Vegan Oreo Ice Cream from the Chocolate Shoppe on State (+ American Apparel deadstock sunglasses)

a scout it out- a scout it out- a scout it out—- that’s what I did last weekend on my way up and back to a little lakeside house for some much needed R&R.  The talent? Madison, Wisconsin.  Fabulous capital and home to my daddy’s alma matar.  Now as gorgeous and lovely as the state street shops, live music, and adorable locals are-I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was SHOCKED at the lack of veg options in such an awesome city (business opportunity alert!!!), know for their world peace protests.  But hey, maybe I was spoilt by Milwaukee and all the conscientious foodie love I found in the most unlikely places! That said- if you like dessert- I’ve got two places you’ll love in this Wisconsin Capitol. Oh and 4 others you might want to check out too. if you have a mouth, that is.

1. The elusive Dandelion Food Cart- I heard and heard about this fabulous all veg food cart near the Capitol, one review said it was on the 100 block of State Street, another said on MLK Drive, another said 500 block on campus- it was a race against time as we arrived with just 45 minutes before they closed at 2pm! And alas, did this search have a happy ending? Well, not in the classic way…  Location- I believe on State Street somewhere between campus and the block after the capitol, open weekdays?  I’ve also heard just Tues-Thurs-11am-2pm, I think… now don’t quote me on any of that, I couldn’t find it myself!

2.  …But in the SUPER YUMMY HOMEMADE VEGAN OREO ICE CREAM IN A VEGAN WAFFLE CONE way, YES! We heard that the Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Parlor also made their own dairy free scoops and cones.  Mmmm so good (and reasonably priced!) that we went back another time. Double scoop cone for under $5. Chocolate Shoppe 468 State Street

3. Himal Chuli: Himal Chuli, Himal Chuli, Himal Chuli. This is what i heard when I asked for advice on where to eat vegan in Madison (even from the random vegan guy on the street who lives on his own 800 acres in Iowa! That’s where he was heading as I was looking for that darn Dandelion!) So, yes, we went to Himal Chuli, a Nepalese itty bitty of a restaurant with more than half a vegetarian menu full of seitan tofu and vegetable dishes. It’s a little pricey here for not huge portions, but the veg owners and interesting and delicious compassionate food make it a definite stop if you’re in Madison. Himal Chuli 318 State Street

4.  Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier- oh my goodness, what more do I love than amazing dark chocolate in pretty adorable shapes?! Enter Gail Ambrosius Chocolate- while not entirely vegan, they’re specialty is dark chocolate, which means all of their solid chocolates, with nuts, fruits, and in adorable so cute designs and affordable prices, are all just waiting, WAITING, to be eaten by a lovely big hearted vegan girl! I could barely keep myself from ordering it all! Their sorbets are also vegan? (but their smores and truffles are off limits.) Like heaven. Pretty artistic delicious heaven. Gail Ambrosius Chocolates- 2086 Atwood, Madison

5. Monty’s Blue Plate Diner: Hmmm. so I had heard there was a Diner where half the menu was veg- vegetarian that is, not as many vegan options as I expected but hey- I’m just glad it’s here! Vegan Cherry Pie, French Toast, and their Veg Reuben is called the Sheldon- cute.  (Right across the street from Gail’s Chocolate) 2089 Atwood Avenue, Madison

5.5 Bad Dog Frida: Well, it isn’t for you to eat at- but your dog will thank you! Super sweet and definite animal lover owner has adopted several dogs and stocks her boutique with fabulous things like: Intellectual Games & Puzzles from Sweden!?!  Man, Whitman would love these! On his xmas list. Also lots of yummy treats I’d never seen before like peanut butter molasses treats, and blueberry ones too! Online shop too. Bad Dog Frida 2094 Atwood Avenue, Madison (right by Gail’s and Monty’s for a triple shop stop)

And a Great Guide to Veg*n Food in Madison: http://www.vegmadison.com/restaurants.html

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picking favorites (and they're alll favorites) in Door County

So this past week it might’ve been a little quiet on my side! Spent a little weekend with the fam up in Door County (plus food stops in Milwaukee and Green Bay). 

WISCONSIN DISCOVERIES!

Green Bay- 3 vegan friendly restaurants. 1. Vita Rawstaurant- a raw vegan restaurant that is (sadly) closed on Sundays and Mondays, or else I would have gone!! Yelp! page here. (you know how much I adore yelp!) 2. Kavarna- a vegetarian coffeehouse, the adorable kind! But not many breakfast foods so… we decided on our way from Ann Arbor to Door County, to stop here: 3. the Urban Frog- a co-op with a vegan breakfast wrap and some great fresh juices (I enjoyed the body cleanse- apple, beet, cucumber… so fresh & so clean clean!) It’s super cute in here, and I guess the whole city has city-wide Wi-fi? This came in handy at our time-traveling stop next door…

the Somewhere in Time Antique Shop (in Green Bay)! Let alone being named after one of my all time favorite movies (I remember my dad watching the park scene when I was 5, for my wedding my brother in law transcribed the score for 5 violins for my entrance…. yes yes I really like that movie a LOT), At 159 N Broadway, this puts most resale/antique shops I’ve been to to SHAME with original Betty Grable movie posters, an old working glass bottle soda pop vending machine, and my favorite- a whole corner of vintage cameras!!! (enter excited face here!) I haven’t taken a class (yet) but I do adore photography. And as I can’t afford a fancy camera just yet, I’ve become quite enthralled with how old cameras sometimes allow you to see the world in a different way. That they have their own perspective, their own glasses for you to wear as you see the beauty that was there  20, 50, 100 years ago… Anyway blah-di bah blah you don’t want to hear me blab on but hey! I brought the laptop in and used that town-wide wi-fi to find out which cameras they had that film was still available for, and as it narrowed out the super cool 1950’s expandable and super heavy metal Polaroids (sold for over $100 at the time- how much is that today? a gazillion? ok, a lot. so although no one makes the film for it, you can convert it to take handmade film if you are- um- a camera genius? yeah, not me. hehe.), and decided on a beige and black all metal Revere Eye-matic EE127, from the 1950’s, for $32. Can’t wait to try it. 

whheeee! twirling in the wisconsin state park

DOOR COUNTY (DELIGHT!) So, the final destination (mwa-hahaha) for our trip, let me just say as a vegan girl/guy, you would not come here for the food. ever (fish boil city!). But, suffice to say there are options if you are here for say- the Cherry picking, wine-tasting, lush and never-ending state park, and lovely lovely plays (worth the sunset at intermission alone- come early with sandwiches!). Or if, perhaps, the smell of the town reminded you of your grandma’s house mixed with band camp, yes two of my favorite memories, and those might bring you here alone… TO EAT to survive- Greens & Grains (grocery store and cafe): had a vegan sandwich/wrap or two. Julie’s Cafe: is impressively accommodating for a town of 250 (!!) and will put a veggie chicken patty on pretty much anything on the menu, also has veggie breakfast sausage and an oatmeal breakfast that looked pretty yum. the Village Cafe- has a vegan burger, as well as garden & black bean (vegetarian)- veggie fajita, and a veggie bagel (minus the cream cheese) is “the local favorite.” 

Destroyed by Design- available at Brilliant Stranger in Door County or Online ($18-24)

Wisconsin Shopping Find! ::BRILLIANT STRANGER:: Not tucked away, but hanging out in the midst of all the rest of the cute, mom-and-garden focused Door County shopping is the Brilliant Stranger, a handmade renegade style shop of adorable fashion, jewelry, and resale. I felt right at home as I spotted Christy Robinson “not a nugget” necklaces and copies of How it All Vegan in the literary corner… and bought a Destroyed by Design cupcake bunny necklace for myself. (I haven’t taken it off yet- um, would you? check out the fawn to the left, to the left— the cutest necklaces come in a box to the left!)

Oooo and on the way back I discovered the BEST BEST BEST Pit Stop for vegans heading back to Chicago. The National in Milwaukee. Vegan breakfast burrito and french toast to die for- less than five minutes off the expressway. 

City-mouse has left the country. Over and out.

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