A Vegan In Budapest

(Me: Looking a little doubtful about my vegan options in Budapest)

Budapest was amazing! Despite dire threats of starvation and my own fears of a lettuce-only weekend (not that I don't love the lettuce), I ate amazingly and fully all weekend long!

We arrived late on Friday, after dining on a super-expensive hummus wrap (WRAP!) from the airport starbucks, I wasn't too interested in munching, but did take advantage of the nuts and fruit that B and A had readily available in their uberhuge apartment (yes, uber huge apartments in Europe DO in fact exist...just not in Brussels).

On Saturday morning, after more fruits and nut breakfast, B and A took us to the most fantastic falafel hut EVER. It is called the Hummus Bar and is tucked behind one of the main streets in Budapest. We chilled upstairs for quite a while and never once felt rushed to leave the hip establishment that offers its customers complimentary mint tea upon entry. I had a packed falafel pita that totally hit the spot and gave me loads of energy for exploring the pretty city.

When K and I found our way back to the apartment, A had been super sweet and ordered me some vegan sushi. Knowing that we were headed for their work Christmas party there was fear that I might find myself with little in my belly, she went ahead and ordered up some avocado maki....YUMMMY! It was pretty good, I would recommend them for sure - I Love Sushi, and they deliver.

On Sunday they took us to a cute little cafe on the hills of Budapest that had: BAGELS and PEANUT BUTTER!!! I enjoyed. Seriously.

For dinner we went to a Thai-Hungarian fusion restaurant (I am not kidding). The staff was great and happily made me a tofu curry that wasn't on the menu. Although there was a chance that had they been much longer we would have missed our flight - the food was amazingly worth it.

Overall it was a fantastic trip. I am so happy we went, despite the late arrival and the lack of sleep on Sunday night. It was so nice to spend time with friends, and find delights in a new city. Yes! to vegan travel!

I made a quick stir fry last night and slammed the veggie/tempeh goodness on top a bed of my new favourite treat - soba noodles! Who doesn't love the soba noodles. I feel a whole noodle renaissance blooming throughout this pregnancy. Don't forget to check out the new vegan momma blog!

Looking forward to the holiday, which is just around the corner.....17th at noon - here I come! We don't travel again until the 22nd, when we are headed to Manchester for a Healey-Family Christmas. It will kill me not to be at home with my family (who I am now missing terribly) I am looking forward to being with Kevin and his family for the holidays.

Wowed By Rome

We had a spectacular day trip to Rome on Tuesday, made possible by K's stellar driving skills.
(If you grew up and learned to drive in Canada, it is more than a little difficult to drive 130 MINIMUM as prescribed on the Italian highways, but luckily, K is from Britain...)

We left for Rome after a quick, as predicted, Beanie Buddy breakfast and were standing outside the Coliseum by 10 30. We spent pretty much the whole day on our feet, minus a couple of trips on the metro and a great lunch at Miscellanea: International Student Pub, which you can find quite easily at its alley address of Via Pastelle in the Pantheon Area. We saw sights in abundance, to the point where I found myself feeling a little overwhelmed; literally every turn of the head offers the tourist (and there were many) another ruin or sign post of the cultures whose feet walked before us.

We prebooked a trip to Nero's palace, which is buried beneath a series of additional buildings that were consciously built atop this once opulent house of the emperor. I was struck by the sheer size. Well worth the few extra euros. (I promise to post a Flickr link when I get back to Brussels, in case anyone is interested in seeing some of the sights)

I am still continuing to find the relative cheapness of eating in Italy fantastically refreshing. Brussels, though, with good cause, boasting a boat load of top notch and diverse eateries, they are all so very expensive, and lack the street food that China, Toronto and Italy (with its pizza and stuffed olives) has in no shortage. Perhaps I should find myself a caravan and start dishing out fresh vegan road side dishes!

We got home around 10 30 with the worst sunburns we have experienced thus far.....and were wiped, barely able to nourish our exhausted bodies - settled on some warmed up tomato sauce on bread and a bowl of popcorn. Yikes - not the best food. But we made up for it today. We had a great day of good eats....

I am going to save that post for my (habitual) early wake up tomorrow. Until then may all your vegan cookies be scrumptious!

Tired Out From Trier

Trier was excellent!

Evening fare was wretched. Stewed cabbage with some raw veg was about the extent of my options for dinner. Lunch was made manageable by our mid-day proximity to BioGate, where on three days I indulged in little nibbles and a quickly cobbled together falafel sandwich.



The final day of our trip afforded me enough time to get away for long enough to enjoy the Bio-snack bar that is housed inside the shop. As a vegan, I had two options to pick from. Not bad for a menu with a grand total of 6 lunch time meals. Thank goodness I ordered the small, because I would have felt at least partially responsible for the current food crisis given the amount of rice that was plunked down in front of me by the chef.


On the whole, I think Trier is manageable for any adventurous, Roman-history loving vegan. There were more than a couple of health food shops in this city. I wouldn't recommend staying in a location that offers supper - a vegetarian option might be possible, but vegan is a little less likely to be on their radar.

The city itself is charming and the run along the Moselle river is delightful. A red clay cliffs on the east side of the river serve as a dramatic backdrop to the numerous little houses that set up camp far away from the more touristy city-centre. Loads of stuff for kids, the baths, amphitheatre and cathedral are all worth a visit.

Glad to be home! K and I are ready for a night with Vetiver in the Rotonde.