Thursday, October 22, 2015

Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Edenton, NC

Tuna Tartar at an Edenton, NC Restaurant


In the Edenton, NC region, finding vegan and vegetarian-friendly dining can feel challenging. With our list of the top locations in the region, you can easily find one that fits your taste preferences.




The Table at Inner Banks is highly acclaimed for its creative menu, seasonal produce and commitment to accommodating special diets. Besides offer vegan and vegetarian-approved entrees, it also offers gluten-free dishes that are sure to please. 





The Pineapple Cafe is just a short drive from Edenton, NC. This quirky restaurant offers something for everyone. From freshly grilled burgers to fully loaded quesadillas, it is the perfect lunch destination. The Pineapple Cafe boasts an exciting vegetarian menu with items such as burgers, salads and wraps. It also maintains a bakery section where you can find delectable treats such as cookies and cupcakes. 





The Mellow Mushroom is an eccentric restaurant famous for its large selection of gluten-free pizza and specialty beers. It has a generous amount of vegetarian and vegan entrees available on a separate menu. Its options include pizza, pasta, hoagies and more. Appetizers such as pretzels and hummus with pita chips are also available. 





The Urban Kitchen is located in Corolla, NC and is just a short drive from the Edenton area. Known for its large selection of locally caught seafood, it also caters to vegan and vegetarian diets. With a separate menu available for vegans and vegetarians, it offers unique entrees that utilize locally grown seasonal produce. Urban Kitchen also invites custom orders and its chefs work hard to accommodate all of its guests. 





Cinnamon419 offers a full vegetarian menu with plenty of variety. This charming restaurant specializes in traditional Indian food. With spicy curries, soups and appetizers, it is a must for fans of robust entrees. Once you finish your meal, be sure to check out its handcrafted dessert menu! Full of unique, Indian options in addition to classics such as cheesecake, it offers something for everyone. 




The Edenton, NC region is chock-full of dining establishments that offer impressive vegan and vegetarian entrees. Discover something new with a little help from our list of local hot spots! 

About the Author: Jim is a guest contributor from Inner Banks Inn, a beautiful Edenton, NC bed and breakfast.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Top Spots for Vegetarian and Vegan Meals in Greenwich, Connecticut


There are several restaurants featuring vegetarian and vegan meals in Greenwich, Connecticut. If you're interested in trying this cuisine out, some places to check out include:

Thursday, September 10, 2015

The Best Berkshires Restaurants to Visit


The Berkshires are just one of Massachusetts' many diverse vacation spots, and likewise boasts a great selection of restaurants to choose from that are both distinctly cultural and versatile enough to suit everyone's palette. Whether it's a classic pub, family pizza joint or a 5-star French dinner in a château, the Berkshires has something for you.

Below you'll find the top 5 restaurants, chosen across a broad range of cuisine, as well as a short description and link to the establishment for more information. Meals have long-since held a powerful place in the memories of families, and the ones you eat on vacation are no exception. Treat yourself and make each bite count the next time you find yourself in the Barkshires. Bon appetit! 

5. House Pub


Some classic American dining set in the '6 House Pub's old barn makes this spot a great choice for a low-key dinner with friends. Wood panelling and upholstered furniture, a fire pit, outdoor terrace and a kid's menu are some of the features that have given the '6 House Pub it's great reputation among patrons near and far alike.
More Information.

4. Church Street Café


Open Monday through Friday from 5 pm to 9:30 pm, the Church Street Café offers a creative, chic backdrop to your lunch or dinner. The lunch and dinner menus feature creative options such as housemade beef terrene and procini linguini. Church Street has been in operation since 1981 and prides itself on its history, packing meaning into nearly all of its decor such as the hardwood floors that were made from reclaimed shipping materials originally used to carry railroad tracks to the Pacific Northwest.

Dine in style and classic MA culture.

3. Mezze Bistro and Bar


Mezze specializes in farm-to-table food and uses their menu to showcase the hard work of local independent farmers and the seasonal selections of Massachusetts crops. The contemporary American cuisine is complimented by an elegant farmhouse setting, situated on lush green lawns and boasting warm hardwood floors and cool blue walls.  More Information.

2. Blantyre


The Blantyre is a luxury château that offers both rooms and a restaurant. The estate has rested upon 220 acres for centuries, and the rooms still bear the Victorian style decor, most of it imported from England. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner and hosts Sunday afternoon tea. Most evenings, diners are gifted to the musical styling of the estate's pianist. Testing menus range from $125 to $300 per person, so the Blantyre is most definitely a formal affair. For an unforgettable night filled with wonderful music that makes you feel like royalty, it may just be worth the money.

More Information.

1. PUBLIC


PUBLIC has a down-home, urban falre and savory American menu that make it a solid choice for any diner. Entrees such as the buffalo chicken flatbread and the California use fresh ingredients and can also be made with a gluten-free bun or grass-fed beef.

The atmosphere is hip and casual, with brick walls, wood furniture and a bar situated in the center of it all. If you're after a laid back dining experience but still want a place you can bring the kids, PUBLIC has you covered. 
More Information.


About the Author: Cindy is a guest contributor from Staveleigh House, a Berkshires bed and breakfast.

The Best Falls Wines to Try This Season


Autumn is the best time of year for wines. The holidays are right around the corner, and nothing goes with those early holiday feasts like a satisfying wine. And for once, we're going to keep these all under the US $30 budget, just so everyone can enjoy this list.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

The Top Five Best Restaurants in Napa Valley

cindys


When visiting Napa Valley there are a number of delicious restaurants to choose from, satisfying even the pickiest of eaters. Here are some of the best restaurants you can dine at while visiting the city of wine!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Wedding Bars



As a young adult, I always jump for joy when I knew a wedding was going to have an open bar. And I’m not talking about an alcoholic bar, which don’t get me wrong, is great, but I am a big fan of the food bars that many of my friends have done. They are best done as a post-dinner snack to make sure wedding guests don’t get too much alcohol in their system and are great if you’ve been dancing your ass off all night. Here are a few of my favorite wedding food bar ideas:
  

Potato Bar


Baked potatoes, tater tots, and fries would all fall under this category. For the baked potatoes, you can have all of the fixings, such as sour cream, butter, bacon, scallions, cheese, bacon and so much more! Dipping sauce is about all you need for tater tots and fries to make your guests happy. Either way, it is delicious and when you’ve been dance so much, you deserve to indulge in some extra calories, outside of the cake, of course.

Breakfast Bar

First of all, who doesn’t love bacon? Second, this is a perfect late night snack idea. Throw in some eggs and maybe some French toast sticks and you will have a lot of satisfied guests. Unfortunately, a breakfast bar might be on the higher end in cost. A very similar idea is a waffle bar, which probably costs a little bit less. Give guests a variety of toppings such as fruit, peanut butter, Nutella, whipped cream, and of course syrup. 

Appetizers Bar

Any finger food appetizer is fair game for this bar. The key to that is finger food because people won’t want to sit down and eat something if there is still a party going on out on the dance floor. Quick appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, breadsticks or pretzel sticks, potato skins, or even wings — which could also be great as their own bar.

Dip Bar

Have everyone in your family name their favorite dip and put it on a table. Crowd pleasers would likely include spinach and artichoke dip, queso, hummus, guacamole, and salsa. Be sure to include tortilla chips, pita bread, or even veggies for dipping. 

Popcorn Bar
 
Easy and yummy! This is probably a favorite among the guests due to how easy it is. If you put the popcorn in disposable bowls, guests can grab one and walk away from the table. This will help prevent a ridiculously long line too. 

This post provided by The Perfect Card Box, creators of beautiful wedding card boxes.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Classic Bars Near the Berkshires of Massachusetts

Each city throughout the United States is known for something, usually a type of attraction, the nightlife or its wonderful food. The Berkshires of Massachusetts are known for a lot of things, like horseback riding, farmers' markets, museums, and festivals. Additionally, the Berkshires are sprinkled with unique bars and taverns.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Dining Destinations in Maine

Seafood, bars, and classic grills.
That's exactly what the state of Maine is known for. From fancy dining to rustic seaside bar and grill atmospheres, Maine has some of the best eateries around. With a high volume of lobster and clams, Maine's seafood cuisine tops seafood restaurants along the coast. In fact, Maine is so well known for its seafood, that shoppers and restaurant-goers can now track when and where their fish was caught off the coast of Maine. From the sea to the plate, Maine's cuisine is like no other.

Here are some of the best restaurants to visit while in Maine to experience this kind of unique dishes in a completely exclusive environment.

40Paper - An Italian Bistro and Bar
This Maine restaurant dubs itself both a traditional bistro and modern bar. With hand-made pasta and European influences, 40Paper provides an elegant yet fresh experience with Italian-style dishes. This restaurant teams up with farmers and and local growers to supply quality ingredients. 40Paper relies on a healthy, relaxing dining experience for its guests.

The dinner menu includes items ranging from pasta and pizza to steak and ribs.

Long Lake Sporting Club - A Restaurant and Lounge
This is a family-owned restaurant of 35 years and strives for an excellent dining experience for its guests. Like any great sports bar and grill, Long Lake Sporting Club serves steak, ribs, clams, shrimp, jump lobster and much more for the seafood-enthusiast.

Pai Men Miyake - A Japanese Restaurant
This restaurant in Portland focuses on ramen with broths with pork, chicken, and vegetables. This is a much more casual dining option in Maine but with great food nonetheless. With classic Asian dishes ranging from shrimp gyoza to sashimi, this eatery is suitable for the cultured-eater.

Walter's - A Classic Portland Restaurant
If you can't decide a style of food to eat, this restaurant has unique dishes from land to sea. Inspired to cook Asian, Mediterranean and Caribbean dishes, the chef and owner strives to use fresh and global ingredients for his seasonal menus. The dining experience has a classic, elegant mood, perfect for Portland.

Some of the key dinner menu items are Forbidden Shrimp, duck, and Brick Chicken.

About the Author: Kelly is a guest contributor of Hartstone Inn and Dockside Guest Quarters, relaxing bed and breakfast destinations in Maine.

Monday, January 26, 2015

"SuperFoods" That Aid in Weight Loss

According to Health.com there are some foods that have been labeled as "Superfoods" or foods that are naturally high in nutrition. These superfoods  can aid in building bones, preventing chronic diseases, improving eyesight, improving your mind, and most interestingly keeping you slim.

Black Beans

Black beans are a great alternative for vegetarians and carnivores alike. A cup of black beans contains 15 grams of protein, but doesn't contain the saturated fat found in other protein sources, like red meat.

Oats

In terms of fiber, oats really are super! Just a half cup of oats has 4.6 grams of resistant starch, a healthy carb that works to boost metabolism and burns fat. 

Avocados

Avocados are known for being fatty, but the right kind of fatty that benefits your body rather than hurts it. Rich in oleic acid, avocados may trigger your body to actually quiet hunger and also contain large amounts of fiber and protein. 

Salmon

Salmon is a great example of a lean source of protein that helps you feel full, but doesn't add fat to your body. Salmon is rich in MUFAs with have been proven to increase weight loss.

Blueberries 

Blueberries are a great snack or treat, with one cup only equaling 80 calories. Blueberries also help you feel full with 4 grams of fiber. 

Broccoli

Broccoli is known for it's cancer preventing properties, but is also very full of fiber and is less than 30 calories. 

Brown Rice

Brown rice a healthier, more fiber packed alternative to its counterpart, white rice. A half cup serving contains 1.7 grams of resistant starch, that boosts metabolism and burns fat. Brown rice is also low in calories but is heavy to make you feel full. 

Pears

Pears are full of fiber, just one pear equals 15% of your daily recommended amount of fiber. However, avoid peeling your pears because the skin is where all the fiber is located! 

Wine

Consumed in moderate amounts, wine has actually proven to increase weight loss. Resveratrol, the antioxidant found in grape skin stops fat storage. Studies have shown that wine drinkers have narrower waists than liquor drinkers and that downing a glass can boost your calorie burn for 90 minutes.

Grapefruit

Studies have shown that eating half a grapefruit before each meal has helped people lose up to a a pound a week. A compound in the fruit can lower insulin, a fat-storage hormone, leading to weight loss. It is a good source of protein and is good at filling you up while being 90% made up of water. 

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans offer protein and fiber, more than 5 grams per serving and are also very rich resistant starch!

About the Author: Susan is a guest contributor from The Center for Optimal Health, a center for integrating healthy life style habits with the best of conventional and alternative medicine.