nyeats :: vegan in manhattan, take 2

Being back in New York City for Music and the Moving Image this year meant one very important thing: revisiting all the delicious vegan and vegan-friendly food establishments in Greenwich and the East Village! This year I did less stumbling-upon and did much more seek-and-eat.

Like Viva Herbal Pizza:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] "Zen" by Viva Herbal Pizza[/caption]

I realize this looks like a quarter of a pizza, but this is what they affectionately call a "slice" of NY-style pizza. I think I exploded afterwards.

But only after I ate part of a vegan pumpkin whoopee pie…

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Whoopee pies[/caption]

These aren't just the size of my fist. They're, like, the size of two fists. And took me three days to eat!

And then I went back again Saturday for their Seitan Dream:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Viva Herbal Pizza's Seitan Dream (detail)[/caption]

And of course I had to go back to Sacred Chow! A bunch of unknowing musicologists followed me over to this place for lunch on Friday, having no idea what it was all about or anything on the menu. And they all raved about the meal afterwards, so I think I won that lunch trip.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sacred Chow's Black Olive Seitan Sandwich and Lentil Soup[/caption]

And then I went back on Sunday after my paper to get some brunch!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sacred Chow Sardinian Omlette and Smokey Home Fries[/caption]

…and treated myself to one of their amazing, generous smoothies!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Sacred Chow Charlie Brown Smootie[/caption]

My new discovery this year was The Bean, a coffee shop about two blocks away from where I stayed. It's a pretty straight-forward coffee shop, but they have vegan sammies and treats! I couldn't resist taking home a piece of their red velvet cake after a busy night of buying comics and books:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Bean NYC Vegan Red Velvet Cake[/caption]

It was a bit dry but pretty tasty. I went back on Monday and hung out for a few hours while I waited for my shuttle to the airport:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Bean NYC[/caption]

They had a deal for a sammie, chips, and a water for $5 so I definitely hit that up. Got myself a vegan tuna salad sammie!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Bean Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwich[/caption]

I also got a slice of their vegan lemon vanilla poppyseed cake but it was cut really thinly and was as dry as a board. It gets no picture.

On Sunday night my lovely friend Iko picked me up for dinner at Hangawi, a gorgeous, traditional Korean restaurant. If the lighting wasn't so dim I would have taken more pictures of the interior. I did manage to take a snap of my crispy mushroom dish. So delicious.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Hangawi Crispy Mushroom[/caption]

Then it was off to Franchia for vegan desserts! I got the coconut blueberry cake with a side of almond ice cream:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Franchia Vegan Coconut Blueberry Cake with Ice Cream[/caption]

Iko had a divine iced green tea float:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Franchia Green Tea Float[/caption]

I didn't make it to John's on 12th this year, which I'm a bit disappointed by. Hopefully next year!

What a delicious trip!