@N04/sets/72157646034091519

St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago!

Posted on April 23, 2014 by jaxvegan

In an effort to post more in the “JVL Travel” category, I bring you the overdue highlights of my (very vegan) trip last month to Chicago! Yes, this is from St. Patrick’s Day…better late than never, right?

Each year I travel with my bestie for a fun girls weekend over St. Patrick’s Day weekend and for 2014 we selected Chicago! (In 2012 we went to Savannah and in 2013 we flew to Boston.) We travel to watch the parade, wear green, eat, drink and pretend we are Irish for the weekend. It makes for a fast paced, super-fun girls weekend and I get to try restaurants in new cities that are on my vegan bucket list.

Day 1: I arrived on Friday and our first meal was lunch at the 100% vegetarian restaurant, Blind Faith Café. It is located in Evanston’s Chicago Avenue/Dempster Street shopping district, within walking distance from Northwestern University.

The menu was extensive and it was hard to make a decision! Here is what we had between the three of us: Vegan Wonton Soup ($4.50), Fried Dumplings ($7.50), Spinach Lentil Salad ($7.50) and the Vegan Mexican Breakfast Plate ($12.45)

Deciding on dessert was equally hard with a case like this on display (over half of it was vegan)! We finally settled on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Raspberry Sorbet ($7.50).

After lunch we did some shopping on Michigan Avenue and visited Millennium Park. Seeing the famous outdoor sculpture, Cloud Gate (a.k.a “The Bean”), was on my must do list and it didn’t disappoint!

Afterwards we didn’t really have a plan for dinner, but Thai sounded delicious. So after reading several reviews on the various Thai restaurants in the area (thanks to our cell phones), we took a taxi to Star of Siam. We shared the below: Fried Tofu ($4.75), Veggie Tempura ($7.75), Mussaman Curry with Tofu ($7.75) and a rice noodle dish that I cant remember the name of ($8.25)

Day 2: The St. Patrick’s Day Festival!

We woke up and arrived early to see the river be dyed green! It gets is emerald green color from 45 pounds of vegetable dye. They say the ingredients are not harmful to the thousands of goldfish that make up a large percentage of the river’s fish population. I hope not because it was a beautiful site!

The parade started at noon and we secured a great spot on Columbus Drive!

Satisfied that we had seen enough of the parade, we decided to explore on foot. It’s amazing how many large-scale outdoor pieces of art there are in Chicago!

It wasn’t hard deciding on lunch as Native Café was on my must visit list! I told the employee at the cash register, “I want whatever your favorite item is.” The result, the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger: thinly sliced Native Original Seitan, melted cheddar, caramelized onions, and crispy Native Bacon on a bun slathered with BBQ sauce and ranch dressing, romaine, carrots, onions, and tomato. Topped with crunchy battered dill pickle chips. ($9.95)

After lunch we explored some more!

Eventually we found ourselves taking an elevator ride up to the top of the John Hancock Observatory! We were seated at the best table we could have wished for, a corner window table on the 96th floor with a perfect view looking down Michigan Avenue! Admission to the top is free as long as you buy an overpriced drink at the Signature Room Lounge.

After some late night pub hopping (for some much cheaper drinks) we ended up at Hash House, Twisted Farm Food. It was not really vegan friendly but they did manage to whip up this vegan hash for me with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes and fresh spinach. The portions at this place are huge (this could have fed a family of four)!

Day 3: Although I had an afternoon flight and was pressed for time, I decided that I could squeeze in breakfast AND one hour at the Art Institute of Chicago before heading to the airport. I am an art history major, so this was pretty important to me. I wanted to try The Chicago Diner soooo bad, but I also wanted something located closer to the museum due to my time crunch, so I opted for Karyn’s Cooked. I ordered the Homestyle Breakfast ($10.95) and the Potato Pancakes with lemon-dill sauce and applesauce ($6.95).

With a full belly, I took the subway to the Art Institute of Chicago. I called ahead of time to ensure that the museum coat check would hold my suitcase for me (as I had already checked out of my hotel), which they did! It worked out perfectly!

The museum has a “What to See in an Hour” list that contains their favorite 12 pieces. In my 57 minutes I was able to see six of them: Seurat’s A Sunday on Grande Jatte, Monet’s Stacks of Wheat, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Richter’s Woman Descending a Staircase, Charles Ray’s Hinoki and Jackson Pollock’s Greyed Rainbow!

I was also able to see many other famous pieces by artists that are important to me: Warhol, Calder, O’Keeffe, De kooning, Motherwell, Kline, Rauschenberg, Rothko, Lichtenstein and Stella. Unfortunately, my memory card filled up as I entered my most favorite part of the museum – the Impressionism wing. I was out of time anyhow, so it is probably a good thing, or I may have missed my flight.

I had an amazing “taste” of what Chicago has to offer in my short two and half days there. I cannot wait to return to the Windy City soon!

Jaxsons Night Market – A Vegan Preview!

Posted on April 16, 2014 by jaxvegan

Tomorrow night is the inaugural Jaxsons Night Market and I couldn’t be more excited for all of the vegan options! Founder, Mike Field, created this evening market to bring people downtown and to celebrate the culinary culture of north Florida. It’s put on by locals, for locals (or as Mike says, “by Jaxsons, for Jaxsons”), and it is sure to draw a huge crowd!

The corner of Main and Adams Street (the Burrito Gallery parking lot) will be transformed every third Thursday of each month from 6:30-9:30pm. In addition to all of the various food and produce vendors, you can enjoy alcohol too at the beer garden (hosted by Intuition Ale Works)! Artisan vendors, local farmers, local craft beer and the best street food vendors around…where else can you find all of this in one setting after getting off work in downtown Jacksonville? Parking is free and pets are welcome.

Here is the link to the event page for the inaugural event tomorrow. Two things are essential: Arrive hungry and bring lots of money to fill that empty belly and your reusable produce bag!

Here is a list of just some of what Jaxsons Night Market has to offer us vegans:

Heart & Seoul is a 100% vegan Korean food truck out of Gainesville! They offer tacos, dumpling and bibimbap and specials like nachos and coconut milk mac & cheese. I had never heard of this food truck before, so this will definitely be my first stop!

Dig Foods will be serving up a variety of seasonal vegan pizzas with fresh veggies from Down to Earth Farm! I cant wait to try the Chinese Broccoli White Bean pizza with Nasturtium that Sean has planned.

Community Loaves will be selling their vegan sourdough artisan breads!

Sunrawise will be selling all seven varieties of their vegan artisan hard cheeses. I know I will be stocking up on these at Jaxsons! Glenn and Kathy hope to eventually incorporate a juice bar into their table at Jaxsons too.

Fresh Jax is famous for their hot sauces and vegan dark chocolate strawberry cookies! Rumor has it, Chef Johnny Vines will be doing a vegan rice dish demo at the Night Market.

Gastro Gnome makes amazing vegan shortbread! Owner, Robert Field, is one of the nicest people ever. Make sure to grab some of his fresh fried gnome caps and hummus, the chipotle and the pesto varieties are both delicious! He will also feature a falafel wrap and pearl pasta salad tomorrow.

The Hyppo = vegan popsicle heaven! They aren’t all vegan (although I hear from a very reliable source that they will be very soon), but the vegan flavors are always clearly marked. The spicy strawberry datil (dipped in vegan chocolate) is my favorite!

Down to Earth Farm produce is a favorite of mine at RAM. I love their fresh veggies and local tempeh. They are also a recent winner at One Spark 2014, so make sure to congratulate them at Jaxsons!

Meteor Street Produce can normally be found at the Beaver Street Farmers Market. They specialize in 100% organic local produce.

The Jaxsons Night Market is not to be missed! Lets keep the momentum from One Spark 2014 alive, come out and support this awesome downtown event.

SUPPORT LOCAL!

One Spark 2014: The Vegan Low Down!

Posted on April 4, 2014 by jaxvegan

Jacksonville, are you ready for five days of art, innovation, music, science and technology? One Spark 2014 is just around the corner! Creators from across the nation will gather here April 9-13, 2014 to showcase their best ideas for a chance to access $310,000 in crowdfunds and cash awards, 3.25 million dollars in capital investments and direct contributions from more than 150,000 attendees and backers around the globe. Attending and voting is completely free, just make sure you do your part and register! Voting is a vital part of making One Spark a huge success as EVERY vote puts money in the creators’ pockets. Don’t understand the whole crowd-funding concept, no worries just click here.

Scared you won’t be able to find any vegan food at One Spark? Think again! Sean and his crew from Dig Foods will be serving up their 100% vegan/organic grub daily from 11:00am-10:00pm during the entire festival. You can find them in the food village (Laura Street between Bay and Forsyth). Check out their One Spark menu below and be sure to watch their Facebook page from April 9-13 for their One Spark daily specials:

maple mustard seitan
spaghetti squash with creamed kale
raw lettuce wraps
samosas w/ spiced aioli and green pea coulis
spicy rundown soup with rice dumpling

A new addition to One Spark this year is the Beer Village! An entire block of Adams/Main Street will be dedicated to Intuition Ale Works Craft Beer. (They are our favorite local craft beer and I couldn’t be happier about this!) Tickets for the One Spark Beer Village will be sold onsite for $5.00 each or $20.00 for five tickets, with ticket redemption going towards the purchase of Intuition Ale Works. Beer Village is sure to be a cool place to hang out, enjoy specialty craft brews and enjoy great live entertainment with featured musical performances by One Spark creators.

JVL has combed through the 100+ creators for One Spark 2014 – here are some of our favorites:

Sally Ann #20520 Sally Ann makes super cute things out of recycled materials. Her dream is to open Jacksonville’s only sewing lounge! In the meantime, you can find her and her little red vintage trailer at RAM on Saturdays. She just announced that she will only use 100% vegan materials from now on! That gets my vote!

Fresh Jax #20076 Fresh Jax took 8^th place last year at One Spark 2013! They are back this year and raising funds to make their dream of opening their vegan restaurant/yoga studio in the Mandarin area by end of year!

1,000 Trees Jax #20926 Ideas for Us wants to plant 1,000 native trees in Jacksonville in one year. Enough said.

Girls Gone Green #20336 We love them for No Meat March, VegJax Dining Guide and the Northeast Florida VegFest! The GGG wants funds to expand beyond Jacksonville and host a Southeast Conference!

Down to Earth Farm #20353 Down to Earth Farm is one of my favorite produce vendors at RAM. They sell organic tempeh in addition to their awesome veggies. They want to create a community kitchen to teach fresh veggie cooking classes with their funds from One Spark.

Floating Free #20572 A cool concept that will make great use of out Exchange Island (one of the only uninhabited islands in the middle of an urban city of our size in the U.S.) Ideas for the island include a kayak launch, bike trails, zips lines, primitive camping and swimming.

Chomp Chips #21015 I love Chomp Chomp! They have so many tofu options and their curry flavored chips are tasty too! They want to expand and have their chips available at other places around town. We’re down with that.

Gastrofest Jacksonville 2015 #20026 Gastrofest Jacksonville aims to bring us a kick ass food festival in 2015 to show off our culinary cusine! (Including lots of vegan options!)

Project Atrium #20196 As a co-founder and photo contributor to the Jax Mural Project, this one is a no brainer for me! Shaun Thurston is an amazing artist that paints murals all over Jacksonville; I cannot wait to see what he creates for MOCA.

B.E.A.K.S Educational Center #20661 BEAKS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation & care of injured wild birds & the protection of our environment. I have taken many wild birds that I have rescued to them and they are fabulous. They are raising funds to expand their educational center and outreach.

Dragon Boat Festival #20596 I was actually the team captain for the LPS (my former job) corporate dragon boat team at the inaugural Dragon Boat Festival in 2013. I would love to see this event return to Jacksonville again in 2014. It was a lot of fun…who knows, maybe we could put together a vegan team for the next one if so.

Scott Jones School of Dance #20882 (Yes, it’s a shameless plug as this is personal…this is my son’s dance studio.) If you have ever wanted to return the favor to JVL for all of the posts we share with you, then this would be a great way to do that (by voting for Scott Jones School of Dance). Funds from One Spark will go towards new music equipment and dance choreographers.

The creators I listed above are awesome, but don’t take my word for it…make sure you pick up a One Spark Guide (available this week in Folio Weekly) or search through them online here.

A huge thank you to all of the venues that are accommodating the numerous vendors this year!

We are so lucky to have such a cool event in our city! I volunteered many hours of my time last year at the event and I loved every second of it. I hope you come out to enjoy all it has to offer too, at least for one of the five days (if not for all five of them). One Spark is completely free to attend and to vote, but if you want the ultimate experience, then check out the All Access Pass.

Be One Spark! VOTE!

The Ice Plant and St. Augustine Distillery!

Posted on March 11, 2014 by jaxvegan

I finally made the short trip from Jacksonville to St. Augustine this weekend to try The Ice Plant for the first time! I was accompanied by my good friend and fellow blogger, Heather, of Outside the Den.

Haven’t heard of The Ice Plant until now? Then check out their website and this video for more info!

The restaurant and bar are housed in an old ice plant (hence the name) and as you ascend the staircase to the second floor, you immediately feel transformed to the turn of the century!
Don’t forget to look up or you will miss the massive original bridge crane on rails, once used to lift and load massive blocks of ice.

If you are with a small group, I suggest you dine at the bar instead of a regular table! That way you can see the mixologists in action, including the ice making!

We just went for drinks, or so we thought…

The Brooklynite ($8) was my favorite! I substituted agave for the honey and it was amazing!

Like spiked punch? You can order an entire punch bowl (Fish Camp punch or Just for Life punch) to share with your table! $50 (8 servings).

With everyone raving about their cocktails and awesome ice (and rightfully so), I just kept asking myself why have my friends failed to also mention the amazing menu here? I was so excited when I saw some vegetarian items printed and after a few questions to the bartender, I quickly discovered they actually have some extraordinary vegan options at The Ice Plant!

The veggie burger (sans the avocado dijonaise). ($11)

One of the best vegan burgers I have ever had! It’s accompanied by your choice of hand cut French fries (with homemade ketchup) or a house salad.

Mushroom Risotto with Tamari Broth (sans Parmesan cheese). ($13)

It’s not everyday you can find a place that can (or is willing to) “veganize” their risotto recipe. My complements to the Chef!

The appetizer section features Soft Pretzel Bread (sans truffle cheddar fondue, sub plain Dijon mustard). ($6) *Do not order these if you do not consume honey, other than the honey the pretzels are vegan.

There is also a Fall Market Salad, with Basil Vinaigrette ($7) on the menu, which we are saving for our next visit. With all of the quality farm to table vegetables they have on hand, I’m fairly certain the chef could even make you an off menu vegan special if you just asked.

The Ice Plant does not open until 5:00 p.m., so arrive early and tour the St. Augustine Distillery attached to the other side of the building. It’s free and very educational! (You also get to sample the Florida Mule made with their Florida Cane Vodka!)

The first bourbon to be produced in Florida since prohibition! Be patient though as the bourbon has to age another four years before it will be bottled.

They do however have the Florida Cane Vodka for sale! ($28 for one, or $50 for two) Made with locally grown sugarcane from KYV Farms!

Learn more about the St. Augustine Distillery on their Facebook page.

Pisco’s Peruvian Restaurant (Southside)

Posted on January 12, 2014 by jaxvegan

Have you ever had authentic Peruvian cuisine? Until today, we hadn’t either!

A few days ago I saw a post from a fellow JVL Instagram follower; it was of a picture of her meal with the hashtags: #delicious #peruvian #food #happiness #plantains #rice #frenchfries #veggies #spices. The picture showed a dish that consisted of assorted vegetables mixed in a yellowish sauce with french-fries (french-fries of all things) and a side of rice. It looked amazing! I was intrigued! I wanted it! But I was certain she was on vacation and it was from another city. It just couldn’t have been local. Could it? Luckily it was tagged at a place called Pisco’s Peruvian Restaurant. Once I discovered that it actually was in Jacksonville, I knew I must try it immediately!

Pico’s Peruvian Restaurant is family owned/operated by the Adriano’s and located off Southside Boulevard. Unbeknownst to me, Pisco’s has been serving the Jacksonville community their delicious Peruvian flavored dishes since 2006! When our waitress told us this, I was so embarrassed at the fact that I have driven down Southside a million times over the last eight years and NEVER even knew it was there! It is located so close to some of our other favorite vegan friendly spots near Tinseltown: Toss Green, Farah’s Pita Stop Café, Mellow Mushroom Jax, etc. How could I have never noticed it? How come no one has ever told me about it? Regardless, it is now one of my new favorite restaurants and I will make up for the lost years by eating here often. Very often.

Upon arrival you get complimentary Cancha – Peruvian Roasted Corn (corn, oil, salt).

They sell four types of Peruvian beer from the Andes! Cervezas Importadas ($4.00)

They also sell domestic beers ($3.75), assorted wine ($ varies) and Sangria ($4.45 a glass or $11.00 pitcher).

These imported bebidas (drinks) caught my eye as I have never seen them before! ($2.50)

The Chicha Limena (Chicha Morada) is a purple corn soda. I haven’t had a soft drink in years, but couldn’t resist capturing a photo of them.

Instead of the Peruvian soda’s we opted for the Limonada en jarra ($5.00). It is a giant pitcher of fresh, made to order, limeade (water, sugar, juiced limes, put in the blender). We got almost six servings out of this pitcher. I will order this every time I come!

I got really excited when I saw a designated Platos Vegetarianos (vegetarian section) on the menu; that is always a good sign for a vegan. Our waitresses, Yesenia and Karina, were very friendly and super patient with all of my vegan probing questions regarding the menu. Karina told me it was no problem, “my mom is the cook.”

Tallarin saltado: Stir fried red onions, tomatoes, peas, carrots, Peruvian corn, cilantro and spaghetti. ($10.15)

Arroz chaufa: Peruvian style stir fried rice with green onions, (sans eggs), soy sauce, peas and carrots ($9.55)

Vegetables saltados: Sauteed mixed vegetables with onions, tomatoes, cilantro and French-fries served with rice ($10.15). This is the dish that I saw on Instagram that started it all. Don’t let fried French-fries mixed with veggies scare you, it really is amazing!

They have some great side items that are vegan too.

We tried the tostones fried plantains ($3.95) and the Sarsa criolla onion salad ($3.75).

We decided to mix the two together, creating this JVL special appetizer above.

If you like heat, then this is the sauce for you! It is made fresh from Peruvian dried hot peppers. Karina explained that the color changes depending on which family member makes the “hot sauce” that day. She said it rotates, sometimes it’s orange, or red or green, and then she giggled.

Seriously, the portions are HUGE! This could have fed a family of 6.

I love being able to find something sweet for dessert, most places usually don’t have a vegan option. These Maduros sweet plantains ($3.95) hit the spot!

They sell herbal teas and other items like maca powder by the front counter. ($3.00)

A friend of mine just spent ten days exploring Peru this past December and she said it changed her forever! It will be a few more years before I can check Machu Picchu off my bucket list, but at least I can have a little piece of Peru (right here in Jacksonville) in the meantime.

http://www.piscosrestaurant.com/

There is a link for a 10% coupon on their website too (good for Mon-Thursday only)!

4131 Southside Blvd, Suite 101 & 102

Jacksonville, FL 32216

(904) 646-3888

Their Facebook page says they have live music on Saturdays from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Kale Cafe & Juice Bar – Daytona Beach, FL

Posted on January 11, 2014 by jaxvegan

I love to travel. Sometimes I travel not for the destination, but just to try new restaurants (I mean I even own a “Will Travel for Vegan Food” shirt)! So when I heard from a friend on Facebook (thank you Francesca) that a new 100% vegan restaurant in Daytona Beach just opened, I knew a quick daytrip was in order!

Midtown EcoVillage’s Kale Cafe Juice Bar & Vegan Cuisine is pretty awesome!

A planter of assorted kale greets you at the front entrance!

Kale Café Juice Bar and Vegan Cuisine is owned by husband and wife, Camille Holder-Brown and Omar Brown. They are the founders of Midtown EcoVillage, a non- profit grassroots organization advocating healthy lifestyles, environmental sustainability and community solidarity through education, advocacy, and services. Prior to opening the café they built a loyal following of customers at the local farmers market, where they sold their vegan Caribbean food and smoothies twice a week. So when the time came for them to open a permanent location, they launched their kickstarter campaign last fall and had lots of supporters! Over 100 backers pledged $20,525, making their dream of their juice bar and vegan café a reality. Two months later it opened its doors on November 30, 2013.

The menu at Kale Café rotates daily, but usually includes Caribbean vegan food like brown stew tofu, sautéed cabbage, brown rice and peas, curry chickpeas and jerk vegan chicken.

On the weekends you can enjoy brunch items like wraps, pancakes, potatoes and scrambled tofu. Sometimes Camille even does a Raw Plate!

Lunch plate ($10): Brown Stew Tofu with Cabbage and Pumpkin, Roasted Curried Potatoes and Kale Salad.

Lunch Plate($10): Mac & Sheese, Rice and Peas, Millet Salad and Kale Salad.

Side order of Mac n’ Sheese!

Kale 12

A giant batch of Camille’s gluten free millet tabouli.

They make everything in-house! The only exception is the vegan cupcakes, which are provided by Delectable Delights.

The cupcake flavors today: Mocha and Pumpkin ($2.50 each).

Don’t miss the juice and smoothie bar, it’s a real value! Our two smoothies were huge and only $5.00 each.

Omar in action at the juice bar!

Our Small Green Stuff Smothie ($5): Kale, Mango, Banana, Ginger, Pineapple & Apple Juice!

I think the secret is the fresh juiced apples they add to the smoothies. Delicious!

My Small Berry Bliss ($5): Blueberries, Strawberries, Pineapple, Banana and Apple Juice!

In addition to serving healthy food, Kale Café also has fun entertainment like live reggae music, spoken word, jazz, family disco, movies, cooking classes and gardening workshops. Peek into the back of the building as it is a huge space.

This is a cool place and just a one hour drive down I-95, go try it out soon!

116 N. Beach St.

Daytona Beach, Florida 32114

Phone (386) 872-5097

Website http://www.kalecafejuicebar.com

The Daytona Beach Vegetarian Society meets at Kale Café once a month for their gathering!

Three F(x) Ice Cream & Waffles (Baymeadows)

Posted on January 4, 2014 by jaxvegan

It was chilly today, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying ice cream! Have you tried Three F(x) Ice Cream & Waffles yet? It’s located right next to our favorite spot in Baymeadows, India’s Restaurant. The three F’s stand for fresh, fruit and fun treats. The waffle part of the name actually refers to a fish shaped, Japanese street food called Taiyaki. They offer sweet or savory flavors which are made to order after you pick one of over a dozen fillings. Unfortunately for us we had to pass on these adorable waffles since the batter isn’t vegan. 20140104_140753

However, if you want fresh vegan ice cream made right in front of you, then you are in the right place!

Three F(x) has a 5 step ordering process:

Step 1: Pick a size! Small ($4.65), Medium ($5.55) or Large ($6.95)

Step 2: Pick a flavor! (Nothing artificial & no preservatives)

Step 3: Pick your dairy! (They offer both Almond and Soy milk)

Step 4: Pick your toppings! (2 regular or 1 fruit is included in the price)

Step 5: Pick your container! (paper cup or waffle cone)

20140104_140641 (1)

I chose Vanilla (not realizing the almond milk was already vanilla flavored). But if you select a fruit flavor, you are getting actual fresh fruit mixed with the milk in a blender before they freeze it. Nothing artificial here!

I selected a small vanilla almond milk ice cream with Oreo and coconut topping in a paper cup, then watched the magic begin! They pour the vanilla flavored Silk almond milk into a super thin layer onto a large metal disk built into the counter. It’s an “ice pan” that freezes the liquid to below -35° F, turning it into a solid in seconds. Then it is scraped and molded into an ice cream consistency with two metal spatulas. Next comes the topping part, which is more like the mix-in part as they actually chop the toppings into the ice cream. Finally, they carefully scoop it into three perfect ice cream shaped balls.

My small vanilla almond milk ice cream with Oreo and coconut topping in a paper cup! ($4.65)

Like their Facebook page so you can see the “special flavor” offering each week.

Don’t forget to get a punch card while you are there! You can get a free one after you purchase 9, where they will then add your card to their wall of famous patrons.

We just happened to look up from our table and saw the words, Go Vegan on this card. Looks like Lars was here just two days ago lol.

Three F(x) Ice Cream & Waffles

https://www.facebook.com/ThreeFxIcecreamwaffles

9802 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 928-9559

Mon – Sat: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Sun: 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Orange Tempeh over Udon and Forbidden Rice

Posted on December 9, 2013 by jaxvegan

Ever have one of those days where you just don’t feel like going out to grab food? Maybe it’s lousy weather out, or maybe you don’t get paid until Friday and it’s only Wednesday, maybe you just need to whip up something tasty to impress some guests or a date. Well, here at Jax Vegan Love, we’re going to start looking out for you in those situations. We will now be featuring our very own recipe section of our blog. Created in our own minds, made with our own hands; stay on the lookout for many more additions to our new recipe listing!

JVL Plating 3

Feeds approximately two people:
1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (about 3-4 oranges)
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 ½ tablespoons mirin
½ teaspoon ground coriander (fresh is best!)
2-3 small garlic cloves (garlic lovers, feel free to increase!)
One 8-ounce pack tempeh
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ lime
Chopped cilantro to taste

*Ingredient notes and advice
-Florida is an orange haven from November until May; go pick some if you can’t make it to the market or store. I bought mine from local farm and Riverside Arts Market vendor, Down to Earth Farm.
-Mirin is a rice wine, not to be confused with rice vinegar, that not only adds sweetness but luster to sauces while helping them cling to food. I pick mine up from Native Sun. You can substitute sweet marsala if need be.
-Gainesville is home to a wonderful company known as Artie’s Tempeh. Artie makes tempeh that is used throughout our state at various restaurants and local grocers. Down to Earth occasionally sells his tempeh at RAM (I made it too late to get some). Check them out online for a full listing of where to find his tempeh.

Start by adding the orange juice to a small bowl. Squeeze the juice extract of the ginger into the orange juice. This can be done with a cheesecloth, a mesh strainer, or simply by pressing down on the ginger while in a measuring spoon using an additional spoon of the same size. Discard the pulp or save it for a smoothie! Add the tamari or soy, mirin, maple syrup, ground coriander, and garlic. Stir the ingredients well using a small whisk or a fork and set-aside for now.

Slice the tempeh into bite-sized pieces of your liking. I like to slice it into small squares and cut each of those into two triangles. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the tempeh and fry until golden brown, then flip. Time will vary depending on how you cut the tempeh but typically takes between three and five minutes. Once lightly pan-fried, pour the orange juice mixture into the pan. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, flipping the tempeh occasionally. Near the end of cook time the sauce will reduce to a thick glaze. Remove tempeh from heat and serve with remaining sauce poured over top along with the lime and fresh cilantro. Your tempeh is ready to feast on!

Pairing and sides are endless; don’t be afraid to try something new. I served mine over udon noodles, forbidden rice, and lightly sautéed swiss chard. Udon is a wheat flour noodle used heavily is Asian cuisine. Cook the noodles like you would spaghetti for 6-8 minutes. Once tender, you can serve hot or rinse immediately under cool water for a refreshing experience on those hot days. Forbidden rice, which is the cool name for black rice, is an ancient Chinese rice that is loaded with amino acids, iron, fiber, zinc, and countless other vitamins. Simply combine 1 cup of rice with 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover, then simmer for approximately thirty minutes before checking. Once the rice is fluffed to your liking, allow to steam in the pot (take it off the heat!) for ten minutes before serving. Next, I chopped a couple swiss chard leaves I picked up from Down to Earth and lightly sautéed them in a teaspoon of coconut oil. Finally, I topped mine off with a little Thai chili sauce to add some heat but this can be omitted if you aren’t a fan of feeling the burn while you eat.

Enjoy!

JVL Forbidden Rice

JVL Plating2

JVL Plating1

Food is art; don’t be afraid to break the recipe’s rules.

Best of St. Augustine: Vegan Coffee Edition!

Posted on December 7, 2013 by jaxvegan

Jax Vegan Love has compiled this list of fantastic coffee locations to help you keep warm this winter while visiting the oldest city in the nation!

Did you know that St. Augustine is listed as one of National Geographic’s top ten places in the WORLD to see holiday lights? During their Nights of Lights, the 144-square-block historic district twinkles with almost three million bulbs (each white, per city ordinance). So what are you waiting for? A day trip down to St. Augustine makes for a perfect Saturday outing!

The Kookaburra: 24 Cathedral, Suite 100

Coffee: Bold Bean Coffee Roasters of Jacksonville, FL

Non-dairy options: Soy, Almond, and Coconut Milk (no upcharge)

Notes: Outdoor seating (2 small tables). Kayler and Mary-Ashley are awesome baristas, super friendly, passionate and knowledgeable! They provided amazing customer service!

Kookaburra had the best Iced Pumpkin Latte in St. Augustine! Their Sumptin’ Pumpkin ($4.35) is made with pumpkin puree from scratch with cloves, cinnamon, ginger, homemade vanilla and coconut milk. (Available Oct-Dec only)

Vegan snacks! They will soon be making their homemade version of a Larabar!

If you call a day ahead, they will even make you a Vegan Aussie Pie (with no egg wash)! Looks like a mini pot pie full of veggies in a coconut milk curry sauce! ($5.05)

City Coffee: 1280 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd

Coffee: Jayells Coffee Company of St. Augustine

Non-dairy options: Soy and Almond Milk ($.65 cent upcharge)

Notes: Outside area (four tables). Couch lounge area inside. They have the best Iced Chai Latte ($4.15) we tried in St. Augustine! We chose almond milk and it was delicious.

City Coffee had the best London Fog ($3.90) yet: Mighty Leaf Organic Earl Gray Tea with Steamed Soy Milk and Homemade Vanilla Syrup.

Vegan snacks for sale at counter! They also sell Hugo’s Muffins.

Dos Coffee & Wine Bar: 300 San Marco Avenue

Coffee: Convive Coffee Roastery of St Augustine, FL

Non-dairy options: Soy Milk ($.50 cent upcharge)

Notes: No outdoor seating but don’t let the exterior fool you, it is really cool looking inside! They have live music on the weekends and offer beer & wine. Dos also has a small food menu (salads and hummus) and vegan health shakes with rice protein ($4.50 to $5.75)!

A prior auto parts store; we were in love with the interior and all the wood paneling!

Cute decorative touches make this a neat spot!

Fresh flowers on every table!

The Orchid Vanilla by Tea forte is such a unique flavor!

Hot Mocha (with vegan chocolate and soy milk) ($4.50)

The Florida Room: 39 Cordova

Coffee: Sweetwater Organic Roasters of Gainesville, FL

Non-dairy Options: Soy and Almond Milk (no upcharge)

Notes: Located in the rear of The Floridian, is their own backyard bakery, beer garden and coffee shop. Casual counter service with inside or outside seating by our favorite Bartender/Barista Matthew!

Secluded outdoor patio seating (with space heaters), bar seating inside.

Six local beers on tap and chocolate vegan croissants, what more do you need?

Lots of vegan pastries: Two types of cupcakes and original and chocolate croissants!

Matthew will make an awesome drink! Below is the Bee Sting “veganized”: Cayenne infused espresso with cinnamon with agave sweetened almond milk ($4.50)

Juniper Market: 56A San Marco Avenue

Coffee: Jayells Coffee Company of St. Augustine

Non-dairy options: Almond Milk (no upcharge)

Notes: No outdoor seating. Juniper Market has some vegan lunch items too. Sweet Potato Falafel, Roasted Vegetable Sandwich, Muesli and Happy Trails Cookies. On Wednesday nights they have vegan “take and heat dinners” for 2 or 4 servings.

Yard Bird Café: 117 King Street

Coffee: (to be updated: local but don’t remember which roaster)

Non-dairy options: Almond and Coconut Milk (no upcharge)

Notes: Outdoor seating! Several vegan items on the menu including a breakfast burrito with avocado and black eyed pea hummus. Closes at 3pm, closed Mondays.

Most all of these places have a punch card, so if you frequent St. Augustine often, make sure you ask for one to earn a free coffee!

Stay tuned, as JVL will have a “Best of Jacksonville: Vegan Coffee Edition” coming soon!