Central Park is just as gorgeous as I hoped it would be…and much, much larger!
(umm hello, cute kissing romantic couple!)
The park was packed with people out walking, running, skating, biking, and rollerblading all enjoying the unseasonably warm temperatures. I think it reached about 18C (64F) on Saturday! We both had to rip off our jackets because we were sweating to death! We were so thankful for the weather because it could’ve easily been snowy and cold at this time of the year.
After exploring for a couple hours, we soon found ourselves ready to fill our bellies for a very late lunch. We headed to Cafe Blossom which is a popular vegan restaurant in the Upper West Side of Manhattan not far from Central Park. Cafe Blossom also has vegan “sister” restaurants, Blossom, as well as V-Note, Blossom Du Jour, and Cocoa-V all located in the city. Umm, WOW!
The cafe has a clean and inviting atmosphere with cozy wood and modern stone accents.
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Because of the way the cafe is set up, it feels very intimate and you don’t feel crammed in next to other tables.
For a “cafe”, I was extremely impressed with the atmosphere. They really did it up with class!
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Going out to eat is such a treat and I appreciate every minute of not having to prepare the food myself! This trip is a nice break from my kitchen. I feel so spoiled when I get to order anything off a menu.
I had a the Field of Greens juice with spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger. Ah, it felt so good to have greens after the flight.
For lunch, I ordered the COLLOSSAL Quinoa Salad layered with black beans, quinoa, julienne peppers, watercress, toasted pumpkin seeds, mango guacamole, and poblano dressing.
OH MY LORD. Have mercy. I am embarrassed to say how quickly I inhaled this!
These pictures really don’t do this salad justice either. It was absolutely amazing and perfect in every way. I am definitely going to try to recreate this salad at home…come to mama!
Eric ordered the Veggie Grain Burger made with lentil-quinoa burger, hummus, lettuce, tomato, pickles on multi-grain and fries. He loved the meal and was nice enough to share a bite with me. It was really good. The only thing I would change is the texture. It was very soft, almost like mashed potatoes.
I’m always asked what kind of diet Eric eats and that’s a bit hard for me to answer because he doesn’t like to label himself. He eats a mostly vegetarian and vegan diet now, with the occasional meat & dairy products as desired. He’s really embraced a plant-based diet and loves trying all kinds of new foods these days.
It’s really crazy to think of the foods he used to eat when I first met him. He was a fast food, Coke, and meat & potatoes kinda guy and the only vegetables he ate were staples like peas, corn, potatoes, and tomatoes. I’m happy to see him so content with the balance he has in his diet now. If he wants pizza or chicken, he usually eats it, but he also enjoys a lot of vegan and vegetarian dishes too. I think everyone needs to find the balance that works for them personally.
Since our lunch was so late and our dinner reservation was early, we hesitantly skipped the dessert menu and headed back out to explore and take advantage of the nice weather. I am so sad I was only able to eat at this cafe once during our stay…I would love to sample everything off the menu! They nailed casual, yet gourmet, vegan cuisine.
It was really busy around the city on Saturday, not surprisingly! Bustling with shoppers galore.
All the shops on 5th Ave are decorated so pretty for the holidays! It really got us into the holiday spirit even though it could have been a summer day. ;)
Cool night display:
…and we soon found ourselves like this…unable to move.
…the only thing that motivated us to move again was the promise of more food, alcohol, and chocolate molten cake ;)
Stay tuned for more food, Rockettes, a celebrity sighting, NYC vegan goodies, naked cowboys, and more…
Viewer discretion is advised.
I really hope that you are going to try to recreate that salad when you get home. It looks amazing and definitely like something one could make in their home…although mine never turns out as pretty : )
I’m super jealous that you saw the naked cowboy! I’m in NYC fairly often and have yet to see him…lucky girl! ;) Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Christmas time in NYC and Vegan restaurant!!! Experience of a lifetime!
AH! I love seeing foods in restaurants that look like what I make at home and not like typical restaurant food! :D
bahahaha naked cowboys! :P
The quinoa salad (especially with the mango guacamole!!) and the veggie burger both look amazing!! NY is definitely on my bucket list.
Dallas is a lot like Eric- he eats and likes everything I make at home, but will sometimes order chicken when we’re out. The only non-vegan food he keeps in the fridge is milk and yogurt. It’s so nice to share delight in new foods with someone :)
Glad you two enjoyed your trip!!
Oh I love this post! New York is one of my favourite places ever! The food looks delicious and I’m just about to recreate that juice! Yum! :)
Beautiful photos and that food looks amazing! Looks like you had a great time!
I love today’s pictures! I want to go to NY! The salad you had sounds so good! Totally jealous of you! Have fun!!
How fun!!! The food at Cafe Blossom looks awesome-I would have inhaled it too!:)
Love the look of the quinoa salad!
What an amazing trip! My husband is also *not* vegan, but he sure does love to gobble up the vegan yums I make! And he’s incredibly supportive of my choice. Especially as a person who has ever dealt with an E.D., you learn not to tell people what they must eat.
I can relate to that a lot…I’m a firm believer that we all have to eat what makes us happy.
Living through your photos here :)
I live in NY so it’s a lot of fun seeing seeing a different view point! I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip!!
NYC! so lucky, its on my travel list :)
I also did no like the texture of that burger when I had it at Bloosom….I really recomend you go to Candle 79 (It is just a few blocks east of the Metropolitan museum)…You should have the chocolate peanut butter dessert there(it is amazing!!) Enjoy NYC; it is like heaven for a vegan!
that salad looks sooooooo freaking good!! yum!! I am loving the NYC updates…have always wanted to go and really enjoy seeing all of the sights, albeit vicariously. ;0
Noooo~don’t turn this way, man in the cowboy hat! Hahaa the guy in front of him is looking at a certain direction and it just looks funnny :P
What a fun time Angela!! ahhhhh it kind of reminds me of San Francisco? And I agree that green juice after a flight WOULD be the best. :)
Oh fantastic! I love Blossom. I’m not even vegan and I adore the food :)
I’m getting so jealous!! My husband are thinking of dorng a trip to NYC in the spring for our anniversary so I’ll have to make a list of what to see based on your posts! I started reading your blog in order to get meal ideas (since I’m lactose intolerant) and I have to say that both my husband and I have eating a more plant based diet. For the past few weeks, I’ve only have fish/meat once a day. Thanks for sharing the info about Eric…it sounds like the same idea my husband.
BTW it’s also nice to see the pretty pics today when it’s snowing outside!!!
I came across your blog about a year ago and have absolutely loved reading your posts! I’m not a vegan, however I’ve had great fun using your recipes (and fab pictures!) to whip new things up at home! Also, my dad is gluten-free so I love coming across new gluten free recipes to try out. Your trip to New York looked like great fun and that salad looked out of this world :)
Thank you!