SoCal Road Trip Part 2: Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Today, I’m sharing the part 2 recap of our SoCal road trip. In case you missed it, my first blog post covered our stay in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree where Mario and I got engaged! The day before we left the desert, Mario and I decided to extend our stay in Los Angeles. We were initially planning on only staying for 1 day and then driving back home to San Francisco, but afterwards decided we wanted more time in SoCal. I was a bit hesitant at first because I had some deadlines for work, but once Mario proposed, extending our vacation just felt right. 

We have traveled to Los Angeles together a few times and the last time we were in the area, we decided that we wanted to stay in Santa Monica. Last minute, we found an AirBnb in the area and absolutely fell in love with the location. We got super lucky with the spot that we rented because they were pet friendly and we unexpectedly had the entire place to ourselves! It was a 2-story townhouse, with 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 small outdoor patios, a large living room, and a parking garage. One downfall was that we had some issues with the garage door opener, but luckily it was resolved the day after we checked-in when they brought us a new remote. Contrary to our stay in Yucca Valley, the bed was much more comfortable at this location which we were so grateful for because we were exhausted after not sleeping well during the first part of our trip. The apartment was super close to several supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, pet stores, and the Venice area which was convenient for all of our needs.

The second part of our trip was much more low-key than the first. We caught up on rest, ate A LOT of delicious vegan food, and spent some time with close friends. The day before we left, we finally gained enough energy to vlog. We planned on going for a hike to an epic view of the Hollywood sign. It is actually quite difficult to get to a good view of the sign because it is accessible through a residential area with a lot of confusing directions. Mario planned in advance by looking up some videos on YouTube for insider tips and he even wrote a map by hand. However, once we got there, the entire area was closed to pedestrians. Our vlog was not going as planned, but we weren’t going to let that stop us from making the most of it! So instead, we went to a park down the hill to play fetch with Roise in the grass. As we were relaxing, we took some time to share our first impressions of the engagement; along with our loved one’s reactions. Once the sun began to set, we walked back up the hill and took some pictures for Instagram. We finished up the evening by meeting up with one of Mario’s best friends for dinner. Be sure to check out part 2 of our vlog here!

Before I go, I wanted to share a list of some of my favorite meals and restaurants during this trip! One of the best parts of visiting Los Angeles is all the vegan food available. There are so many more options in LA compared to San Francisco, so we indulge every time we’re in town.

1. Thai Vegan II- Yellow Curry and Vegetable Fried Rice: We ordered pickup here the first night. On our way to pick up the order, Mario and I got locked inside the garage because the remote wasn’t working and the restaurant even called to make sure we were still coming- which from a customer service perspective I appreciated. The food was delicious, fresh, and filling. However, Mario forgot to mention that I am allergic to nuts and the top layer of the fried rice was covered in nuts. We were sharing anyway, so he ate the top layer and I ate the lower portion, but my lips did get a bit irritated. If you have an allergy, be sure to specify in advance.    

2. Locali- Badass Vegan Breakfast Sandwich: Before I had a plant based diet, I used to eat breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos all the time! It was one of my favorite meals on earth and since going plant based, I haven’t been able to find as many comparable options. When I saw that Locali had several vegan friendly breakfast sandwiches, I had to jump at the opportunity. The one I ordered was full of flavor and drenched in delicious sauce. The bread was a bit firm and may have been over toasted, but overall it was great. They even have gluten free bread options which is really nice because Mario is gluten intolerant and therefore he rarely has a chance to eat sandwiches. This joint is definitely more of a fast food style restaurant, but still super yummy and filling. 

3. Tocaya Organica- Vegan Fajita Burrito: This is one of our favorite spots in Venice! In the past, I have ordered the tacos, but this time I went for a burrito. The ingredients are so fresh and tasty! What’s cool about this restaurant is that they are not exclusively vegan for those who want to add meat or dairy to any dishes. They are also super allergy friendly and have an entire template with every ingredient on their menu easily handy.

That wraps up our SoCal Road Trip content! It was so refreshing to get out of the Bay Area and go on a road trip across the state. So grateful that we were able to make it happen and still stay safe during the pandemic. One of my biggest goals this year was to travel more and although it didn’t go the way I planned, I’m glad that the few trips we have taken have been so special. 

SoCal Road Trip Part 1: Yucca Valley & Joshua Tree + The Surprise Proposal

One of my goals earlier this year was to travel more. For a long time, traveling was not a priority for me because I didn’t feel it was attainable for various reasons. I finally had the urge and confidence to explore more entering 2020, then the pandemic happened and that quickly came to a halt. As a homebody who works from home, my day to day life didn’t change drastically initially. Overall, we’ve done our best to make the most out of our extra time at home these past several months, but Mario, Rosie, and I were also thrilled to take a roadtrip to Southern California. A change of scenery was much needed for all of us. Little did I know, our humble road trip would turn into a very special engagement trip!

Yucca Valley & Joshua Tree Recap

Our first stop was to Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree. We left around 8:30 AM and got to our destination sometime between 5:00 - 6:00 PM. It was a long drive! Truthfully, the roads on Interstate 5 were very scary for me because there were only 2 lanes for the majority of time and a lot of 18-wheeler trucks. I had so much anxiety driving and did my best, but Mario ended up driving more than me there and back. The best part of the drive was the food! We stopped at a vegan friendly Indian restaurant called Taste of India. It was absolutely delicious. We ordered channa masala, daal, a side of rice, and 1 plain naan. I also love that they customize the level of spiciness for each order- we got medium spicy for the chickpeas and lentils. I definitely recommend this spot to anyone passing through the Buttonwillow area! After a day full of driving, we were so excited to finally arrive, but we were also so exhausted! Our necks, backs, and legs were so sore. We took it very easy the first night and woke up at sunrise the next day. 

The AirBNB was 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom, and very spacious. I loved how open the common area felt and the windows made for perfect natural lighting all day with amazing views. We even had a backyard and our own parking spot! Overall, we loved the aesthetic and privacy of the AirBNB, but a downfall was that the bed was very firm and the pillows were so soft and flat! In addition to that, there were no curtains or blinds on any of the windows so the entire place lit up at sunrise each day. I am a very light sleeper so it was difficult for me to have a good night's rest. Mario, Rosie, and I pretty much woke up at sunrise each day because of how bright it was in the bedroom and the bed was not very comfortable. While we didn’t get the best sleep for the first leg of our trip, it was actually very nice to watch the sunrise each day. When we are on vacation we usually wake up early anyway because we love to make the most of each day! 

The location we stayed at was about 10-15 minutes from cafes, shops, and restaurants. We got some groceries and ate at home the majority of our stay because there weren’t a lot of vegan options nearby. My favorite meal was on our last day at a vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurant called Natural Sisters Cafe. I got a plant-based sandwich called the Avocado Veggie. I chose spinach and vegan cheese as my 2 additions and it was fresh and filling! The only ingredient I was unsure about was whether or not the chef used vegan mayo. It wasn’t listed on the ingredient list, so I was not prepared to specify in advance and didn’t want them to remake it so I ate it anyway. Something to keep in mind if you’re eating here as a vegan. I also got a yummy iced coffee and a customized fresh pressed juice for Mario. 

The Engagement Surprise 

Our second day in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree was the most productive and fun-filled. We shot several days worth of content for the vlog, Instagram, and TikTok. During sunset, we were on our final look of the day when Mario surprised me with a marriage proposal! I was not expecting it at all! The funniest part is that on the way there we were talking about kids and marriage and I mentioned to Mario that I was under the impression it wouldn’t be happening any time soon since planning and hosting a wedding during a pandemic is difficult. When in reality, he had been preparing to propose for months, haha! I will be writing a blog post dedicated to all the proposal details very soon.

Be sure to watch our new vlog sharing part 1 of our road trip on YouTube! Click here to see more of the drive, the beautiful property we stayed at, and behind the scenes of the proposal. 

In my next travel blog post, and our second YouTube vlog, we will be sharing all the details about our stay in Los Angeles. Initially, we were only planning on staying in Santa Monica for 1 night and 1 day, but ended up extending our trip last minute!

Vegan Food Guide New York City

I’m very excited to share today’s post because this is the first blog entry on my new and improved website! Creating an updated website has been my goal for a while that became a long process for various reasons, but I am so excited to be back online and writing again.

Mario and I recently returned from a 5 day trip to New York and I wanted to share a few of my favorite vegan restaurants in the Big Apple. This was my fourth time in New York, our second time as a couple, and the first time on a fully plant based diet. Out of all the times I have visited, this was by far my favorite trip and enjoying the food each day was a huge part of it.  I have curated a list of my favorite restaurants with details on what made each location special.

1. JAJAJA Mexicana | Lower East Side 

   162 E Broadway, New York, NY, 10002

   JAJAJA Mexicana was our first official meal in New York City. We ordered the Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos, Hijiki-Hearts of Palm Ceviche, Pupusas, and Dinosaur Kale Bowl. The tacos come in sets of 2 for $8.00 USD. Mario and I agreed that the tacos were our favorite out of everything we ordered. The ceviche had a seafood inspired flair because it is made with Hijiki seaweed, but not in an overwhelming way. The ceviche came with plantain chips and I loved this authentic touch. The pupusas were topped with lettuce, coconut bacon, and a creamy sauce which was a very tasty combo. However, my only complaint is that the pupusas themselves were a bit on the hard side. I was not sure if it was an “off day”, but they were our least favorite item because that made them difficult to cut and chew. We would definitely come here again and order a variety of other taco options!

2. Beyond Sushi | Union Square

229 E 14th Street, New York NY 10003

Beyond Sushi was walking distance from our Airbnb. We ordered 4 rolls: Spicy Mang, Sweet Tree, Mighty Mushroom, and La Fiesta. My favorite was Spicy Mang and Mario’s was Sweet Tree. We also had a Watermelon Mint Lemonade and a Black Bean Sweet Potato Brownie. Overall, the rolls were filling and yummy. I loved the complimentary sauces on top of each flavor combination. The Watermelon Mint drink was refreshing and the Black Bean Sweet Potato Brownie was yummy. My only warning about the brownie is that they are pre-made and I wish I knew that before we ordered it because ours was marked 10 days prior. It tasted very good, but could have been a little fresher. Regardless of the minor brownie mishap, we would definitely eat here again. They have some delicious looking soups that we want to try during our next visit.

3. Le Botaniste | SoHo

127 Grand street, New York, NY 10013

The day we came to Le Botaniste was very special. It was the day after Halloween and we barely slept, but dedicated the day to shooting a few looks and going shopping. Before we got down to business, I had to eat and Mario surprised me with Le Botaniste. He knows I love wine and this restaurant had so many great drink options. We both ordered the Spicy Chile sin Carne and I added steamed Broccoli and Zucchini for a few extra dollars . The bean chili was on a bed of quinoa and brown rice, then topped with a delicious vegan sour cream and cilantro. I forget what the yellow topping was, but I believe it was either pickled or fermented. All the ingredients complimented each other well and was so comforting on this cold day. They also have a variety of vegan wines by the glass or bottles for sale. If we lived in the area we would frequent this place often.

4. Blossom | Chelsea

187 Ninth Ave, New York, NY 10011

We stumbled upon Blossom during our first trip together as a couple. We were dabbling in vegetarianism back then and after a long, frigid day of shooting content we found the closest veggie friendly restaurant nearby. We didn’t want to leave New York this time around without visiting this delicious restaurant once again. It’s a bit more upscale than the other restaurants we enjoyed, but well worth it. Each time we have had great service, love the intimate setting, and the food is absolutely delicious! We ordered Crispy Artichokes that came with lemon-caper aioli as a starter which resembled the taste of calamari. The texture was perfect and the sauce complimented the appetizer well. We couldn’t decide on a main plate and we were both craving mashed potatoes so we ordered several sides which were equally filling. In addition to the potatoes, we ordered garlic tofu, sautéed broccoli, and red lentil soup. We decided that we are going to eat at this restaurant each time we travel to New York because it’s always such a pleasure. I highly recommend eating here as a treat or for a romantic date.

5. Organic Grill | East Village

123 First Ave  New York, NY 10003 

Organic Grill was a pleasant surprise. We had it on our radar, but were actually on our way to another restaurant in the neighborhood. When we arrived at the initial spot, they were closed because their kitchen was under construction for maintenance, so we had to find somewhere else to eat before our flight. I’m so happy things turned out the way they did because this meal was a great way to end our trip! We started with Melissa’s Mac and Cheese Bombs and shared the Tofu Rancheros and the Indecisive Special. The fried mac balls were such a treat. This was a starter I used to enjoy before going plant based and I haven’t been anywhere else that serves it vegan style. The Tofu Rancheros were delicious and flavorful. The Indecisive Special was essentially a breakfast sampler with a mix of sweet and savory flavors to satisfy every tastebud. The restaurant also had a few fun and rare features. Organic Grill has a 10 Minute Burger Challenge and also offers a Loyalty Program which includes discounts to customers who dine here often.

We found many of these restaurants on Instagram and although we had several of them saved in advance, sometimes we forgot and stumbled upon them when searching for something to eat in different parts of the city. These were our 5 favorite meals in New York and we would definitely dine at each location again. One of my favorite things about eating vegan food in New York is that many of the restaurants are allergy friendly which is important to Mario and I because he is gluten intolerant and I have a nut and seed allergy. Each restaurant was knowledgeable and accommodating with plenty of options for our palette and varying needs. If you end up eating at any of these restaurants, I would love to know your favorite plate!