Took a Zipcar out today and headed for Far Rockaway beach. It took about 30 minutes, and $3.25 in toll, but it could not have been more worth it. They have 7 miles of beach, and 5.5 miles of boardwalk. And since it is an NYC Park, all beach access and parking is free.
First stop, the famous Blue Bottle Coffee (from San Fran). They share space with Caracas Arepas Bar (also awesome). They brew each cup individually, so it takes a couple of minutes, but is well worth it. They lived up to the hype for sure.
After some beach time, next stop Rockaway Taco for a tostada, flautas, chips & guacamole, and lastly, cucumbers, mangoes, and jicama in lime juice with chili and salt. Sublime, and all can be ordered vegan. Sweet!
Add to that a michelada from the next door bar, and you are good to go for lunch.
Finish it off with a vegan brownie ice cream sandwich from Babycakes, and just about a perfect day. Beat Irene by a hair!
At Le Verdure: blistered shishito peppers with sea salt, kale bruschetta, Tuscan tomato soap, farro salad with mache, frito misto (fried vegetables), pinzimonio (raw vegetables with olive oil and salt).
The beer garden on the roof, Birreria is also worth going to.
And also why I'm a vegan
Stokes Farm Aunt Ruby’s German Green $4.75/lb. Our judges declared this green-when-ripe heirloom New York’s number-one tomato for its “bright acidity,” “excellent sugar-acid balance,” and “incredible juiciness.” “Love it. Love it. I love it,” cooed a smitten Goldman. Score: 8.83 
- Norwich Meadows Farm
- TIE
- Striped German $4/lb.
- Judge Kluger praised it for an “almost candylike flavor.” Anthony liked its “beautiful” red-yellow color, and Goldman called it “excellent if soft.”
- 8.33
- Sycamore Farms
- Cherokee Purple $3.75/lb.
- Neck and neck with Norwich’s Striped German thanks to a “concentrated flavor,” “silky flesh,” and a “long, aromatic finish.”
- 8.33
via nymag.com
NY Mag has a great piece on tasting heirloom tomatoes. I was totally overwhelmed by the farmers' market's varieties last week, so this should help me this week. I wonder if they'll let me try the heirloom ones, they do with the beefsteaks (which have been great!).
via nytimes.com
Almost all of the recipes in the NY Times slide show on healthy eating are vegetarian, and most are vegan. No shocker there. For those non-vegetarians, don't let that stop you, they look delicious!
Grubstreet NY put a white gazpacho recipe up today that looks pretty darn good.
Thanks for the Girlie Girl Army, I've got 7 sandwiches to add to my summer menu. Sweet!
Meatless Mondays, a movement that has legs
In more-positive news more people are taking on Meatless Mondays, including celebrity chef Mario Batali! Now if they only realized that it really needs to be plant-based Mondays. Other animal proteins are just as bad as meat!
via flickr.com
Grilling pizza was a ton of fun, and healthy, and vegan. Yup, no cheese, no meat, and it wasn't missed at all.