Category Archives: Tour Pennsylvania

asksnanswers

Alexa is working toward a vegetarian diet, and is loaded with questions. Jennifer’s got answers. We talk about anything as long as it is vegan. Are tattoos vegan? How do I politely not eat Thanksgiving dinner? How do I order without pissing off the waitress? We know you are dying to ask!

asksalexaDo you have a favorite Vegan restaurant that you’ve been to?

This is a tough question since my husband and I don’t eat out often. We only eat out 2-3 times a month, including eating out for lunch during work. We don’t even go to bars that much since it is so expensive. But I think we hit the same problems most vegan have, there aren’t any LOCAL vegan restaurants. Sure there are lots of options in Philadelphia, but it involves taking a train and walking to the location (like 30-40 minutes each way)

That being said we have some favorite vegan and non-vegan places. Each place has their own special place in our hearts. All of these places are pretty much exclusive to South Jersey or Philadephia with one exception. So take this an an eating guide to the Philly area.

MAJOR CHAIN: Panera Bread USA

If we are traveling and need to grab a bite, we almost always stop here. Sure there are other chains with great vegan options, but I find that Panera is the most spread out. There is a hearty sandwich that is easy to veganize (no cheese, swap bread). There are also other options, and their website is really helpful and open.

FAMILY EATING: The Pop Shop Collingswood, NJ

If you are eating out with your non-vegan family and they just want your standard all American dinner, the Pop Shop is your best bet. The Pop Shop isn’t a vegan restaurant, but a sort of family geared diner. They specialize in breakfast, ice cream, and grilled cheese. They also have vegan options for all categories. They have a great vegan cheese, vegan pancakes, vegan shakes, and tofu scrambles. My favorite? Tofu Buffalo Wing Sandwich, no cheese, no mayo. Downside? They don’t have an exclusive vegan grill, so that might freak some strict vegans out, or pose a problem to extreme dairy allergies. Also worth noting, I have only been charged extra for the vegan option once- for a sundae. So that’s a bonus.

ICE CREAM: The Franklin Fountain Philadelphia, PA

Okay this another non-exclusive vegan eatery. And I have to say narrowing down best ice cream in Philly is hard. I mean Capogiro’s has fabulous sorbets, and has been named world’s best ice cream. Little Baby’s Ice Cream is my favorite part of seeing a concert at Union Transfer (yes you can rock out to Chrvrches with some vegan ice cream). But neither is are exclusively vegan. (hey did you notice how many ice cream places I just dropped? Can you tell I like ice cream?)

But Franklin Fountain is a throwback soda fountain that is very accurate to the time period, well with the exception of their few vegan ice creams. They give lots of options for vegans, including vanilla, chocolate, and one seasonal vegan ice cream (such as peppermint stick or pumpkin), sorbets, caramel, whip cream, and much more. My favorite? Vanilla ice cream in a violet soda. It’s not on the menu, but trust me, it’s awesome.

PIZZA: Blackbird Pizza Philadelphia, PA

I remember being disbelief that a vegan pizzeria would ever open. I am even more shocked that it stayed open for so long. I wish I tried this place out when I lived in Philadelphia because it is even better than most of the pizza places in the city. The place is really laid back and feels like any old pizza takeout. The options are amazing, and some non-vegans drool over their potato pizza, which is apparently a thing.  This place is ALL vegan, so no sweating the menu.

QUICK BITES: HipCityVeg Philadelphia, PA

HipCityVeg has been featured on the site a few times. When I go into the city it is usually do something specific like see a movie at The International House, or go to the Art Museum. So I usually don’t want to sit down and eat. No instead I plan on eating at home, and realize that by the time the train arrives and I start cooking I won’t be able to eat until 7 or 8 pm. So I usually stop by HipCityVeg and grab something to eat. Everything is vegan, and the menu is simple which means your food get made fast. My recommendations: The Banana Whip, Buffalo Bella Burger, and the Udon Noodle Salad.

FANCY BITES: Eden Vegetarian Cafe, Bar Harbor Maine

I am super sad this place closed, but I think it is worth mentioning. This was an all vegan restaurant in Bar Harbor Maine. It was suppose to be a little more high end, and even had a bar. I liked the place since the food was a perfect way to end a day full of hiking. The menu was seasonal and would list all the locally sourced food, including things such as fiddleheads, tofu, and seaweed!

BAKERY: Sweet Freedom, Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, PA & Collingswood, NJ

I had a friend recommend this vegan bakery, so I went to check it out with my husband. After eating the yummiest cookie sandwich and root beer float cupcake I saw tons of signs with “gluten free” written all over them. I wouldn’t of had a clue. Sweet Freedom is all gluten-free, animal-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free. I think this why I love them so much, I don’t feel stuffed, or bogged down like most baked goods (or that rotting teeth feel from too much sugar). They started in Philly and expanded to Collingswood and Bryn Mawr, expanding their menu to juices, smoothies, and foods (hot foods only at the Bryn Mawr location). My recommendation? Their cookie ice cream sandwiches for the summer, cake balls, and cookie sandwiches.


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Dress: Old Navy | Jacket: Francesca’s | Boots: Unknown

It’d been quite some time since I had seen Jenny or been able to venture into Philadelphia, so when I had to get my passport I figured that was the perfect time to meet up! I know what you’re saying … ‘Alexa, you’ve never had your passport until now?’ and the answer is no! I have never travelled outside of the country before and my Step-Father was supposed to have some work offered to him over in Belgium. Sadly, that seems to not be happening as soon as I’d hoped…but at least I have my passport. 

The weather was perfect for going into Philly. It was sunny and probably around 70 degrees which isn’t my ideal weather for October, but who am I to say anything?! Jenny and I walked all over the city before and after obtaining my passport and got to eat at Hip City Veg, which is definitely my new favorite food destination! But more on that later…notice anything different?

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 “Alexa?! When did your hair become candy colored!?” …my parents will wonder (Mommy was okay with it, just shocked. I still haven’t seen Dad or my Step-Mommy yet so we’ll see). My amazing friend Carolyn has done it once again and made my hair super fun. I have wanted pink hair since college but for some reason I never pulled the trigger. I had tried it once before on my own but the pink completely washed out and I had Anna’s hair before it was cool. 

Who Wore It Best? More like Who Wore It FIRST?

Who Wore It Best? More like Who Wore It FIRST?

Now that I know someone who understands hair and it’s alien properties I can go crazy and try new things with a professional opinion and it’s so exciting! Carolyn is seriously amazing and wonderful and I don’t think I can say it enough. 

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My accessories from the day were a mish-mosh, as per usual. The two necklaces I was wearing are both from Urban Outfitters (before I completely stopped shopping there for a multitude of reasons), the one pictured is made of pyrite. It is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry because it looks like someone dug these stones right out of the earth and wrapped them in a chain, like something someone would find in an adventure-type film or show. There’s just something so natural and beautiful about it (even though I know this was made in a factory…obviously). My bracelets are a mix of Alex and Ani, Pandora, my favorite skull bracelet and my “Blaze” engraved bracelet on my other wrist. 

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And then Alexa transformed into a magical girl.

And then Alexa transformed into a magical girl.

 The dress is from Old Navy and is probably one of the best items I have ever purchased from there. It’s a bit of a heavier material but because it’s black I can wear it during every season. It fits perfectly and flows nicely, the only problem I have with it is how easily it started to pill once I wore it a few times. The jacket is from Francesca’s, it is a lovely teal color that goes with almost everything I own currently, and I like it because it’s a bit of a heavier material as well which means I can wear it in the fall, spring and summer without another jacket on top. The hood is a super cute touch too. I got my boots for $20 from a store in South Carolina when I was visiting my parents, and I’m not too sure what the brand name is, but they’ve lasted me up until now since last winter, so I’m pretty pleased!

My name is Alexa and I love food.

My name is Alexa and I love food.

Hip City Veg was certainly the highlight of the day. Not only were Jenny and I starving by the time we got there, but the food was DELICIOUS. I can honestly tell you that I don’t remember exactly what I ate, I know it was some sort of amazing veggie burger Hip City Ranch Burger, sweet potato fries that Jen and I split, and a refreshing green lemon-aid. I just remember everything being perfect and wishing that my stomach wasn’t full so I could eat more, because I’m classy like that. 10 out of 10, will visit again. 


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This weekend I went to visit my grandparents in rural Pennsylvania. They are located in Roaring Spring, PA. If it sounds familiar that might mean you bought a Roaring Spring Notebook. The town is less than a square mile, and most people living there work for the local paper mill, or the surrounding farms. The “biggest” town near it is Altoona, which is pretty much unknown to people outside Pennsylvania.

On Friday my husband and I drove 4 hours in the middle of Pennsylvania, driving through and up mountains. When we hit Roaring Spring, we passed by street signs pointing to the football field. We joked how it was like Friday Night Lights. Once we got to my Nanna and Pappy’s house, we found out that football is no joke in this town. There were signs everywhere for the big game. The field is near their house, so we watched lots of people park on the street and walk to the field. My Nanna even let a friend park on their lawn for a good parking spot.

Football and cheerleader wasn’t anything big at my school. To me it was an outdated stereotype in movies and shows, like the nerd with bottle-thick glasses and the pocket protector. This was the first sign that I have been living in an urban bubble.

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It made me wonder, can small towns go vegan? It seems obvious to say yes, an individual can order stranger items online, and the internet can help them learn different things. And that is great. Isn’t that what all vegan bloggers do? Try and connect to everyone?

But it became apparent there are lots of reasons why people in Roaring Spring, or any small rural town, wouldn’t go vegan. One being community. Right before leaving, my vegan friend who grew up in Altoona wished me luck. She knew how frustrating it is to try and get her family to make something vegan. Luckily, my mother always cooks when visiting my Nanna, as she likes to try our cooking. What my family cooks were far from normal for the area. Most foods are bland, and meat based. 

I point this out since we made two chilis for one dinner. One was with ground pork, the other was based off of Oh She Glow’s My Favorite Vegan Chili. My grandparents both seemed perplexed by the idea of a vegetarian chili. My Pappy ate two bowlfuls, despite everyone thinking he wouldn’t touch it. I wouldn’t of thought this would be such a novel idea since chili competitions have a “vegetarian” category.

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Last week I thought it would be a good idea to take the train into Philadelphia. I live close to the Patco (or speedline for any South Jersey/Philadelphia readers) so going into Philadelphia only takes 15 minutes. Once I paid for my ticket, went through the gates, I overheard that the trains were delayed. Someone was hit by a train at 8th and Market, and trains were delayed. I was then “blessed” with hearing 40-somethings bitch and moan about “these things don’t happen in other cities.” I even heard (this was my favorite) that “we were all pawns in someone else’s big vendetta.”

And for the record, people being hit by trains is a much more common than what people might think. I am constantly hearing about this from my Mother-In-Law who has a very lengthy 3-hour commute (each way) into New York City. There have been some nights she unable to come home because someone jumped in front a train and delayed trains during rush hour. It was a little insulting hearing some passengers compare delays due to rail-wor to delays due to suicide. 

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But moving on. My train was delayed and I was starving by the time I went into the city. I had plans to stop in the city and grab something from HipCityVeg. There are lots of rave reviews and online hype for the mini-chain. Truthfully, when my friend first told me about it, I remember being frustrated that nothing on the menu clarified what was vegan or vegetarian. It was so hard for me to believe that there would be an all vegan restaurant at the time.

Man things have changed. I remember not believing people that there was an all vegan pizzeria when I was living in Philadelphia. I also didn’t think I could ever get my husband to go to it. Now he told me he is going to have a hard time choosing between Blackbird Pizzeria or HipCityVeg when going into Philadelphia. Little does he know about the many other vegan venues we have yet to go to!

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By the time I made it to HipCityVeg (the Center City location) I was so hungry I couldn’t wait for my food. So I grabbed their seasonal shake, Apple Pie flavored. It tasted a little too “appley” in an artificial way, but I was so hungry it tasted awesome anyways. I also grabbed their Udon Noodle Salad. I wasn’t really reading the item so I was surprised by the faux chicken bits on top. I have to say, they were VERY chicken-y. Actually more chicken-like than some of the cheap chicken that is available.

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 My birthday and 1st Anniversary happened last weekend and Jon and I celebrated by hiking. Our honeymoon we were planning on a lot of hikes, but it rained so much we really didn’t get a chance. It made sense to walk up a mountain a year later to make up for it. Sadly there aren’t too many mountains in South Jersey. We had to drive up two hours to climb Mount Minsi in Pennsylvania.

I first heard of the trail from a list of best hikes in New Jersey. Although the mountain in Pennsylvania, it is only a 3-5 minute drive to trail once you cross the border. When you reach the top you get a beautiful view of New Jersey. Yeah that lump in the photo on top- it’s New Jersey.

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