heartyspoonful

It's not always that I'm inspired to bake scones. Or sCONES. Whichever way you want to pronounce this word.  I think I've only baked scones twice in my lifetime, this time included. I remember baking those gingerbread scones that were partially burnt, but were still just so delicious. Sure, I think I had to scrape them off the pan and slice off the burnt bits, but it was all well worth it. (Psst, my oven has anger management issues so yes, it does burn off a lot of the food you try to bake.) 

I was rather tempted to bake those gingerbread scones again, but since I was running low on medjool dates and didn't have molasses on hand, banana scones had to do. To be quite honest, I'm still uncertain as to how scones' consistency should be. Are they supposed to be crumbly? Hard? Not too hard? Sweet? Not too sweet? Should they be round? Or is a triangle okay, too? I simply don't know. Funnily enough, since I can't have any clotted cream, I've never dared to try them when I visit England. (Also because of the fact that I am now vegan.) 

At least, in my book, my creation passes as a scone. Perhaps a more North American version of a scone. Veganised at that. Although, I reckon, when they're quite hard, they can be used as a weapon. (Please, no violence. I don't support this, but it does sound like a yummier choice.) 

Completely clueless, I did a bit of Google search to try to find a banana nut scone recipe that 1) wouldn't bore my taste buds and 2) wouldn't be too sweet. I needed that fine balance. I found this wonderful recipe from Cookie & Kate. I just didn't use the maple glaze from that recipe since I was running low on maple syrup and I didn't have powdered sugar in the pantry. FYI, I don't like powdered sugar at all, which is why I do sometimes just completely omit icing on cakes I bake. This time around, unwilling to leave my scones buck naked, I made a peanut butter frosting and a chocolate glaze because banana goes so well with PB and chocolate. Just my two cents. 

* Note: The recipe below already includes my modifications. Please visit the original recipe here if you want to check it out.  

Vegan Banana Nut Scones with PB Frosting & Chocolate Glaze (adapted)

Makes 8 scones

Ingredients:

We run and eat and read.

New York, New York, how I never tire of you, but I suppose, you'd easily just swallow me alive and throw me up. Through it all, the dirty streets and loud noises, my inability to easily fall asleep and the constant need to be "doing something," I still love to return to this city. 

If you've browsed through this blog, you probably would've already stumbled upon my post on my vegan NYC guide. I visit this city at least once a year. I tell myself it's because I want to hang out with my friends, but really, it's mostly because I want to try out more vegan spots. Sshh, don't tell them that. 

Run Your Heart Out

This year, I return to New York with the goal of completing a half marathon. Without any expectations, I joined the half marathon lottery and I was surprised to receive an e-mail stating that I was selected. Boy, oh boy, that was in December, and with the cold winter months, I wasn't quite sure how my training would go. 

To make a rather long story short, there barely was any training involved. Sure, I continued to run at least 3 times a week in January, but because of the snow, I only managed to do at least 7km to 10 km each time. My longest run was 11 km, just half the total distance I needed to run in New York. February was a total disaster, where I only covered 31 km in total. Yes, it was bloody frigid and the roads were covered in ice. Why not run on the treadmill?, you ask. Eh, I couldn't because of my knees that felt more inflamed than normal when I force myself to run on that machine. Three weeks before the half, I worked on my speed and I guess that helped, too. 

I was not at all in my best running shape when my Mama and I landed in NYC. My right knee was a bit painful a few days before we left Montreal and I was concerned. But, miraculously, the pain went away and didn't show its ugly head during my run. I wasn't even sure I'd be able to push myself past 11 km. Perhaps because of experience and also pride, I was able to push through.

The first half wasn't so bad at all. I ran 10 km in 50 minutes, but by the 16th km, something went wrong. My left foot was in so much pain, it felt like the Hulk about to rip its clothes apart. My toes were ready to burst out of my Mizunos. I had to slow down by a lot and I already knew my goal of 1h55 was out the window. I had to stop twice to fix my shoe and even walked a bit of the last kilometre to gain some feel back on my left foot. Seeing that 400 metre banner was a huge sign of relief. Finally, it's  almost over and I can freeze the pain away. But hey, it's done and I'm glad I didn't abandon at all. 

Did I also mention how cold it was that morning? Waiting in our corral, a few of us were shivering. We tired dancing to feel a bit of warm, do butt kicks and walk around a bit, but all to disappointment. It was windy and cold. I had to buy a thicker long sleeves running top to have some warmth. I wore two layers of long sleeves and a vest, but it was still cold. Bravo to those runners in shorts and short sleeves. Warriors, you are. I managed to lose my gloves along the way. The dryness of my hands was no joke at all and my upper lip bled as well. Small price to pay, I say. 

Were there any other fun stuff during the half? Sure. A man didn't expect the water to be so cold, he ended up throwing the paper cup full of water and accidentally hitting another running, who was not amused. Hmm, you're right, that's not so funny. A spectator kept on taking my photo, mistaking me for her friend. At least I smiled. A man beside me kept on muttering, "Three more miles. Three more to go. Just three. Come on. Cooommmeeee onnnnn." This other guy also told himself numerous times, "You did it, you did it. It's done. Oh my God, you actually finished it." One man, I actually thought, was having a heart attack. He wasn't breathing well and the sounds were weird and quite scary. He was fine, though. An old lady kept on following me after the run and when I finally asked her what's up, she told me she was following me to the subway. (I didn't take the subway. She wasted her time.) One of the photographers at the finished line told me to come back because she wanted to take my photo. Girl, I really needed water and the blood out of my mouth.

All in all, it was a great experience and I'm glad I talked myself into it. As with any experience that proves to be physically uncomfortable, our minds would surely try to persuade us to stop and turn around. It's all about getting passed that and proving to yourself that you can do it. It feels heavenly to cross that finish line.

Get In My Belly

Of course a trip to New York isn't complete without food. The vegan foodie in me needed about 6 stomachs to be able to consume everything that's available. But since I was traveling with my Mama, who wasn't necessarily as much of a walker as I was (and she really has a hate/hate relationship with NYC subway), I had to take into consideration all the locations of the restaurants.


First stop was one of my favourite breakfast and brunch place, The Butcher's Daughter. Sure, it's pricey for what it is, but you always leave satisfied. The food is healthy and rather tasty. The ambience is on point as well. My Mama felt quite "hip" and comfortable when we headed there for a late breakfast but too early to call brunch. In her own words, it was "exactly what [she] need[s] after an hour of sitting in traffic." No joke, all the road works made what should've been a 20-minute cab ride into an hour long waiting game. No wonder we were both exhausted and hungry.

My mum isn't vegan, so she ordered a bagel sandwich with eggs and an orange and carrot juice whilst I chose my favourite coconut yoghurt with fruits and granola. I think I had to tell myself to take deep breaths to slow down. I guess that's what happens when you've been awake since 3 am to catch your 6 am flight and all you've had that morning was a big cup of coffee. If you've never been to The Butcher's Daughter, please do yourself a favour and head there right away! No regrets.


We didn't really have an itinerary. My Mama and I went with the flow and the turn of weather to guide us with what we should be doing in the day. Since it was rather chilly, we spent a lot of time indoors, mostly in small cafes, drinking coffee or tea. I've done a bit of research, too, for vegetarian/vegan restaurants that I haven't tried before. Terri was one of them. I think there's a few locations in Manhattan, but we stopped by the Chelsea location. We were both so tired so it was rather sad when we found out there wasn't really a place to sit and eat our food. I had our wraps on take away and we headed to the nearest cafe we could find. It's fun sneaking in "outside" food and trying to not get caught. Is it just me?

Mama chose the Thai "chicken" wrap, which was actually very delicious and I highly recommend it. If you want to die of happiness hummus overload, choose the hummus and avocado wrap. I fell in love! We ate slowly, telling ourselves along the way there's no way we'll finish it all. But when you've walked 15 km already and it's only 2 pm, you know you're bound to eat anything in sight. And so that's what we did.


By now you should know that thought I love my city, I do contemplate on moving to another city that has Whole Foods. I'm serious. I can handle the snow, all the bipolar weather, terrible roads, and all that jazz. But the fact that there's no Whole Foods close to me makes my heart break. So I happily dragged my mum to Whole Foods when Lovely Day told us there was an hour wait for the next available table. (My tummy waits for no one...) Obviously, we went crazy. My Mama and I bought fresh fruits like banana, oranges, strawberries and blueberries, we grabbed some coconut yoghurt, and then we ran straight to the salad bar.

I think we ate at Whole Foods three times. There was one close to where we stayed so it was easy to be lazy and skip the other vegan restaurants to head here instead and be creative. I usually always take baby spinach and top it off with everything I find savoury. Tofu is always a must. I'll add some couscous or quinoa. Maybe some roasted potatoes because, come on, I'm on vacation and calories don't count. Right? Not the biggest fan of their falafels, but heck, I'll take some, too. I just loads up on a lot of their roasted veggies like sweet potato, squash, courgette and broccoli. Yum!


When you're wandering around East Village, you'd think the next food stop is a Ukrainian institution. But alas, no, Angelica Kitchen, or as I like to nickname it "Heaven," is a favourite spot of mine. The food is just like home. The portions are pretty big, too so we always have a doggie back whenever we visit. It's the first time I ate here for brunch and since 1) I missed having pancakes and 2) I was telling myself I'm carboloading before my half marathon, I ordered the buckwheat pancakes and tried to be sensible so I added some roasted veggies, too. Mama went for their brunch special of huevos rancheros. (She highly recommends this!)

Let me tell you something, I thought I'm an experienced pancake eater. But, nay, I was slaughtered by those pancakes. I think I ate one and a half and asked our server to pack the rest. I didn't skimp on the maple syrup though because YOLO. Then, after cleansing our tummies a bit with green tea, Mama and I shared what I must say was one of my favourite cakes ever, their Tres Leches cake. I still dream about that cake. I swear, if I do get married, I would like that as my wedding cake. The groom has no say.


After my half marathon, I wanted a nice sit-down lunch so I can just stretch my legs under the table. But since my actual stretching took a long time, our original plan to have lunch at Blossom had to be rethought. (FYI, it closes at 2:45 and reopens at 5 pm). Since Mama and I were at Chelsea anyway, we decided to head to Blossom Du Jour instead, which is their take on fast food. You know what? I think it was a happy ending.

We got there, exhausted and hungry. Mama knew right away what she wanted: a cold, sweet shake and their beet burger. It took a while for me to decide. Should I go with a salad? The burrito? Or that quinoa burger? The latter ultimately won, and we threw in onion rings for good measure. Comfort food at it's finest without make you feel like you need to do a 2-hour workout right after. Sure, I did run a half marathon that morning, but I definitely would eat all this even if I just sat on my bum. The only downside is, if you're quite thirsty, which I was, best to bring your own bottle of water or order a full drink. That cup of water just made me thirstier. But hey, I still dream about those darn onion rings.

We visited a few more places and even had some vegan baked goods from Union Square Park. I do think that if you're vegan, you do have a lot of options. Had we stayed another day, I definitely would've dedicated that day to food.

If you've reached this part of the post, then oh my goodness, you're a trooper. Here's to more running and food adventures for us all!

xx

I'm a dessert girl. Like big time. I rarely ever turn down a good plateful of dessert. Even when I've had a hearty dinner, my brain and heart will whisper, "Go on, girl, eat that cake." Thing is, I don't always reach for chocolate. 

Some of my friends are veritable chocoholics. They'll have a bar of chocolate or prefer a big slice of chocolate cake. I, on the other hand, don't really like all-chocolate anything. Please, don't stone me just yet. It's not often that I'll buy a bar of chocolate and eat half the bar. My dessert of choice isn't always a chocolate cake, unless of course that's the only vegan dessert on the menu, then please, I'll take a big slice. Mostly, when my body craves chocolate, it's either a) it's PMS or b) I'm emotionally off-balance. Weird? Perhaps, but it is what it is. 

My go-to dessert choice is medjool dates, a banana and tablespoonful of peanut butter or almond butter. I always have this combo as my dessert every night. Of course, I bake a lot of cookies and brownies as well, and I do eat the desserts that I make. Trust me, I do find myself standing in my kitchen, holding two slices of brownies with no regrets in the world. I'm only human after all. 

On a rather cloudy and sad-looking day, I found myself reaching for chocolate. No, excuse me for the possible TMI, but it wasn't because of PMS. It's emotional, you see. I'll admit that I'm currently not in the best emotional state. I'm all right, but I have too many emotions quelling inside that, I suppose, I'm trying to silence. That's not always the best way to go. I'm working on it. If chocolate can appease some of my worries, then so be it. I just have to feed my soul for it to shine again. 

Spot the odd strawberry. 

Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter & Tahini Balls

Makes 11 balls

Ingredients:

Sometimes, I end up being boring or bored, and my creative juices run dry. That's usually when I spend a lot of time on Google, searching for random things. I mean, one time, I ended up discovering this website: LOLMyThesis, which is a website dedicated to summarising thesis using funny and honest one-liners. There's just about a website for anything. Anything, I tell you! 

*Another favourite of mine when I'm bored is 9-Eyes just because, man, you think you're weird and you can hide it, but you can't. You really can't.

This time around though, I think I searched for "medjool dates," "oatmeal," "vegan," and "cookies". Bam! I found the following recipe from Oh She Glows and I was beyond excited of course. As mentioned in my previous post, my aunt bought too many medjool dates, if there's such a thing as too much. I'm not trying to get rid of them or anything, but since my Mama doesn't really eat dates on their own, I have to find creative and delicious ways to incorporate dates in my baking. So, there we go, these turtle cookies with medjool dates and chocolate chips by Angela from Oh She Glows fit the bill. 

I should perhaps also tell you now that even when I'm inspired by another recipe, I still end up making modifications. It's not because I'm fussy or anything like that, it all just depends on convenience. Do I have the ingredients on hand? Will it be too sweet? Is the consistency how I like it? Is it too taxing? Sometimes, I'm just lazy and I want to take shortcuts. Other times, I don't like certain ingredients so I try to find alternatives. Obviously, it can either be a hit or a miss. But, you see, as with anything else in life, baking is about practice and gaining knowledge. Not any other thing is a good alternative, you know.

Not-Your-Boring Oatmeal Cookies (Adapted from Oh She Glows)

Makes 16 cookies

Disclosure: The recipe below already includes my modifications to the original recipe of the Turtle Oatmeal Cookies from Oh She Glows. If you want to see the original recipe, you can click the link above.

Ingredients:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Add walnuts and 1 cup of oats into the food processor and process until there's still some coarse bits. Don't overprocess to the point that the mix is all powdery. 

In a big bowl, mix together the nut and oat mixture, the remaining oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together maple syrup, coconut oil and almond milk. Pour wet into dry and mix until incorporated. 

Fold in medjool dates and chocolate chips. Once incorporated, shape into balls. There was enough for 16 cookies for me. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

Let cool and enjoy! xx 

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

- Rhett Butler, Gone with the Wind

I figured, after posting about my favourite books and current reads, I might as well do the same for films that are dear to me. To be honest with you, I have a bit of ADD. I can't really sit still through a whole movie. It's true. The only two ways for me to focus on a film from beginning to end are 1) if I'm at the cinema and actually paid for the ticket and 2) if the movie has me hook, line and sinker. Tough job, really.

I'll start with the love stories, shall I? 

Disclaimer: This post is by no means a comprehensive list of all movies I love. So wait for parts 2 and 3 and 4...

Gone with the Wind (1939)

With Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland

This movie will forever be in my heart. I first got acquainted with it when I was a child, a way for my grandmother to shut me up. I didn't really understand much, aside from the fact that Rhett Butler (a.k.a. my future husband) was madly in love with Scarlett O'Hara (what a cow!). Anything else I deciphered? I didn't realise the name "Ashley" can be used for both sexes. I also didn't realise movies can be that long. But all in all, little ol' me was sold. 

I remember having a crush on Rhett Butler for a long time and I had to be mildly reined back to reality when someone explained that Clark Gable died even before my mother was born. My very first heartbreak. (Also one big lesson for me not to believe everything I see on the telly.) 

If you haven't seen it yet, Gone with the Wind is based on the novel of the same name written by Margaret Mitchell. The film's plot is multi-layered but the central premise of the story is based on the changes that the Civil War in the 1800s would ensue in the lives of the wealthy in the South. The movie starts off at the cotton plantation of the O'Haras. Though, of course, the plot also considers the war, it is centred on the unrequited love between Scarlett and Ashley Wilkes, who is bound to be married to Melanie Hamilton. There's a lot of plotting on Scarlett's part regarding this misfortune. My first reaction was "my goodness, let him go already, girl!". 

With the defeat of the Confederacy, Scarlett has to step up to take over their cotton plantation especially after her father's death. I love this part of the film, where a young woman was taking on a man's responsibility in order to feed her family. There's also a lot of deception and devious plotting, but it's best I leave that for your own discovery. Somewhere along the way, Scarlett ends up marrying Rhett, though she was still longing for Ashley, blinded  by the fact that Rhett is really the man for her and Ashley ever really only loved Melanie, even though Ashley probably felt lust for Scarlett, but we all know sometimes lust can be confounded for love. See what I mean? It's all juicy stuff right here. 

I suppose this movie is a premonition to what my love life would be like when I grew up. I mean, I've had one too many encounters with unrequited love or at least really bizarre love squares and pentagons. Nonetheless, if you have a few hours to spare on a quiet weekend afternoon, I urge you to give Gone with the Wind a go. There's just too many feels for this movie. I swear. 

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

With Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt 

Call it cheesy. Or hipster. Or whatever else you want, but I absolutely adore this film. Sure, all the singing and bright colours were enough to entice my senses, but the story itself caught my attention. I don't know, there's something about being into someone who likes you back, but not as much as you do. 

Ah, office romance. Maybe you've experienced it already (I haven't and I highly advise myself to stay away). Maybe it worked out for you. Maybe it didn't. But there's something exciting about office romances, don't you think? The person you long for is in the same vicinity. That's enough to keep your heart racing and to keep your mind busy with all the what-ifs and what-have-yous all day long. You might also end up mumbling gibberish whenever he/she may be around (don't even pretend you haven't been at least slightly awkward when your crush was around). That's pretty much how it starts. Then, Tom, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character, starts pestering his friends about Summer, played by Zooey Deschanel. Of course, his questionably wise friends tells him to just take a chance and make a move already. Stop wasting so much time, man, we don't have forever (I'm sure this is intended as an internal monologue for myself). 

Once that's done, the two have a weird "relationship," where nothing is really flat out defined. Tom clearly wants more, Summer's just enjoying her time with him. Then there's a confrontation, the boy's heart is broken and he's a big mess for a while, she realises love really does exist. Your typical love story? No, not really. I think it gives some realistic portrayal of how relationships sometimes turn out. But I like that, in the end, the two of them learn more about themselves and they get to work on their prior misconceptions about life in general. 

May I also just add, I completely loved the  costumes in this film. Really. I think I could wear all of Summer's outfits. And please, introduce a guy who can confidently rock Tom's outfits (true, they do exist in the world and aplenty, but there's just not much appeal sometimes). I would also like Zooey Deschanel's hair, please and thank you. 

So, if you're in a wishy-washy relationship, just communicate with the other person, please, to straighten it out once and for all. If you like someone and haven't really made anything clear, then speak up and approach the cutie with a nice booty already (or you know, the one with such a kind heart and warm eyes, whatever floats your boat). Besides, this film has a wonderful soundtrack, too! 

Roman Holiday (1953)

With Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck

The movie that introduced me to the wonderful Audrey Hepburn. And of course, Gregory Peck. The first time I watched this film, I was an awkward, rather bookish 15 year-old (nothing much has changed except for my age). I remember I forced my parents to sit with me about 5 more times before I was satisfied and moved on with my life. I've, since then, recommended this movie to anyone who would listen, especially those who haven't seen a single film of Audrey Hepburn (do you live under a rock?). 

Personally, I think Roman Holiday is a sweet movie. Nothing really that would happen in this day and age, but there's just something wholesome about it. Audrey Hepburn plays Princess Ann, who was on a much publicised European tour. Her next stop was in Rome, Italy, where Joe Bradley, played by Gregory Peck, works as a journalist. Not able to withstand any longer her caged bird existence as a princess, Princess Ann, or as she named herself Anya Smith, escapes the watchful eye of her doctor and lady-in-waiting. Joe and Ann meet, he offers to let her stay the night at her apartment and of course, after lying to his editor, realises that Anya really is Princess Ann. Then what ensues is pretty much an adventure in Rome that includes gelato, champagne, scooter ride around town, some dancing, some escaping, some falling in the river. All good fun, see?

Perhaps this movie also led me to believe that I'll just never get the guy. Fatalistic, I think. But also rather realistic in the sense that, truly, sometimes life just sucks and your world and your lover's world doesn't align. Simple (and painful) as that.
 

If you want to see Audrey Hepburn's first ever major role, or Gregory Peck slowly falling in love, or an idea of how Hollywood saw Rome back in the '50s, watch this film. It shouldn't disappoint.


Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
With Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz

I watched this film when I was learning French after our move to Montreal. Our parents encouraged my brother and I to watch French films or TV shows, but this movie just stuck. I kept on watching it repeatedly, much to the annoyance of my brother. What can I say? I suppose I'm a dreamer like Amelie.

I have a love affair with this film. Whenever I'm feeling down, I reach for this film or re-watch Casablanca (which I watch when I want the feeling of sadness to linger a little bit longer). So you can only imagine how many times I've seen this film. (Answer: I've lost count.) I can only describe this film as dreamy. It has all the flare of French je ne sais quoi in a film. The protagonist, Amelie Poulain, played by Audrey Tautou, wants to help out everyone around her, even though they don't ask her to effect any positive change in their lives. I mean, if you think about it, Amelie was intrusive, but you love her anyway because she's just the epitome of  cuteness. Then, of course, one day she randomly meets this cute yet awkward boy, who makes her heart beat a little faster. That's a whirlwind right there, of course. There involves a haunted house ride, a lot of Montmartre, a scavenger haunt of sorts, an erotica store, some French food, a grumpy old fart. But don't worry, in the end, everyone's happy, even the garden gnome who traveled the world. 

You might not end up doing remotely close to what Amelie does in the film, but I think the whole story is still relatable. We sometimes try to help others with their problems even though they don't necessarily ask us for help, especially when someone receives an unjust treatment. Other times, we randomly meet someone for 2 seconds and we just know right then and there that this person has us hook, line and sinker. Just like that. Be a decent person, that's basically all that matters.

I highly recommend this film when you're feeling down and you feel like copying a French accent just for fun. It might also help if you have crème brûlée on hand.

Happy watching! xx

The past few weeks have been the saddest and longest weeks I've ever had to experience in my short life. I've never really imagined my dad passing away before his retirement. I don't think any child thinks that of their parents. I know, I've been lucky enough to share more than 2 decades of my life in the presence and guidance of my father, but that's not enough. Not to me, anyway. 

Call me cheesy, but though I've always been wishy-washy about having children in the future, I've always imagined my dad would be there to play with my future child(ren). He was such a gentle and kind father, a wonderful one any kid could ask for, and I've always hoped that any future offspring would be able to learn from him. Though that will never be a possibility now, I promise to keep his memory alive by sharing stories of how funny and generous my father was in the 58 years he lived on Earth. 

Medjool dates weren't really a "thing" where I grew up in Southeast Asia. A few years ago, a family friend gifted us a with a big box of medjool dates from Turkey. My dad and I couldn't stop eating them like candy. Just popping one big date at a time like candy. Actually, the sweet and sticky date reminded my dad and I of caramel, a candy we both didn't quite enjoy. Then my mama explained dates are a delicacy and that they're healthy (at least healthier than candy). And that is how my love affair with medjool dates started. 

When I first transitioned into veganism, I grabbed medjool dates and decided to sandwich in as much peanut butter as possible. My dad was visiting one summer when he saw me eat a medjool date with peanut butter and intrigued, he asked me to give him one. He was sold! Sweet tooth that he was. When he started to feel the weight of cancer, he couldn't eat much anymore, but once in a while, he would ask me to make him a "date peanut butter sandwich" as he lovingly named them. 

My aunt, being unable to properly allocate food to each person (there's always MORE food than is necessary, bought boxes of medjool dates. Mind you, I'm not complaining, but still! The sight of all the dates is enough to give me panic attacks. In turn, I pulled out a little label of ingredients (without measurements) of a date square I purchased at one of my client's cafeteria. It was so sweet and rich, I ended up eating it in 4 hours. It's just not normal. 

To honour my dad's life, I dedicate this recipe post to him, the gentlest and wisest of them all. Your Scarlett loves you forever, Daddy-o <3

Simple Vegan Date Squares

Makes 9-16 squares

Ingredients:

Just another lone traveler in a city of colour and sun. No biggie.

"Italy has great food and Barcelona has great energy."
- Stefon Harris

When I planned my trip last year, my mother had asked me countless times why on Earth I was heading to Barcelona. Logistically, it just didn't make sense to her (or to most of my friends, to be honest with you) because I was already very certain that Prague and Copenhagen were my first stops. "Barcelona? Why on Earth can you not stick to one side of Europe?," she asked. I don't know, Mother, I think I just needed some sun, sand and seafood. (Clearly, I'm joking here. I just needed to stick to s-words.)

After a few days of rain in both Prague and Copenhagen, boy, was I glad I headed to Barcelona. After spending five beautiful days in that city, I was tanned and looking healthy again. I missed the beach, I missed the carefree me that I haven't seen in years, I missed long walks under the sun and just enjoying the architecture. I just missed feeling like my old self again. 

It's not to say that Prague and Copenhagen weren't enjoyable or that these two cities weighed me down. But, I think, both these cities served a different purpose. Prague served to help me step out of my bubble and to not fear the unknown. There I was in a foreign city with a foreign language and culture I didn't understand. It felt refreshing to really feel like a tourist and to see the city through as if through a child's eye: I was amazed and curious. Copenhagen was a city of self-discovery. Sure, I barely understood the language, but practically everyone spoke English. Their ways weren't so foreign to me. But within that city, I was discovering the proximity of my comfort zone and I pushed myself to dig into new experiences that I suppose I wasn't too keen in doing in my day-to-day life in Montreal. I partied with exchange students (I barely approach strangers). I had drinks with random "neighbours" and felt quite at home with them. I practically gate crashed a house party (I was invited by a friend of a friend... of a friend?). 

I wanted more of that carefree self and Barcelona was the perfect place to be. Really. Not that I was letting my guard down necessarily, but that I didn't judge myself too much. I didn't give myself too many restrictions, which I tend to do on normal days. There was just something magical about the air in Barcelona (although I must say, I got bitten by way too many mosquitoes during my stay) that makes you feel alive and ready to party. 

Traveling alone, even to a party town, means some anxiety for me. Honestly, I love traveling solo, but sometimes, I do wonder if I'm enjoying the city was much as I could. Because, you know, it's not always fun to go to a beach party alone. You ponder on the plausibility of you meeting people to hang out with, etc. etc. But then I just go and have a raging time with some good people. (Some questionable personalities, but these types are always everywhere anyway.)

Here's a list of things that I did in Barcelona that I don't normally do (or am afraid to do): 

• Sat on the bar of a (vegan) restaurant, dined alone and chatted with two nice girls, who became my night buddies for a few days;
• Went to a carnival and rode rides on my own, like that big Ferris wheel and I was in the cabin with a couple, who either made out each other or took selfies of them being lovey dovey #foreveralone;
• Didn't feel guilty for all the vegan junk food that my belly and taste buds enjoyed (hello, vegan burgers and fries and donuts all day, every day);
• Parked myself at the beach, swam the cold waters, enjoyed some paddle boarding (I was rather bruised afterwards), wore flip flops like there's no tomorrow, felt comfortable wearing a bikini (YOLO), chatted with fellow beach goers, joined people who were playing volleyball (I still suck even today); 
• Chatted with guys at bars even though it was clear they're only trying to score and then I bid them Bye, Felicia;
• Ran early in the morning and headed straight to the beach to swim (yep, I had my bikini on underneath my runner gear) and then ran back home dripping with ocean water; 
• Had an alcoholic drink before 5pm and felt no guilt (I need a lot of urging if you want me to drink even a mimosa at brunch); 
• Fought with a rude lady in Spanish (I don't recommend this to anyone, best to keep your cool); 
• Beach. Dance. Party. 
• Checked out some tourist spots with fellow lone travelers (hello buddies from London, Switzerland and India!);
• Watched fireworks and without a hint of embarrassment, squealed like an excited little kid;
• ... and I suppose there's more, but I'll keep it short(ish). 

And off to my foodventures. Barcelona really developed its vegan scene from years ago. After a disastrous vegan experience in Madrid 2 years ago, I was also skeptical about having enough vegan options in Barcelona. Boy, was I not to be disappointed. What a wonderful surprise that there were just so many options to choose from! I had planned to visit most of the vegan restaurants during my stay, but I suppose once I tried one or two that I really loved, I just kept on coming back for more. There's always next time, right?

La Boqueria
Website: La Boqueria
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8m to 8:30pm
Address: Rambla, 91


La Boqueria is like a foodie heaven for anyone who loves food, especially fresh produce that are just too enticing. From the moment you take a step into this market, your eyes are first welcomed by the stalls selling fresh fruits served in small containers, ready to go with you to the beaches. That's what I usually did. If I was spending an afternoon at the beach, I simply headed there and bought myself different fruits that I hungrily ate under the sun. Fresh fruit juices and smoothies are also for sale. The Medjool dates that I bought from here were just big and delicious. There are also beautiful stalls that showoff colourful fruit jellies and other candies, and spices. As you go further into the market, there are ore diverse offerings for non-vegan foodies that include fish, meat, and cheese. But, basically, I just wanted to buy all the fresh vegetables and make a salad and a stir-fry. It was just that tempting.

I also got some gifts for family from here, like spices, dried fruit and candied nuts. There was a stall that offered what seemed to be rather fancy oils and balsamic vinegar. I didn't quite trust myself to carry bottles with me on my way home. All in all, it's a good idea to spend some time walking around La Boqueria, especially when you're hungry. No regrets.

Teresa Carles
Website: Teresa Carles Healthy Foods
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 1am
Address: Carrer de Jovellanos, 2


Teresa Carles has been on a great journey in Barcelona. I think this was the first restaurant whose reviews enticed me to right there right away once I landed. I got lost getting to the restaurant on my first day so instead of having dinner here, I ended up visiting another spot (included below), which was also a great surprise. The winding streets of Barcelona can be rather tricky.

But off to the restaurant. Firstly, let me say that the vibe was just awesome. The decor was great and I an totally see it as a date spot. By the way, it totally was that day I visited. Couples everywhere. My server asked if I was waiting for my boyfriend. Really, not my friend, but my boyfriend. It was funny anyway. It took a while for me to decide what to order. There were just so many delightful dishes. However, I must say that Teresa Carles is a lot friendlier to vegetarians. (But now, they are offering vegan options for most dishes, so it's a win!) After much thought and headache and after a sip of that strong Carajillo (coffee with a shot of rum), I decided it would be best if I stick to salad and then order dessert. Balance. I ordered their pumpkin and crispy tempeh salad, which was the bomb! I tell you, it was just perfection in a salad bowl. The dressing was so creamy thanks to the soy yoghurt and though I don't quite like soy yoghurt, I'm happy to say that it didn't taste like soy at all. The tempeh was crispy indeed and all the vegetables complement each other. Delicious! For dessert, I timidly ordered the Everybody's Fav Choco Cake! (I kid you not, this is the name on the menu) and I was sold! After quietly spying the dessert on the table next to mind, sweetly devoured by this couple from Indonesia, I took the dive and ate that piece of cake on my own. No shame, all sweetness.

Here are other delicious options from the menu that were enjoyed by the people I met:

• Vegetable tempura;
• Happy Coca (pizza);
• Salmon tofu;
• Vegan mille feuille

Flax&Kale
Website: Flax&Kale
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 11:30pm
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74


Be still, my heart. Flax&Kale is still the best brunch place in my heart. Seriously. Every time I think about all the food I consumed in this restaurant, my mouth still waters. Flax&Kale is one of the other related restaurants of Teresa Carles so you know that the food will be fresh and the menu, exciting. It was also such a joy that this restaurant was only a 15-minute walk away from my flat. My walk there at 11:30am (because, you know, on most days I do end up waking up only at 11am) are undeniably sprints to the finish line, i.e. a sunny spot at Flax&Kale.

It was raining one night and I didn't want to venture further for dinner so though Flax&Kale was really busy that time, I asked the staff to please find me a table or even a bar stool so I can just please eat. It was already 9:00pm (i you know me, I like to eat dinner early) and my only other meal that day was brunch and some fruits at the beach. I was starving.

Once handed the menu, I quickly scanned through the pages. What to get? It was a bit difficult to understand the menu. You have to read the guidelines on the first few pages to know what anything means (i.e. PB - plantbased, OF - oily fish, etc.). I decided to just stick to what I know that night and that simple meals usually are the ones that are memorable, and this was one heck of a plate: roasted carrots and avocado salad. You don't understand just how savoury and perfect this meal was. My tummy rejoiced and I couldn't wait for the next bite. But maybe that was the glass of Cava? I don't know. On another night I had dinner here, I ordered No Digas Tacos because why not? The guacamole was divine and I was surprised at how much I liked the shiitake mushrooms in a taco.


Flax&Kale is definitely more for flexitarians. There are a lot of fish and cheese on the menu so be careful when placing your order. I got excited for one item on the menu (a pasta dish, I believe) and I was rather sad to see that there was ricotta in the dish. Tsk tsk. But if you eat cheese and fish, this is definitely heaven. What I do love about Flax&Kale is the diversity of the menu. There's a different menu for breakfast, lunch & dinner, merienda (from 5pm to 7pm) and weekend brunch. I definitely urge you to try breakfast and weekend brunch.

I ate breakfast here at least twice during my stay and I would've gone more often had I decided to explore only that area of Barcelona. For breakfast, I definitely loved the market fruit salad, which is a fruit platter of seasonal fruits - simple but delicious. The avocado toast I had here was probably one of the best I've ever had and I've had quite a platefuls of avocado toast in my day. Pew pew. The acai bowl was also just heavenly! Such a refreshing breakfast after a morning of thirst and sun. It felt like I was having dessert for breakfast. I also highly recommend their chia flax bagel, which satiated my hunger post-run. It has plant-based cheese, tempeh, lettuce, tomato and vegan cream cheese. What more do you want?


Other delicious things on the menu:

• Grilled smoked tofu wrap (for breakfast);
• Spaghettini PBGF (for lunch/dinner);
• Veggie panang red curry (for lunch/dinner);

Oh and may I add, gotta love the washroom of this place. Selfie-worthy, imo.


Gopal 
Website: Gopal Barcelona
Hours: Monday to Sunday from noon to 11pm (Friday and Saturday - open until midnight)
Address: Carrer dels Escudellers, 42


Gopal a.k.a. my vegan burger lover. This place was also so hard to find. I got lost once, but that was because I turned the wrong way. All worth it though. Be prepared to eat elsewhere because Gopal is more like a hole-in-the-wall type of eatery. I was lucky enough to get a spot during all my visits to this place. Also another pro: the staff is very friendly!

There were a few choices for the vegan burgers. I don't quite remember what I got, but I think I tried 3 overall. The bread was so delicious, the sauce just amazing and the fries, don't even get me started. I left not a single crumb on my plate. I really forced myself to slow down because I definitely could've finished that burger in two seconds. You can't really blame me.


You also have the option of skipping the burger buns and just topping the burger on a salad, which I did on that one occasion because, you know, I also decided to have their chocolate doughnut. Again, balance. Their doughnuts and other desserts are also a must! Everything on the menu is simply delicious. If I remember correctly, I think there were also veggie dogs or sausages. My mind just went blank here. I think I'm forgetting my name. That's how delicious the burgers here were!


Cat Bar CAT
Website: CatBarCAT
Hours: Mon-Wed from 6:30pm to 11:30 pm and Thu-Sat from 12:30pm to 11:30pm
Address: Boria, 17


Possibly the chillest place I went to in Barcelona. There were no Yummy Mummy squads here (which you will find a lot at Teresa Carles and Flax&Kale). There are no children, but just lots of really interesting and mostly young(ish) people (at least when I visited). The first time someone mentioned Cat Bar to me, I genuinely thought it is literally a bar with cats, which are becoming a trend at the moment. But nay, for all of you crazy cats who suffer from allergies due to cats (including yours truly), you can rest assured that I didn't see any actual cats here (just some catty personalities after a few pints of beer).

My only regret was that I only went here once, which definitely wasn't enough because all the vegan burgers looked legit! Seriously. I'm pretty sure there were other items on the menu other than the burgers, but hot damn, I just can't remember. I was so fixated on the burger selections that I just didn't give a flying F to look at anything else.

Be warned though that the space is pretty small, but cozy. The vibe was pretty great, too, at least my twenty-something self thinks so. It was rather easy to make friends as well. I shared a long table with this other guy who was took a random trip to Barcelona from Sweden after a bad breakup with his girlfriend. He was super nice, but I can't quite recall his name (but I swear he was a decent human). It actually felt nice to just eat a big burger with someone without caring how messy your face might look.

I settled for this spicy burger that had mushrooms in it (I think it might have been the "Champion" burger). And fries! I swear to the moon and beyond that those fries took my breath away. They were crispy with just enough salt and pepper. The burger bun was toasted to perfection (at least in my humble opinion) and the vegan burger was juicy and seasoned well. I didn't prepare myself for that last bite. It was like parting with your boyfriend and you know you won't be able to see him for a year.

I went on a Thursday night and being the North American that I am, I went for happy hour mode. Hey, artisan beers? Sign me up. (Actually, I lie. I don't really drink much and beer isn't my first drink of choice if I do drink, but hey, when in Rome...). My dinner companion had much more experience with beer so I let him listen to the nice staff who explained the different local craft beers. No, I don't remember which one on tap I ordered, but I remember I finished the glass. That's what matters, right?

Would I eat here again? Absolutely. Would I probably try to taste all of their vegan burgers on the menu? Oh, hell yea! Ok, let me daydream now.

Veggie Garden
Website: Veggie Garden
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 12:30pm to 11:30pm
Address: Carrer dels Angels, 3


After a rather confusing, but hilarious discussion about veganism and vegetarianism with two Argentine guys, I ended up at Veggie Garden unexpectedly on my first night in Barcelona. I was heading to Teresa Carles (their top recommendation), but got lost on my walk, but was so relieved that Veggie Garden (another recommendation) was just around the corner.

I wasn't particularly hungry that night and though there were a lot of yummy options. If you want a dish that has rice, they have that. If you want veggie burgers, just look at the menu. If you're craving Thali, bam, right there. Or, if you were like me, I ended up ordering a roasted veggie salad that was yes, delicious, but two people definitely could've eaten that! Needless to say, I was sad to have wasted food because there was just too much salad. Those bloody capers were so huge, too. But I like capers, so I just won't complain. The couple dining beside me had the Thali and a veggie burger and they were both raving about it. I really felt like the third wheel. If you're visiting this restaurant, I advice you to skip the salads because that would be such a waste.

Not totally satisfied from my last visit, I went back again after visiting Casa Batllo because, you know, Gaudi's art makes me hungry. This time around, I visited another location and ordered their daily special that came with a soup, a main, a dessert and a drink. I didn't actually realise that dessert was also included until the server ran after me with a little bag that had a vegan apple cake inside (I snacked on it later that day). The soup that day was beetroot soup (my tongue turned purple, but that's fine). The main was this large calzone with lots of courgette, mushrooms, onions and tomato sauce. I definitely burned off all the calories from walking and dancing that night. Living the life.

I think Veggie Garden is the best place in Barcelona from some not so pricey vegan fare, especially if you're looking for more than just veggie burgers and want something else to excite your palate. Definitely didn't break the budget!

Now, plan your next trip to Barcelona!

Enjoy! xx