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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

D.C./Virginia Eats | Vegetarian and Pescatarian Options

 

After more than a year of not seeing my best friend Charlsy, I visited her in Alexandria, Va., for a short girls weekend with lots of D.C. and Virginia eats and catching up. I try to frequent only local eateries when I travel and we did plenty of that! Today I’m sharing my favorite D.C. and Alexandria area restaurants and what I ordered at each. Most of these restaurants are vegetarian friendly!

Duck Donuts, Alexandria

Duck Donuts was my favorite local discovery. It’s a doughnut place where you can order custom doughnuts! You pick which frosting, topping and drizzle you’d like and you get it just minutes later hot out of the oven/doughnut maker. I immediately daydreamed about opening up my own franchise! haha We liked our doughnuts so much that we came back every day of my trip and I brought one back to Chicago for Graham. (Shoutout to the TSA for not making me throw it out or eat it right there in line!) You could buy single doughnuts, a couple, or get a half or full dozen.

We chose chocolate frosting and sprinkles and vanilla frosting and coconut flakes on our second visit to Duck Donuts.

Jinya Ramen Bar, Fairfax

I was in the mood for ramen and my friend recommended a perfect place in Fairfax, Va. Jinya Ramen Bar lets you order just about any type of ramen you could crave. I went with the spicy vegan ramen and wasn’t disappointed. I only wish I would have skipped the spinach, which becomes a bit too mushy for my taste. The broth was creamy, spicy and delicious! You can also order a noodle refill for $2! This particular ramen comes with thick noodles but you can order some with thin noodles as well. In addition to ramen you can order small plates, rice bowls, salads and appetizers.

The Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen from Jinya Ramen Bar was a filling lunch.

Busboys and Poets, Arlington

I also really enjoyed Busboys and Poets, where we went for dinner one night. (They have various locations; we visited the Shirlington restaurant.) You can find plenty of vegan and vegetarian options here, but I was craving a crab cake sandwich with spicy mayo instead of the tartar sauce it normally comes with. It also is served with fries, but I was content with my sandwich. I also enjoyed the hummus and pita appetizer we shared. I highly recommend this restaurant! It’s more than just an eatery; various events are also held here. According to its website, “Busboys and Poets is a community gathering place. First established in 2005, Busboys and Poets was created by owner Anas ‘Andy’ Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist, activist and restaurateur.” My friend mentioned that campaign events are sometimes held here.

I asked for spicy mayo instead of tartar sauce for my crab cake sandwich at Busboys and Poets.

 

Epic Smokehouse, Arlington

Epic Smokehouse, as the name implies, is all about the meats and was probably the least vegetarian-friendly restaurant we visited, but they adjusted a popular dish for me and it was mouthwatering! I ordered the Mr. H, which typically has two fried corn tortillas with chorizo sausage, scrambled eggs and home fries topped with creamy cheese sauce and fire roasted EPIC sauce. I obviously ordered mine without the chorizo sausage and I added avocado. So good! They also have bottomless mimosas for brunch, in case you’re not pregnant like me and can partake! The restaurant has a Kentucky vibe and would be the perfect place to order a bourbon with your meal.

The Mr. H. was adjusted to take out the sausage and add avocado. It comes with potatoes.

 

What have been you favorite recent local eats? Share them with me in the comments!

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Chicago Eats

 

 

Chicago Eats: Oyster Bah, The Hampton Social and Firecakes Donuts

It’s been too long since I shared some of the delicious meals I’ve had lately in Chicago. My friend’s visit for the Lady Gaga concert at Wrigley Field gave me the opportunity to try a couple of new (to me) places, and I recently met up with Jessie (of Just Jessie blog) to catch up at another great place.

Oyster Bah, Lincoln Park

I was drawn to Oyster Bah by an Instagram photo. Yep. While the restaurant is known for oysters, hence the name, I chose the Maryland crab cake sandwich (blue crab, romaine, roma tomato, avocado, old bay mayonnaise) with one tweak: I asked for chipotle mayo instead of the old bay mayonnaise. (It came with fries.) Amazing! I ate every single bite. I was completely satisfied and I have craved it several times since then. We sipped Rosé with our entrees.

 

The Hampton Social, River North

Hampton Social is one of the most Instagrammed restaurants in Chicago. The Hamptons/East Coast-themed restaurant is adorable, often known for its “Rosé all day” sign in one of the dining rooms. It featured a live band that was actually pretty decent when we visited for an afternoon brunch recently. While the restaurant was packed, it was easy to get a reservation for the same day (for two people). We, of course, tried the Frosé, which had a peachy flavor. Peach isn’t my favorite so I thought it was just OK. I drank it all, though! My friend enjoyed the mojito as well, while I also had a mimosa. For my entree I almost picked the lobster roll, but for some reason the fish tacos were calling my name (again that weekend). I went with the beer batter fish vs. the grilled, and they had chipotle mayo. Can you see a pattern here? I will order anything with chipotle mayo/aioli on it. The fish tacos don’t come with a side, but I found them to be filling on their own.

 

 

 

 

 

Firecakes Donuts, River North

We stumbled across Firecakes while walking to brunch, so we picked up a couple of doughnuts to try as appetizers. haha Firecakes is home to the giant birthday cake doughnut that I’m dying to purchase for someone’s birthday. I tried the peanut butter cup doughnut, which I loved, and my friend chose another (that I can’t remember now). I really want to go back and try more!

 

 

 

What awesome restaurants have you tried recently? Have you been to any of these?

 

Chicago Eats: Midnight Mac and Cheeserie, XO Marshmallow and Hutch

It’s been a minute since I’ve shared some of the meals I’ve had recently in Chicago. I like to write these posts regularly for those of you who appreciate a good meal as much as I do. Whether you live in Chicago or you plan to visit, you might consider browsing these posts to see if you want to add any of these restaurants to your Chicago dining list.

Midnight Mac and Cheeserie, Rogers Park

This restaurant took the place of Growling Rabbit, one of my favorite places for a vegan breakfast in my neighborhood. (I’m not vegan but I like to eat like one sometimes.) By the way, Growling Rabbit has the best Chai in the area that I’ve tried. Anyway, Midnight Mac and Cheeserie caught my eye because they offer so many varieties of mac and cheese, and you can build your own, too. The portions are quite large for one person, even with a small. I liked the veggie option, and the lobster was delicious, though they both become too much after a while. After so many bites I just couldn’t keep going. Bring a large appetite! As the name implies, the restaurant stays open late. When it first opened they kept having to close early because they ran out of food, but I believe they make it to midnight or later now. At first you could only order the food (like I did), but now you can dine in as well.

XO Marshmallow, Rogers Park

XO is also a new business in my neighborhood, and it’s located right next door to Midnight Mac and Cheeserie. (It’s owned by someone in the same family, too.) It basically sells marshmallow desserts, such as gourmet marshmallows in a bunch of flavors. We tried a chocolate one, as well as a classic s’more. I also order the Chai-cago, an iced Chai with marshmallow whipped cream. My total was about $14 for the three. You can also get s’more tacos and doughnut s’mores and enjoy them in the cute, pink-themed cafe. It’s quite small, with only two tables and some other seating, but it’s adorable. Besides that you can shop for mugs, T-shirts, marshmallows (including champagne!) and other goods. The s’mores were just what you’d expect in a s’more. My only suggestion would be to not serve them in plastic containers if you are eating them in the cafe. I’ve only visited once so far and I plan to return to try the other desserts.

 

 

Hutch, Lakeview

It’s been a while since I dined here with Jessie, but I liked the fish tacos ($12.99) and that they came with black beans. The sriracha aioli was delicious. I also added avocado to mine, obviously. The restaurant was nearly empty when we went, and I wondered why. The decor was so quaint; it has multiple hutch pieces, given the name.

 

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Date Night Idea: Murder Mystery Dinner Show

** The Murder Mystery Co. provided complimentary tickets for this post. All opinions are my own.
Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Chicago

Graham and don’t get to go on date nights often enough, so when The Murder Mystery Co. reached out to invite us to a dinner show, I was so excited! We had originally planned to attend a show in June, but our babysitter decided to not show up and not tell us. That’s another story, though. This time we had reliable child care so we our minds were at ease on our way to the “Till Death Do Us Part” show at Salvatore’s Ristorante in Chicago.

While parking is available via valet at the restaurant, we decided to instead use my trusted SpotHero app for parking nearby. It was an easy walk to the restaurant and we made it with plenty of time. The doors for the 7 p.m. show open 30 minutes before for VIP members and 20 minutes before for general admission.

Cast member Anita Goodman greeted us when we arrived, and I immediately suspected she would be the killer. I then proceeded to think each other person was also the killer. … When you walk into the restaurant, you are offered photos and props to use. Then you can grab a drink at the bar before heading upstairs to check in. I tried one of the $7 drink specials after taking a couple of photos.

We had VIP seats at a table near the front, and we were seated with eight other people. (VIP seats also included the photos we had taken when we arrived.) Soon after being seated by the bride of the show, Summer, we discovered that Graham would be a suspect named Skip Showers. He was hoping not to be in the limelight, but he was a great sport about the whole thing. His character was hilarious and we all had many laughs about it.

Dinner started with bread and salad before the pastas and chicken were served. Vegetarians can have the penne with marinara, while meat eaters can eat the sausage rigatoni or the chicken. It’s served in one large dish each, which means you have to pass the dishes around. It’s a bit tricky and the plates are warm, but that’s not a big deal. Don’t expect life-changing dishes, but I liked the vegetarian pasta. Ice cream was served for dessert.

The show revolves around a death at a wedding, and the entire audience must participate to make it a successful evening. If you are introvert like I am, you might have to come out of your shell a bit, as you need to ask questions of others throughout the night. A drink helped! Each table has a sheet to jot down clues, as well as faux money that you use to bride others for information. Since Graham was a suspect, he was bribed by other tables for clues, which were listed in a binder at our table. The suspects from each table were also called up in front of everyone for interrogation by the detective, all of which helped us get closer to figuring out who did it.

At the end of the show, each table has time to submit their pick for the murderer, and the correct and most specific answer wins! Certificates are handed out for best costume, best actor and best actress as well. (By the way, before the show you receive an email with suggestions on theme-appropriate attire for inspiration.) Many people went all out with their costumes, which made it more fun. I SO wished I had planned an outfit ahead of time.

Overall, I had a fantastic time! I feel like this is the type of activity during which your attitude determines your enjoyment level. Just go with it! I laughed more than I have in a while. I could see us doing this again with a group of friends, especially for a birthday. (Next time I’d like to see the other show, “Of Sound Mind and Dead Body.”)

The actors were entertaining and the crowd on Friday night was super enthusiastic. It made for a great experience.

FYI: Shows are available in Arizona, California, Colorado, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

 

One of our keepsake photos from the murder mystery show.

Have you ever been to a murder mystery dinner show? What did you think?

Chicago Eats: The Dawson and Tuco & Blondie

Brunch is my middle name. Among my talents is an ability to pick great brunch places. It’s a gift! I recently tried two Chicago eateries I hadn’t visited yet: The Dawson and Tuco & Blondie. I loved both for different reasons.

The Dawson, West Town

I caught up with friends recently at the Dawson on the most gorgeous 65-degree day. We sipped on Bellinis ($11) as we waited for a table on the patio, which has a fireplace and plenty of seating areas. I basked in the sunshine while trying out the smoked salmon ($16), a large, beautiful platter. It was the best breakfast I’ve had in a while. The restaurant would be a great place to hold private events!

Tuco & Blondie, Lakeview

I came across this Mexican food restaurant while perusing the #InfatuationChi tag on Instagram. The food, drinks and decor looked amazing, so I suggested it to Jessie, who is quickly becoming a favorite brunch companion. I ordered the chilaquiles ($12) minus the chicken. It’s two overeasy eggs over tortillas in red sauce and avocado, corn, tomato. It’s also topped with sour cream. I paired that with black beans and rice. The rice wasn’t the best I’ve had, but I loved the beans. I also enjoyed the red sauce, though I wish I would have ordered the eggs overhard (just my preference). I also had a classic margarita because when in Rome … I also loved the decor. The walls next to the bar displayed framed cactus prints and a cactus adorned with holiday lights stood a few feet away from our table. We couldn’t resist a photo with the mural outside, either.


What restaurants have you been loving lately? 

Related Chicago Eats posts:

A Few Hours in Savannah, Georgia

I recently had a chance to either have lunch in Atlanta or Savannah during a road trip, and I jumped at the chance to see the latter, even if only for a little while. I knew we didn’t have much time, so I wanted to explore whatever we could.

We headed toward what seemed to be a cluster of restaurants listed on Yelp. That took us to East Bay Street. We parked next to Emmet Park for $4 and then walked toward the uneven, historic steps of River Street, which lies alongside the Savannah River. I instantly fell in love with the Spanish moss and cobblestone streets.

 

 

 

 

After checking out a few of the souvenir shops and being jealous of the people embarking on the history-tour buses, we stumbled upon a restaurant called Huey’s. When I saw a crab cake sandwich on the menu I was sold, so we walked in.
The restaurant ended up being more New Orleans style, but I am so glad we went there. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, which came with red beans and rice. Amazing and filling! I scraped my plate clean and wanted seconds. I left room for beignets to go instead, and the server was nice enough to give them to us for free!

 

The beignets were not nearly as good as those at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, but they were still tasty.
Huey’s windows face River Street and the Savannah River, offering a view of passers-by and the water. It was a lovely restaurant for lunch and I imagine dinner is more of the same. The server was professional, friendly and attentive.
I wished I had time to explore the Historic District and many more of the restaurants I passed by in Savannah, but just a little taste made me want to return in the future.
Have you been to Savannah? What are your favorite things to do there?

Road trip footage:

Ways to Save Money for Travel

** This post contains referral links that I could receive compensation for. It helps me pay for travel!

In 2007, I decided I wanted to travel to a new place every year. I was inspired by the Dalai Lama quote you often see on Pinterest: “Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.” Back then I had student loan and credit card debt, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. I worked at a newspaper that had furloughs or layoffs every year, too. (I loved the job, though!) Despite all that, I knew I wanted to make travel a priority, even if it meant traveling to nearby cities I had never been to and saving international travel for later. That’s how this blog started. It was a way for me to see new places and experience new things. Now I am in a better financial position, but I still take many of the same small steps to save cash throughout the year for travel.

  • Using Ebates for online purchases and transferring cash-back checks to savings. I only recently started using Ebates but I’ve already accumulated $111.06. Tip: If you’re headed to a store, try shopping online first using Ebates and then pick the order up! That way you earn for purchases you would already be making. Also, I only shop online if I get free shipping.
    • Ebates Coupons and Cash Back
  • Also, booking hotel rooms and airfare with Ebates and using deals sites! Example: I recently used Priceline via Ebates when it was offering 12 percent cash back. I booked an Express Deal, which was 30 percent off on a 4-star hotel. My room was even more affordable! (You don’t know which hotel you are getting with Express Deals, but I have practiced figuring out which hotel is the secret deal.) Orbitz, Expedia, Hotwire, Travelocity and Booking.com are also on Ebates, along with many other travel sites. When booking airfare I almost always use a site on Ebates.
  • Keeping a good old-fashioned change jar and enrolling in automatic transfers to savings. It works. You’ve heard it before because you really do build up some savings. When Graham and I saved for our honeymoon, we had enough loose change to pay for our car rental for about a week, plus some gas money! If I pay with something with cash, I put all or most of the change into the jar. 
  • Sharing referral and affiliate codes and links with friends and family so that if they use a particular service you recommend, you get paid! For example, Booking.com offers a referral bonus of $20 for you and $20 for the friends you refer; I’ve used the booking site many times to find affordable lodging options. I try to reciprocate by using friends’ and fellow bloggers’ codes as well.
  • Freelance writing and editing. Do you have a side hustle? It could help you pay for travel!
  • Decluttering and selling extra items on eBay, Craigslist, Poshmark and other sites. I regularly sell books, clothes and handbags I no longer use. I use cash-back sites to sell old electronics, like laptops, cellphones and cameras. (I have used eBay and Gazelle.)
  • Participating in no-buy months for specific categories of items, such as makeup, clothing and books. Overall, things I don’t spend money on include getting nails done, shoes, books, magazines and going out to bars. Identify what you can go without. (I have only bought two or three pairs of shoes in the past year and I received my new running shoes as a gift. Also, I allow myself one or two brunches with friends a month, but during most months I don’t even go once.) I’m not saying these are bad items to spend money on, but I have found that I can go without them. I also find that good friends will let you borrow books when they are done with them. 
  • Analyzing subscriptions and cutting back on them. I had an Audible subscription until recently, when I decided to put it on hold. I plan to revive it when a certain book is released soon. Cancel memberships you’re not using!
  • Save a portion of all bonuses, raises or overtime pay for travel. Whenever I get a bonus at work I use half for bills and half for fun. 
  • Using Spothero to save on parking costs in Chicago. Paying for parking and transportation is unavoidable here, so I might as well find ways to save. I regularly get emails from Spothero with promo codes that I keep in mind when we need parking. I have found spots for $10 that are normally more than $25 in the Loop. Sometimes I take the train so that I don’t have to pay for parking at all (Train tickets are $3-6.).
Saving during travel:
  • Stay in accommodations that have kitchens so you can cook at least part of your meals.
  • Share accommodations with friends and split the cost.
  • Pack snacks and drinks in a cooler (if you’re on a road trip) and shop at grocery stores for at least some of your meals on vacation. 
  • Bring a water bottle to refill.
  • Camp at your destination! Graham and I camped on Maui and it was amazing! It saved us hundreds on lodging.
  • Bring your own snorkel or beach gear to save on rental costs.
What are some of your tricks for saving money for travel or fun?

Stay at the Islander Resort | Islamorada, Florida Keys

When searching for an affordable, beachfront hotel option in the upper Florida Keys, I came across the Guy Harvey Outpost Islander Resort. The photos caught my eye, and the resort had decent reviews on Booking.com. I booked a three-night stay for us to explore the Keys during our recent trip.

When we drove up to the resort, an outdated sign greeted us. I didn’t remember seeing that in any of the photos, and the rest of the resort was in better condition. The lobby was decorated nicely and the front desk agent was super friendly and energetic. She informed me that we were in a poolside suite, which according to her is the best option. 
We drove up to our unit and opened our door with a good old-fashioned key (no hotel key card). Our room had a full kitchen, something I appreciate because it helps save cash by allowing us to cook some meals. There’s also a screened patio area and lounge chairs outside.

We typically request rooms with two beds so we don’t have to share with our toddler. The room contains a large closet and drawers with plenty of room. (That’s where I found the safe, which wouldn’t open. I didn’t bother asking the front desk for help.) As I found out during our stay, the poolside location is nice, but it does get a bit noisy sometimes during the day. It was convenient when we wanted to go to the pool, restaurant or beach, though.

Have a seat and admire the view from the pier. 

The A/C in the unit was also a bit loud at times, but it wasn’t an issue. We weren’t in the room that much anyway and we only needed it one day.

The laundry came in handy. I was able to do laundry one day for $1.50 per wash and $1.50 to dry. There is no detergent vending machine, though. I bought a $1 bottle of detergent at a nearby dollar store. 
I enjoyed both restaurants at the resort, especially breakfast at Bonefish Flats. The service was great at the latter. (See my previous post for more details on the food and prices.)
Was Islander Resort the fanciest option? No. But it was comfortable and not too expensive. The amenities were nice (You can rent kayaks and other gear at the beach!) and the location was convenient for us. Nearby we found many parks, the scuba diving museum and lots of shops and restaurants. It was about 40 minutes from the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and about an hour and a half from Key West. I would stay here again.

Have you visited the Florida Keys?

Pescatarian Diet on Florida Vacation

When you don’t eat meat, it can be tricky to find foods to eat on vacation. I do eat fish, so that expands my options. The tricky thing is being somewhere like at an amusement park where you are unfamiliar with the food selection. I did the best I could when choosing food options. Are you pescatarian? Here are ideas on what you can expect to find at various Florida locations:

Orlando:

  • Ceasar Salad ($9.99): What you would expect from a salad. I was able to share this with V and we were both satisfied.
  • Veggie burger and fries (about $10): The worst veggie burger I’ve ever had. Fries were good.
  • Veggie omelet and small orange juice ($13.08): Decent, filling. Shared the omelet with my daughter, who seemed to like it.
Magic Kingdom
  • Zucchini burrito with beans and rice ($10.49): Delicious and filling. Could have used some salsa.
  • Mac and cheese ($8.19): Large, creamy portion. We could have shared one bowl instead of buying two.
Animal Kingdom
  • Hummus with veggies and falafel ($11 total): The falafel was great. Hummus was just OK. The portion was a lot more than necessary for amount of veggies and pita you get. Great veggie option.

  • Mickey Mouse pretzel with cheese sauce (about $6?): What you would expect from a pretzel. A filling snack while walking around the park.

Islamorada, Florida Keys

  • Ceviche (I think $15): Yum! Not as great as my mother’s but decent.
  • Veggie enchiladas ($9.99): I ate every bite of the green-sauce enchiladas. Delicious, filling.
  • Fried ice cream ($4.75): Just OK. Not as crunchy or flavorful as I would have liked.

  • Crab cakes ($8): Yummy. Would order again.
  • Lobster tacos (about $14): Just OK. They were filling and I liked the avocado. 

  • Large Greek salad ($11) and baked potato (about $2.50): Basic, not that impressive, but filling. Lots of feta. I wasn’t really in the mood for anything else. The views from the oceanfront restaurant are serene.
  • Breakfast bullet ($13): I made myself a bagel with cream cheese and salmon, onion and capers. I also had eggs with spinach and feta and breakfast potatoes. I loved it all.

Chicago Eats: Green Zebra, Twisted Tapas, Mercadito

In my third installment of What I’ve Been Eating, I am sharing what I ate at three Chicago restaurants: Green Zebra in West Town, Twisted Tapas in Rogers Park and Mercadito in River North. My favorite of the three is Mercadito,  Mexican food restaurant.

Green Zebra, West Town

Green Zebra is a vegetarian, tapas-style restaurant. I loved every dish that we chose, and my friends and I sampled almost every dish on the seasonal menu Our favorites were housemade gnocchi, the buckwheat pasta and the corn cake. All three were absolutely incredible. I wished the corn and potatoes had more flavor. We also had an artisan cheese plate (I only liked one of the cheeses) and squash blossoms (good).

For three people and a baby the bill was around $140 with drinks.

Buckwheat pasta

Corn and potatoes
Squash blossoms

Twisted Tapas, Rogers Park

Graham and I went to Twisted Tapas for date night recently when we wanted to branch out from our usual sushi place. We had bruschetta, crab cakes, fish tacos, and spicy potatoes with aioli sauce. I liked the crab cakes and spicy potatoes the most. The bruschetta was nothing special and the fish taco was OK.

Spicy potatoes

Bruschetta

We didn’t order a lot and drank water so the bill was about $36.

Mercadito, River North

I met Jessie (from Just Jessie blog) at Mercadito for tacos one night and I could not believe how good they were. I mean really good. I had the espada tacos (blackened swordfish with spicy aioli and cabbage-jalapeño slaw) and my mouth is watering just thinking about them now. I paired that with a watermelon margarita (Mi Amiga Sandia on the menu) that I also could use at this moment. I want to go back!

Espada tacos

Mi Amiga Sandia margarita

We also ordered a trio of salsas with chips. The bill was about $40 each.


What great restaurants have you been to lately?


Previous restaurant posts:



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